The 9 best bath towels, tested for absorbency and softness

I live my life by the aphorism cleanliness is next to godliness — and if that's true, then consider me practically angelic post-bath. A hot soak, soothing salts, and a decent cleanser will take you most of the way there, but it’s the final flourish — the bath towel — that really seals the deal. Choose right, and you’re cocooned in a cloud of softness. Choose wrong, and you’re left rubbing at damp limbs with something scratchier than divine.

Here's where you can ask me and the experts. I've interviewed towel brands, five-star hotels, and tested the best bath towels to find the perfect towel for you. In short, a great towel should be plush yet practical — thick enough to absorb every drop in seconds, but soft enough to feel like a five-star hotel hug. It's an easy way to make your bathroom look expensive.

I'll go into the details of why you might want 'long staple' cotton as well as an explanation of GCM and how often you should wash your towels further down the guide. So, whether you're looking to gen-up on your towel terms, or you simply want a bath towel that won’t scrape off your fake tan or go stiff in hard water, the towels below are the crème de la crème of the bathroom world. Get ready for godliness.

The best bath towels, tested for superior softness and absorbency

I promised that I would explain a few of the technical terms before we get into the nine best bath towels that I've ever used, so here's a mini explainer on the terms that you might see, answered by the experts.

• GSM: this stands for grams per square metre. Robert Lancaster Gaye, co-founder of Tielle, explains, “Towel weight is an indication of a towel’s quality and absorbency. The higher the GSM the more luxurious the towel.” Hotel-grade towels, for example, often fall in the 500–700 GSM range to provide a plush, indulgent experience.
• Zero twist: Zero-twist towels are made using fibres that haven’t been twisted during the manufacturing process — and that’s a good thing. Tommy-Joe Reardon, Head of Marketing at Panda, explains: “Zero-twist is a marker of incredible quality: it means every individual loop of the towel is left over, rather than being twisted or spun. This results in fluffier, more absorbent towels that are highly durable and really soft.”
• Egyptian vs Turkish: Tommy-Joe Reardon, Marketing Director at Panda London, makers of bamboo towels, “Egyptian cotton towels are typically very plush and thick, while Turkish cotton is smoother and lighter. When it comes to absorbency, Egyptian cotton comes out on top – but Turkish cotton towels dry quicker.”
• Long-staple cotton fibres: these longer, smoother, and more durable than regular cotton fibres Robert Lancaster Gaye explained that "these fibres not only make towels softer and stronger, but they also help reduce pilling and fraying, meaning your towel stays luxurious wash after wash."

Now we've tackled the technicalities, let's get into the best bath towels that I tested.

How we tested the best bath towels

When testing the best bath towels we considered some key factors, including...

• Material: Probably the most important element of a bath towel is how the towel feels when you use it on your skin. The towels I tested were all made from cotton or bamboo, from cotton terry to Egyptian cotton. High-quality materials - and bonus points if they were ethically and sustainably produced - are integral when choosing a new bath towel.
• GSM: Used to measure the weight and absorbency of a towel, GSM refers to how 'heavy' the material is. Luxury towels are often made from a higher GSM, and therefore have a thicker, fluffier feel.
• Absorbency: However, a high GSM doesn't always convert to a supremely absorbent towel. We tested how quickly the bath towels drew in moisture, as well as how efficient they were at self-drying - did the towel feel heavy and damp after use, or did it retain a lightweight feel even after absorbing water?
• How well did the towel wash and dry?: There are few things more frustrating than investing in a super-soft, fluffy towel, before seeing it become hard and scratchy after being washed and dried. While I didn't test these towels with a tumble-dryer, I noted how well they fared in the washing machine without shrinking, and when air-drying.
• RRP: High-quality bath towels don't need to break the bank, but you will likely pay more for a thicker, more luxurious feel. I tested the value for money for these towels, and how they stood up against the claims made about their quality.

FAQs

What is GSM?

Robert Lancaster-Gaye, co-founder of Tielle, tells us that "GSM is the weight of a towel measured in grams per square meter. Typically, the higher a towel's GSM, the heavier, fluffier and more absorbent it will be".

However, he notes that GSM isn't the only factor to look out for when choosing a towel: "A 550 GSM towel made from high-quality, long staple yarn will outperform an inferior 650 GSM towel any day". He explains that "a high-quality 550-650 GSM towel is generally considered the best for spas and 5-star hotel towels".

What are the main types of cotton?

"Essentially, cotton is cotton", says Lancaster-Gaye. "But it's the length of the yarn that makes all the difference". He favours "Turkish cotton, which is a premium long-fibre cotton that produces smoother, stronger towels", but there are several other types of cotton commonly used in the making of towels, from cotton terry to Egyptian cotton.

Why is my towel crispy?

Crispy towels are never pleasant, so I asked the experts why you might find yours is a little crunchy. Tommy-Joe Reardon, Head of Marketing at Panda, explained that "if you live in a hard water area, this is definitely a factor in finding your towels have a lack of softness. They can also go crispy due to a build up of laundry detergent and fabric softener, or if your tumble dryer setting is too high. Opt for a lower temperature, as tumble drying is best when using fabric conditioner. This is where bamboo comes out on top – it gets softer with every wash without any fabric softener."

What is the best way to wash a towel?

Tommy-Joe Reardon, Head of Marketing at Panda, explains, "the best way to wash towels is typically in a smaller load (e.g. without clothes) at around 40 degrees Celsius with a small amount of good quality detergent. And it might seem counterintuitive, but take care to avoid using fabric softener – this can actually clog towel fibres, which leads to that crispy feeling and can reduce absorbency over time."