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These ultra-soft, highly absorbent bath towels will turn your bathroom into a hotel spa.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
A towels weave, origins, and decorative embellishments can also be a matter of preference.
Thread count is a good indicator of quality, explains textile expertDeborah Young.
Most importantly, you want it to be well-made and feel good against your skin.
Credit: Pottery Barn
It should be washed on a gentle cycle, not a normal cycle.
During our testing, we found that it absorbed water well and dried quickly as its name promises.
Its slower drying than most of the towels on this list.
We measured the towel before and after laundering it to determine if it shrunk.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
True to its name, the Garnet Hill Cloud-Loft Towel scored rave reviews for its wonderful soft-as-a-cloud texture.
Its made of long-staple Turkish cotton, a material thats known for being luxurious and soft.
We liked that it felt thick and spa-like without being overly bulky.
Even after multiple washes, the Garnet Hill Cloud-Loft Towel retained its high-end texture.
We were impressed that the fabric fully repelled the mascara and foundation stains, too.
Its only available in a set, so you cant buy a towel individually.
Its available in a six piece set that includes two towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths.
During our testing period, we appreciated the soft, plush texture of this towel.
The striped version produced a lot of lint the first time we dried it.
These towels are also available as bath sheets, washcloths, and hand towels.
Over the testing period, we never noticed any funky mold or mildew odors.
This towel earned major points for keeping its quality over time.
After washing, this towel lost a lot of its softness.
Its size is impressive, being large enough to cover a taller person with room to spare.
Its thirsty, too, soaking up ample water in our absorbency test.
We found that it released makeup stains with no residue left behind.
And it handled our abrading test with ease, with no significant changes to the towels surface or appearance.
Our only complaint is that its not as soft as other towels we tested.
We found that this towel became less soft after washing.
Towels made with a waffle weave have a texture that is absorbent and fast-drying.
This towel was very absorbent, soaking up 4 ounces of water entirely with no problem.
The two stains were completely gone, and we couldnt tell where the abraded or treated areas were.
It became slightly less soft after being washed.
Although the retailer doesnt list GSM, we found this to be a medium-weight towel that felt very substantial.
Credit: Garnet Hill
We found the proportions were generous, and easily wrapped around us with extra length to spare.
In tests for durability, the Quince bath towel fared very well.
The fabric didnt develop any loose threads or snags, and the color resisted fading and discoloration.
The texture of the towel was still soft and plush after several washes.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Color options are more limited, but its offered in classic neutrals like ivory, silver, and mineral.
The first towels we received for lab testing had a few snags and loose threads.
Despite these flaws, we were otherwise impressed with the 800-GSM towel during testing.
I love the high quality, the absorbency, and the great feeling on my hair and skin.
It was always completely dry by the time we went to use it again.
After consistently using, no snags or loose threads appeared, and there were no stains after laundering.
The towel deteriorated during our durability test, suffering broken loops and fuzzing.
The GOTS certification means the cotton is organic and its processing was environmentally and socially responsible.
This towel has no additional features, such as a loop for drying.
We even found that drying hair with this towel reduced the amount of time we spent blow drying it.
There were no noticeable snags or loose threads, and there was no change in color or texture.
As mentioned earlier, one of our testers used it to dry their dog after a bath.
This towel is on the smaller side and it feels a little thin.
Its also priced competitively and certified by GOTS and OEKO-TEX.
We found that the loop used for hanging this towel felt weak and prone to tearing.
During testing, this towel set impressed us with its softness.
When it came to absorbency and dry time, this set performed well and absorbed water with ease.
And the price for two bath sheets is quite affordable.
However, the drawbacks were evident early on.
Personalizing costs an extra fee, and the color options are limited to neutrals.
This towel weighs in at 800 GSM, making it one of the plushest and densest towels we tested.
It was also one of the fastest drying towels we testedafter 60 minutes, it was completely dry.
At the time of publishing, we have tested 121 bath towels.
We started our testing process by laying out the towel on the table and measuring it before washing.
Credit: Walmart
This made it possible to determine whether or not each towel shrank after being laundered.
Then, we washed and dried each bath towel two times, drying them once.
After laundering, we inspected the quality once again, looking for color fading or change in texture.
The towel was soft, absorbent, and fade resistant.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Next, we tested the towels absorbency.
Then, we weighed the towel again, recording its new weight.
We then treated them with a stain remover and washed and dried them.
Next, we tested durability by laying the towel on the table and using a scrub brush 50 times.
We took note of the quality of the abraded area after brushing.
Finally, we measured out 2 ounces of water into a spray bottle.
We placed the towels flat and sprayed the water all over the surface.
We used a moisture meter to determine the moisture level in three spots while laid out flat.
Finally, we considered the value of the towel to determine if their quality matched their price tag.
In addition to our lab testing, we also tested our top-performing towels over the course of a month.
Bath sheets are always bigger than bath towels, but there can be size variability within each, too.
Bigger bath towels feel especially luxurious, but they may be harderto store when folded.
Youll notice that retailers list their bath towels GSM, which stands for grams per square meter.
GSM can be helpful if youre looking for a bath towel with a specific weight or density.
Because of its poor performance, we didnt feel comfortable recommending it.
The maindifference between bath towels and bath sheetsis simply sizea bath sheet is always going to be bigger.
In addition to size, bath sheets also dry more efficiently and tend to be more expensive.
Bath towels are more affordable but slightly less efficient when it comes to drying time.
Credit: Cozy Earth
What does GSM mean?
GSM stands for grams per square meter and is a measurement of a bath towels weight.
[GSM] is a personal preference, says Baker.
This high end towel is made from a blend of 60% cotton and 40% viscose.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
When shopping for bath towels, much comes down to personal preference.
But generally, bath towel quality is impacted by fiber content, fabric weight, and construction.
How much do bath towels cost?
How long do bath towels last?
To compile this list, she analyzed lab insights from our testing site in Des Moines, Iowa.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Looking for more products that have earned ourBHG Recommends seal of approval?
Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.
Despite its hefty weight, it only took 90 minutes to dry.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Despite its hefty weight, it only took 90 minutes to dry.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Boll & Branch
After hanging dry for an hour, no moisture was detected.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Quince
This medium-weight towel was one of our favorites because of its plush texture and Turkish cotton material.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Cozy Earth
Credit: Brooklinen
It wasn’t the strongest towel we tested—there was noticeable pilling after the abrasion test.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: The Turkish Towel Company
Made of long-staple Turkish cotton, this heavyweight bath towel has a GSM of 700.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: West Elm
This was one of the thinner towels we tested, and it didn’t have a decorative band.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Crane & Canopy
The towel measures 30 x 56 inches and weighs 600 GSM.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Target
When we hung it up, it took just an hour to dry.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Frontgate
The towel has a GSM of 800 and measures 30 x 58 inches.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
