Shopping for the best bath towels may seem low-stakes, but I’d argue they’re almost as important as the fixtures and fittings of the room itself. The right one can make every trip feel like a spa-like experience, which is no mean feat for what is often the busiest room of the house.

A highly absorbent towel not only gets you dry quickly, but prevents water from flooding your floors. A stylish towel can inject colour and texture too, helpful in a space that’s primarily made up of tile, mirror and glass.

So, how to choose? Well, first off, consider your towel’s primary function and whether it’s going to be for everyday use, a guest towel or the gym (fast-drying cotton-polyester blends are best here).

If you’re looking for a towel to dry your hair without wreaking havoc on fragile wet strands, try microfibre fabric or something crafted from flat-woven smooth cotton like a peshtemal, also known as a hammam towel. And for your face? Muslin cloths, soft cotton, and ultra-fine microfibre are great for removing every last trace of make-up without leaving skin feeling or looking raw. Frankly, it’s easy to see how Monica Gellar got to 11 categories of towel in Friends.

For bath towels, choosing one that’s made of 100 per cent cotton is your best bet. Breathable, absorbent, and plush, it’s hard to settle for anything less.

Ready to dive in? I’ve used, washed and dried a range of the bath towels to find the very best across a range of price points. Keep reading to discover my top picks.

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The best bath towels for 2026 are:

  • Best overall–Piglet in Bed russet yellow bath sheet: £35, Pigletinbed.com
  • Best budget option– Dunelm rice weave towel: £12, Dunelm.com
  • Best for indulgence– Next white Egyptian cotton luxe heavy weight bath sheet: £26, Next.co.uk
  • Best for style– Bed Threads cacao & lagoon two-toned bath towel: £50, Bedthreads.co.uk
  • Best fancy set– Cozy Earth Luxe Bath Towel Set: £243, Cozyearth.com

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  • Bestbath towel overall
  • Why we love it- Stays soft after multiple washes
  • Soaks up water quickly

  • Bold colour and pattern

  • Take note- No hanging loop

Piglet in Bed’s russet yellow design is the best bath towel I tested thanks to its soft yet hardy design, with a fringed edge along the top and tail that adds textural details. Made from 100 per cent long-staple low-twist cotton and with a 600GSM weave, it soaks up water quickly without becoming boggy.

I chose the bath sheet size (100 x 150cm); it’s far more luxurious and all-enveloping than the 70 x 130cm bath towel. I can comfortably do post-shower skincare or waft about my flat without fear of accidental exposure.

It’s also Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, which means it’s been made without harmful chemicals and synthetics.

The offering includes block colours and stripes, which tap into the nautical look - a prevailing theme for many bathrooms. Since my space has no windows, I chose the russet yellow Pembroke stripe to invite some sunshine in. My only gripe is that it’s missing a loop to hang the towel from hooks securely.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:100cm x 150cm (bath sheet)
  • Fabric:100% cotton
  • GSM:600

  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel

  • Bestbudget bath towel

  • Why we love it- Fun patterns
  • Textural, absorbent finish

  • Affordable

  • Take note- Not as plush as the others on this list

Dunelm is famed for offering affordable homeware and furniture, and its selection of towels sticks to the script. I tried this checked design, crafted from 100 per cent cotton and with 500GSM absorbency. While that’s not as high as some of the other options on this list, for the price, it’s a fair compromise.

I found the raised texture helped to soak up droplets, as there’s ever so slightly more surface area for drying. That said, it didn’t have as luxurious a hand-feel, which is probably why I used it more to wrap wet hair than dry my limbs.

With three colours in a checked pattern, it’s easy to match to your current bathroom interiors or add a burst of colour to your existing towel collection.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:125cm x 70cm (bath towel)
  • Fabric:100% cotton
  • GSM:600

  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel

  • Bestluxury bath towel

  • Why we love it- Outrageously cosy
  • Highly encasing

  • Reinforced border reduces chance of fraying

  • Take note- The dense fibres make it noticeably heavier

  • Takes longer to air dry than others

Heritage brand Christy has been around for some 170 years, with a fan base that trickles through generations. It specialises in bed and bath textiles, and its towel offering spans myriad categories (57 options at the time of writing), including super soft designs made for babies and a fun Wimbledon collab.

Its signature Turkish cotton towels are a bestseller, and all it takes is one shower to see why. With 800GSM, this is a supremely snuggly bath sheet, so fluffy I was reluctant to change into actual clothes. It’s best saved for a leisurely evening bath rather than quick showers on busy mornings.

The towel is finished with a deep banded sateen border that is reinforced with double-folded thread, so there’s absolutely zero chance of fraying. It almost feels like a weighted blanket, with the downside being that it takes noticeably longer to air dry between washes and on the laundry rack.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:90cm x 160cm (bath sheet)
  • Fabric:100% long staple Turkish cotton
  • GSM:800

  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, face towel

  • Bestbath towel for indulgence

  • Why we love it- Super absorbent
  • Cloud-like texture

  • Spa-like feel

  • Take note- The heavier weight means longer drying time

  • No hanging loop

Picture the ultimate bath towel, and chances are you’re thinking of the white, fluffy kind, a lot like Next’s offering. The super luxe towel is made from Egyptian cotton, with a deliciously heavy weight of 800GSM that makes it feel ultra expensive.

The initial wash didn’t dim the brilliant white colour, despite being washed with dark items. Not an error on my part, but intentional - it’s all about testing in real world scenarios, and who hasn’t forgotten a red sock in with the whites, only to have everything emerge pink? This towel came out as white as when it went in.

I could barely wait for my conditioner to rinse out before I jumped into the cuddly embrace of Next’s towel, which I’m bound to appreciate even more once winter sets in.

The bath sheet size I tested is 100 x 150cm, so it does take up a fair amount of space in the washing machine drum. This is something to consider in larger households, where there’s always a full basket waiting for the machine.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:100cm x 150cm (bath sheet)
  • Fabric:100% Egyptian cotton
  • GSM:800

  • Sizes available:XL bath sheet, bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel

  • Bestbath towel for make-up removal

  • Why we love it- Just the right level of thickness

  • Hides make-up and hair dye stains

  • Take note- A hanging loop would be an easy addition

  • A thicker border would increase the luxe vibe

I’ve frowned over enough foundation and mascara-stained towels to know that investing in one solely for make-up removal is a wise move. Black ones are best, hiding all manner of sins, from war paint and hair dye to fake tan.

Dusk, perhaps better known for stylish yet affordable furniture and textiles, also does a great line of towels in various sizes, so you can get just one instead of splashing out on an entire set.

My pick is this Tahiti super absorbent design. In testing, the 100 per cent cotton felt reassuringly thick against my face, and it’s super absorbent at 630GSM, putting it in the mid-weight category.

My towel didn’t feel soaked through, even after my nightly double cleanse, and it was bone dry by morning. I found that it launders very well too – the dark hue masks any traces that a wash couldn’t lift.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:50cm x 90cm
  • Fabric:100% cotton
  • GSM:630

  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel

  • Bestvalue bath towel set

  • Why we love it- A complete set at a cracking price

  • Stitched border gives a luxe look

  • Take note- Absence of hanging hook

Green is one of the most relaxing colours to the human eye, so it’s perfect for creating a chilled vibe in your bathroom. Habitat’s bale of towels (includes two hand towels and two bath towels) come in a rich forest green hue that has all the stain-forgiving qualities of black, but with none of the starkness.

Like the other bath towels I tried, Habitat’s set felt soft straight from the parcel, and remained so after the preliminary wash. A few weeks and a couple of washes later, and the colour and texture remained as new with zero fraying around the stitched edges.

Mascara stains came away easily and the 90 x 50cm hand towels were just about large enough to wrap around my hair and stop water from dripping everywhere. The uniformity of the set was most pleasing, making my bathroom feel polished and pulled together. It’s a great set for small homes, studios, and university halls.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:130cm x 70cm
  • Fabric:100% Egyptian cotton
  • GSM:600

  • Sizes available:Set includes x2 bath towels, x2 hand towels

  • Bestaffordable luxury towels

  • Size70 x 135cm
  • GSM700
  • Fabric100 per cent Egyptian cotton
  • Colourways40 block colours
  • Sizes availableXL bath sheet, bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, face cloth
  • Why we love it- Wide choice of colours

  • Plush and warm

  • Take note- Take longer to dry than others

With 40 colours to choose from, you’re bound to find something that suits your bathroom style in John Lewis’s Egyptian cotton towel collection. Egyptian cotton is considered the gold standard and typically found in elevated settings like luxury hotel bedrooms and spas – and now, my bathroom.

The long-staple fibres are famously durable and soft, but it comes at the cost of quick drying (Turkish cotton dries much faster). If your bathroom is humidity-prone, you’ll need to give this towel plenty of breathing room when it’s damp after bathing or fresh from the washing machine, in order for it to fully dry.

Nonetheless, it’s worth it for the cuddly texture when swaddled, especially at this price.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:135cm x 70cm
  • Fabric:100% Egyptian cotton
  • GSM:700

  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, face cloth

  • Bestbath towel for statement style

  • Why we love it- Modern style
  • Great absorbency

  • Lightweight

  • Take note- Rather expensive for a single towel

Hailing from down under, Bed Threads has quickly made a name for itself in home textiles since its UK launch in 2017. Priced firmly in the premium category, the brand uses chic palettes across French flax linen and organic cotton to bring a splash of colour and decadence to your home.

Its towels are made from plush 100 per cent long-staple, ring-spun cotton with a reversible two-tone colourway - in this case, cacao brown and a light lagoon blue, very much the pairing of the season. Plenty of other shades are available to complement or contrast with your bathroom, so it’s as much about instilling style as enjoying the skin-drying function. Towels arrive in a cotton storage sack, which is handy for trips to the beach or lido, or to keep towels fresh for guests.

Despite the high GSM, the pile on Bed Threads’s towel is low, retaining its absorbency while trimming the bulk. It feels light enough to roll up for a day trip. My towel felt pleasingly dense but remained soft to the touch, even after repeated washing.

That said, it is on the pricier end of the scale, especially for a single towel.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:70cm x 140cm
  • Fabric:100% cotton terry
  • GSM:650

  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel

  • Bestbath towel set

  • Why we love it- Matching set perfect for couples
  • Feels luxe

  • Looks new after washing

  • Take note- Expensive

If your towel rail is a hodge-podge of various designs that have become marooned there over the years, investing in a matching set is the quickest way to create spa-like zen.

Enter Cozy Earth’s set, which has enough towels for any task, making it ideal for a full reset or as a housewarming gift. Available in a run of block colours and timeless stripes, the luxe set includes two bath towels, two hand towels, and four washcloths.

They’re made from a 60 per cent cotton and 40 per cent bamboo viscose mix, a combination that felt pliable and plush in my hands while drying skin quickly, thanks to a high absorbency rate (600GSM). Embedded zero-twist technology meant they pinged back to shape after cleaning, while a hanging loop means it won’t slip off onto the floor. Towels emerged looking new after every spin in the washing machine.

The towels also tick the green box with Oeko-Tex standard 100 verification, so they’re free from harmful chemicals and synthetics.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:150 x 75cm
  • Fabric:60% cotton, 40% viscose from bamboo
  • GSM:600

  • Sizes available:Set includes x2 bath towels, x2 hand towels, x2 washcloths

  • Bestbath towel for colour range

  • Why we love it- Wide choice of colours

  • Decent absorbency

  • Take note- Some customers have experienced shedding

High street hero John Lewis may have some of the world’s biggest brands on its shelves, but its in-house range is pretty great in terms of value and quality. In towels, this ultra-soft cotton towel arrived for testing, and I was immediately struck by its inviting feel - as advertised, it is very soft indeed.

Constructed from 100 per cent cotton, it comes in 17 shades and is laced with biocide silver chloride to help keep it looking, smelling and feeling fresh between machine washes. Absorbency is mid-level at 580GSM.

Some of John Lewis’s customers have called this absorbency into question, with one saying that it ‘leaves fluff everywhere’, but that’s contrary to my experience. There was no shedding, even before the initial wash at 40C per the care label.

The mid-level pile dries wet skin in double time: I was in and out of the shower in a flash. The dark green colour is pleasing too – it’s not as stark as black but, more forgiving than white.

Key specifications

  • Size tested:135cm x 70cm
  • Fabric:100% cotton
  • GSM:548
  • Sizes available:Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, face cloth