15 best bath towels, tried and tested for softness and absorbency

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Score: 92/100

Soft, fluffy and absorbent, these thick bath towels come in several classic shades. They aced our lab tests, absorbing water impeccably, and holding their colour.

They shrunk a little after the first wash (stabilising for subsequent cleans), but nothing that would make too much of a difference. In fact, one of our testers described the size as “perfect”, wrapping around their body well and sitting just above the knee.

Price is for a set of two without the discount.

Score: 90/100

The White Company is always our go-to for hotel-quality furnishings, and these towels didn’t disappoint. Our panel described them as “super soft with a luxurious feel”, adding that the stitching and construction remained pristine throughout testing.

Our in-house testing reinforced our panel’s findings; the towels had a perfect score in our absorbency and shrinkage tests, and dropped less than a point in our fading tests because the darker towel dulled a smidge. Overall, if you’re looking to invest, these premium towels should provide inviting comfort for many showers to come.

Score: 90/100

With nearly 30 colours to choose from with these towels, you’ll be sure to find the right shade for your bathroom. But that’s far from the only reason our testers rated them – these towels scored full marks for their impressive absorbency and excelled in our shrinkage tests, maintaining their shape well after washing.

There was some minor fading detected by our machine and our panel noted some initial shedding, but this isn't unusual with brand new towels. Our testers liked the coverage provided, declaring the towels soft and fluffy (even after a few washes!) and said they’d continue to use them after the test period had ended.

Score: 90/100

With their striped design, these towels will bring the beach to your bathroom (or look classy on the sand). They’re thick and super soft, so they felt gentle against our testers' skin.

They excelled during our in-house tests too, maintaining their vibrant colour, holding their shape, and absorbing water well.

And they’re Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, so you can wrap up safe in the knowledge that there are no chemicals next to your skin.

Score: 89/100

“It reminded me of the type of towels you get in a nice hotel,” said one of our panellists – and they weren’t alone in their positive feedback. All our testers loved how soft, thick and premium these towels felt and many said they maintained their cosy feel even after multiple washes.

The cotton was super absorbent, yet the towels dried surprisingly quickly despite their plushness. We did spot some noticeable fading after washing with the darker colourways but opt for one of the lighter shades and this shouldn’t be an issue.

Price is for two bath sheets.

Score: 89/100

Available in eight chic colour combinations, this striped towel is another reliable buy. Our panel found it soft and stylish. Some said it wasn’t the thickest towel they’ve used, but all found it well-sized for maximum coverage and comfort.

In our wash tests, our experts noted mixed results. The towel scored full marks for its absorbency, and impressed with its lack of fading, but they measured some slight shrinking. That said, washing on a cooler temperature, rather than the suggested 60C, should limit this.

On balance, it’s a towel that will look just as good hanging in your bathroom as it will on the beach.

Score: 87/100

If you’re concerned about fading, these are the towels to plump for, as our software didn’t detect any loss of colour after multiple washes. They also scored full marks for their effective absorbency and lack of shrinkage.

Our panel said the towels felt soft and gentle against the skin, liked how they wrapped around them and were impressed with the clear care instructions provided. They’re a great value buy.

Score: 84/100

“It feels very luxurious and I loved the packaging; it’s like a premium gift,” one of our panellists said of these Egyptian cotton towels, which arrive in a set with a hand towel, basket and cloth bag – no gift wrap required. The rounded corners and lack of border were a little divisive, with some loving the aesthetic and appreciating how they “make the towel stand out as a different brand”, while others found them reminiscent of a bath mat. This will come down to personal preference.

However, the towels earned full marks for their absorbency in our lab tests, while at-home testers also commented on their "great drying power”, saying they absorb water well, rather than just moving it around. We did note some colour fading on our dark towel, as well as dulling on the white towel, but the vast majority of at-home users didn’t notice any change. They kept their shape too, only shrinking by an average of 2% – very little compared to other towels – after repeated washing and tumble drying.

Vesta price is for one bath towel and one hand towel; Amazon price is for two bath towels and one hand towel.

Score: 82/100

Whether you’ve enjoyed a soak or are stepping out of the shower, these are a treat to snuggle up in. They’re absorbent, wash well and come in an array of timeless colours. They're also thicker than most of the other towels we tested – something our panel felt gave them a luxurious feel.

While pleasingly fluffy, the towels did shed to begin with, but this should stop before too long, especially if you wash the towels a few times before use. We also detected some fading via our in-house testing. This aside, the premium texture and weight of these towels make them a high-quality buy, which, according to our panel, “felt like hotel towels”.

Score: 82/100

If you ever wonder whether the towels you see on your weekly shop are worth adding to your trolley, then our testers have the answer, and it’s a simple “yes”. These felt soft to touch, absorbed water well and washed reliably too, with minimal shrinkage, while maintaining their fluffy feel.

They weren’t as colourfast as some and did molt to begin with. But overall, our panel were pleased with the towels and given their low price, they are a savvy buy.

Score: 82/100

These towels come in a lovely presentation bag and boast a generous design that wraps around your whole body. The material isn’t as plush as others on this list, but it had excellent absorbency, scoring a full 20 out of 20.

After five washes in the lab, we noticed darker colours had faded more than the white towel, and a few panellists noted some loose threads after the trial period was up. That said, over 75% of our testers said they’d recommend the towels to family and friends, and the range of bright colours available is a huge bonus if you want style and substance.

Score: 81/100

There are nearly 60 colours to choose from with these Dunelm towels, which panellists described as “soft, thick and fluffy”. Testers loved the generous size, commenting that the bath sheet covered the whole body well. There was limited shrinkage in our lab wash tests too, so you can be confident it will stay that size, use after use.

It took until its fifth wash to perform in our absorbency test though, so definitely follow the guidelines on washing your towel before use. However, this will mean having to sacrifice that soft-to-touch feel as it lost some of its fluffiness once it had gone through the wash multiple times.

We also noticed the darker coloured towels began to fade around the edge so stick to lighter colours if you’re concerned about that.

Score: 81/100

Ticking boxes for softness, fluffiness, and size, this towel was a hit with our panel. Opinions were mixed on the unpacking experience as removing the tag caused some loose threads, but once in use, our panel praised its excellent absorbency.

We found similar results in the lab, with the towel mopping up water in just three seconds after being washed twice on the recommended settings. We did notice the colour was duller though, and there was some shrinkage – the white version lost 9% of its length, for example. Even so, all our panellists said they’d continue using it after the trial period.

Score: 74/100

“They are very light and dry super quickly, which I love,” enthused one of our panellists after trying these cotton waffle-weave towels. The soft, textured material soaks up water quickly, scoring full marks in our absorbency test, and there’s a wide range of stylish colours (and sizes!) available.

The material was more prone to shrinkage than a regular terry towel, contracting by roughly 12% after repeated wash cycles. Most of our testers found this didn’t affect everyday use though. The fabric retained its softness, too, and some even commented that the feel improved with use and washing.

Overall, panellists were a little divided on the waffle texture, with some noting that they would prefer a thicker, warmer towel for everyday use, especially in the colder months. They’re an excellent choice for travel though or for anyone who wants a fast-drying option.