20 soft and fluffy bath towels to elevate your bathroom

There is nothing better than stepping out of a bath, pulling a warm towel off a towel rack and wrapping yourself in the comfort of its plush fabric. That delightful moment is one of our favourite parts of going to a luxury hotel, but why reserve that moment just for a weekend away? We think that investing in a high-quality set of bath towels is just the indulgence you deserve to get through the winter.

What are the best bath towels to buy?

Our pick of the best towels to buy would be between Dusk’s Monaco Supreme Cotton Towels, Hampton and Astley’s Egyptian Cotton Luxury Bath Towel Set and The White Company’s Hydrocotton Towels.

The first are made from 100 percent cotton and, thanks to their 500 GSM weight, are ultra-soft. They come in a range of neutrals, from dark green to taupe and crisp white, so you’re sure to find the right shade for your bathroom no matter what your style. British home specialists Hampton & Astley’s best-selling Egyptian Cotton bath towels are some of the softest in our selection, and give off a luxurious feel. This seven-piece set also comes complete with hand towels, face towels, extra large bath sheets and washcloths too. The White Company never fails to impress with its selection of luxury towels and their Hydrocotton range is no exception. While quick-drying towels usually leave a lot to be desired, these fast-drying towels certainly don’t scrimp on texture and comfort. The White Company offers a full bath towel set for its Hydrocotton range, so you can invest in the full set.

Best towel overall: Soho House Towel

House Towel

£20 at Soho Home

Best affordable towel: Dusk Monaco Supreme Cotton Towel

Monaco Supreme Cotton Bath Towel Collection

£16 at Dusk

Best fluffy towel: The White Company Hydrocotton Towels

Rib Hydrocotton Towels

£40 at The White Company

Best for everyday use: Marks and Spencer Everyday Egyptian Cotton Towel

Everyday Egyptian Cotton Towel

£18 at Marks and Spencer

Best colourful bath towels: Baina Classic Bathing Set 08

Classic Bathing Set 08, sage & chalk

£324 at Baina

£324 at Ssense

Best bath towels for 2024, at a glance:

• Best towel overall: Soho House Towel
• Best affordable towel: Dusk Monaco Supreme Cotton Towel
• Best fluffy towel: The White Company Hydrocotton Towels
• Best for everyday use: Marks and Spencer Everyday Egyptian Cotton Towel
• Best colourful bath towels: Baina Classic Bathing Set 08

Skip to: Our edit of the best bath towels to buy 2024 | Where to buy towels? | What is GSM? | What is the difference between a bath towel and a bath sheet? | How often should you replace your bath towels? | How to pick the best bath towel

The UK is rife with online home retailers who offer everything from bedding, linens, duvets to bath towels. We especially like The White Company, Dusk, John Lewis & Partners, Selfridges and M&S who all offer high-quality, long-lasting luxury bath towels at reasonable prices. Mega online retailers like Amazon and Wayfair are also great for choosing more affordable bath towels in terry, supima cotton or long-staple cotton fabrics.

GSM refers to grams per square metre and is the standard measurement for a bath towel's thread count. The higher the GSM number, the better quality and more luxurious your bath towel will feel. We recommend anything between 500-700GSM for super-plush soft towels.

The difference between the two is quite simply the size. A bath sheet is larger (and typically thinner) than a bath towel.

As a general rule, the advice is to replace your bath towels once every two years. However, there are ways to test if you need new ones, as high-quality towels will last longer than cheap ones. If your once fast-drying, fluffy towels are now raggedy, thin pieces of cotton that no longer dry your body properly, it's probably time to purchase a new plush bath towel. On a surface level, if the hems of your towel are fraying and showing signs of wear and tear, then a new towel will be just the ticket.

For really soft, super absorbent towels, the key is the material. 100 percent cotton bath towels will be a lot more effective at absorbing water than hybrid ones. On the flip side, cotton-poly blend towels are more durable and take longer to show wear and tear.

One way to tell the quality of a towel on sight, is to look at whether the surface is covered with loops of yarn. Luxury bath towels will have these, and the denser the loops, the better. Fabric weight is also a key consideration. Measured in GSM, anything over 600 GSM would fall in the category of heavy and plush. Light weight towels like waffle weave and ribbed material ones typically aren't as soft but are lovely in the summer and very quick drying.

Scroll on to see our edit of the best bath towels to buy now, from Egyptian cotton to Turkish cotton and organic cotton, we have all the best below.

Monaco Supreme Cotton Bath Towel Collection

£16 at Dusk

• GSM: 500
• Size: 70 x 130cm
• Fabric: Cotton
• Care: Machine wash at 30-40º

This best-selling towel from Dusk is one of our top picks thanks to its super soft texture and luxurious feel.

Rib Hydrocotton Towels

£40 at The White Company

• GSM: 500
• Size: 70 x 125cm
• Fabric: Cotton
• Care: Machine wash