The 8 Softest Bath Towels to Pamper You Post Shower

Showers can be utilitarian, or they can feel like an escape. And having the softest bath towels on hand is a must for a transition into the real world. The last thing you want is a raggedy towel breaking the spell of relaxation.

Our Top Picks for the Softest Towels

Best Overall

Buffy Organic Cotton Bath Towels (Set of 2)

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$105 $84 (20% off)

Buffy

Best Reversible Soft Style

Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Sheets

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$118

Amazon

Best Budget

White Classic Luxury Cotton Bath Towels

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$48 $41 (15% off)

Amazon

When it comes to choosing towels, you want to focus on the plushness factor of the weave. Oftentimes, the weight is determined by GSM (grams per square meter). This number shows just how dense the towel is woven. The higher the number, the higher the likelihood that your bathroom towels approach the luxury hotels category. For reference, sheets tend to range between 150 to 250 GSM, and most of the towels on this list are at least 500 GSM. We also have a penchant for organic cotton that is Oeko-Tex certified—after all, you’re using this material on your body.

During testing, AD editors also paid attention to absorbency and drying time. No one wants to splurge on a Turkish cotton towel that will end up smelling like a locker room. That’s why we also added a few thinner, but still soft, options that use the waffle weave to up the ante on softness without feeling water logged. Below, you’ll find the softest bath towels we got our hands on.

Best Overall

At 820 GSM, the Buffy organic Turkish cotton towels may be the plushest on this list. “These are pure decadence when it comes to creating a spa-like experience,” says contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert. “The Buffy Turkish cotton towels feel as if you strung a bunch of cotton balls to make one towel–so plush!” She was drawn to the lavender colorway for its gem-like hue that felt bright, welcoming, and a nice pop in her peach-and-navy tiled vintage bathroom. Though there are five other colorways to choose from—including the ethereal cloud hue. “This set was my intro to quality towels and now all the other towels that come into my linen closet have to live up to Buffy’s ultra-soft standards,” Alpert adds.

Best Reversible Soft Style

These dual-sided Cozy Earth towels sport mini waffle weave and soft ribbed terry pockets. “This is meant to give you the best of both worlds—a towel that’s soft and absorbent like a terry but also lightweight and quick-drying like pure waffle weave,” says contributor Megan Wahn in her best bath towels review. “Having only used terry cloth bath towels before, I liked the idea of something reversible and both sides that felt nice.”

Best Budget

Contributor Blake Bakkila put her trust in the Amazon reviews and took these under-$50 bestsellers for a spin. “We were surprised to see that these affordable towels were just as fluffy as our original [wedding registry] set, and they’ve remained plush after several washes,” she says in her review. The super-plush handfeel of these bath towels can be attributed to the material: fine 700 GSM long-staple 100% combed cotton. An unexpected perk is that these won’t clog your lint dryer like some other fluffy styles.

Best Pattern and Softness Combo

This Quiet Town Tam checkered pattern is a blend of warm clay, chocolate, and cream hues that makes a statement while serving as the perfect complement to any bathroom. It also happens to come in ochre, olive, and cherry gingham. The bath sheet is crafted from 100% GOTS-certified, organic Portuguese cotton that feels plush yet structured. “The weight, 520 gsm, makes it great for folding and I haven’t seen any evidence of fraying or threading,” Baker says. “These are a tad longer than a standard bath towel [they’re about 10 inches longer and wider than the norm], so the extra fabric makes it easier to wrap yourself up in and evenly soak up water.”

Best Turkish Cotton Bath Towels

These may look like ordinary bath towels, but the Madison Park Turkish bath towel is that perfect mix of plush and light. “You can actually see just how plush by comparing how the low-twist yarns rise above the dobby border, which is lovely in its own way as it looks like a basket weave,” Alpert says, who uses these to soak up the extra moisture out of her hair, preventing the “I got caught in the rainstorm” look. At 600 gsm, it is one of the softest towels on our list, but that’s the reason it may need about two hours to return to a completely dry towel. “It helps when I put them on the towel rack versus the hook on the back of my door,” Alpert adds.

Best Waffle Towel Design

The GreenRow Whipstitch waffle organic cotton towels are light, and almost spongy—as you would expect with the waffle design. “Unlike the waffle blankets that I have, the squares on these are a little bit bigger,” Alpert says. “To compare, if the blanket is a mini waffle, this one is closer to a Belgian waffle. Think of it as a towel with catacombs to trap all those post-shower drips.” These made-in-Portugal textiles are the lightest of all the soft towels on our list. The care instructions recommend using biodegradable laundry detergent. Alpert has been washing them with Brooklinen Essential Detergent in Coastal Clean, a fresh scent with a touch of lavender, and attests that these remain plush bath towels after numerous cycles. She also recommends them for steamy summer months as the weight is barely there, allowing the wrapped towel to stay put as she gets ready or dries her hair.

Best Basic Set

Senior shopping editor Nashia Baker has been using American Soft Linen bath towels for the last year-plus, and refers to them as “the real deal.” Baker opted for a gray bath towel set, and in terms of material, she felt the difference as soon as she took them out of the packaging. “I’d recommend these for daily use, as they’re highly absorbent,” she says in her review. When it comes to washing these plushies, Baker recommends a mild detergent to prevent discoloration. But no matter what, these good towels turn into great towels as they only get softer with use.

Best Size Range

“These are some of the biggest and softest towels I have in my rotation,” Baker says. “These are primarily made of a blend between cotton and polyester, leaving them with a lightweight yet cozy feel.” Wrapping yourself in the oversized ribbed silhouette is akin to wrapping yourself in a lavish blanket after stepping out of the bathtub. Even after basically a year of use and countless washes, Baker hasn’t noticed shrinkage or discoloration.