13 Best Beach Towels, According to Reviews
Updated: Jul. 20, 2022Choosing the best towel is a day at the beach, thanks to these top-rated finds
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Dry off in style
Along with face sunscreen, swimsuits, cover-ups, sun hats and flip-flops, a good beach towel is a summer necessity. But with so many available, how do you choose? You know you need it for drying off after a refreshing swim, but do you also need it to be big enough to lie down on? Small enough to travel with? Are you ready to splurge, or are you looking for something inexpensive?
We scoured the internet for the best beach towels—those with thousands of five-star reviews from customers who have tried them firsthand—to make sure you’ll be beach-ready as soon as it’s warm enough to get in the water. Whatever kind of beach towel you want, we found the perfect one for you. Just don’t forget your sunglasses, because with these great beach towels, the summer’s looking bright.
How we chose the best beach towels
The best beach towels were selected based on high user reviews, materials and a consideration of uses and special features. Bonus points went to stand-out features like sand-wicking and plush materials.
Criteria
- Materials and special features
- Durability
- Style
- Price
Best overall beach towel
Utopia Towels Cabana Stripe Beach Towels
Striped beach towels are a cheery summer staple, and shoppers love that this four pack of cabana towels gives them the option of buying matching sets or color-coding them for each family member. They also love that the affordable price point doesn’t sacrifice quality. Made of 100% cotton, this set ensures you always have a clean beach or pool towel on hand. They even double as bathroom towels for year-round use! It’s the perfect beach essential, right next to the best beach umbrellas.
With nearly 10,000 overall ratings and 1,900 glowing reviews, this beach towel pack is a summer must-have. “These beach towels are soft and absorbent,” writes verified Amazon reviewer Catherine. “I like that they’re normal-size towels and not the beach blanket size, which makes them much more manageable for carrying back and forth from the beach in a bag.”
Pros
What we like about Utopia Towels Cabana Stripe Beach Towels:
- Lightweight yet highly absorbent
- 100% cotton
- Available in multiple colors
- Machine-washable
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy Utopia Towels Cabana Stripe Beach Towels:
- The brand advises avoiding fabric softener and bleach when washing the towels
- Not sold individually
Best budget beach towel
Mainstays Cotton Beach Towel
A Walmart bestseller, this cotton beach towel from Mainstays is woven with high-quality, 100% cotton yarns. It’s soft to the touch yet highly absorbent, and reviewers love that it’s available in 14 fun patterns. At $6 each, it’s the perfect towel to stock up on for summer pool days, beach trips and even camping excursions at the lake.
One happy reviewer, Camaro, shares, “I absolutely love this beach towel. It’s a perfect length for wrapping up after swimming at the pool. It is great also for laying on the beach to keep off the sand.”
Pros
What we like about the Mainstays Cotton Beach Towel:
- Affordable price point
- 100% cotton
- Soft and absorbent
- Oeko Tex Standard 100 Certified
- Machine-washable
- Available in multiple patterns
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy the Mainstays Cotton Beach Towel:
- The colors may bleed on the first wash, so wash with like colors or separately
- Some reviewers have found that the towel is thin
Best splurge beach towel
Brooklinen Artist Series Beach Towel
As five-star reviewer Lisa puts it, “These are THE best beach towels,” giving it top marks for its soft texture, its print and the fact that it doesn’t wear out. Just like all Brooklinen’s beach towels, the brand’s artist series beach towel receives high reviews, thanks to its incredibly soft velour front and stand-out prints designed by local New York City artists. It’s ultra-absorbent and so eye-catching people will be wondering where you found such a stylish beach towel.
Pros
What we like about the Brooklinen Artist Series Beach Towel:
- High-quality materials built to last multiple seasons
- Soft velour and terry cotton combo
- Eye-catching designs from local artists
- Made in the USA
Con
Consider this before you buy the Brooklinen Artist Series Beach Towel:
- At $75, this beach towel is on the pricey side
Best kids’ beach towel
NovForth Kids Hooded Bath and Beach Towel
Doubling as a beach and bath towel, this adorable hooded option is perfect for fuss-free drying off. The hood keeps little ones warm and dry, thanks to the poncho-like feel. Made from 100% polyester, this absorbent and durable pick is perfect for any water activity. Choose the creature design that best fits your kid, or kids.
Pros
What we like about the NovForth Kids Hooded Bath and Beach Towel:
- Hooded poncho design keeps kiddos warm, dry and comfy
- Multipurpose towel
- Travels easily
- Available in six creature designs
Con
Consider this before you buy the NovForth Kids Hooded Bath and Beach Towel:
- Suitable only for kids 1 to 6 years old
Best plush beach towel
Laguna Beach Textile Co. Cabana Beach Towel
If you’re all about plush towels, you’ll want to wrap yourself in this striped beach towel from Laguna Beach Textile Co. Made of 630 GSM (grams per square meter) cotton, it’s 50% thicker, softer and more absorbent than the average beach towel. Designed by a former Laguna Beach, California, cabana boy, it’s also long, making it perfect for chaise lounging. It’s so plush, one five-star Amazon reviewer dubs it “the holy grail of beach towels.”
Erinn, a verified Amazon reviewer who believes these towels are worthy of a five-star review and a five-star hotel, says, “Have you ever been to a really great resort and wanted to steal their lush, big pool towels? Well, this is just like doing that!” Minus the theft, of course.
Pros
What we like about the Laguna Beach Textile Co. Cabana Beach Towel:
- Ultra plush
- High-quality materials sourced from around the world
- Extra-large size
- Available in multiple patterns
Con
Consider this before you buy the Laguna Beach Textile Co. Cabana Beach Towel:
- This towel is larger than most, which may make it cumbersome to pack in a carry-on
Best oversized beach towel
Weezie Oversized Luxury Beach Towel
Size certainly does matter when you’re trying to dry off your whole body or stretch out on the beach, making the Weezie oversized luxury beach towel your new go-to. Made in Portugal from 100% cotton, the towels feature pretty detailing like coordinating piping and a hanging loop for easy drying and displaying. Reviewers love the plush feel, calming hues and larger-than-life size. As one reviewer sums it up, “Everything about this towel is perfect.”
Pros
What we like about the Weezie Oversized Luxury Beach Towel:
- Extra-large size
- Plush, luxury feel
- 100% cotton and hypoallergenic
- Oeko Tex certified
- Available in four one-of-a-kind colors and patterns
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy the Weezie Oversized Luxury Beach Towel:
- The brand advises washing this towel without fabric softener or bleach
- Because of its extra-large size, this towel will take up extra space in a bag
Best travel beach towel
Exclusivo Mezcla Microfiber Quick Dry Beach Towel
Not only does this microfiber towel wick sand and dirty away, it comes with a carrying bag for easy travel. And just because it’s easy to travel with doesn’t mean it sacrifices size or quality. This pick is large enough to wrap your body in after a beach or pool day yet compact enough to fit in a backpack or suitcase. It’s also made of nylon and polyester and dries more quickly than standard towels. Throw it in your beach bag or carry-on, and you’re good to go!
Verified Amazon reviewer Angel shares, “Amazing product! It’s like a shammy for your body. Absorbent and fast drying make this the perfect beach and camper towel. We have replaced all our camper towels with these.”
Pros
What we like about the Exclusivo Mezcla Microfiber Quick Dry Beach Towel:
- Compact and includes a carrying case
- Keeps sand and dirt away
- Highly absorbent and quick drying
- Available in multiple patterns
Con
Consider this before you buy the Exclusivo Mezcla Microfiber Quick Dry Beach Towel:
- Not as plush as standard beach towels
Best sand-resistant beach towel
Sand Cloud Geo Sunset Towel
Designed to keep sand on the beach and not on your towel, Sand Cloud is a purpose-driven brand known for its high-quality, sand-resistant towels. Just like all Sand Cloud’s products, this Geo Sunset Towel is nice on the eyes and made of 100% Turkish organic cotton. The twisted tassels add flair, while the sand-resistant design keeps you from rigorously shaking your towel after a day at the beach. Plus, a portion of profits is donated to the Surfrider Foundation, so you’ll feel good about your purchase too.
Shoppers love the Sand Cloud because it lives up to its sand-resistant claims. “Just as I expected!!” adds Mandy. “Love my Sand Cloud towels—we use as a blanket too! Perfect for the pool or beach, or an outdoor blanket on our patio.”
Pros
What we like about the Sand Cloud Geo Sunset Towel:
- Sand-resistant design
- Easy to pack
- Blanket-like style yet absorbent
- 100% Turkish organic cotton
- Portion of profits donated to the Surfrider Foundation
- Available in four styles
Con
Consider this before you buy the Sand Cloud Geo Sunset Towel:
- At $50, this towel is on the pricey side
Best microfiber beach towel
Wise Owl Microfiber Beach Towel
Microfiber towels offer so many benefits, including ultra-absorbency, lightweight feel and compact size. This Wise Owl microfiber towel goes a step further, or rather, many inches further—at 7 by 4 feet, it’s almost as big as a full-size bed. But don’t be fooled by its larger-than-life size, because it still easily rolls up and packs better than ultra-plush towels.
“HUGE towels, I was amazed,” writes Penny, a verified Amazon reviewer. “Perfect for the beach. I’m 5 foot 10 and hate normal towels where my legs are in the sand instead of on the towel. Very thin but very absorbent. You just have to get past the idea of ‘fluffy’ towels and see this works just as well, if not better, at drying you off.”
Pros
What we like about the Wise Owl Microfiber Beach Towel:
- Large size, yet compact enough to travel with
- Microfiber material keeps sand at bay
- Absorbs up to seven times more water
- Quick-drying
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy the Wise Owl Microfiber Beach Towel:
- Not as plush as standard towels
- Limited color options available
Best Turkish beach towel
Nature Is Gift 100% Organic Cotton Peshtemal Towel
Whether you call them Turkish, Peshtemal, Hammam or Fouta towels, users love this Turkish towel because it’s made from premium Turkish cotton, which, unlike standard cotton towels, gets softer, fluffier and more absorbent with each wash.
Hundreds of happily surprised users give this pick five stars. “These are magic,” says verified Amazon reviewer Ambslynn. “I didn’t know towels like these existed. I’ve bought many different types of towels over the years, and these are leaps and bounds ahead of anything. They are beautiful, pack so small and they wick water away like a miracle.”
Pros
What we like about the Nature Is Gift 100% Organic Cotton Peshtemal Towel:
- 100% Turkish organic cotton
- Wicks away sand
- Easy to pack
- Quick-drying
- Withstands multiple washes
- Available in multiple colors
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy the Nature Is Gift 100% Organic Cotton Peshtemal Towel:
- Not as plush as standard cotton towels
- Some reviewers have found this towel shrinks in the dryer (for best results, wash it on a cold, gentle cycle, then air-dry)
Best quick-drying beach towel
ECCOSOPHY Microfiber Quick-Dry Beach Towel
Available in a dozen eye-popping designs, this microfiber towel will be a real conversation piece at the beach. But what shoppers love most is that it dries faster (three times faster, according to the brand) than traditional towels.
“What I loved most about this towel is that it’s very absorbent, it dried me up and then it, too, dried up super fast!” writes Joe, a verified Amazon reviewer. “This way, I had a dry towel every time I got out of the water.”
Pros
What we like about the ECCOSOPHY Microfiber Quick Dry Beach Towel:
- Quick drying
- Ultra-absorbent microfiber
- Reversible
- Lightweight and travels well
- Available in multiple colors
- Made in the USA
Con
Consider this before you buy the ECCOSOPHY Microfiber Quick Dry Beach Towel:
- Some reviewers have found it’s not as soft to the touch as they’d like
Best personalized beach towel
Personalization Mall Colorful Custom Beach Towel
There’ll be no arguing over whose towel is whose, thanks to these cotton terry towels embroidered with any name in your choice of font and thread color. Plus, they’re perfect for year-round use as a bathroom towel. More than 86% of reviews are five stars, with one shopper noting, “Love the color and feel of the towels. They were huge. The embroidery was beautiful.” And another adds, “These towels are great! Large, thick and absorbent. The colors and monograms are perfect. I’ve bought several as souvenirs for beach vacations! Highly recommend.”
Pros
What we like about the Personalization Mall Colorful Custom Beach Towel:
- Customizable embroidery
- 100% cotton terry fabric
- Affordable price point for a personalized touch
Con
Consider this before you buy the Personalization Mall Colorful Custom Beach Towel:
- Limited color options available
Best blanket beach towel
Benevolence LA Authentic Mexican Blanket
You might not think of using a Mexican blanket as a beach towel, but think again. These authentic Mexican blankets are woven by local artisans in Tlaxcala, Mexico, on a traditional wooden loom and are perfect for the beach, as evidenced by more than 15,000 five-star ratings. Shoppers praise the fact that they’re “soft yet durable enough to bring to the beach on sand” and recommend them as “a great beach/outdoor type blanket.” Each Aztec blanket is unique, but all of them are made of 100% recycled materials and are bursting with vibrant colors. Plus, each purchase gives back to charity.
Pros
What we like about the Benevolence LA Authentic Mexican Blanket:
- Fits multiple people while lounging on the beach
- 100% recycled acrylic and cotton fabric
- Perfect for any outdoor adventure
- A portion of profits donated to charity
Con
Consider this before you buy the Benevolence LA Authentic Mexican Blanket:
- Not ideal for drying off, more for relaxing outdoors
Additional reporting by Lois Alter Mark.
