12 Best Beach Towels for Summer, Tested by Experts

When your average beach towel doesn’t cut it, this XL option from Lands’ End is ideal. The oversized towel is 39 inches wide and 78 inches long instead of the standard 30 inches by 60 inches, so there's plenty of space to sprawl out. Made of 100% cotton terrycloth, this absorbent towel is thick and warm and great for drying off after a dip in the pool. These towels are even woven with shorter loops to prevent snagging and have flat-woven edges to reduce pulling threads. Choose from four striped patterns and opt for a personalized touch with an embroidered symbol, name or monogram for an added fee.

When evaluating this towel, we were immediately impressed with its soft, plush feel with finished ends for a luxe look. "It's a towel I would want to wrap up in after a cold swim," reported one GH analyst after testing the towel. Because of its absorbent design, this towel will take longer to dry compared to a microfiber option. For a more affordable option from Lands' End, we recommend the Solid Beach Towel, which was plush and soft in our evaluations albeit a bit thinner.

Dimensions: 39” x 78” | Material: Cotton terrycloth | Care: Machine washable

Achieve the classic beach towel look without spending a ton with these affordable towels from Amazon Basics. While most beach towels cost over $40 per towel, these start at just $11 each. They are sold in sets of two or four and are available in green, navy, light blue and yellow stripes. They're made with cotton terrycloth for a cozy feel, but we did find they're not as soft as pricier styles.

When using these towels at the beach, we found the lightweight design was easier to pack into a beach bag compared to thicker cotton styles. We noticed some loose threads on the edges after use, so these towels are best suited for someone who only uses a beach towel a few times a year.

Dimensions: 30" x 60” | Material: Cotton terrycloth | Care: Machine wash, tumble dry low

These cotton terrycloth beach towels are plush and absorbent and available for just a fraction of the price of most other towels. In our evaluations, 100% cotton terrycloth towels felt soft and soaked up plenty of water to help you dry off quickly. According to over 13,000 online reviewers, these beach towels are ideal for someone who wants a no-fuss option for regular use at the beach or pool, and they're especially great for kids.

The brand recommends washing the towels before using them for a softer and fluffier feel, and online reviewers agree that the towels feel and look better post-laundering. Some reviewers shared that the bold colors bled in the washer and that there was some noticeable fiber shed, so keep these towels separate from your other belongings during their first wash.

Dimensions: 30" x 60" | Material: Cotton terrycloth | Care: Machine wash warm, tumble dry low

The extra-large towel from Dock & Bay impressed us during our Lab evaluations, proving to be sand-resistant and truly quick-drying. The smooth microfiber material keeps sand on the fabric's surface, making it simple to shake the sand loose when you're ready to pack up. It held up well to repeated wash testing in our Lab, too, without major changes in appearance or shrinkage.

Because the material is on the thinner side, it won't feel as plush as a cotton terrycloth towel, but it is ultra-lightweight and easy to roll into its included carrying pouch for easy packing. "I like to bring this towel everywhere with me on summer days in case I may have an impromptu picnic," said one tester. It's available in more than 30 striped patterns and a few solid colors and comes in four sizes if you prefer something smaller.

Dimensions: 78" x 35" | Material: Polyester and polyamide blend microfiber | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry if needed

When we tried this towel from CGear, we were blown away by how easy it was to remove sand from the surface. Most beach towels are made with tightly woven cotton fabric, covered in loops that trap sand and dirt, but this towel features a unique dual-layer construction. There are two pieces of material woven with small gaps, so when sand inevitably makes its way onto your towel, it can easily pass through the gaps, keeping the surface and you sand-free.

The synthetic material is durable but it wasn't developed with absorbency in mind, so it's not the best towel to use for drying off after taking a dip in the ocean. But, it will dry more quickly than a plush cotton beach towel and even comes with a corner loop for hanging. It's also lightweight and folds into a compact size, so you'll have plenty of leftover space in your beach bag.

Dimensions: 31" x 63" | Material: Dual layer polyester weave | Care: Machine washable

Perfect for family beach days, this oversized towel from Tesalate is roomy enough for the entire crew to lounge on, but if you love lots of space to spread out, you might just want to keep it for yourself. You can choose from eight colorful prints that the whole family will love, and there's a standard-sized beach towel available in over 25 prints as well.

Made from microfiber material, the towels are quick to dry and feature a corner loop for convenient hanging. The smooth microfiber surface also makes it easy to brush sand away. When you're ready to head home, the towel rolls into a small carrying case, so any lingering sand won't escape into your bag or car. The towel is on the thinner side, and according to some online reviewers, the material doesn't feel as comfortable to dry off with as other plush beach towels.

Dimensions: 63" x 63" | Material: Polyester and polyamide blend | Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry

A beach towel with personalized embroidery makes the perfect gift, especially for a bachelorette or birthday trip. These Mark and Graham towels have tons of personalization options for monogramming or embroidering text up to 10 characters. You can choose from over 40 embroidery styles, including symbols like flamingos and tennis rackets. Personalization costs $12.50 extra.

We were really impressed with how soft these Turkish cotton towels were. They have a plush, fluffy feel for comfortable lounging, but the material did hold onto more sand than microfiber alternatives. The thicker fabric is ideal to lounge on out of the water too.

Dimensions: 40” x 68” | Material: Turkish cotton | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

Space in your luggage is limited, so a lightweight, packable towel is a must. This ECCOSOPHY towel comes with a convenient mesh carrying case, so it's easy to stash in your bag when traveling. While most beach towels are only available in stripes, this one is sold in over 25 patterns (which are all reversible). We especially love that the pattern options include beautiful florals, bright neon squiggles and festive palm leaves.

The smooth microfiber material easily released sand in our tests to help keep you sand-free. Because it's made with lightweight microfiber, it isn't as absorbent as cotton, but it dries much quicker. There's a hanging loop too for easy drying.

Dimensions: ‎71" x 35" | Material: Microfiber | Care: Machine washable

L.L.Bean is consistently a top performer in our Lab tests with its slippers, sheets, backpacks and more, and its towels are no exception. Made of 100% cotton, this slightly oversized towel is built to withstand beach and pool wear without fading. Towels can be dyed at different points during production — from fiber to final product. This pick is dyed during the yarn stage, which helps to prevent the color from fading with use.

The medium-weight terrycloth material is soft and substantial, so it's great to wrap up in when you get out of the water. Unlike most synthetic towels, it's also highly absorbent to make drying off quick and easy. Some online reviewers mention that the towel is prone to snagging and hanging threads, which is a result of the plush looped material, but the brand accepts returns for up to one year after purchase for items that aren't satisfactory. If you prefer something more colorful or bold, there are other playful patterns available to choose from.

Dimensions: 36" x 68" | Material: Cotton terrycloth | Care: Machine wash and dry

Brooklinen makes some of the best bath towels we've tested, and the brand's beach towels are also incredibly luxurious. The dense, heavyweight towels have an ultra-plush, super soft feel that we can't get enough of. Rather than being woven with terrycloth loops on each side, the front of the towel is a soft brushed velour, while the back of the towel is looped for absorbency.

One analyst dubbed this towel "the best beach towel ever," sharing that the absorbent 100% cotton pick is the ultimate cozy towel to bundle up in at the beach. At the beach, GH analysts especially liked lounging on this towel because of its cozy feel. It did hold onto more sand and take longer to dry compared to other towels we tested.

Dimensions: 34" x 70" | Material: Cotton terrycloth back and velour front | Care: Machine wash warm, tumble dry low

Made of 100% GOTS-certified organic Turkish cotton, this high-quality towel from Coyuchi will instantly upgrade your trip to the beach. When we tested this towel, everyone loved its appearance, noting the beautiful weave and chic tassels. "I enjoy using the towel because it is lightweight and generously sized, which makes it easy to carry to the beach," said one tester. "I can comfortably use it for sitting and lounging on hot sand, which I cannot do with my very thin beach towels."

The towels are yarn-dyed, which means they are less likely to fade with regular use. Instead of a looped terrycloth, the towels are made with a flat woven material that doesn't soak up as much water when you're drying off. The flat weave does have its benefits, though. It's relatively easy to shake the towels clean of sand because it sits on the surface instead of sinking into loops of yarn, and it's not quite as bulky or heavy as other beach towels.

Dimensions: 34" x 70" | Material: Turkish cotton flat weave | Care: Machine wash cold gentle, air dry

Featuring beautiful nature patterns and bright, bold colors, these Nomadix beach towels are designed to showcase your personality. Perfect to bring on a trip or to a music festival, this beach towel is made of a polyester/nylon blend that (unlike most microfiber beach towels) has short loops to be softer and more absorbent.

In our tests, we appreciated this towel's thicker feel compared to other synthetic options. We especially liked the strong, built-in hanging loop. Because of its thicker design, this pick could be used as a yoga towel in a pinch. The brand also uses recycled materials in its towels for a more sustainable buy. Most microfiber towels include a carrying case, but this one doesn't.

Dimensions: ‎30" x 72.5" | Material: Nylon/polyester | Care: Machine washable