7 Best Turkish Towels, According to Textiles Experts
These soft and lightweight towels look and feel luxurious.
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Unlike most popular bath towels with plush terrycloth loops, Turkish towels are typically made with a flatter weave, making them more lightweight and compact with a smoother feel. They're ideal for everything from wiping off after a shower to traveling or laying out on the beach, thanks to how compact they are and tend to dry quickly. Most Turkish towels are made from Turkish cotton, a long-staple fiber that's strong, soft and durable.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we test and review all kinds of bath towels in our Textiles Lab, including the best quick-drying towels and beach towels. In our Textiles Lab tests, we've tested more than 90 bath towels, including several options made with Turkish cotton, for properties like absorbency, dry time, washability and strength. We also shared towels with consumer testers who provided us with real-world feedback. Along with reviewing our towel testing data, we used our textile expertise to research Turkish towels from brands that have performed well in similar product categories to determine which towels are really worth it.
Pros
- GOTS-certified organic
- Looped back for added absorbency
- Chic tassel design
Cons
- Bath towel is smaller than some other brands
Combining a Turkish towel with a terrycloth towel, this style from West Elm offers the best of both worlds. The front of the towel is smooth like a traditional Turkish towel, while the reverse side is designed with short loops of yarn for improved absorbency and a softer feel overall. Our Lab pros are fans of West Elm products, especially its top-performing sheets, which earned high scores in our Textiles Lab and consumer evaluations for their excellent quality and comfort.
At 28" x 54", the towel is a bit smaller than some of the other bath towels we test, but the terrycloth backing means there's added absorbency, so a bigger size may not be necessary. The 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton can be machine washed and dried for easy care.
We love the short, tasseled fringe and the classic, muted color options. For a chic, coordinating look in the bathroom, the brand also carries matching hand towels.
Dimensions: 28" x 54" | Fabric weight: 300 GSM | Material: 100% organic cotton
Pros
- Versatile design
- Reviewers said cotton material is soft
- Eye-catching weave in nearly 30 colors
Cons
- Takes longer to dry than other Turkish towels, according to reviewers
Available in 29 colors, including bold and neutral hues, Demmex's Turkish towel is woven with an eye-catching diamond pattern. Online reviewers shared that the affordable towel is comfy, with one who said that it was "so cozy and soft right out of the package." The brand and users said the towel grows even softer with use, and some users have reported that the absorbency also improves after just one cycle in the washing machine.
Because it is thicker than some other Turkish towels, online reviewers said it does take a bit longer for this one to dry after use. According to the brand, the towel is a versatile option for the beach or a bath since it's large enough to lay on and perfectly oversized for wrapping up in after a shower. Some reviewers even said they wear it as a shawl.
Dimensions: 36" x 71" | Fabric weight: Not listed | Material: 100% Turkish cotton
Pros
- More than 9,700 five-star reviews
- Oversize
- Tons of colors to choose from
Cons
- Some reviewers wished it was more absorbent
Over 9,700 Amazon reviewers have given this affordable Turkish towel a five-star rating, with several reviewers sharing that it has become an essential for bath time and beach trips. A few also said the versatile towel is also great to pack up and use as a blanket at the park or as a sarong at the pool.
We love that the lightweight cotton towel is pre-washed to help prevent shrinkage in the wash. Some online reviewers said they wished the towel was more absorbent, which is a common complaint of thin Turkish towels, but they appreciate how quickly the towel dries. Several reviewers also noted that when they use it as a beach towel, it's a breeze to shake sand from the surface.
At 38" x 71", the towel is oversize with plenty of room for drying off after a bath or sprawling out at the pool, and there's even an XL blanket size. Plus, there's bound to be a shade that coordinates with your style and decor since the towel is available in a whopping 36 different colors.
Dimensions: 38" x 71" | Fabric weight: Not listed | Material: 100% Turkish cotton
Pros
- Yarn-dyed cotton
- Reviewers said it's absorbent
- Top-tested brand
Cons
- Some reviewers sakd fringe tangles in the wash
This high-quality towel from Coyuchi is made with 100% GOTS-certified organic Turkish cotton, meaning the entire production process — not just the fibers — meets strict organic standards.
Our experts have evaluated other towels from the brand, as well as Coyuchi's organic sheets and pillows, and all performed well in our Textiles Lab and with consumer testers. This style is more expensive than some of our other picks, but online reviewers said the soft towel is worth the higher price tag, with one who described it as "even better than [she] could have imagined."
The towel is yarn-dyed, so it's less likely to fade with regular use, even after laundering. One online reviewer shared, "They’re strong, dry quickly, and the colors are beautiful. Wish I had purchased them sooner!" According to some reviewers, the fringed trim can tangle in the washer, which doesn't impact the overall performance of the towels but does affect the look.
If you don't love the towel after trying it, the brand offers a 30-day refund window and a generous 180-day store credit return policy.
Dimensions: 28" x 54" | Fabric weight: 320 GSM | Material: 100% organic Turkish cotton
Pros
- Sand shakes free easily
- Reviewers said it packs compactly for travel
- Oversized
Cons
- Some reviewers experienced snagging
An oversize Turkish cotton towel is perfect for travel, especially a beach vacation (along with a top-tested SPF, of course). There's plenty of space for you to sprawl out on the sand, but it folds down into a compact size, so there will be room left over in your beach bag too.
Typical beach towels made with looped terrycloth tend to hold onto sand, but the flat weave of a Turkish towel means sand doesn't sink into the material as easily and can be shaken off of the surface when you're ready to head home. Because of the flat-woven construction, some reviewers said the towel is susceptible to snagging.
If you prefer fun patterns or character-themed designs, there are dozens of styles available on the brand's website. Plus, you can choose the even more spacious large or XL sizes.
Dimensions: 37" x 69" | Fabric weight: 240 GSM | Material: 100% Turkish cotton
Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Towels, Set of 2
Pros
- Soft and thick material
- Highly absorbent
- Year-long return policy
Cons
- Doesn't dry as quickly as other picks
Though they're not your typical flat-weave Turkish towels, this two-piece set from Brooklinen is made with long-staple Turkish cotton woven into a fuller terrycloth material. They're a GH Seal holder and a favorite of GH analysts and editors who love to use them in their own bathrooms and describe the towels as "so soft and plush." They're loved by our at-home testers too, including one who shared, "It's the best towel I've ever used."
In our evaluations, the towels received excellent scores for absorbency, and they performed well in the wash without major shrinkage or shedding. In comparison to the other Turkish towels featured, these take quite a bit longer to dry after use because they're so absorbent and thick, but they still earned average scores when compared to other bath towels in our drying tests.
Brooklinen offers a generous 365-day and any-reason return policy if you're curious to try them, but there is a $9.95 fee attached.
Dimensions: 30" x 58" | Fabric weight: 820 GSM | Material: 100% Turkish cotton
Pros
- Lightweight
- Waffle design has better absorbency than flat weave
- Spa-like look and feel
Cons
- Some shrinkage in the dryer
During our Textiles Lab tests, we were impressed by just how quickly this 100% Turkish cotton waffle from Parachute towel dried. Testers said the lightweight towel had a blanket-like feel, and gave it high scores for its luxurious appearance. The spa-like style is available in four neutral colors, and there are matching hand towels.
While waffle towels have proven to be less absorbent than terrycloth styles in our evaluations, the textured design increases the overall surface area of the towel, meaning this waffle towel is likely more absorbent than some of the other traditional flat-woven Turkish towels featured. Plus, the towel held up well in our washability evaluations, maintaining its appearance without snags or piling, though it did experience some shrinkage in the dryer. Our testers agreed that the towels were easy to care for too.
Dimensions: 56" x 30" | Fabric weight: 240 GSM | Material: 100% Turkish cotton
How we choose the best Turkish towels
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we evaluate towels in our Lab and with our consumer testers. In recent years, we've tested over 90 different bath towels, including towels made with Turkish cotton, whether they're traditional Turkish towels or extra-soft plush or waffle styles.
When we test towels in the Lab, we analyze absorbency by setting up the towels at an angle and pouring water onto them from a standard distance, catching and weighing the runoff (pictured here); an exceptionally absorbent towel will have little to no runoff. We also consider drying speed by measuring how quickly towels hang dry after being wet with a standard amount of water.
To determine how the towels will hold up to repeated washing, we wash and dry each one a total of 20 times and note any major changes in appearance, damages or shrinkage that occur. We use our Instron machine, which pulls apart towel swatches and measures the force required to break the material, to evaluate their strength. In addition, we work with dozens of consumer testers who try the towels out for themselves and rate characteristics like overall softness, appearance, whether they dried quickly and more.
We reviewed our former towel testing data and used our categorical expertise when evaluating Turkish towels online, considering properties like fiber type and fabric construction, care instructions and product claims. We also chose towels from popular brands with positive reviews from real users or from brands that have performed well in our tests for similar product categories.
What to look for when shopping for a Turkish towel
When shopping for a Turkish cotton towel, here are a few things to keep in mind:
✔️ Size: Consider how you plan to use your Turkish towel — for drying off after a shower or lying out under the sun? Most bath towels are a standard size of approximately 30" x 56", while beach towels tend to be larger at 30" x 60" and up. You can always opt for an oversize style that will provide more coverage or to wrap completely up in.
✔️ Fabric weight: The weight in grams of one square meter of fabric is known as gram weight or GSM (grams per square meter). A higher GSM means the towel is thicker and more luxurious, while a lower GSM indicates a thinner towel that's likely to dry more quickly. Turkish cotton towels tend to be between 300 and 500 GSM, but there are some Turkish cotton towels with higher and lower GSM.
✔️ Care instructions: Review the care label before buying to ensure you're taking proper care of your Turkish towel. Most towels can be machine washed and dried, but some brands recommend cold water cycles or low temperatures for drying, and others may even suggest hang drying to prevent shrinkage or damage.
✔️ Organic certifications: The easiest way to determine if a towel is truly organic is to look for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification. It outlines strict standards for the entire production process, not just the cotton fibers used. To see if the brand you're shopping for is certified, check the GOTS public database.
Are Turkish towels worth it?
Turkish towels can be a bit pricier than standard terrycloth towels, but we think they're worth it. Lightweight and packable, Turkish towels tend to take up little space on closet shelves, and they're easy to squeeze into your bag for travel and outdoor adventures. Flat-woven Turkish towels tend to dry quickly unlike plush terrycloth styles. And the flat surface makes it easy to shake off sand or debris after using the towel at the beach or park.
Many of them are made with Turkish cotton, which is a long-staple cotton that's soft, luxurious and durable. Towels labeled "Turkish cotton" have performed better than towels made with Egyptian and other cotton types in our evaluations.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Amanda Constantine is a home and apparel reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she evaluates home goods of all kinds, including towels. She has conducted towel testing in the Textiles Lab, analyzing properties like washability and shrinkage. Constantine has written about the best towels on Amazon, the best quick-dry towels and the best beach towels. For this article, she used her categorical expertise to make picks and referenced former testing data conducted by GH Senior Analyst Emma Seymour.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
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