The very best Brooklinen towels, tested and reviewed
I tried the brand's three bath towels — here's how they fared against the competition, and why I think they're a worthy investment.
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Some people splurge on expensive skin care or high-end fashion. For me, it's fancy dinnerware, luxurious sheets … and bath towels in a cornucopia of colors and patterns. I own more towels than I can count, swapping out styles and textures for every mood and season. And as a longtime home writer who's had the opportunity to try a lot of textiles — including dozens of towels — I consider the best Brooklinen towels a worthy investment.
In this story
While I've had Brooklinen towels in my rotation for several years now, I put some fresh sets to the test, including the brand's new, supposedly even better versions of their regular and plush towels. I assessed the threads for look and feel, dunking them in water to gauge their absorption. I soaked them and hung them to see how long it took them to air-dry, and put them through several spins in the washer and dryer to check durability.
Best Brooklinen bath towels
Fabric: Aegean Turkish cotton | Dimensions:30" x 58" | Colors:White, Stone, Slate, Abyss, plus 11 other shades and patterns | Certifications: Oeko-Tex Standard 100
Made from Aegean Turkish cotton, Brooklinen's recently redesigned Super-Plush towel is the brand's most luxurious option. It's among the biggest, plushest towels I've ever tested.
Why it's great:The Super-Plush has a 770 GSM (grams per square meter), compared to the previous version at 820 GSM, for an even softer, slightly fluffier (vs. weightier) feel than the original. From an aesthetic perspective, it features a minimalist style, with a half-inch hem at both ends. Bonus: Unlike other Brooklinen towels, this one has a loop for hanging!
In my absorbency tests, the towel held 3.5 liters of water — the most of any plush towel I've tested. Measuring 30" × 58", it was the largest towel in my initial assessments and, after tumble-drying, measured about 29.5" x 54.5."
When soaked and laid out on my deck in the sun, the Super-Plush towel takes slightly longer to dry than the new Brooklinen Plush towel (which replaces the brand's previous mid-weight option) and the Dreamweave waffle towel. But it was still mostly dry in an hour and a half and fully dry in under two hours, which, given its high GSM, is pretty impressive.
After several months of use and countless wash-and-dry cycles, this towel has retained all of its softness and most of its rich color, demonstrating good long-term durability for a higher-priced option. The Super-Plush line currently comes in nine solid hues and six striped versions (a few colors and patterns are also available with a dobby for a more classic design). Brooklinen also offers some of the best bath sheets I've evaluated — as well as hand towels , washcloths and robes — in the same material, plus bundle options for added value.
Minor criticisms:Given its thickness, this towel will take up more storage space than your average bath towel and will likely take longer to air-dry. As of now, you can only purchase the towel in sets of two.
- Ultra-soft and plush
- Absorbent
- Oeko-Tex-certified
- Loop for hanging
- Wide color/pattern assortment
- On the pricier side
- Have to purchase in sets of two
Fabric: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Dimensions:30" x 58" | Color options:White, Slate, Abyss, Botanical Green and 6 more | Certifications: Oeko-Tex Standard 100
For a lighter bath towel, especially during the summer months, the Brooklinen Dreamweave is a winner. It stood out in my waffle towel testing , thanks to its texture, refined look and cozy, lofty feel.
Why it's great:This towel is made from long-staple Turkish cotton that's been pre-washed, and it's the softest waffle towel I tested. While many other waffle towels have thread stitching along the top and bottom, Brooklinen's gauzy fabric extends to the edges for an all-over cozy feel and a cohesive finish.
Not only is the fabric softer, but the pockets are also deeper than those of most waffle towels I've evaluated. This towel has retained its cozy texture and most of its color despite having been put through several wash-and-dry cycles during initial testing — and many times since. And it only shrank slightly: I measured 30" × 57.5" before washing and 29.5" × 56.25" after tumble-drying, respectively.
Additionally, this towel was among the fastest-drying in the waffle towel category — in the dryer, taking only 10 minutes on low heat. When it comes to air-drying, it was mostly dry in 30 minutes and completely dry in a little over an hour.
Like the Super-Plush line, Brooklinen offers the Dreamweave as a hand towel , a washcloth and a robe , with bundle options for additional savings. At publication time, it came in ten shades ranging from classic white, cream and gray to trendy blues, greens, yellows and checkered patterns.
Minor criticisms:With the ability to retain about 1 liter of water, this towel isn't nearly as thirsty as Brooklinen's other towels, but it's comparable to or slightly thirstier than most waffle towels I evaluated. There's no hanging loop, and like other Brooklinen towels, it must be purchased in sets of two.
- Ultra-soft
- Quick-drying
- Oeko-Tex certified
- Wide color assortment
- On the pricier side
- No loop for hanging
Opt for the Brooklinen Super-Plush Towel (top) in fall and winter and the Plush or Dreamweave Waffle Towel come warmer seasons.
(Kristin Granero/Yahoo)Factors to consider when choosing Brooklinen bath towels
✓ Dimensions:Most of the bath towels I tested measured around 30" x 58", which I'd consider standard. Their bath sheet counterparts typically measure around 40" x 65" for those who like more coverage. Thicker, plusher towels tend to be more absorbent. Smaller, thinner towels take up less room when storing and transporting and are often fast-drying.
✓ Fabric:Most towels are made from 100% cotton, though some incorporate blends such as bamboo-derived rayon for added softness or texture. Long-staple cottonhas longer fibers, which typically make towels stronger and more durable. Turkish cottonfeatures long, smooth fibers that create a dense weave and a heavier, more luxurious feel. Common labels include GOTS-certified organic cottonand Oeko-Tex Standard 100 , which verifies that a textile has been tested against more than 1,000 potentially harmful substances.
✓ Weave:Traditional terry is typically lightweight and fluffy, ranging from rough to soft. While it may not absorb as much as long-staple or Turkish blends, it often dries faster. Long-staple or Turkish terry tends to be thicker and heavier, similar to what you might experience at a spa or hotel. Waffle towels, with their textured pattern, are among the lightest and fastest-drying of all. A thicker dobby (the row of threading at a towel's top and bottom) lends a more classic feel, whereas thinner stitches (or no dobby at all) have a minimalistic appeal.
✓ Size and color assortment:Many brands offer their towels in a variety of sizes and styles, such as hand towels, wash cloths, bath sheets, and bath mats, to create a cohesive look. Tentpole collections/colors (as opposed to seasonal options) tend to stick around longer and are therefore easier to replenish (rather than purchasing a new, matching collection). Consider mixing and matching a few colors to give yourself some options. It can also be helpful to designate a different towel color for each person living in your house, so you don't have to worry about who's using what (the same goes for repeat overnight guests).
✓ Cost:Like many home essentials, I consider quality bath towels a worthy investment that will hopefully pay off over time. That said, you don't necessarily have to splurge in the name of good quality.
How we test bath towels
I tested these towels by — you guessed it — doing a lot of laundry! Here's a more detailed rundown of my evaluation process:
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Design:I assessed each towel carefully upon arrival, noting softness, fluffiness, thickness, color, and various design elements. I also laid each towel flat and used a ruler to measure the actual size vs. what was stated on brand websites.
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Absorbency:With first impressions out of the way, it was off to the bathtub. Each towel was dunked in a bucket of water and balled up gently to assess how much water it could hold.
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Laundry:I then headed to the laundry room, putting each towel through five wash-and-dry cycles to see how they held up to water, heat and being tossed around. I used the same laundry detergent for cleaning and wool balls for drying — in the same quantities — for consistency. I washed towels in warm water and tumble-dried them on low.
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Longevity:After the fifth drying, it was back to the assessment table. I compared each tested towel with a fresh one to see how well it retained its color and shape, and therefore how likely it is to hold up over time.
Other Brooklinen towels we tested
Brooklinen Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towel: Brooklinen's Plush towel, which recently replaced the brand's regular bath towel, is made from the same Aegean Turkish cotton as the Super-Plush for an ultra-soft feel. With a GSM of 500, it's not as cushy or absorbent as the Super-Plush towel, which is ultimately why I went with that as my top pick. But the Plush soaked up 3 liters of water and air-dried more quickly (mostly within an hour and completely within an hour and 30 minutes) for those looking for a lighter option, in general, or come warmer weather.
Check out these guides to see how Brooklinen towels fared against the competition in testing:
A sampling of the waffle towels I tested. Check out my guide to the best waffle towels to see how the other brands stacked up. (Kristin Granero/Yahoo)
(Kristin Granero/Yahoo)Brooklinen bath towel FAQs
Which Brooklinen towels are the best?
The best bath towel is soft, absorbent and quick to dry — one that will look good in your bathroom, feel good on your skin … and last a long time. Aside from this, it typically comes down to whichever one best suits your personal budget, needs, and style. Based on testing, we recommend the Brooklinen Super-Plush bath towel for most people, as it hits the sweet spot between luxury, durability and price.
Is Brooklinen worth it for towels?
No doubt about it, these towels are an investment, typically selling for $45 or more apiece, depending on the style. Having owned Brooklinen towels for years now, I can attest to their durability. They feel like what you'd get at a luxury spa, and they come in a range of elevated colors and patterns.
What is the fastest-drying Brooklinen bath towel?
Waffle towels typically dry the quickest because they have a more breathable weave — and the brand's Dreamweave Waffle Towel did, in fact, dry quicker than any other Brooklinen towel in testing. Keep in mind that thick edges/borders and dobbies (bands of stitching along the top and bottom of a towel) can also affect a towel's drying time.
Update, June 5, 2026: We checked pricing and availability for all products and added new testing results for the newly designed Brooklinen Super-Plush and Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective and unbiased criteria.
