Textiles Experts Say This Affordable Quick-Dry Towel Beat Over 90 Others in Lab Tests

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No one wants to hop out of the shower to dry off only to grab a damp and musty towel that never fully dried from the day before. But if this sounds like your shower routine, a quick-dry towel could help eliminate your woes. Whether the towel is made with cotton loops, a flat waffle-weave construction, or a lightweight microfiber pile, a quick-dry towel is designed to speed up dry time, so you don't have to worry about it being a wet mess in your bathroom.

Our top picks:

• Best Overall: Everplush Diamond Jacquard Set

• Best Value: Amazon Basics Quick-Dry Towel Set

• Softest: Riley Home Plush Towel

• Best Organic: Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we test towels of all kinds—from bath towels to beach towels —evaluating them for factors like washability, absorbency, shrinkage, fabric strength, colorfastness and, of course, how quickly each one dries. We also work with our consumer testers who use the towels at home and rate them for properties like comfort, softness, and their experiences with laundering. In recent years, we've tested more than 90 towels,and the following picks are top-tested quick drying towels from our evaluations, analyst favorites, or best-selling styles with tons of online reviews from real users.

Everplush Diamond Jacquard 6 Piece Bath Towel Set

A favorite of several GH Textiles Lab analysts, Everplush's bath towels and bath sheets (featured) have a unique construction that stands out from other bath towels we've tested. The towels combine cotton fibers on the surface for softness with microfiber on the inside for better performance.As a result, these towels not only feel great and are absorbent, but they're also quick-drying; most towels are usually only one or the other.

During our Lab evaluations, the towels were top-performers. Not only did they ace our drying and absorbency tests, but they also earned high marks for their strength and shrink resistance. When we washed the towels according to their care instructions, we noted more pilling and fuzz than with other towels, but this is common of fiber blends.

WHAT TESTERS SAY:Our testers were wowed by many aspects of the towels, including their size, texture, and weight. One shared, "I loved how soft the towel was. It was a good size, not too big, and it dried even faster than my Turkish towel. Despite being soft and plush, it was lightweight." Many testers said the towels had a cloud-like feel and even described them as "luxurious." "If I could replace all my home towels with this one, I would," said a tester.

In addition to the brand's jacquard towels, we also recommend Everplush's Hokime ribbed towel sets , which performed well in our tests.

Amazon Basics Quick-Dry Bath Towel, 2-Pack

For less than the price of one towel at some other high-end brands we've tested, this two-pack of towels from Amazon Basics is a favorite of our testers. The bath towels are made of 100% cotton, but they're thinner and less dense than other towe ls, so they're quicker drying by default but still feel soft and cozy.

When we tested them in our Textiles Lab, the towels earned average absorbency scores and didn't soak up fluid as easily as plusher towels. They did perform well in our washability tests, though, holding their own against expensive towels and maintaining their softness and after being laundered.

WHAT TESTERS SAY:While the towels weren't the most absorbent in our evaluations, our at-home testers were impressed by the absorbency during their at-home assessments. One tester commented, "These towels are simply amazing! Not only do they dry super quickly, but they are also incredibly soft and gentle on my skin."After an analyst used these towels in her own home to compare them to other towels in her closet, she shared that she has "been impressed how it feels more expensive than it actually is."

Priced at around $10 a piece (or less!) with tens of thousands of online reviews, these towels from Amazon are super popular and a total steal.The two-pack of towels stood out in our tests for its soft feel, and one tester was surprised by how cozy the towels felt, sharing that they seemed more expensive than they really were. The towels are on the thinner side, so some testers wished they were plusher, but others appreciated the lightweight design.

RELATED: Best Towels on Amazon

Parachute Waffle Bath Towel

This towel has a waffle-weave construction that is lightweight and dried impressively fast in our Textiles Lab tests.Because there are no loops like with a traditional terrycloth towel, it won't feel as plush or absorbent as other styles—in fact, some testers said it seemed more like a blanket, but there are plenty of testers who preferred the thinner feel of a waffle weave like Parachute's towel.

Waffle towels are known for their luxurious, spa-like look, and we think this one is the ultimate pick. It is made with 100% long-staple Turkish cotton, which is fine and smooth. The towel also performed well in our washability evaluations, with minimal wear in the wash.

WHAT TESTERS SAY:At-home testers agreed that the towel looked great after being laundered, but some noted shrinkage in the dryer. The chic towel also earned high scores for appearance: The light and airy look and feel was a tester favorite.

RELATED: Best Waffle Towels

Riley Home Plush Towel Collection

Dubbed the softest in our recent towel tests, this Riley Home towel is made with a zero-twist combed Egyptian cotton construction.The cotton fibers are long and strong, resulting in a soft, absorbent, and durable bath towel that was decorated as a Good Housekeeping 2025 Bath Award winner.

The towel felt just as soft after being laundered several times, but it did shrink some in the wash. What's most impressive about the towel isn't how soft it is, though—it's how quickly it dried. The 100% cotton towel easily absorbed water in our tests and then dried more quickly than other towels, including plush and lighter weight styles.

We've noticed some stock issues with certain colors and sizes of this towel, so don't wait to buy, especially if you'd like a matching set.

WHAT TESTERS SAY:Our testers gave the towel perfect softness scores, including one who shared, "This bath towel is extremely soft and feels buttery smooth against your skin! It's oversized and thick, which makes for a very luxurious experience." Another tester commented, "Even after drying off and wrapping it around my hair, the towel barely felt wet and after hanging, it was dry within an hour or so. Wrapping up in this towel was like wrapping up in a plush blanket and I felt very luxurious." Testers also agreed that the towel remained soft after being washed.

Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel

This luxurious towel from Pottery Barn is the plushest of our picks and is our current top-tested bath towel.Plus, it's a 2025 Bath Awards winner. Though it's not the quickest drying towel of the bunch, it's a quicker drying plush towel that we love.

The towel performed exceptionally well in our tests across a variety of categories. It maintained its shape and softness with just a bit of shrinkage after 20 cycles of aggregate washing. The towel was also very absorbent, soaking up the water in our tests with ease, meaning you'll have no problem drying off after a shower or bath. Even better: The towel is made of organic Turkish cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

WHAT TESTERS SAY:The towel has a super soft feel, with some testers describing it as "so fluffy" and the "ideal towel." One tester commented, "This is the softest bath towel I've ever used, so I loved drying off with it." Another highlighted, "It is soft, buttery, fluffy, just pure amazingness on skin. It is pretty absorbent and I just love getting out of the shower and drying off with this one. I also love the size of it!"

In addition to being soft and cozy, the towel also earned top marks from our testers for appearance—both before and after laundering—and for being easy to care for.

Rainleaf Microfiber Towel

This compact travel towel is a best-seller on Amazon with thousands of reviews and convenient Prime shipping. The towel is made of an ultra-thin microfiber material that can be rolled down or folded and stored in its compact carrying case, making it the perfect towel to bring in a backpack on a hiking trip or to throw in your beach bag.

While microfiber towels aren't as absorbent as terrycloth towels or even waffle towels, the fabric does soak up some water and can help to wipe moisture off. What this towel lacks in absorbency, it excels in quick-drying abilities because the synthetic fibers are moisture-wicking. It's available in 17 vibrant colors and six different sizes.

WHAT USERS SAY:Like with other microfiber towels we've tested, reviewers said this one isn't super absorbent, and there are some complaints that the edge stitching unravels with use. It won't be the best option if you're looking for an ultra-durable, ultra-plush towel, but it is a good choice for someone on the go.

One user shared, "It’s super lightweight, packs down small in my bag, and dries so fast—perfect for beach days, poolside, or quick showers at the hotel." Another commented, "Whether you're drying off after a refreshing swim, wiping away sweat during a workout, or cleaning up after a day of hiking, this towel absorbs moisture quickly and efficiently, leaving you feeling dry and comfortable in no time.

How we test towels

In the Textiles Lab, we put towels through various evaluations using our equipment, and have consumer testers try out the towels for themselves and provide real-user feedback. In recent years, we've tested more than 90 towels and reviewed over 10,000 data points from these tests.Here's how towels that are tested in the Lab are scored:

✔️Drying speed: To test drying speed, a standardized amount of water is added to a fabric swatch, and we hang the swatch to dry. The fabric is weighed every 30 minutes until it reaches its original weight, which indicates that it is fully dry.

✔️Washability:We wash the towels 20 times, drying them every four cycles, and then we analyze them for shrinkage, appearance, and weight loss during the laundering process.

✔️Absorbency:Using the equipment pictured, we set a towel sample in place at a 60-degree angle. We then pour water onto the towel from a standard distance, and any water that doesn't absorb into the material rolls into a pan below, which is then weighed. Each towel undergoes this test multiple times, including between wash cycles. A towel with perfect absorbency won't have any water run off into the pan.

✔️Fabric strength:We use a specialized Instron machine that pulls towel fabric swatches apart, measuring the force needed to break each swatch.

✔️Consumer tests:Our consumer testers try out the towels at home and rate them for properties like softness, appearance, and whether or not they dried users off quickly.

What to look for when shopping for the best quick-dry towels

Quick-dry towels are a bit different than your standard bath towel with unique features that speed up the drying process. Here are a few things to look for when shopping for one:

✔️Fabric construction:The majority of towels are constructed from terrycloth fabric, which is a woven fabric covered in tiny loops of yarn that increase the fabric's surface area and absorbency. That means it's great at soaking up water and keeping you dry.

However, some quick-dry towels are made with woven microfiber fabrics that aren't always looped. Sometimes, the microfibers are brushed for a fuzzy feel that's comparable to suede, and other times the microfiber pile is low and flat. Either way, microfiber fabrics won't soak up as much water as traditional terrycloth, but they will have a shorter dry time.

✔️ Fiber content:Many brands will include fiber content information on the care label. Most quick-dry towels are made of synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, or polyamide, which are long-lasting and more durable than natural fibers. Plus, they're inherently hydrophobic, which means they aren't super absorbent and take less time to dry as a result.

Natural fibers like cotton, on the other hand, are typically more absorbent and are loved by testers for having a softer, plusher feel than synthetic fibers. Because they're so absorbent, they are likely to take longer to dry, but this isn't always the case, especially when they're blended with a synthetic fiber. With a blend, you'll get the best of both worlds—an absorbent, soft, and quicker drying material.

✔️Fabric weight:Fabric weight is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). A plush, ultra-absorbent towel is going to be heavier and have a higher GSM, sometimes upwards of 600. A full-size quick-dry towel, on the other hand, will likely be lighter weight with a lower GSM around or less than 300.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Lexie Sachs is the executive director of strategy & operations and former executive director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute . Sachs has tested dozens of towels using lab equipment, evaluating aspects like dry speed, strength, and shrinkage. She has also worked with hundreds of consumer testers, collecting thousands of data points around softness and user satisfaction. Sachs initially wrote this article based on test results and expertise in shopping for bath towels.

Amanda Constantine is a home & apparel reviews analyst at Good Housekeeping Institute where she has been working in the Textiles Lab since 2022. She evaluates home goods of all kinds, including beach and bath towels. Constantine has tested dozens of towels in the Lab for properties like washability and shrinkage. She used her categorical expertise, data from our recent bath towel tests, and consumer feedback while updating this article.

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