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A good beach towel is the ultimate summer MVP, especially if you're planning to frequent the pool or take a family vacation to the shore (with a top-tested sunscreen and a good beach chair, of course). A high-quality beach towel needs to be soft, comfortable to lie on, absorbent, and easy to carry. We tested more than a dozen beach towels to find the best buys, whether you prefer a thick cotton terrycloth towel that's comfy to cozy up in (like your favorite bath towel) or a lightweight, quick-drying towel that won't hold onto sand.
Our top picks:
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Best overall: Lands' End Cabana Stripe Beach Towel
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Best value: Amazon Basics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel (2-Pack)
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Softest: Brooklinen Beach Towel
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Best sand-free: Dock & Bay Beach Towel
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab
put beach towels to the test—both in our Lab and at the beach to evaluate if the towels held onto sand. We also analyzed other important factors like absorbency, feel, durability, and appearance. Finally, we shared beach towels with consumer testers
who brought them to pools and beaches across the globe. We combined our results with testers' thoughts to determine the beach towels worth buying for all your summer adventures.
Lands' End Cabana Stripe Beach Towel
Emma Seymour
When the average beach towel no longer cuts it, whip out this extra-large option from Lands’ End. 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 for anyone 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. Choose from six striped patterns and opt for a personalized touch with an embroidered symbol, name, or monogram for an added fee. 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.
TESTING NOTES:When evaluating this towel, we were immediately impressed with its soft, plush feel and finished ends, which gives it 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. The towel is even woven with shorter loops to prevent snagging and has flat-woven edges to reduce the chance of pulled threads.
- Plush cotton terrycloth
- Extra-long design
- Option to add a monogram
- Thick material takes longer to dry
Amazon Basics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel (2-Pack)
Emma Seymour
Achieve the classic beach cabana look with these affordable coordinating towels from Amazon Basics. While many beach towels cost more than $40 per towel, these are less than $20 for a two-piece set.Made with cotton terrycloth, the towels are ideal for drying off, but we did find they're not as soft as some of the pricier cotton styles we evaluated.
TESTING NOTES:When using these towels at the beach, we noted that 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 is looking for a a beach towel to use every now and then or for someone who is okay with replacing their towels at the end of the season.
- Budget-friendly two-pack
- Cozy cotton terrycloth material
- Classic stripe pattern
- Not as soft as other picks
Dock & Bay Beach Towel (X-Large)
Emma Seymour
The smooth microfiber material of this extra-large towel from Dock & Bay keeps sand on the fabric's surface, making it simple to shake the sand loose when you're ready to pack up.It's available in more than 30 striped patterns and prints, along with a few solid colors. It also comes in four sizes if you prefer something smaller—or even larger.
TESTING NOTES:It impressed us during our Textiles Lab evaluations, proving to be sand-resistant and truly quick-drying. 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 held up well to repeated wash testing too, without major changes in appearance or shrinkage.
- Over 30 colors and prints
- Held up well to repeated washing
- Sand-resistant material
- Not as plush as terrycloth towels
Utopia Cabana Stripe Beach Towels (4-Pack)
Utopia Towels
These cotton terrycloth beach towels are plush and absorbent and available for just a fraction of the price of most other towels.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.
TESTING NOTES:In our evaluations, 100% cotton terrycloth towels felt soft and soaked up plenty of water to help you dry off quickly. The brand recommends washing the towels before using them for a softer feel, and we recommend the same. Laundering the beach towels can help to fluff up the terrycloth loops, ultimately creating a cozier feel. Some online reviewers noted the colors bleeding in the wash, which isn't unheard of given that the towels feature bold colors and white stripes—we advise washing them separately from your other laundry.
- Cotton terrycloth known for absorbency
- Four towels for the price of one
- Bright colored stripes may bleed in wash
Brooklinen Beach Towel
Brooklinen
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 feelthat 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. The towels come in multi-packs that help you save some cash too.
TESTING NOTES:One GH 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, we 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, but this one is still my go-to beach towel.
- Absorbent cotton material
- Bundles available for a discounted price
- Super plush feel
- Thicker material held onto more sand
Tesalate Sand-Free Beach Blanket
Emma Seymour/Good Housekeeping
Perfect for family beach days, this extra large towel from Tesalate is roomy enough for the entire crew to lounge on.(But if you love having a lot of space to spread out, you might just want to keep it for yourself.) It comes in a wide range of colorful prints so there's something for everyone in your family—even the pickiest teen. And if you can't decide on one to share, the brand does carry standard-size towels in over 60 different patterns.
TESTING NOTES: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. The towel is on the thinner side, and from our experience, the microfiber material doesn't feel quite as comfy to dry off with or wrap up in after a long day at the beach, but the benefit of being sand-resistant is worth the tradeoff.
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.
- Double the size of most beach towels
- Carrying pouch included
- Microfiber material won't trap sand
- Material is thin
Mark and Graham Cabana Stripe Towel
Emma Seymour
A beach towel with personalized embroidery makes the perfect gift, especially for a bachelorette or birthday trip, or it can be a great option for families with kids to keep track of whose is whose. 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 $17 extra. In addition to beach towels, Mark & Graham offers "pool" towels, which are closer in size to a standard bath towel.
TESTING NOTES: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 too.
- Thick, cozy material
- Luxuriously soft
- Over 40 embroidery options
- Personalization costs extra
Eccosophy Microfiber Beach Towel
Emma Seymour
Extra space in your luggage or beach bag is limited, so a lightweight, packable towel is a must. This Eccosophy towel is on the thinner side and comes with a convenient mesh carrying case, so it's easy to stash awaywhen traveling. The towel is available in more than a dozen fun prints and patterns that will make it easy to spot on a busy beach or back of a lounge chair.
TESTING NOTES:The smooth microfiber material easily released sand in our tests to help keep you sand-free when drying off. Because it's made with lightweight microfiber, it isn't as absorbent as cotton, but it dries much quicker—there's even a hang loop to help with the drying process.
- Bold patterns stand out on the beach
- Material dries quickly
- Sand easily fell off in our tests
- Thin material
L.L.Bean Seaside Beach Towel
L..L.Bean
L.L.Bean is consistently a top performer in our Lab tests for its practical, high-quality designs, and this beach towel is 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—and this pick is dyed during the yarn stage, which helps to prevent the color from fading with use. There are fun, beachy designs like the featured starfish, anchors, and sea turtles.
TESTING NOTES: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 terrycloth material having longer loops—easier to pull. However, the brand accepts returns for up to one year after purchase for items that aren't satisfactory for a small restock fee.
- Generous return policy
- Yarn-dyed to prevent fading
- Absorbent cotton material
- Longer terrycloth loops could snag
Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Towels
Emma Seymour/Good Housekeeping
Made of 100% GOTS-certified organic Turkish cotton, this high-quality towel from Coyuchi will instantly upgrade your trip to the beach. The towel is yarn-dyed, which means it is less likely to fade with regular use.
TESTING NOTES: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."
Instead of a looped terrycloth, the towel is 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.
- GOTS-certified organic
- Lightweight material
- Yarn-dyed cotton
- Not as absorbent as some other cotton beach towels
How we test beach towels
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab , we regularly test all kinds of towels from bath towels and waffle towels to quick-dry towels.
In our latest test, we evaluated more than a dozen beach towels to find the best buys. We brought all the towels to the beach to assess how easily sand shakes off each towel and how practical they are for lounging and drying. In the Textiles Lab, we assessed absorbency, construction and durability, including laundering for shrinkage and fiber shed.
Consumer testers also tried the beach towels during their outings, using them at the beach, pool, lake, and more. They gave us feedback on each towel's absorbency, feel, appearance, and drying time.
What to look for when shopping for the best beach towels
✔️ Fiber content:Beach towels are sold in two main fabrications: smooth microfiber and plush cotton terrycloth. Cotton terrycloth is soft and absorbent so you can dry off quickly and comfortably at the beach. If you're looking for a luxury beach towel, you can opt for one made with longer cotton fibers like Turkish or Egyptian cotton for an even softer feel. Microfiber is a little less absorbent than cotton but has a smooth feel and shakes free of sand easily. Plus, microfiber towels tend to dry more quickly, so you won't have to lug home a sopping wet towel.
✔️ Absorbency:If you are constantly on the go, try a flat microfiber option for its quick-drying capabilities. A more plush, absorbent cotton terrycloth option is better suited for drying off post-swim.
✔️ Size:Most beach towels are a standard size of about 30" x 60", which is a bit larger than the average bath towel, but there are many sizes available beyond that. An oversized beach towel is great for couples or for the whole family to sit on, and there are also extra-long beach towels if you're tall and don't want your toes to get sandy while you're lying on the beach.
✔️ Packability:A towel can take up quite a bit of room in your beach bag or suitcase, so if you're tight on space, consider an easy-to-pack option for travel. Most quick-dry towels are on the thinner side, and many of them come with a small carrying pouch, making them even easier to tote around.
Is cotton or microfiber better for beach towels?
Both cotton and microfiber can be a great choice for beach towels. Ultimately, it comes down to what you're looking for. If you plan to use the towel to lounge on and dry off after a swim, soft cotton terryclothis your best bet.
Quick-drying microfiberis easier to carry as it's lighter weight and doesn't hold onto as much sand as cotton, but it's not as soft or plush. Many of our testers reported that they like owning both types of beach towels for different occasions.
The towel on the left is a microfiber towel, and the towel on the right is made with traditional terrycloth. You can see that sand rests on the surface of the microfiber towel but sinks into the loops of the terrycloth option.
What's the difference between a beach towel and a bath towel?
A regular bath towel is not a great fit for the beach. While its fluffiness makes it ideal for drying off after a shower, it’s less suitable for stuffing in a beach bag.
A beach towel, on the other hand, is designed to be thinner and less plush. That means it folds up smaller for packing, dries faster, and doesn’t hold on to as much sand. It also is big enough to accommodate the full length of your body when you're lounging, and beach towels are available in more fun prints and colors.
If you bring a bath towel to the beach, be prepared for it to still be soggy at the end of the day and to show some wear from sand or sun.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Emma Seymour has been at Good Housekeeping for over five years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests as associate director of the Textiles Lab. With a degree in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience and product quality assessment expertise. Seymour has tested a variety of beach towels, including many of the featured picks.
Amanda Constantine
joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a home and apparel reviews analyst. She has conducted bath towel testing for the Textiles Lab and has written about the best towels on Amazon
and the best quick-dry towels
. She tested beach towels alongside Seymour to update this article.
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