The 9 Best Cloth Napkins of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

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Tester-approved picks for any occasion

Fact checked by Lily Sperry

Offering functionality and aesthetic appeal, a good set of napkins can help you cut down on your use of paper towels while contributing to the decor of your kitchen and dining room .

"Investing in some good cloth napkins will enhance any table in a stylish and environmentally friendly way," says Shira Koschitzky , Brand Designer at Loom & Table. And while there are plenty of patterns and materials to choose from, Koschitzky recommends going the natural route. For easy maintenance and ensured longevity, "make sure they are soft and absorbent—nothing too stiff, but nothing too precious either," she adds.

Keeping Koschitzky's insights in mind, we tested some of the most popular napkin sets on the market, considering their design, fabric, ease of cleaning, durability, and overall value. Our top picks cover a variety of price points and designs, offering something for just about everybody.

Williams Sonoma Pantry Napkins

Best Overall

Buy at Williams-sonoma.com

What We Like

• Great value

• Versatile

• Minimal wrinkles after washing

• Folds nicely

What We Don't Like

• Limited colors

While the Williams Sonoma Pantry Napkins are on the plainer side, we found them to be incredibly versatile and well-made for the price. Made with yarn-dyed, sustainably sourced cotton, these napkins come in sets of six and have a slightly larger-than-average size—20 x 20 inches versus the standard 18 x 20 inches.

They're available in just two colors (cream and navy) and no patterns, but, according to Koschitzky, neutral colors are a great bet when starting your collection. "You can build your collection over time as your tablescape creativity blossoms," she says. Subtle details like the slubbed texture and a simple bordered trim make them feel a bit more thoughtful than the plain dinner napkins you might be used to at restaurants.

While the 100 percent cotton fabric is more prone to wrinkling than non-cotton options, our tester found that the napkins still laundered quite well and smoothed back out when refolded. Just note that, as with other options, you'll want to wash these napkins in warm water rather than cold to help dissolve food residue and remove stains.

Price at time of publish: $25

Material:Cotton | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:6 | Care:Machine-wash warm, tumble-dry

Ruvanti Premium Quality Cloth Napkins Set of 12

Best Budget

Available in packs of 12, this wallet-friendly set is smooth to the touch and hardly wrinkles in the wash.

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

What We Like

• Budget-friendly

• Soft yet sturdy

• Folds nicely

• Wrinkle-resistant

What We Don't Like

• Not 100 percent cotton

Don't let their low price point fool you: after more than a month of use, we found the Ruvanti Cloth Napkins to be an all-around solid option. Made with a sturdy poly-cotton blend, these napkins are available are an all-around solid option that wore incredibly well. They're sold in an economical 12-pack—ideal for larger households—and available in more than a dozen colors, though we wish there were more neutral choices.

While we usually prefer all-natural weaves, our tester liked that the soft, sturdy, canvas-like fabric doesn't wrinkle like 100 percent earth-sourced materials. These cloth napkins are low-maintenance, too: they were good-as-new coming out of the dryer and folded up really nicely.

Price at time of publish: $20

Material:Poly-cotton blend | Size:18 x 18 inches | Quantity:12 | Care:Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry

Food52 Five Two Everyday Soft Cotton Napkins

Best Everyday

Buy at Food52.com

What We Like

• Exceptionally soft

• Versatile

• No special care instructions

What We Don't Like

• Pricey

Shopping for an everyday set? You can't go wrong with Five Two Cloth Napkins. Available in quantities of four or six, they earned perfect scores across the board. Our only complaint was the relatively steep price, but if you're truly planning on using them every day, we'd say they're worth the initial investment.

These exceptionally soft yet sturdy napkins are made of 100 percent cotton, with a subtle crinkled texture that helps conceal any wrinkling. They don't require any special care and came out of the dryer with very few creases and smoothed out nicely. We also appreciate that the color options include several versatile neutrals (we tried the eucalyptus color, but there are plenty of even more neutral hues).

Price at time of publish: $30 for a set of 4

Material:Cotton | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:4 or 6 | Care:Machine-wash, tumble-dry low

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Crate & Barrel Aspen Cloth Napkins

Best for Special Occasions

Reminiscent of fine-dining table linens, they're soft and smooth with an upscale aesthetic.

Buy at Crateandbarrel.com

What We Like

• Smooth to the touch

• Folds nicely

• Great color selection

What We Don't Like

• Hems aren't reinforced

• Prone to wrinkling

With their versatile yet somewhat formal aesthetic, the Aspen Napkins from Crate & Barrel would make the perfect option for special occasions. They're made of 100 percent cotton and are smooth to the touch with almost no texture, like fine-dining table linens at a fancy restaurant.

You can buy the Aspen Napkins individually or in sets of eight, which makes it easy to stock up on however many you need. During use, we were particularly impressed by how soft these napkins were. That being said, the material is relatively thin and the hems aren't reinforced; because of this, they wouldn't hold up well to everyday use. As is standard with cotton, the fabric wrinkled slightly in the wash but smoothed out pretty well by hand.

Price at time of publish: $5.95 each or $45.22 for a set of 8

Material:Cotton | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:1 or 8 | Care:Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry

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Parachute Linen Waffle Napkins

Best Splurge

Earning perfect scores for design, fabric, and durability, these splurge-worthy napkins have a casual yet elegant look.

Buy at Parachutehome.com

What We Like

• Exceptionally soft

• Unique texture

• Drapey yet durable

What We Don't Like

• Expensive

• Limited colors

• Wavy edges after washing

While one of the more expensive options that we tried, we were thoroughly impressed with Parachute's Linen Waffle Napkins. Woven from 100 percent European flax fibers, they have a unique honeycomb texture that gives them a casual, lived-in look (and also masks any potential wrinkling).

Though the edges were a little wavy after being laundered, the napkins held up really well in the wash. We wish they were more affordable—the price is pretty steep, and the largest quantity you can get is two—but if you can swing it, they're worth the splurge.

Price at time of publish: $29

Material:Flax linen | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:2 | Care:Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry low

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Anthropologie Nifty Napkins

Best Patterned

Buy at Anthropologie.com

What We Like

• Unique design

• Soft and silky

• No special care instructions

What We Don't Like

• Pricey

• Slightly misshapen after washing

Want something a little less plain? Anthropologie's Nifty Napkins are a great option, offering a soft, somewhat silky feel and a playful but not unsophisticated pattern. We loved their sturdy construction and ease of cleaning, requiring no special care.

The boho-inspired motif is pretty and unique (though not the most versatile) and each napkin in the set features a slightly different design. These napkins become slightly misshapen in the wash, which is often expected with 100 percent cotton. However, they smooth out really well by hand if you fold them when they're still slightly warm from the dryer. You can also iron them, if preferred.

Price at time of publish: $32

Material:Cotton | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:6 | Care:Machine-wash, tumble-dry

Coyuchi Sonoma Textured Organic Napkins

Best Organic

Buy at Coyuchi.com

What We Like

• GOTS-certified

• Texture masks wrinkles

• Folds nicely

• Durable

What We Don't Like

• Expensive

• Limited colors

• Corners roll after washing

With a soft, subtly crinkled texture, Coyuchi's Sonoma Napkins are a practical yet design-forward option that mirrors the quality of Coyuchi's towels and bed linens. Made from sturdy organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), the quality is immediately apparent with these table linens. Still, they're one of our more costly options.

These napkins come rolled up with twine—a down-to-earth touch and a design-forward alternative to traditional folding . We wish there were a few more colors to choose from, but the available shades are chic and sophisticated (we loved the "deep ocean" option, a dark teal hue that's rich but not too vivid). Though the corners rolled up slightly after washing, the napkins held up well overall and refolded smoothly.

Price at time of publish: $58 for a set of 4

Material:Organic cotton | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:4 or 12 | Care:Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry low

Quince European Linen Napkins

Best Linen

The laid-back yet elegant fabric is lightweight, slightly drapey, and suitable for virtually any occasion.

Buy at Onequince.com

What We Like

• Reasonably priced

• Sourced from European flax

• Durable

• Increasingly soft

What We Don't Like

• Prone to wrinkling

• Doesn't fold very flat

Linen napkins are a great way to add casual elegance to your dining setup, and these beauties from Quince are undoubtedly one of the best options you can find. Sold in a set of four, they're woven from a premium, flax-sourced linen that will only get softer with time. Plus, they come in at a far lower price point than you'd expect—offering great quality for the price.

Another benefit of this type of linen is its durability: flax-sourced linen is among the strongest, longest-lasting textiles you can buy. While prone to wrinkling, we'd argue that this effect looks more intentional with linen than with traditional cotton. And while they don't fold very flat, they look great rolled up and tied in the middle.

Price at time of publish: $48

Material:Flax linen | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:4 | Care:Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry low

Text Link: The 11 Best Linen Tablecloths of 2023

World Market Cotton Slub Napkins With Fringe, Set of 4

Best Fringed

The fabric doesn't wrinkle much in the wash and folds up nice and flat.

Buy at Worldmarket.com

What We Like

• Budget-friendly

• No special care instructions

• Folds nicely

• Great color selection

What We Don't Like

• Thin fabric

• Fringe messes up in wash

"Napkins can change the mood of your tablescapes," says interior designer Cindy Rinfret —and if you want to add some character but aren't keen on prints and patterns, consider these fringed options from World Market. At $8 a piece, these are an affordable option that is best reserved for special occasions, especially given the quality. We found the fabric to be a bit thin and transparent, and while they don't require any special care to maintain, we found that the fringe went a bit haywire in the wash. That being said, they didn't really wrinkle and folded up nicely. All in all, these table linens are imperfect, but they're very reasonably priced and come in a wide array of colors to complement any decor scheme or dinner party theme.

Price at time of publish: $8

Material:Cotton | Size:20 x 20 inches | Quantity:4 | Care:Machine-wash, tumble-dry

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The Williams Sonoma Pantry Napkins were our overall favorites, offering a versatile look and high quality for the mid-level price. If you're looking for something a little more affordable or want to buy in bulk, the Ruvanti Premium Quality Cloth Napkins are an excellent choice. Made of a wrinkle-resistant poly-cotton blend, this budget-friendly 12-pack scored high for design, fabric, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

How We Tested

For this roundup, we researched today's best-selling cloth napkins and sent our tester home with 14 standout sets, asking her to try them out with real-life table settings . She put them to use and inspected the weight, texture, feel, softness, foldability, and versatility, then washed them in a washing machine and dried them in a dryer. To help you find the best option for your taste and budget, we selected the napkins that earned the highest scores.

What to Look for in Cloth Napkins

Fabric

Cloth napkins can be made from many different materials, but you'll usually see them made from cotton, polyester, or linen. "Look for a fabric with natural fibers or high-quality man-made fibers, like a poly-cotton blend," says Shira Koschitzky , brand designer at Loom & Table. All three materials are great, but they tend to feel a little different—for example, cotton may feel soft, whereas polyester has a smoother feel. Keep an eye out for materials that feel the way you want them to.

Appearance

Cloth napkins can be a great way to add some visual flair to your tablescape, so keep an eye out for options that suit your decor scheme. "Choose colors that work well with your tablecloths and dishes so that you have multiple options for mixing and matching," says Koschitzky. "I would recommend investing in solid, quality basics—a white or neutral that always matches. You can build your collection over time as your tablescape creativity blossoms."

Quantity

Cloth napkins come in sets of four, six, eight—and sometimes, even more. Since quantity can vary so much from set to set, it's important to double-check how many napkins you're actually getting. This is key when comparing prices. And it's also generally helpful to know how many napkins to expect.

"I would recommend owning two cloth napkins per the number of guests you typically host around your table," says Koschitzky. "That way, you always have a spare set while the other is being washed."

Size

Cloth napkins can come in a couple different sizes—usually 18 inches by 18 inches and 20 inches by 20 inches. This is particularly important to remember when mixing and matching different napkin sets. If one set is full of 18-inch napkins and the other is full of 20-inch napkins, your napkins may not go together quite the way you thought they would.

Care Instructions

Cloth napkins can be surprisingly easy to care for. Most are machine-washable, and many are also dryer-friendly. That said, it's always worth it to double-check the care instructions before buying.

According to interior designer Cindy Rinfret , one of the most critical considerations is whether the fabric needs ironing. You don't want to end up with a high-maintenance set of napkins when you think you're buying a low-maintenance one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get stains out of cloth napkins?

There are a few different ways to get stains out of cloth napkins. You can spot-clean them with dish soap or a stain removal spray, or you can throw them in the washing machine with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda. If your napkins are white, you may also be able to freshen them up with OxiClean. "Starch is your friend if you like a fresh and crisp linen appearance," says Betsy Moyer of the experiential design firm Retreat. "Otherwise, we rely on OxiClean to keep our white fields white."

Before taking any of these steps, though, double-check the care instructions for your specific cloth napkins. Some materials can handle harsh chemicals, while others can't. The last thing you want is to ruin your cloth napkins while trying to clean them!

How often should you wash cloth napkins?

There's no hard-and-fast rule for how often you should wash your cloth napkins . You can toss them in the wash after every meal, or you can wait a few meals before throwing them in the laundry. Find a schedule that works for you, and make sure you have enough cloth napkins to sustain that schedule. For example, if you only have four napkins in a 4-person household—and you don't want to do laundry multiple times a day—you may not want to wash your napkins after every meal.

How do you fold cloth napkins?

There are many different ways to fold cloth napkins . A couple of Moyer's favorites: Fold them into sixths and tie them up with hemp string, or slide them inside napkin rings. Options abound, though, so play with different styles until you find something that suits your tablescape—and your preferred level of effort.

Are cloth napkins hygienic?

Cloth napkins can be perfectly hygienic if properly laundered. Restaurants and healthcare facilities must follow strict laundry requirements set by the CDC. However, for domestic use, regularly washing your cloth napkins will keep germs at bay.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Theresa Holland , a copywriter specializing in textiles, home decor, and lifestyle within the commerce space. Our editors researched the top cloth napkins on the market, which she carefully inspected and tested at home before landing on the final picks.

For additional insight, Holland also spoke with two interior designers: Shira Koschitzky of Loom & Table and Betsy Moyer , co-founder of the experiential design firm Retreat. Holland covers home goods, household linens, and cleaning products at The Spruce. You can find more of her bylines on MyDomaine and Verywell Family.

Lily Sperry , a commerce editor at The Spruce, performed additional updates.