I’m Officially a Turkish Towels Devotee

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It's my belief that the small touches are what makes a home feel more beautiful: items like quality candles, stylish barware, and luxe pillowcases make all the difference. They can make the space feel curated and cared for, from the living room to the bathroom. Though Taylor Swift may prefer monogram towels here, I was interested in finding the best Turkish towels for my own home. It's part of my mission to discover little gems like these that make my apartment feel even more special.

The towels have a reputation for being on the thinner side compared to a traditional terry cloth or microfiber towel, but don't mistake that thinness for cheap quality. "Turkish towels are unique because they are light and thin, but also super soft and absorbent," Sarah Smith, manager of design shop sales & engagement training at Serena & Lily, says. "Turkish towels are made from Turkish cotton that has long staple fibers that are known for their softness, absorbency, and durability." They dry fast, get softer with each wash, and look beautiful.

Turkish towels often feature unique patterns, waffle-knit or ribbed textures, and even fringed tassels that when displayed on a towel bar or hook, give your bathroom that spa-like vibe. You can also take a page out of Swift’s book and have them monogrammed for a fancy feel. Ahead, I rounded up eight Turkish towels, including five I tested, that I love. Shop the picks and see what the experts have to say, too, about buying and caring for them.

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Resort Collection Turkish Beach Towel

If you want to wrap yourself in something that feels like it’s from a hotel in Greece, this is for you. The multi-stripe pattern coupled with thin soft tassels is stunning. I do worry they’ll get matted after frequent use, but they’re great for now. The light sea glass color would be beautiful for a beach day or picnic, but I would be so scared of getting this dirty. It also feels so light that it would likely blow away in the wind without something weighing it down.

When I tugged at it, there was some thread loosening, but overall this is really tightly woven. It drapes nicely and I couldn’t stop running my hands over its smooth exterior. I thought the top layer was nice until I turned it over, where the cushy underside was the feeling I wanted to linger in for the longest. The thing that impressed me the most was its absorbency. This dried me off quickly post-shower and the tassels didn’t get in the way like I thought they would, either.

Sizes: Beach Towel (72" x 40") | Material: 100 percent long-staple Turkish cotton | Weight: 350 GSM | Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle; tumble dry low

Turkish Waffle Terry Bath Towel

This set looks so put together. I would be so honored if someone gave me these spa-like luxury Turkish bath towels while I stayed as a guest at their home. The thick border trim is an extra polished touch as well. After a shower, I could feel the water on the terry underside, but it didn’t bleed through to the other side. It took quite a few passes to feel completely dry, so while it’s nice to wrap myself in, it would likely take a while to soak up water.

I’ve had towels with a waffle texture before, but it’s nowhere near as tightly woven and smooth as this set from Quince. Despite how the pattern can typically bring a rougher texture, it’s still so soft. The smooth layer of terry on the underside makes it a great material to lounge in long after a shower is over, without feeling like you’re sitting in moisture. This should absolutely stay in the bathroom, though; sand from the beach could get caught in the little grooves in a way that’d be difficult to shake out.

Sizes: Bath Towel (30" x 56") | Material: 100 percent long-staple Turkish cotton | Weight: 550 GSM | Care: Machine wash cool and tumble dry low or hang dry

Soft Rib Towels

The ribbed exterior on this towel adds a great texture and a bit more cushion than the traditional thin Turkish towel. This luxe feel is present on both sides, and it's light and absorbent as well. The thin spaces between the individual ribs trap moisture for a quick-drying effect. "The softest towels I’ve ever felt—not too thick or heavy but still absorbent," one reviewer wrote. "Ribbing is so stylish and the color is just the perfect earth tone. Feels super gentle on my skin."

Sizes: Washcloth (12" X 12"), Hand Towel (30" X 20"), Bath Towel (56" X 30"), Bath Sheet (76" X 40") | Material: 100 percent long-staple Turkish cotton | Weight: 450 GSM | Care: Machine washable with like colors

Border Frame Beach Towel

Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner tested this towel as part of her search for the best beach towels, and loved its coastal flair. "These also feel more like bath towels than beach towels, but I'll take it," Cherner says. "It could be because the bulk of the towel is bright white, but I am more inclined to bring these to a pool where they are less likely to get dirty than to the beach." It's available in a border color of forest green or bright lobster red, and either way the towels bring a simple yet bold colorful touch to your poolside decor. Even better for outdoor use: that thick border frame is weighted, so it's less likely to blow away in the wind.

Sizes: Beach Towel (40" x 70") | Material: Long-staple, 100 percent Turkish Aegean cotton | Weight: 500 GSM | Care: Machine wash cold with like colors, tumble dry low

Plush Light Beige Bath Towel

The no-frills design of these Turkish bath towels keeps the basics of a good towel while adding the heavy cushiness of quality cotton. There was some variation in softness and weave coming fresh out of the package, but it was so plush to the touch and by far the most plush of the towels I tried. It felt equally soft on either side. After a few minutes in a towel warmer, this would feel like heaven to step into. Post-shower, some of the moisture bleeds through to the other side of the towel, so this one might take longer to dry itself off (to be expected from the thick material.

Sizes: Bath Towel (30" x 56") | Material: 100 percent long-staple cotton | Weight: 600 GSM | Care: Machine wash warm, gentle cycle, tumble dry low

Ultralight Hand Towels

Ultralight is the right descriptor for these towels; it feels like they weigh nothing. It has a similar no-frills look to Crane and Canopy, and it's a bit of a rougher texture in a heavy duty way. I tested the hand towel size, but every available size is made of the same weighted Turkish cotton. I think this is a great utility towel to place in a high-traffic area like a first-floor powder room.

The graphite color will hold up to stains and lots of hand-washing. It was the roughest to the touch of the towels I tested, but it turns out that was pretty great for absorbency. These towels dried my hands so quickly, it was as though they were never wet. Its extra absorbent and held on to the water itself, but it was drying within seconds when hung.

Sizes: Washcloth (13” x 13”), Hand Towel (20” x 30”), Bath Towel (30” x 58”), Bath Sheet (40” x 65”) | Material: 100 percent Turkish Cotton | Weight: 320 GSM | Care: Machine wash cold, Tumble dry low.

Turkish Beach Towel with Travel Bag

The easy packing of this beach towel makes it, in our book, one of the best Turkish towels on amazon. Its affordable price means you could get a set for the whole family on vacation. It'll take up minimal space in a suitcase or personal item, making it great for travel or just a day trip to the beach. The striped front and fringed edges give it a relaxed feel, and the lightweight Turkish cotton will also shake off sand easily. "Went on a girls trip by a beach and we used these several times," one reviewer wrote. "Washed them after each use—so about four times in 9 days—and they still work great and look like brand new! Loved the carrier bag, made it very convenient for compact packing!"

Sizes: Beach Towel (39" x 71") | Material: 100 percent Turkish cotton | Weight: Not listed | Care: Wash towel with cold or medium water on the gentle cycle, low heat tumble dry

Mediterranean Organic Towels

If you want your Turkish towels to be less about utility and more about decoration, this is your winner. Its tight weave, gorgeous blue detailing and textured, alternating design all make it stand out, topped off with the fringed but tightly twisted tassels.

This Turkish Aegean cotton towel is beautiful, but it was the thinnest of everything I tested. I would display these in a powder room or guest bathroom towel rack to liven up the room, but I wouldn’t call the texture a traditional bath towel by any means. It lived up to the reputation Turkish towels have for being on the thinner side. The super lightweight towel was also small compared to my other tests. Don’t use it after a shower, but drape this across a pool or beach chair for an accent piece.

Sizes: Wash Cloth (12" x 12"), Guest Towel (16" x 26"), Bath Towel (28" x 54"), Beach Towel (39" x 71") | Material: 100 percent organic Aegean Turkish cotton | Weight: 320 GSM | Care: Cold wash, gentle cycle, tumble dry low

How We Selected the Best Turkish Towels

For our research on Turkish towels, we combined in-house testing with evaluating trusted brands and external reviews to find the very best ones for every need. Beach, bath, and hand towels were all fair game in our research. We tested towels from the following brands: Serena & Lily, Quince, Frontgate, Crane and Canopy, Coyuchi, and Brooklinen.

We assessed these towels in home environments for texture, absorbency, durability, and design. We checked for how they felt against our skin, how long it took to dry us off after washing our hands or taking a shower, how heavy it felt when wet, how it felt when tugged at it and, of course, how beautiful it would look displayed in a bathroom or beachside. Though the Parachute Soft Rib towels and Bay Laurel travel towels did not pass through our hands for full testing, we trusted the brand history, product features, and external customer reviews to speak to the quality of the towels.

What to Know Before Buying Turkish Towels

Here are a few elements to consider before buying Turkish towels:

Size: Just as with any towel purchase, paying attention to the size is crucial for your bathroom experience. If you know the pain of a tiny hotel towel that doesn't cover your body, you'll want to check the dimensions of the towel beforehand. Bath sheets and beach towels tend to be much larger in surface area, so if you want a cocooning wraparound, these are a safer bet.

Material: Turkish towels get their name from their threads: often long-staple cotton woven in Turkey. They have a lightweight weave that gets softer with every wash. Turkish towels are great for those who find a thinner towel more comfortable.

Weight: The weight of Turkish towels is measured in GSM, or grams per square meter. This measurement is a great way to predict the hand feel of your towels, ranging from 320 in the thinnest we selected to 800 in the thickest. A higher GSM often feels plusher, closer to a thick blanket, where a lower one might dry faster, but also feel thinner and rougher.

Care: As a general rule of thumb, machine wash your Turkish cotton towels on a low to warm temperature and gentle cycle. Tumble dry on a low temperature to maintain the thinner fabric. Bleach will likely break down the fibers, so avoid using it while washing. You'll also want to watch for any shedding, and on towels with special textures like Quince's waffle towels and Parachute's soft rib towels, avoid hooks that could snag or pull at the fabric. Smith also recommends replacing your towels every two years.

How Absorbent Are Turkish Towels?

Most Turkish towels will be on the thinner side compared to a traditional terry cloth towel, but they can still be surprisingly absorbent. The cotton threads are more spaced out than a traditional towel, allowing more room to take in moisture. "We love Turkish towels in many spaces because they are lightweight, dry quickly, and are still very soft," Smith says. "They are easy to travel with and don’t take up too much storage space in the linen closet." The GSM weight of a towel can also help you tell how it'll feel after a shower or a day at the beach. Heavier towels with a higher GSM are more likely to trap water.

Why Trust House Beautiful?

House Beautiful is dedicated to finding the best pieces for your home, no matter what your budget or design preference is. Finding the very best in textiles is a particular passion of ours, from cooling bamboo sheets to soft jute rugs that elevate your living room. We love to combine our own expertise with thorough research and testing to give you first-person accounts of the market's best home products.

For further knowledge on how to best use Turkish towels, we also consulted design expert Sarah Smith from Serena & Lily. As the Manager of Design Shop Sales & Engagement Training, Smith oversees the education of new hires including their SCAD coursework. She is adept in design fundamentals, spatial planning, and color theory. For product launches, Sarah serves as the retail liaison for the chief design officer and merchandising team.

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