Let’s be honest: most of us buy bath towels the way we grab a snack at the checkout. A pretty colour catches our eye, we give it a quick squeeze, and into the cart it goes. Then, a few washes later, it feels like sandpaper, smells a bit funky, or just pushes water around instead of soaking it up. Sound familiar?
Here’s the good news. Choosing the best bath towels isn’t complicated once you know what to look for. Whether you want a plush, spa-style wrap or a quick-dry towel for busy mornings, these six checks will help you pick towels that stay soft, absorbent and fresh for years. Let’s dive in (towel ready, of course).
1. Check the GSM (It’s the Secret Number)
GSM stands for grams per square metre, and it’s the most useful number on any towel label. It tells you how dense, and how thirsty, a towel really is.
- 200–350 GSM: Light, thin and quick-drying. Great for the gym, travel or the beach.
- 350–500 GSM: The everyday sweet spot. Soft, absorbent and dries in reasonable time.
- 500 GSM and up: Thick, plush and hotel-like. Perfect for a cosy wrap, but it needs longer to dry.
Pro tip: if your bathroom doesn’t get much air or sunlight, a mid-weight towel is your best friend. Heavy towels that stay damp are the usual culprits behind that musty smell.
Shop by GSM: Find towels from 200 to 500 GSM, whether you want a light 230 GSM quick-dry towel, a 400 GSM everyday towel or a plush 500 GSM bath towel.
2. Choose the Right Fabric
The fabric decides how your towel feels against your skin and how well it does its job.
- 100% cotton: The classic choice. Breathable, absorbent, and it gets softer with every wash.
- Long-staple cotton (Egyptian, Pima or Turkish): Longer fibres mean a smoother feel, less lint and a longer life. This is where luxury lives.
- Cotton-poly blends: More durable and quicker to dry, though a little less soft.
- Microfibre: Ultra-light and super fast-drying. Ideal for hair wraps, travel and the gym bag.
If softness is non-negotiable, stick with pure cotton bath towels. If speed matters more, microfibre wins.
Shop by fabric: Wrap up in a bb home Earth cotton bath towel or dry your hair in minutes with a quick-dry microfibre turbie towel.
3. Don’t Ignore the Weave
Two towels can be made from the same cotton and still feel completely different. That’s the weave at work.
- Terry: Those familiar little loops. Fluffy, absorbent and the everyday favourite.
- Zero-twist: The yarn is barely twisted, so the loops feel extra soft and cloud-like.
- Waffle: A honeycomb texture that’s lightweight, dries fast and gives a gentle exfoliating feel.
- Flat-weave (fouta-style): Thin, light and stylish, and it dries in a flash. Doubles as a beach wrap too.
Can’t decide? Keep a terry or zero-twist towel for daily use and a waffle towel for days when you’re in a rush.
Shop by weave: Try a zero-twist bath towel, a waffle bath towel or a fouta bath towel.
4. Get the Size Right
Nobody likes a towel that barely makes it around their waist. Here’s a quick guide to standard towel sizes:
- Face towel: About 30 x 30 cm, handy for skincare and gym sessions. Shop face towels
- Hand towel: About 40 x 60 cm, a must for the washbasin and the guest bathroom. Shop hand towels
- Bath towel: About 70 x 140 cm to 75 x 150 cm, the everyday all-rounder. Shop bath towels
- Bath sheet: About 90 x 165 cm or larger, for full-body, wrap-and-relax coverage.
Taller folks, or anyone who loves a cocoon moment after a shower, should go for a bath sheet. For most people, a large bath towel does the trick.
5. Inspect the Stitching and Finish
A towel’s edges tell you a lot about how long it will last. Before you buy, look for:
- Double-stitched hems that won’t unravel after a few washes.
- Tight, even loops with no pulled threads or bald patches.
- A woven border (dobby) that adds strength and a polished look.
Give the edge a gentle tug. If the stitching feels loose now, it’ll fray soon. A well-made towel feels dense and even from corner to corner.
6. Think About Colour and Care
Colour isn’t just about matching your bathroom tiles. Crisp white towels feel classic and can be bleached. Darker and earthy shades hide makeup and everyday stains, while bright colours add a fun pop of personality.
Whatever you choose, a little care keeps your towels soft and fluffy:
- Wash before first use to remove factory finishes and boost absorbency.
- Go easy on fabric softener. It coats the fibres and makes towels less absorbent.
- Dry them completely between uses to keep odours away.
- Wash every three to four uses, and replace towels every two to three years.
Ready to Upgrade Your Towel Game?
The perfect bath towel isn’t about the price tag. It’s about finding the right mix of GSM, fabric, weave and size for your routine. Love plush and cosy? Go for a high-GSM cotton towel. Always in a hurry? A lightweight waffle or microfibre towel is your match.
Now that you know what to check, the fun part begins. Explore BigBasket’s bath linen collection, packed with soft cotton bath towels, zero-twist hand towels, waffle towels and quick-dry microfibre hair wraps in every colour you can imagine. Pick your favourites and get them delivered right to your door.
Shop bath towels on BigBasket now
Your future self, fresh out of the shower, will thank you.
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