The 15 Best Beach Towels in 2024

The Delilah Organic Cotton Beach Towel is a durable, versatile, 100% organic Turkish cotton beach towel, made with consumers and the planet in mind. These towels are good for skin and the environment, since the production process doesn’t use any of the typical harsh chemicals or carcinogens that are common practice in most textile production.

Delilah is an ethical company, but they don’t sacrifice quality or cut any corners on the product to achieve this. The seams and construction of these towels are well done, crisp and substantial – you can immediately feel the durability of the fabric when you get your hands on it. This durability means they carry a little more weight than some other Turkish towels, but as a result they also absorb more than their lightweight competitors and we still consider them to be very travel-friendly.

These towels are a bit spendier than some of the other options on our list, but they really justify their cost with a dependable, high quality product and maybe even higher company ethics – it always hurts a little less to spend a little more on a product if you know the person making it is being compensated fairly.

The Eccosophy Microfiber Beach Towel is an affordable, high performing option for travel, yoga, the gym and of course, the beach. This towel is lightweight and packable, and even comes with a matching cinch bag to stash it. The bag is super handy for keeping your damp towel away from your other dry items, and can easily clip into a carabiner to keep on the outside of your bag.

The Eccosophy towels come in a variety of 2-sided loud, bright patterns that you will be able to spot from a mile down the beach. This towel is also nice and big, which is great for sprawling out on the sand or sharing with a friend.

While the material feels quite thin, it is surprisingly high performing and heavy duty. These towels are able to absorb 3x their weight in moisture, yet still dry 3x faster than the average beach or bath towel. They are also sand and odor resistant thanks to their microfiber design, which makes them even better suited for travel.

Dive In to the full review for more information on one of our favorite microfiber towels!

The AmazonBasics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel is a classic pool towel, featuring everything you might expect from a traditional beach or bath towel. These towels feature the usual thick pile, high absorbency, and the convenience of machine washability that are more or less the standard in the west. The AmazonBasics towels meet all of the baseline criteria – they dry you off, they’re soft, and they are definitely the fluffiest towel on our list.

These are the smallest towels on our list in terms of surface area, measuring just 60” x 30”. We prefer a larger beach towel for taller folks or room to spread out, but it’s not necessarily a deal breaker if our legs hang off a bit at the end.

These towels are about average, getting the job done but lacking many of the perks of some of the other towels on our list. These towels aren’t sand resistant or odor resistant, they’re not very packable and they don’t dry particularly fast compared to almost every other towel on our list. The one thing the AmazonBasics towels are doing better than everyone else is the price – ringing in at just $9 per towel. If you’re looking for a beach towel on a budget and can do without the frills, check out our full review.

The Nomadix Original Towel is a high value, lightweight, extra-large, multipurpose towel at a wonderfully mid-range price point. These towels are the perfect companion for reading on the beach, laying by the pool, or picnicking in the park. Their size and packability make them a convenient item you can slip in your car, gym bag, or backpack and take anywhere for quick and easy access.

This towel is less of a beach towel or a pool towel, and more of an “everything towel.” The Nomadix Original Towel is designed to be high-absorbing, fast-drying and odor resistant making it a handy little piece of gear. You can use these towels to sit on, to dry off, or you could even use them as a light travel blanket for flights.

These towels are super low maintenance, and require very little washing compared to most other towels. Their microterry material makes them very fast-drying, which makes them pretty odor resistant, as they don’t tend to stay damp long enough for odor-causing bacteria to form. You can machine wash and hang dry these towels whenever you feel they’ve reached their limit.

DiveIn to the full review for more details about the Nomadix Original Towel!

Looks aren’t everything, but we do love the look of the Feshka Towels – the trendy colors and modern designs really pop on the sand, and are equally as stylish around the house. Their quality and design is reminiscent of the Sand Cloud brand, but the Feshka towels ring in at a slightly more accessible price point.

The Feshka Towels, and Turkish towels in general, are generally pretty thin and lightweight, making them very packable and convenient for the beach, the gym, or travel. The Original towel is a large beach towel that packs down to about the size of a 32oz Hydro Flask and only weighs 13.4oz. These towels are surprisingly absorbent for how thin they are, thanks to the long, 100% cotton threads, which actually get more absorbent with use.

We found the Feshka Original Turkish Beach Towel to be very versatile, both in terms of function and appearance. These towels can be used for drying off at the pool, swaddling your little one, draping across your couch, keeping warm on a plane, and of course laying out on a sandy beach. While it’s not as fluffy as some of the other beach towels we’ve tried, we think this towel achieves the same feeling of luxury by different means. DiveIn to the full review to see why we love the Feshka Original Turkish Beach Towel.

The Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towels come at a very accessible price point, and is a great option for those looking for lightweight and sand resistant beach towels, or a nice and grippy yoga towel. These big, airy towels pack down quite small and only weigh about 11oz, making them a great staple for your car, gym bag, or beach tote.

We didn’t find this towel to be particularly absorbent, though we know with Turkish towels they can get more absorbent with time and use. Their tight weave makes these towels pretty sand resistant, and quick drying times equate to little to no odors.

While we think the Wetcat Turkish Beach towel is a higher performing option for a Turkish towel in this price range, we think the Bay Laurel still brings a good bit to the table so long as you’re not looking for a spongey, absorbent or plush towel. Ringing in at just $22, we think the Bay Laurel’s are a good option for yogis and beach goers alike. Dive In to the full review for more information!

The Rainleaf Microfiber Towel is a budget-friendly, multipurpose towel that comes in a variety of sizes and colors for your next trip to the beach or the Bikram studio. These towels are thin but mighty, packable yet heavy-duty for outdoors and travel.

The microfiber material makes for decent absorption and quick drying times with anti-bacterial and odor-fighting perks. We loved the Rainleaf towels for their value – they hit most of the important performance points (lightweight, compact, fast-drying, sand/dirt repellent) while still remaining affordable in price.

We like to mention the eco-friendly aspects of products and brands that we review, so it’s always a bit disappointing to see when a company doesn’t seem to have any environmental initiatives. Other towel companies we’ve reviewed like Nomadix or Sand Cloud are doing a lot to combat their own emissions and beyond, so we always like to recommend green brands first and foremost.

That said, the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel is nevertheless a decent product that may be a bit more accessible than some of the greener options, so DiveIn to the full review for more specs and information on this product.

The Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel is a lightweight, fast drying, uber soft towel made for the beach with convenience in mind. It is a fairly large towel that packs down smaller than a 32oz Hydro Flask and only weighs a whopping 7.2oz. In addition to being incredibly lightweight and packable, these towels are also sand resistant, taking all the hassle out of what should be a fun, relaxing day at the beach.

These towels are super thin, which helps with drying times and keeps the weight down, but they don’t seem to sacrifice much quality. The material is about as thin as a sheet, but doesn’t feel cheap by any means. These towels feel substantial, and all the seamwork appears structurally sound – we expect these towels to last for plenty of summers to come.

While there’s a lot to love about these towels, what really sold us was the price point. These towels are comparable in quality to the Feshka Turkish Beach Towels and even the ever-popular Sand Cloud towels for a fraction of the price. If you’re looking for something super lightweight and soft on a budget, this is a great towel for you. DiveIn to the full review to learn more!

Like many of the Turkish towels we’ve covered, the Slowtide Koko Towel is an excellent choice for beach enthusiasts. Rated number one beach towel on REI, this Turkish-style Chambray cotton towel offers a combination of comfort, absorbency, and durability.

Its generous size of 38″ x 73″ provides plenty of space for lounging on the beach or drying off after a swim. Weighing a mere 7.4 ounces, the Koko Towel is impressively lightweight, making it convenient to carry and transport. The Slowtide Koko Towel is also equipped with a hanging loop, allowing for easy storage and drying. The Turkish-style fabric used in its construction not only enhances its lightweight nature but also contributes to its exceptional absorbency and quick drying abilities.

In addition to making exceptional, high rated products, Slowtide has also proved strong business ethics. Slowtide uses only the most eco-friendly materials, like OEKO-TEX certified cotton or recycled polyester, guaranteeing that it is free from harmful substances and safe for use. Slowtide has also committed to reducing their environmental impact and has made thorough efforts to ensure workers are being treated fairly in terms of wages, working conditions, and reasonable hours.

As seen on Shark Tank, the Sand Cloud Beach Towel is who we have to thank for the rise in popularity of the Turkish Beach Towel, boasting a slew of beach benefits like sand resistance, lightweight portability, quick drying abilities and more. The functionality of the Sand Clound towel is undeniable, ensuring that you won’t be left carrying a damp, sandy or heavy towel.

These towels are also extremely versatile, much like many of the other Turkish Cotton Towels we’ve covered. Their versatility allows them to be used not only as beach towels but also as wraps, picnic blankets, or yoga mats. Sand Cloud also offers a wide variety of stunning designs, ranging from classic to vibrant – you’re sure to find something to suit your unique tastes.

While the Sand Cloud towels are undeniably great products, it’s tough to justify spending nearly $50 on a single towel – especially when there are so many comparable options like the Feshka Turkish Cotton Towel or the Wetcat Turkish Cotton Towel at a fraction of the price. Additionally, their size is a bit smaller, and they are a bit heavier than other towels on the market. For those seeking high-quality towels at a more affordable price, it may be worth exploring other options.

The Dock & Bay Beach towel is highly rated by customers, and we think it more than lives up to its reputation. Made from a microfiber material, this towel offers impressive quick-drying capabilities as well as decent absorbency, effectively soaking up moisture. Much like the Rainleaf or the Eccosophy microfiber towels, the Dock & Bay Beach Towels offer a degree of sand resistance that is ideal for the beach, and great for not collecting too much debris on hiking adventures.

One of our favorite things about the Dock & Bay Beach Towel is its extra large size, measuring in at 35” x 78” – one of the biggest towels on our list. The towel also packs down impossibly small into its matching stash bag, and weighs just 15oz when dry. Its large size paired with its portability makes this an ideal travel companion, as you can find a space for it even in the most tightly packed bags.

While the towel performs well in terms of quick-drying, portability, and eye-catching style, it may not offer the same level of plushness and comfort as some other towels. For those looking for a luxurious, fluffy cotton towel, we recommend you keep shopping – and maybe checkout the AmazonBasics Cabana Stripe Towel.

The appeal of the Beach People Sand-Free Beach Towel is all in the innovative two sided design. The top side of the towel is a flat weave that is sand repellent, providing a smooth surface that sand won’t get caught in. The flip side of the towel is reminiscent of a bath towel, with the classic terry cloth loops for optimal absorbance. The idea here is to get the best of both worlds – all the plush luxury of a fluffy beach towel, and all the benefits of a thinner, sand resistant design. Made with uber soft 100% cotton, These towels are as comfortable as they are functional.

Unfortunately some of the claims detailed in their marketing seem to be unfounded, namely the lightweight travel-friendly, eco-friendly and even sand-resistant capabilities. Some users have found that sand can still find its way into the terry cloth loops, compromising its sand-free performance – especially after a few washes. Additionally, the towel’s weight is not specified, but based on the material and weave, we imagine it will be less travel friendly than other products on our list. Lastly, the towel is not particularly eco-friendly, with “enduring, high quality” being their only means of environmental consciousness, claiming these towels won’t require replacing.

The Pendleton brand has been around for a long time and is known for its craftsmanship, attention to detail, and iconic woolen products. The brand has built a strong reputation for producing durable and luxurious products using premium materials, and the Pendleton Beach/Spa Towels are no exception.

These towels are crafted meticulously, offering both style and performance. The soft and absorbent fabric ensures efficient drying, while also providing a cozy and comfortable feel. The towels are quite large, providing ample room for lounging. With a focus on durability, Pendleton ensures that their beach towels can withstand rigorous outdoor use, while still promising long-lasting quality that customers can rely on.

The towels come in a variety of patterns, all distinctly Pendleton – featuring Native American and pacific northwest inspired designs. Pendleton’s signature patterns and designs add a touch of sophistication to any beach outing. While the price is substantially higher than many of the products featured on our list, we have to acknowledge that this is a bit of a designer brand, and the quality justifies the price – these towels are made to last summer after summer.

The Laguna Beach Textile Company Turkish Cotton Towels are a decent choice, offering luxury and durability at a fairly affordable price point. The high-quality craftsmanship is evident in every detail, from the tight weave to the carefully hand-tied tassels.

With a design similar to that of the Delilah Turkish Cotton Towels, the Laguna Beach Textile Co towels offer some versatility with a terry loop side for extra absorbency, as well as a tightly woven flip side to minimize sand sticking. Their ample size, measuring 70” by 40”, provides great coverage and plenty of room to sprawl out on the sand or host a picnic for two. They seem to retain their shape and softness even after repeated use and washing, proving quite durable and resilient.

It’s worth mentioning, these are quite a bit thicker than the average Turkish towel, and are more similar in feel to a traditional bath towel. Because of this, they are very plush and luxurious, but not very travel-friendly or all that quick drying. However overall, the Laguna Beach Textile Company Turkish Cotton Towels are a solid option that maintain high standards of premium materials, exceptional craftsmanship, and attention to detail. These towels are a worthwhile investment for those seeking poolside luxury.

The Decomen Microfiber Beach Towels are remarkably soft and gentle against the skin, thanks to the plush microfiber fabric. Its softness adds an extra level of comfort, making it a pleasure to curl up with a book or take a little catnap by the pool or on the beach. The towels come in a variety of bold, colorful designs and patterns, allowing users to express their personal style while deriving some functionality from this otherwise standard beach towel.

​​While Decomen Microfiber beach towels have some positive attributes, there are a few areas where they may fall short. Firstly, the absorbency of these towels might not be as impressive as expected. Some users have reported that the towels tend to retain moisture, leading to a less efficient drying experience and buildup of odor-causing bacteria.

Furthermore, the durability of Decomen towels has been a concern for a few users. Several customer reviews have reported issues with fraying edges or the stitching coming undone after only a few uses or washes, which we can confirm, as ours had already begun to unravel upon opening the package. This suggests that the towels may require frequent replacements, undercutting any perceived value to the alluring $15 price point.