The 8 Best Beach Towels of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

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From light and airy Turkish towels to quick-drying designs, these are the towels we’ll be bringing to the beach all summer long.

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Travel + Leisure

There’s truly nothing that makes me feel more at ease than a day at the beach—which is why most of my vacations consist of sun, sand, and a whole lot of swimming. I live in the Northeast where it's cold for much of the year, so I cherish those rare moments laying out in the bright beaming sun, dipping off into the ocean for a cooling swim, and retreating back to my cabana to cozy up with a plush beach towel. Next to my favorite pair of oversized sunglasses, a reliable beach towel is all I need for my beach days to go off without a hitch.

I tend to go for plush, cotton towels most times, but through continued shopping and testing, I’ve found that there’s a variety of options out there I hadn’t yet considered, from airy and soft Turkish towels to quick-drying and easily packable microfiber towels. In order to find the best options out there, we took 27 beach towels to various shores in search of the best ones to buy. We judged each based on comfort, performance, coverage, portability, quality, and value. In the end, these are the beach towels we’ll be taking to the shore all summer.

Its light-to-medium weight gives it a premium feel without being cumbersome.

At over $100 for a single towel, it's on the pricier side.

The best beach towels strike the perfect balance between superior softness and portability, and Cozy Earth’s Windowpane Resort Towel does just that. What immediately stood out to us when we received this towel was the luxurious softness. From the very first touch, the towel felt plush and gentle against the skin. On beach days, it enveloped us in a delicate feel while drying off from the ocean, and there was never a hint of scratchiness, even after multiple uses. Shockingly, it never felt soggy or damp, which you don’t typically see in a cotton towel. The brand cleverly crafted this towel with a zero-twist weave, which not only heightens absorbency, but also repels sand. So when it was time to pack up and go home, a few shakes in the wind is all that is needed to dust it off. While it doesn't fold down ultra-compact like a microfiber travel towel, we noticed that it was impressively space-efficient thanks to its medium weight profile.

We also appreciated that the sizing was generous, too. We were able to wrap it fully around our bodies and it covered us from the shoulders to mid-thigh. It’s also roomy enough to stretch out while leaving enough space to place things like a backpack, phone, or e-reader close by. Honestly, we have no notes for this towel aside from the price. And while it is on the more expensive end for a towel, we must admit Cozy Earth delivered in terms of comfort and performance.

The Details: 40 x 70 inches | Cotton and viscose from bamboo

It's quick-drying and exceptionally absorbent.

It takes up a significant amount of space when packed.

Sometimes, it's the little luxuries that can make a regular day at the beach feel like a five-star experience. This warm and weighty towel by Boll and Branch was a joy to bring to the beach thanks to its long-staple cotton fibers that gave us a spa-like feel. We love that it's highly absorbent, but manages to dry quickly once you give it some time to air out. It also earned extra style points in our book for its large blue and white coastal strips that give it a timeless look. After multiple washes, it’s held up well with no signs of fading or unraveling.

The only downside to this buttery soft towel is that it's a little bulkier than we’d prefer. We packed this for a beach vacation to Miami, and it took up quite a lot of space in our carry-on. It ended up being convenient to transport once we got to our beachside resort, but we’d caution that it's probably better suited for checked luggage or local use.

The Details: 40 x 70 inches | Cotton

It has a velvety, thick feel that’s soothing against the skin.

The threads are susceptible to snagging if not handled with care.

Pottery Barn’s Classic Awning Striped Towel feels as comfortable as it looks. This dual-textured beach towel has a velvety side, ideal for lounging, and a classic cotton side, perfect for drying off. The plushness factor here makes this towel more reminiscent of a beach blanket, and we could have laid out for hours upon hours. Our 5-foot tester found that this towel was spacious enough to cover her body, and the same was true for her 6-foot beach buddy.

While it wasn’t a dealbreaker for us, the towel's thickness and larger size does take up a decent amount of packing space. We used a giant beach bag to carry this in, and the towel fared well when rolled into a cylindrical shape or folded into a flatter rectangular shape. That said, we found it was still lightweight and dried reasonably quickly despite its plushness. You’ll want to be careful not to pack this towel next to any sharp or pointy items, as we did notice that a brush with a spikey plant created a noticeable cluster of pulled threads.

The Details: 40 x 72 inches | Cotton

This set offers four plush, 100 percent cotton towels for the price of one.

The fabric is slightly more coarse compared to more premium towels on this list.

Days at the beach are always better with a crowd. Whether you’re celebrating with a large group of friends or lugging the kids to the shore for some family time, you can’t go wrong with this value-friendly set of beach towels from Utopia. We took a few from this set to the beach and pool with kids, and loved that there were enough to go around for everyone. The towels were super absorbent, soft to the touch, and large enough to cover adults and kiddos alike. Although we were initially worried about the large white stripes getting dirty quickly, we didn’t notice any stains, no matter how much chlorine, sunscreen, or snacks it came in contact with. We also loved that it was easy to shake the sand out, especially when wet.

These big, fluffy towels are not exactly what we’d call super portable, but we found them to be manageable to tote in a large beach bag. If you have a beach vacation in your future, we’d recommend bringing this along only if you’re planning to check a bag.

The Details: 30 x 60 inches | Cotton

It has a velvety, thick feel that’s soothing against the skin.

The threads are susceptible to snagging if not handled with care.

I have long been a fan of the Weezie Bath Towel, which I’ve owned for years and still remains the fanciest thing in my bathroom. I ordered this towel with my initials embroidered along the corner edge, which popped against the towel’s pink and yellow sea shell pattern. It was incredibly soft even before cycling through the wash, and the fibers of the towel all felt smooth and uniform. After each wash, it's only gotten fluffier and feels soothing against my skin. On beach days, it feels comforting to dry off after emerging from the freezing cold water. I was sad to see one unraveled thread after just one use, but the rest of the towel remained intact.

This towel's dimensions are 38 by 70 inches, which is larger than a standard bath towel. Since I’m on the shorter side, I loved that it had enough surface area for me to lounge comfortably. Though the towel has the absorbency of a classic bath towel, I loved that it dried quickly after my friend hung it over the railing of the boardwalk. When it was time to go home, we rolled it up into a reasonable size, and the sand slid right off thanks to the low-cut cotton fibers. The hidden gem of this towel is the discreet hanging loop that makes it easy to throw on a hook—this is a signature touch from the brand that I’ve come to love.

The Details: 38 x 70 inches | Cotton

It's highly portable and folds into its own compact carrying case.

As with all microfiber towels, the material is thin and not plush.

For some of us, getting to the beach is quite the journey. You might find yourself on a rocky hike, or walking over a mile from the parking lot in the blistering heat. I’ve experienced both scenarios, and let me tell you, doing it with a backpack full of heavy items is not the way. If I could turn back time, I would have opted for a lightweight, packable towel like the Occopa Sand Free Beach Towel, which is light as air. Unlike cotton towels that need a significant amount of time to dry, this ultralight microfiber beach towel dried at lightning speed. We also loved that the sand slid off effortlessly each time we shook it out. Though it's not as pillowy soft as a cotton towel, there’s a suede-like finish to the fabric that feels comforting and warm.

The fun, geometric prints give it a fun pop of color, but the draw for us is the oversized dimensions of this towel that came in handy for sharing. With a length of 71 inches, it's perfect for two people to spread out comfortably next to each other. When you’re done drying off, it folds neatly back into its own carrying pouch, taking up virtually no space in your beach bag. Your days of lugging damp towels can officially be behind you!

The Details: 32 x 71 inches | Microfiber

Travel + Leisure

It's reversible, can be personalized, and is more plush than other Turkish towels we’ve used.

The tassels can become tangled, so be careful when putting it in the wash.

We’re stunned by the quality and feel of this Turkish towel from Mark and Graham. True to a brand known for their customizable bags and accessories, you can have your name or a fun beachy saying embroidered on this towel for a bit of flair (we went with “Beach Vibes.”) We found that it is thicker than other Turkish towels we’ve tested, and one of the softest, too. We enjoyed the fact that it dries quickly and didn’t feel wet and clingy when we decided to lounge on it after a swim. “I really like the level of fluff, yet still find it to be small enough to pack in a carry-on or tote easily,” says T+L editor Taylor Fox.

As far as design goes, it's an absolute stunner. It comes in two striped summery colorways and has knotted tassels for added style. We did find that the fringe piece can snag if you’re not careful, so you might not want to throw it in the wash with garments that have metal buckles or zippers as a precaution.

The Details: 38 x 75 inches | Turkish cotton

It dries quickly and is compact enough to pack for a beach vacation.

The bright, busy patterns may not be for everyone.

Not only is the Eccosophy Microfiber Beach Towel large enough to lay on, but it can also function as a sarong. This quick-drying, sand-resistant towel went from damp to bone dry in a flash when we took it to the beach, and packing it up was made easier by the convenient carrying pouch it comes with. Compact and lightweight, it couldn’t be easier to fold up and throw in a tote or beach bag. If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep some extra towels, this would be the ideal choice to throw in your carry-on.

Though some microfibers can feel thin and flimsy, the Eccosophy towel feels especially durable and well made. We can’t get enough of the reversible design and the wide selection of fun prints, though you may not find this towel appealing if you’re more of a minimalist. It’s also made with a convenient built-in hook, so you can hang it up to dry back at your hotel.

The Details: 71 x 35 inches | Microfiber (recycled plastic)

We’ve tested dozens of beach towels, and while some may be good for certain travelers, they had minor flaws that we didn’t love.

Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel With Travel Bag: When we tested this towel, we loved that it was lightweight and had a cooling effect. However, the thickness of this towel is similar to that of a kitchen towel. While that’s great for portability, it didn’t absorb as much water as a traditional beach towel should.

Travel + Leisure

Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Towel: We found this buttery soft towel to be shockingly quick drying, and we got tons of compliments on it at the beach. However, we can't seem to justify the price when we tested equally impressive Turkish towels at a fraction of the cost.

Travel + Leisure

We tested out 27 different beach towels, taking them on various beach vacations, local beach days, and lounging by the pool to see how they performed in the real world. We took note of their level of softness, how effective they were at absorbing water, and how comfortable they were to lie on for hours at a time. After washing them according to their care instructions in between uses, we kept our eyes peeled for any fading, shrinking, and unraveling of any fibers. If they were used in sand, we observed how easy it was to shake or brush off excess sand before packing up.

Next, the towels were evaluated on their portability, with each tester packing them into beach bags, tote bags, and suitcases to see if they were travel-friendly. With all of these factors taken into consideration, the beach towels with the highest testing ratings made our list. We’ll continue testing to see how they hold up over the next six months of regular use at the beach.

Travel + Leisure

With beach towels, absorbency is key. While there are a range of fabrics that absorb moisture well, you’ll want to go with a towel that will effectively dry you off without ending up damp and soggy by the day’s end. Cotton towels tend to offer the most absorbency, though they tend to be bulkier and more prone to sogginess due to their higher thread count. Turkish cotton beach towels tend to be on the thinner side, making them ideal for traveling light. Microfiber towels are made from a polyester blend, and though they’re not as plush and soft as cotton towels, they’re highly absorbent. We also like that they’re more sand-resistant since they don’t have small loops that trap in particles. No matter what material you choose, you’ll want to consider the GSM, or grams per square meter, of the towel. This determines the density and weight of each towel. The higher the GSM, the greater the absorbency, but keep in mind a high GSM may equal a longer drying time. A high-quality cotton or microfiber towel with a GSM between 400 and 600 is usually the sweet spot.

Comfort is subjective, which is why it might take a bit of trial and error to find your goldilocks of a beach towel—one that nails it when it comes to comfort and portability. Since the towel will be coming in contact with your skin for a good amount of the day, it should feel soft and smooth to the touch. We like towels that feel soft and inviting to snuggle up in after a cold swim, but that also feel great to lay on and while catching some sun. Size matters here, too! If you’re heading to the beach with a partner or kids, an oversized beach towel could be a great option to ensure there’s enough surface area to share.

There’s truly nothing more annoying than finding sand particles in the tiny crevices of your bag, car, and home after a beach day, but it's kind of inevitable. You can lessen the amount of unwanted sand following you home by opting for a sand-resistant towel. These will usually be microfiber towels that have tightly-woven fibers or high-quality cotton beach towels made with low-cut, tight weave threads designed to keep sand trappings at bay.

Finding the right beach towel size is really a matter of personal preference, but a beach towel around 30 inches wide and 60 inches long will be suitable for most beachgoers. If you’re planning to use your towel to lay out, you might want to opt for something oversized (around 35 x 70 inches). If you’re a taller person, or just prefer a towel with more coverage, an oversized beach towel or even a beach blanket might be the way to go.

Both microfiber and cotton towels have properties that make them great for the beach, but microfiber tends to have more beach-friendly benefits including the fact that it dries quicker, is more lightweight, repels sand, and takes up less space in a beach bag. The drawback is that microfiber lacks the fluffiness and absorbency of a traditional cotton towel. Cotton beach towels tend to be more absorbent and offer a plush, cozy feel when drying off, though they typically take longer to dry. If you’re looking for a happy medium, a Turkish towel strikes the perfect balance as a lightweight and comfortable option.

If you’ll be spending the day hopping in and out of the water, a quick-drying towel will be your best bet. After all, the last thing you want is to end up carrying home a sopping wet towel after a long day of swimming. Microfiber towels, Turkish towels, and even some low-pile cotton towels are all great options to pack for a day of swimming, as they’re most likely to keep you dry in between dips.

Our general advice is to replace beach towels every two to three years. But if you’re noticing signs of wear and tear like fraying, loss of absorbency, and a persistent moldy odor that won’t go away after washing, these are some tell-tale signs that your beach towels are due to be replaced immediately.

Jasmine Grant is a senior editor at T+L and a frequent beachgoer. She books several beach vacations a year, and often packs her own towel in her suitcase as a backup. She’s owned a variety of beach towels over the years from brands like Brooklinen, Coyuchi, and more. In addition to combing through testing insights from fellow T+L testers, she also tested and traveled with the Weezie Beach Towel for this article.

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