The 10 Best Beach Towels for 2024

You don’t have to sacrifice quality when looking for an affordable towel, and this is a perfect example of that point. You’ll still find all of the base features of a beach towel you’d expect to see, including quick drying and super absorbent. There are a ton of color options too, so this is perfect for stocking up the linen closet for unexpected pool guests as well.

There’s a decent jump in quality from the typical vacation destination souvenir shop towel and taking your time to find something for a similar price. That’s what you’ll find with this towel. The microfiber material is the stand-out feature for this towel for several reasons—one of which is that sand simply does not stick to the material. Two of my other personal favorite things about microfiber is that it has the ability to absorb 7 times its weight in water and that it stands up nicely to wash after wash. This towel is also huge at 78 inches x 35 inches, yet it folds fairly easy as well and comes with a carry bag.

So it was difficult finding a landing category for this towel because it sits in the top 3 for almost all of the categories. It’s by far the softest and best-feel with the 100% organic Turkish cotton material. Combine that with the special weaving process and this towel is super absorbent yet quick drying, and sand falls off in one or two shakes. It’s also very light at under 1 pound, and folds down to about ¼ the size of a normal cotton or other type of towel of the same dimensions. Another interesting feature of Turkish cotton is that it gets softer, more absorbent, and generally better quality as you continue to use and wash the towel.

Read the full review: Sand Cloud Beach Towels Review: The Best Sand-Free Beach Blanket

When I see a product that has a lot of claimed features and a low price point, I get a little skeptical—but this microfiber towel was a nice surprise. One of the best features that this towel possesses is that it’s made from a special waffle-weave microfiber. Microfiber has a tendency to be very absorbent as well as quick drying, and it’s very lightweight. (Which is why swimmers usually pack a microfiber in their workout bags.) The typical trade-off is that the microfiber is not the softest/most comfortable, but the weave of the material makes it feel much better than usual microfiber. I’m also a fan of the dual-sided design, adding to the quality and visual appeal.

Have you ever gone to the beach and wanted to just lounge out and take a nap or read a book? So you lay out your towel and get comfortable, and soon enough you find that you moved a little too much to the side or your legs stretched a little too far. Now you’re covered in sand. This towel is a perfect solution for you. At nearly 6 feet tall and over 3 feet wide, it’ll accommodate for size. It’s also great to lay out on the grass in the park and have a picnic for two. Often you’ll find a trade-off for size that usually means you’re sacrificing quality or durability. Not the case with a super soft 100% cotton terry weave and an impressive 500 GSM. Oh, and it’s under $45. If you’re looking for a towel that is big enough for you to lounge out on the sand and soft enough that you’ll never want to leave your perfect beach spot, you’ve found it.

One of my least favorite things about going to the beach is figuring out what to do with all of the wet towels at the end of the day. Growing up, we would head up with our beach cart full of gear and a backpack filled with dry towels. But, by the time we are headed back up the path between the dunes, the towels have to make their way into the bottom of the cart, or anywhere other than the backpack because they are wet and primed for that “wet towel smell.” We’ve come a long way from the days of damp, sandy towels and find that there’s a myriad of “quick drying” options to choose from. This towel is woven with a quick-drying polyester blend that really does dry fast in the sun, and even comes with an elastic hook to help hang it to dry. There is also a huge selection of awesome colors and patterns to choose from, my personal favorites are the Chevron Chic and Tropical Bloom, which would coordinate very nicely with a bright beach umbrella. On top of all of that, each towel also comes with a matching polyester carry-bag.

Little did I know when I was looking for the best travel towel that I would find a contender for one of my favorite towels ever. Aside from the beach, it’s rare that you find a towel that can also work well as a bath towel as well as something you’d want to use for a picnic or an outdoor concert. If you find yourself regularly catching flights for work or leisure, live in an area where you can bike to the beach or park, or just find yourself on the go and like to be prepared whenever you want to lay outside and relax, this is the towel for you. The 100% linen is impressively durable and can absorb 20% of its weight in water while still feeling dry, so you’re set for the beach. The waffle weave allows for added absorbency but sheds sand as good as any towel I’ve tried. The thickness and size of the large towel (200 GSM, 55 inches x 36 inches) leave a little to be desired for those looking for a full size lounger that provides cushioning. However, this allows this towel to fold down super-compact, and the XL variety comes with a strap to keep your towel rolled up and ready to go with you wherever you’re headed.

I couldn’t wait to get to this part of the list, because kids always have the most fun patterns for beach towels. And I also know that kids' beach towels with exciting cartoon graphics tend to be very low in quality and durability. This towel takes out the guesswork while still allowing a huge variety of options for fun patterns so your little ones will be proud of their very special towel. The long stape weave helps the towel absorb a large amount of water, but the drying is relatively quick as well. My favorite features on this towel go beyond the comfort of the plush cotton which is also perfect for bath time all year round. There is a hood attached to the middle of the towel so kids can wear the towel as a robe. This helps dry their hair quickly while also staying warm. There’s also an easy-to-fasten two button feature to keep the towel wrapped around their body on a chilly day at the lake. Just be sure to take your time checking out all of the fun patterns, or maybe get a bunch! I’m personally a fan of the “Dog” pattern which shows a small dog wearing sunglasses, riding a surfboard. And also the rainbow unicorn pattern, because it will easily be the brightest and most fun towel on the beach.

I was making a list of things to consider when picking a beach towel that is great for the whole family. And after a couple of revisions, I found two non-negotiables that really make for an ideal family towel. First and foremost is the size. A family beach towel to me is something you can bring to the beach and lay out to establish your “home base” of sorts. And the second is being as sand resistant as possible without sacrificing comfort. There’s going to be several people sitting, standing, and undoubtedly walking on the towel all day. So you’ll be getting up and down to shake the sand off when needed. There are beach blankets on the market that meet the size requirements, as well as sand resistance. But those options tend to be made of polyester or other rough-feeling materials that aren’t comfortable for a long day at the beach or lake. They also tend to be bulky and don’t dry as quickly either. Sand Cloud takes care of all of the issues with a typical beach blanket but incorporating all of the iconic features from it’s individual towels into a massive 90 inch by 90 inch (that’s 56.25 square feet, by the way), sand resistant, quick drying, softer with every wash, light weight, and thin folded profile towel that will last you years to come.

When I think about treating myself to a high-end beach towel, I picture not only the standard performance-based features you’d find in a high-quality towel, but also an elevated level of comfort. A “treat yourself” towel should be absorbent but relatively quick drying, sand-resistant so you have refuge from the surface of the hot beach, but also luxuriously soft. Brooklinen is known for high-quality and luxury bedding (they made our list of the best places to buy bedding, after all), and they didn’t break suit with their towels. This is not your ordinary two-sided towel, the main difference being there are different materials and weaves on either side. One side is a thick (600 GSM), absorbent, and plush 100% cotton terry-weave. While the other side is a luxuriously soft velour, it’s one of the softest materials you’ll find on a towel. It’s also an extra large sized towel at 70 inches x 38 inches, truly a lavish item that will make you feel like you’ll never leave the beach. And, last but not least, the patterns are very unique and fun. I am particularly fond of the Pool Party and NYC Summer designs.