Selecting new towels to haul to the beach or pool isn't as simple as it used to be. These days, beach towels come in a dizzying array of options, including sand-resistant, quick-drying, microfiber, oversized, round, Turkish, and more. If you're looking to replace some ratty old towels this summer and hit the pool deck in style, here are 13 options that hit all price points and include a variety of features.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Best Overall Towel
$59 from Tesalate
Tesalate beach towels, which are made in Australia, come in tons of different patterns and colors, so make sure you check them all out to find a style you like. They're made from a trademarked fabric technology called AbsorbLite that keeps them sand-free, quick-drying, and lightweight while also being super-absorbent. Buyers and reviewers also love them (one USA Today writer noted that out of 10 towels, the Tesalate was her favorite).
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Best Quick-Drying Beach Towel
$10 and up from Amazon
Dock & Bay's quick-drying beach towels, which also come in other fun patterns, are made from 100% recycled materials and come in two sizes. They also have a few other qualities to recommend them, including the fact that they repel sand. They come with their own carrying bag, but be forewarned — if you're looking for something that is super-plush, this is probably not your beach towel.
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Best Ultra-Plush Beach Towel
$39 from Amazon
For some, no matter how many options are on the market, nothing but a thick, plush beach towel will do. For those people, we recommend this option, which comes in eight colors and is larger than usual at 70-by-35 inches. Many buyers say it's a durable and well-made towel that is soft and absorbent.
Best Budget Beach Towel
$12 from Amazon
Listen, we get it if you don't want to pay a ton for a beach towel. They get lost, damaged, and we put them through a lot in our quest for summer sun and fun. If that's the case, these cabana-striped towels get solid reviews from customers, who note that they are soft and not too thin.
Best Multi-Pack Beach Towels
$46 from Amazon
If you're looking to buy multiple towels for the family, these are a good choice. They're made from 100% cotton and are big without threatening to take over your entire linen closet. We also like that they come in four fun cabana-inspired stripe patterns that make it easier to keep track of whose towel is whose.
Best Oversized Beach Towel
$34 from Amazon
Few extra large beach towels live up to the size — a whopping 58-by-68-inches — and reviews that this one does. More than 95% of reviews give it four or five stars and note that it's big enough for two people and quite soft. One caveat: Buyers do note that the towel sheds quite a bit of lint, so you might want to wash this one a couple of times before using it.
Best Beach Towel for Travel
$55 from Amazon
This towel can pull double-duty as a yoga mat and, at 1 lb. it's also a great option for campers, backpackers, or other travelers who are trying to keep their gear light. Plus it comes in more than 10 different (and cool!) double-sided patterns and is made from certified recycled materials.
Best Tall Beach Towel
$57 from Amazon
Most beach towels clock in at about 60 inches tall. Australian company SomerSide offers this design in a "tall" size that measures 79 inches. Buyers give it 4.6 stars and note that it also dries quickly and doesn't stick to sand. SomerSide is another company making towels from recycled materials.
Best Turkish Beach Towel
$33 on Teema
If you love the texture, lightness, and portability of a Turkish cotton towel, this design from Teema comes in seven different colors and is a nice size at 38-by-70 inches. Teema towels are hand-loomed in Turkey and weigh less than a pound. Buyers note that they are fast-drying, soft, and double nicely as a light blanket or shawl.
Best Wearable Towels
$100 from Pendleton
If a towel you can do more than wrap around your body is what you're after, Pendleton makes a varied selection of wearable hooded towels, including many in kid and tween sizes. Buyers say they're comfortable, warm, and well-made.
Best for Kids
Around $20 from Amazon
These 100% cotton hooded kids' towels get great reviews from buyers, who say they're large enough to fit bigger kids and are soft, absorbent, and well made. They also come in a bunch of themes, from dinosaurs and sea motifs to space and transportation options.
Best Round Beach Towel
$60 and up from Ban.do
Round beach towels have become a thing in the past few years and, though we're not certain there's anything to recommend them over a rectangular towel, we have to admit some look pretty cool. This one is made from terry cloth, is 60 inches across, has a cotton tassel trim, and comes in three fun styles.
Best Etsy Beach Towel
$20 from Etsy
If you love supporting small, independent sellers on Etsy over massive online retailers, these cotton beach towels get rave reviews from buyers and are an Etsy bestseller. They're made by a Turkish woman living in the U.S., and we love their waffle texture, their affordability, and the number of colors you can order them in. Plus, at 70-by-35 inches, they're larger than many other options.
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