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Warm weather means it’s time to get in the water. On those hotter-than-hell days, few things refresh like a quick dip into the pool or wading into the ocean. But the relief of getting into the water will only be matched by the discomfort of getting out, especially if the sun’s ducked behind the clouds. A great beach towel makes moving from the water to the beach chair as comfortable as possible, stops people from drip-drying all over their stuff, and is crucial for claiming some space to relax in the sun.
The best beach towels seem simple and for the most part, they are, but there’s a little more to them than meets the eye. Unlike bath towels, which are often designed to be mega absorbent and cozy, beach towels tend to be thinner, more lightweight, and packable. They can also come in larger sizes and use slightly more durable materials. Sure, people could use regular towels at the beach or pool. Still, the best beach towels will handle them much better, and, costing roughly $40 for quality options, they just might be one of the few products to survive the summer intact and stick around for the next few too.
What the Experts Say
SPY spoke with multiple beach experts to understand the pros and cons of beach towels, including Rocky Trifari, a travel writer and founder of The Rocky Safari; Brittany Betts, the chief marketing officer of FloridaPanhandle.com; and Andrie Attard, founder of Sevens Crown Hats.
To address one pressing question first, are beach towels really worth it? Experts say yes. They’ll serve better for longer because they’re made to handle sandy beaches or the concrete around pools. Plus, they’re practical for anyone near the water. “A beach towel is the Swiss Army knife of seaside couture, unfolding from a chic accessory into a tool for sand and sun. Beach towels are bigger, bolder, and braver than their bath towel counterparts,” Trifari says. “They give us a soft retreat on hot, sandy shores to dry off and sunbathe. I wouldn’t go to the beach without one.”
Betts agrees: “If I am going to the beach, I’d prefer a beach towel over a bath towel,” she says. “Beach towels dry off quickly and don’t stay soaked from the ocean water, while other towels are prone to staying wet for longer. Also, beach towels don’t hold onto the sand as easily.”
When shopping for a beach towel, the material and the construction make all the difference. Cotton is one of the most popular options, and many use Turkish cotton to keep out sand and dry themselves faster. Polyester also works well because it’s inherently more sand-resistant than cotton, cheap to make, and comes in quick-drying microfiber styles. “Cotton may feel luxurious but it’s a sand magnet,” Trifari says. “Turkish cotton and some polyester blends are usually ideal.” Ultimately, neither option is “better” than the other; both are popular because they get the job done for most people.
Beyond the basic utility considerations, experts also recommend looking for beach towels big enough to claim a reasonable amount of space and/or wrap around the body, options with hooks for securing them to chairs or umbrellas — one of Attard’s most clutch features, she says — and fun styles to match the buyer’s personality. “For the style, I’d say let your personality shine while making that decision,” Trifari says.
As far as price goes, $40, give or take $10, will buy a damn good beach towel, our experts say. The best beach towels top out around $70 while functional, basic options can go as low as $15. But anyone buying one is going to want it to last and experts say that means spending a little more. “Between $30 and $60 sounds about right for a decent quality beach towel, but remember, you want the beach towel to withstand the sands of time,” Trifari says.
BEST OVERALL
The Alchemist Sand-Free Beach Towel
The Tesalate Sand Free Beach Towel has everything frequent beachgoers could want in a towel. “This is an increasingly popular one in our area,” Betts says. “I do like it and it’s extremely useful as far as easy care and drying off goes.” Attard adds that this was her favorite beach towel for a long time, saying it’s “incredible quality,” if a little heavy for her preference.
Made from a proprietary microfiber Absorblite fabric, this beach towel can hold 1 liter of water yet still dries fast with a little bit of wringing and air drying on its built-in hook. The towel’s smooth microfiber design also helps keep the sand off, but owners can easily wash out any lingering sand in the washing machine too.
At $59, the Tesalate beach towel does cost more than average, but for fans of the always-beaching-it lifestyle, it’s a small investment with big returns. Plus, unlike many other beach towels, the Tesalate not only has great designs like the Alchemist print, but it also puts the print on both sides of the towel.
BEST COTTON
Sun Dazed Beach Towel
The Slowtide Sun Dazed Beach Towel is a classic high-quality cotton towel with a style that’s modern yet retro. “The decor is amazing and the pattern is great,” Betts says. “The material is super soft but also high-quality [and] easy to wash.”
The 400 GSM terry cloth means this beach towel is absorbent, but not too thick or plush. It won’t pack as easily, but it can be a lot more comfortable to lounge on for hip beachgoers, not to mention dry off.
A drying loop and 100% sustainably sourced cotton round this beach towel out, making its $40 asking price reasonable.
MOST VERSATILE
PackTowel Personal Towel
Though it’s less beach-specific, the PackTowl Personal Towel was made with all kinds of outdoor activities in mind, making it as useful at the campsite as it is at the beach. Attard calls her PackTowl her “holy grail” of towels: “I went through probably 20 iterations of towels to finally find them, and I use them year after year,” she says. “They’re so compact that I pack [several] and it feels like the weight of one to two beach towels.” Betts adds, “This one is super light feeling yet dries efficiently. You can use it for various different things and I really like the material.”
Made from a soft-feeling 50% recycled blend of polyester and nylon, the PackTowl boasts durability, packability, and remarkable absorption for its lightweight construction. Use it to dry off and then hang it from the built-in loop for fast air drying. Or use it to clean up after the gym and throw it in the washing machine when done.
Though the PackTowl Personal Towel lands on the higher end of prices at $53, it’s tougher than most beach towels and worth the price for beachgoers looking for more than just a beach towel.
TIMELESS STYLE
The Beach Towel – Lauren's Navy Stripe
Blame the fact that everyone is mostly naked on the beach, but going to the beach is an undeniably visual experience. What people wear and what people bring will be seen by others. For people who want their beach towels to look as good as they do while lounging, go for the Business and Pleasure Beach Towel in Lauren’s Navy Stripe. With tassels and a navy blue and white striped pattern, this towel simply can’t go out of style. “It’s so pretty and looks well made,” Attard says. “[I] would use it for special occasions at the beach or backyard for hosting a picnic.”
With a 600 GSM cotton fabric, this option will also feel more luxurious and plush than most beach towels, especially some of the faster-drying, sand-resistant utilitarian options, and it offers plenty of surface area for drying and reclining at 34 inches by 66 inches.
But a timeless, premium cotton towel does cost accordingly, landing this stylish option around $63.
BEST BUDGET
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel
If a budget-priced beach towel makes the most sense, don’t wait to buy an overpriced cheap towel at the beach; pick up the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel ahead of time instead.
For just $21, beachgoers get a suede-like, highly absorbent microfiber towel that’s sand-resistant and easy to wring mostly dry. The towel also comes with a hanging loop for air drying and even includes a zip pocket in the towel’s 40-inch by 70-inch largest size option. Because it’s made from polyester microfiber, it’s also lightweight and packable, especially compared to cotton towels.
Whether for the beach, camping, or something in between, the Rainleaf towel means not having to choose between something high-quality and practical — it’s the best of both worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beach Towels
What Makes Beach Towels Different From Bath Towels?
The major differences include size options, material design, and thickness/absorbency. In contrast to bath towels, the best beach towels often come in larger sizes, rely on quick-drying cotton or polyester, and tend to pack down more easily due to thinner, more lightweight construction. “Beach towels are different in that they dry quicker than regular towels,” Attard says. “The texture of them is different too.” Betts agrees, saying, “Beach towels are generally a different material and bigger than a bath towel. Bath towels are a bit thicker than beach towels.”
These differences, though seemingly minor, result in a towel that dries quickly without being weighed down.
How Should I Deal With Wet Beach Towels?
Nobody wants to transport wet beach towels home lest they get something else wet or, even worse, be forgotten in the trunk to start growing colonies of mold.
Fortunately, the first recommendation is obvious: Try to dry the towel in the sun! “If I get a beach towel extremely wet, I will hang it over a chair or a nearby railing before I go home,” Betts says. “If there is no chair or railing, I let it bask in the sun for a bit.”
If that’s not possible, multiple experts recommend using a water-resistant or waterproof bag to transport them. Just roll them up, stuff them in, and for the sake of your car or bag, don’t forget to take them out. “ Just be sure to remove [the towel] from the bag and either hang it or put it in the dryer once you’re home. Leaving it rolled up if you put it away damp will result in mold or mildew and you certainly don’t want that to happen,” Trifari says.
How Can I Get Sand Out Of My Beach Towel?
No matter which kind of towel comes to the beach, sand will get into it eventually. But how much sand gets in and how long it stays are somewhat controllable.
First, Attard recommends seeking a quality option that washes easily and holds up over repeat washes; bad quality options have a tendency to retain sand, she says.
Once a towel has actually been used at the beach, whether dedicated beach towel or otherwise, shaking the sand out is critical. “Shake the towels out to remove as much sand as possible while you’re still at the beach — where the sand belongs,” Trifari says. “Some sand may still cling to the towel if it’s damp. For this reason, I’d recommend shaking it out again outside once you’re home.”
After that, generally, good textile care rules apply: Wash the towels regularly and don’t use softener, Betts says. Using a detergent or a little bit of vinegar will help break down and remove lingering grains of sand caught in the fibers, Trifari adds.
What’s a Good Price For a Functional, Not Ugly Beach Towel?
Generally, $30 to $60 is a good range, Attard says. Buyers paying less than that will forgo additional features and may end up with something that won’t last as long. That said, cheap towels are still functional if not as quality as towels in the $30-$60 range. “At $40, you can find an extremely nice beach towel that’s large and high-quality,” Betts says. “You can find some cheaper ones around $15 that might not be exactly what you want, but $40 is a safe bet.”
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