Are Turkish Towels Better Than Traditional Terry?

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Gearing up for summer doesn’t have to be as stressful as it may seem. For now, just focus on outdoor essentials, like the best beach towels, which are few and far between. There may be a lot of options out there, but not all of them—in fact, only a select handful—are actually worth the investment. So we sent our shopping editor on a journey to find the best beach towels on the market, and she did not come up empty-handed.

From a luxurious velour-finished option with waved edges to a Turkish towel set in a rainbow of colors, these are the beach-friendly finds we consider supreme. "I am a big fan of cotton or cotton velour," AnthroLiving's Chief Merchandising Manager Louie Higaki says in agreement with House Beautiful. "It feels good on the skin, holds color, and washes well!

If you haven’t heard of a Turkish towel, you’ve probably seen it, it’s a type of towel (made and well-loved in Turkey) that’s significantly thinner than a classic terry towel, but it’s just as—if not more—absorbent. People love them because they’re easy to roll up and stow away in a beach bag. Keep reading to see our shopping editor’s honest thoughts on Turkish towels.

If you’re ready to get what we’d consider the most crucial summer must-have, keep scrolling to shop some of our favorite picks. Every single one has been tested for comfort, durability, and absorbency so that you can make an educated purchase. Some of them are even on sale, and others come in sets. With Memorial Day right around the corner, the unofficial start of summer is well underway, so go ahead and shop!

Tropea Beach Towel

Though SFERRA's Tropea beach towels are made in Turkey, they're made of traditional cotton terry—with a jacquard finish for added texture. They may be on the pricey side, so maybe save them for your special occasion beach outings. The high price tag may come with the luxury brand name, but these are worth every penny. "I like a thick, fluffy towel that doesn't blow in the wind, and this one is perfect," Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner says.

Material: 100% cotton terry

Absorbency: "As soon as I wrapped myself up in this post-pool, there wasn't a single drop of water on my skin."

Feel Post-Wash: "There isn't a huge, noticeable change, but it definitely feels soft after taking it out of the dryer."

Out To Sea Beach Towel

"I have this towel in a different pattern from last summer and it is a top pick for me," Cherner says. "If I'm running out and need to grab a reliable towel without wanting to put too much thought into my choice, this is always my go-to." The secret to this towel's perfection? It's made of cotton velour, so it has kind of a velvety finish to it. It's also Oeko-Tex-certified, so it's made using eco-friendly production methods and skin-friendly materials.

Material: Cotton velour

Absorbency: "This isn't the most absorbent, but it does a good enough job. I have to leave the towel in place for a few seconds for all of the water to absorb."

Feel Post-Wash: "Because of the nature of the material, this one really does get softer with each wash. My only suggestion is putting it on the dryer in medium heat rather than high."

Utopia Towels, Set of 4

These towels, which come in a set of four, are a great last-minute purchase if you're in a pinch and don't have time to run to a department store. They don't do anything extra, per se, but they'll work for a weekend getaway to the beach. "They're very thick, which I love, after a few washes, they do start to unravel and lose their fluffiness," Cherner admits. "These are great for a summer season, but you'll probably have to replace them for the following year." Luckily, at $10.50 a towel, they're pretty affordable.

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "These feel like hotel towels you'd find at a mid-range spot. If you sit on it after jumping in the ocean, you'll notice it feels soaked for the rest of the day."

Feel Post-Wash: "They don't feel any different out of the wash. That's not a bad thing, though!"

Velour Beach Towel

Available in 20 colors and patterns, this beach towel is on the list for a reason—namely the price. As you may be able to assume, a $6 towel isn't going to last years, but it will definitely get you through the summer. Cherner says, "I have to say, it's a bit on the thin side, but some people prefer it that way!" Only one side is patterned, so if you want to show off, be sure to lay the white side down with the patterned side facing up.

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "It's not the most absorbent towel I've ever used. If I were going to the beach, I'd bring this to sit on and a more absorbent one for post-swim."

Feel Post-Wash: "Not much of a difference."

Pacific Pineapple Beach Towel

"My parents have these beach towels at their house in Florida, so I've used them a number of times," Cherner explains. "I can confidently say that these are some of the best beach towels on the market because they feel (and honestly kind of look) like bath towels, but they're durable enough to bring to the beach." They have the same velour feel as the Anthropologie pick earlier on the list, but they're actually made of Turkish cotton. Most importantly, though, they feature 500 gsm (grams per square meter, which is a measurement for the thickness of materials), so you know this one is extremely absorbent.

Material: Turkish cotton

Absorbency: "They definitely live up to the 500 gsm. They're very absorbent and because they're not too thick, they dry in the sun pretty quickly."

Feel Post-Wash: "These feel impossibly soft out of the dryer."

Beach Towel

"I have a weakness for 1970s-inspired patterns and colors, so I was sucked into buying one of these when I got a promotional email about the launch," Cherner admits. "I live in New York, so I haven't had the chance to use it at a beach or pool yet, but I have washed it so that it's ready to go when my beach day comes, and I have some thoughts, all of which are good." First of all, they're made with 600 gsm, so they absorb a lot of water really fast. Second, they're also finished with that velour feel, so they're really soft. Lastly, both sides are different: One side is soft and the other is absorbent, so you're pretty set with this one.

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "To be determined, but based on the gsm, I'm guessing they're pretty absorbent."

Feel Post-Wash: "They don't feel super different, but they are very soft to begin with."

Joey Velour Cabana Stripe Beach Towel, Set of 4

These towels are similar to the Amazon set in that they're great for a season or two, but they're not exactly going to last you a lifetime. These are great if you need to grab a couple of cheap sets for a birthday or pool party, but they do start to lose their fluff factor after a few uses.

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "They are surprisingly absorbent for such cheap towels."

Feel Post-Wash: "These get a little crunchy after the wash, but as soon as you get them a little wet, they soften back up."

Border Frame Beach Towel

Sold individually or as a set of four, eight, or 12, these Serena & Lily towels prove that the brand is unrivaled when it comes to all things coastal. "These also feel more like bath towels than beach towels, but I'll take it," Cherner says. "It could be because the bulk of the towel is bright white, but I am more inclined to bring these to a pool where they are less likely to get dirty than to the beach." No matter which border color you choose, you'll love the way it looks outside. If the price is of concern, use the code "SPLASH" to score 20% off at checkout. "One detail that makes these great for outdoor use is the fact that the border is actually weighted, so it doesn't blow in the wind," Cherner adds.

Material: Turkish Aegean cotton

Absorbency: "They are very absorbent and thick."

Feel Post-Wash: "Not a huge difference."

Cornelia 100% Cotton Beach Towel, Set of 4

"These are the towels I grew up with, so Breakwater Bay has been around for a long time," Cherner says. "I don't think my family has been using the same towels for all of this time, but they keep buying the same pattern. They are your basic beach towel." They're not too thick and not too thin, making them a crowd-pleasing option for groups. "They're not exactly luxurious, but they have a soft spot in my heart because they're the towels of my childhood."

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "They're absorbent enough. You won't be blown away at how fast these get the water off your skin, but they work well enough to keep using."

Feel Post-Wash: "These actually get a tiny bit stiff after taking them out of the dryer, but they're thin enough that they soften up after you bunch them up and move them around a bit."

Beach Towel

"I love my Weezie bathrobe more than anything I own (it's monogrammed, after all), so when I bought myself one of the brand's beach towels for a bachelorette trip last summer, I had high expectations," Cherner says. "I am obsessed, which is something I'd never thought I'd say about a towel." These ones, which rounded edges and wide, colorful stripes.

Material: 100% organic long-staple cotton

Absorbency: "These are unsurprisingly as absorbent as the bath towels and robes."

Feel Post-Wash: "They already have a close-cut silky feel, so they don't feel very different after they're washed."

Turkish Peshtemal Beach Towel

Though Turkish cotton can certainly be plush, most towels labeled as Turkish are often significantly thinner than the traditional terry alternative. "Personally, I like a big, thick, fluffy towel, so this was not my favorite, but it definitely has one benefit over the ones I normally buy," Cherner starts. "It's much easier to pack in a beach bag because it's so easy to roll up and it's small." It also comes in 20 colors, including red, white, and blue, so if you need some on-theme Fourth of July accessories, consider these towels.

Material: Turkish cotton

Absorbency: "They aren't the most absorbent. It kind of felt like wrapping myself in a blanket, if that makes sense."

Feel Post-Wash: "No difference."

The Wave Beach Towel

If $79 for a beach towel seems steep, know that you can get them for 20% off during Lulu and Georgia's Memorial Day sale. This blanket-like towel comes in four sumptuous shades and features a wave shape on either end, making it a luxurious find worth the investment.

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "These may be more fashion than function because they aren't as absorbent as I expected them to be."

Feel Post-Wash: "These definitely feel softer after taking them out of the laundry."

Beach Towel

"I bought one of these last year when I learned that H&M actually sells home goods," Cherner says. "I have the orange and pink one because I am a pink freak, and I love it. It has a bit more texture than the velour and close-cut towels, which is nice, but it does collect more sand than you may like."

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "They are absorbent enough, but not so much that you'd actually notice."

Feel Post-Wash: "No difference."

Classic Stripe Beach Towel

If you, like us, love a good monogram on your homewares, Mark & Graham is probably one of your favorite retailers. "This is yet another beach towel that feels like a bath towel, but the colors and the fringe makes it beach-appropriate," Cherner notes. "Of course, the monogram got me." Get the towels in seven colors and as many personal touches as you want when it comes to the monogram.

Material: Cotton

Absorbency: "They're pretty absorbent, but not the most. It took a few swipes at my arms and legs to get all of the water off and have my skin feeling dry."

Feel Post-Wash: "No difference."

Turkish Bath Towels, Set of 6

If you are in the Turkish towel camp, this set is for you. If you break it down by price per towel, each one comes down to just over $9, so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. "I admittedly don't own this set because I know I'm not a big Turkish towel fan, but plenty of reviewers are big fans," Cherner notes. One customer said, "It was time to replace our summer towels, and we went with these. I love how lightweight they are and how little room they take up. They dry very fast and are big enough to cover adult bodies. If you're looking for a cozy, typical towel, this is not the one. But I am genuinely considering switching out our bath towels for Turkish towels."

What material makes best beach towel?

Most beach towels are made of cotton because it's a highly absorbent material. That said, there are different types of cotton. For beach towels, opt for a microfiber or long-staple cotton. Terry is also a good option. "I also vote for fun patterned fabrics that complement the warm weather," Higaki adds. "Go big and bright!"

Why are Turkish towels better?

Whether or not Turkish towels are superior to traditional cotton is up for debate, but people love the former because they're much thinner and no less absorbent than the latter. Turkish cotton is made from long, strong, smooth fibers, which also makes them very durable.

Why trust us?

Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner is summer-obsessed and spends as much time as humanly possible at a beach during the warm months, so over the last few years—especially the pandemic years—she has tested a lot of beach towels to find the best ones on offer.

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