Best Turkish Bath Towels

Premium Towels & Luxury Towels

American Soft Linen’s premium towels are certified by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals and safe for you and your family. Crafted from 100% Turkish cotton and 100% Cotton, these towels offer exceptional softness, absorbency, and durability, making them a luxurious yet responsible choice. The OEKO-TEX® certification guarantees that every component, from the fibers to the dyes, meets strict safety standards, giving you peace of mind with every use. Whether for home, spa, or hotel use, American Soft Linen’s premium towels provide the perfect blend of comfort and quality while prioritizing your well-being.

Clearance Towels

American Soft Linen offers a wide range of premium towels to suit every need, including premium bath towels, bath sheets, beach towels, hand towels, and peshtemals. Designed for ultimate comfort and durability, our premium Turkish towels provide spa-like luxury with superior softness and absorbency. Whether you need plush bath sheets for a relaxing experience, lightweight peshtemals for quick drying, or oversized beach towels for lounging by the water, our collection has you covered. Plus, don’t miss out on our clearance towels, where you can find high-quality towels at unbeatable prices.

Sleep Safer and Softer with OEKO-TEX Duvet Cover Sets and Premium Bed Sheet Sets

Upgrade your sleep with OEKO-TEX® duvet cover sets and premium bed sheet sets designed for comfort, safety, and style. Made from certified, skin-friendly fabrics tested for harmful chemicals, these luxurious bedding sets are perfect for creating a healthier sleep environment. The soft, breathable materials offer a hotel-quality feel, while the durable design ensures long-term use. Ideal for modern bedrooms, guest rooms, or master suites, our OEKO-TEX® certified duvet covers and premium sheets combine elegance with peace of mind—making every night more restful and refreshing.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 keeps you and your family safe by testing [each component of] a certified product against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances. Certificate #21.HUS. by Hohenstein.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 sets the standard for textile safety, from yarn to finished product. Every product carrying the label has passed laboratory tests for harmful substances.

• These dish towels have an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, meaning they've been tested for more than 1,000 harmful substances, so you can use them on any food surface.

• These dish towels can look rather wrinkly after washing, but folding them while warm or ironing them after a tumble in the dryer should do the trick.

With a slightly textured feel and a classic French stripe, it doesn’t get more timeless or versatile than these kitchen towels from Williams Sonoma. The culinary destination is known for infusing utilitarian kitchen items with classic European charm, and this set of four represents that ethos perfectly, with a 100% Turkish cotton design that looks subtle and stylish but performs like a dream. They’re available in several beautiful colors (subtle gray, classic navy, and cheery yellow) that can pair with any kitchen decor. 

During our testing, these dish towels stood out for more than just their good looks. We loved the basket-weave construction, which was surprisingly absorbent without making the towels too bulky to store easily. At 30 x 20 inches, they’re also large enough to place beneath drying racks or use to mop up spills, but not so cumbersome that you’re battling a tangled mess of fabric every time you pull one out. While they shrunk slightly after their first wash and some darker liquids stained them, it didn’t impact their functionality or absorbency. We loved the subtle attention to detail in the design, like a sturdy tab for hanging.

Dimensions: 30 x 20 inches | Material: 100% cotton | Care Instructions:  Machine wash warm, tumble dry

• This duo of waffle weave kitchen towels comes in curated color selections, so you know you’re picking up a stylish and gorgeous set.

• These dish towels shrink significantly after the first wash, and the lighter colors stain easily.

Sometimes, the easiest way to boost your mood is to indulge in little moments of luxury throughout your day-to-day routine — and that extends to the towel you grab to wipe your dinnerware set dry. This duo from Hawkins New York is as high-end as it gets (at least, for kitchen towels), with an absorbent waffle weave texture made from Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified cotton. The colors are chic, the size is expansive, and the nubby waffle grooves are deep, allowing maximum absorption and easy pickup of crumbs and rogue herbs.

During testing, we fell hard for the high-quality design of these towels, which resisted odor absorption to an impressive degree. After long-term testing of the towels, we found the lightest shade (cream) showed faint traces of coffee and wine stains, so we recommend sticking to the darker colors. They’re hearty enough to be your go-to grab to clean up a kitchen mess, but still stylish enough to keep on your countertop or oven handle. The oversized dimensions and thick waffle weave meant cleanup tasks went fast, from cleaning our hands and wiping down the countertops to drying dishes. There wasn’t a mess these couldn’t tackle — and they looked good while doing it.

One note on size: These towels are almost comically large upon first unboxing, resembling bathroom towels, but shrink nicely after the first wash. Their thick waffled texture gets softer with each wash.

Dimensions: 29 x 21.5 inches | Material: 100% cotton | Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, tumble dry

• These kitchen towels come in a set of 12, allowing you to replace or renew your existing stock with just one purchase.

• These towels showed a bit of pilling after washing, but ultimately it didn’t influence their ability to clean or absorb liquid.

At 25 x 14 inches, these towels are a bit smaller than most, but that doesn’t make them any less effective. Designed with a contrast stripe down the middle and a subtle herringbone weave, they may look like linen, but they’re made from soft, super-absorbent cotton. Since they are thin, they can be easily rolled for storage in a drawer. They don’t take up much room in your drawer. No space in your kitchen cabinets? You can hang them from a hook using the fabric loop at the top of each towel. 

We reached for these towels frequently throughout testing, and never found them overly damp or odorous. The material was among the most absorbent of the bunch, allowing us to dry an entire batch of dishes and still be able to wipe down the sink surround afterward. While the design is rather plain, it’s not going to clash with any decor in your kitchen, making this a great subtle choice for anyone not looking to make a design statement with their kitchen towels. 

Dimensions: 25 x 14 inches | Material: 100% Cotton | Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, tumble dry

• We tested the 15-piece towel set, but you can also buy these kitchen towels in bulk via a 30-pack or 45-pack.

• These dish towels take a while to dry. During testing, a saturated towel took up to 12 hours to dry.

If you’ve spent any time working in a restaurant kitchen, you’ll probably recognize our pick for the best budget-friendly kitchen towels. Available in a set of 15, these soft and durable kitchen towels from Zeppoli are made of 100% natural ring-spun cotton, so they’re soft right out of the package. They won’t be rough on even the finest stoneware dinnerware and are lint-free, so you don’t have to worry about guests finding cotton tufts floating in their pasta bowl.

While testing this pick, we were impressed by the number of towels per purchase and their quality. While they’re not the most absorbent of the bunch, they are super soft and show minimal shrinking when cleaning in the laundry. The primarily white background will show stains but they come free of the fabric fairly easily, whether rinsing them under the faucet or washing them in the machine. While these dish towels are not necessarily ones you’ll be scrambling to display in your kitchen, they’re a great budget-friendly option for cooks who frequently need to clean up major messes or anyone looking to cut down on their paper towel use. In terms of value, these easily make our list of the best kitchen towels.

Dimensions: 25 x 14 inches | Material: 100% cotton | Care Instructions: Machine wash warm, tumble dry

• This towel is ultra-thin, so storing it is easy whether you roll, fold, or hang it.

• The print on these dishtowels only appears on the front — the back side is white. It's not the biggest deal, but something worth noting.

Some people view kitchen towels as purely functional items, while others treat the accessory as a way to reinforce their design or nod to seasonality. If you’re the latter, you’ll love Geometry kitchen towels. With over 2,000 stunning designs, you can cater your pick to whatever palette, theme, or holiday you want, from vibrant spring florals to cozy autumnal checks. 

During testing, we were wowed by the vibrant design of the towel we received — and even more so by its soft, absorbent qualities. Each Geometry towel is made from geo-weave fabric, which increases its absorption power to seven times its weight and helps it pick up gunk and grime more easily. The towel feels immediately different upon the first touch, with a suede-like softness. Past that, it worked great to clean up all our messes, held a generous amount of liquid, and dried quickly, without any residual odor. 

One thing to note is since the back of the towel and some printed details are white, we noted there is potential for staining there, though we didn't experience any major issues during our tests.

Dimensions: 30 x 18 inches | Material: 80% recycled polyester, 20% polyamide | Care Instructions: Machine wash warm, tumble dry

• This towel dried the fastest, thanks to its lightweight and breathable linen construction.

• These towels are ultra-thin and were not the most absorbent of the bunch, making them better for decorative use.

If the relaxed, effortless ease of linen is more your vibe, you’ll want to add these Pottery Barn kitchen towels to your cart ASAP. Made from 100% fine linen, they’re yarn-dyed in a punchy citron (or flax or gray) for a saturated, stay-fast hue. Lightweight and thin, this towel can be used to wipe up crumbs or line a bread box for an upcoming dinner party — it’s just that pretty.

While testing these kitchen towels, we were quickly taken with the aesthetics of it all, soaking up all the compliments they garnered in the kitchen. The large size helped them cover a lot of surface area when cleaning the countertops, and the ultra-thin design made them easy to store or ball up to get some elbow grease behind a mess. That said, this pick wasn’t that great at absorbing moisture, so you’re better off using it as a dining room table accessory for serving or relying on it to brush up crumbs and other dried messes.   

Dimensions: 30 x 20 inches | Material: 100% linen | Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, tumble dry

Our Favorite Kitchen Towels

Though every kitchen towel on our list has merits, the Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels took the top spot thanks to their classic design, absorbent basketweave surface, and just-right size. We loved how well these towels were able to clean up messes (both liquid and otherwise), and they cleaned up well, with very little staining or residual odors. 

How We Tested Kitchen Towels

We tested 14 kitchen towels that differed in material and exact size. Some were made of cotton, while others were constructed with linen or polyester. Some towels had textures like waffle weaves meant to up absorption, while others had practical storage features, like a hanging loop. Each kitchen towel was assessed on different elements and features, including:

• Absorbency: The largest determining factor in our testing, we rated absorbency based on how much liquid the towels could hold at one time. We soaked each towel completely to determine how much it absorbed. We used them during routine cooking and cleaning tasks to see how they performed in real-life scenarios.
• Design: During our trial period, we weighed the design of each kitchen towel to determine how much of an aesthetic upgrade it brought to our kitchens. Some of the picks on our list are purely utilitarian, while others look beautiful, too. Beyond that, we also factored in beneficial design enhancements, like towels that boasted a loop for hanging. 
• Durability: For something as functional as a kitchen towel, durability is important. To test this factor, we used each towel repeatedly and laundered them at least once according to package instructions. Throughout our tests, we noted several durability factors, including whether the towels were stained, pilled, faded, or snagged.
• Ease of cleaning: No one wants to use a kitchen towel that looks constantly dirty. To rate each towel’s ease of cleaning, we washed them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and made note of several factors, including whether or not the towel shrunk and how laundering influenced the feel of the fabric. Beyond that, we also made note of whether the towels held onto stains or odors after being cleaned. 

Factors to Consider

Material and Weave

One of the first things to consider when shopping for the best kitchen towels is their material and weave. The choice of material is the number one indicator of absorption. Typically, you’ll want to look for a 100% cotton kitchen towel, woven into a basketweave or waffle-weave texture to give liquids plenty of nooks and crannies to soak into. Other types of towels made our list, including those made of linen and polyester. Ultimately, it depends on what material suits your needs and works best in your kitchen.  

Absorbency

As mentioned, absorbency is often directly determined by the material and weave of a towel, but that’s not the only consideration. Sometimes, you can’t predict how well a towel will soak up liquids until you test it. When shopping for the best kitchen towels, consider how often you’ll be mopping wet messes. If you’re shopping to forgo paper towels altogether, you’ll want to shop for a towel that can absorb five or more times its weight. 

Size

While all kitchen towels on our list vary slightly, they’re all around the same size — approximately 30 x 20 inches. That size allows plenty of surface area when cleaning, without being so large that it becomes difficult to store in your drawers. Any smaller and you’ll have trouble using the kitchen towel to pick up a hot enameled cast iron skillet or wrap it entirely around a serving platter.

Care

All the best kitchen towels on our list are machine washable, and that’s an important consideration. Your chosen towel is bound to pick up many messes along the way, so you want a design that can withstand a good toss in the laundry without coming apart at the seams or depositing a lot of lint on your next round of dishes. 

Design

Kitchen towels are unique items that have to toe the line between form and function. Sure, they need to be absorbent, but they’re also likely to be on display hanging from your stove or a hook, so you want them to be pretty too. While shopping for the best kitchen towels, look for styles that suit the design of your kitchen, like a French stripe for a farmhouse kitchen or a graphic pattern for a modern apartment.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which material is best for a kitchen towel?

  For the most absorbency, look for a kitchen towel made from cotton, which can hold 24 to 27 times its weight in liquid. Choosing a towel that also has a nubby weave, like a basket or waffle, can also help aid in absorption and durability.

• What size is best for a kitchen towel?

  Look for a kitchen towel that is around 30 x 20 inches, or at least larger than 25 x 14 inches. A towel that size grants plenty of surface area for cleaning is easy to store, and will still allow you to use it for other tasks, like picking up hot frying pans or drying a Dutch oven.

• What’s the best way to wash kitchen towels?

  You should always wash your kitchen towels according to package instructions. Typically, this involves washing it with warm water in the laundry and drying it on tumble dry low. If you’re looking to get out tough stains like sauce or coffee, you can soak your towel with a stain treatment or a mixture of vinegar and laundry detergent.

• What’s the difference between kitchen towels and tea towels?

  Kitchen and tea towels are often referred to interchangeably but have some notable differences. Typically tea towels are thinner and made for polishing glassware, while kitchen towels are thicker and made for heavy-duty messes and drying dishes. You’re also more likely to find tea towels in decorative patterns and kept on display.

• Are kitchen towels and dishcloths the same?

  Kitchen towels and dishcloths are typically made of the same types of materials (100% cotton) and used for the same purposes (cleaning and drying), but the real difference is their size. Kitchen towels are larger and more rectangular, while dishcloths are smaller and square.

Other Kitchen Towels We Tested

Strong Contenders

While the six kitchen towels that made our list were the best of the best, we still found plenty of options that were great contenders throughout our testing. The towels below are still quality options for your kitchen, falling short in just one or two testing categories that prevented them from making our best list. Here’s what stood out — and where they could have done better:

All-Clad Dual Striped Kitchen Towels, 3-Pack ($30 at Amazon)

These 100% cotton dish towels are durable and the ideal size for any number of kitchen cleaning tasks, from wiping down the counter to drying dishes. We liked how this option had a slightly different texture on each side; terrycloth on one, a flatter, flour sack-like material on the other. They were absorbent and easy to use, but we found these towels stained easily and showed wear after washing, which kept them from making our list. 

Coyuchi Organic Waffle Kitchen Towels ($50 at Coyuchi)

These textured towels from Coyuchi are nubby and relaxed, with a waffle weave texture that makes them ideal for everyday use in the kitchen. They’re made from organic cotton, with a decorative contrast trim at the edges. We found these towels effective in cleaning up smaller messes, but they weren’t as absorbent as we would have liked on bigger spills like coffee grounds. The texture changed positively after a few washes, transforming from a tight, flat waffle weave into one slightly more pillowy. We weren’t wowed by their absorbency or design.

KitchenAid Albany Kitchen Towel 4-Pack ($30 at Amazon)

KitchenAid is a trusted name in the culinary world, so it's no wonder that these towels score high on many of our testing categories. Made from absorbent cotton and available in stylish shades, these dish towels feature two different textures, including a tighter herringbone and a more absorbent loop weave.  While we loved the absorbency of these towels, we weren’t wowed by their aesthetic or the feel of the fabric. 

Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Dishcloths ($15 at Williams Sonoma)

If these Williams Sonoma dishcloths look familiar, they’re the little sister to the best overall pick on our list. All their amazing attributes are the same — absorbency, texture, and functionality — but they’re a bit smaller, at just 15 x 15 inches. While we loved this towel’s utility, we ultimately preferred the larger size to the smaller. 

Utopia Cotton Bar Mops ($20 at Amazon)

Some cooking tasks require a more rugged approach than others. If you’re looking for a kitchen towel that can carry you through any mess (without the fear of making something pretty look dingy), this pack from Utopia Kitchen is it. While not glamorous, these basic rags are durable and absorbent, with a looped cotton construction similar to your favorite bath towel. These towels aren’t as high-quality as others on our list, so they’re prone to unraveling and leaving lint behind. Due to their lack of longevity, these didn't make our list of winners.

What Didn’t Make the List

Our goal is always to bring you the best kitchen products, so we had to leave some kitchen towels off our list. Several designs — including Aunt Martha’s Flour Sack Dish Towels, Homaxy 100% Cotton Waffle Weave Kitchen Dish Cloths, and Utopia Towels Kitchen Towels Dish Cloth — didn’t earn high enough marks on all our criteria, either because they didn’t have enough absorbency, were too small, or showed signs of wear and tear quickly after washing.

Our Expertise

Alyssa Longobucco is a writer, editor, and stylist with a background in food, interior, and lifestyle content. She has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry creating unique and innovative content for storied brands such as Food and Wine, House Beautiful, HGTV, The Knot, Domino, Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, Food52, Good Housekeeping, and more.