The Best Beach Towels to Pack for Your Next Vacation

From personalized to sand-free, these are the beach towels we're obsessed with this summer.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.
Updated on April 27, 2023

Our Top Beach Towel Picks

What are the makings of a perfect beach towel, you ask? We have a few must-have factors when making your shopping shortlist for vacation.

The perfect beach towel is plush to the touch yet ultra-absorbent when drying off after a swim. It stows seamlessly in your beach bag, then is surprisingly roomy when you unroll it for the day. Sand does not stick to any of its nooks, crannies or tassel trim, and you never find any unsightly lint stuck to you after your seaside siesta.

What is the best beach towel for you? That depends on your idea of the perfect beach day. Are you splurging on a plush, personalized towel to take on your honeymoon or buying in bulk for your family vacation? Do you plan to sunbathe solo, chase your little ones in the sand or enjoy a picnic lunch with your partner?

Whatever your idyllic day by the sea may be, we have just what you need. Read on to get the 4-1-1 on how to pick the perfect beach towel for your family, then shop the best beach towels for every budget, lifestyle and activity in the links below.

What to Look for in a Beach Towel

ABSORBENCY: Absorbency is the cornerstone of all phenomenal beach towels because, let’s face it, no one enjoys the feeling of drying off with a damp, sand-ridden towel after an afternoon dip. Water-absorbent towels are quick-drying and ensure your family has a comfortable spot to stretch out under the sun or dry off before heading to your vacation rental for lunch. Popular water-absorbent towel materials include terrycloth, cotton or polyester blend.

THICKNESS: Beach towel thickness is measured in GSM or grams per square meter. GSM refers to the weight of the fabric, and the higher the number, the thicker the towel. The sweet spot for beach towels is typically between 400 and 600 GSM. This mid-range thickness level produces beach towels that are both highly absorbent and fast-drying. Towels with lower GSM are less durable and unlikely to last for more than a couple of seasons, while towels with higher GSM are heavy, hold onto water and take much longer to dry.

SIZE: The best beach towel offers ample space to lay out and relax without your feet dangling off the edge into the piping-hot sand. Sidestep the steaming toes by treating yourself to beach towels that measure at least 30 inches wide and 60 inches long. Want even more room to spread out or set up a picnic lunch? Invest in a few oversized beach towel options measuring 50 x 70 inches.

Keeping absorbency, thickness, size and ratings in mind, we researched the top beach towels for your next vacation. Shop our top picks in the links below.

Chronic over-packers, rejoice! We tracked down the ultimate travel-friendly beach towel to keep your checked bags within the weight limit. The gingham travel towel from The Beach People weighs 1.5 pounds while simultaneously measuring 60-by-60 inches. You have plenty of space to enjoy a seaside picnic with your family and, most importantly? You have some wiggle room in your luggage to pack those extra sundresses before hitting that sweet spot that requires you to unzip and consolidate all your belongings into carry-ons when checking your bag.

Buy It
$119

Escape the sun for lunch or lounge on your vacation from the comfort of this savvy under-umbrella beach towel from Business & Pleasure. The retro-style towel measures 66-by-66 inches, offering ample sand-free space for your entire family to catch some shade. The best part is that each towel comes with a hole at the center to accommodate your beach umbrella, avoiding all the messy bunching and awkward gaps between standard towels.

Buy It

Parents, you need to add this cozy kids’ poncho beach towel to your cart. These plush ponchos are hand-loomed with absorbent Turkish cotton and come in four classic hues: navy, blush, pale blue or yellow. And be sure to take advantage of the optional embroidered personalization and add their name as an extra-special touch.

Buy It
$75 $56.25

If laying around in a wet swimsuit gives you the icks, this terry cloth towel from the Artist Series collection at Brooklinen is the way to go. The imaginative beach towel collection includes three unique and lively motifs inspired by New York City. Each towel features a velvety velour front and an ultra-absorbent terry cloth backing designed to get you cozy and dry in no time.

Buy It
MORE IDEAS

The Best Beach Umbrellas and Tents for Summer

These beach umbrellas, tents and canopies will keep you cool and protected from the sun all season long.

SHOP NOW
$34.97 (Set of 4)

If you're hunting for a top-rated — but budget-friendly — beach towel bundle for your family, you found it. The Great Bay Home's cabana stripe beach towel set from Amazon includes four ultra-soft beach towels in your choice of pale blue, gold or light gray finish. The lightweight towels measure 30-by-60 inches to comfortably bundle up between swims. Plus, the bundle has rows and rows of glowing reviews stating how well the towels wear after washing and the enduring quality of the design.

Buy It
$50

Love the ocean but hate the sand? While we can't eliminate that issue for you, we can share our secret to combatting the grains on our beach excursions: Sand Cloud. The pros at Sand Cloud make beach days as sand-free as possible with their top-rated Turkish cotton beach towels. The unique sand-resistant beach towel will keep you comfortable while soaking up the sun or eating a picnic lunch after a quick morning dip. Plus, we gave the Sand Cloud towel an in-depth review to give you even more information before taking the plunge on this purchase. Check out our review on several Sand Cloud beach towels.

Buy It
$59 $44.99

Never met a monogram you didn’t like? Go ahead and add this classic coastal-stripe beach towel to your cart ASAP. The buttery-soft Turkish cotton towel features hand-knotted tassel trim on each end and a mix of wide and narrow white stripes against one of six beachy colors: orchid, red, turquoise, navy, sky blue or yellow. Give your beach towel a personal touch with your pick of 19 unique monogram designs and seven personalization styles.

Buy It
MORE IDEAS

The Best Beach Chairs

Kick back and relax with one of these top-rated beach chairs that shoppers swear by.

SHOP NOW
$20.95

The top-rated Bay Laurel Turkish towel is tried-and-true with over 6,000 rave reviews with a 4.6-star rating. In other words, it's the beach towel of your dreams. The oversized towel measures 39-by-71 inches to provide generous space to lounge about on your beach day. Plus, it's quick-drying, sand-proof and includes a travel-ready drawstring bag so you can throw it in a carry-on before you head out the door. Snag a Turkish towel for your next beach trip in your choice of 40 unique color and stripe finishes.

Buy It

Think outside the box (er, rectangle) when searching for your perfect beach towel. This organic and quick-dry beach towel from Dock & Bay breaks the norm with a unique round silhouette. Each towel features sand-repellent technology to provide a comfortable spot to stretch out after splashing around during the day. Another plus? Its classic cabana stripes make the round beach towel easy to spot in a crowd. Snag the nautical navy-and-white combination or opt for one of the more colorful options like pastel rainbow or pale pink.

Buy It
$23.20 (Set of 2)

The Amazon Basics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel pack is our top pick for anyone and on any budget. The two-pack cabana stripe towel set has more than 10,000 positive reviews, with 74 percent of those customers giving this product a perfect rating. Sure, we could gush about the towel set’s ultra-plush material, top-quality construction and the chic stripe motif but let’s face it, the five-star customer ratings speak for themselves. Snag your pair in charcoal, navy or gold stripes.

Buy It
MORE IDEAS

The Best Picnic Blankets and Beach Mats for Every Style

Gear up for fun in the sun with these top-rated buys, from sand-free mats to foldable blankets that turn into a bag.

SHOP NOW

Next Up

This May Just Be the Last Beach Towel You'll Ever Need

Whether it's a picnic in the park or catching some rays on your next beach vacation, the sand-resistant, quick-drying Sand Cloud towel is up for any adventure.

18 Must-Haves to Pack for a Family Beach Trip

We'll walk you through what you need to pack for a family beach trip to keep meltdowns (from kids and grown-ups alike) to a minimum.

The Best Inflatable Pools for Everyone in 2023

Make a splash this summer with the best inflatable pools for babies, kids, adults and even dogs.

12 Best Accessories to Pack for Your Next Picnic

Roll out all the stops at your next picnic with our favorite baskets, coolers and tables.

30 Must-Have Beach Essentials

Take an already great day at the beach to a whole new level. From staying sand-free to capturing incredible underwater pictures, the perfect beach day is possible with these must-bring products.

The Best Beach Chairs for Summer 2023

Kick back and relax with one of these top-rated beach chairs that shoppers swear by.

The Best Bug Repellents for Kids

HGTV editors and a pediatrician share recommendations on how to keep kids bite-free this summer.

The Best Memorial Day Sales on Outdoor Furniture & Accessories to Shop Now

Save on patio furniture, pool floats, fire pits and other summer essentials with these amazing Memorial Day deals.

10 Stylish Ways to Keep Mosquitos at Bay

Skip the itch and take back your outdoor space this summer with these chic citronella finds.

Minnidip Pools Are The Best Inflatable Pools for Adults This Summer

Kick back and relax in one of these colorful inflatable Minnidip pools.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.

  • 500 Operands are not of the same type: comparison is supported for Number types only.

    Operands are not of the same type: comparison is supported for Number types only.

    Cannot serve request to /content/hgtv-com/en/lifestyle/travel/articles/2022/may/best-beach-towels.html on this server


    ApacheSling/2.7 (jetty/9.4.42.v20210604, Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 1.8.0_271, Linux 4.14.256-197.484.amzn2.x86_64 amd64)