Bed Threads
There are items in our homes that do a majority of the heavy lifting, and yet earn little attention. The humble bath towel is one of those items. It’s easily overlooked, it does the job and is forgotten until needed again tomorrow. But a quality bath towel can be a luxurious item, a bright spot in your daily routine.
Whether you shower in the morning or the evening, wrapping yourself up in a plush terry towel is a physical joy we all deserve. The disappointing towel, one that doesn’t absorb well, is scratchy and even thread-bare (shock!), is too often given hanging space in our bathroom. We ply ourselves with beautiful face creams and invest in body wash that elevates the spirit, and then we deny ourselves the simple pleasure of using a towel that just feels great.
The best quality bath towels are made from fabric that’s designed to last, that feels good on the skin no matter the battering we give it in the washing machine and tumble dryer. The best bath towels are functional – yep, they dry us – but they also envelope us. They wrap without clinging, they leave no trace of fluff behind, they dry promptly and look as good on day one-hundred as they did on day two. We want a bath towel that looks gorgeous, or at least lovely, and that offers that feeling of luxury every time. We’ve cut out the polyester, the rif raf. Here are the best quality bath towels to shop in Australia right now.
The best quality bath towels in Australia 2025
01
European Sophia strawberry and candy pink Turkish cotton bath sheet
$54.99, Adairs
The sheet is the larger option, slightly larger than a towel at 80cm by 160cm. Generosity goes a long way when you’re aiming for either luxury or maintaining a little modesty post bathing. There are slightly different colour stripes on each side in what’s basically a reversible stripe colourway, so you can switch it around depending on the look you want when you hang them up. This bath towel range is available in plenty of styles and colours, but it’s hard to go past the strawberry on one side and candy on the other. It’s a kind of watermelon punch cocktail vibe for your bathroom.
Sizes: Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet
Colours: Green Tea & French Blue, Violet & Lemon Drop, Paprika & Nude
Materials: Turkish cotton
Key features:
- Made from Turkish cotton
- Tassel edge detailing
- Different stripe colours on each side.
02
Cedar towel in Carbon
$49.99, Sheridan
Pair this playful check from Sheridan with complementary shades to give your bathroom a pop of interest and texture. The yarn-dye pattern brings a sophisticated edge to your colour scheme, and can either be lightened up with whites or made more moody with charcoal bath mats and face towels.
Sizes: Hand Towel, Bath Towel
Colours: Multi, Carbon
Materials: Cotton terry
Key features:
- Made in India
- Plush hand-feel
03
Boston bath towel in silver grey
$15.95 (usually $26.95), Bed Bath N’ Table
Sometimes the most spa-like experience can be found with less going on around you. These simple, classic rib towels have no borders and then silver grey colour makes them a perfect addition to any bathroom design. This is the towel for a highly patterned bathroom, for a place where the bold terrazzo or mosaic tiles already do all the talking. The contemporary style is available in plenty of colours, should you like to be a little more daring. These pure combed cotton towels have a full appearance after washing and tumble drying, and the price point can’t be beaten.
Sizes: Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Hand Towel, Face Washer, Bath Mat
Colours: Silver Grey, white, Granite, Eucalyptus, Ink, Blue Stone, Sage Green, Stillwater Blue
Materials: Cotton
Key features:
- Durable and absorbent
- Timeless borderless design
04
Marimekko Piirto Unikko bath towel
$159, David Jones
The classic flower design of Marimekko should appear at least once in every style-loving person’s house, that’s just how it is. And for those who like a less bold print, the elegant Unikko flower print symbol has been handed an almost line-drawing look in ivory and black. This 100cm by 160cm bath towel is made of heavyweight organic cotton terry, and there’s a Marimekko label on the bottom edge, in case you could forget for a moment what this iconic label and print is.
Materials: Cotton
Key features:
- Made from 100% premium cotton
05
Terre bath towel in Toffee
$34.95 (usually $49.95), Freedom
In a warm terracotta hue, the Terre bath towel from Freedom is a cosy and soft number to add to your towel rotation. Crafted from long-fibre Turkish cotton, it’s plush, resilient and luxurious. This one is 70cm by 140cm, a medium-to-large towel that looks beautiful with any decor.
Colours: Toffee, Mid Green, White
Materials: Turkish cotton
Key features:
- Made from 100% Turkish cotton
- Highly absorbent
- Machine-washable
06
Sheridan Austyn bath towel
$29.97 (usually $49.95), Sheridan Outlet
If a terribly fluffy down is not your thing, these textured quality towels from Sheridan are a perfect option. They come in plenty of contemporary colours – we love this Coal look – and they wash extremely well. No pilling and pulling and generally looking shabby after a tumble in your laundry. There is a quality feel to the material, after all it’s 100 percent 600gsm cotton. There’s a whole range to match, making it the perfect option for a bathroom overhaul or as a gift for a loved one who likes the good things.
Colours: Coal, white, Storm, Midnight (navy), Silver, Passionflower, Bluebird, Sea Foam, Coral,
Size: Hand Towel, Face Washer, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Bath Mat
Materials: 100% cotton
Key features:
- Made from 100% cotton
- Unique texture and high absorbancy
- Made in China
07
Rosewater and Sage check terry bath towel
$120 , Bed Threads
A towel so luxe and soft that you might wonder what you’ve been doing up until now. This towel is not the most robust in the linen cupboard – the flax linen is soft, but it needs to be treated well or it gets in a bit of a mood. These towels are large, they’re almost buttery in feel with their 500gsm terry weave, transporting you to holidays on the Amalfi whether you’ve had one or not. The colours are on point for any stylish bathroom, in a playful but chic way.
Sizes: 100cm x 170cm
Colours: Rosewater & Sage, Pink Clay & Hazelnut, Limoncello & Terracotta, Wildflower & White, White & Oatmeal
Materials: 100% French flax linen
Key features:
- Arrives packaged in a linen storage sack
- Quick drying
- 400gsm
What is considered a good quality towel?
When looking for a good quality towel, there are few things to consider. The material in which it is made from and its thickness (GSM). The higher the GSM, the higher-quality and more durable it is. As mentioned, Egyptian cotton is generally known as the best quality of cotton, however, it ultimately comes down to your personal preference.
Other elements such as quality stitch-work (i.e. no loose ends) are also key indicators of the quality of your bath towel.
So, what should you look for when searching for high-quality towels? When talking about bath towels, investigating in the best fabric is a great place to start.
Are expensive towels worth it?
Cheap gets cheap, they say. And often the more you spend on something the higher your expectations that you will get something for the extra dosh. Sadly that’s not always the case. Our list of quality bath towels are not all expensive, but all are good. Avoid polyester in your towels (and wherever you can in life if quality is what you are after). It’s not good on your skin, will shed microplastics, and natural will always feel better in the long term. If you’re looking for a towel that will last more than one season, go for the best quality you can afford.
What material is best for bath towels?
Most towels – bath towels especially – are made from cotton. However, the type of cotton you choose is crucial if you want plush spa-like towels. Below, are the main types of cotton normally found in bath towels that are worth familiarising yourself with.
Organic cotton towels
As the name suggests, organic cotton is made sans the use of any harmful chemicals, pesticides or fertilisers. Organic cotton is also very environmentally friendly in its production – plus, they are soft, strong and perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Egyptian cotton towels
Considered one of the highest qualities of cotton is Egyptian cotton. Egyptian cotton is handpicked in the sourcing process and boasts the longest and finest staples to produce the plushest towels one will touch. If you’re looking to wrap yourself in luxury, bath towels made from Egyptian cotton are a no-brainer.
Turkish cotton towels
Turkish cotton towels are reliably good quality. Crafted from cotton sourced only from the Aegean region, Turkish cotton has extra-long fibres that are stronger and smoother than traditional cotton threads. Therefore, Turkish cotton towels will survive daily use and regular washing for years, and are incredibly plush.
Though, there’s no material that reigns supreme – as it is all up to personal preference – it is safe to say that Egyptian cotton is generally regarded as the highest quality of cotton. As a result, Egyptian cotton towels are a luxurious addition to any bathroom. However, opting for cotton towels is a great entry point and allrounder.
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