Best towels and towel sets to buy in Australia in 2024
A good towel should be soft, plush, and dry you off effortlessly - here's our round-up of the best towels and towel sets that'll get the job done.
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Sure, decking out your living room with cool new furniture is great and all.
But replacing old worn towels with soft and luxurious bath sets that don’t leave fluff everywhere? Now, that’s a winning makeover.
RELATED: The ‘gross’ reason towels need to be washed more than once a week
Whether you’re after an Egyptian cotton finish, a waffle weave or 100 per cent bamboo, we’ve rounded up some of the best bath towel choices that tick all the boxes when it comes to getting dry fast, softness, durability and, of course, style.
We've got our eye on the Royal Splendour 8-Piece Towel Set from Canningvale, which is down to $99.99 (from $199.99). Boasting over 2,000 five-star reviews, shoppers say they're "better than expected" as they're "soft and fluffy", "very absorbent" amd "luxury on a budget".
There's also the Vue Combed Ribbed Towel that comes in a range of colours and has been praised by many shoppers - they say it "feels lovely on the skin" and "dries very quickly".
BEST TOWELS AND TOWEL SETS
Royal Splendour 8 Piece Towel Set, $99.99 (down from $199.99) at Canningvale
What You Need To Know
This full terry Canningvale bath towel set is made from 100 per cent single-ply cotton and has been a bestseller for more than 30 years. You can pick from a range of colours to suit your personal style.
With more than 2900 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Google reviews, there’s a reason why this bath towel reigns as one of Canningvale’s most popular.
"Very happy with these towels. Nice and thick. Washed them first, and they are great. Absorbent, soft and fluffy," one five-star reviewer wrote.
"This set was surprisingly great, better than I expected! Thick, soft and fluffy, very absorbent, I love them. Generous size bath mat too. Very happy with my purchase, I would recommend anyone to buy them," another five-star reviewer wrote.
One five-star reviewer even says they're great for anyone who likes "luxury on a budget", writing:
"We purchased towels from the Royal Splendour collections. They are beautiful towels and we are very pleased with them. The Royal Splendour towels are still gorgeous and I would especially recommend the Royal Splendour to anyone who likes luxury but is on a budget. "
Vue Combed Cotton Ribbed Towel, from $5 (down from $10) at Myer
Vue Combed Cotton Ribbed Towel
What You Need To Know
These 100 per cent combed cotton face washers, hand and bath towels, bath sheets and bath mats are available in a variety of shades including dust, charcoal, silver, aqua, mustard, burnt ochre, pink, straw, sage, sea pine, anthracite and white.
Reviewers praise these towels for being fluff-free and for their super soft feel. “Amazing towels! Such good quality, super absorbent and no fluff all over you like I’m used to with cheap towels,” one happy shopper posted online.
“Wash and dry perfectly and stay super duper soft every single time. I’ve also had no colour bleed or fading which is incredible. Love these towels, they will be all I buy from now on!”
Grandeur Bath Towel in White, $10 at Target Australia
Target Grandeur Bath Towel in White
What You Need To Know
Made from extra thick combed cotton, it is super absorbent helping you to dry as quickly as possible. And it is available in a range of colours too.
Sitting at 4.5 stars from well over 300 reviews, this towel is one of Target’s most popular. “Beautiful bath towels which are so absorbent after first wash,” wrote one five-star review. Another said, “Brought these in several colours and they are so absorbent and dry you well without feeling like they just push the water around on your skin.”
Eve Australian Cotton Bath Towel, $49.95 at Country Road
Eve Australian Cotton Bath Towel
What You Need To Know
The striped pale blue colourway will be the perfect addition to any bathroom and you'd also know that anything from Country Road is going to be high-quality.
Sitting at 4.8-stars with almost 100 ratings, this towel is adored by customers. One five-star review says they're "like a pillow", writing: "Love the colour and softness. I've washed it several times so far and it still looks and feels brand new"
Another reviewer says they're the "best towels I've ever known".
"Fabulous size and absorbency. Looks divine in my ensuite," they wrote.
Sheridan Luxury Egyptian Towel Collection, from $16.09 (down from $22.99) at Sheridan
What You Need To Know
The Australian icon has many ranges of towels on offer but our pick is the Luxury Egyptian towel collection. Made from combed ring-spun Egyptian cotton pile, this range is super soft and absorbent. It also boasts a classic boarder style design, available in a variety of colours such as Twilight, Graphite, Dusty Blue, Rosebud, Dew and Snow.
Shoppers are loving this luxe collection for their high quality, soft feel and fast drying properties. The bath towels are also generously sized, making them ideal for those who want extra coverage.
“The quality of the bath sheets I purchased are first class, so lovely and soft,” praised a reviewer.
“Sheridan makes the best towels in the market. They have a nice touch, are extremely absorbing and look wonderful.”
Canningvale Soft Organic Boucle 6 Piece Towel Set, $67.99 (down from $149.99) at Canningvale
Canningvale Soft Organic Boucle 6 Piece Towel Set
What You Need To Know
The eco-friendly set is made with 100 per cent two-ply organic combed cotton and is certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
While the textured bouclé (or curled) weave is certainly eye-catching, many customers agree it’s how well the towels wash that makes this set worth buying.
“These are really nice towels. They are the first style I’ve owned that didn’t take several washes to stop it leaving fluff all over my skin,” a happy shopper wrote.
Ultimate Indulgence Towel Collection, from $19.57 (down from $27.95) at Sheridan
What You Need To Know
These Sheridan towels will make you feel like you’re in a luxury hotel somewhere exotic. The face washer, hand towel, bath towel and bath sheet are also 800gsm, so they’re a little on the heavier side.
Along with a bath mat, you can find these pieces in several colours, such as Charcoal, Silver Grey and Dusty Lilac.
Most shoppers agree these Sheridan towels not only look incredible, but they’re also perfectly “thick and luxurious”.
“Love these towels. So luxurious and soft. Really absorbent. Colours are sensational,” a reviewer wrote, giving it five stars.
“More plush, fluffy and soft than my Egyptian cotton towels. I only use these towels now,” another commented.
Calo Bath Towel, $49.95 at Country Road
Country Road Calo Bath Towel
What You Need To Know
The 68cm x 135cm bath towel is made from 100 per cent Australian cotton and features a rice grain weave and embroidered logo to “add a touch of class” to your bathroom.
Many shoppers agree this is THE bath towel they’ve been searching for, with several customers commenting they couldn’t help but purchase the rest of the set.
“No regrets here. LOVE them,” one person posted online.
“I will never buy another brand of towels! Great quality after wash,” another wrote.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A TOWEL
When choosing the perfect towel, you should consider:
Material: Look for towels made from 100 per cent natural materials - these tend to be softer and more absorbent than a towel made from mixed fibers. We suggest picking a towel made from Egyptian, Turkish and Supima Cotton.
Size: Your towel shouldn't be too big or too small, find one that wraps around your body comfortably and won't be too heavy to deal with when wet.
Weight: GSM (grams per square meter) plays a big part in how thick and luxurious your towel will be, as well as how easy it'll be to maintain. We suggest a towel within the 650 to 700 gsm range as they'll be fairly easy to wash and dry while still offering decent absorption.
Durability: If you want a beach towel to last for years, you should opt for one that is made of high-quality materials and able to withstand frequent use and washing.
Style: There are tonnes of colours and patterns available, make sure you choose one that's stylish, timeless and ultimately reflects you personal style.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the perfect towel, our team of experienced writers spent hours researching beach towels to include in articles. We found out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR TOWELS?
According to the experts at the Good House Keeping Institute, bath towels “should be washed after three to four uses”. Towels spend a lot of time in contact with our skin so the cleaner the better in order to avoid build-up of dirt and body oils.
But it turns out many of us are falling well short of that mark. An Australia Talks National Survey carried out by the ABC found most Australians (61 per cent) change their towels only several times a month, 30 per cent several times a week or three per cent at least once a day.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU BUY NEW TOWELS?
A good towel should last five to 10 years, which is why many come with a warranty of over five years. It’s important to take this into consideration when buying a bath towel because the more expensive option could cost you less in the future. Experts believe that the best time to change towels is when they start to lose their absorbency.
WHAT MATERIAL MAKES THE SOFTEST TOWEL?
If softness is what you are looking for then Egyptian cotton should be your first port of call. These towels are often super soft, fluffy and thick. However, towels that are made from bamboo or linen will be more quick drying and often have antimicrobial properties. So, it’s about finding the balance you are looking for.
HOW SHOULD I FOLD MY TOWELS?
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that starting up a conversation about the best way to fold your towels is certain to spark up debate. Whether you roll, fold into quarters or simply chuck your towel in the cupboard, whatever is your method of choice you are sure to find someone disagreeing with you.
Take this viral Twitter post from 2020 that sparked a “crazy” reaction after it gave three different towel folding options. They included folding your towel in half, in thirds and finally rolling it up.
But, alas, our very own Target has finally solved all our problems.
The retailer recently released a TikTok revealing the best way to fold your towel when putting it in storage.
In the video a Target employee starts by lay a towel flat before turning in one corner, folding the towel in half and then rolling until you’re at the end. Then simply tuck the end of the towel in and voila, you’re good to go.
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