Best towels and towel sets to buy in Australia in 2024
It’s a question that’s divided the internet for years — and now Target has waded into the great towel debate.
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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
But once you’ve gotten your new towels the next question is: How should you really be folding your 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.
But before you start folding, you actually need a towel in the first place.
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.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
OUR TOP PICKS
In this article
- How often should you wash your towels?
- How often should you buy new towels?
- What material makes the softest towel?
BEST TOWELS AND TOWEL SETS
Grandeur Bath Towel in White, $10 at Target Australia
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.”
Royal Splendour 8 Piece Towel Set, $139 (down from $199.99) at OZSALE
What You Need To Know
This full terry Canningvale bath towel set is made from 100 per cent single-ply and has been a bestseller for more than 30 years. You can pick between nine colours, including Azzurrite Teal, Black, Slate and a Classic white.
With more than 2500 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Google reviews, there’s a reason why this bath towel reigns as one of Canningvale’s most popular.
One five-star reviewer uploaded the comments, "Long term user of Canningvale bath sheets and the Royal Splendour range continues the great traditions of Canningvale quality with super soft, plush, luxury cotton bath sheets. Generously sized and colours true to pictures on website. Launders easily and no fabric softener needed. Line or tumble dry still feels soft either way and super absorbent. Excellent as a gift or an upgrade for yourself."
Australian Cotton Luma Bath Towel, $49.95 at Country Road
What You Need To Know
The seagrass green colourway will be the perfect addition to any bathroom and you also know that anything from this brand is going to be quality.
Sitting at 4.9 stars from almost 500 ratings, this towel is adored by customers. One five-star review says, “These bath towels are of top quality. They look fantastic and my last ones have lasted a long time.”
Others also love the quality of the towels with one reviewer commenting, “I love the feel of all Country Road towels. They dry the body well and feel great on the skin. I only buy country road towels now, the quality and texture is second to none.”
Sheridan Luxury Egyptian Towel Collection, 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, $69.99 (down from $149.99) at Canningvale
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.
Sheridan Ultimate Indulgence Towel Collection, 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 Granita.
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.
Vue Combed Cotton Ribbed Towel, from $10 at Myer
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!”
Linen House Nara Cotton Bamboo Towel Range, from $12.99 at Myer
What You Need To Know
You can get a whole set of bath mats, face washers, hand towels and bath sheets to style, mix and match. The colour range includes white, charcoal, bluestone and clay.
Customers love how soft these towels are. “Very generous size towels and extremely soft!” said one five-star review. Similarly another said, “Feels soft and luxurious. Love wrapping this all over.”
Not only do customers love the feel of these towels but also their practicalities. “Washes well and dries fast” said one five-star review. “Dry quickly but stay soft and fluffy,” says another.
Calo Bath Towel, $49.95 at Country Road
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.
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.
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