Best beach towels to buy online in Australia in 2023
Beach days are here – whatever towel you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered this summer season.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
Give the sunny weather a warm welcome as beach season arrives and droves of Australians flock to the shore come the weekend.
Resist the urge to use your bath towel on the sand, and instead opt for one of the best beach towels on the market, perfect for every budget and need.
Our top pick? The Striped Cabana Cotton Terry Beach Towel from Canningvale which is an absolute steal for just $39.99. Five-star reviewers say it is the “best towel” that’s “great for the beach”.
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
EDITOR’S PICKS: BEST BEACH TOWELS FOR THE SUMMER
X-Large Microfibre Sand-Free Beach Towel Quick Dry Travel Towel, $44.97 at OZSALE
Sure an ordinary beach towel is great, but a sand-free beach towel is even better. If you’ve always wanted to try one, now’s the perfect time.
This pick from OZSALE is designed to be quick-drying, keep the sand away and allow you to easily roll it into a compact size to stuff in its own handy carry bag. How good!
You can take it with you to the beach, the pool, when you go camping, backpacking, or whatever other outdoor adventure life takes you on.
Marina Stripe Towel, $59.95 at Seafolly
Seafolly has been synonymous with Australian summers for years and years, so it makes sense that one of our top picks for the best beach towel is from the fabulous swimwear brand.
The Marina Stripe Towel is made from 100 per cent cotton, with a super soft feel and frayed edging. It also promises to be super absorbent, which is always helpful when it comes to beach towels.
Five-star rating Seafolly customers have called this a “stylish pool towel”, noting how it’s “soft”, “fluffy” and “very absorbent”.
Striped Cabana Cotton Terry Beach Towel, $39.99 at Canningvale
This Cabana Beach Towel from Canningvale is incredibly affordable, sitting at under $50.
It’s 100 per cent cotton, made in India and is crafted from a super absorbent terry front and reverse.
The towels have also been yarn dyed for a vibrant and long-lasting colour. And that’s probably one of our favourite things about this beach towel – the colour, besides the cheap price tag, of course. It comes in loads of fun colours like this green shade, sky blue, navy, coral and so much more.
It’s also racked up hundreds of five-star ratings, with Canningvale customers calling it the “best towel” that’s “great for the beach”. Another customer said “they wash really well and maintain their softness and high pile.”
BEST SAND-FREE BEACH TOWELS
The Beach People Sand Free Cabana Towel, $49 at Surfstitch
Made from 100 per cent soft cotton, this lightweight fade-resistant and sand-repelling beach towel will make your days by the sea that much more pleasant. With an absorbent and fast drying terry towelling layer underneath, it measures 168x76cm – making it the perfect size for laying on, drying yourself with and packing up.
Sand Free Travel Beach Towel, $21.99 at Amazon Australia
This sand-free towel is one of Amazon’s bestsellers in the beach towels category, and we’re not surprised. Made from 100 per cent microfibre material that is super absorbent and quick-drying, it features a double-sided design and measures 160x80cm.
It’s super soft, lightweight and easy to fold and pack away.
One reviewer wrote, “This towel is fantastic. We live with beaches all around and my daughter goes to the beach all the time, the towel is so lightweight it fits in her bag and does not take up much room at all, yet it is bigger for her to lie on. The best thing for me is she does not bring home any sand. So happy.”
Others rave about how absorbent and fast drying it is. “These towels are great, dry you really well and also dry super quick – they are brilliant!” another reviewer wrote.
Sky Gazer Sand Free Towel, from $49.99 at THE ICONIC
The Sky Gazer beach towel is a popular and luxurious option for those looking for a sand-free beach towel. It promises to be ultra-absorbent, odourless and quick drying, all while arriving in its very own matching (and waterproof) carry bag.
But one of our favourite things about this beach towel is the huge range you get to choose from. All the towels come in three different sizes and there’s loads of cool and vibrant colours and patterns.
BEST OVERSIZED BEACH TOWELS
Sheridan Montye Beach Towel, $47.99 (down from $79.99) at Sheridan
If you’re looking for any sort of homewares, Sheridan Outlet is the place to shop, especially when they’re offering huge discounts.
The Montye Beach Towel is perfect for those looking for something large and in charge. The oversized beach towel measures up to 95cmx175cm, which is a pretty good size.
The towel features a timeless stripe design and is offered in two different colourways.
If you’ve felt a Sheridan beach towel before, then you’ll know just how thick, soft and absorbent they are.
BEST PERSONALISED BEACH TOWELS
Cotton Beach Towel Personalised, $49.99 at Cotton On Body
If you’re struggling on a gift idea, especially around the holiday season, then you can’t go wrong with a personalised beach towel.
This pick from Cotton On Body is the best personalised accessory to take with you to the beach or the pool. It’s made from a soft terry fabrication and a 100 per cent absorbent cotton for added comfort.
The beach towel also just so happens to be made from 20 per cent recycled cotton from pre consumer waste – how genius!
BEST ROUND BEACH TOWELS
Lune Round Towel, $129 at The Beach People
Featuring a 150cm diameter, this round towel is made of 100 per cent soft cotton with a woven jacquard construction. It’s thick and lush, and has soft velour top as well as super absorbent properties thanks to its terry towelling reverse. The cute sun-inspired design and tassel detail along the edges adds a cute insta-worthy vibe.
With a five star rating and over 40 reviews, one reviewer wrote, “I received my Lune Roundie and I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the towel. It feels very soft and it is durable. One side feels like terry cloth and the other side is the texture of a beach towel. One side for lounging and the other side for drying.”
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BEACH TOWEL AND A BATH TOWEL?
If, like me, you have gone many summers resisting the purchase of a beach towel, and opting to raid your closet for a bath towel on the way to the pool instead, then it may be time to reconsider.
Yes, beach towels are larger than bath towels – something you may feel you’re able to navigate around – but beach towels are often designed to be thinner than bath towels. This means that they dry quicker, which is desirable should you be hoping to wear yours like a sarong, or to lie on in the sun. To this end, beach towels are not only constructed from terry cotton anymore – some are made from microfibre fabrications or different weaves of cotton, like Turkish towels.
For more deals across all categories, have a browse of news.com.au Coupons, for deals from your favourite online brands and retailers.
Lastly, make sure you never miss a sales event, product launch or gift guide by signing up to our free news.com.au checkout shopping newsletter.
‘Perfect’ non-stick pan now 50% off
With “zero” washing up time, you can get your hands on this top-rated skillet for a whopping 50 per cent off.
‘Petrified’: Asher’s catfish admission
From comedy classics to A-lister movies, our favourite flicks won’t disappoint.
‘Monstrous’: Cate defends controversial role
Choose from a treasure trove of new and nostalgic content; Here are our top picks for this month.
‘38 bones’: Jeremy Renner’s miracle comeback
The third season of hugely popular series Mayor Of Kingstown is back after actor Jeremey Renner nearly died in accident.