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The 7 best beach towels in 2024?

by Laura

beach towel
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A beach towel is the best companion for a trip to the seaside. Not only can you use it to dry off, but you can also relax and sunbathe on it – even with the whole family on large models. Or how about transforming the beach towel into a wrap skirt without further ado?

But it gets even better:

Thanks to their many practical features, beach towels are far superior to regular towels when it comes to use on the beach.

Avoid buying mistakes:

BeyondSurfing introduces you to the most popular beach towels 2024 and the features you should definitely look out for when buying them.

The best beach towel 2024?

In a hurry? Our favorite beach towel:

Gipfelsport beach towel*
Why is the beach towel better?

  • Highly absorbent and quick-drying microfiber
  • With carrying bag and anti-slip protection

“Square. Practical. Good. Gladly again!” – Daniela Schreiber (★★★★★)

Beach towel Checklist

  • Use: Beach towels are versatile – for drying off, as a carpet pad or wrapped around the body as a beach dress. Beach towels make a significant contribution to reducing the amount of transportation needed to get to the beach.
  • Material: Beach towels can be made of different materials, all with different advantages and disadvantages (more on this here in the buying guide).
  • Size: A large XXL beach towel can easily accommodate the whole family.

Also interesting: The most popular beach mats 2024.

These are the top 7 beach towels in 2024

How do we rate? Our experts thoroughly research and evaluate each recommendation. We take into account the most important product features, adherence to quality standards, prices, customer reviews, our own experiences, and much more. Learn more about our process.

1. Gipfelsport beach towel

Advantages

  • Highly absorbent and quick-drying microfiber
  • With carrying bag and anti-slip protection

Disadvantages

  • Less comfortable on the skin than cotton towels
  • Flies away quickly due to its low weight

Summary

The best features of beach towels and hand towels are combined in this product. It is lightweight and compact, so it fits easily into any suitcase. A bag is supplied.

Thanks to the microfiber, it is highly absorbent and soaks up liquid directly from the skin. The material also dries three times faster than a conventional cotton towel. It is also a sand-free towel, which means that the sand does not stick to the material.

The chic beach towel is available in many color combinations. In addition, 3 different sizes are available so that you have enough space to cover a sun lounger or lie comfortably on it on the beach.

Product details

Dimensions: 160 x 80 cm, 200 x 90 cm, 200 x 100 cm | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Microfiber (80% polyester, 20% polyamide)

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 90% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

The beach towel absorbs liquid very well and dries within a short time. As a sand-free towel, it is also very suitable for wiping sand off the body. The beach towel is also lightweight, compact and designed in beautiful colors.

Only 6% are neutral about the product, while 4% rate the product as inadequate and insufficient.

The beach towel does not feel as good as a cotton towel as it is thinner and made of less fluffy material. Because it is so light, it flies away even in light winds.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Does the towel keep out the heat of the sand?
No, at least no more than any other towel.
Does the beach towel feel as good as a cotton towel?
The skin feel of microfiber is very different from that of cotton and can therefore take some getting used to. The beach towel is smoother and at first glance looks more like a bed sheet, but is very absorbent.

2. bdsign microfiber beach towel

Advantages

  • XXL size
  • Highly absorbent and quick-drying microfiber
  • Bag is included

Disadvantages

  • Skin feel of microfiber takes some getting used to
  • Beach towel flies away more quickly due to its low weight
  • White color shows stains faster

Summary

The oversized XXL beach towel is made of tightly woven microfiber and offers space for 2-3 people. The beach towel can absorb up to seven times its own weight in water, making it extremely absorbent. Microfibers then dry up to three times faster than ordinary towel fibers.

The smooth surface of this beach towel is very soft on the skin. The material is very hard-wearing, yet light and thin. The beach towel can be folded up small after use and stored in the bag provided for easy transportation. The material is also antimicrobial and hypoallergenic.

With its stylish palm tree pattern, the beach towel is also visually appealing. It can be machine washed.

Product details

Dimensions: 188 x 188 cm | Shape: Square | Material: Microfiber (85% polyester, 15% nylon)

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 77% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

Customers are impressed by the high quality of the beach towel and particularly praise the fact that it dries quickly and is lightweight. Many customers are surprised at how well it absorbs water despite the thin material. It is also beautifully designed and machine washable.

Around 7% are neutral about the product, while 16% rate the product as poor and inadequate.

Some customers had difficulty getting used to the feel of microfiber on their skin, as it is very different from cotton towels. The thin material is initially more reminiscent of a tablecloth than a towel. As it is so light, it can quickly fly away on the beach. The white color is also criticized because it gets dirty quickly and stains show up more.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Should the towel be washed before first use?
Yes. To ensure the best performance on the beach, the manufacturer recommends washing before first use. The material is soft and very absorbent.
How does the microfiber material feel?
The skin feel of microfiber is most comparable to the feel of suede or suede leather. However, the material is significantly thinner and lighter.

3. AmazonBasics beach towel

Advantages

  • Soft terry cloth fabric
  • Very absorbent
  • Two-pack

Disadvantages

  • Towels are fluffy
  • May fray or stain when washed
  • Relatively thin

Summary

The beach towel from AmazonBasics comes in a pack of two. The two wonderfully soft towels are large enough to wrap around your body after bathing or spread out on a beach lounger.

With their block stripes in different colors, the beach towels look great.

The material is soft yet robust terry cloth made from ring-spun cotton. It is very absorbent and therefore perfect for drying off.

The towels can be washed in the washing machine and tumble dried on a low setting. The manufacturer recommends a wash cycle before first use to reduce lint formation.

Product details

Dimensions: 76 x 152 cm | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Terry cloth (100% cotton)

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 81% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

Customers praise both the quality and the very good price-performance ratio. The beach towels are soft and cozy on the skin. They do not fray even after repeated washing and do not fade in the sun.

Around 5% are neutral about the product, while 14% rate the product as inadequate and insufficient.

The towels are very fluffy, especially the first time you use them. For some customers, the color has rubbed off and the towels have frayed during washing. Some customers also found the towels too thin.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Does the towel fluff?
The towel may fluff at first, so it should be washed once before first use. This helps to minimize the fluff.
Is the beach towel long enough to lie on completely?
The beach towel is 152 cm long and therefore not long enough for most people to lie on it completely.

4. aakriti gallery mandala beach towel

Advantages

  • Hand-painted with Indian mandala motif
  • Versatile in use
  • Very light

Disadvantages

  • Very thin fabric
  • Not very absorbent
  • Hand wash only

Summary

The round cotton beach towel is hand-painted with an Indian mandala that combines traditional motifs with modern patterns. It is versatile and can be used not only on the beach but also as a picnic blanket, tablecloth or throw.

The high-quality fabric is very light. The entire cloth weighs only 322 g, which makes it very easy to transport.

Important: As it is a handmade product, it should not be washed in the washing machine!

Product details

Dimensions: 182.9 cm diameter | Shape: Round | Material: Cotton

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 80% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

Customers are delighted with the beautiful pattern and colors of the beach towel, especially as they still look radiant even after washing. The quality of the fabric and workmanship is excellent for the low price. The beach towel is nice and big, sturdy and versatile.

Around 9% are neutral about the product, while 10% rate the product as poor and inadequate.

The beach towel is very thin and therefore not suitable for a hard surface. It is also not a typical towel fabric. The material is not very absorbent and is more suitable as a blanket to sit on than to dry off. Some customers noticed an unpleasant odor from the cloth when unpacking, which had to be washed out first.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Does the beach towel stain the body when it is wet?
No, the beach towel does not stain.
Is the beach towel machine washable?
No, the beach towel should be washed by hand in cold water or dry cleaned.

5. captain&mermaid premium beach towel

Advantages

  • Highly absorbent and quick-drying
  • Gentle on the skin
  • Made by hand

Disadvantages

  • Very thin, therefore not comfortable as a carpet pad on hard floors
  • Not suitable for the dryer

Summary

The beach towel is made from 100% cotton. Nevertheless, it is very thin and light, so it takes up around 25% less space than classic towels. It is also very absorbent and quick-drying.

The beach towel is available in many colors and is made by hand. Thanks to the beautiful design and thin fabric, it is also ideal for wrapping around as a wrap skirt or beach dress. It is gentle on the skin and becomes even softer with every wash.

Product details

Dimensions: 100 x 170 cm | Shape: Rectangular | Material: 100% cotton

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 96% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

The beach towel is an all-round talent. It is large enough to be used as a beach blanket and absorbent enough to dry off with. The beautifully patterned fabric is pleasant to the touch and the workmanship is high quality. The lightweight beach towel hardly takes up any space in your suitcase.

Around 4% are neutral about the product, while 0% rate the product as poor and inadequate.

As the material is very thin, lying on a hard floor or on a sun lounger can be uncomfortable. The beach towel is not suitable for tumble drying. The price is higher than comparable cloths, but this model is of high quality.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Can the towel be machine washed?
Yes, the beach towel is machine washable. It even becomes softer and more absorbent with every wash due to the nature of the fibers. According to the manufacturer, optimum absorbency is achieved after 3-4 washes.

6. laguna beach textile microfiber beach towel

Advantages

  • Absorbent and breathable microfiber
  • Various colors available
  • Carrying bag included in the scope of delivery

Disadvantages

  • Extremely thin material
  • Does not hug the body

Summary

The beach towel is made of soft and absorbent microfiber, which absorbs liquid much better than cotton. It also helps to reduce unpleasant odors.

The thin fabric is breathable and dries quickly. The towel is absolutely soft on the skin.

You can choose between various vibrant colors for the design. A small carrying bag is included in the scope of delivery. The lightweight beach towel can be folded up very small for transportation after use.

Product details

Dimensions: 101.6 x 198 cm | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Microfiber

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 87% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

The beach towel is light and pleasantly soft. It absorbs moisture very well and dries quickly afterwards. The size and classic design are also well received by customers. The colors do not fade even when exposed to sunlight and after repeated washing.

Around 5% are neutral about the product, while 9% rate the product as inadequate and insufficient.

The beach towel is extremely thin. The material hugs the body less well than cotton towels. The beach towel is therefore more suitable for the beach than for showering.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Does the beach towel have a hook to hang it up?
No, the beach towel does not have a hook.
Is the beach towel sand-repellent?
Yes, the beach towel is sand-repellent. Simply shake after use and the sand falls off.

7. rainleaf playroom cloth

Advantages

  • Very absorbent material
  • Feels pleasant on the skin
  • Bag with zipper is included

Disadvantages

  • Takes longer to dry than other microfiber towels
  • Hair sticks to the material
  • Color fades during washing

Summary

The beach towel is made of highly absorbent microfiber that soaks up liquids in no time at all. The material dries very quickly after use. The thin cloth also feels very good and is gentle on the skin.

The beach towel takes up very little space when folded and can be stored in the zippered carry bag supplied.

The manufacturer recommends washing the beach towel before using it for the first time so that it is soft and comfortable to use.

Product details

Dimensions: 83 x 150 cm | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Microfiber (80% polyester, 20% polyamide)

Customer ratings

What customers say
A full 91% of all customers rate the product as good to very good with four to five stars.

The beach towel is light and compact, absorbent and quick-drying. The feel on the skin is more similar to that of cotton towels than other microfiber towels. This makes it very pleasant to use.

Around 4% are neutral about the product, while 5% rate the product as poor and inadequate.

The towel takes longer to dry than many other microfiber towels. Hair and lint easily get caught on it. The color fades over time when washed. After a certain period of use, some customers developed an unpleasant odor.

Click here to go directly to the customer reviews “

FAQ

Does the towel have a hook to hang it on?
No, the towel does not have a hook.
Does the beach towel have a chemical odor?
There may be a very slight chemical odor at first, but this disappears after the first wash.

Bestsellers: The most popular beach towels 2024

What do others buy? In our bestseller list, we present the TOP 11 most purchased offers. The selection is updated daily.

(**Last update 2024-12-04)

Buy beach towels:
How to make the right decision

beach towel

Not every towel is suitable for use on the beach. A towel should be specially made for this purpose in order to meet all needs and not let the beach day end in frustration.

In the following buying guide, BeyondSurfing tells you what conditions a good beach towel must meet and how you can recognize it.

What you need to consider when buying a beach towel (incl. Checklist)

When choosing the best beach towel, you should pay attention to the following features:

  • Material
  • Size
  • Thickness
  • Design
  • Price

The material of beach towels

The material of a beach towel is of great importance as it affects numerous factors. So it has a great influence on:

  • the weight
  • the comfort and feel of the skin
  • the absorbency

The most commonly used materials for beach towels are:

  1. Cotton, also in the form of terry cloth and velour,
  2. or microfiber.
1 Cotton towel: The classic?

Cotton is the traditional towel fabric, and for good reason. The major advantages and disadvantages of cotton beach towels include:

  • Good absorbency
  • Longevity
  • Good skin feel
  • Suitable for washing machines
  • Take up a lot of space during transportation
  • Take a long time to dry

Terry cloth in particular is extremely soft and fluffy. It also has a high absorption capacity, as it absorbs a lot of moisture. This makes it perfect for drying the body.

Velour is generally somewhat less absorbent. But it is tightly woven and hardly lets any sand through. This makes it the ideal base for the beach.

The disadvantage of cotton towels is their large size. They take up a lot of space when packing your beach bag. Cotton also takes a very long time to dry, even in the sun. This means that you may have to lie on a wet towel on the beach.

1 Microfiber cloths: the all-rounders?

Microfiber beach towels offer an alternative to cotton towels:

  • Small pack size
  • Dries quickly
  • Sand-repellent
  • Less hard-wearing
  • Usually only suitable for hand washing
  • Not as pleasant on the skin as cotton

Microfiber towels are very light and compact, so they hardly weigh anything in your beach bag. Nevertheless, they have a relatively high suction power. Afterwards they dry within a very short time.

On the other hand, microfiber is less hard-wearing than cotton and is often not suitable for the washing machine. Beach towels made from this material also lack the typical fluffy towel feel.

Pro tip: Look out for hypoallergenic fabrics

No matter which material you choose: If you have sensitive skin or allergies, make sure that the towel fabric does not cause allergies. Manufacturers usually state if their product is made of hypoallergenic material and if this has been independently tested.

The right beach towel size

Beach towels are available in various sizes. Which one is best for you depends on what you want to use the beach towel for.

A smaller towel is sufficient for simply drying off on the beach. However, if it is to be used as a beach blanket, possibly even for several people, you will need a much larger model.

You can use the following dimensions as a guide:

Intended useSize
Towel for drying off75 x 150 cm
XXL beach towel for sitting/lying for 2 people or several children150 x 200 cm/d>
Beach blanket for the whole family360 x 360 cm

Pro tip: The larger the blanket, the heavier and more difficult it usually is to transport. If you want to go to the beach with the whole family, it may therefore be more practical to take several smaller beach towels with you.

The right beach towel thickness

The thickness of a beach towel plays a role in two factors:

  1. Transportation and
  2. Comfort.
The right thickness for easy transportation

The thinner the beach towel, the smaller it can be folded and transported.

Why is this important?

This is important because many other things are usually taken to the beach. You don’t want to burden yourself with a heavy and bulky towel.

The solution:

Microfiber products are the leaders in this respect, as they are very thin and extremely light.

The right thickness for maximum comfort

How thick a towel is determines the comfort when drying off and sitting on the beach towel. Thinner materials have the disadvantage here.

Why are thin beach towels less comfortable?

They provide less protection against hard surfaces and are not as soft on the skin.

Conclusion on the right beach towel thickness

As both thick and thin beach towels have advantages and disadvantages, it ultimately depends on your personal preferences:

  • If you only have to walk a short distance to the beach and comfort is very important to you, BeyondSurfing recommends a thicker towel, such as one made of cotton.
  • However, if you have to wear the beach towel over long distances, you are better off with a lightweight microfiber product.
Pro tip: Use beach towel clips

As thin and light fabrics fly away quickly, they can be attached to the sun lounger with colorful beach towel clips.

What design should the beach towel have?

beach sheet
How the beach towel should look depends largely on your personal preferences. You can choose from a wide range of different shapes, colors and patterns.

However, BeyondSurfing recommends keeping a few points in mind when choosing a design:

  1. Lighter colors remain cooler

    Of course, a beach towel doesn’t have to be monochrome. Many scarves feature patterns or motifs that are often inspired by the sea. Of course, there are no limits to your imagination here.

    Beach towels with flamingo motifs or Indian mandalas are also very popular among beach towels for women. Beach towels for men, on the other hand, are usually more subtly designed and tend to be in darker colors.

  2. The right pattern

    Of course, a beach towel doesn’t have to be monochrome. Many scarves feature patterns or motifs that are often inspired by the sea. Of course, there are no limits to your imagination here.

    Beach towels with flamingo motifs or Indian mandalas are also very popular among beach towels for women. Beach towels for men, on the other hand, are usually more subtly designed and tend to be in darker colors.

  3. Round or rectangular?

    Classic beach towels are rectangular. However, there are now also round models. These look very aesthetically pleasing and are also very popular as a beach towel to tie around your head.

    However, round beach towels offer less space than rectangular ones. If your beach towel is to be used by several people, a rectangular shape is therefore more advantageous.

How much should the beach towel cost?

The prices for beach towels vary widely. Cheap beach towels range in price from around 10 to 20 $. The medium price range extends from around $ 20 to 40. Prices may be higher for branded products.

The price depends above all on the size, manufacturer and quality of the beach towel. The material is also important.

What is the relationship between price and quality?

In fact, the price of a beach towel is in most cases an indicator of its quality. This does not mean that cheaper beach towels are necessarily inferior, but they almost always have fewer features or are less durable than expensive branded models.

Cheaper versions are certainly sufficient for occasional use. However, if you want a durable and high-quality product, BeyondSurfing recommends going for a branded product.

The best-known manufacturers and brands of beach towels include:


Zollner, Julie Julsen, Ciffre, Vossen, Bdsign


Beach towels for children

There are also special beach towels for children. These differ mainly in their smaller size. In many cases, they are printed with child-friendly motifs, such as characters from well-known children’s films or comics.

Most children’s beach towels are made of terry cloth because this material is particularly soft and pleasant on the skin.

Important: Children’s beach towels must be colorfast

With a beach towel for children, it is particularly important that it does not contain any harmful substances and is colorfast. After all, it can easily happen that the child puts a corner of the beach towel in its mouth and chews on it.

Therefore, make sure that the products have been tested for harmful substances and declared harmless.

Tying beach towels – here’s how!

Many beach towels are not only suitable as a base for sunbathing or drying off. They can also be used as an impromptu dress or skirt so you can be dressed for a trip to the beach restaurant in no time at all.

With the right beach towel, you can conjure up a wide variety of garments:

  • a mini skirt
  • a long wrap skirt
  • a beach dress
  • one top

The exact techniques for tying the beach towel may vary, but in most cases it is either placed around the body in its original shape or folded into a triangle and tied at the ends.

From beach towel to dress:

As an example, BeyondSurfing explains the technique for wrapping a dress from a beach towel:

  1. Wrap the beach towel around your body from behind
  2. Cross and twist the two upper ends in front of the body
  3. Bring the ends around the neck from one side and tie them together at the nape of the neck

Pro tip: The thinner the beach towel, the easier it is to transform into a dress or skirt.

Beach towel tests by Consumer Reports and Öko Test

Neither Consumer Reports nor Öko Test have yet looked specifically at beach towels.

However, Öko Test conducted a test of sauna towels in 2018. Of the 16 towels tested, 14 were rated very good or good and 1 was satisfactory. Only one product made from organic cotton received a poor rating.

It is to be hoped that a test of beach towels will follow in the future and produce similarly positive results.

The right care for beach towels

bath towel

Basically, it is not difficult to care for a beach towel properly. Manufacturers generally endeavor to make cleaning easy. Nevertheless, care must be taken to ensure that the care is appropriate for the material in question:

  • Cotton can easily be washed in the washing machine. This is often not possible with microfiber, however, as the material is damaged in the washing machine.
  • To increase the lifespan of a microfiber beach towel, it should therefore preferably be washed by hand and air-dried.

Good to know: Sand-free beach towels are particularly practical as sand does not stick to them. A simple wipe or shake is often enough to remove dirt.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about beach towels

What is a beach towel?

Beach towels are large towels or beach sheets that are used as a carpet pad on the beach, for drying off or tied around the body as a beach dress.

Where can I buy a beach towel?

Beach towels are available from swimming and outdoor equipment stores, hotel stores and some discount stores. Online retailers such as Amazon have the largest selection.

Which fabric is best for a beach towel?

Most beach towels are made of cotton or microfiber. The former is thicker, softer and good for drying. The latter is thinner, lighter and dries very quickly.

How do you tie a beach towel?

There are different ways of tying beach towels, depending on whether you want a skirt, a dress or a top. The simplest variant is to wrap the beach towel either around the whole body or just around the hips and knot the ends.

Are there sand-free beach towels?

Yes, there are sand-free beach towels on which no sand sticks. Manufacturers usually indicate whether their product has this property.

What is the difference between a beach towel and a beach mat?

Beach towels are relatively thin towels that are suitable for use as a beach blanket, for drying off or for wearing around the body. Beach mats, on the other hand, are usually thicker surfaces for lying comfortably on the beach. They are not suitable for drying or rebinding.

Conclusion: The most popular beach towels reviewed

Beach towels are versatile beach companions that can be used as a comfortable carpet pad, a towel or a chic beach dress.

No matter how you want to use your beach towel, this buying guide will help you find the right model for your next beach vacation.

Editor's note: The opinions expressed here are those of the author alone. The content has not been endorsed, reviewed, approved, or in any way financially supported by any advertiser. We only include products we believe to be useful. How we work

*Price includes VAT, plus shipping. Customer reviews, prices, delivery times and costs may change in the meantime. By linking to selected online shops and partners, we may receive a small affiliate commission. There are no additional costs for you.

Laura

Beach and snorkeling expert
Laura lives in Greece and couldn't imagine a day without the sea on her doorstep. When she's not writing for BeyondSurfing, she likes to spend her free time on the beach or in the water with snorkeling gear.

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