These are tough times financially for most of us. Now more than ever, we all have to figure out how to manage our family finances or individual finances effectively. This will mean ensuring basic needs are met and any unnecessary expenses are cut back. Now, while you can choose not to buy a new outfit for a while, you can’t put off replacing your old towels because towels are practically a basic need.
As you balance trying to save more money while stocking up on essentials, you will need to find all the best towels on a budget that you can find. These affordable towels are gems because, while they may not be as expensive as high-end luxury towels, they are by no means poor-quality products. You just need to know where to look and how to choose the best budget towels.
Table of Contents
The Best Towels on a Budget
1. Best Budget Bath Towel Overall: Turquaz Bath Towel Set
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 100% Turkish cotton | Thye are a little thin |
| Machine washable | |
| Value for money | |
| Incredibly soft |
You can seldom get better value for money than the Turquaz Bath Towel Set. This eight-piece towel set comprises two 27” by 54” bath towels, two 16” by 30” hand towels, and four 13” by 13” washcloths making this perfect for couples because it covers all of your bath towel needs at once. The Turquaz set is a hybrid mix of ringspun Turkish cotton and old-world quality Turkish cotton to create medium-weight towels with great absorbency that dry quickly.
In fact, this hybrid mix makes for a soft, plush towel that, unlike other towels, only gets softer with each wash, provided that you follow the wash instructions carefully. If you are concerned about the environment, then this set is perfect for you as well. These bath towels are made from sustainably sourced cotton, responsibly manufactured, and tested to avoid harmful chemicals.
2. Best Budget Bath Towel Set: American Soft Linen Bathroom Set
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 100% genuine Turkish cotton | Prone to shedding |
| Durable | Colored towels can fade |
| Soft | |
| Absorbent |
Having a 100% genuine Turkish cotton bath towel may seem out of reach if you have a tight budget. After all, Turkish towels are recognized globally for their quality. However, with the American Soft Linen Bathroom Set, you will experience the luxury of a Turkish towel without breaking the bank. You see, this set of three comes with a 27” by 54” bath towel, a 16” by 28” hand towel, and a 13” by 13” washcloth, meeting all your bath towel needs at once.
The towels weigh 650 GSM giving them a plush, soft feel and making them highly absorbent. The cotton yarn is tightly zero twisted, combining long and short threads for a stronger towel. That’s not all. Because of all the abuse they will endure from frequent use and wash, these fluffy towels are also double-stitched lengths and layers, making them durable. The towels are all vat-dyed to have that vibrant, durable colors. They come in color options.
3. Best Plush Budget Bath Towel: Trident Plush Blush Bath Towel Set
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Super soft | A lot of lint |
| Triple blend of cotton, polyester, and modal | Colored towels tend to fade over time |
| High absorbency | |
| Durable |
Given its quality vis-a-vis the price, the Trident Plush Blush Bath Towel Set is an absolute steal and the best budget bath towel out there. This set of two bath towels is made from a triple blend (or Tri-Blend, as they like to call it) of cotton, polyester, and modal. This combination makes for a super soft, plush, and highly absorbent towel that dries quickly, relieving you of those icky moist towels.
This Tri-blend also makes the towel durable which is perfect for everyday use. The towels are a good standard size measuring 27” by 55”, and weighing about 550 GSM adding to their plush feel and great absorbency. You can get them in ten different colors including teal sachet, peacock, coal, and sand.
To make cleaning easy, the towels are machine washable. Finally, they are an OEKO-TEX certified skin-friendly product, guaranteeing that their textiles meet the highest safety, environmental, and ethical standards.
4. Best Budget Hand Towel: Hammam Linen Hand Towels
| Durable | The towels are a bit thin |
| Genuine Turkish cotton | Has a lot of lint |
| Eco-friendly | |
| High absorbency |
With over 11,000 five-star reviews, there is little wonder why the Hammam Linen Hand Towels are the number one best-selling hand towels. This classic international brand of luxury towels is made from 100% genuine Turkish cotton, known for its high quality and durability. The towels are woven using combed cotton, ensuring no debris or short strands and giving the towels a smooth, even look and feel. They come in 12 stunning colors.
The hand towels are lightweight, allowing for easy drying and storage. They are also known for their high absorbency due to their 550 GSM weight. They are a good size, measuring 16” by 30”, and come in a pack of four. Talk about value for money, even on a budget. With the OEKO-TEX certification, you are guaranteed that these towels are free from harmful chemicals and have been sourced and manufactured sustainably and ethically.
5. Best Budget Extra Large Bath Towel: Utopia Towels Bath Sheet
| 100% cotton | Tends to shed a lot |
| Extra absorbent | Prone to discoloration |
| Durable | |
| Quick-drying |
An extra-large bath towel, commonly called a bath sheet, is a luxury that may seem elusive when you are trying to save some money. The Utopia Towels Bath Sheet makes this luxury available to you at an incredibly affordable price. Measuring 35” by 70”, this extra-large bath sheet is versatile in its use and can go from the bathroom to the beach, pool, or spa.
It is made from 100% ring spun cotton giving it a more refined feel and better durability. The Utopia Bath Sheet is classified as a terry towel, which is highly absorbent. Its 700 GSM weight also adds to this absorbency while allowing quick-drying for easy daily use. The towel has a double-stitched hemmed finish, limiting the disintegration that sometimes happens with frequent washing.
This machine-washable bath sheet comes in 8 vibrant colors and is suitable for machine wash (just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions). It is also safe for you and your family as it is free of any harmful or synthetic materials.
6. Best Budget Microfibre Bath Towel: JML Microfiber Bath Towel Set.
| Multi-purpose | Towels are quite thin |
| Fast drying | Not the best absorbency |
| Soft feel | |
| Durable |
Microfiber is a polyamide fiber made from polyester and nylon, used to make fabric and bath towels like the JML Microfiber Bath Towel Set. The set comes with two oversized towels, measuring about 30” by 60”, just a few inches shy of a bath sheet. These microfiber towels are exceptionally multipurpose. That’s not all. These towels come in handy whenever you need a home, beach, travel, swimming, or camping towel.
Forgot your yoga mat at home? Well, you can use this towel as an exercise towel or substitute for a yoga mat if you forget to carry one class. The soft feel and absorbency of the towels are credited to their soft microfiber and their 400 GSM weight. To make them durable, the towels are reinforced with a stitched hem ensuring longevity and durability.
Besides being durable, the towels are easy to dry and store thanks to their convenient hanging loop. The JML bath towel set comes in over 45 different colors and pattern designs, giving you plenty of options.
7. Best Budget Linen Towel: Thing Stories Linen Bath Towel
| Organic material | A bit rough on the skin |
| Eco-friendly | Tends to shed |
| Fast drying | |
| Multi-purpose |
So you want a natural fiber towel that isn’t necessarily cotton? You should definitely get the Thing Stories Linen Bath Towel. The benefits of this 100% natural linen towel are endless. First, being 100% linen, they are made of flax which is completely natural, sustainable, and recyclable. Also, linen is the strongest natural fiber in the world, so your bath towel will last for a very long time.
If you have sensitive skin particularly to harsh chemicals, you will love these towels because not only are they organic, they haven’t been breached. Further, linen towels do not get that musty smell that other towels get because they are quick-drying.
Their new waffle weave design makes them look very stylish while being super absorbent and perfect for daily use. These lightweight, thin, 30” by 60” towels are perfectly multi-purpose as you can compactly fold and carry them to the beach, gym, pool, or on a fun trip.
What to Check While Buying The Best Towels On A Budget
Your money-saving journey should not mean that you can’t find the best of what you need. And that goes for towels too. If you know where to look and what to look for, you can find any kind of towel you need, from the best budget bath towel to a great quality hand towel. So here’s what you want to look out for as you go shopping.
1. Material
You could choose from a whole range of materials, but some of the most affordable towels are usually made of cotton. To be clear, we are not organic or Egyptian cotton here; it will often be Turkish cotton or a cotton blend of some kind. Regardless, you can still get the best possible towels within your price point because, after all, nothing beats cotton towels when it comes to that soft, comfortable feel against your skin.
2. Longevity
The fact is that cheaper towels will not last as long as the more expensive ones. However, this does not mean you can’t get an affordable, durable towel. You will have to do a little bit of digging here to determine what materials are used and how they are processed. You will also need to consider the brand and its reputation regarding quality.
3. Weight
The weight of a towel is measured in grams per square meter or GSM. These place towels in three categories: lightweight for 300 to 400 GSM, middleweight for 500 to 600 GSM, and heavyweight for 700 to 900 GSM. The weight of the towel makes it plusher and more absorbent; therefore, the heavier towels are usually more pricey. However, this is not always the case, so be sure to look at the weight as you look through those towels.
4. Reviews
They say experience is the best teacher, and you can absolutely learn from other people’s experiences. Before buying a budget towel, check out as many reviews as possible, both good reviews and bad ones. They will help you know what to expect, and you can weigh the pros and cons of each towel before making your final decision.
You can also get first-hand reviews from family and friends on what has been their best towels on a budget. However, remember that you have completely different preferences from your bestie to take some reviews with a grain of salt.
Best Towels on a Budget FAQ
1. How can I maintain the vibrant colors of my towels?
First, follow precisely the laundering instructions given by the manufacturer. Contrary to what others may think, they know what they are talking about when they give those washing and drying instructions. If you follow them, your towels will last longer and maintain their color. Second, avoid touching your towels with cleaning products that have retinol, hydrogen peroxide, or benzoyl peroxide, as these can cause spotting and discoloration.
2. What should I use to wash my towels?
Washing with regular detergent is fine, but you definitely want to avoid using fabric softeners. I know they smell fantastic and are supposed to make the towels feel even softer, but often they cause towel fibers to matt and become stiff. If you notice that your towels aren’t as absorbent as before, use a little bit of vinegar when washing them to clear out the chemical build-up which is probably what’s causing the reduced absorbency.
3. What is the difference between a hand towel and a guest towel?
Guest towels are smaller than hand towels but larger than washcloths or face towels. Usually, the dimensions are about 12” by 20” while hand towels measure about 20” by 33”. Guest towels are often placed in a basket or on top of a counter to allow your guest to freshen up easily during their stay. As a matter of etiquette, guest towels should be fresh and plump, not worn out or frayed.
4. Why should towels be washed alone?
Washing towels alone is a way to prevent them from forming those ugly balls of lint on the surface. While you can use a lint roller to fix that problem, wouldn’t you rather be doing something else than removing lint from your towels? Also, while drying all your towels together, remember not to stuff the dryer. Leave a bit of space for air to circulate and make your towels nice and fluffy again.
