Best beach towels

The best beach towels are big, soft, and durable. Here you’ll find selections that hold up to long days of sand, sun, and fun.

best beach towels
(Image credit: @István Kis on Pixabay)

When it comes to beach towels, you'll want something that holds up well to everything your family can put it through. Long days of hot sun and sand call for a durable design, but you also need something comfortable to lay on. Here we've put together a list of the best beach towels for different purposes, from soft Turkish weaves to big, sand-proof mats that work for the whole family. 

All the colors

WETCAT Turkish beach towel

(Image credit: Amazon)

WETCAT Turkish beach towel

Best selection

If you need lots of options to choose from, you'll love the hues offered by WETCAT. The Turkish beach towel is soft, stylish, and portable. 

Pros:

  • Over 30 color choices
  • Lightweight Turkish terrycloth
  • Soft, pre-washed material

Cons:

  • Very thin material

Not as thick and bulky as traditional terrycloth, this thin towel is fast-drying and ultra-portable. Fold it up tiny to fit in a small bag, or drape it over your shoulders when the wind gets chilly. The slim, soft material is comfortable to lay on and absorbent when you need to dry off. The best part? With over thirty color choices, you can find the WETCAT towel that perfectly matches your favorite swimsuit. 

Natural pick

Amazon Basics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon Basics cabana stripe beach towels

Best for the planet

Amazon Basics makes 100-percent cotton beach towels that are made in an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 factory that upholds high environmental standards. 

Pros:

  • All-natural
  • Manufactured using sustainable practices
  • Good price

Cons:

  • Not as durable

For conscious consumers, the Amazon Basics beach towels are a great option. They are made from 100-percent cotton using sustainable processes. These towels are also thick and soft, comfortable for laying out or drying off. Although not as durable as some beach towels, they come in a two-pack and have a very reasonable price point.

The big one

Wekapo beach blanket

(Image credit: Amazon)

Wekapo beach blanket

Extra-large for family beach day

Here we have the ultimate beach day multitasker. The extra-large mat will be your go-to so the whole family can lay out, picnic, or just hang out together on the same towel. 

Pros:

  • Sizeable
  • Works for multiple people to lay on
  • Water and sand-resistant

Cons:

  • Thin nylon is not absorbent for drying off

Here's your beach towel, picnic blanket, and game mat for the next family vacay. Four people or more can recline, sit, eat, and play on this mat that includes six stakes to keep it firmly in place. While it's not a towel exactly, it can be used to sunbathe or enjoy any other beach activity with several people at once. Since the towel is also water and sand-resistant, it is great for escaping the elements during a long day at the beach. 

Kid-friendly

Jay Franco kids hooded poncho towel

(Image credit: Amazon)

Jay Franco kids hooded poncho beach towel

Fun wearable style

Here's a beach towel that your kids will love. With a built-in hood and 14 designs to choose from, it's sure to please any child. 

Pros:

  • Cute and fun prints
  • Options for both boys and girls
  • Hooded poncho style

Cons:

  • Small size won't work for big kids

These fun hooded towels are perfect for toddlers and small kids. Children love fun designs, and there are plenty of different ones to choose from. Whether your little one is into Minnie Mouse or Minecraft, there's a style here that is sure to please. Keep in mind that these towels are not very large, so they are better suited to toddlers rather than big kids. 

On-the-go

Venture 4th quick-dry travel towel

(Image credit: Venture 4th)

Venture 4th quick-dry travel towel

Best for travel

This ultra-packable little towel is thin and lightweight, easy to throw into a small suitcase or bag. 

Pros:

  • Slim and lightweight
  • Quick to dry
  • Soft microfiber material

Cons:

  • Not as durable

Despite the thin, lightweight material, these microfiber towels are soft and absorbent. They work great for drying off and laying out, or as a comfy wrap when the wind gets chilly. Venture 4th travel towels make excellent adventure companions because they fold down into a tiny mesh bag that is easy to carry around in a small suitcase or purse. As well as the beach, they are is also great for the pool, swim meets, or swim lessons. 

Four-pack

Kaufman oversized striped beach towel set

(Image credit: Amazon)

Kaufman oversized striped beach towel set

Best value

If you love a good deal, here's the Kaufman four-pack. This set gives you plenty of oversized beach towels for one great price. 

Pros:

  • Four towels included
  • Big size is great for the beach
  • Assorted colors

Cons:

  • Best if washed separately

Kaufman's package deal offers four beach towels in four different colors so you can have one for each person in the family. At 62 inches, these are large and will work great at the beach. Their plush cotton construction is thick and comfy to lay on but may release a lot of lint during the first few washes, so make sure to wash these separately at first. 

Cool factor

Bonsai Tree mandala beach towel

(Image credit: Amazon)

Bonsai Tree mandala beach towel

Best detailed

With a brand name like Bonsai Tree, you can't expect anything less than a beautiful graphic. This purple and blue mandala towel is sure to turn some heads at the beach. 

Pros:

  • Beautiful mandala print
  • Oversized towel for two people
  • Interesting circular design

Cons:

  • Colors may run in first wash

Here's the beach towel for those who love unique, beautiful style. The lovely mandala print is eye-catching and attractive, while the circular shape is fun and unique. Since it's 59-inches wide, the towel is plenty big enough for two people to enjoy it at once. The terrycloth material is also soft and absorbent. 

Clean and cool

LAODIS Turkish beach towel

(Image credit: Amazon)

LAODIS Turkish beach towel

Best sand-free towel

If you love the beach but hate the sand that comes home with you, a sand-free beach towel will be just the thing.

Pros:

  • Sand-free material
  • Thin and cool
  • Quick to dry

Cons:

  • Not as absorbent

The smooth weave of this Turkish beach towel from LAODIS won't stick or catch to sand. Simply shake it off once, and it's free of every grain! No more sand-laden carpets in your car or at home after a day at the beach. The thin towel is also soft and lightweight, great for draping over your shoulders when the breeze is chilly. It also comes in 11 cute colors. 

Be beach ready

The best beach towels will make your next beach day even better. Choose between thick, oversized towels or slim travel towels; there's an option for every lifestyle. We love the WETCAT Turkish beach towel for its soft, lightweight material and especially the plethora of color choices!

If you're looking for a good package deal, though, you can't beat the Kaufman four-pack because it comes to value for the price. Here you get four towels in four different colors for one low price. No matter how big your family is, there's sure to be a great beach towel on this list for you and yours. 

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Jaclyn is a content writer at Future. She has a flair for creating (written works, design, photos; you name it!) on her devices. When she’s not churning out new things, Jaclyn loves exploring the world, playing with her kids, and good old-fashioned baking.