Towel Buying Guide
Towels are an important item for every household. Whether it is bath towels or hand towels, you use them daily. Knowing which towel to buy may not seem a particularly difficult task but it can be if you’re not sure what type of towel you’re looking for.
Our towel buying guide will help you distinguish between the different kinds of fabric used for towels available in the market. In addition, we also have tips on choosing towels based on how it feels against your skin, weight and size.
Sheet and Towels: What’s the difference?
When you’re looking to buy bath towels, understanding the difference between bath sheets and bath towels is important. This is not that difficult to understand. Bath sheets are bigger in size compared to bath towels. While towels are used for the same purpose as bath sheets, they are big enough to just be wrapped around your lower body.
Bath sheets being bigger offer more coverage and hence can absorb a lot more water than bath towels. Furthermore, the size difference also indicates the difference in weight. Bath sheets will be a lot heavier and sometimes denser than towels. Additionally, bath towels are a popular choice in households with both kids and adults. They’re the perfect size for kids and a lighter choice for adults especially if you like to wrap your hair with a towel.
Different Towels, Different Sizes
It is always recommended to buy a set of towels instead of a single towel to make it easier for you. A set would usually contain a bath towel or bath sheet, hand towels, washcloths and sometimes a bath mat. Each of these is a different type of towel used for different purposes in the house. Buying an entire set also ensures that all your towels look the same. While the same colour towels may not be an important factor to some, they can be something crucial to others.
| Type of Towel | Size in cm |
| Bath Sheet | 90 x 160 |
| Bath Towel | 70 x 140 |
| Hand Towel | 40 x 60 |
| Bath Mat | 50 x 80 |
| Washcloth |
30 x 30 |
The sizes differ according to the brand but these are roughly the average sizes of towels you are likely to find everywhere. In addition to the towels mentioned above, you also get beach towels. Beach towels are not part of sets so you have to buy them separately and they are slightly longer than your bath sheet. Furthermore, the size difference between a bath mat and a hand towel is not much but the GSM of the towel makes all the difference.
Terminology Used in Towels!
Yes, there is certain towel terminology that you should be aware of. These terms are used quite often when purchasing towels and can get confusing if you don’t know what they mean.
GSM
This is a term that you will hear quite often when searching for towels. It means grams per square metre. GSM simply refers to the amount of cotton used to make a towel. More cotton = more GSM. It basically determines how heavy and thick your towel is going to be. So, a bath mat, as mentioned above, has more GSM which means that it is thicker and heavier than your normal towels. The GSM for bath mats can go slightly higher than 900 whereas your normal towels range between 400 to 700gsm.
Yarn
While yarn doesn’t seem like a new term, understanding its importance is crucial. How the yarn for your towel has been spun makes a lot of difference to the feel of the towel. You may purchase a single fibre or a blend. A single fibre yarn would just contain cotton, while a blend would have cotton and a synthetic fibre twisted into one to make the yarn.
Ply
If you’re looking for fluffy towels, you should check the ply of the towels. Ply refers to the number of yarns bonded together to form one thread. A single-ply would just have one yarn and a 2 ply would have two yarns forming one slightly thicker thread. The thicker the thread is, the denser and thicker the towel is going to be.
Cotton or Bamboo
The two types of fabric you’ll find when searching for towels are cotton and bamboo. There are different blends and types of cotton available in the market that determine. Different types of cotton possess different yarns and hence the feel of those towels against your skin will also differ. Just like cotton, bamboo is a naturally derived material that is quite breathable and gentle on the skin. Both these materials are perfect for the skin.
There are a couple of things you should keep in mind when choosing the right towel for yourself. Along with the GSM, ply and yarn, durability and drying time are very important.
Turkish Cotton
Long fibre cotton that has been spun into a fine yarn, Turkish cotton is the perfect choice for humid climates. Turkish cotton can be very soft and durable. It is highly absorbent due to the fine yarn which allows it to dry up faster.
Egyptian Cotton
The crowd favourite cotton, Egyptian cotton is always associated with luxury. These towels are usually very fluffy and feel like clouds against your skin. The yarn is made of extra-long and fibrous threads that give these towels a luxurious feel.
Organic Cotton
The only difference between cotton and organic cotton is the way it has been grown. Organic cotton is grown without the use of any pesticides or chemicals. Towels made from organic cotton are breathable and quite durable.
Pima Cotton
Grown in the southern region of the United States, Pima cotton is a great material for towels. Pima cotton towels are made up of extra-long and rich fibres that make up a strong and absorbent material. Towels made from this cotton are great if you’re looking for something that is not too harsh on your skin.
Bamboo
Cotton and rayon are mixed together to form a yarn that is absolutely perfect for towels. Great for any weather, bamboo towels are highly durable, breathable and have anti-bacterial qualities. Bamboo towels are quite inexpensive and therefore, they are a great investment.
What GSM Should You Go For?
The quality and density of your towels can be determined by the grams per square metre. Depending on the GSM, you can figure out the use of the towel whether you want to use it for the kitchen or as a gym towel.
400 and below
These towels will be extremely lightweight. This also means that they will dry up quicker. So, towels with a GSM below 400 are perfect for the kitchen, the gym or even the beach. Beach towels need to absorb water and dry up quickly, so approximately a 350-400 GSM is what you should be looking for.
400 to 600
You can have towels for every room in this GSM range. Bath towels, hand towels, beach towels, guest towels, etc. are all included in this range. The towels in this range will be slightly heavier and quite absorbent.
600 and beyond
While the scale usually goes up to 900, there can be exceptions to the rule. These towels are your premium quality, heavyweight champions. Towels in this category are heavy, very absorbent and fluffy. While they will take longer to dry, you can feel the luxury every time these towels touch your skin.
The Aesthetics of Towels
While towels are an essential part of one’s household, they also add to the aesthetics of the room. Don’t think of your towels as just a utility, they can be just as elegant-looking as your fancy tablecloths. Since they are available in different colours, it is always a fun idea to mix and match them. If you have a specific colour combination for your bathroom, you can amp up the style by adding towels that match the colour scheme.
Even if your bathroom does not look like that of a hotel’s, adding some colourful or even neutral coloured towels to a simple bathroom can change things up. Additionally, you can have plain coloured kitchen towels that sit well with your kitchen and dining area. There are so many patterns and colours that you can choose from. Patterns and colours don’t compromise on the quality of the towel, so choose the one you like.
