Home & Comfort
Towels
8 kinds worth knowing, 13 picks, and what to check before you buy.
A good towel gets used every single day, which makes this one of the few gift categories that rarely ends up in a closet. People buy them for new homeowners, couples setting up a place, travellers and anyone whose bathroom linens have gone thin. Heavier bath towels suit someone who likes a slow morning routine. A packable quick dry towel makes more sense for someone always heading to the gym, the lake or the airport. As a gift, think about where the towel will actually be used, match the colour to the person's space when you can, and choose one good set over a pile of mismatched pieces.
Kind 1 of 8
A warm towel after every shower
A towel warmer heats one or two towels while someone showers, so they step out to something warm instead of damp and cold. It suits anyone who dreads winter mornings, and it works well as a shared gift for a household. Freestanding bucket styles plug in and sit on the floor or counter, with no installation. Before buying, check that there's an outlet near the shower, enough floor or counter space, and room inside for the size of towel the person actually uses. Simple controls and an automatic shut-off timer also make it easier to use every day.
Kind 2 of 8
Everyday bath towels worth upgrading
Bath towels are the workhorse of the linen closet, and most people put off replacing theirs. A matched set in a soft, absorbent weave is an easy upgrade that gets noticed daily. It suits new homeowners, newlyweds and anyone with a tired collection. For families, a hooded towel sized for a child is a fun addition. Check the fibre content, since cotton weight and weave change how plush or quick-drying a towel feels. Look at the size too, and pick a colour that fits the bathroom or hides everyday wear.
Plush bath towel set
This luxurious set offers ultimate comfort and absorbency, perfect for anyone seeking to elevate their daily bathing experience.
Kids hooded bath towel
Make bath time fun and cozy with a towel featuring an attached hood, perfect for keeping little ones warm and dry after a splash.
Kind 3 of 8
Big towels for beach, pool and cottage
A beach towel is bigger and usually brighter than a bath towel, with room to lie on sand or a dock. It suits cottage regulars, pool families and anyone planning a warm-weather trip after the holidays. An oversized towel is worth it for taller people or for sharing with a kid. Before buying, think about how it will be carried, since thick cotton gets heavy and bulky when wet. A bold pattern also makes a towel easy to spot in a crowd of others.
Oversized beach towel
A generously sized towel provides ample space for lounging by the water, ideal for beachgoers or poolside relaxation.
Kind 4 of 8
Kitchen towels that actually dry dishes
Kitchen towels get grabbed dozens of times a day for drying dishes, wiping hands and handling hot pans, so most homes go through them quickly. A set of absorbent ones is a practical host gift or stocking stuffer for anyone who cooks. Flat-weave and waffle-weave cotton dry glassware without much lint, while terry is better for hands and spills. Check that they're big enough to be useful and can go through hot washes. Neutral or patterned colours hide stains better than bright white.
Kitchen towels
Essential for any culinary space, these towels are highly effective for drying dishes, wiping spills, and handling everyday kitchen tasks.
Kind 5 of 8
Soft hand towels for bathroom or guests
Hand towels are small and often ignored, but they're the towels guests touch most. A soft collection freshens up a powder room without redoing the whole bathroom, which makes it a thoughtful gift for someone who hosts often. They pair well with a bath towel set in a matching colour. Before buying, check the size against the person's towel ring or bar, and choose a weave that stays soft after many washes. Coordinating with the existing colours in the room matters more here than with larger towels.
Soft hand towel collection
An essential for every bathroom, these towels offer a soft touch and reliable absorbency for daily hand drying.
Kind 6 of 8
Microfibre wraps for long or curly hair
A microfibre hair towel wraps around wet hair and absorbs water without the heavy rubbing a regular towel needs. People with long, thick or curly hair tend to use them the most, and some find hair dries a little faster with less frizz. Twist-and-button wraps stay put while getting dressed or doing makeup. Before buying, check the fit, since a wrap that's too small won't hold much hair. A loop or button that holds securely matters too. It makes a good stocking stuffer, and pairing it with a bath towel set works well.
Microfibre Hair Towel Wrap
The twist-and-button towel turban that actually stays on and cuts down on dripping.
Quick-dry hair towel wrap
This specialized towel helps reduce drying time and minimize frizz, suitable for anyone with long hair seeking a gentle drying solution.
Kind 7 of 8
Light, flat-woven Turkish towels
Turkish towels are flat-woven cotton, often with fringed ends, and they're much thinner than terry. They dry quickly, pack small and work as a bath towel, beach towel, scarf or throw. They suit people with small bathrooms, frequent travellers and anyone who likes a clean, simple look. Expect them to feel less plush at first and soften over time with washing. Before buying, check the size and weave density, and choose colours that fit the person's home or beach bag.
Lightweight turkish towel
Known for its versatility and quick-drying properties, this towel is perfect for travel, spa days, or as a stylish home accessory.
Kind 8 of 8
Packable quick dry towels for active people
Quick dry towels use microfibre or other thin fabrics that shed water fast and fold down small. They suit hikers, campers, swimmers, gym-goers and anyone who travels light. The Matador NanoDry Shower Towel and PackTowl Personal Body are both built for packing. Before buying, think about size: a small towel is fine for the gym, but a body-sized one is better for showers on the road. The texture feels different from cotton, so check whether the person has tried one before.
Matador NanoDry Shower Towel
A 52×24-inch fast-drying travel towel that weighs 5.6 ounces and packs into a clip-on case.
PackTowl Personal Body
A 25×54-inch recycled-microfiber travel towel balancing body coverage, softness and fast drying.
Microfiber sports towel
This compact and highly absorbent towel is ideal for athletes and gym-goers, providing quick drying and easy portability for active lifestyles.
How to choose towels as a gift
- Match the towel to where it will be used, like a bathroom, kitchen, beach, gym or suitcase, before thinking about colour or pattern.
- Choose a matched set over single pieces when replacing bath linens, so the bathroom looks finished right away.
- Pick colours already in the person's bathroom or kitchen, or stick to soft neutrals that go with most spaces.
- For travellers and campers, packed size and drying speed matter more than plushness.
- Pair a small add-on, like a hair wrap or hand towels, with a larger set for a gift that feels complete.
Usually safe to skip
- Novelty towels with jokes or loud prints often end up unused because they don't match anyone's bathroom.
- Very thick, heavy towels can be a poor fit for small homes, humid bathrooms or anyone short on dryer time.
- Monogrammed towels for people you don't know well can miss if the initials, colour or style isn't right.
Questions people ask about towels
- Is a towel warmer a good Christmas gift?
- For someone who hates stepping out of a warm shower into a cold bathroom, yes. A plug-in bucket style needs no installation. Just check that there's an outlet and some floor or counter space near the shower first.
- What's the difference between Turkish towels and regular bath towels?
- Turkish towels are flat-woven and thin, so they dry quickly and pack small. Regular bath towels use looped terry, which feels thicker and plusher but takes longer to dry and uses more space.
- Are microfibre hair towels worth giving?
- They're most useful for people with long, thick or curly hair who air-dry or want less time with a blow dryer. They're small, practical and easy to add to a larger gift.
Looking for one person in particular? Shop by person.
Everything else
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