The Best Waffle Towels in 2023, Tried by Gear and Shopping Editors

Nov 09, 2023

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A GOOD waffle towel is a glorious thing. Combining softness, texture, and woven style, they take the standard towel to new heights. And when you secure a few of the best in the category, your apartment or home can really feel like a luxury hotel.

What makes some better than others? Sure, they all sport the gridded weave but there are other performance indicators as well. We looked at feel, absorption, durability, and look in picking out the best best waffle towels. We also gauged things like washability and color options. In the end, we came away with ten options that define what a good waffle towel should be.

The bathroom is really where these babies shine. Whether it's a bath towel, hand towel, wash cloth, or full set, the added texture adds some character and can instantly upgrade the space. You get that homespun look, even if the thing was cranked out by a capable machine. You also get something new, which in the towel department is a big deal. They say new bathrobes or slippers are the best in terms of a one-way ticket to comfort town, but quality towels are right up there at the top of the list. Here are the ten best waffle towels to make your dwelling even more hospitable.

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Made entirely of Turkish cotton, this set from Parachute gives you the ultimate spa treatment. It dries exceptionally fast and barely weigh a thing, plus you get three different set options to choose from. Plus, it's divinely plush, and the earthy color options (white, grey, charcoal, terra) are a nice bonus.

If you're going to buy a bundle (aka a set), you might as well invest in something that will last. This set from Onsen is extremely durable and dries quickly. The brand's supima cotton can stand up to heavy scrubbing and general wear and tear. We love the balance to this set, which includes a bath towel, face towel, a hand towel, and a bath sheet. The weave is great and really does seem to compress, making them great for travel too.

Loomed in Portugal, these waffle towels sport a nice fringed edge. They wash and dry with ease and the combed cotton feels great. The set includes two bath towels and two hand towels. Over all, it's a great value for the quality at play. Not surprising, given that Riley also makes some of our favorite bed sheets.

The best bath towels dry rapidly and offer a certain element of luxe comfort. This set accomplishes both feats, with a puffy honeycomb texture you just want to snuggle with. It folds down neatly and can help with for exfoliation as you knock out your skincare routine. While they will shrink a bit, they come oversized, so it all works out.

A roughly even mix of cotton and linen, this towel works well as a face towel or hand towel. We especially like it as the former, with its intricate texture and inviting feel. It scrubs diligently without bothering even the most sensitive of skin.

We love these towels and their kitchen-friendly appeal. The knit is ideal for washing dishes, especially if you have fragile items like decanters, glassware, China, and more. They look great hanging from your oven handle and can be tossed into your washer and dryer without worry. For the price, you get a great kitchen towel.

Good towels maintain their fluffiness and that's what these ones do. You get that cloud-like texture when they're new and countless washes down the road. They look elegant and thanks to the center band, look fantastic rolled up and stacked in your bathroom, just like at your favorite resort.

These look like something your eccentric grandmother would make, and we mean that as high praise. The color is vivid and the loose weave looks perfectly handmade. It ain't cheap, but you'll love how it can light up a room for the better. Plus, like many others on this list, this set dries quickly and weighs very little.

It's little wonder that Cozy Earth made the grade, a company renowned for its cozy clothing and home decor. And cozy is just what you want when washing your body. They're made of both cotton and viscose from bamboo, easily some of the softest stuff available. The design is functional and smart, waffle texture on the exterior with terry cloth on the inside.

If you feel like splurging for a waffle towel, this Japanese-made option is an excellent way to go. Made from soft pima cotton, you won't want to let go. The tight-knit offers a graceful aesthetic and while it's known to fade a bit after washing, the overall look and feel more than compensates for that.

You guessed it, a waffle towel touts a waffle-like pattern. They're not always square-shaped (they can be more organic-looking or have a honeycomb pattern) but they all possess raised threads. This design allows them to take on more moisture without weighing down the towel too much. We love a good heavy and soft towel but they can become a nuisance in terms of weight when good and wet.

There's no wrong way to use a waffle towel. But because they handle moisture so well, they work particularly well in the bathroom or kitchen. The combo of softness and absorption makes them great for a post-shower dry-off or dealing with wet dishes. The texture of the towel is also good for skincare routines and exfoliation. We think they really class-up a bathroom.

We examined a few key features when picking out our favorite waffle towels. Obviously, we after something that offers a sense of luxury, but without the fuss. That means a towel that is easy to clean with and wash, one that can take on plenty of moisture and not feel like, well, a wet blanket. We looked at material involved, how it treats the skin and things like fragile dishes, and the ability of the towel to offer a dose of sophistication.

Mark Stock is a food, drink, and outdoors writer from Portland, Oregon. He spent years making, selling, and sipping Pinot Noir in the Dundee Hills before a full return to his journalistic roots in 2016. In addition to Men's Health, he writes for SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, The Somm Journal, The Drake, Willamette Week, Travel Oregon, and more.

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