The best bath towels, tested by Consumer Reports

A towel that shrinks dramatically or turns rough after a few washes ruins laundry day no matter how soft it felt at the store. Waffle-weave and terry cloth towels dry and hold up differently over repeated washing, and price doesn't always predict which one keeps its softness over time. Consumer Reports washed and dried bath towels 10 times to test softness, shrinkage, drying speed and how well softness held up over repeated use.

Credit: Quince

Quince Organic Turkish Waffle Bath Towels cost about $25 each and topped Consumer Reports' overall towel ratings by a considerable margin. CR found them exceedingly soft with no change in that softness after washing, and unusually managed a high drying-speed score despite that softness, a combination testers don't often see together. Shrinkage was the one test where this towel came up short, shrinking a bit more than testers would have liked, but CR called it a relative bargain given the overall quality. These waffle-weave towels are available in shades such as ivory, terracotta and soft rose, among other color choices, and are sold in sets of two.

Credit: West Elm

West Elm Waffle Bath Towels cost about $37 each and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation as nearly as soft as the top-ranked Quince towels. CR found them comparable to Quince in nearly every other metric too, including some shrinkage and a fast air-drying speed. These 100 percent cotton towels carry OEKO-TEX certification and come in colorways like oatmeal, charcoal and golden oak. CR noted the higher price compared with Quince didn't translate into meaningfully better performance across the tests that mattered.

Credit: Brooklinen

Brooklinen Dreamweave Waffle Bath Towels cost $89 for a pair and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for softness that beat the West Elm towels, though not quite the top-ranked Quince. CR found that softness held up wash after wash, though testers noted a small degree of shrinking over repeated laundering. Testers did note these towels took longer to dry than the other waffle-weave options in this lineup. Made from 100 percent Turkish cotton, they also carry OEKO-TEX certification.

Credit: Tens Towels

Tens Towels Soft Bath Towels cost $28 for a pack of four, among the more budget-friendly options Consumer Reports tested, and earned CR's recommendation despite running smaller than some competitors at 27 inches wide by 54 inches long. CR found the terry cloth softness pleasant, not quite as soft as the top terry options tested, but praised a quick drying time and minimal shrinkage. Testers also noted less hourglassing than other bordered towels in this lineup, along with softness that stayed consistent through 10 rounds of washing. These 100 percent cotton towels are offered in sky blue, dark gray, yellow and beige tones, among other options.

Credit: Amazon

The Onsen Waffle Towel costs about $50 each, pricier than many other towels in this lineup, and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for softness that came close to matching the Quince and West Elm towels. CR found it air-dried just as fast as those two, aided by the same waffle-weave construction. Shrinkage proved to be its main weakness, with this towel shrinking more than every other model tested except one after 10 wash cycles. Made from U.S.-grown Supima cotton, it carries OEKO-TEX certification and comes in rich hues like arctic blue, forest and red clay.

Credit: Amazon

Glamburg Bath Towels cost $13 for a pack of four and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation as a strict-budget pick that still performs well. CR found them exceptionally soft, air-drying just as fast as the pricier Quince and West Elm towels despite the low cost. Testers noted these towels run small, measuring the same 27 by 54 inches as the Tens Towels, and did develop some hourglassing after 10 washes. Made entirely of cotton, these towels are offered in a rainbow-like assortment of colors, from burgundy and hot pink to orange and turquoise blue.

Credit: Target

Casaluna Waffle Towels, sold exclusively at Target $TGT, cost $15 each and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for softness and quick drying that held up well over repeated testing. CR found shrinkage the main weak point, with this towel ranking among the two worst performers tested for that specific measure. Testers appreciated how well the softness held up after many washes despite that shrinkage concern. These 100 percent cotton towels carry OEKO-TEX certification and are offered in a limited color palette, including clay, natural and true white.

Credit: Amazon

Amazon $AMZN Basics Quick Dry Bath Towels cost $19 for a set of two and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation, landing in the middle of the pack across many tests conducted. CR rated softness and dryer energy use as the two standout categories for this towel, both scoring well above the rest of its overall performance. Testers did note some shrinkage and hourglassing after repeated washing. Color choices run limited, spanning lake blue, platinum, seafoam green and white tones.

Credit: IKEA

The Ikea Vagsjon costs about $7 each and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation as an inexpensive terry towel with a textured, striped surface featuring varying levels of fluffiness. CR found its softness fell a notch below several of the higher-rated towels in this lineup. Testers noted the all-cotton fabric and vibrant color lineup, spanning bright green, golden yellow, pink and orange-red, give shoppers a fun way to brighten a linen closet. CR positioned this towel as a budget pick suited to shoppers prioritizing price and color variety over top-tier softness.

Credit: Walmart

Mainstays Performance Textured Towels, sold at Walmart $WMT, cost about $4 each, priced lower than every other towel in this lineup, and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation as a standout budget option. CR found the blend of 13 percent recycled polyester and 87 percent cotton, with slightly different ratios depending on color, likely helped prevent shrinkage, since this was the only towel in the lineup to see minimal shrinking and hourglassing together. Testers noted it isn't as soft or as quick to air-dry as the top performers despite that shrink resistance. These towels carry OEKO-TEX certification and come in colors including green sage, gray and papyrus beige.

Credit: Walmart

Utopia Towels Premium Bath Towels cost $35 for a pack of four and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for shrinking less than every other towel tested, even after 10 wash and dry cycles. CR found the 100 percent cotton construction lost a bit of softness after washing and developed some hourglassing over repeated use. Testers still considered the shrink resistance a meaningful advantage for anyone who has been frustrated by ill-fitting towels in the past. These towels carry OEKO-TEX certification and come in shades including plum, sage green, ivory and lavender.