There’s a lot of chatter about the giant, plush towels of luxury resorts and not nearly enough about the benefits of a lightweight, super-absorbent textile. Enter: the best waffle towels. We gathered to explore what the market offers and to determine which waffle-weave towels are truly worth investing in by testing them firsthand in our own bathrooms over several months—and, in some cases, years.
Our top contender was a newer (to us) brand—love when that happens—while our runner-ups didn’t surprise us in the least. Our favorite bath and bedding brands, Parachute, Brooklinen, and Cozy Earth, delivered on long-staple cotton and ultra-soft pieces that will reign forever in our linen closets. Each waffle weave iteration comes with matching hand towels and washcloths, and you can purchase bundles to get the best bang for your buck.
Read on for a waffle-weave lover’s best bath towels.
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### Best Overall
“I’m taking a shower just to use this towel,” says commerce writer Julia Harrison. “These are what towels always say they are but never quite live up to: soft, absorbent, and—most importantly—they can withstand the high heat of New York laundromats and still come out as cuddly as ever.”
Senior commerce editor Nashia Baker can also attest: “The biggest perk is how much softer the towels have gotten after washes.”
Being Imabari towels, these meet the Japanese certification for pristine product quality, made with 100% pima cotton and a specific quality control process. An Imabari towel must pass several tests, including the “sink within five seconds” standard to prove water absorbency. They’re also monitored for shedding, longevity, and softness after multiple washes.
At $18 for a towel and $92 for a bundle, their price point is equally impressive.
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### Long-Staple Cotton Option
Made with a honeycomb weave from 100% long-staple Turkish cotton, “these towels are really exceptional in craftsmanship, which is immediately evident in the feel,” says commerce director Rachel Fletcher.
Sensitive skin makes Fletcher particularly discerning when it comes to hand feel: “I have tried many waffle towels in the past and these ones are by far the softest.”
Airy and light, these towels are super soft, don’t trap mildew, and absorb water in no time. After several years of personal use, they’ve beautifully withstood the test of time and slightly obsessive-compulsive shower habits.
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### Best Thick Waffle Weave
These Cozy Earth waffle towels aren’t just waffle weave—they’re dual-sided, featuring a mini waffle weave on one side and a soft ribbed terry on the other. In other words, they give you the best of both worlds: a towel that’s soft and absorbent like terry cloth but also lightweight and quick-drying like pure waffle weave.
“The dual terry side of the Cozy Earth towel is meant to make it more absorbent than your average waffle weave,” says contributor Megan Wahn. “So the terry side is the one you’re meant to dry off with. I preferred the waffle side and found it dried me off in a few seconds less than the terry side.”
Harrison also tested this weave iteration in hand towels and found that they live up to Wahn’s review: soft, quick-drying cotton towels, though a bit heavier than some other picks on this list.
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### Best Hand Feel
Commerce editor Audrey Lee has used these Onsen waffle towels for more than two years and says they still look and feel amazing. Made of 100% extra-long-staple Supima cotton, Lee says the textured material doesn’t feel scratchy at all.
“It’s easy to think that you’d accidentally pull a thread or two but the weave is tight enough that I haven’t seen any snags or areas unravel,” she says. “With several vibrant colors available, you can also skip white towels to add a pop of color to your bathroom.”
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### Best Colorways
As big fans of Brooklinen’s bath mats, bedding, and even pajamas, we had faith that Brooklinen towels would also deliver. Harrison opted for a dark green variety in these 100% Turkish cotton towels, though there are nine other colors to choose from, each a rich neutral shade like burgundy, slate, and aloe.
These towels achieve the same drying speed and softness as every other waffle towel on this list, with the teeny tiny caveat, Harrison admits, that they’re a bit more prone to snagging since they’re a thinner material than Cozy Earth or Nasoora.
One more pro: These towels are currently 20% off during Brooklinen’s family and friends event, making them some of the most affordable on this list.
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### More AD-Approved Waffle Towels
Next up on our testing list is the ubiquitous Quince. Having passed Architectural Digest’s approval for good-quality bed sheets, pillows, and even sweaters, we have full faith in this Turkish cotton bundle from the mega retailer. They employ the Cozy Earth touch with double-sided waffle weave and terry cloth, so you can dry off according to your mood. What’s more luxurious than that?
Another win for the Imabari market is yet to be tested by us: a towel set from Citizenry. These are made from 100% pima cotton and feature a larger waffle weave for extra softness and absorbency. Five colorways cover the perfect towel palette bases—including green, blue, and off-white—the exact kind of serene designscape a put-together bathroom needs.
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Whether you’re replacing your everyday towels or looking to upgrade your linen closet, these waffle weave options offer unbeatable softness, absorbency, and style that will last wash after wash.
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/best-waffle-towels