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Madewell / Target / Food 52
Whether you're wiping up spilled juice in the kitchen, spiffing up your countertop, or hand-drying your breakfast dishes, a solid towel is useful for all kinds of reasons. A good set of dish towels should be absorbent and aesthetically pleasing to complement your kitchen decor. That's why we researched stacks (and stacks!) of standout designs of various sizes, materials, weaves, and colors.
But there are plenty of other towels we've checked out, too! Read on for our list of best dish towels, including tea towels, waffle dish cloths, and super-efficient microfiber! We've found something for every decor style and kitchen routine.
Best Overall
KitchenAid Albany Kitchen Towel 4-Pack Set
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Amazon
More than 20 colors to choose from, set includes solids and stripes
Set comes with towels of two different materials
Soft & absorbent
Some reports of towels shedding
Prewashing recommended to avoid dye running
You've probably heard of KitchenAid appliances, but have you tried KitchenAid towels? Thousands have, and they have plenty of good things to say about them. We love that the set comes with four towels that are not only varied in pattern (stripes and solids) but also in material make-up. The solids are made of cotton and are meant to be more absorbent and suitable for spills, while the stripes are a cotton-polyester blend that's ideal for lighter kitchen tasks, like drying dishes and wiping counters. We're also pleased with the practical yet versatile size of 26 by 16 inches, plenty large enough to be useful, but not so big that they're tough to stash or store.
Did we mention that there's more than 20 colors to choose from, including fun and unique finds like boysenberry purple or orange sherbet? So, no matter your decor style, you'll be able to find a set to suit your space. We can see these serving a variety of cooks and their kitchens, and just recommend that you take some care when they arrive to prewash since some buyers reported some fuzz shedding and dye running (especially with darker colors).
Price at time of purchase: $30 for 4
Dimensions: 26 x 16 inches | Quantity: 4 | Material: Cotton/Cotton & polyester | Colors: 23 choices | Care: Machine-wash
Best Budget
Threshold 4pk Cotton Waffle Dishcloths
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Target
5 color choices
Lightweight yet absorbent
Softens over time
Slightly coarse before washing
Too small for some uses
On a budget? Check out the Threshold Waffle Dishcloths. For under $10, you'll get a set of four towels, each measuring 12 x 12 inches. The size may not be right for hanging on display, but it's great for drying dishes and wiping up spills.
These lightweight kitchen cloths are made of 100 percent cotton and feature an absorbent honeycomb weave. While they might be slightly coarse at first, they'll get softer with every wash. If you're looking for a no-frills, basic wash cloth that you can grab for a variety of kitchen needs, these will fit the bill.
Price at time of publish: $6
Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches | Quantity: 4 | Material: Cotton | Colors: Taupe, gray, navy, light blue, yellow | Care: Machine-wash
Best Eco-Friendly
SuperScandi Reusable Compostable Swedish Dishcloths
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Amazon
Reusable and compostable
Can be washed 50 times
Highly absorbent
Small size
Don't last as long as fabric
If you appreciate the convenience of paper towels but cringe at the waste, this one's for you. Made of a blend of cellulose wood pulp and cotton, SuperScandi Swedish Dishcloths can absorb up to 20 times their weight in water.
While they don't last as long as regular fabric towels, they can be washed and reused up to 50 times. When they need to be cleaned, just toss them in your washing machine or dishwasher. Then, once they reach the end of their lifespan, add these biodegradable cloths to your compost bin, and have peace of mind knowing that they didn't go to a landfill.
Price at time of publish: $20
Dimensions: 7 x 8 inches, 10 x 12 inches | Quantity: 3–10 | Material: Cellulose wood pulp, cotton | Colors: Gray, white, pink, green, blue, yellow, assorted | Care: Machine-wash or add to dishwasher
Best Splurge
Hawkins New York Essential Waffle Dish Towel Set of 2
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Food52
Soft and absorbent
Several colorways
Oeko-Tex certified
No monochrome sets
Too large for some uses
When it comes to kitchen linens, it doesn't get much better than Essential Waffle Dish Towels from Hawkins New York. Each cloth is woven from 100 percent cotton and features a super-soft and absorbent honeycomb texture. Plus, the towels carry the Oeko-Tex Standard certification, so you know the material is free of potentially harmful substances.
At 29 x 21.5 inches, these dish cloths are on the larger side. While they're perfect for drying hands and dishes, they might be too big for certain uses, like wiping down your counters.
These kitchen towels come in a set of two and your choice of several neutral and cheery colorways. There aren't any monochrome sets available, so you'll have to go with a complementing multicolored pair. Two towels for nearly $30 isn't the cheapest nor the most expensive, but with this brand, you can definitely count on quality.
Price at time of publish: $28
Dimensions: 21.5 x 29 inches | Quantity: 2 | Material: Cotton | Colors: Mustard, gray, blue, pink, green, white | Care: Machine-wash cold
Best for Drying
Utopia Kitchen Flour Sack Tea Towels
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Amazon
Great value
Large size
Lightweight yet absorbent
Somewhat thin
Get wet quickly
Earning a high overall score with a member of our testing team, these tea towels were a hit during their real life home test. We were especially fans of the large size (28 x 28 inches) and lightweight yet highly absorbent quality.
These flour sack towels are clutch for drying dishes and cleaning spills, but because they're relatively thin, they get wet pretty quickly. Still, they come in value packs of six to 192, so you can keep a big stash on hand without breaking the bank.
Price at time of publish: $22
Dimensions: 28 x 28 inches | Quantity: 6–192 | Material: Ring-spun cotton | Colors: Gray, ivory, white, beige, orange, green | Care: Machine-wash
Best for Hanging
Geometry Microfiber Kitchen Towels
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Food 52
Several unique designs
Soft and absorbent
Loop for hanging
Pricey
Too large for some uses
Looking for something you can hang from a hook or your oven handle? Go with a more decorative design, like these beauties from Geometry. Tightly woven from recycled fibers, these kitchen towels are soft and absorbent, with a handy loop for hanging.
You can choose from several stunning prints, including geometric shapes, floral motifs, gradient colorways, and woodland scenes. At just over $30 for a pack of two, they're on the pricier side for dish towels, but it might be worth investing in a pair for the aesthetic appeal. (You can always keep a more economical set in your drawer.)
Price at time of publish: $32
Dimensions: 18 x 30 inches | Quantity: 2 | Material: Recycled polyester, polyamide | Colors: 10 designs available | Care: Machine-wash warm
Best Novelty
Cat Studio Dish Towel
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Courtesy of Cat Studio
Great for gifting
285+ colorful designs to choose from
Hand-woven construction
Pricey
Line-dry recommended
If you don't think of yourself as someone who gets excited about dish towels, the offerings from Cat Studio might just change your mind. Their selection of charming and colorful towels come in literally hundreds of hand-drawn designs in various themes, from astrological signs, to universities, to cities, and more. They're great for gifting or for keeping on hand to celebrate and display some of your favorite places and memories.
Even better, they're form and function, so you can still count on them for drying and tidying as you see fit. As for cleaning, you can toss them in the washer for cold cycles, but it is recommended that they hang dry (and because these are a pricier pick, it makes sense to protect that investment).
Price at time of publish: $24
Dimensions: 20 x 29 inches | Quantity: 1 | Material: Cotton | Colors: 285+ designs | Care: Machine wash cold, line dry
Best Oversized
Sur La Table Flour Sack Towels Set of 3
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Sur La Table
Practical design
Soft and absorbent
Low-maintenance
Only one color
May shrink in wash
Need something even bigger? Sur La Table Flour Sack Towels might be your best bet. Made of 100 percent cotton, they come in sets of three, each 34 x 32 inches.
Though these dish cloths are only available in white, there's something to appreciate about the no-nonsense practicality. They're soft, absorbent, and conveniently low-maintenance. But like most cotton products, they may shrink slightly the first time you wash them.
Price at time of publish: $22
Dimensions: 32 x 34 inches | Quantity: 3 | Material: Cotton | Colors: White | Care: Machine-wash cold
Best Organic
Coyuchi Organic Waffle Kitchen Towels Set of 6
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Coyuchi
GOTS-certified
Sustainable production
High-quality design
Pricey
Too large for some uses
We also like Coyuchi's Organic Waffle Kitchen Towels. They're woven from 100 percent cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), so you know that everything from the raw fibers to the dyes meets strict criteria for sustainability and chemical safety. They're made in a facility that recycles 98 percent of its wastewater.
These dish cloths are on the larger side (20 x 30 inches), so they're a good choice for drying hands, dishes, and hanging up—there's even a loop for attaching them to a hook. You'll get a set of six for under $60, which is a pretty decent deal considering the quality.
Price at time of publish: $58
Dimensions: 20 x 30 inches | Quantity: 6 | Material: Organic cotton | Colors: Gray, brown, blue, coastal, multi | Care: Machine-wash cold
Most Absorbent
Williams Sonoma Super Absorbent Waffle Weave Multi-Pack Towels, Set of 4
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Williams Sonoma
Long-staple cotton
Oeko-Tex certified
Several colorways
Too large for some uses
These waffle towels from Williams Sonoma are crafted from 100 percent Turkish cotton and Oeko-Tex certified for safety. The unique long-staple fibers make for an incredibly sturdy, yet soft, fabric with excellent absorbency.
Boasting a dense, durable, terry-loomed weave, they're notably fluffy and promise to get softer with every wash. These kitchen towels come in sets of four and your choice of several colorways. Considering the high-quality design, this is a great deal for under $30.
Price at time of publish: $27
Dimensions: 20 x 30 inches | Quantity: 4 | Material: Turkish cotton | Colors: Gray, black, navy, blue, red, orange, yellow, green, pink | Care: Machine-wash warm
Best Fouta
Parachute Fouta Kitchen Towels
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Parachute
Long-staple cotton
Strong and long-lasting
Oeko-Tex certified
Only one color
Too large for some uses
Fouta is a flat-woven cloth traditionally worn and used in Mediterranean countries, including Turkey and Yemen. If you're a fan of the style, you'll appreciate these kitchen towels from Parachute.
They're loomed from 100 percent long-staple Turkish cotton, a supremely soft and inherently strong material that lasts longer than regular cotton. Like most Parachute linens, they're also Oeko-Tex certified for chemical safety. They might be too large for certain uses, and we wish there were more colors available—but other than that, we have no complaints.
Price at time of publish: $29
Dimensions: 19.5 x 27.5 inches | Quantity: 2 | Material: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Colors: Gray | Care: Machine-wash
Best Linen
Pottery Barn Caravan Laundered Linen Stripe Tea Towel Set of 2
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Pottery Barn
Handwoven and yarn-dyed
Stonewashed for softness
Several tasteful colors
Expensive
Too large for some uses
If you're partial to linen, you'll appreciate Pottery Barn's Caravan Tea Towels. They're handwoven, yarn-dyed, and stonewashed to ensure an ultra-soft feel with the first use. Available in 11 tasteful colors with a bright, contrasting stripe, these kitchen towels are sure to make a statement.
The price is undoubtedly steep for a set of just two dish towels, but that is expected with 100 percent linen fabric, as it's sourced from flax plants, which can only be grown in certain parts of the world.
Price at time of publish: $89
Dimensions: 20 x 30 inches | Quantity: 2 | Material: Linen | Colors: Gray, charcoal, yellow, marigold, navy, orange, pink, white, natural | Care: Machine-wash cold
Best Color Options
Sustainable Threads Handwoven Striped Cotton Kitchen Towel (Set of 2)
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West elm
Handwoven by artisans
Fair Trade facility
15 designs
Expensive
Somewhat narrow
We're also big fans of the Sustainable Threads Striped Kitchen Towels. They're handwoven from 100 percent cotton by artisans in a certified Fair Trade facility, ensuring that workers are humanely treated and paid fairly.
You can choose from 15 colorways, including solids and stripes featuring unique hues like sage, eggplant, and peppercorn. The price is high for a set of two, but it might be worth splurging on the elegant, handcrafted designs. And while these cloths are somewhat narrow, they're great for drying dishes, cleaning counters, and wiping up spills.
Price at time of publish: $15
Dimensions: 6 x 13.5 inches | Quantity: 2 | Material: Cotton | Colors: 15 designs | Care: Machine-wash cold
Overall, we're loving the KitchenAid Albany Kitchen Towel Set, which comes in several color and boasts two different textures and patterns among the four towels. Plus, they're soft and absorbent. But if you're looking for a better value, this affordable four-pack of Threshold Cotton Waffle Dishcloths is a stellar choice. They're made with 100 percent cotton and feature an absorbent honeycomb weave.
What to Look for When Buying Dish Towels
Material and Absorbency
Dish towels are made of various materials. Cotton is the most popular, which can be loomed with a waffle texture, like the Hawkins New York Essential Waffle Dish Towels, or flat-woven, as with Parachute's Fouta Kitchen Towels. Then there are linen options, such as Pottery Barn's Caravan Tea Towels. You'll also find microfiber kitchen towels, which can be made of recycled plastic or virgin polyester.
Linen and long-staple cotton will generally be stronger and softer than regular cotton. And thicker weaves tend to be more absorbent—a key quality when drying dishes, cleaning counters, and sopping up spills.
Size, Style, and Design
Dish towel sizes range from roughly 10 x 10 inches to 32 x 34 inches, and they come in both square and rectangular shapes. Smaller options are best for wiping up spills and cleaning counters, while larger towels are better for drying dishes and hanging from a hook or your oven handle. Many people like to have multiple sizes on hand for different uses.
Dish cloths you keep in a drawer can be a bit more plain. If you plan to put one on display, look for a style that complements the rest of your kitchen decor or adds a punchy pop of color, such as Geometry's Microfiber Kitchen Towels.
Cleaning
Most cotton and linen dish towels are machine-washable and dryer-friendly. Some call for a gentle cycle using cold or warm water, so check the recommended care instructions before tossing yours in the wash.
Biodegradable towels like SuperScandi Swedish Dishcloths can be cleaned in a washing machine or dishwasher. Bear in mind they're usually meant to be washed a maximum of 50 times, after which point you can add them to your compost bin.
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When should you replace a dish towel?
There's no hard and fast rule since kitchen towels and their usage will vary from towel to towel and home to home. Though, a basic guideline is to swap kitchen towels every year or two. If you're using your towels regularly for some of your heavy lifting tasks, and you're washing and drying them frequently, you may see wear and tear sooner. On the other hand, if you're just getting certain towels out seasonally and they're only getting used for gentle hand drying, you may see a longer lifespan. In either scenario, keep an eye out for signs of visible wear and tear, and for any signs that they're degrading in quality (less absorbency, or smells that don't go away with washing, for example), and retire them sooner rather than later.
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What's the difference between a dish towel and a kitchen towel?
Lots of folks use the terms interchangeably, and you'll see that our recommendations technically fall in both categories. However, dish towels are usually on the smaller side and are technically meant for washing and drying dishes, cleaning spills, and wiping down counters. Kitchen towels, on the other hand, have a more general purpose. They can be used for drying dishes, drying hands, wiping hands while preparing food, and simply hanging up for decoration.
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What is the best material for dish towels?
The best material for dish towels is arguably cotton. The natural textile is inherently soft, absorbent, and strong—even better if it's long-staple cotton. Naturally sturdy and increasingly soft linen is also an excellent choice, though it's typically more expensive than cotton.
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Do dish towels spread germs?
Unfortunately, dish towels can easily spread germs and be a source of cross-contamination in your kitchen. Thankfully, however, this problem can be easily remedied with the help of a washing machine. If you're using your towels to wipe up heavy spills or soak up liquid from raw meat, be sure to wash them after every use. And if you're using them to tidy up around the kitchen, wash them every day. If you're only using them to dry your hands or to brush off extra flour or dust every once in a while, you can wash them every few days.
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How do you make your dish towels more absorbent?
Cotton and linen dish towels can become more absorbent after a couple of washes. You'll often notice that the fabric is softer and fluffier, which usually also means that it can soak up more liquid. You can also try washing them with about half as much detergent as you normally use, and adding about a half cup of baking soda. That will help remove buildup of other substances, which can essentially "clog" the absorbent qualities of a dish cloth.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a seasoned commerce writer and product tester who specializes in interior design, lifestyle, and cleaning solutions. She considered dozens of dish towels for this story, narrowing them down to high-quality designs that stood out in terms of absorbency, versatility, practicality, and aesthetic appeal. She has personally used household linens from Hawkins New York, Threshold, Parachute, Coyuchi, Williams Sonoma, and Pottery Barn.
Holland has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. You can find more of her stories on MyDomaine, Travel + Leisure, People, and Byrdie.
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