Towel Size Guide - Dimensions, Size Chart, & More

Created: Tuesday, 16 August 2016 17:30

Choosing new towels seems like a simple purchase. But once you start digging deeper, you find many factors that go into choosing the perfect towels, from material and texture to thickness and absorbency. Size is one of those factors.

Understanding the basic types of towels and the standard towel sizes that go along with those types helps you narrow down the options. Here are a few ways to identify and choose between different towel sizes.

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Washcloths

The washcloth is the smallest in the towel family. The typical washcloth size measures approximately 13 inches by 13 inches, although sometimes slightly smaller at 12 inches by 12 inches. The small size makes washcloths perfect for cleansing your face. They also work in the shower to wash your entire body.

While not technically a towel — after all, you won't dry off with one — the washcloth is still a vital part of the overall set of towels. Even if you opt for a loofah for your showers or don't use washcloths very often, having a few on hand is still a good idea for those times you need them or have overnight guests. Washcloths also come in handy in a decorative towel set hung on a towel bar.

Fingertip Towels

Next up in the towel lineup is the fingertip towel. This towel is more significant than a washcloth, and rectangular instead of square. A fingertip towel is smaller than a hand towel. Fingertip towels usually measure 11 by 18 inches.

A fingertip towel is meant to be decorative. You might use a fingertip towel to accent a decorative towel display or a countertop in a bathroom. Fingertip towels are suitable for guest bathrooms in place of small hand towels. The slightly smaller size is usually sufficient for occasional use by guests, making it easy to hang, fold or roll for display.

Hand Towels

The versatile hand towel gets daily use in the bathroom. Some people even keep small hand towels, also called tea towels, in kitchen areas for drying hands. These towels are slightly larger than fingertip towels and are mainly used to dry your hands. You might also grab a hand towel to wipe up a small amount of water on the bathroom vanity or to dry your face.

You will find some slight variations in the sizes of hand towels. On the small end, hand towels measure about 15 inches wide by 25 inches long. On the larger end of the scale, hand towels measure 18 inches wide by 30 inches long.

The size difference in this category is minimal, which means you won't likely even notice. Going with the maximum size you can find gives you extra room to fully dry your hands. A slightly larger hand towel also gives you more options for folding, rolling and displaying them for decorative use.

Bath Towels

Moving up the scale, the next towel option is the bath towel. This is your standard-size towel for drying your entire body after a shower or bath. A bath towel is a common option for daily use because it is easy to use and manageable in size. Bath towel sizes range from 20 by 40 inches to 30 by 58 inches.

Bath towels on the smaller end of the range work well for kids or slight adults. A small towel also works well as a dedicated towel to dry your hair, especially if you have long or thick hair. Wrap the smaller bath towel around your hair, and use a more oversized bath towel or a bath sheet for your body.

If you prefer towels with more coverage, search for bath towels on the larger end of the spectrum. It may not seem like much, but those extra few inches on the length and width of the towel can give you the extra drying space and coverage you need.

Bath towels are easy to use and usually offer enough absorption for the average person drying off from a shower or bath. They dry relatively quickly, so they're ready for your next shower. Because of their small size, you can simultaneously fit several bath towels in your washing machine. Plus, they won't take up as much space in your linen closet.

Bath towels also work well for decorative towel displays. The moderate size makes them fit easily on most towel bars without being too thick or hanging down too far. You have more options for hanging, folding or rolling the towels because they are less bulky.

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Bath Sheets

Bath sheets are the largest size of towels. Think of them as oversized bath towels. The typical length for a bath sheet is between 35 inches wide by 60 inches long and 40 inches wide by 70 inches long.

That length and width make extra-large bath sheet towels feel more luxurious than bath towels. Using big bath sheets is a little like being at the spa from the comfort of your home. Bath sheets offer a lot more surface area to fully cover your body.

Most people can wrap a bath sheet around the body comfortably without gaps or too much skin showing, so this option works well if you like to wrap it up in a towel before getting dressed. Bath sheets also offer plenty of surface area, making it easier to dry off after your bath or shower.

Bath sheets are a great addition to your linen closet, even if you don't use them daily. Sometimes, you treat yourself with a large, fluffy towel. Choose bath towels and sheets in coordinating colors if you can't decide between the two sizes.

These larger towels typically take more drying time simply because of their extra surface area. After use, hanging the bath sheets carefully helps air dry faster and prevents bacterial growth. Unfortunately, you can't fit as many bath sheets into the washing machine simultaneously, so expect to wash more towels if you opt for bath sheets.

Bath Mats or Tub Mats

A bath mat or tub mat is a towel-like mat placed on the floor outside your bathtub or shower. While you don't dry off your body with the mat, it does serve an absorbent purpose to keep the floor dry when you step out of the shower. The material on bath or tub mats is often similar, yet thicker, than a standard towel to help soak up moisture from your feet.

While most bath mats measure the same size, you may notice some variation. A typical size range for bath mats is 20 by 30 inches to 24 by 36 inches. Stick to the smaller range if you have a tiny bathroom or want to conserve floor space. Opt for a larger mat when you want a greater surface area for your floor covering.

Assessing Your Needs

Before deciding on a normal bath towel size and the number of towels, take some time to assess your needs. Figuring out how you typically use towels and the experiences you enjoy can help narrow down the options.

Ask yourself these questions before deciding on new towel sizes:

• What size do you own? Do they work well for your needs? Do they seem too large and bulky, or are they too small to dry your body completely? Break out the tape measure to get the exact sizing on your current towels. This helps you choose new towels depending on your need to go larger, smaller or stay the same.
• How often do you use them? Do your family members reuse towels? Quick drying time is helpful if family members reuse towels and shower frequently, so smaller bath towels may be a better option. Do your current towels dry fast enough? If so, stick with the same size and general thickness.
• What sizes fit your needs? Do your family members need an extra drying surface to fully dry off after showering? Go larger to accommodate those extra drying needs. Do you have kids? A small bath towel is easier to use when drying wiggling kids.
• How long do you use them? Do any family members like to wrap them up in towels after showering or bathing? Bath sheets are the safest bet to get full coverage with a comfortable wrap all around the body.
• How much closet space do you have? Can you accommodate larger bath sheets, or are smaller bath towels a better option to save space? Do you have room to stock bath towels and sheets to give yourself variety? Or do you want to stick with one size to work within the available space?
• How often do you wash? Do you mind washing several loads of towels? If not, bath sheets may fit into your laundry plans. If you prefer to do only a few loads of laundry, stick with smaller bath towels, so you can put several towels in one load.
• Do you host guests? If so, having a few extra bath towels ensures your guests always have a clean towel to use. Bath sheets for guests aren't necessary, but choosing bath towels on the larger end of the size range lets your guests enjoy a pleasant showering experience. Don't forget the fingertip towels to make hand drying easy.
• Do you need decorative towels? Stock up on a matching set with a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth to create a complete set for display.
• How wide is your towel bar? If you have a small bar, opt for narrower towels that hang easily.

Bath Towels vs. Bath Sheets

Most households stock washcloths and hand towels no matter what. The debate often lies in the battle between bath towels vs. bath sheets and the differences between them.

There's no right or wrong answer. The final decision comes down to your weight preferences, the sizing that best matches your needs and how you plan to use the towels.

Why Should You Choose Bath Towels?

There are several reasons why you should choose a bath towel over a bath sheet. For example, many homeowners enjoy using bath towels for everyday use and when they need a surface area with average drying capabilities. Bath towels can also be used in guest bathrooms to accommodate the occasional overnight guest or visiting family member.

Be sure to pay attention to your home's space, as well. Instead of using bath sheets in a small closet, use bath towels, which can better fit into smaller linen closets or drawers. Bath towels also fit well on decorative hanging displays and towel racks due to their size. They make for easier folding and hanging compared to large bath sheets.

Consider the drying abilities of bath towels. Bath towels dry quickly, and you can wash more than one towel at a time in one laundry load. You can also give bath towels to small kids to cut out the bulk of larger towels.

Why Should You Choose Bath Sheets?

Choosing bath sheets can come with many benefits. For example, if you have a family member who needs an extra drying surface, consider investing in a high-quality bath sheet.

Because a bath sheet is larger, you can help yourself and your family members feel pampered in a large, luxurious towel that covers what you need. You can also invest in a bath sheet if you know certain family members like to wrap towels around themselves or feel fully covered after a shower.

Bath sheets are also wonderful for people with thick or long hair that needs an absorbent fabric. For those who enjoy a luxurious experience, a bath sheet can make you feel comforted and pampered after every shower or bath.

Searching for Small Size Bath Towels?

Have you found that most manufacturers' bath towels are way too big for your needs? If so, Towel Super Center is the right place for you. We separate and categorize all our towels by dimensions so you can quickly go to the size of towel you are looking for. We have heard your needs and want to help fulfill them. Bigger is not always better in the eyes of the customer.

Stock up on the Perfect Sized Towels From Towel Supercenter

Stocking up on all sizes of towels prepares your household for every possible drying need, from everyday hand drying and shower use to overnight visitors and days when you want a little more luxury. Towel Super Center offers towels of all varieties to meet your drying needs.

Choose from a range of sizes in each category to fit your use. Because we offer discount prices on wholesale towels, you can stock up on all the towels you need to keep your home and family members dry and comfy.