Have you been hanging onto your old, fraying, fading dish towels for a while? Maybe you’ve always opted for paper towels over dish towels.
We think it’s time for an upgrade. With our 10 best dish towel recommendations, you’ll find something that can dry your dishes quickly, effectively, and gently. Plus, dish towels can do more than just dry dishes: they’re a kitchen must-have.
Looking for cotton, bamboo, microfiber, or something to match your kitchen decor? Either way, you’ve come to the right place. We spent hours researching dozens of products and genuine customer reviews to create this comprehensive buying guide and list of 10 amazing options.
Let’s get into it.
- Durable & high quality
- Gets softer with each wash
- Generously sized at 19 x 27 inches
- Absorbent material
- Quick-drying
- Soft & gentle to prevent scratches
- Super-absorbent up to 6x own weight
- High quality material won't shed
- 11 color options
- 100 percent natural cotton
- Thick & durable
- Easy to clean in the washing machine
- No lint or dust residue left behind
- Easy to store due to smaller size
- Multifunctional around the house
- Versatile & multi-purpose
- Budget-friendly
- Quick-drying and absorbent
- Antimicrobial protection
- Durable and machine-washable cloth
- Great for various uses around the home
- Stylish & cute lemon design
- Hanging loop for air drying
- Great gift idea
- Easy to clean and dry
- Ultra-soft and absorbent
- Quick-drying to prevent odors
- Beautiful shades aross four colors
- Lint-free material
- Very soft to be gentle on dishes
The Best Dish Towels of 2024
We’ve spent hours researching expert advice, material types, and dish towels to find the best on the market. After looking at customer reviews, as well as applying our own insight, here’s our breakdown and product reviews.
Check out the best dish towels available!
Fecido Classic Kitchen Dish Towels
Best Large Dish Towel
If you need extra large dish towels, here’s a brilliant choice. These measure 19 by 27 inches, so they’re one of our bigger choices. However, it’s not too big that it feels difficult to use or gets in the way.
It’s a nice size for everyday use, but it’s also great for work situations. Whether you work in a cafe or a restaurant or want to encourage people to use reusable towels in the office, this is a fantastic option!
These towels are actually commercial-grade quality. They’re super dense, soft, and heavy-duty. They only get softer with each wash, too.
These towels come in various colors, so you can choose the best ones for your kitchen decor. Don’t worry about leaving bright-colored lint behind, even with one of the bolder shades. These lovely towels won’t leave behind lint or streaks.
Pros
- Durable and high-quality material.
- They get softer with each wash.
- Super absorbent, making them great for drying dishes.
- Generously sized at 19 x 27 inches.
Cons
- Some customers said the stitching became undone.
- Highest priced option that we found.
Product Specs
Material | 100% cotton |
Size | 19 x 27 inches |
Quick Drying | Somewhat |
Number of Towels | Two |
Color Options | 12 |
Our Ratings
Urban Villa Kitchen Towels
Best Cotton Dish Towel
The Urban Villa towels are an amazing option, especially if you’re looking for cotton towels. Made from 100 percent cotton and available in 15 colors, this pack of six towels can handle your dish-drying needs.
These towels are strong and durable. Yet, they’re soft enough to use on delicate items like china, pots, pans, and cutlery.
They’re also quite absorbent, so your dishes will be bone dry before you store them. Plus, the towels dry quickly so you can avoid bacteria buildup in the meantime.
Just keep in mind that they’re pretty thin, so they do get damp fast. You might go through a couple to dry a load of dishes.
Available in a 20 by 30-inch size, these are suitable for various uses. When you need to wash them, machine and tumble dry according to the care label. You’ll be super wowed by the fact these don’t fade or bleed in the wash, either.
Pros
- Generous size (20 x 30 inches).
- Absorbent and quick-drying.
- Soft and gentle to prevent scratches.
- 15 color options.
- High-quality 100 percent cotton.
- Machine-washable and tumble-dryer safe.
Cons
- May shrink in the wash.
- Quite thin, so don’t hold a lot of water.
Product Specs
Material | 100% cotton |
Size | 20 x 30 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Six |
Color Options | 15 |
Our Ratings
Microfiber Kitchen Towels
Best Microfiber Dish Towel
Notice the difference with these microfiber towels. These are super absorbent, even more effective than cotton towels, and will dry much faster. These towels are at least 350gsm, so they’re nice and thick.
They’re a bit larger than standard kitchen towels, measuring 26 by 18 inches, but that just means you get more use out of each one before washing. They’re practical for drying dishes, cleaning messes, cleaning your cars, dusting, and other household chores.
Made of super quality microfiber, they don’t color bleed or shed lint, so you can enjoy streak and lint-free dishes.
Lastly, they’re very gentle. So if you’re using them to dry your hands, even folks with sensitive skin will enjoy them. Plus, they won’t scratch up your kitchen appliances or dishes.
Pros
- Super-absorbent: they can hold 6x their own weight.
- High-quality microfiber that won’t bleed or shed.
- 11 color options.
- Generously sized at 26 x 18 inches.
- Versatile uses, including cleaning spills and drying hands.
- Quick-drying material is more hygienic.
Cons
- Quite staticky, so other items cling to them.
- Size makes them difficult to store.
Product Specs
Material | Microfiber |
Size | 26 x 18 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Eight |
Color Options | 11 |
Our Ratings
Cotton Craft Waffle Weave Towels
Best Terry Cloth
If you’re used to, and happen to love, the texture of bath towels — you’ll like the Cotton Craft Towels. They’re terry cloth waffle weave towels, so you can trust they’ll be super absorbent and easy to clean.
In fact, you can use these for a variety of uses around the home. These have many uses, whether as a hand towel, cleaning up spills, or drying dishes. These are durable and high-quality towels made from 100 percent pure two-ply ringspun cotton with a 420gsm thickness.
Available in six color options, the waffle-weave design of each one limits the lint and helps with absorbency. They soak up water instantly without leaving too much lint behind.
Keep In Mind
Pros
- 100 percent natural cotton.
- Terry cloth waffle texture for high absorbency.
- Thick (420gsm) and durable.
- Easy to clean in the washing machine.
- Available in six colors.
- Budget-friendly price per towel.
Cons
- Not as soft as other towels.
- Not quick drying.
Product Specs
Material | 100% cotton |
Size | 16 x 28 inches |
Quick Drying | No |
Number of Towels | 12 |
Color Options | Six |
Our Ratings
Ecotiva Bamboo Kitchen Towels
Best Bamboo Dish Towel
These bamboo towels are made with a super-absorbent material. In fact, they can beat that horrible experience of just pushing water around rather than actually absorbing it. They claim to be more absorbent than cotton and terry dish towels.
They’re a bit smaller, being 13 by 13 inches, but they’re easy to use. They can easily fit into nooks and crannies to dry every inch of your dishes. You’ll have no trouble cleaning inside glasses, all around pots and pans, and long handles.
Normally, a small size would be irritating as you’d have to switch up your towel often. But because these towels are absorbent and so quick drying — it’s no problem. Just hang them on their little hook, and allow them to dry.
We love that they are reusable and easy to wash in the machine. Being quite affordable already makes them even more valuable in the long run.
Pros
- No lint or dust residue left behind.
- Useful in multiple areas of the home.
- Easy to store due to smaller size.
- Waffle weave pattern adds to absorbency.
- Hanging hook lets them dry out effectively.
- Zero plastic packaging.
Cons
- A bit small for some tasks.
- May shrink when washed. Follow instructions well to avoid this.
Product Specs
Material | 100% bamboo |
Size | 13 x 13 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Eight |
Color Options | One |
Our Ratings
Utopia Kitchen Flour Sack Dish Towels
Best Flour Sack Dish Towel
Flour sacks are great dish towels, but they’re also super effective at other household tasks. You can use them for cleaning windows and dusting, as a cheese strainer, removing stains, cloth diapers, and more. Experiment and find out how far your flour sack can go!
This 12-pack of flour sacks provides 28 by 28-inch towels, making them a suitable size for various tasks. They’re made with 100 percent pure ring spun cotton, and knitted diagonally, so they absorb well but dry quickly. We also love how affordable they are when you look at the price per towel.
They’re very lightweight, making them good for storing and transporting, but they get damp quite quickly. You might need to use a couple to dry a load of dishes. But we think the high quality, lint-free finish, and versatility make up for that.
Pros
- Versatile and multi-purpose.
- Large size (28 x 28 inches).
- Quick-drying and absorbent.
- Six color options.
- Budget-friendly.
- Super durable 100 percent pure ring spun cotton.
Cons
- Thin towels and get damp quickly.
- The weave isn’t tight enough.
Product Specs
Material | 100% pure ring-spun cotton |
Size | 28 x 28 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | 12 |
Color Options | Six |
Our Ratings
Town & Country Clorox Antimicrobial Towels
Best Antibacterial Dish Towel
Go the extra mile and aim for ultimate hygiene with the Town & Country Clorox antimicrobial kitchen towel set. Kitchen towels can get pretty unsanitary, but these antimicrobial dish towels are one to consider.
Keep your kitchen extra clean with these. No breeding bacteria, no foul smells, and no contaminating surfaces where you prepare food. These towels are made to ensure that bacteria doesn’t stick around.
How does this work? These towels are made with antimicrobial protection to prevent odor-causing bacterial growth. This protection lasts for up to 50 washes.
Besides being antibacterial, these towels are safe to bleach, very durable, super absorbent, and great for various uses around the home.
Pros
- Antimicrobial protection added.
- You can bleach them clean in the wash.
- Durable and machine-washable cloth.
- Made with absorbent polyester and cotton.
- Great for various uses around the home, including cleaning spills and drying dishes.
Cons
- The antimicrobial finish lasts 50 washes.
- Quite pricey per towel.
Product Specs
Material | Cotton and polyester |
Size | 16 x 28 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Two |
Color Options | Two |
Our Ratings
KAF H Lemons All Over Dish Towel
Most Stylish
Treat yourself to dish towels that look good, feel good, and function well. This set of four dish towels is a lovely bundle to brighten your kitchen. The yellow design suits most kitchen decor and gives your home a bit of a cottage chic vibe.
Made from 100 percent cotton, these are more like tea towels but can still be used for drying dishes. They are thinner than some of our other suggestions and not as absorbent. Still, in addition to some microfiber cloths, you can’t go wrong, especially if you’re just looking for something stylish.
These are suited for small drying jobs and will air dry quickly. Hang them up on the loop to fully air dry between uses so that the towel doesn’t breed bacteria or produce foul odors.
Cold Wash
Pros
- Stylish and cute yellow and lemon design.
- Hanging loop for air drying.
- Great gift idea.
- Large size at 18 x 28 inches.
- Machine-washable and safe for tumble-drier.
Cons
- Not super absorbent.
- Fabric is quite rough.
Product Specs
Material | 100% cotton |
Size | 18 x 28 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Four |
Color Options | One |
Our Ratings
Cuisinart Bamboo Kitchen Towels
Softest Dish Towel
For ultimate softness, the Cuisinart Bamboo Kitchen Towels are definitely to be considered. Made with ultra-soft and absorbent bamboo and cotton, these lush towels are incredible for spills, messes, and drying dishes.
The cotton and bamboo blend makes them both smooth and cushiony but also durable and long-lasting. You can wash these time and time again, and they will withstand being reused.
This is a fantastic option if you want to make a green swap in your kitchen. You can reuse them many times, and they can completely replace the need for paper kitchen towels.
These towels are available in two colors: navy aura and pastel turquoise. They’re very lightweight and dry quickly, so you can avoid bad smells in the meantime.
Pros
- Ultra-soft and absorbent.
- Quick-drying to prevent bad odors.
- Replace the need for kitchen towels.
- Super soft, making them safe for delicate items, like glassware.
- Aesthetic option.
- Easy to clean and dry.
Cons
- They are quite thin.
- Snag easily.
- Expensive option.
Product Specs
Material | Bamboo cotton blend |
Size | 16 x 26 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Two |
Color Options | Two |
Our Ratings
Dialekt Kitchen Dish Towels
Best Budget Option
Unlike our other recommendations, these towels are made from a unique material: coral velvet. Coral velvet fiber is made from pure polyester materials. It may not be as absorbent as cotton, but it is still great for drying dishes.
These cloths are softer than your average dish towel, making them great for use on delicate and glass items. They won’t leave behind lint, either.
After you’ve washed and dried your dishes, simply run these under warm water and air dry. This cleans the cloths and ensures there isn’t a bad odor. For a deeper clean, you can pop them in the washing machine.
Lastly, these are budget-friendly. For a small price, you get a pack of eight colorful towels.
Pros
- Beautiful shades across four colors.
- Very soft: kind on your hands and dishes.
- Lint-free and won’t leave behind residue.
- Great for absorbing liquids and oils.
- They work as a pot holder.
- Machine or hand-washable.
Cons
- Quite thin, so they dampen quickly.
- Size runs small.
Product Specs
Material | Coral velvet |
Size | 10.62 x 6.30 inches |
Quick Drying | Yes |
Number of Towels | Eight |
Color Options | One, but includes four colors |
Our Ratings
Product | Best | Material | Size | Quick Drying | Color Options |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fecido Classic Kitchen Dish Towels | Large Dish Towel | 100% cotton | 19 x 27″ | Yes | 12 |
Urban Villa Kitchen Towels | Cotton Dish Towel | 100% cotton | 20 x 30″ | Yes | 15 |
Microfiber Kitchen Towels | Microfiber Dish Towel | Microfiber | 26 x 18″ | Yes | 11 |
Cotton Craft Waffle Weave Towels | Terry Cloth | 100% cotton | 16 x 28″ | No | 6 |
Ecotiva Bamboo Kitchen Towels | Bamboo Dish Towel | 100% bamboo | 13 x 13″ | Yes | 1 |
Utopia Kitchen Flour Sack Towels | Flour Sack Dish Towel | 100% pure ring spun cotton | 28 x 28″ | Yes | 6 |
Town & Country Clorox Dish Towels | Antibacterial Dish Towel | Cotton and polyester | 16 x 28″ | Yes | 2 |
KAF H Lemons All Over Dish Towel | Stylish | 100% cotton | 18 x 28″ | Yes | 1 |
Cuisinart Bamboo Kitchen Towels | Softest Dish Towel | Bamboo cotton blend | 16 x 26″ | Yes | 2 |
Dialekt Dish Towels | Budget Option | Coral velvet | 10.62 x 6.30″ | Yes | 1 |
Are Dish Towels Sanitary?
Dish towels can be a breeding ground for bacteria (1). This is most common with towels used for multiple purposes, such as cleaning dishes, spills, wiping hands, and if you have kids, perhaps they’ve used the dish towel for their runny noses.
The best way to keep your dish towels sanitary is to avoid cross-contamination. Have three available at all times: one for dishes, one for hands, and one for spills.
You should also switch out your dish towels often, ideally every day. Especially if you use the dish towels to wipe your hands after handling meat.
Air drying is the most sanitary option for dishes, but sometimes, dish towels are necessary.
What Is the Difference Between a Tea Towel and a Kitchen Towel?
Kitchen towels are used for multiple purposes in the kitchen. This includes drying dishes, handling hot plates, cleaning up spills and crumbs, and wiping your hands. They are a bit sturdier and more durable — they’re a great kitchen staple.
Tea towels, on the other hand, are traditionally more of a decorative item. They may be handmade, embroidered, or more stylish. They’re usually made from linen or soft cotton rather than a more durable material like microfiber cloths or thicker cotton.
Tea towels can clean more delicate items like china, jewelry, cutlery, glass trays, or even drying vegetables. They can even be used as a napkin.
However, the terms kitchen towel, dish towel, and tea towel are often used interchangeably now. But by definition, they are different.
How To Choose the Best Dish Towels
Here are the top factors you should consider when shopping for your dish towel.