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Kitchen towels come in handy for drying hands and dishes, wiping counters, soaking up spills and more. They may be one of the most-used items in the kitchen so the last thing you want are kitchen towels that don’t work well for the job at hand.
That’s where the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Textiles Labs come in. Both of these Labs test hundreds of kitchen gadgets and textiles to find the best products. Our kitchen pros use dish towels to clean up after testing a variety of kitchen products like grill pans, food storage containers, dutch ovens and more. In the Textiles Lab, our fiber scientists put all kinds of towels through rigorous testing, from bath towels to beach towels, testing for factors like absorbency, drying time, durability, softness, shrinkage and colorfastness.
Our top picks:
Best Overall Kitchen Towels
Utopia Towels Ring Spun Cotton Kitchen Towels
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Best Value Kitchen Towels
Utopia Kitchen Kitchen Flour Sack Kitchen Towels
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Most Absorbent Kitchen Towels
Artisanal Kitchen Supply Flat Kitchen Towels
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Best Kitchen Towels for Drying Dishes
Crate and Barrel Textured Terry Dish Towel
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We combined our fabric and kitchen expertise to find the best kitchen towels that will be absorbent, quick-drying, easy to clean and tackle just about any kitchen chore. Our picks below are ones that our experts use in the Lab, editor and scientist favorites (some of which they’ve had for years!) or those that are highly rated and reviewed.
Best Overall Kitchen Towels
Utopia Towels Ring Spun Cotton Kitchen Towels
Best Overall Kitchen Towels
Utopia Towels Ring Spun Cotton Kitchen Towels
Now 33% Off
Pros
- Absorbent
- Durable
Cons
- Recommended to wash separately
These are some of the most popular kitchen towels on Amazon with over 18,000 reviews and a 4.6 rating. They are made from 100% ring-spun cotton and have small terry loops which helps make them durable and absorbent. Multiple reviewers say these towels work well to dry dishes and have held up to months of washing. These also come in a variety of colors as well as black and white.
Best Value Kitchen Towels
Utopia Kitchen Kitchen Flour Sack Kitchen Towels
Best Value Kitchen Towels
Utopia Kitchen Kitchen Flour Sack Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Nice price
- Absorbent and quick-drying
Cons
- Thin fabric
Our Kitchen Appliances Deputy Director, Nicole Papantoniou, loves these towels so much that she has bought them for her home and the Lab. She uses them to clean counters and wipe away grease around the stove, microwave and more. She says, “They’re super basic, a good value and all white so they can be bleached.” To top it off they are absorbent, dry quickly and one of the lowest-priced towels on this list.
Most Absorbent Kitchen Towels
Artisanal Kitchen Supply Flat Kitchen Towels
Most Absorbent Kitchen Towels
Artisanal Kitchen Supply Flat Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Absorbent and quick-drying
- Easy to wash
Cons
- May fray after multiple washes
If you’re looking for a kitchen towel to soak up spills, try these from Artisanal Kitchen Supply. They’re a favorite of our Kitchen Appliances Deputy Director who says, “they’re absorbent, easy to clean, and dry well too. They do start to fray but I’ve owned them for years and sure have beat them up over the years.” They are on the thin side and rough initially but soften up over time.
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Best Kitchen Towels for Drying Dishes
Crate and Barrel Textured Terry Dish Towel
Best Kitchen Towels for Drying Dishes
Crate and Barrel Textured Terry Dish Towel
Pros
- Absorbent terry cotton loops
Cons
- Wash separately to prevent snagging
Some kitchen towels just don’t cut it for drying dishes and rather than absorb the water they move it around but with these Crate and Barrel towels, you won't have that problem. Our experts tested these at home and the cotton terry loops on one side of the towel soaked up water drops on dishes while the flat weave on the other side helped the towel dry quickly.
It’s one of the most popular towels at Crate and Barrel with a 4.6 rating. Take note, according to some reviewers these are prone to snagging so it's best to wash them separately from other laundry items.
Best Microfiber Kitchen Towels
Gryeer Microfiber Kitchen Towels
Best Microfiber Kitchen Towels
Gryeer Microfiber Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Very soft
- Absorbent
Cons
- Wash separately
According to over 8,300 Amazon reviewers, these microfiber kitchen towels are extremely soft and absorbent. Reviewers also say they hold up well to washing and many use them in the kitchen and bathroom. Take note, shoppers commented these should be washed separately otherwise they attract lint and won’t absorb water as well.
Best Lint-Free Kitchen Towels
All-Clad Kitchen Towels
Best Lint-Free Kitchen Towels
All-Clad Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Does not shed
- Double-sided
Cons
- Wrinkle easily
With this All-Clad towel, it’s like you’re getting two towels for the price of one. These are two-sided, with terry cloth on one side and a flat weave on the other. Reviewers say the terry cloth side is excellent at absorbing water and dries dishes well, while the flat side is perfect to wipe down glasses with a lint-free finish. Shoppers love these towels with over 630 reviews on Amazon and 4.7 rating, though a few reviews say these wrinkle easily.
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Best Linen Kitchen Towels
Solino Home Kitchen Towels
Best Linen Kitchen Towels
Solino Home Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Dry quickly
- Elegant look
Cons
- Thinner than others
If you’re in the market for a linen kitchen towel, this set of towels from Solino Home are one of the most popular linen kitchen towels on Amazon with a 4.4 rating. Reviewers say these are on the thin side, but they dry quickly, soften with each wash and many shoppers commented they love the elegant look.
Most Durable Kitchen Towels
Utopia Towels Reusable Kitchen Towels
Most Durable Kitchen Towels
Utopia Towels Reusable Kitchen Towels
Now 46% Off
Pros
- Durable enough for repeated use
Cons
- Not soft
This brand makes it on our list again because it has over 9,900 reviews on Amazon and they are very popular to use in restaurant kitchens. According to shoppers, these aren't the fluffiest or softest towels but they are very durable and stand up well to washing make them great to use over and over. Buyers use these to wipe spills, dry washed vegetables and even as reusable paper towels. These aren’t the fanciest towels but they come in a pack of 12 and are lower in price so if one gets permanently stained there are still others for backup.
Best Anti-Microbial Kitchen Towels
All-Clad Kitchen Towels
Best Anti-Microbial Kitchen Towels
All-Clad Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Anti-microbial finish
- Absorbent
- Plush feel
Cons
- More expensive than some others
With heavy use, kitchen towels can quickly get smelly and musty. This towel from All-Clad helps tackle that problem by using an anti-microbial finish on the towel, it claims it will help combat odors and mildew. It has over 1,000 reviews and a 4.7 rating with one buyer saying, “it’s the Cadillac of dish towels” because it can dry a whole load of dishes without being soaking wet and is plush without leaving lint behind. They are more expensive than other kitchen towels, but reviewers say they’re worth it.
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Most Versatile Kitchen Towels
MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Pros
- Absorbent
Cons
- Wash separately
If you’re prone to spilling in your kitchen, you’ll want to grab a set of these towels. According to over 25,000 Amazon reviewers, these soak up water to quickly, wipe away messes and are also extremely versatile. Customers use them for every cleaning task in the kitchen such as drying dishes, wiping down countertops and sinks, cleaning greasy stove tops and more.
Best Decorative Kitchen Towels
Charlton Home Assorted Dish Kitchen Towels
Pros
- Stylish patterns and colors
Cons
- Not as absorbent
Spruce up your kitchen with this decorative towel set that comes in a pack of five. The set contains two solid towels and three patterned towels which come in a variety of colors. Shoppers praise these for the pretty patterns and bold colors. With over 500 reviews and a 4.5 rating, they are one of the most in-demand kitchen towel sets at Wayfair.
Best Classic Kitchen Towels
Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels Set of 4 Bright Blue
Best Classic Kitchen Towels
Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels Set of 4 Bright Blue
Pros
- Classic design
- Comes in many colors
Cons
These kitchen towels from Williams Sonoma have a classic basketweave construction and stripe pattern with many fun color options which means they’ll look great in just about any kitchen. Our experts tested these at home and found these dried quickly and were larger than other kitchen towels. According to Williams Sonoma, these are made from 100% Turkish Cotton and Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX certified which means they’ll be free from over 350 harmful substances.
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Best Quick-Drying Kitchen Towels
Brooklinen Waffle Hand Towels
Best Quick-Drying Kitchen Towels
Brooklinen Waffle Hand Towels
Pros
- Quick-drying
- Soft
Cons
- May warp after drying
Brooklinen’s bath towels took a top spot in our bath towel test, so it’s no surprise the brand's waffle hand towels have over 100 reviews with a 4.4 rating. Shoppers praise these for being high-quality and soft. These are made from 100% Turkish cotton and the waffle-weave will help them dry quickly. Take note, according to Brooklinen because of the weave these tend to warp after drying but will stretch out during use.
What to know when shopping for kitchen towels
✔️Fiber and material type. The most important consideration when shopping is the fabric and construction of the towel. Here's what to keep in mind:
- Flour sack dish towels tend to be thinner and not feel as soft but dry faster.
- Cotton is a great choice for kitchen towels because it’s soft and absorbent but may not dry as quickly; look for flatter constructions like waffle weaves which will dry faster than terry cloth.
- Microfiber feels plush and is absorbent but can attract lint in the wash so it's often recommended to wash these separately.
✔️Usage. If you’ve considered using a small bath hand towel in the kitchen instead of a proper kitchen towel that may not be the best option, according to Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Director, “kitchen towels are different from other types of towels, with constructions like waffle weave or microfiber making them lightweight and quick-drying,” which is necessary if your kitchen towels are consistently getting wet.
✔️Care instructions. To keep your towels in the best shape, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions and if possible wash your kitchen towels separately. Certain types of kitchen towels can pick up lint from other items in the wash making them look dingier faster or potentially making them less absorbent.
Jamie Kim
Contributing Writer and Analyst
Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.
