The Ultimate Guide to Guest Towels
High-quality guest towels are a small detail that make a big difference: The right guest towels can elevate your bathroom's entire look, transforming it from simply functional to a space that exudes thoughtful hospitality. More importantly, guest towels play a key role in creating a comfortable, positive experience for your overnight visitors. From selecting the perfect size and material to narrowing down colors and styles, we'll cover everything you need to know about choosing guest towels to ensure friends and family feel at home during their stay.
What Towels Do You Need for the Guest Bath?
Your guest bath should feel as comfortable as your visitors’ own home and should therefore have all the linens they’d expect to find in their cabinets. This includes bath towels, washcloths, hand towels, and a bath mat or rug. To determine the right number of towels, think about the maximum number of guests you’re likely to host at once, then use this formula to make your list:
Towels Per Guest
- 2 body-sized towels per guest (bath towels or bath sheets)
- 2 washcloths per guest
- 1 hand towel per guest
Additional Linens
- 3 to 4 extra hand towels
- 1 coordinating bath mat or rug
How to Choose Guest Towels
Follow the same general guidelines to choose towels for the guest suite as you would to find linens for any other bathroom in your home. Consider the following characteristics:
Size
Washcloths, hand towels, and fingertip towels come in standard sizes, but when it comes to body-sized bath linens, you can choose between towels and sheets. Standard bath towels measure 30 inches by 54 inches, while bath sheets offer more coverage for added comfort—and the larger surface area means they absorb more moisture, too. You may decide to fill your linen closet with both bath towels and sheets so guests can select their preference; but if you must choose, we recommend going with the larger size.
Material
Cotton is absorbent, durable, and soft, making it the best material for guest towels. For extra luxury, opt for rich Egyptian or Supima® cotton, or choose towels made from a blend of cotton and linen or TENCEL™ Lyocell.
Weight
Look for bath towels with a GSM between 500 and 600 for the guest room. These medium-weight towels are plenty plush and absorbent, but don’t take too long to dry, making them ideal for smaller guest rooms with less space to hang them.
Style and Color
The style of guest towels should complement the decor of your space. Let the following ideas inform your approach to choosing guest bathroom towels:
- For a perfectly coordinated look, choose solid-color bath towels in hues pulled straight from the shower curtain.
- Keep things neutral with ivory, beige, or white bath towels; add interest with appealing textural details.
- Versatile dark charcoal, navy, or black bath towels match most decor styles and are easy to keep clean.
- Fold and hang colored towels with jacquard-woven or patterned designs that double as decor to enhance your space’s style in the day-to-day.
- Bring a bespoke element to your guest bath linens with monogrammed towels: Embellish with an artful traditional monogram, add a short word of welcome, or have your last name embroidered for an elegant touch.
Hospitality Tip: Regardless of the primary towels you choose for your guest room wardrobe, keep a few black or dark-colored fingertip towels or washcloths for faces. Guests may feel more comfortable if they don’t have to worry about leaving makeup stains on your high-quality bath linens.
Narrow down your ideal style and color for bath towels, then choose the right size, number, and material so you’re ready for planned or unexpected overnight guests. Explore our other Guides for more insight into outfitting your home with the highest-quality linens, from the bath to the bedroom to the kitchen.