I’ve tried a dozen organic towels and I’m sharing the best ones. The best organic towel is made with certified organic cotton and free of polyester, PFAS, formaldehyde, synthetic dyes, or optical brighteners

Wait, My Towels are Toxic?

A towel is the first thing that comes into direct contact with your skin right after a hot steamy shower of cleansing and exfoliating. Here’s what’s worth checking for before you buy:

• Formaldehyde-based “anti-wrinkle” or “easy-care” finishes: Used to keep towels looking crisp and reduce shrinkage, but formaldehyde resins can off-gas and cause skin and respiratory irritation with repeated contact.
• Optical brighteners: A chemical finish added to make white or light-colored towels look brighter than the fiber actually is and can irritate sensitive skin.
• PFAS in “quick-dry” or water-resistant finishes: Independent testing has found PFAS can show up in some “quick-dry” towels
• Antimicrobial treatments (silver, triclosan): Marketed as “odor-fighting” or “stay-fresh,” these coatings are designed to leach a low, continuous dose of antimicrobial agent into your skin and down the drain every time the towel gets wet.
• Polyester and synthetic-fiber blends: Common in cheaper “microfiber” towels. They shed microplastic fibers with every wash, and synthetic fiber doesn’t breathe or absorb the way cotton, linen, or bamboo do.

Materials Used in Organic Towels

• Organic Cotton Terry: The standard choice — absorbs up to 27x its weight in water, softens with every wash, and lasts 5–10 years. The safest, hardest-to-get-wrong choice.
• Turkish Cotton: A long-staple organic cotton subtype, often woven flatter (peshtemal-style) instead of classic terry loops. Highly absorbent, quick-drying, and packs down small — good for travel, gym, or the beach.
• Organic Linen: Stiffer at first, softens over time. Naturally moisture-wicking and fast-drying, with a lighter water/pesticide footprint than cotton to grow. Good pick for humid or mildew-prone bathrooms.
• Organic Hemp: The most durable fiber on this list, grown with a light environmental footprint. Coarser texture than cotton or linen — best for durability over plushness, or hemp-cotton blends for a softer middle ground.
• Bamboo Lyocell (Closed-Loop): A cleaner version of bamboo — the solvent is recovered and reused instead of released. Look for this specifically (or “TENCEL™ Bamboo”) if you want bamboo’s cooling feel without the viscose processing concerns.

I Tried Avocado Organic Towel

Avocado’s towels are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton that’s the softest organic cotton I’ve ever tried. There’s no polyester, no synthetic blend and no mystery materials and has a ton of certifications: GOTS, MADE SAFE, Climate Neutral Certified, Vegan Certified, PETA-approved. I love the natural undyed look of the oatmeal color, the ribbed weave totally elevates the look of my bathroom, and if you look closely, the quality is in the details. Their towel isn’t thick or heavy by any means, but feels sufficiently cushiony and plush. It’s generously sized at 56″ x 30″ and works great for both my partner and I.

Price: $76 Materials: GOTS-certified organic cotton, ribbed weave, 700 GSM Certifications: GOTS, MADE SAFE, Climate Neutral Certified, Vegan Certified, PETA-approved What I liked: durable enough for daily, high-traffic use; fully organic with no synthetic dyes; genuinely affordable for a GOTS towel What I didn’t like: the ribbed texture means it’s not the plushest towel here if you’re used to a thick, hotel-style feel

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I Tried Aizome Organic Towel Set

Aizome just launched their organic towels made of 100% GOTS-certified, unbleached cotton, plant-dyed using medicinal herbs with only water and ultrasound in the dyeing process, and made without any PFAS, formaldehyde, synthetic dyes, or optical brighteners. The organic cotton is woven at 550 GSM for a premium plush feel, and is OEKO-TEX certified and carries FDA Class I medical device registration to reduce up to 99% of bacteria and fungi on the textile surface. The color, presentation and design of these are absolutely stunning and I love that they stay true to their Japanese heritage in the details. The bath towel measures 27.5″ x 55″ and feels neither too thick nor too thin, lying nicely in the middle. The natural indigo shade is the most beautiful calming shade of blue.

Price: $169 for 4-piece set Materials: 100% GOTS-certified, unbleached organic cotton, dyed with natural plant dyes Certifications: GOTS Certified, clinically tested as non-irritant and hypoallergenic What I liked: soft immediately, no synthetic dyes anywhere, resists that damp-towel smell longer than most What I didn’t like: the plant-dye colorways run muted and earthy, so skip this one if you want a true bright white or bold color

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I Tried MagicLinen Linen Blend Bath Towel

Magic Linen’s Mocha Waffle Bath Towel is the most unique OEKO-TEX certified non toxic towel I have and it features a a linen-cotton blend woven in a puffy waffle texture rather than the traditional terrycloth loop. It’s made with 53% linen and 47% cotton at a midweight 190 gsm with a stonewashed finish and are generously sized at 39″ x 55″. This weave does double duty of boosting absorbency while giving the surface a light, natural exfoliating feel. Linen itself is naturally antimicrobial and odor-resistant, so it holds up well between washes, and the weave’s airflow helps it dry noticeably faster than a dense cotton terry towel. I love the look and feel of this during summer and warmer months when I don’t need something plush and thick. It looks stunning on a natural bathroom decor piece like a wooden tool ladder and makes me feel like I’m at a Greek resort. With natural fiber towels it’s important to care for them by using a gentle cycle, mild laundry detergent, no bleach or fabric softener.

Price: $50.40 Materials: European flax linen and cotton Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 What I liked: dries incredibly fast, gets better with every wash, naturally resists odor What I didn’t like: seasonal towel that’s ideal for warmer months

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I Tried Quince Organic Turkish Bath Towel (budget!)

Quince’s organic Turkish towel is the most affordable organic towel on the market and the thickest, warmest towel my body has ever felt. These are large (30″ x 56″) and hefty towels with an ultra plush feel. It’s woven from 100% organic long-staple Turkish Aegean cotton at 550 GSM, using a zero-twist terry construction with a dobby-finished band, which is part of why it lands in that sweet spot between plush and quick-drying rather than the heavy, slow-to-dry feel of most ultra-plush towels. It’s STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certified, meaning it’s been independently tested and verified free of harmful chemicals, on top of being organic-certified cotton. Quince’s towel feels noticeably softer and more substantial than a typical towel, absorbs well, and holds up over repeated washes.

Price: $50 for a set of two Materials: 100% organic long-staple Turkish Aegean cotton Certifications: STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certified What I liked: dense, spa-like plushness; extremely absorbent; genuinely feels like a hotel towel What I didn’t like: not organic-certified, and the thickness means a longer dry time between uses

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I Tried Coyuchi Air Weight Organic Bath Towel

Coyuchi’s Air Weight organic bath towel is certified GOTS, Fair Trade, and MADE SAFE and the lightest towel on this list. It’s made with 100% organic cotton, grown and woven in India and features a twill weave that’s noticeably thinner and airier than a classic Terry towel. It’s not going to give you that dense, sink-into-it plushness some of the heavier towels on this list have, but if you want something lightweight that dries quickly, packs well for travel, and still holds up long-term, Coyuchi a great option. Measures 27″ x 54″.

Price: $148 for the 6-piece set (2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 2 washcloths) Materials: 100% organic cotton, twill weave, 550 GSM (900 GSM for the bath mat) Certifications: GOTS, Fair Trade Certified, MADE SAFE What I liked:lightweight, dries fast, absorbency actually improves with wash and wear What I didn’t like: not the towel to reach for if you want a thick, plush feel

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I Tried Cozy Earth Waffle Towels and Nantucket Towels

I’ve used Cozy Earth’s OEKO-TEX certified towels for over two years now and love their reversible waffle bath towels in a cotton and bamboo blend. One side is a decorative waffle side, and the other is an absorbent ribbed terry. They’re made from 60% cotton, 40% bamboo viscose blend at 600 GSM, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. I love the versatility of their Waffle towels. It’s double sided with a mini waffle weave on one side and ribbed terry on the other, so you actually get two textures in one that you can use depending on your mood or the season.

Their Luxe Bath Towel is super soft, plush and cushiony. It’s surprisingly held up very well over the years compared to their Nantucket Towels. I haven’t experienced flattening, pilling or shedding.

Cozy Earth’s Nantucket towel has a very elevated look with a rice-weave texture instead, which gives it a more textured, almost woven-in pattern look, and it lands at a “medium plushness” that’s a nice in-between if the Waffle feels too textured and the Quince feels too dense. After a few years these have worn out a bit and are flatter than when I first got them.

Price: Waffle set $204, Nantucket set $184 (each includes 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 4 washcloths) Materials: 60% cotton, 40% bamboo viscose, 600 GSM Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 What I liked: soft and absorbent, gets better with washing, two distinct weave options depending on what you want What I didn’t like: neither is GOTS-certified organic, since the bamboo viscose content takes it out of that category

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My Other Favorite Organic Towels

• Best Organic Towel for Face: If you’re looking for an organic towel specifically for face, Sleep & Glow makes a 100% organic, 6A-grade mulberry silk at 22 momme, hand-stitched in two layers with the shiny side facing out. This is going to be so much gentler on your skin than cotton and will not cause irritation or wrinkles. It gently soaks up the extra moisture without over-drying your skin, and I love how cooling it feels.

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• Best Affordable Organic Kitchen Towel: Right now my favorite affordable organic cotton kitchen towel is Grove Co.’s organic cotton kitchen towels. They’re 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, completely plastic-free, and they come two to a pack in a simple textured weave that dries fast and absorbs well.
• Best Organic Dish Towel: Full Circle’s Tidy towels are my go-to. They’re 100% organic cotton with non-toxic dyes, come with little loops built in for extra scrubbing power, and they’re great at absorbing moisture from wet dishes and cups without getting gross like cheap dish rags.
• For an organic beach towel I recommend Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Beach Towel and for my dog pawrents I recommend Delilah Home’s Drytek Dog Towel.