Terry towels: a buyer's guide

What is a terry towel?

Terry is a fabric woven with uncut loops of yarn standing up from the surface, usually on both sides. Those loops add surface area, so a terry towel soaks up water far better than flat-woven cloth. Nearly all bath, hand and face towels are terry.

Towel weight and GSM

GSM means grams per square metre. It tells you how dense the towel is, regardless of its size. As a general guide:

• Light, about 300–400 GSM: thin, dries fast, lowest cost. Good for gyms, salons, promotions and hot weather.
• Medium, about 400–600 GSM: the everyday choice for homes and most hotels.
• Heavy, 600 GSM and above: thick and plush, slower to dry, a premium feel.

Many buyers in India order by weight per piece instead, for example a 30 × 60 bath towel of a certain number of grams. We list the weight for each size on our product pages, and can quote by GSM or by weight per piece.

Materials

We work with 100% Cotton, Cotton, Ready Yarn Cotton, Blended Cotton, Filament (Polyester), Microfiber. Pure cotton is the most absorbent and the softest against skin. Blended and filament yarns can lower the price and add strength and sheen. Microfiber towels are very light and dry quickly.

Patterns and borders

• Plain: one colour, simple and easy to match.
• Dobby border: a woven band near each end. A classic for hotels and homes.
• Jacquard: designs woven into the towel itself, so they never wash out.
• Striped and checks: yarn-dyed patterns that stay bright.
• Printed: designs printed on the surface, good for bright colours and character designs.

Choosing the right size

30 × 60 inches is the standard bath towel and 36 × 72 inches is the large size. Hand towels are usually 16 × 24 or 14 × 21 inches, and face towels 12 × 18 or 12 × 12 inches. See every size in centimetres in the towel size guide.

Caring for terry towels

• Wash new towels before first use to remove finishing agents and improve absorbency.
• Wash dark colours separately for the first few washes.
• Use fabric softener sparingly. It coats the loops and reduces absorbency.
• Dry fully before folding to keep towels fresh.