Towel sizes: all formats from washcloth to beach towel
Towel sizes are more confusing than they need to be: a "hand towel" measures 50 × 100 cm at one manufacturer and 60 × 110 cm at the next, and what one calls a shower towel, another calls a bath towel. In this overview you'll find all common towel sizes from washcloth to beach towel in one table, which format is good for what, and the three pitfalls when comparing. By the end you'll know which size you really need in the bathroom, in the sauna and at the beach.
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All towel sizes at a glance
The table shows the formats you will find most often in shops. The dimensions are common guide values, not a fixed standard – more on that in a moment.
| Name | Common dimensions | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Wash mitt | approx. 15 × 20 cm | Washing at the basin |
| Washcloth | approx. 30 × 30 cm | Face, flannel |
| Guest towel | approx. 30 × 50 cm | Drying hands in the guest toilet |
| Hand towel | approx. 50 × 100 cm, often also 60 × 110 cm | Hands, face, hair |
| Shower towel | approx. 70 × 140 cm, sometimes 80 × 150 cm | Body after showering |
| Bath towel | approx. 100 × 150 cm to 100 × 180 cm | Wrapping up after a bath |
| Beach towel | approx. 90 × 180 cm to 100 × 180 cm, XXL up to 200 × 240 cm | Lying at the beach, pool, lake |
| Sauna towel | approx. 70–80 × 200 cm, extra long approx. 220 cm | Underlay on sauna bench and lounger |
A simple rule of thumb for placing towel sizes: up to the hand towel it's about hands and face, from the shower towel upwards about the whole body, and from around 180 cm in length about a surface you can lie on.
Why towel sizes are not standardised
There is no binding standard for towel sizes that all manufacturers have to follow. The dimensions in the table have simply become established in retail and hotels. That's why you'll find the same format under different names and different formats under the same name. Typical examples:
- Shower towel or bath towel: 70 × 140 cm is sometimes called a shower towel, sometimes a bath towel. Larger formats from 100 cm wide are usually sold as bath towels or bath sheets.
- Beach towel: Some retailers call any towel from 180 cm long a beach towel, others only particularly wide formats.
- Sauna towel: Here length matters most. Whether it's 70, 80 or 90 cm wide is secondary.
Our tip: with towel sizes, never compare just the name, always the centimetres – width and length separately.
Which format for what? Towel sizes in everyday life
Small formats: washcloth, guest towel, hand towel
Washcloths and guest towels are the little helpers in the bathroom. A guest towel is enough for drying hands a few times and is then changed. The classic hand towel is the workhorse: it hangs by the basin, dries face and hair and is the format you need most of in a household.
An in-between format is the small hammam towel. Our Mini hammam towel Diamant measures approx. 90 × 45 cm and weighs approx. 120 g. According to the product description it can be used as a hand towel, tea or kitchen towel, hair and face towel or as a sports towel. Why it also works well as a guest towel is explained in our article on the guest towel.
Medium formats: shower towel and bath towel
With shower and bath towels, the main question is whether you just want to dry off or wrap yourself up completely. At 70 × 140 cm you can dry off well, but for many adults it's a tight fit for wrapping. From about 100 cm wide a towel can easily be wrapped around the body and tucked in under the arm. If you like to stay wrapped up for a while after showering, a bath towel is the better choice.
Large formats: beach towel and sauna towel
With the large towel sizes it's all about lying surface. A beach towel should be long enough to stretch out on, so at least 180 cm. According to common sauna rules, a sauna towel must be big enough that no part of your body touches the wood – not even your feet. That's why sauna towels tend to be long and narrow.
Two examples from our range: the Ocean hammam towel at approx. 180 × 100 cm is an all-rounder that works as a bath towel, beach towel and sauna towel. The DOTWAVE sauna towel XL measures 175 × 90 cm and weighs approx. 900–950 g, so it is considerably heavier and denser. The Ocean StayOn hammam towel at 200 × 70 cm is designed for the sauna lounger.
XL and XXL: for two, for families, for the bed
For a beach day for two or with children, a large format is worthwhile. The Anatolia XL hammam towel measures 130 × 180 cm, the Coastline XXL beach towel even 240 × 200 cm in 100 % cotton. At home, formats like these also serve as a bedspread or picnic blanket.
Our towels placed among the common towel sizes
To help you compare product details, here are our towels next to the usual towel sizes. All details come from the product descriptions.
| Our towel | Dimensions | Weight | Roughly equivalent to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini hammam towel Diamant | approx. 90 × 45 cm | approx. 120 g | Hand towel, slightly narrower and longer |
| DOTWAVE sauna towel XL | 175 × 90 cm | approx. 900–950 g | Bath towel or sauna towel |
| Ocean hammam towel | approx. 180 × 100 cm | approx. 400 g | Bath towel, beach towel |
| Ocean StayOn hammam towel | 200 × 70 cm | approx. 400 g | Sauna towel for the lounger |
| Anatolia XL hammam towel | 130 × 180 cm | not stated | Large beach towel |
| Coastline XXL beach towel | 240 × 200 cm | not stated | Beach towel for two or the family |
The difference in weight is striking: a flat-woven hammam towel in bath towel format weighs only a fraction of a dense sauna towel. For travel and the gym bag that's an advantage; for a thick, fluffy feel after a bath, the heavier towel is the better choice. You'll find more on all hammam towel formats in our article on hammam towel sizes.
Three pitfalls when comparing towel sizes
1. Measured with or without fringes?
With fringed towels, some manufacturers measure including the fringes, others only the woven surface. But fringes are not lying surface. Look for details such as "without fringes", especially for sauna and beach towels.
2. Shrinkage in the first wash
Pure cotton can shrink a little in the first few washes. If length is tight, allow a few centimetres in reserve and follow the care instructions on the label.
3. Width by length or length by width?
Sometimes the label says 50 × 100 cm, sometimes 100 × 50 cm. Both mean the same. It only gets confusing when you compare two offers side by side – so always check which number is the length.
How to find the right towel sizes for your household
- Bathroom: Per person, one hand towel for hands and face plus a shower or bath towel for the body. A few small guest towels to rotate in the guest toilet.
- Hair: A hand towel or a light small towel that is easy to wrap into a turban.
- Sport: A small, light towel that dries quickly and fits into any bag.
- Sauna: A towel at least as long as you are as an underlay, plus one for drying off.
- Beach: One towel from 180 cm long per person – or one XXL format for everyone.
How many towels of each size you need depends on household size and washing rhythm. We do the maths for you in a separate article. You'll find all formats from small to XXL in our hammam towels collection.
Related reading: Hammam towel size: all formats from mini to XXL · How Many Towels Does a Household Need? The Simple Calculation · Lounger towel, seat towel, sauna towel: the terms and sizes explained
Conclusion
Towel sizes follow no fixed standard, but common guide values: washcloth approx. 30 × 30 cm, guest towel approx. 30 × 50 cm, hand towel approx. 50 × 100 cm, shower towel approx. 70 × 140 cm, bath towel from approx. 100 × 150 cm, beach and sauna towel from approx. 180 cm long. When buying, always compare the centimetres rather than the names, check for fringes and allow a little extra for shrinkage with cotton. Then the towel will suit what you really need it for.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a normal hand towel?
Approx. 50 × 100 cm is common. Many manufacturers also offer 60 × 110 cm. There is no binding standard.
What is the difference between a shower towel and a bath towel?
A shower towel is usually approx. 70 × 140 cm and is enough for drying off. A bath towel is wider, from approx. 100 cm, so you can wrap yourself up comfortably. However, the names are not used consistently in shops.
How big should a sauna towel be?
Long enough that you can lie on it completely on the bench without your feet touching the wood. Around 200 cm in length is common, more for tall people.
What size is a guest towel?
Usually approx. 30 × 50 cm. Slightly larger small towels such as a mini hammam towel at approx. 90 × 45 cm also work well in the guest toilet.
Which beach towel is big enough for two?
For two people it should be considerably wider than a normal beach towel, from around 180 × 130 cm. Our Coastline XXL measures 240 × 200 cm.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.