Buying a sauna towel: the checklist for the right towel
Buying a sauna towel is done quickly – buying a good sauna towel takes a few minutes longer. Online you can't touch the fabric, and terms like "premium" or "extra absorbent" say little. In this buying guide you get a checklist with clear target values, a decision aid by use, a calculator for fabric weight and an honest overview of our own models – including the question of who each towel does not suit.
Contents9
- Buying a sauna towel: the checklist in 8 points
- Step 1: What do you need the towel for?
- Step 2: The right size
- Step 3: Understanding material, weave and weight
- Step 4: Putting the price in context
- Step 5: Buying a sauna towel online without a mistake
- Our sauna towels: which one for whom?
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Buying a sauna towel: the checklist in 8 points
Go through these points before you order. If a detail isn't in the product description, ask the retailer.
- Length: at least as long as you are tall, ideally a little longer.
- Width: 70 to 100 cm. Wider is easier to wrap.
- Material: clearly stated, for example "100% cotton".
- Weave: terry, dense textured weave or flat-woven – to suit your use.
- Weight: stated in grams or g/m². Without it, comparing is difficult.
- Care: washing temperature, tumble dryer yes or no, fabric softener.
- Size with or without fringes: With fringed towels this makes a difference of several centimetres.
- Returns: Can you send the towel back if it feels different than expected?
Step 1: What do you need the towel for?
The most important question when buying a sauna towel isn't "which is the best?" but "what do I need it for?". The table helps you decide:
| Use | What matters | Good fit |
|---|---|---|
| After-work sauna with a small bag | light, space-saving, quick-drying | flat-woven hammam towel |
| A whole spa day with long breaks | cosiness, warmth, padding | dense, heavy sauna towel |
| Relaxation room with loungers | towel doesn't slip | towel with a pocket for the backrest |
| Regularly, several times a week | easy care, several towels | uncomplicated sauna towel or a set |
| Sauna and beach | sand shakes off, dries quickly | flat-woven towel |
Step 2: The right size
If you're buying a sauna towel, choose a few centimetres more length if in doubt. Two reasons: first, you should lie completely on the towel in the cabin, feet included. Second, pure cotton can shrink a little in the first wash. For our Manolia hammam towel, for example, the product description says: up to approx. 10% in the first wash. So 180 cm can become a little less.
Also check whether the size is given with or without fringes. For the MAHINA hammam towel, for example, it's 180 × 100 cm without fringes. You'll find a size table by height in our complete guide to the sauna towel.
Step 3: Understanding material, weave and weight
When buying a sauna towel, cotton is the classic: absorbent, kind to the skin, heat-resistant. The weave determines the feel – fluffy (terry), dense and heavy (textured weave) or smooth and light (flat-woven). What good cotton quality means in detail is explained in our article on cotton sauna towels.
Calculate fabric weight yourself
Many shops state weight in grams per square metre (g/m²), others only the total weight. You can convert: total weight divided by the area in square metres. For our towels it looks like this:
| Towel | Size | Weight | approx. g/m² (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOTWAVE sauna towel XL | 175 × 90 cm (1.575 m²) | approx. 900–950 g | approx. 570–600 |
| MAHINA hammam towel | 180 × 100 cm (1.8 m²) | approx. 440 g | approx. 245 |
| Ocean hammam towel | 180 × 100 cm (1.8 m²) | approx. 400 g | approx. 220 |
| SULTAN hammam towel | approx. 180 × 100 cm (1.8 m²) | approx. 270 g | approx. 150 |
Important: the figure is only comparable within the same weave. A flat-woven hammam towel deliberately has a low fabric weight – that's not a quality flaw but the reason why it's light and dries quickly. With terry, on the other hand, a higher fabric weight usually means denser loops.
Step 4: Putting the price in context
Simple sauna towels are available for little money, while hand-woven or particularly heavy models cost considerably more. The price depends mainly on material, weight, weave and workmanship. Our models range from €24.50 (HOMELEVEL) to €59 (DOTWAVE), as of October 2026. If you need several towels, a set saves money: the Hammam towel set Single costs €89.90 instead of €104.70 individually. What a good sauna towel may cost and where spending more pays off is broken down in our article on sauna towel prices.
Step 5: Buying a sauna towel online without a mistake
If you want to buy a sauna towel online, you can't feel the quality. These signals help:
- Concrete details: Material, dimensions, weight and care instructions are clearly stated in the description.
- Honest pictures: Close-ups of texture, edges and fringes say more than studio staging.
- Verified labels: A label like OEKO-TEX should be named in the description, not just shown in a picture.
- No empty promises: "antibacterial" or "premium" without explanation are no reasons to buy.
- Returns: An uncomplicated right of return takes away the risk.
Our sauna towels: which one for whom?
HOMELEVEL sauna towel – the uncomplicated everyday companion
The HOMELEVEL sauna towel (€24.50) measures 180 × 100 cm, is made of 100% cotton and is machine washable at 40 °C. According to the product description it's suitable for sauna, spa, bathroom and yoga. It suits you if you go regularly and want an uncomplicated towel. Less so if you travel with a very small bag – a classic sauna towel needs more space than a hammam towel.
DOTWAVE sauna towel XL – for those who like it heavy and dense
The DOTWAVE sauna towel XL (€59) measures 175 × 90 cm and weighs approx. 900–950 g. It's woven on old looms and finished by hand, has a textured surface and fringes and is available in five designs. Wash at 30 °C, tumble dryer on low heat possible, no fabric softener. It suits you if you love a full, dense towel. Less so if you're taller than about 1.75 m and want to lie on it completely, or if you're looking for a light towel for your bag.
MAHINA hammam towel – light, but not too thin
The MAHINA hammam towel (€32.90) is made exclusively for BeachAndSteam: 180 × 100 cm without fringes, approx. 440 g, flat-woven cotton with stripes, a diamond pattern and grey fringes in red-grey, sage-grey or pink-grey. It suits you if you want a light towel that still feels fuller than very thin hammam towels.
Hammam towel set Single – the complete package
The Hammam towel set Single (€89.90) contains two Ocean hammam towels measuring 180 × 100 cm and one StayOn measuring 200 × 70 cm, which is pulled over the backrest of the lounger with a pocket. Bought individually the towels cost €104.70 – you save €14.80. It suits you if you want to be equipped for the cabin, drying off and the lounger with one purchase.
You'll find all models in our sauna towel collection.
Related reading: Sauna towel: the complete guide to size, material, hygiene and care · Sauna towel price: what a good sauna towel costs and what matters · Cotton sauna towels: quality, fabric weight and weave explained
Conclusion
If you want to buy a sauna towel, first clarify the use: light for an after-work sauna, heavy and dense for long spa days, with a pocket for the lounger. After that, what counts is length (better a little longer), clear material details, a stated weight and suitable care instructions. Calculate the fabric weight yourself, but only compare within the same weave. And buy where you can return the towel if it feels different than expected.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay most attention to when buying a sauna towel?
The length. You should be able to lie completely on the towel. After that come material, weave, weight and care.
How many g/m² should a sauna towel have?
That depends on the weave. Terry with a higher fabric weight is usually denser. Flat-woven hammam towels are deliberately lighter – our Ocean is approx. 220 g/m² and is still a fully fledged sauna towel.
Does a cotton towel shrink in the wash?
Pure cotton can shrink a little in the first wash – according to the product description, the Manolia by up to approx. 10%. That's why it's better to buy a little longer.
Is an expensive sauna towel automatically better?
No. A higher price often reflects weight, weave and handcraft. What matters is whether the towel suits your use.
Is a set worth it?
If you need several towels anyway, yes. With the Hammam towel set Single you save €14.80 compared with buying individually.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.