Lounger towel, seat towel, sauna towel: the terms and sizes explained
Lounger towel, seat towel, sauna towel, sauna kilt, hammam towel, bath towel – there are surprisingly many terms around the sauna for fabric you sit on, lie on or dry off with. Anyone searching in a shop quickly stumbles over the question: what exactly is a lounger towel (in German “Liegetuch”), and do I need one in addition to a sauna towel? Here I explain each term with the sizes common in the trade and tell you which towel you really need for what.
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The terms at a glance
Many names describe a purpose rather than a specific product. A large cotton towel can be a sauna towel, lounger towel or bath towel depending on how it is used. The following table shows what the terms mean and which sizes are common in the trade:
| Term | What for | Sizes common in the trade |
|---|---|---|
| Sauna towel | umbrella term: base in the cabin, for wrapping up | usually 80 × 200 cm or 180 × 100 cm |
| Lounger towel | lying on the sauna bench or on the lounger in the relaxation room | long and rather narrow, often 70–85 × 200 cm |
| Seat towel | seat cover, e.g. in the steam room or infrared cabin | small, roughly hand towel size |
| Sauna kilt | wrap around for walking, with fastener | often around 60 × 140 cm |
| Hammam towel (peshtemal) | flat-woven all-purpose towel: sauna, beach, bathroom | usually 180 × 100 cm |
| Bath towel | drying off after a shower or bath | often 70 × 140 cm or 100 × 150 cm |
Important: these sizes are guide values from the trade. The specification for the individual product is always what counts.
What is a lounger towel?
A lounger towel is a long towel on which you lie with your whole body – from head to toe. It is used in two places: on the sauna bench when you lie down in the cabin, and on the lounger in the relaxation room. In many facilities such a towel is mandatory in the relaxation room so that nobody lies directly on the cushion or wood.
Length is typical of a lounger towel. So that your feet also rest on fabric, it should be at least as long as you are tall. The width matters less, because a lounger or sauna bench is not particularly wide anyway. That is why many lounger towels are rather narrow and long.
Lounger towel with a pocket
A common annoyance in the relaxation room: the towel slips as soon as you move or get up. For this there are lounger towels with a sewn-in pocket that is pulled over the backrest of the lounger. Our Ocean StayOn hammam towel is made exactly for this: 200 × 70 cm, approx. 400 g, 100 % cotton, with hand-knotted fringes and a pocket that holds the towel on the backrest. That way it doesn't slip, and your lounger is clearly occupied.
What is a seat towel?
A seat towel is the small version: it only covers the seat. It is used where you sit anyway – for example in the steam room if the house rules require a towel, or in the infrared cabin as an extra towel for your feet. In the Finnish sauna a seat towel alone is usually not enough, because your seat and feet should both be on the towel there. A good small towel is, for example, the Mini hammam towel Diamant at approx. 90 × 45 cm.
Sauna towel: the umbrella term
“Sauna towel” is the collective term for all large towels you take to the sauna. A good sauna towel can usually do both: serve as a lounger towel on the bench and wrap you up on the way to the shower. Two shapes are common:
- Long and narrow (around 80 × 200 cm): ideal for lying, a little tight in width for wrapping up.
- Wider and slightly shorter (180 × 100 cm): good for wrapping up and sitting, long enough for lying for most people.
One example of the dense, heavy type is the DOTWAVE sauna towel XL at 175 × 90 cm and approx. 900–950 g of 100 % cotton. Flat-woven hammam towels such as the Ocean hammam towel at 180 × 100 cm are the light alternative.
Sauna kilt, hammam towel and bath towel
Sauna kilt
A sauna kilt is a towel to wrap around you with Velcro, a button or elastic. It stays in place without a knot and is mainly worn on the way between cabin, shower and relaxation room. It is usually too short to lie on.
Hammam towel
The hammam towel, also called peshtemal, comes from the Turkish bath. It is flat-woven, light and dries quickly. In the sauna it can be a sauna towel, lounger towel or wrap depending on its size. In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 30 minutes in the sun and about 60 minutes indoors.
Bath towel
A bath towel is meant for drying off. It is often too short for the sauna bench, but just right as a second towel after the shower.
Which towel do you need for what?
Two to three towels are enough for a normal sauna day. This is how to divide the tasks sensibly:
- Cabin: a large sauna towel or lounger towel on which you lie or sit completely.
- Relaxation room: a lounger towel for the lounger – with a pocket if it shouldn't slip.
- After the shower: a bath towel or light hammam towel for drying off.
- Walking around: sauna kilt, wrapped towel or bathrobe.
If you want to combine towels, the Hammam towel set Single contains two Ocean towels (180 × 100 cm) and one StayOn (200 × 70 cm) for the lounger in one package.
What to look for in a lounger towel
- Length before width: the towel should be at least as long as you are tall so that your feet rest on fabric.
- Grip on the lounger: a pocket for the backrest prevents slipping and mix-ups.
- Weight: heavy terry towels are cosy but bulky. Flat-woven towels save space in your bag.
- Care: check the care instructions. Our hammam towels are washed at 30 °C without fabric softener.
Common misunderstandings when buying
- “XXL” doesn't mean the same everywhere: some retailers already call 80 × 200 cm XXL, others mean beach blankets such as our Coastline XXL beach towel at 240 × 200 cm. So always check the centimetre measurements.
- A bath towel is not a sauna towel: a bath towel measuring 70 × 140 cm looks big but is usually too short for the sauna bench.
- Weight reveals density: a heavy towel feels voluminous but needs more space and takes longer to dry. Light, flat-woven towels are more compact.
- Sizes with or without fringes: with fringed towels it is worth checking whether the length is given with or without fringes.
Related reading: Hammam towel for the lounger: how the Ocean StayOn works · Hammam towel size: all formats from mini to XXL · Hammam towel or sauna towel? The differences and which towel suits you
Conclusion
Sauna towel is the umbrella term; lounger towel and seat towel describe the purpose: on a lounger towel you lie from head to toe, a seat towel only covers the seat. Sauna kilt, hammam towel and bath towel complete the set for walking around and drying off. For every towel that ends up on the bench or lounger, length is what matters most. If you want peace from slipping towels in the relaxation room, choose a lounger towel with a pocket.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sauna towel and a lounger towel?
Sauna towel is the umbrella term for large towels in the sauna. A lounger towel is specifically meant for lying on and is therefore above all long. Many sauna towels can also be used for lying on.
How long should a lounger towel be?
At least as long as your height, so that your feet also rest on the towel. Lengths of around 200 cm are common in the trade.
Do I need my own lounger towel in the relaxation room?
In many saunas, yes. The loungers in the relaxation room should not come into direct contact with skin. A separate lounger towel also stays dry while your cabin towel is damp.
Is a hammam towel a lounger towel?
It can be. A hammam towel measuring 180 × 100 cm is long enough for most people to lie on. The StayOn at 200 × 70 cm is made specifically for the lounger.
What is a seat towel?
A small towel that only covers the seat. It is used, for example, in the steam room or as a foot towel in the infrared cabin.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.