How Many Sauna Towels Do You Need? For the Sauna Day and the Household
How many sauna towels do you really need – one, two or a whole pile? The answer depends on two questions: how does your sauna day go, and how often do you go to the sauna? In this guide you get clear rules of thumb for your sauna bag and your linen cupboard – for singles, couples and families, with tables for quick reference.
Contents10
- The short answer
- How many sauna towels per sauna day?
- How many sauna towels in the cupboard? The rule of thumb
- Calculating for couples and families
- Which towel for which task?
- Fewer towels thanks to quick drying
- A bathrobe instead of a third towel?
- Washing rhythm and storage
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
The short answer
- Per sauna day: at least two sauna towels, three is comfortable.
- Per person in the cupboard: two to six sauna towels depending on frequency.
- You need fewer towels if they dry quickly and you take longer breaks between sessions.
How many sauna towels per sauna day?
On a sauna day your towels take on three different tasks. If you keep them clearly separate, you never sit on a wet towel and never dry yourself with a sweaty one:
- Cabin towel: it lies under you in the sauna and absorbs sweat. After a few sessions it is damp.
- Drying towel: after cooling down in the shower or plunge pool you want a dry towel – not the one from the cabin.
- Lounger towel for the relaxation room: many facilities require a towel on the lounger. Alternatively, a bathrobe partly takes over this role.
So how many sauna towels you pack depends on how long your visit is and which areas you use:
| Type of visit | Towels | Split |
|---|---|---|
| Short visit, 1–2 sessions | 2 | cabin + drying off |
| Sauna evening with relaxation room | 3, or 2 + bathrobe | cabin + drying off + lounger |
| Whole sauna day | 3–4 + bathrobe | plus a spare towel for the second half of the day |
| Sauna and steam room | 3–4 | a separate towel for the steam room, because it gets damp there |
| Gym sauna | 2 + training towel | cabin + drying off, training towel kept separate |
Is one towel enough?
For a short visit, at a push, yes. But it is not pleasant: after the sauna session the towel is damp, and you dry yourself with the towel you have just been sweating on. Even a second, light towel makes a big difference.
How many sauna towels in the cupboard? The rule of thumb
A used sauna towel goes into the wash after the sauna day. So that you don't have to wait for the washing machine before your next visit, you need a second set in the cupboard. Our rule of thumb per person:
| How often do you go to the sauna? | Sauna towels per person | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| a few times a year | 2 | everything is washed by the next visit |
| about once a month | 2–3 | a spare towel for longer sauna days |
| every week | 4 | one set in the wash, one set in the cupboard |
| several times a week | 4–6 | depending on your washing rhythm |
These figures assume two towels per visit. If you use your own lounger towel in the relaxation room, add one towel per set.
Calculating for couples and families
In a household, simply multiply the rule of thumb by the number of sauna-goers. Two examples:
- Couple, weekly: 2 people × 4 sauna towels = 8 towels. Plus a bathrobe each.
- Family with two children, monthly: 4 people × 2–3 sauna towels = 8–12 towels. Smaller formats are often enough for children.
Handy for couples and families: each person gets their own colour. That way there are no mix-ups either in the sauna or in the linen cupboard. A good starting point is the Hammam towel set Couple with four Ocean towels (180 × 100 cm) and two StayOn (200 × 70 cm) for the lounger – for €169.90 instead of €209.40 individually. For one person there is the Hammam towel set Single with two Ocean towels and one StayOn.
Which towel for which task?
Not every towel needs to be the same size. Dividing up the tasks saves space and money:
- Cabin: a large towel of about 180 × 100 cm or longer, so that your feet also rest on it. If you are tall, choose a longer format.
- Drying off: a light, quick-drying towel. It can be a little smaller.
- Relaxation room: a lounger towel that stays on the lounger. The Ocean StayOn hammam towel (200 × 70 cm) has a pocket for the backrest and doesn't slip.
- Spare: a small towel for face, hair or feet, such as a Mini hammam towel measuring approx. 90 × 45 cm.
Example: starter kit for regular sauna-goers
You go to the sauna every week and are starting from scratch? Then these towels are a solid start: two large towels for the cabin, two light ones for drying off and one lounger towel for the relaxation room. That way you can pack a fresh set every week while the other is in the wash. Simply wash the lounger towel together with the set you used and dry it before your next visit.
Fewer towels thanks to quick drying
How many sauna towels you need also depends on how quickly they dry. A thick terry towel stays damp for a long time after a sauna session. In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a flat-woven hammam towel dries in about 30 minutes in the sun and about 60 minutes indoors. If you take a longer break between sessions, you can hang the drying towel up spread out and use it again later.
A second advantage of light towels: they take up little space. Two towels such as the Ocean hammam towel at approx. 400 g each together weigh less than a single heavy sauna towel such as the DOTWAVE XL at approx. 900–950 g.
A bathrobe instead of a third towel?
A bathrobe replaces a towel in the relaxation room and when walking around – but not the cabin towel. In the sauna itself you always sit or lie on a towel. If you bring a light bathrobe such as the Trimita Barok bathrobe made of cotton, two sauna towels are enough for a sauna evening. In the relaxation room you then put one of the two on the lounger.
Washing rhythm and storage
- Wash after every sauna day: the cabin towel has absorbed sweat and should not end up damp in the cupboard.
- Dry first, then into the wash: a wet towel in the laundry basket quickly smells musty. Hang it up until you wash.
- Follow the care instructions: our hammam towels are washed at 30 °C without fabric softener.
- Store separately: keep sauna towels on their own shelf – then you won't grab a bath towel when packing.
Related reading: Packing a sauna bag: the checklist for your sauna visit · A whole sauna day: how to plan your schedule, meals and breaks · Changing Towels: How Often? Guidelines for Every Towel
Conclusion
Per sauna day you need at least two sauna towels – one for the cabin, one for drying off. With a third towel or a bathrobe you are also well equipped in the relaxation room. For the cupboard, depending on frequency: two to six sauna towels per person. Light, quick-drying hammam towels save space in your bag and cupboard, and a separate colour for each person prevents mix-ups.
Frequently asked questions
How many sauna towels do I need for a sauna day?
At least two: one for the cabin and one for drying off. With a relaxation room where towels are required on the loungers, three – or two plus a bathrobe – are more comfortable.
Can I use a sauna towel several times before washing it?
We recommend washing the cabin towel after every sauna day. It has absorbed sweat and should not lie damp in the cupboard.
How many sauna towels does a couple need?
For weekly sauna visits about eight – four per person. That way there is always a fresh set in the cupboard while the other is being washed.
Does a bathrobe replace a sauna towel?
In the relaxation room and when walking around, yes; in the cabin, no. There you always lie or sit completely on a towel.
What size should the towels be?
For the cabin about 180 × 100 cm or longer, so that your feet also rest on the towel. A smaller towel is fine for drying off.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.