Overview of towel sizes

Terry cloth items come in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Most towel users have various sizes at home and use the different towels for specific purposes: small ones for drying hands, a medium size for guests or drying hair after a shower, and larger towels for drying the body after a bath or shower. There may even be extra-large beach towels that are only used on vacation.

In Germany, towel sizes are quite consistent across manufacturers, with only slight variations in dimensions. In other countries, however, completely different sizes may be used—often because different units of measurement are applied, such as inches and feet in the United States.

Typically, the following types of terry cloth items are distinguished:

· Hand towel
· Bath towel
· Beach towel
· Guest towel
· Shower towel
· Sauna towel
· Washcloth (face cloth)
· Wash mitt

The product name indicates what the towel is best suited for—of course, everyone can decide for themselves whether to use a bath towel after showering or to offer guests a “full-sized” towel when they visit.

Hand towel (50 x 100 cm & 60 x 110 cm)

Classic hand towels measure 50x100 cm and are ideal for drying hands, face, and skin. They are handy and compact, but somewhat too small for drying the whole body after a shower—even though high-quality ones are very absorbent.

Bath towel (100 x 160 cm)

Bath towels are larger than hand towels, allowing you to wrap your body after a bath. Thanks to their size, bath towels are also perfect for use on a sun lounger and are ideal for a day at the pool or the sea.

Beach towel (80 x 180 cm)

At a length of 180 cm, a beach towel allows most people to lie down fully. At the very least, it is comfortable for sitting without sand getting everywhere. Beach towels are not as wide as bath towels and are therefore better suited for warm days when you want to sunbathe without being fully wrapped. They are also often offered in bright colors and with many patterns.

Guest towel (30 x 50 cm)

Small towels for drying hands do not need to absorb as much water as shower towels, and guests usually stay only briefly. Due to their compact size, they fit well in small spaces and dry quickly. Guest towels are mainly used in guest bathrooms or guest toilets, especially when guests should not use the same towel as household members.

Shower towel (80 x 150 cm)

After a shower, a 80x150 cm shower towel offers plenty of space. Because it is larger than a classic hand towel, it can absorb more water. It is suitable not only for drying the body, but also for wrapping and drying long hair.

Sauna towel (80 x 200 cm)

In the sauna, you sit on the towel or wrap it around your body. With a size of 80x200 cm, a sauna towel offers plenty of space. Since it is narrower than a bath towel, it fits well on sauna benches and protects them from sweat.

Washcloth (30 x 30 cm)

Square washcloths measuring 30x30 cm are the smallest of the classic towels and are particularly suitable—as the name suggests—for soaping up or gently washing and massaging the face. Washcloths can also be used as guest towels if both types are not available in a household.

Wash mitt (20 x 15 cm)

A wash mitt is not a flat towel but—like the name suggests—a glove-like item that you put your hand into to soap up or wash yourself. Some people find this more practical than a washcloth.

How many towels does a household need?

To be fair: with the wide range of towels and sometimes similar sizes, it is not necessary to have every type in multiple copies for all household members. Instead, you should choose the sizes that best suit your needs: If you do not go to the sauna and only rarely go to the pool, lake, or sea, one bath towel, sauna towel, or beach towel is often enough. Whether you use a washcloth or a wash mitt is often a matter of preference—you do not necessarily need both.

Classic hand towels as well as shower or bath towels (depending on your personal size and preference after showering and bathing) are very useful, however, and should be available in at least two per person and washed regularly.