Towel Sizes: Washcloth, Hand, Bath, Bath Sheet and Beach Towel Dimensions
Towel sizes in inches and centimeters, from washcloths to oversized beach towels, with the European sizes that labels use, what GSM means for weight and feel, and how towels fold onto bars, shelves and warmers.
A standard bath towel measures 27 × 52 in (69 × 132 cm), and larger ones run to 30 × 56 in (76 × 142 cm). A bath sheet is about 35 × 60 in (89 × 152 cm), a hand towel 16 × 30 in (41 × 76 cm) and a washcloth 13 × 13 in (33 × 33 cm). Sizes vary by an inch or two between brands.
- Bath towel
- 27 × 52 in
- Bath sheet
- 35 × 60 in
- Hand towel
- 16 × 30 in
- Washcloth
- 13 × 13 in
On this page
Towel size chart in inches and cm
Towels are not standardized by any formal body, so each name covers a range. The middle column is the size you will find most often in US stores; the range shows what brands sell under the same name.
| Towel | Most common (in) | Most common (cm) | Typical range (in) | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washcloth (face cloth) | 13 × 13 | 33 × 33 | 12 × 12 to 14 × 14 | Washing face and body |
| Fingertip (guest) towel | 11 × 18 | 28 × 46 | 11 × 18 to 14 × 22 | Guest bathrooms, decorative |
| Hand towel | 16 × 30 | 41 × 76 | 16 × 26 to 18 × 32 | Drying hands at the sink |
| Kitchen / tea towel | 18 × 28 | 46 × 71 | 16 × 26 to 20 × 30 | Dishes, hands |
| Bath towel | 27 × 52 | 69 × 132 | 25 × 50 to 30 × 58 | Drying after a shower |
| Bath sheet | 35 × 60 | 89 × 152 | 33 × 60 to 40 × 70 | Full wrap, taller people |
| Beach towel | 30 × 60 | 76 × 152 | 30 × 60 to 36 × 72 | Lying on sand or a lounger |
| Oversized beach towel | 40 × 70 | 102 × 178 | 36 × 70 to 40 × 72 | Two people or a large lounger |
| Hooded baby towel | 30 × 30 | 76 × 76 | 25 × 25 to 36 × 36 | Infants and toddlers |
European and metric towel sizes
Towels made for the UK, EU and much of Asia are sold in round centimeter sizes. They do not line up exactly with US sizes: the European hand towel is larger, and the European bath towel is slightly longer and narrower.
| Name on the label | Centimeters | Inches | Closest US size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face cloth | 30 × 30 | 11.8 × 11.8 | Washcloth |
| Guest towel | 30 × 50 | 11.8 × 19.7 | Fingertip towel |
| Hand towel | 50 × 100 | 19.7 × 39.4 | Between hand towel and bath towel |
| Tea towel | 50 × 70 | 19.7 × 27.6 | Kitchen towel |
| Bath towel | 70 × 140 | 27.6 × 55.1 | Bath towel |
| Bath sheet | 80 × 160 | 31.5 × 63 | Small bath sheet |
| Large bath sheet | 100 × 150 | 39.4 × 59.1 | Bath sheet |
| Beach / sauna towel | 100 × 180 | 39.4 × 70.9 | Oversized beach towel |
Turkish towels (peshtemals) are flat-woven rather than looped, and the usual size is about 100 × 180 cm (39 × 71 in). They are thinner than terry towels, so they fold small for travel and work as beach towels, sauna towels or throws.
Bath towel vs bath sheet
The difference is area. A 35 × 60 in bath sheet has 2,100 sq in of fabric, 50% more than a 27 × 52 in bath towel at 1,404 sq in. That extra width is what lets a bath sheet wrap around an adult body and tuck in.
Bath sheet suits
- Tall adults, or anyone who wants to wrap the towel around the body and tuck it in
- Use as a sauna or lounger cover
- Fewer towels on the hook
Watch out for
- About 50% more weight in the wash and longer drying time
- Needs a 24 in or wider bar to hang folded once
- Takes more shelf space: about 12 × 20 in folded in thirds both ways
If a bath towel feels too small but a bath sheet is too bulky, look for the 30 × 56 in (76 × 142 cm) or 30 × 58 in (76 × 147 cm) "large bath towel" sizes several brands sell.
Towel GSM: weight and thickness
GSM (grams per square meter) is the fabric weight. It is the most useful number on a towel label after the size, because it tells you how thick, absorbent and slow to dry the towel will be.
| GSM | Feel | Typical towels | 27 × 52 in bath towel weighs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300-400 | Thin, light, fast drying | Beach, gym, kitchen, Turkish | 270-360 g (0.6-0.8 lb) |
| 400-600 | Medium, everyday | Most bath and hand towels | 360-540 g (0.8-1.2 lb) |
| 600-900 | Thick, plush, slow drying | Hotel and spa towels, bath sheets | 540-815 g (1.2-1.8 lb) |
To work out a towel's weight, multiply its area in square meters by the GSM. A 27 × 52 in towel is 0.906 m², so at 500 GSM it weighs 453 g (1.0 lb). A 35 × 60 in bath sheet at 600 GSM is 1.355 m² and weighs 813 g (1.8 lb). Heavier is not always better: in humid bathrooms without a window, towels above 700 GSM can stay damp between showers.
How towels fit on bars, hooks and shelves
Most towel storage problems come from a mismatch between the folded width of the towel and the bar or shelf it goes on.
| Towel | Folded in half lengthwise | Folded in thirds lengthwise | Shelf-folded (thirds, then thirds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand towel 16 × 30 in | 8 in wide | 5.3 in wide | 5.3 × 10 in |
| Bath towel 27 × 52 in | 13.5 in wide | 9 in wide | 9 × 17.3 in |
| Bath sheet 35 × 60 in | 17.5 in wide | 11.7 in wide | 11.7 × 20 in |
| Beach towel 30 × 60 in | 15 in wide | 10 in wide | 10 × 20 in |
- Towel bars come in 18, 24, 30 and 36 in lengths. An 18 in bar takes one bath towel folded in half; a 24 in bar takes a bath sheet the same way; a 30 in bar fits two bath towels folded in thirds side by side.
- Bar height: a bar at 48 in (122 cm) lets a bath towel folded over it hang 26 in, leaving its hem 22 in (56 cm) above the floor. A bath sheet hung the same way stops 18 in (46 cm) up, so it clears a bath mat.
- Linen shelves 12 in (30 cm) deep hold bath towels folded in thirds; bath sheets want 14-16 in (36-41 cm).
- Heated rails: a 20-24 in (51-61 cm) wide towel warmer takes one bath towel per bar folded in half.
How many towels you need, and laundry loads
A common household allowance is two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths per person, so one set is in use while the other is in the wash. Add one or two beach towels per person if you swim regularly.
Towels are heavy when wet and bulky when dry, which limits how many go in one load. At 500-600 GSM, a dry bath towel weighs about 1.0-1.2 lb (0.45-0.55 kg), so eight bath towels add up to roughly 8-10 lb (3.6-4.5 kg) of dry laundry, which suits a typical front-loader. For hamper and basket sizes that hold a week of towels, see the laundry basket size guide.
Cotton terry can shrink by a few percent in length after the first hot wash and tumble dry. A 52 in bath towel may lose 1-2 in. Buy the larger size in a range if you are close to the limit for a bar or a beach lounger.
Towels for the beach, pool and gym
- Beach lounger: most loungers are 24-30 in (61-76 cm) wide and 72-80 in (183-203 cm) long, so a 30 × 60 in towel covers the seat and back but not the leg rest. A 36 × 72 in or 40 × 70 in towel covers the full length. For chair sizes, see beach chair dimensions.
- Sand towels: 60 × 70 in (152 × 178 cm) or larger "beach blankets" seat two to four people; for a lightweight cover of that size, compare blanket sizes.
- Gym and sweat towels: 16 × 30 in hand-towel size, often lighter (300-400 GSM) to fit a bag.
- Sauna towels: a bath sheet or 100 × 180 cm towel covers a full sauna bench length for one person to sit or lie on.
Frequently asked questions
What is an 80 × 160 cm towel in inches?
80 × 160 cm is 31.5 × 63 in. That is a bath sheet: wider than a standard 27 × 52 in bath towel and close to the 35 × 60 in US bath sheet. In European ranges it sits between the 70 × 140 cm bath towel and the 100 × 150 cm bath sheet.
What are the measurements of a bath sheet?
A bath sheet is usually 35 × 60 in (89 × 152 cm), with larger versions up to 40 × 70 in (102 × 178 cm). European bath sheets are typically 100 × 150 cm or 90 × 160 cm (39.4 × 59.1 in or 35.4 × 63 in).
Is a beach towel bigger than a bath towel?
Yes, in length. A standard beach towel is 30 × 60 in (76 × 152 cm), about 8 in longer than a 27 × 52 in bath towel. Beach towels are usually thinner (300-450 GSM) so they dry faster and pack smaller.
How big is a hand towel?
A typical hand towel is 16 × 30 in (41 × 76 cm). Sizes from 16 × 26 in to 18 × 32 in are common. In Europe the standard hand towel is 50 × 100 cm (19.7 × 39.4 in), which is larger than the US version.
What size is a kitchen or tea towel?
Kitchen towels and tea towels are usually 18 × 28 in (46 × 71 cm) or 20 × 30 in (51 × 76 cm). In Europe and the UK, 50 × 70 cm (19.7 × 27.6 in) is the common size.