Pretty and Functional! These Are the Only Beach Towels You Need This Summer

Whether you consider yourself a beach bum or just love hanging out at the pool, there is no way you can escape the need for a beach towel in summer — it’s about as essential as sunscreen, cool shades, and a cute tote bag. But if heavy usage and chlorine from summers past have your beach towel looking more like a dingy rag, we’ve got a slew of them that are sure to provide just the summer refresh you need. 

When it comes to shopping for beach towels, there are so many options to choose from it can get kind of overwhelming. In scouring the market, our criteria came down to three things: excellent absorbency, durability, and the fun factor, because who wants to head to the beach with a boring old towel that looks like it came from the bathroom closet? We’ve included towels at various price points and for different needs (towels for singles, towels for doubles, towels for kids, for example) and incorporated multiple styles (think Turkish towels and my personal favorite, velour).

Nothing says summer like lobsters and terry cloth! This plush and generously-sized towel from L.L. Bean is yarn-dyed to resist fading and is sure to be a family favorite.  

Leave it to Anthropologie to devise towels you’ll want to use as a throw. And it’s blanket-sized to boot! Constructed of durable cotton.

This round tasseled towel from the super fun Los Angeles brand ban.do will be a teen and tween favorite. Made of absorbent cotton with a smooth finish. 

If you love Pendleton’s wool blankets (and who doesn't?), well, here you go. This oversized towel-for-two features the brand’s irresistible Aztec patterns. 

This cotton beach towel from Target’s Opalhouse line features a fun minnow pattern, and the lightweight construction offers a comfy surface for lounging.  

Brooklinen’s Hammam towel is hands-down the best Turkish towel on the market. Made with Turkish cotton, it features a smooth decorative weave on the front and a super absorbent terry cloth backing.  

This super cute seashell beach towel comes with its own zip pouch and is sure to be a favorite of the mermaid set.  

Wayfair provides a summer basic in a handsome cabana stripe. One side has absorbent terry loops, and the other has soft sheared velour; ideal for drying and then for lounging. 

Show your style bonafides with this chic bamboo-patterned towel in ultra-trendy chartreuse. Made of high-quality Turkish cotton.  

This four-pack beach towel set is an Amazon favorite and comes in an assortment of family-friendly colors. And, well, they’re velour so what are you waiting for?