There's a quiet frustration every beach lover knows: the towel that comes home heavier than it left. The one that holds half the shoreline in its fibers, takes up your entire tote, and is still damp by the time you're loading the car. We designed Banner Beach towels to end exactly that.
If you're searching for the best beach towel for summer, here's what actually matters once you're on the sand — and why our customers don't go back to the thick, bulky towels they grew up with.
What makes a beach towel actually good?
Most "luxury" beach towels are sold on thickness. But thickness is the very thing that makes a towel slow to dry, heavy to carry, and impossible to shake clean. The best beach towels do the opposite. Look for four things:
1. A sand-resistant weave. Our Banner towel features a smooth peshtemal weave on one side that releases sand with a single shake — no more dragging the beach into your back seat. Flip it over and you get plush terry. Both sides are absorbent and soft. One towel, two surfaces, zero compromise.
2. Lightweight and packable. A great beach towel should fold flat and disappear into your bag. Ours are thin by design, so they take up less room in your tote and less room on your linen shelf at home.
3. Quick-drying. Because our towels are woven from 100% organic Turkish cotton, they dry up to 25% faster than traditional terry and let you fit over 10 towels in a single wash. Less laundry bulk, less mildew, more time in the sun.
4. Materials you can trust. Every Banner towel is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified, meaning the dyes are completely toxin-free — tested against more than 1,000 harmful substances. Soft on your skin, kinder to the planet.
Our most-loved towels for summer
If you're building your warm-weather rotation, start here:
- The Carolina Gingham Beach Towel — a timeless check that photographs beautifully and pairs with everything. ($49.95)
- The Carlsbad Stripe Beach Towel — a clean coastal stripe that feels both classic and current. ($45.95)
- The Amalfi Beach Towel — sun-warmed color for the days you want a little glamour. ($45.95)
Prefer to see everything in one place? Shop all 25 designs here »
The little upgrade that changes every beach day
A beach towel is one of those purchases you only think about once a year — and then use constantly. Choosing one that's lighter, cleaner, faster-drying, and more beautiful isn't a splurge; it's the difference between a day at the beach and a day fighting the beach.
Free shipping on U.S. orders over $150.