There are a lot of choices when it comes to towels, but it's easy to get confused by all the options on the market. Do you want cotton towels or microfiber? Both have their pros and cons, so let’s take a look at each type to help you decide which one is right for your needs.

Cotton towels are the most popular

Cotton towels are the most popular towel material. They're soft and absorbent, with a super-fast drying time that helps you feel dry even after a long shower. Cotton towels are also a good choice for people with sensitive skin, as they're hypoallergenic and can be easily washed without aggravating allergies.

Think of cotton as the all-purpose fabric: It's versatile enough to work well in any setting—from luxury spas to dorm rooms—and it's available in different thicknesses depending on your needs.

You'll have a lot of options with cotton towels.

You'll have a lot of options with cotton towels. They come in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns. Cotton fabric can be thick or thin, soft or scratchy, absorbent or not very absorbent. Cotton is also more breathable than microfiber and will dry quicker after use.

When choosing a towel for your home, consider how you’ll be using it and what your family needs from their bath towels. If you want something to dry off quickly after getting out of the shower rather than just lying around until it dries naturally, opt for a quick-drying towel like our 100% Cotton Quick-Dry Bath Towel! This choice will help prevent mildew build up so your bathroom stays fresh longer—and that's good news for everyone who uses it!

Pro: Cotton towels are direct, absorbent and soft.

Cotton is a soft fiber that absorbs water quickly and easily. The fabric is also less irritating than a microfiber towel because it's more breathable and doesn't cause dry skin. This means you can use the same towel for multiple uses without feeling like your skin is being irritated by the fabric. Cotton towels are easy to find in stores, making them more readily available than microfibers, which can be difficult to find in brick-and-mortar shops. They're also less expensive up front; however, they do require more frequent washing due to their absorbency rate compared with microfiber.

Con: They take longer to dry than their microfiber counterparts.

If you’re looking for an absorbent towel that will dry quickly, microfiber is the way to go. Microfiber towels also have the added benefit of being lighter and more compact than cotton. This means they can be folded up and tucked away in a side pocket or rolled up into a tube shape—no more bulky towels hanging out in your bathroom!

And while we're on the topic of drying efficiency: cotton takes far longer to dry than microfiber (which can double as a hand towel after washing) because it holds water in its fibers until they are thoroughly saturated, whereas microfiber wicks moisture away from the body immediately after use. However, if you prefer not having your towels weighing down your bag when travelling or if you don't want to run through multiple loads at home every week (and risk damaging your machine), then going with all-cotton may be best for you!

Why you might choose cotton towels instead of microfiber.

If you’re looking for a luxurious, long-lasting towel that can handle any temperature and is easy to clean, cotton might be right for you. Cotton towels are more durable than microfiber, so they can withstand repeated use at high temperatures without wearing out or pilling. They’re also less slippery than microfibers—which means they won’t snag your skin if you use them in the shower! For people with sensitive skin or those who want to avoid any possible irritation from synthetics (like me), cotton towels may be the better choice.

If these qualities sound important to you but durability isn't quite as much of an issue for whatever reason (i.e., if you're only going to use your towel once per week), then maybe consider purchasing both cotton and microfiber towels so that there's no need to constantly switch out fabrics when washing day rolls around.

Microfiber is a newer fiber, first patented in the '90s.

Microfiber is a newer fiber, first patented in the '90s. It's made from polyester and polyamide (the same stuff that makes up nylons) and has been used to make things like car filters and industrial rags. The fabric is created by spinning microfibers together, which gives it its name—it's less than one-thousandth of an inch thick! Microfiber is more absorbent than cotton, meaning it can hold more moisture without feeling wet or heavy, but it also dries faster so you don't have to worry about your too-wet bed sheets stinking up your bedroom. It's also more durable than cotton because those tiny fibers lock together when they're spun into yarns—so even if part of the sheet gets worn down or torn off after years of use, there are still plenty holding everything together!

Why you might choose microfiber towels instead of cotton ones.

Microfiber towels are more absorbent than cotton. Cotton is highly absorbent, but it’s not as durable as microfiber. If you want to save money by using fewer towels or washcloths, go with microfiber!

They dry faster than cotton. Cotton takes longer to dry than microfiber because of its higher moisture retention capacity. Microfibers, on the other hand, are more efficient at absorbing water and can be left out to dry almost immediately after washing them in the machine (so long as you don’t put them in the dryer).

There are pros and cons to both types of towel.

There are pros and cons to both types of towel. Microfiber towels are more absorbent and are great for the gym or pool. They do, however, take longer to dry than cotton towels. Cotton is softer on your skin than microfiber and dries faster.

If you're using a towel at home or at the beach, I'd recommend cotton as they're easier on your skin and won't leave that scratchy feeling when drying off after a shower/bathroom break!

We hope this guide has helped you make an informed decision about which towel to buy. If you still don’t know which one to choose, it really comes down to your personal preference. Microfiber is more popular because they are lightweight and absorbent, but if you prefer cotton materials then that would be something more luxurious and worth considering as well!