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As a 5-star Airbnb superhost, you need to anticipate your guest’s needs well in advance, and one of the most frequently searched questions by first-time guests is… Do Airbnbs Have Towels? Today, I want to dedicate an entire post to talking about Airbnb towels. I will discuss which ones to purchase, how many to provide, and what you need to communicate with guests before and during their stay to avoid any unexpected surprises!
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Airbnb Towels
By the time we bought and set up our third vacation rental in Seacrest Beach, Florida, I had found a combination of bedding (read that post here) and towels that worked well for us. And now that we own four, it’s a well-oiled machine!
There’s a lot to think about before purchasing towels for your vacation rentals, so I want to chat a little (or a lot) about what to consider. Then, I will share exactly what we use – with links! If you don’t have time to read this entire post, I have my favorite towels linked in this section of my Amazon storefront!
And while we host exclusively on Airbnb (you can read why here), this post applies to any vacation rental!
Should you provide towels in your vacation rental?
I am going to say YES.
Maybe 5+ years ago, some Airbnbs didn’t provide them. There will always be primitive-style rentals that do not. Still, if you are hosting guests and providing a bed and a bathroom, you must provide bedding and towels.
When you host vacationers in a condo or resort-style environment, most guests expect an experience similar to what they would have in a hotel. There are differences, especially regarding check-in and daily housekeeping, but what you provide inside your rental should be on par with what they would expect at a hotel – coffee maker, a clean and well-made bed, towels, etc.
How many towels should you have in your Airbnb?
This answer will vary because there is no one standard. It would help if you thought about how long your average length of stay is and also whether or not your place has a washer and dryer inside.
Since we have a studio and one-bedroom condos, we almost exclusively host couples or small families for an average of 3.5 nights. None of our units have washers and dryers, but we have common ones that guests can use.
I will say that you need to set a standard and stick with it. It is a lot of extra work to have housekeepers put out a different number of towels each turn to reflect the number of guests with each booking. It’s always better to have too many (enough for your maximum occupancy) than to skimp.
All four of our Airbnb rentals allow for a maximum of 2 adults and up to 2 small children, but a majority of our guests are couples.
So, I would recommend that you have:
Bath Towels – 2 per adult guest + 2 extra (we provide 6 in each unit)
Hand Towels – 1 hanging by each sink + an extra in the cabinet (we have 2 hanging + 2 extra)
Wash Cloths – 1 per adult guest out, an extra each in the cabinet (we leave 2 out, 2 in cabinet)
Pool Towels – 1 per guest (we provide 4)
How to choose the best Airbnb towels
If you are like me, you probably think, isn’t a towel just a towel?
I wish it were as simple as just picking out a cheap and basic towel, but there is a little more to it, and exploring your guest needs in advance will better prepare you in the long run.
Important Things to Consider When Buying Vacation Rental Towels
So, here are some things to think through before grabbing the first thing you see at Homegoods or Target!
Consult Your Cleaners
This is crucial! Your first order of business should be a chat with your cleaning company.
Why? Because if they also wash your towels, they will know precisely what works best for them. My cleaners, in particular, want everything white.
Scary right? We all know that white is not very forgiving, but it is easier to bleach. They also have to dry the towels; we all know that thick towels can take a long time to dry. So, ask them before you start looking or placing that order.
Are Your Towels Easy To Replace?
You will be replacing your Airbnb towels more often than you think. So, before grabbing those two cute sets at Homegoods, ask yourself if you can easily buy more. The answer at most places like that is no. That is why I recommend sticking with a major retailer like Amazon, Target, or Bed Bath & Beyond for your Airbnb towels.
Airbnb Towel Size
Nobody likes a towel that doesn’t fully cover their body. Bath towels range from 20″ x 50″ to 40″ x 58″ and everywhere in between, so make sure that your Airbnb towels are at least large enough to wrap around an adult human.
The Airbnb towels that I love and will share later are 30″ by 54″ and work out great for us!
How Quickly Do Your Towels Dry?
I am not just talking about the dryer here. Since most vacation rentals don’t have a daily towel service, most guests will be reusing towels, and they will hang to dry between uses. While big, thick, plush towels are tempting, will they dry in 12-24 hours while hanging in a bathroom? Most likely not.
Look for towels labeled as QuickDry when shopping! Most will have a waffled-style look. Another good thing about choosing these over the big plush ones is that they don’t usually get as pilly or transfer cotton as often.
Make Sure Your Towels Are Absorbent
There is a perfect balance when your towels are soft, lightweight, and absorbent. You should read reviews about absorbency or purchase one and try it out yourself.
It would be best if you ALWAYS tried everything within your Airbnb before hosting guests. We stay in our condos often, so we have really been able to make sure that WE are also happy with our own begging and towels while staying there.
Choose Towels That Wash Well
This is often trial and error. So read reviews and wash/dry them a few times yourself first. Whenever I buy additional bedding or towels for our rentals, I wash and dry them at home first so that they are ready to go!
Does Your Rental Have a Washer and Dryer?
In the next section, we talk about white vs. color towels, and I think having a washer and dryer in your unit is important. If guests are washing their own towels, you may actually find that colored ones work better because they may not always wash those whites as well as the cleaners. Just something to take into consideration!
Durable Expensive Towels vs. Less Durable Inexpensive Towels
I could probably write a whole post about this and talk about it when I shared my favorite bedding for Airbnb properties. When buying for your own home, the nicer, long-lasting towels are better. Still, when buying towels for Airbnb rentals, I choose the less expensive and less durable ones.
Why? Staining is much more of an issue than wear and tear for me. Our cleaners can get most stains out, but it’s a losing battle once the self-tanning spray gets a hold of our white towels. Our towels never wear out, but they do have to be pulled out of circulation often due to stains. I usually bring more every time I go and restock the cleaner’s closets, taking any with light stains home to donate to the local animal shelter. It’s much nicer to replace an $8-$15 towel than a $20-$30 towel.
That is a lot to think about.
No two Airbnb rentals are the same, and guest (and host) needs are different, but I hope that gives you a little extra insight into what goes through my mind when buying towels. I do want to weigh in on one more topic before sharing the towels that we use. It’s the most debated topic when it comes to both bedding and towels for vacation rentals.
Should You Buy White or Color Towels for Your Airbnb?
While we do all white, there are a few reasons to think about doing colors.
Some hosts (especially the ones with larger vacation homes) like to make each room its own color. It helps them inventory and differentiate the rooms and spaces when photographing their place.
Other hosts don’t use a cleaning company that offers laundry service. If you are hosting guests in your own home, you might find colored towels more forgiving in the long run. Keeping the white towels clean is harder, and they have to be replaced more often than colored towels.
I think the white towels provide more of a hotel-like experience, and I find that guests like that crisp and clean feel. However, suppose you or your cleaning company can not stay on top of them. In that case, it provides an opportunity to let quality slip, as they are not forgiving.
So, think of your own needs as a host and choose the option that allows YOU to provide the best experience for your guests!
My Favorite Airbnb Towels
So, now let me share my personal favorites! And just like our Airbnb bedding, we have gotten compliments on our towels!
Also, I keep all of my favorite towels in my Amazon storefront; click here to view the towel and bedding section.
Airbnb Towel Update 2024
UPDATE: I am currently in the process of updating this post in early 2024, as the towels that I have loved for the last four years are no longer being made by Bed, Bath, and Beyond after its closing and subsequent relaunch. While it was a good run, it is now time for me to pivot.
I spent a lot of time researching new towels in 2023 and tested out the following:
Amazon Basics Odor Resistant Textured Bath Towel, 30 x 54 Inches – 4-Pack, White
Nate Home by Nate Berkus 100% Cotton Textured Rice Weave Bath Towel Set of 4
Cotton Craft- Euro Spa Set of 4 Luxury Waffle Weave Bath Towels, Oversized Pure Ringspun Cotton, 30-inch x 56 inch, White
Luxury White Bath Towel Set – Combed Cotton Hotel Quality Absorbent 8-Piece Set
Classic Turkish Towels Premium Cotton Textured 6 PC Towel Set – Soft, Absorbent, Quick-Dry Luxury Towels Made with 100% Turkish Cotton, Waffle Weave Design (White)
POLYTE Oversize, 60 x 30 in, Quick Dry Lint Free Microfiber Bath Towel Set, 6 Piece (White, Waffle Weave)
Initially, the Amazon Basics towels listed first are the ones we chose in 2023. They feel almost exactly like the ones I previously bought. However, they are so popular that Amazon is having trouble keeping them in stock. The Cotton Craft towels were very similar, just not quite as soft. I also liked the Tens Towels and the Nate Burkus towels.
Since the Amazon Basics towels have been popping in and out of stock, feel free to go with the Cotton Craft option if you need to replace some. I have been using both at home, and there really isn’t much of a difference, other than the Amazon basics version being a tad softer.
The TENS towels are not waffle weave, but a really good option too. I didn’t go that route, as I wanted them to blend in with the ones I currently have. However, if you are just getting started these are a great alternative. They are quick to dry, which means they aren’t super plush, but as I mentioned above, this is very important to me as we don’t have a washer and dryer in our condos.
The Nate Burkus Bath Towels are the best-rated but a tad more expensive. If you are just getting started, these are a great option! They are the size that I recommend, absorbent, and quick to dry. They also have little loops to hang them from.
Lastly, the White Classic Towels are a great 100% cotton hotel quality towel option if you have a washer and dryer on-site and aren’t looking for quick dry options.
Best Bath Towels for Vacation Rentals
The bath towel that I originally used and loved was from Bed Bath & Beyond. It was 30″ x 54″ and easily wrapped around most adults. It is very similar to the Amazon Basics towel that I recently switched to, almost identical.
Both are lightweight and absorb a lot of water. I like how they dry quickly in between uses. The price point is right where I want it, too!
BATH TOWEL: Amazon Basics Quick Dry Bath Towel
ALTERNATIVES: Cotton Craft Bath Towel | TENS Bath Towel | Nate Burkus Towel
Hand Towels and Washcloths for Vacation Rentals
I had used the same Wild Sage hand towels. I originally liked having the hand towels match the bath towels, but it’s not much of a priority for me anymore. As the old Wild Sage ones went out of stock, I have switched over the buying the Utopia Hand Towels from Amazon.
HAND TOWEL: Amazon Basics Textured Hand Towels OR Utopia Hand Towels
WASH CLOTH: Utopia Basic Washcloths on Amazon
As I mentioned above, I do not personally think that it’s 100% necessary for the hand towels to match the bath towels. It is more important that they match each other. So, all hand towels are the same, all bath towels are the same, and all washcloths are the same.
If you opt for the Nate Burkus bath towels above, they do have a matching hand towel that is top-rated.
Makeup Washcloths And wipes For Airbnbs
You may be planning to buy those black makeup washcloths. I love those as a guest and as a host! I initially bought a bunch for our first rental. But, at that point, cleaners did not want to use them. They prefer white and use bleach; these black makeup towels require a separate load and are a pain for them. It was a compromise that I had to make, so if your cleaners will let you use them, get them!
Update 2023: My cleaners are now good with the makeup towels, so I now provide these black makeup washcloths in all of my vacation rentals.
I also purchase makeup remover wipes and ask my cleaners to put them out. They provided the single-use shampoo/conditioner and soaps for me but did not provide these. They are so inexpensive, and it’s the extra touch that guests will appreciate! Trust me; most guests hate ruining washcloths as much as you hate seeing them ruined. As a host, it’s beneficial to everyone if you provide an easy option for makeup removal.
Don’t forget to grab bath mats! These are the ones that we use!
Pool and Beach Towels for Vacation Rentals
Our three vacation rentals are on 30A, a popular coastal destination in the Florida panhandle.
If you aren’t familiar with it, read my What is 30A? post here. It’s such a fantastic little area! We have two community pools, so I ensure to include pool towels in all of our condos. I call them “pool towels” because I prefer guests not to bring them to the beach, but I know they do.
Let me tell you a secret… if you choose NOT to provide a pool/beach towel in your vacation rental, people will take your white bath towels down there. It’s inevitable. So, bite the bullet and buy some nice, high-quality pool towels.
I love these Chakir Turkish Linens Premium Quality 100% Cotton Turkish Cabana Thick Stripe Pool Beach Towels. They come in a four-pack; while they are twice as much as bath towels, they are durable. I have them in light blue, grey, and sea green in different units. Some other owners also use the blue, so it’s harder for guests and the cleaners to differentiate. I often get them mixed in with mine, so I prefer the Grey and have slowly replaced my light blue with those.
As I update this post in early 2024, I want to mention that I still love these pool towels. They hold up so well, and when I see some stained, I happily bring them home for our own pool!
My approach here is the opposite of the bath towels. These do need to be durable, and most often, people are laying in the sun when using them, so they don’t get as drenched as the bath towels do and have more of an opportunity to air dry. These don’t see nearly as much wear and tear, and there are many occasions when they don’t even get used by guests.
Choosing Dish Towels for Vacation Rentals
If you have even the smallest kitchen area in your vacation rental, please make sure to have towels for guests to wash and dry dishes after use. I find that microfiber dishcloths and dishtowels are best and recommend the HYER KITCHEN Microfiber Kitchen Towels – Super Absorbent, Soft and Thick Dish Towels, 8 Pack 26 x 18 Inch.
Managing Guest Expectations: Airbnb Towels
Your listing and your welcome packet should always be very specific about what guests can expect when they book a stay with you. This is my exact verbiage.
Clean bedding, 6 bath towels, and 4 pool towels are provided. We also leave out a starter set of 2 k-cups, 2 rolls of toilet paper, 1 roll of paper towels, a sponge, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and dish soap. If you are staying longer and need additional items, most are available downstairs at Seacrest Sundries.
This allows guests to plan for needs in advance and avoids any confusion for first-time Airbnb guests who may not quite understand the difference between a vacation rental condo and a hotel.
We also include exact directions in our Departure Checklist and ask that all used towels be placed in the tub. This makes it easy for our cleaners to know which ones have been used and cuts back on the unnecessary laundering and wear and tear on your towels.
If you have made it this far, thanks for reading! I sat down wondering if Airbnb towels even needed a dedicated blog post, and now, 3000 words later, I guess they did! I hope you found this post helpful, and wish you the best of luck in your journey as an Airbnb host!
More About Being an Airbnb Superhost
If you are thinking about purchasing a vacation rental and becoming an Airbnb host, I have an entire section here on my blog about our experience so far, including a new post about 7 Airbnb Essentials That You May Not Even Know You Need.
I always try to be very transparent, and I know a lot of my readers are quite interested in this chapter of our lives! I always welcome questions about my experience and am willing to share advice, so feel free to leave me a comment or reach out to me on either of our Instagram accounts below!
Thinking about becoming an Airbnb host? Click here to find out what you can earn!
Rent One of Our 30A Seacrest Beach Airbnbs
We would love to have you come and stay with us! We book our Seacrest Beach condos exclusively on Airbnb and really enjoy being Airbnb superhosts and providing a wonderful guest experience from start to finish. You can click here to view all 4 of our Seacrest Beach vacation rentals and check on dates, rates, and availability.
It would be our pleasure to host you here on 30A! There is so much to see and do here in Florida, and we have so many great recommendations to help you make the most out of your stay.
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Your post have been most helpful as we are closing on our first rental property this month. Thank you for sharing your personal insight and helping newbies like my husband and myself. This is the scariest and most exciting thing I have ever done. Thank you.
Thank you! And, while it feels scary, it is very exciting! Owning and managing our short-term rentals has been the BEST decision our family has made! Make sure to check out all of my other Airbnb Hosting Posts under the Airbnb category!
I am setting up my first Airbnb in my hometown and am so thankful you shared all this useful information.
Would you be willing to share your house rules with me? I need guidance on what reading materials to leave for my guest so they understand the expectations. Also, do you leave a welcome gift of any kind?
Thank you so much!
Hi Dana! Thanks for reading and I am glad that I can help! I do not leave a welcome gift only because I host a lot of short stays and my cleaners were never very reliable about putting it out. But, if I am ever there in one of my other units at the same time, I try to leave a little something int there for me! Regarding reading materials, I do not leave anything tangible in our condos as many amenities are seasonal and codes are always changing. I have the house manual in Airbnb and also share it (insert it) in our messages a day or two before arrival.
Hi! Looks like your fav towels are no longer available. Any other suggestions? Thanks! Erin
Good morning Erin! I actually bought some last week so that is very strange! I wonder if they are temporarily out of stock. I see what you are seeing too! I am going to keep an eye on them for a few days and see if they come back. In the meantime, something of similar size 30″ L x 54″ W and offering a quick dry waffle type style are my go-tos. Something like this, but I would buy one to start and just feel it out. Literally! Something like this: https://amzn.to/3C3mLNe or https://amzn.to/3JYhB7i But I will keep watching these and update the post / try out some new ones if I need to!
Also, it does look like all WILD SAGE is being clearance’d out. I anticipate they may bring these back under a new in-store label, so I will watch for that too. When I first started buying them they were SALT brand and then they rebranded them to WILD SAGE about two years ago. They are one of their in-store staple towels so I would guess they will bring them back. I’ll keep everyone posted!
This website has been so helpful in my research in starting an Airbnb. Thank you for sharing all your valuable information. I followed your advice on the towels and so far so great!! Unfortunately, I went to go buy more hand towels, and they have discontinued the Wild Sage brand. I am curious what brand you will be using now?
Hi Jaclyn! Thank you! Last time they rebranded them from (SALT) to (WILD SAGE) and I am hoping to see them come back under a new brand so am watching now. I have been able to find these in stock at local stores near me by using the find nearest function on the website. So, I am monitoring it and trying out some others, as I want to find something very similar myself and will update this post soon!
Hi,
Love your posts! Just got my first Airbnb in madeira beach and I am excited about it 😉 I want to ask what bath mat you recommend? I didn’t see the link attached on your article. Thanks 😊
Thank you and congrats on your new Airbnb! That is a great question and I will try to go back and add it to the post! These are what we use — https://amzn.to/3FCl3SW
I stumbled upon your blogs and read everything! I saw you plan to test different bath towels, was there a brand you ended up loving?
Hi Faatmina! I was able to grab 50 more of these ones here that I like in later December, so I am still using those. I havne’t had a chance to test any and am still holding out hope that BB&B will bring these back again under yet another label.
Thank you for your response! I read they are preparing to potentially file to bankruptcy, I wonder if that has anything to do with slowed/stopped restocking. Hopefully there’s another brand that will release this towel. In the meantime, I shall keep looking!
The wild sage towels at BBB are on clearance and have a single available color. Lookign for another bath towel recommendation.
Really appreciate your advice.
Hello Irmeen! Thanks for reading my recommendation. All of them are based 100% on my first-hand experience. Once I replace my towels and have a new brand to recommend, I will update my post.
Thank you
Thank you. I came just in time for your update!
You wrote a great article! I would love to see if you would consider Costco / Kirkland brand and also Standard Textile which sell to hotels and STR’s and made in the USA. Thank you!
Thanks Wade! I don’t have either store near me or memberships, so haven’t been able to try them first hand. I always make sure that everything I post is based on my first-hand experience and what works for me. However, if they are large enough and quick dry, I am sure they would be a good option, too!