Beach towels come in all shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics (yes, they can be different).  This guide will hopefully help you to pick out the perfect beach towel for you.

Size Matters

Size DOES matter.  Beach towels range in size from 30x60 all the way up to something that would fit a queen size bed (also called beach blankets).  Check the size of the towel you are interested in carefully, and make sure that you will be happy with the size.  Keep in mind that some towels may shrink slightly after repeated washings.  The better the quality, the less the shrinkage.

Velour

Velour towels are terry towels where the loops have been "cropped" or "shaved".  This is usually to allow the printed design to show up better, not necessarily a cheaper or less worthwhile towel.  However, the cropping process does remove some of the towel's ability to absorb liquid.

Most of the towels with popular designs printed on them are velour.

Woven vs Printed

Woven designs in a beach towel are generally referred to as "jacquard" where the design has been woven (not printed) directly into the fabric.  Jacquard towels are generally heavier, larger, and more absorbent, because their loops have not been cropped.  Jacquard towels generally have loops on both sides of the fabric as well, where the reverse of the towel is a "negative image" of the original design.

Printed towels are just that:  screenprinted, much as a t-shirt is done.  Most printed towels are velour, better to show the design.  The back of printed towels generally are white, with smaller or no loops.

Terry vs Turkish

Terry towels have loops on both sides, Turkish toweling has loops only on one side.

Most jacquard towel are terry.  Most printed towels are Turkish.

Worth Their Weight

The very best indicator of a towel's worth is it's fabric weight.  While the general public isn't as aware of this as beach towel manufacturers and retailers, a towel's value is based on it's weight.  A towel's weight is determined by how much a dozen of the same towel weighs.

For example, a towel whose weight is 9.8 lbs/doz is an individual towel that weighs less than a pound.  A towel whose weight is 12 lbs/doz is an individual towel that weighs one pound.

When comparing towel weights, be sure to factor in the size of the towel.  A towel that measures 30x60 and weighs 10 lbs/doz is actually a heavier fabric than a towel that measures 32x64 with a fabric weight of 10 lbs/doz.  When comparing towel weights, you must compare apples with apples (size does matter).

Print Quality

Not all dyes are created equal, and it is important to note the difference.  Anybody can screenprint a towel, and the design will look great (at first).  But, the best dye (and the one to look for) is fiber reactive dyed towels.  Fiber reactive dyes actually form a covalent bond with the cotton fabric, they become "one" with the fabric, and will not fade, either in the sun or through the wash.  So, if you are a die-hard Spongebob fan, you don't want your favorite Squarepants to fade in the wash. 

Hopefully this guide will help you navigate through all the different types of beach towels available and help you with your choice.

Please visit my Ebay Store Janie's Beach Towels for high-quality beach towels in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs.