Christmas towels do three jobs: tea towels for the kitchen, hand towels for the bathroom and bath towels for a full set. This page compares six picks across all three, using the fabric, size and pack count from each listing, with sizes converted to centimetres.
The listings call the kitchen ones dish towels or kitchen towels, which is what Australians call Christmas tea towels. For everyday towels without the festive print, see our tea towel guide.
Best Christmas towels overall: DII Noel Dish Towels
Best Christmas towels overall: the DII Noel dish towels, because the listing says the set of 2 is 100% cotton, machine washable and about 45.7 by 71.1 cm.
The listing describes a set of 2 dish towels for drying and cleaning kitchen tasks, made from 100% cotton fabric that is machine washable. The festive Noel design is described as coordinating with most kitchen decor, and the listing suggests them for a Christmas party, holidays or a housewarming. DII also lists aprons, potholders and oven mitts. It holds 4.6 stars from 1,331 ratings, the most of any pick here.
It suits anyone who wants a Christmas tea towel that does the daily drying. The honest catch: it is a set of 2 in a festive design, so choose the Oudain 6 pack if you want more towels.
Best snowman set: SKL Home Whistler Snowman Hand Towels
Best snowman set: the SKL Home Whistler Snowman hand towels, because the title gives two grey towels of about 40.6 by 66 cm for bath, kitchen or bar.
The listing names a Christmas and winter Whistler snowman hand towel set for bath, kitchen or bar, in grey, and says the set includes 2 hand towels. It holds 4.8 stars from 344 ratings, the joint highest rating here.
It suits a guest bathroom or a kitchen rail where you want a snowman rather than a tree. The honest catch: the listing text is short and does not name the fabric, and 344 is a thin count of ratings, so check the listing details first.
Best hand towels: Quera Embroidered Christmas Hand Towels
Best hand towels: the Quera 2 pack, because the listing says the two 100% cotton terry towels carry an embroidered Christmas tree and Merry Christmas, each with a red bow.
The listing describes one white towel with an embroidered Christmas tree and one with an embroidered Merry Christmas, plus a red bow on each. It calls the cotton terry highly absorbent and says the towels suit the bathroom, the kitchen or drying hands. It holds 4.7 stars from 406 ratings.
It suits a Christmas bathroom that needs a pair of towels on the rail. The honest catch: the listing gives two different sizes, about 34.8 by 74.9 cm in the title and about 35.6 by 76.2 cm in the text, so treat the size as roughly 35 by 75 cm.
Best multipack: Oudain Gingerbread Kitchen Towels, 6 Pack
Best multipack: the Oudain gingerbread towels, because the pack has 6 microfibre towels of about 40 by 60 cm when folded in several Christmas designs.
The listing describes 6 gingerbread Christmas kitchen towels printed with blessing quotes, with patterns that include a gingerbread man, a Christmas tree, a holly candy cane and a gingerbread house. The listing says the soft microfibre is quick drying and absorbs water, and the towels can wipe hands, plates and cutlery or hang on an oven handle or towel rack. It holds 4.3 stars from 1,211 ratings.
It suits a full kitchen refresh, or sharing towels between friends, which the listing also suggests. The honest catch: they are microfibre rather than cotton, and 4.3 is the lowest rating on this page.
Best bath towel set: Shojoy Christmas Towels 3 Pack
Best bath towel set: the Shojoy 3 pack, because it has a bath towel of about 120 by 70 cm, a hand towel of about 63.5 by 35.6 cm and a small face towel in red and black plaid with Santa and elk embroidery.
The listing describes 3 towels in 100% cotton, in three sizes, with embroidery that includes Santa Claus, an elk, a sleigh and a gift bag. The small towel is about 33.8 by 33.8 cm. The listing calls the cotton highly absorbent and says the towels suit the bathroom, the kitchen or use as Christmas ornaments. It holds 4.4 stars from 144 ratings. If you only need plain bath towels, our bath towel guide compares weights and cotton types.
It suits a bathroom you want to dress for Christmas in one go. The honest catch: 144 is a thin count of ratings.
Best classic embroidered towel: Spode Christmas Tree Hand Towel
Best classic embroidered towel: the Spode Christmas Tree hand towel, because the listing describes an oversized embroidered tree on an ivory background with holly and berries.
The listing says the Spode Christmas Tree pattern is one of the world's best known holiday designs, with a decorated tree in shades of green and a small St. Nicholas on top. It adds a red end hem, 100% cotton exclusive of embellishment and OEKO TEX Standard 100 manufacturing. The listing says matching items in the collection include soap dishes, tumblers, trays and shower curtains. It holds 4.8 stars from 178 ratings.
It suits someone building a Christmas tree theme through the bathroom. The honest catch: it is sold as a single hand towel, and 178 is a thin count of ratings.
How to choose Christmas towels
Decide where the towel will hang
Most buyers are shopping for one of three spots. The DII and Oudain towels are described for the kitchen, the Quera and SKL Home sets name both the bathroom and the kitchen, and the Shojoy and Spode towels are the bathroom picks. These picks come in different sizes, so pick the room first.
Check the size in centimetres
Listings often give sizes in inches. The DII towels are about 45.7 by 71.1 cm, the SKL Home towels about 40.6 by 66 cm and the Oudain towels about 40 by 60 cm when folded. The Quera towels are longer and narrower at roughly 35 by 75 cm, and the Shojoy bath towel is about 120 by 70 cm. Measure the rail or oven handle before you buy.
Cotton or microfibre
The DII, Quera and Shojoy towels are 100% cotton, and the Spode towel is cotton. The Oudain pack is microfibre, which its listing describes as quick drying. The SKL Home listing does not name a fabric, so it is the one to read twice.
Printed or embroidered
The Quera, Shojoy and Spode listings all describe embroidered designs on a hand or bath towel. The Oudain listing describes printed designs and blessing quotes, which suits a set of kitchen towels you rotate through December.
How many you need
Pack sizes here run from a single Spode towel to 2 in the DII, SKL Home and Quera sets, 3 in the Shojoy set and 6 in the Oudain pack. Buy a pack of 6 if the whole kitchen is getting a festive look, and a pair if you only want one change over the oven. Our Christmas tablecloth guide has a cloth to match.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Christmas tea towels in Australia?
The DII Noel dish towels are the best Christmas tea towels for most people: a set of 2 in 100% cotton, machine washable, rated 4.6 from 1,331 ratings. For more variety choose the Oudain gingerbread pack of 6 microfibre towels, which the listing describes in several Christmas designs and about 40 by 60 cm when folded.
What are the best Christmas hand towels?
The SKL Home Whistler Snowman set is our pick for Christmas hand towels: two grey towels of about 40.6 by 66 cm, rated 4.8 from 344 ratings. The Quera 2 pack adds embroidered trees and red bows on 100% cotton terry, and the Spode Christmas Tree hand towel is a single embroidered towel rated 4.8.
Which Christmas towels suit the bathroom?
The Quera embroidered hand towels and the Shojoy 3 pack both name the bathroom in their listings. The Spode Christmas Tree hand towel belongs to a tree pattern collection that the listing says includes soap dishes and shower curtains. Choose Shojoy if you want a bath, hand and face towel set.
Are there Christmas bath towels?
Yes. The Shojoy 3 pack has a bath towel of about 120 by 70 cm, a hand towel of about 63.5 by 35.6 cm and a small face towel, all 100% cotton in red and black plaid with Santa and elk embroidery. It holds 4.4 stars from 144 ratings, so the count is thin.
Can Christmas towels go in the kitchen and the bathroom?
Often yes, if the listing says so. The Quera listing names the bathroom and the kitchen, and the SKL Home set is described for bath, kitchen or bar. The Oudain listing says kitchen, bathroom or home decoration, while the DII Noel towels are described for kitchen drying and cleaning tasks.
Are there luxury Christmas towels?
The Spode Christmas Tree hand towel is the closest here: the listing describes exquisite, oversized embroidery on an ivory background, and it is rated 4.8 from 178 ratings. The Quera title also uses the word luxury for its embroidered cotton terry pair. Neither listing lets us judge the feel, so read the details.
What are novelty Christmas towels?
Novelty towels lean on a character or a themed print. The Oudain pack prints a gingerbread man, a Christmas tree, a holly candy cane and a gingerbread house across 6 towels, and the SKL Home Whistler Snowman set puts a snowman on two grey hand towels. For cotton dish towels choose the DII Noel set.
What size are Christmas tea towels and hand towels?
The DII Noel set is about 45.7 by 71.1 cm, the SKL Home hand towels about 40.6 by 66 cm and the Oudain towels about 40 by 60 cm when folded. The Quera hand towels are narrower and longer, about 35 by 75 cm. The Shojoy bath towel is about 120 by 70 cm.
Are cotton or microfibre Christmas towels better?
It depends on the job. The DII, Quera and Shojoy towels are 100% cotton, and the Quera and Shojoy listings call them highly absorbent. The Oudain pack is microfibre, which its listing describes as quick drying and absorbing water, though it is the lowest rated pick here at 4.3.
