When setting up an Airbnb nothing is more important than towels. Okay, maybe they’re not the most important item, but they are certainly right up there. So, what are the best towels for Airbnb?

For starters, you need to consider the colour, size, type of fabric and the quantities. I always suggest the best towels for Airbnb are quick drying 100% cotton towels. Not only are they cheap, but they also look good and are super quick to dry.

Choosing the right towels is something that you want to get right the first time around. Take it from me, I went through 4 different sets until I finally found the perfect towels. Since then, I have never looked back.

So to help you out, I have put together this detailed guide covering all you need to know.

Best fabric to choose for Airbnb towels

There are 4 main factors to consider when choosing the fabric type. Get these right and you will have the best towels for your Airbnb!

I have drying time as #1 as this is an ongoing cost. Towels that are plush and thick can take over an hour in the dryer. Therefore, they will end up costing you much more than you bargained for.

The feel of the towel comes in at #2 as guest satisfaction is very important. You don’t want to provide your guests with a scratchy stiff towel. Remember, a happy guest = good reviews!

Resisting stains is another big factor as you’ll need to throw out any towels with stains. Again, this becomes costly.

And finally durability. Your towels will see the inside of a washing machine on a near-daily basis. This is why it is so important to purchase tough, well-made towels that can stand up to high use.

So what are the best fabrics for Airbnb towels that take into account all of the above factors?

A basic 100% cotton towel. Yep, that’s it! Cotton is durable, stain-resistant, low cost and dries in no time. It is the perfect all-round towel.

My picks

Budget – Utopia 100% cotton 6 pack – $31.99

Buying towels in bulk will always save a few dollars. This pack of 6 is perfect for Airbnb’s. The towels are a good size and will dry fast. Best of all, they are cheap to replace, meaning you won’t break the bank replacing damaged ones.

Mid-Range – Maura Premium Bath Towels – $39.99

These premium textured towels add a touch of elegance to your bathroom. They offer a medium weight so they are a little thicker than the budget pick. However they offer a more luxurious feel while still being a quick-dry fabric. Your guests will love them!

High-End – Luxus Premium 8 Piece Towel Set – $49.99

If you offer a higher-end listing then your guests will expect a plush towel set. This excellent 8 piece towel set is all you will ever need to fill your luxe bathroom. They are super soft, highly absorbent all while still being quick drying.

What colour towels for Airbnb?

You may have noticed that in all of my recommendations above, none of the towels are white!

But isn’t it better to use white towels? I mean you’ll find white towels in every hotel, so why on earth wouldn’t I recommend them?

I have good reasons, trust me. In all my years of hosting Airbnb’s (and from doing countless loads of laundry) white towels are quite literally a pain in the a$$. Dollar signs intended.

White towels are very tough to keep clean at the best of times. From mascara, fake tan, lipstick, chemical face wash, mud and even grease, it’s near on impossible. Unless you have an industrial washing machine like the hotels use, white is not your friend.

A darker colour towel will hide nearly every stain a guest can throw at it. It’s only enemy is peroxide which you can sometimes find in an acne face wash. I cover this some more in my article about the best sheets for Airbnb.

Stick to neutral greys and charcoal shades when choosing the best towels for your Airbnb. These colours will look classy in any bathroom. They will also look classy in your listing photos.

How many Airbnb towels per guest?

It would surprise you how often the question of how many towels do I give per guest comes up. While there is no one perfect answer, there is a solution to help you as a host save time and money with each booking.

As a rule, I give each guest one towel every two days. So, if a guest were to stay for 4 days I would give them two towels. If they were to stay for 3 days, they would get 1 towel, etc.

Yes, some guests that will mistake an Airbnb for a hotel and expect a fresh towel every time they shower. Therefore a good idea is to send a check up message a day after they arrive. Just a simple message asking if they need anything, including fresh towels. Now the ball is in their court to request a towel if they need one.

Why don’t you just have a closet stacked with towels so the guest can help themselves? In an ideal world, this would be the perfect solution. The guest can grab a new towel when they need one without having to ask.

One drawback of having a closet full of towels will mean loads of dirty towels to wash, even after a short stay. I have heard many stories of guests using a fresh towel after every shower even when having two showers per day. So a week-long stay could potentially mean up to 14 towels per guest!

So to save time and money, stick to the rule 1 towel per guest for every 2 days.

How often should I change Airbnb towels?

The question of how often you should change your Airbnb towels will vary. It will depend on the quality of the towel, the type of fabric, and how often guests use them.

Very generally speaking, I get up to 12 months out of a towel. I will only change them when:

• They start to fade/discolour
• The binding starts to fray
• Stains don’t come out

Once any of the above happens, I throw the towels away and will purchase replacements.

To get the most out of your towels, aim to have extras so you can rotate them. This way you will wash them less often and they will hold their colour for longer.

Do I need to bring towels for Airbnb?

Whether you need to bring towels for an Airbnb or not depends entirely on the Airbnb host. By and large, most Airbnb’s will supply towels free of charge. However, it’s always a good idea to double check.

Airbnb is transparent with what a listing provides, including towels. When making a booking, scroll down to the amenities heading like on the screenshot below. If you see Essentials then it means your Airbnb includes towels!

However, even if the listing includes the essentials, there can sometimes be a towel fee. This is uncommon, but in some Airbnb’s the host will actually charge you to hire a towel. This shouldn’t be a surprise to you as the host must list this within their listing description. So make sure you read over the entire listing.

Do you wash towels at Airbnb?

If you are wondering if you have to wash your own towels when staying at an Airbnb the short answer is no. You certainly don’t HAVE to wash your towels and nor will a host expect you to.

The only time a host may expect you to wash your own towels would be for long term stays. Don’t expect your host to constantly refresh your towels if you plan on staying for a month or two. Arbnb’s are not hotels afterall!

Maybe washing is not your thing and you’d rather spend your time relaxing. If this is the case, make sure you chat with your host before booking. A lot of hosts will be happy to arrange a regular cleaning schedule during your stay. However, there may be additional cleaning fees added to your bill.

What do you do with dirty towels on Airbnb?

So you’re midway through a 7-day booking enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. By now you have settled in and have (hopefully) had a shower or two.

The question then arises of what you do with all the dirty towels. There is no maid service like a hotel so they won’t be magically picked up off the floor. So what do you do with them?

Hopefully, your host has provided you with a laundry basket/hamper and you can put all the dirty towels in there. Alternatively, you can contact your host and let them know that you have a number of towels piling up.

Your host will be more than happy to come and collect up the towels you no longer need and replace them with fresh towels. After all, a pile of wet towels even after a few days can start to become mouldy.

I can tell you about some places where you shouldn’t leave your towels… (Caution, host venting session about to begin).

• Don’t leave wet towels on the bed
• Or on the sofa
• Or hidden scrunched up at the back of a closet
• Under the bed…
• In the kitchen sink
• OR ON THE BED!
• Did I mention don’t leave them on the bed?

Okay vent over. As a host, I find towels quite literally everywhere. So be a conscientious guest and put them in the laundry basket or even on a neat pile on the bathroom floor.

Final thoughts

By now you should have a good idea of what the best towels for Airbnb are.

In summary, aim for quick drying fabrics (such as cotton) that are resistant to stains. A good idea is to buy grey or charcoal coloured towels as these hide stains best.

You want to be buying towels that give the impression they are expensive. The three I recommended above are perfect examples.

Further Reading