You wouldn’t take a bath or shower without using a drying towel on your bodywork afterwards, but sometimes, the drying process of a good car wash with good car cleaning products is easily overlooked. So much time and energy go into using the various cleaning tools and methods (clay bars, snow foam, even special brushes) that by the time the last product has been washed off, you’ve kind of had enough and can be tempted just to leave it to air dry.
But in doing that, you open yourself up to the appearance of unsightly water spots all over your freshly cleaned bodywork. And while you can use a chamois towel (Don’t, it wrecks your paint!), investing in some proper drying towels will leave your car looking excellent.
We’ve been having a look around to see what kind of drying towels are available just now. Here’s our pick of the bunch.
The best drying towels at a glance:
The best drying towels
Editor's choice
Pros
- With 1,400 GSM, this towel is exceptionally thick and soft compared to typical microfibre cloths
- The cloth features ultra-soft, silk-banded edges that greatly reduce the risk of scratching surfaces
Cons
- Denser towels take longer to dry after washing, which could be inconvenient if you’re busy.
| Dimensions: | 70 x 90cm |
| Weight: | 1400GSM |
Best fluffy drying towel
Pros
- With its dense pile and super‑absorbent inner core, this towel holds a massive amount of water, making it ideal for drying large vehicles with minimal effort
- The ultra‑deep pile microfibre glides smoothly over paint and glass, reducing scratch and swirl risk thanks to the soft, machine-stitched edging
Cons
- Like other ultra-high GSM towels, the Aqua Deluxe can become heavy when fully soaked
| Dimensions: | 50 x 70cm |
| Weight: | 1200GSM |
Best mid-sized drying towel
Pros
- Despite its plush feel and impressive absorbency, it’s notably thinner and lighter than ultra‑high GSM towels making it easier to wring and handle
- Excellent finish performance giving streak‑free results, especially on paint, plastic, chrome and glass surfaces
Cons
- Heavier than ultralight options as it still carries some weight when soaked, so it’s less ideal if you want minimal bulk or travel‑friendly options.
| Dimensions: | 55 x 85cm |
| Weight: | 1050gsm |
Best budget option
Pros
- Highly absorbent. It is capable of absorbing up to eight times its weight in water, making quick work of drying paint, glass, and chrome surfaces
- It's easy to care for as it's machine washable making it fully reusable
Cons
- Not as thick or luxurious as ultra-high GSM drying towels like the Hydro Hoover or Aqua Deluxe. It's better for general drying than soaking up excessive excess water.
| Dimensions: | 30 x 9 cm |
| Weight: | N/A |
Best multi-pack
Pros
- Lint-free and safe for paint: They don't leave any fibres behind and are ideal for polishing, buffing, and drying without causing scratches
- Compact size with decent absorbency. At 40 × 40 cm, these towels are easier to manage while still handling moderate water pickup effectively.
Cons
- While absorbent, the pile and size likely suit polishing and light drying more than soaking up excess water post-wash.
| Dimensions: | 40 x 40 cm |
| Weight: | 600 gsm |
How to properly dry a car:
You may think that drying a car is as simple as running your drying towel over the body and waiting for the car to dry, but there are far more effective ways to clean your car. We have a few top tips to help you dry your car more effectively after a good shampoo wash:
Working your way down is the best way to avoid streaks. If you dry the sills before the windows, you’ll soon notice water droplets making their way down onto your paintwork.
Don’t scrunch your towel up. Make use of the full surface area and drape the towel over the bodywork. This will make drying quicker and more effective.
Remember to turn your towel frequently. This will prevent it from becoming sodden.
For the best results, open your doors, boot and bonnet when the car is nearly dry so you can catch any water that has accumulated in the sills.
FAQs
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What features are important?
Like toothpaste and its ability to clean teeth, the primary aspect in a drying towel is how effectively it can dry your paintwork. The two main factors to this are the towel's density in grams per square metre (gsm) and the overall size. A larger towel will cover more bodywork and take longer to become saturated but generally is more expensive to buy.
The density of a towel (gsm) is also worth considering. A higher gsm usually correlates to better absorbency and quicker drying. The obvious downside being the long drying times these need once they're saturated.
Other features to look for in a good drying towel are how the edges are constructed. Wrapped edges in particular, are good to look for as these limit the chance of leaving swirl marks on the paintwork.
How we choose
All of these car drying towels have been hand-selected by our team of experts who have spent hours investigating and researching car drying towels to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
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