Shopping for luxury towels means considering many variables, including price, size, fabric quality and weight. And the weight of towels is measured in GSM, or grams per square meter. But GSM may be an unfamiliar term to shoppers of luxury bath and beach towels. Here at Fine Linen and Bath, we're happy to provide the background you need to purchase the perfect towel for your needs and budget. Read on to learn more about GSM and understand how to evaluate it when shopping for luxury bath towels.
GSM, or "grams per square meter" is a measure of towel weight expressed as a number. GSM is used for both cotton and bamboo towels and is directly aligned with a towel’s quality, feel, and performance. In cotton bath towels the typical GSM range is between 300 and 900 GSM. Towels with a higher GSM will be heavier, softer, and more absorbent. A luxury bath towel found in a spa or hotel is often made from the highest GSM cotton fabric; this is a very plush towel, made to be thick, soft, and absorbent. However, high GSM towels are heavier and can be challenging to wash. A lighter or medium-weight towel, with a lower GSM, will be easier to wash but may feel a bit less "plush" while still being a quality towel. Understanding the various qualities and benefits of GSM can help you choose the perfect bath towels that feel great; perform well; and are easy to care for.
GSM is a universal standard for calculating and comparing the weight of all fabric, including cotton towels. It is derived by precisely measuring the weight of one square meter of any fabric in grams. The typical range for cotton bath towels is between 300 to 900 GSM, with the upper end of the range feeling softer and more absorbent.
To put these numbers in perspective, the GSM of a lightweight cotton shirt or summer dress would fall in the low- to mid-100s. Denim fabric has a GSM somewhere around 400. A heavyweight wool coat or blanket would measure about 700 GSM. Cotton fabric with higher GSM is a denser with a greater concentration of fibers; this is why GSM correlates with quality when it comes to bath towels. A high GSM denotes luxury. The towel will be fluffy, soft, absorbent, and heavy.
High GSM cotton towels are usually better quality. In general, a cotton bath towel that weighs 400 GSM and above is considered to be good quality. The fabric in these soft towels is woven more densely, and thus is softer and more absorbent than a lower GSM fabric (for example, that found in a standard kitchen towel).
A general guideline to GSM ranges in cotton towels is as follows:
When shopping for a cotton towel, begin by looking in the 400 to 600 GSM range. These towels are luxurious without being overly heavy, which makes them ideal for bath and beach. They are soft and absorbent while still being easy to care for. Move on to higher GSM for towels that are thicker, plush, and even more absorbent.
