Turkish towels cost more than the multipack at a big box store and they look thinner. That is a fair thing to hesitate over, and most articles about them skip straight past it.
So here is the honest version: who a peshtemal is genuinely worth it for, who should stick with terry, and what the money actually buys.
What You Are Paying For
Three things account for most of the price difference.
The cotton. Long staple cotton grown in the Aegean region costs more than short staple cotton from lower cost sources. Long fibers lie smoother in a flat weave and soften with washing rather than going stiff, which is the difference you feel in year two.
The certification. OEKO-TEX testing of the finished fabric is an added cost that unbranded towels usually skip. It verifies the towel has been tested for substances harmful to human health.
The weave. Flat weaving is slower than producing terry loops at volume. It is the reason the towel dries fast and folds small, and it is not the cheapest way to make a towel.
Where a Peshtemal Genuinely Wins
These are the situations where people who switch tend not to switch back.
Small or shared bathrooms. A terry towel hung in a small bathroom can still be damp the next morning. A flat weave dries between uses, which solves the musty smell problem rather than masking it.
Travel. A peshtemal folds to roughly a third of the bulk of a terry towel the same size and dries fast enough to repack the same day. For carry on travel this is the single strongest argument.
The beach. Sand falls off a flat weave with a shake. Terry loops hold it until the next wash.
One towel, many uses. Beach, bath, pool, gym, a wrap on a cool evening, a light throw over a chair. If you would otherwise buy three specialised towels, one peshtemal at 36 x 67 inches replaces them.
Where Terry Is Still the Better Buy
We would rather you buy the right thing than the wrong thing from us.
If what you want is the sensation of wrapping yourself in something thick and plush after a bath, terry does that and a peshtemal does not. No amount of washing will make a flat weave feel like a bath sheet.
If you need to absorb a large volume of water in one go, terry holds more per use. And if the towel lives in a large bathroom with good airflow and drying time is not an issue, one of the main advantages disappears.
Households often end up with both: terry in the main bathroom, peshtemals for everything that leaves the house.
How Long They Last
This is where the cost per use argument sits. Cheap cotton towels tend to go stiff, pill, or thin out at the folds within a couple of years, especially in hard water.
Long staple cotton in a flat weave holds up differently. Handled with a gentle cycle and low heat, a peshtemal stays usable for years and softens rather than degrading over that time.
A towel that costs more but lasts three times as long is not really the more expensive towel. That said, this depends on care, and a peshtemal put through hot washes and high heat drying will wear out like anything else.
The Honest Downsides
A new peshtemal feels slightly crisp and does not absorb as well as it eventually will. It takes a few washes to reach its proper texture, and people who judge it on the first use are often disappointed.
The fringe can tangle in the wash. Combing it straight with your fingers while damp sorts it out, but it is a small extra step.
And there is one size, 36 x 67 inches. That covers beach, bath and travel well, but it is not a family sized beach blanket and it will not work as a hand towel.
Who Should Buy One
A peshtemal is worth it if you travel, live somewhere humid, have limited bathroom or storage space, spend time at the beach or pool, want one towel that covers several jobs, or care about certification on fabric that touches your skin.
It is not worth it if plushness is the main thing you want from a towel, or if you have plenty of space and drying time and no interest in packing anything.
If you are curious but unsure, one is a reasonable way to find out. Our Turkish beach towels and peshtemals come in three patterns and a range of colors, all in the same size and the same OEKO-TEX certified Turkish cotton.
Getting the Most Out of One
Wash it alone the first time. Use a gentle cycle at 86°F (30°C) and tumble dry on low heat. If air drying, hang or lay it in a well ventilated area and avoid stretching the fabric while wet. Do not use bleach and do not dry clean. Avoid washing it with jeans or anything with small hooks.
Skip fabric softener entirely. It coats the fibers and reduces absorbency, which undermines the main thing you paid for.
Shop Turkish Towels
- Shop Turkish Beach Towels and Peshtemals
- Shop the Quick Dry Travel Peshtemal
- Shop Organic Muslin Blankets
Read Next
For the full side by side, read Turkish Beach Towel vs Regular Beach Towel.
For where the flat weave came from, read What Is a Peshtemal?
The Bottom Line
A Turkish towel is worth the difference if you value fast drying, small packing size and a towel that handles several jobs. It is not worth it if you mainly want plushness, because a flat weave will never deliver that.
Naturloom peshtemals are woven from OEKO-TEX certified Turkish cotton in one 36 x 67 inch size and ship from our small family business in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Turkish towels worth the money?
They are worth it if you want fast drying, compact packing and one towel that covers beach, bath, pool and travel. If plushness is your priority, a terry towel is the better purchase.
Why are Turkish towels more expensive?
Long staple Turkish cotton costs more than short staple cotton, flat weaving is slower than producing terry at volume, and OEKO-TEX testing of the finished fabric is an added cost that unbranded towels usually skip.
Do Turkish towels dry you properly?
Yes. They take up water across a flat surface rather than trapping it in loops, so they dry you effectively without feeling saturated afterward. Absorbency improves noticeably over the first few washes.
How long do Turkish towels last?
With a gentle cycle and low heat drying, long staple cotton in a flat weave typically stays usable for years and softens over that time rather than going stiff. Hot washes and high heat drying shorten that considerably.
Should I buy a Turkish towel or a regular towel?
Many households use both: terry in the main bathroom for plushness, and peshtemals for travel, the beach, the gym and small or shared bathrooms where drying time matters.