As an Airbnb host, providing essential amenities is not just a basic service requirement—it’s the cornerstone of crafting exceptional stays. However, towels occupy a unique spot on every host’s checklist: they’re absolutely necessary, yet easily overlooked. That said, they become the first tangible touchpoint for guests to judge your property’s cleanliness and service standards the moment they enter the bathroom. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing the best towels for Airbnb.
Should Airbnb hosts provide towels?
The answer is absolutely YES!
Airbnb officially recommends that hosts supply basic hygiene essentials, listing towels as a “must-have bathroom item.” Statistics show that 97% of guests consider towels essential for short-term rentals.
How Many Towels Should an Airbnb Provide?
Hotels typically follow a standard setup of “1 bath towel + 2 hand towels + 1 floor towel per guest.” However, as a short-term rental host, you can adjust your towel supply based on your property type and guest needs.
Basic Setup
- Hand Towels: Provide 1 per guest, replaced daily or every other day.
- Bath Towels: Provide 1 per guest, replaced daily or every other day.
Special Considerations
- Floor Towels: Optional (recommended if the bathroom is slippery).
- Face Towels: 1 per bathroom (if offered).
- Families with Kids: Consider adding child-sized towels.
- Long-Term Stays: Replace towels at least 3 times per week.
- Humid Climates: Increase backup towel stock by 20%.
- Beach/Pool Properties: Provide beach towels (to prevent guests from using bath towels outdoors).
How to Choose the Best Towels for Airbnb?
Selecting towels for vacation rentals may seem simple, but there’s quite a lot to consider in practice. In host communities, this topic always sparks lively discussions – after all, good towels can enhance guest experience, while poor choices may lead to various troubles.
1. Material
Walking into home goods stores, you’ll find towels in various materials that can be overwhelming. Cotton towels remain the top choice for hosts, especially those with thick, plush textures. They absorb well and won’t become stiff even after prolonged use.
Some quality-conscious hosts particularly favor Turkish or Egyptian cotton towels. These feel just like those used in luxury hotels, with exceptionally soft textures. However, note that such premium towels require more delicate care – otherwise, they’ll lose that unique softness after just a few washes.
2. Color
Most Airbnb hosts provide white or ivory towels. This is a smart choice – white not only creates a professional, clean first impression (like hotel-standard service experience), but is also particularly easy to maintain. Even if accidentally stained with makeup or tea, bleach can easily remove it.
Of course, some hosts prefer colored towels to match their room decor. But be aware that dark-colored towels will inevitably fade over time, especially after high-temperature washing. One host friend shared how her carefully selected dark green towels turned grayish-green after six months, forcing her to replace the entire set.
3. Durability
When first starting out, some hosts choose cheap promotional towels from supermarkets. They soon discovered these towels start shedding after just a few washes, with guests complaining about fine lint on their faces after use, and quickly becoming stiff, necessitating replacement.
Therefore, it’s recommended to choose higher-quality towels. Though more expensive per piece, they actually last longer and provide a better guest experience. In the long run, this proves to be the more economical choice.
4. Maintenance
An Airbnb may host hundreds of guests annually, meaning towels will undergo hundreds of wash cycles. So be very careful with textiles requiring special care.
Make sure the towels you buy are machine washable, dryer-safe, and bleach-safe, making them easier for you or your cleaning team to handle.
5. Price
Should you buy expensive or cheap towels? With promotional budget options, you might get complaints about lint and poor absorption. Switching to luxury towels, you may find that the frequent professional cleaning causes rapid depreciation, making costs unaffordable.
After years of practice, we’ve found the most suitable price range for vacation rental towels is $8-15 per towel. This range ensures durability and comfort, lasting 3 times longer than cheap towels while saving 40% on cost compared to premium options.
Ultimately, there’s no standard answer for choosing towels. The key is finding the balance between guest satisfaction and manageable operational burden. We recommend focusing more on practicality and durability – after all, positive reviews and repeat guests are the best returns.
Where to Buy the Best Towels for Airbnb?
Finding the right towels is challenging enough, but knowing where to buy them is another story. As hosts, we want reliable quality while keeping costs under control. Here are my recommended purchasing channels based on years of experience, saving you both time and money.
1. Offline Shopping: For Hosts Who Prefer “See Before You Buy”
If you like to inspect products in person, these physical stores are great options where you can touch the fabric and check thickness/softness.
① Big-Box Retailers (Kohl’s, Target, Walmart)
✅ Pros:
- Frequent promotions
- Easy returns if unsatisfied
⚠ Notes:
- Mostly household-grade towels; avoid overly patterned designs
- Steer clear of “cheap sale items” that shed or deform easily
② Warehouse Clubs (Costco, Sam’s Club)
✅ Pros:
- High cost-performance: Direct from brand manufacturers, more reliable than regular retail
- Bulk discounts: Typically sold in sets of 6 or 12, ideal for hosts needing large quantities
⚠ Notes:
- Membership required (annual fee)
- Limited styles, mainly basic white/neutral colors
③ Hotel Supply Wholesale Markets
If your city has a hotel supply market, it’s worth visiting.
✅ Pros:
- Professional-grade towel samples available
- Custom embroidery/logos (enhances branding)
- Prices 30%-50% lower than retail
⚠ Notes:
- May require bulk purchases
2. Online Shopping: More Options, Easier Price Comparisons
Nowadays, you can buy everything online—including towels. If you don’t have time for in-store shopping, a few taps on your phone can solve all your procurement needs.
① Amazon
- Prime members get free shipping and next-day delivery
- Genuine user reviews (check feedback from other hosts)
- Frequent “Scribers & Save” discounts
② Professional Hotel Supply Websites
These sites cater specifically to commercial clients, ensuring quality:
✔ Advantages:
- Clearly labeled “Commercial Grade” (durable for frequent washing)
- Offer extra-thick options (800+ GSM) not found in retail stores
- “Tagless” designs available (reduces skin irritation for guests)
3. Smart Shopping Tips
- Mix-and-Match Strategy: Use premium towels ($15-20) for the main bathroom, and budget-friendly options ($8-10) for the guest bathroom
- Check Clearance Sections: January & July are peak seasons for hotel linen upgrades—many suppliers discount old stock
- Test Before Bulk Buying: When trying a new brand, purchase 1-2 towels first to check durability after washing
Final Thoughts
As a host, choosing the right Airbnb towels is just one step in creating the perfect short-term rental guest experience. If you want to further improve your property’s setup, we’ve prepared a Vacation Rental Essentials Checklist for your reference.
The day-to-day management of a short-term rental involves many tedious details, each demanding significant time and energy. We recommend using Hostex, a short-term rental management system that handles all key steps from bookings to calendars to cleaning tasks.
By automating 70% of daily repetitive tasks, Hostex lets you focus more energy on enhancing your guests’ experience.
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