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Sure, a bath towel will do the trick, but there’s just something nicer about wearing a robe. (It’s a better cover-up when you want to make yourself decent quick, too.) I’ve been on the Strategist’s bathrobe beat for more than two years now and have tried more than a dozen bathrobes so far. To make this list of the best bathrobes for women, I took a lot of long showers — and judged the comfortability, absorbency, and dry time of every bathrobe I tried out after. I tested everything from “traditional” hotel-style robes to a bath “wrap” that actually stays on (unlike your average towel wrap-around). I also collected recommendations from spa owners, wellness-brand founders, and fellow Strategist staffers — so even if I haven’t tried a bathrobe that’s on this list yet, you can rest assured that someone whose opinion I trust has. And if you’re searching for more loungewear, we have guides to the best pajamas and slippers as well.
Update on November 12, 2024: Added Cozy Earth’s Waffle Bath Robe and PJ Salvage’s Resort Essentials Robe ; added more co-signs for L.L.Bean’s Flannel Robe; updated prices and checked stock for all other bathrobes.
What we’re looking for
Sizing
Oftentimes, bathrobes will come in unisex sizing — with options listed as XS/S instead of the standard single lettering (XS, S, and so forth) — or just one size. I aimed to include recommendations that come in a wide range of sizes overall.
Material
For most people, cotton is the fabric of choice when it comes to bathrobes. There are three well-known types: Egyptian (soft and plush), Turkish (fast-drying), and Supima (similar to Egyptian but not as sumptuous). The type of weave is also important: Terrycloth is practically synonymous with bathrobes because it’s soft, thick, and absorbent due to the way the threads are looped. You’ll also see waffle weaves, which have a textured, square pattern and tend to feel a little rougher.
And although cotton is the clear favorite among those I talked to, there are merits to other materials, so I included some robes that are made from airy linen and warming flannel, for different routines.
I also called out the GSM, or grams per square meter, which measures the weight of a material. GSM is to towels what thread count is to sheets. The higher the number, which can range anywhere from 300 to 900, the heavier the fabric. Though most towel-makers will list the GSM of their towels, a lot of bathrobe brands don’t. (The ones who do tend to boast that their bathrobes are based on their towels, as Brooklinen does.) For that reason, I focused on describing the feel of each bathrobe as much as possible, but I included the GSM when available, as a point of comparison.
Design
What makes choosing a bathrobe simultaneously delightful and difficult is the variety of styles to pick from. For every classic shawl-collar white robe from Frette, there’s a striped, Ferris Bueller–esque one courtesy of Dusen Dusen. The specs of each pick — like whether it features pockets — are noted below.
Price
Some robes are known for their luxury — those marketed as hotel-quality tend to be more expensive — while others are famous for their value, as you can definitely find something perfectly plush on a budget. Our panelists recommended a range of robes at different price points, and each is designated as $ (under $100), $$ (under $150), or $$$ ($150 and up) to make it easier for you to shop.
Best women’s bathrobe overall
Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Turkish cotton (380 GSM)| Design: Cuffed wide sleeves, side pockets | Price: $
Brooklinen’s Super-Plush bathrobe is my recommendation for the best all-around bathrobe on the market. It’s everything I want a robe to be: comfortable, soft, and absorbent. Bragging about the robe has convinced at least two co-workers to get one for themselves, though it also makes a good gift, especially in limited-edition, seasonal colors like yellow and a striped green. The brand makes many of the Strategist’s favorite duvets, sheets, and towels, and the Super-Plush robe is another winner, inspired by the popular towels of the same name.
It’s a high-quality robe at a reasonably low price: A bargain at $99, it often goes on sale for up to 20 percent off. Though it doesn’t have the highest GSM on the list, at 380, I think it has a just-right thickness that’s coddling and not at all stifling. It’s exceptionally fluffy and absorbs water well: I can go straight from the shower to lotioning up and getting dressed without needing another towel. Even after almost four years of wearing and washing it, the robe barely shows any wear.
The only real drawback of the Super-Plush is that the robe only goes to a size XL, so if you need a larger size, you probably want to go for a similar style from Parachute, which I’ve featured below. I took my usual medium (a women’s size 6–8, according to Brooklinen’s size chart, which recommends sizing up if you want a more generous fit). It fits well, as I can tighten the waist tie as needed, and since I’m on the shorter side at about five-foot-two, it falls right above my ankles.
Best (splurge-worthy) bathrobe
Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Organic cotton | Design: Shawl collar, front pockets | Price: $$$
At almost $200, Coyuchi’s Cloud Loom robe is an unquestionable splurge. But it feels wonderful wrapped around my body, and it’s one of the few bathrobes featured here that’s made from organic cotton — the same kind the brand uses in its best-selling bath towels, which are lauded for their absorbency and quick-drying power. Former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson described the towels’ thickness as somewhere between a regular towel and a superthin Turkish peshtemal. In testing the robe, I found it to be a little lighter in weight than the Super-Plush, and a bit more breathable as a result. It’s still just as absorbent — when I put it on right after showering, I dried off quickly. I also found it was a bit looser than the Super-Plush when I tried my usual size, if you like a more relaxed fit.
Best fast-drying bathrobe
Sizes: XS/S–XL/XXL | Material: Organic Turkish cotton (380 GSM) | Design: Ribbing, wide sleeves, side-seam pockets | Price: $$$
Brooklinen’s Organic Ribbed Robe dries faster than the Super-Plush (even with the same GSM of 380). It’s made from Turkish cotton, which is famous for being quick-drying compared to other cottons. Through two months of wearing it almost every day after my shower, I’ve found it to be ridiculously absorbent — I’m dry within minutes — yet it barely feels damp when I hang it back up. You almost wouldn’t be able to tell that I’d worn it, if not for a little wetness at the back of the collar whenever I washed my hair. Although it’s not as soft and fluffy as the Super-Plush, the ribbed texture on the Ribbed Robe is just as pleasing on the skin. Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio, who has also tried both the Super-Plush and the Ribbed Robe, adds that the latter might be better for people who run warm, especially because it has shorter, wider sleeves that allow for more airflow. Another notable difference is the sizing — the Ribbed Robe is a lot looser, with combination sizing (XS/S, M/L, and XL/XXL) for a fit that’s not as close to the body.
Best superplush bathrobes
Sizes: XS–3X | Material: Turkish cotton (450 GSM) | Design: Shawl collar, front pockets | Price: $$
Parachute’s Classic Turkish Cotton Robe is made from a thicker terrycloth than most of the other robes I’ve tried — the Turkish cotton has a GSM of 450, tied for the highest on the list. I’d say it’s even a little plusher than the Super-Plush, for about $30 more. It’s great when you get out of the shower and don’t want to feel even a hint of cold; I feel swaddled while wearing it. Yoga teacher Kate Posch agrees that the robe surrounds you in a feel-good haze, while Dande and the Lion co-founder Heather Pearson calls it the warmest robe she’s ever tried. Another bonus is a larger range of sizes than the Super-Plush, going up to 3X. One drawback is that I’ve noticed it sometimes comes out of the wash with loose threads, particularly on the waist tie, so I’d say it’s best to wash it with other linens or garments that won’t snag on the fabric.
Sizes: S–XL | Material: Cotton terry | Design: Piping, shawl collar, front pockets | Price: $$$
Luxury textiles label Frette was founded in the 19th century, and its high-end linens have been used at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Soho House. The company makes the kinds of classic plush robes that cost a pretty penny. But if you choose H by Frette, the brand’s diffusion line, you can get the same five-star-hotel feel for less. With luxe piping along the collar, waist tie, and sleeves and across the shoulders, this bathrobe is just as lush as you’d imagine, according to Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell, who received it as a gift, but it doesn’t make her overheat like some others. “I mean, it’s Frette — so it’s hard not to feel like a rich bitch when you’ve got it on,” she says.
Best plus-size bathrobe
Sizes: 1–7 (equivalent to 1X to 7X) | Material: Cotton terry | Design: Looped lining, wrap collar, side pockets, hooded | Price: $$$
Arts marketer and Strategist reader Jeanna Vella emailed me to recommend Peridot Robes after browsing an earlier edition of this guide. Peridot is a self-described “fat-femme-owned label” that makes a variety of bathrobe styles in seven sizes, all of which are exclusively designed for people who wear a size 14 to a size 40. The robes are an investment, all at the $200 mark. But according to Vella, who owns three of the four robes the brand makes — the House Kush, Dolly, and Holiday — they feel worth it and high-end. “You can really tell they’ve put in the effort to get them just right,” she says, noting that the robes drape excellently along her curves. Vella reports that the brand’s sizing is fairly generous, and that she was able to size down to get the right fit: “I know a lot of us plus-size people are used to clothes running smaller than the size chart, but that’s not the case with Peridot.” Since the label’s stock is limited at the moment, I’ve featured the Hoodie Robe here, which has all sizes available (and you can sign up for back-in-stock notifications for the brand’s other styles). It’s made from a cotton-terry blend with an absorbent, towel-like lining.
Best patterned bathrobe
Sizes: XS–3X | Material: Cotton terry (450 GSM) | Design: Contrasting-stripe colorway, shawl collar, patch front pockets | Price: $$
You’ve likely seen Dusen Dusen’s robe, which resembles an old-fashioned carnival tent, on the influencer set. It’s just fun, if you’re looking for something more bold. (Ever since I bought mine, I’ve seen bathrobe brands compete to get more colorful — Pleasing’s wavy version is a recent example.) I feel a little bit more cheerful whenever I reach for mine, and I like that rolling up the sleeves reveals a contrasting stripe pattern that matches the waist-tie rather than the rest of the body of the robe. The colorways are appealingly unexpected, pairing orange and green, or pink with blue. The robe feels just as thick and highly absorbent as Dusen Dusen’s bath towels (it’s made with 100 percent cotton terry, which has the same 450 GSM as the Parachute robe above) and doesn’t get too heavy when wet.
Sizes: S–XL | Material: Cotton terry (organic) | Design: Jaguar print (also available in a navy version), shawl collar, patch front pockets | Price: $$$
Those who find Dusen Dusen’s stripes to be a bit much might like the elegant, jaguar-emblazoned Towel Robe from Desmond & Dempsey instead. The pattern reminds me of what you would see on a high-end set of silk pajamas, but rendered on plush and absorbent cotton terry. (The brand often features felines as a motif of its leisurewear line.) The detailing on the jaguars — from the curling tails to the pointed fangs — makes it unique. I found that D&D’s robe is a bit warmer than Dusen Dusen’s, and I felt embraced while wearing it, but not smothered. In testing the robe since October, it has lasted well through multiple washes.
Best hooded bathrobe
Sizes: One size (no size chart listed) | Material: Polyester | Design: Embroidered Soho House logo, hood | Price: $$
Soho Home’s House Robe is made by Frette at a lower price point. It’s made from a recycled polyester that’ll feel softer than a robe made from cotton terry, though with a similar shaggy look. This robe is the same one Soho House uses in its bedrooms and Cowshed spas — it even has the embroidered company logo. Leah Yari, co-founder of nail-polish brand Côte, first came across it at the Soho Farmhouse hotel in the U.K. “After a long day of travel, wrapping up in this fluffy cloud was my antidote to drizzly weather and jet lag,” Yari says. She describes it as “wonderfully snug.” (You can get it monogrammed for an additional $35, as well.)
Best monogrammable bathrobe
Sizes: S/M–2XL/3XL | Material: Micro cotton | Design: Piping, front pockets, shawl collar | Price: $$
Hill House Home’s claim to fame is the brand’s well-known Nap Dress. Its Hotel Robe has that same Petit Trianon–ness, and it comes in a handful of colors and patterns, including classic white with unique rainbow piping and florals reminiscent of 17th-century French textiles. The robe is also one of few on this list that you can get monogrammed, with a choice of six styles and 13 thread colors, for an additional $15. It’s a little luxury, but one that makes the robe feel accessibly extravagant. It’s made of a trademarked material called micro cotton, an even smoother texture than the Super-Plush. It’s spongy, soft, and light. Note that stock sometimes fluctuates, so don’t dillydally.
Best (splurgeworthy) monogrammable bathrobe
Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Cotton terry | Design: Piping (customizable), front pockets | Price: $$$
Matouk has been mentioned repeatedly when we’ve asked around about luxe linens. And while the Cairo Robe is the most expensive bathrobe on this list, it’s a worthwhile investment quality-wise. Greer Simpkins, designer of lingerie label Hello Beautiful, says that while most of her robes are secondhand, the Cairo was worth the splurge for the craftsmanship. It’s manufactured in Fall River, Massachusetts, and the long-staple cotton terry is made in Portugal. (“Long-staple” refers to the length of the fibers, with longer meaning stronger.) The fabric feels “truly lavish,” she says, which also helps justify the price tag. You can choose between several colors of piping, and the robe can be monogrammed for an extra $21 — there are 20 different monogram styles and more than three dozen thread colors, as well as the option to have your monogram on the front or back of the robe.
Best lightweight bathrobe
Size: One size (that fits up to a size 16, according to the brand) | Material: Cotton | Design: Striped design, front pockets | Price: $$
If a classic bathrobe is a tad subdued for your taste, take a cue from Charlotte Palermino, co-founder of Nice Paper, who favors this colorful Bathen robe. “The stripes make me feel like I’m about to walk out onto my private veranda somewhere on the Riviera — not stress-listening to the news while I do my skin-care routine,” she says. The cotton is fast-drying — another draw for Palermino. “Most bathrobes are too heavy or feel like damp housecoats when I’m done with them,” she says. Instead of the traditional terry cloth, Bathen’s robe is made from a cotton that isn’t looped, feeling lighter by comparison. It’s soft but never feels flimsy. I’d describe the robe as airy and billowy, draping right along my curves. I’ll put it on while getting ready, when I’m not entirely dry but not dripping wet either. It’s best washed in cold water on a delicate cycle and hung to dry to prevent wrinkles. And a fun fact: Singer Rita Ora wore this robe on her wedding day.
(Another colorful robe that earned high praise is Block Shop’s Sidewinder Robe, which publicist Linlee Allen-Homs introduced me to. “I might not resemble David Hockney’s Beverly Hills Housewife,” she says, “but when I’m wearing this robe, standing in my 90210 garden, morning coffee in hand, I surely feel like one.” (It comes in petite plus sizes as well, which is a rarity.)
Best short bathrobe
Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Cotton, rayon, polyester | Design: Striped pattern, shawl collar, side pockets | Price: $
Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid couldn’t get this bathrobe out of her head after seeing it on the second floor of Zitomer. She ended up ordering the robe online, and she has been impressed with its quality in the two months since it arrived. The outside of the robe soaks up water easily while not getting soggy, and the inside feels almost velvety on. “It’s actually pretty luxurious,” she says. Because it’s a short bathrobe — the hem hits right around mid-thigh — you won’t feel overheated right after a hot shower. But it’s warm enough to wear over pajamas, as Reid sometimes does. (Just note that it runs a little on the small side, so you might want to order one size up.)
Best bath wrap
Sizes: XXS–XXL | Material: Pima cotton | Design: Cross-back straps, wraparound, Velcro tabs | Price: $
Lake is a favorite pajama brand among Strategist staffers, with writers Dominique Pariso and Liza Corsillo as on-the-record fans. This bath wrap is made from the same supersoft Pima cotton Lake uses in those pajamas, and though I worried it would immediately get soggy with shower water, instead I felt like it gently patted me dry. Still, it’s not the robe I’d reach for first when I’m dripping — I think it’s best for post-post shower, when you’re getting ready and your skin is still slightly damp. The wrap is leagues better than just wrapping a towel around my torso; the Velcro tabs stay securely closed, so I don’t ever feel like it might fall off (I have accidentally caught the ends of my hair on the tabs while in a rush, though).
Best waffle bathrobe
Sizes: XS–L | Material: Turkish cotton (waffle weave) | Design: Front pockets, folded collar | Price: $
I considered the waffle robes from Parachute (which Girls’ Night In founder Alisha Ramos, likes for its “spa-like vibes”) and Brooklinen (a favorite of waffle-weave aficionado Carrie Carrollo, a digital creator). But ultimately, the $50 price point of Quince’s very respectable waffle-weave robe was too irresistible. If you’re unfamiliar with the company, it’s similar to Everlane in ethos: producing high-quality items with more pricing transparency and no middlemen. I tried this version myself — and it was the robe I reached for most throughout this past summer. I’d compare the robe to Bathen’s above in its weight and texture: lighter, gauzier. The robe’s thinness means it’s not the one for you if you tend to shiver after a shower. But when it’s hot, the Turkish Waffle Robe really is the closest thing to wearing nothing at all when you’re drying off.
Best (splurge-worthy) waffle bathrobe
Sizes: XS–XXL | Material: Cotton and viscose | Design: Cuffable wide sleeves, shawl collar, front pockets | Price: $$$
For the longest time, Strategist writer Rachael Griffiths was between bathrobes, having thrown out an old fleece one and put off finding a replacement. Then Cozy Earth offered to send this bathrobe, and “it’s materially changed my life for the better,” Griffiths says. The entirety of her beauty routine is done in it — every skin-care step and hair drying — and she adds, “with my bathrobe on and a roller in my bangs I feel in my natural habitat.” (She even went for the charcoal color out of an abundance of caution: “I fake tan and dye my hair red, so the white wouldn’t have stood a chance.”) While Griffiths always pats dry with a towel after a shower to avoid the sensory overload of wet-arm-in-sleeve, she has sometimes thrown the bathrobe straight on and it doesn’t feel overwhelming. It has a plush thickness that makes her feel as though she’s checked into a fancy spa while laying in bed. “It’s the spa-quality robe I’ve always yearned for,” she says.
(If you can swing more of a splurge, Onsen makes another wonderful waffle-weave robe. It dries me off quickly, and the hood acts as a hair towel whenever I don’t want to wrap the top of my head in one.)
Best fleece bathrobe
Sizes: S/M–4XL | Material: Polyester fleece | Design: Embroidered logo on chest | Price: $
The Madonna Inn is named after construction magnate Alex Madonna, not that Madonna. Famous for its all-pink aesthetic, the motel loans cotton-candy-colored robes to guests — and Strategist writer Katherine Gillespie became obsessed with hers during a stay there. The fleece is made from a fluffy polyester. (If you want a robe that’s more breathable, made from natural fibers, one like Brooklinen’s Super-Plush is a better bet.) The fabric has maintained its soft-to-the-touch feel with a high-enough pile “that you can put the robe on straight out of the shower and dry off fairly instantly,” Gillespie says. But absorbency aside, it’s also something “grand and glamorous” to wear while swanning around her apartment — Gillespie feels like Jayne Mansfield in her “pink palace” whenever she has the robe on. It’s a hotel bathrobe from an actual hotel, after all: “Hotel-branded robes are a huge move in general, and this one is perhaps the silliest and least sexy one available — but a lot of fun.”
Best flannel bathrobe
Sizes: S–XXXL (men’s) | Material: Cotton flannel | Design: Yarn-dyed tartan, chest pocket, front pockets | Price: $
If warmth is what you want, you can’t go wrong with flannel. This flannel robe from L.L.Bean men’s department is made from a longer-staple cotton that’s checked by a master weaver to make sure it’s soft enough (according to the brand). Because it’s made from natural fibers, it won’t keep moisture in as synthetic fibers do, explains Nico Lazaro, editorial manager for Buck Mason, in our guide to the best men’s bathrobes. Lazaro grew up wearing the robe. It’s also a favorite of New England dads, including Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo’s — he’s had one since the 1990s. Dancer Eva Alt borrows it from her boyfriend because it’s “insanely warm.” It’ll be generous in sizing in the men’s version, while the women’s version comes in petite, regular, and plus sizes for those wanting a robe that’s more closer-fitting.
Some more bathrobes we’ve written about
Our experts
• Karen Iorio Adelson, former Strategist senior writer
• Linlee Allen-Homs, publicist
• Eva Alt, dancer and consultant
• Carrie Carrollo, writer and digital creator
• Katherine Gillespie, Strategist writer
• Rachael Griffiths, Strategist writer
• Athena Hewett, founder of Monastery
• Daphne Javitch, wellness coach
• Grace Lee, founder of Birdy Grey
• Latifah Miles, former Strategist writer
• Jenna Milliner-Waddell, Strategist associate editor
• Charlotte Palermino, co-founder of Nice Paper
• Jenefer Palmer, founder and formulator of OSEA Skincare
• Reshma Patel, founder of jewelry store Quiet Storms
• Heather Pearson, co-founder of Dande and the Lion
• Ysa Pérez, photographer
• Kate Posch, yoga teacher
• Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, founder of Chillhouse
• Hilary Reid, Strategist senior editor
• Nikita Richardson, New York Times senior staff editor
• Hailey Rizzo, blogger behind Feeling Good as Hail
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer
• Greer Simpkins, designer of Hello Beautiful
• Charlotte Stone, founder of Charlotte Stone
• Lexi Tawes, brand consultant
• Jeanna Vella, arts marketer
• Leah Yari, co-founder of Côte
Additional reporting by Amanda Fitzsimons and Hilary Reid.
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