The 13 Best Dish Towels for Every Budget

If you can't remember the last time you replaced your dish towels, it's probably time to do a little shopping and upgrade your kitchen linens. Dish towels may seem like a pretty straightforward kitchen staple, but because you likely use yours multiple times throughout the day to dry your hands, polish your dishes, and mop up messy spills, it's actually worth taking the time to find the right set for your home.

A quick scan of some major retailers, like Amazon, reveals a huge variety of dish towel options. Along with an array of colors and patterns, you can choose from different materials, including cotton, microfiber, and even bamboo and flour sack dish towels, depending on your needs (and your kitchen's style).

For instance, cotton dish towels are sure to get the job done and look thick and fluffy when not in use, while microfiber options are great for polishing glassware and absorbing moisture quickly. Then there are newer alternatives, like bamboo and flour sack towels. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial, and it can even act as an insect repellent, while flour sack material is ideal for shining glassware and cleaning pesky stains.

No matter the material or color, there are plenty of affordable dish towels to choose from—when it comes to this kitchen necessity, even high-quality brands come at super reasonable prices. So what are you waiting for? Here, the 13 best dish towels under $30, according to thousands of customers, to start shopping right now.

• Best Overall: Utopia Kitchen Towels
• Best Dish Cloths:DII Terry Kitchen Dish Cloths
• Best Cotton:Sticky Toffee Cotton Terry Kitchen Dish Towels
• Best Microfiber: Hyer Kitchen Microfiber Kitchen Towels
• Best for Big Messes: Fecido Classic Kitchen Dish Towels with Hanging Loop
• Best Design: The Pioneer Woman Fiona Kitchen Towels
• Best Flour Sack: Utopia Kitchen Flour Sack Dish Towels
• Best Bamboo: Luckiss Bamboo Dish Cloths
• Best Splurge: Martha Stewart Waffle Weave Kitchen Towels
• Top-Rated: Sweidish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths
• Most Durable: Zeppoli Classic Kitchen Towels
• Best Value: Amour Infini Terry Dish Cloths
• Best Waffle Weave: Homaxy Waffle Weave Kitchen Dish Cloths

Best Overall: Utopia Kitchen Towels

These classic kitchen towels from Utopia are one of Amazon's best-selling set of dish towels. This set of 12 dual-colored towels will only set you back $17 (that comes out to less than $2 a towel), but they're made of high-quality ring spun cotton. The woven design makes them soft yet durable, and their 15-by-25-inch size allows for absorbency. Plus, they come in a variety of classic colors to fit in with most kitchen aesthetics. Over 3,300 Amazon shoppers have left the towels five-star reviews, including this customer, who wrote, "I've found far too many kitchen towels that aren't absorbent at all—they just push the liquid around making more of a mess. These don't have that problem—they do the job and look good, too."

BUY IT: $16.99 (orig. $21.99); amazon.com

Best Dish Cloths: DII Terry Kitchen Dish Cloths

If you're in the market for affordable towels that will get the job done (and look good hanging in your kitchen), consider these dish cloths from DII. Available on Amazon for just $11, the set includes six cotton towels featuring a traditional windowpane design. They're lightweight, absorbent, and machine-washable for easy cleaning. Plus, you can choose to buy them in an array of fun colors, like aqua, eggplant, or spice. According to customer reviews, these towels are a great value. Many customers noted that the colors held up after multiple washes, and the thin material allows the cloths to dry quickly. "I like them so much, I'm buying another set. I highly recommend them," one shopper wrote.

BUY IT: $10.77; amazon.com

Best Cotton: Sticky Toffee Cotton Terry Kitchen Dish Towels

These are made with 100 percent high-quality terry cotton for a durable, absorbent cloth that's perfect for drying dishes and cleaning up big spills. Available in multiple colors—including gray, yellow, blue, and red—the four-piece set features a textured design with symmetrical striped detailing for a simple look that'll easily match any kitchen decor. "I love these towels," one Amazon shopper wrote. "They dry up better than any others I have used! The texture is absorbent but not rough. They did not lint in the wash, and they look great hanging in our kitchen."

BUY IT: $14.99; amazon.com

Best Microfiber: Hyer Kitchen Microfiber Kitchen Towels

Microfiber dish towels are typically more absorbent than cotton and dry very quickly, making them a great option if you're looking for towels to wipe up spills or dry dishes in the kitchen. The material is ideal for drying glassware without leaving scratches or streaks behind, and Hyer Kitchen's microfiber kitchen towels are some of the best, according to thousands of Amazon shoppers. They measure 26 by 18 inches wide, offering a large, absorbant surface for polishing dishes and wiping up spills. Plus, they'll remain soft and plush, even after multiple washes. "They absorb really well, the colors are simple and nice, they seem like good quality, wash out well, and have stayed soft," said a reviewer.

BUY IT: $15.99 (orig. $20.99);amazon.com

Best for Big Messes: Fecido Classic Kitchen Dish Towels with Hanging Loop

When it comes to tackling big messes, you'll need thicker and ultra-absorbent towels, like these cotton ones from Fecido. Measuring 19 by 27 inches, the large towels are made of 100 percent cotton designed to quickly and efficiently dry dishes and wipe away liquids. "These things suck up water like a siphon in a swimming pool," one shopper wrote. Not only are they highly functional, but the towels also come in a variety of cute colors, like red, light green, purple, and silver gray, that complement their classic checkered patterns.

BUY IT: $16.99; amazon.com

Best Design: The Pioneer Woman Fiona Kitchen Towels

When it comes to decorative dish towels, look no further than Walmart's selection of colorful, patterned towels from Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman, including this blue and red set of four. Consistent with Drummond's signature farmhouse style, these towels feature whimsical floral patterns in bright, cheery hues that would bring a welcome pop of color to any kitchen. In addition to their playful look, they're made of a cotton and polyester blend that's durable enough for everyday use. Reviewers love that the affordable set comes with four towels, and many noted that the cloths are great for cleaning and adding a touch of style to their space.

BUY IT: $10.88; walmart.com

Best Flour Sack: Utopia Kitchen Flour Sack Dish Towels

Despite the name, these towels are not actually made of flour sacks. Rather, the material consists of thin cotton threads for a super lightweight towel that's ideal for drying glassware and hands—or even for using as a cheese strainer. This set of 12 towels from Utopia Kitchen is made of 100 percent pure ring spun cotton with a diagonal knit for style. They're machine-washable, lint-free, and surprisingly absorbent as long as you wash them before the first use, reviewers say. "I absolutely love these towels," one shopper wrote. "Super absorbent [and] will do everything from dry dishes to get dog pee out of the carpet."

BUY IT: $16.99; amazon.com

Best Bamboo: Luckiss Bamboo Dish Cloths

If you've never thought to buy bamboo dish towels before, this set might sway you to ditch your cotton ones for good. Made of 100 percent bamboo, the sustainable towels are soft, quick-drying, and ultra-absorbent. The non-abrasive material makes them ideal for drying delicate cookware and plates without leaving behind scratches, but they're also great for wiping up spills. In fact, they can absorb liquid up to seven times their size. You can even use them to clean electronics, mirrors, and dusty furniture. One Amazon reviewer said the towels are "super absorbent and easy to wring out," adding that they do a better job than traditional cotton towels.

BUY IT: $13.89; amazon.com

Best Splurge: Martha Stewart Waffle Weave Kitchen Towels

For just a slightly higher price tag, you can snag these modern waffle weave dish towels from the curated Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's. The set of three comes in timeless color palettes, including gray, navy, red, and taupe, for an elegant look that'll go nicely with any kitchen decor. The 20-by-30-inch towels are made of 100 percent cotton and have a waffle weave texture for a stylish yet functional kitchen essential that's worth splurging on. "I have purchased Martha Stewart's kitchen towels for the last seven years. The towels are super absorbent and extremely well made," one person wrote. "I recently purchased some red and green towels to go with my kitchen update. The green towels are gorgeous with the new kitchen look so of course I purchased more green towels."

BUY IT: $29; macys.com

Top-Rated: Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths

Amazon's best-selling dishcloths, these sponge cloths each have different textured sides—one with criss-cross stitching and one with linear stitching—for serious absorbency and durability. They're designed to combine elements of traditional hand towels with those of cellulose sponges, and they can absorb over 20 times their weight. You can use them to scrub, wipe, and polish dishes and countertops. More than 5,000 Amazon shoppers gave this 10-pack of dish towels a perfect five-star review, and many say they're better than traditional cloths. "They are very absorbent, yet easy to wring out completely (and I mean completely!) after use," wrote one reviewer. "And as advertised, they don't stink!"

BUY IT: $19.95 (orig. $24.99); amazon.com

Most Durable: Zeppoli Classic Kitchen Towels

One set of these classic kitchen towels includes 15 durable cloths made with 100 percent cotton. They're made with strong fibers that are designed to stand the test of time but are still soft enough to safely dry dishes and silverware without leaving scratches behind. Thanks to a herringbone weave, they're also lightweight, absorbent, and quick-drying, which reduces the risk of mildew and bacteria. The dish cloths have over 2,000 perfect five-star reviews, so you can trust that they'll get the job done. "These lovely towels are durable, have a nice tight weave, and hold up with lots of use. I highly recommend these," one Amazon shopper said.

BUY IT: $16.99 (orig. $19.99); amazon.com

Best Value: Amour Infini Terry Dish Cloths

This set of eight 12-by-12-inch dish cloths for $15 is a great value. The 100 percent cotton towels are available in a variety of solid and checkered colors, and they're machine-washable. Thousands of Amazon shoppers are fans of the simple towels, and as one reviewer summed it up, it's "a great pack of dishcloths at a wonderful price!"

BUY IT: $14.99 (orig. $15.99); amazon.com

Best Waffle Weave: Homaxy Waffle Weave Kitchen Dish Cloths

Waffle weave dish cloths not only have a specific look, but they also have a smart design that makes them extra durable and absorbent. They're tough enough to scrub big messes and wipe up major spills with ease. Each square towel in this six-pack comes with a convenient hanging hook for easy storage and drying. "These towels are beautiful, absorbent, [and the] perfect thickness for dish-wiping and all kinds of kitchen use," said one of hundreds of satisfied reviewers on Amazon.

BUY IT: $14.99; amazon.com