Bedding & Bath
Organic Towels
An organic towel is a cotton towel certified to GOTS, which follows the fiber from an organic farm through spinning, weaving and dyeing to the finished product. Softness, weight and absorbency are not part of any certification. Each pick below states GOTS on the brand's own product page, and we note what else it claims.
What organic means here
Towels are a single textile, so GOTS can cover the finished product. USDA says textiles that meet GOTS may be sold as organic in the United States. This page lists towels whose brand states GOTS on the product page. OEKO-TEX Standard 100, MADE SAFE and Fair Trade claims are noted as extras, not substitutes.
Look for
- "GOTS certified" on the product page or hang tag, ideally with a licence number
- Fiber content of 100% organic cotton, stated on the label
- An OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate number if that label is claimed
- The weight in GSM if you care about thickness: it is a spec, not a certification
Be wary of
- "Made with organic cotton" and no standard or certifier named
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 presented as proof the cotton is organic
- "Bamboo" towels called organic with no certificate behind the claim
Products that carry the certification
We have not tested these products. Each one was checked against the brand’s own page and the certifier’s records. Product links may be affiliate links: if you buy through one we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we choose.
Photo: Under the Canopy 1Under the CanopyLicence number on the pageClassic Organic Towel
A 650 GSM towel of 100% organic cotton, made with ring-spun, low-twist yarn. The product page says it is certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard and prints the licence number, and that it is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified with the certificate number and institute named.
Good to know: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a test for harmful substances and is separate from the organic claim. The link goes to the white colorway.
Checked against: underthecanopy.com
View at brand siteunderthecanopy.com
Photo: Boll & Branch 2Boll & BranchDense terry loopsPlush Bath Towel
A terry towel that the brand describes as its most substantial bath fabric, woven from 100% organic cotton. The product page states that this is a GOTS Certified product and that each component of this OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified product has been tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances.
Good to know: The page prints no GOTS licence number beside the claim; the brand links to a separate certifications page. Look the brand up in the GOTS database if you want the scope.
Checked against: bollandbranch.com
View at brand sitebollandbranch.com
Photo: Naturepedic 3NaturepedicTerry set with MADE SAFE statedOrganic Cotton Terry Bath Towels
A terry towel set in 100% organic cotton with a dense loop weave. The product page lists the material as GOTS-certified organic cotton terry and the certifications as GOTS and MADE SAFE, and says the towels are made in India in a GOTS-certified organic facility.
Good to know: MADE SAFE is an ingredient screen and not an organic certification. Sold as a set.
Checked against: naturepedic.com
View at Naturepedicnaturepedic.com
Photo: Delilah Home 4Delilah HomeHeavy 700 GSM, bath sheet option100% Organic Cotton Bath Towels Collection
A towel collection sold by the piece, from wash cloths to an extra large bath sheet. The product page says the towels are made with 100% organic Turkish cotton certified to the GOTS standard, at a weight of 700 GSM.
Good to know: The page words the GOTS claim around the cotton and prints no licence number, so confirm the finished towel's status in the GOTS database or with the brand. It also claims a vegan certification that this site does not track.
Checked against: delilahhome.com
View at brand sitedelilahhome.com
- 5CoyuchiTwill weave, lighter weight
Air Weight Organic Towels, 6 Piece Set
A six-piece set of twill-weave towels. The product page lists 100% organic cotton grown and woven in India and states GOTS, Fair Trade and MADE SAFE certification together. The set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two wash cloths.
Good to know: The page states the three certifications in one line without saying what each covers or printing a licence number. The link goes to one colorway of a set; single towels are sold on other pages.
Checked against: coyuchi.com
View at Coyuchicoyuchi.com
Products with a photo are shown first; otherwise the order says nothing about quality. Certifications can lapse: check the certifier’s database before you buy.
What GOTS covers on a towel
GOTS requires certification of every processing stage from organic fiber to finished product. The fiber has to be certified organic, grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or GMOs. The standard also restricts chemical inputs in processing and sets wastewater and social criteria.
Its "organic" label grade needs at least 95 percent certified organic fibers. "Made with organic materials" needs at least 70 percent. A cotton towel should sit in the first grade. For the wider picture, see our guide to what organic means on products that are not food.
What the other labels add
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 means the finished textile passed lab tests for harmful substances, with every thread and accessory tested against a list of more than 1,000 substances. It says nothing about organic farming, so it is an extra, not a substitute.
MADE SAFE screens ingredients against a banned list that its owner puts at more than 15,000 substances. Fair Trade claims on towels are about the factory or the trade terms and are not organic certifications.
| Label | Answers this question |
|---|---|
| GOTS | Was the cotton organic and processed to the standard? |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Did the finished towel pass tests for harmful substances? |
| MADE SAFE | Were banned ingredients kept out? |
Weight, weave and what no label measures
GSM, short for grams per square meter, is how brands state towel weight. The picks above range from a lighter twill weave to a 700 GSM terry. That number is the brand's own spec. No organic certification measures absorbency, softness or how long a towel lasts, and we have not tested any of them.
Weave names such as terry, twill and waffle describe construction only. Pick by the feel you like, after you have checked the certification.
How to check a towel claim
- 1
Find the number
Look for a GOTS licence number on the product page, hang tag or sewn-in label. One pick above prints it on the page.
- 2
Search the public database
GOTS keeps a database of certified suppliers, updated by its approved certification bodies. Search for the brand or its manufacturer.
- 3
Check any OEKO-TEX number
Enter the certificate number in the OEKO-TEX Label Check to confirm it is valid.
Questions people ask
Are organic towels more absorbent than regular towels?
No certification says so. GOTS covers how the cotton was grown and how the fabric was processed. Absorbency depends on things brands describe in their own specs, such as weight in GSM, loop construction and yarn twist. We have not tested any towel, so read those specs as the brand's claims and choose the construction you prefer.
Is Turkish or Egyptian cotton organic?
Those names describe where the cotton was grown or what type it is. They are not certifications. Cotton from any country can be conventional or organic. One pick on this page is described as organic Turkish cotton certified to the GOTS standard, and it is the GOTS claim, not the origin, that makes it organic.
Can towels carry the USDA Organic seal?
Rarely. USDA says a textile may display the USDA Organic seal only if the finished product is certified under the USDA organic regulations. It also says textiles that meet GOTS may be sold as organic in the United States, without the USDA seal. The towels on this page make GOTS claims and none claims the USDA seal.
What about organic towels for babies?
Hooded baby towels and washcloths are textiles like any other, and the same GOTS check applies. This page covers adult bath towels. For the things that touch a baby's skin most, such as organic swaddles, we list picks on their own pages with the relevant safety rules alongside.
Sources
Each page was opened and read on October 11, 2026.
Keep reading
Bedding & BathOrganic BathrobesCotton robes whose brands state GOTS on the product page, in waffle, velour and lightweight weaves.
Bedding & BathOrganic SheetsSheet sets whose brands state GOTS certification, and how that differs from OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
Home & KitchenOrganic Kitchen Towels & LinensKitchen towels and cloths checked for GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100 on the brand's own product page.
GuideGOTS vs OEKO-TEXGOTS certifies organic fiber and processing. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 tests the finished item for harmful substances.