Yahoo Life Shopping
Why you can trust us

We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals.

Refresh your bathroom for less — these fun hand towels start at just $5

Take it from me, a home editor: The little cloths can really brighten a space. Mix and match colors, patterns or both!

Checkered hand towels are shown stacked for Yahoo's trend piece on graphic hand towels
Check, please! Graphic hand towels are all the rage. Grab them in different patterns and colors to brighten your (or someone else's) day. (Amazon)

A vibrant hand towel has the power to zhuzh up a bathroom or kitchen in a matter of seconds, not to mention add another layer of comfort and personality that'll impress guests. In graphic or abstract patterns, the cloths are almost like modern art for your domain, and they're easy and affordable to integrate into what you already have (don't worry too much about matching your existing towels or decor — the contrast is half the fun of it!).

Quick overview
See 6 more

As a decor chameleon and small-space dweller, I frequently refresh, or at least rotate, my hand towels as a low-effort, low-cost way to update my apartment every few weeks or months. What better way to welcome a new season? And as a home editor who happens to shop — and test towels — for a living, I'd like to think I have a pretty good handle on the brands and patterns that are worth the squeeze (read: will transform your pad and rake in the compliments).

Whether you're looking for checks, stripes, florals or celestial scenes (we've got some reversibles in the mix for added value), keep scrolling for a spectrum of eye-catching, absorbent hand towels that are almost too nice to use. For more inspiration, check out our guides to the best bath towels and tips for making your bathroom feel like a high-end spa.

Adding a burst of color is a breeze with this brightly checkered set from Jacquotha. You can nab a set of four hand towels in the same shade, or opt for the multicolored pack, shown, with a shade to mark each season or different room tones. They're packed with personality, known for their durability and they ring in at under $5 a pop.

Jacquotha's Wavy Striped Hand Towels or Holiday Patterns are also great for bundling up! 

$23 at Amazon

Simple yet striking, these block print-style hand towels leverage lines and shapes to re-create nature's astonishments. These tonal sun and moon-inspired designs go hand-in-hand ⁠— with each other, as well as many of the other patterns in the brand's collection.

$18 at Amazon

For a subtle take on geometric shapes, consider this strategically textured hand towel from Target's Threshold line. The lattice pattern, available for only $10 a piece, is giving us "Great Gatsby" vibes. I also scooped up Threshold's Modern Sculpted Towel in Green, recently back in stock, for Christmas time.

$10 at Target

For deeper shades — and a slightly more elevated look — we're loving Baggu's jewel-checked offering, which features two tonal checkered panels on one towel. At $17 each, these are more affordable than similar high-end styles. I've been using Baggu's hand towels for a while now and can attest that the colors and fabrics hold up. (I recently swapped in this very pattern, also available in bath towel and reusable bag form, for fall).

$34 at Baggu

Split the check, literally, for more of a mosaic look, which comes in a deep green (or black) and cream pattern, as a hand towel, bath towel or bath mat, for an aesthetic that's equal parts retro and refined. I also love and own Slowtide's Gigi collection, featuring checks with daisies at the center, for a whimsical take on vintage style.

$20 at Nordstrom

This cottagey pattern from print-maker Ellen Merchant's collaboration with Anthropologie, available in two color combos, borders florals with stripes for a funkier feel. Bonus: The motif is mirrored on both ends, meaning it can be seen from either side if the towel is hung on a ladder or in an open space ... no hiding beauty here! 

(We also like these floral/striped hand towels on Amazon for those who'd like to achieve the look for less.)

$20 at Anthropologie

Stripes are a classic — and Brooklinen's Super-Plush towels, among our best towel picks, serve them up nice and cozy. Grab them in the brand's Botanical Green/Cream combo, shown, Striped Midnight Navy or limited-edition patterns as part of Brooklinen's KULE collaboration. May we suggest a matching set of bath towels and robe for completing the scene?

$41 at Brooklinen

This space dye design blends three colors on a single thread for a an eye-catching result that, depending on the context, spans from sophisticated to trippy. The versatility makes this hand towel, also available as washcloths and bath towels, particularly gift-worthy (we prefer Peacock, Gray and Terracotta for the bath and Mustard, Olive and Flax for the kitchen).

$20 at Hawkins New York

Why choose one color combo when you can have four? At least, that seems to be the thinking behind this multifaceted design from Geometry. The brand, which specializes in exclusive illustrations (aka one-of-a-kind pieces) for a fairly reasonable price, recently launched double-sided tea towels for those who want the flexibility of a different pattern on front and back (we also like this scribble print for something a bit more abstract).

$14 at Geometry

Dusen Dusen towels are among the most luxurious (read: saturated and soft) patterns we've tested, its House Stripe collection a popular pick for brightening up would-be cabanas and guest rooms. Most of the brand's towels and accessories are reversible with different colors on each side, so it's like getting two pieces — or at least looks — in one, particularly appealing for smaller budgets and accommodations. 

$22 at Dusen Dusen

Playing with different stripe colors and widths lends a more contemporary feel — and each hand towel in this trio is reversible, so you're getting six looks per set (a steal!). It's sold by none other than the MoMA Design Store, solidifying it as a literal art collection and a great gift for fellow design enthusiasts.

$45 at MoMA Design Store