Christmas Guest Towels: What to Buy, How to Use Them, and What to Skip

Christmas guest towels are one of those small details that most people skip and that make a big difference. They’re the towels you put out for guests during the holiday season, and they’re the touch that makes a bathroom feel festive without requiring a full decoration overhaul. The problem is that most people either skip guest towels entirely (they just use their regular towels) or buy the cheapest ones they can find (thin, printed towels that look like they came from a dollar store). The right guest towels are quality, festive, and make the bathroom feel polished. This guide covers what to buy, how to use them, and what to skip.

Christmas guest towels cover the hand towels, finger towels, and washcloths used for guests during the holiday season. The best guest towels are quality, festive, and well-placed. The worst are thin, cheap, and so busy with patterns that they look chaotic.

The right Christmas guest towels make the bathroom feel festive and polished. Here’s what to buy, how to use them, and what to skip.

Types of Christmas Guest Towels

Hand Towels

Hand towels are the most common type of Christmas guest towel. They’re the towels you place by the sink for guests to dry their hands.

What to look for:

• A quality material (100% cotton or linen, not microfiber)
• A weight of at least 500gsm (thick enough to absorb, not thin and flimsy)
• A simple, elegant design (a holiday motif, a solid color, or a simple pattern)
• A set of 2 to 4 towels (so you have backups)
• A size that fits the towel bar or the towel ring (standard is 16 x 28 inches)
• A hanging loop or a tag (for easy hanging)

What to skip:

• Towels that are too thin (they don’t absorb)
• Towels with busy patterns (large Santa faces, full scenes)
• Towels that aren’t cotton or linen (microfiber feels cheap)
• Towels without a hanging loop (they’re hard to hang)

Price range: $10 to $25 for a set of 2 to 4.

Finger Towels

Finger towels are the smaller, more formal version of hand towels. They’re the towels you place on a tray or a counter for a more formal guest bathroom.

What to look for:

• A quality material (100% cotton or linen)
• A weight of at least 400gsm
• A simple, elegant design (a holiday motif, a border, or a monogram)
• A set of 4 to 6 towels (enough for a party)
• A size that fits a tray or a counter (standard is 11 x 18 inches)

What to skip:

• Finger towels that are too thin
• Finger towels with busy patterns
• Finger towels that aren’t cotton or linen

Price range: $10 to $20 for a set of 4 to 6.

Washcloths

Washcloths are the small towels you place by the sink for guests who need to wash their face or hands more thoroughly.

What to look for:

• A quality material (100% cotton)
• A weight of at least 400gsm
• A simple, elegant design (a holiday motif or a solid color)
• A set of 4 to 6 washcloths
• A size that fits the towel bar or a tray (standard is 13 x 13 inches)

What to skip:

• Washcloths that are too thin
• Washcloths with busy patterns
• Washcloths that aren’t cotton

Price range: $8 to $15 for a set of 4 to 6.

Kitchen Towels

Kitchen towels are the holiday towels you place in the kitchen for guests to dry their hands or for you to use while cooking.

What to look for:

• A quality material (100% cotton or linen)
• A weight of at least 400gsm
• A simple, elegant design (a holiday motif, a solid color, or a simple pattern)
• A set of 2 to 4 towels
• A size that fits the oven handle or a towel bar (standard is 16 x 26 inches)
• A hanging loop or a tag

What to skip:

• Kitchen towels that are too thin (they don’t absorb)
• Kitchen towels with busy patterns
• Kitchen towels that aren’t cotton or linen

Price range: $10 to $20 for a set of 2 to 4.

How to Use Christmas Guest Towels

For the Guest Bathroom

The guest bathroom is the main place for Christmas guest towels. They’re the touch that makes the bathroom feel festive.

How to do it:

1. Choose a set of 2 to 4 holiday hand towels
2. Place one towel on the towel bar or the towel ring
3. Place a finger towel on the counter or a tray (for a more formal look)
4. Place a washcloth on the counter or a tray (for guests who need it)
5. Add a small holiday arrangement on the counter (a small candle, a small greenery sprig)

Tip: Choose a towel color that coordinates with your bathroom decor. Good combinations: red and white, green and cream, or neutral.

For the Kitchen

Kitchen towels are the way to add a holiday touch to the kitchen. They’re the towels you place on the oven handle or a towel bar.

How to do it:

1. Choose a set of 2 to 4 holiday kitchen towels
2. Place one towel on the oven handle
3. Place one towel on a towel bar (if there is one)
4. Keep the other towels as backups (in a drawer or a closet)

Tip: Choose a towel that’s quality enough to use but festive enough to display.

For a Holiday Party

For a holiday party, guest towels are the way to make the bathroom feel prepared for guests.

How to do it:

1. Choose a set of 4 to 6 holiday hand towels or finger towels
2. Place a stack of towels on the counter or a tray
3. Place one towel on the towel bar or the towel ring
4. Add a small sign that says “Guest Towels” (optional)
5. Add a small holiday arrangement on the counter

Tip: Choose a set of 4 to 6 so you have enough for all guests. Replace used towels with fresh ones during the party.

How to Choose Christmas Guest Towels

Choose a quality material. 100% cotton or linen, not microfiber. A weight of at least 500gsm for hand towels and 400gsm for finger towels and washcloths.

Choose a simple design. A holiday motif, a border, or a solid color. Not a busy pattern with large figures.

Choose a color that coordinates. Choose a towel color that coordinates with your bathroom or kitchen decor. Good combinations: red and white, green and cream, blue and white, or neutral.

Choose the right size. Hand towels (16 x 28 inches), finger towels (11 x 18 inches), washcloths (13 x 13 inches), kitchen towels (16 x 26 inches).

Choose a set, not a single. A set of 2 to 4 gives you backups for when one is in the wash.

Choose quality over quantity. Two $15 quality towels are better than four $5 cheap towels.

What to Skip Entirely

Thin, cheap towels. They don’t absorb, they look cheap, and they don’t last. Choose a weight of at least 500gsm for hand towels.

Busy patterns. A towel with a large Santa face or a full Christmas scene looks chaotic. Choose simple, elegant designs.

Microfiber towels. Microfiber feels cheap and doesn’t absorb well. Choose 100% cotton or linen.

Towels without a hanging loop. A towel without a hanging loop is hard to hang. Choose towels with a loop or a tag.

Too many towels. 2 to 4 hand towels is enough for most households. Don’t buy more than you need.

Towels that can’t be washed. Towels with metallic threads or delicate embellishments may not be machine washable. Choose towels that are easy to wash.

FAQ

What are Christmas guest towels? Christmas guest towels are hand towels, finger towels, and washcloths with holiday designs that are placed in the guest bathroom or kitchen during the holiday season. They’re the small touch that makes a bathroom or kitchen feel festive.

What should I look for in Christmas guest towels? Look for a quality material (100% cotton or linen, not microfiber), a weight of at least 500gsm for hand towels, a simple and elegant design (a holiday motif, a border, or a solid color), a set of 2 to 4 towels, and a hanging loop or tag. Choose quality over quantity.

How much do Christmas guest towels cost? Hand towels cost $10 to $25 for a set of 2 to 4. Finger towels cost $10 to $20 for a set of 4 to 6. Washcloths cost $8 to $15 for a set of 4 to 6. Kitchen towels cost $10 to $20 for a set of 2 to 4.

Where can I buy Christmas guest towels? You can buy Christmas guest towels at Target (trendy, affordable), HomeGoods and TJ Maxx (quality, discounted), Amazon (wide selection), Macy’s and Nordstrom (higher-quality), and Williams Sonoma (quality kitchen towels). Choose based on your budget and style.

What should I avoid when buying Christmas guest towels? Avoid thin, cheap towels (they don’t absorb), busy patterns (they look chaotic), microfiber towels (they feel cheap), towels without a hanging loop, too many towels (2 to 4 is enough), and towels that can’t be machine washed.

How do I use Christmas guest towels for a holiday party? Choose a set of 4 to 6 holiday hand towels or finger towels. Place a stack on the counter or a tray. Place one on the towel bar. Add a small sign that says “Guest Towels.” Add a small holiday arrangement. Replace used towels with fresh ones during the party.

What size Christmas guest towels should I buy? Hand towels: 16 x 28 inches (standard). Finger towels: 11 x 18 inches. Washcloths: 13 x 13 inches. Kitchen towels: 16 x 26 inches. Choose the size that fits your towel bar, towel ring, or counter.

References

• Amazon. “Christmas Guest Towels.” Check on Amazon
• Target. “Christmas Towels.” https://www.target.com/c/christmas-towels
• Williams Sonoma. “Holiday Kitchen Towels.” https://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/holiday-kitchen-towels/