Show the formula and working
This towel size converter shows shoppers in the UK, Ireland and Europe what each towel name means in centimetres and inches, from a face cloth to a jumbo bath sheet, and compares UK, US and European sizes. It works both ways: pick a towel type to see its typical size and the range across well known makers, or enter a towel’s measurements to find out what it is called.
Quick answer: In the UK a face cloth is about 30 x 30 cm, a hand towel 50 x 90 cm, a bath towel 70 x 137 cm and a bath sheet 90 x 160 cm. US bath towels run larger, about 30 x 58 in. Sizes vary by brand, so this towel size converter shows the range too.
What Is a Towel Size Converter?
A towel size converter is a tool that translates towel names into measurements, or measurements into a towel name, using the sizes that towel makers actually publish. The formula in plain words: to name a towel, multiply its width by its length to get its area, then pick the towel type whose typical UK area is closest in proportion. To convert to inches, divide centimetres by 2.54.
Towel sizes are not set by any standard, so the tool uses the sizes printed in the size guides of UK makers and retailers such as Christy, Marks and Spencer and Dunelm, one US maker and IKEA for Europe. The typical UK size is the one most of those UK sources use, and the breakdown lists every source so you can see how much the sizes differ.
How Do You Use the Towel Size Converter?
- Choose what you want in Direction: Towel name to size, or Size to towel name.
- For a name, choose it in Towel type, from Face cloth (US washcloth) to Jumbo bath sheet.
- For a size, measure the towel flat and enter the Towel width and Towel length in centimetres.
- Read the typical UK, US and European sizes, or the towel name and how its area compares, then open “Show the formula and working” to see the sums.
What Is the Difference Between a Bath Towel and a Bath Sheet?
A bath sheet is about 50% bigger than a bath towel: a typical UK bath towel is 70 x 137 cm (0.96 m²) and a typical bath sheet is 90 x 160 cm (1.44 m²). A bath towel wraps around most adults at the waist, while a bath sheet is wide enough to wrap the whole body. Some makers go bigger still, with jumbo bath sheets of 100 x 180 cm.
What Size Is a Hand Towel?
A UK hand towel is usually 50 x 90 cm, with makers ranging from 50 x 85 cm to 50 x 100 cm. US hand towels tend to be smaller, about 20 x 30 in (51 x 76 cm), and IKEA sells hand towels as small as 40 x 60 cm and 40 x 70 cm in Europe. A UK guest towel is the small one, about 40 x 60 cm, used for visitors and cloakrooms.
Are UK and US Towel Sizes Different?
Yes: US bath towels and bath sheets are generally a little larger than UK ones, and US hand towels a little smaller. A US bath towel from one leading maker is 30 x 58 in (76 x 147 cm), against 70 x 137 cm for a typical UK bath towel. The names differ too: a UK face cloth is a washcloth in the US, and the small UK guest towel is sometimes called a fingertip towel. Always check the size on the label, not just the name.
Towel Size Chart: UK, US and Europe
| Towel | Typical UK size | UK range across makers | US example | EU example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face cloth (washcloth) | 30 x 30 cm | 30 x 30 to 33 x 33 cm | 13 x 13 in (33 x 33 cm) | 25 x 25 cm (IKEA) |
| Guest towel | 40 x 60 cm | 40 x 60 to 40 x 76 cm | Not a common size | 40 x 60 cm (IKEA hand towel) |
| Hand towel | 50 x 90 cm | 50 x 85 to 50 x 100 cm | 20 x 30 in (51 x 76 cm) | 40 x 70 cm (IKEA) |
| Bath towel | 70 x 137 cm | 68 x 137 to 75 x 137 cm, some 70 x 125 cm | 30 x 58 in (76 x 147 cm) | 55 x 120 cm (IKEA) |
| Bath sheet | 90 x 160 cm | 89 x 178, 90 x 150 to 90 x 170, 100 x 150 cm | 40 x 65 in (102 x 165 cm) | 80 x 160 cm (classic size) |
| Jumbo bath sheet | 100 x 180 cm | One maker | Sold as oversized | 100 x 150 cm (large bath sheet) |
Worked Example: Naming a Towel From Its Size
Example: a US shop online lists a towel at 35 x 60 in, and you want to know what it would be called in the UK. Convert the size to 89 x 152 cm, choose Size to towel name in Direction, and enter 89 in Towel width and 152 in Towel length. The converter shows Bath sheet (US bath sheet), 35 x 59.8 in, at 94% of the area of a typical UK bath sheet: 89 x 152 cm is 1.35 m², against 1.44 m² for 90 x 160 cm. It is a slightly compact bath sheet, well above the 0.96 m² of a bath towel.
Thick towels take longer to dry, so if you use a tumble dryer, our electricity cost calculator shows the cost per load, and our Economy 7 calculator shows whether drying overnight on a cheaper rate saves money.
Towel Size Converter FAQs
What size is a standard bath towel in cm?
A standard UK bath towel is about 70 x 137 cm, with makers ranging from 68 x 137 cm to 75 x 137 cm and some at 70 x 125 or 70 x 130 cm. A typical US bath towel is larger, around 76 x 147 cm (30 x 58 in).
How big is a bath sheet?
A UK bath sheet is typically 90 x 160 cm, and makers range from 90 x 150 cm up to 89 x 178 cm. Wikipedia gives 80 x 160 cm as the classic European size. A bath sheet is big enough to wrap around the whole body.
What is a face cloth called in America?
A face cloth is called a washcloth in the US. It is the smallest towel, about 30 x 30 cm in the UK and 13 x 13 in (33 x 33 cm) in the US, used for washing the face and body rather than drying.
What is a guest towel?
A guest towel is a small towel, usually 40 x 60 cm in the UK, smaller than a hand towel. It is put out for visitors to dry their hands in a cloakroom or guest bathroom. IKEA sells a towel of the same size as a hand towel.
What does GSM mean on towels?
GSM means grams per square metre and measures how dense a towel is. A higher GSM towel has more or longer loops, so it feels thicker and absorbs more water but takes longer to dry. GSM does not change the size of the towel.
Why are towels from different brands different sizes?
There is no official standard for towel sizes, so each maker sets its own. Even within one shop, sizes change between ranges: the Marks and Spencer towel size guide lists bath towels at 70 x 130, 70 x 137 and 68 x 137 cm. Compare the measurements on the label rather than the name.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Christy size guides, Marks and Spencer plain towels size guide, Dunelm towels buying guide, Brooklinen Plush towels, IKEA LUDDVIAL towels, Towel (Wikipedia).