What Does GSM Mean on a Towel? A Simple Guide
What does GSM mean? It is the weight of the fabric. Here is what the number tells you, what it does not, and which weight to pick.
The short answer
So, what does GSM mean on a towel? GSM stands for grams per square metre. It tells you how much cotton is packed into the towel: the higher the number, the thicker and heavier the towel. A 600 GSM towel is plush and substantial, while a 300 GSM towel is light and quick-drying.
What does GSM mean in practice? A worked example
For example, take a 70 x 140 cm bath towel. It covers 0.98 square metres, so at 600 GSM it weighs 588 g. The same size at 400 GSM weighs 392 g. You can feel that difference in the hand, in the wash and on the radiator.
What the numbers usually mean
- Around 300 to 400 GSM: light and quick-drying. Good for the gym, travel and the beach.
- Around 400 to 500 GSM: a comfortable everyday weight for most bathrooms.
- 600 GSM and above: thick, plush and absorbent, the feel you notice in a good hotel.
Is a higher GSM always better?
Not always, because heavier towels feel luxurious and soak up more water, but they take longer to dry and need more space in the washing machine and on the airer. If you share a small bathroom or dry towels indoors, a mid-weight towel may suit you better. If you want that thick, wrap-yourself-up feel, go heavier.
What GSM does not tell you
However, weight is only one part of a good towel. GSM is also known as grammage, and it is a standard measure of fabric weight. The type of cotton, how the yarn is made, how tightly the pile is woven and how you wash it all affect softness and how long the towel lasts. Washing at the temperature on the label and going easy on fabric softener helps towels stay absorbent, as covered in our guide to washing towels and keeping them soft.
How KEMET towels measure up
Our cotton towels are 100% combed cotton at 600 GSM. The bathrobe is 450 GSM, a lighter weight that is comfortable to wear and easier to dry.
- Guest Towels 30 x 30 cm: 600 GSM
- Face Towel 50 x 100 cm: 600 GSM, 300 g each
- Bath Towel 70 x 140 cm: 600 GSM, 588 g each
- Bath Sheet 90 x 160 cm: 600 GSM, 864 g each
- Bathrobe: 450 GSM
Not sure which size you need? Read bath towel vs bath sheet or browse all towels and bathrobes.
Frequently asked questions
What GSM is best for bath towels?
For everyday home use, 400 to 500 GSM is a comfortable middle ground. If you like a thick, plush, hotel-style towel, look at 600 GSM, which is the weight of our cotton towels.
Is a higher GSM towel always better?
No. A higher GSM towel is heavier and more absorbent, but it also takes longer to dry. The best weight depends on how you use it.
What does GSM mean for softness?
Only partly. GSM measures weight, not softness. The type of cotton, how the yarn is made and how the towel is washed also affect the feel.