A great bathrobe is the most overqualified item in your closet. It’s a towel with sleeves after a shower, a cozy uniform for lazy weekends at home, and a comfy outfit to wear while you do your hair, makeup or grooming routine before getting dressed. Frankly, it deserves a raise.
Not every robe is right for you, though, which would explain why there are so many styles available these days. That variety also makes it a lot harder to find the right one when you’re shopping for a new robe. Do you want something light and breezy or thick and plush? Short and simple or ankle-grazing and dramatic?
To help you find your match, I asked experts what to look for in a quality robe and got NBC Selected editors to share their personal favorites.
The best bathrobes
To pick the bathrobes on this list, I relied on recommendations from NBC Selected editors. I also used guidance provided by experts on what to look for in a robe to source some highly-rated options.
Best overall
If you prefer a plush robe, this one from Serena & Lily fits the bill. It has a waffle weave front and a terry cloth lining for maximum absorbency. I love to wrap myself in it after a bath — it’s so soft and feels like a robe you’d find at a luxurious spa or five-star resort. Not only does it absorb water almost immediately, the material also dries very quickly, so you’re not hanging out in wet fabric. It hits just above the ankles and has long sleeves, so it’s a good robe for colder months when you need something to keep you warm.
Best short robe
This robe is a shorter style, hitting at the knee or above on most people (depending on height of course). It also has short sleeves and no collar. “It is soft and perfect for after showering because it is basically like wearing a really light towel around my house,” says Rosalie Sparaco, former NBC Selected senior social media editor.
The 100 percent organic long-staple cotton robe is quick drying, and it comes in a longer version and can be monogrammed for an additional $15. It only comes in a white base color, but you can get one with a colored trim, there are four options for that.
Best lightweight robe
This short style is made from polyester charmeuse, a material that is not very absorbent — so it’s better for lounging than it is for putting on after you shower. “It’s so lightweight and a great kimono-style robe to throw on before bed, while I’m getting ready in the morning or even just having breakfast on a lazy weekend morning,” says NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin. “It feels so luxurious while still being cozy.”
Best cotton robe
This 100 percent Turkish cotton unisex robe is made from four-ply cotton gauze and has two side pockets and a waist tie. Malin who tested this robe for NBC Selected’s Bed and Bath Awards found the material to be soft and warm but not too thick or fluffy, therefore not causing her to overheat. “It’s lightweight and breezy, so I can comfortably wear it for hours, and it makes for a great all-season robe,” says Malin.
Best robe for lounging
This robe has long sleeves and hits below the knees for good coverage, plus it has two large pockets on the front and a tie closure. Malin is a fan of the fabric: “It is so soft and buttery. It’s not thick but still feels cozy,” she says. Malin also says the fabric absorbed water droplets quickly.
Best splurge robe
The most expensive pick on this list by far, Versace’s bathrobe has become so popular you may even see people wear it out and about — according to NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans, it’s just that fabulous.
“This may be the most used item in my home after the coffee machine and definitely before the vacuum cleaner,” she says. “I got the robe as a gift a few years ago and I live in this thing when I’m home, especially in the fall and winter. It’s so enveloping in the best way when I first wake up, after a shower or just coming in from the cold. And it’s not high maintenance like people think; I throw it in the washing machine and hang-dry it — I’ve done that for years and it has retained its absorbency and shape.” Evans says considering how pricey it is, it’s a great gift for someone really special that you want to shower with love.
How I picked the best bathrobes
To help you shop, I asked design and textile professionals who have worked at places like The Citizenry and Serena & Lily for shopping guidance. Since they work for brands that make bathrobes, I did not ask them for product recommendations, and any products from those brands are on the list because they came highly recommended by NBC Selected editors. Here are the features experts recommend you keep in mind when shopping for robes:
- Softness: Some people like to wear their bathrobes with nothing underneath. “The fabric will be right up against your skin. Because of this, you should look for the softest material possible,” says Paulo Kos, former vice president of design and development at home goods brand The Citizenry.
- Absorbency: If you will be slipping on the robe after a bath or shower, you should look for a style that’s made from an absorbent material. “Although you may towel off before slipping into your bathrobe, your skin may still be damp, so you want something that will help you as dry as a second towel,” says Kos. The experts I spoke to recommend cotton as it tends to be very absorbent.
- Machine-washable: “One thing that is sometimes overlooked is making sure your robe is machine-washable. A robe should be easy to enjoy without having to make a trip to the dry cleaner,” says Sarah Smith, manager of product training at Serena & Lily. All of the robes selected by our editors are machine-washable.
How to shop for a bathrobe
If you are looking to purchase a bathrobe, the experts I spoke to suggest you think about the following as you try to determine what robe will work best for you:
- Material: “Your bathrobe can get a lot of use, so you want to make sure it is made from a material that will last over time and through countless washes. Cotton is both durable and absorbent,” says Kos. There are several types of cotton, and which type you choose really comes down to preference. For example, Turkish cotton tends to be thicker and more plush, while pima cotton tends to be more lightweight and regular cotton is usually a midweight fabric.
- Style: “It’s important to consider how you’ll be using your bathrobe in order to find a style that best fits you and your life,” says Ariel Kaye, founder of Parachute. Will you be putting it on straight out of the shower? Do you want to wear it while getting ready? Or will you be using it to lounge around the house? Your answers to these questions will impact the style you will choose. For example, if you’ll be wearing the robe while getting ready in the morning, a lightweight, short option may be best (that way you won’t get too hot while blow drying your hair). If you want to wrap yourself up in something cozy or need it to absorb water on your skin post-shower, a thicker terry cloth robe may be better.
- Warmth: Consider the climate you live in or the time of year you’ll wear your robe the most. “You might choose a lighter robe in the summer months or in a warm household but a terry style with a thick shawl collar is nice for cool autumn or winter days,” says Whittney Thornburg, design director at Coyuchi.
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Meet our textile experts
At NBC Selected, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Because the below experts work for brands that make robes, I did not ask them for product recommendation. If robes from the brands they work for are on the list it is because NBC Selected editors tested them and loved them.
- Paulo Kos is the former vice president of design and development at The Citizenry.
- Sarah Smith is the manager of product training at Serena & Lily.
- Ariel Kaye is the founder of Parachute.
- Whittney Thornburg is the former design director at Coyuchi.
Any product recommendations in this story were made independently of all experts, who we only consulted for guidance. We did not ask them for product recommendations.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers wellness, beauty, home and lifestyle. I have written about how to hand wash workout clothes, the best bath towels on Amazon and more. For this story, I interviewed textile experts on how to find the best bathrobe for your needs.
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