Buying guide
Drying Without Scratches
Updated How we research
Get water off safely and fast. The page is split into three sections (Car drying tools; Drying towels for cars; Detailing towel set), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.8 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:WEST BROS XL Car Drying Towel, 1300 GSM Professional Double Twisted Loop Microfiber, 40"x24", Gray. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:SMINDER 2-Pack 1200 GSM Car Drying Towels, Microfiber 36" x 24", Double-Twist Pile Edgeless. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:WEST BROS Extra Large Car Drying Towel 800 GSM Microfiber, 40x24, Green. Build and materials score of 7/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Feature-rich:Relentless Drive Car Drying Towels 3 Pack, Large Ultra Absorbent Microfiber, Lint and Scratch Free (24" x 60"). Features score of 7/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Car drying tools
- WEST BROS Extra Large Car Drying Towel 800 GSM Microfiber, 40x24, GreenOur score7.8/10
- Meguiar's X2000W Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel - 1 CountOur score7.4/10
- HOMEXCEL Professional Large Microfiber Car Drying Towels 2 Pack, 31"x24"Our score7.0/10
- AIDEA Microfiber Towels for Cars 2PK, Large Professional Car Drying Towel, 24x31Our score6.8/10
Drying towels for cars
- WEST BROS XL Car Drying Towel, 1300 GSM Professional Double Twisted Loop Microfiber, 40"x24", GrayOur score8.6/10
- SMINDER 2-Pack 1200 GSM Car Drying Towels, Microfiber 36" x 24", Double-Twist Pile EdgelessOur score8.4/10
- Relentless Drive Car Drying Towels 3 Pack, Large Ultra Absorbent Microfiber, Lint and Scratch Free (24" x 60")Our score7.8/10
- SHSCLY Microfiber Car Drying Towel, Twist Pile, Lint-Free Detailing Cloth, Gray 20 x 24 Inches, Pack of 2Our score7.0/10
Detailing towel set
- WEST BROS Extra Large Car Drying Towel 800 GSM Microfiber, 40x24, GreenOur score7.8/10
- Meguiar's X2000W Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel - 1 CountOur score7.4/10
- HOMEXCEL Professional Large Microfiber Car Drying Towels 2 Pack, 31"x24"Our score7.0/10
- AIDEA Microfiber Towels for Cars 2PK, Large Professional Car Drying Towel, 24x31Our score6.8/10
All 8 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1WEST BROS XL drying towel in gray, 1300 GSM double twisted loop microfiber sized 40"x24" to dry a whole car in one pass.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 1300 GSM twisted loop pile soaks up large volumes of water quickly
- + 40"x24" size covers hood, roof and doors without wringing out often
- + Double twisted loops glide over paint instead of dragging like plush towels
- - Heavy when fully soaked, so large panels can feel tiring to wipe
- - Needs microfiber-safe washing without fabric softener to keep absorbency
#2SMINDER 2-Pack of 1200 GSM edgeless double-twist drying towels at 36" x 24", a paired set for car drying days.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2-Pack lets you use one towel for paint and a second for glass and jambs
- + Edgeless design removes stitched borders that can mark soft clear coats
- + 1200 GSM double-twist pile holds plenty of water per pass
- - Slightly smaller than XL drying towels, so big trucks may need both towels
- - Lesser-known brand with less long-term track record than Meguiar's
#3WEST BROS extra large 800 GSM microfiber drying towel at 40x24, a thick single towel for drying a whole car quickly.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 800 GSM plush weight soaks up a lot of water per pass
- + Extra large 40x24 size handles full-size cars with fewer wring-outs
- + Green color makes it easy to separate from interior or glass towels
- - Only one towel, so a very wet large SUV may still need a second
- - Heavy plush towel takes a long time to air dry after laundering
#4Relentless Drive 3 Pack of large ultra absorbent microfiber drying towels at 24" x 60" for drying big vehicles fast.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 24" x 60" length lets you drape and pull the towel across a whole roof
- + 3 Pack covers paint, windows and wheels with separate towels
- + Scratch-free microfiber claim fits a careful hand-wash routine
- - Very long towels can drag on the ground if you are not careful
- - Compare the pile type and GSM with other drying towels
#5Meguiar's X2000W Water Magnet microfiber drying towel, a single well-known towel sized for drying a car after washing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Water Magnet line is a long-running favorite for streak-free drying
- + Waffle-style texture pulls water off glass as well as paint
- + Trusted brand gives consistent quality across repeat purchases
- - Only one towel in the box, so larger vehicles may need a second
- - Thinner than plush twisted-loop towels, so it absorbs less per pass
#6HOMEXCEL large microfiber drying towels 2 pack at 31"x24", a value set for drying sedans and small SUVs after a wash.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Large 31"x24" size covers a hood or roof in a few passes
- + Two towels let you swap to a dry one when the first gets saturated
- + Budget pair is an easy upgrade from bath towels or chamois
- - Less absorbent than thick twisted-loop towels on bigger trucks
- - Needs microfiber-safe washing without softener to keep absorbing well
#7SHSCLY twist pile microfiber drying towels in gray, a Pack of 2 at 20 x 24 Inches for smaller cars and touch-up drying.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Lint-free twist pile leaves glass and paint streak free after drying
- + Pack of 2 gives a spare for door jambs, wheels or a second vehicle
- + Compact 20 x 24 Inches size is easy to handle and quick to wash
- - Too small to dry an SUV or truck without wringing out several times
- - Compare the GSM weight with thicker towels before buying
#8AIDEA 2PK large professional microfiber drying towels at 24x31, a practical everyday pair for home car washing.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 24x31 size is manageable for most drivers and still covers large panels
- + Two-pack gives a primary drying towel and a follow-up towel for streaks
- + Soft microfiber is gentler on clear coat than old cotton towels
- - Mid-weight pile may need wringing out partway through drying a big car
- - Plain design lacks the edge-free finish some detailers prefer
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Car Detail Picks curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.