Terry Towels: What 500 vs 600 GSM Actually Means

What GSM Actually Tells You

GSM stands for grams per square metre — it's simply how much the fabric weighs over that area. A higher GSM means more cotton packed into the weave, which usually means a thicker, denser, more absorbent towel. It isn't a marketing number; it's something you can actually feel between your fingers. We carry terry towels in two weights, 500 GSM and 600 GSM, and they're genuinely different products, not just different price tags on the same fabric.

500 GSM: Everyday Terry

Our 500 GSM terry towels are 100% cotton and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, built for daily use — the kind of towel you want three or four of in rotation without thinking too hard about it. They come in two sizes, 50×100 cm and 70×140 cm, and right now in eight active colours: light pink, light lilac, grey, light brown, turquoise, a warm sunset tone, lime green and sand. They're machine washable up to 40°C and safe in the tumble dryer, so they hold up to real, frequent laundry without special handling.

600 GSM: Rano Terry

Our 600 GSM Rano towels are the heavier, plusher option — same 100% cotton, same OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, but noticeably more fabric in your hand. They're designed in Spain and finished with a sewn-in hanging loop, and they come in four sizes: 30×50 cm (face towel), 50×100 cm (hand towel), 70×140 cm (bath towel) and 100×150 cm (bath sheet) — enough to build a full matching set rather than mixing weights. Colours: Mustard, Seawater, Blue, Tile, Green and Anthracite. Wash at up to 40°C on a mild cycle, tumble dry on low heat, and skip the ironing — the towel keeps its fluff longer that way.

Which One to Choose

Neither weight is "better" — they solve different problems. 500 GSM is the honest, practical choice: light enough to dry fast between uses, priced for stocking a full bathroom or a guest room without a second thought. 600 GSM is heavier and denser — the towel that feels like a small luxury on a Sunday morning, or the one worth choosing as a gift, where the weight in the hand matters as much as the colour. Setting up a family bathroom with several towels in rotation? 500 GSM makes sense. After one really good towel, for yourself or to give? 600 GSM is worth the difference.

The Short Version

500 GSM: light, practical, eight colours, sized at 50×100 and 70×140 cm. 600 GSM: heavier, denser, designed in Spain, four sizes from face towel to bath sheet, six colours. Both are 100% cotton and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified — the number just tells you how much towel you're actually getting.

Browse the full range in Cotton Towels.