The best drying towels | Photo credit: Jason Siu / FlatSixes
Giving your car a proper wash means having the right tools for the job. We’ve covered several of those products in previous posts: pressure washers, foam cannons, car wash soaps, wheel cleaners, and wheel brushes. All of those work to get the dirt and grime off your car, but once you’re done washing, you need the right towel to dry it off for a spotless finish. Then, you’ll need proper towels to detail your car, whether it’s your interior or giving the body a fresh coat of wax.
It’s easy to believe that all towels are the same and there’s little reason to purchase expensive ones. But when it comes to drying your car, you want a high quality, absorbent towel. Not only are they more effective so drying your car is easier, they’re less likely to cause accidental scratches. Ever had to wring out your towel multiple times while drying your car? The same goes for detailing towels — you want quality microfiber that won’t scratch your surface when applying quick detailer, or wiping down your interior.
1. Best car drying towel: AutoManiacs Drying Towel
After testing over a dozen drying towels, AutoManiacs’ offering is my current favorite | Photo credit: Jason Siu / FlatSixes
At this point in my career, I’ve tested more than 20 different drying towels. My new favorite comes from a relatively new brand on the market called AutoManiacs. The company reached out to me about a year ago to test its products, and I’ve remained impressed by this drying towel.
On paper, it measures 24 × 36 inches and carries a 1,500-GSM density rating. Thanks to its twisted-loop construction, this microfiber drying towel claims to hold up to one gallon of water. It’s one of the plushest towels I’ve ever used, and it really does make quick work of drying a car. I’ve dried both a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and a Toyota Prius with it, so it lives up to the claim of drying two or three vehicles in one go.
My only criticism is that it gets quite heavy because of its density, especially after it has absorbed all that water. If you want a towel that makes drying your car as effortless as possible, this one takes the cake.
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2. Runner-up car drying towel: Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Drying Towel
Meguiar’s drying towel is smaller and more manageable | Photo credit: Jason Siu / FlatSixes
If you want something that’s a bit smaller and more manageable than AutoManiacs’ towel, I would recommend the Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Drying Towel. It’s not as thick and plush, but that also means it doesn’t get as heavy or unwieldy to use. It absorbs water very well, and if you have a smaller car, this is the drying towel I’d recommend.
Overall, this towel measures 31 × 21.5 inches and weighs one pound when dry. Typically, I use this towel to complement the AutoManiacs one, drying my wheels and door jambs after a wash. Again, though, for smaller vehicles the Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Drying Towel is more than enough; but if you have a crossover or larger, you’ll probably want the AutoManiacs towel instead.
3. If you can find it: Chemical Guys Megalodon Microfiber Drying Towel
This is still one of my favorite drying towels, but it’s hard to find | Photo credit: Jason Siu / FlatSixes
I’m honestly not sure why this towel from Chemical Guys is so hard to find; it’s possible the company is discontinuing it in favor of its Thirst Trap drying towel. While that towel works fine, I much prefer the Megalodon, which is similar to the AutoManiacs towel I have as my top pick. This towel can absorb more than a gallon of water thanks to its advanced LoopTec twisted-loop fibers and 24 × 36-inch size.
If you prefer the Chemical Guys brand and the blue finish of this towel over the gray shade of AutoManiacs’ towel, go for it. The hard part is finding it at a reasonable price. Perhaps there’s a bit of a shortage due to the uncertainty around tariffs at the time of publishing.
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4. Best car detailing towels: Chemical Guys premium microfiber towels
These microfiber towels from Chemical Guys are still my go-to for smaller jobs | Photo credit: Jason Siu / FlatSixes
If you love washing and detailing your car, I highly recommend having at least a dozen microfiber towels lying around. I personally use them to detail my interior after each wash, dry my wheels, wipe down my door jambs, and clean my glass. They’re also handy when I want to apply spray-on wax or ceramic coating to my car, and they’re necessary when it’s time to wax my car.
If you have ever shopped for microfiber towels, it seems like there are endless options to choose from. Just like with a drying towel, you want a quality microfiber towel that’s thick and plush, so you don’t have to worry about scratching your car. I prefer these towels from Chemical Guys; the company calls them professional-grade, premium microfiber towels. They measure 16 × 16 inches and feature silk-banded edges. Best of all, once I’m done using them, I just toss them into my washing machine and dryer for the next wash.
Not only are these towels great for applying quick detailer to your car, but they’re also fantastic for cleaning the inside of your windows. Get a few of these and you’ll be set for years.
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What is GSM?
GSM is short for “grams per square meter” and is an indicator of a fabric’s weight. A higher GSM means the towel is thicker, softer, and more absorbent. For comparison, a standard cotton bath towel can range from 300 GSM to 900 GSM.
How many microfiber towels do I need?
Not surprisingly, the answer to this question largely depends on how meticulous you are when it comes to washing and detailing your car. I personally recommend having a separate microfiber towel for each task and I personally like to keep a dozen microfiber towels in my garage, in addition to my drying towel. Generally, you’ll want to use a separate towel for drying your wheels, applying interior cleaner, wiping your door jambs, and cleaning your glass. If you’re applying leather conditioner to your seats, use a separate towel. And then you’ll want a few towels if you plan on waxing your car, or applying spray-on wax or ceramic coating.
Can microfiber towels scratch my car?
Quality microfiber towels should not scratch your car. Of course this means using them properly. Make sure you wash them after each use and use different towels for each section of your car.
Can I use a microfiber towel for my car’s touchscreen?
Yes you can! Just make sure that towel is only being used to wipe down your touchscreen, otherwise you risk transferring some dirt and scratching your screen.
Recent updates:
Updated (10:56 p.m. EDT, 07/05/2025): Updated the entire article with new recommendations based on recent testing for 2025.
Updated (1:17 p.m. EST, 02/16/2023): Added more shopping options to our recommendations. Our top picks remain unchanged.