Microfiber Towel Comparison Chart
Pick the job, then the towel. Every Rag Company towel, wash mitt and applicator is here with the specs that matter: GSM, blend, weave, edge and size.
Not sure where to start? These are the towels we'd reach for first.
Wax & dressing application
- Top pickULTRA No-Soak Applicator
- BudgetTerry Applicator Sponge
How to read the specs
GSM
Grams per square meter: how dense the towel is. Higher GSM is plusher and more absorbent (drying, final buffing). Lower GSM has more bite and soaks up less product (glass, coatings).
Weave
Twist loop dries. Plush circular knit buffs. Pearl levels coatings. Waffle and diamond weaves clean glass. Terry handles all-purpose work. Dual-pile towels give you two textures in one.
Edge
Edgeless and suede edges are paint-safe. Overlock stitching is more durable for interiors and dirty jobs.
Blend
The polyester/polyamide ratio. 70/30 is softer and more absorbent; 80/20 is tougher and costs less.
Drying towels
Twist loop pulls the most water per pass; waffle weave is lighter and easier to wring. Pick the size by vehicle: 16×24 to 20×30 for cars, 25×36 and up for trucks and SUVs.
| Towel | GSM | Blend | Weave | Edge | Sizes (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Gauntlet | 900 | 70/30 | Twist loop + plush hybrid | ButterSoft suede | 12×12, 15×24, 20×30, 30×36 | All-around drying. The four sizes cover mirrors to full-size trucks. |
| The Liquid8r M22 | 2,200 | 70/30 | Twist loop | Reinforced edge | 20×20 | Compact but very thick: fast drying in tight spots, plus rinseless washes and jambs. |
| The 1500 | 1,500 | 70/30 | Twist loop | Hemmed edge | 30×30 | Trucks, RVs and boats. Dries a full vehicle with one towel; use without drying aids. |
| The Liquid8r | 1,100 | 70/30 | Long twist loop | Hemmed hidden edge | 16×16, 20×24, 25×36 | Heavy drying, especially paired with a drying aid. |
| The Double Twistress | 850 | 70/30 | Twist loop | ButterSoft suede | 20×24 | Drying and detail-spray wipe-downs; easy to wring out. |
| Slim Dryer | 600 | 70/30 | Twist loop | ButterSoft suede | 25×35 | Lighter drying towel with more control. Limited edition. |
| Citrus Twist Loop | 550 | 70/30 | Twist loop | Suede | 16×16 | Touch-up drying and detail-spray final wipes. |
| Dry Me A River | 390 | 70/30 | Waffle weave | ButterSoft suede | 16×16, 16×24, 20×40, 26×59 | Classic waffle-weave drying that's also streak-free on glass. |
| The Big One | 450 | 70/30 | Waffle weave | ButterSoft suede | 25×40 | Budget drying for SUVs, trucks, boats and RVs. |
Shop all drying towels · How to choose a drying towel · Slim Dryer vs. Liquid8r M22
Wax, sealant & polish removal
Plush, soft-edged towels for buffing off wax, sealant, polish and detail sprays, and for waterless washes. Higher GSM means a softer, deeper pile for the final buff.
| Towel | GSM | Blend | Weave | Edge | Sizes (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Edgeless 500 | 500 | 70/30 | Circular knit | Edgeless | 16×16, 16×24 | Our most-reviewed towel: wax, sealant, polish, detail sprays and waterless wash. |
| Eagle Edgeless 600 | 600 | 70/30 | Circular knit | Edgeless | 16×16 | Softest in the lineup, for the final buff on show cars. |
| Eagle Edgeless 350 | 350 | 70/30 | Circular knit | Edgeless | 16×16 | Lighter buffing towel for sprays, waxes and waterless washes. |
| The Eaglet 500 | 500 | 70/30 | Circular knit | Edgeless | 8×8 | Spot work on door handles, emblems, trim and screens. |
| The Eaglet 350 | 350 | 70/30 | Circular knit | Edgeless | 8×8 | Small, lighter spot-detailing towel. |
| Creature Edgeless | 420 | 70/30 | Dual pile | Ultrasonic cut edge | 16×16 | Pro-grade value pick for polish, wax and sealant removal. |
| The Wolf Pack | 480 | 70/30 | Coral | Printed suede border | 16×16 | Detail sprays and wax removal; three colors to keep tasks separate. |
| Spectrum 420 | 420 | 70/30 | Terry | ButterSoft suede | 16×16 | Budget buffing towel for rinseless and waterless washes and wax removal. Also sold as a 9-pack Dark Pack. |
Shop wax & sealant towels · Shop quick detail towels · Best towels for polish & compound removal
Ceramic coating towels
Low-pile pearl weave has enough bite to level a coating without soaking up product or leaving lint.
| Towel | GSM | Blend | Weave | Edge | Sizes (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Edgeless Pearl | 320 | 80/20 | Pearl | Ultrasonic cut edge | 16×16 | Leveling and removing ceramic coatings; safe on glass and mirrors. |
| The Pearl | 320 | 80/20 | Pearl | Overlock stitch | 16×16 | Coating leveling at a lower cost per towel. |
| ULTRA Rip N' Rag XL | 280 | 70/30 | Pearl | Edgeless | 16×16, 50 per roll | Leveling coatings and sealants in volume; also glass and screens. |
Shop coating towels · Ceramic coating step-by-step
Applicators for coatings, wax & dressings
No-soak applicators have a barrier that keeps product on the surface instead of in the foam, so a bottle goes further.
| Product | Build | Size (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrap N' Tuck Suede Coating Applicator Kit | Foam blocks + 20 suede cloths (220 GSM) | 4×4 cloths | Ceramic coating application. |
| Buttersoft Suede Applicator Cloths | Suede | 8×8 | Coating application; also lenses and screens. |
| ULTRA Pearl Puck | Pearl weave over a barrier and foam core | — | Ceramic coatings. 4-pack. |
| ULTRA No-Soak Coating Applicator | 70/30 pearl weave with barrier | — | Wax, sealant, glaze, dressings and coatings on paint, leather, trim and tires. |
| ULTRA No Soak Round Applicator | 70/30 pearl weave with barrier | Round | Precision application of the same products. |
| No Soak Coating Applicator Kit | No-soak applicators + Edgeless Pearl towels | — | Everything to apply and level a coating. |
| Pearl Applicator Sponge | Pearl weave | 3×5 | Coatings and cleaners, inside and out. |
| Terry Applicator Sponge | Terry | 3×5 (6-pack) or 2×4 (8-pack) | Wax, sealant and tire or trim dressing. |
Shop applicators · Ceramic coating guide
Glass towels
Tight, low-lint weaves that leave glass streak-free. Dual-sided towels let you clean with one side and finish with the other.
| Towel | GSM | Blend | Weave | Edge | Sizes (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Glass & Window Towel | 350 | 70/30 | Herringbone (dual-sided) | Overlock stitch | 16×16, 16×24 | Textured side lifts grime; smooth side finishes streak-free. |
| Wrinkle Glass Towel | 500 | 70/30 | Circular knit (wrinkle texture) | Overlock stitch | 16×16 | Interior and exterior glass: fingerprints, haze and film. |
| Premium FTW | 550 | 70/30 | Twist loop | ButterSoft suede | 16×16 | Lint-free final wipe on glass and polished surfaces. |
| Diamond Weave Glass & Window Towel | 280 | 80/20 | Diamond | Stitched | 16×16, 16×24 | Value glass towel; gentle on screens and electronics. |
| Standard Waffle-Weave | 370 | 80/20 | Waffle | Overlock stitch | 16×16, 16×24 | Windows and mirrors, plus drying small areas. |
| Suede Cloth | — | — | Suede | — | 12×12 | Screens, lenses and gauge clusters. |
Shop glass towels · Best lint-free cloths for cars & glass
Interior & all-purpose towels
Durable terry and edgeless towels for interiors, jambs, engine bays and everyday cleaning. Buy in bulk and color-code by job.
| Towel | GSM | Blend | Weave | Edge | Sizes (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Purpose Terry | 300 | 80/20 | Terry | Overlock stitch | 12×12, 14×14, 16×16 | Interiors, jambs and household cleaning. Ten colors for color-coding. |
| Edgeless 300 | 300 | 70/30 | Terry | Edgeless | 16×16 | Delicate interiors and screens; also takes off excess polish and sealant. |
| Edgeless 245 | 245 | 80/20 | Terry | Edgeless | 16×16 | Everyday detailing, interiors and detail sprays. 25-pack. |
| Premium All-Purpose Terry | 365 | 80/20 | Terry | Overlock stitch | 12×12 | Heavier all-purpose towel for tougher cleaning. |
| All-Purpose Terry 10×10 | 245 | 80/20 | Terry | Overlock stitch | 10×10 | Small interior jobs. 20-pack. |
| RGB All-Purpose Terry | 300 | 80/20 | Terry | Overlock stitch | 16×16 | Red, grey and black set for a simple color-coding system. |
| Car Wash Towel | 320 | 80/20 | Terry | Overlock stitch | 16×27 | High-volume drying and cleanup for car washes and dealerships. 25-pack. |
| Rip N' Rag Towel Roll | 180 | 70/30 | — | Edgeless | 12×12, 30 or 80 per roll | Shop and garage messes; tear off what you need. |
Shop interior towels · Shop all-purpose terry
Metal polishing towels
Dual-pile towels: use the plush side on soft metals like aluminum wheels, the tighter side on chrome and stainless.
| Towel | GSM | Blend | Weave | Edge | Sizes (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgeless 365 | 365 | 70/30 | Dual-pile terry | Edgeless | 16×16 | Metal polish on wheels, bumpers, chrome and trim. |
| The Miner | 365 | 70/30 | Dual-pile terry | Edgeless | 16×16 | Metal polishing; plush side for high-end aluminum wheels. |
Shop polishing towels · Shop wheel & tire towels
Wash mitts, pads & sponges
Plush mitts and pads that grab grit and release it in the rinse bucket. Keep a separate mitt for wheels.
| Product | Build | Size (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cyclone Ultra Wash Mitt | Proprietary blend; twist-loop liner; edgeless | 8×9 | Bucket washes and rinseless washes. |
| The Cyclone Ultra Wash Pad | Long-pile Korean microfiber | 6×8 | Hand-held rinseless washing. |
| ULTRA Safe Sponge | Microfiber sponge | — | Paint, glass and wheels on cars, trucks, boats and RVs. |
| Chenille Wash Mitt | 80/20 chenille, foam-lined, stitched cuff | 8×10 | Budget bucket washing. |
| Mitt on a Stick Pro+ | Microfiber mitt on an 8.5×6.25 foam head; 55" or 72" pole | 3- or 4-pole kit | Roofs of trucks, vans and RVs. |
| The Cyclone Ultra Wheel Mitt | Proprietary blend; twist-loop liner, finger loops, suede edge | 6×7 | Wheel faces, spokes and barrels. |
| ULTRA Wool Wheel Mitt | Wool with ButterSoft suede cuff | — | Wheels, with no tags or outer edges to scratch. |
| Jersey Bug Scrubber Pad | Dual-sided; terry or pearl weave | 4×6 | Bugs, tar and road grime. |
Shop wash mitts & sponges · Rinseless car wash guide
Clay towels & decon
Synthetic clay faces that remove bonded contamination before polishing, waxing or coating, and rinse clean for reuse.
| Product | Build | Size (in.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Clay Scrubber | Synthetic clay pad | 4×6 | Fast, easy-to-clean decon. 2-pack. |
| Ultra Clay Towel | Synthetic clay on microfiber | 12×12 | Claying full panels quickly. |
| Ultra Clay Mitt | Synthetic clay mitt | 8.7×5.7 | Claying with a mitt grip. |
Shop clay bars & towels · How to wash, clay and seal
Microfiber towel FAQ
What GSM is best for a car drying towel?
For drying, weave matters as much as GSM. Twist-loop towels from about 850 to 2,200 GSM (The Gauntlet, The Liquid8r, The 1500, The Liquid8r M22) pull the most water per pass. Waffle-weave towels around 390 to 450 GSM (Dry Me A River, The Big One) are lighter and easier to wring out.
Which towel should I use to remove ceramic coating?
Use a low-pile pearl-weave towel such as The Edgeless Pearl. It has enough bite to level the coating without absorbing too much product or leaving lint. Keep coating towels separate from the rest of your towels.
Edgeless or bordered: which is safer on paint?
Edgeless and ButterSoft suede-edged towels have no hard stitched border to drag across the paint, so use them on paint, glass and coatings. Overlock-stitched terry towels are tougher and better suited to interiors, jambs and dirty jobs.
What's the difference between a 70/30 and an 80/20 blend?
The numbers are the polyester/polyamide ratio. 70/30 has more polyamide, which makes the towel softer and more absorbent; it's used in most of our paint towels. 80/20 costs less and holds up well for all-purpose and coating work.
How do I wash microfiber towels?
Wash them separately in cold or warm water with a microfiber detergent like Rags to Riches. Skip fabric softener and bleach, then air dry or tumble dry on low. The full routine is in our microfiber washing guide.
Still not sure which towel you need? Browse all microfiber towels or ask our team.
