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Short answer: count sunbeds, not rooms. Plan 2 to 3 towels per sunbed per day, because beds turn over and guests take a fresh towel after swimming. Multiply by a par of 3. An 80-sunbed pool needs about 600 towels, which costs $1,320 to $1,680 FOB Cochin at our published pool towel band.
The sum
Daily use = sunbeds x towels per sunbed per day
Stock = daily use x par
| Quiet pool | Busy resort pool | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbeds | 80 | 80 |
| Towels per sunbed per day | 2 | 3 |
| Daily use | 160 | 240 |
| Par 3 stock | 480 | 720 |
A middle figure of 2.5 gives 200 a day and 600 in stock.
What it costs
Our pool towel band is $2.20 to $2.80 FOB Cochin at 480 to 520 GSM.
| Stock | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| 480 towels | $1,056 | $1,344 |
| 600 towels | $1,320 | $1,680 |
| 720 towels | $1,584 | $2,016 |
Trial runs start at 500 pieces, priced at a small premium. Wholesale pricing starts at 2,000 pieces per SKU.
Choosing the towel
| Spec | Typical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 80 x 160 cm, up to 100 x 180 cm for luxury | Must cover a sunbed |
| Weight | 480 to 520 GSM | Absorbent, but dries in the sun and in the dryer |
| Colour | A solid mid-tone or a stripe | Easy to spot, hides sunscreen marks |
| Dye | Fast to chlorine and light | Pool water and sun are hard on colour |
White pool towels look elegant and show every sunscreen stain. Very dark colours fade fastest. Mid-blue, turquoise, sand and stripes last best.
Why pool towels wear out faster
- Sunscreen stains and, with some formulas, reacts with minerals in the wash to leave orange marks.
- Chlorine weakens cotton and strips colour.
- Sun fades dye.
- Sand abrades fibre in the wash.
Budget a shorter life than for room towels, and a separate replacement line.
Five ways to cut pool towel loss
- A towel desk or hut, not open piles.
- Towel cards. Each guest gets a card at check-in, swaps it for a towel, and gets it back on return.
- A distinct colour, so a pool towel in a corridor or a suitcase is obvious.
- Return bins at every exit from the pool and beach.
- A daily count at close. Pool stock is the easiest linen to count, because it lives in one place.
See colour-coding towels by use.
Beach clubs and day guests
Where day guests use the pool, towels per sunbed rises, because beds turn over more. Count at 3 or more. Some clubs charge a towel deposit, which works well.
Seasonal properties
If the pool closes for winter, store towels clean, fully dry and loosely stacked. Count them in and out. Order replacements two to three months before the season opens: production takes 30 to 45 days, plus shipping. Sea transit from Cochin is 7 to 10 days to the UAE and 16 to 21 days to Italy.
Adding a logo
A woven or embroidered resort name deters loss and turns the towel into something guests will buy. See woven label, printed label or embroidery.
Read more
Our pages for pool towel production and wholesale pool towels cover sizes and colours. For room towels, see how many towels a hotel needs.
To price your pool, send us your sunbed count.
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Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
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