I Tested 11 Cloth Napkins to Find Ones That Are Fancy, Functional, and Dinner Party-Worthy

There isn’t much that I love more than a cloth napkin. You may think I’m exaggerating, but then, you haven’t seen my linen closet. I adore cloth napkins. I swoon over them. I compulsively buy new sets, even though I’ve already got a dozen in regular rotation. It’s such an easy way to add personality to a dinner table, and because I have napkins in different colors and patterns, I can easily switch things up to keep with the season, formality level, or just my mood. 

You may also think that 12 sets of napkins is enough napkins, or perhaps too many napkins. But you and my boyfriend are wrong: I need more. I’m perpetually on the hunt for the best—the perfect—cloth napkin, so I ordered 11 more sets and put them to the test. I found five winners that’ll look smart on any table, no matter how many you already own. 

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Cotton Cloth Napkins

Coyuchi Sonoma Textured Organic Napkins

View on Coyuchi.com

These luxuriously thick napkins are indisputably well made, and they subtly elevated my table setting with their moody, chic Cypress hue. (Coyuchi offers a few other colors, including Blue Jay and Rust.) They’re pricey, but I’d be shocked if they don’t last for years. 

The Best Linen Cloth Napkins

Material The Linen Napkins, Set of 4

View on Materialkitchen.com

Tightly woven flax linen gives these napkins a delicate, soft feel. I was delighted that they looked great, even with a rumpled “just out of the dryer” look. Who wants to iron napkins every week, anyway?

The Best Budget Cloth Napkins

Ruvanti Cloth Napkins Set of 12

$30 $18 at Amazon $19 at Walmart $24 at Wayfair

At less than $2 a napkin, I wasn’t expecting much out of these. But the addition of polyester made these cotton-blend napkins refreshingly unfussy. They’re ideal for messy meals or households where napkins tend to turn into paper towels and dish rags. 

The Best Everyday Cloth Napkins

Hawkins Essential Striped Dinner Napkins

View on Hawkinsnewyork.com View on Allmodern.com $38 at Food52

These two-toned napkins cost less than $10 a pop and offered a moderate size option. Available in a handful of colors, they washed well and felt soft but super durable in my hands. 

The Best Cloth Napkin for Entertaining

Schoolhouse Scallop Trim Napkin Set

View on Schoolhouse.com $15 at Food52

The ricrac (a.k.a. scalloped) edge gave these crisp napkins a vintage, handmade look that can add a subtle design element to special meals. While they required more involved care—I wouldn’t set the table without ironing these first—they’re a lovely option for dinner parties and entertaining.

The Tests

• Foldability and Stacking Test: After taking the measurements and weights of the napkins and inspecting them for imperfections, I folded each one, as if I were preparing to set a table. I noted how well the napkins lay when folded, and if any edges flopped, or did not meet up. (Disproportionately long sides are a sign of poor manufacturing.) I also stacked the napkins and tucked them in a drawer to see how much space they took up, and if they could handle being piled high.
• Dinner Test: I used each napkin throughout a meal, unfolding it on my lap and placing it on the table next to my plate. I wiped my hands and mouth with the napkin as needed, observing how absorbent it was.
• Staining Test: I smeared half a teaspoon of ketchup on each napkin and let them all sit for three hours. I washed them according to their care instructions and noted how each fared. I paid attention not just to residual staining, but also any frayed edges, extreme shrinking, or unraveled seams.
• General Use and Care Test: After declaring the top contenders, I used them for three days during meals and when eating snacks. I washed them all again to determine how well they held up with regular use.

What We Learned

Linen Was Higher-Maintenance and Higher-Cost

If you want a cloth napkin you can use and wash without a care, a polyester blend, like my winning budget pick from Ruvanti, is the ticket. A little polyester in the mix (these were 60% cotton, 40% poly) kept wrinkles at bay and was more stain-resistant. Linen was by far the worst culprit when it came to washing and care; the Sangeet napkins from Citizenry and the Quince European linen napkins were horribly stained after my ketchup test. (My winning linen pick from Material also suffered some staining.)

If you own linen sheets or clothing, you know that linen is also prone to wrinkling. In some cases, this made the napkins look messy and crinkled. The Sangeet napkins, in particular, wrinkled so much that I had a hard time flattening them with an iron. Although the Material napkins wrinkled, the thin hem and tight weave kept them from looking unpresentable: The phrase “charmingly disheveled” comes to mind. All that said: Polyester-blended napkins are more prone to pilling in the washer and dryer, due to their shorter fibers. Linen napkins (and other textiles) tend to be more expensive than polyester blends. It's a trade-off.

Hem Design Really Mattered

I wasn’t expecting the hem design to be as important as it was. But after a round of washing the napkins, I realized that poorly stitched hems were typically their downfall. Five Two’s cotton napkins looked nice with small “vintage-inspired” holes around their borders, but the thread was sloppily woven throughout them, and it started to unravel after just one wash. The Quince suffered an even worse fate because there was just one row of loosely threaded stitching.

Lighter Weight Was (Usually) Comfier

The majority of my favorite napkins were lightweight, with a soft, breezy feel. Material’s linen napkins were the lightest at 37 grams. (My everyday choice, Hawkins’ striped dinner napkins, bested them by just one gram.) Lightweight napkins—hovering around 50 grams or under—had a more casual, no-fuss feel that was easy to launder and maintain. Heavier napkins tended to lend a formal, dinner party aesthetic that felt out of place at a Monday breakfast. In the worst cases, the heavy napkins reminded me of a corporate banquet—I was not a fan of Williams Sonoma’s 73-gram hotel dinner napkins. The one exception to my rule was Coyuchi’s textured Sonoma napkins. At 72 grams, they exceeded my preferred weight, but the luxuriously soft cotton kept them from looking too formal.

Style Was Subjective But Important

It’d be foolish to assume my favorite “just for looks” napkins would also be yours. And even in my household, everyone gravitated toward different napkins during the dinner tests. But one thing’s for sure: A good napkin ought to have at least a little personality. Whether it’s neutral colors and unique weaves or bright, patterned options, the best napkins add to the overall appeal of a table setting. In contrast, the Utopia kitchen cloth napkins were so blandly white that I accidentally used one as a rag to sop up a spilled glass of water. Little details, like intricate stitching around a hem, or a fun texture, added a lot of appeal to a very utilitarian item.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Cloth Napkin

The best cloth napkins are both soft and durable. Because they’re made to be washed many times, the stitching around the hem needs to be strong and neat, without loose threads. Whether you choose cotton, a cotton blend, or linen, the fibers should be tightly woven. To get the most use out of your napkins, don’t buy a set that needs special care, like gentle laundering and ironing.

Our Favorite Cloth Napkins

The Best Cotton Cloth Napkins

Coyuchi Sonoma Textured Organic Napkins

View on Coyuchi.com

What we liked: I recommended Coyuchi’s kitchen towels when I first reviewed them last year, and I’m not surprised that the brand’s organic cotton napkins were also standout performers. The textured weave felt nice in my hands and helped to hide food stains. More than any other napkin I tested, I felt okay squeezing a few more meals from these after one use. The colors are gorgeous and made from nontoxic dyes (I tested the Cypress color). The stitching was impeccable, and I believe these will last for years to come.

What we didn’t like: If you prefer lighter-weight napkins, these are on the heavier side. They cost almost $15 per napkin.

Key Specs

• Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Dimensions: 20 x 20 inches
• Weight: 72 grams
• Number in set: 4 (12 also available)
• Price per napkin: $14.50

The Best Linen Cloth Napkins

Material The Linen Napkins, Set of 4

View on Materialkitchen.com

What we liked: Like most of Material’s lineup of kitchen equipment, these linen napkins are sophisticated and well made. (We recommend Material’s steak knives and reBowl, too.) Of all the linen napkins I tested, these were the softest and most stain-resistant. They did rumple but never looked unkempt. The colors are inspired by nature and are all complementary, should you choose to mix and match them.

What we didn’t like: Although they handled the stain test decently well, their linen construction makes them more prone to staining and discoloration than cotton or polyester. They’re neck-and-neck with Coyuchi for some of the priciest napkins I tested.

Key Specs

• Materials: 100% linen
• Dimensions: 18 x 18 inches
• Weight: 37 grams
• Number in set: 4
• Price per napkin: $13.75

The Best Budget Cloth Napkins

Ruvanti Cloth Napkins Set of 12

$30 $18 at Amazon $19 at Walmart $24 at Wayfair

What we liked: I was pleasantly surprised by the color of these napkins. They appear charcoal gray on the Amazon listing, but they’re much closer to a subtle dark lavender. They boast all the benefits of a polyester blend (minimal pilling or wrinkling, and a soft texture), without the low-end sheen or scent that some poly-cotton blend textiles have. Because they’re so inexpensive, I'd happily toss these napkins to kids on pizza night without fear.

What we didn’t like: After two washes, some of the stitching had loose ends and the fabric was pilling. The material sourcing isn’t as meticulous as some of our other winners.

Key Specs

• Materials: 60% cotton, 40% polyester
• Dimensions: 18 x 18 inches
• Weight: 46 grams
• Number in set: 12 
• Price per napkin: $1.58

The Best Everyday Cloth Napkins

Hawkins Essential Striped Dinner Napkins

View on Hawkinsnewyork.com View on Allmodern.com $38 at Food52

What we liked: The Goldilocks of cloth napkins, these ticked just about every box during my testing. They’re not too fancy, but still well made. They come in a handful of nice colors, and they’re soft without falling victim to unraveling and pilling. 

What we didn’t like: They shrunk a considerable amount—almost two inches—after the first wash. 

Key Specs

• Materials: 100% cotton
• Dimensions: 19 x 19 inches
• Weight: 41 grams
• Number in set: 4
• Price per napkin: $9.50

The Best Cloth Napkins for Entertaining

Schoolhouse Scallop Trim Napkin Set

View on Schoolhouse.com $15 at Food52

What we liked: “I like these!” my boyfriend (and apparent #cottagecore Pinterest fangirl), exclaimed during the dinner test. They’re bordered with a red ricrac that brought to mind an art project done by a preschooler with a very steady hand. I mean that in a nice way! They’re pretty, and add an elegant-yet-approachable touch of color to an otherwise basic design. 

What we didn’t like: They don’t look as nice if they’re not ironed. For that reason, I’d save them for company. The cream color meant that stains showed up easily.

Key Specs

• Materials: 90% cotton, 10% linen
• Dimensions: 18 x 18 inches
• Weight: 44 grams
• Number in set: 4
• Price per napkin: $9.75

The Competition

• Williams Sonoma Hotel Dinner Napkins: This set of napkins gave off a corporate banquet hall vibe, and they were so thick that the stack toppled over repeatedly in my cabinet.
• Five Two Everyday Soft Cotton Napkins: From afar, these thick, soft-hued napkins caught my eye. But look closer, and you’ll see the messiest hem stitching of any napkin I tested.
• European Linen Gingham Napkins: While awfully pretty, these picnic-ready napkins were so thin that a barbecue sauce smear transferred onto my pants during dinner. The stitching wasn’t great either, with lots of loose ends at the corners. 
• Utopia Kitchen White Cloth Napkins: I had high hopes after declaring this brand’s bar mops a winner in my kitchen towel review. These napkins were inexpensive, but they were poorly made. They were scratchy-feeling, and the stitching around the hem was sloppy. 
• Sangeet Linen Napkins: I liked the story behind these napkins: They were hand-woven and certified Fair Trade. But the weave was loose, and the fibers were rough. Ultimately, they just didn’t perform as well as the other linen options I tested. 
• Our Place Loop Napkins: A napkin with a built-in napkin ring? I was intrigued, but despite watching the brand’s tutorial, I could never make mine look that pretty. Realistically, the formality seemed unlikely for 95% of my meals. 

FAQs

What’s the best material for cloth napkins?

It depends on what you want in a napkin. While 100% cotton napkins are soft and pretty easy to care for, they can wrinkle and will shrink considerably if you dry them in a dryer. Napkins made from a blend of cotton and polyester are less prone to wrinkling, but the shorter fibers in polyester will cause pilling over time. Linen napkins have a luxurious, “natural” feel but stain and wrinkle easier.

Are cloth napkins eco-friendly?

Yes, with some caveats. The material sourcing and production practices matter when it comes to environmental sustainability. If that matters to you, seek out organic napkins, and try to buy from small supply chains to minimize the carbon footprint. When laundering your napkins, use cold water and don’t wash unnecessarily or in small loads: That’ll boost your environmental impact.

How do you get stains out of cloth napkins?

Pre-treat stains with a dab of stain remover or laundry detergent. You can also use a paste made from baking soda and water; pat it on the stain and let the mixture dry. Wash in cold water. If the stain hasn’t lifted after the first wash, do not put it in the dryer, as heat will “set” the stain. 

Can you put cloth napkins in the dryer?

All of the napkins I tested were dryer-safe. Be aware that cotton and linen napkins will shrink in the dryer. Use a low setting to minimize shrinking, and remove them as soon as the cycle ends to keep wrinkles at bay.

Why are my cloth napkins always wrinkly?

See above. Leaving any textile in a dryer will cause wrinkles, but some materials—linen, cotton—are prone to wrinkling no matter how you wash and dry them. You can remove creases with an iron, or just embrace the rumpled life!

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is a commerce editor at Serious Eats
• Rochelle has been testing equipment for Serious Eats since 2022. Her previous reviews include kitchen towels and dish gloves.
• For this review, Rochelle put 11 sets of cloth napkins to the test, judging them on their performance, design, and value.