It’s all too easy to go without a napkin. But every time you do, you leave your clothes vulnerable to spills and stains and forgo the final decorative touch to your table.
The best cloth napkins are practical, pretty, and easy to clean. They’re essential for casual meals and more formal affairs. There are neutral napkins to suit any table setting, as well as patterned cloths for a little color. Linen napkins are sturdy and durable, while cotton cloths are soft to the touch. There are so many styles of napkin, sold in so many different stores, that it can be difficult to know where to start.
That’s why I’ve done the looking for you. I’ve spent hours searching the sites of the top home decor dealers to bring you the very best napkins. Though I haven’t tested them yet, I’ve scoured the specifications and read countless customer reviews. I’ve narrowed it down to my top nine.
Whether you’re thinking through your Thanksgiving table setting ideas or wondering how to set the perfect Christmas table, you’ll need some of the best napkins to tie it all together.
Best napkins 2024
Set size: 12
Material: Cotton and polyester blend
Length: 18”
Width: 18”
+Suitable for formal and casual dining
+Sold in large sets
-Iron for best results
A neat white napkin is a table-setting staple. Simply tailored and soft to the touch, the Enrich Twill Cloth Napkins will elevate everyday meals and could even form part of a formal place setting. These napkins are sold in sets of 12, so they’re great for dinner parties and family gatherings. Plus, they’re super easy to clean. Machine-washable and dryer-safe, all these napkins need is a quick iron to prevent wrinkles.
Set size: 4
Material: Linen
Length: Unlisted
Width: Unlisted
+Striking design
+Durable
-Iron for best results
Fine metallic embroidery adds texture to these clean white napkins. With a hand-stitched botanical pattern that’s reminiscent of pine branches, the Winter Pine Napkins are perfect for festive dinner parties, yet subtle enough to work year-round. Despite their delicate appearance, these linen napkins are highly durable. Their absorbent fibers will protect your clothes from all sorts of spills and stains. After a quick cold cycle in the washing machine, your napkins will be as good as new.
Set size: 12
Material: 100% cotton
Length: 20”
Width: 20”
+Customizable
+Sold in large sets
-May not suit all settings
Neatly tailored with full hems and mitered corners, the Hotel Dinner Napkins should add a touch of class to any table. These napkins are 20 inches long and 20 inches wide, which puts them slightly on the larger side. While their size makes them less suitable for kids, these napkins are ideally proportioned to protect the laps of adult diners. There’s even an option to embroider a name or initials onto each piece to create a personalized place setting.
Set size: 4
Material: Cotton and linen blend
Length: 20”
Width: 20”
+Striking design
+Made from natural materials
-Cannot mix and match shades
These cloth napkins offer the best of both worlds. Each Montecito Plaid piece combines the durability of linen with the silky soft feel of cotton. These napkins are made from yarn-dyed fibers which hold their vibrancy over time and sold in shades of green, amber, plum, and blue. Any of the four plaid patterns would make a striking contrast to a plain white tablecloth. Just bear in mind that these napkins are sold in single shades. If you want to mix and match, you’ll have to buy multiple sets.
Set size: 4
Material: Cotton
Length: 18”
Width: 18”
+Handcrafted
+Made from natural materials
-Iron for best results
Hand-dyed and distressed at the edges, these napkins embody shabby chic. The Essential Dinner Napkins come in muted shades of ivory, blush, olive, and mustard that should blend beautifully with the rest of your dining decor. Crafted from cotton, these napkins are ultra-absorbent and well-suited to wiping up spills and stains. They’re also more susceptible to wrinkles, so you might want to give them a quick iron before your next dinner party.
Set size: 4
Material: Linen
Length: 20”
Width: 20”
+Strong
+Soft
-Iron for best results
If you’re looking for a napkin that can withstand the wear and tear of regular washes, then linen is the way to go. Stronger than cotton but still soft, linen is easy to launder. These Ladder Stitch napkins are machine-washable and dryer-safe, though you’ll need to iron for best results. With their neutral hue and natural texture, these napkins have heaps of rustic charm. Precise border stitching adds depth and dimension to an otherwise blank canvas.
Set size: 4
Material: Linen
Length: 17.7”
Width: 17.7”
+Striking design
+Can mix and match colors
-May not suit all settings
La DoubleJ napkins lend Italian elegance to any table. Dyed in rich Mediterranean hues and finished with contrasting edges, these napkins look best against a plain white tablecloth. The colors are bold, but they aren’t garish. These napkins are ideal for anyone who wants to experiment with colorful kitchen ideas without overwhelming their space. La DoubleJ napkins are made to stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for a neutral napkin, you’re better off shopping elsewhere.
Set size: 20
Material: Tissue
Length: 8”
Width: 4.5”
+Biodegradable
+Sold in large sets
-Single-use only
If, for whatever reason, you prefer something disposable, then these paper napkins are your best bet. The Priano Napkins are made from triple-ply tissue for extra durability and embossed with non-toxic, food-safe ink. Each serviette is fully compostable and biodegradable, even when wet or stained with food, oil, and grease. Practical and pretty, the Priano Napkins are decorated with verdant leaves and green edge detailing.
Set size: 4
Material: Linen
Length: 19.7”
Width: 19.7”
+Striking design
+Machine-washable
-May not suit all settings
The Rinascimento Napkins combine durable design with delicate detailing. Each cloth is covered with dainty florals from the Tuscan countryside, so they’re perfect for summer dinner parties or garden gatherings. Made from Italian linen, these napkins are easy to fold, place, and wash. Just pop them in your washing machine on a cold cycle and tumble dry on low. After a quick iron, they’ll be as good as new.
Best napkin FAQs
Are napkins really necessary?
Yes. Cloth napkins look better, feel better, and work better than the paper alternative. While it may be easier to use a paper towel, it’s far less sustainable. Plus, the cost of all those disposable packs soon adds up. A cloth napkin may be more expensive outright, but it has a far lower cost-per-use ratio than a single-use napkin.
What is the best material for napkins?
Which napkin material is best all depends on what sort of meal you’re eating. If you’re fond of food that can spill and stain, you’ll appreciate the absorbency of a cotton napkin. Linen napkins are easiest to fold into elaborate shapes, so they’re ideal for formal dinners, while single-use serviettes are more suited to casual affairs.
Where should napkins be placed on a table?
According to etiquette, a napkin should be placed to the left of your plate beneath your fork, or on top of your plate in a pinch. With that said, there’s no one way to set a table. Feel free to play with your napkin placement to find the arrangement that suits your space.
Final thoughts
Once you’ve bought some of the best napkins, it’s time to set the rest of the table. It’s worth investing in one of the best flatware sets for casual or formal dining and choosing one of the best plates for your centerpiece.
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