The Top 2 Cloth Napkins | How to Know What Is The Best Material For Cloth Napkins?

Why Its Important To Know What Is The Best Material For Cloth Napkins

To know what is the best material for cloth napkins is to know how to properly style your dining area to give it the look you desire. 

If you’re reading this, you’re at a stage in your life where you know this is important. It’s important to feel good in your home and one of the ways to do that is by styling it so it does feel good. 

When something's out of place, we can’t help but feel irritated. So right now let me walk you through finding out what is the best material for cloth napkins.

What The Perfect Cloth Napkin Should Be

Absorbent 

The purpose of a napkin is to 

1. Wipe your face 
2. Your hands 
3. Anywhere else on your body when you are eating. 
4. Clean up a spill. 

What do all of these have in common? In every scenario, the napkin needs to absorb whatever it touches.

With that being said, you and I can both agree that a napkin must be good at absorbing. So what happens if you get a napkin that can’t absorb? The napkin does not work and is now just a decorative item.

Most napkins are decent at absorbing since that is their main purpose. The difference you will notice among napkins is how well they absorb. 

Usually it takes a couple of wipes to fully absorb something, but some napkins can do it with a single swipe.

When it comes to cloth napkins, it is important that they not only absorb the spill but also dry quickly. This ensures you do not end up with a wet napkin for your entire meal. A wet napkin feels uncomfortable, and subconsciously, you will want to use it less.

A dry napkin, on the other hand, makes you more likely to use it and helps you feel clean throughout your meal.

Soft

As I mentioned before, you will likely be using the napkin to wipe your face or your hands. Absorbency is an important factor, but so is how soft the napkin feels. 

Since the napkin will touch your face, it matters that you actually like the texture against your skin. 

This is why buying soft napkins is important. 

A soft napkin not only feels good, but it is better for your skin. Constantly wiping your face with a rough texture means constant skin irritation.

Some of you might be thinking, “Well, all the napkins I’ve used in my life were soft.” You only think they are soft until you come across a napkin that is actually soft. Once you feel what a genuinely soft napkin is like, you will not want to go back to regular napkins.

This is why whenever people switch from paper napkins to cloth napkins, they end up staying with cloth napkins. It is simply a better experience.

Durable

How absorbent the napkin is, and how soft the napkin is, are both important. But what if the napkin only lasts a couple of weeks? 

Then the napkin becomes useless. 

This matters even more for cloth napkins. They are meant to be reused many times. Knowing this, the performance of the cloth napkin needs to be consistent each time it is used by you or by any guests who come over.

If you do not consider durability, your cloth napkins will slowly start to develop small rips and loose threads over time. Also, when guests come over, you shouldn’t hand them a napkin that looks worn out. Cloth napkins were never designed to be like that.

If you get a durable napkin, however, it will look new every time you use it. 

When looking for durable cloth napkins, it is important to check what type of fabric they are made from. 

A good rule of thumb is that the best napkins are the ones made from natural fabrics. Not only are they more durable because they take more time to weave, but they are also better for your skin and for the environment.

Tightly Woven

Seeing how tightly woven a cloth napkin is something you should look at when finding out what is the best material for a cloth napkin. 

This is the one factor that gets skipped over too much but it is important that it isn’t. 

A tight weave =

• Better absorption
• Dries quicker so it won’t be soggy
• Finer texture
• Cleaner edges
• Longer lifespan
• Resists odours
• Holds shape better
• Drapes better

A loose weave =

• Visible gaps
• Rough texture
• Fraying
• Lower durability
• Cheaper feel
• Higher chance of odours

Weaves Are Also Important 

These are for the style of the napkin. To summarize this section there are two you should pay attention to: 

1. Damask - beautiful, and abstract designs woven onto the napkin
2. Plain Weave - versatile standard weave that fits many occasions

Hem 

The hem is an important factor to consider because it’s what holds the napkin together. Without a good hem, the fabric would unravel, and you would be left holding a pile of loose threads and a disappointed heart (the heart I’m talking about is yours if you hadn’t guessed).

Many people overlook the hem because they are focused on the design or how well the cloth napkin can absorb. Those two factors are important, but the hem is the one detail most people forget about simply because they do not think to check it.

Hems are important because 

1. Durability: How well the napkin survives washing
2. Look: Crisp, elegant edges = premium
3. Craftsmanship: Linen hems reveal how good the maker is
4. Price: Plain hems are cheaper; mitered or hemstitch are expensive

When looking at hems, it is important to choose ones that are either mitered or hemstitch. Many people go for plain hems, but they don’t last as long. Mitered and hemstitch hems are better because they look cleaner, are more elegant, and they last much longer. 

Cheaply done hems means a sloppy hem:

• Edges curling
• Threads sticking out
• Corners puffing up
• Fabric losing shape

Hems that were properly done:

• Use mitered corners
• Tight stitching
• Consistent thread tension
• Proper fabric folding

so the edges stay crisp for years.

Beautifully Designed (If There Is A Design On Them)

You want the best items in your home. The reason why we need to say beautifully designed is not because of the aesthetic of the napkin, but rather how the designs were done. There are two ways that a napkin can be designed.

1. The design is printed on the napkin
2. The design is woven into the napkin

When looking at the design of a napkin, you want to make sure the design isn’t printed on the fabric. There is a clear difference.

Today, many companies print designs onto napkins because it’s cheaper and more cost-effective. But there is a cost to you as the person using the napkin.

If the design is printed on the napkin, it won’t last as long. It also will not feel as nice on your skin, and its quality will diminish much faster than a napkin with a woven design.

Beautiful designs that are woven into the napkin may take longer to make, and they cost more for the business to produce. But for the person using the napkin, the experience is far better.

When the design is woven into the fabric, the napkin lasts longer and performs better than one with a printed design.

Woven designs show that the napkin was made with care and effort. Printed designs, on the other hand, are simply made for quick sales. Woven napkins uphold tradition, heritage, and craftsmanship, something printed napkins can never match.

Match Your Tablecloth And Other Items On The Dining Table

If you’re reading this far, there are two things I can say about you

1. You care about knowing what is the best material for cloth napkins
2. You are someone that cares about the design of their home and wants to make sure Every item has a place in your home

When choosing the best fabric for cloth napkins, it helps to consider how well the napkins will blend with the rest of your dining décor. Each fabric interacts with color, texture and structure in a different way, which affects the overall harmony of your table.

How fabric choice affects visual cohesion:

1. Color Depth
   
   Some materials take on rich, saturated colors more effectively than others. Linen absorbs dyes deeply and evenly, which creates a refined and elegant look next to premium tableware.
   

2. Texture and Character
   
   Fabrics with a natural texture, such as linen, add visual interest and depth. This makes them pair well with wooden tables, ceramic plates and classic centerpieces. Smoother fabrics like polyester create a different, more uniform aesthetic.
   

3. Drape and Structure
   
   The way a napkin folds and holds its shape influences how it looks at each place setting. Linen retains crisp folds and a structured drape, while cotton and bamboo blends tend to appear softer. Polyester tends to look flatter, which creates a different mood.
   

4. Compatibility With Tablecloths and Runners
   
   Natural fabrics often complement other natural textiles more seamlessly. If you use linen or cotton tablecloths or runners, choosing a fabric that matches their visual weight and texture can create a cohesive, intentional setting.
   

Why this matters:

Your napkin fabric influences not only functionality but also the atmosphere of your table. Choosing a material that complements your existing dining pieces helps create a balanced, visually appealing environment. 

Fabrics like linen perform especially well in this area because it provides depth, texture and structure that enhance the look of your entire table setting.

What Types Of Fabrics Are There

Linen

When you look at what makes a cloth napkin great, you start to notice which fabrics actually do a better job. You want something that absorbs well, feels soft on your skin, lasts a long time, and looks like it was made with care. Linen naturally does all of that.

Linen absorbs quickly and dries fast, so it never sits damp during a meal. The texture feels gentle on your face and it only gets softer each time you use it. It is also tightly woven, which makes it durable.

Proper linen napkins hold their shape, resist loose threads, and can last for years.

Linen also works well with woven designs like damask, where the pattern is part of the fabric instead of printed on top. This gives the napkin more depth and keeps the design looking sharp.

Visually, linen adds texture, takes dye evenly, and holds crisp folds that make your table look more intentional.

When you put all this together, it becomes clear why linen is such a strong choice for cloth napkins.

It handles the practical things like absorbency, softness and durability, and it also makes your table feel more put together. Linen performs well, ages well, and you can feel the craftsmanship as soon as you pick it up.

Cotton

Cotton is the fabric most people think of when they look for cloth napkins because it’s familiar and it does a decent job with the basics. It absorbs well enough and feels soft when you first get it, which is why a lot of homes use it.

But once you start paying attention to the details, you’ll notice where cotton has its limits. It absorbs, but it tends to stay wet longer, so if you wipe your face or hands during a meal, the napkin can feel damp pretty quickly.

It also doesn’t always stay soft over time. After enough washes, cotton can flatten out and feel a little rougher.

Durability depends on the weave. Some cotton napkins hold up, but others start showing loose threads, curling edges, and a worn look sooner than you’d expect. Printed designs on cotton also fade faster, since they sit on top of the fabric rather than being part of it.

Visually, cotton has a softer drape. It doesn’t always hold a crisp fold, which gives it more of a casual look. It works fine for everyday use and pairs well with natural table settings, but it doesn’t always give that clean, structured look some people want.

Cotton is a good starting point and it gets the job done, but once you compare it to other natural fabrics that stay soft longer, dry faster and hold their shape better, you’ll notice the difference right away.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a fabric a lot of people look at because it feels soft at first and has a natural, eco-friendly image. It absorbs well enough and looks nice when it’s new, which is why some homes use it for cloth napkins.

Once you start paying attention to the details, you’ll notice a few limits. Bamboo absorbs, but it tends to stay damp longer, so it doesn’t always dry fast during a meal. The softness also doesn’t always last. After enough washes, bamboo blends can pill or lose that smooth feel.

Durability can be hit or miss. 

Some bamboo napkins loosen over time, the weave can get fuzzy, and hems might curl. Printed designs fade quickly too since they sit on the surface of the fabric. Bamboo also has a relaxed drape, so it won’t hold crisp folds or that clean, structured look you might want on your table.

Bamboo works if you want something soft at the start and casual for day to day use, but when you compare it to fabrics that stay soft longer, dry faster and keep their shape, the difference becomes obvious.

Polyester

Polyester is a fabric people often choose because it’s cheap, easy to find and looks smooth when it’s brand new. It doesn’t wrinkle much and the colors stay bright, which is why a lot of restaurants and event halls use it.

But when you look at it through the lens of what makes a great cloth napkin, polyester falls short. It doesn’t absorb the same way natural fabrics do. Instead of soaking things in, it tends to push moisture around, so wiping your face or hands doesn’t feel as clean.

It also stays damp once it finally absorbs anything, which isn’t ideal during a meal.

The texture is another thing to think about. Polyester feels smooth, but it doesn’t have that natural softness you get from real fibres.

It can feel a bit synthetic on your skin, especially if you’re wiping your face more than once. Over time it can also pill and lose that clean look it had at the start.

Designs printed on polyester stay bright at first, but they still sit on the surface of the fabric.

Since the material isn’t breathable, the prints don’t age as gracefully and the napkin can start to look flat. Polyester also has a stiff drape, so it doesn’t fold as nicely or hold shape the way natural fabrics do.

Polyester works if you’re looking for something low cost and low maintenance, but when you compare it to fabrics that absorb better, feel better and last longer, the difference is pretty clear.

The Winner

When choosing the best fabric for cloth napkins, the decision often comes down to how you want your dining table to feel and how long you want your napkins to last. Cotton, bamboo and polyester each offer their own strengths, although they can lose shape, lack breathability or rely on synthetic processing. 

Linen stands apart because it is entirely natural, exceptionally durable and capable of keeping its structure and beauty through years of use. For households that value craftsmanship, sustainability and long lasting elegance, linen remains the most reliable and refined choice.

How To Find The Best Cloth Napkin

If you’ve read the other articles that I’ve written, you know there are a couple of things you should always pay attention to when buying the best items for your home.

Reputation

This is the biggest one. If you get this one right, you won’t have to worry too much about the other things listed below. The reputation of a company is important but what does that mean exactly?

• They have experience in the weaving the fabric they sell
• They’ve been in business for a long time (this is important since it means they know how to properly make the napkins)

A store that knows what they’re doing will save you so much time and frustration. There’s no need to worry about the quality of the product because you know you’ll get what you wanted from them.

Production Process

Once you found a company that has experience in weaving the fabric you’re looking for (the best one is linen since it will last you the longest while maintaining its high quality), the next thing you should do is look for how it is made

What does the production process mean? Ask yourself these questions:

• Are the napkins made by the store? Or are they outsourced somewhere else? The store will always say if they themselves make them 
• Does the company seem passionate about making the items? This shows how well of a store they are in case you want to get more napkins from them

Knowing how the production process works (especially knowing if the weaving is outsourced) is important. Companies that outsource their products will always sacrifice their quality. 

Examples 

Now that you know what to look for in a company and how the production process works, here are a couple of examples of quality cloth napkins. These are the types of napkins that actually reflect everything I talked about above.

Ferguson Irish Linen

Ferguson Damask Linen Napkins

Ferguson’s damask napkins are made using traditional Irish weaving methods that have been passed down for generations. 

The patterns are woven directly into the fabric, which lets the napkin catch the light in a way that makes your whole table look more elevated. 

Damask linen is known for being strong and long lasting, and Ferguson’s weaving gives you a napkin that stays crisp and refined for years. You get real texture, real craftsmanship and something that feels like it was made with care.

Ferguson Chambray Linen Napkins

The chambray linen napkins feel a bit more relaxed but still carry that same level of quality. Chambray is made by weaving colored and natural yarns together, which gives the napkin a soft visual depth. 

Ferguson’s version feels light in your hand but still holds its shape. This makes it perfect for everyday meals or hosting people at home. It has the breathability you want, the structure you expect from Irish linen and the durability that makes it worth buying.

Ferguson Irish Linen stands out because everything they make is pure flax linen and woven with over 170 years of experience behind it. Their napkins soften over time without losing their structure, and they keep that premium look that good linen is known for

Summerhill and Bishop Cloth Napkins

Summerhill and Bishop create napkins that lean heavily into a polished and decorative style. Their napkins are usually made from cotton or cotton blends, which gives them a smooth, soft feel right out of the box. They offer a lot of color variety and detailed finishes, so they work well for people who want a very curated, design focused table setting.

Summerhill and Bishop is a good example of a company that prioritizes aesthetic and presentation. Cotton is comfortable and familiar, which is why many people choose it for everyday use. It simply has a different character compared to pure linen. Linen naturally brings more structure, strength and long term durability, which cotton and blends do not always match. This is why households that want a premium, lasting option often end up choosing linen once they experience the difference for themselves.