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Towels by the kilo or by the piece?
Towels by the Kilo or by the Piece? A Cost Guide for Wholesalers
When buying towels wholesale, buyers are generally faced with two different pricing methods: Sale of towels by the kilo and Towel sales by the piece.

Determining which method is more advantageous—particularly for textile wholesalers, market traders, e-commerce firms, hotels, spa businesses and exporting companies—is a key cost consideration.
Whilst the price per kilogram may seem more attractive for some products, in some cases pricing by unit may be more transparent and easier to compare.
For this reason, before purchasing towels in bulk, the product’s weight, dimensions, unit weight and quality grade should all be taken into account.
What is the sale of towels by weight?
When selling towels by weight, the price of the product is determined by the total weight rather than the number of items.
For example, a supplier:
1 kg of towels = a specific price in TL
may submit a bid in this form.
This system is particularly suitable for:
- In stock towels
- Excess export towels
- high-quality towels
- For products with mixed measurements
- In outlet sales
- Large batch in stock
It is quite common.
What Should You Bear in Mind When Buying Towels by the Kilo?
When assessing the price per kilo, it is not enough to look solely at the price per kilogram.
The real question is this:
How many towels do you get from 1 kilogram?
This issue of the product:
- To the extent that
- GSM value
- Weave density
- Border structure
- Fabric weight
It varies depending on...

What is the sale of sanitary towels by the piece?
When selling by the piece, a separate unit price is set for each towel.
For example:
- 50×90 cm face towel: price per item
- 70×140 cm bath towel: price per item
- 100×150 cm beach towel: price per item
Pricing can be structured in this way.
This method is particularly common for orders of standard sizes, standard weights and regular products.

What are the benefits of buying sanitary towels by the pack?
Cost calculations are easier to carry out with unit-based pricing.
For example, a business that places an order for 1,000 towels can directly:
Unit price × order quantity
can calculate the total product cost using this formula.
For this reason, unit-based pricing may be easier to understand for hotels, spas, hospitals or corporate businesses.
Which is Cheaper: By the Kilo or By the Towel?
Not always.
Selling by weight may seem more favourable at first glance, but if the towel is heavy, the number of items you get per kilogram decreases.
For example, from a towel weighing 500 grams:
Approximately 2 pieces per kilogramme
come out.
However, from a lighter towel weighing 250 grams:
Approximately 4 pieces per kilogramme
may occur.
For this reason, when comparing two different prices per kilogram, you must always check whether the products are the same size and have the same weight.
How Many Towels Are There in 1 Kilogram?
The answer to this question depends on the weight of the towel as a single piece.
The simple formula is as follows:
1,000 grams ÷ the weight of one towel in grams = approximate number per kilogram
How many pieces are there in 1 kilogram of 200-gram towels?
1,000 ÷ 200 = 5 pieces
How many pieces are there in 1 kilogram of 250-gram towels?
1,000 ÷ 250 = 4
How many pieces are there in 1 kilogram of 400-gram towels?
1,000 ÷ 400 = 2.5
In practice, therefore, a 10-kilogram batch may contain approximately 25 items.
How many pieces are there in 1 kilogram of 500-gram towels?
1,000 ÷ 500 = 2 pieces
For this reason, the price per kilogram alone is not enough to indicate whether a product is cheap or expensive.
How is the weight per piece of a towel calculated?
The GSM value can be used to calculate the approximate weight of a towel.
The formula is as follows:
Width × Height × GSM = approximate weight
Measurements must be given in metres.
How many grams does a 50×90 cm, 500 GSM towel weigh?
0.50 × 0.90 = 0.45 m²
0.45 × 500 = approximately 225 grams
Accordingly, in theory:
1,000 ÷ 225 = approximately 4.4 pieces per kilogram
How many grams does a 70×140 cm, 500 GSM towel weigh?
0.70 × 1.40 = 0.98 m²
0.98 × 500 = approximately 490 grams
Accordingly:
1,000 ÷ 490 = approximately 2 pieces per kg
Due to manufacturing tolerances, there may be slight variations in the actual weight of the product.
How is the price per item calculated from the price per kilogram?
From a wholesaler’s perspective, one of the most important calculations is converting the price per kilogramme into a price per unit.
The formula is quite simple:
Price per kilogram × product weight (kg) = approximate unit cost
For example, if a towel weighs 0.400 kg and costs 200 TL per kilogram:
200 × 0.400 = 80 TL each
This method allows you to easily compare a quote given in kilograms with a price per unit.
How is the price per kilogram calculated from the unit price?
The opposite can also be done.
Formula:
Unit price ÷ product weight (kg) = approximate price per kilogram
For example:
- Price per towel: 90 TL
- Towel weight: 0.450 kg
90 ÷ 0.450 = 200 TL/kg
This calculation is particularly useful when comparing quotes from two different suppliers.
The Advantages of Buying Towels by the Kilo
Towels by the kilo Buying can be quite advantageous in certain trading models.
Price Advantage on Stock Items
Selling surplus or stock items by the kilo may offer better value for money.
Mixed Product Purchase
Pricing by weight can simplify the process when dealing with stock comprising different colours or sizes.
Outlet and Market Sales
For businesses offering affordable products to the end consumer, stock towels purchased by the kilogram can generate high profit margins.
Large-Volume Purchases
For large-volume purchases, it may be possible to secure a more favourable price from the supplier.
The Disadvantages of Buying Towels by the Kilo
Purchasing by the kilogram is not suitable for every business.
The number of periods may not be clear in advance
The number of items per kilogram may vary for products sold by weight.
Product Specifications Are Subject to Change
For products held in stock or surplus to export:
- Measurement
- Colour
- Weight
- Model
There may be differences.
Reorder Issue
The same item in stock may not be available again in a few months’ time.
For this reason, standard production may be more suitable for hotels, spa businesses or retail brands that require a steady supply of products.
The Benefits of Buying Sanitary Towies by the Pack
Purchasing by the piece offers greater control, particularly for businesses that make planned purchases.
Inventory Tracking is Easy
For example:
- 500 hand towels
- 500 face towels
- 1,000 bath towels
Inventory management can be carried out in this way.
Budget Planning Is Easier
As the unit price is known, the total cost can be clearly seen.
It’s Easier to Buy a Standard Product
It is easier to ensure a consistent supply of the same colour, size and weight.
For Hotels: Is It More Cost-Effective to Charge for Towels by Weight or by Piece?
For hotels, it is often more cost-effective to purchase standard products by the unit.
Because on hotel towels:
- Measurement standard
- Colour standard
- GSM
- Industrial wash durability
- Option to reorder
It is important.
In particular, if purchases are to be made alongside bedroom textiles, including wholesale bed linen sets and wholesale fitted sheets in the same procurement plan can simplify the purchasing process.
Which Is More Advantageous for Market and Shop Vendors?
For businesses operating as markets, outlet shops or discount stores, buying by the kilogram may be a more attractive option.
In particular:
- Export surplus
- Excess stock
- End of the season
- Assorted colours
- quality
A price per kilogram for products may offer a commercial advantage.
However, the average number of items per kilogram must be calculated before making a purchase.
Which Is the More Sensible Option for E-commerce Sellers?
Product standardisation is important for e-commerce retailers.
What online customers see in the photo:
- The measure
- Colour
- Weight
- Model
waits.
For this reason, unit-based orders for standardised products are easier to manage in e-commerce.
However, for e-commerce companies operating in the outlet category or selling stock items, products sold by the kilo may also offer advantages.
Why Does GSM Change the Cost Calculation When Buying Towels?
If two towels of the same size have different GSM values, the product weight will also vary.
For example, measuring 70×140 cm:
400 GSM Towel
0.98 × 400 = approximately 392 grams
500 GSM Towel
0.98 × 500 = approximately 490 grams
600 GSM Towel
0.98 × 600 = approximately 588 grams
Consequently, you will get more pieces from a 400 GSM towel bought by the kilogram than from a 600 GSM towel.
For this reason, weight must always be taken into account when comparing prices.
A Formula That Can Be Used When Comparing Wholesale Towel Prices
When comparing different quotes from wholesalers, it is useful to ask for the following four pieces of information:
- Price per kilogram
- The average weight of a towel
- Measurement
- GSM
Then:
Price per kilogram × weight of the towel = unit cost
can be calculated.
This method makes it easier to see the true cost of tenders.
Can towels and bathrobes be ordered together?
In hotels, Turkish baths and spas, towels and bathrobes are usually used together.
For this reason, considering wholesale bathrobe options during bulk purchasing can ensure that the total textile requirement is managed within a single supply plan.
For bathrobes, too, the weight per unit and the total weight per batch are key factors affecting overall logistics costs.
Is Weight or Quantity More Important in Exports?
Both figures are important when it comes to export orders.
Whilst the buyer often places orders by the piece, the logistics company and container charges are calculated by the kilogram.
Therefore, from the exporter’s perspective:
- Total number
- Net product weight
- Gross carton weight
- Number of boxes
- Number of pallets
- Total volume
They should be calculated together.
Particularly in the case of large-volume wholesale orders, even if a product weighs just a few grams more, this can significantly affect the total shipment weight.
How Should Quality Control Be Carried Out When Buying Towels by the Kilo?
Pre-order checks are particularly important for stock or surplus export goods.
Find Out the Average Product Weight
It is difficult to assess the price per kilogramme without knowing the approximate weight of a product in grams.
Check the Measurements
If you are buying a mixed-size batch, you should ask approximately how much of each size is included.
Find Out Your Quality Class
Products:
- quality
- quality
- Export surplus
- Excess stock
It must be clarified whether this is the case.
Carry Out a Sample Check
If a large order is to be placed, the product quality and approximate unit weight can be checked against a sample.
How Should You Plan Your Costs When Buying Wholesale Towels from Denizli?
Denizli is one of Turkey’s major textile centres in terms of the production of towels and bathrobes.
Different for wholesale buyers:
- Weight
- Measurement
- Quality
- Stock
- Packaging
options may be available.
For this reason, rather than simply comparing the price per kilogramme or per unit, it is necessary to calculate the product’s actual cost of use and resale.
You can browse Ozay Tekstil’s range of wholesale towels for various uses and find out about the products and stock available for bulk purchases.
For other textile products, Ozay Tekstil’s product ranges may also be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to buy towels by the kilo or by the piece?
It varies depending on the product. To work out whether the price per kilo is good value, you need to calculate the weight of a towel in grams and convert the price per kilogram into a unit cost.
How many towels do you get from 1 kilogram?
It depends on the weight of the towel. You can make about 4 from a 250-gram towel and about 2 from a 500-gram towel.
How do you convert the price per kilo of towels into a price per item?
The price per kilogram is multiplied by the weight of a towel in kilograms. For example, if the price per kilogram is 200 TL and the towel weighs 0.4 kg, the approximate unit cost is 80 TL.
How many grams does a 70×140 towel weigh, approximately?
It depends on the GSM value. A towel with a GSM of 500 and measuring 70 × 140 cm weighs, in theory, approximately 490 grams.
Are towels sold by the kilo second-grade?
No. Selling by weight is a pricing method. Products may be first-grade, second-grade, export surplus or stock items.
Can hotels buy towels by the kilo?
It is possible, but due to the need for standard colours, sizes and a continuous supply, ordering standard products by the piece is often easier to manage for hotels.
Are surplus export towels sold by the kilo?
Yes. Surplus and stock towels can be sold by the kilogram. However, the quality, dimensions and weight distribution of the products must be checked before placing an order.
Is GSM important when calculating the cost of a towel?
Yes. As the GSM increases, the weight of a towel of the same size increases. This, in turn, affects the number of pieces per kilogram and the cost of the product.
What price should you expect when buying towels wholesale?
To ensure the most accurate comparison, it may be necessary to request both the price per kilogram and the approximate weight per unit, or the price per unit directly. This allows the true unit cost of different quotes to be compared. Wholesale towels Click here to view.