Best dressing gowns for women and bathrobes for cosy nights in

The best dressing gowns are cosy, soft and snug. There’s nothing quite like snuggling up on the sofa in your bathrobe, cuppa in hand, while the winter weather does its worst outside. And with the cost of living remaining high, many of us are seeking ways to keep warm at home without turning up the central heating.

While a heated throw or heated gilet brings extra wattage of warmth, nothing beats a great dressing gown for keeping you cosy and helping you get dry after a shower.

After shrugging off the best winter coat for women having faced the great outdoors, you're going to want to slip into the cosiest loungewear including a high-quality dressing gown. For some, nothing beats a big towelling dressing gown to bring a touch of hotel luxury into your home. For softness and warmth, fleece is often a popular choice, and to achieve the ultimate in hibernation vibes, a hood can be a welcome feature. If you tend to find heavy dressing gowns too hot, a more lightweight robe made from waffle material or even satin may be the ideal choice for you.

Not all dressing gowns are created equal, so to bring you our definitive list of the best dressing gowns for women you can buy today, we scoured our forums for tried-and-tested recommendations, before researching wider customer feedback to ensure all the products on our list were incredibly comfortable and worth every penny.

Best dressing gowns at a glance

How we chose the best dressing gowns 

We combined Mumsnet users’ recommendations with Mumsnet’s hands-on reviews, current product specifications and verified buyer feedback to find cosy and comfortable dressing gowns for all needs and budgets.

The best dressing gown 2026

How to choose the best dressing gowns for women

With so many dressing gowns to choose from, it can be hard to make your choice - here are some things to consider when making your choice: 

• Material - Fabrics such as towelling cotton are the most absorbent if you’re planning to wear your dressing gown straight from the shower, whereas waffle or modal is a great choice if you tend to run warm or want a lightweight, moisture-wicking gown to wear on milder days without overheating. For maximum warmth, fleece or plush polyester fabrics tend to offer the most soft and comfortable feel against your skin. 

• Length - How much coverage do you want your dressing gown to provide? Some dressing gowns are a shorter length, sitting on, or just above, the knee. This can provide freedom for more active days around the home. On colder days, however, you may prefer a dressing gown that covers more of your legs or skims your lower calf for toasty warm legs.

• Hood - For the best hibernation feels, a hood can allow you to really snuggle up and hide away from the world - but not all women’s dressing gowns have them. If a hood is high up on your dressing gown checklist - be sure to check the full specs.

• Pockets - Dressing gown pockets can be another useful feature - the deeper the better. Not only are they ideal for stashing snacks or your mobile phone, but they're great to tuck your hands into for luxurious comfort when lounging on the sofa. 

• Colour - Do you have a colour preference? Lighter colours such as white and grey look crisp and fresh, creating the clean, calm aesthetic you might expect from your local spa. Add kids, makeup and snacks into the mix, however, and they can quickly stain or become dirty. Darker shades can be a more practical choice, or you could opt for a bolder, patterned design or house coat for a stand-out piece.

• Machine washable? - How easy is the dressing gown to clean? Can it be thrown into the washing machine on a standard cycle and how long does it take to dry? To keep your dressing gown soft and fluffy, it’s recommended to wash on a cool setting, potentially adding an extra rinse and spin to ensure no laundry detergent is left caught in the fabric. You may also want to wash inside out and separate from other clothes to allow maximum space to spin inside the drum.

• Can you tumble dry? Whilst many dressing gowns can dry naturally, using the tumble dryer (where fabric instructions allow) can help restore fullness and softness before you pop it straight back on, fresh from the machine.

• Price - How much are you willing to spend? Whilst some dressing gowns may be a significant initial investment, it’s also worth considering value for money on a  cost-per-wear basis, especially when energy bills are so high. 

How often should you wash a dressing gown?

How often you should wash your dressing gown will depend on how often you wear it. If you wear it over pyjamas and don't sweat heavily, washing it every few wears or about once a week is generally reasonable. If you’ve festered in it all weekend and are finding popcorn seeds in the pocket – its probably time to give it a clean. 

You should follow the care instructions on the label and allow your dressing gown to dry fully between wears. 

What is the difference between a dressing gown and a bathrobe?

The terms dressing gown and bathrobe are often used interchangeably, however there is a subtle difference. A dressing gown is generally intended for lounging or keeping warm around the house, whereas a bathrobe is typically designed to be worn after bathing or showering. As such bathrobes tend to be made from more  absorbent materials.

About the author 

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases. 

Conscious of energy bills, Lucy spent most of last winter wearing her trusty dressing gown, which is thrown on most evenings as soon as shes finished work. Shes written several guides to keeping warm in winter, including the best blanket hoodies and best foot warmers.