10 Best Blankets of 2023, According to Experts
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From lightweight to thick and plush, these top-rated picks deliver maximum softness and comfort.
Is there anything better than the feel of a soft, cozy blanket? When it comes to sleeping, lounging, or snuggling, the best blankets offer warmth and comfort—but can also add a nice touch of style to any room. "Blankets are also a great way to make your living environment feel more seasonal—like draping a linen blanket over an outdoor sofa in the summertime, or a tartan cashmere over a sofa in the winter," says Julie Brayton, Principal Designer of Brayton Interiors.
There are, of course, different kinds of blankets for various needs and preferences: While a traditional blanket is "often used to finish or complete the bed, to protect the sheets, and add a layer of warmth," a throw is typically smaller in size and can be found "draped over the arm of a chair or sofa" to add a finishing touch to a room, explains Lucy Penfield, Principal Designer of Lucy Interior Design. The material, feel, and level of warmth are all factors you’ll want to consider, too—whether you’re looking for breathable and lightweight or thick and plush.
With so many varieties, styles, and colors, it might seem challenging to find the perfect blanket—which is why we pulled together some of the best options for every preference and price point. Ahead, find our expert-approved picks for the best blankets on the market right now, including fleece blankets, weighted blankets and more.
Meet the Experts: Lucy Penfield, Principal Designer of Lucy Interior Design, and Julie Brayton, Principal Designer of Brayton Interiors.
Ready to cozy up in a soft, nice blanket? Check out our top-rated picks below.
This super-soft, affordable fleece blanket also impressed textiles experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, and was even named a winner of the Good Housekeeping's 2022 Best Bedding Awards for its perfect comfort scores. And with over 110,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, it's clearly a crowd-favorite. "This blanket is simply divine!" writes one reviewer. "It offers perfect warmth despite being light in weight...It's buttery soft and cuddly...I washed and dried it per the instructions and it came out of the machines just like it went in—no pilling or shedding at all. A huge plus!" Plus, it's also available in a total of 29 different colors and five different sizes—including a smaller throw size.
A faux fur blanket is great if you’re looking for maximum fluffiness and cuddliness—and this one boasts over 23,000 reviews on Amazon. Reviewers especially love how soft and luxurious-feeling the material is, and how it makes for a beautiful addition to any room. "This is the softest, most luxurious piece of heaven," raves one Amazon custmer. "I have it as a throw on my bed and it just beckons for me to come and throw it across me and take a nap. And did I say it is beautiful?"
This popular blanket earned praise from the Good Housekeeping Institute thanks to its quality fabric and super soft, cozy feel. The material—made from a blend of cotton, acrylic, and polyester—laundered well in the Good Housekeeping Institute's wash tests, with no shrinkage or changes in appearance. With a variety of unique and fun designs (including nautical and animal prints!), it's also a beloved pick among reviewers, with one happy customer declaring: "Your life will be changed, I promise. It's the perfect warmth, weight, softness, and coziness."
On cold winter nights, warm up with this electric blanket from Sunbeam, which not only has 12 different heat settings (yes, 12!), but also offers a handy auto shut-off function. The blanket also received rave reviews from Good Housekeeping Institute testers, who especially loved the super-soft, plush material and how easy the controls were to use. Plus, this pick impressed the GH Institute's textile experts in laundering tests, with no signs of shrinkage or any change in appearance even after several cycles.
"For a summer-weight blanket, my go-to is Coyuchi," says Penfield. "I love supporting this great, sustainably minded company, using climate-beneficial wool and natural, organic materials." This cozy cotton organic blanket is touted as their "coziest and softest blanket," made of 100% organic cotton for the perfect lightweight warmth and plush texture.
"This beautifully soft blanket is a favorite in our home. We have one for everyone's bed and the throw version on our couches," raves one reviewer. "The feel of the material is lightweight but very warm. Out-of-this-world softness. Words cannot describe our love for this blanket."
This elegant throw blanket is handwoven and perfect to drape over a couch or use for an extra layer on slightly warmer days. Not to mention, it also has a stylish design—including a fringe embellishment on the edge—and comes in three beautiful colors. Says one reviewer: "The softness [of the] fabric is unparalleled. It is the perfect weight for slightly warmer temps when you still want to snuggle with a blanket."
Looking for a wool blanket that's perfectly warm and cozy for a cold night? Penfield loves this highly-rated pick from Faribault Mill, which is made from highly-quality Merino wool —a sustainable natural material that's hypoallergenic as well as odor-, fire-, and water-resistant. "I love wrapping up in this vintage blanket while gazing at the North Star on a cool summer night," Penfield says. Plus, it also has a near-perfect rating from reviewers, with one satisfied customer touting it as "absolutely the best blanket I’ve ever owned."
If you tend to be a hot, sweaty sleeper, try this highly-rated blanket from Sleep Number, which uses an innovative 37.5 cooling technol ogy that continuously adapts—storing and releasing heat—to keep you at your ideal temperature all night long. Textiles experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have long been impressed with the technology's ability to keep away night sweats; plus, they love that the blanket is entirely machine washable and comes in five different colors, too.
Weighted blankets offer deep pressure stimulation, which is great for calming stress and anxiety. This best-selling one on Amazon boasts over 37,000 perfect ratings, with reviewers raving that it's "extremely soft" and has "fantastic" weight distribution—not to mention, it also has a removable cover for easy laundering. Best of all, it comes in a wide range of options, including five sizes and eight weights (ranging from five to 30 lbs), making it easy to pick the one that's best for you.
For on-the-go warmth and comfort, look no further than this highly-rated travel blanket, which serves a genius double-purpose functionality: It can be unfolded for a cozy full-size blanket, or zipped up in its carrying case to use as a comfortable pillow. Reviewers say that the blanket is the perfect size for traveling and that the fabric is super-soft and comfortab le—not to mention, it also easily slips onto your suitcase handle for easy transport.
"I have been traveling for work and this has been a lifesaver...This is the best travel purchase I have made, straight up," writes one reviewer, who also adds: "It's easy to fold back up to put away when the plane lands."
When shopping for your perfect blanket, here are some factors you’ll want to consider:
✔️ Material: The material of the blanket is especially important, as it impacts the feel and weight of the blanket. Whether you like the feel of natural or synthetic, lightweight or thick, you’ll want to consider which one best fits your preference and needs.
✔️ Size: Make sure to look at the specific size dimensions of the blanket, especially if you’re planning to use it for your bed. Many blankets come in standard bedding sizes like Twin, Queen, and King, but you might still want to double-check the measurements as sizes can vary by brand.
✔️ Care: For a blanket you’ll use every day, it's best to opt for ones that are easy to care for. You’ll want to pay attention to the blanket's care instructions, especially to check if it's machine-washable and dryer-friendly.
✔️ Color and design: Another factor that may be important is how the blanket looks in your home, especially if you’re planning to use it more for decor. When it comes to color, "make sure the undertones of the blanket are the same as those in your room scheme," advises Brayton. But don't be afraid to experiment with the design. "Go wild with pattern and texture if it feels right," Brayton says.
When it comes to choosing the right fabric for your blanket, Penfield recommends natural, organic, sustainable fibers—such as cotton, linen, alpaca, wool, and cashmere. "They feel good on your skin, and the natural fibers breathe to help cool and heat," she explains. "These fibers are durable and long-lasting, dry-cleanable, and do not pill."
Additionally, the ideal type of material for your blanket might also depend on the season and weather you’re planning on using it for. "A nice cotton linen or organic cotton is appropriate for summer, while cashmere or wool cashmere is incredibly soft and more visually weighty for winter," says Brayton.
We spoke with interior designers Lucy Penfield, Principal Designer of Lucy Interior Design, as well as Julie Brayton, Principal Designer of Brayton Interiors. We also poured through online reviews of best-selling products from verified customers. Last, we referenced the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Paper & Apparel Lab's coverage of the best blankets to choose the Chappywrap Captain's Classic Light Blue Original Blanket, the Bedsure Fleece Blanket, the Sunbeam Royal Luxe Heated Blanket, and the Sleep Number True Temp Blanket on our list.
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor's degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she's not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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Meet the Experts: over 110,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, how soft and luxurious-feeling the material is, and how it makes for a beautiful addition to any room. quality fabric and super soft, cozy feel. 12 different heat settings the super-soft, plush material and how easy the controls were to use. made of 100% organic cotton for the perfect lightweight warmth and plush texture. made from highly-quality Merino wool —a sustainable natural material that's hypoallergenic as well as odor-, fire-, and water-resistant. innovative 37.5 cooling technol ogy that continuously adapts—storing and releasing heat—to keep you at your ideal temperature all night long. serves a genius double-purpose functionality: perfect size for traveling and that the fabric is super-soft and comfortab le ✔️ Material: ✔️ Size: ✔️ Care: ✔️ Color and design:Prev: Suston Magazine
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