“Wool blankets evoke feelings of curling up with a great book, watching your favorite movie, or feeling their weight on your feet when they’re folded at the foot of your bed. It is for these reasons that a wool blanket needs to be soft and not too scratchy, and weighty but not too heavy,” says Maggie Kanter of Maggie Kanter Interiors. “Secondly, I think the average person choosing a wool blanket is looking for something that will stand the test of time, which they are known to do by their durable composition.” To find the best wool blankets, we researched a variety of options for bedtime, camping trips, convenient washing, color-coordinating, and more. In addition to consulting Kanter, we considered factors like softness, durability, material, and quality. Our choice for the best wool blanket is The Citizenry’s Catalina Boucle Blanket & Throw for its decadent softness, attractive simplicity, considerable weight, and durability. Here, the best wool blankets. Keep in Mind: It’s only offered in one color and is more expensive than other options. It also has to be dry-cleaned, which is an added expense. The handwoven blanket is only available in ivory, so if you want something with more color, this may not be the best option for you. If it works in your space, however, this alpaca and wool blend is both warm and stylish. Just keep in mind that it’s dry clean only, which is an added expense. Although the blanket is more expensive than some other options, it’s worth noting that the brand is Fair Trade certified, unlike many other options on the market. Price at time of publish: From $255 Size: From 50 x 70 inches | Weight: From 5.5 pounds | Material: Alpaca, wool, and polyamide | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: It’s only offered in one size. The wool blanket is offered in four colors: denim blue, gray waffle, pale plush red, and yellow. It’s only made in one size, however, so it depends on your preferences. Crafted of 100% Australian merino wool, this blanket is both water and static-resistant. It’s also Standard 100 by OEKO-TEK certified, which means it’s certified to be made without any substances the organization deemed harmful. Price at time of publish: From $70 Size: 90 x 50 inches | Weight: 2.37 pounds | Material: Australian merino wool | Care: Dry clean or hand wash in cold water Keep in Mind: It’s dry clean only, which makes for an added expense. A fitting piece to be folded at the foot of the bed or stretched across it, this blanket offers a soft but lightweight touch to your slumber. It’s available in two colors, flint and linen, each of which is reversible. Plus, it can be purchased in a full/queen size, or king/California king so you can layer it on your bed for optimal warmth and comfort. Just keep in mind that the blanket, which is already a bit of an investment, is dry clean only, which adds an additional expense. Price at time of publish: From $900 Size: From 96 x 96 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Alpaca, cotton | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: It’s only offered in one size, so it depends on your preferences. The blanket is offered in a few colors, like gray cream herringbone, blue/gold herringbone, navy/gray, and green/gray herringbone, as well as blue/cream check and black/white check. Although the blanket is more expensive than some other options, the merino and cashmere blend makes for a nice touch. Just keep in mind it’s only offered in one size, so it depends on your preferences. Price at time of publish: $257 Size: 54 x71 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Merino wool, cashmere | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: It’s not available in a solid hue—all the options have colorful horizontal stripes at either end of the blanket. There are five color blends to choose from, and you can customize your wool blanket with monogramming and embroidery. Just keep in mind that it’s not available in a solid hue—all the options have colorful horizontal stripes at either end of the blanket, which may not suit everyone’s style. Like most wool blankets, this one also requires dry cleaning which adds an additional cost. However, you can use it both indoors and outdoors, so you’ll be sure to get tons of use. Price at time of publish: From $129 Size: From 66 x 84 inches | Weight: 5-6 pounds | Material: Wool and cotton | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: The neutral hues may be too boring for those looking to add color to their bedroom. The blanket has a tidily sewn hem and provides coziness and warmth that takes the chill out of a cold night. However, it’s only available in three neutral colors, so if you’re looking to add bright colors to your space, this may not be the best option. Price at time of publish: From $319 Size: From 72 x 90 inches | Weight: From 3.52 pounds | Material: Merino wool | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: It’s only offered in patterned options, which may not match every space. The blanket is offered in Twin, Queen, and King, so you can spread it across any bed that needs covering. Washable in standard home washing machines, it’s made with wool that won’t shrink, fade, or pill. “(Pendleton’s) eco-wise wool blanket brings that cozy factor without the need to worry about how gentle you are with it,” says Kanter, who recommends it. Part of what makes this one of the best wool blankets is you can also choose to add custom embroidery and monogramming for an additional cost. The Twin size blanket works well with college dorm beds, or mattresses that might be longer than usual, so you can gift the blanket to a new student or as a thoughtful housewarming gift. Keep in mind that though it’s machine washable, you can’t just toss it in with your t-shirts—it will need to be washed separately in cold water on a gentle cycle. Price at time of publish: From $169 Size: From 66 x 96 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Wool | Care: Machine wash separately in cold water on the gentle cycle, and tumble dry on low. Do not use bleach. Keep in Mind: It may be too lightweight for those in colder climates. Because of the high lanolin content in the fabric, this wool blanket is almost self-cleaning. Its merino/cashmere blend is light and soft, but still warm enough to keep you cozy on chilly nights. Keep in mind that this is a lightweight throw, however, so if you are looking for something more heavy-duty for harsh winter weather, this may not be your best option. Price at time of publish: $179 Size: From 51 x 78.75 inches | Weight: 0.75 pounds | Material: Merino wool and cashmere | Care: Spot clean when necessary and lay flat to dry Keep in Mind: It’s only 1.2 pounds, which could be too lightweight for some. Part of what makes this pick one of the best wool blankets is that in addition to being soft and breathable, the throw is both temperature-regulating and moisture-regulating. At 1.2 pounds it’s also fairly lightweight, which is worth keeping in mind depending on your preferences. Plus, these wool blankets are also antimicrobial and flame resistant, so they’re perfect to snuggle up with by the fire. Price at time of publish: $174 Size: 70.9 x 51.2 inches | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Material: Alpaca | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: It’s more expensive than other options and isn’t made of all wool. The natural fiber blankets, each of which comes with its own hemp carrying bags, are a sustainably sourced and odor-resistant blend of Mohair and wool. The throws are also breathable, hypoallergenic, long-lasting, antibacterial, and temperature-regulating. The blankets are made with materials from producers that are Responsible Mohair Standard certified. The standard protects the animals used to source the wool, unlike some other blankets. Just keep in mind the wool blankets do contain nylon, so they aren’t 100% wool. Price at time of publish: From $220 Size: 71x 51 inches | Weight: 1.85 pounds | Material: Mohair and nylon | Care: Dry clean or hand wash in lukewarm water Keep in Mind: The blanket is only available in one pattern and hue, which may not match every home. The Cascada Alpaca throws are only available in a tranquil blue, gray, and cream pattern, so keep in mind it may not work in every space. However, the soft blanket makes for a thoughtful gift as well as a decorative piece draped over a couch or chair. Plus, 100% of The Citizenry’s products are guaranteed to be fair trade by the World Fair Trade Organization. Price at time of publish: $175 Size: 70 x 50 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Baby alpaca | Care: Spot or dry clean only Keep in Mind: They’ve been known to pill a bit. The wool blankets are made with yarn-dyed plaids for long-lasting color. Conveniently washable anytime, you won’t need to dry clean them, but package instructions recommend that they be washed and dried in a large commercial machine. Price at time of publish: From $179 Size: From 90 x 66 inches | Weight: From 3 pounds and 14 ounces | Material: Wool | Care: Wash and dry in a large commercial machine Keep in Mind: It’s only available in a throw blanket size. Designed with simplicity and elegance in mind, these blankets are constructed of 100% baby Peruvian alpaca wool. This chic blanket adds a touch of luxury to any room, and the lightweight blanket is great for taking along on trips as well. The only downside is they are only available in a throw size, so it won’t fit across larger beds. Price at time of publish: $185 Size: 72 x 52 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Material: Baby alpaca | Care: Dry clean only Keep in Mind: The throw’s light-as-a-feather consistency may be too thin for some. Toasty warm with cooling properties on reserve, it also has a natural resistance to fire, water, and odors, so you’ll even be able to use it outdoors. Easy to care for, it’s conveniently machine washable and can be air dried as well. Keep in mind that it is a throw blanket, so it’s not quite as big as other options on our list. It’s also fairly lightweight and thin, so it depends on your blanket preferences. Price at time of publish: $142 Size: 50 x 66 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Material: Merino wool | Care: Machine wash and line dry Keep in Mind: It’s only available in two colors, so it depends on your home decor and preferences. Currently offered in the natural hues of alabaster and clay, it can work itself into nearly any color scheme. Plus, its soft wool blend is handcrafted, giving it a one-of-a-kind feel and making it a great gift for newlyweds, to celebrate a new home, or exchange at a holiday get-together. Because it’s only available in natural hues, it may not be bright enough for spaces with lots of color. Price at time of publish: $150 Size: 50 x 60 inches | Weight: 4.1 pounds | Material: Wool, acrylic, and polyester | Care: Machine wash using cold water on a gentle cycle. Air dry only.
What to Know About Wool Blankets Before Shopping
Size
When trying to decide what wool blanket size is best for you, first consider your intended use for it. If you want one strictly to use for your bed, you’ll want to look for a wool blanket that corresponds with your bed size. However, if you just want one to throw over yourself casually, a smaller blanket will be your best bet. “Throw sizes are great for folding in a basket and pulling out when you want some relaxing reading time,” says Kanter. Kanter also advises that where you’ll be using your wool blanket is equally important to consider when choosing a size. Throws, for example, can be used anywhere you rest and are most often found in places outside the bedroom, like the couch or an armchair. “A larger blanket (90 x 80 inches) is meant for layering in a full or queen-sized bed”, says Kanter, While all sizes can fluctuate a bit depending on the brand, king-size wool blankets should normally be around 108 x 100 inches, with typical twin size blankets being about 6” x 90 inches.
Weight
The best wool blankets are known for being heavy, which is part of the reason for their coziness. Typically, queen or king-sized blankets weigh at least 4.5 or 5 pounds each, while twin sizes weigh about 3.5 to 4 pounds. Different types of wool may impact a blanket’s weight as well. For example, merino and cashmere are generally lighter, while pure virgin wool (wool that has not yet been processed) and melton are often thicker and heavier. If you’re looking for something lighter in weight (while still warm), Kanter recommends an alpaca/nylon blend, “as this will provide you with ample softness while being light as a feather.”
Type of Wool
While there are actually 16 types of wool, only four of them are commonly used in blankets. Merino, alpaca, cashmere, and Angora are most often sourced for blankets. Here are a few of their unique features: Made from Merino sheep, which are native to Spain but also found in Australia and New Zealand, this type of wool is known for having an ultra-soft texture derived from its delicate fibers. Not itchy like some other types, merino wool is very fine and is considered to be of very high quality. It’s also a bit pricier than other types. Often compared to cashmere, merino is comparably soft while more durable and more resistant to pilling. “Merino is the softest in terms of skin contact,” Kanter says. It’s also her favorite type of wool for a blanket. Alpaca wool is sheared from two breeds of alpaca found in South America. The alpaca resembles a llama, but is a member of the camel family. In general, alpaca wool is lightweight, yet warm, insulating, durable, and hypoallergenic. It doesn’t pill like some of the other wool types, and it can producemore than 22 natural colors. Having a luxurious, silky feel, alpaca wool is frequently found in blankets, sweaters, hats and scarves, premium suits, and baby clothing. Cashmere, an exceptionally soft fiber, is taken from the superfine, downy undercoat of the Kashmir goat. Although found in many countries throughout the far eastern and middle east regions of the world, each goat only produces a few ounces of cashmere each year—making it one of the most valuable and sought-after natural fibers globally. Cashmere is even more expensive than merino wool — but it also has a higher loft that makes it softer and is considered to be more durable and less prone to pilling as well. Angora is sourced from the fur of Angora rabbits, which originated in Turkey but are currently found worldwide. Angora fibers are extremely soft and lightweight, with a higher heat retention level than any other natural wool. It’s known to have impressive moisture-wicking properties as well. Since it’s difficult to harvest and weave and has a tendency to be fragile and get matted, Angora only has a few producers worldwide — so it ends up being fairly expensive. Angora is often blended with other wool types to make the weaving process easier, so you’ll often find Angora blends when shopping for blankets. No matter which type of wool blanket you choose, make sure it’s mostly comprised of wool, rather than a blend woven with other materials. According to Kanter, a primarily wool construction ensures that your blanket “has water-wicking properties and can be washed — which is a huge benefit!”
Care
The first step in caring for your wool blanket is to carefully read its care instructions. While many of the best wool blankets require quarterly dry cleaning, you may be able to wash others at home. “If you are looking for something more low-maintenance,” Kanter suggests, “I would recommend a specifically machine-washable wool blanket.” Your best bet if you don’t have any instructions is to hand wash your blanket. And to be on the safe side, always keep a wool-safe detergent on hand and use cold water.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you wash and dry a wool blanket?
While some wool blankets can be washed and dried in the washing machine at home and others require dry cleaning, Kanter doesn’t recommend washing wool blankets as often as cotton ones in any way. However, when you do need to wash your wool, she suggests using a wool-safe detergent and hand washing it in cold water. Then, “roll your blanket up in a towel to absorb the moisture. Do not ring it out as it will lose its shape. The last step is to finish the drying process by hanging it on something like a drying rack in a well-aired space.” She adds, “Remember to do a spot test on any wool blankets that have colors to make sure they won’t bleed.” She says this can be done by dampening a small circle of the blanket. Once wet, you will quickly find out if it bleeds.
Are wool blankets itchy?
Kanter explains that “some blankets can be itchy, so sourcing them slightly depends on what you are planning to use them for. If you are looking for one that will be tucked up under your chin, I would recommend a wool blend as it will likely consist of a small percentage of other materials such as Alpaca or cashmere, and offer that luxuriously soft hand feel.” She also adds that this mix of fibers will also add to the texture of the blanket. “Merino wool does offer this luxurious softness although it comes at a higher price. If your wool blanket is meant for outdoor use or to be decorative, I would recommend 100% virgin wool or Shetland wool, as those are the most durable."
Who We Are
KJ Callihan is a freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens. She enjoys writing about home goods and decor, amazing deals, and where to find the greatest products. She spent hours researching the features of the best wool blankets for this story, keeping in mind size, material, weight, and care instructions. She also consulted Maggie Kanter of Maggie Kanter Interiors for guidance on materials, patterns, and other aspects of the best wool blankets.
