The Best Blankets to Keep You Cozy and Comfortable All Year Long (2024)

Our Top Picks

Bedsure's fleece blanket is an affordable option that earned high marks during our home testing thanks to its soft feel and ease of washing. With a weight of 260 grams per square meter (GSM), it's lightweight with a warm outer shell that will keep you warm and cozy throughout the year. We found while using it at home for three months that it may be too warm for the summer, especially if you live in a region that gets particularly hot. However, we loved the queen-size blanket that can cover multiple people sitting on a couch together.

The blanket has velvety microfiber fleece on one side and faux-shearling (imitates shearling leather, which is tanned and has the wool left on it) on the other. It was relatively easy to wash this blanket, but we recommend paying particular attention to the manufacturer's instructions as washing faux shearling can be tricky. We love that it comes in over 20 colors and four sizes: throw, twin, queen, and king. While it doesn't have a particularly high-end look or feel, it maintains its shape and texture after washing and drying—an especially impressive quality, given the low price.

_{Sizes: Throw, twin, queen, king | Material: Microfiber, faux-shearling | Care: Machine-wash, tumble-dry}

Looking for an extra bedding layer? Cozy Earth has you covered—literally. Made of bamboo-derived viscose, this blanket provides natural temperature regulation, which means it'll cool you off if you overheat and warm you up when you're feeling cold. Bamboo is also breathable with inherent moisture-wicking abilities, making it an excellent choice for folks who get night sweats.

The fabric is soft and smooth with an ever-so-slightly fuzzy quality. This blanket comes in four sizes, including twin, queen/full, king, and baby. There's only one color available (white), but this may not matter if you place it between your duvet and top sheet.

_{Sizes: Twin, queen/full, king, baby | Material: Bamboo-derived viscose | Care: Machine-wash, tumble-dry}

ChappyWrap is known for irresistibly soft and spacious blankets, making the Harborview Herringbone Light Blue Blanket an obvious pick for our list. Aside from the attractive color scheme and pattern, this blanket's cotton, acrylic, and polyester blend makes it warm yet lightweight enough to layer on top of a comforter or quilt.

The herringbone pattern is also reversible, so you can choose between a predominantly blue or white scheme, depending on your home's decor. ChappyWrap also promises that its blankets are resistant to shrinkage and pilling, which we consider a huge plus in terms of maintenance. An edge binding also helps the blanket maintain its shape and prevents annoying pulls.

_{Size: 40 x 60 inches (throw), 80 x 60 inches (queen size), or 90 x 90 inches (king size) | Material: Cotton blend | Care: Machine wash cold and tumble dry}

A waffle knit blanket can be a great alternative to a traditional fuzzy blanket, especially if you prefer a lightweight, yet cozy feel. The Boll & Branch Waffle Bed Blanket is made from 100 percent long-staple organic cotton, and the fabric is pre-shrunk to prevent unwanted shrinkage with additional washing. We've been using this blanket at home for three months and especially loved it as a lightweight layer in warmer fall months when we still wanted to layer indoors. We also appreciate that Boll & Branch uses an oversized cut on each of the three sizes to ensure the blanket comfortably covers any bed.

Every step in this blanket's production is also ethical and better for the environment thanks to a Fair Trade factory, plus the cotton is Oeko-Tex and GOTS-certified. You'll enjoy crawling under this blanket's cozy yet lightweight waffle knit, but we recommend keeping it away from pets and other items around your home that may snag it. We haven't experienced this issue, but could see it being a concern if the blanket were to get regular use on a bed or kid's area. All in all, we don't have any true complaints about its performance.

_{Size: Twin, full/queen, king/Cal. king | Material: Organic cotton | Care: Machine wash cold and tumble dry}

The Bearaby Hugger is a weighted blanket that's perfect for restless couples who want a blanket that will completely cover their queen or king bed. This chunky-knit blanket is 30 pounds and made of 100 percent organic cotton.

The thermal-regulating materials also help cool you off when you overheat and insulate your body if you get the chills. We reviewed the brand's Cotton Napper, the throw-size version of the Hugger, and we found it to have an instantly calming feel. It was also surprisingly breathable for a weighted blanket. The Hugger is pricey, but we appreciate that it's Fair Trade and Oeko-Tex certified, ensuring that it's made by ethically treated workers and free of harmful chemicals.

_{Weights: 30 and 35 pounds | Material: Organic cotton | Care: Machine-wash}

The Riley Home Textured Cotton Coverlet is the perfect option if you're looking for a blanket that's still warm, yet light enough to be used on its own during summer months and can also serve as added warmth in the winter. Made from 100 percent combed cotton that's Oeko-Tex certified, this blanket is soft to the touch and already has a lived-in cotton finish.

We've loved using it at home for three months as a lightweight layer while napping on the couch or watching television. We think some people may wish this blanket was slightly softer, especially if you prefer a fleece texture, but we didn't mind the smoother texture of the blanket.

We also appreciate that the textured finish is more resistant to snags and pulling, compared to waffle and knit blankets. We only wish this blanket was less popular, so more of its colors were readily available to purchase!

_{Size: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/California king | Material: Combed cotton | Care: Machine wash cold and tumble dry}

If an incredibly soft blanket is what you’re searching for, we suggest L.L. Bean’s Wicked Cozy Blanket. In our testing, we found it lived up to its name perfectly; it was one of the softest blankets we tested, and we were impressed by its incredibly soft, buttery feel as well as its quality construction. We found its comfort very inviting, and we enjoyed wrapping up in its cozy plushness. However, with that said, this blanket isn’t so plush that it’s overly thick. Instead, we found it to be a solid all-season option that could be used year-round.

While we felt we’d prefer to use this wonderfully soft blanket on the couch so we could wrap ourselves up in it, we did think it wasn’t the most versatile option on our list. It’s available in five hues, including two bold colors and three neutrals, but it's not as versatile as other options on our list. That said, we loved the green-blue color (bluegrass) we used at home for three months, which is slightly lighter (a pastel hue) in person than the product images online. We also had no issues washing this blanket and if anything it just got softer after the laundry refresh.

_{Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king, extra-large king | Material: Polyester fleece | Care: Machine wash; dry without heat}

Garnet Hill’s Plush-loft Blanket is sure to warm you up, with a combination of different materials rolled into one nicely thick blanket. In testing, we liked how versatile this blanket was for those who weren’t sure what kind of blanket they’d prefer. The soft faux fur underside was fluffy and velvety to the touch, while the reverse woven cotton side was cool and smooth. It was easy to flip over (and even toss and turn underneath) to use both sides depending on preference, and we particularly liked the added thickness for use on top of an existing comforter or duvet insert. We've loved using this blanket at home for three months as it's ideal for curling up on the couch on both chillier and warmer days given its dual-sided design.

The only drawback to this heavyweight blanket is its warmth–which is both a pro and a con. For those who live in cold climates, this blanket is a perfect way to warm up a bed come chilly evenings. However, for those in warmer regions, it’s far too warm and weighty for regular use. Despite its dual-sided design, the overall weight and thickness of the blanket make it a better choice for cold months only.

_{Sizes: Throw, twin, double, queen, king | Material: Cotton/poly shell, core-loft fill | Care: Machine wash}

We weren’t expecting to find so much value in Bare Home’s seemingly simple fleece blanket–but in our testing, we found it to be impressively soft, surprisingly durable, and well worth its affordable price. This blanket is a midweight fleece blanket with a plush, extra-soft feel, which we found we couldn’t stop touching as we used the blanket throughout our testing. We found it nicely cozy and sizable enough to cover two people comfortably. Additionally, we were pleasantly surprised by how well this blanket held up; it handled washing and stains, and only released a few fuzzies, which have lessened in frequency with washing. We don't have any complaints about this blanket after using it for three months at home.

We did find that this fleece blanket is a bit lightweight for winter use, and we’d probably not use it alone on chilly winter evenings. However, with other layers–or used as a throw to curl up with–we think it offers a whole lot of value and softness.

_{Sizes: Throw/Travel, Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King, Giant | Material: Polyester microfiber | Care: Machine wash in cold water, tumble dry low}

If you’re looking for a richly plush and soft blanket to add as a layer on your bed or an accent tossed over your comforter, Sunday Citizen’s Snug Ribbed Blanket is a standout option. Featuring extra-fuzzy microfiber material that feels plush and nicely thick underhand, it’s warm enough to provide warmth when you’re chilly and yet still breathable. This blanket’s airy knit makes it more breathable than a typical microfiber or fleece option, and it also lends a chic, subtle ribbed pattern for some visual interest however it’s used.

Just keep in mind that this blanket is limited in sizing—only queen and king sizes are available. However, we like that these larger sizes are ideal for sharing with a friend, pet, or partner if you’re using it on the couch rather than the bed.

_{Sizes: Queen or king | Material: Microfiber | Care: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle, tumble dry low}

With an eye-catching texture, jewel-tone hues, and fringed edges, Coyuchi’s Topanga Organic Matelasse Throw is a blanket that looks as good as it feels to wrap up in. Made out of lightweight 100 percent organic cotton, this blanket is airy and breathable. It’s so lightweight, in fact, that it works perfectly as a throw draped over a couch or your lap for a little added warmth or comfort. The material does have some stretch; as you use it and pull it, you’ll see its texture change a bit (and shrink back down as it’s stretched, too.) Plus, like any top-tier blanket, this one is wonderfully soft to the touch.

While this Coyuchi throw blanket isn’t the warmest option on our list, we do like it as a decorative accent that’s fully functional. For those who live in warmer climates, it’s just the right balance of breathable and warm. If you’re looking to beat serious cold, however, it’s a bit too light.

_{Sizes: Throw | Material: Organic cotton | Care: Machine wash on cold gentle cycle, tumble dry on low}

Big Blanket Co.’s Original Stretch Blanket certainly lives up to its name–at 10 x 10 feet in size, it’s huge, and plenty roomy enough for multiple people to snuggle up under. We were immediately impressed with the quality construction of this blanket, with superior sewing and durable stretchiness in the material. It feels cool to the touch, yet adds plenty of warmth when used as a throw or atop a bed. After using it for three months at home, we found it worked best as a throw because of its large size, rather than an extra layer of bedding.

The only detail of Big Blanket Co’s giant blanket we didn’t love was its weight. We’re not talking about material weight, or GSM, here; rather, the blanket itself was just plain heavy. At 11 pounds, it weighed more than any other on our list, so it was tough to fold, lift, and maneuver. However, when it came down to its feel and its coziness, we felt its softness and its slick, luxurious feel outweighed this con.

_{Sizes: 10 x 10 feet | Material: Polyester, spandex | Care: Machine washable}

If you're looking for a simple lightweight blanket to keep on your bed year-round, we recommend the Charisma Deluxe Woven Cotton Blanket from Land's End. Designed to add a subtle texture to any bedding set, it's available in four colors and can be purchased to fit a queen or king bed. We loved pairing this blanket with our regular bedding while using it for three months at home. It's the perfect lightweight layer to keep between a flat sheet and a comforter.

This blanket is completely machine-washable, so you won't have to fret if coffee or tea spills on it. We do wish it was available in a twin and full size but don't think this is an inherent flaw of the design. This blanket's long-staple cotton fibers result in a super soft finish that's irresistible.

_{Size: Queen or king | Material: Cotton | Care: Machine wash}

FAQ

• How often should you wash your blanket?

  How often you should wash your blanket will depend entirely on how often it’s used. If your blanket sits at the foot of your bed, largely untouched, you can probably get away with washing it every few months. But if you snuggle up with your blanket nightly—like you do with your sheets and comforter—you’ll want to wash it every one or two weeks.

• Where should a blanket be placed on a bed?

  When making your bed, it can be tough to figure out where to put your blanket. And while there is a “right place” to put your blanket, that “right place” depends on the kind of blanket you’re using.

  If you’ve swapped your heavy comforter with a summer-friendly blanket, your blanket should go above your top sheets—exactly where you’d put your comforter. But if your blanket is merely a layering piece, it should go between your sheets and your comforter.

  Finally, if your blanket is more of a decorative top layer—or if you only use it some of the time—it should go on top of your comforter. You can fold it at the foot of your bed, toss it over the side of your bed like a throw, or cover your comforter with it entirely.

• How often should you replace your blanket?

  There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline for buying and replacing blankets. A blanket that’s kept in tip-top shape can last for years, whereas an improperly cared for blanket may need to be replaced within months. If your blanket is stained, matted, or otherwise disheveled, consider replacing it ASAP. But if your blanket is still soft and usable, there’s no real need to replace it.

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