Best Wool Blankets

When it comes to cold weather fabrics, wool takes the cake. Perhaps the warmest of all-natural fibers, wool can wick moisture, dispel bacteria, and has many more benefits beyond its ability to keep you comfortable on cold nights. While all wool blankets can offer similar benefits, a diverse variety of wool styles are available on the market. This can make it a challenge to find the perfect wool blanket with a look and feel that you’ll cherish for years to come.

In this guide, we help narrow down your search by offering our selection of the best wool blankets available. We also share a buyer’s guide with information about what to consider as you shop, types of wool blankets available, and how to choose the best wool blanket for your family and space.

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Best Wool Blankets

• Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool Blanket: Editor’s Pick
• Woolrich Luxurious Soft Wool Blanket: Runner Up
• Jenni Kayne Large Alpaca Basketweave Throw: Best Luxury
• Faribault Military Wool Blanket/Throw—Army Medic: Best Heavy Duty
• Faribault Woolen Mill Northern Lights Wool Throw Blanket: Best for Home

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Wool Blanket Buying Guide 

Prior to beginning your search for a wool blanket, it can be helpful to understand the different types available. In this section, we’re covering the types of wool blankets on the market, common shopping considerations, and how to determine which wool blanket is right for you.

Benefits of a Wool Blanket

Warmth: Unlike other types of blankets, wool does not need to be substantially heavy or thick to keep you nice and warm. Because of its stellar insulating properties, even a light wool blanket can keep you toasty on the coldest winter nights.

Durability: A wool blanket can hold up well under extreme conditions (like, say, a teething puppy) because of the naturally strong fibers. 

Safety: Because wool retains moisture so well, it acts as a very effective, natural flame retardant.

Eco-Freindly: A naturally produced and biodegradable fiber, wool breaks down much quicker than synthetic fabrics, meaning it is more environmentally friendly.

If wool is starting to sound pretty darn fantastic to you, do some further reading on the benefits of a wool mattress.

Types of Wool Blankets 

Wool is a type of fabric derived from the hairs of animals. It typically comes from sheep or lambs but can also be obtained from goats, rabbits, and alpacas. It’s well known for its antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties, its warmth, and its breathability. While sometimes not as soft as other blanket materials such as cotton, wool still has a considerable softness to offer in combination with many other appealing qualities. 

One of the most influential factors that determine how a wool blanket will perform, feel, and look is its material and type. Keep reading to learn about the types of wool blankets available and the pros and cons of each. 

• Merino Wool—Made with one of the most common types of wool in the world, merino wool blankets are known for their softness, shine, and breathability. This wool is thinner than regular wool, making it easy to wear next to the skin or discretely toss over a favorite sofa or accent chair. 
• Angora Wool—Angora wool blankets are made from fibers from the downy coat of the Angora rabbit. These types of blankets tend to be much warmer than other wool fibers due to the hollow core of the angora fiber, which gives them a characteristic floating feel. Angora can be too hot, however, for some individuals, which is why it’s used its accents and accessories more often than in blankets.
• Alpaca Wool—Alpaca wool blankets have a medium weight, feel soft to the touch, and have a loose weave and silky texture. Alpaca wool is often mixed with sheep’s wool to create a soft, lustrous finish and is used more commonly in coats and suits than in-home products.
• Boiled Wool—This is a heavyweight fabric produced by shrinking woven wool fabric to create a dense material with a textured surface. It’s warm, waterproof, and commonly used in cardigans, jackets, and coats. Some heavy-duty, military-style wool blankets also incorporate this type of wool.
• Cashmere—Cashmere is a soft, fine fabric that’s commonly used in sweaters and scarves, and it’s exceptionally comfortable to wear. Cashmere blankets offer a thin look that’s more appealing to the eye, but they tend to be among the most expensive wool blankets.
• Virgin Wool vs. Recycled Wool—Another characteristic you may see as you begin shopping for the best wool blanket is the wool’s number of previous uses. Virgin wool refers to wool that’s never been used before and is inherently stronger and softer than recycled wool. Recycled wool is an eco-friendly option that has been used before and is being repurposed for another use. 

Considerations For Buying a Wool Blanket 

These are the shopping considerations to keep in mind in your search for the best wool blanket.

• Blanket Type—Did you know that there are dozens of types of blankets? A throw, for example, is the most well-known and is primarily used around the house or on a bed. Coverlets are a thin bedspread designed to cover a mattress or serve as a decorative accent at the foot of the bed. Make sure you’ve decided on the type of blanket you’re looking for prior to shopping.
• Price—Unfortunately, high-quality blankets come with a hefty price tag. On the upside, a higher price typically means a greater percentage of the blanket’s materials are pure wool, resulting in a more durable, warm, and breathable product. Expect to pay more than $200 for cashmere and merino styles. Affordable wool blankets are available for those not wanting to break the bank.
• Ease of Cleaning—Some wool blankets require complex and time-consuming methods of maintenance, such as dry cleaning, hand washing, and spot cleaning with solvents. Low maintenance options are available that are washing machine and dryer friendly. 
• Size—Always check the dimensions of the blanket you’re considering in relation to the bed, sofa, or chair you plan to use it on to ensure they align.
• Weight—Thinner types of wool, like cashmere and merino, have a lightweight feel that isn’t too flimsy. For a heavier, thicker feel, look to alpaca, pure virgin wool, and more traditional and military styles.
• Color or Pattern—Wool blankets come in a vast variety of styles, colors, and partners, from crisp, clean neutral colors with fringe that meshes well with any decor style to statement-making plaids.
• Hypoallergenic—All wool is naturally hypoallergenic, meaning that it’s ‘allergy-safe’ and won’t cause allergic reactions. Less costly wool blankets can be made with poor quality wool or treated with harsh chemicals that can detract from the blanket’s hypoallergenic properties.
• Materials—Material composition is the most influential factor in determining how a wool blanket will perform over time. The higher the percentage of wool in its makeup (meaning the less synthetic fibers used), the more the wool’s beloved qualities will shine through. We also recommend considering whether the materials are organic, virgin (never used before), or recycled (repurposed for subsequent use).

How to Pick the Best Wool Blanket

Wool blankets are considered highly durable, provide a comfortable feel in both cold and hot times of the year, come in a variety of weights, styles, and colors, and are naturally hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant, dust mite resistant, fire-resistant, and versatile. The best wool blanket for you will depend on your budget, style preferences, and the use cases for which you’re purchasing the blanket.

Whether you’re looking for a soft neutral chill-out companion or a durable military-style wool blanket to use outdoors, we recommend reviewing the buyer’s guide to the best wool blanket above to refine your needs. Then, take a look through our list of the best wool blankets to see if you can find what you’re looking for. As always, understanding your needs as a shopper is crucial to investing in a piece that you’ll love for years to come.

Alternatives to Wool

If you like the feel of wool but need to avoid it because you are allergic or don’t use animal products, there are several alternatives. Cotton has a soft, breathable feel⁠—perfect for a blanket, and synthetic materials such as polyester do a great job of keeping you warm and can even be more affordable than their wool counterparts.

More Ways to Stay Warm at Night

A nice, thick wool blanket isn’t the only way to stay warm during the winter months. In fact, you can construct your entire sleeping situation around staying toasty. Memory foam mattresses tend to retain heat, meaning the can be warmer to the touch than other types of mattress. Some people view this as a bug rather than a feature, but if staying warm is your top priority then memory foam might be the right choice for you.

Then there are sleep products specifically designed with warmth in mind. There are many mattress pads available that maintain a comfortably high temperature electronically. To see some of our favorite options, check out our list of the best heated mattress pads.