The Best Blankets

As the bed and bath writer for Wirecutter, I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing home textiles, including sheets, bath towels, flannel sheets, and duvet covers. I’m also a quilter with years of experience and have designed quilt patterns for magazines and fabric companies. Blankets—making them and sleeping under them—are one of my life’s passions. I’ve been training for this guide for a long time.

Best for: fall and winter

It's soft, fluffy, and so warm. The Garnet Hill Plush-Loft Blanket is our favorite for anyone who want the warmest and coziest blanket possible. It’s stitched like a quilt, but instead of having a layer of thin batting inside, it’s stuffed with fluffy fill (also called loft) like a comforter. The top of the Garnet Hill is made of quilted sateen, the thin middle layer consists of polyester fill, and the back is a super-soft polyester plush that feels more plump and luxe (like a great stuffed toy) than L.L.Bean’s velvety Wicked Cozy Blanket.

It's great for the whole family. The Plush-Loft was the most popular blanket overall with my daughter and my dog, who both adopted it as their own while helping with this guide. It looks finished and neat, like a quilt, but it’s also surprisingly breathable under a comforter (which is how we tested it). We like its full range of sizes, too. It’s also the only pick that’s available in a throw size, which we recommend because it’s perfect for naps on the couch. (L.L.Bean makes a throw size of the Wicked Cozy, but it’s made from a slightly different fabric than the blanket.)

It holds up well over years and years. Of the five loft blankets we’ve tried, the Plush-Loft is the clear winner. It kept its shape perfectly in testing, and it didn’t pill or snag. After washing, it felt even plumper, and the stitching looked new.  I’ve washed it many, many times, and it doesn’t have any major pilling or wear, but the plush looks more well loved. It’s still plenty soft. Three of our staffers have purchased Plush-Loft blankets in various sizes and found them warm and cozy, especially on their kids’ beds (one uses them under comforters for Maine winters).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• This blanket is the smallest of our picks—a queen size is anywhere from 4 to 10 inches shorter than other queen-size blankets we tried. After slight shrinkage in the wash, the king version we tested barely covered the sides of a king-size bed, and it didn’t leave much slack to tuck in at the foot. Size up if you can.
• One staffer noted that the larger sizes can be too bulky for smaller washing machines, so they may need a trip to the laundromat.
• Some of the darker colors can pick up lint and the sateen on this blanket is a bit crinkly, making it noisier than the other blankets on our list.
• This blanket took the longest to dry of any of our blanket picks that could go in the dryer—about four hours on low.
• We've noticed that due to its heavy weight, it sometimes tends to slide off the bed at night.

Sizes: throw, twin, double, queen, king

Material: cotton and polyester fleece

Colors: eight solid colors and occasional prints

Best for: fall and winter

It feels velvety and luxurious. Of all the fleece blankets we tested the L.L.Bean Wicked Cozy Blanket was the best overall. It felt much more luxurious and high-quality than some fleece options we saw in big-box stores, and it was softer, more breathable, and less staticky than the other polyester fleece options we tested. It was also a favorite for softness among our kids and pets.

It'll keep you warm and toasty. This blanket would be a great option for someone who always runs cold; my feet warmed up faster under it than with almost all of the other blankets we tested. We also tested the light version and found it plenty warm but a little less bulky.

It's easy to wash and dry. In our wash test, the Wicked Cozy held up better than the cotton fleece we tried from Garnet Hill, which pilled and matted after a single wash. It took less time to dry than almost any other blanket we picked (about two hours on low). And it was the only fleece blanket we tested that didn’t shrink at all in our wash tests.

The Wicked Cozy boasts some of the highest reviews of the fleece blankets we researched, and it’s been consistently available for several years. One of our staffers has used her Wicked Cozy through several New England falls and winters, and it’s very warm and has held up well. L.L.Bean offers a one-year return policy.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• In our sleep tests this blanket made me overheat, but my husband thought it was very breathable.
• The care instructions say to “tumble dry with no heat,” but we didn’t have a no-heat setting, so we went with the lowest heat, and the blanket has been doing fine.
• While it was less staticky than other fleeces, it can still zap you when it comes out of the dryer (a dryer sheet helps).

Sizes: twin, full/queen, king, extra-large king

Material: polyester fleece

Colors: six solid colors

Best for: year-round

It's a beautifully constructed quilt. I’ve been a quilter for 20 years, and the Coyuchi Pebbled Handstitched Organic Quilt is one of the most impressive mass-produced quilts I’ve tested. It has charming details inspired by a rich quilt tradition, from a company that’s conscientious about ethical practices. It feels soft and slightly brushed, with a rippled texture that stands out even more after washing.

The stitching on the Coyuchi is the real star. It’s hand-embroidered in India and inspired by Bangladeshi and Indian kantha quilts, which have thick embroidery all over the surface. Its design uses contrasting thread that pops against the quilt’s fabric, resulting in a lovely, perfectly imperfect pattern that’s almost meditative to trace with your fingers. This quilt is GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard).

It works for any season. The Coyuchi quilt is the most functional year-round blanket on our list, especially if you don’t live in an extreme climate. You can drape it over your sheets on cool summer nights and pair it with a comforter for extra warmth in winter. Or, skip the comforter completely and add another blanket underneath.

It's durable and easy to wash. After a run through the washer and dryer, the fabric bunches and puckers in a beautiful way that adds another layer of character to its appearance, while maintaining its softness. The edges of the quilt—called the binding—are well constructed and did not twist or distort in the wash, giving it a polished finish that’s made to show off on your bed.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Quilts tend to be more expensive than other blankets, bedspreads, and coverlets. The Coyuchi is no exception—it’s the priciest pick on our list. But it's also a bargain compared with most handmade quilts, which can cost many hundreds of dollars more. See our quilt guide for more options at different prices.
• The thick embroidery thread on the surface is an invitation for toenails and pet claws to snag. During wear testing, though, the stitching caught but didn’t tear or break, and pulling the quilt taut settled the threads back into place.
• The Coyuchi comes in only two sizes, and the sides are likely too short to tuck in, if that's the look you prefer.

Sizes: full/queen, king

Material: cotton

Colors: four solid colors with contrasting stitching

Best for: fall and winter

A rustic wool blanket that's pleasantly coarse and scratchy. Of the six wool and wool-blend blankets we’ve tested, the Faribault Mill Pure & Simple Wool Blanket stands out for its gorgeous feel, machine washability, and warmth. It looks like an old-fashioned army blanket, but it’s much smoother than the prickly sweaters and blankets that give wool a bad reputation. I have sensitive skin, yet it hasn’t caused me any irritation.

Faribault Mill is an iconic Midwestern brand that’s been making wool fabrics for 150 years, and the company has been manufacturing the Pure & Simple blanket since the 1950s. I especially liked the heather gray color I tested, which showcases the high-quality fibers nicely.

It's lightweight and warm. This thin blanket feels almost as light as our summer-weight picks, but it packs enough warmth to compete with some of the heaviest blankets on this list. It’s much warmer than the wool blends we tested from Coyuchi and The Company Store, and it’s one of the warmest all-wool blankets we’ve tried, with color choices and edge stitching that look more modern than those of some of its competitors. The blanket is generously sized, with plenty of width to tuck into the sides of the bed.

It looks even better after washing it. In testing, the Faribault shrank less than other wool blankets and actually looked better after a wash than it did out of the package—the fibers plumped up nicely. My dog was unable to puncture, snag, or otherwise damage it. Faribault offers a 60-day return policy for any reason, and beyond 60 days it will repair or replace blankets with defects.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• This is not the softest wool blanket we’ve tested, so if you want something that’s fuzzier, consider a wool-blend blanket, like those in our Competition section.
• Many wool blankets smell strongly of wet animal when they come out of the washing machine, and this one is no exception. But the smell disappeared once the blanket was completely dry, which took only about an hour on low heat. It also produced a lot of lint in the dryer, even after several washes.

Sizes: twin, full, queen, king

Material: 100% wool

Colors: seven solid colors and varying seasonal prints

Best for: fall, winter, and spring

It's thin yet weighty, and plenty warm. If you want a truly classic cotton blanket, the kind that's thin enough to layer under a comforter but weighty enough to stand on its own, you can't go wrong with L.L.Bean's Maine Twill Blanket. The simple, no-fuss twill design looks like it belongs in a beach house with a lighthouse view out the window.

It's versatile for lots of climates.  I’ve been using it for several winters now, and it’s my favorite for layering; it is warm and soft on a winter night paired with a fluffy comforter but we’ve even read reviews from New Englanders who say it’s a great blanket for chilly summer nights.

It'll last for years. Compared with the four other dense-cotton blankets we’ve tested, the Maine-Made has the best drape, feels the softest, snags the least, and pills less than any other after a wash.

In our wear tests it held up to our child and pet testers jumping and playing on the bed, with no visible damage after that abuse. It also shrank the least of the heavy cotton blankets we tried. It’s a hard-wearing blanket that will last for years. L.L.Bean offers a one-year return policy.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• We wish the sides were a little longer for tucking in—if you have a tall mattress, you might want to size up if you can.
• The Maine-Made looked more wrinkled on our bed than the airier cotton and wool blankets we tested, so it’s more important to grab this one from the dryer as soon as it finishes.

Sizes: twin, full/queen, king

Material: cotton, cotton/polyester for the heather gray option

Colors: seven solid colors and two striped options

Best for: year-round, in moderate climates

It has a classic waffle weave look with an extra fluffy feel. Of the four chunkier-knit blankets we tried, our testers couldn’t get enough of the Boll & Branch Waffle Blanket’s springy feel, sumptuous appearance, and overall warmth. The open weave feels wonderful to run your hands and feet over, and we think it would also add great texture when used as a top layer.

It had more loft than any other cotton blanket we tested, which made it feel light on the skin. Our testers spent a good amount of time just wrapped up in it while sitting on the couch. We think it’s a great year-round option if you don’t get extremely hot or extremely cold at night.

It's light and breathable. In a 68 °F room, this blanket kept us comfortable, but not extra-toasty, when layered on top of sheets. Under a comforter it added significant warmth on a cold night. It’s generously sized—the king blanket we tested was easy to tuck in. It’s also Fair Trade Certified and GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard), and Boll & Branch offers a 30-day return policy.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• This blanket will snag, but that just comes with the territory for this kind of open, airy weave. The raised, loose yarns are more vulnerable to pet claws, rings with edges, and long toenails.

Sizes: twin, full/queen, king/California king

Material: organic cotton

Colors: ten solid colors

Best for: summer

It's the perfect summer blanket. The Riley Textured Cotton Coverlet offers a fantastic mix of laid-back style, durability, and breathability. It looks sharp but casual on top of the bed. The ribbed texture may resemble stiff corduroy, but this blanket feels more like seersucker—relaxed and airy. After a wash, it crinkles up just a bit and looks even fluffier.

It's the most breathable blanket we tested. The Riley has two layers: The back is made from cotton gauze (that is, a lightweight, loosely woven fabric), and the front is made from thicker, dense cotton that adds structure, so it sits straight and smooth on the bed. It’s the coolest blanket on our list—we think it works on its own for summer temperatures, but it can also be layered under a quilt or comforter during the rest of the year. It's also OEKO-TEX–certified to be free of harmful substances.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The top of the Riley coverlet isn’t as soft as other cotton blankets on our list, but its gauze back is pleasant on the skin. It is much softer than several top-of-the-bed blankets we tested in 2020, including the IKEA Vareld Bedspread and the Parachute Matelasse Coverlet.

Sizes: twin/twin xl, full/queen, king

Materials: cotton

Colors: seven solid colors and some limited edition colors offered (availability varies)

I talked to Fran Kozen, director of Undergraduate Studies and CIFFI associate director at the Cornell Institute of Fashion and Fiber Innovation, about the science of blanket weaves and a warm bed. Anki Spets, owner and designer of boutique bedding store Area in New York City, talked to me about materials. And Sara Hall, innkeeper for The Inn at Kitchen Kettle Village in Amish quilt country (where I’ve stayed a few times during quilting trips), told me how the staff chooses blankets for the inn; they buy several to try out in rooms, note guest feedback, and host a big sleepover to test the beds themselves. They are all Wirecutters at heart.

I spoke to three experts and spent hours researching blankets online and in stores, looking at the offerings from companies we’ve often evaluated for bedding, plus a few new ones. I went to six big-box and department stores to see and touch every blanket they stocked, and I assembled a list of 104 blankets. I read owner reviews, checked availability, considered the brands’ reputation for quality and customer service, and narrowed the field down to 21 blankets, which we brought in for testing. These included options made from cotton, wool, acrylic, and polyester, in several weights and types of weave. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, I researched an additional 76 blankets in a variety of fabrics and styles. I tested (and, in some cases, retested) 23.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching, washing, sleeping under, and wear testing blankets, and in my experience these criteria are what the best blankets have in common:

Comfort: A blanket should be soft and delightful to crawl under. Whether you need one that’s snug when it’s cold or breezy when it’s hot, a blanket should never make you sweat or overheat. Everyone’s ideal sleep temperature is different, but in our sleep tests, natural fibers like cotton and wool have given us the best combination of warmth and breathability. I’ve tried blankets made with acrylic and polyester fleece, and they can be especially soft, warm, and lightweight, but if you tend to sleep hot, they’re not the best choice.

Durability: The blankets we recommend should withstand years of regular wear and tear, and many, many washes—within reason. Blankets with a loose, open weave, like waffle weave or gauze, snag more easily than blankets with a tighter, more opaque weave. If you live with kids who love to scramble up on the bed or cats who love to knead things, you might want to avoid the most delicate blankets. Also, Anki Spets, owner/designer at Area, in New York City, and Sara Hall, innkeeper for The Inn at Kitchen Kettle Village, both told me that holes created by long toenails were the most common damage they saw in blankets. So consider wearing socks or keeping those nails short.

Availability: We’ve fallen in love with several blankets, some more affordably priced than our current picks, only to see them discontinued. Blanket designs come and go, but our picks are the blankets that have been consistently available over the years, or the ones companies have assured us will remain steadily in stock. Once we’ve made a pick, we constantly keep an eye on its availability.

Easy maintenance: If you’re prone to spilling things, if you have allergies, or if you have kids or pets, your bed blanket could spend a decent amount of time in the laundry. We prefer low-maintenance fibers: washable wools, sturdy fleece that holds up to lots of laundering, and cotton, which can be washed in hot water to eliminate germs.

A neat, clean look on the bed: If a blanket clings to your sheets or feels impossible to straighten, your bed won’t look crisp. I also look for generous sizing—the blanket should be long enough to tuck in, so the edges don’t peek out.

A good return policy and solid customer support: Bedding is an individualized preference—you may get a new blanket only to discover that its style or texture is not for you. Our picks are all from brands with strong return policies and customer support.

A fair price: The blankets in this guide are expensive—all cost $100 or more for a queen size—but we rigorously test each one to ensure it’s durable enough to make it worth the price. We consider a comfortable everyday blanket to be a worthy investment for great sleep. That said, we’re always on the lookout for lower-priced options, but we just haven’t found any that meet our standards yet (and the former budget blankets we loved have unfortunately been discontinued).

I spent about four weeks testing 21 blankets, measuring and examining each one out of the package, washing and drying them, and measuring them again to calculate shrinkage. I examined the seams and construction and spread blankets on my king-size bed to check length and drape, eliminating some as I went. My husband and I slept under 18 blankets for a night each with a comforter; then I eliminated several more and laundered the rest an additional four times. I also put them through wear testing with my then-6-year-old and my dog roughhousing, jumping on the bed, playing puppy tug-of-war, and rubbing the fabrics together. After all that, I brought a final 12 blankets to our New York City office to let a panel of six staffers test them, and then I determined our picks.

For updates to this guide in 2018, 2019, and 2020, I measured, washed and dried, and re-measured 20 additional blankets and three new versions of previously tested blankets. I again evaluated the construction of each, checked them all for warmth, and either slept a full night or took a nap under each.

It’s crucial to follow the care instructions on a blanket if you want it to last. Most of the blankets we tested had instructions to tumble-dry with low heat, but a couple needed to be air-dried or tumble-dried with no heat. For cotton and wool especially, following the care instructions will minimize shrinkage. For all materials, intense heat could damage the fibers over time.

Knit blankets snag pretty easily, so even if you use one under a comforter, be aware of sharp jewelry, buttons, rough skin, and long nails. Even if you don’t think your skin will touch the blanket, an accidental brushing could pull a thread on a loose weave. Also use care when moving blankets in and out of the washer and dryer, where they can snag on door latches and edges. For more, read our post on how to wash blankets.

If you want a lightweight, all-gauze option for warmer weather: The Garnet Hill Isa Stonewashed Organic-Cotton Blanket is our favorite all-gauze blanket. It's also available in one more size than our pick from Riley. The Isa is a substantial, well-made blanket that should hold up to a good amount of wear and tear, though it’s not as sturdy as the Riley—we don’t think any gauze-only blanket would be. If the Riley’s lines are too sharp for your taste, you may like the Isa’s subtler rippled texture. It comes in eight colors—which range from off-white neutrals to muted blue, green, and orange.. It costs about the same as the Riley, but in my experience Garnet Hill also offers better, more frequent coupons and sales—so if you’re patient, you might find a deal.

If you want a blanket that feels like the cool side of the pillow: Rest’s Evercool Cooling Comforter might be called a comforter, but it’s really more of a blanket. It’s made of Tencel fabric on the outside sandwiched around a layer of Sorona fill on the inside, with no pockets of fluff as you can find in a traditional comforter. It’s the best cooling bedding I’ve tested so far, but it can be an impractical option for people who sleep hot.

In our testing it was consistently cool on the skin, even after washing, but it’s very thin and slippery, so it’s challenging to use as a top layer on the bed. It works best if it sits directly against the skin, with no top sheet or other layers of bedding between you and the material to block the cool. I did get sweaty during the night while sleeping under the Evercool blanket (and nothing else), as the materials aren’t as breathable as our picks made with cotton or linen, and it’s dense. But the magic of the Evercool blanket lies in how chilly that fabric is to the touch: The whole blanket is like the cool side of a pillow, so even when I warmed up in one spot, I just had to wiggle the blanket over to a fresh spot to get back that cooling feel.

That also makes it a hard blanket to share with another person, because you really want to be able to wrap up like a burrito to get the full effect of that icy surface, as well as to keep the blanket from sliding off the bed. One of our staffers who has used the Evercool blanket since June 2023 swears by it for hot nights in Houston. She has two, so she and her partner can wrap up individually. We’ve noticed that a lot of Rest’s prolific ads feature couples using separate blankets and also show the blanket right against the skin, and we think this is the best way to get the full benefit.

Gauze

The Hay Crinkle Bedspread is lovely and breathable, and it was a former pick in this guide. But it’s available in only one size (it roughly fits a queen-size bed), and the colors are more limited than for other gauze blankets we’ve tested.

We’ve tested The Company Store’s Gossamer Cotton Blanket twice, and in our 2020 testing it shredded and tore in our wear tests, plus it looked awkward on the bed—too thin and stretchy.

Snowe’s Softexture Coverlet was light and comfortable to sleep under when we tested it in 2019, but we found some construction issues out of the package, like a snag on the back. After washing it five times, we found more snags and the start of some fraying at the seams, plus it shrank significantly.

We’ve also tested and recommended Target’s Threshold Gauze Bed Blanket and Pottery Barn’s Gauze Matelasse Blanket, but both have been discontinued. The Threshold Gauze was a particularly budget-friendly favorite with our staff, and it does sometimes come back in stock. However, because the quality is also unreliable—the last time the blanket reappeared in stores, the construction had changed for the worse—we can’t continue to recommend it.

Coverlets

The Parachute Matelasse Coverlet is durable enough to use as a top layer in milder climates, but the fabric is rougher than that of the Riley Textured Cotton Coverlet. It’s also warmer, so it’s less comfortable for hot summer weather but could work for chilly temps. We also preferred the look of the Riley, which was a touch more modern—the texture on this bed topper stands out sharply.

The IKEA Vareld Bedspread is the least expensive blanket we tried in 2020. It comes in only one size, though (roughly queen size), and it was the least-soft blanket we tested this year.

We initially chose to test Coyuchi’s Cascade Organic Matelasse Blanket in 2019 because we thought it would be a good lightweight summer option, but it weighed too much to be comfortable on hot summer nights yet didn’t keep us very warm on cool ones. We retested it in 2020 as a coverlet, and although it looks lovely as a bed topper, it wasn’t as nice as the Riley or the Parachute coverlets.

Chunky knit

The Restoration Hardware Chunky Waffle Weave Cotton Blanket was the runner-up to the Boll & Branch Waffle Blanket, but it didn’t feel as lofty, and the finish and details weren’t as luxe.

Frontgate’s Resort Egyptian Cotton Thermal Blanket felt very similar to the Restoration Hardware blanket but rougher, and we found a few more snags than with the other chunky knits we tested.

Target’s Threshold Sweater Knit Blanket is made with acrylic yarn, and although it was very soft and we loved the colors of the yarn, it was too stretchy. After one wash it was bigger than it was out of the package, and we had difficulty taming it on a bed. The dog also easily chewed holes through it. We did find it comfortable to sleep under, though.

Heavier cottons

We used to recommend The Vermont Country Store’s Constant Comfort Blanket, until it was discontinued. It has since been reissued, but the L.L.Bean Maine-Made Twill Blanket we recommend has been such a cozy, hard-wearing blanket that we didn’t see the need to revisit another cotton blanket.

Cuddledown’s German Cotton Flannel Blanket almost went the distance in our testing rounds. It was warm to sleep under, and it felt soft. But after the fifth round of washing and drying, it had pilled too much.

The Company Store’s Cotton Weave Blanket comes in great colors, and it was definitely warm, but it felt rougher and less comfortable than the other cotton blankets we tested.

The Wamsutta Micro Cotton Dream Zone Blanket from Bed Bath & Beyond was cool and crisp, and we really liked it out of the package. The edges distorted after one wash, though.

Target’s Threshold Solid Cotton Blanket was really nice for the price, but it felt heavier and rougher than others we tested, and it snagged a lot.

The Macy’s Hotel Collection Premier MicroCotton Blanket performed about as well as the Wamsutta blanket, but after we began testing, we learned it was discontinued.

Wool

In testing we’ve always preferred the feel and warmth of all-wool blankets to wool blends, but apart from our pick from Faribault, every 100% wool blanket we’ve tested—Faribault’s Royal Carefree Washable Blanket, L.L.Bean’s Washable Wool Blanket, and Cuddledown’s Edina (a former pick)—has been discontinued.

The Coyuchi Sequoia Washable Organic Cotton & Wool Blanket is beautiful but expensive. It shrank the most of any wool blanket we tested (about 6.9%), so it wasn’t big enough to cover the sides of a king-size bed after washing. It’s a 70/30 blend of cotton and wool, which meant it was heavier than other wool blankets we tested, but it didn’t have the wool fuzz that sometimes sheds from blankets and tickles the nose. It’s definitely a warm blanket, and the four color options are pretty, but it also costs about 60% more than the Faribault Pure & Simple, which we think is a much better 100% wool choice.

Quilts

The Brooklinen Linen Quilt uses one of the softer linen fabrics we’ve tried in any bedding, but it also felt thin and a little flimsy. We’re not sure how it will hold up over time, but if you’re looking for a linen top layer and want something cooler than a comforter with a linen duvet cover, this is what we would recommend.

The Parachute Essential Quilt is linen on the front and softer cotton on the back, and it looks similar to the Brooklinen Linen Quilt. The Parachute Essential is much scratchier, though, and less comfortable to sleep under.

Parachute’s Cloud Cotton Quilt is absolutely beautiful, with gauze fabric on the outside and pillowy filling inside. It definitely felt like a strong comforter alternative until we washed it—the gauze fabric is so thin it tore like paper.

The Parachute Linen Loft Quilt was enormous, with tons of puffy stuffing inside a scratchy fabric. It’s as warm as a comforter, but we thought it was awkward and heavy to actually use. It was also impossible to wash in a machine at home—our review sample tore in the washing machine—and it would be a true slog to get this to a laundromat.

Fleece

The Vermont Country Store’s Classic Vellux Blanket felt cheap and unpleasant against the skin. Fold it and squeeze it, and it feels more like memory foam than fabric. It was warm to sleep under, but our testers universally disliked it and wouldn’t try it beyond a simple touch test.

The Garnet Hill Cotton Fleece Blanket and Throw was the roughest fleece out of the packaging, feeling more like a polar-fleece vest than a soft blanket. After one wash it was pilling, and it matted enough that we passed on further testing.

Loft

The Company Store LaCrosse RDS Certified Down Blanket and the Garnet Hill Essential Down Blanket are almost identical to each other, and both come in about a dozen colors. They’re thinner than comforters but almost as warm, and because they’re washable, you don’t need to add a duvet cover. However, these blankets both felt stiffer and more crinkly than our pick from Garnet Hill. They may be a good choice if you want something warm but less lofty than a comforter, or if you don’t like the fuzzy backing of the Plush-Loft Blanket. The Company Store and Garnet Hill also make down alternative versions.

The Vermont Country Store’s Superior Down Blanket was nice out of the package, but after the first wash the satin edges rippled and distorted. This model also felt like it needed a cover, something several testers noted; it didn’t feel like a finished blanket on its own.

We also tested Pottery Barn’s Wool Filled Quilted Blanket, which is now discontinued. It smelled strongly of wet animal and took half a day to dry.

This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Christine Ryan.