Best Throw Blankets: Sherpa, Knit, Faux Fur and Fleece Compared

The best throw blanket depends on how you want it to feel. Sherpa and high-pile faux fur are the loftiest and warmest-feeling synthetic throws. Plain fleece is lighter and dries fastest. Knit and wool throws breathe better. Weighted throws add pressure, and heated throws add warmth. Check the care label first: heat ruins most plush pile.

What matters when choosing a throw blanket

Five things separate a throw you reach for every night from one that ends up in a closet.

1. Fiber. Sherpa, fleece and most faux fur are synthetic, usually polyester or acrylic. Wool and cotton are natural fibers with different care needs.
2. Loft. A deeper, springier pile traps more still air. Polartec says a raised pile is what lets fleece give warmth without weight.
3. Weight. Plush and fleece throws are light. Knitted weighted throws from makers such as Bearaby run from 10 to 25 pounds.
4. Care. Almost every maker of plush throws warns against heat and fabric softener. If you want to wash it weekly, choose something that survives the machine.
5. Size. Throws are sized for a person, not a mattress. Check the dimensions against your sofa and your height; our guides to oversized throw blankets and small throw blankets list sizes in inches.

Sherpa, fleece and faux fur: the plush synthetics

Sherpa, fleece and faux fur dominate the throw aisle. They look different but are built on similar synthetic fibers.

Fleece is a knitted synthetic fabric finished into a soft pile. Polartec, the company Malden Mills became, says it invented the first polar synthetic fleece in 1981 as a lighter, warmer alternative to wool, and that the raised pile “traps air in the fibers.”

Sherpa is a knitted fabric with a curly pile on one side and a flat face on the other, made to resemble sheepskin. It is usually polyester or acrylic. Many “sherpa throws” pair a sherpa side with a smoother plush or flannel side.

Faux fur is a pile fabric engineered to look like animal fur. Makers use acrylic, modacrylic, polyester or nylon. Under U.S. labeling rules, modacrylic is a modified acrylic with 35 to 85 percent acrylonitrile, while acrylic has at least 85 percent. Some modacrylic faux fur is labeled dry clean only.

Our full sherpa vs fleece vs faux fur comparison puts them side by side on warmth, weight, shedding and washing.

Knit and wool throws

Knitted throws trade some loft for breathability and texture. Cotton knits are usually machine washable. Bearaby, for example, tells buyers of its knitted cotton throw to wash cold on a gentle cycle and tumble dry low.

Wool is the fussier choice. Faribault Mill, a Minnesota wool mill, recommends dry cleaning its wool throws or a true hand wash in cold water, because machine agitation can make the fibers interlock and shrink.

Our guide to wool and knit throws covers how wool handles warmth and moisture, Pendleton blankets and their lines, and how to wash each kind without ruining it. If you like the look of chunky knit in a room, our guide on how to make a room feel cozy covers mixing textures with lighting and warmth, and our throw pillow guide covers the cushions to pair with a throw.

Weighted throw blankets

A weighted blanket is heavier than a normal throw by design. Manufacturers such as Bearaby suggest a weight of about 10 percent of your body weight, and most adult options fall between 10 and 25 pounds. Weighted blankets are not for babies or toddlers.

Our guide on what weight of weighted blanket to get explains the 10 percent rule, what the research actually tested and who should skip one. If you sleep hot, see cooling weighted blankets. For every type of blanket in one place, start with our blankets section.

Heated throw blankets

A heated throw has wiring inside and a plug-in controller. Sunbeam’s heated bedding manual says its throws switch off automatically after 3 hours and its full blankets after 10. The same manual warns against folding or bunching the throw while it is on and lists people who should not use one, including infants, children and people with diabetes.

Electrical Safety First, a UK charity, says to replace any electric blanket more than ten years old or showing worn fabric, scorch marks or visible wires. Read are heated throws and electric blankets safe? before buying one, especially a secondhand one. To choose between a heated throw, a full-size electric blanket and a heated mattress pad, see our heated blanket buying guide.

Which throw suits which use?

Match the fabric to where the throw will live and how often it will be washed.

A family sofa with kids or pets. Plain fleece or a machine-washable sherpa. Both are polyester, dry quickly and cope with frequent cold washes. Keep heated throws away from pets, since Sunbeam warns they can damage the wiring. To match a sofa throw with cushions, see throw pillows for a couch for counts and color pairings.

A bedroom or reading chair. Faux fur or a chunky knit adds texture where it is rarely washed. Remember that some modacrylic faux fur is labeled dry clean only. A fleece throw also suits a bean bag chair on the floor, where it gets dragged around and washed often; if the bag itself has gone flat, see bean bag filling.

Cold evenings in a drafty room. A heated throw with auto shut-off, or a deep-pile sherpa layered over a lighter blanket.

Someone who wants a calming weight. A weighted blanket sized to about 10 percent of body weight, and never for a baby or toddler.

A gift. Throws are easy to give because there is no fit to get wrong. Our cozy gift guide pairs them with slippers, candles and silk pillowcases.

A fan of a show, game or book series. Character throws are sold by official shops and licensed makers, such as Disney Store, and unofficial copies are common. Our guide to cozy gifts for fans covers Bluey, Pokémon and Stitch throws, how to check for the licensed tag and the rules for kids’ character sleepwear.

How to wash a throw without ruining it

Care labels vary, but the makers we checked agree on a few rules for plush synthetics.

How to buy a throw blanket safely on eBay

Throws are easy to buy online, but photos flatter plush fabric. A few checks help.

• Read the fiber content. U.S. textile labeling rules require generic fiber names such as polyester, acrylic or modacrylic. If a listing only says “luxury fur,” ask.
• Check the dimensions in inches. Throw sizes vary widely between makers.
• Look at seller feedback and the returns policy before you buy, especially for heavier weighted blankets that are costly to ship back.
• Buy heated throws new. Age is the main warning sign for electric blankets, and a used one’s history is unknown.

More throw and blanket guides

Sherpa vs fleece vs faux furThe three plush throws compared on loft, warmth, shedding and washing.

Wool and knit throwsHow wool handles warmth and moisture, Pendleton blankets, and how to wash knits.

What weight of weighted blanket?The 10 percent rule, a weight chart and who should not use one.

Best heated blanketsHeated throws, electric blankets and mattress pads compared from maker manuals.

Other guides on the site:

• Are heated throws and electric blankets safe?
• Silk pillowcases: what momme means and whether they’re worth it
• Flannel sheets: weight, fabric and how to keep them soft
• Cozy loungewear sets: fleece, waffle knit and robes
• Best slippers: house slippers, slipper boots and memory foam
• UGG slippers: Tasman, Scuffette and Coquette, plus how to spot fakes
• Hot water bottles: how to choose one and use it safely
• How to make a room feel cozy: light, texture and warmth
• Cozy gifts: soft, warm presents people actually use