Home & Kitchen
The Best Throw Blankets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four throw blankets on fibre, size, weight, where they are made, care and how clearly each brand describes them.
The short version
The Faribault Cabin Wool Throw is the pick: 100% wool from Rambouillet and Merino sheep raised in the US Rocky Mountain region, made in the USA at one of the last vertical woollen mills, with a published 50 x 72-inch size, a 1.75 lb weight, and machine washing with line drying. The Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw is the other buy, the plush, machine-washable 100% polyester microfiber knit in a 54 x 72-inch size and many colours. The Parachute Natural Alpaca Throw suits buyers who want a light luxury fibre, 56% undyed alpaca and 44% organic pima cotton made in Peru, but it is dry clean only. Skip the Brooklinen Two-Toned Lambswool Throw: at the highest price here, its product page gives no fibre percentage, size or care instructions. Best for: sofas, reading chairs, guest rooms and cold evenings.
Our picks at a glance
- Faribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw - Buy. American-made 100% wool with published size, weight and machine-wash care.
- Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw - Buy. The famously soft, machine-washable microfiber throw in a generous size.
- Parachute Natural Alpaca Throw - It depends. A light, soft undyed alpaca and organic cotton throw that must be dry cleaned.
- Brooklinen Two-Toned Lambswool Throw Blanket - Skip. A handsome German-milled lambswool throw whose page leaves out the basics.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Fibre
- Size
- Weight
- Made in
- Fibre source
- Care
A throw blanket is the thing you actually reach for on the sofa, so it has to be warm, soft and easy to live with. Wool is warm and breathes, alpaca is lighter and softer, and polyester microfiber is plush and simple to wash. Size, weight and care instructions decide whether it works day to day, and some expensive throws do not publish any of them. We compared four popular throws.
American-made 100% wool with published size, weight and machine-wash care.
Best for: People who want a warm, durable wool throw with clear sourcing and easy care.
- 100% wool, a blend of Rambouillet and Merino, sourced from sheep farms in the US Rocky Mountain region.
- Made in the USA at one of the last vertical woollen mills in America, operating since 1865.
- Published 50 x 72-inch size and 1.75 lb weight, and it can be machine washed and line dried.
- Wool feels more textured than microfiber or alpaca.
- Line drying only, so no tumble dryer.
- A classic striped look that will not suit every room.
- Slightly smaller than the Barefoot Dreams throw.
The famously soft, machine-washable microfiber throw in a generous size.
Best for: Anyone who wants a soft, easy-care throw for daily sofa use.
- Barefoot Dreams' CozyChic knit, 100% polyester microfiber, described as fluffy, light and warm.
- Machine washable.
- A published 54 x 72-inch size in a wide range of colours.
- Polyester does not breathe like wool or alpaca, so it can feel warm and static.
- No weight is published.
- No care details are given beyond machine washable.
- Some colours are excluded from sitewide promotions.
A light, soft undyed alpaca and organic cotton throw that must be dry cleaned.
Best for: Buyers who want a light luxury throw and do not mind dry cleaning.
- 56% alpaca and 44% organic pima cotton, made in Peru.
- Alpaca fibres left undyed, which Parachute says preserves their natural character.
- Published 50 x 70-inch size, free shipping and 60-day returns.
- Dry clean only.
- Not 100% alpaca; nearly half is cotton.
- No weight is published.
- The knit or weave is not described.
A handsome German-milled lambswool throw whose page leaves out the basics.
Best for: Shoppers who already own it and love it, or who can check the label in person.
- Made in Germany by a 100-year-old family mill.
- Double-faced two-tone design in neutral colours.
- Fringed edges and a soft lambswool feel.
- The most expensive throw here.
- No fibre percentage is published, only "lambswool".
- No size or weight is listed on the product page.
- No care instructions are listed on the product page.
| Criteria | Cabin Wool Throw Top pick | CozyChic Throw | Natural Alpaca Throw | Two-Toned Lambswool Throw Blanket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | People who want a warm, durable wool throw with clear sourcing and easy care. | Anyone who wants a soft, easy-care throw for daily sofa use. | Buyers who want a light luxury throw and do not mind dry cleaning. | Shoppers who already own it and love it, or who can check the label in person. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $$$ · premium |
| Fibre | 100% wool (Rambouillet and Merino) | 100% polyester microfiber | 56% alpaca, 44% organic pima cotton | Lambswool (no % published) |
| Size | 50 x 72 in | 54 x 72 in | 50 x 70 in | Not published |
| Weight | 1.75 lb | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Made in | USA | Not stated | Peru | Germany |
| Fibre source | US Rocky Mountain region | Not applicable | Undyed alpaca | Not stated |
| Care | Machine wash, line dry | Machine washable | Dry clean only | Not listed |
| Construction | Woven wool | CozyChic knit | Not described | Double-faced, fringed |
| Returns | See policy | See policy | 60 days | See policy |
Which one is right for you?
- People who want a warm, durable wool throw with clear sourcing and easy care. Buy it Faribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw
- Anyone who wants a soft, easy-care throw for daily sofa use. Buy it Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw
- Buyers who want a light luxury throw and do not mind dry cleaning. It depends Parachute Natural Alpaca Throw
- Shoppers who already own it and love it, or who can check the label in person. Skip it Brooklinen Two-Toned Lambswool Throw Blanket
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a throw blanket is worth buying. The fibre comes first, because it decides warmth, breathability and softness. Size and weight decide whether it covers you and how it feels draped over your legs. Care matters more than people expect, since a throw gets used every day and a dry-clean-only blanket rarely gets cleaned. Origin and sourcing are a useful quality signal. And the listing itself matters: a throw you cannot see in person should have its fibre, size and care published.
The field splits into wool, luxury blends such as alpaca, and synthetic microfiber. We picked a classic American wool throw, a famous microfiber throw, an alpaca blend and a premium lambswool throw, and judged each on its own product page.
The Faribault Cabin Wool Throw is the pick because it is warm, durable and fully described. It is 100% wool, a blend of Rambouillet and Merino sourced from sheep farms in the US Rocky Mountain region, and it is made in the USA at Faribault’s mill, which the company calls one of the last vertical woollen mills in America and which has operated since 1865. Faribault publishes the size, 50 x 72 inches, and the weight, 1.75 lb, and says the throw can be machine washed and line dried, which is rare for wool. The trade-offs are texture and style. Wool feels more textured than microfiber or alpaca, it must be line dried, and the classic striped design will not suit every room. It is also a little smaller than the Barefoot Dreams. For a warm, long-lasting throw with clear sourcing, it is the one to buy.
The Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw is the soft, easy-care buy. It is made from Barefoot Dreams’ CozyChic knit, 100% polyester microfiber, which the brand describes as fluffy and light yet comfortably warm for every season, and it is machine washable. At 54 x 72 inches it is the largest throw here, and it comes in a wide range of colours. The limits come with the fibre. Polyester does not breathe like wool or alpaca, so it can feel warm and build static in dry winter air, and Barefoot Dreams publishes no weight. Care details go no further than machine washable, and some colours are excluded from sitewide promotions. If you want a plush throw you can throw in the wash after every movie night, it is a great choice.
The Parachute Natural Alpaca Throw is a light luxury throw, which is why it is our depends. It is 56% alpaca and 44% organic pima cotton, made in Peru, and Parachute leaves the alpaca fibres undyed, which it says preserves their natural character and reduces environmental impact. The cotton adds softness and strength, and the result is a breathable, buttery texture. Parachute publishes a 50 x 70-inch size and offers free shipping and 60-day returns. The catch is care: it is dry clean only, which is a real cost and hassle for a throw that gets daily use. Nearly half the fibre is cotton rather than alpaca, no weight is published, and the construction is not described. If you want a light, soft luxury throw and do not mind dry cleaning, it is lovely.
The Brooklinen Two-Toned Lambswool Throw Blanket looks beautiful, and we would still skip it on what its page tells you. Brooklinen says it is made in Germany by a 100-year-old family mill, and it is a double-faced two-tone lambswool throw with fringed edges in neutral colours. That is almost all the product page says. There is no fibre percentage beyond the word lambswool, no size, no weight and no care instructions, which makes it hard to judge whether it will fit your sofa or survive washing. It is also the most expensive throw here. The Faribault publishes its fibre source, size, weight and machine-wash care for less. If you can see this throw in person and check its label, it may be lovely; bought online on this listing, it is a gamble.
Faribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw vs Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw: which should you buy?
The Faribault Cabin Wool Throw and the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw are both machine washable, which is rare, but they feel very different. The Faribault is 100% American wool, warm and breathable with a woven texture, at a published 50 x 72 inches and 1.75 lb, and it must be line dried. The Barefoot Dreams is plush polyester microfiber at 54 x 72 inches, softer to the touch but less breathable, and it builds static in dry air.
Choose the Faribault if you want real warmth for cold evenings, like natural fibres and want a throw that lasts for decades. Choose the Barefoot Dreams if softness comes first, you wash your throws often, or you want a specific colour. Both are better buys than a premium throw with no published details.
What to look for
- Fibre content: Look for percentages; wool and alpaca are warmer and more breathable than polyester.
- Size: Around 50 x 70 inches suits one person; larger throws suit sharing.
- Weight: A published weight helps you judge how heavy and warm a throw will feel.
- Care instructions: Machine-washable throws get cleaned more often; dry-clean-only adds cost.
- Origin and sourcing: Named mills and fibre sources are good signs of quality.
- A complete listing: Skip expensive throws that leave out fibre, size or care.
Our final take
For most people, the Faribault Cabin Wool Throw is the throw blanket to buy. It is 100% American wool, made in the USA, with its size, weight and machine-wash care all published. If you want maximum softness and easy washing, the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw is the plush alternative. The Parachute Natural Alpaca Throw is a light luxury choice if you accept dry cleaning. Skip the Brooklinen Two-Toned Lambswool Throw: at the highest price here, its page leaves out the fibre percentage, size and care.
Questions, answered
What is the warmest fibre for a throw blanket?
Wool and alpaca are the warmest natural fibres for their weight, and both breathe, so they keep you warm without feeling clammy. Polyester microfiber and fleece feel warm and plush but trap heat and moisture more. Cotton throws are lighter and cooler. For cold evenings, wool is the practical choice.
Can you wash a wool throw?
Some can. Faribault says its Cabin Wool Throw can be machine washed and line dried, which is unusual for wool. Many wool and alpaca throws, like the Parachute alpaca, are dry clean only. Never tumble dry wool unless the label allows it, since heat and agitation shrink it.
What size throw blanket should I get?
Around 50 x 60 to 50 x 72 inches suits one person on a sofa. Faribault's is 50 x 72, Barefoot Dreams' 54 x 72 and Parachute's 50 x 70. If two people share it, or you want to cover your feet, go larger. A throw with no published size is hard to judge online.
Is alpaca itchy?
Alpaca is usually softer and less itchy than regular wool, because the fibres are smooth and fine. Parachute blends its alpaca with organic pima cotton for extra softness. People sensitive to wool often find alpaca more comfortable. Try it against your neck if you can.
Why do microfiber throws get static?
Polyester builds static in dry winter air, especially when rubbed against other synthetics. Washing with a little vinegar instead of fabric softener helps, and so does raising indoor humidity. Wool and alpaca produce much less static. It does not damage the throw.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Faribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw vs Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw.
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