Complete List of Blanket Sizes

Choosing the right blanket size complements your bed aesthetically and ensures coverage throughout the night. However, not all blankets go on top of your bed—you can use blankets decoratively, for something to hold, or for your infant or toddler. Smaller, decorative blankets are often crocheted or made from luxury fabrics, such as wool or acrylic.

There are countless size variations for us to give exact blanket dimensions, but we’ve summed up the approximate sizes for the most common blanket types. Our complete list of the blanket sizes is as follows.

King

King blankets are 108 by 90-100 inches and fit a king or California king mattress. You can also put a king size blanket on a queen bed, though extra fabric will hang over the side.

Queen

Queen blankets measure 90 by 90-100 inches. They work best on a queen size mattress, but you can also use them on a full bed if you want extra draping on the sides of the bed.

Double

Double blankets are 80 by 90 inches and fit best on full (double) beds. You can also pair one with a twin mattress, with the extra fabric dangling over the side.

Twin

Twin blankets are 80 by 90 inches and fit best on a twin or twin XL mattress. You can get away with using a twin blanket for a child-size mattress, but the blanket might be a bit large.

Afghan

Afghans are crocheted blankets originating in Afghanistan, where the natives make the colorful, unique textiles out of karakul wool. Afghan blanket sizes vary, though the most common size is 50 by 65 inches. While the blankets are incredibly decorative and vibrant, they’re warm and comfortable to use.

Throw

A throw blanket is a decorative, soft blanket, and measures 50 by 60 inches. You can use throw blankets to keep you warm while watching TV or reading a book, but they aren’t large enough to cover your entire body.

Crib

Crib blankets, also known as toddler blankets, are 45 by 60 inches and work inside of cribs. They typically contain two different materials on the top and bottom. Crib blankets have various uses and work well as a swaddle and burp cloth. Parents can also use a crib blanket for their child’s tummy time and as an emergency changing station.

Receiving

Receiving blankets are 40 by 40 inches and can be used as a crib blanket for toddlers and infants. The blankets are usually made from a thin material to prevent your child from overheating if they’re swaddled in one.

Lapghan

Lapghans, or lap-size Afghans, measure 36 by 48 inches and are often crotched from yarn.  Lapghans are popular for wheelchair users so they can stay warm.

Stroller

Stroller blankets fit over babies while sitting in their stroller or car seat and can keep your baby warm or work as a cover while they’re sleeping. These blankets come in a variety of sizes, from 22-30 inches by 30-36 inches. Baby stroller blankets are similar to lapghans, but they’re smaller to suit children.

Preemie

Preemies are 18 by 24-inch blankets often donated to NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) babies. The blankets are generally knit from yarn.

Cradle

Cradle blankets are 14 by 30 inches and fit in a cradle for infants.

Baby

Baby blankets are a type of security blanket for infants and toddlers and are typically crocheted. They measure 14 by 16 inches and come in various patterns and designs to appeal to babies.

Lovey

Lovey blankets are 12 by 12 inches and usually have a stuffed animal attached to them. Loveys are security blankets for babies to bond with and cuddle. The AAP recommends waiting until a child is at least 1 year old before they can safely sleep with a lovey.

Blanket Material Types

The different materials used to make blankets, such as cotton, polyester, or wool, affect the blanket’s feel, durability, and price.

Cotton

All kinds of bedding, such as pillows, bedsheets, and bed skirts use cotton because it’s breathable and hypoallergenic. The different cotton stitch patterns affect its durability and feel; the two most common weave patterns are percale and sateen.

Wool

Wool blankets are warm, heavy, and made from sheep’s wool. Despite being so warm, wool is moisture-wicking, so you stay dry. Wool is also a natural flame retardant and unlike chemical flame retardants, it’s safe and non-toxic to humans. However, wool blankets are expensive and can cause allergic reactions.

Down

Down is a luxurious, fluffy, and warm material, and is a common fill for comforters and duvets. Down is pricier than other blanket fills, so you can opt for a down alternative, though it isn’t as durable as traditional down. Also, some people are allergic to the goose and duck feathers that make up down.

Vellux

Vellux is a soft and pliable fabric popular for hotel blankets. Vellux has a unique construction, containing a polyurethane foam interior and nylon outer layers. The material is super warm and durable without being heavy and is also hypoallergenic due to its synthetic construction.

Synthetic

Synthetic fabrics are often quite affordable, easy to maintain, and hypoallergenic. The most common types of synthetic materials are polyester, acrylic, and fleece.

Polyester is a durable synthetic material, though it’s often quite rough on its own. Polyester blended with natural fibers is the best because the polyester is durable while the natural fibers add softness.

Acrylic is durable and inexpensive wool and a cashmere alternative since it’s warm and lightweight. However, unlike wool or cashmere, acrylic colors don’t fade when washed.

Fleece is another fabric similar to wool since it’s warm and soft, but it won’t trigger allergies since it isn’t made from animal fur.

FAQs

Will a full size blanket fit a queen bed?

A full bed is 54 by 75 inches and a queen bed is 60 by 80 inches. Double (full) and queen blankets can be the same width, depending on the brand you buy from, but they’re not the same length. Choosing a blanket one size too small for your mattress means your blanket will be a bit too short and won’t hang off the sides of the bed, diminishing its visual appeal. However, a full-size blanket is still functional on a queen mattress.

Should a bedspread touch the floor?

No, if your bedspread touches the ground, it’ll collect dust and wear down quicker. Generally, your comforter or blanket should reach the end of the mattress. If you want a longer bedspread, make sure it’s a couple of inches off the ground at most.

Should I buy a blanket bigger than my bed?

You don’t need a blanket larger than your bed, but getting a bigger blanket is a good idea if you share a bed. With a larger size, there’s less risk of the blanket coming off at night and it ensures you and your partner have sufficient coverage when sleeping. If you choose to buy a blanket bigger than your bed, don’t go more than one size bigger than your mattress.

Is there a blanket bigger than a king?

The one blanket bigger than a king blanket is an oversized king blanket, measuring 132 by 120 inches. Oversized king blankets fit on Alaskan, Texas, and Wyoming king mattresses; however, these mattress sizes are rare. Unless you have an extremely large bed, you won’t need to search for an oversized king blanket.

What’s the difference between a throw and an Afghan?

Both throws and Afghans are decorative and usually draped across beds, sofas, and chairs. Afghans come in a variety of sizes. They’re typically around 50 by 65 inches, but lap-sized Afghans are 36 by 48 inches and baby-sized afghans are 30 by 36 inches. Meanwhile, throws only come in one size, 50 to 60 inches.

Also, Afghans are hand-knit from yarn, while throws are either hand-knit or built like regular blankets and are made from decorative fabrics such as velvet, suede, or faux fur.

Do You Know Your Next Blanket Size?

Choose a blanket size based on how you plan to use it. For a standard sleeping blanket, you should typically pick the matching blanket for your mattress size. Depending on your mattress thickness, you can go one size up, but more than one size up is unnecessary. When buying a blanket for your infants or toddlers, choose a size based on their age or find something large and multifunctional.