Picking a throw blanket is mostly a question of fabric weight, weave and what you actually want it for — keeping draughts off the sofa, dressing a bed, or somewhere a guest can curl up without thinking about it. After a long East Sussex winter, here are five well-reviewed UK picks that hit different price points without pretending to be more than they are.
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How we chose these throws
We compared fibre content and weight for genuine warmth rather than look alone, how each washes and whether it pills, size against a sofa or a double bed, and value against how long a good throw lasts. These are researched picks, not first-hand reviews, and we don’t accept payment for placement. Read our full methodology →
At a glance
| Model | Best for | Spec | Price tier | Why it’s on the list | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Throw | Most sofas, all-round | 220/260 GSM, 150×200cm | ££ | Genuine winter weight without the bulk | Check price → |
| Brentfords Flannel Fleece | Tight budget, double bed | Flannel fleece, 150×200cm | £ | Largest size at a single-figure price | Check price → |
| WAVVE Fleece Throw | Armchairs, smaller sofas | 300 GSM, 130×150cm | £ | Heavier microfibre weight than the size suggests | Check price → |
| Battilo Chunky Knit | Looks first, warmth second | Chenille knit, ≈125×150cm | £££ | The decorative one — handmade chenille cable knit, not acrylic | Check price → |
| DREAMLANDING Faux Rabbit Fur | Bedroom, statement layer | Faux rabbit fur, 150×200cm | ££ | More expensive feel than the price suggests | Check price → |
What actually matters when picking a throw
The honest answer is fabric weight in GSM, not the marketing label. A “luxury” 180 GSM throw will feel thinner than a “basic” 300 GSM one — and most product pages bury the GSM figure or skip it entirely. As a rough guide: anything under 200 GSM is summer-weight, 200–280 GSM is the all-rounder zone, and above 280 GSM moves into proper winter territory. Sherpa-backed throws add a second layer (often 260 GSM sherpa on a 220 GSM flannel base, like the Bedsure) which is where they get their reputation for warmth.
Size matters more than the photographs suggest. 150×200 cm is the standard double-bed throw — it covers two people side-by-side on a three-seater sofa with enough left to tuck under. Anything in the 127–130 cm width range is really a single-throw, suited to armchairs, smaller two-seaters, or as a folded decorative drape. Two of the picks below are at the smaller size and they’re flagged as such; don’t expect to share a 130 cm throw without a tug of war.
The last thing worth checking before you buy is the wash care. Polyester fleeces (the bulk of this list) handle 30°C cycles indefinitely. Chenille knits and faux furs are usually machine-washable on a delicate cycle but lose their handle if you tumble dry them — air dry flat, or you’ll end up with something that looks fine but feels nothing like it did out of the packet.
The picks
Best all-round
Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Throw
This is the one I’d recommend if you were starting from scratch and wanted a single throw to live on the sofa year-round. The two-layer construction — 220 GSM flannel one side, 260 GSM sherpa the other — gives it genuine winter heft without feeling like a duvet, and at 150×200 cm it sits cleanly on a three-seater with enough to share. The flannel side is the everyday face; the sherpa side is what comes out for actually cold evenings.
It’s OEKO-TEX certified (Standard 100, certificate 24.HCN.19195) which is a useful trust signal if you’ve got young children or sensitive skin — it confirms the fabric and dyes have been tested for harmful substances. Washes at up to 60°C, though 40°C is what the brand recommends for longevity. The main caveat: like all sherpa throws, the deep pile side picks up pet hair enthusiastically. If you’ve got a heavy-shedding dog, keep the sherpa side facing down.
- Material: 220 GSM flannel / 260 GSM sherpa, both polyester microfibre
- Size: 150 × 200 cm (several other sizes available)
- Wash: Machine 30–60°C, tumble dry low
- Certification: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Check current price on Amazon →
Best budget for full size
Brentfords Flannel Fleece
If you want a proper 150×200 cm throw on a budget, this is the one to look at. It’s a single-layer flannel fleece — lighter than the Bedsure, no sherpa backing — so don’t expect the same depth of warmth. What you do get is the full double-bed footprint at a single-figure price, in a sensible silver-grey that doesn’t look cheap on a sofa. Useful as a guest-room layer, a car blanket, or a second throw for when the main one’s in the wash.
It washes at 30°C — keep the temperature down and it’ll hold its softness through a year of cycles. The brand is also worth noting: Brentfords is a long-running UK textiles seller, and their throws and bedding turn up on a lot of well-rated UK home pages for a reason. Not glamorous, just dependable.
- Material: 100% polyester flannel fleece (GSM not stated, feels around 220 based on reviews)
- Size: 150 × 200 cm
- Wash: Machine 30°C, tumble dry low
Check current price on Amazon →
Best small budget option
WAVVE Fleece Throw
A useful pick if you want a thicker microfibre fleece for an armchair, single-seater sofa, or a child’s bed. The 300 GSM weight is genuinely substantial for the price — heavier than a lot of the budget polyester throws on Amazon UK — but at 130×150 cm it’s clearly a single-person size. It’s reversible, with smooth flannel one side and a slightly fuzzier finish on the other, which gives it a bit more visual interest than a single-faced fleece.
Worth being explicit: if you want a sofa throw to share, this isn’t it — the size is the headline limitation. But for the right use (armchair, reading nook, child’s bedroom, layered under a larger throw for extra warmth) it punches above its price point. Machine washable, cold cycle.
- Material: 300 GSM 100% microfibre polyester
- Size: 130 × 150 cm
- Wash: Machine cold, tumble dry low
Check current price on Amazon →
Best for looks
Battilo Chunky Knit Chenille Throw
This is the picture-on-Pinterest throw: a handmade chunky cable knit in chunky chenille yarn, which is what gives it that fuzzy, slightly velvety surface rather than the wiry feel of plain acrylic chunky knits. The lighter colourways are the ones I’d pick — they age better than the darker tones, which can show oils and wear at the contact points after a few months on a daily-use sofa. At around 125×150 cm it’s a drape, not a snuggle blanket: this is for the foot of the bed or the arm of a sofa, not for actually pulling over yourself.
It is the dearest in this round-up, and you’re paying for the construction — the handmade chenille is genuinely heavier and softer than the £15 acrylic chunky knits that look similar in photos. Machine washable on a cold, gentle cycle; keep it away from high heat and don’t tumble dry hot. Treat it gently and it holds its shape and texture for years; subject it to a hot wash once and it never recovers.
- Material: Handmade chunky chenille knit (polyester)
- Size: ≈125 × 150 cm
- Wash: Machine cold/gentle cycle, air dry flat
Check current price on Amazon →
Best bedroom layer
DREAMLANDING Faux Rabbit Fur
Faux rabbit fur sits between sherpa and shaggy faux sheepskin — denser pile than the former, shorter than the latter. The DREAMLANDING throw at 150×200 cm is the size most of these are sold in, and that is the size we link. The link is to the brown. The face side is faux fur; the reverse is a smooth velvet finish, so it’s effectively two looks in one throw depending on how you drape it.
It’s noticeably softer to the touch than a standard sherpa, but the trade-off is durability — faux fur picks up debris (cat hair, lint, anything textured) and the pile will flatten in high-traffic zones over time. My honest take: this works better as a bedroom layer than as a daily-use sofa throw. On a bed, it earns its keep; on a sofa that gets heavy pet traffic, it’s a fight you’ll lose. Cold machine wash, no tumble drying, no bleach.
- Material: Faux rabbit fur one side, velvet reverse (both polyester)
- Size: 150 × 200 cm (smaller options available)
- Wash: Machine cold, air dry — do not tumble or iron
Check current price on Amazon →
Throws around the house
- On the bed: a throw folded at the foot of the bed is a layer you can pull up on a cold night. The bigger, cheaper upgrade is bedding for the season: brushed cotton through the winter, then linen or cotton percale and a lighter duvet for summer. See our linen bedding and summer duvet picks.
- In a spare room: keep a heavier blanket folded on the guest bed for anyone who finds the room cooler than expected.
- Outdoors: a picnic blanket with a waterproof backing earns its keep on damp grass; our picnic blanket guide has the picks.
A throw works best as one layer of several. A throw on the sofa, a draught-sealed front door and a hot water bottle in the evening do more together than any one of them alone; our draught-proofing hub starts with the front door and the letterbox.
How I chose these
I haven’t personally reviewed every throw on this list — that’s not a meaningful claim anyone could make about five different blankets. What I have done is compared throws on actual product data (GSM weight, real dimensions, certification) rather than positioning copy. Each pick fills a specific use case — all-round, budget-large, budget-small, decorative, bedroom — so a single list serves five different buying intents.
Prices were checked on the day this guide was last updated and will drift; Amazon’s pricing on textiles in particular fluctuates with sales and stock. Use the price tier column as the durable signal — £ is sub-£15, ££ is £15–35, £££ is over £35. If a listed product is suddenly out of stock or significantly more expensive than the figures above, check the comparison table at the top for an alternative in the same tier.
A throw as a gift
A throw is an easy present to get right if you buy for how it will be used. For the warmest evenings on the sofa, the Bedsure sherpa: its two-layer construction traps the most air of anything here. For a present that looks the part on a chair or the end of a bed, the Battilo chunky knit — it is the looks pick rather than the warmth pick. For a bedroom, the DREAMLANDING faux fur. Choose 150 × 200cm for a two- or three-seater sofa, and know that all five picks here go in the washing machine. For someone who really feels the cold, an electric heated throw (see our electric blanket guide) is the warmer present.
FAQs
What’s the best throw blanket size for a sofa?
For a standard UK two- or three-seater, 150 × 200 cm is the size to look for. It covers two people side-by-side with enough to tuck under, and it drapes cleanly over a folded arm. For armchairs or single-seater sofas, 130 × 150 cm is plenty. Anything advertised as 127 × 152 cm or smaller is really a decorative drape rather than a usable cover-yourself throw.
Sherpa, fleece or knit — which is warmest?
Sherpa is the warmest by some margin because it’s a two-layer construction — typically 200–250 GSM flannel face with a 250–300 GSM sherpa back, trapping a lot of air between the layers. Standard polar fleece (single layer, 200–300 GSM) is next, and good enough for most UK living rooms. Chunky knit throws look warm but actually trap less air than a fleece of equivalent weight; they’re a visual choice, not a thermal one.
Are throws machine washable?
All five picks here are machine washable. The polyester fleeces (Bedsure, Brentfords, WAVVE) handle full 30°C cycles repeatedly. The Battilo chunky knit and DREAMLANDING faux fur both need a delicate cycle and air drying — tumble drying these once is usually enough to flatten the pile permanently. If in doubt, cool wash and air dry every throw and you won’t go far wrong.
What’s the difference between a throw and a blanket?
In UK retail the two words overlap completely — manufacturers and retailers use them interchangeably. The convention is loosely that “throw” implies a decorative-secondary purpose (sofa drape, foot-of-bed layer) and “blanket” implies primary bedding (covering a sleeper). In practice, a 150 × 200 cm “throw” and a 150 × 200 cm “blanket” are the same product; the label is marketing.
Are Bedsure throws good quality?
Bedsure is one of the most reviewed throw brands on Amazon UK, and the Sherpa Fleece line consistently rates well for construction and washability. The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification on this model is a meaningful quality signal — it’s not given lightly. They’re not luxury (you won’t find them in John Lewis), but for the price they’re among the most reliable polyester throws available in the UK.
🏠 From the D&L Shop: Sorting your home for winter? Our Winter Home Survival Guide covers heating, draught-proofing, condensation and energy bills — 11 pages, £8.99. Also free: the Home Comfort Checklist. Browse the shop →
If you found this useful, you might also like our guides to the best electric blankets in the UK, the best reed diffusers for scent throw and longevity, and the cosy home UK hub for the full set of winter comfort reviews.
— Gareth
Which throw makes the best gift?
The Bedsure sherpa for warmth, the Battilo chunky knit for looks, and the DREAMLANDING faux fur for a bedroom. For a sofa, 150 × 200cm is the size to buy, and all five picks are machine washable.
Last reviewed: September 2026
🛡 Our standards: How we research · Editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure · Corrections · Last reviewed: September 2026
About Gareth
Gareth Isherwood is the editor of Danbury & Lovejoy. He has baked bread at home for 25+ years and has 15 years of growing experience across gardens, containers and other growing spaces, including an East Sussex allotment for the past three years. Read his full story →
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