8 Best Picnic Blankets for Outdoor Dining

When shopping for picnic supplies, blankets are usually an afterthought. Picnic baskets and coolers get all the attention, leaving the blankets out in the cold. This is a sad state of affairs, because the best picnic blanket can really set the ambiance for your outdoor meal.

A picnic blanket is more than just a groundcover for your picnic basket. A good blanket is also where you sit and relax while enjoying your food. It acts as a tablecloth, chair, and a cozy nap spot for the kids. It can also be the visible signpost marking your picnic spot in a big crowd.

While any blanket may act as a picnic blanket in a pinch, most fall short of the ideal. They might be too bulky or hard to clean, or not suited for the environment around your picnic spot. Having a dedicated picnic blanket or two can make the entire experience a lot more enjoyable.

We’re here to help you identify the best picnic blankets on the market and show you how to select the perfect one for your family events!

At a Glance: Our Top 8 Best Picnic Blankets

• Best Fleece Picnic Blanket VonShef
• Best Waterproof Picnic Blanket Miu Color
• Best Picnic Blanket Tote Scuddles
• Best XL Picnic Blanket Marmel Planet
• Best Flannel-like Picnic Blanket BEZ Outdoors
• Best Portable Picnic Blanket Matador
• Best Cheap Picnic Blanket Paige and Co
• Best Windproof Picnic Blanket Cozy Adventures

Best Picnic Blanket

When you are not totally prepared for a picnic something always goes wrong. A blanket may seem like a small thing but a good blanket can make a big difference to your overall experience.

Look at what can happen: You get the perfect picnic basket, send out some beautiful picnic invitations and fix a fantastic meal. You set up your picnic spot and sit down on the blanket…and feel wet. So do your guests. Now everyone is spending the day in wet underwear.

The challenge with buying the “ideal” picnic blanket is that the traits vary depending on your picnic location. The best blanket for a day at the beach might not be the best for an outdoor concert, for instance. Luckily, all picnic blankets share some common features.

A picnic blanket should be lightweight and easy to carry. The blanket should be comfortable to sit and lay on, and it should be resistant to dirt and stains. It should also be easy to brush clean and ideally machine washable.

Your picnic blanket should also be particularly suited for the environment of your picnic spot. If you will be using it near water you might prefer a water-resistant or waterproof blanket. If you are spending a day at the coast, a wind resistant blanket could be a lifesaver.

The best picnic blanket for your family will depend primarily on your budget and the size and style of blanket you want. You can check out our Buyer’s Guide for more information on selecting the perfect blanket for every situation.

How We Selected the Best Picnic Blanket

Shopping for a picnic blanket can feel daunting. A picnic mat can be made from nearly any material and can be as small as a beach towel or as large as a comforter. The best picnic blanket for your family will depend on your budget and where you plan to use it.

First, consider the type of picnics you usually throw and the features you would find most helpful in a picnic blanket.

You might prefer a waterproof blanket for camping by a lakeside or a fishing trip. A blanket that is windproof or that has stakes or integrated pockets might be helpful for a windy location. If you head off trail then a really compact blanket may be what you need.

Once you know your budget and have identified the features you’re looking for, you can start narrowing down your options. Unlike the more straightforward supplies like picnic plates, you really have a huge number of options when buying a picnic blanket.

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Here are the things you should consider when shopping for your picnic blanket:

Material

If you plan on using a blanket outside in all kinds of conditions, it needs to be sturdy and durable enough to stand up to some hard use. No one wants to buy a blanket that will wear out after a few picnics. At the same time, your blanket should also feel soft and comfortable when you are sitting or lying on it.

Durable fabrics are usually not the most comfortable of fabrics, unfortunately. They can also be heavy and bulky. As a trade-off, many picnic blankets use different fabrics for the upper and lower surfaces.

The upper surface of the blanket is the material you will be sitting on and looking at. This layer should feel comfortable against your skin and offer some padding from the ground. The color and pattern of this fabric is usually quite distinctive to help your picnic spot stand out.

Picnic blankets can be made from natural or synthetic materials and are frequently made with a blend of both types. Synthetic fabrics are especially popular due to their durability and ability to compact down for packing. Some synthetic fabrics are also naturally water or wind resistant.

You are less likely to see natural fibers in picnic mats these days. These materials are durable but are also heavier and bulkier to pack than the synthetics. Blankets made from natural fibers tend to be more expensive as well.

Polyester

You will see a lot of picnic blankets made with polyester or from blends of polyester and other fibers. Polyester is a synthetic fiber that is frequently used in clothing and blankets. Polyester fabrics, depending on their construction, may be naturally water and wind resistant and are very durable.

Polyester blankets are stain and wrinkle-resistant. Polyester blankets can be nearly as thin as nylon if they are made with a high thread count and are tightly woven. This style of blanket is commonly seen in picnic blankets designed for the beach.

When woven more loosely, polyester blankets can have a softer feel similar to flannel or fleece. This is especially common on blankets made with a polyester blend. This style of picnic rug is less durable than the other but is a lot more comfortable to sit on.

The downside to polyester picnic mats is that they are not very heat resistant and can melt if exposed to a flame or other heat source. This is not the ideal material if you are using the blanket near a campfire or portable grill. Some blankets have further treatment by way of a fireproofing spray for extra protection.

While polyester fibers are water and wind resistant, your blanket’s properties will depend on the fabric’s construction. The tightly-woven, thin beach-style blankets are more resistant than the looser-weave, softer polyester blankets.

Fleece

Fleece picnic blankets are some of the most comfortable and affordable on the market. While fleece can also refer to the wool from an animal, that’s not the material we’re talking about here. It is actually the synthetic fabric commonly known as polar fleece.

Polar fleece is usually woven from polyester, although it can also be partially made from recycled plastics. It is a very warm and durable fabric and it is much lighter in weight than natural wool. It does not absorb water and dries very quickly.

Fleece is a popular material in picnic blankets especially when paired with a second waterproof layer. The soft upper fabric is ideal for sitting or laying on and it is resistant to dirt and stains. Fleece can keep you warm but still allows your skin to breathe.

The downside to fleece picnic blankets is that they don’t offer water or wind resistance on their own. Your fleece blanket will need another layer if you want yours to have these properties. Fleece is also heat sensitive and quickly melts when you expose it to high temperatures.

Fleece has one other annoying property, and that’s that it can easily pick up a static charge. Dust, lint, and pet fur tend to cling to fleece blankets, making them harder to shake clean at the end of a picnic.

Nylon

Nylon is another synthetic fabric that is commonly used by picnic blanket manufacturers. Nylon fabrics are very thin and have the feel of silk against your skin. This is a very popular choice for ultra-compact camping blankets and beach-style blankets.

Like polyester, fabrics made from nylon are typically wind and water resistant and can even be made waterproof. Rip-stop nylon fabrics have a woven cross-hatching that prevents a rip from opening further. Nylon picnic mats are softer than polyester and are more durable but also tend to be more expensive.

Nylon picnic blankets share many of the downsides of polyester. The fabric is heat-sensitive and can melt if put through a dryer. Nylon also melts when exposed to high heat and isn’t ideal for use near campfires or grills.

Wool

Wool picnic blankets are traditional and it’s no surprise that these were very popular before synthetic fibers were an option. Wool comes from animals like sheep and goats and makes for a warm and sturdy fabric. Think of it as nature’s version of polar fleece.

Wool fabric is naturally water resistant and is very durable. It keeps you warm but also allows your skin to breath. Wool is very insulating and folks often used it for cold-weather clothing, bedding, and even baby diapers prior to World War II.

These days, wool is a less-desirable option for a picnic blanket, although some wool-blend blankets are still available.

Wool blankets are heavy and bulky and are much more expensive than synthetic blankets. Wool can also be scratchy against your skin unless it is a less-durable type like merino. Wool blankets are harder to clean than synthetics and can shrink if put through a dryer cycle.

Cotton

Cotton is one of the most common textiles on the market and it’s likely that you have some cotton towels, sheets, and blankets in your home. Cotton is spun from natural plant fibers and is frequently blended with other natural or synthetic fibers to make fabrics.

Cotton picnic blankets are lighter in weight than wool blankets and not usually as bulky. Cotton fabric is soft and fairly durable and is easy to clean in a washer and dryer. It can keep you comfortably warm while still allowing your skin to breathe.

On their own, cotton blankets are not ideal for picnicking. Cotton fabrics wrinkle quickly and easily pick up stains. Cotton also absorbs moisture and is slow to dry.

Most of the picnic blankets on the market that contain cotton will use a blend, usually a polyester-cotton blend. These fabrics will have some of the advantages of cotton but will avoid the downsides of the all-cotton blankets.

Construction

Picnic blankets come in a wide variety of designs and many are much more than a simple layer of stitched fabric. Picnic mats can actually have a fairly complicated construction to increase their durability and functionality.

Picnic blankets can be made from a single layer of fabric or from multiple layers sewn together, similar to a picnic mat. Obviously, more layers boost the padding and durability at the expense of increased bulk and weight.

Ultra-compact and lightweight blankets usually have a thin layer of synthetic material with reinforced edging. They may not offer a lot of padding but they are ideal for sandy locations like the beach.

Many of the best picnic blankets are made with multiple layers of fabric sewn together. These sturdy blankets often include a rugged waterproof bottom paired with a softer, brightly-colored upper fabric. They may also have a layer of padding sewn between the upper and lower layer for extra cushioning on hard ground.

Look for picnic blankets with high-quality stitching, reinforced edges, and double-seams. These blankets will last longer and stand up to harder use than blankets without these features.

Size

Picnic blankets come in a variety of sizes. A small 5 x 5-foot picnic rug may be suitable for one to three picnickers, but for larger crowds, you’ll need a bigger blanket. Also, if you plan on using your blanket as a nap spot you may prefer a bigger blanket over a smaller one.

If you’re not sure which size you need you can always start small and add more blankets as your family expands. Or you could opt for the biggest blanket you can find and enjoy the extra space when you have fewer folks at your picnic.

Practicality

So, what makes a picnic blanket practical? More than just the fabric and construction, the design and features of your blanket will determine how easy it is to use. Features that make a picnic blanket more practical include:

• Built-in tote or carrying straps – Allow you to quickly fold or stuff your blanket away and easily attach it to your backpack or picnic cooler. Some even fit in a pocket!
• Smart-folding design – Manufacturers assemble these blankets in such a way that you can easily see how to fold them to fit inside the carrying bag. This is especially common with the ultra-compact picnic blankets.
• Ground stakes or sand pockets – To prevent your blanket from flapping in the breeze, some picnic blankets come with stakes to hold down the corners. Beach-style blankets often include pockets you can fill with sand to hold them down. If you picnic at windy locations you may really appreciate a blanket with stakes or sand pockets (or both).
• Internal zippered pockets – Many blankets now come with extra zippered pockets for storing your keys, phone or reading materials while picnicking.
• Fireproof coating – To make a blanket safer to use near an open flame, some blankets are specially treated with a fireproof coating. If you plan to use your blanket near a campfire or grill you may prefer one that has been fireproofed.

Waterproof

A waterproof picnic blanket is an excellent thing to have. When you use a waterproof blanket you never have to worry about picnicking on moist grass or near a lakeside.

Your bum will stay high and dry all day while you enjoy your meal.

There are several ways to waterproof a blanket. The best picnic blankets will have an entire bottom layer made from a waterproof material like PVC, PEVA plastic or Mylar. These blankets are sturdy and completely waterproof. The lower layer is a permanent part of your blanket.

Another option is to coat the fabric of a blanket with a waterproofing spray. Usually, the underside of the blanket has this coating, leaving the top fabric soft and pliable. The spray won’t make the blanket waterproof but does leave it water resistant.

A third option is really a combination of the above two methods. Instead of using a fully waterproof bottom layer (which can be bulkier and heavier), these blankets have a polyester backing. The backing is naturally water resistant and is often also sprayed with an additional waterproofing material.

If you really want a waterproof picnic blanket, get one with a waterproof underside and not one that is just water resistant. These blankets can be harder to clean because they usually not machine washable. But they will last longer than those whose coat only has a waterproof spray.

Strength of Material

If you want your picnic mat to stand up to years of adventure and washing then it needs to be made from high-quality materials.

Nylon, especially rip-stop nylon, is the strongest material you can make a blanket from. It is stronger and more weather resistant than polyester but is also a bit less durable. Both fabrics are easy to wipe clean but are sensitive to high drying temperatures.

Wool is strong, weather resistant and is very durable but can be bulky and challenging to clean. Cotton is strong, but not very durable because the fibers break rather than flex. Cotton-polyester blends are a better bet for picnic blankets than pure cotton for this reason.

Thickness

There is a trade-off when it comes to the thickness of your picnic rug. You want a blanket that offers some padding if the ground is hard, right? But the thicker your blanket, the bulkier it is to pack into your picnic spot.

For beach picnics, the blankets can be thin because you have a nice layer of sand beneath you for padding. Many beach-style picnic blankets are made from thin nylon or polyester with no additional layers of cushion. These ultra-light blankets are also ideal for backpacking and camping trips.

For picnicking on harder ground, however, you definitely want a bit more padding. A thicker fleece or flannel blanket will likely be a lot more comfortable. These blankets are bulkier than the ultra-light ones but can still compact down for easy transport.

Style

Picnic blankets usually have vibrant colors or have a distinctive pattern to their fabric. This helps you identify your picnic spot at a distance and makes your location more noticeable to others. If you have a vintage picnic basket you may prefer a picnic mat that coordinates with it.

Some blankets feature traditional patterns like plaid, checks or chevrons. Others are made with a combination of fabrics and stitched together like a quilt. Premium blankets usually have double seams and contrasting edging.

Avoid blankets that are dark in color or have large patches of dark-colored fabric. These blankets will absorb more sunlight and get hotter than lighter colored blankets. They may be uncomfortably warm under the summer sun.

Cleaning

Your picnic blanket should be easy to clean. Most blankets will just shake or brush clean and the debris fall right off.

The best picnic blankets are resistant to stains and dirt too. Since many blankets have some natural water resistance, spilled liquids may not even soak into the fabric.

Often you can just sponge or wipe these blankets down instead of washing them.

Many picnic rugs are machine washable but can’t go in the dryer. You may need to hang them to dry instead. Honestly, your blanket will last longer if you avoid washing it too frequently.

To clean your blanket, try using a wet sponge on the stains first. If the blanket is still soiled you can wash it by hand and hang it to dry. Never pack your blanket away until it is completely dry or it may begin to mold.

Price

Picnic blankets are all over the map in terms of price. An inexpensive picnic blanket can be found for around $20, while a premium blanket could go for as much as $50.

You definitely don’t need to buy an expensive blanket to get a high-quality picnic blanket. Once you know your budget you should have no trouble finding a great option in your price range.

Top Picnic Blankets Video

Conclusion

The best picnic blanket for your family should be lightweight, comfortable and easily portable.

Beyond that, picnic blankets are available in a wide range of styles and designs. They can be ultra-compact or extra-large. Some are waterproof, windproof or sandproof and many have extra features like internal pockets or stakes.

Choosing a picnic blanket is a bit of a challenge because you have so many options and products to choose from. We hope our guide will help you select the ideal blanket based on your budget and particular needs. No matter what you’re looking for, our list has the ideal picnic blanket for your family.