In short: Fleece and sherpa dominate the mid-market throw and blanket category because they balance softness, cost, and easy care. Cotton is preferred for warm-climate or baby blankets, while wool blends sit at the premium end. For Irish importers, GSM (grams per square metre) and EU textile labelling are the two details that matter most when comparing factory quotes, since a lower price per unit almost always means lower GSM and a thinner-feeling blanket.

Last updated: August 14, 2026

What Are the Main Types of Blanket Material?

Most wholesale blankets sourced from China fall into five material categories: polyester fleece, sherpa (fleece-on-one-side, fluffy-on-the-other), cotton or cotton-blend, wool or wool-blend, and knitted acrylic.

Polyester Fleece

Fleece is lightweight, inexpensive, machine-washable, and holds print and colour well, which is why it is the default choice for budget and mid-market throws.

Sherpa

Sherpa blankets pair a flat fleece face with a fluffy, faux-shearling reverse. They cost more than plain fleece but photograph well for e-commerce and command a higher retail price.

Cotton and Cotton Blends

Cotton breathes better than synthetic fibres, which makes it the preferred choice for baby blankets, summer-weight throws, and buyers marketing towards natural-fibre or organic positioning.

Wool and Wool Blends

Wool blankets sit at the premium end of the category. They cost significantly more to produce and ship, but support a higher retail price point and longer perceived lifespan.

How Do You Compare Blanket Quality Between Factory Quotes?

The single most useful number on a factory quote is GSM (grams per square metre). A 300gsm fleece throw will feel noticeably thinner than a 400–500gsm equivalent, even if both are described simply as 'fleece' in a product listing.

What Should Irish Importers Check Before Ordering Blankets from China?

• Confirm GSM in writing, not just the material name, before approving a quote.
• Ask for a physical pre-production sample, since fleece and sherpa quality vary widely between factories at the same nominal GSM.
• Check EU textile fibre-content labelling requirements are met before goods ship, not after they land in Ireland.
• Ask about flammability testing if the blanket will be marketed for children's use.
• Confirm shrinkage and pilling test results, especially for cotton and wool blends.

FAQs

What is the best blanket material for babies?

Cotton or a high-cotton-content blend is generally preferred for baby blankets, since it is breathable, gentle on skin, and easy to wash at high temperatures.

What is the difference between fleece and sherpa?

Fleece is a flat, brushed polyester fabric on both sides. Sherpa uses a flat fleece face on one side and a fluffy, faux-shearling texture on the reverse, giving it a more premium look and feel.

What GSM is considered a good-quality blanket?

For a mid-market fleece or sherpa throw, 350gsm or higher generally feels substantial. Below 250gsm, a blanket will usually feel thin regardless of the fabric name used in marketing.

Do wool blankets need special import documentation?

Wool products can carry additional fibre-content and country-of-origin labelling requirements in the EU, so it's worth confirming label wording with your supplier before the first shipment lands in Ireland.

What MOQ is typical for private label blankets from China?

Most Chinese textile factories set MOQs of 500–2,000 units per design for blankets, though this varies by material and whether custom colours or jacquard patterns are required.

How Epic Sourcing Helps

Epic Sourcing's bilingual teams on the ground in China and Vietnam vet textile factories directly, confirm real GSM against samples, and check EU labelling compliance before your order ships. We support importers across Ireland, the USA, Singapore, South Africa, and the UAE. See our shipping costs and transit times guide for Ireland, and if you are sourcing personal-care products alongside home textiles, our toothbrush bristle sourcing guide and Made in PRC labelling guide may help. Talk to our team about sourcing your next home textile product line.