Top 5 compared
The best picnic blankets
Somewhere dry and comfortable to sit on damp grass or sand, folded up small for the walk to the park or the beach.
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The top 5 at a glance
A picnic blanket is an outdoor rug with a waterproof backing, so the damp in the ground stays under it and nobody sitting on top gets wet. Some have a padded middle layer under a soft top; others have a plain, unpadded top of Oxford cloth that wipes clean, and a few have a fleece top that doubles as a throw. Most fold or roll up with a handle or strap.
Sand and grass shake off a coated or PVC base, so most outings end without a wash. The waterproof side goes down on grass, sand or a tent floor, and after a damp day it is worth letting the blanket dry before folding it away.
What matters
- 200 cm (79 in) square for families; smaller for two to four.
- A padded or fleece top for a long afternoon on hard ground.
- Machine washable, for grass stains and spilled drinks.
#1Ergohortus Waterproof Picnic Blanket
$20–$30
Big enough for a family and padded for a long sit: 200 cm (79 in) square with room for six to eight, and a soft polyester filling between a water-repellent top and a waterproof coated Oxford base. It has a handle and a shoulder strap for carrying, and goes in the washing machine.
What owners say: Owners find it big, soft and good-looking, with a pattern they like, and say it folds up small and travels easily; how well it keeps water out is where their reports differ.
A closer look: Fold it, roll it from one end and close the hook-and-loop strap: it packs down to about 35 × 15 × 15 cm (14 × 6 × 6 in), small enough to tuck into a picnic basket. On the sand, three or four can lie down on it, not just sit.
- Seats six to eight
- Handle and shoulder strap
- Fits in a picnic basket
Best for: Family picnics and the beach
- Size
- 200 × 200 cm (79 × 79 in)
- Top
- Water-repellent polyester, padded
- Backing
- Coated Oxford, waterproof
- Weight
- 1 kg (2.2 lb)
- Machine washable
- Gentle cycle
#2G GOOD GAIN Extra Large Picnic Blanket
$30–$50
The padded family square that can go in the dryer: classic red-and-white gingham, 203 cm (80 in) each way, with a scratch-resistant polyester top, a padded middle and a waterproof polyester back that keeps sand off. A family of six to eight fits on it, and it rolls up and fastens with two adjustable buckle straps.
What owners say: Owners like the quality and say it has room for the whole family, cleans easily and does as well on the beach as at a picnic; some find it thin, and not all of them found it fully waterproof.
A closer look: Wash it cool, below 30°C (86°F), as G GOOD GAIN advises. Spread out at the park or in the backyard, it doubles as a play mat for small children, with room left over for the adults.
- Rolls up with buckle straps
- Doubles as a play mat
- Scratch-resistant top
Best for: Parents with small children
- Size
- 203 × 203 cm (80 × 80 in)
- Top
- Polyester, padded
- Backing
- Polyester, waterproof
- Weight
- 1.04 kg (2.3 lb)
- Machine washable
- Cool wash, low tumble dry
#3Tikroom Waterproof Fleece Outdoor Blanket (202 × 147 cm)
$30–$50
Extra-thick polar fleece on one side and a waterproof back of coated polyester, bonded without stitching so there are no needle holes for water to get through. Spread out, it seats two to four; wrapped around two people, it’s a warm throw at a ball game or a chilly campsite.
What owners say: Its owners pick out how light and soft it is, that it’s waterproof and well made, and that it suits camping and sporting events and is simple to carry in its bag.
A closer look: Over your knees, keep the waterproof back facing out so it blocks the wind as well as the damp. It rolls or folds into the stuff sack that comes with it, which has a carry handle, so it takes little room in a gym bag or the car.
- Doubles as a throw
- No stitch holes to leak
- Packs into a stuff sack
Best for: Sports games and chilly campsites
- Size
- 202 × 147 cm (80 × 58 in)
- Top
- Polar fleece
- Backing
- Coated polyester, waterproof
- Weight
- –
- Machine washable
- Yes, and tumble dry
#4SAMSIER Gingham Waterproof Picnic Blanket
$20–$30
A light blanket in navy gingham Oxford cloth on a waterproof base, 200 × 150 cm (79 × 59 in), for two to four with the food spread out. It folds into a handbag shape with its own carry handle, and crumbs and spilled drinks wipe off.
What owners say: Room for two adults with space to spare, owners say, and it folds up easily into a little bag; some find it too thin to feel soft, and they’re split on its value.
A closer look: At 830 g (1.8 lb) it is easy to carry on a long walk to the beach or the far end of the park. It also makes a seat at an outdoor concert, or a spot for an afternoon nap in the shade.
- Folds into a handbag shape
- Built-in carry handle
- Crumbs and spills wipe off
Best for: Walks to the park
- Size
- 200 × 150 cm (79 × 59 in)
- Top
- Oxford cloth, unpadded
- Backing
- Waterproof
- Weight
- 830 g (1.8 lb)
- Machine washable
- Yes
#5GUSUWU Checkered Picnic Blanket with Handle
$20–$30
Six to eight can share this unpadded blanket: a soft, breathable Oxford cloth top over a tough PVC base that lets no water through, in a brown-and-cream check, 203 cm (80 in) square. Folded, it closes into a flat pack with a carry handle.
What owners say: Owners call it roomy for a family, easy to fold up neatly and fairly priced, and say it keeps the wet out and wipes clean; the material itself gets mixed reviews.
Heads up: It isn’t machine washable: the listing says hand wash, so wipe the top and the PVC base with a damp cloth after a muddy outing.
A closer look: The folded pack is about 30 × 22 × 4 cm (12 × 9 × 1.5 in), thin enough to slide into the trunk beside the cooler. Its PVC base also holds back the chill of damp ground, which suits a cool morning at a campsite as well as a picnic in the park.
- Folds into a flat pack
- Handle on the folded pack
- Soft, breathable top
Best for: Car trips with a big group
- Size
- 203 × 203 cm (80 × 80 in)
- Top
- Oxford cloth, unpadded
- Backing
- PVC, waterproof
- Weight
- 1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
- Machine washable
- No
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Ergohortus 200 cm | #2G GOOD GAIN 203 cm | #3Tikroom fleece | #4SAMSIER gingham | #5GUSUWU checkered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best fleece top | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 |
| Size | 200 × 200 cm (79 × 79 in) | 203 × 203 cm (80 × 80 in) | 202 × 147 cm (80 × 58 in) | 200 × 150 cm (79 × 59 in) | 203 × 203 cm (80 × 80 in) |
| Top | Water-repellent polyester, padded | Polyester, padded | Polar fleece | Oxford cloth, unpadded | Oxford cloth, unpadded |
| Backing | Coated Oxford, waterproof | Polyester, waterproof | Coated polyester, waterproof | Waterproof | PVC, waterproof |
| Weight | 1 kg (2.2 lb) | 1.04 kg (2.3 lb) | – | 830 g (1.8 lb) | 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) |
| Machine washable | Gentle cycle | Cool wash, low tumble dry | Yes, and tumble dry | Yes | No |
| Best for | Family picnics and the beach | Parents with small children | Sports games and chilly campsites | Walks to the park | Car trips with a big group |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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