Garnet Hill Review 2024

The Garnet Hill Plush-Loft Throw will make the whole family cozy this winter.

Every time I test bed blankets and throws, all of my family seems to appear out of thin air to participate. They all have specific tastes—my husband likes a tassle-free wool or cashmere, my daughter wants the softest and lightest fleece, and my dog goes for anything he can discreetly nibble without getting in trouble.

But they are all unified when it comes to the Garnet Hill Plush-Loft blankets, which are fluffy-soft polyester plush on one side and smooth quilted cotton sateen on the other. These blankets are hands-down the family favorite.

The Plush-Loft debuted in fall of 2015. Since its launch, a Garnet Hill representative told us, “It has always ranked in our top three blankets.” The Plush-Loft was designed to have a weight somewhere between a lofty comforter and a more-traditional blanket, with fur-like plush that’s super-soft. The throws, the representative says, are especially popular.

I started testing the bed-size Plush-Loft blanket in early 2018, and I’ve bought several more since. So have many other Wirecutter staffers, including one senior editor who bought the Plush-Loft for her two sons to get through Maine winters.

The bed blankets work as a comforter alternative in cold weather or layered under a comforter in very cold weather. The throw size is the most magnificent treat for snuggling on the couch on family movie night.

These are the heftiest and warmest blankets we recommend, so if you don’t like a heavy blanket, or if you’re a hot sleeper, these probably won’t be for you. They wash well, and our test samples have pilled just a little in nearly three years of use, with minimal color fading.

How it started

Garnet Hill was founded in 1976 as a small mail-order company, after founders Grant Dowse and Pegge Kirschner discovered English flannel on a trip overseas and wanted to replicate it in the United States.

The company has grown significantly, and we often test its sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels because they’re durable, classic-looking, and often less expensive than those from newer bedding companies. The blankets have been the best Garnet Hill performers in testing, and the Plush-Loft is the best of all.

When to buy

We very rarely see good deals on this product and for the past three years have posted only a single deal around Black Friday.

The numbers

$180 Average street price
$118 Best price we’ve ever seen

Make it last

Because the plush fur side is polyester, a warm or cold wash is best to preserve this blanket for as long as possible. Our blankets have seen my family through more than one stomach bug or winter illness, though, and I’ve thrown them in hot washes a few times to disinfect them. So far they’ve been fine.