The 13 Best Travel Blankets for Airplanes, Cars & Trains in 2024

Our process involves independent research, testing (by using it whilst we travel), reviewing, and recommending the best products. Click here to learn more.

Our Pick for the Best Travel Blanket: EverSnug 2-in-1 Travel Blanket

Looking for the best travel blanket for airplane use? Well I just love the EverSnug 2-in-1 Travel Blanket. 

The EverSnug airplane blanket is a lightweight and compact blanket that is easy to travel with. Simply hook it up over your luggage handle and off  you go.

The blanket is soft and cozy, a fantastic compact size and guaranteed to keep you warm on your next long flight. 

What We Love About It: I love the quality of this blanket - it is so super soft and comfy! For me, it add just the right amount of warmth without making me too hot.

What We Think Could Be Better: It would have been great if it came with a pillow. I wish it was just a touch wider as I like to tug my blankets under my legs on a plane.

The other great benefit of the EverSnug travel blanket’s size is that it folds down nice and compact, so it won’t take up too much room in if you pack it in your bag. 

We love that it comes with it own carry case. We typically pop the sleeve over the handle of our carry on luggage.

However, our kids typically travel with backpacks, so for them we simply use the backpack clip to clip it their backpack.

Important to note is that the blanket is designed for one person only. I find that it is perfectly designed for plane seats (or train/bus seats) because the width is nice and narrow meaning it won't spill onto your neighbors seat. 

I do wish it was a bit wider - I do prefer the width of the Bluehills blanket (the next one on our list) more.

It’s also machine-washable and fast drying so easy to keep clean.

Not only does the EverSnug keep you warm as a blanket but when folded and in the carry case you can use it as a travel pillow to rest your head!

It is available in black, burgundy, grey, light pink, navy blue and teal. I absolutely love the light pink color but chose to go with navy blue as the light pink would show dirty marks on it pretty quickly.

It is the best compact travel blanket for airplane use, but is also great for trains as well as cars.

Again, just like the blanket we mentioned above, this one is made from a premium soft micro plush material.

This travel blanket will keep you warm and comfortable on planes, trains, busses or anywhere else you find yourself needing an extra layer of comfort and warmth. 

It is machine-washable so it is super easy to clean after it’s been used in all sorts of public places.

This travel blanket with pouch, backpack clip and hand luggage belt is super easy to take on your travels. 

It is 60 x 43 inches when opened up so will provide plenty of coverage, but it folds up to a nice compact 11.5 x 10 inches.  

When it’s folded it can even be used as a pillow, or simply pop a jumper or similar in the case and zip it up, to have both a blanket and pillow.

It also only weighs 1.2 pounds so won’t eat into your precious luggage allowance nor will it take up much space in your luggage.  

This blanket in a bag for travel comes in six different colors (get a different color for each family member) and is a great option for keeping warm whilst traveling.

I really love our BlueHills blanket - it gets good use in our family of 5, both at home as well as during travel days.

What We Love About It: I love that I can snap my blanket to my child's blanket and that way we got an extra large blanket to share. I also love that it packs up to your a bit bigger than the size of my fist!

What We Think Could Be Better: I feel like it would be comfier if it was slightly wider, however if you are sitting next to a stranger on a plane, this size is great.

Quick Stats:

• Weight: 12.43 ounces
• Size: 72” x 42”
• Fabric: Microfleece /  Recycled PET Plastic

Our Review:

This Layover blanketis more versatile than others on our list because it is an insulated travel blanket. We find that it is great to use for a flight, a long road trip, a picnic, or camping.

Another thing we love is that this blanket is longer (72") than any of the other blankets on our list (which are mostly around 60" in length). So if you are tall this is the blanket for you!

This blanket is great as it packs up smaller in comparison to the blankets mentioned above. It is also one of the lighter blankets from our list (12.43 ounces).

The Layover blanket is machine washable as well. It also packs down super small…easily making it one of our top travel blanket picks.

What We Love About It: This is a great way to get all the items you need for a long-haul flight. The blanket is soft and cozy. And the pockets to keep your items if you are traveling solo is handy too.

What We Think Could Be Better: Unfortunately we found that this is not the most compact issue to travel with. The eye mask didn't make things pitch blank for me and even though the pillow is comfy, it kept moving out of place as you can't secure it in front. 

Quick Stats:

• Weight: 2.3 Pounds (for the whole set)
• Size: 55 x 39.5"
• Fabric: Fleece
• Includes: Blanket, Memory Foam Pillow, Eye Mask and Ear Plugs

Our Review:

The Proglobe Travel Pillow and Blanket Combo Luxury Set is the ultimate in luxury travel sets. 

It is a 4-in-1 set which includes the super soft polar fleece blanket, an inflatable neck pillow, an eye mask and a pair of ultra-soft earplugs.

The blanket is designed to provide superior warmth and comfort with its luxurious feel. 

The inflatable neck pillow helps you maintain proper posture while sleeping during long flights.

The eye mask helps block out light so you can get a good rest and the earplugs help reduce noise, so you can enjoy more peaceful travel.

This set is perfect for airplane travel as well as car trips, train journeys and bus rides. It’s designed to make your travels more comfortable and enjoyable no matter how long your journey is.

You can fit the blanket and pillow inside the carry bag. The bag has a pocket where you can store the mask and ear plugs.

The carry bag is pretty big due to the memory foam pillow so we suggest that you can clip it to your luggage rather than trying to fit it inside your carry-on.

The fleece blanket is machine-washable for easy care. 

One thing to note is the blanket included in this set is shorter (55") in comparison to other blankets on our list, which are more around 60"+. So this set is not for you if you are tall.

So if you’re looking for the ultimate travel companion, this luxury travel pillow blanket set is the perfect choice! It also makes a great gift for any frequent traveller.

What We Love About It: I love the quality and feel of this blanket on my body. It is warm enough without feeling heavy.

What We Think Could Be Better: This blanket sheds a lot of lint during the first few uses, which can be a bit annoying.

The image is also deceiving because it looks like you will receive a pillow - but you can only use it as a pillow OR a blanket.

It is not the blanket for very tall people. But it is a pretty standard length with a travel blanket.

It’s also machine washable so can easily be cleaned.

Other great features of this travel blanket are the pillow-bag with zipped pocket and fleece on one of the sides so it can double as a pillow if needed.

The carry bag also features an adjustable strap so it can be attached to your luggage for easy carrying.

If you’re after one of the best travel blankets to ensure you you get good sleep whilst you travel, be sure to check out this one by PAVILIA.

What We Love About It: We love the length of this blanket, which is large enough to cover even taller men. 

What We Think Could Be Better: I think this blanket costs too much money for the quality.

What We Love About It: We love the price - it is the cheapest on our list. It is also the lightest blanket on our list. It is great if you don't plan on traveling on a regular basis.

What We Think Could Be Better: I would rather spend more to get a better quality blanket. Also, there is no carry bag so we found that once we popped it in our carry-on, we didn't have enough space for all the rest of our stuff.

Quick Stats:

• Weight: 0.14 Pounds 
• Size: 60 x 50"
• Fabric: Microfleece

Our Review:

If you are looking for a great value travel blanket that will tick all the boxes without the hefty price tag, then make sure you have a look at the World’s Best Travel Blanket.

Made from 100% polyester and available in a range of different color options, this microfleece travel blanket will keep you warm on your next travel adventure.

It is super lightweight, so you don’t have to worry about it chewing into much of your baggage allowance.

The blanket itself only weighs 14.2 ounces and when open it measures 50 x 60 inches so will provide plenty of coverage.

This blanket can be both machine washed and placed in the dyer, so you’ll have your blanket cleaned and dried in record time, which is super important while travelling.

Now let's be honest for a second. this is definitely NOT the World's best blanket. I really don't like the feel of the blanket - however it is pretty comparable to airplane blankets.

So if you don't mind the quality of a plane blanket, and your budget is low, then this blanket will work nicely for you.

For me though, I need my blanket to be nice and soft and luxurious in feel, so I'll stick with one of the other blankets from our list.

If you’re after a cheap blanket that ticks all the boxes, then you can’t go past the World’s Best Travel Blanket. 

What We Love About It: It is a super comfy poncho. The quality is great too. When the plane is too hot I like using it for a pillow for my lower back.

What We Think Could Be Better: I feel like this blanket is pretty chunky once it is in the carry case, so not for travelers for try to travel with carry-on only. It also doesn't cover your arms.

Quick Stats:

• Weight: 1.75 Pounds 
• Size: 62 x 45"
• Fabric: Fleece

Our Review:

If comfort is something you take very seriously then make sure you check out the Kululu Some ZZZs 4 in 1 poncho style travel blanket.

Not only is this a super soft micro-plush fleece blanket and given its poncho style, this cozy blanket won’t slip off whilst you catch those all-important z’s whilst flying.  

I’m sure it’s happened to you before; you’ve managed to finally get off to sleep on that long-haul flight only to wake up because the blanket’s fallen on the ground and you’re freezing. 

No chance of that happening with this blanket!

There is a front pocket is really handy to pop your hands.

As you can see the blanket doesn't really cover your arms. I really love to have my arms covered as I tend to be cold on a plane.

However Andrzej loves to have his arms out, as his body temperature runs warmer.

He also doesn't typically sleep, so this makes it easy for him to work the remote for the entertainment or to play games on his phone to kill time. It is a great option for those who love to read too.

Weighing 1.75 pounds and 45 x 62 inches in size, this warm travel blanket takes being comfortable on your travels to the next level.

It might not be the blanket for you if you are worried about space, but we love to pop the strap from the carry case over the handle of our carry-on so that it doesn't have to take up room inside the luggage.

The perfect option for those who like to have their hands free - mother's who need to tend to their babies or kids, travelers who love to read or play games etc.

What We Love About It: I find that the pillow (when provided with one) on a plane often falls off the armrest. So this is brilliant to protect little heads from sleeping on the hard armrests.

What We Think Could Be Better: We wish the penguin was thicker and more plush - it doesn't give much protection from the armrest, but our daughter still slept on it without any complaints.

Quick Stats:

• Weight: 0.66 Pounds 
• Size: 33 x 23"

Our Review:

If you’re looking for a good children’s travel blanket, consider the super cute Roamwild travel blanket and pillow set for kids.

With the penguin design on this kids travel pillow and blanket set, the little one’s will be super keen to go to sleep on your next flight.

Simply place the armrest buddy around the armrest of their chair and the kids have a nice soft place to put their head.

When not in use on the armrest it doubles as a cute and cuddly comforter.

The blanket itself is 33.5 x 23.5 inches so will provide plenty of coverage and the set only weighs 10.6 ounces so it is light enough that your child can carry it themselves.

Plus, the whole set is machine washable (phew we know how messy kids can be), so you can easily keep it clean.   

This kids travel blanket pillow set is a great little travel buddy that will keep your child warm during travel and hopefully encourage some sleep on your next family travel adventure.

What We Love About It: We love that you can wear this blanket, which means arms are free to eat or read a book (something I love to do on a plane).

What We Think Could Be Better:  It's tricky to refold and get into the bag when you have limited space on a plane.

When the blanket is opened up it measures 36 x 60 inches offering plenty of coverage and when it is folded up into the integrated pouch it measures a tiny 10 x 13 inches – a perfect sized pillow.

The pouch also doubles as a pocket that can zip closed to keep valuable items safe inside and it has a strap that gives you the option of clipping it onto your suitcase or backpack.

This travel blanket is also machine washable so easy to keep clean whilst traveling.

If you’re after a travel blanket that does it all - keeps you warm and doubles as a pillow and lumbar support, then consider the Travelrest travel blanket.

What We Love About It: I like that this blanket is so light and I do like the cheaper price point of this blanket. It is also a great size!

What We Think Could Be Better: In my opinion this blanket is really just a cut of fabric - I find that it is very similar in quality to economy blankets on planes (so not the best quality). 

When the blanket is opened up it measures 50 x 60 inches so will provide plenty of warmth and coverage. Many of the blankets on our list is only around 43" in width, so I love that this blanket is a bit wider.

Despite its great coverage, when it’s rolled up it measures a tiny 9 x 5 inches so it will take up hardly any space in your suitcase or travel backpack.

It also only weighs 8.8 ounces and fits into the included carry straps so it is easy to transport.

In my honest opinion, I'm not a big fan of the feel of the fabric. It really feels like felt. It is pretty thin. It reminds me of the blankets you get on planes.

If you’re just after one of the cheap travel blankets that is lightweight (and you don't mind the fact that it is not the best feel blanket) then the Cloudz travel blanket is worth considering.

What We Love About It: This pocket blanket folds so small that it ends up being similar to the size of my iPhone.

What We Think Could Be Better: I wouldn't personally use this blanket for sleeping on a plane as it is not soft and cozy. It is great for outdoors travel though.

Quick Stats:

• Weight: 0.55 Pounds 
• Size: 63 x 44"
• Fabric: Nylon

Our Review:

The Matador Pocket Blanket is a great blanket for outdoors adventures and travel.

This ultra-lightweight and compact blanket is perfect for keeping you warm during long flights, road trips, and train rides—or just a quick picnic.

The Matador Pocket Blanket is made from a durable, ripstop nylon fabric and is waterproof, windproof, and sand proof.

It comes with an included stuff sack for easy storage and transport when not in use.

Once opened, it measures 63" X 44" giving you plenty of room to spread out and keep warm on your travels.

The blanket also features four sand pockets and built-in ground stakes, so you can easily attach it to the ground or other objects in case of windy conditions.

Additionally, its ultra-lightweight construction weighs only 3.4 ounces for ultimate portability.

Whether you’re traveling by air, land, or sea—the Matador Pocket Blanket is an excellent choice for keeping you warm and comfortable on the go.

Its durable construction, convenient portable design, and ample size make it one of the best portable blankets in 2024. 

I recently purchased the Cabeau Fold 'N Go Travel Blanket, and it has been an absolute game-changer for my travels.

Not only is it incredibly soft and cozy, but it can also be used as a lumbar support cushion, a pillow, and it even folds down into a compact travel case.

With its 36" W x 60" L size and French microfiber material, you'll get all the warmth and comfort of your favorite blanket without having to lug it around with you.

Plus, when I'm done using it, I can just fold it down into its convenient travel case (which measures only 12" x 7" x 4") and attach it to my bag or luggage. 

And the best part is, it's machine washable!

So, if you're looking for a cozy and versatile travel accessory, look no further than the Cabeau Fold 'N Go Travel Blanket.

It'll make your travels so much easier and more comfortable!

Why You Should Buy a Packable Travel Blanket?

No doubt you own a few different blankets at home already, so you’re probably wondering if you really need to purchase a blanket specifically for travel.

Plus, you don’t want to drag around a travel throw blanket with you if it’s not really necessary. 

A travel size blanket, opposed to your standard everyday blanket, is designed to be compact and lightweight so you can easily pop them in your backpack or suitcase.

If you tried putting a standard blanket in your backpack there would be no room for anything else!

But why bring a warm travel blanket with you at all on your travels?

Well here are a few reasons we think travel blankets are a great idea:

1. If you’re traveling via a budget airline, chances are you won’t be given a plane blanket during your flight.

Sure, you can usually buy a flight blanket onboard - but they cost a small fortune and you could have bought your own air travel blanket to keep forever at that price.

2. Sometimes flights or even buses get delayed and you find yourself stuck for hours in a cold depot, having an emergency travel blanket on hand keeps you warm whilst you have to wait.

3. If you stay in budget accommodation, sometimes they just don’t supply enough blankets, having your own small lightweight travel blanket on hand ensure you get a great night’s sleep.

Why We Started Traveling with Travel Blankets

Do you have time for a personal story? We wanted to share why we personally started to start traveling with our own travel blankets.

As family travel bloggers we travel a lot. On our last trip alone (we visited multiple countries over 3 months), we went on 13 flights. Some of which were budget overnight flights.

We quickly learnt over the years that some airport layovers can be freezing cold. I will never forget spending a 5-hour layover in Singapore overnight where I forgot to pack a jumper and for the life of me I couldn't get warm. It was a long (and cold) 5 hours!).

I would have done anything for a nice blanket so that I could get a few hours of sleep instead of shivering away.

Of course, they are perfect for budget flights, because budget flights don't provide blankets or pillows. 

But we also prefer our own blankets on full-service planes because I got sick of scratchy blankets and sometimes they didn't seem as clean as I wanted.

Not only can a travel blanket but helpful for cold airports, but it also makes a great pillow in warm ones.

We also often throw out our blankets on the floor, so that the kids can sleep on top of it (rather than the yucky airport floors) to get some sleep on layovers.

So yes they are incredibly helpful for layovers, planes, trains and more, but let's look at other places that we have come to love our blankets.

I absolutely love to snuggle up under a blanket on a couch whilst watching a movie with my husband and so few apartment rentals or hotels actually give you a throw blanket (and when you do find one it is often so dusty). So now I can with my own cozy blanket.

We have used our blanket whilst enjoying some wine and checking out the views from our patio on a cool night. So helpful when the temperature is cooler.

They are also great for spontaneous picnics whilst traveling, or just to pop down at the park and watch the kids play.

Not even to mention that when you have kids, travel blankets are just so useful for things like car trips.

We even use them whilst at home, because we share care with my ex-husband who lives 2 hours away and the kids love using the blankets for the trip (plus they pack up small so easy to store in the car).

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Small Travel Blanket

When it comes to buying a small lightweight blanket for travel, consider the following factors:

1. Fabric

When it comes to fabric used to make travel blankets, there are generally three different materials used - polyester, fleece and down. 

Each have their own benefits when it comes to a small lightweight blanket.

Polyester: Polyester is the most common material used in travel blankets as it is reasonably inexpensive, lightweight and durable.

In some blankets the polyester is blended with other materials like nylon.

Fleece:  A fleece travel blanket is made with a type of polyester and is fairly common when it comes to a plush travel blanket.

This is my preferred type of fabric for a travel blanket, as it feels extra soft, plush and cozy. 

Down:  A packable down travel blanket tends to be more expensive as down has a fantastic warmth to weight ratio - basically it means they can be super lightweight and compact whilst still being super warm.

2. Comfort: 

Of course, the best travel blanket for plane or other travel is one that is going to keep you snuggly and warm. That’s the whole point of it right?

So, you want to look for a nap travel blanket that feels nice and soft to touch and isn’t going to be scratchy on your body.

A fluffy and soft travel blanket will help to ensure you not only stay warm but that you have a great night’s sleep.

It is also important to get one that is warm enough - too often I find that the blankets on the plane are just too thin and don't make me warm enough (often I have had to ask the flight attendant for an extra blanket just so I could be warm enough).

3. Size

What size light travel blanket you purchase really depends on the size of the person you are purchasing it for.

For me, the perfect airplane blanket size is one that covers me from my feet right up to my neck.

However, you also don’t want a super large travel blanket that is big and bulky when folded up. The last thing you want (for those flying solo) is for your blanket to be so big that it ends up on your neighbors seat!

Bit blankets are also tricky to fold up in the small area of a plane.

So, whilst you want to ensure your travel wrap blanket covers you perfectly, you also want to ensure it’s compact enough that you can easily put it in the bottom of your backpack or suitcase without taking up much space.

For your convenience I’ve included the size of all the blankets in these reviews in the table above.

3. Weight

Similar to how compact your blanket it is, you also don’t want one too heavy that it’s going to eat into your luggage allowance.

This is really important as no doubt you will be wanting to take it onboard the aircraft with you and as you know airlines are getting really strict about the weight of your carry-on luggage.

The good news is, the best airplane blanket options are super light and weigh next to nothing.

For your convenience I’ve included the weight of all the blankets in these reviews in the table above.

4. Portability

Carrying all your stuff around with you as you travel can be a real pain, especially if you’re traveling with kids - so I highly recommend you consider how you store and transport your travel blanket when deciding which one to buy.

5. Ease of Cleaning

I recommend you get one that is machine washable! And make sure you wash it before you fly (otherwise you might end up with lint all over your clothes).

Your travel blanket is going to be in all sorts of places. Airplanes, bus depots, maybe even on the floor if your flight is delayed overnight and you need to rest!

So, your blanket is going to get all sorts of dirty and you don’t want to have to send it off for dry cleaning all the time.

I’d also look for one that is quick drying as when you are traveling sometimes you don’t have the luxury of letting items dry for a full day.

In fact, sometimes you need to let items dry in your hotel room, so a blanket that is quick drying is super handy.

And lastly, whilst the soft light color blankets might be beautiful think about how quickly they will show the dirt from being used in not-so-clean locations, I recommend you get a dark colored blanket.

Answers to FAQ's:

Here is answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

1. Can you travel with a blanket on a plane?

Which is why we prefer the blankets that have a handle that can slip over the handle of a carry on suitcase, or has a backpack clip that you can clip to your backpack, rather than having to squeeze it into the suitcase.

We do recommend that you check with the airline you are traveling with as they may have their own guidelines and restrictions.

2. What size is a travel blanket?

In general travel blankets tend to be smaller, more compact and lightweight compared to traditional blankets that you may have at home.

The largest travel blanket that we have found is 72 x 42 inches providing maximum coverage.

The smallest travel blanket we have found is 33 x 23 inches so depending on what comfort you want for traveling you may find this too small.

At the end of the day, the size and weight of the blanket will be determined by the coverage you wish to have whilst traveling.

3. Are airline blankets washed?

It has been claimed that many airlines do not wash and disinfect the blankets and in some instances, unless there are clear visible stains, they are merely repackaged in plastic unwashed - the plastic just fools us into thinking that we are being offered a clean blanket.

A flight attendant from Southwest said that the blankets are only washed for the first flight of the day, after which they are simply refolded and repackaged. You can read more about that here.

Now, it is hard to know what is true but to ensure that you have a clean blanket that does not have any previous passengers' substances on, we recommend taking your own travel blanket.

4. What kind of blankets do airlines use?

Most airlines use the same type of blankets that are made from a spun polyester material called fleece. 

Compared to travel blankets that you can buy to take on a plane with you, these blankets do not provide much coverage and warmth as they are generally thin and small in size.

Plus, who knows where that blanket has been. Do you really want to pull a plane blanket up to your chin when the previous person potentially sneezed, coughed or farted on it? 

With so many choices, finding the best travel blanket for travel whether by air, car or train seems like an impossible task, but it all depends on your style, preference, needs, and budget.

If you want a travel blanket that gives more coverage when using, you may want to buy a blanket that is larger in size.

In this case, the Cocoon CoolMax travel blanket could be right for you.

But if you like to travel light then a travel blanket that folds up small and compact that does not take up much packing space might be the better choice.

You should look at travel blankets that fold into a carry case or can be attached to your luggage, such as the EverSnug Travel Blanket.

We hope this article has helped you set your priorities and decide on the best travel blanket for flying. Have a safe and comfortable trip.

Further Reading:

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