Blanket Fabrics: Fleece, Sherpa and Welsoft Compared
Published: 21 August 2026 · Updated: 22 August 2026
When you choose a promotional blanket, three names come up: fleece, sherpa and Welsoft. All three are soft and warm. Weight, warmth and above all printability are another matter, and that is where they stop being interchangeable.
Fleece is the light one, and it prints everywhere
Made from 100% microfiber polar fleece. It is light, dries quickly and folds down small. What really makes it the promotional favourite, though, is that the entire surface takes print. The design can run edge to edge.
Sizes: 100×150, 120×150, 150×180 and 150×200 cm.
It is the most requested item for events, trade fairs, sports clubs and corporate gifts.
Sherpa has two faces and keeps you warmest
The face is 100% microfiber polar fleece, the back is a sherpa surface with the texture of sheep's wool. Both sides are 100% polyester. The lofty sherpa side traps air between the fibres, so it is noticeably warmer than fleece.
The print goes onto the flat fleece face; the lofty sherpa side is not suitable for printing.
Sizes: 100×150, 120×180 and 150×200 cm.
Preferred for winter campaigns and higher end corporate gifting.
Welsoft is the softest, but it takes no print
Welsoft is a 100% polyester fabric, and what sets it apart from the other two is the length of the pile: it is a long pile fabric. It is also the softest of the three to the touch.
The same long pile is what rules printing out. Sublimation needs a flat, dense ground to hold a sharp design; the longer the pile, the more the design scatters between the fibres. This is why our Welsoft blankets are produced plain dyed, with no print. If your project involves a logo or a pattern, look at fleece or sherpa instead.
Where print is not part of the brief, Welsoft is the right choice: hotel room blankets, plain corporate gifts, retail.
The minimum order quantity is different for Welsoft too. It varies with colour and size, averaging 500 pieces.
Comparison
| Fleece | Sherpa | Welsoft | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | 100% polyester fleece | Fleece + sherpa, 100% polyester | 100% polyester, long pile |
| Weight | Light | Heavy | Medium |
| Warmth | Medium | Highest | High |
| Printing | Whole surface | Fleece face | None, plain dyed |
| Minimum order | 250 pieces | 250 pieces | Around 500 pieces |
| Typical use | Promotion, events | Winter gifting, hotels | Hotels, retail |
What to look at when choosing
Will it be printed? If yes, Welsoft is out. If no, Welsoft is the softest option available.
How warm does it need to be? For summer events where light weight matters, fleece. For winter campaigns and a fuller hand feel, sherpa.
What is the quantity? Fleece and sherpa start at 250 pieces; Welsoft needs around 500.
Order terms
Minimum order quantity is 250 pieces for fleece and sherpa, and around 500 for Welsoft depending on colour and size. Custom sizes are possible in all three. Printed models use digital sublimation, and because the dye enters the fibre the colour does not fade in the wash. More on the method: Sublimation Printing on Towels
Our blankets are certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class 1. Wash at 40 °C, iron on low, no bleach. Sample production takes 3 to 5 working days.
If you are not sure which fabric suits your design, deciding on a sample is the safest route. Contact us.
If you need something to spread on the ground outdoors, that is a separate category: the picnic blanket is made with a waterproof non-woven backing.