Beach blankets have become very popular over the past 5-6 years and it is easy to see why. They are usually made of water resistant material and come in many beautiful colors. Their sizes can vary depending on which one you choose, but they are generally big enough to cover sand the size of at least your body, if not the whole family, when lying down on the beach.

What are Beach Blankets?

Beach blankets are the big brother of the lowly beach towel. They are bigger, sand and waterproof, lightweight and great for the beach, picnics, outdoor concerts, you name it.

It is important to note that you don’t want beach blankets to absorb any water or sand, that’s where beach towels come in, but instead of using beach towels to lay on and then using them to dry you off (creating a mess for sure) you can dry off with your towel but lay on the beach blanket.

They really eliminate the amount of sand you will track back into your car at the end of a beach day. That makes them a beach essential in my book.

What to look for in a Beach Blanket

• When looking at beach blankets, pay close attention to the seams. As mentioned before, it is important that they are waterproof and durable so you don’t have to worry about coming out of the water and having sand all over your blanket. Make sure there aren’t any places where the seams might come apart; especially places where they are stitched together – this could cause a leak in your blanket!
• Look for a beach blanket that has a French seam. Theses seams are harder to pull apart and double layered so as the blanket is pulled tight you won’t find sand coming through. Or find a blanket that isn’t seamed at all and just one large piece of fabric.
• If you have a baby at the beach or its a windy day you will want to get a beach blanket that uses stakes to hold it down. That way it won’t move around all day.
• You will also want something that is easy for carrying and storing in your bag or on a day at the lake/ocean/waterway (or anywhere else for that matter!) If you are going to carry it all day, then make sure the material is lightweight enough so that you don’t get uncomfortable from carrying too much weight.
• You will also want your blanket to be small enough to be able to fold up and put in your bag when not being used.
• Look for a beach blanket that is big enough to fit your entire family with a little room to spare. No one likes being smushed together while catching some rays.
• The size of your blanket will usually depend on how much room there is to lie down without touching either end of the blanket. The larger these dimensions are, the more likely your blanket will be able to keep you dry without accidentally allowing sand to sneak in.
• Generally speaking, a good beach blanket will be approximately 3 meters by 2 meters (10 feet by 6 feet). This size will allow the average adult or teenager to fit down it comfortably and still have room left over for other items such as drinks, snacks, sunscreen and other necessities. The more you can fit on your blanket the less opportunity for sand to come in contact with you.

Our picks for the best beach blankets on the market

Wekapo Beach Blanket Sandproof, Extra Large Oversized 10’X 79

Best over-all

No products found.

WildHorn Outfitters Seaview 180° Sand Free Oversized Beach Blanket

Best for Sand Free

No products found.

ZOMAKE Picnic Blanket

Best for Picnics

No products found.

Angemay Outdoor & Picnic Blanket

Easiest Carrying

No products found.

Outdoor Beach Blanket Picnic Mat 

Lightest weight

No products found.

Rumpl The Original Puffy | Indoor Outdoor Camping Blanket

Best padded

No products found.

Lightweight Portable Picnic Blankets, Game Play Mat Party

Best to keep kids entertained

No products found.

Margelife Beach Blanket

Most stylish

No products found.

Nowehomiy 110″x118″Extra Large Beach Mat

Best for a crowd

No products found.

 

 

No matter which beach blanket you end up with I hope you will find that they are really great additions to your packing list. They should make you beach day more comfortable and clean up an absolute breeze!

Last update on 2026-06-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API