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Moving out of your home tends to include some hidden costs, plus a lot of chaotic packing, taping, and loading before the moving truck pulls away from the old home. When it arrives at the new residence, all the work that was just done needs to be undone in a semi-organized way. Without moving blankets to cushion furniture, appliances, and other fragile items, however, your items may be damaged as the items shift, rub against, and crash into one another in the back of the moving truck.
Moving blankets are designed to reduce the movement of larger objects—and cushion the impact if items do collide or fall while in transit. These coverings prevent furniture and appliances from moving against one another and scratching their wood, metal, or plastic surfaces. Deciding on the best moving blanket for your next move can be difficult, but learning about important shopping considerations, such as the size and thickness of the blanket and whether waterproofing is necessary, can make the job—and the move—a lot easier. Begin your reconnaissance here with these recommendations for the best moving blankets to protect your belongings while in transit.
- BEST OVERALL: Sure-Max 12 Moving & Packing Blankets – Pro Economy
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: uBoxes Moving Blankets – Textile Skins – (12 Pack)
- BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: New Haven 1 Dozen Textile Moving Blankets
- BEST HIGH VISIBILITY: Forearm Forklift FFMB6 Full Size Medium Weight Quilt
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Moving Blanket
Dependable protection and durability are incredibly important when shopping for moving blankets because the blanket’s sole purpose is to keep furniture, appliances, and other valuables safe during a move. Consider these and the other important factors below before choosing the best moving blanket for your needs.
Size
Figuring out what size moving blankets you need for your move is the first step. It’s important that every appliance and piece of furniture in your home is properly covered. Standard moving blankets measure 72 inches by 54 inches and are appropriate for most appliances, electronics, and furniture. However, moving blankets come in a range of sizes so that larger items or smaller items can also be adequately protected.
Most oversize moving blankets measure 72 inches by 80 inches. Blankets of this size are useful for wrapping washers, dryers, large flat-screen televisions, and dressers. Smaller moving blankets—these typically measure 72 inches by 40 inches, or thereabouts—are appropriate for wrapping end tables, lamps, and other small, fragile items.
Material
Moving blankets are typically made with nonwoven fabric, polyester, or woven cotton.
- Nonwoven fabrics or textiles are used to make moving blankets that are typically lower quality than blankets made of other materials. These moving blankets are held together by chemical, mechanical, heat, or solvent treatments and are usually constructed of cotton, wool, or felt.
- Polyester moving blankets typically have polypropylene stitching to increase the durability of the moving blanket. These products can range from lightweight to heavy duty. Their added padding makes them comfortable for other uses, too, such as lying on one while working under a car.
- Woven cotton is a thick, heavy material that is excellent protection for any objects the moving blanket covers. While woven cotton moving blankets aren’t quite as durable as those made of polyester, they do surpass blankets made of nonwoven fabrics by a significant margin. Another benefit of woven cotton is that its soft material is more forgiving than the scratchy feeling of polyester.
Thickness and Weight
Moving blankets are typically categorized and labeled by their weight. The heavier a moving blanket is, the thicker it is—and the more effective it will be at protecting the item around which it is wrapped. A common weight measurement for moving blankets is lb/dz, which stands for pounds per dozen. If the blanket’s packaging is labeled as 36 lb/dz, then it’s clear that each moving blanket weighs about 3 pounds.
A moving blanket should be thick enough to properly protect items without sliding or tearing packing tape. While lightweight blankets can be as thin as 0.125 inches, heavy-duty blankets can be over 1 inch thick. Those who desire very thick moving blankets should look for products with a weight of over 50 lb/dz.
Safety Features
While safety isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a set of moving blankets, it may well be an important shopping consideration, depending on the expected conditions during the move.
- High-visibility moving blankets have bright-colored edges or an entire side that is designed with vibrant, easy-to-see colors like yellow, orange, or red. These hard-to-miss blankets are useful during a nighttime move so that someone can’t just walk off with a neatly wrapped lamp or smart home device.
- Water resistance is a common quality in moving blankets, though there are very few that are fully waterproof. Waterproof blankets often lack the padding of other kinds of moving blankets, so unless the moving truck is expected to drive through a flood, polyester and polypropylene moving blankets will probably suffice. Polyester blankets can repel rainwater while belongings are being loaded onto and unloaded from the truck.
- Grommets are small metal rings that are attached to the corners and edges of a moving blanket. They can be used to secure the blanket to the wall of the moving truck or to an object. They’re also useful because rope can be looped through them, preventing objects from moving and sliding during transit.
Quantity
It’s hard to know exactly how many moving blankets one will need to adequately protect all the furniture, appliances, and fragile items when moving house. Moving blanket manufacturers sell single blankets, and blankets in packs of two, six, 10, 12, and other quantities.
The basic rule of thumb to calculate how many blankets are needed during a move is based on the space available in the moving truck. Essentially, the number of moving blankets can be determined by adding about one dozen moving blankets for every 5 feet of space in the truck, or for every room of the house. This isn’t an exact science, of course. The more large or fragile items in a household, the more moving blankets will be needed. If the truck will be packed with stacks of cardboard boxes and not so many pieces of furniture, fewer blankets will be required.
Storage Space
After the move is complete and everything is in place at the new house, moving blankets will need to be stored or repurposed, unless you’ve purchased blankets designed for single use. There are plenty of alternative uses for moving blankets when they are no longer needed to move residences:
- Soundproofing is a great use for these blankets. Soundproof rooms by hanging moving blankets on the walls of the room to dampen and absorb sound waves.
- Pet bedding is another viable choice that gives any furry friends a new place to relax, though you probably wouldn’t use more than a few blankets for this purpose.
- Drop cloths are used to protect the floor and objects from paint, dust, and debris. After a move, these blankets make great drop cloths to complete the inevitable home painting projects that occur over the first few months of living in a new home.
- Camping often involves lying on jagged, uneven ground, unless there is an air mattress, heavy-duty sleeping bag, or a few moving blankets to add a layer of padding to the tent or sleep space.
Our Top Picks
The following products are among the best moving blankets on the market in terms of quality, features, and value. The shopping considerations noted above will help you determine which of these top products might be the best moving blanket for your next move.
Best Overall
Sure-Max 12 Moving & Packing Blankets – Pro Economy
Sure-Max’s dozen moving blankets are constructed with a thick, padded cotton batting and woven together with polyester. The polyester is stitched in a zigzag pattern to hold the cotton in place, and a reinforced double-lock stitch increases the durability and tear resistance of the blanket. All 12 blankets weigh a combined 35 lb/dz and have an individual weight of approximately 2.75 pounds.
The oversize moving blankets measure 80 inches by 72 inches and are designed to protect furniture, appliances, and other valuables from scratches, nicks, dents, dirt, and moisture. While the blankets are not waterproof, they are water resistant, ensuring that belongings will be safe if they’re loading into the truck in the rain. These blankets are not machine washable and should only be washed by hand. Also, avoid putting them in a tumble dryer because it can loosen the blankets’ stitching.
Best Bang For the Buck
uBoxes Moving Blankets – Textile Skins – (12 Pack)
Moving is expensive enough, but with uBoxes’ affordable 12-pack of moving blankets, small furniture, appliances, and other valuables can be kept safe without spending a lot on packing accessories. Each textile blanket is made of a nonwoven blend of recycled fibers, including polyethylene, nylon, and plastic. At about 1.6 pounds each, these are lightweight blankets.
uBoxes’ moving blankets measure 54 inches by 72 inches and are soft to the touch on both sides, so they’re more than suitable for protecting sensitive wooden furniture that would be scratched by rougher materials. On the downside, however, these moving blankets are not durable enough for more than a couple of moves.
Best Lightweight
New Haven 1 Dozen Textile Moving Blankets
Lightweight moving blankets, like this 12-pack of New Haven moving blankets, are useful for protecting boxes, wrapping leather furniture, and keeping sensitive wooden furniture safe during a move or while in storage. The textile moving blankets are made of a blend of polyethylene, nylon, and plastic, with a soft feel on both sides that won’t scratch or damage items if the blankets shift. Note, however, that they are not water resistant and shouldn’t be expected to protect belongings from rain.
These moving blankets are an economical option that can lower the cost of a move. Each measures 54 inches by 72 inches, weighs about 1.6 pounds, and can be secured by being tucked in or held in place with straps. After a move, these blankets would make terrific pet bedding.
Best High Visibility
Forearm Forklift FFMB6 Full Size Medium Weight Quilt
The hour at which a house move is scheduled depends on many variables, including when a truck can be rented; when movers, friends, or family are available; or when an elevator can be reserved for an apartment move. It isn’t surprising, then, that some moves do take place in the evening hours. Using these high-visibility moving blankets from Forearm Forklift helps movers keep track of belongings while they are being moved into the truck so that nothing is left behind in the dark.
This six-pack of heavy-duty moving blankets has a weight of 45.6 lb/dz, or 3.8 pounds per blanket. Each blanket has nonwoven black polypropylene on one side and a bright orange woven polyester on the other side that makes the blankets easy to see in dim conditions. They measure 72 inches by 80 inches with double stitching and cloth binding on all of their edges, which increases their durability. These moving blankets can be machine washed if the manufacturer’s laundering instructions are followed.
FAQs About Moving Blankets
For decades, moving blankets have been used to keep belongings safe in transit, though recent improvements in technology and industry have significantly improved these blankets’ material, stitching, and padding. To learn more about moving blankets, take a look below at some of the most common questions and answers about how they’re used and maintained.
Q. How thick are moving blankets?
Moving blankets range considerably in thickness. Lightweight moving blankets may measure no more than 0.125 inches thick, and heavy-duty blankets can exceed 1 inch in thickness.
Q. Are moving blankets waterproof?
Moving blankets are not usually waterproof. However, because many are made with water-resistant materials like polypropylene, polyester, and polyethylene, they can help keep the items safe during a rainy move.
Q. How many moving blankets do I need?
The number of moving blankets needed for a move can be roughly determined by calculating one dozen moving blankets for every 5 feet of space in the moving truck. However, this estimate may need to be increased or decreased depending on the items being moved.
High-quality electronics, appliances, and furniture need extra protection, but boxes, bins, and containers are typically sturdy enough to move that they don’t require a moving blanket.
Q. Can moving blankets be washed?
Most moving blankets can be washed, but it depends on the specific product. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations before washing to know whether it’s advisable to launder the moving blanket. Also, verify if it can be washed in a washing machine or whether the moving blanket needs to be washed by hand.
