The best picnic blankets for families

best picnic blankets

by Samantha Ball |
Updated on

Going on a picnic is a fantastic way for you and the family to spend some quality time together in the sunshine, but you'll need the best picnic blankets for families to make the most of your family picnic.

With the weather warming up, now is a great time to think about stocking up on all your picnic essentials for you and your kids. Whether you're planning a day trip to the beach, enjoying a day out at the park, or simply wanting to eat outside in your garden at home, good quality picnic blankets should be at the top of your list.

Our favourite picnic blankets for families shortlist 2023:

Our favourite overall picnic blankets: Life Venture Picnic Blanket
Our favourite woven picnic blankets: Mediterranean Woven Picnic Blanket
Our favourite child friendly picnic blankets: Tiny Love Outdoor Picnic Blanket
Our favourite traditional picnic blankest: Active Forever Portable Picnic

From huge picnic blankets to ones your babies and toddlers will love to lay down on, we've found the best picnic blankets that you'll use all throughout summer.

Best overall picnic blanket for family picnic ideas

Description

This large Life Venture Picnic Blanket is incredibly convenient for taking on picnics. It packs away small into a bag and doesn't take up much space, but when unfolded there's enough room for everyone! It's waterproof, and even has webbing loops to keep the picnic blanket secured - no more balancing shoes on the corners! It's even machine washable.

Our writer said: I love that this picnic blanket has webbing loops on the corners of the blanket so that you can make the most out of the whole picnic blanket! It's a beautiful colour that doesn't attract bees (my children were very grateful for that), and I loved that I could pop it on damp grass and it didn't soak through!"

Pros

  • Webbing loops for pegging down
  • Soft to sit on and lightweight

Cons

  • Some might prefer a more vibrant picnic blanket

Best waterproof picnic blankets

Description

With soft fleece on top and a water and stain-resistant back, this picnic blanket is both comfortable and practical. It can fit up to five people on it, so there'll be plenty of room for all the family and your tasty treats.

One review said: "Very large mats and don’t worry about spillages as the fabric does not soak in liquids. Easy to clean and dries quite quickly"

Another review said: "Love the colours, a good size and soft feel. Managed to fold it up after a couple of tries, great it has a handle to carry. Would recommend!"

Pros

  • Water-resistant
  • Large enough to fit the whole family on

Cons

  • Some mentioned it was difficult to fold away

Best woven picnic blankets

Description

Not only does this picnic blanket look lovely, but the Mediterranean Woven Picnic Blanket is incredibly comfy to relax on. With convenient carry handles and poppers to secure the blanket when rolled up, it's easy to take on the go for your family picnics.

One review said: "I bought this picnic mat few days ago, cause it’s summer. And the picnic mat is amazing. It is water proof and so soft. Feels like you are laying on a bed. Highly recommend this product."

Another review said: "I bought this few month back and it's been very useful and durable"

Pros

  • Easy transport grip handle
  • Non-slip backing

Cons

  • Not machine washable

Best traditional picnic blankets

Description

Is there a more classic picnic blanket print than a red and white gingham check? It has a three-layer fabric design: a velvet top that is soft to touch, a slight foam padding to cushion you while sitting, and a moisture and dirt-proof backing, suitable for use on grass and sand.

One review said: "This is huge. I can lay on it with arms outstretched and only my hands are off the end. Diagonally, I'm totally on it. A slightly spongy, fluffy(ish) top and waterproof backing make this one of the best value blankets available. I'm really impressed with it."

Pros

  • Cushioned padding
  • Spacious blanket

Cons

  • Some found the soft top difficult to clean

Best child friendly picnic blankets

Description

The extra large Tiny Love Outdoor Picnic Mat is the perfect mix of picnic blanket and a fun playing environment for babies. It has five engaging activities with easy grip textured starfish, shiny satin ribbons, peekaboo turtle and crinkly activity crab.

One review said: "Great picnic mat, most important that it's washable and don't like silver layer like other picnic mats. Colourful and great size. Would be very useful for picnic in the park and specialy in the beach, because of the ocean theme. Lovely attached bits and bob's makes little one intertained. Specialy my daugher loved tether. It's made from rubber, very good quality. In my opinion mat is slightly overpriced, but both other man like that on a market, so no competitors. Lovely present for new mums and dads, rather buying toys that babies loose interest in no time. Picnic mat will have use for years, even with older children."

Pros

  • Machine washable
  • 5 Engaging developmental activities
  • Water repellant base

Cons

  • Might be large to carry

Best picnic blankets with thickened material

Description

Another of the more traditional designs on our list is the Dexon Large Picnic Blanket. With a monochrome check design complimented with brown leather straps to keep it rolled up when not in use, it's designed with thicker backing material to help eliminate tearing.

One review said: "Really good blanket, had some lovely picnics on it?"

Another review said: "This product is a great size and truly waterproof. I ordered this for my dog to lie on on the outside grass, as it's a little damp. Perfect for our needs and great price compared to the waterproof dog blankets."

Pros

  • Waterproof and sand proof
  • Multipurpose

Cons

  • The thicker material might feel a bit bulky when carried

Best discovery picnic blankets

Description

Help keep your baby entertained on your picnic with the Infantino Jumbo Sensory Discovery Mat. Whether you want to give them their own space to play and explore the different textures and crinkle sounds or share the mat, they'll have a lovely outdoor sensory session!

One review said: "I got this so I’d have a good clean surface for my baby to roll around and play on since we have 2 dogs and dog hair of course. It’s large enough for a roly-poly baby, it machine washes well, and it’s just cute/bright coloured. I love it!"

Pros

  • Machine washable
  • Encourages developmental play

Cons

  • No waterproof base

Best abstract picnic blankets

Description

This Sunshine Round Fleece Picnic Rug is bright and vibrant, making it perfect for eating outside in the sunshine. The circle shape will give it a cosy feel as you and your little ones gather around to tuck into a delicious buffet.

One review said: "Love this picnic blanket, colours are great and it’s a very nice material, is big enough for a a few people to sit round. Great value for money!"

Another review said: "I bought this for a family picnic meeting so very last minute., Wasn't expecting it to be so nice as it was quite cheap."

Pros

  • Incredibly light
  • Wipes clean

Cons

  • Thinner than most picnic blankets

Best patterned picnic blankets

Description

This Amazon Basic Picnic Blanket does everything a picnic blanket should. It's large and spacious, has a convenient carry handle and even folds up securely for easy portability. It's also machine washable, which is a huge bonus as it's easier to keep clean.

One review said: "Great size for 3 or 4 people. We have used this blanket a lot this summer and always get comments from others on how good it is. It is a little tricky to fold with just one person, but that is usually the case with blankets of this kind. Overall very happy with purchase and a good price too.
One person found this helpful"

Pros

  • Unique pattern
  • Waterproof backing
  • Convenient carry handles

Cons

  • Some mentioned it could be tricky to fold

What makes a good picnic blanket?

There are four factors to consider when choosing picnic blankest: size, durability, convenience and style.

Size: It should be big enough to accommodate your family and all your food. If it is too small, you risk the food being spoilt by bugs lurking around on the ground. If you can't all fit on the blanket, you and your little ones end up with a sandy, wet or muddy bottom too.

Durability: Whether it's from food spills, footprints or being on the ground, a picnic rug can get dirty easily. So, you'll want to choose one that is dependable. Look out for ones that can be chucked in the wash or that will come clean with a good scrub. Some may even be waterproof on one side. If the ground is wet or any liquids get spilt, the blanket should quickly absorb them and dry fast.

Convenience: Another thing to consider is how convenient it is to carry around. It should be lightweight and easy to fold and put away. While your option should be sturdy, it should also be soft enough to be comfortable to sit on.

Style: Last but not least, you'll want to think about the design. While it's not a decision that will affect how you use it, it is still important to think about the colour and pattern you would like. Do you choose something bright and colourful? Or would you prefer to opt for something more traditional in style? The choice is all yours.

Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.