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Buyer’s Guide

Understanding Blanket GSM

GSM is the number most blanket buyers negotiate on, and the one most often misread. This guide explains what it does and does not tell you, and how to use it when specifying a polar fleece programme.

The Definition

GSM means grams per square metre

It is a standard textile specification describing the mass of fabric per unit area. A 500 GSM fleece weighs 500 grams for every square metre of fabric.

Because it is measured per square metre rather than per blanket, GSM lets you compare two fabrics directly regardless of the finished size they are cut to. That is precisely why it became the industry’s common reference point.

As GSM increases, the fabric generally becomes heavier, thicker, warmer and more substantial in the hand. That relationship is reliable enough to organise a product range around — which is why ours is built on it.

The Important Caveat

GSM is not the same as warmth

A higher GSM fabric is heavier. It is not automatically warmer, and treating the two as identical is the most common specification error we see.

Warmth in a fleece comes from trapped air, not from mass. A well-brushed, lofty 600 GSM construction can outperform a densely compacted 700 GSM one, because the pile is holding more air. Fibre type, brushing, finishing and construction all move the result.

The practical conclusion for a buyer: use GSM to set the weight class and the price point, then confirm actual performance against a physical sample of the specific construction being offered.

Fibre composition

The base fibre changes both insulation and hand feel at the same weight.

Brushing & loft

How the pile is raised determines how much air the fabric can hold.

Construction

Density and structure affect drape as much as they affect warmth.

Finishing

Finishing decisions carry through the whole life of the blanket.

Blanket dimensions

Finished size changes total weight without changing GSM at all.

The Weight Ladder

Our polar fleece weight range

Eight constructions covering the full commercial span, from lightweight Dohar fabric to ultra-heavy blankets for severe winter markets.

ConstructionApprox. weightProduct characterTypical applications
Snow FleeceLightweightLightweight | Dohar-focusedDohar · Lightweight Bedding · Layered Bedding
300 GSM300 GSMLight–Medium | 88-inch Dohar WidthDohar · Lightweight Winter Bedding · Hospitality
400 GSM400 GSMMediumEveryday Winter Blankets · Home Bedding · Hospitality
500 GSM500 GSMMedium–HeavyWinter Blankets · Home Bedding · Institutional
600 GSM600 GSMHeavyHeavy Winter Blankets · Cold-Climate Markets · Premium Bedding
700 GSM700 GSMVery HeavyHeavy Winter Bedding · Cold-Climate Markets · Premium Blankets
800 GSM800 GSMExtra HeavyPremium Winter Blankets · Cold-Climate Bedding · Institutional
1,000 GSM1,000 GSMUltra HeavyPremium Heavy Winter Blankets · Severe Winter Markets · Hospitality

Finished blanket weight and usable dimensions can vary according to finished size, construction, processing, finishing and agreed production tolerances.

Choosing a Weight

Which GSM for which market

A practical starting point. The right answer always depends on your climate, price point and how the blanket will be used.

Snow – 300 GSM

Mild climates, layering and Dohar. Choose this band when the blanket has to work in transitional seasons or sits as one layer among several. The 88-inch width makes it the Dohar choice.

400 – 500 GSM

The volume band. Everyday winter bedding for most Indian and moderate export markets. Enough substance to read as a proper winter blanket, still practical to fold, pack and ship at scale.

600 – 700 GSM

Genuine cold-weather. Where buyers expect visible heft and are willing to pay for it. Common for premium retail winter ranges and colder northern markets.

800 – 1,000 GSM

Severe winter and premium positioning. Maximum substance. As much a statement of quality on the shelf as a technical requirement — weight is what the customer feels first.

Common Questions

GSM questions buyers ask

What does GSM mean in blankets?
GSM stands for grams per square metre. It describes the mass of fabric per unit area, so a 500 GSM fleece weighs 500 grams for every square metre. It lets you compare two fabrics regardless of the finished blanket size.
Is a higher GSM blanket always warmer?
No. Higher GSM means heavier, not automatically warmer. Warmth comes from air trapped in the pile, so a well-brushed lofty 600 GSM blanket can be warmer than a densely compacted 700 GSM one. Use GSM to set the weight class, then confirm performance against a physical sample.
What GSM is best for Indian winters?
For most of India, 400 to 600 GSM covers the majority of winter requirements. Northern and hill markets often move to 700 GSM and above, while 300 GSM and Snow Fleece suit milder regions and layered bedding.
What GSM should I use for a Dohar?
Dohars are made from lightweight constructions: Snow Fleece or 300 GSM. Width matters more than weight here, which is why we produce both in an 88-inch width so a double-bed Dohar can be cut from a single panel without a centre seam.
Does the finished blanket weight equal the GSM?
No. GSM is weight per square metre, not per blanket. Total blanket weight depends on the finished size as well as the GSM. Finished weight and usable dimensions also vary with construction, processing, finishing and agreed production tolerances.
Which GSM options does Smiley International manufacture?
We manufacture Snow Fleece plus 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 1,000 GSM polar fleece, in both printed and plain constructions, at our unit in Panipat, Haryana.
Next Step

Explore the range by weight

Printed Polar Fleece

All eight weight constructions with design counts and applications.

View the range

Plain Polar Fleece

Six standing shades across the same weight ladder.

View the shades

Snow Dohar

Lightweight constructions in an 88-inch Dohar width.

Why width matters

Washable Polar Fleece

Finished for repeated institutional laundering.

Read the specification

Still unsure which weight fits your market?

Tell us the climate, price point and end use you are buying for and we will recommend a construction.

Send an Enquiry