A large beach blanket sounds like a luxury. In reality it is one of the most practical things you can own. If you have ever spent a beach day perched on the edge of a towel, half on the sand, losing your sunscreen to the ground every time someone rolls over, you already understand the problem.
The right large beach blanket fixes all of that. Here is what to actually look for and why size is one of the most underrated decisions you will make for your summer kit.
What Counts as a Large Beach Blanket?
This is where it gets a bit murky because brands use the term loosely. Standard towels run around 70cm x 140cm (our travel towels are a luxurious 80cm x 160cm). A proper large beach blanket should be generous enough that two adults can lie flat without overlap. That means you are looking for something in the 150cm x 150cm range at minimum.
Our Will & Wind beach blankets come in at 160cm x 160cm. That is a square format that gives you the maximum usable surface area whether you are solo, with a partner or sprawled out with kids. It is the difference between feeling like you have claimed your spot and feeling like you are defending a postage stamp.
Why a Large Beach Blanket Is Worth the Investment
Room to actually relax
The whole point of a beach day is to switch off. That is very hard to do when you are balanced on the edge of a towel, half your body on bare sand, mentally calculating how much sunscreen you are losing with every shuffle. A large beach blanket gives you breathing room. You can stretch out, set up your water bottle and shoes and still have space to move around without causing a territorial incident.
Better for groups and families
Two adults and a couple of kids on a standard towel is chaos. A large beach blanket changes the whole dynamic. Everyone has a spot, there is room for snacks and bags and nobody has to sit directly on the sand. Our 160x160cm size works brilliantly for families or pairs who actually want to enjoy the day rather than manage it.
Doubles as a base for your setup
When you have a large beach blanket as your foundation, everything else falls into place. Your bag sits on it. Your shoes go on it. Your book does not immediately get covered in sand. It creates a clean zone in an otherwise sandy world and that matters more than people realise until they experience it.
The Problem With Most Large Beach Blankets
Here is the catch. Most oversized beach blankets are also overweight and overcomplicated. Cotton blankets get saturated with moisture quickly, trap sand in every fibre and take forever to dry. After a long beach day you are packing something that weighs double what it did when you left home and smells like damp linen for three days.
That is exactly the problem we set out to solve.
Our Large Beach Blanket: 160cm x 160cm of Pure Practicality
Our beach blankets are made from recycled microfibre, specifically the same quick dry, sand resistant fabric as our travel towels but scaled up into a generous 160x160cm square.
- Sand falls off. Our tightly woven flush finish means sand does not get trapped in loops or fibres. Give it a shake and you are done.
- Quick dry. Because it is microfibre, it wicks moisture away fast. Whether you throw it over a fence or pack it slightly damp, it is ready again quickly.
- Lightweight and compact. Despite being huge beach blanket territory in terms of size, it packs down into its own drawstring bag and barely takes up any space. You could fit it in a standard backpack without noticing it.
- Made from recycled plastic bottles. Each sustainably made beach blanket uses 32 post-consumer plastic bottles in the form of recycled polyester (rPET). So while you are enjoying more space at the beach, you are also keeping that plastic out of the ocean.
Browse the full range of beach blankets here.
Large Beach Blanket vs Large Beach Mat: What Is the Difference?
Good question. A large beach blanket is designed primarily to lie on and use as a soft surface. Our beach blankets are microfibre so they are soft against your skin, fast drying and sand resistant.
Our beach mats are a different product for a different job. They have a water resistant backing that blocks moisture from coming through the ground, which makes them ideal for damp grass, wet sand or any surface where you want a barrier underneath. If you are heading out for mixed terrain days including grassy areas as well as sand a beach mat might actually be the better call.
Can a Large Beach Blanket Replace Your Towels?
Honestly, yes. Our beach blankets are large enough to dry off with after a swim and the microfibre fabric is genuinely absorbent. If you are trying to travel light, one Will & Wind beach blanket does the job of both a towel and a traditional blanket. That is the whole point.
For days where you want a dedicated drying towel as well, our travel towels pair brilliantly with the beach blanket. Use the blanket as your base and the travel towel after your swim. Compact, practical and both made from the same quick dry recycled microfibre.
How to Look After Your Large Beach Blanket
Looking after it is simple and it will last for years.
Cold water. Gentle cycle. No bleach or harsh chemicals. Line dry in the shade. That is it. The microfibre holds its shape, colour and performance wash after wash. Our customers have been using their Will & Wind towels and blankets for over seven years and they still look almost new.
Full care instructions are on our product care page.
The Verdict
A large beach blanket is not a luxury. It is a practical upgrade that makes every beach day noticeably better. More room, less sand, a clean base for your setup and a product that packs down to almost nothing so it is always in your bag.
At 160cm x 160cm, made from recycled microfibre and featuring stunning Australian photography, our beach blankets are the kind of thing you buy once and take everywhere.
Shop our beach blankets or take a look at the full Will & Wind range to find everything you need for your next Aussie beach day.