How to read blanket GSM and weight

Two numbers appear on almost every mink blanket specification, and buyers routinely treat them as interchangeable. They are not, and the difference costs money.

GSM measures density. Weight measures the whole blanket.

GSM — grams per square metre — is how much material sits in a given area of fabric. It tells you how dense the blanket is.

Total weight is what the finished piece weighs on the scale. It is GSM multiplied by the area, plus the binding and finishing.

So a 1300 g single bed blanket and a 1400 g double bed blanket are not nearly the same product. The double bed covers roughly 1.6 times the area, which means the second blanket is considerably thinner despite weighing more. A buyer comparing only the total weight will order the wrong thing.

Why sellers quote whichever suits them

A supplier with a light blanket in a large size will lead with total weight. A supplier with a dense blanket in a small size will lead with GSM. Neither is lying; both are choosing.

The fix is simple: never compare two blankets without holding the size constant. Ask for GSM and size, or ask for weight and size. One number on its own is not a specification.

What weight is right for what

For polyester mink in the Indian market, roughly:

• 1300–1600 g, double bed — light winters, hotel and hostel supply, high-volume gifting where the per-piece budget is fixed.
• 1800–2500 g, double bed — the general retail sweet spot for most of north India.
• 3000–4000 g, double bed — proper winter weight. Usually double ply.
• 5000 g and above — gifting and wedding sets, where the substance in the hand is part of the message.

These are guides, not rules. A well-finished 2500 g blanket outperforms a poorly finished 3500 g one, because how the pile is raised and sheared matters as much as how much polyester went in.

Single ply and double ply change the arithmetic

A double-ply blanket is two bonded layers. At the same total weight it will feel different from a single ply — flatter on the bed, better at holding its shape through washing, and generally longer-lived. Single ply at the same weight tends to feel loftier straight away but settles faster.

If you are comparing quotes, check the ply before you check the price. Two quotes that look thirty per cent apart are often quoting different constructions.

What to ask for

When you send an enquiry, the four numbers that let a manufacturer quote accurately are: bed size, ply, target weight, and quantity. GSM is useful but can be derived from the first three. Anything less and you will get a rate for something other than what you had in mind.

Our full range is published with all of these — see the specifications for all 15 designs.