The best feature of this beach blanket is how packable it is — all you have to do is roll it up and squeeze it back into its attached mini pouch (which should be simple considering how lightweight the fabric is). It’s extremely functional for different environmental settings besides the beach, such as a dirty backyard or grassy park. Because the blanket is so light, it’s not difficult for the wind to kick it up, so it comes with six stakes and four corner pockets to weigh it down.

There’s so much to love here: it’s quick-drying, available in three large sizes, and triple stitched to reinforce that it’s long-lasting, which is a great attribute for families with young children. If the ground is hot, the heat may penetrate through the thin layer, but nylon is generally a solid material for repelling the elements. Overall, we feel it hits all of the beach blanket checkpoints while classifying it as an affordable pick, too.

The Details: 84 x 84 inches, 108 x 84 inches, or 108 x 120 inches | Nylon | 16 ounces | Sand- and water-resistant

Finding sand in every crevice of your home after the beach is a universal experience. However, it can be mostly avoided if you have a sand-resistant beach blanket on hand. This Tesalate blanket — made of the brand’s AbsorbLite fabric that repels sand — is designed to dry twice as fast as a regular beach towel (meaning a significantly less amount of unruly grains and water occupying your car). This spacious blanket can roll up easily to fit into your bag — making it the perfect traveling companion. It also comes with a pouch so you can keep it separate from the rest of your beach bag belongings.

The Details: 63 x 63 inches | AbsorbLite fabric | Sand-resistant | Quick-drying

Take it from me: this Rumpl puffy blanket is a dream for picnics. In terms of food and beverages, the surface is stain- and water-resistant in case of any spills while snacking or drinking. I’ve used this blanket for lunch at the park and impromptu beach visits and can contest that it’s easy to roll up and extra comfortable (I prefer not to use super flat blankets to sit on for long periods of time anymore). You can even use it for camping because there are corner stake loops to keep it firmly on the ground. With an insulated interior made from plastic bottles, it’s also designed to keep you warm if the temperatures drop. In my experience, machine washing it on cold and letting it hang dry achieves the best cleaning results.

The Details: 52 x 75 inches | 2.2 pounds | Post-consumer recycled shell | Water-resistant | PFAS-free | Machine washable

If you’re looking for a simple fold-up, water-resistant blanket that you can bring with you anywhere, this is it. This Little Unicorn beach blanket folds up to just 15 inches long and weighs only 3 pounds. It can be placed into a mini bag that has a carry handle and a shoulder strap (especially convenient because it’s likely you can’t hold everything in your hands when heading to the beach). There’s even a secure zipper pocket to store extras in, like snacks, hand sanitizer, or comfy flip-flops. All you have to do is unroll it and start sunbathing. The polyester is padded for additional seat cushion, but may not be the most comfortable if you’re sweating and sticky in the heat.

The Details: 60 x 60 inches, 60 x 84 inches, or 60 x 120 inches | Polyester | 2.2 pounds | Water-resistant

Made of 100 percent organic Turkish cotton, this is a luxurious option that is designed to both look and feel nicer than the average beach towel. The lightweight cotton allows it to be super soft, while the edge tassels lend to a unique and more stylish design (it’s available in lots of gorgeous patterns). The blanket is made to be sand-resistant, but note that cotton can get heavy when wet. However, it’s still quick-drying for those friends who love to take a dip in the ocean or any beverages that get spilled. Another pro is that you can machine wash it with cold water and dry it on low.

The Details: 85 x 91 inches | Organic cotton | 3.03 pounds | Sand-resistant | Quick-drying | Machine washable

This splurge purchase is made of a cotton and synthetic blend, and it contains a 100 percent cotton flannel fill. The beach blanket showcases a stunning windowpane stitch pattern with edged rounded corners for an extra touch of style. It consists of a cotton carry strap with brass rings that you can hold like a purse handle. Thankfully, it’s allowed to go in both the washer (on cold) and dryer (on low). The best characteristic of this blanket is that it’s Oeko-tex certified, meaning that it’s been safely tested and is free of harmful chemicals. The blanket is so luxurious we’re confident you’ll want to use it on the go and at home.

The Details: 50 x 76 inches | Cotton, polyester, and rayon | Machine washable

This is an ideal find for families or big groups looking to hit the beach together. It’s made of sand-resistant polyester that is also water-resistant, too. This is a massive blanket at 118 x 116 inches, which means you can fit up to eight people on it. It comes with a drawstring backpack so you can head to the beach completely hands-free. It comes with stakes, or you can even fill up the sandbags on the blanket corner to ensure it stays securely on the beach. Some caveats are that it’s very thin, which can allow for the heat from sand to get through, and the large size means it might take up more room in your beach bag.

The Details: 118 x 116 inches (multiple sizes available) | Polyester | 1.5 pounds | Water- and sand-resistant | Quick-drying | Machine washable

Are you constantly spending time outdoors? If you answered yes, then you probably want to invest in this Yeti Lowlands Blanket. It’s super functional for camping and beaches and as an alternative seat cushion for your pet in the car. Most importantly though, it features a hydro barrier layer meant to resist water, dampness, and dewiness. Despite its top-tier water-repellent capabilities, you can throw it in the washer and dryer for easy upkeep after being outside. A matching carrying bag is included with the purchase so you can store it away efficiently. The only downside is that it isn’t lightweight, but that’s the natural tradeoff with an extra layer of waterproof material.

The Details: 78 x 55 inches | Polyester and rayon | 5.8 pounds | Water resistant | Machine washable

There are plenty of colors to choose from when shopping for this 100-percent cotton blanket. After searching for a budget-friendly blanket that I could use on a whim, I bought this one and have used it on the beach, for picnics, as an outdoor throw blanket, and even as a bath towel when a guest came and I didn’t have an extra regular towel. The only hesitation I have about this blanket is that it’s very lightweight, making it not super warm and susceptible to blowing in the wind. However, it does work as a loose cover-up, isn’t too bulky to travel with, and it’s held up its end of the bargain on durability (there hasn’t been any pilling in my six months of ownership). It’s also soft and resists sand fairly well.

The Details: 70 x 37 inches or 82 x 61 inches | Cotton | 21 ounces | Quick-drying