How to Choose Blanket GSM for Retail vs Hospitality

GSM (grams per square meter) is one of the first numbers buyers ask for — and one of the easiest to misuse. A higher GSM is warmer and often feels plushier, but it also costs more to ship and may be unnecessary for warm climates or promotional giveaways.

Retail and gift throws commonly discuss mid-range fleece weights that balance soft touch with manageable carton volume. Hospitality throws may push warmer or use sherpa reverse for guest rooms in cooler markets. Airline and travel kits usually prefer lighter GSM so blankets fold small and stay easy to store.

Instead of locking one GSM number on day one, brief the use case: climate, fold size limit, target FOB band, and whether the blanket is a primary bedding layer or an accent throw. We then propose a practical GSM window and confirm it on sample.

If your buyer already has a competitor sample, send a photo plus approximate weight or a fabric swatch. Matching “feel” is often more useful than matching a claimed GSM alone.