- Mpix – Best overall print quality. Pro-lab heritage with stunning color accuracy on soft fleece blankets.
- Shutterfly – Most material options. Choose from fleece, sherpa, plush, and woven cotton.
- Costco – Best budget pick. Surprisingly good quality at Costco-level pricing.
- CanvasDiscount – Best value. Premium-quality blankets at discount prices.
- Vistaprint – Best design tools. Intuitive editor with tons of templates.
- Walmart – Most convenient. Order online, pick up in store.
- Personalization Mall – Best for custom text. Add names, dates, and messages alongside photos.
- Snapfish – Best frequent sales. Regular discounts make already-affordable blankets even cheaper.
- Nations Photo Lab – Best for photographers. Professional-grade output trusted by working pros.
Editor’s Note: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we’d use ourselves.
Finding the Perfect Photo Blanket
A custom photo blanket turns your favorite memories into something you can actually wrap yourself in. Whether it’s a family portrait, vacation snapshots, or your pet’s adorable face, these blankets make genuinely thoughtful gifts – or a cozy upgrade for your own couch.
But not all photo blanket services are created equal. Print quality, material options, pricing, and turnaround times vary wildly between providers. Some deliver vibrant, sharp prints on luxurious sherpa fabric, while others produce washed-out images on thin fleece.
I’ve compared the top 9 photo blanket services to help you find the right fit. From pro-lab quality at Mpix to budget-friendly options at Costco, here are my picks for 2026.
Pro-lab heritage means stunning color accuracy and sharp detail on every blanket.
Four material types including sherpa and woven cotton, plus hundreds of design templates.
Costco pricing on surprisingly good photo blankets. Members save even more.
Don’t let the name fool you – these blankets rival services costing twice as much.
The consumer arm of Miller’s Professional Imaging, one of America’s top pro labs. Expect exceptional color accuracy and print sharpness on every blanket.
Mpix is the consumer-facing brand of Miller’s Professional Imaging, one of the most respected print labs in North America. That pro-lab DNA shows in every blanket they produce – colors are rich, details are crisp, and skin tones look natural.
Three sizes are available: 30″ x 40″ (perfect for babies), 50″ x 60″ (standard throw), and 60″ x 80″ (twin bed size). All blankets are made from soft fleece that’s machine washable, so you don’t have to baby them.
The online editor is straightforward. Choose from pre-built templates or start from scratch with drag-and-drop placement. Upload quality matters here – Mpix recommends high-resolution files for the best results, and their system flags images that might print poorly.
Mpix Pricing
Blankets start around 65 USD for the smallest size and go up to about 100 USD for the largest. That’s mid-range pricing, but the print quality justifies it. Mpix occasionally runs sales around holidays.
The most popular name in custom photo gifts, Shutterfly offers four blanket materials and hundreds of design templates.
Frequent 40-50% off sales
Shutterfly dominates the custom photo gift market, and their blanket selection is the broadest you’ll find. Four material types means you can match the blanket to the recipient’s preferences.
Fleece is lightweight and budget-friendly. Sherpa adds a plush, fuzzy backing for extra warmth. Plush fleece is thicker than standard fleece with a velvety feel. And woven blankets use 100% cotton for a textured, heirloom-quality look.
The design editor is polished and beginner-friendly. You get hundreds of templates organized by occasion (baby, wedding, holiday, pet), plus tools to adjust brightness, contrast, and cropping directly in the browser.
Shutterfly Pricing
At full price, Shutterfly blankets range from about 80 to 150 USD depending on size and material. But here’s the thing – Shutterfly almost always has a sale running. It’s common to see 40-50% off, bringing prices down to the 40-75 USD range. Never pay full price.
Costco’s photo center delivers surprisingly good photo blankets at warehouse-club pricing. Membership required.
Members only
Costco might not be the first name you think of for custom photo blankets, but their photo center has quietly become a solid option – especially if you’re already a member.
The blankets come in fleece and sherpa options, with sizes ranging up to 60″ x 80″. Print quality is good (not exceptional), with accurate colors and reasonable sharpness. For the price point, it’s hard to complain.
The design tool is more basic than Shutterfly’s or Mpix’s, but it gets the job done. Upload your photos, pick a layout, and place your order. Some locations offer same-day pickup, which is a nice bonus for last-minute gift-givers.
Costco Pricing
This is where Costco shines. Blankets start around 40 USD, making them among the most affordable options on this list. The Costco membership fee (60 USD per year) is worth it if you’re ordering multiple photo gifts or already shop there.
Don’t let the budget-friendly name fool you. CanvasDiscount produces high-quality photo blankets that compete with services twice the price.
CanvasDiscount specializes in affordable photo products without cutting corners on quality. Their blankets come in polar fleece and premium (double-layer) options, both with surprisingly sharp and vibrant prints.
The premium blankets feature a polar fleece top with a plush backing layer, creating a thick, warm blanket that feels more expensive than it is. Colors reproduce accurately, and the edge-to-edge printing means no awkward white borders.
Their online editor is clean and functional. You can upload multiple photos for collage layouts or go with a single hero image. The preview tool gives you a realistic mock-up before ordering.
CanvasDiscount Pricing
Blankets start around 50 USD, with the premium double-layer option running slightly higher. CanvasDiscount frequently offers percentage-based discounts that can bring prices down further. Watch for holiday promotions.
Known for business cards and marketing materials, Vistaprint’s photo blanket editor is one of the best in the business.
Vistaprint built its reputation on business printing, but their photo gift line has matured into a genuinely competitive option. The fleece blankets feature crisp prints with good color saturation.
Where Vistaprint really stands out is the design editor. It’s fast, responsive, and packed with templates. You can add text overlays, adjust photo placement with precision, and preview your blanket from multiple angles before ordering.
Size options include 30″ x 40″, 50″ x 60″, and 60″ x 80″. All blankets are fleece with a soft brushed finish. Print resolution is high, and edge-to-edge coverage means your photos extend to the blanket’s borders.
Vistaprint Pricing
Prices typically start around 50 USD and can go up to about 100 USD for larger sizes. Vistaprint runs frequent site-wide promotions, so check for active codes before ordering.
Order your photo blanket online and pick it up at your nearest Walmart. Hard to beat the convenience.
Walmart Photo Center offers custom photo blankets with the added convenience of in-store pickup at thousands of locations. If you need a gift fast, this is your best bet.
The blankets come in fleece and sherpa options. Print quality is decent – colors are accurate if slightly less vibrant than dedicated photo labs. For casual gifts and everyday use, the output is perfectly acceptable.
The ordering process is simple: upload your photos through the Walmart Photo website or app, choose a layout, and select delivery or store pickup. The app integration makes it easy to pull photos directly from your phone’s camera roll.
Walmart Pricing
Walmart’s blankets start around 35 USD, making them one of the most affordable options available. Combined with free in-store pickup, this is the budget king for photo blankets.
Specializes in combining photos with custom text – names, dates, quotes, and messages woven into beautiful designs.
Personalization Mall takes a different approach. Instead of pure photo blankets, they specialize in designs that combine your photos with custom text – names, dates, meaningful quotes, or messages.
This makes their blankets ideal for milestone gifts: baby showers, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, and memorials. The pre-designed templates are genuinely beautiful, with elegant typography and thoughtful layouts that frame your photos nicely.
Material options include plush fleece and sherpa. The print quality is strong, with vibrant colors and sharp text rendering. Blankets ship within 1-2 business days, which is among the fastest turnaround times on this list.
Personalization Mall Pricing
Expect to pay starting around 70 USD, going up to about 120 USD for larger sizes with premium materials. The higher price reflects the custom text work and premium templates. Worth it for meaningful gifts.
Snapfish runs some of the most aggressive sales in the photo gift industry. Patient shoppers get rewarded with incredible deals.
Watch for 50-70% off sales
Snapfish has been in the online photo printing game for over two decades, and their blanket selection has grown steadily. They offer fleece, sherpa, and plush options across multiple sizes.
The design editor is capable and modern, with drag-and-drop functionality, background colors, text overlays, and a solid template library. Photo quality is good – not top-tier, but more than acceptable for most people.
Here’s the real Snapfish strategy: never pay full price. Snapfish runs some of the most aggressive promotions in the industry, with 50-70% off being common. Sign up for their email list and wait for a deal. The savings are significant.
Snapfish Pricing
List prices start around 85 USD, but with typical 50% off promotions, you’re looking at 40-50 USD for a quality photo blanket. During holiday sales, prices can drop even lower. Patience pays off here.
A favorite among working photographers, Nations Photo Lab brings professional print quality to custom photo blankets.
Nations Photo Lab is a name many professional photographers already know and trust. Their blankets benefit from the same color calibration and print expertise that makes their standard photo prints a pro favorite.
Blanket options include fleece, sherpa, and woven styles. The color accuracy is exceptional – what you see on a calibrated monitor is very close to what you get on the blanket. For photographers offering blankets as add-on products to clients, this matters.
The ordering process is more utilitarian than consumer-focused – no flashy templates or drag-and-drop editors. You upload your image, select your options, and place the order. The simplicity appeals to professionals who know exactly what they want.
Nations Photo Lab Pricing
Prices start around 75 USD and increase with size and material upgrades. Professional photographers can access volume pricing. The cost is justified by the consistently excellent output quality.
How to Choose the Right Photo Blanket
With nine solid services to choose from, here’s what to consider before ordering:
Material Type
- Fleece – Lightweight, affordable, and machine washable. Great all-around choice. Available from every service on this list.
- Sherpa – Plush, fuzzy backing with a smooth printed front. Warmer and more luxurious than basic fleece. Available from Shutterfly, Costco, Walmart, and Nations Photo Lab.
- Plush Fleece – Thicker than standard fleece with a velvety texture. A nice middle ground between basic fleece and sherpa. Available from Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Personalization Mall.
- Woven – 100% cotton with a textured, tapestry-like appearance. Most durable and heirloom-quality. Available from Shutterfly.
Print Quality
If color accuracy and sharpness matter most to you, Mpix and Nations Photo Lab lead the pack. Both have professional printing heritage and calibrated equipment. Shutterfly and CanvasDiscount come close behind.
Image Resolution
Use the highest-resolution photos you have. Most services recommend at least 150 DPI at the print size, which means a 50″ x 60″ blanket ideally needs a 7500 x 9000 pixel image. Smartphone photos from the last few years usually work fine for standard sizes.
Size Options
Most services offer three standard sizes:
- Small (30″ x 40″) – Baby blankets, pet throws, accent pieces
- Medium (50″ x 60″) – Standard throw size, great for couches and armchairs
- Large (60″ x 80″) – Twin bed size, ideal for bedroom use
Turnaround Time
Production typically takes 2-5 business days, plus shipping. Personalization Mall is the fastest at 1-2 days. Walmart offers same-day pickup at select locations. Plan ahead during holiday seasons when orders spike.
Price vs Quality
You generally get what you pay for, but smart shopping helps. Costco and Walmart offer the lowest starting prices (35-40 USD), while Snapfish and Shutterfly regularly run deep sales that bring premium blankets into budget territory. For the best quality regardless of price, go with Mpix or Nations Photo Lab.
Choose the Best Photo Blanket for You
For the best overall print quality, Mpix is hard to beat. Their professional lab heritage means your photos will look stunning on every blanket.
If you want the widest selection of materials and templates, Shutterfly gives you fleece, sherpa, plush, and woven options with hundreds of designs to choose from.
On a budget? Costco and Walmart deliver solid results at the lowest prices. And if you’re patient enough to wait for a sale, Snapfish offers some of the deepest discounts in the industry.
For professional photographers looking to offer blankets as client products, Nations Photo Lab provides the color accuracy and consistency that pros demand.
No matter which service you choose, start with a high-resolution photo and pick the right material for the recipient. A well-made photo blanket is one of the most personal, practical gifts you can give.
Looking for more ways to print your photos? Check out our guides to the best online printing services, best canvas printing services, and best photo book printing services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What resolution photo do I need for a photo blanket?
For the best results, use a photo with at least 150 DPI at your desired print size. For a standard 50″ x 60″ blanket, that means roughly 7500 x 9000 pixels. Most modern smartphone cameras (12MP+) produce images that work well for small and medium blankets.
Can you wash a photo blanket?
Yes, most photo blankets are machine washable. Use cold water on a gentle cycle and tumble dry on low heat. Avoid bleach and fabric softener, which can degrade the print over time. The image may fade slightly after many washes, but quality blankets from services like Mpix and Shutterfly hold up well.
What is the best material for a photo blanket?
Fleece is the most popular and affordable choice – lightweight, soft, and machine washable. Sherpa is best for warmth and luxury, with a fuzzy backing. Woven cotton is the most durable and has an heirloom tapestry look, but the print appears more textured. Choose based on your priority: comfort (sherpa), versatility (fleece), or longevity (woven).
How long does it take to get a photo blanket?
Most services produce blankets in 2-5 business days, plus shipping time (typically 3-7 days for standard shipping). Personalization Mall ships in 1-2 business days. Walmart offers same-day in-store pickup at select locations. During holidays, add extra time for high demand.
Are photo blankets good gifts?
Photo blankets are consistently rated among the best personalized gifts. They’re practical (everyone uses blankets), emotional (your photos make them meaningful), and long-lasting. They’re especially popular for baby showers, grandparent gifts, pet memorials, and holiday presents.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration.