Falsa, Serape or Sarape? The Best Mexican Blankets to Buy

A striped Mexican blanket is one of the most useful things you can own: a throw for the sofa, a picnic blanket, something to sit on at the beach, a cover for a party table. The bright, fringed blankets sold in the US as “falsa” or “serape” blankets come from a much older weaving tradition, and the good ones are still woven on looms in Mexico.

The catch is that the word “authentic” appears on almost every listing, including some that never say where the blanket was made. This guide sorts the blankets by what their sellers actually state: material, size, weight, care and country of origin. It also explains where the Saltillo sarape came from, so you know what the stripes are borrowing from.

Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what we look for in a woven blanket, the sellers’ own specifications and published museum sources on the sarape, which we cite.

Quick verdict: which Mexican blanket to buy

Below, the five standout picks side by side, then all seven blankets in detail.

Five Mexican blankets side by side

Our five standout picks, one for each kind of buyer, with the size, material and origin each seller states. All seven blankets are reviewed in full below.

Product images from Amazon. Material, size and origin are as each seller states; colors vary from blanket to blanket, so check the listing photos before you buy.

Our picks for the best Mexican blankets

These seven blankets cover the main ways people use a Mexican blanket: a classic falsa for the sofa or a picnic, a large Saltillo-style serape, a heavier blanket for cooler evenings, a calm two-tone design, a multipack for parties, a wearable sarape and a serape-stripe tablecloth. For each one we say what the seller states about where and how it is made, and where the listing is silent.

From Saltillo to your sofa: where the sarape comes from

The sarape is a woven rectangle, and the most famous kind is named after Saltillo, a city in the northern state of Coahuila. According to The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., the classic sarape was made in Mexico from about 1750 to 1840, although its origins are poorly documented.

The museum’s account starts with Tlaxcala. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, they noted that Indigenous women, especially the Tlaxcalans, were skilled spinners and weavers, working native cotton and agave fiber on back-tensioned looms. The Spanish brought sheep, treadle looms and male weavers to make wool garments. Saltillo was founded in 1577, Tlaxcalan communities were resettled nearby in 1591, and by the 1750s the town held a famous trade fair where sarapes were bought and sold.

A classic Saltillo sarape was a fine piece of tapestry weaving, with a cotton warp and a wool weft, often built around a central diamond. The museum describes riders on northern Mexican ranches wearing them cloaked around the body, draped over a shoulder or pulled over the head as a poncho. Saltillo still claims the textile as its own, and the museum notes that the city opened a Museum of the Sarape in 2008.

The colorful blankets sold today as falsas or serapes are a different, everyday cousin. They borrow the stripes and the fringe, but they are usually woven from blends of cotton, acrylic, polyester and recycled fibers rather than fine wool, and several of the sellers above name Tlaxcala, the same state the museum’s story begins in, as where theirs are woven. They are casual, washable and meant to be used, which is exactly why they are so popular. For more on the regions behind Mexican traditions, see our guide to regional Mexican cuisines.

How to choose a Mexican blanket

Five things separate a blanket you will use for years from one that ends up in the garage.

1. Where it is made, in the seller’s own words

“Authentic” on a listing tells you nothing on its own. Look for a plain statement such as “made in Mexico”, “handwoven in Tlaxcala” or “imported directly from Mexico”. Del Mex, Coast2Coast, Laguna Beach Textile Co, La Montana and Artisans Bazaar all state a Mexican origin; if a listing is silent, as OurWarm’s is, assume nothing.

2. Material

Most modern Mexican blankets are blends. More cotton generally means a softer, more breathable feel; more acrylic and polyester mean brighter colors, lighter weight and quicker drying. Recycled-fiber blankets shed lint for the first wash or two, as La Montana and Del Mex both note.

3. Size

A standard falsa runs about 70 to 76 inches long and 48 to 53 inches wide: a throw. For a full bed or a long table, look for 84 by 60 inches, like the Open Road Goods serape or the OurWarm cloth.

4. Weight and thickness

Few sellers give a weight. Coast2Coast lists 3.5 pounds; most others say only “thick” or “lightweight”. A heavier blanket stays put on the ground and feels warmer; a lighter one packs smaller for the beach.

5. Care

For a picnic or car blanket, buy one you can machine wash, such as the Del Mex, Coast2Coast or La Montana. Save hand-wash pieces, like the gabán and the OurWarm cloth, for decor and occasional use.

Best Mexican blanket brands, and how we picked these seven

The brands that come up again and again for Mexican blankets in the US are importers and small companies working with weavers in Mexico, rather than big household names. Among those sold on Amazon, Del Mex, Open Road Goods, Laguna Beach Textile Co, La Montana and El Paso Designs publish the most about where and how their blankets are made, and El Paso Designs features in our guide to the best Mexican yoga blanket.

We started from what a Mexican blanket should be: a woven, fringed blanket with the falsa or serape stripes, sold by an identifiable brand. We then kept only blankets that were in stock on Amazon US when we checked, and read each listing for material, size, weight, care and country of origin, recording where the seller was silent. We left out printed and fleece blankets with Mexican-style patterns, listings from sellers with no brand, and blankets that were down to their last few units. We did not try these blankets ourselves; every fact about a product comes from its seller’s listing, and the history comes from The Textile Museum’s published account, both named in each section.

Mexican blanket questions, answered

What is the difference between a serape and a falsa blanket?

Both are striped woven blankets. “Serape” (or sarape) is the traditional name for the woven garment and blanket associated with Saltillo. “Falsa” is the name sellers use for the everyday fringed blankets in blended fibers. In practice, US listings use the two words almost interchangeably.

Are Mexican blankets made in Mexico?

Many are, but not all. Check the listing for a clear statement of origin. Of our picks, six state Mexico; the OurWarm tablecloth does not say.

Can you wash a Mexican blanket in the washing machine?

Most falsa blankets can be machine washed: Del Mex, Coast2Coast and La Montana all say so. Use cool or warm water, dry on low or on a line, and expect some lint at first. Always follow the seller’s label.

What are Mexican blankets used for?

Throws, picnic and beach blankets, car seat covers, yoga, wall hangings and party tablecloths. For a party table, pair one with a piñata and the foods in our Día de Muertos food guide for a seasonal spread.

What are the best Mexican blanket brands?

Look for brands that say where and how their blankets are made. Del Mex, Open Road Goods, Laguna Beach Textile Co, La Montana and El Paso Designs all publish clear origin details on their listings.

Our final word on Mexican blankets

Buy the Del Mex Classic Mexican Blanket if you want one good, washable falsa made in Mexico. Choose the Open Road Goods serape for the classic stripes at bed size, the Coast2Coast for extra weight, and the La Montana four-pack when the whole group needs somewhere to sit. For a party, the OurWarm cloth dresses the table, and our guide to Mexican food for a group covers what goes on it.

And if you would rather someone else cooked for the party, see the menu or call to order.