---
type: "fabric"
name: "Flannel"
slug: "flannel"
fabric_family: "pile_napped"
construction: "brushed/napped"
subtype: "brushed/napped"
typical_fibers:
  - "Cotton"
  - "Wool"
weight_gsm: "150–250 g/m²"
price_tier: 3
url: "https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/flannel"
updated: "2025-09-08T02:10:34.462901+00:00"
---

# Flannel

Flannel is a soft, napped fabric typically made from cotton or wool, known for its warmth and comfort, making it ideal for cozy garments and bedding.

- **Fabric Family**: Pile Napped
- **Construction**: Brushed/Napped
- **Subtype**: brushed/napped
- **Typical Fibers**: Cotton, Wool
- **Weight**: 150–250 g/m²
- **Thickness**: 0.5–1.5 mm
- **Typical Width**: 150 cm
- **Price Tier**: $$$ (3 of 5)

## About Flannel

Flannel is a pile-napped fabric characterized by its soft, fuzzy surface created through a brushing process. This fabric is commonly made from cotton or wool fibers, which contribute to its warmth and breathability. Flannel is often used in the production of shirts, pajamas, and bedding due to its comfortable hand and insulating properties. The brushed surface enhances the fabric's ability to trap air, providing additional warmth without adding significant weight.

## Woven Properties

- **Ends per Inch (EPI)**: 50
- **Picks per Inch (PPI)**: 40

## Stretch Properties

- **Warp Stretch**: 0%
- **Weft Stretch**: 0%

## Performance Properties

- **Air Permeability**: 5 CFM
- **Spray Rating**: 0
- **Evaporative Resistance (Ret)**: 0.5
- **Thermal Resistance (Rct)**: 0.2
- **UPF Rating**: 15

## Appearance & Hand

- **Luster**: Matte
- **Opacity**: Opaque
- **Surface Texture**: brushed
- **Hand & Drape**: Fluid

## Performance Features

- Moisture Wicking
- Wrinkle Resistance
- Stain Release

## Common Finishes

- Brushed
- Sanforized
- Napped

## Common Applications

- Shirts
- Pajamas
- Bedding
- Linings
- Blankets

## Common Uses in Detail

### Casual Shirts & Pajamas

Flannel's soft, brushed surface and natural warmth make it a favorite for casual button-up shirts and pajama sets. The fabric's gentle texture sits comfortably against skin during cool weather, offering breathability alongside insulation for everyday loungewear and sleepwear.

### Bedding & Blankets

Widely used in sheets, pillowcases, and blankets, flannel's napped finish traps body heat efficiently, creating a cozy sleep environment during colder months. [Cotton](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fibers/cotton) and [Wool](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fibers/wool) varieties both excel here, offering durability and softness that improves with repeated washing.

## Care Instructions

Machine wash cold, tumble dry low, iron on low heat if necessary. Avoid bleach.

- Washing Machine
- Do Not Bleach
- Tumble Dry Low
- Iron Low Heat

## Additional Information

Flannel is often associated with a cozy, rustic aesthetic, making it popular in casual wear and home textiles. It is important to note that the weight and softness of flannel can vary significantly depending on the fiber content and finishing processes.

- **Regional Names**: Plaid flannel (common in North America), Tartan flannel (Scottish origin)
- **Sourcing Regions**: China, India, Portugal, Italy
- **Testing Standards**: Martindale/Rub count, Pilling, Colorfastness to wash/light, Seam slippage, Tear strength

## Fibers in This Fabric

- [Cotton](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fibers/cotton.md)
- [Wool](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fibers/wool.md)

## Similar Fabrics

- [Cuddle Fleece](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/cuddle-fleece.md) — Pile Napped
- [Flannelette](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/flannelette.md) — Pile Napped
- [Microfleece](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/microfleece.md) — Pile Napped
- [Polar Fleece](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/polar-fleece.md) — Pile Napped
- [Baize](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/baize.md) — Pile Napped

---
*Source: [Fabric Atlas](https://www.fabricatlas.com/fabrics/flannel) — HTML version of this page.*