Lambswool vs Merino vs Wool: What’s the Difference in a Throw?

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

Throw labels use wool, pure wool, lambswool and merino as if they were interchangeable. They are not, but nor are they rival fibres. All of them are sheep’s wool; the names tell you about the age of the sheep or its breed.

Here is what each term means, how they differ in softness and wear, and how to read the label on a wool throw.

Lambswool vs merino vs wool: what is the actual difference?

The difference is the sheep: wool can come from any breed and any age, lambswool comes only from young lambs, and merino comes only from the merino breed.

Fineness is measured in microns, the diameter of a single fibre. The finer the fibre, the softer the cloth feels in the hand and the more smoothly it drapes. The table gives typical ranges; individual fleeces vary.

Term	What it means	Typical fibre	Feel in a throw
Wool	Fleece from any sheep	About 25–40 microns	Springy, robust, varied
Lambswool	A lamb’s first shearing	Shorter, finer than adult fleece	Soft, slightly fluffy
Merino	Merino breed of sheep	About 17–24 microns	Fine, smooth, drapey

What is lambswool?

Lambswool is the wool from a lamb’s very first shearing, usually at about six to seven months old. Because it has never been cut before, each fibre still has its natural tapered tip, which makes the cloth feel soft.

A lamb only gives one first fleece, and it is lighter than an adult’s, so lambswool is produced in smaller quantities. The fibres are shorter than adult wool. That gives lambswool its slightly fluffy, gently brushed surface, but shorter fibres also work loose more easily, so a lambswool throw can pill a little in its first months of use. That is normal and easy to deal with; our guide to throws that shed or pill explains how.

What is merino wool?

Merino is a breed of sheep, not a process. Its fleece is unusually fine, typically 17–24 microns, with a tight natural crimp that makes merino cloth soft, springy and smooth in the hand.

Because the fibre is so fine, merino is often knitted, where its stretch and drape show best. Our grey merino throw is a 150×210 cm knit with a fine herringbone texture and tassels. Merino and lambswool are not exclusive terms: a merino lamb’s first fleece is merino lambswool.

What does pure wool mean on a throw label?

Pure wool means the cloth is 100% wool, from any breed of sheep. It says nothing about fineness, so two pure wool throws can feel quite different depending on the fleece and the weave.

Standard wool is the robust, springy all-rounder. It holds its shape, resists creasing and hides everyday marks well, which is why it is used for everything from throws to rugs. A wool blend adds other fibres such as acrylic or polyester; we only describe a throw as wool when wool makes up at least half of it. Blends with alpaca, mohair or angora are a different story, covered in what alpaca, mohair and angora add to a blend.

Which is softest, and which wears best?

Merino and lambswool are usually the softest in the hand; standard wool is usually the hardest-wearing. Weave and finish matter as much as fibre, so a brushed standard wool can feel softer than a tightly woven lambswool.

Finer and shorter fibres pill more readily than coarser, longer ones. That makes a sturdy pure wool the better choice for a throw that gets daily use on a family sofa, and lambswool or merino a good pick for a throw used more gently, such as at the foot of a bed. All three are warm. Care is identical: air often, spot clean, and otherwise hand wash in cool water with wool detergent or dry clean, then dry flat. Our step-by-step guide on washing a wool throw without shrinking it and the Snoozyn care guide cover the details.

Which of our wool throws is which?

We sell two 100% lambswool throws, one 100% merino throw and several pure wool throws, each labelled with its exact fibre content.

• Lambswool: the fringed key-border throw, 130×200 cm, £122.90, and the fringed cocoa check in lambswool, 150×200 cm, £135.90.
• Merino: the grey merino knit, 150×210 cm, £140.90.
• Pure wool: the oat pure wool throw with a fine striped edge, from £94.90 in three sizes.
• Wool-led blend: the brown geometric throw is 95% wool and 5% polyester, 130×180 cm, £113.90.

Wool works on cushions too. Our brown tweed jacquard cushion covers are a wool viscose blend, from £29.90 for a set of two; our guide to choosing a cushion cover fabric compares them with linen, velvet and bouclé.

Frequently asked questions

Is lambswool softer than merino?

Not necessarily. Merino fibre is usually finer than ordinary lambswool, but merino lambswool is finer still. In a throw, the weave and finish often make more difference to softness than the choice between the two fibres.

Is lambswool the same as lamb’s wool?

Yes. Lambswool and lamb’s wool are two spellings of the same thing: wool from a lamb’s first shearing. Throw labels and shops use both, and neither tells you the breed of sheep.

Can lambswool come from merino sheep?

Yes. Merino describes the breed and lambswool describes the age at shearing, so wool from a merino lamb’s first fleece is both. A throw labelled only lambswool may come from any breed.

Is merino warmer than ordinary wool?

Not by any meaningful amount in a throw. All wool is warm because its crimped fibres trap air. How warm a throw feels depends more on its weight, thickness and weave than on whether the wool is merino.

Does lambswool pill more than standard wool?

It can. Lambswool fibres are shorter, so a few work loose and form small bobbles in the first months of use. Remove them with a fabric comb or shaver; pilling usually settles down once loose fibres are gone.

Why do merino and lambswool throws cost more?

Merino is a specialist fine fleece and a lamb gives only one small first fleece, so both fibres are produced in smaller quantities than standard wool. That scarcity, rather than extra warmth, is what raises the price.