In short: Flannel and fine flannel are both brushed cotton fabrics. Flannel, at 160 g/m², is the substantial, particularly fluffy version for cold nights, while fine flannel is the lighter version with a gentler brushing for heated bedrooms and the transitional season. biberna invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel) in 1968 and offers both qualities in original quality directly from the manufacturer.
When the nights get cooler, many people turn to brushed cotton bedding – and then face two terms that sound confusingly similar: Flannel and fine flannel. Both are made of pure cotton, both are brushed, and both feel warm and soft. And yet, the choice determines whether you are comfortably wrapped up at night or break into a sweat under the covers. In this guide, we explain the difference between fine flannel and Flannel – and for whom which quality is the better choice.
What Flannel and fine flannel have in common
Both qualities are brushed cotton fabrics. During brushing, the surface of the finished fabric is mechanically brushed, so that fine fiber ends stand out from the fabric. This fiber-nap layer traps air – and still air is the best heat insulator there is. That is exactly why brushed cotton feels warm from the very first moment, while smooth qualities like Renforcé initially feel cool when you get into bed.
Flannel bedding is not just any product at biberna, but the origin of the company: We invented it in 1968, it is in the brand name, and it is still produced today according to our original recipe. Accordingly, we know the differences between the brushing qualities very precisely.
The difference: fine flannel is the lighter, finer version
The most important difference lies in the fabric weight and the fineness of the brushing.
Flannel is the substantial, heavy version. Our Flannel quality is 160 g/m² and is brushed particularly fluffy and plush. The fabric has noticeable substance, drapes heavily over the body, and accordingly stores a lot of heat. If you are looking for cozy, significantly warming bedding for cold nights, you are in the right place.
Fine flannel is – as the name suggests – the finer version: The fabric is lighter, the brushing gentler and shorter. The result is a smoother, more supple surface that is also pleasantly warm, but creates less volume and less heat retention. Fine flannel feels less “plush” and can be used more versatile.
In short: Fine flannel warms gently, Flannel warms thoroughly. How strongly the fabric weight influences the perceived warmth, we explain in detail in our article Bedding fabric weight (g/m²) explained.
Flannel, fine flannel, and melange flannel in direct comparison
Three brushed qualities, three different warmth levels. The table shows how they differ and for which bedroom which quality is intended.
| Quality |
Property |
Ideal for |
Price range |
| Fine flannel |
100% cotton, lightly woven, gentle and short brushing, smoother feel, less volume |
Heated bedrooms, transitional season, children's and guest beds, people who get warm quickly |
biberna fine flannel from approx. €49.95; Castell fine flannel from approx. €25.95 |
| Flannel (160 g/m²) |
100% cotton, strongly and fluffily brushed, noticeably heavier drape, high heat performance |
Cool bedrooms, cold winter nights, people who get cold quickly at night |
Direct price from the manufacturer, free shipping within Germany without minimum order value |
| Melange flannel |
100% cotton, woven from differently colored yarns instead of printed, even fluffier and finer in feel, woven in our own weaving mill in Hamminkeln |
Everyone who wants the Flannel comfort with a finer feel and a mottled color pattern |
approx. €49.95–64.95 depending on size |
A note on warmth: Melange flannel does not warm warmer than Flannel, but equally warm – the difference lies in the feel and the color pattern, not in the heat performance.
For whom is which quality suitable?
We recommend fine flannel to you if … you generally sleep warm, but still do not want to do without a soft, pleasant feel; if your bedroom is heated; if you are looking for a quality for autumn and spring that does not overheat immediately; or if you need bedding for children's and guest beds, where it should be easier to handle. A typical representative is our biberna fine flannel bedding (0006722).
We recommend classic Flannel to you if … you get cold quickly at night; if your bedroom is cool – which is quite reasonable from a sleep physiology perspective; or if you appreciate the rich, enveloping feel of classic winter bedding.
We recommend melange flannel to you if … you want the warmth of Flannel, but prefer a finer, softer feel and a mottled instead of a printed color pattern – for example with the biberna melange flannel bedding (0840500).
And where does melange flannel stand?
In addition to Flannel and fine flannel, we offer with melange flannel a quality that we internally like to call “Flannel 2.0”. It was developed at biberna in 2012 and is woven in our own weaving mill in Hamminkeln: from differently colored yarns, thus mottled instead of printed, even fluffier and softer in feel, while being made of 100% cotton. If you are looking for the Flannel comfort with a particularly fine feel, melange flannel is the most consistent answer in our range. How brushed qualities compare in direct comparison, you can also read in our article Biber flannel or flannel – which is warmer?
Care: uncomplicated for both qualities
Brushed cotton is easy to care for and robust. Wash fine Biber Flannel and Flannel at 40 to 60 °C with a full-wash detergent, do not use fabric softener – it coats the fibers and takes away the fluffiness of the nap that you bought the quality for. The dryer is expressly allowed for brushed cotton and even helpful: The movement stands the fiber ends back up and makes the fabric fluffy again. Ironing is generally unnecessary – the rough surface conceals wrinkles by itself.
A note that initially irritates many customers: New Flannel bedding sheds a little in the first few weeks. These are loose fiber ends from the brushing process that come loose during washing – a normal process that stops by itself after a few washes.
You can find an overview of all warm qualities in our Winter Bedding collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fine flannel warmer than Renforcé?
Yes, significantly. Fine flannel is brushed and thus traps air, Renforcé is a smooth fabric. Fine flannel lies in the heat effect between Renforcé and classic Flannel.
Can I also use fine flannel in summer?
Probably not in hot nights – for summer, airy qualities are the better choice. For cool summer nights or the transitional season, fine flannel is however well suited.
How do I recognize good Flannel quality?
By a dense, even nap that remains fluffy even after several washes, by neatly finished seams, and by a high-quality closure. This is exactly what we pay attention to with every quality that bears our name – you can find an overview of all qualities in our Bedding Overview.
Can Flannel and fine flannel go in the dryer?
Yes, the dryer is expressly allowed for brushed cotton and even helpful. The movement stands the fiber ends back up and makes the fabric fluffy again. However, do not use fabric softener: It coats the fibers and takes away exactly the fluffiness of the nap that you bought the quality for.
Who invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel)?
biberna invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel) in 1968 – it is the namesake of the brand. The family business H.u.W. Schmänk GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1932 in Hamminkeln as a contract weaving mill. Flannel bedding is still produced today according to biberna specifications and according to the original recipe, with 160 g/m² from 100% cotton.
The most important things in short
- Flannel by biberna is 160 g/m² and is brushed particularly fluffy and plush.
- Fine flannel is lighter woven and more gently brushed and thus warms more gently than classic Flannel.
- Fine flannel suits heated bedrooms and the transitional season, classic Flannel cool rooms and cold nights.
- Melange flannel warms like Flannel, but feels finer and is woven in our own weaving mill in Hamminkeln.
- Both qualities are washed at 40 to 60 °C, may go in the dryer and do not need fabric softener.
- biberna invented Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel) in 1968 and still produces it today according to the original recipe.
