Cotton vs Fleece: 12 Differences Between Cotton and Fleece
Too many to choose from. That is one problem with the fashion industry. It provides too much selection and it is sometimes difficult to know which fabric you should use or wear. It's a good thing all fabrics are not the same as the differences provide some guidance as to when the best time to wear each individual material.
While fleece can be made from cotton fibers, it is usually made from polyester or other synthetic materials. Then cotton does not dry as fast as fleece will, except in the cotton version, so you have an advantage of staying warmer with non-cotton fleece clothing.
To learn about more differences between these two fabrics, just continue to read our article. It goes in-depth so you do not have to. Take a few minutes and get up to speed on those differences and make sure you have the right fabric for your special event or outing.
Cotton vs Fleece 101
Is Fleece Cotton?
No, fleece is not cotton even though some fleece may be made of cotton fibers or cotton or other natural fibers have been blended with the polyester material. As you know cotton comes from the cotton plant and its fibers help make fleece better.
Usually, fleece is made from polyester fibers which means it is made from plastic and petroleum products. To make fleece, the polyester fibers are made first and you know how those fibers are made. The chemicals and other ingredients are not the healthiest for you.
What makes fleece so popular is that it can be a very warm material to wear when the weather gets a bit colder. With moisture-resistant properties, fleece is good to use for athletic activities where you need to stay drier. It is also a light fabric that is easy to wear and won’t weigh you down at all.
Is Fleece Made Out of Cotton?
Generally, fleece isn’t made out of cotton. By that answer, we mean that 100% cotton is rarely used, if at all, to make fleece. Some people have said there is cotton fleece out there but normally if cotton is used, it is a blend of fibers.
Fleece is made from polyester for the most part and when the makers of that fabric want a better look, more breathability, and so on, they add cotton, hemp, wool, and other natural fibers to make up for polyester’s weaknesses.
This material was invented in the 1970s and the purpose of its creation was to imitate wool. That is why it is such a warm fabric when winter and late Fall come. This fabric is often seen as eco friendly as it can be made out of recycled plastic or previously made fleece materials.
Those ingredients help synthetic fleece be more durable.
What is The Difference Between Cotton and Fleece?
If you do not have the time to finish the article right now, here is a quick comparison chart to help you see those differences fast. It only takes a few seconds to scan the chart and get the right information about these fabrics.
| Category | Cotton | Fleece |
| Origin | The cotton plant | Chemicals,plastic and petroleum products |
| Fibers used | Cotton | Polyester |
| Texture | Soft and smooth, becomes softer as it ages | Artificial and smooth |
| Drying time | Slow | Rather quick |
| Moisture issues | Absorbs moisture and stays wet | Can wick away moisture and dry fast |
| Breathability | Very good | Not as good as cotton |
| Warmth factor | Not so good, needs layers | Very good as it imitates wool |
| comfort | Very comfortable | Coarse fibers may feel like wearing rough wool |
| Cost | Usually affordable but can cost a lot | May cost more than cotton but that depends on the seller |
| Odor issues | Does not retain foul odors | Can retain foul odors |
| Durability | Very good | Better than cotton |
| Biodegradable | yes | After a long time |
As for cost, it is a depends factor as there are cheap, affordable, and highly expensive cotton options. The price difference between this material and fabric fleece depends a lot on the process to make both and the people selling the fabric or clothing items.
What is Cotton Fleece?
There is some debate about this material. One person claims that cotton fleece is actually called sweatshirt fleece and is used to make sweatshirts, sweat pants, and similar clothing articles. Other people say that cotton is not used in making fleece at any time.
While the latter people are mistaken as they forget about the cotton blended into the polyester fleece to make an ideal hoodie or coat, there does seem to be a cotton fleece version out there. It just may be rare and some people just have not seen it yet.
Or it is the former people that made the mistake and confused the blends with 100% cotton. Regardless, cotton fleece however it is made or called, is used for more activewear because of the need to wick away moisture and keep the odor away.
Is Fleece Warmer Than Cotton?
Yes, fleece is warmer than cotton and it goes without saying. Cotton is good when the weather is hot and you want to stay cool but it needs to be used in layers if it is going to be worn in the chillier months of the year. Cotton breathes better than fleece will so it is hard to stay warm wearing that material.
On the other hand, fleece is made to mimic wool and that construction means that it is going to be warm and warmer than cotton. It is best used as outerwear so that you can keep the cold and chill away from your body.
When the creators of fleece decided to use this material to imitate wool, they forgot to remove the coarse threads which can feel itchy or rough against your body.
Is Micro Fleece Warmer Than Cotton?
Generally, microfleece isn’t warmer than cotton. The reason for saying that answer in that way is that micro fleece can leave you with a hot, stuffy feeling that cotton cannot produce. It would take several layers of cotton to produce that kind of feeling.
Then this material was made to copy flannel and you know that flannel is a warm fabric to have on your bed or made into a shirt. That is because the tight weave helps trap heat inside and keeps your body nice and warm.
Cotton breathes too well and lets the heat escape so you do not overheat or feel stuffy. That makes cotton a better material to wear than microfleece as a base layer. That first layer needs breathability to work well for you and keep you comfortable.
Microfleece vs Cotton
When used in sheets microfleece may be better for you. That is because it is a very thin material that dries very quickly when wet. Cotton tends to stay wetter longer and keeps you wetter than you should be.
They say that cotton can be more expensive to purchase and own and there is some truth to that statement. It will depend on the quality of cotton and how it was woven but generally, cotton sheets are more expensive than microfiber.
Microfiber has a sleek, silky feel to it while cotton is just soft and comfortable. Then the microfiber will keep you warmer during the winter as it does trap heat while cotton lets it escape. For longevity, low-quality versions of both are not so good while the higher qualities are excellent to sleep under.
Cotton vs Fleece Blanket
Whether sheets or blankets, you are going to run into the same characteristics for both fabrics. Cotton will let you sleep more comfortably while microfiber may help you overheat by its ability to trap heat.
When it comes to sweat stains, microfiber will resist them better than cotton. But if the sweat does stain the microfiber, you will have a very difficult time getting those stains out of microfiber sheets and blankets.
The cost of these two kinds of blankets may be a tie as higher quality for both will sell for more than the lower quality blankets. A lot depends on how high the thread count is as well as other factors. Cotton is better next to your skin as it doesn't have all those artificial ingredients.
Cotton vs Fleece Sweatpants
One of the factors that would make microfiber beat out cotton in this situation is that it dries faster than cotton does. Cotton absorbs more moisture than microfiber and it takes longer to dry. That is not a good feeling when you are doing heavy workouts or playing very active sports.
The cotton sweat pants may feel softer next to your skin and keep you nice and comfortable but microfiber will be drier longer. The factor that may sink the microfiber sweat pants is that it traps heat. You may overheat wearing those types of sweat pants over cotton.
Although, when you stop your workout or game, you may want the microfleece in those sweats as they help protect you from catching a cold.
Cotton vs Fleece Pajamas
The winner here boils down to the season of the year. For hotter months, you should be wearing cotton pajamas as that material breathes better and keeps you cooler. The fleece pajamas are better for the colder months and are viewed as snuggly and warm.
The fleece will trap the heat better insulating you against the cooler temperatures. That is something you want if you are the type of sleeper that kicks the covers off while you sleep. But cotton also comes in thicker fabrics making it a good competitor to fleece.
What you wear will boil down to your personal preference and if you want natural or synthetic fibers next to your skin.
Bamboo Fleece vs Cotton Fleece
Bamboo is seen like Tencel fabric and other synthetic and semi-synthetic fabrics are seen. Sort of like a miracle fabric that does more for you than cotton ever will. It comes with some greater abilities and blended with polyester fibers over cotton you have a good match up.
Bamboo is said to be more breathable and more absorbent than cotton so those blended fibers will work better in fleece than cotton will. Also, bamboo dries faster than cotton will. The one drawback to this material is that bamboo is not as strong as cotton.
The cotton fleece should last you longer than the other version. It does not wear out when washed like bamboo fibers will. While bamboo is a good alternative to cotton, you may have better luck wearing cotton fleece over that version of fleece.
Cotton vs Fleece Which is Better?
There are some categories where fleece is better than cotton. Cotton is more of a warm-weather fabric while fleece is more of a cold-weather material. Cotton is softer, smoother, and more breathable than fleece, but fleece is warmer and dries faster.
The key to whether one is better than the other lies in how each fabric is made. Fleece is made from polyester which is made from petroleum products, plastic, and harsh chemicals. Cotton is all-natural. The answer to which is better next to your skin will answer which fabric is better.
Fleece mimics wool but cotton stands on its own feet and is a unique natural fabric that sets the standard for others to follow or match. Natural is always better than synthetic fibers.
Some Final Words
The good thing about having a lot of choices is that you get a lot of options to wear what you want and suits your personality. To find the best material for your sewing projects, family, and yourself, you need to know the differences as well as how those fabrics are made.
While good, there are too many risks in wearing synthetic materials and your health is worth the extra cost natural fibers sometimes go for.
