The 12 Best Cashmere Sweaters to Buy in 2024, According to Experts and Editors

As the leaves begin to change and the temperatures start dropping, there’s never been a better time to update your wardrobe with a cozy cashmere sweater. From cardigans to pullovers, chunky styles to cropped, there’s no shortage of options that promise to keep you looking oh-so-chic while staying nice and warm. To help live out our comfy fantasy, I perused dozens of pieces and pulled together a list of the top 12 best cashmere sweaters on the internet, including the luxurious, editor-approved Jenni Kayne cashmere cocoon cardigan ($475) that feels like an all-day hug, to this affordable (but fabulous) Quince Mongolian cashmere crewneck ($50), which is available in almost every color under the sun. 

So, why should you invest? “Cashmere is renowned for its unparalleled softness and luxurious feel against the skin,” says Erin Fortin, director of apparel design at Garnet Hill. “As a hypoallergenic material, it surpasses regular wool in insulation while remaining lightweight and naturally resistant to wrinkles, making it an excellent choice when traveling.” While cashmere tends to boast a high price tag, adding a cashmere sweater or two to your winter wardrobe is totally worth it since the material is “versatile and breathable enough to be worn year-round,” says Veronica Tan, senior director of apparel and accessories at Quince. I’m already on board, and after taking a peek at these top picks, you certainly won’t need much more convincing.

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• Veronica Tan is the senior director of apparel and accessories at Quince. Prior to Quince, she held merchandising roles at Stitch Fix, Pedder Group, Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor. She holds a BA in marketing, international management from Boston University. 
• Erin Fortin, director of apparel design at Garnet Hill, is a long-standing product design lead for the Garnet Hill brand, who is most passionate about her design work within the sweaters category. Fortin’s love for sweater design took her on a journey to Inner Mongolia, where she was fortunate to have an up-close and in-person look at the cashmere production process from “farm to sweater.” Fortin holds a BFA in fashion design from Pratt Institute.

“Not all cashmere is created equally,” says Fortin. She explains cashmere fibers are typically separated into three grades of quality based on their fineness: A, B and C. Grade A typically consists of the finest and softest fibers, while grade B and C have progressively thicker and less soft fibers, she says. Tan says the grading system “refers to the microns of width per hair, and the less microns of width per hair, the better and softer the quality.” 

Both experts agree that geography plays an integral role in the quality of the cashmere—materials sourced from areas with higher temperatures tend to yield finer cashmere, according to Fortin, while Tan says goats located in colder regions tend to produce finer and denser hair, while “their limited quantities make cashmere an exclusive and expensive material.”

Why does cashmere tend to err on the pricey side? Well, you’ve got Mother Nature, as well as supply and demand, to thank for that. Fortin says that because cashmere fibers are derived from the goat’s soft inner coat, which makes up a smaller percentage of their fleece—as opposed to their coarse outer coat—you’re left with limited availability and a higher price tag. She adds that “it’s difficult to separate the fine and coarse hairs, so cashmere is usually harvested gently by hand with a comb once a year when the goats naturally start to shed their soft undercoats. The entire cashmere process requires skilled labor, careful handling and attention to detail. Ethical practices, stringent quality control measures and the association with luxury in the fashion industry also play a role in the cost of cashmere.”

With so many incredible cashmere sweater options on the market, I had to do some serious digging to choose the best pieces out there. To determine this list, I prioritized five pieces PureWow editors and testers have personally tried and loved. I then expanded my scope to consider options from other reputable brands our readers know, love and will get excited about showing off. I took into account versatility, overall quality, overall value (is the price worth the squeeze?), helpful features (from pockets to buttons) and recommendations from our experts. Oh, and did I mention there are multiple under-$100 options? Now, let’s get snuggly.