The Men’s Cashmere Sweaters Under $500 That Are Actually Worth It

Cashmere has been having a moment since Mongolian herders discovered their goats were wearing the secret to human happiness under all that regular hair. Each goat produces about four ounces of the good stuff annually—enough for a third of a sweater—which explains why your “cashmere blend” is 90 percent wishful thinking. The appeal is simple math: cashmere insulates eight times better than wool while weighing half as much, meaning you stay warm without looking like a startled marshmallow. It breathes, wicks and somehow regulates temperature whether you’re frigid outside or schvitzing in your overheated office.

Now for the decoder ring. Micron count measures fiber diameter—14-16 microns is the sweet spot where softness meets structure. Lower means handle-with-gloves precious; higher means just buy merino and save yourself the heartbreak. Gauge indicates knit density: 7 is chunky, 12 is Goldilocks, anything finer is for people who alphabetize their sock drawer. Grades run A through C, though most brands would rather discuss their carbon footprint than admit they’re hawking Grade B. Grade A means longer fibers, less pilling and the difference between distinguished patina and “do you not own a mirror?”

The uncomfortable truth? Most “cashmere” contains about as much cashmere as your green juice contains joy. Brands pad their blends with wool, synthetics, or garbage-tier short-staple fibers that pill if you breathe wrong. Meanwhile, Scottish and Italian mills keep doing things the expensive way because—perhaps infuriatingly—it works. From $60 steals to $500 perfection, these are the best cashmere sweaters that separate smart money from suckers.

Guest in Residence Cable Plaza Striped Cashmere Shirt

Gigi Hadid’s cashmere brand gets that cashmere is rooted in a preppy aesthetic. The tonal striping on the button-down reads like a Rothko painting if Rothko worked in luxe fibers, while mother-of-pearl buttons ground the whole operation in something approaching refinement. It’s what the creative director wears to the gallery opening, not the golf course.

$495, SHOP NOW

J.Crew Cashmere Ribbed V-Neck Cardigan Sweater

A clean cashmere v-neck sweater that hits the collarbone right and sits flat under a jacket, knitted with chunkier ribbing. Lightweight but warm, durable, with J.Crew’s Good Cashmere Standard cred and a heathered “Pyrite” tone that behaves like a neutral.

$298, SHOP NOW

Lands’ End Fine-Gauge Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater

The knit is thin enough to layer under pretty much all types of outwear, from a bomber to a topcoat. Italian-dyed two-ply cashmere keeps the color sharp and the hand smooth.

$209.95, SHOP NOW

Rag & Bone Declan Cashmere Sweater

The Declan operates without any visible logos telegraphing your taste and no design flourishes begging for compliments—just immaculate proportions that slide under a blazer for easy layering without creating shoulder bulk or waist bunch.

$480, SHOP NOW

Todd Snyder Cashmere Cardigan

Here’s an attractive medium-gauge cashmere with a five-button front and narrow rib trims. The slightly cropped, relaxed cut hits right with high-rise trousers, so you look promoted even when you’re just refilling the Brita.

$368, SHOP NOW

Kingsman Slim-Fit Cashmere and Linen-Blend Sweater

The thinking man’s transitional knit sweater. While everyone else is sweating through pure cashmere or shivering in straight linen, this blend is one of the few that plays both sides brilliantly. The cashmere brings the hand-feel that justifies the price, while linen adds structure and breathability that prevents that 3 p.m. stick-to-your-back situation.

$310, SHOP NOW

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

At this price, you’re waiting for the catch. Will the sleeves pill after one wear? Will the shape surrender after one wash? But Quince’s direct-to-consumer model cuts out 17 middlemen in the supply chain to deliver Grade-A Mongolian affordable cashmere that punches several weight classes above its price point.

$59.90, SHOP NOW

Naadam Cashmino Waffle Crewneck Sweater

This is your freshman year waffle-knit thermal, post-MBA. Naadam’s proprietary Cashmino blend splits the difference between merino’s temperature regulation and cashmere’s touch-me texture, landing at a 90/10 ratio that makes scientific sense. It’s engineered for that specific moment when you need something warmer than a T-shirt but lighter than a proper sweater—essentially October through April in the northern hemisphere.

$248, SHOP NOW

Asket The Cashmere Sweater

Stockholm knows winter and Asket’s recycled cashmere proves sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing form. Three length options acknowledge that not every torso reads from the same blueprint. The color palette skips those heather grays that look like you’re hiding stains, opting for saturated solids that improve winter’s monochrome monotony.

$250, SHOP NOW

Allude Wool and Cashmere Turtleneck

This baby blue sweater earns its keep on style. Allude’s choice of a four-button placket lets you tune the ribbed collar from snug to open, while the 70/30 wool and cashmere blend stays soft with enough structure that the cuffs and hem hold their line

$450, SHOP NOW

Alex Mill Jordan Sweater in Washed Cashmere

Patience is overrated. That’s why Alex Mill pre-washes and brushes their cashmere into that lived-in softness most sweaters take three seasons to achieve. The dye work deserves particular credit, as these aren’t your standard-issue neutrals but a palette spanning 13 colors that look like Pantone chose them.

$328, SHOP NOW

Billy Reid Mini Waffle Crew

Southern designers understand texture and Reid’s cotton-cashmere blend proves it. The mini-waffle construction creates visual interest without resorting to cables or patterns that date themselves. That jersey roll hem and signature ribbon stripe at the back neck are the kind of details you notice in month three, not minute one.

$228, SHOP NOW

Sunspel Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater

This is generational cashmere: The piece you buy at 30, wear at 50 and eventually lose to your son who “borrows” it sophomore year. Those 15.5-micron fibers place this squarely in the luxury cashmere category, but Sunspel treats it like bulletproof workwear—which, at this quality level, it basically is.

$460, SHOP NOW

SuitSupply Sand Merino Turtleneck

SuitSupply’s exceptionally good quality with tailoring translates naturally into their selection of knits, especially in this cashmere turtleneck.

$149, SHOP NOW

Gobi Cashmere Silk High Neck Sweater

Gobi’s high-end cashmere-silk blend adds just enough sheen to matter without entering Liberace territory, while the silk provides breathability when your office thermostat treats October like January. The pullover’s high neck sits right without strangling your Adam’s apple, and the long-sleeve regular fit respects your proportions rather than assuming you’re shaped like a fitness influencer.

$259, SHOP NOW

Polo Ralph Lauren The Iconic Cable-Knit Cashmere Sweater

Peak prep in confident pink—the power move that makes navy and gray remember they’re boring. This isn’t your grandfather’s country club sweater; it’s what his more badass friend wore to close deals on the golf course.

$498, SHOP NOW

Proper Cloth Scottish Cashmere Crewneck

When a shirtmaker tackles knitwear, expect obsessive attention to detail. Todd & Duncan’s yarns from one of Scotland’s premier cashmere mills bring the heritage, those 15-micron fibers with longer staples mean high-quality cashmere that gets better with age, like whiskey or your favorite leather jacket. The 12-gauge knit walks the line between substantial and strangling, while narrow ribbing at the neck plays well with actual collars.

$325, SHOP NOW