Alpaca Fiber Grades Explained: Royal, Baby and Superfine
By the Alpaca Atlas team · Updated
Whether alpaca itches depends on how fine the fiber is, measured in microns (µm): the lower the number, the softer it feels. “Baby alpaca” is a fiber grade, not fiber from baby animals: it is Peru's 20.1–23 micron class, officially renamed “Extrafina” in 2022. “Royal alpaca” is a brand name for a store's finest lots, not an official class.
Will it itch? Microns explain it
A micron is one thousandth of a millimeter. Thin fibers bend when they touch your skin, so they feel soft. Thick fibers push back, and that is what feels prickly.
Most people find fibers finer than about 23 microns comfortable next to the skin. Alpaca also has no lanolin, the wax in sheep's wool that some people react to.
Peru's official alpaca fiber classes
Peru grades sorted alpaca fiber by average diameter under the technical standard NTP 231.301. The 2022 version renamed the classes and added an ultrafine class. Stores still use the 2014 names, like “baby” and “super baby”.
Source: NTP 231.301:2022, INACAL technical committee CTN 055, checked September 26, 2026.
Alpaca fiber classes by average diameter (NTP 231.301:2022, with the 2014 names)
- Ultrafina
- Average diameter:
- ≤ 18 µm
- Name in 2014:
- —
- Typical use:
- The finest knits
- Superfina
- Average diameter:
- 18.1 – 20 µm
- Name in 2014:
- Super Baby
- Typical use:
- Next-to-skin knits
- Extrafina
- Average diameter:
- 20.1 – 23 µm
- Name in 2014:
- Baby
- Typical use:
- Sweaters, scarves, anything worn next to the skin
- Fina
- Average diameter:
- 23.1 – 26.5 µm
- Name in 2014:
- Fleece
- Typical use:
- Outer layers, blankets, heavier knits
- Semifina
- Average diameter:
- 26.6 – 29 µm
- Name in 2014:
- Medium Fleece
- Typical use:
- Throws, outerwear
- Semigruesa
- Average diameter:
- 29.1 – 31.5 µm
- Name in 2014:
- Huarizo
- Typical use:
- Rugs, sturdy textiles
- Gruesa
- Average diameter:
- > 31.5 µm
- Name in 2014:
- Gruesa
- Typical use:
- Industrial and home textiles
Brand names: royal and imperial
Royal alpaca and imperial alpaca are names stores give to their finest lots. They are not official classes, so each store decides what they mean. Several stores describe royal alpaca as under 19 microns.
Super baby and baby are the 2014 official names. Today they are called Superfina and Extrafina.
We show the grade exactly as each store names it, and we never add a micron count a store hasn't published. Browse royal alpaca or baby alpaca across brands.
Which grade should you buy?
- Next to the skin (sweaters, scarves, turtlenecks): baby alpaca or finer. See baby alpaca sweaters.
- Maximum softness or a special gift: royal alpaca, usually the priciest grade.
- Outer layers and throws: blends and coarser grades are warm, durable and better value.
- Check the percentage too: a “baby alpaca” sweater with 37% alpaca is mostly other fibers. Cards on this site show the alpaca share next to the grade.
Frequently asked questions
- Is baby alpaca made from baby alpacas?
- No. “Baby alpaca” is a fiber grade, not the age of the animal. It is fiber of 20.1 to 23 microns, sorted from adult alpacas. Since 2022, Peru's standard calls this class “Extrafina”.
- What is the difference between royal alpaca and baby alpaca?
- Baby alpaca is an official class (20.1–23 microns). Royal alpaca is a brand name for a store's finest lots; several stores describe it as under 19 microns. Royal alpaca usually costs more.
- Is alpaca itchy?
- Fine grades such as baby and royal are usually not itchy for most people. Itch comes mostly from coarse fibers, above roughly 30 microns. Alpaca also has no lanolin. Check the percentage as well: a blend can include coarser fibers.
- Is super baby alpaca an official grade?
- It was: NTP 231.301:2014 named the 18.1–20 micron class “Super Baby”. The 2022 version calls it “Superfina”.