The Best Heated Blankets
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Nothing makes me sleepy quite like being warm. A heated blanket can speed up the process of waiting for your bed to warm up, especially on cold nights. And if you live in a drafty house like mine, a heated blanket can keep you feeling cozy even if it’s windy outside. I’ve taken some of the best naps of my life testing heated blankets for this guide. Below, you’ll find my favorite picks for the best electric blankets, like the Sleep Number Warming Blanket ($230). Prices are for queen size unless otherwise indicated.
Be sure to check out our many related buying guides, including the Best Sheets, Best Weighted Blankets, Best Down Comforters, Best Gifts for Perpetually Cold People, and the Best Couches.
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How I Tested
I used each blanket for a minimum of three hours, both while lounging and while napping. I tested each feature and compared the softness, ease of use, durability, number of heat settings, and more factors to make my picks.
Heated Blanket Safety, Explained
Electric blankets—especially ones older than 10 years old—have become a bit infamous for being fire hazards. But when it comes to safety, modern heated blankets have come leaps and bounds past their predecessors. Look for independently tested blankets and bedding that have met safety standards (such UL or ETL). These agencies ensure that the blankets can handle wear and tear, that they don’t get too hot, that they’re machine washable, and more.
Make sure to treat electric blankets gently. You don’t want to fold them tightly, ball them up, or otherwise damage the inner electric components. You shouldn’t use heavy bedding on top of heated blankets or wrap them too closely around your body—it can cause overheating. (I experienced this when I fell asleep underneath mine wrapped up like a burrito and woke up hours later drenched in sweat.)
You shouldn’t plug your blanket into an extension cord, and you should never leave the blanket on if you’re not using it. Keep it out of reach of pets, kids, or anyone with reduced heat sensitivity who might not be able to tell if they’re getting too hot. Make sure the heated blanket is fully dry after washing before you use it again. And finally, be on the lookout for anything amiss, like strange smells or spotty performance. If you encounter these scenarios, immediately unplug the blanket and reach out to the manufacturer for further instructions.
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
The Best Heated Blanket
Sleep Number Warming BlanketThe Sleep Number Warming Blanket is pricey, but it’s worth it. It has adjustable dual controls for each side, split right down the middle. It warms up quickly—I notice it getting warmer immediately after turning it on, a mark of its high quality. The power cords are plenty long—from the controller to the blanket, 150 inches, and from the controller to the plug, 160 inches. The cords come out of the bottom of the blanket. The oval-shaped controller is easy to use: Dial the heat from ”low” to ”high” with nine levels of heat in between, then press the button to turn it on.
Note that the warm light from the controller stays on while the blanket it in use, but I didn’t find it to be too bright, and it certainly wasn’t disruptive. Each side of the blanket has its own heating components, so your partner’s heat selection won’t affect yours or make you overheat. The polyester fabric feels soft and plush to the touch, and the heating components go almost all the way to the outer edge of the blanket. They’re not super noticeable or rigid. Overall, this blanket is soft, it’s easy to use even for two people, and it will keep you warm no matter how cold it is outside. I do wish it was less expensive, but there are cheaper options on the market if this is out of your budget.
Color options 3 Size options 2 Heating cycle options 11 Automatic shutoff time 10 hours Safety certification ETL Machine washable? Yes - Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best Budget Option
Bedsure Solid Flannel Electric BlanketBedsure makes tons of affordable electric blankets. This reversible one is made of polyester—one side is plush fabric, and the other is a white fluffy sherpa material. The controller cord is slightly shorter than on the other heated blankets I’ve tried, though not by much. One flaw is that the light on this controller is blue, and since it stays on during use, it’s more obtrusive than the warm white and yellow lights on other blankets in this guide. I managed to wrangle it under my dresser to hide it while I slept, but I wish the light were a different color or at least a little dimmer. This blanket has a preheating mode that I love. You can turn it on and the blanket will automatically switch to heat level 10 for up to two hours before switching to level 5 for six hours. That’ll help “boost” the blanket’s immediate effectiveness and especially comes in handy during colder nights when it would typically take a while for your bed to heat up. The auto shut-off time goes up to 10 hours.
This blanket heats up quickly, even without the preheat mode. It’s a little on the thin side, and you can feel the wires if you look for them, but the fluffy material helps disguise the feel of them, and they’re not super bothersome. I also like that this blanket is available in some more fun colors like green and mauve. I think this would make an excellent basic heated blanket for the living room to keep you toasty during movie nights.
Color options 10 Size options 4 Heating cycle options 10 Automatic shutoff time Up to 10 hours Safety certification ETL Machine washable? Yes
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- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
A More Affordable Plush Blanket
Brookstone Electric Heated Plush BlanketThis heated blanket from Brookstone is plush and cozy and is available in sizes ranging from twin to king. The queen and king sizes have two controllers, both with long cords. The controller itself is wedge-shaped and has lots of customization. Choose your heat level from 10 options, and set the auto shut-off ranging between half an hour to 12 hours. There’s a soft, yellow light that stays on to indicate that the blanket is warming, but it’s not too bright or obtrusive. The buttons on the controller are a little loud and clicky, so if your bedmate is a noise-sensitive sleeper, you’ll want to dial in your settings before they fall asleep.
The polyester blanket is very soft and slippery, and it’s thinner than the Sleep Number above—you can feel the wires quite easily, which I didn’t love. But the blanket warms up quickly and stays warm throughout the night. If you want a solid heated blanket that won’t cost an arm and a leg, this may be the one you’re looking for.
Color options 2 Size options 4 Heating cycle options 10 Automatic shutoff time Up to 12 hours Safety certification ETL Machine washable? Yes - Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best Heated Throw Blanket
Lovesac Radiant Footsac BlanketThe Lovesac Radiant Footsac is extremely plush and soft. Your fingers sink into the faux fur on the top side, and the underside is a soft cotton-polyester blend. At 50 inches by 70 inches, this is a good throw size or it could be used for one person in bed. My favorite part is the feature that sets it apart from the competition: There’s a built-in pocket for your feet! It’s roomy and takes up about the bottom sixth of the blanket. There’s a stitched portion holding the pocket closed in the middle, but it doesn’t go all the way through to the bottom, so you can tuck your feet into one side or stick a foot into both sides and have them touch. I thought initially that this might feel constricting, but it actually adds another layer of coziness that helps me bundle up and feel extra comfy. And it helps keep my feet warm, something that very few things have managed to accomplish. It almost feels like the blanket stays tucked under your body so you don’t have to keep rearranging it to keep the warmth in. Combine that ultra comfort with the super-soft luxe faux fur and you have yourself an excellent electric throw blanket. I’ve been toting mine around the house like an animal pelt.
This blanket has the least obvious inner electrical components of all the options I’ve tested. I like that you can choose a few different time frames for auto shut-off—it’s extra nice for napping. The remote has a small blue light that stays on during use, but it’s not too bright. I do wish the cord were slightly longer or that you could plug it in to both sides (it’s on the bottom-left corner). Despite those little details, I think this blanket is an excellent and luxurious pick if you’ve got the budget for it.
Color options 3 Size options 1 Heating cycle options 6 Automatic shutoff time 2, 4, 8, or 10 hours Safety certification ETL Machine washable? Yes
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