The best electric blankets and heated throws – for a cosy, toasty bed set-up

Now that it's officially cosy season, it's time to get out the heated throws and electric blankets. They're the perfect way to give you delicious, toasty warmth at home without needing to turn up the thermostat. Think of them as your shortcut to comfort without the cost.

We've put more than 20 electric blankets and heated throws through their paces, testing them from under the sheets in bed, over our knees on the on the sofa, and even in mini pad form. Our team has assessed how quickly they heat up, how even the warmth is, how easy they are to control, and how soft they feel, so you can trust our picks. And with running costs so low, you can keep one on for hours without worrying about the bill.

Whether you want a chic throw for binge-watching a new series, a dual-zone blanket for couples with different temperature preferences, or a quick fix for cold toes and an achy back, there's an option here for everyone. Scroll on for our pick of the best six, all tried, tested, and ready to make your home cosier this winter.

The best electric blankets, for a cosy, toasty bed set-up

Best electric blanket overall

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This makes your bedroom feel like a five-star hotel, with controls for each half of the bed.

Dreamland is the best-in-class when it comes to electric blanket and heated throws. If you often forget to turn your electric blanket on, this has a speedy five-minute heat up that will have the bed toasty warm before you've finished brushing your teeth. And the dual controls mean that one half of the bed can be boiling whilst the other is cold. The grades between each heat setting are distinctive and the sherpa material gives it some natural warmth too. It's impossible to fault.

In testing, the wide elastic straps reached easily over our 35cm deep mattress, making it easy to put on. The sherpa material means you can't feel any of the wires, but can feel all of the heat across all of the bed - no cold spots in sight.

Dreamland intends for you to sleep straight onto the sherpa material, but, actually, I was more comfortable with a sheet on top, treating it like a mattress protector. If you use it my way, you save on how often you need to wash it too.

You can find out more in my full Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa Underblanket review.

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Best compact electric blanket

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This slim design is exceptional value for money.

Affordable, slim, and cheap to run, this is the perfect electric blanket for money conscious sleepers. We've been recommending this electric blanket for nearly a decade because it's just so impressive - soft, durable, and comfortable to sleep on.

It's very easy to get up and running with elasticated straps that secure the blanket to the mattress, below any style of sheets. The blanket also sits away from the edges of the bed so that remains flat even if you move around a lot during the night. I wasn't convinced by this, but it didn't affect the heat dissipation at all. I actually felt that the bed was warming in just seven minutes, which is only a little bit slower than Dreamland's electric blankets, which are the quickest on test. Within thirty minutes at full power, I was too hot to keep it on.

Despite there not being a huge number of settings, we found the medium heat was perfect for our liking, although the low setting is best if you plan to keep the blanket on all night or for a long time. Best of all, it folds very flat so you won't need to find too much space to store it when it's not on the bed, ideal when organising a small bedroom.

You can find out more in my full Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket review.

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Best wearable electric blanket

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Wearable, cosy, and cord-free, this is a dream come true.

The best electric blankets have traditionally been ones that go on a mattress under a sheet, but a wearable option solves a lot of problems. Silentnight's Snugsie Heated Blanket which is available in just one size, comes with sleeves and three heat zones, so it's a bit like an elevated dressing gown. The addition of sleeves means that you can make tea, and read one of the best books of all time without having to lift or untangle your arms from your cosy nest. It feels like an upgraded dressing gown, just with a heated foot pouch too.

The poncho has three heat and time settings, which is relatively pared-back for an electric blanket. The highest setting gets toasty warm in under ten minutes, which is great for when you don't have the heating on. However, if you're wearing it when you're working from home, you'll want it on the slow and steady heat setting, one.

I love a lot about this, including the fact that it's machine washable. Wearable electric blankets will get dirtier than any other type and it can be tricky to wash an electric blanket. The one feature that's worth accounting for is that this is a one-size blanket. As a petite 5 ft woman, I am drowned in this. When I'm sat, this only makes it cosier, but when I move around, it's hard to ignore that my hands are lost in the sleeves. If you want some perspective, scroll through the pictures above to see me wearing it.

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Best electric blanket for couples

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For naturally, expert-controlled warmth.

An electric blanket may be one of the most cost-effective ways to keep your house warm this winter but they don’t suit everyone. If you like tropical temperatures and your other half is always complaining it’s too hot, you need an electric blanket made for two.

This one from Dreamland is a great buy and purposely designed for a couple. That means each side has its own independent control with nine heat settings and three pre-set timers, so you can find your perfect temperature for a blissful night’s sleep.

Dreamland didn't stop there though. This blanket is crafted from organic cotton, it's quilted and will double up as a mattress protector. I've ended up keeping this on the bed over the summer, because the quilting and organic cotton really help my sleep. They're comfy and breathable. I can't feel any of the wires, but still benefit from Dreamland's signature speedy heat-up (the bed feels hot in five minutes if you have it on full blast).

With fistfuls of impressive credentials, it's no surprise that this is one of the most expensive options on the market. I'd still recommend investing in it, because it's rare to find an electric blanket that's crafted from natural, organic materials. However, if you want to prioritise cosiness, there are options half the price.

You can find out more in my full Dreamland Snowed In Organic Cotton Warming Mattress Protector review.

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Best heated throw

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The ultimate in luxury heated throws.

This is unquestionably the luxury choice in my line-up of the best electric blankets. There are plenty of beautiful heated throws out there - the Dreams Fleece and Slumberdown Comfy Hugs are both wonderful - but this is the one I know will win everyone over. It looks like a chic, cocooning throw even without its warming powers; in fact, you can buy identical unheated versions from The White Company itself. Style box: thoroughly ticked.

Then come the practical details, and here The White Company performs like a finely tuned Ferrari: it heats up in a flash and reaches temperatures no other throw I’ve tested can match. Yet if all you’re after is a soft, steady warmth, like the feeling of a pet curled beside you or a cosy hug on the sofa it offers that too.

Available in natural and soft grey, it’s sold out time and again, and I can’t imagine its popularity cooling off any time soon.

You can read more in my full review of The White Company's Super Soft Heated Throw.

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Best budget electric blanket

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An affordable, snuggly electric blanket

The best electric blankets should make any bed feel more comfortable, even if they're not switched on. This one is made of fairly thick polyester fleece which adds an extra squishy layer on top of the mattress. It felt plush on my bed, so much so that some people choose to keep theirs on the bed all year round. Personally, I find the fleece too naturally hot to use in the summer, but that's a sign that it's doing a great job.

When I first saw Dunelm's Teddy Electric Blanket, I thought it would be securing the spot for the best budget electric blanket. I expected a cheap and cheerful performance, but, actually, it's up there with Dreamland's Hunker Down Scandi Blanket at the top of this list. You get the same dual-controls; nine different heat settings; pre-set timers; and a naturally warming texture. The one thing that holds this back in comparison is that it's slightly slower to heat and the fabric feels a little less sparse and not quite as firm.

I could get my half of the bed boiling hot withing fifteen minutes, which is a little slow. For context, the Dreamland is hotter than this in just five minutes. However, for a fraction of the price, this still puts up a great showing.

You can find out more in my full Dunelm Teddy Electric Blanket review.

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The ones that just missed the list

As you can imagine, there are a lot of electric blankets that just narrowly missed their shot at being included in this list of the best electric blankets on the market. Some of them have been deliberately omitted, but there are others that missed out because of little things that cost them a place by the skin of their teeth. Here are the ones that I still love (and would buy), just in case you had your eye on them too.

How to choose an electric blanket

Choosing the right electric blanket for you is actually very straightforward. You really only need to think about your budget and how you plan on using it. Electric blankets generally come in four different types:

• Underblankets or mattress pads: These go on top of your mattress, but under your sheet. They're more subtle and can give great heat transfer across the whole of your bed (or half if you have dual controls). Make sure you buy the right size for your bed though. Otherwise, you'll have cold patches where it can't reach.
• Dual controlled blankets: even though these are more of a sub-category, they're worth knowing about. The name is pretty explanatory. The blanket is divided into two circuits, so you'll get two controls. It's the perfect option if you and your partner have different sleeping needs.
• Wearables and ponchos: taking warm hugs to the next level, wearable electric blankets are truly something else. They're often made with a fleecy material (which feels warm anyway) and then there's a warm wire running through it. Always check whether these are machine washable, because it's easy for these to get grubby.
• Blankets: These work just like any blanket or throw that you might cosy up with on the sofa. More often than not, you'll need to be near a plug socket to use it, but you can buy cordless options.

Once you've decided where you'll use your blanket and what type you need, you'll want to think about budgets. We've covered all price points here. You can pick one up for £20, but you could also spend over £3,500 on the Eight Sleep Pod, which is technically an electric blanket, but it does a lot more than just heating.

The final consideration you might want to account for is the aesthetics. Of course, if you're putting this under your sheets, you won't notice the colour or design, but if you're looking for more of a comfort blanket, you'll want it to add a decorative touch to your interior décor choices. Look for a colour or patterned design that compliments your scheme, so it becomes a welcome layer rather than standing out like a sore thumb.

How we tested the best electric blankets

As the sort of people who get chilly on summer days, I was very well qualified to put the best electric blankets to the test. I actually have Reynaud's (a blood circulation problem), which makes it all the more important that I have a good electric blanket that can keep me warm all year round. I tested all of them in my own home for months before bringing you this list.

I used each blanket as specified, as an under-blanket on the best mattress or as a throw over our best duvet or to snuggle with on the sofa - and judged whether I noticed a real improvement using it. To regulate how we test electric blankets for each one, I looked at the following factors:

• Safety features: Did it have an auto shut-off in case I forgot to switch it off or hadn't set another timer?
• Controls: Did it feature different heat settings so I could adjust it to suit a warmer or cooler room, or duvet? Did it have dual settings to make it more suitable for a couple who prefers different sleeping temperatures?
• Warmth: Did it make a real difference to how I felt when I first got into bed or sat on the sofa in a chilly room? Was the heat distributed evenly?
• Comfort: Was it pleasant to sleep on or could I feel the wires through our sheet? Did I look forward to snuggling down in bed with it on?
• Washing: If the blanket claims to be able to be washed, I tested how easily it washed and dried and if there was any shrinkage. I'll give you lots of advice on how to wash an electric blanket over here

FAQs

How does an electric blanket work?

Electric blankets are clever ways to effectively warm you up without you having to heat a whole room. One of the things that I wish I knew before buying an electric blanket is exactly what makes them work, because it lets you use yours more effectively. In essence, they heat using insulated wires woven into fabric. Dreamland, the manufacturers of our favourite electric blanket say that 'when turned on, the wires in your electric blanket distribute warmth evenly throughout the blanket. The wires then connect to a controller, allowing you to find your ideal level of cosiness. A thermostat monitors the temperature, regulating the current within the wires'

Modern electric blankets work very well and mean you will heat the space you sleep in, rather than the whole room. That means you can use them for a short space of time even before you get in, then turn the blanket off once you have warmed up under the duvet.

Can you leave an electric blanket on while you sleep?

One of the most common electric blanket mistakes that people make is leaving their electric blanket on overnight. Some models will let you leave yours running while you sleep, especially on a low setting, but make sure to check with the manufacturers and make sure that the blanket has overheating protection. Generally, it's recommended that you sleep at cooler temperatures, so warm your bed in advance of sleep, rather than when you just climb into bed.

Just remember not to use an electric blanket older than ten years as this may no longer be safe and always check a blanket over before adding it to your bed to make sure it has no loose connections or scorch marks and the cord is not damaged. To ensure safety, plug it directly into a socket rather than an extension lead too.

Are there health benefits to an electric blanket?

Electric blankets offer a lot more than a warm and cosy environment. Not only are these a source of comfort. Research shows that resting in a warm bed or warm bath twice a week for four weeks helped to reduce participants' Hamilton Depression Rating Scale when compared to a placebo group.

The sleep brand, Dreams, also says that 'heat therapy is well documented to help alleviate some symptoms of other health issues, such as muscular pain, joint pain, and even improved heart health.'

Some people also use their electric blankets to help reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and even for chronic pains and sciatica. These aren't as well established as the claims above, but anecdotally, I can vouch for the back pains and sleep quality. It's a go-to remedy in my family and I use mine every night.

How safe is an electric blanket?

If you use your electric blanket safely, following the manufacturer's instructions, they are safe to use. To make sure that yours is kept in pristine condition, follow these safety tips:

Check for damage

Before plugging yours in and turning it on, inspect it for signs of damage, such as frayed wires, scorch marks, damp patches, loose connections, worn flex, or exposed heating elements. Similarly, keep it away from pets, and young children, because they might damage the electric blanket (they also may not be able to regulate their body temperatures as effectively as adults). If yours is damaged, you should stop using it.

Keep it flat and avoid folding

If you keep your electric blanket flat and avoid folding it up, the wires are less likely to bunch up. That way, you'll avoid the elements overheating, which risks creating more damage. If you need to store yours, aim to roll it instead of folding. Similarly, avoid tucking the blanket in too tightly, because this could damage the heating elements too.

Turn it off

When you're not using your electric blanket, make sure to turn it off and unplug it. It's good practice, both for your bills and for peace of mind when you're leaving the house or going to sleep.

Do electric blankets use a lot of electricity?

“Electric blankets can be a great way to keep warm at a lower cost as they heat the person rather than the room,” says Robert Slade, Managing Director at Beurer UK. “Personal heating means that you don't have to wait for the space around you to warm up before you can feel the benefit—simply plug in and snuggle up.” With the cost of heating rising, it makes sense to find a way to warm yourself up without resorting to heating the entire house if you don’t have to.

“Studies have found that the cost of using an electric blanket for seven hours per day will cost as little as £1.47 per week, compared to £76 per week if you were to put the heating on for that amount of time,” says Assunta. “Electric blankets from Dreamland have around 150W of power, which does not consume much electricity and costs from 1p per hour to run, depending on your domestic electricity prices at the time of use.”

Robert says you can keep costs down even more by looking for eco settings to make sure you use the minimum amount of electricity possible. “For example, users can set an automatic switch-off timer for after two, six, nine or 12 hours to avoid unnecessary energy usage. Our heated products all have adjustable temperature settings with simple controls to suit any preference - turn the heat up and down as needed to stay comfortable.”

What's the difference between an electric blanket and a heated throw?

In essence, an electric blanket goes underneath your sheets or on top of your mattress. It's designed to stay on your bed, for use around the times at which you sleep. A heated throw goes over you, like a blanket and can be used on the sofa or when you work from home. If you want to find out more, you can read all about the differences between an electric blanket and a heated throw in our deep dive.