Aside from hugging a fluffy hot-water bottle, sipping the Christmas whisky and ramping up the thermostat, an electric blanket or heated throw is the best way to keep out the winter chill. More than half of a typical household’s fuel bills goes on heating and hot water, so finding alternative ways to keep warm – and heating the person, rather than the whole home – is always a good idea.
Many of the best electric blankets and heated throws boast running costs of about 1p to 3p an hour, so it’s hard to ignore their potential energy- and money-saving benefits.
While electric blankets are ideal for using on your mattress, heated throws are better for snuggling on the sofa. They’re practical but also look good, with tactile finishes in materials such as bamboo and pure cotton. The most convenient electric blankets also have timers and auto-shut-off features for peace of mind, and dual control panels to keep both sides of the bed happy.
I was tasked with sleeping on the job to find out which was best, testing the most popular electric blankets and heated throws from well-known homeware brands such as Silentnight, Slumberdown, Fogarty and Dreams. Here are my top eight picks.
At a glance
Why you should trust me
I’ve been a lifestyle journalist for magazines and newspapers for more than two decades. Over the years, I’ve thoroughly tested everything from breadmakers and bedding to beehives and biscuits – thankfully not all at the same time.
Lately, I’ve specialised in bedding, testing numerous mattresses, pillows, weighted blankets and bed linen, so I know what makes for a decent night’s sleep. Testing electric blankets was the logical next step.
Whatever I’m testing, I’ll find practical and useful ways to thoroughly measure the value of the product and dig deep to go beyond the marketing jargon.
How I tested
Without a Cern-grade laboratory at my disposal, I tested 10 of the most popular electric blankets and throws at home. In bed. In my pyjamas. I wanted to assess how luxurious each blanket and throw felt while sleeping or resting, and how durable and well-made they were. After all, you want a blanket to feel comfortable and soft to the touch, which you can only really test by using them in real life.
I measured how hot each blanket got and how quickly – I have zero patience when cold, so quick and efficient heating is crucial. Using an infrared thermometer, I tested the temperatures on the highest settings at 10 minutes, 30 minutes and an hour after being switched on. The weight of your duvet and room temperature can affect the temperature of electric blankets, so I kept things fair by using all the electric blankets on the same bed, and all the heated throws on the same sofa, with a consistent room temperature of 18C.
No one wants a hot back and frosty feet, so I measured how evenly each blanket heated up by taking temperature readings at three different points after an hour on full power. I also used a plug-in power consumption meter to determine each blanket’s hourly running cost based on the Ofgem price cap of 24.5p per kWh.
Although I tested 10 of the most popular electric blankets and heated throws, I’ve included only the best-performing designs here. Some brands didn’t want the products I had tested returned, so these will be donated to Hope for Food – a Bournemouth-based charity supporting local families in need.
The best electric blankets and heated throws in 2024
Best overall electric blanket:
Fogarty Wonderfully Warm
This Fogarty blanket has a generous nine heat settings and a one- to nine-hour timer. The soft fleece cover has a thermally bonded fibre wadding filling, giving it a plush feel, and its cushioned surface adds an extra layer of comfort.
Why we love it
Dual controls mean it’s easy to adjust the temperature on each side of the bed independently. You can have both sides on the same setting, one side on and the other off, or both sides set at different temperatures – so that’s one less thing to argue about with your other half.
Heating up the king-size I was testing took a little longer than anticipated, but my bed felt comfortably warm after an hour. The maximum setting was more than hot enough, so I opted for a cooler setting for an hour before bed. I like that this blanket has a nine-hour timer so that you can set and forget it.
It’s a shame that … the sides of the blanket don’t heat up as effectively as the middle.
Sizes available: single, double, king
Dimensions (king size): L160 x W150cm
Number of heat settings: nine
Timer included: yes, one to nine hours
Running cost on maximum: 3p/hour (0.056kWh)
Temperature after an hour: 27.1C
Guarantee: two years
Machine washable: yes
King, £80 at Dunelm
Best budget electric blanket:
Slumberdown Sleepy Nights
Generous straps for easy positioning and three adjustable heat settings make this electric blanket a good budget buy. It comes in three sizes, can be machine-washed for easy maintenance and has a two-year guarantee.
Why we love it
This microfibre blanket feels soft against the skin and was simple to set up – bonus points were awarded for the long cord that could easily reach the nearest plug socket.
The blanket’s fitted straps are lengthy and elasticated, so I didn’t have to wrestle too much with the corners of my thick Sealy mattress to position it securely, plus it stayed in place nicely.
The blanket is powerful, too, heating up to 22.1C in just 10 minutes and 25C in 30 minutes. After an hour on its highest setting, it reached a comfortable 29.5C – more than enough heat for me.
When I measured the temperature across the blanket, I found it was hotter in the middle than on the sides. However, I didn’t notice any cold spots when my duvet was on top trapping in the heat.
It’s a shame that … it doesn’t have a timer. The manufacturer suggests leaving this blanket on its lowest setting if you want to keep it on all night.
Sizes available: single, double, king
Dimensions (king size): L150 x W142cm
Number of heat settings: three
Timer included: no
Running cost on maximum: 2p/hour (0.094kWh)
Temperature after an hour: 29.5C
Guarantee: two years
Machine washable: yes
King, £33.60 at Amazon
King, £47.06 at Debenhams
Best quilted electric blanket:
Dreamland Pure Comfort bamboo underblanket
The king-size version of this underblanket has dual control panels for operating each side independently. There are six heat settings to choose from, and three timer options for one, three or nine hours.
Why we love it
The blanket heated up surprisingly quickly, reaching 22C in its centre after just 10 minutes. Within an hour, temperatures had risen to a snuggly 32C. The middle and end of the blanket get hot, but the top section remains cool to the touch, working well for under your head.
It costs a little more than your average electric blanket, but I love the high-end quilted bamboo finish. It has a polyester filling (as with many other electric blankets), but the bamboo fabric feels soft and has the natural benefit of being breathable. The control panels on either side were easy to navigate too, even when I was sleepy-eyed.
It’s a shame that … there are no timer options between three and nine hours.
Sizes available: single, double, king, super king
Dimensions (king size): L200 x W150cm
Number of heat settings: six
Timer included: yes, one, three or nine hours
Running cost on maximum: 6p/hour (0.129kWh)
Temperature after an hour: 32.2C
Guarantee: three years
Machine washable: yes
King, £139.99 at Boots
King, £139.99 at Amazon
Best overall heated throw:
Beurer heated snuggle blanket
Ideal for the sofa, this Beurer blanket has a very soft and sumptuous fleece finish. Its six heat settings are all adjustable via the central control panel. I tried the XXL design – a little oversized on my three-seater sofa, but ideal for sharing comfortably with another person. It also comes in a smaller 180 x 130cm size.
Why we love it
The surface of this heated blanket is wonderfully soft to touch, so it was easy to get cosy underneath it while on the sofa watching Strictly. Its structure feels padded enough to disguise the heating elements inside the blanket – not something that can be said of all heated blankets.
The blanket heated up fast: it reached temperatures in the low 20s in just 10 minutes, yet it used surprisingly little energy. After an hour it felt very hot, so I turned it down to setting two, which was a more comfortable heat. I like that you can switch on this blanket and forget about it, thanks to its three-hour automatic switch-off timer.
It’s a shame that … it didn’t heat up as evenly as I would have liked. While the middle was warm, sections around the edges didn’t feel it at all. That may create a problem if the person beside you on the sofa is trying to hog the blanket.
Sizes available: small, large
Dimensions (large): L200 x W150cm
Number of heat settings: six
Timer included: three-hour automatic switch-off
Running cost on maximum: 1p/hour (0.055kWh)
Temperature after an hour: 32.2C
Guarantee: three years
Machine washable: yes
Large, £84.99 at Beurer
Large, £109.99 at Boots
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Best budget heated throw:
OHS electric heated fleece over blanket
While I loved the blush-pink finish, this excellent-value heated throw is also available in charcoal, forest green and black. It features nine heat settings and a timer that you can set to turn off after nine hours.
Why we love it
This is a great blanket if you’re not keen on sharing as it’s the perfect size for one. It’s not too thick and gets surprisingly warm quickly. After 30 minutes, the temperature hit 27C before soaring to an incredibly hot 52.1C after an hour. The intense warmth felt great when my central heating was off, but it became too much and I had to select a lower setting after a while.
I initially thought the heat-up speed and high temperature would make this blanket expensive to run, but it was actually a very reasonable 2p an hour. With a blast of heat from this blanket’s high setting and your eyes closed, you can imagine you’re enjoying balmier climes.
It’s a shame that … it’s made from polyester rather than a more breathable cotton, but you can’t really go wrong at this price.
Sizes available: one
Dimensions: L160 x W130cm
Number of heat settings: nine
Timer included: yes, one to nine hours with automatic switch-off
Running cost on maximum: 2p/hour (0.087kWh)
Temperature after an hour: 52.1C
Guarantee: three years
Machine washable: yes
£34 at Online Home Shop
£38.99 at Amazon
The best of the rest
Snuggledown Intelligent Warmth
Best for: couples who share a bed and can’t agree on temperature
With a sustainable 180-thread-count pure cotton cover, the surface of this electric blanket is luxuriously soft and breathable, wicking away moisture to keep it feeling fresh.
The quilted finish added extra padding and warmth to my mattress before the blanket was even turned on. It has fastening straps for the corners, and the blanket’s base material sat securely without sliding around too much.
The two control panels let you tailor each quarter of the mattress to suit your upper and lower body, so it’s a great option for bed sharers or those who like to keep their feet at a different temperature from the top half of their body. On the highest setting, the blanket produced a nicely even temperature that felt even warmer once I added my duvet.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it may have a pure cotton cover, but its filling is made from polyester.
Sizes available: single, double, king, super king; dimensions (king size): L200 x W150cm; number of heat settings: nine; timer included: yes, up to nine hours; running cost on maximum: 3p/hour (0.062kWh); temperature after an hour: 27.6C; guarantee: two years; machine washable: yes
King, £100 at John Lewis
King, £100 at Argos
Dreams Luxury quilted heated blanket
Best for: those with allergies
There’s much to like about this electric blanket, from its pure cotton, smooth quilted finish to its independent dual control panels. What sets it apart from the rest is that it comes with an anti-allergy coating, which is reassuring because I’m allergic to dust mites.
Each control panel has a timer that can be set to switch off after nine hours, but it heats up incredibly quickly, so I found that one hour of heat was more than enough at bedtime. You can control each quarter of the blanket independently, as with the Snuggledown above.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it didn’t heat up as evenly as I’d like, although it felt fine with my duvet on top.
Sizes available: single, double, king; dimensions (king size): L200 x W150cm; number of heat settings: nine; timer included: yes, up to nine hours; running cost on maximum: 3p/hour (0.064kWh); temperature after an hour: 29.3C; guarantee: one year; machine washable: yes
King, £90 at Dreams
Silentnight luxury heated throw
Best for: smaller sofas and people who don’t want to share
A simple control panel adjusts this heated throw, which has nine heat settings. It’s quite a light blanket and similar in size and thickness to the OHS one above. It also heats up quickly and reached just over 33C after an hour. There’s no timer, but it turns off automatically after two hours, which should be more than enough to warm you up.
The throw is quite thin, so it would be good for transitional seasons when the weather is a little warmer and you don’t want anything too heavy. The box says it costs 1p an hour to run on the lowest setting, which sounds about right – I measured it as 2p an hour on maximum.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s quite thin, meaning you can feel the wiring inside.
Sizes available: one; dimensions: L160 x W120cm; number of heat settings: nine; timer included: no, but two-hour automatic shut-off; running cost on maximum: 2p/hour (0.102kWh); temperature after an hour: 33.6C; guarantee: three years; machine washable: yes
From £41.99 at Amazon
£45 at Silentnight
What you need to know
Are electric blankets cheap to run?
The average king-size electric blanket cost 2p an hour to run in my tests. If used for a few hours a day, it could cut down on your heating use and save you money over the year – depending on how much you spend on the blanket in the first place, of course.
“There are factors to consider when calculating the costs, as not all electric blankets are the same,” says John-Paul Drake, energy expert at Love Energy Savings. “Some come with timers, different heat settings and various efficiency ratings. But it could be wise to take advantage of both an electric blanket and a lower thermostat setting as an optimal way to save money on energy bills this winter.”
How much should you spend on an electric blanket?
Prices for an electric blanket range from about £30 to £140, depending on the size. You can expect to pay anything from £20 to £110 for a heated throw.
Are electric blankets safe?
Electric blankets should be used with caution, and should never be used by young babies and toddlers. Most manufacturers do not recommend young children use electric blankets unless they’re supervised by an adult and have a clear understanding of how to use it safely. Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe use. Brands don’t always seem to make it obvious on the box but the latest electric blankets should have passed electrical safety checks. Safety marks such as “BEAB approved” (British Electrotechnical Approvals Board) or “KEMA-KEUR safety tested” should offer peace of mind. For more advice on electric blanket safety, read this advice from the London Fire Brigade.
Also look out for safety features such as an auto-switch-off timer that you can set to stay on for a number of hours before it turns off, or overheat protection that switches off the device if it senses it getting too hot.
An electric blanket should fit securely on your mattress, just underneath your pillow to stop your head from overheating. It shouldn’t be folded or creased, as this can damage the wiring inside. The safest place to leave your blanket when it’s not needed is flat on your bed.
Is my electric blanket compatible with my mattress?
Electric blankets are compatible with most mattresses but they can potentially damage some mattresses made from memory foam or latex.“Memory foam mattresses are heat-sensitive, and there has been a concern in the past that they could soften too much when heated by an electric blanket, damaging the foam’s structure and reducing support,” says Chelsea Brown, lead product adviser at Opera Beds.
“Most modern electric blankets shouldn’t reach high enough temperatures to face this issue, but you should use with caution. Memory foam is designed to mould to your body, so directly placing an electric blanket on top can also prevent the mattress from fitting your body snugly. Consider using a mattress topper under the electric blanket or keeping it on a low heat to prevent damage to your mattress.”
Emily Peck is a freelance lifestyle journalist who’s been writing and editing for more than two decades. She covers design and interiors, gardens, technology, wellbeing and fitness for various magazines and newspapers. She recently relocated from London to Dorset
