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The 13 best electric blankets for peak at-home cosiness
Arm yourself with one the best electric blankets, and bask in the warm glow. From Silentnight to Dreamland, these are our favourite electric blankets and heated throws.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you're looking for one of the best electric blankets to keep your toes toasty at night, we have you covered. For the times when a standard blanket just isn’t enough and you can’t seem to warm your bed up, even as the days get warmer, the electric blanket is a godsend.
By no means a new invention, electric blankets have been around for a long time, helping to heat up your bed sheets or your sofa in the living room before you tuck yourself in. Turn it on while you brush your teeth, set a time limit, and by the time you’re under the covers it’ll be nice and warm for you with no need for an extra electric heater by your bedside or your heating bills skyrocketing.
Unlike old electric blankets from the past, they are now safe and secure, incorporating measures like automatic switch-off settings to ensure you don’t have a fire issue on your hands. Their bad reputation has long been squashed, but just make sure you’re using the blankets for a healthy amount of time (most will advise you on this), and setting it up safely.
The best electric blankets have plenty of features to choose from, and we’d recommend looking for one that has multiple heat settings, timer settings, and good safety features. You’ll also notice that some - electric underblankets - are designed to go under your fitted sheet to heat you from below, while others are more multi-purpose and can be used as a throw blanket on top of your bed and on the sofa.
Both have their perks, so just have a think about what’s right for you, and where you want to be using the blanket. Our top picks of the best electric blankets are a mix of different styles, designs and price points to get you started.
Skip to: What are the best electric blankets to buy in 2024? | What are the benefits of electric blankets? | Will an electric blanket increase your energy bill? | Is there anything else to know before buying a heated blanket? | How we selected the best electric blankets: GQ’s review process | Shop GQ’s pick of the best electric blankets…
What are the best electric blankets to buy in 2024?
The Glamhaus electric blanket offers luxurious comfort with dual controls for personalised warmth, nine heat settings and 10 timer settings.
Designed specifically for couples, this electric blanket is split into two sides, each of which can has its own unique temperature and is controlled by a separate remote. Say goodbye to nights spent arguing about whether or not it's too hot or too cold.
Far more than just an electric blanket, the Eight Sleep Pod is designed to give your sleep a complete overhaul. From temperature regulation to tracking your sleep and even an in-built alarm, it's a whole new level of electric blanket bliss.
While we've included plenty of detail about our favourite electric blankets below, here's a quickfire guide to the best electric blankets.
- Best overall electric blanket: GlamHaus Double Size Electric Blanket, £88 at amazon.co.uk
- Best electric blanket for couples: Silentnight Dual Control Electric Blanket, £45 at amazon.co.uk
- Best luxury electric blanket: Eight Sleep Pod, £2,295 at eightsleep.com
- Best affordable electric blanket: Silentnight Comfort Control, £30 at amazon.co.uk
- Best heated throw: Lakeland Sherpa, £70 at amazon.co.uk
What are the benefits of electric blankets?
There are two types of electric blanket to choose from – an under blanket that sits on your mattress but under your fitted sheet, a bit like a mattress cover, and then there’s a classic comfy electric blanket that can either be used as a fleecy eiderdown on top of your duvet, or just for indulgent loafing on the sofa.
The average minimum temperature of an electric blanket is typically around 25°C, while the maximum it'll generally warm up to on its highest setting is roughly around 45-50°C. It doesn’t sound very hot, but once you’re under a duvet and the blanket is running at full steam, you’ll be seriously toasty.
If you’re looking for a heated blanket for the bed, you have a choice of either a classic heat pad that fastens to the mattress with elasticated straps or ties, or a more modern design that is integrated into a fitted sheet. They can often double as mattress protectors, too – the ones we’ve tested have a generous amount of cushioning to add to your overall comfort.
Available in all bed sizes, from double beds right up to king size and super kings, but one of the key considerations is if you’re sleeping with a partner. Single control heat options keep the whole bed at one temperature, which is great if you both have the same internal thermostat, but if one of you has a body temperature that runs hot and the other cold, you need to invest in a dual heat zone design that can disperse different temperatures to each side of the bed. It’s also worth spending extra on electric blankets with multiple heat zones and temperature control so that you can choose only extra foot warmth, for instance.
Most electric blankets are suitable for a machine wash at 40 degrees and they are also tumble dryer safe, but obviously you need to disconnect the power cables first.
Will an electric blanket increase your energy bill?
Every electric blanket will have a rating in wattage. If you then know what your electricity costs (usually on average around 29p per kWh), you can do the maths. So a 100W electric blanket would cost 3p to run at full power for an hour. Some use more, and it greatly depends on how long you have the blanket on for, but the best designs have an off-timer or automatic shut-off for peace of mind and have reduced power to help make them more energy efficient.
Is there anything else to know before buying a heated blanket?
As well as keeping you warm, electric blankets can also aid recovery from exercise, relieve muscle tension and reduce stiffness thanks to an increase in blood circulation. It’s worth noting also that if you have a memory foam mattress, it is recommended to use an electric over blanket, not a traditional heated under blanket, as a heated blanket will compromise how the foam moulds to your body, somewhat defeating the point of it.
How we selected the best electric blankets: GQ’s review process
Our decision about which electric blankets deserved a spot in our guide was based on a few key criteria. To start with, we looked at the types of electric blankets available, in order to make sure we had a range which included both under blankets (the more traditional form of electric blanket) and the electric blankets which you lie under (a better option if you want something for the sofa or if you have a memory foam mattress). We then looked at the range of temperature options, the sizes available, and whether or not they benefited from any additional features or heating elements like zoned temperatures.