When it comes to warming up in cold weather, the best electric blankets and heated throws simply can't be beaten. While it can take ages for central heating to raise the temperature of a room, switch on one of these cosy blankets and you'll be feeling toasty in no time at all.
Whether you want to heat your bed up for the night, or something warm to curl up under on the sofa, our best electric blanket ranking has an option for you. There are a wide range of options on the market, ranging from basic blankets with simple, fuss-free controls, to higher-end options that allow you to adjust the temperature and pre-set timings.
In this article, we'll bring you the very best electric blankets and heated throws available today, for a variety of budgets, and in a range of different styles. Also while you're thinking about upgrading your sleep experience, make sure you check out our guide to the best weighted blankets and the best mattresses too (and the best cheap mattress deals, too).
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How to choose the best electric blanket
With so many electric blankets on the market, how do you choose the right one for you? One method can be buying from a bedding company you already know and trust, such as Silentnight. That said, new brands are arriving on the scene all the time, and they often work hard in terms of quality and value, in order to compete. So while we've included some names on our list that you may not have heard of, don't skip past them, but check out what they have to offer too.
You should also be thinking about the style of blanket you want. Some of the best electric blankets work under your bedsheets, while others are quilts that cover you up, and still others are fleece throws that you can snuggle under at any time of the day. So think about when you're likely to need an extra blast of heat, and whether you want the option to throw it off if you get too warm. With all that in mind, read on to discover the best electric blankets you can buy right now...
Heated electric blankets can be tricky if your partner doesn’t want the same warm and toasty bed as you do. That’s why this is one of our favourite electric blankets, designed to alleviate night-time arguments with a dual control setting. This means you can have one heat on one side of the bed and another on the other. This electric blanket has a lot of great added features, including 6 heat settings, a fast heat setting that promises to warm your whole bed in just 5 minutes, as well as a machine washable outer material. We also especially like that rather than elasticated straps, this Dreamland heated blanket has a stretchy border that fits round the whole mattress (similar to many of the best mattress protectors) to keep it securely in place on the bed.
This luxury heated under blanket is for people who don’t always want the same temperature all over their bed. It boasts four different heat zones and 9 different heat settings. Which means that, for example, you can have a different temperature at your feet, to warm up cold toes, than you do at your torso. And for the Double size and larger, you also have dual-zone control, so you don't need to have the same settings as your bed-mate. This is one of the most comfortable options on our list of best electric blankets thanks to its removable soft, quilted fleece layer, which provides a comfy sleep surface. Our only minor niggle is that it fixes to your bed with reinforced straps; we'd prefer an elasticated skirt, as we've found this tends to keep things in place more effectively.
One of the most trusted bed brands, Silentnight creates a range of fantastic electric blankets. One of our favourites, and the most affordable, is this simple Comfort Control electric blanket. This is an under-blanket type, which means you put it directly onto your mattress and then cover it with a bedsheet. This is ideal if you have a bed that’s often way too cold, and want to be able to heat it in an instant. The blanket has a simple-to-use controller with different settings – and while the original doesn't have dual zone control, there's another in the range that does, as well as a 'fleecy' option if you want a little extra snuggliness. It's machine washable at 40-degrees, as well as being tumble dry-safe, so you can take it off and refresh it whenever you like. It's also suitable for use with memory foam mattresses.
If you prefer the idea of a heated throw (or over blanket) rather than a heated under blanket or mattress protector, then this is the best electric blanket-meets-throw for you. Cosi's luxurious blanket is not only huge at 160 x 130cm, but it also has 9 different adjustable heat settings, as well as the softest fleece material. Because this is a throw, you can use it to keep you warm and toasty during the day; at night as a blanket; or even over a quilt during the chilly winter months.
This electric blanket comes from Monogram, a brand under the health and wellbeing giant Beurer. And it has an added benefit: its anti-allergy material helps to kill dust mites and eggs, which can cause disrupted sleep. As well as its allergy-fighting features, this electric blanket has 6 different heat settings to help you find the perfect temperature, as well as a quick heat setting that'll heat your bed up in around 8 minutes. The latter is ideal for putting on just before bed, or for making waking up when it’s cold a little more bearable. Like many of the best heated electric blankets on the list, this one also has an elasticated skirt round the edges, which means it stays in place no matter how much you wriggle throughout the night.
Want to curl up on the sofa and imagine you’re in an exclusive, cosy ski lodge? Then this stylish faux-fur heated throw will give you the luxurious look you’re after. It feels wonderfully soft to the skin, and heats up quickly (in around five minutes). You can choose from 6 different heat settings, which are maintained by Intelliheat technology so they adjust to any ambient temperature changes. There’s also a programmable auto shut-off timer that switches off the blanket at any point you choose between one and nine hours later. It costs from as little as 1p to run, it’s machine-washable at 40C, and tumble dryer safe too – although to be honest, we wouldn't want to be chucking it into the machine too regularly.
If cosy, soft bedding is high on your agenda then this you'll love Homefront's electric blanket, which comes with a luxurious fleece finish. It also has a fitted elasticated skirt to ensure it stays put no matter how much you wriggle around in your sleep. Illuminated controls allow you to make adjustments throughout the night for maximum comfort and flexibility – although a few customers struggled to figure the remote out to start with. There are 9 different heat settings to choose from and 10 timer settings, which allow you to pinpoint certain areas you might want heating up more than others. That's an ideal feature for those who suffer from arthritis and circulation problems.
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