We updated this article in March to bring you the correct prices and latest deals on our GHI approved electric blankets.
With the cold weather setting in, it may be time to consider an electric blanket. These soft and versatile warmers will make your bed snug on even the coldest nights and keep you cosy while you’re sat on the sofa – plus, they’re also fairly cost efficient to run.
What’s the best electric blanket?
The Good Housekeeping Institute has put a range of electric blankets to the test to find their top picks – here they are in a handy list, but read on for our detailed reviews.
If you’re replacing an existing electric blanket, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. Find your nearest electrical recycling point, or read our guide on how to donate or dispose of your appliances and tech for extra guidance.
Types of electric blanket explained
Under blankets
Under blankets operate a bit like mattress toppers and tend to come with elasticated straps or as a fitted sheet, so you can secure them to your bed and drift off on top of them. Many can run for up to eight hours at a time, so you stay warm all night long.
Over blankets and throws
In contrast, over blankets are meant for curling up under; they’re a more versatile choice as you can use them on the sofa or even at your desk if you work from home. Some even resemble a fleecy blanket, which not only feels extra soft against the skin, but will look good in your living room if you want to leave it out. Throws tend to have shorter operating times though – most we tried time out after three hours.
Wearable electric blankets or heated ponchos
We also tested an electric blanket with sleeves and a foot pouch, allowing you to essentially wear it and retain more heat. Aside from the extra design features that make them wearable, these ponchos operate in an almost identical manner to electric throws, with a range of temperatures and a timer.
Electric blanket features
All the electric blankets on our list come with varying heat zones and settings – some include extra foot warmth too.
Those with dual controls will let you adjust the settings during the night without disturbing your partner. Blankets that have these – often size double and upwards – will have left and right zones, so the settings can be customised if there are two of you in the bed.
Are electric blankets safe?
All the heated blankets on our list have auto-shut off settings, which turn them off after a certain amount of time, minimising the risk of any accidents. Some even let you decide how long they run for, thanks to nifty in-built timers.
Always check the manufacturer’s guidance to make sure your choice of blanket is suitable for you.
How much electricity do electric blankets use?
Given the current economic climate, it’s understandable that you may be looking for more cost-effective ways to stay warm and save on your heating bill. Electric blankets can come in handy here, as they’re becoming increasingly more energy efficient.
Under blankets, for example, can run for up to eight hours, so you could opt for this at night instead of central heating, while a throw can keep you warm while working from home.
As part of our testing, we measured how much energy each blanket used and therefore how much each one costs to run. We did this on the lowest setting for each blanket’s maximum operating time – eight hours for under blankets and three hours for throws. All prices are based on the electricity price capped by the government at £0.29/kwh. You’ll find the results in our write-ups below.
Note that dual control under blankets are plugged in on both sides, meaning they can use double the electricity versus those with a single control.
How we test electric blankets
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts made up a double bed to test each electric blanket on, measuring how evenly temperature was distributed as well as whether the warmth fluctuated or remained consistent over an extended period of time, across different heat settings. We measured energy consumption, too.
Where the blankets had dual controls, we also looked at how accurate the settings were on each side and if there was any temperature crossover when the settings were different.
For throws and wearable blankets, we assessed their overall feel and how well they hug the body.
Finally, we put any washing claims to the test to check for shrinkage or damage.
These are the ones we’ll be cosying up with this year.