We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 6 Best Heated Blankets We Tested in Our Own Homes Stay warm and toasty on chilly nights By Camryn Rabideau Camryn Rabideau Camryn Rabideau is a writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her 8+ years of experience as a product tester, she's reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 22, 2025 07:15AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews Our Stars Others We Liked How We Tested Goes Well With What Is PEOPLE Tested? Credit : People If you’re feeling the chill on a cold winter day, there are a few ways to stay comfortable without turning up the thermostat. A space heater or electric fireplace is a good option to heat up the whole room, or you can cozy up on the couch (or in bed) with a heated blanket. Also called electric blankets, these throws have thin wires within the fabric that radiate gentle heat, and they use minimal electricity so that they won’t run up your energy bill. Heated blankets aren’t always reliable, though, so we spent more than 70 hours testing a variety of popular models, evaluating them on their comfort, quality, and effectiveness. Keep scrolling for the best electric blankets we’ve tested this winter. Our Stars Best Overall: Westinghouse Flannel Electric Blanket Most Comfortable: Bedsure Heated Blanket Best for Couples: Sunbeam Heated Blanket Best Throw: Sealy Soft Double Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket Best Upgrade: Thermee Heated Electric Blanket Best Wearable: BeautyRest Heated Faux Fur Wrap NEED TO KNOW When it comes to finding the best heated blanket that fits your needs, Laurie March, project manager, remodeling pro, and digital host for HGTV, recommends looking at the safety features. "Look for a UL certification and a warranty on the product for at least one year," she says. Deanna Hodges, CEO of H2 Home Collection and Hodges International, suggests you look for controls that are easy to use and have an "auto shutoff and timer." When searching for one, you should consider: Cozy (Synthetic) Materials: Electric blankets are almost always made from synthetic fabrics such as polyester fleece or faux shearling, which are less flammable than natural materials like cotton. All the blankets we tested had a polyester construction, but they look and feel different depending on the type of fabric. For instance, fleece blankets like the Westinghouse Electric Blanket have a smooth and soft feel, and they’re often a bit thinner and easy to store. On the other hand, options like the Sealy Heated Blanket have a thick faux shearling construction that’s better for hiding the inner heating elements. Safety Certification: As with any heating device, safety should be a key consideration when shopping for a heated blanket. “A UL certification means that the blanket has been tested and deemed safe for use by Underwriters Laboratories,” says Hodges. “There are many blankets out there, especially online, that do not have a UL certification.” She suggests erring on the side of caution and finding one that has the certification: “It will be worth it in the long run to know that your blanket has been independently tested and deemed safe,” she says. Check the packaging and the cord for UL certification or ETL certification, as they are often printed on the item itself and not necessarily in the online description. Easy-to-Use Controls: You may want to take a peek at a blanket’s controllers before you buy — some are unintuitive, which can make them frustrating to use. “Make sure the heating control is easy to read and easy to operate,” Hodges tells PEOPLE. “Look for a blanket with an auto shutoff and a timer. Always consider your needs and how easy or difficult the blanket temperature may be to control or regulate.” You’ll also want to consider how many heat levels the blanket offers. The BeautyRest Heated Faux Fur Wrap offers five settings, for example, while more expensive blankets, including the Thermee Heated Blanket, have 10, allowing you to fine-tune the warmth to suit your needs. Two-Zone Heating — or a Spare: If you’re planning to use your heated blanket on the bed, it’s worth looking for a model with individual controllers for each side, such as the Sunbeam Heated Blanket. “If you are part of a couple, consider a blanket with two controls and two zones," Hodges recommends. "This makes it easier for each person to find their perfect temperature and keeps everyone happy.” This feature is generally only available on queen- and king-size blankets, and it does make setup a bit more complicated, as you’ll need to run wires to both sides of the bed to set up the controllers. Price Range: We tested all sorts of electric blankets, ranging in price from $40 to over $150. Throw blankets like the Bedsure Heated Blanket tend to fall on the lower end of this range, and you should expect to spend more on a larger blanket or one with extra features, such as dual controllers or more heat settings. Reviews Best Overall: Westinghouse Flannel Electric Blanket Amazon $110 at Amazon This heated blanket is so soft and plush that it will keep you cozy and warm even if you don’t turn on the heating elements. We loved its soft fleece fabric, and when you turn it on, the blanket heats up quickly, becoming warm to the touch in around a minute. It provides consistent heat across the entire surface, and unlike other electric blankets, there are no awkward cold spots. The throw size has six heat settings and an adjustable shutoff timer, and its controller is similar to one you might find on a heating pad. We did notice that you can feel the inner wires if you run your hand over the blanket, but they’re not so bulky that the blanket is stiff. We tested (and loved) this blanket in the throw size, but it’s worth noting that the larger models have a few different features. They have a different controller with 10 heat settings, and the queen and king options come with two controllers to operate each side of the blanket independently. Dimensions: 50 x 60 inches (throw) | Material: Fleece | Heat Settings: 6 | Auto Shutoff: Yes | Machine-Washable: Yes Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People NEED TO KNOW “There are a few ways to identify a high-quality heated blanket. Look for a UL certification and a warranty on the product for at least one year." —Laurie March, project manager, remodeling pro, and digital host for HGTV Most Comfortable: Bedsure Heated Blanket Amazon $60 at Amazon One common complaint about electric blankets is that you can feel the wires inside, but this model from Bedsure has thick fabric that hides the inner heating elements, making it extra comfy. It has a soft fleece top and faux shearling on the reverse, and we found that the blanket heats up in a matter of minutes, delivering an even and consistent heat distribution across its entire surface. This heated blanket has an intuitive controller with six settings and an adjustable timer, and we liked that the buttons are oversized and easy to press. The throw comes in a range of fun patterns — unlike many other blankets that only come in solid colors — but we do wish its power cord were a bit longer, as its short length limits where it can be used. Dimensions: 50 x 60 inches (throw) | Material: Fleece with faux shearling | Heat Settings: 6 | Auto Shutoff: Yes | Machine-Washable: Yes Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People NEED TO KNOW “Heated blankets can come in an array of soft synthetic fabrics as well as natural fibers, so a comfortable texture and feel can be found for just about everyone.” —Laurie March Jackets & Outerwear Best for Couples: Sunbeam Heated Blanket Amazon $42 at Amazon No more fighting over who gets to pick the blanket temperature at night! When you purchase a queen or king size, this heated blanket comes with two controllers, allowing you to select individual settings for each side — it’s an ideal solution for couples with different temperature preferences. In testing, we found that the blanket generally heats up in five to 10 minutes, and there’s a noticeable difference between its 10 heat settings, making it easy to find the perfect level of warmth. Because it has two controllers, this blanket is a bit complicated to set up, as you have to run separate wires to each side of the bed, but it may be worth the extra effort for the adjustability it provides. We also noticed that the polyester fabric is a magnet for lint and pet hair, so you may end up cleaning it more frequently than other options. Dimensions: 90 x 84 inches (queen) | Material: Polyester fleece | Heat Settings: 10 | Auto Shutoff: Yes | Machine-Washable: Yes Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People NEED TO KNOW March suggests investing in a blanket with an automatic shutoff or a timer feature. “Use the automatic shutoff setting or timer on your heated blanket to defend against chilly nights and high energy bills,” she says. “Newer electric blankets heat up in minutes, and for fire safety, they should not be used all night.” Best Throw: Sealy Soft Double Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket Amazon $60 at Amazon This heated throw blanket is the perfect size to use on the couch or drape across your lap in the office. It’s made from a thick double-sided faux shearling that effectively hides the inner heating elements, and it offers six heat settings and an adjustable shutoff timer. We found that the blanket heats up in just a few minutes, and it has a long enough power cord to reach an outlet several feet away. There’s a noticeable difference between the settings on this blanket — the warmth is barely noticeable on low, while the highest setting is almost uncomfortably warm. We could only ever use it for a few minutes before needing to turn it down. We also found that this blanket washes well, retaining its fuzzy texture and not taking up too much space in the washing machine. Dimensions: 50 x 60 inches (throw) | Material: Faux shearling | Heat Settings: 6 | Auto Shutoff: Yes | Machine-Washable: Yes Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Best Upgrade: Thermee Heated Electric Blanket Amazon $169 at Amazon The Thermee heated electric blanket has two controllers, allowing you and your partner to adjust your temperature separately, and we found that it provides even and consistent heat on higher settings — we generally used setting five or higher, as the lower settings didn’t offer quite enough warmth. The blanket’s construction retains heat well, staying warm throughout the night, and we love that its shutoff timer can be adjusted in one-hour increments, offering more flexibility than other models. However, this blanket does take around 30 minutes to heat up, and we wish there was an indicator light on the controller to show when the blanket is on or off. Dimensions: 90 x 90 inches (queen) | Material: Polyester micro-fleece | Heat Settings: 10 | Auto Shutoff: Yes | Machine-Washable: Yes Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Credit: People Best Wearable: BeautyRest Heated Faux Fur Wrap Pottery Barn $90 at Amazon This plush faux fur electric blanket is so large we’re calling it a wrap blanket, as you can lounge in your favorite chair and be enveloped (literally) by warmth. We barely noticed the inner wires, and both sides of the blankets were soft and comfortable. We also liked that it heats up quickly, becoming warm to the touch in just a few minutes, and as soon as we took the blanket off, we wanted to put it back on — we expect you will, too. This electric blanket has user-friendly settings with five heat levels and an automatic shutoff feature after two hours. We think it would be a great choice for anyone who likes to wrap up in a blanket, and it’s affordable compared to others on our list. Dimensions: 65.5 x 50 inches | Material: Ultra-soft polyester | Heat Settings: 5 | Auto Shutoff: Yes | Machine-Washable: Yes Credit: People Credit: People Other Heated Blankets We Liked When we tried out this heated blanket, it just wasn't as comfortable or versatile as the others we tested. It also proved to be more expensive than other throw-size blankets and is harder to clean. Beautyrest Heated Electric Blanket People How We Tested To find the most cozy, comfortable, and safe heated blankets, we spent 72 hours testing seven different products for this round of testing. (We previously tested 26 heated blankets in our lab.) Our testers used each electric blanket at least three times in their homes, and evaluated the products on ease of use, comfort, effectiveness, durability, and the cost of each product vs. its level of performance. People Goes Well With Once you pick out your new heated blanket, for the coziest bedding experience you'll also want to get the softest sheets possible to go with it. Grabbing some bed pillows to rest your head on is a good idea, too. Parachute Down Pillow $210 at Nordstrom Coop Sleep Goods The Eden Pillow $105 at Amazon Olive + Crate Eucalyptus Sheet Set $190 $160 at Amazon Bampure Organic Bamboo Sheets $90 $85 at Amazon What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. Read more: Shopping Home Products Bedding