Best Electric Blanket
Get the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw if you want a throw for the couch or over you in bed, and a Bedsure GentleSoft Solid Flannel in your bed size if you want warmth across a whole queen or king. The Brookstone runs on 110 to 120 volts, so check your outlets first. It has four heat settings, a one-touch button and a four-hour auto shut-off. Whether one suits you with diabetes is a question for your doctor. Skip under-blankets too if your bed is an adjustable base.
Sunbeam Heated Blanket
Get the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw if you want a throw, or the Bedsure GentleSoft Solid Flannel in Queen or King if you want a whole bed.
- You want a throw for the couch or the bed: get the Brookstone throw.
- You sleep in a queen or king and each side wants its own heat: get the Bedsure GentleSoft Solid Flannel in Queen or King, which has dual controls with 10 heat levels and 10 time settings and an 8-hour maximum shut-off.
- You already own a Sunbeam: the sections below cover its blink codes, washing and instructions.
Sunbeam's manual also rules out its throw on an adjustable base.
Someone in the home has a pacemaker, diabetes or reduced feeling in their skin
Sunbeam's manual lists infants, children, incapacitated or immobile people, people with diabetes and anyone insensitive to heat among those who should not use its heated blankets. UL Solutions says people with diabetes are more vulnerable to burns and that electric blankets are not recommended for infants, young children, anyone paralyzed or unable to operate them safely, or people with urinary incontinence. Whether that applies to you is a question for your doctor.
For pacemakers, the two sources differ. Boston Scientific, a pacemaker maker, lists electric blankets as safe when they are in good working condition and used as intended, and gives no distance. The British Heart Foundation recommends keeping them 15cm (about 6 inches) from the pacemaker. That decision belongs to your doctor or cardiologist and the maker of your device.
Sunbeam blinking lights
A flashing display on a Sunbeam control means it found a problem, and the code depends on the control. FF, F1, F2 or a single F appear on digital controls: FF on ChoicePlus models, F1 and F2 on SelectTouch and ComfortSet, and F alone on StyleSmart II, DesignSmart and ChoiceTouch. OneSet, EasySet, PrimeStyle AO and EliteStyle controls use a flashing light instead.
The reset is the same for all of them. Follow the flag tag on the control cord, check the blanket for visible damage, unplug it, check that the control sits firmly in the module, plug back in and turn it on. If it still flashes after two or three resets, unplug it and call Sunbeam Consumer Care. Don't open the control or adjust anything inside. That ends what you can do yourself.
A warm control is normal when it is working properly.
Washing a Sunbeam
Follow the instructions sewn onto your blanket first.
Sunbeam's general routine for heated bedding is stricter. Disconnect the power cord, detach the control cord, presoak 15 minutes in cold water with mild soap, wash on the gentle cycle for two minutes, rinse in cold water, spin and stretch it back to size. Dry it in a home dryer only, never a commercial one: 10 minutes on low, removed damp, stretched and draped over a line without clothespins. No dry cleaning, bleach, ironing or wringing, and don't plug it in again until it's completely dry.
Sunbeam instructions
If a blanket doesn't seem to heat, run Sunbeam's fold test before you give up on it. Fold it three times, plug it in on the highest setting, wait five to seven minutes and feel between the folds. Stop at seven minutes. A Sunbeam is not a heating pad, so it won't feel hot laid flat.
Don't use it with another electrically heated product. The warranty runs from purchase and depends on the line: Arlington is 1 year, Sunbeam HomeChoice 2 years, heated waterproof mattress pads 3 years, and all other Sunbeam and SlumberRest heated products 5 years. It covers the original buyer only and needs your receipt. Don't return the product to the store.
Brookstone Heated Blanket
The Brookstone to buy is the Cozy Heated Plush Throw, a 50 by 60 inch polyester throw with four heat settings and a one-touch controller. It comes in Blue Trellis, Taupe Trellis and Ivory.
It's machine washable and dryer safe, following the care label. Use the care label and the instruction manual as your instructions.
For anything not bought on Brookstone.com, return it to the retailer with the receipt and follow the manual for warranty claims. Don't try to open or repair the controller.
Westinghouse Electric Blanket
Skip the flannel electric blanket that got too hot on the high setting where the fabric bunched. You can feel its wires by touch, and machine washing it was a hassle.
Bunching matters because falling asleep on a bunched-up area is a common cause of burns. If you already own one, keep it smooth and off high. If you're buying, take the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw or a Bedsure in your bed size.
Best Electric Blanket for Elderly
For an older adult, the best electric blanket is the simple one: one button, a few heat settings and automatic shut-off. The Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw has all three, with a four-hour auto shut-off.
The makers' warnings on who should skip a heated blanket are in the Sunbeam section's callout. Whether they apply to you is a question for your doctor.
Guidance on sleeping with a blanket on differs by source. The UL Solutions article quotes burn director Derek E. Bell, who advises switching it on about half an hour before bed and off before you get in. The Home & Comfort manual says to use the lowest setting for prolonged use or while sleeping, and the HEMA manual says L or 1. Follow the manual for your own blanket.
Check an older blanket before each winter for worn areas, loose plugs, cracked wiring and charred spots. Throw out any that are damaged.
Bedsure Electric Blanket
The Bedsure to get is the GentleSoft Solid Flannel. It earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, heated up quickly with even heat and no hot or cold spots, and showed no change in heating or wear after multiple washes. It comes in Throw, Twin, Full, Queen and King. Wash it cold on a gentle cycle and lay it flat to dry.
Skip the reversible Most Stylish Bedsure blanket with wires in ribbed channels if you plan to run it on high. Its heating was less consistent there.
If you own a Bedsure bought in 2022, confirm with the recall's remedy contacts whether your blanket is affected. Bedshe International recalled about 350,000 units on March 9, 2023, because the controller can malfunction and cause fire and burn hazards. The blankets were sold on Amazon and BedsureHome.com from August to November 2022. The remedy is a full refund: submit photos at safety.bedsurehome.com or call 855-888-9966, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.
Which Brand of Electric Blanket Is Best?
No single brand wins across every size. Pick by model and bed size: Bedsure's GentleSoft Solid Flannel for a bed, Brookstone's Cozy Heated Plush Throw for a throw.
The best heated blanket for you is a model that fits your bed and your outlets, not a company name.
What Type of Electric Blanket Is Best?
The best type is the one that puts the heat where you want it. An under-blanket sits flat on the mattress, usually held by elastic straps, and is one of the most common types. An over-blanket lies on top of you and must stay flat and uncreased. A heated throw is more portable, so it works in bed or on the sofa. A heated mattress protector is similar to an under-blanket, so choosing between a mattress pad and an electric blanket is the same under-or-over choice.
Look for third-party safety certification such as UL or Intertek. The UL logo means a representative sample of the blankets has been tested, and US electric bedding has been designed to emit much less heat since the late 1980s. For an older adult, the one-touch throw above is the type to start with.
Questions
Which brand of electric blanket is best?
No single brand wins across every size, so pick by model and bed size instead. The page recommends Bedsure's GentleSoft Solid Flannel for a bed and Brookstone's Cozy Heated Plush Throw for a throw. The best heated blanket for you is a model that fits your bed and your outlets, not a company name.
What type of electric blanket is best?
The best type is the one that puts the heat where you want it. An under-blanket sits flat on the mattress, usually held by elastic straps. An over-blanket lies on top of you and must stay flat and uncreased. A heated throw is more portable, so it works in bed or on the sofa. A heated mattress protector works like an under-blanket.
Which electric blanket is best if you do not want to feel the wires?
The page recommends the Bedsure GentleSoft Solid Flannel for a bed, which heated up quickly with even heat and no hot or cold spots. It warns you to skip a flannel electric blanket whose wires you can feel by touch, which also got too hot on high and bunched. Bunching matters because falling asleep on a bunched-up area is a common cause of burns.
What is the best electric blanket for an older adult?
The best electric blanket for an older adult is the simple one: one button, a few heat settings and automatic shut-off. The Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw has all three, with a four-hour auto shut-off. Whether a heated blanket suits a particular person is a question for their doctor, and the makers list groups who should skip one.
Is it safe to sleep with an electric blanket on all night?
Guidance differs by source, so follow the manual for your own blanket. A burn director quoted by UL Solutions advises switching it on about half an hour before bed and off before you get in. The Home & Comfort manual says to use the lowest setting for prolonged use or while sleeping, and the HEMA manual says L or 1.
What should I check on an older electric blanket?
Check an older blanket before each winter for worn areas, loose plugs, cracked wiring and charred spots. Throw out any blanket that is damaged. If you already own one that bunches, keep it smooth and off high. The page also advises looking for third-party safety certification such as UL or Intertek when you buy.