What Type of Electric Blanket Is Best
The best type depends on where you want the heat: an under-blanket warms the mattress under you, an over-blanket warms you from the top, and a throw goes wherever you do. Get an under-blanket for a flat mattress you want warm all over, an over-blanket for heat on top of you, and the Brookstone heated throw if you want something portable on 110-120 V outlets.
Best Electric Under Blanket Double
For a flat mattress you want warm all over, an under-blanket is the type to get.
- Your mattress is flat and you want the bed warm before you get in: an under-blanket.
- You want heat on top of you rather than under you: an over-blanket.
- You want warmth on the sofa as well as in bed: Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw.
- Your bed is adjustable: skip the under-blanket, since the advice is not to use under-blankets with an adjustable bed, and use an over-blanket kept flat and uncreased.
The sources differ on running a blanket while you sleep. UL Solutions quotes a burn director advising you to switch 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 sleeping or prolonged use, and the HEMA manual says to set L or 1. Follow the manual for your own blanket.
If the blanket is for an older relative or anyone with a health condition
Choosing the best electric blanket for an older relative starts with whether they can feel heat and work the controls. Electrical Safety First recommends against an electric blanket on the bed of someone who may be insensitive to heat, and UL Solutions says blankets are not recommended for anyone paralyzed or unable to operate them safely, or for infants and young children.
Sunbeam's manual lists a diabetic among the people who should not use heated bedding. Whether that applies to you or your relative is a question for a doctor.
For a pacemaker, the makers differ. Boston Scientific lists electric blankets as safe for use when they are in good working condition and used as intended, and gives no distance. The British Heart Foundation gives a recommended distance of 15cm (about 6 inches) from the pacemaker. Take the question to your doctor or cardiologist and the maker of your device.
Best Lightweight Electric Blanket
For a portable electric blanket, get a heated throw, and the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw is the one we'd buy. It moves from bed to sofa without a mattress to anchor it.
It's also the heated throw we'd get for winter. It has four heat settings on a one-touch controller, a four-hour auto shut-off and ETL certification. It measures 50 x 60 inches, plugs into standard 110-120 V outlets, and is machine washable and dryer safe following the care label. It comes in Blue Trellis, Taupe Trellis and Ivory.
Heated throws typically draw 50 to 100 watts while they're on. If you want one overall pick rather than a type, see the best electric blanket.
Questions
What is the best heated throw for winter?
The Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw is the heated throw the page picks for winter. It has four heat settings on a one-touch controller, a four-hour auto shut-off and ETL certification. It measures 50 x 60 inches and plugs into standard 110-120 V outlets. It is machine washable and dryer safe following the care label, and it comes in Blue Trellis, Taupe Trellis and Ivory.
How much electricity does a heated throw use?
A heated throw typically draws 50 to 100 watts while it is on. That figure comes from a buying guide on running an electric blanket. The page does not give a running total for any specific throw, so check the label or manual for your own blanket. The Brookstone throw also has a four-hour auto shut-off, which limits how long it stays on.
Which type of electric blanket is best for an adjustable bed?
An over-blanket is the better type for an adjustable bed. The page advises skipping the under-blanket here, because Electrical Safety First advises not to use under-blankets with an adjustable bed. Use an over-blanket and keep it flat and uncreased. Always follow the manual for your own blanket, since makers give their own instructions.
Is it safe to leave an electric blanket on while sleeping?
The sources differ, so follow the manual for your own blanket. UL Solutions quotes a burn director advising you to switch the blanket on about half an hour before bed and off before you get in. The Home & Comfort manual says to use the lowest setting for sleeping or prolonged use, and the HEMA manual says to set L or 1.