The Best Electric Blanket

Snuggling up with a cozy blanket and a cup of tea is a soothing escape from chilly weather, but you might need a little extra warmth on the frostiest days. An electric blanket provides comfort during winter’s harshest months. It’s also great for easing muscle aches, soothing stiff joints or just keeping nighttime shivers at bay.

Electric blankets used to be risky accessories. Older electric blankets used electric currents directly from your power outlets, creating a fire hazard. Most of them didn’t come equipped with auto shut-off timers, either. This made it nearly impossible to use around bedtime since they could overheat and burn you while you slept.

Newer electric blankets are much safer. They have transformers built into the blanket’s cord, lowering the voltage from the outlet before it gets to your blanket. Almost all models, including our four top picks, come with auto shut-off timers, so you can rest easy at night without worrying about fires or burns. Serta’s Low-Voltage Electric Blanket is even safer, thanks to its patented Safe and Warm Technology. It uses a small power supply box to change your home’s electrical current into a low voltage DC current (similar to a battery current).

After you plug in an electric blanket, you can switch up the level of heat and the length of time you want to use it with handheld controls. Shavel’s Thermee Electric Blanket has eight secure heat settings, and Sunbeam’s Velvet Electric Heated Blanket boasts an impressive range of 20 heat options. Sunbeam’s Quilted Fleece Blanket has another noteworthy feature. Its dual controls let you set two different levels of heat for each side of the bed, so your toastier half doesn’t sweat throughout the night.

The handheld controls come in different designs, too. Sunbeam’s Quilted Heated Blanket uses a dial to help you click through 10 different heat settings, while their Luxurious Velvet Plush Blanket has a digital display with plus and minus buttons to set your heat level. This blanket also offers a “preheat” option, so you won’t be shivering while you wait for it to warm up.

Once you turn on your blanket and choose your heat level, electricity flows through internal wires that run evenly throughout your blanket. Each model’s wires are a little bit different. Serta’s Low-Voltage Electric Blanket has extra-thin wires that are barely noticeable. The wires inside Sunbeam’s Luxurious Velvet Plush Blanket monitor temperature and auto-adjust throughout the night to maintain even warmth throughout your bedding.

Electric blankets come in an array of sizes and colors. Sunbeam’s Quilted Heated Blanket is made from toasty fleece, while Shavel Home Products’ Thermee Electric Blanket is covered in cozy micro flannel. Many models, like Serta’s Low-Voltage Plush Electric Blanket, are also machine washable and dryer safe for easy care.

After you’ve decided which features are the most important in your hunt for the ideal electric blanket, you’ll be all set to curl up under your toasty new investment and keep winter chills at bay.

• How far away is your bed from the nearest outlet? This determines the cord length you’ll need from your electric blanket. You can use almost any electric blanket if you have an outlet right next to your bed, but you’ll need something longer if your power outlet is located on a distant wall. Shavel’s Thermee Blanket has an impressive 16-foot cord.
• What type of fabric do you prefer? Sunbeam’s Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket is made from sturdy polyester, while their Luxurious Velvet Heated Blanket has a plush velvet cover.
• How often do you see yourself using your electric blanket? If you live in a colder climate and want to snuggle up regularly, you might be willing to shell out more for a premium blanket like the Thermee Electric Blanket. People in warmer climates who will only use their blanket occasionally should look at budget buys, like Sunbeam’s Luxurious Velvet Electric Blanket.
• Do you have any pets? It’s nice to have a four-legged friend curled up at your feet, but some pets might try nibbling your blanket’s cord. That can hurt your pet and damage your blanket. So you might want to consider closing your pets out of your bedroom if you want to sleep under your electric blanket.
• Do you have any medical conditions? Electric blankets might be risky for some people with chronic illnesses. For example, people with diabetes can develop a reduced sensitivity to heat, which makes it harder to tell if their blanket is getting too hot and causing irritation or burns. Individuals with chronic health conditions should check with their doctor before buying an electric blanket.
• Aside from keeping you nice and warm, heated blankets may also lower your electric bill. If you turn the heat in your home down a few degrees at night and rely on your electric blanket to fill the void, you could save a few bucks and lower your carbon footprint.