The Best Heating Pad - 2021
We looked at the top 10 Heating Pads and dug through the reviews from 59 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Heating Pads.
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Our Picks For The Top Heating Pads
- The Best Heating Pad
- 1. Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad
- 2. Geniani Moist & Dry Electric Heating Pad
- 3. Chattanooga Theratherm Digital Moist Heating Pad
- 4. Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad
- 5. OKAMOTO USA Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads
- 6. Sunbeam XpressHeat Heating Pad
- 7. Thermalon Microwave Activated Moist Heat Pad
- 8. Proaller Large Size Ultra Soft Heat Therapy Wrap
- 9. Sunbeam UltraHeat Heating Pad
- 10. MIGHTY BLISS Large Electric Heating Pad
Extra-Large SizeLarger than most, so it covers a wider area of aches and pains. Six heat settings and a two-hour shutoff safety feature.
Moist and Dry Heat TherapyThis heating pad is equipped with low, medium and high-temperature modes, as well as an auto shut-off feature, which takes effect after two hours.
Lots of OptionsCompletely customizable. Choose from dry or moist heat and the perfect temperature.
Perfect for Neck PainPerfect for soothing neck pains. Four heat settings and the option of moist or dry heat.
Why we recommend these heating pads?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 10 Heating Pads and also dug through the reviews from 59 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Heating Pads.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad
Our Take
With heating capabilities up to 112 degrees, this heating pad lets you choose from six separate heat settings. A two-hour shutoff feature keeps you safe if you forget to turn it off after use. In our testing, we liked how soft and plush it felt. The extra large size was also nice, since it could cover a larger area than most heating pads.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Geniani Moist & Dry Electric Heating Pad
Our Take
Whether you're suffering from back pain or cramps, this heating pad is an excellent choice. It offers both wet and dry heat and features a thick microfiber plush pad that is soft up against your skin. Users will appreciate its extra-large size, as it's able to cover a wider area.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Heating Pad Findings
Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad
What We Liked: With heating capabilities up to 112 degrees, this heating pad lets you choose from six separate heat settings. A two-hour shutoff feature keeps you safe if you forget to turn it off after use. In our testing, we liked how soft and plush it felt. The extra large size was also nice, since it could cover a larger area than most heating pads.
Geniani Moist & Dry Electric Heating Pad
What We Liked: Whether you’re suffering from back pain or cramps, this heating pad is an excellent choice. It offers both wet and dry heat and features a thick microfiber plush pad that is soft up against your skin. Users will appreciate its extra-large size, as it’s able to cover a wider area.
Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad
What We Liked: With four heat settings and the option of either moist or dry heat, this heating pad provides customizability for every user. A larger size helps you cover more of your back while also being flexible enough to heat your shoulder. A magnetic closure helps hold it in place to let you move around while using it. We liked how easy it was to wrap around an aching neck.
OKAMOTO USA Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads
What We Liked: This heating pad is different from corded heating pads. With these, you simply put them in place for up to 12 hours, and then dispose of them when finished. You’ll get an affordable price, but it does cover a smaller area than traditional heating pads.
Thermalon Microwave Activated Moist Heat Pad
What We Liked: You don’t have to worry about any electric wires when you opt for this heating pad. It’s made of non-toxic materials, is reusable and is able to be heated up in a microwave. The pad works by using a special Hydro Pearl technology to deliver a moist heat that is nice and even.
Our Heating Pad Buying Guide
If you suffer from back pain, you likely already know the benefits of heat therapy. Just a short time on a heating pad loosens back muscles, relieving tension and helping with spasms and stiffness. But finding the right heating pad can take some time, especially with so many good ones on the market.
One decision you’ll find you need to make is whether you want a pad that provides only dry heat, only moist heat or a combination of both. There is no clear answer as to which is better. The truth is, moist heat works better for some back pain sufferers and dry heat works better for others. Experimenting with both can help you figure out which helps you most.
Temperature control is another feature to consider. It can be tough to find that just-right setting, but it helps to have multiple choices. If “low” and “high” are your only options, you may find one is too hot and one isn’t hot enough. In addition to temperature control, consider whether a timer is important to you. Being able to set a specific time and trust your heating pad to shut off when the time is up may give you peace of mind, especially if you like to nap on it.
Coverage area is also something to consider. Not all heating pads are sized the same, so you may find some don’t quite provide the comfort you need for the part of your back where you’re experiencing pain. You’ll only get frustrated if you have to constantly move it around.
It may not be your most important factor, but it’s still important to consider how easy it will be to clean your heating pad at least occasionally. Some heating pads come with covers that you can simply toss in the washer for ease of cleanup.
DWYM Fun Fact
Heat therapy for aches and pains is nothing new. In fact, in Ancient Greece and Egypt, physicians used the sun’s rays to help people find relief. Thermal baths, mud baths and even hot air caverns attached to volcanic sources were all part of this therapy at one time or another. In addition to these therapies, those experiencing issues such as muscle spasms were treated using hot water, steam and sand. As medicine evolved, hot vapor baths were used for fevers, arthritis and other conditions. Sweat baths continue to serve as therapy for various ailments in some cultures to this day.
The Heating Pad Tips and Advice
- If you’re looking for a heating pad that lets you choose between moist and dry heat, go with the Geniani Moist & Dry Electric Heating Pad, Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad or the Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad.
- Temperature preferences can vary from one person to the next. For those who want extreme heat, the OKAMOTO USA Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pad may tend to be too hot for some people. In fact, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad reaches 112 degrees.
- To help you find that perfect setting, though, some heating pads offer multiple levels. There are models that range from 88 degrees to 166 degrees Fahrenheit with a control that lets you move the dial in 1-degree increments. The Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad has six heat setting options. The Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad has four heat settings.
- OKAMOTO USA Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads are completely different from other heating pads. These disposable pads are meant to stay in place for 12 hours, with no cord or battery power necessary.
- Keeping your heating pad clean can be an ongoing challenge. The Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad has a cover that can be removed for easy cleaning. With the Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad, you can machine wash the pad after removing the cord.
- Experts recommend limiting the amount of time you spend using a heating pad since it could cause burns with prolonged use. A timer can help with that. Some models have a timer that lets you choose a time of up to 60 minutes. With the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad and Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad, you get a two-hour auto-shutoff feature to keep you safe.
- Look for a heating pad that has a lockout mode that keeps you from accidentally changing the settings while you’re using it.
- Dimensions are especially important with heating pads since you’re looking for them to cover a specific area. Look at the actual measurements, rather than promises like “Extra Large” in the product description. The Geniani Moist & Dry Electric Heating Pad is a generous 12 by 24-inches, with the Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad following at 14 by 22-inches. Noticeably smaller than those two is the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad, at 12 by 15-inches. Disposable OKAMOTO USA Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads are only 3.75 by 5.125-inches, probably making them better for targeted heating.
- The very thing that makes a smaller heating pad undesirable for widespread back pain, though, makes it great if your pain tends to move from your shoulder to your back. The Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad is actually better for your neck and shoulder area than your back, but it works for both.
- You may spend quite a bit of time with your heating pad in place, so it’s important that it’s comfortable. The Geniani Moist & Dry Electric Heating Pad has a plush side that feels good against the skin but isn’t so thick that it causes you to sweat. The Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad is built with microplush fibers to keep you comfortable. The Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad is not only soft and comfortable, but it has a magnetic closure that helps hold it in place.
- One of the biggest challenges with a heating pad is that it requires either a cord or some other heating source to provide consistent warmth. The best thing about OKAMOTO USA Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads is that they require no heat source whatsoever, letting you wear them wherever you go for up to 12 hours. The Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad and Sunbeam Neck Heating Pad both have extra-long power cords to make it easy for you to move around during the short time period in which you’re wearing them.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in health and nutrition. She enjoys spending time searching for the best all-natural products that will keep her and her family in optimal health. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared on leading health and wellness publications.