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The Best Heating Pads

Last updated on August 25, 2023

We looked at the top 20 Heating Pads and dug through the reviews from 83 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Heating Pads.

Best Heating Pad

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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Our Picks For The Top Heating Pads

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

Sunbeam Arthritis Washable Heating Pad

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Sunbeam

Arthritis Washable Heating Pad

Whether you're suffering from back pain, period cramps or other types of aches and discomfort, you can't beat this classic heating pad from Sunbeam.

Overall Take

Versatile OptionIt has three heat settings and a 9-inch cord for ease of use.

Pros
" Long 9 feet power cord, comfortable and easy to use. King size to cover full body and soothes with ultra-heat."
Cons
"Don’t fall asleep while using this unit, as it doesn’t come with an auto-off feature. Instead, you’ll need to make sure you slide the controller to off position before counting sheep"
 Runner Up

Ambershine Ultra Long Auto-Off Heating Pad

Ambershine

Ultra Long Auto-Off Heating Pad

Available in teal, gray, red and navy blue, this heating pad is designed for full body use. You can drape it over your back, wrap it around your thigh or lay it across your abdomen. The pad also includes six heat settings, so you can customize your experience.

Overall Take

Machine WashableThis heating pad comes with overheat protection and automatically shuts off after 2 hours of use.

 We Also Like

Cure Choice Ultra Soft Electric Heating Pad

Cure Choice

Ultra Soft Electric Heating Pad

With three settings — high, medium and low — this electric heating pad combines ease of use with customizability. The included bag can be removed and cleaned in the washing machine, and the auto-shutoff timer can ease your mind. The size makes it perfect for warming small areas like you shoulder or abdomen.

Overall Take

Easy to CleanThis electric heating pad comes with a removable bag that you can just toss in the washing machine to keep clean.

Pros
" This heating pad can heat up to three settings - low, medium, or high."
Cons
"Some wish the heating pad was hotter on its highest setting."

GOQOTOMO Machine Washable Flexible Heating Pad

GOQOTOMO

Machine Washable Flexible Heating Pad

Relieve everything from cramps to sore muscles with this machine washable heating pad. The device doesn't have any complicated settings and can heat up in as little as 20 seconds. It's also made using a microplush fiber that is extremely soft to the touch, making it comfortable to use on bare skin.

Overall Take

Choice of ColorsYou'll find this heating pad comes in a choice of green, blue or pink with flowers.

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.

MORE: The Best Microwave Heating Pad

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.

MORE: The right and wrong way to use a heating pad

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.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
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Products Considered

We identified the majority of the heating pads available to purchase.
20

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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83

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Gist Gear, Pool Advisors, LegendTopList, The New York Times, BestReviews.

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User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 20 Heating Pads and also dug through the reviews from 83 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.

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What to Look For

  • Consider a heating pad that lets you choose between moist and dry heat.
  • Temperature preferences can vary from one person to the next. Some individuals may prefer extreme heat, while others just want to get warm. There are heating pads that reach 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. Some pads have six heat setting options. Other pads have just four heat settings.
  • There are also disposable heating pads on the market. 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. Look for a pad that has a cover that can be removed for easy cleaning. Others allow you to machine wash the pad after removing the cord.

MORE: How to make your own heating pad

  • 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 others, 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. You’ll find there are models that are a generous 12 by 24-inches.
  • 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.
  • You may spend quite a bit of time with your heating pad in place, so it’s important that it’s comfortable. Look for a pad that has a plush side that feels good against the skin but isn’t so thick that it causes you to sweat.
  • 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 disposable heating pads is that they require no heat source whatsoever, letting you wear them wherever you go for up to 12 hours.

More to Explore

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.

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