The 9 Best Heated Blankets and Throws for Ultimate Coziness

When the colder months arrive, many of us go to great lengths to try and keep warm. Sometimes, that’s as simple as throwing on a sweater and bundling up with a wool blanket. But other occasions call for more extreme measures. On those uber-chilly days (and nights), nothing beats the warmth and coziness of an electric heated blanket. Combining the soft exterior of a traditional blanket with an electrically-powered inner heating element, heated blankets are perhaps one of mankind’s most underrated inventions. Able to warm you up quickly and consistently without a whole lot of effort on your part, a good heated blanket makes for the ultimate affordable luxury during winter’s dreariest days and nights.

What to Look for in a Heated Blanket

Auto shut-off

Perhaps the most important feature to make sure is included in your heated electric blanket is this safety feature. Since you’re likely to fall asleep with the blanket, you’re not going to want to leave it on all night. Doing so can potentially result in burns on your body or even worse, the blanket could potentially start a fire. An auto shut-off feature will automatically turn the blanket off after a set number of hours, reducing the potential harm that comes with leaving your heated blanket on all night.

Cord length

Since you’re using your heated blanket as, well, a blanket, you’ll need to make sure the cord is long enough to 1) reach your bed and 2) allow you to toss and turn a bit. Options tend to top out around nine or ten feet, so look for a blanket with a cord around that length if you anticipate needing a lot of room.

Washing instructions

For ease of care, you’ll probably want to select a blanket with a removable shell that’s machine washable. Thankfully, many blankets on the market meet these criteria, but always take special care to read the cleaning instructions. Although most heated blankets are machine washable, those without removable shells are often not machine dryable, so make sure you’re carefully reading those laundering directions to keep from frying your blanket’s internals. Don’t burn your money in the dryer.

UL Certification

Give yourself some peace of mind when buying your heated blanket. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent safety testing organization, will give their seal of approval in the form of a UL Certification. This certification proves that UL has tested the product and has deemed it safe for use. Most name brands currently on the market are UL-certified.

L.L.Bean

Best Overall Heated Blanket

L.L. Bean Wicked Cozy Heated Blanket

• $189.00 at L.L.Bean

You know L.L. Bean as the manufacturer of your childhood backpack and your Bean Boots, but, between its moccasins, shirts and socks, Mr. Leon Leonwood Bean knows how to make a cozy thing. The company’s Wicked Cozy Heated Blanket is no exception, with five heat settings, soft PrimaLush fabric and a special insulating layer that reflects warmth back to your body. Despite ending its lifetime warranty policy in 2018, you can return products up to one year after purchase, with a special exception made for items that are defective due to materials or craftsmanship. “While I’m not sure why anyone would need a king-sized heated blanket, we appreciate the absurdity of having heated blanket [sic] to spare,” a review reads, but don’t fret: It comes in twin and full/queen sizes as well.

Courtesy

Best Splurge Heated Blanket

Warmee Smart Heated Blanket

• $399.00 at warmee.com

If you’re a person who controls their lighting via phone app, you’ll love the Warmee, which can be connected to your phone, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to control blanket temperature and heat time for up to 10 hours. Invisiwire technology provides warmth without bulk and despite being technologically advanced, this blanket can be thrown in a non-technologically advanced washer and dryer. If you’re looking for something for the couch, consider the Smart Heated Throw, which features the same technology in a 60-by-70 inch velvet plush, and some colors not available in the full-size heated blanket (white; white silver dot).

Amazon

Best Budget Heated Blanket

Sunbeam Heated Blanket

• $43.00 at Amazon

Between the price point, the soft and cozy fleece and consistent heating, it’s no surprise that this blanket currently clocks in at 4.4 stars with more than 32,000 reviews on Amazon. It’s machine washable and dryer safe, meaning you won’t have to jump through hoops to get it clean. ThermoFine technology senses the blanket temperature and adjusts to provide consistent warmth, with five heat settings to choose from. A three-hour auto shutoff provides peace of mind. Some reviews say it gives out after a year, so it might be a “I’ll buy a heated blanket, see if I like it and then splurge if I can’t live without one” purchase.

Amazon

Best Heated Blanket for Napping on the Couch

Brookstone n-a-p Heated Plush Throw

• $100.00 at Amazon

With a four-hour auto shut off, this throw is perfect for setting an alarm for 20 minutes and then waking up three hours later with lines and dents all over your body, feeling like you returned from another dimension — the telltale sign of a good, dope nap. A nine-foot power cord means you can lug it all over the house and nap anywhere without accidentally ripping the plug out while flopping like a fish.

Amazon

Best Heated Blanket for the Great Outdoors

Cozee Heated Blanket

• $260.00 at Amazon

Are you: an outdoor dude who likes being outdoors in tents; a dad who frequents many a soccer or football game; or an avid #vanlife-er? Congrats, this battery powered blanket is for you. This blanket warms up in just five minutes, gives more than five hours of continuous heat, has two USB ports for charging devices, and includes a wall and car charger. The company has an excellent origin story as well: the founders’ created the blanket to allow their daughter — who has poor circulation due to cerebral palsy and gets cold easily — enjoy outings, her favorite activity.

Amazon

Best Heated Blanket for the Bedroom

Beautyrest Microlight to Berber Heated Blanket

• $45.00 at Amazon
  $50.00 (10% off)

This blanket features a 10-hour auto shutoff, 20 different temperature settings, is reversible and comes with two controllers in the queen and full sizes, meaning you and your partner will each have your desired temperature. Eight color options mean there’s a shade for any decor vibe, including a rich, eggplant purple and a dreamy, modern teal.

Hammacher Schlemmer

Best Heated Weighted Blanket

Hammacher Schlemmer The Heated Weighted Blanket

• $130.00 at Hammacher Schlemmer

Have you ever thought, “what if my heated blanket also gave me a gentle hug?” Congrats, we have a blanket just for you. Thirteen pounds of high-quality, non-toxic micro glass beads are stitched to evenly fill the entire blanket; four heat settings on the LED controller allow you to select temperatures ranging from 90-105 degrees. The front of the throw is soft-to-the-touch micromink with a cozy sherpa lining (read: cozy!), and features a 9-foot cord. Warning: it’s spot clean only.

Wayfair

Best Heated Blanket for Snuggleheads

Woolrich Tasha Mink to Berber Heated Throw

• $84.00 at Wayfair

This heated blanket features Secure Comfort Heat technology to adjust throw temperature based on overall heat, spot temperatures and the room’s temperature. It also features three heat settings (because your prerogative is to be cozy, not fumble with the temperature) and a combo of faux mink and sherpa. And it comes in two kinds of plaid, the ultimate cozy pattern.

Amazon

Best Lightweight Heated Blanket

Pure Enrichment Purerelief Deluxe Heated Blanket

• $90.00 at Amazon

If you want warmth without the heft, this UL-listed heated blanket is for you. It’s made out of micromink and automatically shuts off after 10 hours, and features a temperature range of 87 to 105 degrees, along with a sleep-friendly light mode that turns the controlled lights off after 10 seconds for a better night’s sleep.

Amazon

Best Heated Blanket for Couples

Degrees of Comfort Dual Control Electric Blanket

• $90.00 at Amazon

This blanket, which features 20 different heat settings, a 12.5 foot power cord and dual controllers, means you and your partner will be cozy and content, because blankets are not worth fighting over. And, it comes in California King-sized, meaning even the biggest beds can achieve peak warmth. With a four-star rating and 70 percent of reviews rating this blanket at five stars, you and your partner will agree that it’s a worthwhile purchase.

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