A quality electric heated blanket can be your favorite snuggle buddy all winter long. Perfect for movie marathons on the couch or across your bed on a chilly night, keeping you warm no matter the freezing weather outside. The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab found the best electric blankets to keep you cozy and snug this winter – plus, all of our picks are machine washable!
Electric blankets will heat your bed, but they're also ultra soft blankets that you'll love being all wrapped up in. Whether you have a twin, queen, king, or any size bed, these blankets are available in both smaller and larger sizes. We found the best styles so you can find the electric blanket that is the perfect fit for your home:
- Best Overall Electric Blanket: Sunbeam Heated Blanket
- Best Value Electric Blanket: Sunbeam Heated Fleece Throw Blanket
- Best Electric Blanket for Couples: SoftHeat Blanket by Perfect Fit
- Best Electric Throw Blanket: Beautyrest Foot Pocket Electric Blanket
- Most Comfortable Electric Blanket: L.L. Bean Heated Blanket
- Best Reversible Electric Blanket: Sunbeam Reversible Heated Throw Blanket
Here's everything you need to know about heated blankets before you get shopping:
How do electric blankets work?
Electric blankets plug into an electrical socket to use electricity to heat the blanket. They feature insulated wires that are safely kept in place between the fabric layers of the blanket. The wires run throughout to heat the entire blanket – quite quickly too!
Are electric blankets safe?
Generally, yes. Many wonder if you can keep an electric blanket on all night long, and most electric blankets on the market feature auto shut-off, meaning they will automatically turn off after two to 10 hours.
Always make sure to follow all care and use instructions to ensure everyone’s safety. Check your electric blanket's manual to see how many volts it can handle from the power supply. Then, use a power adapter for outlets with higher voltage to avoid overheating and damaging the blanket.
Do electric blankets raise your heating bill?
Electric blankets are actually cheaper to use than cranking the heat in your house. If your blanket uses 200 watts (the watt usage should be listed in the manual) leaving it on for 10 hours corresponds to two kilowatt-hours, which would cost around 20 cents, depending on where you live. If using an electric blanket lets you turn the heat down at night, then the additional cost can actually be a money saving investment.
How do I care for an electric blanket?
First and foremost, you must, must, must follow all care and use instructions that are included in your electric blanket's manual so everyone stays safe. Aim to keep your electric blanket spread out evenly and not bunched up in a ball, which can create hot spots or damage the wires. When not in use, make sure to unplug and neatly fold the blanket to keep it in pristine condition. If you notice any brown spots on your blanket, stop using it immediately and purchase a replacement: the brown spots likely mean it has overheated, causing burnt areas.
BEST OVERALL ELECTRIC BLANKET
Sunbeam Heated Blanket
Our consumer testers raved about how soft and cozy this microplush heated blanket from Sunbeam was. The easy to use remote has 10 heat settings, so you can find your sweet spot. The heat will automatically shut off after 10 hours – perfect for helping you sleep soundly all night long. It uses ThermoFine technology to auto-adjust to distribute heat evenly and maintain your desired heat level while you catch up on some ZZZs. Plus, this blanket features a pre-heat setting to warm up cold sheets before bedtime. Note that some testers commented that they could feel the wires through the fabric. Reviewers also love the Sunbeam quilted fleece electric blanket too!
BEST VALUE ELECTRIC BLANKET
Sunbeam Heated Fleece Throw Blanket
Sunbeam Zebra Electric Blanket, Throw
Simple and effective, this pick is super popular on Amazon with nearly 1,500 five-star reviews. This electric blanket by Sunbeam offers three heat settings, auto shut-off, and cozy fleece fabric – all for under $30! This blanket automatically shuts off after three hours, so you’re extra warm when falling asleep without ringing up your electric bill all night. Reviewers love how cozy the fabric is and how it’s less bulky than other blankets they’ve purchased. Make sure to pick which color you want when checking out, as the "assorted shades" options means you could receive any of the colors available.
BEST ELECTRIC BLANKET FOR COUPLES
SoftHeat Blanket by Perfect Fit
Perfect Fit Ultra Soft Plush Electric Heated Warming Blanket
Reviewers rave about this electric blanket, giving especially high marks for material quality (4.4 stars). In full, queen, and king sizes, this blanket offers dual control, which allows each person to personalize the heat on their side of the bed with 10 heat settings – say goodbye to fighting over the bedroom thermostat. Soft Heat features ultra-thin wires that are evenly spaced three inches apart throughout the blanket. It'll automatically shut-off after 10 hours, so you can snooze in warmth all night long. Note that some reviewers find that the plastic, reflective surface inside the blanket makes noise when crumpled.
BEST ELECTRIC THROW BLANKET
Beautyrest Foot Pocket Electric Blanket
Foot Pocket Soft Microlight Plush Electric Blanket
If your feet just can’t get warm, even with the warmest socks, this electric blanket from Beautyrest is ideal. There’s a foot pocket on the bottom, so your feet can be completely cozied up – a blanket and foot warmer in one. It's throw blanket sized, and reviewers love how it looks draped over their sofa. With three heat settings and automatic shut-off after two hours, it’s perfect for watching a movie on the couch or staying extra warm to fall asleep.
MOST COMFORTABLE ELECTRIC BLANKET
L.L. Bean Heated Blanket
Reviewers love the ultra-plush, velvety feel of this L.L. Bean electric blanket. It’s made with a top layer of Primalush 100% polyester with a loftmink polyester back side. However, some reviewers wish the two sides were better connected. To warm your bed, turn on the preheat setting (one of 10 different heat settings) – your bed will get extra cozy before you crawl under the sheets. The heating element is ultra thin, designed to evenly distribute heat and prevent you from feeling wires through the super soft fabric.
BEST REVERSIBLE ELECTRIC BLANKET
Sunbeam Reversible Heated Throw Blanket
Heated Reversible Throw Blanket
If you can't decide on which electric blanket is best for you, try a reversible one. This style from Sunbeam is reversible with one side being smooth and soft while the other mimics the feel of Sherpa. With three heat settings and three hour auto-shut off, this blanket is ideal for heating up your sheets before bed or snuggling up during a TV binge. With over 2,500 five star reviews, reviewers loved the cozy feel and how warm it was able to get. Note that some reviewers said they received defective products, so make sure to test the blanket before the return window closes.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
