Best Heated Blankets, Tested and Reviewed (2025)

Nothing makes me sleepy quite like being warm. A heated blanket can speed up the process of waiting for your bed to warm up, especially on cold nights. And if you live in a drafty house like mine, a heated blanket can keep you feeling cozy even if it’s windy outside. I’ve taken some of the best naps of my life testing heated blankets for this guide. Below, you’ll find my favorite picks for the best electric blankets, like the Sleep Number Warming Blanket ($230). Prices are for queen size unless otherwise indicated.

Be sure to check out our many related buying guides, including the Best Sheets, Best Weighted Blankets, Best Down Comforters, Best Gifts for Perpetually Cold People, and the Best Couches.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

I used each blanket for a minimum of three hours, both while lounging and while napping. I tested each feature and compared the softness, ease of use, durability, number of heat settings, and more factors to make my picks.

Heated Blanket Safety, Explained

Electric blankets—especially ones older than 10 years old—have become a bit infamous for being fire hazards. But when it comes to safety, modern heated blankets have come leaps and bounds past their predecessors. Look for independently tested blankets and bedding that have met safety standards (such UL or ETL). These agencies ensure that the blankets can handle wear and tear, that they don’t get too hot, that they’re machine washable, and more.

Make sure to treat electric blankets gently. You don’t want to fold them tightly, ball them up, or otherwise damage the inner electric components. You shouldn’t use heavy bedding on top of heated blankets or wrap them too closely around your body—it can cause overheating. (I experienced this when I fell asleep underneath mine wrapped up like a burrito and woke up hours later drenched in sweat.)

You shouldn’t plug your blanket into an extension cord, and you should never leave the blanket on if you’re not using it. Keep it out of reach of pets, kids, or anyone with reduced heat sensitivity who might not be able to tell if they’re getting too hot. Make sure the heated blanket is fully dry after washing before you use it again. And finally, be on the lookout for anything amiss, like strange smells or spotty performance. If you encounter these scenarios, immediately unplug the blanket and reach out to the manufacturer for further instructions.

The Best Heated BlanketSleep Number

Warming Blanket

The Sleep Number Warming Blanket is pricey, but it’s worth it. It has adjustable dual controls for each side, split right down the middle. It warms up quickly—I notice it getting warmer immediately after turning it on, a mark of its high quality. The power cords are plenty long—from the controller to the blanket, 150 inches, and from the controller to the plug, 160 inches. The cords come out of the bottom of the blanket. The oval-shaped controller is easy to use: Dial the heat from ”low” to ”high” with nine levels of heat in between, then press the button to turn it on.

Note that the warm light from the controller stays on while the blanket it in use, but I didn’t find it to be too bright, and it certainly wasn’t disruptive. Each side of the blanket has its own heating components, so your partner’s heat selection won’t affect yours or make you overheat. The polyester fabric feels soft and plush to the touch, and the heating components go almost all the way to the outer edge of the blanket. They’re not super noticeable or rigid. Overall, this blanket is soft, it’s easy to use even for two people, and it will keep you warm no matter how cold it is outside. I do wish it was less expensive, but there are cheaper options on the market if this is out of your budget.

Color options3Size options2Heating cycle options11Automatic shutoff time10 hoursSafety certificationETLMachine washable?YesBest Budget OptionPhotograph: Louryn Strampe

Bedsure

Solid Flannel Electric Blanket

Bedsure makes tons of affordable electric blankets. This reversible one is made of polyester—one side is plush fabric, and the other is a white fluffy sherpa material. The controller cord is slightly shorter than on the other heated blankets I’ve tried, though not by much. One flaw is that the light on this controller is blue, and since it stays on during use, it’s more obtrusive than the warm white and yellow lights on other blankets in this guide. I managed to wrangle it under my dresser to hide it while I slept, but I wish the light were a different color or at least a little dimmer. This blanket has a preheating mode that I love. You can turn it on and the blanket will automatically switch to heat level 10 for up to two hours before switching to level 5 for six hours. That’ll help “boost” the blanket’s immediate effectiveness and especially comes in handy during colder nights when it would typically take a while for your bed to heat up. The auto shut-off time goes up to 10 hours.

This blanket heats up quickly, even without the preheat mode. It’s a little on the thin side, and you can feel the wires if you look for them, but the fluffy material helps disguise the feel of them, and they’re not super bothersome. I also like that this blanket is available in some more fun colors like green and mauve. I think this would make an excellent basic heated blanket for the living room to keep you toasty during movie nights.

Color options10Size options4Heating cycle options10Automatic shutoff timeUp to 10 hoursSafety certificationETLMachine washable?Yes