We might have made it through the coldest months, but the best electric blankets can be used all year round to keep even the chilliest beds toasty. Slipping between the mattress and your fitted sheet, most electric blankets use thin, heated wires to evenly warm your bed. They usually have temperature controls to avoid things getting too sweaty, and some have timers to automatically turn off as you fall asleep, or turn on just before you wake up.
While electric blankets for beds aren’t meant to be seen and have a utilitarian design, others can be used as heated throws for getting cosy on the sofa and have the look and feel of a luxurious blanket.
Electric blankets are cheap to run, too. If you don’t want to heat the whole house when you’re feeling a little chilly, a traditional electric blanket on your bed costs about a penny an hour to run.
With so many styles available, we’ve been busy testing a range of electric blankets and throws to find out which ones offer the best value for money.
How we tested
We spent six months testing most of these blankets, draping the throws over our laps at every opportunity. We also recruited some retirees into our testing pool, so they could let us know their thoughts. We were looking for something that kept us warm without overheating, was easy to control and, in the case of heated throws, looked good, too. Of course, quality, safety and price were never far from our minds.
Why you can trust us
Zoë Phillimore has been an IndyBest tester since 2021, with extensive expertise reviewing home must-haves, including bedding and energy-efficient appliances. Having covered everything from pillows and duvets to mattress toppers, she’s well placed to test textile and sleep products. When it comes to electric blankets, she’s done lots of research into what makes one better than another, taking a close look at fabric composition, temperature control and quality. She’s rigorously tested each model for months in the same real-life environment you will be using it. Keep reading for the ones that made the cut.
The best electric blankets for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Slumberdown elegantly warm luxury heated throw: £55.49, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Silentnight comfort control electric blanket: £35, Amazon.co.uk
- Best teddy-style heated throw – Marks and Spencer heavy weight heated throw: £59, Marksandspencer.com
- Best budget dual-control design – Silentnight Yours&Mine dual control electric blanket: £45, Marksandspencer.com
- Best knitted heated throw – Lakeland StaySnug berry knitted heated throw: £59.99, Lakeland.co.uk
