The PrimeStyle Lighted Controller comes with 3 heat settings and 3-hour auto-off. The exclusive ThermoFine warming system senses and adjusts throughout the night for the highest comfort and consistent warmth. This plush blanket comes in a number of rich colors, and its queen and king sizes have dual controllers, so partners can set their respective zones to different temperatures. Each controller comes with 20 heat settings—much more than standard—and since the fabric is fairly thick, its wires aren’t as prominent.
Additionally, while the blanket does deliver a range of heat, we were expecting more of a difference between the lowest and highest settings. In general, we weren’t able to feel a difference if we only nudged it up a few numbers. Unfortunately, the controllers kept this blanket from ranking higher.
We tested the energy consumption of each finalist by first testing the wattage with the Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor. It connects to household appliances to assess its energy use in voltage, watts, and kilowatt hours. For those that are budget-conscious, it’s also the least expensive blanket that we reviewed. Since it has many of the same options as the Sunbeam Sherpa Mink throw, such as an easy-to-use controller and three-hour auto-shut-off, it offers plenty of bang for your buck. Some are made from toasty fleece, while other blankets are covered in cozy micro flannel.
The actual cord that plugs into a wall outlet is quite long at 10 feet, so you should be able to plug this in anywhere in your bedroom. You should be able to easily run the cord under your bed so you don’t trip over it in the middle of the night or morning. However, the controller cords are a bit short, and they may not reach your bedside tables. The different controllers (some are figure-8 style, others are rectangular blocks that look like clock radios) could be because of the different sizes of blankets, or even colors.
In 2022, we tested one additional mattress pad, our current pick, since our previous mattress pad pick was experiencing prolonged stock issues. What distinguishes these blankets from a regular throw is the wiring that runs throughout the material. Unlike a heating pad, electric blankets don’t have a “cover”—the wires are integrated directly into the fabric, and they can’t be removed.
If you turn the heat in your home down a few degrees at night and rely on your electric blanket to fill the void, you could save a few bucks and lower your carbon footprint. Like all Sunbeam heated bedding items, this blanket requires a single outlet sunbeam electric blanket even for the dual-controller versions. Blankets we tested from other manufacturers required two separate outlets. It also has the safety latched plug for the port at the base of the blanket, another feature exclusive to Sunbeam bedding.
Designed with Sunbeam’s “ThermoFine” technology, this blanket distributes heat evenly so your entire body will experience the same level of warmth. In our analysis of 37 expert reviews, the Sunbeam Lush Polyester Electric Blanket placed 17th when we looked at the top 21 products in the category. After 300 hours sleeping on 17 models, we’ve chosen four memory-foam, latex, and fiber-filled mattress toppers that we think will work for most sleepers. Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. Because it’s an electric device that you’re using while asleep, it’s important to follow these guidelines carefully to ensure your safety. Another problem was that the cord connecting the two controllers was a little too short to reach under my bed, so if one controller got jostled or pulled, the other one fell off the side table.
It’s also about $40 cheaper than the comparably featured Serta Luxe Plush when this review was initially published, making it our clear winner. When storing heated bedding, disconnect and carefully wrap the controller cords. You should roll or gently fold the bedding to avoid pressing, bending, or warping the wires. For this reason, you shouldn’t store heated bedding in compression bags, vacuum-seal it, or keep it underneath heavy items. The combination of electricity and bedding naturally makes some people nervous. But engineering and fire-safety experts told us that today’s heated bedding is very safe when certified by an independent testing lab , kept in good working condition, and used correctly.
This determines the cord length you’ll need from your electric blanket. You can use almost any electric blanket if you have an outlet right next to your bed, but you’ll need something longer if your power outlet is located on a distant wall. It’s got three warming settings and a three-hour automatic shut-off function, plus it senses and adjusts to deliver consistent heat. In our tests this pad was comfortable overall but had more detectable wires; side-sleepers especially noticed them. Using thicker flannel sheets helped mask the feel of the wires a bit better.
For this 2022 update, we tested three different electric heated throws, and the Tefici – Electric Heated Throw used less wattage and produced a higher temperature than the other two. Like most electric throws, the Tefici measures 50×60″, so it’s really only intended for snuggling up on the couch or in a chair. Many electric throws have an actual measurement of the heating element that’s less because of borders on all four sides. The cord has only three settings and is lighted for easy use in the dark.