We checked each blanket for wires to discover which felt the most like a normal blanket. Here the texture of the Bedsure electric blanket did a great job of sunbeam heated throw concealing the heating wires. The blankets with the widest temperature range and the most even heating are the Bedsure and Woomer Electric Heated Throw.
In my testing, I found that my 6-year-old washing machine couldn’t handle a king-size blanket, and most brands advise against washing blankets at a laundromat. Instead, I spilled Starbucks coffee on each of them and focused on spot cleaning with soap and water, noting the ease of removing the liquid from all the fabrics. All the blankets I tested had auto shut-off, whether that was over 8, 10 or 12 hours. Each product I tested also had an accredited third-party certification logo, either from UL Solutions or for Intertek , on their instructions or tag. Read on for why you should look for that logo and auto shut-off while shopping.
The Degrees of Comfort stands well and is usable one-handed when placed on your nightstand. Before kicking off our testing, we made a list of the most redeeming qualities of an electric blanket and used those elements to formulate our test plan. We created tests to evaluate the competition on different metrics, including temperature range, comfort, controls, wires, and color options, then scored and ranked each product. The overall top-scoring models have the best balance of these qualities. Two things set this blanket back, the heating wires and the maximum temperature.
This blanket is a bit thinner than you may expect or want, but the thin material is what ensures the blanket heats up easily and quickly. The preheat setting lets you warm your bed up just before you go to sleep, which is one of the best features of this blanket. The five-year warranty gives you peace of mind, just in case anything goes wrong. On top of all that, this is an affordable blanket that comes in a variety of colors and sizes. I was able to easily adjust the temperature in the middle of the night without trouble because the controller illuminates in the dark, a common feature in all the heated blankets I tested. The sleep mode button allows you to adjust the length of the auto shut-off to between 1 and 10 hours, designated by an “H” on the LED screen, which is a good detail for groggy nighttime operation.
I don’t know how many people try to resell it, but it’s always best to get it from a retailer,” Hawk notes. At $299, it’s the priciest of all the winners, but it may be worth the investment if you’d rather control a heated blanket with an app instead of a remote. Turn it on with your phone while you’re making popcorn and have a piping-hot blanket ready for your Netflix binge. I gave this blanket a full 30 minutes to heat up before trying it out. During my testing, the thermometer clocked in the high 70s and low 80s, and the heat felt consistent on my body underneath it, contributing to a comfortable night’s sleep.
Here are a few key things to look for when you shop for a heated blanket. The QR code for instructions and to download the free Warmee app, which is where you control the blanket’s settings. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support our work. Learn how we create the most in-depth and scientific tech reviews on our About page.
We laid each blanket out flat for this test and turned it to a third of its max temperature. After thirty minutes of warming up, we used an infrared thermometer to test five points on each blanket; the middle and each of the four corners. Then we used the sunbeam electric blanket numbers to get the standard deviation and the average temperature of the blanket for each temperature setting. We used setting 3, 6, and then 10/High for our controller settings. We used the standard deviation to determine even heating of the blanket.
The channels sewn into the Sunbeam design are wider, which can allow the wires to shift from side to side, possibly producing hot and cold spots. In 2017, we laundered the winners according to their care instructions to confirm that they didn’t shed excessively, stretch, or shrink when washed. They all performed just fine in that regard, so in 2019 we laundered only our top picks. We observed no problems with shedding, stretching, or shrinking, and all of the blankets and pads still worked after being laundered. Despite the fact that they’ve been around for many years, electric blankets are still plagued with issues. There are several common problems you might experience if you purchase an electric blanket, and they range from moderately inconvenient to dangerous.