With its snuggly soft texture and cozy fleece side, the Sunbeam – Sherpa-Mink Throw Blanket is perfect to curl up with even before you turn the heat on. In fact, the premium soft material and plush thickness of the sherpa means you don’t even feel the wires when the blanket is resting against your body. While priced slightly higher than other electric blankets of the same size, you can clearly see that it would quickly pay for itself. It’s also about $40 cheaper than the comparably featured Serta Luxe Plush when this review was initially published, making it our clear winner.
Our carefully selected performance metrics include each blanket’s heat temperature range, comfort, controls, and washability. Our testers have cozied up and have found the best products to help you stay warm during your next Netflix binge or cold night’s sleep. If you’re a couple or a family who wants to use the blanket together, you may want to consider buying a larger heated blanket with two controllers. This way, two people can adjust their own heat setting on either side of the blanket. “A heated blanket with two controllers can minimize disagreements and help both people get a restful night’s sleep,” says Aludogbu.
After all, a heavier blanket is warmer in the winter, even before you reach for the controller. The Serta Luxe Plush was the heaviest blanket at 7.8 pounds, and the SoftHeat Ultra Micro-Plush was the next heaviest at 6.8 pounds. Of course, the throw blankets were both lighter due to size, with the Sunbeam Royal Mink Sherpa weighing 3.5 pounds and the Sunbeam Camelot Cuddler weighing just three pounds. Each of our finalist blankets did a great job of heating evenly, with no discernable hot or cold spots. However, in terms of overall heat distribution, the SoftHeat and Serta blankets were both clear winners, with the most uniform feel of warmth when under the blanket.
This extra-thick blanket from Thermee is an impressive piece of heated fabric. For one, it claims to be made with seven layers, including micro flannel, sunbeam electric blanket synthetic down fill, electrical cloth, quilt, and sherpa. It’s also so thick that reviewers say that you can’t feel any of the wiring inside of it.
Check out our favorite cooling weighted blankets under $300 that are best for hot sleepers and hot summers. Electric blankets might be risky for some people with chronic illnesses. For example, people with diabetes can develop a reduced sensitivity to heat, which makes it harder to tell if their blanket is getting too hot and causing irritation or burns. Individuals with chronic health conditions should check with their doctor before buying an electric blanket.
The higher the voltage, the greater the risk of electrical shock. You might be wondering what exactly is the difference between AC and DC power, so let’s talk about that. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering gives a thorough explanation, which we’ll summarize here. Alternating current and sunbeam heated throw direct current are different types of voltage or current used for the conduction and transmission of electrical energy. AC is the dominant power source you’ll find in daily-use items like lamps, whereas a battery uses DC power. We looked at the distance between the wires, and how close the wires ran to the edges.
This Sunbeam Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket is made of soft, 100% polyester in a cozy channel design. 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.
I tried, in general, not to wrap it underneath my body since that’s not recommended anyway. In the end, the Sunbeam should be an affordable option for those who want a lower-heat electric blanket to pair with other bedding, but those who something very hot or cozy might want to look elsewhere. The electric blanket has a 10-hour automatic shut-off so, if one leaves the blanket on for 10 hours, it should turn off by itself. Speaking purely in terms of popularity, the Sunbeam brand has been at the top for quite some time and, out of its catalog, the Sunbeam Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket is one of the best sellers.
After sifting through the available electric blankets online, we purchased, tested, and scored the top nine models for this review. Our expert reviewers spent weeks trying and testing these electric blankets to determine the best. This lineup shows the top blankets with the best combination of performance qualities. Take advantage of our hard work and insider details to help make your shopping experience a little easier. If you are looking for a more targeted warming experience, see our Hand Warmer Review.
The Soft Heat Ultra Micro-Plush electric blanket tied with the Serta brand in all three categories, at a lower price. From ease of use and care to cord length, we considered all of these things and more when choosing our top electric blanket picks. If you live in a colder climate and want to snuggle up regularly, you might be willing to shell out more for a premium blanket.