It’ll automatically shut off after 10 hours, so you can snooze in warmth all night long. This soft, ribbed heated blanket was a tester favorite for its attractive look and quality fabric and it maintained its temperature over time in our Lab tests. Just note that some online reviewers find that the plastic, reflective surface inside the blanket makes noise when crumpled. For more than 100 years, Sunbeam has produced household goods with a focus on everyday convenience—and heated bedding is just one of its core categories. To find out why the brand has become the go-to source for electric blankets, we reviewed the Sunbeam Microplush Heated Throw.
The other finalists we reviewed allowed for partial machine drying, but only SoftHeat and Serta were able to machine dry from start to finish. All you have to do is remove the interior heating unit before tossing it in the washing machine and dryer with the rest of your bedding. For first-time heated blanket users, the Sunbeam Microplush Heated Throw is worth the price.
Yet even in these larger models, the Cozy Feet only uses one power cord, which isn’t true of all heated blankets this size. When selecting blankets to test, I extensively studied online ratings and reviews. I considered heated blankets at a variety of price points and only chose products with an auto shut-off feature and warranty.
The plug for the cord is on the outside of the blanket along with a large warning label, which is unattractive in terms of design. Warmth and comfort were our top priorities when making this purchase. Since this throw blanket is intended for one person, it’s not an item we’d use when we have guests over. We suggest sunbeam heated blankets folding the blanket so the warning label isn’t visible, and stowing the cord in a drawer or closet when not in use. The Sunbeam Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket was the least welcoming of the bunch. It’s made from polyester like many others, but it’s neither soft nor cozy, and I didn’t want it against my bare skin.
This zoned mattress pad includes a wireless controller that lets you adjust heat settings across three banded sections . If you get the queen or king size, you can also adjust each side differently for each sleep partner, for a total of six different zones. But, should all of this sound like too much micromanaging, you can also just use the mattress pad with all-over heat.
This is why you should not use any of these blankets while you’re lounging on the couch—for that purpose, many manufacturers sell smaller heated throws meant to go across your lap. In addition, we eliminated mattress pads that had no internal padding sunbeam electric blanket (“fill”) because this feature is necessary to mask the feel of the wires. Combine chilly temperatures with a drafty house, and you could end up with high utility bills. But using electric bedding to heat your bed costs just pennies a night.
Though the Sunbeam Reversible Heated Throw recieves good reviews on the whole, there are some complaints about blankets not being warm enough or not working at all. We contacted the manufacturer to see if they could shed some light on our issue. An automated recording stated that the blanket is designed to maintain your body’s warmth and it may not feel hot to the touch. The recording also said that warming blankets don’t operate like heating pads or older electric blankets. Amy JamiesonThe blanket has 20 adjustable heat settings, the most options of all the blankets I tested.
Almost all models, including our four top picks, come with auto shut-off timers, so you can rest easy at night without worrying about fires or burns. Some models are even safer, as they utilize a special technology that uses a small power supply box to change your home’s electrical current into a low voltage DC current . Retailing around $50, the Sunbeam Microplush Heated Throw is another budget-friendly option. Though it’s made from a different material , it has similar features. What makes this blanket superior to Sunbeam’s Reversible Sherpa/Royalmink Heated Throw is its significantly warmer heat settings and its ability to heat evenly throughout.