The Best Heated Blankets

This heated blanket from Brookstone is plush and cozy and is available in sizes ranging from twin to king. The queen and king sizes have two controllers, each with a long cord. The controller itself is wedge-shaped and offers extensive customization. Choose your heat level from 10 options, and the auto-shutoff time ranges from 30 minutes to 12 hours. There’s a soft, yellow light that stays on to indicate that the blanket is warming, but it’s not too bright or obtrusive. The buttons on the controller are a little loud and clicky, so if your bedmate is a noise-sensitive sleeper, you’ll want to dial in your settings before they fall asleep.

The polyester blanket is very soft and slippery, and it’s thinner than the Sleep Number above—you can feel the wires quite easily, which I didn’t love. But the blanket warms up quickly and stays warm throughout the night. If you want a solid heated blanket that won’t cost an arm and a leg, this may be the one you’re looking for.

The Lovesac Radiant Footsac is extremely plush. Your fingers sink into the faux fur on the top side, and the underside is a soft cotton-polyester blend. At 50 inches by 70 inches, this is a good throw size, or it could be used for one person in bed. My favorite part is the feature that sets it apart from the competition: There’s a built-in pocket for your feet! It’s roomy and takes up about the bottom sixth of the blanket. There’s a stitched portion holding the pocket closed in the middle, but it doesn’t go all the way through to the bottom, so you can tuck your feet into one side or stick a foot into both sides and have them touch. I thought initially that this might feel constricting, but it actually adds another layer of coziness that helps me bundle up and feel extra comfy. And it helps keep my feet warm, something that very few things have managed to accomplish. It almost feels like the blanket stays tucked under your body so you don’t have to keep rearranging it to keep the warmth in. Combine that ultra comfort with the super-soft luxe faux fur and you have yourself an excellent electric throw blanket. I’ve been toting mine around the house like an animal pelt.

This blanket has the least obvious inner electrical components of all the options I’ve tested. I like that you can choose a few different time frames for auto shut-off—it’s extra nice for napping. The remote has a small blue light that stays on during use, but it’s not too bright. I do wish the cord were slightly longer or that you could plug it in to both sides (it’s on the bottom-left corner). Despite those little details, I think this blanket is an excellent and luxurious pick if you’ve got the budget for it.

This Amazon bestseller may not be as high quality as blankets twice the price, but I'm surprised at how decent it is for less than 70 bucks. I tried out the Throw size, and it was perfect to drape over my lap. It definitely can't compare to the more expensive and luxurious end of our picks, but if you're on a very tight budget, or you want a solid throw option that isn't too hefty or stifling, it's worth considering. The polyester itself is soft, with a velourlike side and a sherpalike side. It's thin enough that you can feel the internal heating components very easily, but the blanket does come in a very wide variety of colors. There are only four heat settings and the automatic shutoff can't be changed, either. I don't think this heated blanket is going to be enough to use in bed on a cold winter night, but it is really nice to have on the sofa while watching a movie. It'd also make a good option for kiddos since it doesn't get too hot and the shutoff time is so short.

This reversible heated blanket from Beautyrest is thick, soft, and stretchy. I was immediately pleased upon touching it for the first time—it's just so cozy. And I really like that the sherpa side is the same color as the rest of the blanket, which lends it a more luxurious appearance than the standard cream sherpa that's often found on the reverse side of these products. This blanket heats up really quickly, which I was thankful for when testing it during the first 20-degree-Fahrenheit temperatures I encountered this year. And the inner heating components are easily disguised, so they're nearly impossible to feel unless you seek them out.

The only thing preventing this from being my top pick was the controller, which plugs into one side of the blanket (on the plush side, rather than on the very edge). This meant that if I wanted to have the sherpa side down, I needed to either plug the blanket into a new place, or contort it and myself to keep the controller in reach. The controller cord is quite thick and inflexible, and I find it a little ugly and oversized. I also wish that you could select the automatic shutoff time. But these are not dealbreakers, and I still think this blanket is worthwhile, especially if you don't want it to look like every other throw in your house.

This blanket from Bedsure feels thicker than it is thanks to its ribbed texture, which also helps to mask the feeling of the internal heating components. The polyester is sherpa on one side and soft, velvety fabric on the other. It's a bit slow to heat up compared to others I've tried, but it didn't take so long that it annoyed me. And I like the remote's sleek, small design and easy maneuverability. The blanket is lightweight, so it keeps you warm without being stifling. There are plenty of heat and timer settings, too. There are a staggering number of color options, including seasonal prints, so you should be able to find a design that suits you. If you want a solid heated blanket in a nonstandard design or color, this one is worth considering.