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These are the best electric blankets to buy this winter
Cosy nights in just got even cosier with our top buys.
If there's one bit of tech you need to keep you warm this winter, it's an electric blanket. That's right, far from the itchy hazards they used to be, these days heated bedding is softer, safer and impressively energy efficient.
With some costing as little as 1p a night to run, heated blankets are a savvy buy if you're looking for ways to keep your heating bill down and warmth levels high.
We enlisted our homes expert to put them to the test, so whether you want to warm up in bed or get cosy on the sofa in front of your favourite Christmas movie, these are the best heated blankets to buy now:
- Best electric blanket: Slumberdown Wonderfully Warm Electric Blanket
- Best smart electric blanket: Beurer UB 190 comfort heated underblanket
- Quickest to heat up: Dreamland Harmony Electric Over Blanket
- Best combination electric blanket: Cosihome Multi-zone Electric Blanket Double
- Best fleece electric blanket: Dreamcatcher Electric Blanket Double Premium Polar Fleece
- Best foot warmer: Zanussi ZEDB7002 Electric Blanket
- Best single control electric blanket: Monogram by Beurer Komfort 2 in 1 Fully Fitted Electric Blanket
What you need to know about electric blankets
There are two main types of electric blanket – under blankets that secure to your mattresses like a topper, and over blankets that are more like a throw. Both styles come with a range of temperature settings, allowing you to find just the right level of toastiness. Pick the style that will give you the warmth where you need it the most.
Blankets for double beds and beyond tend to have multiple heat zones too, so if there are two of you using the blanket, you can set your own preferences. If sharing, it's also worth looking for dual controls to avoid disturbing each other in the middle of the night. Opt for a blanket with bonus foot warmth settings too, if it's your feet that get the coldest.
All the ones on our list have auto shut-off timers for safety and are machine-washable (or have washing machine-friendly covers!) for easy cleaning.
How we test electric blankets
Our expert homes tester made up a double bed to test each electric blanket, assessing how evenly they distributed heat and whether there was any fluctuation over an extended period of time across different heat settings.
They looked at dual controls too, how accurate the settings were on each side, and how well defined the heat zones were. Lastly, they tried them out in the washing machine to check for shrinkage or damage.
These are our winners:
Slumberdown Wonderfully Warm Electric Blanket
Our winning under blanket put in a stellar performance on test, demonstrating consistent temperature distribution and easy-to-use LED controllers. It has a zip-off fleece cover for easy cleaning, too. With nine temperature settings, including one for your feet, it'll keep you cosy all winter long.
Key specifications
Type: Under blanket
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Dual control: Yes
Number of heat settings: 9
Thanks to this under blanket's handy app, you can set it to warm in advance so your bed is perfectly toasty when it's time to snuggle down for the night. It took a couple of attempts to connect to said app, and the blanket only has one controller attached as a result, but this didn't put us off.
It's also even warmer, with nine heat settings and nine foot warmth settings, as well as an anti-allergy feature to banish dust mites. A neat one to curl up with.
Key specifications
Type: Under blanket
Sizes: Double
Dual control: One plus app control
Number of heat settings: 9
If you're the impatient type, then invest in this fleecy over blanket that reached its lowest temperature setting in a speedy six minutes on test. The temperatures did fluctuate, but its six heat settings and intuitive dual controls will suit most.
Note, it doesn't have extra foot warmth settings, so scroll on if that's a must. Edges bunched slightly after washing too, but you can tumble dry it, which is handy if you're tight on drying space.
Key specifications
Type: Over blanket
Sizes: Single, double, king
Dual control: Yes
Number of heat settings: 6
Deploy this soft electric blanket's helpful (if a little fiddly) cable to transform it from a sofa-friendly over blanket to a mattress-topping under blanket.
It also has impressively defined heat zones and well-designed dual controls which are gently backlit for ease of use at night. A good pick for couples.
Key specifications
Type: Over and under blanket
Sizes: Double, king
Dual control: Yes
Number of heat settings: 9
Luxuriously soft, this bed sheet-style under blanket fitted our test mattress securely and spread warmth out evenly on all of its eight settings, apart from the highest. It barely fluctuated in temperature either. We love the feet-warming settings too, and the dual light-up controls make getting your cosiness just right a breeze.
Key specifications
Type: Under blanket
Sizes: Double, king
Dual control: Yes
Number of heat settings: 8
Your feet will be spoilt for choice with this heated under blanket; it boasts an impressive nine temperature settings just for them! There are nine for your body too, and nearly all performed well on test, delivering even heat throughout.
We did find some temperature crossover between zones and the edges of the blanket curled a little after washing, but it's super soft, has clear light-up controls and is an all-round great value buy.
Key specifications
Type: Under blanket
Sizes: Single, double
Dual control: Yes
Number of heat settings: 9
Monogram by Beurer Komfort 2 in 1 Fully Fitted Electric Blanket
From £54.99 (single) to £99.99 (super king)
If you think one control is plenty, then this fitted heated blanket is a nifty buy, and the raised dots denoting each setting make it accessible and easy to use, too.
The blanket brought an enjoyable softness to our bed and reached its lowest setting quickly – in just 10 minutes, which is only slightly slower than the eight it claims. There aren't specific settings for your feet but the six heat available are adequate, and should have you sleeping like a baby in no time.
Key specifications
Type: Under blanket
Sizes: Single, double, double dual, king, super king
Dual control: Some sizes
Number of heat settings: 6
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