- The best electric blankets have a broad range of temperatures to choose from, heat up quickly, and are made from soft fabrics.
- The Sunbeam Queen Size Heated Blanket ticks all the boxes with its plush design, 20 personalized heat settings, and auto-adjust features that provide consistent warmth.
Like most dads, I keep a close eye on our thermostat – much to my family’s chagrin. If you are willing to give up a few degrees here and there, you can save big on utility bills during the cold months while helping the environment. Of course, there are sure to be members of any household who are chronically cold. For them, there are electric blankets.
Just about every electric blanket these days features an auto shut-off function, which automatically turns your blanket off after a set amount of time to save on power. Most shut off after three hours. The blankets that are large enough to use in bed generally have a 10-hour shut-off. Also, queen- and king-sized blankets usually have two controllers to allow for individual temperature settings.
For the most part, electric blankets are safe, but even the best models can potentially overheat. Manufacturers do a pretty good job of addressing this issue, as is the case with each of the blankets we chose as our top picks.
To determine which electric blankets made the cut, we focused on comfort, warmth, and long-term, consistent performance.
Here are the best electric blankets:
- Best overall: Sunbeam Queen Size Heated Blanket
- Best on a budget: Sunbeam Microplush Electric Throw Blanket
- Best for king-sized beds: Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket
- Best for lounging: Sunbeam Reversible Heated Throw
- Best for the environment: Soft Heat Micro-Fleece Low-Voltage Electric Blanket
Updated on 8/18/2020 to edit titles, prices, and remove third-party ratings and reviews because we’ve found them to be unreliable in the past.
The best overall
The Sunbeam Queen Size Heated Blanket not only feels soft to the touch, but the heat adjusts on its own to stay at your ideal temperature.
Sunbeam has a broad range of electric blankets that are among the best on the market. That's why we included three of the company's top offerings in this buying guide. We chose the Luxurious Velvet Plush Heated Blanket as the best electric blanket overall because of its ThermoFine warming system, which provides consistent warmth.
In order to keep the blanket cozy, it monitors the temperature and auto-adjusts to provide the perfect amount of heat. There are 20 personalized heat settings, including a pre-heat setting and an auto-off function. The dual controls allow for two individuals to choose the setting that works best for them.
The blanket heats up quickly and is made of 100% polyester velvet plush fabric with hemmed edges. The entire blanket is machine washable and safe for the dryer. Sunbeam stands behind this product with a five-year limited warranty.
Pros: Soft velvet plush fabric, quick heating that auto-adjusts, dual controls, five-year warranty
Cons: Uses standard voltage, may have dead spots
The best on a budget
If you want an affordable way to stay warm this winter without cranking the thermostat, the Sunbeam Microplush Electric Throw Blanket gets the job done.
The Sunbeam Microplush Heated Throw is made of 100% extra soft, plush polyester. The throw measures 50 by 60 inches and is machine washable and dryer safe. Like our top pick, this Sunbeam blanket features the ThermoFine warming system that adjusts the temperature to provide consistent warmth.
There are only three heat settings (Low, Medium, High) on this blanket, and the auto-off feature turns off after three hours, which does not make it ideal for staying warm through the night. However, it heats quickly, is a convenient size, features an easy-to-use controller, and delivers excellent performance. Just be aware of overheating, which some past purchasers experienced around the one-month mark.
Pros: Heats up quickly and evenly, soft
Cons: Potential overheating hazard, only comes in one size
The best for king-sized beds
The Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa Electric Heated Blanket comes in twin, full, queen, and king sizes so you can stay warm no matter what size bed you have.
What sets the Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa blanket apart from the competition is the amount of control you have. First, it comes in twin through king sizes (but not California king). There are also six colors to choose from, including sage, brick, and denim.
The king- and queen-sized blankets come with two controllers, which allow for two different heat settings. There are 10 heat settings to pick from, too, so you're sure to find one that suits your needs. The auto shut-off lasts for 10 hours, which should get you through the night.
The blanket itself has a 100% polyester MicroPlush top and Sherpa bottom. The Biddeford MicroPlush Sherpa is machine washable and comes with a five-year warranty in case of problems.
Pros: Wide temperature range, illuminated digital display, five-year warranty
Cons: Controller has some durability issues
The best for lounging
If you like to cuddle up on your recliner or couch, the Sunbeam Reversible Heated Throw will keep you comfy.
Sunbeam has created its own softness rating scale that goes from Soft to Extra Soft to Ultra Soft and maxes out at Premium Soft. The Reversible Sherpa/Mink Heated Throw has the highest rating, Premium Soft. The top is made of faux mink, and the bottom is Sherpa. The entire product is washing machine and dryer safe.
Sunbeam makes a big deal about the "EliteStyle II Controller," but it isn't necessarily more impressive than any of the other controllers out there. It has three settings (Low, Medium, and High) and features a three-hour shut-off, which means it is better for staying warm on the couch rather than providing heat through the night. As with the other Sunbeam blankets on this list, the Sherpa/Mink Throw uses the heat-sensing and auto-adjusting ThermoFine warming system. There is also a five-year warranty.
Pros: Features ThermoFine warming, extremely soft, five-year warranty
Cons: Questionable durability, only comes in one size
The best for the environment
If you want a low-voltage blanket that doesn't get too hot, the Soft Heat Micro-Fleece Low-Voltage Electric Blanket by Perfect Fit is your best bet.
The Soft Heat Luxury Micro-Fleece blanket is made of 100% polyester with ultra-soft micro-fleece fabric that is safe for the washer and dryer without stretching, shrinking, or pilling. Most blankets are marketed as energy-saving because you can turn your thermostat down, but this blanket offers further savings by operating on less than 25 volts. The thin wires are spaced around five inches apart for even heating.
The blanket comes in natural, beige, and blue. Each color is available in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. For the queen and king sizes, there are dual controls for individual comfort. The controllers also feature an auto shut-off function after 10 hours of use. All of the styles come with a limited five-year warranty.
However, it may be slower to heat up and won't reach temperatures as high as other options on this list.
Pros: Low-voltage, simple controls, no dead spots
Cons: History of electrical issues, slow to heat up
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