July 25th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Electric blankets have come a long way in recent years – good quality electric blankets are now luxuriously comfortable and soft while being energy-efficient enough to provide a genuine alternative to central heating for many people. As most newer electric blankets are machine washable, there’s no reason not to use an electric blanket all the time when you’re feeling frosty! What you might not know is that there are actually a huge variety of electric blankets that come in all shapes and sizes. There are a lot of different types of electric blankets, so some might suit your needs better than others. If you’re thinking of picking up a heated blanket for the winter, make sure you read below so that you can make an informed choice and pick the best electric blanket for you.

Electric Throws

One of the most popular types of electric blanket is the electric throw. These blankets tend to be large and oversized so you can snuggle up beneath them anywhere. Because of their large size, electric throws are really versatile – you can spread them over your bed for a bit of extra warmth or cuddle up with one on the sofa for a winter movie night.

Electric Throws are Best for:

Style – they look great so you can incorporate them into your décor easily without having to store them away when they’re not being used. Versatility – use a heated throw in any room in your house. Variety – electric throws come in a range of materials, styles, and designs.

HSD Recommends: Sweet Dreams Luxury Oversized Heated Throw

Sweet Dreams are quickly becoming a market leader with their ultra-cosy electric blankets and this luxurious heated throw is a great example of why that is. Made from lavish, ultra-soft fabric, this throw is a subtle lilac colour, meaning it’ll fit in with virtually any décor. As an oversized throw, it’s perfect for wrapping yourself in on a cold night, whether you’re on the sofa or in bed, and it can easily keep two or three people warm at once.

Fully Fitted Electric Blankets

Thanks to the technology behind electric blankets coming on in leaps and bounds over the last few years, fully fitted electric blankets are now an increasingly common choice for anyone who finds themselves shivering in bed! Fully fitted electric blankets (also known as heated mattress covers) have an elastic skirt which tucks under your mattress, meaning your blanket fits snugly to your bed and provides you with a gentle heat under your duvet.

Fully Fitted Electric Blankets are Best for:

Cosiness – fully fitted electric blankets sit underneath your duvet, so the heat they put out is locked inside your sheets. Convenience – you can leave your electric blanket on your bed even if you don’t turn it on and use it as a regular mattress cover. Fitting – fully fitted electric blankets, as the name suggests, fit smoothly onto your mattress without creases or bumps.

HSD Recommends: Homefront Luxury Fleece Fully Fitted Electric Blanket with Dual Controls

A Which? Best Buy award-winning electric blanket, this fully fitted sheet from Homefront fits perfectly on your bed thanks to its extra-deep elasticated skirt. This means you won’t feel any bumps, creases, or riding up as you try to sleep. The extra-thick premium-quality fleece material means you won’t feel any wires inside the blanket as they gently heat you through the night. As a bonus, this blanket also comes with dual controls, with each one controlling one side of the bed. That means both you and your partner can set the blanket’s temperature just the way you like it.

Electric Underblankets

Much like fully fitted electric blankets, this type of heated blanket sits on top of your mattress. However, in this case, the blanket fits to your bed with an elastic strap rather than a skirt. This makes electric underblankets a convenient and easily-removable option for keeping warm in bed. Electric underblankets are energy-efficient and affordable, meaning they’re often much cheaper to run than your central heating.

Electric Underblankets are Best for:

Affordability – electric underblankets are affordable to buy and cheap to run. Simplicity – they’re easy to use and convenient to put on and remove from your mattress. Cosiness – as with fully fitted electric blankets, underblankets sit under your duvet so the heat they produce stays locked under the sheets.

HSD Recommends: Dreamland Cosy Toes Heated Underblanket

This innovative electric underblanket is a simple, smart, and affordable option to keep you warm in bed, offering comfort and convenience at a low price. Dreamland is one of the UK’s best known electric blanket brands thanks to their innovation, and this Cosy Toes blanket is the perfect example of that. It’ll divert a little extra warmth to the bottom of the blanket to make sure your feet are kept extra warm when the temperature drops.

Heated Overblankets

Overblankets give you a subtle and understated way to keep warm in bed. You can put them on top of your duvet, beneath your duvet, or inside the duvet cover itself – whatever makes you feel the most comfortable! Overblankets will keep you at a consistent, even temperature all night long, even if the temperature in the room changes dramatically, ensuring you can snuggle down beneath your blanket for a restful night’s sleep.

Heated Overblankets are Best for:

Staying in control – you’re always in control as you can put the blanket above, below, or inside your duvet cover. Comfort – as you don’t lie on top of the blanket you’ll never be fighting creases, bumps, or wires. Versatility – you can use your electric overblanket anywhere, from the bed to the sofa.

HSD Recommends: Beurer Monogram Luxury Soft Overblanket

Letting you heat yourself all night long with SMART technology, this electric blanket from Beurer has a super-fast heat-up time so you can get snugglier, faster! With six heat settings, the Monogram heated overblanket gives you a fantastically even and consistent heat throughout the night, meaning you won’t be disturbed through the night by sudden temperature spikes and drops. This’ll help you get a deep, restful sleep right through the night.

Heated Duvets

If thinner electric blankets aren’t doing it for you, it could be that you need a heated duvet! Heated duvets contain heating elements inside a thick quilt that will heat your whole bed, meaning you can lie on top of or beneath your duvet to feel the benefit. As you’ll be using your electric duvet inside your usual duvet covers, you’ll also find that you need to wash it a lot less than other electric blankets.

Heated Duvets are Best for:

Hygiene – as they’re always covered up by duvet covers, they only need cleaning as much as a normal duvet. Cost-effective – their high tog rating means a good heated duvet will retain heat well, meaning it’ll cost less to run all night. Comfort – as with a heated overblanket, there’s no need to worry about making sure this blanket is fitted properly and you’ll never be bothered by bumps or creases.

HSD Recommends: Dreamland Sleepwell Intelliheat Luxury Cotton Heated Duvet

Making use of Dreamland’s patented Intelliheat technology, the Sleepwell heated duvet is an incredibly advanced electric blanket. Intelliheat will adjust the temperature of the duvet in response to changing temperatures in your bedroom. This means you’re always kept at your ideal temperature even if the room temperature suddenly drops while you’re sleeping. This heated duvet will warm your whole bed, making it great for simply getting cosy or for soothing aches and pains.

Allergy Relief Electric Blankets

If you suffer from a lot of allergies, it’s worth looking into a specially-designed electric blanket so you can keep cosy on a night without being bothered by dust and dust mites! Dust mites are a common problem and, while invisible to the naked eye, can trigger allergic reactions and breathing problems through the night, especially if you suffer from asthma. Allergy relieving electric blankets are made with a special protective fabric which deters dust mites, meaning there’ll be less of them in your bed to cause your allergies to act up.

Allergy Relief Electric Blankets are Best for:

Allergy relief – it’s pretty obvious, we know! If you find yourself waking up in the night feeling cold and congested, an allergy relief electric blanket could help! Comfort – heat your entire bed without worrying about attracting dust and dust mites. Cosiness – they work just like a fitted sheet, so you can relax and let the warmth build up under your sheets, lulling you to sleep in perfect heated comfort.

HSD Recommends: Beurer Monogram Allergy Free Electric Blanket

Offering the cosiness of a fitted electric blanket alongside a revolutionary design that stops dust mites in their tracks, this Beurer blanket is a must-have for anyone who suffers from allergies. Simply fit it to your mattress and fall asleep with complete peace of mind and clear airways. In addition to its innovative HHL Health Protection fabric, this blanket also has that trademark Beurer quality when it comes to performance, giving you an energy-efficient and soothing heat when you’re using it.

Heated Cushions

Okay, so they’re not really electric blankets at all, but if you’re looking for an electric blanket to soothe your aches and pains, it’s worth pointing out the benefits of a heated cushion! Offering you a smaller, portable heating solution, heated cushions are great for when you only want to heat one part of your body. If you find yourself with a sore neck, stomach cramps, or if you simply want to cuddle up to something soft and warm, a heated cushion may be more convenient for you than a large blanket.

Heated Cushions are Best for:

Portability – take them anywhere in the house or pack it easily in a bag if you’re travelling. Soothing aches and pains – you can apply a heated cushion directly to any body part that needs a bit of TLC. Cost-effective – because they’re smaller than a blanket, heated cushions use much less electricity to heat up.

HSD Recommends: Sweet Dreams Electric Heated Cushion

Heated cushions are great for comfort, so it makes sense to get one that’s not only warm but which is soft and plush, too. This Sweet Dreams heated cushion ticks every one of those boxes! It’s entirely made of luxurious, soft-touch fabric that retains heat really well, so you’ll feel a gentle and even heat while you’re using it. It’s easy to use, too, with a simple analogue controller that lets you flip between three soothing temperature settings. If you suffer from sore joints, muscle pains, or PMS cramps, a heated cushion could be a more effective and more convenient alternative to a hot water bottle.