As the days get shorter and the evenings draw in, it’s time to retreat into our sanctuaries and prepare for the cold season ahead.
While layers of jumpers and woolly socks will only go so far in keeping you toasty during the day, they’re hardly the most comfortable to keep on when you’re trying to get to sleep.
Enter: the electric blanket. Once an item only your nana would be caught buying, they’re a cold weather essential these days, turning your bed from a frozen block of ice into a wonderfully cosy puddle of warmth.
They’re perfect for anyone who rents or lives in an old, drafty house because they offer localised heating, saving you running central heating all through the night. Simply switch it on half an hour before you bed down, and you’ll soon have a warm nest, primed to help you drift off into a peaceful slumber.
There’s no need to worry about nodding off with the blanket still on, either. Many electric blankets are fitted with a timer and overheat protection feature to keep you safe and sound.
Best electric blankets at a glance
- Best for five-star comfort:Dreamland Boutique Hotel Cotton Mattress Protector, £75, Very
- Best for hot and cold couples: Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Underblanket, £55, Argos
- Best for blissful warmth in five minutes flat:Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Multi Zone Single Electric Blanket, £68, Sleep Seeker
- Best for cosying up on the sofa:Dreamland Herringbone Pattern Mustard Heated Throw, £80, Argos
- Best for customised warmth:Lakeland Sherpa Electric Heated Throw Teal, £89.99, Lakeland
- Best for Goldilocks level of comfort:Beurer Monogram Dual Control Blanket, £95, Dunelm
- Best for faux and fabulous:Dreamland Reindeer Print Faux Fur Heated Throw, £110, Argos
- Best for portable warmth:Lifemax FAR Infrared Heated Lap Blanket, £34.99, Superdrug
Check out our favourite winter warmer electric blankets below.
Dreamland Boutique Hotel Cotton Mattress Protector
Best for: five-star comfort
Electric blanket type: Under
Get ready for a a sleep you’d normally need a luxury hotel reservation to get. This double-sized electric blanket uses Intelliheat+ to get your bed to the right temperature, whatever the season. The plush mattress protector, covered with a 200 thread count cotton percale, retains its bounce, adding another luxurious layer to your bed.
There are temperature controls fitted within easy reach on either side of the blanket so you can adjust if needed, and the piece if machine washable and safe for tumble dryers too. It only takes five minutes to warm up - switch it on before brushing your teeth and it’ll be ready by the time you return. There’s no chance of waking up a sweaty mess either, as the built-in technology adapts to your body’s temperature changes throughout the night.
Best of all, it costs as little as 1p a night to run. Compare that to last year’s winter energy bills, and this investment is a no-brainer.
Buy now £75.00, Very
Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Underblanket - Double
Best for: hot and cold couples
Electric blanket type: Under
If your partner is always warm while you lay in bed shivering, this electric blanket could be your salvation. It has two control switches which allow you to set each half of the bed to one of three heat settings. A low pre-heat setting warms your bed for up to two hours before it’s time to climb in. The polyester blanket also boasts an overheat protection to stop you from becoming too hot under the covers.
Also available in king size (£60).
Buy now £55.00, Argos
Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Multi Zone Single Electric Blanket
Best for: blissful warmth in five minutes flat
Electric blanket type: Under
From sleep specialist Slumberdown comes this Sleepy Nights creation, a basic blanket that’s high on warmth. It needs just five minutes to transform your bed into a cosy nest, with three settings to control with a detachable remote. Elasticated straps hold the blanket in position all night so you’re not waking up because of its lumpy bits, and an auto shut-off feature offers additional peace of mind from a safety aspect.
Thanks to its low energy consumption, it costs just 1p to run a night. With headlines like these, it’s a sound investment for the cold season.
Buy now £68.00, Sleep Seeker
Dreamland Herringbone Pattern Mustard Heated Throw
Best for: cosying up on the sofa
Electric blanket type: Over
Use winter as an opportunity to switch up your interiors style as well as purchase a cosy winter warmer into the bargain too. Dreamland’s heated throw comes in a selection of colours and patterns but we’re wild for this mustard-coloured version (it also comes in teal) with a smart herringbone pattern.
It’s cost-effective too, costing less pennies to run and comes with a speedy preheat feature that helps you get to the right level of toastiness in five minutes flat.
Perfect whether you plan to drape this on your bed or want to curl up under it on the sofa.
Buy now £80.00, Argos
Lakeland Sherpa Electric Heated Throw Teal
Best for: customised warmth
Electric blanket type: Over
Lined with a soft fleecy fabric and flannel on the outside, this blanket is warming enough on its own. But when you see frost etched on your windows and the temperature falls to sub-zero levels, switch it on to really feel the benefit.
There are nine heat settings to choose from on this heated throw, along with the same number of timer settings, so you can truly customise your cosiness this winter. Get lost in your latest read or boxset without worry; the overheating feature shuts the blanket down when it’s getting too hot so you won’t have to move a muscle.
It’s a machine washable marvel too - just remove the control before you throw it in with your next wash.
Buy now £89.99, Lakeland
Beurer Monogram Dual Control Blanket
Best for: Goldilocks level of comfort
Electric blanket type: Under
Covered in a soft faux fleece, there’s nothing better than slipping into a warm bed thanks to this electric blanket. It’s a design Goldilocks herself would be jealous of with six heat settings to reach the optimum level of warmth. What’s more, there’s dual control so if you share your bed with a hot sleeper they can turn off the heat on their side of the bed.
It’s fine to use with most pocket spring mattresses, but may not be compatible with certain memory foam beds, so talk to your manufacturer first.
Considering it costs less than three pence to operate a night, it’s a very cost-efficient option indeed.
Buy now £95.00, Dunelm
Dreamland Reindeer Print Faux Fur Heated Throw
Best for: faux and fabulous
Electric blanket type: Over
Sink into a world of super soft faux fur (reindeer effect, if we’re talking specifics) with this blanket from Dreamland.
This throw looks nothing like the electric blanket you might have in your mind’s eye, luxe and comfy enough to use over your duvet as well as draped on the sofa. It’s machine washable too so you can keep it looking like new for longer. There are six heat settings with an automatic shut-off if it gets too warm, so perfectly safe for falling asleep with.
Also available in husky and zebra for the same price.
Buy now £110.00, Argos
Lifemax FAR Infrared Heated Lap Blanket
Best for: portable warmth
Electric blanket type: Over
Want something portable as well as snuggly? This grey blanket is ideal for taking on trips or using in the car, thanks to the included wall and car socket. As well as keeping you toasty, this blanket has Far Infrared technology which reportedly helps improve circulation, ease muscle pain and help rebuild injured tissue.
Buy now £34.99, Superdrug
Verdict
They say you should never go to bed on an argument, and with the Dreamland Boutique Hotel Cotton Mattress Protector you won’t have to compromise on your preferred sleeping conditions. Solo sleeper? Enjoy the bouji boutique hotel feels all to yourself.
