The Best Electric Blankets (Are Surprisingly Stylish) – The New York Times

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By Abby Balter
Abby Balter is an editorial assistant on the home-decor team. She keeps our guides updated and visits showrooms to stay on top of trends.
We’ve updated this guide after finding new picks: the Brookstone Heated Luxe Faux Fur Throw Blanket, Beautyrest Zuri Oversized Heated Faux Fur Throw, and Westinghouse Electric Blanket.
I grew up in coastal North Carolina, where the average winter temperature hovers in the 50s.
Then I moved to Boston for college.
There, I spent many brutal winters living in an apartment with a fickle, antiquated heating system and a management company that was less than prompt in its repairs. That’s when I became familiar with the benefits of electric blankets and the problems you might run into when using them — one of them being that they can be quite ugly. I kept mine hidden in a rattan storage box in the corner of my living room whenever guests came over.
On the plus side, electric blankets can cut your heating bill. According to the US Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% a year by lowering your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from your usual setting for eight hours a day. Heated bedding enables you to do this more comfortably all winter long while barely increasing your electric bill.
For this guide, I was determined to find electric blankets that deliver significant warmth and durability while also looking great on a sofa or accent chair. After 12 weeks researching dozens of electric blankets and testing eight of them in our very air-conditioned office, I found three truly effective options, all of which I’d happily display in my living room.
Our recs have been certified by third-party safety organizations.
It takes just a couple of minutes for each throw-size blanket to start getting toasty.
Cozy up from your shoulders to your fingers and toes.
Pretty much all you feel is the soft texture of the blanket cover.
I’m an editorial assistant on the home-decor team, and I’ve helped research various products for our guides, including alarm clocks, desks, and dorm essentials. For this guide, I reviewed the literature on the safety of electric blankets, including their role in home electrical fires and other health risks.
Besides building on the research in the original version of this guide, written by deputy director Courtney Schley, I interviewed Joel Hawk, engineer manager of small appliances at UL, an independent lab that tests the safety of electric blankets and other products, so that I could learn how electric blankets work and how the technology has evolved over time.
I also spent 12 weeks researching more than 20 electric blankets online and then testing eight of them in our Long Island City, New York, office.
Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.
We tested only the electric blankets that met certain safety criteria, such as having certifications from independent testing labs like UL and Intertek (the ETL Mark) and having auto-off mechanisms in the remote. We also examined any outstanding recalls and safety reports from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, read hundreds of customer reviews, and narrowed our search to blankets that are machine-washable.
We looked for blankets that are not only safe, but somewhat stylish. We ultimately settled on eight contenders, which we evaluated in our office in the hopes of finding the following:
Even heat distribution: I tested blankets in sizes ranging from throw to queen, covering myself shoulder to feet under each blanket and noting whether my feet were feeling the same level of warmth as my upper body. As for the queen-size blankets, which often have two separate remotes for each side, I tried them with a colleague on a bed, noting whether the dual heating system really worked.
A user-friendly controller: I assessed how intuitive the buttons on the remotes were in controlling the temperatures, how easy they were to read and operate, as well as how bulky or comfortable they felt in my hand.
A pleasant texture: Electric blankets are typically made of polyester, a fire retardant that’s also low maintenance. But some polyester fibers are higher quality than others, and thoughtful construction also makes a difference. I assessed how the fabric of each blanket felt on my skin, noting any features or textures that might feel annoying to some people. I also evaluated to what extent you can see and feel the wires.
Good temperature range: Many heated blankets have controllers that you can use to adjust the temperature, with anywhere from three to 20 settings. I tested every level on each blanket to evaluate if there were significant differences between settings. According to UL standards, the maximum temperature for an electric blanket is 149 °F, and it’s designed to maintain that temperature until you lower the settings or shut it off. I took note of whether each blanket was successfully heated throughout and whether it got too hot.
Quick heating: I tracked how long it took for each blanket to warm up upon turning it on and how quickly it adjusted between heat levels. Once on, it typically takes 10 to 15 minutes for the blanket to reach its maximum heating capacity.
Washability: The cleaning directive for most electric blankets is to wash on low with cold water and tumble dry on low heat. During our tests, I washed each blanket as instructed on the care label and noted any changes in the texture, appearance, performance, and construction of the blanket. (While all of our picks are machine-washable, experts suggest limiting the number of washes to once or twice a year to increase the blanket’s longevity.)
Durability: Though electric blankets are typically made of polyester, the construction and quality differed widely. I inspected the seams, carefully stretched the fabric by hand, and noted how prone the blankets were to shedding and pilling when used or washed.
In the following weeks, I used an electric blanket as I normally would at home: I lounged on the couch with it, I lay under it in bed, and I worked on my laptop with it in my very air-conditioned office. Some were unreliable; others wouldn’t stop shedding. But three pleasantly surprised me and work as great as they look.
The lush look and feel of this blanket masks the internal wiring and delivers a definite upgrade compared with the typical electric blanket.
May be out of stock
It’s luxuriously thick and plush. The Brookstone Heated Luxe Faux Fur Throw Blanket has a tightly woven backing that maintains the structure, direction, and density of the faux fur. The long silky fibers keep the blanket feeling soft and fluffy, and together with the rich coloring, the blanket gives off a sense of decadence. Best of all, despite its high maintenance, the blanket kept its luxe looks and texture even after I ran it through the washer and dryer.
The wires are barely detectable. Thanks to the density and fluffiness of the faux fur, you can barely see or feel the internal wiring. That said, this blanket doesn’t feel too heavy, making it ideal to curl up under.
The controller is subtle and easy-to-use. Instead of the bulky plastic remotes attached to most other electric blankets (including our other two picks), the Brookstone throw has a discreet button built into the bottom left corner of the blanket, where the heat can be adjusted to four levels, each feeling distinctly different from the other.
It’s not cheap. At over $200, it is the most expensive electric blanket that we tested, and it’s on the high end of other heated blankets in the category. However, we have seen this blanket go on sale quite often. (As of this writing, it is on sale for $135 at Bloomingdale’s.)
You can’t customize the auto-shutoff time. That’s the case with our pick from Beautyrest, too. But for this much money, we expected more customization from this blanket. Instead, it offers only one auto-shutoff time of four hours, as a safety precaution.
It doesn’t have a warranty. This is the only pick without a warranty, which is disappointing given the price. We will report on any issues and update this guide with our findings over the course of long-term testing.
Cover material: 100% polyester
Size: throw (50 by 70 inches)
Heat levels: four
Auto-off: four hours
Color options: brown, ivory, taupe
Return policy and warranty: return within 30 days of purchase for a full refund; no warranty
This blanket is lightweight yet effective, thanks to its ability to distribute heat evenly. It also comes in a variety of solid colors and animal-print-inspired patterns, which are quite chic (though the remote is not).
You have options. We tested the gray-and-blue abstract pattern. But if that’s not your style, the Beautyrest Zuri Oversized Heated Faux Fur Throw comes in more designs than any of our other picks — including solids and several cute, neutral-colored animal prints. Availability depends on the merchant. You’ll find the largest availability — more than a dozen colors and patterns — at Amazon and Wayfair.
It’s toasty without being heavy. Although it’s not as thick as some of the other blankets we tested, this blanket was just as comfy to snuggle under, and its particularly effective and even heat distribution made it extra cozy.
The remote looks especially cheap. Granted, it’s hard to find an electric blanket with a remote that looks nice, but this one is especially plasticky, and it felt oversized in my hand. The on/off button isn’t lit up, either, which may make it difficult to see in a dark room. But there is a small red light next to each heat level.
The wires are subtle but detectable. Even with its plush rippled fabric, I still noticed the wires when I ran my hand across the fabric. Fortunately, it wasn’t as bothersome when I lay under it.
Cover material: 100% polyester
Size: throw (50 by 70 inches)
Heat levels: three
Auto-off: two hours
Color options: varies, depending on the retailer, but offerings often include beige, black, brown, gray-and-blue abstract, and a variety of animal prints
Return policy and warranty: return policy depends on the retailer (Wayfair and Amazon offer a full refund for returns made within 30 days of delivery); five-year limited warranty
This velvety flannel-like electric blanket is well constructed and comes in several sizes. It’s also thin and folds easily for traveling.
It’s a great value. For less than $50 for the throw-sized blanket, the flannel-like Westinghouse Electric Blanket delivers a sturdy construction and a velvety-soft feel, with wiring that’s even and consistent in its heat distribution. We tested the throw in a deep charcoal color, which looked modern and sleek (at least for a heated blanket).
It’s low maintenance and portable. Unlike earlier picks, this blanket is made of short, compact fibers, so you don’t need to do any zhuzhing after washing to get the texture back to its original state. And because this throw is slim and lightweight, it also folds compactly and can tuck away easily into a carry-on bag or backpack.
You can cover your bed with it. This is our only pick that comes in standard bed sizes, from twin to king, giving you the option of covering your entire bed.
It’s our most adjustable pick. You can choose from 10 heat levels, each providing subtle but distinguishable heat differences. What’s more, its auto-shutoff feature is adjustable up to 12 hours on the remote, which makes this blanket ideal for those who plan to sleep with it.
You can feel the wires. Out of all of our picks, we could feel the wires most distinctly in the Westinghouse blanket. Its internal wiring shifts around slightly as you’re settling under it, but not enough that it bothered us.
The larger size doesn’t heat as well. During testing, the queen-size blanket did not get as hot or distribute heat as well as the throw size. But it worked better than the other queen-size electric blankets we tested. According to UL engineer Joel Hawk, this is a common problem with larger blankets. “The longer the heating wire, the more differential you’re going to see throughout the blanket,” he said.
It may shed slightly. We noticed some lint after machine-washing and drying it. And when we draped it over a duvet cover, we noticed that it left some fuzz balls. But the shedding was far less than what we saw with other blankets we tested and dismissed.
Cover material: 100% polyester
Sizes: throw (50 by 60 inches), twin (62 by 84 inches), full (80 by 84 inches), queen (84 by 90 inches), king (100 by 90 inches)
Heat levels: 10
Auto-off: adjustable up to 12 hours
Color options: charcoal, beige, navy blue, light gray, red
Return and warranty: subject to Amazon’s standard 30-day return policy; five-year warranty
Risks are always involved whenever you use any kind of heated electric bedding. But thanks to advances in the heating wire construction and thermostats, as well as safety features such as auto-off settings, electric blankets today are much safer than those from a few decades ago, when they were the source of house fires and skin burns. Still, it’s always smart to use them with caution:
Although the Beautyrest Heated Blanket is very soft, we faced issues with its ability to distribute heat evenly during testing and did not like how much we could feel the wires.
Our previous electric blanket pick, the Beautyrest Heated Microlight to Berber Blanket, was cozy and thick. But as an editor (and fan of the blanket) noted, the sherpa side “quickly becomes pilled and matted.” In our latest round of testing, it also left more fuzz on our sheets than our current picks, including the Westinghouse Electric Blanket.
We dismissed the Bedsure Ribbed Flannel Heated Blanket during our first round of testing because it shed, with piling on our clothes upon first use.
Similar to the Bedsure blanket we tested, the fabric in the Sunbeam Royal Mink Sherpa Heated Throw shed on our skin. Worse, it tore easily when we gently stretched the fabric by hand. It was also alarmingly easy to pull out the fabric while examining it.
The Sunbeam Royal Ultra Fleece Electric Blanket was among the cheapest blankets we tested and has a similar design to our previous Beautyrest pick, though the cover feels more plasticky. While testing, we were particularly disappointed with its weak heating system and were bothered by how noticeable the wires felt against our skin.
This article was edited by Joanne Chen and Daniela Gorny.
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I cover home-decor and design items such as dorm-room decor, stylish yet functional heated blankets, and the perfect dinner-party tablescape.
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Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).

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