Then, via the control pad (or your smart phone) you switch it on, and choose between heat settings and – on the better models – select a time. How safe is an electric blanket? But perhaps the biggest incentive is the high cost of electricity. At the time of writing, a typical 2000W electric heater in your bedroom could cost 68p an hour to run. By contrast, a 100W electric blanket would cost less than 4p.

Can’t sleep? Join the club. Join today and find out how you can start getting a better night's sleep. My advice is that you need a cool bedroom and a warm bed. Getting into a cold bed may be perceived by your brain and body as a threat, increasing wakefulness.” There were nine settings for feet and body, ranging from boiling-hot nine to barely noticeable one; four or five was optimal for me. The timer has four settings: one, five, eight and 12 hours.Here’s what I found after several nights testing the best electric blankets, starting with my favourite. (And if you’re looking for other ways to improve your sleep this winter, you could consider upgrading your pillow next). How does an electric blanket work? Over 95% of our products are manufactured here in the UK by the leading European manufacturer of filled bedding products. First, you need to decide whether you want an electric blanket, which sits between your mattress and bedsheet, or an electric throw, which can be used for sleeping under or snuggling under on the sofa. That’s the first way to narrow down your search. Other things to consider are material, which could be fleece, polyester or velvet, for example, and size meaning single, double or king. While health benefits shouldn’t be exaggerated, you might find if you suffer from a condition like arthritis or poor circulation that an electric blanket can alleviate some of the pain. I found that some cheaper blankets had a tendency to come lose or crease up when I moved around at night; this one was fine. I liked the feature that adds extra heat to the area around your feet: in all honesty, I found in general keeping my feet snug and warm quite nice, whereas too much heat on my body made me feel stuffy and affected my sleep.

After a long tiring day, all you want is comfort, relaxation, and somewhere toasty to fall asleep. With our collection of electric blankets, we’ve got the ideal solution to help you beat the long winter chill. Browse through our range of top brands like Dreamland, Slumberdown, and Silentnight to get the best quality for all budgets. Simply place electric blankets under fitted bed sheets for a cosy bedtime. If you sleep with a partner, look into dual controls so you can each control your own side of the bed. You might also want the option of a timer to help with energy saving (though electric blankets are pretty low cost to run all night anyway).They are tested to comply with all the appropriate UK standards and have all been developed by sleep experts to ensure they are fit for purpose. Better blankets have elastic skirting but cheaper models use straps, which can be fiddly. More timing options and heat settings can also make a difference. The best electric blankets let you set different temperatures for your upper and lower body (since feet tend to get colder). If you sleep with a partner, look out for the dual control function, which allows one side of the bed to heat up independently to another.

Dr Stanley says switching on an electric blanket around half an hour before bed should make it perfectly cosy to get into, letting you drift to sleep naturally, but you should set it to turn off some time after you nod off. All the blankets I tested were able to warm up the bed in 30 minutes or less, costing less than 3p at today’s prices. What makes a good electric blanket The Homefront offers dual control, which helps save on energy. The LCD control pad was simple to use and, on top of choosing which side you want to heat, you can also differentiate between body and legs, with nine different temperature settings for each.

The electric blanket has six heat settings that cost between less than 1p and 8p per hour to use, and three timer options of one, three or nine hours. It connects to a mains plug but has dual control so you and anyone you share a bed with can control your own heat settings. If you’re the only one using your bed, then you’ll need a single electric blanket. Our popular range of double electric blankets is an ideal choice if you share a bed and can’t seem to agree on the temperature. With two controls you can change the heat setting on your side whilst your bed partner controls theirs, so you can both stay perfectly warm, just the way you like it. For your ultra-spacious beds, we even have an excellent range of king size electric blankets. Pre-heating your blanket will make sure your bed is always ready no matter what time you get to bed. High-resistance wires – these days often made of carbon fibre – heat up as an electrical current passes through them. The heat is transferred via fireproof plastic coating to the bedlinen itself. Your blanket will come with a plug (or two if it’s dual-control), which usually extends to around a metre or so. Attach it to your mattress via its straps or elastic skirt, place your sheet over it, and then make your bed as usual. Make sure your duvet fully covers the bed so as not to dissipate the heat. The best electric blankets to keep you warm at night in 2023 (and save money on heating this winter) Excludes post codes starting with BFPO, BT, FK, G83, GG, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW, PA(20-78), PH(18-42), ZE

There’s something luxurious about this 100 per cent cotton Dreamland electric blanket, a far cry from the cheap polyester feeling of some brands. Unlike others on this list, there’s no elasticated skirt or straps, instead it relies on a rather effective anti-slip grip on the underside. Another heated throw, this one a little larger than the previous but still not quite double bed sized. Like the Dreamland, the material is soft, and in this case, also fleecy. I love how multifunctional it is. I’ve sat with it on my lap as I work at my desk, I’ve snuggled up underneath it on the sofa and I’ve used it as an extra layer while the nights hit the minus temperatures.Our luxury, quilted fleeced electric blanket will keep you blissfully warm and cosy all through the night. With 9 temperature options, 4 timer settings and body and foot warmth controls, it’s the perfect way to find exactly the right temperature for you and your partner.