The best electric blankets
Warm the bed, not the whole house. These are the electric blankets that heat up fast, stay put and cost pennies to run.
An electric blanket warms the bed, not the house, for about a penny an hour. It’s one of the cheapest ways to stay warm through winter, and a brilliant gift for anyone who feels the cold, especially older relatives.
What matters
- Under-blankets sit under the sheet; fully fitted ones stay put better.
- Dual controls matter for couples who like different temperatures.
- Look for an auto switch-off timer and overheat protection.
- Machine washable saves hassle.
Best overall
#1 of 5
9.0/10
Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket (Double)
£15–£40 Price range
Silentnight began in 1946 as a small Yorkshire mattress maker, and this is now the UK’s go-to electric blanket: quick to warm, simple to use and pennies to run.
- 4 heat settings
- Fast heat-up
- Digital controller
- From about 1p an hour
- Double (135 × 120cm)
What owners say: Warm, quick to heat and worth every penny on cold nights. Plenty of owners say it’s pure bliss.
Heads up: It’s an under-blanket that covers the middle of the bed rather than a fully fitted one, so check it suits the mattress.
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A closer look: Switch it on half an hour before bed, then turn it off when getting in, as the maker recommends it isn’t left on through the night. Elasticated straps hold it to the mattress under the fitted sheet, and once the cable is detached it goes in the washing machine. Over summer, store it loosely rolled rather than tightly folded.
Best for: Most double beds, from a name you know
- Size
- Double (135 × 120cm)
- How it fits
- Under-blanket with elastic straps
- Separate controls for each side
- No
- Heat settings
- 4
- Auto switch-off
- Yes
Best premium
#2 of 5
9.0/10
Dreamland Hunker Down Electric Blanket (Single)
Over £40 Price range
Switch it on while you brush your teeth and the bed is warm by the time you get in. It then quietly adjusts itself through the night so you don’t wake up too hot.
- Intelliheat+ warms in about 5 minutes
- Adjusts through the night
- Scandi sherpa top
- About 1p an hour per control
What owners say: First-class quality, warms up fast, easy controls and it feels like fleece underneath you.
Heads up: A much smaller number of reviews than the big sellers, and it’s the priciest here.
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A closer look: Flip it over when spring arrives: the sherpa side is for winter, and the lighter reverse keeps the bed comfortable on cooler summer nights. The timer switches off after 1, 3 or 9 hours, elasticated corner straps hold it on deep mattresses, and it’s safe to machine wash and tumble dry.
Best for: Anyone who wants it to look after itself all night
- Size
- Single
- How it fits
- Elastic corner straps, deep mattresses
- Separate controls for each side
- No
- Heat settings
- 6, adjusts itself overnight
- Auto switch-off
- After 1, 3 or 9 hrs
Best for couples
#3 of 5
8.9/10
Dreamcatcher Fully Fitted Electric Blanket (Double, dual control)
Over £40 Price range
The answer to the “I’m freezing, you’re boiling” debate: a control for each side, and it’s fully fitted, so it doesn’t ruck up.
- Dual controls
- Fully fitted, elasticated
- Heats the full length
- Ultra-thin wires
What owners say: Warms quickly along the whole length, stays in place, even on deep mattresses, and each side can be set separately.
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A closer look: Sized at 193 by 137cm, it covers a standard double mattress, and the 2.3m lead gives some leeway if the nearest socket isn’t right by the bed. Unclip the controllers and cable before a 40°C machine wash, and let it dry completely before plugging it back in.
Best for: Couples who like different temperatures
- Size
- Double (193 × 137cm)
- How it fits
- Fully fitted, elasticated skirt
- Separate controls for each side
- Yes
- Heat settings
- 3 each side
- Auto switch-off
- Yes, timer
Best single
#4 of 5
8.9/10
TLGREEN Single Electric Blanket
£36.36 RRP
A single that punches above its price, with six heat levels and an eight-hour switch-off, so it’s safe to drift off with it on.
- 6 heat levels
- 8-hour auto switch-off
- 193 × 91cm single
- Machine washable
What owners say: Heats up quickly and evenly, comfortable, and good value for money.
Heads up: A few owners report controllers failing, so keep the receipt.
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A closer look: About 20 minutes before bed is the time to switch it on; the settings run from roughly 30°C to 55°C, so start in the middle and adjust from there. Add a thin blanket over the sheet if you can feel the wires, which also helps hold the warmth in, and unclip the control before a gentle 30°C wash.
Best for: Single beds and kids’ rooms
- Size
- Single (193 × 91cm)
- How it fits
- Elasticated band
- Separate controls for each side
- No
- Heat settings
- 6 (30–55°C)
- Auto switch-off
- After 8 hrs
Best budget
#5 of 5
8.2/10
Cozytek Double Electric Blanket
£15–£40 Price range
Does the basics well for about half the price of the big names. A sensible pick for a spare room or a student bed.
- 3 heat settings
- Machine washable
- Tie straps to hold it in place
- Double size
What owners say: Comfortable, good quality for the money and quick to warm up.
Heads up: Reliability reviews are more mixed than the pricier picks; some stop working after a few months.
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A closer look: Smaller than the mattress at 135 by 120cm, it warms the area where you actually lie rather than every corner, and four ties (one along the length, three across) stop it drifting. Detach the controller and cable before a 40°C machine wash, and give it time to dry out completely before the next night’s use.
Best for: A warm bed for the least money
- Size
- Double (135 × 120cm)
- How it fits
- Four tie straps
- Separate controls for each side
- No
- Heat settings
- 3
- Auto switch-off
- None listed
How they compare
| Feature | #1Silentnight Comfort ControlBest overall | #2Dreamland Hunker DownBest premium | #3Dreamcatcher dual controlBest for couples | #4TLGREEN singleBest single | #5Cozytek doubleBest budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.2 |
| Price | ££ £15–£40 | £££ Over £40 | £££ Over £40 | £36.36 RRP | ££ £15–£40 |
| Size | Double (135 × 120cm) | Single | Double (193 × 137cm) | Single (193 × 91cm) | Double (135 × 120cm) |
| How it fits | Under-blanket with elastic straps | Elastic corner straps, deep mattresses | Fully fitted, elasticated skirt | Elasticated band | Four tie straps |
| Separate controls for each side | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Heat settings | 4 | 6, adjusts itself overnight | 3 each side | 6 (30–55°C) | 3 |
| Auto switch-off | Yes | After 1, 3 or 9 hrs | Yes, timer | After 8 hrs | None listed |
| Best for | Most double beds, from a name you know | Anyone who wants it to look after itself all night | Couples who like different temperatures | Single beds and kids’ rooms | A warm bed for the least money |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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