Best Adjustable Electric Blankets – UK 2022

Staying warm in winter can be a challenge. Plus, with inflation rising exponentially, it’s important to stay warm while also saving money. Adjustable electric blankets are an ideal solution.

The following guide will take you through the things to consider when looking to purchase an adjustable electric blanket. These are the most common queries and features offered. By the end, you’ll have all the facts to make a sound decision and find a source of supplemental heat right for you.

But first, understand that “adjustable” in this context refers to the heat settings you control. Several variations and variables are depending on what you need the blanket for and how you want it to function.

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The Best Adjustable Electric Blankets

Best Overall – Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Electric Blanket

Best For Comfort – Dreamcatcher Luxurious Electric Throw Blanket

Best For Value – Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket

Best For Options – MONHOUSE Heated Throw Blanket

Best For Luxury – WÄRMER Luxury Electric Heated Blanket

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What is the best material for an adjustable electric blanket?

A wide array of fantastic materials is available in adjustable electric blankets. These are fire-resistant while also providing a comfortable and soft surface that distributes heat evenly. However, it’s usually going to be some version of polyester that will appear in the form of fleece, faux fur or micro plush fibre.

What to look for in a good adjustable electric blanket?

Aside from appearance, size and price, you also want to keep your eye out for the materials it comprises its wiring construction, the voltage, the number of adjustable settings and other technical specs.

Different Settings

The most important component of an adjustable electric blanket is the number of available settings. Some have a basic on-off switch and yet others have three settings: low, medium or high.

There are others with seven to as many as 10 settings or more. Some manufacturers list these as numbers while ones that are more luxurious offer programmable heat settings. These controls attach to the blanket by a wire for ease of use.

Material Quality

While almost all modern adjustable electric blankets will have quality fire-resistant materials, some will be cheaper and scratchier than others. It’s safe to say that almost all will have some type of polyester, but some still incorporate itchy acrylic. In the rare chance, a manufacturer makes theirs with cotton, run fast and far; cotton is highly flammable.

Price

The price of an adjustable electric blanket can run the gamut depending on overall engineering, materials, size and rarity of features. They can be as little as £25 for something the size of a typical throw blanket with simple controls. But, electric blankets can cost as much as £150 or more for a king-size with all the fancy features.

Blanket Features

Adjustable electric blankets have many safety features to consider things as automatic shutoff, timers and dual controls. Some people may want to focus their attention on overall weight along with insulation capability. Also, the position of the blanket’s cord and the controller will be important for placement and orientation.

Automatic shutoff is often standard with most modern electric blankets. It’s not uncommon to see a blanket stay on for eight to 10 hours before turning off on its own. But you should always ensure this is something the company promotes and advertises.

In regards to timers, there’s a world of options in this arena. You can get programmable ones that turn on before bed or you can manually adjust how long the timer stays on. Dual controls are excellent when sharing the blanket with another. It means you can have conditions on how you like them while your partner can set their side to what they prefer.

Voltage/Cost to Run

The amount of voltage an electric blanket has will affect how much it costs to run. Some with intricate settings will have variable voltage ranges, which means running costs will differ depending on the setting. Some have built-in transformers to regulate the voltage from the outlet.

Others feature low voltage. This means it will take a while for the blanket to warm up. However, it will be the least expensive to run.

Cleaning Features

Most adjustable electric blankets are machine washable, but make sure the manufacturer prominently lists this. Also, each model will have specific care and washing instructions, so follow those accordingly.

Best Selections

Best Overall – Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Electric Blanket

The Slumberdown Sleepy Nights electric blanket is a basic but reasonably priced under blanket that is available in a range of different sizes and even control options. It is very popular with over 1,800 ratings on Amazon. Over 85% of these are 4 or 5 stars. Highlights from customer reviews include ‘’Very pleased with this blanket. Fitted my king size bed perfectly and was easy to install. The elastic bands had just the right amount of “give” to accomplish this.’’ and ‘’Lovely and soft, lovely warm and comfortable electric blanket. Just the job for cold wintry nights.’’

One thing to note with this under blanket is that it does take a decent amount of time to warm up. It is recommended to turn it on 30 minutes before it is needed to allow it to reach the right temperature. The blanket is machine washable and efficient to run. Exactly what you want from an electric blanket. 

Best For Comfort – Dreamcatcher Luxurious Electric Throw Blanket

The Dreamcatcher electric blanket is a super soft fleece throw blanket that is available in a range of colours and comes with a 2-year warranty. This throw blanket is very highly regarded. It has over 1,400 ratings on Amazon. Over 85% of these are 4 or 5 stars. Highlights from customer reviews include ‘’This is warm, snuggly and saves a fortune on central heating bills as you stay curled up on the settee in a happy cocoon.’’ and ‘’Last year I was huddled under a heavy throw with a hot water bottle. This year I’m much more comfortable. If you live in a cold house, feel the cold, and are looking to save a bit on heating, get one of these.’’ 

This blanket has a range of 9 different heat options and is machine washable, making it easy to keep clean and hygienic. Although the blanket is only available in one size, it fits most purposes. It is big enough to be used as an over blanket on a double bed.

Best For Value – Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket

The Silentnight Comfort Control electric blanket is a reasonably priced electric blanket that is incredibly popular. It has over 26,000 ratings on Amazon and ranks at the top of the best sellers list for electric blankets. Some highlights from customer reviews include ‘’This product was a great addition to my bed. It only takes a few minutes until it reaches its max temperature and warms up the majority of the bed. The blanket doesn’t get too hot that it’s scolding but will have to be turned down when sleeping.’’ and ‘’Very good under blanket as it has made my nights much warmer.’’

Despite only 3 heat options, the blanket performs well and has features such as overheat protection and it being machine washable that helps it stand out. Silentnight is also incredibly well regarded and one of the most popular UK bed manufacturers. The electric blanket comes with a 3-year guarantee and is available in a few different sizes.

Best For Options – MONHOUSE Heated Throw Blanket

The MONHOUSE electric throw blanket is available in over 15 different colours and a range of sizes. It is very popular on Amazon with over 1,100 ratings. Over 80% of these are 4 or 5 stars. Highlights from customer reviews include ‘’The stitching is perfect (I’m a bit OCD!). I literally just plugged it in and used the really simple controller to set the heat level. Within a few minutes I was snuggled up and nice and warm.’’ and ‘’It’s fabulous & an absolute life changer for me.’’

This throw blanket has 9 different heat settings making finding the right one for you very easy. It can be set on a timer of up to 9 hours and is machine washable. The blanket is made from a soft touch 250gsm fabric which holds the heat well. It also has safety overheat protection.

Best For Luxury – WÄRMER Luxury Electric Heated Blanket

The WÄRMER electric blanket features dual control and a separate head and foot heating system, making it an excellent choice for couples. It has gained over 300 ratings on Amazon, over 80% of these are 4 or 5 stars. Highlights from customer reviews include ‘’I’m very happy with this blanket and look forward to it keeping me warm in the winter!’’ and ‘’Love the fact you can have different settings for body and feet. Safety features are great as if the blanket on highest setting is too long it automatically turns down to lower setting.’’

This fleece electric blanket is slightly larger than the normal blanket which means it covers the entire surface area of the mattress size it fits. It features a timer of up to 12 hours and 9 different heat settings. The blanket is machine washable and also comes with a 365-day warranty.

Are electric blankets affordable to run?

Electric blankets are affordable to run and they have the potential to lower heating bills. With inflation being what it is, an adjustable electric blanket might be the perfect solution. 

The average adjustable electric blanket has a range of around 40 to 60 watts on a medium setting. King-sized ones can be as much as 100 to 200 watts. But, for the sake of example, let’s say you have one with 100 watts.

If you leave it on for eight hours, it will only use 0.8 kilowatts per hour (kWh). Since the average cost for a typical home is about £0.28 per kWh, this translates to approximately £0.20 to run the electric blanket all night.

Pros and Cons of Adjustable Electric Blankets

Pros

• Incredibly energy efficient and can save money on heating bills
• Temperature controls mean you can always be toasty warm and comfortable
• Plush, soft materials offer an excellent, restful sleep
• Easy to clean and care for as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Can last for several years if treated and maintained correctly
• Modern blankets are much safer than ones from 20 or 30 years ago

Cons

• Regardless of modern safety features, there are still some hazards in owning an electric blanket.
• Spot cleaning can present some serious fire dangers if you’re not careful
• They are not safe or ideal for pets or children to use on their own, you must monitor them
• While plush microfibres are comfortable, they are polyester, which means there is a lack of material variety

The Verdict: Adjustable Electric Blankets

The low temperatures combined with a draughty home can make conditions unbearable in the dead of winter. Owning an adjustable electric blanket can make all the difference in a restful, peaceful night’s sleep Plus, they’re inexpensive to use and they can quite possibly save you money on your monthly bills.

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API