The best heated blankets and the ones to avoid, according to Consumer Reports and others

Heated blankets range from $40 throws to $150 full-bed warmers. These are the ones that performed best in testing — and the few that didn't

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Electric blankets draw between 50 and 200 watts of power. A typical space heater draws 1,500. The 10:1 ratio explains why heated blankets have moved from novelty gift to legitimate home energy strategy over the past several years, as utility costs have climbed and more households look for ways to heat people rather than rooms. The U.S. Department of Energy has noted that personal heating devices like electric blankets can reduce overall heating needs by letting users lower their thermostat settings without losing comfort. Drop your thermostat by three to five degrees Fahrenheit at night while using a heated blanket, and the savings compound through an entire winter.

But energy savings only matter if the blanket actually works. The heated blanket market is full of products that promise even warmth and deliver cold spots, or that advertise 10 heat settings with no perceptible difference between level four and level seven. Some blankets heat up in 30 seconds. Others take seven to 10 minutes before you feel anything. Some have cords long enough to reach from a wall outlet to the far end of a sectional sofa. Others will force you to rearrange your furniture.

Consumer Reports tested six heated blankets in early 2026 from Beautyrest, Bedsure, Berkshire, Sealy, Sunbeam and Westinghouse, evaluating warmth, heat distribution, ease of use and washability. CNN Underscored tested 11 models from Sunbeam, Serta, Bedsure and Pure Enrichment. Yahoo's home editors spent weeks measuring surface temperatures with infrared thermometers. And reviewers at Mattress Clarity and Your Best Digs have evaluated models from SoftHeat and Biddeford, among others.

This guide collects 15 heated blankets worth knowing about. Every slide covers a specific product, its key specs, what testers or reviewers found and who it is best suited for.

Sunbeam Royal Ultra Heated Throw

Consumer Reports named this blanket its top pick in a February 2026 test of six heated blankets, and it appears on recommended lists from Mattress Clarity, Gulf News and other outlets. The Sunbeam Royal Ultra is a 50-by-60-inch polyester throw that sells for around $40, making it the least expensive model Consumer Reports tested and one of the cheapest heated throws available from a major brand. That low price does not come with obvious compromises in the areas that matter most.

The blanket is made of a soft, lightweight polyester that the Consumer Reports tester compared to felted wool. The heating wires inside are thicker and more visible than those in competing models — you can see and feel them through the fabric. But that thickness serves a functional purpose. Consumer Reports found that the Sunbeam distributes heat more evenly than the other five blankets in its test group, and the tester noted that the blanket rests lightly enough on the body that the wires do not significantly diminish the overall experience.

It has four heat settings, fewer than most competitors. Consumer Reports found the differences among them distinct and meaningful: the lowest setting produced a gentle warmth comparable to fabric that had been sitting in the sun, while the highest felt like a blanket freshly pulled from a dryer. On the second setting, the blanket took about 90 seconds to feel noticeably warm — slower than the Berkshire but faster than several other blankets that needed upward of seven minutes.

The blanket has a four-hour auto shutoff, a nine-foot cord and is machine-washable in cold water on the regular cycle. It can go in the dryer on low, but should be pulled out while still damp and stretched back to its original dimensions. Sunbeam warns against using commercial dryers, which can damage the internal wiring. At this price and performance level, it is the obvious starting point for anyone buying their first heated blanket.

Berkshire VelvetLoft Faux Fur Heated Throw

The Berkshire Blanket & Home Co Printed VelvetLoft Faux Fur Heated Throw earned the "fastest heating" designation in Consumer Reports' 2026 test. The gap between this blanket and the rest of the field was not marginal. The tester felt heat within about 30 seconds of turning it on. Several other blankets in the test took seven to 10 minutes before producing substantial warmth. That speed is the difference between immediate relief and a cold wait with the blanket draped over your lap doing nothing.

The Berkshire also has the longest cord among the blankets Consumer Reports recommended: 15 feet, nearly double the cord length of several competitors. That is a meaningful advantage for anyone whose couch sits far from an outlet or who wants the flexibility to use the blanket in different spots without unplugging and relocating. The blanket offers five heat settings and a three-hour auto shutoff.

It has a faux fur texture and looks like a plush decorative throw. Consumer Reports noted that the heating coils are more noticeable to the touch than the blanket's appearance might suggest, which takes away somewhat from the cozy feel. But the coils deliver strong, fast heat — the tester reported significant warmth within two and a half minutes at full power, and the buttons for selecting among the five levels are clear and easy to operate.

At around $60, the Berkshire costs about 50% more than the Sunbeam. Cleaning is simpler: gentle cycle, cold water, air-dry only. No dryer, no stretching, no special timing. One important caveat: Berkshire issued a CPSC recall in November 2023 covering about 30,000 heated throws and blankets manufactured between May and June 2022 due to overheating risks. Nine reports of blankets burning, melting or overheating prompted the action. Check the CPSC database at cpsc.gov before buying to confirm your specific model and tracker number are not affected.

Sealy Heated Blanket Throw

Most heated blankets feel like heated blankets. You can detect the coils running through the fabric, and while you get used to it, the sensation is distinct from wrapping yourself in a regular throw. The Sealy Heated Blanket Throw, tested by Consumer Reports in 2026, comes closer than most to eliminating that problem entirely. It is designed for buyers who want added warmth without the tactile reminder that their blanket is plugged into a wall.

Consumer Reports found that the Sealy buries its heating coils in enough padding to make them harder to feel than in competing models. The result is a blanket that feels more like a conventional plush throw — a meaningful distinction for anyone who finds the sensation of wiring through fabric distracting or uncomfortable during extended use. The extra padding also adds heft, which contributes to a more insulated, substantial feeling.

The trade-off is heat output. Consumer Reports noted that the Sealy does not get as warm as other options in its test group, and that heat distribution was somewhat uneven during the warming phase. If you want a gentle layer of warmth rather than aggressive heat, that limitation could actually be an advantage. If you want a blanket that gets genuinely hot on demand, look elsewhere.

The Sealy features a built-in button controller integrated into the blanket fabric itself, which eliminates the separate corded remote that slides off the couch or gets tangled in cord slack. It has four heat settings and a customizable shutoff timer ranging from two to 10 hours — the widest shutoff range Consumer Reports tested and a strong feature for overnight use. The blanket measures 50 by 60 inches, has a nine-foot cord and is machine-washable on a slow, low-agitation cycle. It must be air-dried entirely — no dryer. At around $65, it sits at the higher end of the throw price range, but the blanket-like feel justifies the premium for tactile-sensitive buyers.

SoftHeat Luxury Fleece Electric........

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