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Prices and availability checked 4 November 2026 against live Amazon listings; tap through for the current price.
An electric blanket is one of the most energy-efficient ways to stay warm in bed. At under 3p an hour for a typical 100W blanket, they cost a fraction of turning up the central heating. We’ve researched models across every price bracket to find which ones heat quickly, last the night safely, and don’t tangle in the wash.
At a glance
| Model | Best for | Type | Heat settings | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreamland Cosy Dreamer | Most people | Underblanket, double | 6, dual control | £89.99 |
| Silentnight Teddy Fleece Electric Blanket | Tight budget | Underblanket, king | 4 | £44.99 |
| Monogram by Beurer Komfort | Two of you, different temperatures | Fitted mattress cover, king | 6, dual control | £96.99 |
| Silentnight Heated Throw | Evenings on the sofa | Over-blanket throw | 9 | £36.00 |
| Beurer TS 15 | A single bed | Underblanket, single | Slide control | £27.99 |
| Dreamland Hunker Down | A genuinely cold room | Reversible Sherpa underblanket, double | 6 | £99.99 |
subject to change
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.What we’d skip. Unbranded throws that don’t name an overheat-protection system — this is one category where the safety feature is the product. Also skip paying for nine heat settings if you know you’ll leave it on one: the jump from three settings to six matters far more than the jump from six to nine. And don’t buy an over-blanket expecting to sleep under it; most, including the one we recommend below, shut off after a couple of hours by design.
Over Blanket vs Under Blanket
Over blankets sit on top like a duvet; under blankets go beneath your sheet to pre-heat the bed. Under blankets are the traditional UK choice — turn on 20 minutes before bed, switch off before getting in. Both are safe to sleep under with modern auto-shutoff.
My own set-up is the over kind: I don’t have an electric blanket, but I read in bed under an electric throw. A throw warms you while you’re awake; an underblanket warms the bed before you get in.
What to Look For
Heat settings: More is better — look for at least 5. Auto-shutoff: Essential for safety. Machine washability: Detach controller, cool delicate cycle, dry flat. Dual zones: For couples, each side having its own controller is a game-changer.
Running Costs
At ~26.32p/kWh (Ofgem cap), a 100W blanket for 8 hours costs about 21p per night — roughly £38 over a full winter. Compare to ~£760 for a 2kW fan heater running the same hours.
Our Top Picks
Dreamland Cosy Dreamer Heated Underblanket
Double | 6 heat settings | Dual controls | Auto-off up to 9hrs | Machine washable
The UK benchmark. Intelliheat technology brings it up to temperature in about five minutes, and the two detachable digital controllers give each side six settings with an LED display you can read in the dark. A selectable 1, 3 or 9-hour timer covers overnight use, and the anti-slip backing keeps it from wandering.
- 5-minute heat-up
- Dual controls, 6 settings
- Machine washable
- Underblanket only
- Premium price
Silentnight Teddy Fleece Electric Blanket (King)
King 165 × 137cm | 4 heat settings | Machine washable
A teddy-fleece underblanket with four heat settings, overheat protection and easy-fit straps that hold it flat across the mattress. The trade-offs are coarser control than the Dreamland and a single size — this listing is king only.
- Affordable
- Trusted brand
- Machine washable
- Only 4 settings
- King size only
Monogram by Beurer Komfort Heated Mattress Cover
King 200 × 150cm | Dual control | 6 heat settings | Machine washable
A fully fitted heated mattress cover rather than a loose underblanket, with a deep elasticated skirt so it stays put. Two independent controls let each side of the bed pick its own temperature across six settings, reaching warmth in about eight minutes. Oeko-Tex certified and machine washable. Worth it if you and your partner run at different temperatures.
- Independent dual controls
- Fully fitted, stays put
- Oeko-Tex certified
- Dearer than a single-control blanket
- King only
Silentnight Comfort Control Heated Throw
Over-blanket | 120 × 160cm | 9 heat settings | Machine washable
The gap in most electric-blanket round-ups: something to put over you rather than under. Fleece throw with nine settings — Silentnight suggest 1–6 for a slow, moderate warmth and 7–9 when you want it quickly — and stitched channels designed to stop hot spots forming. It shuts itself off after two hours, which tells you what it is for: an evening on the sofa, not a night in bed. Machine washable like the rest.
- Fills the over-blanket gap
- Nine settings, genuinely graded
- Stitched channels against hot spots
- Two-hour shut-off, not for overnight
- Throw-sized, not bed-sized
Beurer TS 15 Heated Underblanket
Underblanket | 150 × 80cm single | Ties to the mattress | Washable at 30°C
Every other pick here is a double or a king. This is the single-bed answer, and it is the cheapest sensible way into a warm bed. Soft fleece with ties that fix it to the mattress so it doesn’t rumple overnight, Beurer’s own safety-sensor system to cut power if it overheats, and it goes in the machine at 30°C once the cord and control are detached. A simple slide control rather than a digital display.
- Cheapest way in
- Ties down so it doesn’t rumple
- Machine washable at 30°C
- Single only
- Basic slide control, no display
Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa
Fitted underblanket | Double 190 × 137cm | 6 heat settings | Timer | 3-year guarantee
For a bedroom that never really warms up. It is reversible: a plush Sherpa face for the depths of winter and a smoother, lighter face for the rest of the year, so it needn’t come off the bed in April. Dreamland’s Intelliheat+ brings a double up to temperature in about five minutes and keeps adjusting overnight, and they put running cost at roughly a penny an hour per control. Machine washable, tumble-dry safe, three-year guarantee.
- Reversible — Sherpa for winter, lighter for summer
- Five-minute heat-up, adapts overnight
- Three-year guarantee
- Dearer than the plain Cosy Dreamer
- Double size on this listing
How we chose
These are researched picks, not a lab test. Every model here was checked against its current UK listing on the day of writing — availability, price, size, heat settings, washability and the named safety system — and anything we could not verify from the manufacturer’s own specification has been left out rather than guessed at. Where a listing contradicted itself, we have said less rather than more. Running costs are worked from the Ofgem price cap in the Running Costs section above, not from manufacturer claims.
Also Worth Considering: Microwavable Warmers
If you want warmth without plugging anything into the bed, a microwavable warmer is a good companion to an electric blanket — or a gentler alternative for warming hands, feet, or easing aches. Warmies make French-lavender-scented microwavable products that the maker says hold their warmth for up to an hour.
- Warmies® Marshmallow Slippers — £14.99, reduced from £19.99 — View at Warmies →
- Warmies® Fully Microwavable Cream Bottle — £19.99. Stock note (26 September): out of stock at Warmies. — View at Warmies →
- Warmies® Marshmallow Eye Mask — £12.99. Stock note (26 September): out of stock at Warmies. — View at Warmies →
Safety: What You Need to Know
Never fold a heated blanket (damages wiring). Check for frayed wires before use. Replace any blanket over 10 years old. Look for BS EN 60335-2-17 certification. All current UK blankets from established brands have auto-shutoff — safe to sleep with on.
Which one should you buy?
If you want the short answer: the Dreamland Cosy Dreamer. It heats in about five minutes, both sides get their own control, and the timer covers a full night. If I were buying an underblanket, it is the one I would choose.
Around that: on a tight budget the Silentnight Teddy Fleece does the essential job — four settings, overheat protection, machine washable. If the two of you argue about temperature, the Monogram by Beurer fitted cover gives each side its own control. For a single bed, the Beurer TS 15 is the cheapest way in. For evenings on the sofa rather than nights in bed, the Silentnight Heated Throw. And if the room itself is cold, the reversible Dreamland Hunker Down earns the extra over the standard Cosy Dreamer.
Giving one as a gift
An electric blanket is one of the few presents that gets used every night from November to March. Three things to settle before you buy: the bed size (a double underblanket will not cover a king, and a single on a double leaves one side cold); one sleeper or two (in a shared bed, dual controls end the argument — the Dreamland Cosy Dreamer gives each side its own); and under or over (an underblanket lies on the mattress beneath the sheet; a heated throw goes on top, which also works on the sofa).
It answers the usual worry about running costs, too: at this winter’s capped rate, a 100W blanket costs about 21p for an eight-hour night, roughly £38 over a full winter. For a smaller budget the Silentnight Teddy Fleece covers the essentials, and for someone who feels the cold in the evening rather than in bed, the Silentnight Heated Throw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use one on memory foam? Yes — works fine. Don’t put the blanket between mattress and topper.
How long do they last? Up to 10 years with proper care. Roll loosely for storage, never fold.
Can my pet use one? Not recommended — use a dedicated heated pet pad instead.
What’s the best electric blanket to give as a gift? For a shared bed, the Dreamland Cosy Dreamer: each side has its own controller and it heats in about five minutes. Check the bed size first. On a tighter budget the Silentnight Teddy Fleece does the essentials, and for the sofa a heated throw such as the Silentnight Heated Throw.
Related Guides: Staying Warm for Less
See also our best electric heaters guide for portable room heating, and for the bed itself, our guides to winter bedding and to choosing between a hot water bottle, electric blanket or heated throw.
— Gareth
🛡 Our standards: How we research · Editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure · Corrections
About Gareth
Gareth Isherwood is the editor of Danbury & Lovejoy. He has baked bread at home for 25+ years and has 15 years of growing experience across gardens, containers and other growing spaces, including an East Sussex allotment for the past three years. Read his full story →
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