---
title: "Electric blankets and heated throws: safety and costs"
canonical: https://smallgoodthings.org/reviews/home/best-electric-blankets-2026/
datePublished: 2026-10-23
---

# Electric blankets and heated throws: safety and costs

An electric blanket or heated throw warms you directly. To estimate running cost, multiply the rated watts by the hours used, divide by 1,000 and multiply by the unit rate on your bill. Fire services advise replacing blankets at least every 10 years, checking for scorch marks or damaged wires, never using one with a hot water bottle and unplugging it before bed unless it is designed for all-night use.

- **Beurer MONOGRAM Komfort double heated underblanket** (Featured option, For the lowest rated power) — A fitted double underblanket with six heat settings, temperature monitoring with safety switch-off and an automatic switch-off timer. Its manual lists 85 W and an all-night setting, and names EN 60335-2-17. It has one control for both sides.
- **Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa double underblanket, dual control** (Featured option, For couples who want separate settings) — A double underblanket with a controller for each side, a fast pre-heat and a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer. Its manual lists 2 x 150 W and names settings for continuous or all-night use. No safety standard is named.
- **Silentnight Yours & Mine dual control electric blanket** (Featured option, For pre-warming the bed) — A dual-control blanket with three heat settings per side, built-in overheat protection and elastic straps to keep it flat. Silentnight advises switching it off before falling asleep and publishes no timer or wattage.
- **Dreamland Snuggle Up electric warming throw** (Featured option, For one person on the sofa) — A 160 x 120 cm heated throw rated at 150 W in its manual, with a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer. It is machine washable and safe in a tumble dryer. No safety standard is named, and it has a 2-year guarantee.
- **Morphy Richards EverCosy large fleece heated throw** (Featured option, For sharing a sofa) — A 200 x 180 cm fleece throw with a detachable controller, nine heat settings, a 1–9 hour timer and overheat protection. Morphy Richards publishes no wattage, so its running cost cannot be checked.

## How to use an electric blanket safely

Fire services and Electrical Safety First give consistent advice:

- **Replace it at least every 10 years**, and check regularly for scorch marks, worn fabric and damaged or exposed wires (London Fire Brigade, Electrical Safety First).
- **Never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket**, and do not buy one second-hand (London Fire Brigade).
- **Unplug it before you get into bed** unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use (Home Office guidance).
- **Keep it flat in use and store it rolled or loosely folded** to protect the wiring (Electrical Safety First, Home Office).
- **Register it** so the maker can contact you about a safety recall (Electrical Safety First).

London Fire Brigade also advises against using one with an air-flow pressure relief mattress or emollient creams. Electrical Safety First's analysis of government data found 31 accidental electric blanket fires in England in 2024/25, a five-year high.

## What does an electric blanket cost to run?

Use the rated wattage: watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × the unit rate on your bill. For example, a 150 W throw used for 3 hours uses at most 0.45 kWh. Multiply that by your own unit rate. Rated watts are a maximum, so the result is an upper estimate. Ofgem says the price cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill.

## How to choose

- Choose the type: underblankets sit flat on the mattress, overblankets lie on top of you, and heated throws are portable for sofa or bed use (Electrical Safety First).
- Look for overheat protection and an automatic shut-off or timer. If you want warmth through the night, check the manual names specific settings for all-night use.
- Find the rated wattage on the product page or in the manual, so you can estimate running cost (watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × your unit rate). Some brands do not publish it.
- For couples, dual controls let each side be set separately.
- Check for a detachable controller and machine-washable fabric, and that the listing shows a UK plug (some Beurer throws list a Euro plug on Beurer's UK site).
- Buy new from a reputable retailer rather than second-hand or an unknown third-party seller, and register the product for recall alerts.
- Check who will use it: the manuals say these products are not for children under 3 or people who cannot feel or react to overheating, and fire services advise against use with air-flow pressure-relief mattresses or emollient creams.

## Before you buy anything

If your blanket is under 10 years old and shows no warning signs (scorch marks, frayed fabric, exposed or poking wires, a damaged flex), you may not need a new one. Many fire and rescue services and Trading Standards teams run free autumn testing sessions: West Sussex Fire & Rescue's 2025 sessions found 37% of tested blankets defective. Check your local service's website for current dates. If a blanket fails or is over 10 years old, take it to a recycling point that accepts electrical items rather than putting it in household waste (Electrical Safety First).

## Specifications at a glance

Figures are quoted from each maker's page or linked manual, checked on 23 October 2026.

| Product | Rated power | Controllers | Auto-off timer | Guarantee |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Beurer MONOGRAM Komfort double heated underblanket](https://www.beurer.com/uk/p/37961/) | 85 W (manual) | 1 for both sides | Page: 2, 6, 9 or 12 h; manual: 1, 3, 6 or 12 h | 3 years |
| [Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa double underblanket, dual control](https://www.dreamlanduk.co.uk/products/scandi-double-dual-controls) | 2 × 150 W (manual) | 2, one per side | 1, 3 or 9 h | 3 years |
| [Silentnight Yours & Mine dual control electric blanket](https://www.silentnight.co.uk/silentnight-dual-control-electric-blanket.html) | Not published | 2, one per side | None listed | 3 years |
| [Dreamland Snuggle Up electric warming throw](https://www.dreamlanduk.co.uk/products/relaxwell-luxury-heated-throw-grey) | 150 W (manual) | Not stated | 1, 3 or 9 h | 2 years |
| [Morphy Richards EverCosy large fleece heated throw](https://www.morphyrichards.co.uk/products/evercosy-large-fleece-electric-heated-throw-green) | Not published | 1, detachable | 1–9 h | 2 years, 3 if registered |

Method: Manufacturer product pages and manuals, and guidance from Electrical Safety First, London Fire Brigade, the Home Office, West Sussex Fire and Rescue and Ofgem, checked on 23 October 2026. We compare documented specifications; we have not tested these products, measured energy use or verified current Amazon listings, sellers, stock or prices.
Hands-on: no — research-based