Home & Kitchen Buying guide
Electric blankets and heated throws: safety and costs
What should you know before choosing?
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.
Options at a glance
Compare the options- For the lowest rated power
Beurer MONOGRAM Komfort double heated underblanket
Find model on Amazon* - For couples who want separate settings
Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa double underblanket, dual control
Find model on Amazon* - For pre-warming the bed
Silentnight Yours & Mine dual control electric blanket
Find model on Amazon*
Beurer MONOGRAM Komfort double heated underblanket
Amazon UK
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.
Check before buying: It has one control for a double bed (the product page lists 'Number of controls: 1').
Why it's a good thing: Rated at 85 W, the lowest here; machine-washable at 30°C with a 3-year guarantee.
- The 85 W rating is the lowest of the products here, which keeps the maximum hourly use low.
- The manual names a specific all-night setting, and there is temperature monitoring with safety switch-off.
- The fitted-sheet design and detachable switch make it easier to keep flat and to wash.
- It has one control for a double bed (the product page lists 'Number of controls: 1').
- The product page lists 2/6/9/12-hour timer options, but the linked manual describes 1/3/6/12 hours, so check the controller.
Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa double underblanket, dual control
Amazon UK
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.
Check before buying: At 2 x 150 W it has the highest rated power here, so its maximum hourly use is higher than the 85 W Beurer's.
Why it's a good thing: Dual controls let each person heat only their side. It has a 3-year guarantee.
- Dual controllers let each side be set separately.
- The manual names settings 1 to 3 for continuous or all-night use, and the timer runs up to 9 hours.
- It has a 3-year guarantee and is washable.
- At 2 x 150 W it has the highest rated power here, so its maximum hourly use is higher than the 85 W Beurer's.
- No safety standard is named on the page or in the manual, and the full specifications are only in the PDF manual.
Silentnight Yours & Mine dual control electric blanket
Amazon UK
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.
Check before buying: The page lists no timer, auto shut-off or wattage, so you cannot estimate running cost or confirm it is suitable for all-night use.
Why it's a good thing: Elastic straps help it stay flat, which Electrical Safety First advises. It has a 3-year warranty.
- Independent controls let each side be set separately.
- It has built-in overheat protection.
- Elastic straps help keep it flat, and Electrical Safety First warns against using a blanket rucked or creased.
- The page lists no timer, auto shut-off or wattage, so you cannot estimate running cost or confirm it is suitable for all-night use.
- It has 3 heat settings per side, fewer than the 6 or 9 on other models here.
Dreamland Snuggle Up electric warming throw
Amazon UK
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.
Check before buying: The 2-year guarantee is shorter than the 3-year guarantees on other products here.
Why it's a good thing: A published wattage lets you estimate running cost yourself.
- The 150 W rating is published in the manual, so you can estimate running cost yourself.
- The auto shut-off timer offers 1, 3 or 9 hours, and the manual names settings for continuous use.
- It is machine washable and safe in a tumble dryer.
- The 2-year guarantee is shorter than the 3-year guarantees on other products here.
- The product page claims it costs 'from 1p to run' without stating a unit rate or hours, so work the cost out from the 150 W rating instead.
Morphy Richards EverCosy large fleece heated throw
Amazon UK
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.
Check before buying: Neither the product page nor the linked manual gives a wattage, so running cost cannot be checked. The page's claim of 'less than 1p per hour' gives no unit rate.
Why it's a good thing: Registering it extends the warranty to 3 years and supports recall contact.
- At 200 x 180 cm it is the largest throw here, big enough to share.
- Nine heat settings and a 1–9 hour timer give fine control.
- The warranty extends to 3 years if you register, and registering also supports recall contact, as Electrical Safety First advises.
- Neither the product page nor the linked manual gives a wattage, so running cost cannot be checked. The page's claim of 'less than 1p per hour' gives no unit rate.
- The manual linked from the large throw's page is named for model EB610001MUK, so check that the rating label and manual match your unit.
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 | 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 | 2 × 150 W (manual) | 2, one per side | 1, 3 or 9 h | 3 years |
| Silentnight Yours & Mine dual control electric blanket | Not published | 2, one per side | None listed | 3 years |
| Dreamland Snuggle Up electric warming throw | 150 W (manual) | Not stated | 1, 3 or 9 h | 2 years |
| Morphy Richards EverCosy large fleece heated throw | Not published | 1, detachable | 1–9 h | 2 years, 3 if registered |
Sources behind this guide
These sources support the comparison; they are separate from the shopping links. Manufacturer statements have not been independently tested by us.
- Electrical Safety First: Electric blankets
- Electrical Safety First: Concerns as electric blanket fires hit five year high
- London Fire Brigade: Electric blankets
- GOV.UK (Home Office): Fire safety in the home (accessible version)
- West Sussex County Council: Fire service offers free electric blanket testing (18 August 2025)
- Ofgem: Energy price cap
- Beurer — MONOGRAM Komfort double heated underblanket
- Dreamland — Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa double underblanket, dual control
- Silentnight — Yours & Mine dual control electric blanket
- Dreamland — Snuggle Up electric warming throw
- Morphy Richards — EverCosy large fleece heated throw
How we choose
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. This is a research-based review, not a hands-on lab test.
Our values filter: We favour lifetime warranties, spare-parts availability, and materials that outlast cheaper versions.
Prices change — check the retailer for today's price.
Common questions
- How old is too old for an electric blanket?
- London Fire Brigade advises checking regularly for wear and tear and replacing at least every 10 years, and Electrical Safety First also recommends replacing every ten years. West Sussex Fire & Rescue recommends regular testing for blankets over two years old. Replace any blanket sooner if it has scorch marks, frayed fabric or visible or damaged wires.
- Can I leave an electric blanket on all night?
- Only if it is designed for it. Home Office guidance says to unplug blankets before getting into bed unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use, and Electrical Safety First says overnight use needs temperature control settings, an automatic shut-off and overheat protection. Manuals name specific low settings for all-night use: setting 1 on the Beurer Monogram Komfort, and settings 1 to 3 on Dreamland's controllers.
- Can I use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket?
- No. London Fire Brigade says never to use a hot water bottle at the same time as an electric blanket, and Electrical Safety First gives the same advice.
- How much does an electric blanket cost to run?
- Multiply the rated wattage by the hours of use, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by the electricity unit rate on your bill. For example, a 150 W throw used for 3 hours uses at most 0.45 kWh. The rated wattage is the maximum, so the result is an upper estimate. Ofgem reviews the price cap every 3 months, so unit rates change.
- Who should not use an electric blanket?
- London Fire Brigade says never to use one with an air-flow pressure-relief mattress or if you use emollient creams. The Beurer and Dreamland manuals say their products must not be used by children under 3 or by people who are insensitive to heat or cannot react to overheating. Children aged 3 to 8 should only use them under supervision, on the minimum setting.
