An electric heated blanket can be a great way to achieve that cozy warmth in the wintertime — it can even help you save on high heating bills if your comforters and blankets aren’t cutting it. In addition to providing comfort, the experts we consulted noted that heat therapy can ease muscle and joint pain and help you fall asleep if you suffer from body aches and soreness.
To help you determine whether an electric heated blanket is right for you, we spoke to experts about the benefits of electric blankets, how to shop for them and how to use them safely.
How much electricity does an electric blanket use?
Generally, electric blankets, which disperse heat through built-in wires, consume little energy. On average, they cost about four cents an hour, compared to some space heaters which can cost around 15 cents an hour.
According to calculations from Choice, it should cost around $20 per season to run a single-bed electric blanket, including pre-heating it, every night for three months.
How long do you need to run them?
Electric blankets are very effective heaters, so you usually only need to run one for around 10 to 30 minutes on an average setting before switching it off. As the warm air is trapped under your doona, you should keep warm all night – and you probably won’t need a space heater. Many electric blankets also come with timers that can be pre-set to switch off. We wouldn’t recommend having your electric blanket on all night, even if it has an all-night mode.