The best electric blankets and heated throws to keep you warm for less, tested by experts

Score: 94/100

This electric throw is made of Sherpa and soft faux fur delivers reliable and consistent warmth with ease. Pre-heating took just nine minutes, and the intuitive controls make it easy to cycle through the nine heat settings.

It impressed our expert with its temperature distribution – the largest variation was just 2.6 degrees, which wasn’t even noticeable during use. The temperature didn’t fluctuate either, staying within 0.7 degrees of the setting we selected.

Washing is a breeze thanks to clear instructions on both the blanket’s label and the manual, but note, it is air dry only and takes a while due to its size and thickness.

Score: 92/100

There’s no doubt about it, this under blanket is an outstanding winter warmer. On test, it distributed heat evenly across its soft, fleecy surface on all temperature settings, even after extended use.

It only took five minutes to heat up and fitted our double mattress with minimal effort. It barely shrunk after washing either.

It also has built-in foot warmth, but you can’t adjust its settings and the control isn’t the easiest to read at night. Overall, though, this high-quality blanket costs little to run and would make a comfortable addition to any bed.

Score: 89/100

Swap your usual blanket for this heated throw and enjoy extra warmth for up to three hours at a time. Ideal for sitting on the sofa with, it drapes comfortably across the body and feels velvety-soft to touch. Plus, it was one of the best on test for even temperature distribution, while the controls are intuitive and it’s easy to wash.

It’s not as cost effective as an under blanket – on test, the throw cost 3.2p for three hours while our winning blanket costs a similar amount for eight hours – but it was the most energy efficient throw we tried. So, if you’re after a blanket for daytime use, this is a worthwhile buy.

Score: 89/100

This soft cotton under blanket slips easily onto your mattress and will bring you warmth all night long. In the lab, it heated up in just five minutes, so you don’t need to worry about getting into a chilly bed. It has two controls, three timers, and six settings, bringing flexibility too.

The heat was well distributed, especially on the higher settings, and it was fairly stable too. The wires were a little noticeable when lying on them, so it may not be for light sleepers, but the topper emerged from the washing machine in pristine condition. It’s a great bedroom addition.

Score: 88/100

With double the controls comes double the energy usage, but this electric blanket still only costs 3.4p to run per night.

Nine settings (including foot warmth) and easy-access controls mean both you and your partner should drift off happily, while the padded design also adds some extra cushioning to your bed (similar to a traditional mattress topper).

It proved reliable too, taking a respectable 15 minutes to heat up with minimal temperature fluctuations, although we found the right side wasn’t as effective as the left.

Score: 86/100

This luxuriously fluffy blanket is sure to make a statement in your home. It’s also both stylish and practical thanks to its six heat settings, which turn it into a cosy cocoon that you won’t want to come out from.

While the faux fur is great for warmth, it did shed (particularly when new) so we recommend investing in a lint roller to pick up the worst of the loose strands.

Around 10 minutes is needed for pre-heating and we found the temperature was evenly distributed across the blanket. There were some minor dips in warmth over a three-hour period (an average difference of 2.5 degrees); however, it’s unlikely you’d notice that change in real life.

The electric throw washed well but took several hours to dry on a delicate cycle in the tumble dryer, so make sure you set aside enough time when you’re giving it a freshen up.

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Score: 85/100

This is a simpler electric blanket design than some, with three temperature settings, but it’s still just as cosy thanks to its soft, fluffy material. It stayed securely on our mattress and distributed heat well, especially on its lowest setting. It was a little less even on the higher settings (and it took over an hour for the temperature to stabilise), but nothing that would be noticeable at night.

It washed well too, although it’s a bit fiddly removing the controls and the fluffy topper flattened a little afterwards. But these are small niggles, especially as it will likely sit underneath a bedsheet. It should still bring plenty of warmth to your bed – and for a much lower price than many, making it our best value under blanket.

Score: 85/100

This great value under blanket was a top scorer on our dual control tests; it kept a steady temperature all night on both sides, even when we varied the temperatures. Plus, the controls are easily accessible.

Patience is required, though, as it takes 30 minutes to get to temperature and with only three settings and no foot warmth, it’s not the most advanced buy.

As is the case with all dual control options, it’s more expensive to run, so you may not want to keep it on all night. But given its affordable price, we were impressed with its performance (it also washed well) and comfortable design.

Score: 81/100

Here’s one for those whose feet feel the chill most. It scored full marks for its extra foot warmth option, reaching a toasty temperature while the rest of the blanket stayed on its lowest setting.

It’s a speedy heater too, warming up in just 10 minutes (although this was longer than the advertised five minutes) and it distributed heat impeccably, even on the warmest of its nine settings.

The temperature wasn’t as stable as most we tested, but its controls are simple to use and it washed well. It didn’t cost much to run overnight either.

Score: 80/100

This well made blanket comes with some thoughtful design features, including the ability to position its control on either side of the bed.

Our expert was also impressed with its even heat distribution on all three heat settings, although the temperature fluctuated during prolonged use. Its straps are fiddly to use and there’s no timer, but it will shut off if it gets too hot. Overall, it's a reliable budget buy.

Score: 72/100

This pure cotton comforter is the perfect pairing for your duvet in the winter months. There are six heat settings to cycle through, and it heated up in five minutes in testing, so you can quickly get cosy if your bed is on the chilly side. The temperature fluctuated slightly over three hours of monitoring, but overall, the comforter provides plenty of warmth and couples will love the dual controls. That said, the left side was six degrees hotter than the right when on the same setting in test.

It washed well, with the wires coming out intact and in the right positions, and the controls are easy to get to grips with. A nine-hour timer and automatic shut-off provides an extra layer of convenience and safety too.