Best heated throw to keep you warm and your energy bills low this winter in the UK

Dreamland is currently the leader in the heated throw market but as their popularity increases, more brands are starting to make their own. To help you find the best ones available we scoured the market and asked our Top Testers Club which ones they use and why they love them.

And if you're after some great pre-Christmas deals on parenting essentials, check our our list of the best baby Black Friday deals.

Best heated throws at a glance

• Best heated throw for energy efficiency: Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw, £69.99 £59.99 at John Lewis (Save £10 or 14%)
• Best super soft heated throw: Mia&Coco Electric Heated Blanket, £44.99 £36.33 at Amazon (Save £8.66 or 19%)
• Best budget heated throw: Silentnight Luxury Heated Throw, £45
• Best stylish heated throw: Dreamland Alaskan Husky Faux Fur Heated Throw, £89.99
• Best heated throw for an easy to use controller: Homefront Electric Heated Throw, £69.99 £59.99 at The Range (Save £10 or 10%)
• Best patterned heated throw: Dreamland Velvety Electric Heated Throw Grey and Red Check , £109.99 £79.99 at Lakeland (Save £30 or 27%)
• Best heated throw with sleeves: The Snuggler Heated Throw with Sleeves and Foot Pouch, £99.99

Combining a heated throw with an Oodie is a great way to stay warm this winter without having to crank up the heating. It doesn't matter if you're snuggling up to watch a movie or playing a game on your Switch, a heated throw will take you to all new levels of cosiness.

For more energy saving ideas and products find out how to dry your clothes indoors without using a tumble dryer, or, if you want to your clothes to dry quickly take a look at our roundup of best heated airers.

• Jump to our pick of the best heated throws
• What to consider when buying a heated throw
• Find out if heated throws are suitable for children
• See how much it costs to run a heated throw

Our pick of the best heated throws

1. Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw, £69.99

– Best for energy efficiency

Size: L160cm x W120cm| Temperature settings: 6 | Timer/shut-off: Yes | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• Energy efficient
• Intelligent heat control
• 6 temperature settings
• Auto shut-off feature
• Good size
• Machine washable
• Affordable
• Available in variety of colours

Cons:

• None

This heated blanket is one of the most affordable on the list and is very energy efficient, costing from just 1p to run for 7 hours thanks to its handy intelliheat+ control. It automatically monitors and adjusts the temperature of the blanket to keep you warm and give off heat as efficiently as possible as and when it detects it's needed.

The blanket heats up in 5 minutes and there are 6 temperature settings to choose from. It's specifically designed to ensure you don't overheat or become uncomfortable. The auto shut-off feature can be set for 1, 2 or 9 hours.

Home tester Suzanne loves snuggling up under her Dreamland throw (pictured above) and said, " It's great for keeping me warm and cosy during the cold winter evenings. It warms up quickly, has a timer so you don't leave it on if you fall asleep, has 6 temperature settings and is very economical to run".

The blanket is available in grey, pink, yellow and teal.

Available from: John Lewis, Amazon and Very

2. Mia&Coco Electric Heated Blanket, £62.99

– Best super soft heated throw

Size: L160cm x W120cm| Temperature settings: 10 | Timer/shut-off: Yes | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• 10 temperature settings,
• Up to 9 hour timer setting,
• Machine washable

Cons:

• Only comes in 1 colour

If you're looking for an ultra-soft heated blanket, then this flannel option from Mia&Coco is a great pick.

The blanket has 10 different heat settings so you can set the temperature exactly how you want, with an timer setting also allowing you to set a duration before it automatically shuts off.

"Love mine," said parent tester Katy. "It is the best thing for working from home!"

To wash, just detach the control and put in the washing machine at 30°.

Available from: Amazon

3. Silentnight Luxury Heated Throw, £45

– Best budget buy

Size: L160cm x W120cm| Temperature settings: 3 | Timer/shut-off: No | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• Most affordable option
• Good size
• Machine washable

Cons:

• Only 3 heat settings and no timer

This is the cheapest heated throw on the list. The soft grey fleece throw has 3 heat settings to choose from and similar to the others listed above it also has overheat safety protection.

It costs just 1p to run for the whole night and is big enough to cover the whole family on the sofa. It's easy to wash too, detach the controller and pop it in the washing machine at up to 40°.

Available from: Silentnight and Asda

4. Dreamland Alaskan Husky Faux Fur Heated Throw, £89.99

– Best for style

Size: L160cm x W120cm| Temperature settings: 6 | Timer/shut-off: Yes | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• Stylish
• 6 temperature setting
• Shut-off feature
• LED display
• Machine washable
• Good size

Cons:

• One of the more expensive options

This gorgeous faux fur blanket looks stunning with its natural looking design. It's also incredibly soft, keeping you warm even if it isn't on.

When you do turn it on it warms up in 5 minutes and there are 6 heat settings to choose from with a light-up LED display so you can adjust the heat of the throw in the dark.

It has an auto shut-off setting for between 1 and 9 hours and is machine washable making it easy to keep the beautiful fur soft and fluffy for longer.

Parent tester Rachael uses this heated throw and said, "The initial cost put me off a bit, however knowing it costs around 1p a night to run makes me feel better about it. I work from home and wanted one to reduce my heating use. I've got to say, I love this blanket, it's so warm! It's got a lovely heavy feel to it and it's really easy to use, I'm very glad I decided to buy it."

If you buy from Lakeland they offer a 3 year guarantee if you're not happy with it.

Available from: John Lewis, Argos and Amazon

5. Homefront Electric Heated Throw, £69.99

– Best for easy to use controller

Size: L160cm x W120cm| Temperature settings: 9 | Timer/shut-off: Yes | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• Easy to use controller
• 9 temperature settings
• 9 time settings, good size
• Neutral colour
• Machine washable

Cons:

• Only available in 1 colour option

This heated throw has a very user-intuitive digital controller making it easy to control the 9 heat and timer settings. You can put it from intense heat to warm you up from being out in the cold to mild to keep you comfortably warm all night. It has an automatic cut-off feature to prevent overheating too.

The 9 timer settings mean you can set the throw to come off on and on exactly when you want it to.

The throw is a lovely brown neutral colour that should go with most interiors and is machine washable at 40°.

Available from: The Range

6. Dreamland Velvety Electric Heated Throw Grey and Red Check, £109.99

– Best for patterned

Size: L135cm x W180cm| Temperature settings: 6 | Timer/shut-off: Yes | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• Patterned
• 6 temperature settings
• 6 timer settings
• Good size
• Machine washable

Cons:

• None

Looking for one that'll match with your living room while still keeping you cosy and warm? This patterned pick from Dreamland is the perfect choice for Christmas with it's red fabric.

The controller allows you to choose from 6 heat settings, including a 'ready for bed' option which preheats the throw in 5 minutes, ready for you to get into bed. The blanket costs as little as 1p to run for 7 hours and is safe for overnight use. It has an auto shut-off feature after 1 or 9 hours.

Danielle, MFM Community Manager tested this heated throw (pictured above) and said, "This heated blanket caused wars in our home, with everyone from the cats and the kids to the husband fighting to get under it! It comes with a fool proof controller, which allows you to set the duration of the time it's on for (1, 3 or 9 hours) and the heave level ranges from 1-6. We usually have it on level 4 or 5 and 2 of us (sometimes 3) can fit under it generously. It might seem like an expensive initial outlay, but it's such a worthwhile investment. It's so incredible cosy and warm, you might never leave the sofa again.

Available from: Lakeland and John Lewis

7. The Snuggler Heated Throw with Sleeves and Foot Pouch, £99.99

– Best for sleeves

Size: L180cm x W150cm| Temperature settings: 3 | Timer/shut-off: Yes | Machine washable: Yes

Pros:

• Has sleeves and foot pouch
• Machine washable
• Automatic shut-off

Cons:

• Harder to share with the family
• Only 3 temperature settings

If you want an extra snuggly heated throw then this is the one for you.

The remote control-operated heated throw has 3 temperature settings and a 3-hour auto shut-off.

When the blanket gets grubby, you can put it in the washing machine at 30°c.

Lakeland's 3 year guarantee applies to this blanket too if you purchase from them.

Available from: Lakeland and Amazon

What to consider when buying a heated throw

Size – Most heated throws come in the standard 160cm x 120cm size, however, if you have a big family and want to share it and make sure it covers everyone on the sofa then it may be better to opt for a larger option, for example number 7 on this list which is 180cm x 135cm.

Heat settings – Heated throws have different heat settings to help you get the ideal level of warmth. They tend to vary from 3 to 9 options, so depending on how exact you want your temperature, be sure to check the number of settings available.

Timer/auto shut-off –It can be really helpful if the heated throw has a timer setting or an auto shut-off so that if you fall asleep it turns off and doesn't keep running and wasting electricity.

Style – If you're going to leave the blanket out as decoration on your sofa and use it as a normal throw all year round then you want it to look nice. Consider whether it goes well with your interior and will complement the room. We have included some gorgeous options such as number 4 and 6 on the list.

Running cost – Running a heated throw is definitely a less expensive option than putting the heating on. However not all heated throws are equally efficient. Using a heated blanket that can run on low for a long time uses up less energy and is actually more cost effective than one that is powerful all the time. Heated throws with a range of settings and timers – especially number 1 on the list that has intelliheat technology built in to automatically adjust the temperature for you – ensure the throw is giving off heat in the most energy efficient way.

Material – This is purely down to preference but heated throws come in a variety of materials from velvet to faux fur. Choose one that you like the feel and look of, however, if you want to be extra warm then a thicker throw is naturally going to keep you warmer, even when it's not on.

Are heated throws suitable for children?

Heated throws are not recommended for use for children under 5 years but we reached out to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and they gave the following tips on how to use a heated throw safely:

• Only buy from reputable traders
• Make sure the heated throw comes with a 3-pin plug market BS1363
• Always follow instructions and heed warmings provided on the product
• Only use with children under supervision, for example all together on the sofa
• They should not be used by children as warmth for sleep as they will not be supervised and the products contain cords which are strangulation hazards.

What is the difference between a heated blanket and a heated throw?

Heated throws often get confused with the much better known heated blankets. Heated blankets, also known as electric blankets are used for sleep and are often laid on top of your mattress to keep you toasty all night. However, a heated throw, although similar, is slightly different, these are used more on the sofa or around the house to keep you warm. You can place it over you and your whole family on the sofa to keep cosy and snug.

They should not be used as an electric blanket, especially for children.

How much does a heated throw cost to run?

They might be quite pricy at the outset, but a heated throw can help save you money in the long run thanks to their low running costs. A heated throw costs from just 1p to run for up to 7 hours. If you compare this to the heating which Checkatrade estimates costs around 40p per hour for a 2 kW LPG heater then that is a massive saving.

To get the most energy efficient heated throw as possible look for ones with intelliheat, such as number 1 on our list. Also it's more efficient to use the heated throw on a low heat for a long time than intense heat for quick bursts as this requires more wattage.

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