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Start with what you actually want warm
An electric blanket and a room heater do different jobs. A heater warms the air in a room. A blanket warms your bed. So answer two questions first.
- Is the problem a cold bed, or a cold room? If you only feel cold when you get into bed, a blanket may be all you need.
- Who will use it? One person on a single bed needs less than a couple on a double.
A cold mattress is a common winter problem in Delhi, Punjab and the hills, and warming just the bed can save a lot of electricity.
Under-blanket or over-blanket?
| Question | Under-blanket | Over-blanket |
|---|---|---|
| Where it goes | On the mattress, under the bed sheet | On top of you |
| How you use it | Warm the bed before you get in | Use it in bed or on a sofa |
| Feel | You lie on it, flat and thin | Soft, like a normal blanket |
| Suits | Cold mattresses | Sitting, reading, TV |
| Watch out for | Creases under the sheet, ties that come loose | Tucking it in, which can trap heat |
Many listings just say "electric blanket". Look at the photos and the description to see which kind it is.
Single or double?
Measure your mattress before you buy, since "single" and "double" sizes differ between makers. The heated area also matters, and it is often smaller than the blanket.
| Your bed | Size to look at |
|---|---|
| One person, single bed | Single |
| One person, double bed | Single, placed on your side |
| Two people, double bed | Double |
Heat settings
Most blankets have a controller on the wire with a few settings. A common way to use one is to warm the bed on high for 20 to 30 minutes, then drop to low or switch off.
Check these on the listing:
- Number of settings. Two will do. More lets you fine-tune it.
- Auto shut-off or timer. This turns it off if you fall asleep.
- Overheat protection. This cuts the power if the blanket gets too hot.
Top 5 electric blankets to look at
We have not tested these. The details come from each Amazon listing, and the pros and cons are our reading of those details and of this type of product. This is a shortlist, not a ranking. We picked popular listings on Amazon.in, so the order does not mean one is better. Check the current price, type, wattage, warranty and reviews on Amazon.
| Product | Type | Listed detail |
|---|---|---|
| Utopia Bedding | Single bed | Fur fleece |
| Bell, single | Single bed | Zed certified |
| Bell, double | Double bed | Zed certified |
| Beurer HD 75 | Overblanket | See listing |
| Bell, four settings | Single bed | Four heat settings, 10 years warranty listed |
A note on "Zed certified". India's ZED scheme looks at how a manufacturer runs its business. It is not the same as a safety test of one blanket. If a listing mentions it, still look for a safety mark such as ISI and ask what the certificate covers. For imported models, check that the plug and voltage suit Indian sockets.
1. Utopia Bedding
This is a single size fur fleece blanket with flannel on one side and Sherpa on the other. At 400 grams it is far lighter than the other four, and the listing says almost nothing about how it heats. It is aimed at someone who wants a soft fleece layer for one person.
Key details
- Type: listed as an electric blanket for a single bed
- Size: 76 x 152 cm, 0.25 inches thick
- Material: flannel and Sherpa fleece, polyester fill
- Weight: 400 grams
- Care: machine wash
- Two soft surfaces, flannel and Sherpa, give you a choice of feel
- Machine washing is listed, which is not the case for the wool blankets here
- At 400 grams it is easy to move from bed to sofa
- No wattage, controller or heat settings listed, so confirm that it really heats before you buy
- Overheat protection and auto shut-off not listed, so confirm both
- Warranty not listed, and the listing does not say if it goes over or under you
Good for: One person who wants a light fleece layer, once the seller has confirmed how it heats.
2. Bell, single
This is a single bed electric under-blanket, handmade in Kashmir with a Merino wool surface. It uses 70 watts and has four settings, including separate foot and top modes. Unlike the other Bell single, its listing shows no warranty. It is aimed at one person who wants a warm bed.
Key details
- Type: under-blanket for a single bed
- Power: 70 watts
- Settings: High, Low, Foot and Top
- Material: Merino wool surface, 60% wool and 40% cotton
- Build: 4 layers with a Teflon-coated heating element
- Certification: made in a ZED certified facility
- At 70 watts it uses 0.07 units an hour
- The Foot and Top settings let you warm part of the bed
- The 4 layers are listed as giving protection around the heating system
- Warranty not listed, and the 60 x 40 cm size shown looks too small, so confirm both
- Overheat protection and auto shut-off not listed, so confirm both
- The care note says no washing, and to switch it off before you get in
Good for: One person on a single bed who wants to warm the mattress before getting in.
3. Bell, double
This is a double bed under-blanket with two separate controllers, one for each side. It is the only one of the five with dual controls, and the listing is clear that it must lie flat on the mattress under the sheet. It is aimed at couples who feel the cold differently.
Key details
- Type: under-blanket only, for a double bed
- Size: 152 x 152 cm
- Controls: two separate controllers, one for each side
- Settings: 4
- Material: Merino wool fabric with a cotton layer
- Build: 4 layers with Teflon-coated heating wire, made in a ZED certified facility
- Each person can set the warmth on their own side
- Four settings give some room to fine-tune the heat
- The listing is clear on how to use it
- Wattage not listed, so you cannot work out the running cost
- Warranty, overheat protection and auto shut-off not listed, so confirm all three
- It cannot be used as an over-blanket, and at 152 x 152 cm it may not reach every edge, so measure your mattress
Good for: A couple on a double bed who want separate heat on each side.
4. Beurer HD 75
This is a fleece overblanket that lies on top of you, and the only one here clearly sold for that use. It lists six heat levels, auto shut-off and overheat protection. It is aimed at someone who wants warmth on a sofa or in a chair as well as in bed.
Key details
- Type: electric overblanket in fleece
- Power: 100 watts
- Settings: 6 temperature levels
- Safety: auto shut-off and overheat protection
- Size and weight: 180 x 130 cm, 1.9 kg
- Care and warranty: removable switch, machine washable at 30°C, OEKO-TEX certified, 3 year warranty
- It is the only listing here with both auto shut-off and overheat protection
- The switch comes off, so the blanket can go in the machine
- Six levels give the finest control of the five
- The details show 28 volts and no plug or adapter is listed, so confirm it works on Indian sockets
- At 100 watts it uses more power than the 70 watt Bell blankets
- The auto shut-off time is not listed, so confirm how long it runs
Good for: Warmth while sitting or reading, once you have checked the plug.
5. Bell, four settings
This is a single bed electric bed warmer, handmade in Kashmir. It is close to the other Bell single, but this listing gives a size and a 10 year warranty. It is aimed at one person who wants long warranty cover.
Key details
- Type: electric bed warmer for a single bed
- Size: 150 x 80 cm
- Power: 70 watts
- Settings: High, Low, Foot and Top
- Material: Merino wool fabric, 80% wool and 20% cotton
- Warranty and certification: 10 years listed, made in a ZED certified facility
- The 10 year warranty is the longest listed here
- The Foot and Top settings let you warm part of the bed
- At 70 watts it uses 0.07 units an hour
- What the 10 year warranty covers is not explained, so confirm it
- The care note says do not wash, dry clean, tumble dry or iron it
- It does not say if it goes over or under you, and overheat protection and auto shut-off are not listed
Good for: One person on a single bed who wants a low wattage warmer and a long warranty.
Running cost against a room heater
One unit on your bill is one kilowatt-hour. This table uses ₹8 per unit as an example, so check your bill for your rate. The blanket wattages are typical examples, so look at the label on the one you are buying.
| Appliance | Units per hour | Cost per hour | Cost for 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blanket, 60 watts | 0.06 | ₹0.48 | ₹1.92 |
| Blanket, 100 watts | 0.1 | ₹0.80 | ₹3.20 |
| Blanket, 150 watts | 0.15 | ₹1.20 | ₹4.80 |
| Room heater, 2000 watts | 2 | ₹16 | ₹64 |
Four hours a night for a month is 12 units on a 100 watt blanket, or about ₹96. The same hours on a 2000 watt heater at full power is 240 units, or about ₹1,920.
The two do different jobs, so you may still want a heater while you are awake. The low wattage has another use too. A home inverter can usually run a blanket during a power cut, though you should check the manual.
Safety at home
- Keep it flat. Never use it folded, creased or bunched up.
- Keep it dry. Never switch on a damp blanket or use it on a damp bed. This matters in homes with young children or anyone who may wet the bed.
- No pins. A safety pin can damage the wires inside.
- No extras. Do not use it with a hot water bottle.
- Plug. Use a wall socket and unplug it after use.
- Check it each winter. Look for scorch marks, worn wires and a damaged controller. If you find any, stop using it.
- Who should not use it. Do not use it for a baby or young child, or anyone who cannot feel heat well or work the controller. If you have a pacemaker or any medical condition, read the manual and ask your doctor first.
Care and storage
Remove the controller before any cleaning, and follow the care label exactly. Do not iron it or wring it.
Before the monsoon, make sure it is fully dry. Then roll it loosely or fold it gently along its soft lines, and keep it in a bag in a dry cupboard. Keep heavy things off it. Damp and sharp folds both shorten its life.
Before you buy
Decide if you need a warm bed or a warm room. If it is the bed, measure the mattress, pick the type, and choose a model with overheat protection and an auto shut-off.
Read next
We read the Amazon listings, compared the details and noted what they leave out. We have not tested these products, and brands do not pay to be listed.
Common questions
Can I leave an electric blanket on all night?
Only if the manual says that model is meant for it, and then only on the low setting it names. The safe habit is to warm the bed, then switch off and unplug before you sleep.
Does an electric blanket use less power than a room heater?
Yes, by a wide margin per hour. A 100 watt blanket uses 0.1 units an hour and a 2000 watt heater uses 2 units. But the blanket warms only your bed, while the heater warms the room.
Can I use a single bed blanket on a double bed?
You can, but it warms only one side. For two people on a double bed, a double size makes more sense. If you feel the cold differently, check for separate controls.
Can I wash an electric blanket?
Only as the care label says. Some can be washed with the controller removed, and some can only be spot cleaned. Do not dry clean it unless the label allows it, and let it dry fully before you plug it in.