Best electric blankets to keep you warm on chilly nights

Dreamland is by far the best electric blanket brand according to Mumsnet users, with many raving about their best heated throw. For something more suitable for use as bedding, the Scandi Sherpa model also has excellent reviews across the board. The heat is distributed across the whole blanket for maximum warmth, and it has six temperature settings, so it is ideal for the UK’s changeable weather. The intelliheat+ technology can also adjust according to your body temperature, so there’s no risk of overheating.

We like the simplicity of the controls and the auto shut-off timer functionality that won’t let you cook as you sleep. It's cheap to run too and can be machine washed. The fabric is very soft, and there is plenty of padding around the heating wires so you shouldn't feel them.

Related: The best draught excluders to keep cold air out of your bedroom

The Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket is a fuss-free option at a great price. When we tried it out, we were particularly impressed with the warmth and cosiness it provided. It has three heat settings, which is fewer than some other more expensive options, but we thought it offered fantastic value for money.

It's also one of the cheapest to run on our list, and it will heat your bed in 10 minutes so it's nice and snug ready for you to get tucked up. Best of all, it was super easy to use - after all, no-one wants to be fiddling around with complicated control panels late at night. The downside? It doesn't have dual-control settings, but that's to be expected at this price point.

Read our full Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket review

This Silentnight Electric Blanket is one of the best value dual-control blankets we found. The user-friendly controls allow you both to have your ideal level of warmth on your side of the bed. For most, a quick 20-minute blast before bed is enough for a long, cosy night of sleep, and that would cost just a couple of pennies.

The fabric is soft and thick enough so you won’t feel the heating wires, and the elasticated straps make it easy to attach to the bed, although some reviewers found it needed occasional adjustment. Like the brand's more basic Comfort Control model, it also has three heat settings. Pricier models will have more settings if you'd like more control over temperature, but we think there's a good range here for the cost.

Overall, this simple-to-use dual control blanket is fantastic for couples who need different levels of heat. However, if you're both dreading rolling out of bed in the morning and facing frosty temperatures, we'd recommend having the best women's dressing gown (or a men's dressing gown for your DH) in easy reach to continue the cosiness first thing.

Technically the Dreamland Alaskan Husky falls into the category of heated throw rather than electric blanket, but we think it's well worth a mention on our list as it's perfect if you're looking for an option to snuggle under while working from home or sitting on the sofa.

During testing, we found this blanket was gloriously soft and cosy and loved its luxurious aesthetic. It's also easy to care for as it can be popped in the washing machine, though our tester reported that extensive washing diminished the softness of the blanket over time. We liked the fast heat-up time and how easy it was to operate with the controller, and the auto shut-off feature gave added peace of mind too.

The downsides? The initial outlay is expensive (though you might save on heating in the long-run), and you may find it difficult to part with when you have to actually leave the house. Luckily, our guides to the warmest winter coats for women and the best heated gilets can help you out there.

Read our full Dreamland Alaskan Husky Faux Fur Heated Throw review

When we tested the Dreamland Deluxe Herringbone Throw, we found it was a stylish and efficient solution for staying warm (particularly when working from home). Made of ultra-soft polyester with a plush velvet-like texture, the blanket has six heat settings for temperature control. We loved its herringbone design - it comes in a range of rich colours, and it would look fab as a decorative throw all year round.

Although it's pricey, we think blanket offers good value for money as it can be used all day, every day, for a relatively cheap running cost. Our tester rated the Dreamland Deluxe Heated Throw five stars, praising its warmth distribution, energy efficiency, and ease of use. What's not to love?

Read our full Dreamland Heated Throw review

The Dreamland Mattress Topper is made from cloud-soft, 100% organic cotton that is great for sensitive skin and people who prefer eco-friendly natural materials. We love the fitted sheet shape that is easy to position and will stay in place as long as you need.

It has six heat settings, dual controls – so it’s perfect for couples who run at different temperatures – and a sophisticated system that automatically adjusts the temperature if it detects you are too hot.

This fantastic mattress cover is one of the more expensive options on our list, but if you’re going to get lots of all-night use out of it, we think the luxurious features make it worth the extra spend. Pair it with the best thermals for women and you may not need to put the heating on at all.

Related: The best thermal curtains to insulate your home

If you suffer from cold feet, the Slumberdown Wonderfully Warm Multi Zone Double Electric Blanket is the ideal solution to help you get a good night's sleep. There's an extra setting to keep your feet toasty, and the generous fit and distribution of the heating wires mean that they will cover more of your bed than most comparable blankets.

It is crafted from soft and snuggly machine-washable fabric that can also be tumble dried. We're impressed with the number of heat settings too - most blankets only have three or six, but the Slumberdown boasts nine. However, it is an expensive option, something to keep in mind if you're trying to watch the pennies, but it's fairly cheap to run.

Related: The safest kids' hot water bottles according to parents

If you want an electric over blanket to keep you cosy but need your hands free for typing away when working from home, the Lakeland Electric Poncho is an excellent choice for winter. Merging the warmth of a heated throw with the fit of a blanket hoodie, we found the poncho was super soft and cosy to wear. We sometimes even used it as a throw during testing, so it offers versatility if you don't want to wear it on a Zoom call.

It can be popped in the washing machine for easy maintenance, and we were delighted that it retained its softness post-wash. The only gripe we had was that it does still need to be plugged in when in use (though the wire is long), so you can't roam around the house in it like you could a standard blanket hoodie. It's also quite pricey too, though it helped us keep the central heating off, so you may feel it's worth the expense in the long run. All in all, we think it's a work-from-home godsend.

Read our full Lakeland Electric Heated Poncho review

The Beurer Electric Throw Blanket is designed to go over your body when you’re in bed or snuggling up on the sofa and want something with a little more warming power than your blanket hoodie. The high-quality faux fur and fleece fabric means it feels heavy, but this is a quality many find soothing.

This warm electric blanket heats up quickly and has six different temperature settings, so it’s suitable for winter or even chilly spring days. The auto shut-off and timer settings also provide reassurance that you or it won’t overheat. We love the cosiness this over blanket provides, and it’s a cost-saving option for those determined to keep the heating off.

Related: The cosiest kids' blanket hoodie according to parents