Modern electric blankets work very well and mean you will heat the space you sleep in, rather than the whole room. That means you can use them for a short space of time even before you get in, then turn the blanket off once you have warmed up under the duvet.

As the sort of people who get chilly on summer days, we were very well qualified to put the best electric blankets to the test, as vigorously as how we test pillows and other items of bedding. We tested all of them in our own home, without the heating over days when we were feeling the cold. Getting into a cold bed will be a thing of the past with the Cozytek Heated Electric Under Blanket, this Electric Blanket comes with 3 comfort settings ensuring you have a warm bed waiting for you just to your liking. *Low Running costs 3p per Hour based on current UK Energy Tariff*Most have low settings to enable them to be left on all night too if preferred, though make sure the blanket has overheating protection before doing this.

The Cozytek Electric Blanket also comes fitted with an auto switch off function so you can enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep every night without having to worry about fire safety. It's very responsive with six illuminated temperature settings so you can see at a glance how warm the blanket is. We also liked the fact it switched off automatically after three hours, so you could sling it on over your duvet if you prefer.It's very easy to get up and running with elasticated straps that secure the blanket to the mattress, below any style of best sheets. The blanket also sits away from the edges of the bed so remains flat even if you move around a lot during the night. Ours started to heat up just over five minutes after being switched on and was perfectly toasty in less than half an hour. We found it a little fiddly to fit as it fastens with an elasticated strap that runs under the entire mattress from one side of the bed to the other. However, it stayed firmly in place once it was there for on-demand warmth. Our only complaint is that this electric blanket doesn’t have an auto shut-off setting so it’s recommended that it’s used on the lowest heat setting if it will be on all night.If you’d rather have one that turned itself off after a set period of time, try the Monogram by Beurer Komfort Heated Mattress Cover instead. How to choose an electric blanket Warmth: Did it make a real difference to how we felt when we first got into bed or sat on the sofa in a chilly room? Was the heat distributed evenly? If you are looking for a warming layer for your bedroom to keep you cosy at night choose an electric blanket that is specially designed to fit over your mattress, featuring elasticated straps to fit comfortably over your mattress to secure it underneath your bedding – so it's undetectable. A standard electric blanket is only really for use as a layer over your bedding and might not cater to your needs. This one from Silentnight is a great buy and purposely designed for a couple. That means each side has its own independent control with three heat settings on each so you can find your perfect temperature for a blissful night’s sleep. Made of soft fleece, it features overheat safety protection and heats up in under ten minutes.

If that feels a little too warm, you can turn the blanket over to the cooler polyester side so it functions more like an alternative mattress protector.The electric blanket has Intelliheat patented technology which Dreamland say will monitor and adapt to your body’s temperature throughout the night and we didn’t feel we got over-hot when it was switched on, but stayed perfectly toasty. If you're considering an electric blanket, it's likely you're keen on other money-saving tips so it makes sense to look for the best budget electric blanket to start with. We were really impressed by the fantastic price of this option and it's made of soft but durable fleece so actually made our bed more comfortable even when it wasn't switched on. Integrated corner ties attached to allow for secure fitting of the heated blanket Advanced overheat protection and auto shut off for your safety and peace of mind. Safety features: Did it have an auto shut-off in case we forgot to switch it off or hadn't set another timer? The Cozytek Under Blanket is completely washing machine safe with the detachable controller, and the ultra-thin wires guarantee that the only thing that will disturb your sleep is the alarm you set in the morning.Not planning on cosying up alone this winter? If you're willing to share, an oversized electric blanket is a perfect way to snuggle up together. This one is the softest blanket we tested, in a touchable taupe-coloured fleece that doesn't obviously look like an electric blanket and is neutral enough to suit all décor. It's so plush, we'd be happy hunkering down under it even without the heat turned on. Electric blankets can be a great way to keep warm at a lower cost as they heat the person rather than the room,” says Robert Slade, Managing Director at Beurer UK. “Personal heating means that you don't have to wait for the space around you to warm up before you can feel the benefit—simply plug in and snuggle up.” With the cost of heating rising, it makes sense to find a way to warm yourself up without resorting to heating the entire house if you don’t have to. They are particularly useful for anyone who feels the cold but has a partner who doesn't, as long as you choose a blanket with dual controls. Though even the best electric blankets can't replace heating as they won't warm the wider atmosphere, they are also one of the most cost-efficient ways to warm up if the heating is not on or if you're looking for a boost as you get into bed. If you're looking for more of a comfort blanket, to use in the living room, while nestled on the sofa, think more about the aesthetic (still focusing on the usability rating of course) but be more conscious of your chosen blanket adding a decorative touch to your interior décor choices. Look for a colour or patterned design that compliments your scheme, so it becomes a welcome layer rather than standing out like a sore thumb.

If you don’t want to resort to watching TV in one of the best winter hats, this wonderfully touchable blanket is a sofa must-have. It comes in go-with-anything grey and is big enough that you can share if you really have to. The sherpa lining is so soft that we enjoyed using this blanket even when we didn’t switch the heat on, but on extra-cold nights, it has nine heat settings so you can find the perfect warmth.Robert says you can keep costs down even more by looking for eco settings to make sure you use the minimum amount of electricity possible. “For example, users can set an automatic switch-off timer for after two, six, nine or 12 hours to avoid unnecessary energy usage. Our heated products all have adjustable temperature settings with simple controls to suit any preference - turn the heat up and down as needed to stay comfortable.”