Under blankets operate a bit like mattress toppers and tend to come with elasticated straps or as a fitted sheet, so you can secure them to your bed and drift off on top of them. Many can run for up to eight hours at a time, so you stay warm all night long. Over blankets and throws Last year, energy prices surged dramatically, and with the cost of living crisis, everyone’s bills went through the roof. With winter just around the corner again, many people are looking for ways to stay warm while keeping the heating off, and Mumsnet users swear by the best heated throws as a potential solution. Along with other ideas like using the best hot water bottle and wearing the cosiest women's slippers, these electric throws focus on heating the person and not the room to stave off the cold. And while they can be pricey initially, some throws cost from as little as 1p a night to run. Size and coverage: Make sure the throw is large enough to cover you comfortably. If you want one you can snuggle up under with your other half or kids, make sure you go for a large size so there's space for everyone. In contrast, over blankets are meant for curling up under; they’re a more versatile choice as you can use them on the sofa or even at your desk if you work from home. Some even resemble a fleecy blanket, which not only feels extra soft against the skin, but will look good in your living room if you want to leave it out. Throws tend to have shorter operating times though – most we tried time out after three hours. Wearable electric blankets or heated ponchos

Safety features: Look for blankets with an automatic shut-off feature. It's a must-have in case you accidentally drift off while it's on, and you can usually choose between different time settings up to nine hours. Overheat protection is also a good safety feature to have too. At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts made up a double bed to test each electric blanket on, measuring how evenly temperature was distributed as well as whether the warmth fluctuated or remained consistent over an extended period of time, across different heat settings. We measured energy consumption, too. The best heated throw blanket is always a hot topic on the Mumsnet forums when cold weather comes around. These snuggly spreads are much loved as they could be the key to keeping warm this winter while saving money on your heating bill. They're a little similar to the best electric blankets, but while those are predominantly used as bedding, heated throws are more decorative and you can cosy up under them on the sofa. Heated throw blankets emit heat via coil wires that provide a steady source of warmth when plugged into an electrical outlet. Each heated throw blanket has a controller, a built-in timer, and a temperature control gauge. That means it will only go as warm as you want it to. The timer means the heat should cut off after a specified time of your choice, so you don't need to worry if you fall asleep while snuggled up in it. How much does it cost to run a heated throw?

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If you're worrying about your children staying well this winter, then it's understandable that you might be considering allowing them to get under your heated throw. These blankets are perfectly safe for children to use under supervision, but they're not recommended for under fives. They're also not safe for children to sleep with, as they should always be supervised when using a heated throw. How we chose the best heated throw This depends on how long you use it for and which setting you opt for. As a general rule, you can expect running a heated throw to cost somewhere between 4p and 8p an hour. All the electric blankets on our list come with varying heat zones and settings – some include extra foot warmth too.

Whether you’re looking to keep heating costs down, need an extra layer for when you’re working from home or just want something cosy to keep you toasty when you’re watching TV, a heated throw is the perfect solution. As someone interested in creating a beautiful and comfortable home for her family while saving money where possible, Gemma was determined to provide honest and independent advice on the best heated throw that will keep your family warm for mere pennies this winter. Why you should trust us Where the blankets had dual controls, we also looked at how accurate the settings were on each side and if there was any temperature crossover when the settings were different. We also tested an electric blanket, which buttons up, allowing you to wear it like a poncho to retain heat. Aside from the extra design features that make them wearable, these ponchos operate in an almost identical manner to electric throws, with a range of temperatures and a timer. Electric blanket featuresWith many years of experience as a content and copywriter for her family business Urban Media Publishing, Gemma has written articles and blogs on travel, the outdoor industry, parenting and finance.

Given the current economic climate, it’s understandable that you may be looking for more cost-effective ways to stay warm and save on your heating bill. Electric blankets can come in handy here, as they're becoming increasingly more energy efficient. Aldi’s heated throw hits the middle aisle on Thursday 23rd November and is expected to be snapped up by shoppers pretty fast. Last time it was around it sold out almost immediately.Temperature settings: Look for adjustable heat settings so you can get the most out of your blanket – some options have as many as 10 different settings! Bear in mind that it does often cost more to run a blanket on the higher settings, so it's a good idea to opt for one with good range.

Dual controls will also let you adjust settings during the night without disturbing your partner. Blankets that have these – often size double and upwards – will have left and right zones, so the settings can be customised if there are two of you in the bed. Are electric blankets safe?

How we tested the best heated throw

As part of our test, we washed and tumbled dried each of the blankets five times after testing, and then conducted a full electricity safety test. All the blankets passed. By doing this, we whittled our longlist down and chose a selection of products that we think offer something for everybody. About the author Comfort A panel of five volunteers assesses each electric blanket and heated throw for comfort. There is quite a big difference in how snuggly each one is and underwires are more noticeable in some of them. For electric blankets, we also assess how easy each one is to attach to a mattress and how comfortable each one is to lie on under a fitted sheet.