As well as the obvious benefits of warming up your bed on a cold winter’s night, electric blankets can also be really useful for those with health conditions affected by heat. Symptoms of arthritis as well as many other chronic illnesses can be helped by warmth, and the relaxing effect of a heated blanket can also help to ease sore muscles after exercise. Are electric blankets safe? This luxury electric blanket has a lot going for it. Firstly, the simple-to-use digital controllers offer 9 temperature settings that make finding your ideal heat an easier affair, as well as making it easier to manage the blanket's energy consumption. While health benefits shouldn’t be exaggerated, you might find if you suffer from a condition like arthritis or poor circulation that an electric blanket can alleviate some of the pain. This electric heated poncho from Lakeland is made from super cosy fleece which adds a welcome layer of insulation all by itself, but turn on the heat and you have 9 temperature settings to toggle between to find your perfect warmth setting. Smart functionality –some heated blankets allow you to hook them up to a smart app or Alexa to control when they come on so that your bed is always warm when you’re ready for bedtime, although you’ll generally pay more for this feature. Our top tip is to pair an ‘ordinary’ electric blanket with a smart plug so you can get all the convenience of remote control at a lower cost!

And, this is one of the few electric blankets on the market that also enables you to independently control the temperature of the body and feet zones of the blanket, so if you suffer from cold feet you can just switch on the lower portion of the blanket, or increase the heat setting in this area alone –genius! If you don't need dual-controls, then Silentnight's 'Comfort Control' electric blanket is one of the most affordable electric blankets on the market, and despite its no-frills design, we found it did the job of eliminating the chill and keeping the bed toasty more than adequately. Compared to Dreamland's 'Boutique Heated Underblanket' at the top of this list, this cheaper dual-operated electric blanket does feel a lot more basic, with no quilted padding and far fewer control options, however, it's also a lot less money. The size is perfect to cover a single person on the sofa, or for wrapping around you while you work from home and are trying to save on your heating bill, although we would like to see a larger version that fits two on the couch. Costing just pennies to run, it's a great solution for keeping out the chill whilst keeping heating costs low.That said, if warm feet are high on your agenda, then this electric blanket is still well worth considering. Just when you thought the world couldn't get smart enough, it just got a whole lot smarter. Never come home to a chilly bed again with the Monogram Konnect which is WiFi enabled and controlled via an app. The blanket also offers an auto shut-off timer with 4 options to choose from – 1, 5, 8 and 12 hours – so you can drift off without having to worry about turning off the blanket first if you don't want it running all night, and making for more economical use of energy. And, last but not least, is the blanket's quilted fleece upper layer, which adds an extra layer of comfort and can be unzipped and washed separately for easier regular washing. This newer version of the blanket also features organic cotton –a nod towards sustainability not found in any of the other blankets we've tested –and whilst it might be one of the most expensive heated blankets in our round-up, if you're looking to invest in a toasty night's sleep this winter, this is an option well worth considering. Excludes post codes starting with BFPO, BT, FK, G83, GG, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW, PA(20-78), PH(18-42), ZE

Most of the heated blankets on our list (except for one), feature auto-shut off settings to avoid any nasty accidents. The setting means the blanket will turn off after a certain amount of time - so you can forget about worrying if you've left it on after leaving the house. For the sake of this example, we’ll use an approximate power of 100W. This means that running an electric blanket for one hour would cost just 3p in July 2023.Adding an electric blanket between your body and the mattress top will prevent the memory foam from being able to mould around your body, so it can impact how comfortable you find your mattress. To find the right electric blanket for you it’s well worth understanding the different types of heated blankets available, and how each type works, before you shop. The price you pay to run an electric blanket will depend on its wattage and your usage. A heated blanket can either be kept on all night on a low setting, used for a short amount of time before you get into bed or you fall asleep, or set to turn off at a specific time if it comes with an auto shut-off timer. Planning on using an electric blanket to stay warm whilst sitting on the sofa or working from home at your desk? In that case, a heated poncho may fit the bill better, offering all-around warmth without the struggle of keeping a blanket around your shoulders. All electric blankets contain thin electrical heating wires cushioned between layers of fabric. On thinner under blankets you may be able to feel the wires a little underneath your body, but many modern designs offer quilting to add more cushioning.