Electric blankets & heated throws

Best Electric Blanket UK 2026: Dreamland, Slumberdown and Silentnight Compared

Updated 1 November 2026

The short answer

For most beds, get the Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa underblanket: full-bed size, six heat settings, a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer and a 3-year guarantee. For the sofa, Dreamland's Snuggle Up throw; on a budget, the BEAB-approved Slumberdown Sleepy Nights. At Ofgem's 26.32p per kWh (until 31 December 2026), 150 W flat out costs about 4p an hour. Replace any blanket over ten years old.

Our three picks

Best overall
Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa Underblanket, Double with Dual Controllers
The only underblanket here that combines full-mattress coverage (190 × 137 cm on the double), a detachable controller for each side, six settings with a 1, 3 or 9-hour auto shut-off timer, a published power rating and a 3-year guarantee. Dreamland also allows a low-heat tumble dry after a 30 °C wash.
Best for: Couples who like different temperatures, and anyone who wants the whole mattress warmed rather than just the middle
DetailsSpecifications
Best for: Couples who like different temperatures, and anyone who wants the whole mattress warmed rather than just the middle
The only underblanket here that combines full-mattress coverage (190 × 137 cm on the double), a detachable controller for each side, six settings with a 1, 3 or 9-hour auto shut-off timer, a published power rating and a 3-year guarantee. Dreamland also allows a low-heat tumble dry after a 30 °C wash.
Type
Underblanket (fits on the mattress, under the bottom sheet), reversible sherpa fleece
Size
Double 190 × 137 cm (full bed size); also single, king and super king
Controllers
2 detachable controllers on the double dual (a single-controller double is also sold)
Heat settings
6: setting 6 fast pre-heat, 5–4 medium pre-heat, 3–1 continuous or all-night use
Auto shut-off timer
1, 3 or 9 hours (defaults to 1 hour at switch-on)
Rated power
2 × 150 W, 220–240 V
Washing
Machine wash at 30 °C on a delicate cycle; tumble dry on delicate at low heat
Fitting
Elasticated corner straps
Marks on the rating label
UKCA, CE and DEKRA; Class II appliance
Guarantee
3 years (UK)
View on Amazon →Manufacturer’s page: Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa Underblanket, Double with Dual Controllers ↗
Best heated throw
Dreamland Snuggle Up Electric Warming Throw, Grey (also sold in six other colours)
Six settings, a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer and a 150 W rating mean it costs about 4p an hour at full power on the current price cap, and less on the lower settings. Dreamland says it warms up in five minutes, and the controller unplugs so the throw can go in a 30 °C wash.
Best for: Evenings on the sofa without heating the whole house
DetailsSpecifications
Best for: Evenings on the sofa without heating the whole house
Six settings, a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer and a 150 W rating mean it costs about 4p an hour at full power on the current price cap, and less on the lower settings. Dreamland says it warms up in five minutes, and the controller unplugs so the throw can go in a 30 °C wash.
Type
Heated throw for the sofa or chair
Size
160 × 120 cm
Fabric
Velvet
Heat settings
6: setting 6 fast pre-heat, 5–4 medium, 3–1 for continuous use
Heat-up
Warm in 5 minutes (Dreamland's figure)
Auto shut-off timer
1, 3 or 9 hours
Rated power
150 W, 220–240 V
Washing
Machine wash at 30 °C on a delicate cycle; tumble dry at a moderate temperature
Controller
Detachable digital controller
Guarantee
2 years (UK)
View on Amazon →Manufacturer’s page: Dreamland Snuggle Up Electric Warming Throw, Grey (also sold in six other colours) ↗
Best budget
Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Electric Blanket, Double
Slumberdown states BEAB approval as well as UKCA and CE marking, which is the independent check worth insisting on at the cheap end of the market, and it comes in five sizes including small double. It is a simple pre-warmer: three settings, one controller and no timer listed, so switch it off before you go to sleep.
Best for: Taking the chill off a cold bed for as little outlay as possible
DetailsSpecifications
Best for: Taking the chill off a cold bed for as little outlay as possible
Slumberdown states BEAB approval as well as UKCA and CE marking, which is the independent check worth insisting on at the cheap end of the market, and it comes in five sizes including small double. It is a simple pre-warmer: three settings, one controller and no timer listed, so switch it off before you go to sleep.
Type
Electric blanket that sits on the mattress, held by elasticated straps
Sizes
Single, small double, double, king and super king
Heat settings
3
Controllers
1
Auto shut-off timer
Not listed by Slumberdown
Rated power
Not published by Slumberdown
Washing
Machine washable
Safety marks
BEAB approved, UKCA and CE marked
Guarantee
2 years
View on Amazon →Manufacturer’s page: Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Electric Blanket, Double ↗

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Comparison table

Swipe the table to see every column.

Model	Type	Double size (length × width)	Heat settings	Controllers (double)	Timer / auto-off	Rated power	Marks stated by the maker	Guarantee	Amazon
Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa	Underblanket	190 × 137 cm	6	2	1, 3 or 9 h	2 × 150 W	UKCA, CE, DEKRA	3 years	View on Amazon
Dreamland Snuggle Up throw	Heated throw	160 × 120 cm (one size)	6	1	1, 3 or 9 h	150 W	UKCA, CE, DEKRA	2 years	View on Amazon
Slumberdown Sleepy Nights	Underblanket	Not listed by Slumberdown	3	1	Not listed	Not published	BEAB, UKCA, CE	2 years	View on Amazon
Slumberdown Wonderfully Warm	Underblanket with body and foot zones	150 × 120 cm	8	2 (digital)	1–9 h or 12 h	Not published	BEAB, UKCA, CE	2 years	–
Silentnight Yours & Mine Dual Control	Electric blanket, fleece	150 × 137 cm	3 per controller	2	Not listed	Not published	None stated (overheat protection)	3 years	–
Silentnight Winter Warmer	Electric blanket, microfleece	135 × 120 cm	3	1	Not listed	Not published	None stated (overheat protection)	3 years	–

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why this ranking

We rank models on product criteria only, weighted as shown below. Price and clicks play no part.

Safety and certification30%
An independent mark from a test house (BEAB Approved, or DEKRA on Dreamland's labels) on top of the maker's own UKCA or CE declaration, overheat protection, a UK three-pin plug and no open recall. We read each brand's UK product page and instruction manual and check the model against GOV.UK's product safety alerts and recalls.
Heat control and timer25%
How many settings there are, whether the maker separates pre-heat settings from ones that are safe for all-night use, whether there is an auto shut-off timer, and whether a double has a controller for each side.
Care and durability20%
Machine-wash temperature, whether tumble drying is allowed, a controller that unplugs before washing, and the length of the guarantee (2 or 3 years among these brands).
Fit and coverage15%
Whether a double actually covers a UK double mattress (135 × 190 cm) or only the top part of it, the range of sizes from single to super king, and how it stays in place.
Running-cost transparency10%
A published power rating lets you work out the worst-case cost per hour at the Ofgem rate. Where a maker doesn't publish one, we fall back on the measured ranges Which? has published for the category.

We weight safety and certification at 30%, heat control and timer at 25%, care and durability at 20%, fit and coverage at 15% and running-cost transparency at 10%. Price, commission and click-through play no part.

Dreamland Hunker Down is the only underblanket that scores on all five: an independent test-house mark on the label, six settings with a timer and a clear all-night range, a 3-year guarantee with tumble drying allowed, full-bed coverage and a published 150 W per side.
Slumberdown Wonderfully Warm is the closest rival and beats it on settings (eight) and on the foot zone. It drops behind on care (2-year guarantee), on coverage (150 × 120 cm double) and on transparency (no power rating). Pick it if cold feet are your main problem.
Dreamland Snuggle Up does a different job, so we rank it as the alternative for the sofa rather than against the underblankets.
Slumberdown Sleepy Nights takes the budget slot because stated BEAB approval carries the heaviest weight. Silentnight's Winter Warmer has the longer guarantee (3 years) and overheat protection, but its product page states no independent certification mark and no timer.

How we compare →

Underblanket, overblanket or heated throw?

Most of what is sold in the UK as an electric blanket is an underblanket: it straps onto the mattress, sits under your bottom sheet and warms the bed before you get in. Quilted versions are often called heated mattress protectors or mattress warmers. An overblanket goes over you, and Electrical Safety First says it should be kept flat and uncreased. A heated throw is an overblanket for the sofa, usually around 160 × 120 cm.

Never swap the jobs: Dreamland's underblanket manual says the blanket must only be placed between the mattress and the flat sheet, not on top of anyone in bed.

Check the blanket's dimensions against your mattress before you buy. A UK double mattress is 135 cm wide by 190 cm long, a king 150 × 200 cm and a super king 180 × 200 cm. Many doubles are only around 135 cm long and 120 cm wide, so they warm the top two-thirds of the bed, which is fine for most people but not if you suffer with cold feet. The Dreamland Hunker Down double is a full 190 × 137 cm.

Dreamland Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa: best overall

The Hunker Down is Dreamland's full-bed-size underblanket, reversible so you can turn the sherpa side down in warmer months. The double we recommend has two detachable controllers, so each of you sets your own side, and each has six settings. Dreamland's manual is unusually clear about how to use them: 6 for a fast pre-heat, 5 or 4 for a gentler warm-up, and only 1 to 3 if you want to leave it on through the night.

Timer: every switch-on starts a 1-hour auto shut-off, which you can change to 3 or 9 hours. If the power cuts out, the controller remembers your setting.
Coverage: 190 × 137 cm, so it reaches the foot of a standard double.
Care: 30 °C delicate wash with the controllers unplugged, then a low-heat tumble dry or dry flat on an airer.
Guarantee: 3 years in the UK. The manual names Imetec UK and Italy's Tenacta Group as the companies behind the brand.

The limit: the same blanket is sold with a single controller, and in single, king and super king, so check the listing says dual controllers if that is what you want. Dreamland's product page also leaves the settings and timer out; they are in the manual linked from it.

Dreamland Snuggle Up: best heated throw

If the aim is to keep warm in the evening rather than heat the living room, a throw does the job for pennies. The Snuggle Up is a 160 × 120 cm velvet throw rated at 150 W, with the same six-setting controller and 1, 3 or 9-hour timer as Dreamland's bedding. Dreamland's manual says to use 1 to 3 for continuous use and to judge the heat with the throw draped over you, not with a hand on top.

Dreamland says it is warm in five minutes.
The controller unplugs for a 30 °C delicate wash, and it can be tumble dried at a moderate temperature.
The guarantee is 2 years, one year less than the Hunker Down.

The limit: it comes in one size, and Dreamland sells several throws with similar names (Snuggle Up, Hygge Days, Café Collection) whose specifications differ, so check the size and controller before you buy.

Slumberdown Sleepy Nights: best on a budget

At the cheap end of the market, the thing to insist on is evidence that someone other than the seller has checked the blanket. Slumberdown states that Sleepy Nights is BEAB approved as well as UKCA and CE marked, and it comes in five sizes: single, small double, double, king and super king.

Three heat settings and one controller, even on the double.
Elasticated straps and a machine-washable design.
A 2-year guarantee.

The limit: Slumberdown lists no timer and publishes no power rating, so treat it as a pre-warmer: switch it on 20 to 30 minutes before bed and off when you get in. If you want Slumberdown with more control, the Wonderfully Warm adds eight settings, separate body and foot zones, dual digital controllers on doubles and a timer of 1 to 9 hours or 12 hours.

Electric blanket safety: BEAB, age and the checks that matter

Electrical Safety First's analysis of government fire data counted 31 accidental electric blanket fires in England in 2024/25, up from 25 the year before, with 11 casualties or fatalities. Most risk comes from old, damaged or badly made blankets, so these are the checks worth making at home.

Look for an independent mark. The BEAB Approved mark, awarded by the independent test house Intertek, shows the product was made in an inspected factory, tested and approved, and is randomly checked every year. Dreamland's labels carry a DEKRA mark instead. UKCA and CE marks are the maker's own declaration, and Electrical Safety First warns that unscrupulous sellers may use them fraudulently.
Check the plug. It should be a UK three-pin plug. A GOV.UK product safety report of 20 November 2025 describes an electric blanket stopped at the border because its plug did not meet BS 1363.
Mind the age. Electrical Safety First recommends replacing a blanket every ten years. Silentnight adds that age is the single biggest cause of failure, and that a blanket with the old, round BEAB mark is more than ten years old.
Inspect it every autumn. Stop using it if the fabric is worn or frayed, there are scorch marks or discolouration, wires show through, the cord is damaged, or the controller buzzes or smells.
Use it as intended. Never use it folded or creased, never with a hot water bottle, never with pins in it and never when wet.
Overnight use. Electrical Safety First recommends unplugging when you get into bed unless the blanket has temperature control and safety features such as automatic shut-off. Dreamland allows all-night use on settings 1 to 3 only.
Who shouldn't use one. Dreamland says children under three must not use its blankets, children aged three to eight only under supervision on the lowest setting, and nobody who can't feel heat or react to overheating. Electrical Safety First doesn't recommend underblankets on adjustable beds.
Buy new and register it. Avoid second-hand blankets, whose history you can't know, and register your blanket with the maker so you can be contacted about a recall.

Electric blanket recalls to check before you plug in

Three recent electric blanket notices from GOV.UK's product safety alerts, reports and recalls list, checked on 1 November 2026:

Dunelm Cosy & Warm electric blankets, 2022 and 2023 batches (Product Safety Report 2607-0039, 20 July 2026): the copper wire in the cable can fray, causing localised overheating and a fire risk. Barcodes: single 5057722358976 or 5063003294383, double 5057722358983 or 5063003294390, king 5057722358990 or 5063003295007. Stop using it and contact Dunelm for a free replacement cable, or return it to a store for a full refund.
B&Q GoodHome Saturnia Electric Blanket, beige (recall 2512-0163, 15 December 2025): barcode 5059340980560, sold November 2024 to December 2025. An electrical component can overheat, with a risk of fire and electric shock. Stop using it, unplug it and return it to any B&Q store for a full refund.
L'Agraty Electric Blanket, model YZH130160B, sold via Amazon (report 2510-0161, 20 November 2025): the plug did not meet BS 1363, a high fire risk. The import was rejected at the border and destroyed, and the listing was removed.

Before you plug in an older blanket, search its brand and model number on that GOV.UK list, and register a new one with the maker so you hear about any future recall.

How much does an electric blanket cost to run?

From 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem's price cap puts the average electricity unit rate at 26.32p per kWh for a default tariff paid by Direct Debit, averaged across England, Scotland and Wales. The government has removed VAT from electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, and that figure already reflects it. Ofgem will announce the January to March 2027 cap on 25 November 2026, and we will update this table then.

The sum is simple: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × 26.32p. At full power:

40 W (the low end Silentnight quotes for most blankets): about 1.1p an hour
60 W: about 1.6p an hour
100 W (the top of Silentnight's range): about 2.6p an hour
150 W (the Snuggle Up throw, or one side of the Hunker Down on setting 6): about 3.9p an hour
300 W (both sides of the Hunker Down double on setting 6): about 7.9p an hour
For comparison, a 2 kW fan heater or oil-filled radiator on full: about 52.6p an hour

A rated wattage is a ceiling: the thermostat cycles the heat on and off, so lower settings draw less. Which?, which measures cost on the highest setting, puts electric blankets at 2p to 8p an hour and heated throws at 2p to 4p. A realistic routine costs very little: pre-warming a double for 30 minutes with both sides on setting 6 uses at most 0.15 kWh, about 3.9p a night, or under £6 over a 150-night winter. Your own rate depends on where you live and your tariff, so check the unit rate on your bill.

What Which? says

Which? tested 12 electric blankets between October 2022 and October 2025 for its guide dated 5 August 2026, from brands including Dreamland, Silentnight, Slumberdown, Beurer, Cosi Home and Russell Hobbs. It measures heat-up time and evenness with six temperature sensors on the highest setting, asks a panel of five to rate comfort, checks how easily each blanket fits a thick double mattress, records the cost per hour and runs a full electrical safety test. It says four blankets are Best Buys and one is Great Value, but the model names are for members only, so we don't repeat or guess them.

Its heated throw guide of 18 August 2026 found throws cost between 2p and 4p an hour on their highest setting. On 23 September 2026 Which? compared ways to keep warm in bed: a hot water bottle at roughly 1.8p an hour, an electric blanket at roughly 2p to 6p and a heated throw at roughly 2p to 3p. Its earlier investigation, published on 27 January 2023, found that 9 of 11 electric blankets, throws and shawls bought from online marketplaces could not legally be sold in the UK.

Where to buy an electric blanket in the UK

All three picks are sold on Amazon, and Dreamland, Silentnight and Slumberdown also sell direct through their own UK websites.

Whichever shop you use, buy from the brand or an established retailer. Which? advises taking extra care on online marketplaces, where some sellers have stocked blankets that can't legally be sold in the UK, and Electrical Safety First recommends a trusted high-street retailer. Check the listing names the exact model and size, a UK plug, and the guarantee.

How we compared, and update log

We don't test products ourselves. Specifications come from each brand's UK website and, for Dreamland, from the instruction manuals linked on its product pages. Safety advice comes from Electrical Safety First and the makers' manuals, recalls from GOV.UK, the unit rate from Ofgem, and test findings from Which?, quoted as published and dated. Where a maker doesn't publish a figure, the table says so rather than filling the gap.

1 November 2026: page published. Running costs at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026).
Next review: after Ofgem's announcement on 25 November 2026.

What independent testers found

We don’t test products ourselves. These organisations publish their own results: read them on their sites.

Which?
Best electric blankets 2026, by Matthew Knight, published 5 August 2026: 12 blankets tested between October 2022 and October 2025 (brands include Dreamland, Silentnight and Slumberdown) for heat-up time and evenness, comfort, ease of fitting, cost per hour on the highest setting and electrical safety. Running costs given as 2p to 7p an hour in the testing section and 2p to 8p in the running-cost section; four Best Buys and one Great Value, named for members only.
Which?
Best heated throws 2026, published 18 August 2026: on their highest settings, heated throws cost 'between 2p and 4p an hour to run'. Best Buy names are for members only.
Which?
Published 23 September 2026: hot water bottle approx. 1.8p per hour, electric blanket approx. 2p to 6p per hour, heated throw approx. 2p to 3p per hour.
Which?
Published 27 January 2023: of 11 electric blankets, heated throws and shawls bought from online marketplaces, nine could not legally be sold in the UK and three posed an electric shock risk.
Electrical Safety First
Undated press release analysing government fire data: 31 accidental electric blanket fires in England in 2024/25, up from 25 in 2023/24, with 11 casualties or fatalities. Advises checking for wear, avoiding overnight use without automatic shut-off and replacing blankets over ten years old.

F · A · Q

Frequently Asked Questions

Only if the maker says so and only on the right settings. Electrical Safety First recommends unplugging when you get into bed unless the blanket has temperature control and an automatic shut-off. Dreamland allows all-night use on settings 1 to 3 only, with a timer of up to 9 hours. Silentnight's guide says to switch off before you get in unless your model is rated for all-night use. Basic blankets with no timer, such as the Slumberdown Sleepy Nights, are pre-warmers.

At Ofgem's average cap rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026), a 60 W blanket costs about 1.6p an hour and a 150 W throw about 3.9p an hour at full power. Which? puts electric blankets at 2p to 8p an hour on their highest setting. Pre-warming a double for half an hour costs a few pence a night.

Every ten years, according to Electrical Safety First, and straight away if you find scorch marks, frayed fabric, visible wires, a damaged cord or a controller that buzzes or smells. Silentnight says a blanket with the old, round BEAB mark is more than ten years old.

The BEAB Approved mark is awarded by the independent test house Intertek. It shows the product was made in an inspected factory, tested and approved by Intertek, and is randomly checked every year. That goes further than UKCA or CE marking, which is the manufacturer's own declaration.

On the makers' own specifications, Dreamland's Hunker Down Scandi Sherpa offers more: six settings, a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer, detachable controllers, a published power rating and full-bed coverage. Silentnight's Winter Warmer and Yours & Mine Dual Control have three settings and overheat protection, with no timer listed, but both carry a 3-year warranty. Which? has tested both brands, though its winners are for members only.

For one person on the sofa, yes. A 150 W throw at full power costs about 3.9p an hour at 26.32p per kWh, against about 52.6p an hour for a 2 kW electric heater on full. Which? found throws cost 2p to 4p an hour on their highest setting. A throw warms you, not the room, so it won't help with damp or cold walls.

Most can be machine washed, but follow the label. Unplug and detach the controller first. Dreamland's underblankets and throws go in at 30 °C on a delicate cycle and can be tumble dried on low or moderate heat, then left to air-dry fully before use. Dreamland's labels also say never iron or dry clean them.

No. Electrical Safety First advises against using a hot water bottle with an electric blanket, and against using a blanket folded or creased. Dreamland's manuals add that you should never use one that is wet.

Electrical Safety First doesn't recommend underblankets on adjustable beds. Dreamland's manual says that if you do, check the blanket and cord can't become trapped or rucked in the hinges.

Dreamland says children under three must not use its blankets because they can't react to overheating, and children aged three to eight only under supervision with the controller on the lowest setting. Keep the controller out of reach of young children.