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Heated blanket: how to choose one, use it safely and wash it

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-14.

We research products from makers' specs and health sources; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Heated blanket, mattress pad or throw?

If you would rather warm the bed from below, see the heated mattress pad guide. If you want warmth with added weight, see the heated weighted blanket guide. A heated blanket is bedding for comfort; for a sore back, an electric heating pad used while awake is the better tool.

What to look for when you buy

• Size. Match the blanket to your bed so the heated area covers both sleepers without hanging over the edge.
• Dual controls. On larger sizes, each person controls their own side. Sunbeam's manual notes that on dual-control models each side times out on its own.
• Auto shut-off. Check the stated time in the manual. Sunbeam's blankets and mattress pads turn off after 10 hours of continuous use, and its throws after 3 hours.
• Preheat. Some models warm the bed fast, then drop back. On selected Sunbeam models, preheat runs for 30 minutes and then returns to your setting.
• Detachable controller. You need to unplug the control and cord before washing, so check that they detach easily.
• Fabric. Fleece, microplush and sherpa feel different in weight and warmth; choose what you like to sleep under.

Cordless and battery heated blankets

Cordless or portable heated blankets run from a rechargeable battery pack instead of a wall outlet. They suit the sofa, camping, sports stands or a car, where a cord is awkward.

• Check the maker's stated run time on each heat setting and how long the battery takes to charge.
• Compare heat settings too. A battery limits how long the blanket can run, so a model may trade heat for run time.
• Charge and store lithium battery packs as the maker directs, and stop using any pack that swells, gets very hot or smells of burning.
• For small, portable warmth, hand warmers are another option.

Who should not use a heated blanket

The Sunbeam manual says not to use its heated products with an infant, a child, or a person who is incapacitated or immobile, including people with paraplegia or quadriplegia. It also says not to use them for people with diabetes or anyone insensitive to heat, such as those with poor circulation, or anyone who cannot understand the instructions or work the controls.

The CDC warns people with diabetes to be careful with electric blankets, heating pads and foot warmers, because they may not recognize when the temperature is too high and can burn their skin. If you fall into one of these groups, warm the bed with the blanket and then switch it off and unplug it before you get in.

Using it safely and checking for recalls

• Do not tuck in, trap, fold, cross or pinch the cords or controls between the mattress, springs or bed slats.
• Keep the blanket flat. Sunbeam warns that heat can increase where the product is bunched or folded while in use.
• Do not use pins to hold it in place; they may damage the wiring.
• Stop using any blanket that smells hot, shows scorch marks, has a damaged cord or heats unevenly.

Heated bedding is recalled from time to time. In September 2026, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 195,000 JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads sold on Amazon, because internal heating wires can overheat. JKMAX had 577 reports of smoking, melting or burning, including 53 burn injuries. Search the brand and model at cpsc.gov before you buy or keep using one.

How to wash a heated blanket

Yes, you can wash most heated blankets, but always follow your own label. Sunbeam's manual gives these steps:

1. Unplug the cord from the wall, then detach the control from the blanket.
2. Presoak for 15 minutes in cold water with mild soap.
3. Wash on a delicate or gentle cycle for two minutes, with no bleach.
4. Rinse in cold water and spin.
5. Preheat the dryer on low for 2 minutes, then tumble dry on low for 10 minutes and take it out while still damp. Do not use a commercial or laundromat dryer.
6. Finish by hanging it to dry without clothespins.
7. Reconnect the control only when the blanket is completely dry.

When you store it, loop the cords loosely rather than wrapping them tightly around the controller, which Sunbeam says can damage them.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Can you wash a heated blanket?

Usually yes, once the control and cord are detached. Sunbeam's steps are a 15 minute cold presoak, a two minute gentle wash, a short low tumble dry, then air drying until completely dry.

Is it safe to sleep with a heated blanket on all night?

Follow your manual. Many blankets turn off after a set time, such as 10 hours on Sunbeam models. People with diabetes, poor circulation or reduced feeling should warm the bed and then switch the blanket off.

Are cordless heated blankets as warm as plug-in ones?

It depends on the model. A battery limits how long the blanket can run, so compare the maker's stated heat settings and run time for each setting.

Can a child use a heated blanket?

No. The Sunbeam manual says not to use its heated products with an infant or child.

How do I know if my heated blanket is recalled?

Search the brand and model number at cpsc.gov. In 2026, about 195,000 JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads were recalled for overheating wires.

Sources

• Sunbeam heated blanket, mattress pad and throw user manual (P.N. 140450) (images.homedepot-static.com), Sunbeam Products (maker), hosted by The Home Depot
• JKMAX Recalls Heated Blankets and Heating Pads Due to Fire and Burn Hazards (cpsc.gov), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Managing Diabetes in Cold Weather (cdc.gov), CDC

Sources checked 2026-10-14.