December 18th, 2019 by Becky Calvert

Electric blankets have really taken off over the recent years. They’ve become a staple for many of us in the winter months, as they keep us cosy and warm when the temperatures start to drop, whilst preventing our heating bills from skyrocketing! However, it can be hard to know what to look for when you’re choosing your electric blanket – especially when you’re wanting to buy one as Christmas gift! That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide that outlines everything that you need to know before buying your blanket – so that you (or a loved one) can enjoy your electric blanket all winter long!

1. Choose Your Style

First things first, you need to choose which kind of electric blanket will be best for you. You can choose between the traditional under-blanket (much like a fitted sheet, these blankets attach to your mattress using elasticated straps or a fully-fitted skirt) or an over-blanket (basically a throw)! To help you decide, firstly think about where you’ll be wanting to use the blanket the most. If it’s in bed to help you sleep, an under-blanket will work much better but if you’d prefer to get cosy with one on an evening whilst you sit on the sofa, definitely opt for an over blanket!

2. Heat Settings – How many do you need?

Nowadays, most electric blankets come with multiple heat settings as standard. The usual amount is 3 but it can range all the way up to 9! But how many do you really need? If you’re planning on using your electric blanket regularly (even all year round!) we would highly recommend that you opt for a blanket with a higher selection of heat settings. The large selection means that you can choose the heat setting to suit the weather conditions, without being restricted to only three. However, if you’re going to be using your blanket as more of a throw, you may only need 3 heat settings as they’ll mostly be used to keep cosy and warm on those really cold winter nights.

3. Timer Settings

If you want an electric blanket but you’re worried about using it whilst you sleep, then we highly recommend opting for a blanket that has a timer function. This will allow you to set the blanket to turn off during the night, or even just before you wake up - so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to do so! Timer settings are also great for those wanting to buy an electric blanket for a child, as you can have complete peace of mind that the blanket has been programmed to switch off before they fall asleep.

4. Dual Controls

If you’re buying an electric blanket for a couple (or you sleep with a partner yourself), purchasing an electric blanket that has dual controls will give them both the power to choose the heat setting they want their side of the bed to reach! With a controller at each side of the bed, they’ll be no more arguments surrounding temperature during the night – making it the perfect Christmas present!

5. Safety Features

When buying for yourself or a loved one, safety should always be a key factor – especially with electric blankets. All of our blankets have overheat prevention and an automatic cut off timer. This will make sure that you can use your blanket with complete peace of mind. This allows you to drift off to sleep without any worry, making your sleep with an electric blanket even more luxurious and comfortable!