Hot water bottle or electric blanket - what's best and cheapest for keeping you warm in bed?

Turning down your heating at night has become the go-to option to help lower your energy bills, but what about those chilly nights when an extra blanket and bed socks won't keep the cold at bay?

We've number-crunched the energy costs and compared the pros and cons of hot water bottles, electric blankets and heated throws.

Ease the squeeze on your household bills with our 

Should you buy a hot water bottle? 

undefinedCost to buy: Cost to run: 
*Based on the initial cost of 4-5p to boil a kettle with enough water to fill a 1.7L hot water bottle up to two-thirds of its capacity, and then using the hot water bottle for three hours.
Pros:
  • Uses the least energy of the options we've compared
  • Cheap to buy
  • Simple and low-tech choice with no wires or plugs
  • Cons:
  • Will cool down enough that it won't be as effective after around three hours
  • Won't heat up your bed evenly
  • Chance of scalding your hand while filling it up
  • You might have heard that kettles use a lot of energy, but you'll actually use less energy than the cost of running an electric blanket or heated throw if you use one to fill your hot water bottle. That's as long as you only boil as much water as you need. Most manufacturers recommend filling hot water bottles to two-thirds of their capacity.

    It's also important to wait for the boiling water to cool for at least five minutes before pouring it in. Boiling water will degrade the inside of the hot water bottle, leading to a much higher chance of the bottle bursting while you're using it.

    Should you buy an electric blanket? 

    undefinedCost to buy: Cost to run: Pros:
  • The best blankets distribute heat evenly
  • Useful timer function means you only need to run for as long as you need
  • Cons:
  • More costly upfront than a hot water bottle
  • Our tests revealed you can feel the wires running through some blankets 
  •  

    Electric blankets are designed to be fitted to your mattress underneath your sheet, so your bed should feel the same as usual but with extra heat coming up from underneath you.

    That's if you get a good one though. Our tests found some electric blankets that distribute heat unevenly and have annoying wires you can feel through your bedsheet.

    Electric blankets can cost more than £100 so it's worth doing your research first to avoid paying out more for a less than satisfactory night's sleep. 

    Should you buy a heated throw? 

    undefinedCost to buy: Cost to run: Pros:
  • Can also be used to keep you warm on the sofa
  • Useful timer function means you only need to run for as long as you need
  • High-quality heated throws distribute heat evenly
  • Cons:
  • Can be pricey to buy
  • Some take a long time to warm up
  • You can feel the wires through some
  • Short cable might not stretch from your plug socket to the bed
  • A heated throw's main job is keeping you warm and snuggly while relaxing on the sofa, but you can use them as a heated top blanket for your bed too. You just need to lay your throw either on top of your duvet, or between your duvet and you.

    Our energy use tests found electric throws cost less to run per hour than some electric blankets, but still more than boiling water for a hot water bottle.

    You might find it a bit stuffy in your bed with an extra heated layer on top of you, though, and some have short cables that might not reach from the plug socket to your bed. We also found some throws uncomfortable, as you can feel the wires running through them.

    What's best and cheapest for keeping warm in bed?

    Hot water bottles have the cheapest upfront and associated energy costs, but if you can afford it, we think a high-quality heated blanket is the best option for a cosy night's sleep. 

    If you've got one of the best heated blankets fitted below your bedsheet you won't even know it's there, and it will gently spread warmth throughout your bed for as long as you need it to.

    Why you shouldn't use an electric heater while you sleep

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    Electric heaters have been selling out all winter as an alternative to central heating, and you can point the heater directly towards you for maximum warmth.

    Inspiring tips for improving the place you live in: undefined

    source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/hot-water-bottle-or-electric-blanket-whats-best-and-cheapest-for-keeping-you-warm-in-bed-alwIf3N5e4G5
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