Weighted blankets have long been employed by the special needs community as a form of pressure therapy, providing comfort and calm to many. In recent years they have also become a readily available and popular home aid for kids and adults, helping with anxiety, troubled sleepers and more, but how do you know which blanket is right for you?
Depending on whether you're buying for hot flashes, hot weather or chilly winter evenings, you'll need to decide on a weight, size, and material. Which is where we come in! As well as a useful buying guide, we'll share our recommendations from Amazon, John Lewis and eBay. And hopefully, we can help to ease some of those difficult days and sleepless nights.
Weighted blankets are made up of several layers, namely fabric and either glass or plastic poly-pellets, and distribute gentle pressure on the nervous system to soothe and calm. In professional terms, this is called Deep Pressure Therapy, or DPT.
DPT activates the release of serotonin, which regulates brain functions such as anxiety, stress and mood. And when anxiety is low, factors such as blood pressure and pulse are well-maintained which leads to more restorative sleep. They have also been proven to help sufferers of physical disorders, like Fibromyalgia.
In order to fully absorb the benefits of your weighted blanket, it's important to choose one that offers the right weight, size, material and filling for your personal needs, so before we share our recommendations we'll get you up to speed on these points.
The first and most important factor when choosing a weighted blanket is to ensure it exerts the appropriate amount of pressure on your body for it to work its magic. To do this, you will have to pick your blanket based on its weight.
It is recommended that you go for a blanket that weighs around 10% of your own body weight. So, a 10 stone/140 lb person could go for a blanket of 14 lbs or 6 kg. If you're between measurements and new to weighted blankets, perhaps start lighter, but if you know you need or like strong pressure, try the heavier of the two.
You can also take your build into account. For instance, petite frames could afford to go down a little, but petite heights who are also muscular builds will better feel the effects of a heavier weight.
Need help figuring out which blanket is perfect for you? Here are our top bathroom scale picks.
Besides their inner materials and padding, weighted blankets can either be made from synthetic or natural materials, and some have covers you can remove or switch around depending on the season. Let's look into the main varieties.
Hot sleepers, those inflicted with hot flushes or night sweats, or anyone looking for a weighted blanket to use in warmer weather should go for blankets with an outer material made from a natural fabric such as cotton or bamboo.
They are both breathable, soft, light and cool against the skin, which can make a big difference if the weight of the blanket is causing you to overheat. Organic cotton is especially recommended because it's higher in quality, longer-lasting, and ensures a greater level of comfort.
Try out our best personal fans if the summer heat gets too much.
One of the most popular fabrics for the outside of a weighted blanket is known as minky or plush, which is made from synthetic polyester, as they are warm, fluffy and great for those winter months.
These faux-fur style blankets will keep you extra toasty whether you're relaxing on the sofa or trying to fall asleep in bed, plus you can also opt for a design with a textured or bobbled surface for a pleasing sensory experience.
If you love a warm and toasty bed, how about an electric blanket?
For a weighted blanket that offers the best of all seasons, you may like to find one that can be used with or without a cover. That way you can have a cool, breathable natural fabric in warmer weather, or add on a plush cover in colder months for when you're in need of a cuddlier blanket.
Having a removable cover also allows it to be machine washed, even if it does not offer the option to be used without. If there is no removable cover at all, you may still like to check if it is washable at home.
As we've mentioned, the weight of the blanket predominantly comes from a filling of either glass or plastic beads or pellets. Small ceramic or glass pellets are heavier, less noticeable and give the blanket a thinner feeling, whereas plastic pellets are lighter and make for a thicker blanket but they can feel bulkier.
Now we'll introduce our ranking of the top 10 best you can climb under this year. And don't worry, we've used kilograms and centimetres for the measurements and converted them where necessary.
£84.98
Weight | 11.3 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 200 x 220 cm |
Cover Material | 100% cotton |
Removable Cover | Yes |
Washing Care | Machine washable |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£84.95
Weight | 9 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 150 x 200 cm |
Cover Material | Synthetic fleece and plush minky |
Removable Cover | Yes |
Washing Care | Machine washable |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£84.90
Weight | 6.8 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 152 x 203 cm |
Cover Material | Bamboo |
Removable Cover | No |
Washing Care | Spot clean |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£129.00
Weight | ~9 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 152 x 203 cm |
Cover Material | 1 x organic cotton, 1 x synthetic plush minky |
Removable Cover | Yes |
Washing Care | Machine washable, dryer suitable |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£42.98
Weight | 6.8 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 150 x 200 cm |
Cover Material | Cotton |
Removable Cover | No |
Washing Care | Spot clean |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£24.99
Weight | 4 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 125 x 180 cm |
Cover Material | Synthetic teddy fleece |
Removable Cover | No |
Washing Care | Hand wash |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£52.65
Weight | 6.8 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 150 x 200 cm |
Cover Material | Cotton |
Removable Cover | No |
Washing Care | Spot clean with damp cloth |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£77.99
Weight | 6.8 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 120 x 180 cm |
Cover Material | 1 x synthetic fleece, 1 x synthetic microfibre |
Removable Cover | Yes |
Washing Care | Machine washable |
Pellet Filling | Nano-ceramic |
£99.99
Weight | 9 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 150 x 200 cm |
Cover Material | 100% cotton |
Removable Cover | No |
Washing Care | Machine washable |
Pellet Filling | Glass |
£120.00
Weight | 7 kg, 9 kg, 11.5 kg |
---|---|
Dimensions | 150 x 200 cm |
Cover Material | 100% cotton |
Removable Cover | Yes |
Washing Care | Machine washable cover, spot clean filling |
Pellet Filling | 93 % glass, 7% polyester |
Image | 1 ![]() Odyseaco | 2 ![]() Soporis | 3 ![]() YnM | 4 ![]() Rocabi | 5 ![]() Keeptop | 6 ![]() Brentfords | 7 ![]() Amazon Basics | 8 ![]() SCM | 9 ![]() BUZIO | 10 ![]() John Lewis & Partners |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Weighted Blanket | Deluxe Weighted Blanket | Bamboo Weighted Blanket, Sea Grass | Weighted Blanket and Luxury Cover Set | Weighted Blanket | Teddy Weighted Blanket for Children | All-Season Cotton Weighted Blanket | Weighted Blanket With 2 Removable Covers | Cooling Weighted Blanket | Specialist Synthetic Weighted Blanket |
Features | Firm Pressure That Stays Put During Restless Nights | Huggable Warmth and Comfort on a Budget | Stay Extra-Cool With Natural Bamboo | Two Sensory Experiences to Satisfy Your Needs | Drift Off to Sleep in No Time With This Blanket | Snuggly, Soft and Comforting Like a Teddy Bear | A Lighter Cotton Blanket for All Seasons | Interchangeable Covers for Year-Round Comfort | A Summer Blanket With Attachable Ties | A Heavyweight, Good Quality Investment |
Price | £84.98 | £84.95 | £84.90 | £129.00 | £42.98 | £24.99 | £52.65 | £77.99 | £99.99 | £120.00 |
Weight | 11.3 kg | 9 kg | 6.8 kg | ~9 kg | 6.8 kg | 4 kg | 6.8 kg | 6.8 kg | 9 kg | 7 kg, 9 kg, 11.5 kg |
Dimensions | 200 x 220 cm | 150 x 200 cm | 152 x 203 cm | 152 x 203 cm | 150 x 200 cm | 125 x 180 cm | 150 x 200 cm | 120 x 180 cm | 150 x 200 cm | 150 x 200 cm |
Cover Material | 100% cotton | Synthetic fleece and plush minky | Bamboo | 1 x organic cotton, 1 x synthetic plush minky | Cotton | Synthetic teddy fleece | Cotton | 1 x synthetic fleece, 1 x synthetic microfibre | 100% cotton | 100% cotton |
Removable Cover | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Washing Care | Machine washable | Machine washable | Spot clean | Machine washable, dryer suitable | Spot clean | Hand wash | Spot clean with damp cloth | Machine washable | Machine washable | Machine washable cover, spot clean filling |
Pellet Filling | Glass | Glass | Glass | Glass | Glass | Glass | Glass | Nano-ceramic | Glass | 93 % glass, 7% polyester |
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Weighted blankets are a natural way of relieving pain, anxiety and stress, promoting healthy sleep and treating all kinds of neurological and physical disorders. Choosing the right weighted blanket comes down to multiple factors but we hope you've found the best for you amongst our picks!
Author: Natasha Dziubajlo
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