As the nights draw in and temperatures begin to plummet, it’s time to hunker down for the winter ahead. While woolly jumpers and thick socks will keep you toasty during the day, they’re hardly the most comfortable thing to wear in bed.

Enter: the electric blanket. Once something only your grandma might buy, these days they’re a cold weather essential, transforming your bed from a frozen block of ice to a cosy pool of warmth.

They’re ideal for anyone who rents or lives in an old house as they offer localised heating, sparing you the costs of running central heating while you read, watch telly or sleep. Simply switch it on half an hour before lights out, et voila – a warm, cosy nest ready to help you drift off into a restful slumber.

If you’re worried about drifting off with the blanket still on, you needn’t. Many models are fitted with a timer and overheat protection to ensure you sleep, safe and sound.

Sound good?

Check out our favourite winter warmer electric blankets below.

Dreamland Dual Control Cotton Heated Mattress Protector - Double

Electric blanket type: Under

Get ready for a perfect night's sleep with this electric blanket, which heats to your desired temperature in as little as five seconds. There are temperature controls fitted within easy reach on either side of the blanket with six settings, so you can get the right temperature for your half of the bed, whether it's mid-winter or an especially cool spring night.

And there's no chance of waking up a sweaty mess either, as the built-in technology adapts to temperature changes throughout the night.

Available in three sizes: Double, King and Super King sizes.

From £94.99 | John Lewis | Buy it now

Dreamcatcher Deluxe Luxurious Faux Fur Electric Heated Throw

Electric blanket type: Over

This blanket has us feeling cosy just looking it at thanks to the super soft grey faux fur covering. As well as making us want to burrow right in and stay there until spring, the throw boasts an easy-to-operate control, nine temperature settings and a timer for anything from one to nine hours.

£64.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Homefront Electric Blanket Double Size Dual Control

Electric blanket type: Under

One of the only annoying things about an electric blanket is its tendency to shift around in the night. No such issues here.

This blanket comes with a fully fitted, deep, elasticated skirt which keeps it in firmly place on top of your mattress and mattress topper for as long as you need.

It's a streamlined design with easy-use controllers, extra warmth at the bottom to warm cold feet and ultra-thin, non-obtrusive wires that are virtually undetectable beneath your bedsheets - so you won't wake up because of the blanket's lumpy bits. Machine washable.

£48.95 | Amazon | Buy it now

Silentnight Essentials Heated Underblanket - Double Dual

Electric blanket type: Under

If your partner is always warm while you lay in bed shivering, this blanket could be your salvation. It has two control switches which allow you to set each half of the bed to a different heat setting. With a mere 15 minutes warm-up time, the polyester blanket also boasts an overheat protection to stop you from becoming too hot under the covers.

£39.99 | Argos | Buy it now

Dreamland 16327 Relaxwell Heated Throw Luxury Electric Blanket

Electric blanket type: Over

Whether you plan to use this as an extra layer of warmth on your bed or want to cuddle up with it on the sofa, this throw has an ultra-soft fleece on one side and buttery velvet on the other.

It’s cosy enough to use even without electricity, but if you want an additional layer of warmth, simply plug it in and select from six settings.

A detachable control is included, and the throw has an auto-off feature which you can set to between one or nine hours – so no need to worry about falling asleep with the blanket still on.

£75 | John Lewis | Buy it now

Lifemax FAR Infrared Heated Lap Blanket

Electric blanket type: Over

Want something portable as well as snuggly? This grey blanket is ideal for taking on trips or using in the car, thanks to the included wall and car socket. As well as keeping you toasty, this blanket has Far Infrared technology which reportedly helps improve circulation, ease muscle pain and help rebuild injured tissue.

£34.99 | Superdrug | Buy it now

Monogram by Beurer allergy-friendly heated mattress cover

Electric blanket type: Under

Ideal for any sleepers with allergies, this undersheet blanket unites comfort with cutting edge technology and health benefits.

How? It reduces and protects against dust mites and bacteria through heat and advanced HHL Health Protection fabric technology, making your bed a more hygenic place to be.

There is also six heat settings to choose from as well as a pre-heat option and can be timed to switch itself off from between one to nine hours. Considering it costs less than two pence to operate a night, it's a very cost-efficient option too.

£75 | Debenhams | Buy it now

Sleeping Beauty Electric Blanket - single

Electric blanket type: Over

If you need something for the kids or the guest room where there's only a single bed to heat, this is one of the best bed blankets around - and not just for the fairy tale name.

The comfy fleece will make you feel as though you're floating on a particularly warm cloud nine, while the four position controller and quick warming up time mean it’s simple and effective to use.

If you intend to use this for little ones or have pets sleep on your bed, the waterproof element will give you peace of mind against any accidental spills in the middle of the night.

Get the Double here (which also features dual control heat), or opt for a King or Superking if you’re using for bigger beds.

£45 | Debenhams | Buy it now

Dreamland Relaxwell Faux Fur Electric Blanket

Electric blanket type: Over

Sink into a world of super soft faux fur (Alaskan husky faux fur, if we're talking specifics) with this blanket from Dreamland.

This throw looks nothing like the electric blanket you might have in your mind's eye, luxe and comfy enough to use over your duvet as well as draped on the sofa. It's machine washable too so you can keep it looking like new for longer.

£94 | Dunelm | Buy it now

Morphy Richards Washable Heated Under Blanket

Electric blanket type: Under

This easy-to-use washable blanket is designed with ultra-thin wires that guarantee a restful sleep undisturbed by lumps. If your feet are always the last body part to warm up, this blanket is ideal as it offers extra foot warmth to keep toes toasty. There are four heat levels to choose from as well as safeguard protection to ensure the blanket doesn’t overheat.

As well as machine-washable it's also tumble dry-safe, so you can keep it clean and fresh all through the winter months. And, as far as efficiency goes, it's a money saver, costing as little as 2p a night to run.

£19.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Verdict

They say you should never go to bed on an argument, and with the Dreamland Dual Control Cotton Heated Mattress Protector at least you won’t have to compromise on your preferred sleeping conditions.

It is quite pricey though, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that does the job, Morphy Richards’ Washable Heated Under Blanket is a fuss-free buy.

ESBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.

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