How much does it really cost to run an electric blanket?
Electric blanket cost is one of those numbers people wildly overestimate. Most underblankets draw somewhere around 40 to 100 watts, and heated throws sit a bit higher, around 80 to 150 watts. Run a typical underblanket for eight hours at today’s electricity rates and the electric blanket cost works out at roughly 8p to 20p a night, depending on the wattage and how high you turn the dial.
Over a month of nightly use, that is somewhere around £2.50 to £6, nowhere near what it costs to keep a room’s heating running all evening. The exact electric blanket cost for your home depends on your unit rate, which moves with Ofgem’s price cap, so treat these as ballpark figures rather than a guarantee.
Nights are drawing in, the heating is not on yet, and most households just shiver through it or cave and switch the boiler on early. Roo would tell you to just switch supplier and be done with it, but for the in-between weeks, an electric blanket is the cheaper middle option: warm the person, not the whole house.
Electric blanket cost vs heating the room: the maths that saves you money
Heating a single bedroom for a couple of hours can easily cost 50p to £1 once you factor in the boiler firing up and heat leaking out through the walls and windows. That is the whole room, warmed, for two people’s worth of feet. Put the electric blanket cost for the same two hours next to it and it is a fraction of the price, because you are warming yourself, not the air six feet above the bed.
This is not an argument for never using your electric heater or central heating. It is a nudge for the in-between weeks, like now, when the house is not properly cold but your feet are. Have a read of our guide on when to turn your heating on, layer up, add a blanket, and hold off on the thermostat for another few weeks.
Underblanket, overblanket or heated throw?
- Underblankets sit under your bottom sheet and pre-warm the bed before you get in. Cheapest to run, lowest wattage.
- Overblankets go on top of you like a normal blanket and can often stay on all night if they have a safe thermostat control built in.
- Heated throws are the sofa version, usually a bit higher wattage since they are heating you while you are sitting still rather than under a duvet.
Is your electric blanket safe to use?
Yes, mostly. A well-kept electric blanket used properly is safe. An old, damaged or misused one is a genuine fire risk, and that is not scaremongering, it is why Electrical Safety First recommends replacing an electric blanket every ten years.
On top of that ten-year limit, UK fire and rescue services advise having an older blanket tested every two years by a qualified electrician. Some run free or low-cost testing sessions locally through the autumn, so it is worth checking what your own fire service offers before winter.
Before you plug one in for the first time this year, run through the basics. Check for scorch marks, exposed wires, water damage or mould. Make sure it carries a UKCA or CE mark. Lay it flat rather than folded, and never pile pillows or a hot water bottle on top while it is switched on.
Most blankets are designed to be switched off once you are warm, not left running all night, unless the packaging specifically says it has an all-night thermostat control. If in doubt, warm the bed before you get in, then switch it off.
Key takeaways
- Electric blanket cost for a typical underblanket runs around 8p to 20p a night, depending on wattage and how long it is on.
- Heating a single room for the same hours usually costs several times more.
- Electrical Safety First recommends replacing an electric blanket after ten years; fire services advise having an older one tested every two years.
- Never leave a standard electric blanket on all night unless it has a specific all-night thermostat.
- Your exact electric blanket cost depends on your electricity unit rate, so use these figures as an estimate.
How to keep the electric blanket cost as low as possible
Pick the lowest setting that actually keeps you warm rather than defaulting to the highest one. Most of the electric blanket cost difference between settings comes down to wattage, and wattage rises fast with heat output.
Warm the bed for 20 to 30 minutes before you get in, then switch it off, rather than running it for hours. This is where most of the saving comes from: you are heating the bed for a short burst, not running an appliance all night. Our guide to smart thermostat savings covers the same short-burst logic for the rest of the house.
If you are on a time-of-use tariff with cheaper overnight rates, an underblanket used just before bed is one of the few appliances that genuinely suits that window. Check your own tariff before assuming this applies, since not every household is on one.
None of this replaces fixing a genuinely cold house. If your energy bills already feel too high whatever you do, it is worth comparing tariffs rather than just layering up every winter.
Frequently asked questions about electric blanket costs
- Is electric blanket cost lower than heating a room?
- Generally yes, for warming one person rather than a whole room. Electric blanket cost is usually a small fraction of what a couple of hours of room heating costs, though your own boiler efficiency and room size affect the comparison.
- Can I leave an electric blanket on all night?
- Only if the manufacturer says it is designed for all-night use with a built-in thermostat. Most underblankets and throws are meant to be switched off once the bed or you are warm.
- How much electricity does an electric blanket use compared to a phone charger?
- An electric blanket on a low setting is roughly in the same ballpark as a laptop charger running for the same time, though wattage varies a lot by model and setting.
- Do electric blankets use a lot of electricity over a whole winter?
- Used sensibly on a low setting for short bursts, electric blanket cost over a winter is usually modest, around the price of a few takeaway coffees a month, though this depends on wattage and how often you use it.
- How do I know if my electric blanket is too old to use safely?
- If it has scorch marks, exposed wires or water damage, do not use it. Electrical Safety First recommends replacing a blanket after ten years, and fire services advise having an older one tested every two years by a qualified electrician.
Sources: Electrical Safety First – electric blanket safety advice; North Wales Fire and Rescue Service – electric blanket safety; Ofgem – the energy price cap.
