Best Plush Heated Throw Blanket: Sunbeam Soft and Plush Heated Velvet Throw Blanket

What’s the difference between a heated throw blanket and a regular heated blanket? 

Size, for one.

Throw blankets are typically smaller (50″ x 60″ is a common size) than a regular blanket. Hence, they are perfect for a couch or travel . . . not so much for a bed.

Another key feature: heated throw blankets are designed for limited time use (think watching TV on a couch versus on a bed overnight). Hence, many heated throws have auto shut-off times of 30-60 minutes up to three hours. Regular heated blankets designed for bed have auto-shut off timers for longer time (1o hours, for example).

We asked our readers for their favorite heated blankets and one brand came up time and again: Sunbeam’s Soft and Plush Heated Velvet Throw Blanket. Folks just loved how soft this blanket is—and we’d agree after trying it ourselves.

Yes, Sunbeam sells scores of heated blankets, but this model is our favorite. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Perfect size for couches. At 50″ x 60″, it is nicely sized for a single person.

• Machine washable.

• Even warmth. This blanket can sense and adjust the heat to delivery consistent warmth.

• Very soft. We love the velvet finish on this blanket.

• Cord doesn’t come unplugged easily. That’s because there is a clamp to hold the cord tightly to the blanket.

• Durable fabric.

• 3 heat settings and 3 hour auto shut-off.

What Needs Work

• Odd placement of electrical connection and controller. We prefer these placed on the side of the blanket . . . but this model has it at the top, right in your face. Or you can switch the blanket and have the controls at the bottom, where they’d be hard to reach.

• Can feel the wire inside the blanket. This bothers some folks and we see their point. If you are sensitive to this, the next recommendation has less prominent wires.

Best Long Cord: Biddeford Blankets Micro Plush Electric Heated Blanket

Most electric blanket makers say you shouldn’t use their blankets with an extension cord. So what can you do if the nearest outlet is a good distance from your couch or chair?

We’d recommend Biddeford’s Micro Plush blanket—yes, this blanket comes with a 13 foot cord. And that’s longer than other blankets we tried for this article. Plus the blanket itself is nicely made with ultra-thin wires that are less noticeable than other brands, in our opinion.

What We Liked

• Heats up quickly.

• Very soft to the touch.

• Six heat settings.

• 10 hour auto shut-off.

• Good size at 50″ x 60″.

• Less noticeable wires.

What Needs Work

• A bit pricey.

• The cord can become detached from the blanket too easily. We see reports of this issue online, however, we didn’t experience it when we did our testing.

Best For Travel: Sojoy iHealthComfort 12V Washable Electric Heated Travel Blanket

This blanket is our pick for best for travel—it’s perfectly sized for a person in a vehicle seat (40″ x 55″) and can be powered by a vehicle’s accessory outlet (the socket that works on 12 volts). Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Quick to heat up.

• Durable.

• Soft.

• Affordable

• Timer for 30, 45 or 60 minutes.

What Needs Work

• Too small for some folks. At 40″ x 55″, this throw blanket is noticeably smaller than other heated throws recommended in this article (most are 50″ x 60″). 

Best for Watching TV: Sunbeam Heated Throw Blanket

A heated throw blanket can make watching TV on a cold night much more enjoyable—and this blanket is a good choice for that. We loved simple operation (3 heat settings) and the three-hour auto shut-off. Great if you forget to turn it off before going to bed.

All that and a price that is easy on the wallet—that makes this blanket a good choice for couch potatoes.

What We Liked

• Warms up quickly.

• Perfect size for a sofa or recliner. At 50″ x 60″ this blanket is sized right for most folks.

•  Sturdy connection to cord.

• Soft fleece is nice to the touch.

What Needs Work

• Controller is at top center of blanket. That’s an odd placement, as it puts the controller near your face.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!