How Much Electricity
Does a Heated Blanket Use?
Heated blankets cover everything from sofa-friendly throws to full overblankets that sit on top of the duvet. The 2026 UK figure is 1p to 5p per hour or roughly £5 to £25 per year for typical winter use, far cheaper than a room heater.
A typical UK heated blanket draws 50 to 200 watts depending on type plus heat setting. At the current Q2 2026 Ofgem unit rate of 24.7p per kWh that means roughly 1p to 5p per hour. Heated throws (used on sofas) draw 100 to 150W. Single underblankets draw 50 to 100W. Double overblankets draw 150 to 200W. For typical UK winter use of 1 to 3 hours nightly, annual cost runs £5 to £25. A 2kW room heater costs 49p per hour for similar comfort, making heated blankets roughly 10 to 50 times cheaper for personal warmth.
The figures that matter
Single underblanket
Cheapest type. Heats just the bed area. Low standing draw.
Heated throw
Sofa-friendly. Used while watching TV in evening.
Double overblanket
Largest, highest wattage. Designed to use over the bedding.
Hourly cost
Range across all types at 24.7p per kWh.
Four things to consider
Cheapest spot heating
Heated blankets cost 5 to 50 times less than running a room heater for the same personal comfort.
Use timer features
Pre-warm for 30 minutes before getting in. Switch off after. Modern blankets do this automatically.
Replace older blankets
Pre-2010 heated blankets often lack modern safety features plus may not have overheat protection.
Heated throws win for sofa use
A heated throw on the sofa for 3 hours costs roughly 10p versus £1.50 for a 2kW heater across the same period.
Heated blanket running costs by type plus use
Heated blankets work by warming a small area (one person plus their immediate cover) rather than a whole room. The combination of low wattage, targeted warmth plus typically short use periods makes them one of the cheapest electrical comforts in any UK home.
Real numbers at 24.7p per kWh (Q2 2026 Ofgem cap):
- Single underblanket (75W) for 1 hour pre-bed: 0.075 kWh, 1.9p per use. Roughly £3 per year at 5 nights weekly.
- Heated throw (130W) for 3 hours evening sofa use: 0.39 kWh, 9.6p per use. £15 per year at 5 nights weekly.
- Double underblanket (120W) for 8 hours overnight: 0.96 kWh, 23.7p per use. £37 per year at 5 nights weekly.
- Double overblanket (180W) for 8 hours overnight: 1.44 kWh, 35.6p per use. £56 per year at 5 nights weekly.
- Pre-bed warm only (most efficient pattern): 30 to 60 minutes nightly, £3 to £6 per year typical.
Why temperature setting matters less than people think. Most modern heated blankets use a thermostat that cycles the heating element. On low setting the element is on roughly 30 percent of the time. On high setting the element is on roughly 70 percent of the time. The actual electricity per hour at low is roughly 40 percent less than at high. For most UK use, low is plenty warm.
Heated blanket vs heated throw comparison. A heated blanket usually means an underblanket on the bed. A heated throw is the sofa-friendly version, smaller plus shaped to drape. Throws have extra controls because they are used while you are awake. Underblankets are larger but have simpler timer-based controls because they are used overnight. Per hour costs are similar. Use case differs.
What pushes heated blanket costs higher:
- Leaving on continuously rather than using the timer.
- Using overblankets that are larger than the bed area heated.
- High setting throughout. Most beds reach comfortable warmth at low setting within 20 to 30 minutes.
- Older blankets with worn elements that may run inefficiently.
- Heated throws used as primary heating for the whole evening rather than alongside other heat.
Real number ranges
Cost per use by heated blanket type (UK 2026)
How a heated blanket evening typically runs
30 min before use
Switch on at high setting. Element pulls full rated wattage. Surface warms in 15 to 30 minutes.
Drop to low
Get into warm bed or wrap in throw. Switch to low setting. Element cycles roughly 30 percent of the time.
Cycling on low
Thermostat maintains comfortable temperature through use. 0.3 to 1 kWh used depending on duration.
Auto-off
Built-in timer switches off after preset hours. Most modern blankets default to 8-hour auto-off.
Four ways to use a heated blanket efficiently
Use the timer or pre-warm only
Switch on 30 minutes before use, off when getting in or finishing. Cuts running cost by 80 to 90 percent versus all-night use.
Use low setting once warm
Most beds plus throws stay warm on low. High setting is rarely needed beyond initial warming. Saves 40 percent.
Match blanket size to use
An overblanket bigger than the bed wastes electricity. A throw smaller than the user leaves cold spots.
Replace older blankets
Pre-2010 heated blankets often lack modern safety plus efficiency features. Replace every 10 to 15 years.
Compare the options
Heated blanket overnight
- ✓75 to 200W rated wattage with cycling actual draw.
- ✓8p to 40p per night at 24.7p per kWh.
- ✓Heats one person plus bedding. Highly targeted.
- ✓Annual cost £5 to £25 at typical winter UK use.
- ✓No room air heating wasted on unused space.
2kW room heater overnight
- ✗2,000W rated wattage. Continuous draw.
- ✗£1.50 to £3.95 per night at the same Ofgem rate.
- ✗Heats whole room. Most heat lost to unused air.
- ✗Annual cost £100+ at the same winter use pattern.
- ✗Wasted heating of empty room volume rather than the person.
Heated blankets are one of the cheapest comfort heating options in UK homes. Our full Appliances hub covers running costs across every major UK household appliance.
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This article is one chapter inside our complete Appliances knowledge base. The hub covers running costs across every major household appliance from kettles to heat pumps.
More on appliance running costs
Three further heating cost articles in the same hub group cover related questions. The first is how much electric does electric blanket use for the underblanket-focused angle. The second covers how much electric do electric heaters use for the room-heating alternative. The third is how much electric does a heater use across all heater types.