Warm the bed before you get into it

The heating is on because you are cold. But you are only in one bed. Warming the whole house, with its air, its walls and its empty rooms, is one way to keep one person warm. Warming the bed is another.

Warm the bed before you get in with a heated pad or blanket that is less than ten years old and undamaged, and switch it off and unplug it before you get in, unless its label says it is made to stay on all night.

That is the cheap part, and it is only worth doing if the blanket is safe. If it is old, second-hand or damaged, or the person using it cannot feel heat well, start with the safety note above and the last section of this page.

Why warming the bed costs less

Many people say a heated blanket or pad costs less than a space heater, because it warms your body directly and does not heat the air around you. The numbers back that up. One person puts a blanket at about 100 watts and a space heater at about 1,500; some people give a range of 80 to 200 watts for blankets. At those figures, three hours of a 100-watt blanket uses 0.3 kilowatt-hours and three hours of a 1,500-watt heater uses 4.5, which is fifteen times as much. Multiply by the price per kilowatt-hour on your bill to see the money. A UK consumer-testing group, in an article dated 23 September 2026, put electric blankets at roughly 2p to 6p an hour and electric heaters at roughly 8p to 76p an hour.

Some people say you do not need to warm the whole room to get into bed comfortably. With a pad under you, your front stays at room temperature while your back is warm, and you do not meet the cold of the sheets. Some people say that warming the bed beforehand, or using it on low, can cut the heating bill compared with heating the house for one room.

Many people say the way to get the most from a heated bed is to turn it on before you get in so the sheets and mattress warm up, then turn it off once you are in (some people say down, which only fits a blanket made for all-night use). One person says to warm the bed for an hour before you sleep. Unplugging it before you get in matches the fire services’ advice, below.

What it does not do

It warms the bed, not you walking around. Some people say a blanket does not solve the real problem, which is stepping out of bed into a cold room first thing, and some people say a space heater and a blanket do different jobs, so one does not stand in for the other. If you need to be warm while you move about, some people suggest layers of clothing, and one person suggests a heated vest.

It also saves money only if you let something else go lower. Some people say to lower the thermostat, to about 60 to 65F, and make up the difference with clothes and a non-electric blanket. One person says to lower it by one degree a week, so your body adjusts. How low is a personal call: the numbers people give run from the low 60s F to 68F, and the right one depends on how much cold you can stand, how draughty the home is and whether you are sitting still or moving. Some people also say airflow matters while the house is cooler, because moisture and mould build up where air does not move. Some people warn that turning central heating off completely in very cold weather can freeze pipes, and that a house kept very cold can grow mould; there is a page on this site about turning the heat down without turning it off.

Other things cut the loss. Some people say plastic window-insulation film is cheap and stops draughts, and some say a good down duvet lets you keep the room cooler. If you rent and the electricity is included in your rent, one person points out that you will not see the saving.

The safe way to use one

The authorities agree with the people on the main habit, and they add the rules that matter.

London Fire Brigade says to unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless the blanket has a thermostat control for safe all-night use. Electrical Safety First, the UK charity, adds that if you do use one overnight, it should have temperature settings, automatic shut-off and overheat protection. Both say to replace a blanket at least every ten years, and to replace it sooner if it shows frayed fabric, scorch marks, bare wires, a damaged cord, a buzzing control, a burning smell or an overheating connector. Electrical Safety First says to check the blanket and its cable for damage every time before you plug it in, including for chewing by mice or rats, and to buy from a reputable retailer rather than a third-party seller online. It and London Fire Brigade both say not to buy one second-hand.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to tuck an electric blanket in or fold it while it is on, and not to put anything on it, including other blankets, because covering it can make it overheat. A heated mattress pad is made to sit under the sheet; follow the maker’s instructions for what may go on top.

Some people say to buy a name-brand blanket that is listed by a recognised safety testing laboratory and to follow the directions. That helps, but it is not a guarantee. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled heated blankets from well-known sellers for fire and burn hazards, so check its recall list for your model before you plug it in.

Some people point out that sleeping with an electric blanket was dangerous in 1952 and that modern ones are much safer. That is a reason to retire an old blanket, not a reason to trust any blanket. Heated blankets still catch fire: some people point out that they can and do, and Electrical Safety First reported that accidental electric blanket fires in England reached a five-year high in 2024/25. One person warns that a blanket can catch fire while you sleep, and another says not to use one on children or on elderly people who could not cope with a fire. Some people also point out that hanging electric blankets on walls as a heat barrier is dangerous and has led to house fires; one person warns that a heat lamp made for chicks, used as a space heater, can cause house fires, and another that a hairdryer left running under the bedding is a fire risk.

Long contact with low heat can also harm the skin. Some people say long contact with warmth too mild to burn at once can cause a skin condition called toasted skin syndrome, which can bring skin changes or cancer, and that older and disabled people who cannot feel the heat or move away are most at risk. If you notice it, stop using the heat source on that spot and ask a doctor. If you notice a mottled red-brown mark where a blanket lies, stop using it and ask a doctor.

When a blanket is not the answer

If you are 65 or over, have heart or lung disease or find it hard to move about, do not turn the heating down to save money. And do not go below 16C (61F) in a room where a baby sleeps: the NHS puts a baby’s room at about 16 to 20C. An NHS trust says to heat your home to at least 18C (65F); the US National Institute on Aging advises older adults to keep the thermostat at 68 to 70F. Two bodies, two numbers: take the warmer one if you are unsure, and use the blanket on top of that heat, not instead of it.

If the person who would use the blanket cannot feel heat well, because of nerve damage for example, Electrical Safety First says a heated blanket is not recommended for them, nor for infants or on an adjustable bed. One person says not to use one on children or on older people who could not cope with a fire. A covered hot water bottle, or extra layers, may suit them better, with the advice from an NHS trust that the bottle never goes with an electric blanket.

If the real problem is a bill you cannot pay, a blanket will not fix it. In the US, the Who-can-help cards below include help with heating costs; in the UK, Citizens Advice and Turn2us can help, and London Fire Brigade also points people to Citizens Advice and their energy supplier for bill support.