Electric Blanket & Pad Ratings > Electric Blanket Pros and Cons
Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Blankets → Based on Data From Over 600 Actual Owners
Page last updated September 23, 2011
The information below is based on our electric blanket research.
Advantages of Electric Blankets
1. Eliminate getting into cold bed
Owners like how an electric blanket can pre-warm their bed before they get into it. In fact, according to our data, this is a main reason why people buy an electric blanket.
2. Can reduce need to heat home at night
Electric blanket owners are often pleasantly surprised when they realized that by using an electric blanket at night, they can reduce or eliminate the need to have their home's heat on. This, of course, can save substantial money.
3. Lightweight
Many owners like the lightweight nature of an electric blanket, as opposed to having to sleep under the weight of several conventional blankets which can make moving while in bed difficult. Their low weight also allows making a bed to be an easier and faster chore.
4. Happier couples
Many electric blankets feature duel controllers which allow each side of a bed to have its own heat setting. This eliminates the need to agree on how many blanket should be on the bed and competing for blankets at night for warmth.
Disadvantages of Electric Blankets
1. Can break / be frustrating to use
About 10% of owners report that their blanket developed a defect which usually caused the blanket to not work properly or at all. In addition, safety features can sometimes make operating the product difficult. Conventional blankets, of course, have no such problems.
2. Might not be warm enough
A small but significant percentage of owners say that they would like their electric blanket to get warmer than it does. Even on the highest setting, these owners still feel at least somewhat cold.
3. Heating wires / cords
A small but significant percentage of owners say that the heating wires in the blanket can clearly be felt. This can make the blanket at least somewhat uncomfortable. Also, the cord that connects to the controllers and wall socket can be a nuisance to deal with.