As winter take over, you know what it means “an extra investment in your beddings!” You will agree with me that these are the nights when blankets are not enough to give you a comfortable temperature.
But life is too short to climb into a freezing bed on winter’s night!!!
Of course, a heated blanket crosses your mind but still can’t solve your problem because it slips off and may also be too warm for you. It is true you may dress up heavily to bed to keep the night chills out but trust you me it will be difficult to turn around.
But, nothing can beat the power of a heated mattress pad. It is an elegant solution. A heated pad, allows you to climb into your bed and experience the warmth from below so you don’t have to shiver in cold.
The ability to radiate heat upwards is not the only thing that makes heated mattress pads among the best beddings during winter but the fact that it saves your fair deals on electricity make it even friendlier.
In this post, we strive to give you the most useful information about heated mattress pads including our top five choices to help you settle for the best. I, therefore, invite you to check out our recommendations if you are ready to buy a heated mattress pad. Click here to jump to our top picks!
However, if you aren’t convinced with the magic of a heated mattress pad, or even how to pick one, then keep reading…
What Is a Heated Mattress Pad?
A heated mattress pad is a special mattress pad with a heating device placed under the bed sheet. It radiates heat upwards thereby heating your body and not the ceiling to ensure you are having the ideal sleeping temperature in cold nights.
Why You Need a Heated Mattress Pad and Not a Heated Blanket?
#Heated mattress pads are safer
A heated blanket is more likely to overheat and this could easily start fire. However, a heated mattress pad is less likely to overheat meaning it is safer. Besides, a heated blanket can easily bunch up and when this happens heat has nowhere to go this elevates the risk of fire.
#Heated mattress pad are durable
When it comes to durability, a heated mattress pad will last longer while a heated blanket only last for a short period. Therefore, a heated blanket will worn out after a few uses because of the numerous tossing at night. On the other hand, your bed skirt keeps your mattress pad in its place and this allows you to use other kinds of comforters like duvets.
#It saves on electricity bills
With a heated mattress pad, you don’t have to leave your furnace running throughout the night. In addition, a heated mattress pad is made to be energy efficient and it automatically shuts off when heat reaches a certain maximum. This cuts significant amounts on electricity bills.
#Most options are customizable
Unlike heated blankets which comes with a few temperature settings, warm or hot a heated mattress pad is made with you in mind. A heated mattress pad gives you the option to adjust temperature according to the temperature outside. You can, therefore, set pre-warm timers and automatic shutoffs to avoid scorches.
#Heated mattress pad helps in pain relief
Heat soothes and calms sore muscles, body aches by bringing more blood to the injured area. That is not all, heat also help in pain relief. In addition to pain relief, heat is an ingredient to a relaxed sleep, it pampers your body so you will wake up feeling refreshed. To put it differently, sleeping on a heated mattress pad is more like having massage every night. So if you suffer poor sleep due to body pains, you will find this pad helpful.
#It keeps clean
A heated mattress pad is ideal for those individuals who sweats a lot at night. You don’t have to be worried because the heat from the pad is able to minimize the amount of moisture getting its way into the mattress. This is advantageous because it reduces the need of anti-bacterial treatment from time to time. This not only improves your sleeping environment but also extends the life of your pad.
#It keeps you warm without making you feel weighed down
With a heated mattress pad, you don’t need to tuck underneath tons of blankets or dress like an astronaut to keep warm. A heated pad eliminates the mountain of blankets and will keep you warm without exerting too much weight on you.
Distinction Between a Heated Mattress Pad and Heated/ Electric Blanket?
Heated Mattress Pad | Heated Blanket |
– It radiates heat towards your body – It is inherently safer – More durable – Allows you to use whatever type of blanket on top – More energy efficient – It is less mobile |
– It radiates heat towards the ceiling – It can be balled up increasing the risk of blanket fires or scorches – Less durable – You can’t use anything else on top due to overheating – Less energy efficient – It is mobile |
Which Is Better: Heated Mattress Pad or Electric Blanket?
We all have different tastes and preferences. This uniqueness has started a heated debate as to which is best between a heated mattress pad and a heated blanket. Let us clear the confusion;
First, a heated blanket is more likely to ball up and because the heat in the middle of the ball has nowhere to go the blanket may catch fire. But, a heated mattress pad lies flat and this reduces the risk of fire.
Besides, a heated mattress pad is more accommodating and tends to be more durable since you are less likely to kick it off the bed at night. The mattress skirt keeps them in place but a heated blanket is likely to be tossed around, pulled and pushed and this affects its durability.
Finally, but not the least, a heated mattress pad is more efficient since heat is contained around your body by the mattress pad itself but for a heated blanket it radiates heat away from your body towards the ceiling.
Things to Consider When Shopping for The Best Heated Mattress Pad
You will agree with me that when winter comes in, a heated mattress pad becomes a necessity due to its ability to provide maximum warmth on those nights when outside temperatures are extremely low. But choosing a good heated mattress pad is not a walk in the park.
You will feel very disappointed to wind up in a low-quality mattress pad that will not solve your problem. For this reason, you need to take your time and do a little research of what is available on the market. It should not end here but you need to get the differences so that you can settle for the best.
And like other products, there are basic features that should define a good heated mattress pad from hundreds of options. I have enumerated the most important things you should consider when looking for the best-heated mattress pad for you. Check out;
#Safety features
Safety comes first, so safety features are vital and you should pay close attention to them. Fortunately, most of the heated mattress pads today are engineered with safety features such as auto-shutoff function that turn off automatically after some time to prevent overheating or burning.
So many people have lost their homes out of beddings fire, therefore if you are the types that always forget to switch off appliances, then you must look for heated mattress with an automatic shutoff to have peace of mind that your house is going to be safe when you sleep. Finally, make sure that your mattress pad complies with the safety standards set by the governments.
#Comfort level
Although the primary reason for buying a heated mattress pad is to sleep warm during cold nights, comfort should go hand in hand with your pad. Therefore, your pad should guarantee you maximum comfort. To achieve this, the pad has to strike a good balance between softness and comfort. The best mattress pad is one that molds to the shape of your body and radiates heats evenly.
#Materials
A good heated mattress pad should be made of high-quality materials. With quality materials, it means that the pad is durable. A heated mattress pad made of polyester is considered best if you are on budget. Also, polyester is less prone to shrinking when laundered, however, it doesn’t absorb moisture as well as cotton or wool and this might make you feel sweatier.
On the other hand, cotton and wool are prone to shrinking when laundered. They will also dig deeper into your pockets and can also warp the heating wires. However, they perfectly wick away moisture and sweat making your bed feel cool and more breathable.
#Temperature controls
Temperature controls determines whether you are going to enjoy your mattress pad or not, for this reason, you can’t afford to overlook this vital factor. A good heated mattress pad is one that provides you with maximum warmth all the night long. To achieve this, the temperature controls of your heated mattress pad must be straightforward.
Adjustable temperature controls will help you adjust the temperature in the middle of the night to your comfortable level. Also, consider the number of heat settings your mattress pad comes with. The more the heat settings, the more the ability to customize the heat to your personal preference.
#Waterproof
Getting a waterproof mattress pad is smart idea especially if you are in the habit of sipping liquids in bed. Not only that, if you have issues with bladder control you risk staining your valuable investment. Again, if you travel a lot, you want your heated mattress pad to remain clean. Getting a waterproof heated mattress pad eliminates all the worries.
In addition, make sure that your mattress pad is easy to clean this will prevent your bed from getting filthy.
#Quality and durability
The fact that heated mattress pads are not as expensive as new mattress, that doesn’t mean that they should not be quality. The type of the materials used matters a lot when it comes to quality. High-quality materials ensure that the pad will serve you for many years before the needing a replacement.
Furthermore, heated mattress pads manufacturers also determines whether the product will be top notch quality and durable or not. Given these points, you need to identify a reputable manufacturer since heated mattress pads from trusted manufacturers tend to last longer than those from unknown manufacturers.
#Special features
Many heated mattress pads today come with additional features such as timers, dual controls, and personalization options. The extra features provide an added advantage to your heated pad. Although these features may look insignificant, they are still important when it comes to personalized performance. Other than a customized performance, the extra features also add some extra comfort.
#Ease of cleaning
Hand –washing a mattress pad is more of a hassle. To make life easier look for something that you can easily throw into the machine and get it cleaned.
This not only saves you time but makes cleaning easier. Also, make sure that the material doesn’t shed or bleed color when you wash. The pad should be able to stay in good condition for a long time so you can realize the value of your money.
How We Chose the Top 5 Heated Mattress Pads
We did a deep research in this niche and established that nearly all heated mattress pads follows a similar design. While most features are similar, models differ from one another when it comes to the outer textile and control style and this is where we delved more.
On top of this, we read what other testers had to say and compared the results with the information we had gathered until we were satisfied that our picks are indeed the best. It didn’t end here, we also read tons of customer reviews online to see what previous users had to say.
And because many people go for heated mattress pads to save on electricity bills, we eliminated any pad above $150. This process helped us narrow down our choices to the 5 best heated mattress pads as reviewed below.
Best Heated Mattress Pad Comparison Table
Product | Material | Special features | Warranty |
---|---|---|---|
Soft Heat | Micro-velour fabric | Low voltage technology | 5 years |
Sunbeam Quilted Polyester | 100% polyester | ThermoFine® technology | 5 years |
Sunbeam Vertical Quilted | 100% cotton | 6 heating zones | 3 years |
Sunbeam Therapeutic | 100% polyester | ComfortTec controller | 5 years |
SoftHeat 233TC | 80% polyester + 20% cotton | Detailed user manual | 5 years |
Soft Heat Micro-Plush Top Low-Voltage Electric Heated Pad
This low voltage electric heated mattress pad is not just a regular warming product. It packs so many benefits and this has pushed it to the top of the rundown. First, this heated mattress pad is equipped with an innovative safe and non-hazardous low voltage technology that pre-heat your bed before climbing in for the night. And the ultra-soft and supportive micro-velour fabric on top rejuvenates and warm up your bed.
Unlike the traditional warming products that provides heats unevenly, with this low-voltage heated mattress pad you are going to enjoy even heating from the head to the toe. Its regular warming wires are evenly spaced throughout the pad and this eliminates hot and cold spots. In addition to this, the warming wires are ultra-thin and undetectable. The advantage of this is that they are able to warm you up without any discomfort.
This is not just a warming pad but it also features an additional layer of soft fabric that provides extra comfort and support. This low-voltage mattress pad allows you to stay warm while saving many bucks. The adjustable thermostat integrated in this pad allows you to save money while you sleep.
Why is it a top pick?
This low voltage heated mattress pad is one of the safest options on the market. This heated mattress pad runs at less than 25 volts but it still delivers enough heating power for its therapeutic properties. The coolest thing about this pad is that while you will enjoy warm nights all-time your electricity bills won’t rise.
What I liked
- Excellent evenness heating all night long
- Automatically shut-off after 10 hours for safety
- 5-year warranty on performance and quality
- Heating wires are thin, flexible and conveniently located
- Machine washable and dryer safe
- Dual controls
What I didn’t like
- It heats slowly from the first time
- The connection wires are exposed
- The controllers plugs requires 3 holes outlets on the extension
Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad
This sunbeam Quilted mattress pad allows you to sleep soundly in a comforting warmth and quilted softness. Thanks to the ultra-soft fabric that gives your heated pad an experience that suits your desired comfort.
This mattress pad features a dual zone control so you can enjoy a comfortable sleep. One of the best features of this mattress pad is the innovative wiring system that monitors and adjust accordingly throughout the night so that you enjoy a peaceful and warm night.
There is an auto-adjusting ThermoFine® technology engineered in this pad that delivers a consistent and comfortable warmth all the night long. If you are looking for a pad that will give gentle heat therapy this is great choice as the consistent heat soothes and relaxes your tired and aching muscles while you sleep.
This sunbeam strives to keep its promise on quality and performance. It is backed with a 5year limited warranty that provides complete confidence that this pad will stand out for several ears.
Why is it a top pick?
This premium quality mattress pad from Sunbeam features an EasySet Pro Controller featuring 10 heat settings. This means that you can easily adjust the temperature of your bed to your comfort level. Besides, the controller automatically shuts off after 10-hours for the highest peace of mind. In fact, you don’t have to worry that it will overheat while you sleep.
What I liked
- It offers gentle heat therapy
- Heats quickly and evenly
- It is machine washable and dryer safe
- Has a quilted construction for durability
- It is backed with a solid warranty
- EasySet Pro Controller with 10 heat settings
What I didn’t like
- The dials are extremely tight so you must put forth some effort
- Your foot will occasionally hit the plug
- Too many power interruptions
Sunbeam Vertical Quilted Heated Mattress Pad
This is another great bedding from sunbeam that promises you a warm and gentle slumber. Unlike older models, this mattress pad heats evenly in no time. If you suffer muscles and body pains, this mattress pad provides good heat therapy pampering your body and relaxing your tense muscles. The coolest feature that I liked about it is that the heating wires are an obstructive.
In addition, this pad clings to your mattress like a fitted sheet, so your bed will feel more comfortable. You don’t have to climb into a cold bed while this mattress pad can pre-heat your bed. Thanks to the pre-heat feature that pre-warms your cold bed before you climb into. In addition to this, there is a 10-hour safety shut-off for safety. That is not all because there are 10 different heat levels that allow you to adjust the temperature accordingly.
This mattress pad is made to enhance your sleeping environment. Other than the comforting warmth, this mattress pad has a quilted softness which gives you a luxurious sleep. In addition, the generous 5 ounces fill provide extra comfort and support.
Why is it a top pick?
This Sunbeam vertical Quilted mattress pad has dual controls on the king and queen sized options. The dual controls helps couples to adjust the temperature independently from the side of the bed. Interestingly, this pad is ready for use right out of the box.
What I liked
- Come with an easy to use controller
- Features a pre-heat function that gets the bed ready bedtime
- It heats quickly
- It hides the heating wires well
- It is safe and energy efficient
- It is machine washable and dryer friendly
What I didn’t like
- Can only shut-off after 10 hours and not anything less
- The connection module is positioned a little way up from the pad
Sunbeam Therapeutic Heated Mattress Pad
Despite its high price, this therapeutic mattress pad takes the comfort of two couples sharing the same bed to the next level. Thanks to the dual controls which helps couples adjust temperature independently from the side. This therapeutic mattress pad is a practical way to address body aches and muscles pain.
Apart from this, it also has a superb construction which is super comfortable. The unique combination of cotton and polyester provides premium softness, gentle warmth, and comfort that your body needs through the night.
Another thing that I liked about this therapeutic pad is the easy to use wireless controller with backlit display. That is not all, there is an auto-dimmer to avoid bright lights. You will also like its exclusive wiring system that senses and adjust warmth evenly throughout the mattress pad for a luxurious sleep. Also, this mattress pad is machine washable and dryer safe, and therefore life is going to be easier.
Why is it a top pick?
Uniquely, this mattress pad has a 3-separate heating zones that is; neck and shoulders, full back and legs. It also has a pre-heat function but what is more is that you get 10 heat settings in each zone. This means you can target heat to specific areas where the pain is for individualized comfort and soothing relief at night.
What I liked
- Comes with an easy to use wireless control with backlit display
- It is thick enough so you can’t feel the wires
- It is machine washable and dryer safe
- Features 3 warming zones per person
What I didn’t like
- It says there is dual control but you will have to share one physical controller with your partner
- It gets really hot even on lowest setting
- It makes a buzzing noise when it turns on
Soft Heat Dobby Electric Heated Mattress Pad
This dobby mattress pad is made of 80/20 % polyester/cotton mix which offers a soothing and supportive sleeping surface. Although the heating wires in this mattress pad are ultra-thin, the pad itself is thick enough that you won’t feel the heating wires and this make it ideal for those looking for balanced comfort and warmth.
Like the therapeutic mattress pad, the wonderfully dobby mattress pad is separated into 2-different heating zones. What I liked most is the fact that each heating zone has its own lit up digital controller this ensures that you can adjust heat settings independently.
This pad features a pre-heat setting that ensures your bed is ready for you when it is time to bed. Besides, the controllers automatically shuts off after 10 hours. The auto-shutoff function saves energy and prevents overheating.
Unlike other mattress pads, this amazing dobby stripe mattress pad comes with a detailed and user-friendly manual so you can’t go wrong with your pad. As a bonus, the user manual is backed with manufacturer customer service.
Why is it a top pick?
A patented non-hazardous low voltage technology is integrated into this mattress pad. This technology not only makes this pad safer but also energy efficient this means you will sleep warm while saving money.
What I liked
- The heating wires are ultra-thin and impossible to feel
- Has an automatic temperature pre-heat function for cozy sheets before bedtime
- Has deep pockets that fits well in thick mattress
- Comes with a detailed and user-friendly manual
- Heats evenly from head to toe
- Automatically shut-off after 10 hours for safety
What I didn’t like
- The power box is noisy
- The skirt material on this pad is flimsy and does not keep the pad in place
- The plug is sharp and can tear the sheets anytime
Bottom line
A heated mattress pad is not only an elegant solution for a warm night but it also generates a soothing and relaxing sensation which leaves your aching joints and muscles invigorated. In addition to this, a heated mattress pad will save you from monthly electricity surprises. The buying process is not as easy as it may look but with our buying guide choosing the best-heated mattress pad for you is going to be pretty easy.
Furthermore, the five heated mattress pads reviewed above are our top picks after an in-depth research, this means they satisfy the underwriter’s requirements for safety, comfort, durability, and ease of use. For this reason, any of them is a great choice that will never disappoint. Just know exactly what you are looking for in the best heated mattress pad and go for one that best suits these needs.
Laura Bush says
All the heated mattress pads are made for thick mattresses up to 22 inches. My mattress is only about 8 inches thick so none of the mattress pads fit.
Greg says
Just like a BUSH…more is never enough. Just think, it is better to have more than enough than not enough.
Laura says
Seriously Greg? Was it really necessary to be rude?