But with so many types of fabrics and weights on the market, it can be difficult to tell which weighted blanket would be best for you. Luckily, we’ve done the research and have put a range of weighted blankets to the test to find the best performers. Whether you overheat at night, or you’re shopping on a budget, here are the best weighted blankets for every sleep routine right now.
The best weighted blankets in the US
The Luna Cotton Weighted Blanket ticks a lot of boxes for anyone looking to enjoy calmer, deeper sleep. We love the breathable cover, certified by Oeko-Tex as non-toxic, and the glass bead fill that provides even, relaxing pressure across your body. It helped us feel calmer and less restless in bed, and we enjoyed using it on the sofa in the evening to relax ahead of sleep too. You can buy it in a selection of sizes and weights, from full size (12lbs) to king size (20lbs), and plenty of colors and patterns too. Even better, the super-soft Luna Cotton Weighted Blanket can be machine washed on a gentle cycle (check your machine’s capacity if you are buying a larger size). Luna’s weight chart guide advises choosing a blanket weight that’s 8-10% of your own body weight, and to start with a lighter weight if you’re unsure. For individuals who weigh 120-150lbs, for example, pick a 12lb blanket. We went with 10% and it worked perfectly. The Luna Cotton Weighted Blanket doesn’t come with a removable cover, so you’ll have to buy that separately, but it is designed with a series of loops that will secure it inside a cover (or duvet) should you choose to buy one. Read our Luna Weighted Blanket review We’ve been using YNM’s super-plush and snug weighted blanket for a few months now and love it for sleeping at night and for relaxing naps on the sofa in the day. Like the Luna above, the seven-layer YNM Weighted Blanket is available in a range of patterns, sizes and weights. The brand has produced an easy guide to what weight you should choose for your body, as well as if you’re planning on sharing the blanket with your partner (you’ll need the biggest size and weight). Like many others in this guide, the YNM Weighted Blanket reproduces deep pressure stimulation (DPS) with a glass bead fill. The beads sit within individually stitched pockets, sandwiched between layers of Oeko-Tex certified cotton, to distribute pressure evenly across your body. The effect is highly calming, and certainly took the edge off our stress levels at the end of a busy day. Our only annoyance is that you can’t wash this blanket by hand or in the machine, so it’s spot-clean only. You could fasten it inside a compatible duvet cover you already own (it has a series of loops fitted to the blanket to help it fit securely), or buy a YNM washable cover to slip over the top. Read our YNM Weighted Blanket review In the world of weighted blankets, the original Gravity Blanket is perhaps the most famous and the one most likely to be gifted. And if your sleeping habits could use a little tweaking, this premium weighted blanket might be exactly what you need. The original Gravity Blanket is the best choice for anyone looking for a relaxing way to ease stress before sleep and to calm an anxious, restless mind in bed. Our tester stated that once he acclimated to the extra weight, he woke up feeling more refreshed and ready to take on the day. Bear in mind, it works at its best during the colder months, and its removable micro-plush cover (suitable for machine washing) feels divine to snuggle beneath. What’s more, it locks in the heat should you ever feel chilly at night. There are three colors available (navy blue, white and grey), so if you’re gifting this one it should fit in with most bedroom decor themes. The Gravity Weighted Blanket is filled with evenly distributed glass beads. Again, this ensures that you feel a gentle weight across your entire body, rather than in just the odd few spots as that won’t give you the benefits of DPS. The cover weighs 8 pounds alone, so the blanket does seem a little heavier overall. However, this ultimately contributes to a good night’s sleep, especially if stress and worries are keeping you awake. We’d also recommend the cheaper Tranquility Weighted Blanket below if you have a smaller budget, though it certainly isn’t as plush. Read our Gravity Weighted Blanket review. If you struggle to sleep because of stress, the Tranquility Weighted Blanket is designed to help you drift off. It’s snug, comfy and affordable, making it the best option for stressed sleepers with little money to spend. As well as weights and sizes for adults, there’s a kids version available in a 6lb weight. Perks of the Tranquility Weighted Blanket for adults includes a removable and washable cover, but what we really love is the double-sided cover. One side is soft and plush, while the other features BlueCool Technology fabric that remains cold to the touch. Warm sleepers, you know which side is best for you. One of the softest and coziest options in our best weighted blankets guide, Bearaby’s heavy knitted blanket is as comforting as it is stylish. We love how it’s made using organic cotton (infused with a touch of Spandex) and that it’s naturally breathable and biodegradable. Like the other options here, the Bearaby Organic Cotton Knitted Weighted Blanket uses pressure therapy to stimulate the production of serotonin (the feel-good chemical) and reduce stress. It’s therefore an ideal choice for anyone feeling restless, anxious, stressed out and unable to sleep well. This beautiful knitted blanket comes in several different colours and a choice of four weights: 10lbs, 15lbs, 20lbs, and 25lbs. If you’re unsure which weight to choose, always choose a lighter weight. You can wash it on a cold setting, however it’s very heavy when wet so it may take a while to dry evenly. Overall, if you want a stylish and cozy anxiety blanket, the Bearaby Organic Cotton Knitted Weighted Blanket is an excellent choice. Baloo’s blissful weighted blanket is designed to contour your body, producing the feel of a gentle hug. Sounds good, right? Made from 100% pure cotton, the Baloo Weighted Blanket is soft and breathable. The latter helps keep your temperature balanced as you fall asleep under the soothing pressure of the glass-bead filling. The Baloo Weighted Blanket is easy to care for and can be washed in the machine (use cold water and wash on a gentle cycle), although the brand advises customers to take larger sizes to a commercial cleaner. While it’s easy to assume a heavy blanket might make you feel too warm to relax properly, this one gives you all the calming benefits of pressure therapy without added heat. And because it’s designed to not trap heat, it can be used year-round. Saatva lives up to its reputation for high-quality sleep products with this luxury blanket. If you suffer from allergies, the Saatva Organic Weighted Blanket is the best pick for you because the organic cotton velvet material is free of harmful toxins and aggravating allergens. Gentle, full-body pressure is applied constantly thanks to the blanket’s interior glass beads; perfectly distributed to help you wind down and feel fully relaxed as you nap or drift off to sleep. The Saatva Organic Weighted Blanket only comes in two weights (12lbs or 20lbs), so if you need a heavier weight, try the Gravity Blanket (above) or the Quilty Weighted Blanket (below). Saatva’s offering isn’t the cheapest on our list, but it does outperform all the others on the warranty front – it has a one-year warranty. Better still, you can get it on a 45-day trial, meaning you can try it out first to ensure it’s right for you. The Quilty Premium Weighted Blanket for adults adds an extra relaxation twist by being both soft to the touch and cooling, meaning there’s no fear of scratchy, itchy fabric that will overheat you. So if the Baloo cooling weighted blanket is out of your price range, then the Qulity is the next best option. This popular anxiety blanket is available in a wide range of weights and sizes, so there should be one to suit most people, whether you sleep by yourself or share a bed with another restless sleeper. Following a standard design, the Quilty Weighted Blanket is filled with micro-glass beads and uses a seven-layer construction to better cradle your body. We also like how it comes with a removable, washable cover in your choice of several different colours and patterns.
The best weighted blankets in the UK
Trusted sleep brand Simba is known for its excellent hybrid mattress in a box range, and here it brings its sleep expertise to the Orbit Weighted Blanket. Filled with thousands of weighted glass nano-beads, the Orbit simulates deep pressure therapy to switch off your racing mind and help you relax for sleep. Simba’s luxury weighted blanket comprises layers of cotton and cushioning, with all those glass nano-beads held securely in quilted pockets to ensure the beads don’t gather in one place. If you tend to overheat during sleep, the cooling cotton cover is breathable and able to regulate temperature well. The cover can also be removed and washed in the machine (at a lower temperature) to keep it fresh and hygienic, and without running the risk of disturbing those beads. The only downside is that, like Simba’s other sleep products, the Orbit Weighted Blanket is available in just one colour. This blissful Mela Weighted Blanket is made with 100% breathable cotton so that you stay cool while the gentle weight of the glass beads work their magic to ease your stress and help you sleep more soundly. There’s a good range of weights to choose from here, with an option to suit most body weights. Adult options start at 5.5kg (for body weights of 50kg and higher), increasing to 11kg (for body weights of 100kg or more). As well as being rustle-free and double-sided (with a cooling cotton side and a cosy fleece side), the Mela Weighted Blanket comes on a risk-free 30-night trial. So if you’re unsure of the weight or size you need, then you can try it out and return it for an alternative weight or a refund if it isn’t quite right. Read our Mela Weighted Blanket review The 7kg Emma Hug Weighted Blanket is suitable for body weights of 55-80kg and is made up of seven layers, including a 100% cotton cover. Beyond that you’ll find two layers of microfibre and polyester pads, with a quilted design keeping the blanket’s glass beads safely in place (stored within 10x10cm pockets). Silica glass beads (under 1mm in size) are on hand to dish out pressure therapy while you’re relaxing, napping or sleeping. Because of the quilted design, the beads won’t clump up, so weight will always be distributed evenly. You can place the Emma weighted blanket under your duvet for extra warmth, though you may find that your duvet moves around a little on top of it. Although the Emma Hug is machine washable, it’s large and heavy so you’ll either need to have it professionally cleaned, or invest in the removable Emma Weighted Blanket cover (RRP £39). This is made of breathable bamboo and means you can keep the actual blanket clean and free of stains. We couldn’t create a round-up of the best weighted blankets without including heritage British sleep brand Silentnight. The brand’s Wellbeing Weighted Blanket has a quilted microfibre cover, with the gentle pressure of the glass beads inside helping to relax your nervous system, calm anxiety and promote deeper sleep. Silentnight’s anxiety blanket is hypoallergenic and can be machine-washed too, so if you suffer from sleep-disrupting allergies you can breathe easier knowing it won’t trigger any reactions. Any downsides? Yes, it’s only available in two weights, one size (150x200cm, suitable for a double bed) and one colour (grey). Other weighted blanket brands offer far more choice in terms of weight, blanket size and colour, but the Wellbeing Weighted Blanket is good value for money. If you’re after an affordable weighted blanket for sleeping and napping, then this no-frills option by Brentfords is a great choice. It comes in three different weights – 4kg, 6kg and 8kg – and will fit a double bed. So not a huge choice in terms of weight or blanket size, but it’s very cheap so we can’t demand too much. The recommendation for weighted blankets is that they should be roughly 10% of your body weight, so if you need a higher weight than what the Brentfords Weighted Blanket offers, check out the Mela Weighted Blanket above or the John Lewis Weighted Blanket below. The soft polyester cover is cosy, while the non-toxic micro glass-bead filling is contained within securely stitched pockets to avoid bunching up of the beads. The Brentfords Weighted Blanket also comes in a carry case, making it a little easier to keep clean if you’re packing it for use away from home. This high-quality weighted blanket from John Lewis comes in a range of weights from 4.5kg up to 11.kg. It has a simple and smart design, but the downside is that it only comes in one size: a 150 x 200cm blanket designed to cover a double mattress. There’s only one colour available too, but it’s a nice, neutral grey. If you tend to feel the cold at night and often wake up because you’re too chilly, the John Lewis Weighted Blanket is an excellent solution for getting quickly warmed up in bed. Customers also report that it’s effective at easing restless legs. The 200 thread count cotton cover is opulent, but you should know that this blanket can’t be machine washed, which means it’s harder to care for than something like the Simba Orbit Weighted Blanket.
How to choose the best weighted blanket for you
When deciding upon a weighted blanket, the first thing to consider is your body weight. The ideal blanket should be 8-12% of your body weight and no more. We look at this in more detail further down in this guide, so for now here are some other things to consider when choosing a heavy blanket:
Is it the right size? Weighted blankets are designed to lie flat on top of you and not hang over the sides like a duvet. This ensures the weight stays evenly distributed across your body, which is essential if you want to enjoy all those calming benefits.Is it washable? Some blankets can be machine washed on a cold setting, while others have removable covers. The hardest to care for are spot-clean only. Check before you buy, in case you are after a washable weighted blanket.Do you sleep hot or have allergies? If you overheat during sleep, the best weighted blanket for you is one with a cooling cover. And if you have allergies, choose one made with hypoallergenic materials such as organic cotton.Do you have a medical condition? The blankets in our guide are designed for use by healthy adults. If you have chronic respiratory or circulatory issues, asthma, low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or claustrophobia, the use of weighted blankets is not advised. If in doubt, speak with your doctor before buying.
Ultimately, once you know which weight is right for you, then choosing from the best weighted blankets is down to personal preference. If you’re having trouble deciding, then pick a blanket that comes on a risk-free trial so you can see if it suits you. That’s Saatva in the US and Mela in the UK. You can also warm yourself up with one of the best space heaters to keep you cozy.
What is a weighted blanket?
Also known as anxiety blankets, these heavy blankets are constructed in layers and contain evenly distributed weights – usually tiny glass beads – that provide gentle ‘deep pressure therapy’ all over the body. This sensation of pressure helps to:
Increase feelings of security during sleep by recreating a ‘swaddling’ effect. This lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases serotonin (the happy hormone). Promote deeper and more restful sleep, which is ideal if you wake due to insomnia, restlessness or perimenopause, for instance.Ease some symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Relaxation, deeper sleep and stress relief are the main reasons why people search for the best weighted blankets, although plenty of people have reported that they also offer pain relief, and can calm restless leg syndrome in bed.
How to you use a weighted blanket?
You can use a weighted blanket on your bed, or on the sofa as you work, relax or meditate. When you first start using one, it might feel a little strange to begin with. From our personal experience with weighted blankets, we’d recommend trying it for a short amount of time at first (take a short nap beneath one), before building up to a longer period of use, such as during a full night’s sleep. Some people only ever use weighted blankets for short bursts until they feel more relaxed after feeling very stressed or anxious, while others use them throughout the night to ease insomnia or sleep anxiety. See what works for you, and if worries are keeping you awake, read our expert feature on how to sleep with anxiety. Most of the best weighted blankets featured above are designed for one person to use – place it under or over your duvet or comforter, or use it instead of. If you share a bed, make sure the blanket is comfortable for both of you. To do this, choose a blanket weight based on the average of your combined body weight. If you differ greatly in weight, you might want to consider using a separate blanket each. And to keep your weighted blanket in top condition, you’ll also want to know how to wash a weighted blanket.
What are the benefits of weighted blankets?
Weighted blankets are used to reduce stress and to help people relax, whether that’s on the sofa ahead of bedtime or in bed so that they feel less restless and able to drop off quicker. We have tried several of the best weighted blankets on the market and they each produce a feeling of being gently pushed down, with the blanket adding a slight amount of weight that’s surprisingly calming. This is actually a form of therapy called Deep Pressure Touch (DPT) used to alleviate anxiety and lower levels of stress. An old but still cited clinical trial looked at the effects of DPS on anxiety and found it to be effective at calming anxiety, but more research is needed here. The potential benefits of weighted blankets are:
Helps lower stress hormonesBoosts the production of feel-good hormonesProduces a gentle, full body hug sensationCalms you in bed so that you are more relaxed for sleepCalms restless sleepers who usually switch constantly between positions
Read more: In the UK, we love the Simba Orbit Weighted Blanket (opens in new tab). While it doesn’t have the same aesthetic choice as the Luna, there’s still plenty to love with its cooling cover, which can also be washed and removed. It is on the more expensive end of the scale, so if you want a more affordable option and you have a double size bed, pick the Silentnight Wellbeing Weighted Blanket instead. Weighted blankets for kids are much lighter and smaller, and some of the best weighted blanket brands make sizes for children too. In all cases, weighted blankets should never be used for children under the age of two, or any child under the weight of 20lbs, as it can be extremely dangerous. Children should never use a weighted blanket that is intended for adults, so keep yours out of reach from little hands when not in use. Remember, weighted blankets can be heavy to move, so if you don’t think a child or adult is physically able to remove it easily if they wish, then the blanket should not be used.
The best mattress toppers for instant comfortFreshen up your bed with a good mattress protectorThe best cooling mattress for hot sleepers
