Heated blanket vs Heated mattress pad, which is best for your bed?

As soon as the colder days of the year come, your trusty heated blankets or mattress pad becomes a must (check 8 amazing heated mattress pads). These two bedding choices you can use to relax after a long tiring day because they ensure maximum warmth during the chills.

Which one of these two is better? They both are pretty much similar in terms of the benefits that they have to offer. But a heated blanket is a different bedding accessory than a heated mattress pad.

If you are shopping for these snuggly wraps but are unsure which one to buy, we have developed this guide to help you sort out the differences between them, so read on.

What’s a Heated pad?

Like any other convenient mattress pad, a heated mattress pad has a similar design and construction. But it also comes with inbuilt coils that heat up with electricity as you plug it in.

You can conveniently install it on your mattress just like any other mattress pad or fitted sheet. These pads have different heat settings and an auto shut-off feature that can turn off the heat.

The heat is delivered right away, and the parts of your body that remain in contact with the mattress pad will feel the most if you have to deal with joint pain, backache, sore muscles, or arthritis.

But if you don’t feel cold, you will love using a mattress pad. You also get the option of preheating your bed and feeling nice and relaxed as you get in.

What’s a Heated Blanket?

These blankets work just like mattress pads as they have inbuilt coils. It means you will feel hot to the touch. But in comparison to mattress pads, a blanket won’t be too much in touch with your body as compared to mattress pads.

You will get indirect heat as heat rises, and your bed will warm up instead of your body. If you have to run your temperature all night long and feel cold constantly, and any chronic pain is not an issue, you should consider buying a heated blanket (also check the top rated rechargeable heated blankets).

Heated Mattress Pad vs. Heated Blanket – Side-by-Side Comparison

They both achieve the same purpose, but they do so in different ways. Therefore, you need to assess which suits you the most.

Washability – Heated Blanket is the Winner

Heating blankets and mattress pads are much like any other type of bedding that must be washed. Some can be washed in your machine, while others need dry cleaning.

You can look for one you can easily wash at home because dry cleaning is a hassle and expensive. But washing heated blankets is much more comfortable than flying a mattress pad.

So, this round goes to the heating blankets because they are much easier to clean and maintain than heated mattress pads. Some mattress pads come with covers; you can remove them to clean.

Multiple zones – Heated Pad is the Winner

If you are sharing your bed, you should go for a heated blanket or a mattress pad because they both come with different heating zones.

You might have different preferences regarding heat settings, or you may prefer the same heat settings. You can sleep more comfortably if your bedding accessory has different heat zones.

But heated mattress pads are much better than blankets because they ensure static heat when relaxing or resting. So, a heating mattress pad is a much better option. Therefore, this round belongs to the heating mattress pad.

Smart technology – Heated Blanket is the Winner

Many of these warming bedding accessories are equipped with smart technology. They come with various temperature sensors allowing you to adjust different temperature settings per your preferences.

This is handy when you are on your bed and looking for a surface to relax on. Just plug in your mattress pad, and its sensors will start their work.

This is a bit more hectic on the go because you will have to carry a generator with you all the time to power your blanket.

Pocket depth – Heated Pad is the Winner

Want to go for a mattress pad? Make sure that you pick the right size and that it fits well on your bed. Of course, this is not the feature you will look for in your heated blanket.

It’s because you use it to cover yourself. But when looking for a mattress pad, go for deeper pockets, especially if you have a thick mattress.

And as obvious, these features are not there in a heating blanket. Therefore, it’s an added advantage that mattress pads have overheating blankets.

Durability – Heated Pad is the Winner

This one favors heating mattress pads because they are much thicker and more durable than heating blankets. They are much safer to use than blankets as well.

If you want an option that continues to serve you for a long time, consider going for a heated mattress pad. Heated blankets are on the thinner side and are not as durable as those heating mattress pads.

Portability – Heated Blanket is the Winner

Portability is a feature that puts heated blankets ahead of heating mattress pads. Due to their thin construction, these blankets are much easier to store and transport.

You can use these blankets wherever you want, from your bed to your couch and indoors to outdoors. The same can’t be said for those heated mattress pads.

These pads are much larger than blankets, and you will have difficulty folding them up. Moreover, you can use them anywhere besides your bed, so that’s a bit of a downside.

Variety – Heated Blanket is the Winner

This feature is more tilted in favor of heating blankets rather than mattress pads. This is because heating blankets are available in a wide variety of colors, and textures, from fleece to wool, etc. This variety is not available in heating mattress pads, so you might not see relatively that many options.

So, if you are looking for more designs and looks in addition to heating features, you need to consider going for the heating blankets. Apart from that, heating blankets are more budget-friendly than heating mattress pads.

Heated Pads – Pros and Cons

Pros

• It will provide you with direct heat to your body.
• These heating mattress pads are highly effective for pains and aches.
• Heating mattress pads have a plush surface that heats.
• These pads are thicker and longer lasting.

Cons

• Heating mattress pads are not for those who have incontinence (excluding water-resistant pads).
• They are only good for bed use.
• Direct heat can sometimes become too hot in these heating mattress pads (you’ve to play around with settings).

Heated Blanket – Pros and Cons

Pros

• They signal your body that it’s time to sleep by keeping it consistently warm.
• They can help reduce stress and anxiety because your body won’t have to use much energy to stay warm.
• You can use these blankets on your bed, couch, or anywhere else.

Cons

• Blankets provide indirect heat, which is useless for pains and aches.
• They are not very durable due to their thinness.

Mattress Pads Are Recommended for Static Warmth

Mattress pads are for static warmth because it’s a stable heating option. If you want something that can last throughout the winter, consider going for a mattress pad.

You can place these pads on your bed if they are covered with a fitted sheet. But you must remember that these mattress pads stay in one place, and you can’t move around with them.

He will radiate from under you and keep our body warm all night. These mattress pads might also provide therapeutic relief to those dealing with various health conditions like chronic backaches or arthritis.

Heated blankets can also achieve this, but mattress pads are more consistent, and a pad won’t shift throughout the night. Mattress pads are also beneficial for couples or anyone who shares their bed because both parties stay evenly warm throughout the night.

Heated Blankets Are Recommended for Those on the Go

Of course, mattress pads are static, but if you want to keep yourself warm on the go, consider using a heated blanket. You can use it to cover yourself and can use it while sitting on the bed or your couch while watching TV or reading books.

You can use them to drape on your shoulders while sitting outdoors, too, for excellent comfort and warmth, and you don’t have to be sitting in a single place to use them.

So these blankets are not just limited to your bedroom. You can take them anywhere with you. These blankets can also provide you with uniform heat, but you need to spread them out.

Moreover, unlike mattress pads, these blankets come in various colors and textures. Most of these mattress pads are made of the same material, but you can choose between different blanket types based on their plushness.

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding the Basics

• Heated Mattress Pad: Functions like a standard mattress pad but incorporates built-in coils that heat up when plugged in. It directly warms the body parts in contact with the pad and offers relief from joint pain, backache, sore muscles, or arthritis.
• Heated Blanket: Contains inbuilt coils similar to the pad, but unlike the pad, it doesn’t have constant direct body contact. Instead, it warms the bed and provides indirect body warmth.

2. Comparative Analysis

• Washability: Heated blankets have the edge here, being easier to wash and maintain than heated mattress pads.
• Heat Zones: While both options might offer multiple heating zones, heated mattress pads provide more consistent heat, making them preferable for shared beds.
• Smart Tech: Many warming bed accessories boast smart technology with temperature sensors. While both blankets and pads might have them, heated blankets offer more versatility.
• Durability: Heated mattress pads, being thicker, last longer and are generally safer.
• Portability: Heated blankets are more mobile due to their thin construction and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
• Variety: Heated blankets come in a wider range of colors, textures, and materials, giving them an edge in aesthetics and personal preference.

3. Pros and Cons Snapshot

• Heated Mattress Pads
  • Pros: Provides direct body heat, effective for pains and aches, durable, consistent heating.
  • Cons: Limited to bed use, potential hot spots if settings aren’t adjusted.
• Heated Blankets
  • Pros: Versatile, can be used anywhere, aids in signaling sleep readiness, comes in various colors and textures.
  • Cons: Provides indirect heat, less durable due to thinness.

Conclusion:

Heated blankets and heating mattress pads are designed to serve one purpose: to keep you warm. They achieve this goal in entirely different ways, and that’s why we have pitted them against one another in this post.

Heated blankets might be good as they are mobile, and you can use them anywhere you want, and they are great for traveling, but heated mattress pads are better if you are looking to deal with the cold and your body aches. In terms of convenience, heated blankets are better, but in terms of functionality and safety, mattress pads are the Winner.