5 Best Weighted Blankets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Weighted blankets help stimulate pressure points to naturally improve mood and relaxation. Add one of these weighted blankets to your home and start reaping the benefits.

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Updated on January 17, 2024

Photo by: Laura James

Laura James

Our Top Weighted Blanket Picks

Weighted blankets are an incredibly popular bedding addition now, and many people you know probably have one. From easing insomnia to reducing anxiety and stress levels, weighted blankets can help address an array of health problems common in adults, kids and even pets. These heavy blankets, typically ranging from about 15 to 25 pounds for adults, are designed based on deep-touch pressure stimulation, which helps release serotonin in the brain to help you feel calm, leading to a better night's sleep and a general feeling of next-day restfulness.

We've tested the best weighted blankets on the market, from a stylish, splurge-worthy blanket to reversible styles. Check out our top picks below and give yourself or a loved one the gift of better sleep.

Photo by: Laura James

Laura James

How We Tested

Our editors ordered a variety of blankets roughly weighing about 10% of the testers' bodyweight, washed and dried them, if applicable (only some are machine washable) and used them at night to sleep for several nights and observed the blanket's breathability and any changes in our sleep quality. We also used them as throw blankets to curl up on the couch and noted how difficult they were to move and transport around the house. We also evaluated the factors like material, covers, size, weight, care and price when choosing the best weighted blankets. Since a weighted blanket is something that's generally keep out on display, we also took aesthetics into consideration.

From $179

At a mid-range price point, Baloo Living's weighted blanket is a solid all-around choice for anyone new to the world or weighted blankets. Perfect for year-round use and great for hot sleepers, it's made of breathable cotton and gets its weight from quiet glass beads. Thanks to the stitching pattern that helps keep the glass filler beads evenly distributed, we love that this blanket looks and feels more like a quilt than a duvet. This blanket is machine washable and dryer safe, this blanket is easy to care for. While we like it on its own, Baloo does sell 100-percent stonewashed French flax linen duvet covers that are machine washable, too, if you prefer a color option and don't mind the added cost. The brand also offers a 12-pound weighted throw and larger full/queen (15 or 20 pounds) and king (25 pounds) weighted comforters for a wider variety of size and weight options than competitor blankets.

$279.00

Launched in 2018, Bearaby's weighted blankets have garnered rave reviews, including from HGTV editors, and for good reason: Bearaby makes the most stylish, bead-free, sustainable and cooling weighted blankets you can buy. This one is our splurge pick for best cooling weighted blankets and is the buy we recommend for cooling blankets if money is no object. Instead of adding weight with beads, dense long-staple GOTS-certified organic cotton is woven into a buttery soft, one-of-a-kind knitted blanket. While you won't have to worry about an added cost of a duvet cover, the upfront cost is the most expensive of the weighted blankets we recommend, with prices from $279 for adult sizes. After testing both the Cotton Napper and the Tree Napper (a cooling option designed for hot sleepers), we, along with the many glowing customer reviews, can confirm these blankets are worth every penny though. Another perk of the knit design is that it makes lifting the blanket easier. The brand also recently launched an eight-pound kids' cotton blanket called the Nappling for $139 and offers a Velvet Napper, too.

Our Top Cooling Weighted Blanket Picks

From $249.99

After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017, Gravity quickly became one of the most popular weighted blankets on the market. For just a little more than the cost of Baloo Living's blanket, you get a high-quality, top-rated weighted blanket and a removable, machine-washable cover. The original blanket comes with a cozy minky-type cover, but Gravity also offers a cooling weighted blanket that comes with a more slick, cool-to-the-touch cover. The blanket itself is hand-wash-only, but the covers are machine washable. While taking the duvet on and off to wash is a bit tedious, overall, we love the quality of Gravity's blankets — they are quiet and the weight distribution is spot on.

From $189

If you like a cozier fabric feel but don't want to worry about taking a duvet cover on and off for each wash, this reversible weighted blanket from Layla Sleep is your best pick. The entire blanket is machine washable! Perfect for year-round use, the reversible blanket features a mink-like polyester construction on one side and a cooler 300-thread-count cotton construction on the other, filled with glass beads stitched in a hexagon-shaped design for even weight distribution. On the downside, this blanket is only available in gray.

From $62.91

Like most of our other recommendations, this blanket is cotton and contains glass beads, but what stands out for this pick is the price — it's under $100! Plus it comes in a wide variety of sizes, weights and colors. This brand does sell covers separately as well, but if you want the blanket itself to make a statement, take a look at Luna's stylish options from this minimal polka dot pattern to a whimsical space-inspired print that'd be perfect for kids.

Photo by: Laura James

Laura James

What to Consider When Buying a Weighted Blanket

Shopping for a weighted blanket isn't like shopping for any throw you'll toss at the foot of your bed; there are several important factors to consider, including material, weight, size, care instructions, cover options and price.

  • Material: While the plush fleece blankets can feel cozy for cooler months, if you plan to sleep under your weighted blanket, we recommend choosing a more breathable material like cotton for the blanket itself for more versatility and year-round use.
  • Covers: Most of our recommendations are designed with loops that give the option to add a duvet cover, which means you can customize the look and fabric for different seasons with cover options in linen, bamboo, fleece and more. Adding a cover also means you don't have to wash the blanket itself as often, which will prolong the life of the blanket and ensure the filling and stitching stay intact.
  • Size: The most common size blankets for adults are 48 inches x 72 inches and 60 inches x 80 inches, and, with the exception of king sizes, weighted blankets are usually designed for individual use.
  • Weight: When it comes to picking the right weight, the standard rule of thumb is that the blanket should weigh roughly 10 percent of your body weight. So, for example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should opt for a 15-pound blanket.
  • Care: Most of the blankets themselves are machine washable, but expect it to take several dry cycles, and possibly some air-drying time too, to get the job done.
  • Price: Depending on the style, size and weight you choose, weighted blankets can cost anywhere from $50 to $300. Adding a duvet cover does add to the cost, but many brands offer discounts for bundling the blanket with a cover.

How Heavy Should a Weighted Blanket Be?

Most importantly, a weighted blanket should feel comfortably heavy without making you feel so weighted down you can't move around underneath it. In general, it's recommended that a weighted blanket be about 10 percent of your overall body weight. For most healthy adults, that will be anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds. Weighted blankets are not recommended for children under 5 or under 50 pounds. People with circulatory issues or sleep disorders including sleep apnea should speak with their doctor before using a weighted blanket of any weight.

What Are the Benefits of Weighted Blankets?

Weighted blankets have been touted for their anxiety- and stress-reducing benefits. However, more research needs to be done to prove these benefits through science. Studies on deep pressure touches (think hugs or a baby being swaddled) for anxiety are mixed, but some people do find it beneficial and the risks for most people are low. The research on weighted blankets specifically is early, but promising. A study using 30-pound blankets on 30 patients hospitalized for mental health issues found 60% of patients reported reduced anxiety, but that sample size is small and specific. Another study on college students with anxiety found weighted blankets may increase the quality of sleep and reduce anxiety in college students, but more research is needed.

In general, though, using a weighted blanket is likely a low-risk way to potentially combat anxiety and worth a try for most healthy people.

Photo by: Laura James

Laura James

Can you Sleep with a Weighted Blanket?

It's considered safe for healthy adults to nap and sleep through the night with a weighted blanket as long as it's not too heavy for them to move under or remove. Infants and toddlers should not sleep with a weighted blanket, as it could be a hazard trapping them underneath.

MORE TOP TIPS

How to Wash a Weighted Blanket

Laundering your weighted blanket is easier than you thought.

READ MORE

How to Wash a Weighted Blanket

Weight blankets can be washed in a washing machine if you keep a few things in mind. First, you'll want to double-check what your blanket is made of. Blankets filled with beans, rice, barley or other compostable materials should not be submerged in water because it can lead to mold and rot. Weighted blankets of less to 20 pounds are suitible for machine washing at home. Most brands recommend washing blankets in cold water and air drying. Blankets made with plastic beads or PVC pellets can melt in high temperatures in the dryer. Woven weighted blankets are in a category all their own and should be carefully washed according to manufacturer's instructions. Weighted blankets with removable covers can be easier to wash since you can simply treat them the way you would a duvet insert and duvet cover — wash the cover.

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