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Weighted blankets are a popular sleep accessory that many people find calming to use. While sleeping with a weighted blanket can help promote relaxation, finding the right one for you can feel stressful.
There are many different models and styles to choose from – thankfully, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Through intensive research and hands-on testing, we have identified the best weighted blankets on the market. We’ve compiled our top product recommendations, along with detailed reviews for each weighted blanket.
Our weighted blanket reviews cover all the details of our top product recommendations. However, you will likely want to compare a few different models to find the best option for you. Here’s what to keep in mind when shopping for a weighted blanket:
Weight
Picking the right weight is very important. A good rule-of-thumb is to choose a weighted blanket that’s approximately 10% of your body weight (a 20 lb blanket for a 200 lb individual, for example).
Price
A quality weighted blanket will usually cost between $100 and $300. While price is a factor, we don’t necessarily recommend going with the cheapest option. Instead, look for a quality product at a reasonable price-point.
Materials
Like standard blankets, weighted blankets can be made with a wide variety of materials, including cotton, fleece, microfiber, and more. If you have a preferred material or feel, you’ll want to note the cover and fill material used in each product you’re considering.
Breathability
Some weighted blankets can feel hot, particularly on warm nights. If you live in a warm climate or tend to sleep hot, look for a product with good breathability or other cooling properties.
Quality & Reputation
A weighted blanket is a substantial purchase, so you’ll want to choose a quality product from a well-rated manufacturer. We recommend reading weighted blanket reviews to get a better sense of the true quality of each product you’re considering.
A weighted blanket is a heavy blanket that often has plastic pellets, ball bearings, glass beads, or other dense objects woven into it. Some constructions avoid the use of fill altogether by opting for layers of heavy fabric instead. These blankets typically weigh 5 to 30 pounds, or more. A standard blanket or duvet may weigh a few pounds at most, so even a lighter weighted blanket will feel substantially heavier than the blankets most people are familiar with.
Weighted blankets are designed to improve sleep quality by helping to reduce anxiety and stress, while promoting a sense of relaxation. For many people, the light compression that a weighted blanket provides feels calming and can help ease restless movements and racing thoughts.
Weighted blankets are being researched for the benefits they can provide in various circumstances, with a limited base of current literature. However, their design is intended to simulate deep pressure touch (DPT) therapy, which has a more established backing for certain applications, including anxiety.
For most adults, weighted blankets are considered safe to use. For best results, it’s important to use a blanket of an appropriate weight. We recommend finding a blanket that’s equivalent to roughly 10% of your body weight. For example, a 150 lb individual would want a 15 lb weighted blanket.
Weighted blankets are not recommended for young children, as they can pose a suffocation risk. For older children, weighted blankets appear to be safe, so long as they are of an appropriate weight. Always check with your pediatrician before purchasing a weighted blanket for a child.
Certain groups should check with their doctor before using a weighted blanket. Those with sleep apnea should likely avoid the use of weighted blankets, as they can further restrict breathing. Those with chronic respiratory or circulatory conditions should also typically avoid using weighted blankets.