(checked 2026-10-10)Listing pools colors and possibly sizes (9,924 ratings).
The most widely recommended heated blanket right now: Good Housekeeping's lab found it fast and even, and CNN, Yahoo and NBC all picked a Bedsure model. But Consumer Reports and Wirecutter both found Bedsure fabric that sheds, and washing it properly is a chore.
Top complaints
- Sheds lint, especially when new
A Good Housekeeping tester saw shedding before the first wash. Consumer Reports' tester found white fuzz on her leggings and a long loose thread after only a handful of uses. Wirecutter dismissed the Bedsure Ribbed Flannel version because it shed and pilled on clothes on first use.
- Heat can be spotty or weak
Consumer Reports found the heat distribution spotty on the Bedsure throw it tested. Amazon's summary calls warmth and heat distribution mixed, with some owners saying it doesn't get very warm or doesn't heat evenly.
- Tedious washing
The care steps cited by Consumer Reports and CNN involve a 15-minute presoak, a two-minute gentle wash, a short tumble and then line-drying. CNN found hauling the damp Thick Striped version over a clothesline exhausting, and on another Bedsure throw the blue flannel bled into the white sherpa.
- Some units stop working
Amazon's summary calls durability mixed, with some owners saying it stopped working after one week.
What owners love
- Fast, even heat in lab tests
Good Housekeeping's best overall and Seal holder was the top performer in every category. It heated quickly, had densely spread wires and no hot or cold spots, and showed no change after several washes.
Source: Good Housekeeping - Gets genuinely warm
Yahoo measured 93°F on low to 113°F on high. CNN's Thick Striped version was one of the few to reach 95°F within 10 minutes, with consistent temperatures across the blanket.
Source: Yahoo Shopping, CNN Underscored - Soft on both sides, with safety certifications
Testers at Good Housekeeping and Yahoo found both sides plush. It is ETL- and FCC-certified with an adjustable 1-4 hour timer (Yahoo, NBC); CNN notes overheat protection and a five-year warranty.
- Lint on your clothes would bother you
- You want simple machine wash and dry
- You need perfectly uniform heat
- A soft reversible throw at a mid price
- Adjustable heat and timer
- Buyers who want queen and king sizes with dual controls
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Good Housekeeping: Best overall (updated 2026-01-30): quickest and most even heat in the lab, durable through washes; one tester noted shedding before the first wash.
- CNN Underscored: Best budget (Thick Striped version): warm, consistent and robust, but the wash-and-dry routine is a struggle.
- Consumer Reports (via Quartz): In CR's 2026 test of six, the Bedsure throw was thin and light and made real heat, but its heating was spotty, it shed lint and a thread pulled loose, so it ranked behind the Sunbeam and Berkshire.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Dismissed the Bedsure Ribbed Flannel version in its first round because it shed onto clothes.