How Many Watts Does an Electric Blanket Use? – A Thorough Answer!

This article explains the ins and outs of bringing a heated blanket into bed to stay toasty and warm while keeping an eye on the electricity bill.
By
Romeo Vitelli
Romeo Vitelli
Expert Writer
Received his doctorate in Psychology in 1987, spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre. In 2003 went into full-time private practice. read more
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Last updated: August 12, 2023
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With winter coming up, there’s a need for added warmth more than a heater, or furnace can give. As it is every winter, the power and heating bill rises. And it’s not surprising that you have a question about how many watts an electric blanket uses. Electric heating blankets use a minimal amount of electricity compared to a furnace, but these toasty blankets can still run up a monthly utility bill. Using a lower wattage heated blanket limits this cost. Understanding the cost of an electric blanket and how many watts the electric blanket has can aid in creating and maintaining a household budget.

Users recommend Beautyrest Luxury Soft Blanket as one of the best-heated blankets for control, as it has 20 heating secure settings. This blanket supplies a great degree of comfort and control, perfect for anyone needing a more comfortable beauty sleep.

Using a Heated Blanket

How Many Watts Does an Electric Blanket Use? – A Thorough Answer!
You can adjust the temperature of the heated blanket by using the control unit.

Heated Blankets are a fantastic way to stay warm and cozy even during the coldest nights. According to a survey from Grand View Research Trusted Source Electric Blankets Market Size, Growth | Industry Report, 2019-2025 The global electric blankets market size was valued at USD 765.4 million in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% from 2019 to 2025. www.grandviewresearch.com , Households account for the largest section of heated blanket customers (45%) compared to the commercial and healthcare sectors. The research continued to explain that these blankets have specifically been helpful for those. “Suffering from ailments such as arthritis, muscle pains, sinus problems, fibromyalgia, and painful menstruation.” But if a heated blanket isn’t enough comfort items, check out the best fleece sheets to accompany a chilly winter night.

According to countless positive reviews, the most convenient and comfortable heated blanket is the WOOMER Electric Heated Throw Blanket, which has various heating levels, timed auto-off, overheat protection, and machine washable.

Safety Tips

Despite the comfort of a heated blanket, there are still safety concerns. Some safety tips highlighted below for heated blankets ensure a secure and comfortable night’s sleep.

There are several aspects to keep an eye out for electric heated blankets. It’s essential to maintain, store, and utilize the blanket properly according to the instructions provided to minimize damage to the product and the user.

Doctors and medical health professions may advise some patients to avoid electric blankets because of health and safety risks. Those that are pregnant have diabetes, circulation issues, sensory issues, or bed-wetting problems should consult their doctor before purchasing a heated blanket.

On the other hand, summer doesn’t need the heat of a heated blanket. However, there are options for summer blankets that are cool blankets to avoid waking up in sweats.

Calculate Electric Blanket Wattage

Heated blankets typically plug into an outlet on the wall to supply the warmth they’re known for. Each blanket is slightly different depending on the brand, style, and weight.

The typical electric blanket wattage is about 400 watts. When asking, “how many watts is a heated blanket,” it may be hard to find it. To find the watts used for a specific heated blanket, examine the blanket’s tags itself or in the manual provided with the product.

Heated blankets aren’t the only kind of bedding that gets plugged into the wall. The best earthing sheets will correctly align the elements in your body by providing a grounding element via a conductive material inside.

Calculate the Expenses

The consumer cost associated with electricity or power is unfortunately associated with the toasty warm heated blanket. Part of the cost of the electric bill will be from this blanket. Although each power rate is different for different areas, locations, and companies, there’s an effortless way to calculate the cost of your heated blanket. Utility companies measure the electricity consumed in a household using kilowatt-hours. To calculate a household’s daily kilowatt-hours consumed by any electronic device is simple. All one has to do is multiply the wattage by the hours of daily use. From there, divide the total by 1,000 to account for the equation using kilowatts instead of watts as 1 kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.

Watts X Hours / 1000 = kilowatt-hours

For example, the average heated blanket is 400 watts. If it runs for the average amount of sleep, 8 hours, then the kilowatt-hours for the blanket would be 3.2.

Taking the number of kilowatt-hours, you are to figure out the cost. The average national average, according to Electric Power Monthly Trusted Source Electric Power Monthly | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Energy Information Administration – EIA – Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government www.eia.gov during 2020, was 13.35 cents. At this price, the heated blanket would cost 42.72 cents each night. Monthly that would be about $12.82 added to the monthly bill.

Electric Blankets vs Space Heater

How Many Watts Does an Electric Blanket Use? – A Thorough Answer!
An electric space heater is a heating device designed to focus heat in a single room or small zone.

With these costs in mind, it may be simpler to simply buy a space heater. Considering the amount of use and wattage of the products available, you have a straightforward way to decide which is cheaper for a specific household.

The U.S. Department of Energy also had this question. They found that it’s overall cheaper to use a heated blanket (and cozier too!).

On average, heaters use between 750 to 1500 watts, while most electric blankets are lower than 400 watts. Using these calculations, the cost for a heater is almost double that of an electric blanket. That makes a choice for the budget a lot easier.

Final Thoughts

Having a great night’s sleep is possible with a good, heated blanket and cheaper than a heater. That being said, it’s essential to know about the blanket and its cost to ensure the best possible combination.

When it comes to electric blanket vs space heater, it’s an easy decision as electric blankets are cheaper overall. Learning how many watts are used by an electric blanket, what the cost for a heated blanket is, allows customers to make informed decisions when it comes to the purchase and use of a heated blanket.

References

1.
Electric Blankets Market Size, Growth | Industry Report, 2019-2025
The global electric blankets market size was valued at USD 765.4 million in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% from 2019 to 2025.
2.
Electric Power Monthly | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Energy Information Administration – EIA – Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government
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