Best Weighted Blankets 2023

Weighted blankets have grown in popularity due to their cozy, calming appeal. They may look similar to your typical blanket, but they are filled with beads or fabric for extra heft. Some people find the extra weight can help ease anxiety, stress or sleep disorders.

After testing 12 models and sleeping with each one a minimum of two nights, I found the Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket to be the best weighted blanket overall because it’s everything you could want in a weighted blanket. It has an even weight distribution, is noise-free and has a cover that’s cool to the touch, stays in place and is removable so you can switch it out seasonally. However, several others made my list of the best weighted blankets for other features, like the YnM Weighted Blanket for being budget-friendly or the Bearaby Cotton Napper for its knitted open structure that’s great for airflow.

The following is a list of all the winners from the testing process:

• Best Overall Weighted Blanket: Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket
• Best Value Weighted Blanket: YnM Weighted Blanket
• Best Knit Weighted Blanket: Bearaby Cotton Napper
• Best Cooling Weighted Blanket: Blanquil Chill All Seasons Blanket
• Best Cozy Weighted Blanket: Luna “Dreamland Delight” Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket
• Best Weighted Comforter: Brooklinen Weighted Comforter
• Best Velvet Weighted Blanket: Saatva Weighted Blanket

To determine the best weighted blanket, I put my experience with textiles and bedding to use as I researched dozens of weighted blankets online, then narrowed down the list to the most promising ones to test. While weighted blankets may help with sleep or stress, whether weighted blankets actually work is an ongoing debate. If you have a medical condition, you should check with your doctor to determine if a weighted blanket is right for you.

The Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket won as the best weighted blanket overall in my tests. I enjoyed lounging on the couch and sleeping with it, thanks to its cooling and comfy design. The outer cover is 100% lyocell, which feels silky and cool to the touch. You don’t have to worry about uneven weight distribution, as the quilted pockets ensure the beads stay in each pocket and don’t clump to one side. Plus, this blanket is much more quiet than others; the beads hardly make a peep, even as you shift and move in the night. Like any blanket, it did warm up while I used it but never to the point where I felt like I was overheating.

Some weighted blankets are spot clean only, so the fact the outer cover is removable and washable makes it much easier to clean—a huge bonus, especially if you plan to sleep with the blanket or use it regularly. What I really like about the cover is it stays in place with ties and zippers, so you’re not constantly readjusting its fit or position on the blanket.

I found that removing and fastening the cover back in place takes more time than a typical cover, which secures in place with a tie in each corner. But I think it’s worth the extra effort to keep the blanket from shifting around inside the cover (which can lead to bunching and frequently having to straighten things out). As an added bonus, Gravity sells cotton and flannel covers so you can switch them out based on the season. The lightest option you can get with the Gravity Blanket is 15 pounds, but it never felt too heavy or oppressive, due to how well the beads are distributed within the cover. Plus, Gravity has a 30-day return policy if you find it simply isn’t a great fit for your needs.

Getting a quality weighted blanket for less than $100 can be challenging, but this YnM blanket rises to the occasion. Not only is this less expensive than others, but it hits many of the marks you’d want in a weighted blanket. It’s comfortable for lounging on the couch or for those who want a less bulky option, as it’s not too thick. The cover fabric is made from viscose that feels cool to the touch. It’s warm (typical of most blankets), but thanks to the fabric, I never got too hot while sleeping or using it on the couch. It’s filled with glass beads and fiberfill, which is a fluffy material that helps prevent the beads from rolling around and reduces noise. The extra filling works—this blanket is quieter than many others I tried that do not incorporate fiberfill with the beads.

What makes this blanket stand out, besides the affordable price, is the wide range of weights available. It’s available in 15 size and weight combinations, including less common weights like 7, 12 and 17 pounds. It also comes in 17 colors, so chances are you can find something that matches your style.

This entire blanket is machine washable, but larger sizes and weights could be over capacity for your washing machine. Just in case you don’t love the blanket, there’s a 30-day return policy.

You may prefer a knit weighted blanket for a few reasons. The open-knit structure allows air to flow through, which means heat doesn’t get trapped or build up under the blanket. This blanket is also available in a velvet fabric that gives it a touch of extra coziness, though it still won’t feel super insulating and warm due to the open construction. This type of weighted blanket gets its heft from fiber or additional fabric. Since there aren’t beads inside rolling around, it’s completely silent. I liked that the weight remained evenly distributed the entire time I used this blanket, whether in bed at night or watching TV on the couch.

The only slight downside was I could feel the knit pattern through my top sheet. This might bother people who don’t like to feel the texture of their bedding through a sheet, but it was a minor nuisance. If you plan to use this with a thicker blanket underneath, you shouldn’t feel the texture.

I was shocked at how cool to the touch, almost chilly, this blanket felt when I first laid my hand on it. It was the coolest blanket of those I tested, even more so than the Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket. The cooling sensation was immediate—but like most cooling products, this blanket doesn’t actively cool you the entire time. I also found it wasn’t prone to the heat buildup that’s typical of weighted blankets. For the best experience, the blanket needs to touch skin, otherwise some of the cooling gets lost in the material. So you don’t want to combine it with a top sheet if you’re looking to maximize its cooling effects.

The blanket also has a non-cooling side, like a typical blanket, for days you want to be warmer. The outer cover is removable and washable. The blanket was fairly easy to secure back in the cover with eight ties that keep it in place. Note that this blanket comes in fewer options than others I tested: it’s only available in gray in 15- or 20-pound weights. If you need something lighter, you may want to try a different blanket on this list. However, Blanquil has a 60-day return policy so you can test it out for yourself to decide.

For the coziest combo of warmth and weight, it’s hard to beat Luna’s weighted blanket. It’s dual-sided with fluffy fleece fabric on one side to keep you warm. On the other is what Luna calls “minky” fabric, a velvet-like material for when you don’t need quite as much warmth. I loved cuddling with it while lying on the couch on extra cold days, but I found it too warm to sleep with overnight.

Unless you run really cold, it might not be the best pick for nighttime use. This is a one-piece blanket without a cover, but it’s conveniently machine washable. It comes in one color combination-–light gray and cream—and two sizes, queen (15 pounds) and throw (10 pounds). Luna’s return policy is 30 days, so you have the option to try it out before committing.

If you love to sleep with your weighted blanket but don’t want an additional comforter, this weighted comforter from Brooklinen elegantly solves the problem. This looks and feels like a polyfill comforter, except it has some added heft. Brooklinen says the filling consists of evenly distributed glass microbeads. I appreciated the fluffy comforter feel. I found fewer layers also mean it’s easier to move and switch positions in the night without getting twisted.

Since this is a comforter, hot sleepers may want to skip this weighted option because it’s extra warm. It comes in 15- (twin/twin XL), 20- (full/queen) and 30-pound weights (king/California king) and only in white, but there are loops for securing a duvet cover if you want to purchase one separately. Brooklinen also has a generous return policy of 365 days.

The Saatva Weighted Blanket feels cozy without being overly warm, thanks to the soft cotton velvet fabric and the thin nature of the blanket (it’s much less bulky than other options on this list, including the knit ones). I love that the velvet is cotton, not a synthetic material, which makes it more breathable. Unlike other blankets in which the glass beads roll around as you move, you can barely tell they’re inside this quilted blanket.

The Saatva blanket comes in two sizes: a 12-pound single size and a 20-pound queen/king size. The single is great as a throw blanket on the couch. The only limitation is color choices: the blanket comes in just two neutral colors, taupe and graphite. I tried the taupe, which looks just as beautiful in person as it does online with its quilted diamond pattern. My only complaint about this blanket is it’s difficult to clean since it’s dry clean only. If you decide it’s not for you, Saatva has a 45-day return policy.

Other Products Tested

I tested three other weighted blankets that didn’t make the cut.

Nuzzie Knit Weighted Blanket: I really liked this Nuzzie Knit Weighted Blanket. My favorite part was the exterior material, which is very soft. The blanket has a nice lofty feel due to the thicker yarns. However, the open spaces in the knit blanket are big enough that my toes poked through.

Helix Weighted Blanket: This weighted blanket from Helix is dual-sided, with a velvet-like fabric on one side and a fluffy fleece on the other. The fabric feels cozy and soft, but the blanket was much noisier (like a pair of shaking maracas) than others I tested. That said, it is the least expensive fleece blanket on this list at around $100 (or less, when it’s on sale). If you’re looking for a soft feel and can tolerate the sound, it’s a solid choice.

Yaasa Signature Weighted Blanket: The Yaasa Signature Weighted Blanket was one of the fluffiest of the bunch and felt super cozy, with fleece on both sides. I would have loved this blanket, except the zipper kept getting stuck in the fleece when opening and closing to remove the outer cover. There was a point where I couldn’t open the cover all the way to get the blanket back in, so I gave up after a fair amount of struggle. If you’re not planning on ever laundering it and only want to use it on the couch, this blanket might work for you. But it was extra tedious to remove the cover.

How I Tested The Best Weighted Blankets

When testing weighted blankets, I used each blanket while lying on the couch and sleeping under each one for a minimum of two nights to assess its comfort and the overall user experience. I evaluated the materials of each weighted blanket and noted how they influenced its performance.

Weighted blankets may require spot cleaning, dry cleaning or washing only the outer cover—as opposed to regular blankets, which you can usually machine wash. This may be because of the weighting materials, such as beads, or because the blanket itself is too large and heavy for a home washer.So I looked at the care instructions and considered whether they were machine washable, dry clean only or spot clean only.

I took the variety of weights and sizes available into account since the weight you choose depends on your body weight and personal preference. As with many other sleep products, a bigger selection means more customization. I also looked at the return and warranty policies, since finding the best weighted blanket for you may take some trial and error.

Additionally, I spoke with weighted blanket experts: Yung Park, M.D. who’s double board-certified in both internal medicine and psychiatry and is the founder of Elevate Medical, a psychiatric practice in New York City; Kathryn Eron, a medical researcher in Denver who has researched weighted blankets; and Holly Peretz, an Israel-based occupational therapist with specialized training and experience working with sensory tools like weighted vests and blankets.

How To Pick A Weighted Blanket

When choosing a weighted blanket, there are several factors to consider to ensure you’re getting the right one for your needs. Weighted blankets range in weight from anywhere between 7 and 30-plus pounds. The recommended guideline for how heavy a weighted blanket should be is 10% of your body weight, but that’s not a hard and fast rule.

If you’re unsure or between two available weight sizes, experts recommend you choose the lower weight to avoid any discomfort. Besides weight, you also want to consider factors like fabric and fill, which affect how the blanket feels.

Here’s what else to keep in mind when buying a weighted blanket:

Materials And Fill

When choosing a weighted blanket, you want to consider the materials the blanket is made from. Outer covers come in a variety of fabrics, such as cotton, velvet, rayon from bamboo and more. Some are going to be cozier and warmer, like fleece, and some are designed to feel cool, like lyocell. Another factor to take into account is the fill. Some weighted blankets are filled with glass or plastic beads. These keep you completely covered, but they can also be noisy and make it feel like there’s sand rolling around in the blanket. Knit blankets are filled with fabric or another material and are quieter. They may have open holes, which can be beneficial for those who want a breathable blanket but not for those who prefer complete covering.

Weight And Size

Most experts recommend a blanket that’s approximately 10% of your body weight. However, that’s just a guide, and some people may like a heavier or lighter blanket, depending on personal preference. You also want to take into account how you plan to use the weighted blanket. If you want to lie down with the blanket over your chest, you may want a lighter option. If you’re sitting on the couch with it on your lap, you may find a heavier weight more soothing.

When it comes to children and weighted blankets, Dr. Park says, “Weighted blankets that are too heavy can cause breathing problems, especially in younger children and those with a history of respiratory issues, such as asthma and COPD.” It should also be noted Peretz recommends children (over the age of 3) use weighted blankets during waking hours under the supervision of an adult and with no health risks. In addition, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says it “does not recommend any weighted objects (e.g., weighted blankets/sleepers/swaddles) on or near a sleeping infant.”

Washable Removable Covers Vs. One-Piece Blankets

A removable cover makes it easy to help keep a weighted blanket clean. Blankets can sometimes shift and bunch up inside their covers, which is uncomfortable.

One-piece blankets are more convenient to throw in the laundry, but they might be too bulky for standard washers. You may have to use a commercial washer if a blanket is too big or heavy for your washing machine. Some one-piece blankets may also require spot or dry cleaning.

Trial Period And Return Policy

Check the weighted blanket’s trial period and return policy. A weighted blanket isn’t for everyone, so you want enough time to try it out for yourself. You may also find you prefer a different weight.

My Expertise

I’ve been testing consumer products for more than a decade for publications including Good Housekeeping Magazine, CNN Underscored, Wall Street Journal Buyside and USA Today’s Reviewed.com. I’ve tested hundreds of bedding products, such as comforters, sheets, pillows and now weighted blankets, too.

My background includes work at a home textiles company where I developed products and ensured their quality met high standards. I also worked at one of the largest apparel companies, leading product integrity and material development efforts. I hold degrees in both apparel and textile design and mechanical engineering.

How Heavy Should A Weighted Blanket Be?

Experts commonly recommend choosing a blanket that’s 10% of your body weight. Depending on personal preference, you may want to go a little heavier or lighter. You should also consider how you want to use the blanket. If you’re sitting upright and using it as a lap blanket, you may like a heavier blanket, but if you’re sleeping with it over your chest, you may prefer a lighter blanket.

Why Are Weighted Blankets So Popular?

Weighted blankets are popular because they are thought to offer a host of benefits, such as help with anxiety, sleep disorders and more. Although there aren’t enough scientific studies to prove these claims with certainty, some people swear by the weighted blanket’s ability to help with these issues. Some also find the added pressure soothing and overall relaxing.

Why Should I Try A Weighted Blanket?

If you experience anxiety or sleep issues, you may want to try a weighted blanket. Some people also use them because the extra pressure can feel soothing. If you have a physical, medical or sleep condition, such as heart problems, asthma, bone conditions and more, you should consult your doctor before trying one.