The 7 best weighted blankets of 2024

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Imagine being swaddled by a warm, heavy weight that slowly quiets your racing mind and lulls you into a gentle, restful sleep. For many people, the best weighted blankets do just that: the constant pressure helps ease insomnia and anxiety and provides a source of calm and comfort. Though only limited research currently supports such claims, weighted blankets are extremely popular, and in our own subjective experience, they work.

We have a decade of combined experience testing bedding products, including weighted blankets. For this guide, we put 14 of the most popular weighted blankets through several objective tests and slept with each for at least three consecutive nights.

Our top pick is the Bearaby Napper, an incredibly comfortable weighted throw attractive enough to display on your bed or couch. For a less expensive option, we like the Luna Weighted Blanket, which is durable, comfortable, and comes in many different colors and patterns.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

Our top picks for weighted blankets

Best overall: Bearaby Napper - See at Bearaby

Best budget: Luna Weighted Blanket - See at Luna

Best cooling: Gravity Cooling Blanket - See at Amazon

Best comforter: Brooklinen Weighted Comforter - See at Brooklinen

Best king-size: HomeSmart Products King Size Weighted Blanket - See at Amazon

Best cooling: Gravity Cooling Blanket - See at Amazon

Best heated: Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Weighted Throw Blanket - See at Walmart

Best eco-friendly: Baloo Weighted Comforter - See at Amazon

Best overall

The weight of the Bearaby Napper comes entirely from the dense organic cotton strands hand-knit into one of the most aesthetically-minded weighted blankets we've seen. It's available in six colors and four weights ranging from 10 to 25 pounds.

This is a hefty blanket. The blanket we tested, advertised as the 15-pound version, actually tipped the scales at 24 pounds. We contacted the company to verify that they sent the correct item, and they assured us they did.

It's not necessarily bad that they're heavier than advertised, but it's something to remember when you order. A heavy and bulky blanket can be tough to shift around, and if it's going to live on your couch, it will take up quite a bit of space. We moved it to the bed. The blanket is designed for one, but we found it drapes nicely over two people. Bearaby also offers a six or eight-pound kid size, the Nappling, and a 30-pound design to fit queen and king-sized beds, the Hugger.

The open weave makes it prone to stretching if you need to pull it up. It hasn't become misshapen in any significant way, thankfully.

The Napper is machine washable and can go in the dryer in a delicate setting. We wanted to see how the blanket washed and dried, but it didn't fit in a space-saving apartment-sized washing machine.

Read our full Bearaby Napper review.

Best budget

Weighted blankets tend to be very expensive, but Luna offers an excellent weighted blanket at an affordable price.

We tested the 15-pound queen-size blanket, and the glass beads inside were barely noticeable, producing no beanbag effect. Whereas many other cheap weighted blankets are loaded with chemicals, the Luna Weighted Blanket is Oeko-Tex-certified to be free of harmful materials.

The blanket is much thinner than some of the others we tested. It stayed breathable and was light enough to adjust easily. It wasn't as cozy as others, but it's a great option to layer with your usual comforter or use during the warmer months.

As we've continued to test these blankets, the Luna has become a travel-sized weighted blanket for when we're on the go. We wouldn't recommend taking it on an airplane — it's a bit bulky for that — but the Luna is thin enough for a road trip.

According to our scale, the blanket was a true 15 pounds, but that weight was dispersed over a queen-size surface area, making it feel lighter.

It's also one of the most straightforward blankets to clean. The entire thing fits into our compact washer-dryer and was fully dry within one cycle — and it got softer after just one wash.

Best cooling

If you sleep warm or simply want a weighted blanket option that doesn't contribute to your overheating, a weighted blanket that emphasizes breathable materials will become your new favorite.

The Gravity Cooling Blanket has a removable 100% lyocell (Eucalyptus) cover that has a silky, soft, cool-to-the-touch feel, is undeniably breathable andnaturally moisture-wicking. A zipper makes it easy to remove for washing, and buttons help hold the blanket in place to prevent bunching. The microscopic glass beads are sewn in a gridded design for even weight distribution. The glass beads, however, make a subtle bean bag sound as you move around the blanket. It's also worth noting that the silky fabric cover can slide off the bed if the blanket is shifted around too much due to the weight of the blanket.

Lying underneath is immediately calming, and we didn't have any issues overheating; though the design is more or less cool to the touch and refreshing as opposed to actively cooling. The moisture-wicking keeps sweat at bay, but we want to manage the expectation that the blanket will cool you down.

It comes in six colors. For instance, the forest green we tried is richly pigmented and also looks good when out on display. It's available in a single-person 48" x 72" size of 15 and 20 pounds or a super-heavy 35-pound full/queen size.

For washing, the cover is secured with a hidden zipper and interior snaps that can be easily removed and tossed in the wash. The weighted inner, however, should be hand-washed and left to air fry. We haven't noticed any signs of wear since washing, but some reviewers mentioned pilling. Despite having a duvet cover design, Gravity does not currently offer replacement covers to swap fabrics or colors.

Read our full Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket review.

Best comforter

If you don't want to sleep under a stack of blankets or compromise your bedroom's look, you'll want a weighted comforter, and Brooklinenmakes the best one we tried. It looks and feels like a traditional plush comforter but with an extra 20 pounds of weight integrated with tiny glass beads. The blanket is made of 400-thread-count cotton sateen, so it's soft enough to throw on your bed without a duvet cover.

That being said, we recommend adding a duvet cover — corner loops make it easy to tie on — because the blanket is dry-cleaning only, which could run you anywhere from $20 to $50, depending on where you live. Brooklinen offers duvet covers in the same fabrications as their popular sheets.

The 20-pound queen comforter we tested weighed closer to 24 pounds,but the extra weight didn't make much difference once we laid it out on the bed. Sleeping under it was dreamy. We felt enveloped by the cushy fill but not too overwhelmed or overheated. It was difficult to adjust due to the weight and size, but we found this typical for nearly every comforter-sized weighted blanket we tested.

Though pricey, this comfortable weighted blanket is worth the investment because it will entirely replace your comforter. If you find it's not right for you, Brooklinen has an incredibly lenient return policy, accepting returns for any reason in any condition within 365 days of your purchase.

Read our full Brooklinen Weighted Comforter review.

Best king-size

If you're a larger person, you may have trouble finding a weighted blanket that can cover you completely. Even queen-size blankets might be too small. This was not a problem with the HomeSmart Products King Size Weighted Blanket.

At 88 inches by 104 inches and with weight options up to 50 pounds, it's the ideal blanket for couples who want to enjoy the comfort of a weighted blanket without sacrificing intimacy.

The HomeSmart blanket features micro glass beads sewn into 5-by-5-inch pockets to distribute the weight evenly. The blanket is machine washable and dryable. We've washed it several times over the last two-and-a-half years and found it an effortless endeavor. If you want to add a duvet cover, the blanket has 10 loops for tying one on.

We tested the 15-pound and 25-pound comforters and enjoyed both, though the 25-pound was almost too restrictive. We prefer the 15-pounder. Thanks to its breathability, it's a great year-round blanket.

The HomeSmart Weighted Blanket isn't without its flaws. The 25-pound blanket started to leak beads after 18 months of use. This was likely due to one of our pets working a hole into it. We tried to reach customer service but couldn't get ahold of anyone.

Read our full HomeSmart King-Size Weighted Blanket review.

Best heated

Weighted blankets are great for that hygge experience, but when you add heat, you take the coziness to a whole new level. The brand that makes the best electric blanket in our guide also makes the best heated weighted blanket. The Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Weighted Throw Blanket was the one we kept reaching for on cold winter nights. In fact, reporter James Brains's wife loved this weighted heated blanket so much she didn't want to give it back to him to test.

At 52 inches by 60 inches, it's a little bit too small to cover most people completely, but it got the job done while lounging and watching Ted Lasso. As an antsy individual who likes to move around, the Pure Enrichment heated weighted blanket kept Brains still while nestled underneath. The micromink and sherpa sides were both comfortable, though we prefer the sherpa side's plush comfort.

The Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth blanket has four heat settings: warm, low, medium, and high, my favorite setting reaching 105 degrees Fahrenheit quickly. The 9-foot cord is long enough to reach electrical outlets without needing an extension cord or sacrificing comfort. After two hours, the blanket automatically shuts off.

It relies on glass beads for its weight and tips the scales at 13 pounds, which we found was sufficient for its size. We also like the five-year warranty.

The biggest negative is the care instructions, which are so long and detailed that they require a 6-inch-by-6-inch explainer sown into the blanket. For cleaning details, see the Specifics box above.

Best eco-friendly

Relax soundly knowing you're cuddled up with a sustainably made blanket of all-natural materials, with no polyester in sight. The Baloo Weighted Comforter is OEKO-TEX® certified with a cotton shell filled with lead-free glass beads for weight. Baloo aims to be "carbon neutral and ocean positive" by partnering with Sustainable Surf to support reforestation projects. It backs the comforter with a lifetime warranty.

The comforter is just outstanding to sleep under. We tested the full/queen in 20 pounds, which weighed closer to 22 pounds. At 84 inches by 81 inches by our measure, it was large enough to cover our 6-foot-tall tester completely. While sleeping with the Baloo Weighted Comforter, I experienced excellent sleep quality, with minimal restless moments. He reported that the comforter kept him cool through the night, despite a tendency to overheat.

The Baloo Weighted Comforter features loops for a duvet cover. Or, you can forego the cover and just wash the entire blanket when it gets dirty. We didn't notice any degradation in the blanket after washing it.

While pricey, we think the Baloo comforter is an excellent option, considering its eco-friendly credentials. We just wish it was available in more colors. Baloo, however, does offer a blanket-sized version, too. Pay attention to measurements, though, as while the blanket version is available in full/queen and king sizes, these models simply cover the top of the bed instead of draping like a comforter.

What to look for in a weighted blanket

Here are the main factors to consider when shopping for a weighted blanket:

Weight: Select a blanket that's roughly 10% of your body weight. You should be able to move freely under the blanket if you can't, choose a lighter weight. You'll likely want something heavier if you share a weighted blanket with a partner.

Size: If you're sharing a blanket with a partner with a similar body weight, you'll want a weighted blanket that covers your entire bed. If you and your partner are very different weights, consider two smaller separate blankets in a throw or twin size. Remember that a 15-pound throw blanket feels much heavier than a 15-pound comforter since a larger blanket distributes its weight over a larger surface area.

Material: Weighted blankets are available in various materials, from cotton and Tencel to microfiber or polyester. Depending on whether you want a blanket with a more breathable design or something cozier, consider the outer fabric. Some comforter-sized designs are also designed to be used with duvet covers or may even come with their own, in which case, designs with loops will make it easy to add a cover of your choice.

Fill type: Besides considering weight, size, and outer material, the inner fill is important. Weighted blankets rely on micro glass beads, plastic pellets, or steel shot beads, or, like in the case of Bearaby's knit design, the weight of its fabric. We don't prefer one fill over another regarding function, but steel and glass are generally more sustainable than plastic. Ideally, the fill shouldn't shift too much within the blanket or create a lot of noise when shifting under the blanket.

How we test weighted blankets

Aside from the general coziness and comfort provided by each weighted blanket, we also evaluated material quality, value, weight options, and aesthetics. For example, a blanket that came in more color and weight options beat out a blanket of equal quality that came in fewer options. We also considered return policies, sleep trials, and how easy these blankets were to clean.

The following are three tests we ran each blanket through to assess general user experience:

Sleep test: One of us slept with each weighted blanket for at least three consecutive nights. We noted how well we slept overall and how the blanket regulated our sleep temperature. We also assessed how well the blanket stayed in place and how easy it was to adjust while lying under it. This test also included making the bed daily (hauling a weighted blanket is harder than it looks).

Wash test: We washed every machine-washable weighted blanket or cover at least once to ensure they held up well and didn't shrink, shed, or otherwise show signs of wear. We noted if the added weight made them more challenging to haul into and out of the washing machine. We also discovered that one of the machine-washable blankets was so bulky it didn't fit into the washing machine. For those blankets that weren't machine-washable, we noted the care instructions and factored that into the cons of the blanket.

Weight test: We wanted to ensure each blanket was the advertised weight. We stepped on the scale with and without the blanket to get an accurate reading. The difference in weight gave us the blanket's weight. We then noted any discrepancies in the advertised weight versus the actual weight.

Weighted blanket FAQs

Which weighted blanket is the best?

"It's hard for the one-size-fits-all approach because we're all just so unique and have different physiologies," said Rebecca Robbins, sleep researcher, author, and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. She suggests looking for brands with sleep trials or buyer-friendly return policies so you can test them.

How often should I wash my weighted blanket?

Brian Sansoni, Senior Vice President at the American Cleaning Institute, recommends treating weighted blankets like any comforter, washing them once or twice a year if they have a cover. If they don't have a removable cover, clean the entire blanket roughly once a month.

Are weighted blankets good for anxiety?

In theory, the answer is yes. However, no randomized clinical trials can speak to the efficacy of weighted blankets in treating anxiety since it would be obvious to participants whether or not they were using a weighted blanket.

The theory is that weighted blankets help reduce some anxiety symptoms, like quickened breathing or heart rate, by easing your autonomic nervous system.

Best overall

The weight of the Bearaby Napper comes entirely from the dense organic cotton strands hand-knit into one of the most aesthetically-minded weighted blankets we've seen. It's available in six colors and weight sizes ranging from 10 to 25 pounds.

This is a hefty blanket. The blanket we tested, advertised as the 15-pound version, actually tipped the scales at 24 pounds. We contacted the company to verify that they sent the correct item, and they assured us they did.

It's not necessarily bad that they're heavier than advertised, but it's something to keep in mind when you order. A blanket this heavy — and bulky — can be tough to shift around, and if it's going to live on your couch, it will take up quite a bit of space. We moved it to the bed. The blanket is designed for one, but we found it drapes nicely over two people. Bearaby also offers a six or eight-pound kid size, the Nappling, and a 30-pound design to fit queen and king sized beds, the Hugger.

The open weave makes it prone to stretching if you need to pull it up. It hasn't become misshapen in any significant way, thankfully.

It's not quite a cooling blanket — Bearaby does offer one called the Tree Napper, which is made with TENCEL — but it doesn't trap heat thanks to the open weave. The holes are pretty large, though, so if you are bothered by some toes or fingers poking through, you might want to look elsewhere.

The Napper is entirely machine washable and can go in the dryer in a delicate setting. We wanted to see how the blanket washed and dried, but it didn't fit in a space-saving apartment-sized washing machine.

Read our full Bearaby Napper review.

Best budget

Weighted blankets tend to be very expensive, but Luna offers an excellent weighted blanket at an affordable price.

We tested the 15-pound queen-size blanket, and the glass beads inside were barely noticeable, producing no beanbag effect. Whereas many other cheap weighted blankets are loaded with chemicals, the Luna Weighted Blanket is Oeko-Tex Certified, meaning it contains no harmful materials.

The blanket is much thinner than some of the others we tested. It stayed breathable and was light enough to adjust easily. It wasn't as cozy as others, but it's a great option to layer with your usual comforter or use during the warmer months.

As we've continued to test these blankets, the Luna has become a bit of a travel-sized weighted blanket. We wouldn't recommend taking it on an airplane — it's a bit bulky for that — but the Luna is thin enough for a road trip.

According to our scale, the blanket was a true 15 pounds, but that weight was dispersed over a queen-size surface area, making it feel lighter.

It's also one of the most straightforward blankets to clean. The entire thing fit into our compact washer-dryer and was fully dry within one cycle — and it got softer after just one wash.

Best cooling

We lined up all the cooling blankets we tested for this guide and ran our hands across each one, and the BlanQuil felt noticeably cooler than all the others. Plus, it did the best job of dissipating heat and getting back to its cool baseline.

Since it's slightly bigger than a twin bed, it's not a blanket that's intended to be shared. Glass beads add weight, but there's no beanbag feeling, and we've never felt them shift in a way that causes the blanket to feel lumpy or uneven.

The zipper on the removable, washable cover of the first version of the design was weak, couldn't handle the weight of the blanket, and broke just a couple of months into its use. But BlanQuil has since reinforced the zipper, and we've yet to have a problem with it. We even stress tested it by holding the weight of the blanket against the zipper, and it held firm.

Though it's one of the best we've used, the cooling cover's material has a bit of a sheen to it, which makes it slick, so it slides off the bed easily — especially if you toss and turn at night. As soon as it gets off-center, the blanket's weight will cause it to slide.

Read our full BlanQuil Chill weighted blanket review.

Best comforter

If you don't want to sleep under a stack of blankets or compromise your bedroom's look, you'll want a weighted comforter, and Brooklinen makes the best one we tried. It looks and feels like a traditional plush comforter but with an extra 20 pounds of weight integrated with tiny glass beads. The blanket itself is made of 400-thread-count cotton sateen, so it's soft enough to throw on your bed without a duvet cover.

That being said, we recommend adding a duvet cover — corner loops make it easy to tie on — because the blanket is dry-clean only, which could run you anywhere from $20 to $50 depending on where you live. Brooklinen offers duvet covers in the same fabrications of their popular sheets.

The 20-pound queen comforter we tested weighed closer to 24 pounds, but the extra weight didn't make too much of a difference once we laid it out on the bed. Sleeping under it was dreamy. We felt enveloped by the cushy fill but not too overwhelmed or overheated. It was difficult to adjust due to the weight and size, but we found this typical for nearly every comforter-sized weighted blanket we tested.

Though pricey, this comfortable weighted blanket is worth the investment, mainly because it will entirely replace your comforter. If you find it's not right for you, Brooklinen has an incredibly lenient return policy, accepting returns for any reason in any condition within 365 days of your purchase.

Read our full Brooklinen Weighted Comforter review.

Best extra-heavy

When we first received the Gravity 35-pound queen/king size blanket, we thought it would feel way too heavy, but we found it pretty manageable. It did tend to slide down the bed as we slept, and we'd often awake a foot lower than usual after chasing the blanket around through the night. It was simply too heavy to pull up or adjust while laying under it, though someone stronger will likely not have this issue.

One issue with this blanket was that the included micro-plush duvet cover felt oddly greasy out of the package. It left a film on our hands as we tried to smooth it out over the bed. But the zip-on cover is removable and washable, and a run through the wash resolved the issue. We can't imagine hauling such a heavy blanket into and out of a washing machine, so the removable cover is a huge plus.

The Gravity blanket is low-profile without any excess fill, so it won't add a lot of bulk to your bed. That said, it's not as plush or cozy as the 30 lb. king size Brooklinen comforter, which does also come in a 30-pound version, though it's much more expensive.

The brand also makes "single" size weighted blankets that measure 48-inches by 72-inches. We tested a 15-pounder with a cooling cover and found it performed well, but nothing made it stand out from the pack.

Read our full Gravity weighted blanket review.

Best king-size

If you're a larger person, you may have trouble finding a weighted blanket that can cover you completely. Even queen-size blankets might be too small. This was not a problem with the HomeSmart Products King Size Weighted Blanket.

At 88 inches by 104 inches and with weight options up to 50 pounds, it's the ideal blanket for couples who want to enjoy the comfort of a weighted blanket without sacrificing intimacy.

The HomeSmart blanket features micro glass beads sewn into 5-by-5-inch pockets to keep the weight evenly distributed. The blanket is machine washable and dryable. We've washed it several times over the last two-and-a-half years and have found it's an effortless endeavor. If you want to add a duvet cover, the blanket has 10 loops for tying one on.

We tested the 15-pound and 25-pound comforters and enjoyed both, though the 25-pounder was almost too restrictive. We prefer the 15-pounder. Thanks to its breathability, it's a great year-round blanket.

The HomeSmart Weighted Blanket isn't without its flaws. The 25-pound blanket started to leak beads after 18 months of use. This was likely due to one of our pets working a hole into it. We tried to reach customer service but couldn't get ahold of anyone.

Read our full review of the HomeSmart King-Size Weighted Blanket.

What to look for in a weighted blanket

Here are the main factors to consider when shopping for a weighted blanket:

Weight: Select a blanket that's roughly 10% of your body weight. You should be able to move freely under the blanket. If you can't, choose a lighter weight. If you're sharing a weighted blanket with a partner, you'll likely want something a bit heavier.

Size: If you're sharing a blanket with a partner with a similar body weight, you'll want a weighted blanket that covers your entire bed. If you and your partner are very different weights, consider two smaller separate blankets in a throw or twin size. Keep in mind that a 15-pound throw blanket feels much heavier than a 15-pound comforter since a larger blanket distributes its weight over a larger surface area.

Material: Weighted blankets are available in a range of materials, from cotton and Tencel to microfiber or polyester. Depending whether you you want a blanket with a more breathable design or something cozier, consider the outer fabric. Some comforter-sized designs are also designed to be used with duvet covers, or may even come with their own, in which case, designs with loops will make it easy to add a cover of your choice.

Fill type: In addition to considering weight, size, and outer-material, the inner fill is important to consider. Weighted blankets rely on micro glass beads, plastic pellets, or steel shot beads, or like in the case of Bearaby's knit design, the weight of its fabric. We don't have a preference for one fill over the other when it comes to function, but steel and glass are generally more sustainable than plastic. Ideally, the fill shouldn't shift too much within the blanket, or create a lot of noise when shifting under the blanket.

How we test weighted blankets

Aside from the general coziness and comfort provided by each weighted blanket, we also evaluated things like quality of material, value, weight options, and aesthetics. For example, a blanket that came in more color and weight options beat out a blanket of equal quality that came in fewer options. We also considered return policies, sleep trials, and how easy these blankets were to clean.

The following are three tests we ran each blanket through to assess general user experience:

Sleep test: One of us slept with each weighted blanket for at least three consecutive nights. We noted how well we slept overall and how the blanket regulated our sleep temperature. We also assessed how well the blanket stayed in place and how easy it was to adjust while lying under it. This test also included making the bed every day (hauling a weighted blanket is harder than it looks).

Wash test: We washed every weighted blanket or cover that was machine washable at least once to ensure they held up well in the wash and didn't shrink, shed, or otherwise show signs of wear. We noted if the added weight made them more challenging to haul into and out of the washing machine. We also discovered that one of the machine-washable blankets was so bulky it didn't fit into the washing machine. For those blankets that weren't machine-washable, we noted the care instructions and factored that into the cons of the blanket.

Weight test: We wanted to ensure each blanket was the advertised weight. To get an accurate reading, we stepped on the scale with and without the blanket. The difference in weight gave us the blanket's weight. We then noted any discrepancies in the advertised weight versus the actual weight.

Weighted blanket FAQs

Which weighted blanket is the best?

"It's hard for the one-size-fits-all approach because we're all just so unique and have different physiologies," said Rebecca Robbins, sleep researcher, author, and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. She suggests looking for brands with sleep trials or buyer-friendly return policies so you can test them.

How often should I wash my weighted blanket?

Brian Sansoni, Senior Vice President at The American Cleaning Institute, recommends treating weighted blankets like any comforter, washing it once or twice a year if it has a cover. If it doesn't have a removable cover, clean the entire blanket roughly once a month.

Are weighted blankets good for anxiety?

In theory, the answer is yes. However, no randomized clinical trials can speak to the efficacy of weighted blankets in treating anxiety, since it would be obvious to participants whether or not they were using a weighted blanket.

The theory is that weighted blankets help reduce some anxiety symptoms, like quickened breathing or heart rate, by putting your autonomic nervous system at ease.