We spent weeks testing a group of weighted blankets to find the best one for a variety of scenarios.
Seven continuous hours of quality sleep is, for some, something mythical, hunted like the last unicorn on the planet. Imaginary. Something that people say they want but rarely experience for themselves.
We need sleep to function properly. The average adult needs seven or more hours of sleep a night, and children and teens need anywhere 10 to 13 hours of sleepdepending on your age.
One sleep aid that has gone from being relatively unknown outside of medical circles to being readily available is a weighted blanket. The pressure from heavy blankets is believed to soothe the nervous system and help calm anxiety.
Weighted blankets can also make a difference for people with insomnia for the same reasons, but you don’t have to have a sleep disorder or anxiety problem to improve your sleep with a weighted blanket. I had never used a weighted blanket before trying these, and had never had trouble falling asleep, so I wasn’t sure if using a weighted blanket was for me.
What I found after weeks of testing was that even those of us who are good sleepers can benefit from a weighted blanket, and I’ll likely never sleep without one again. I usually wake up at least once a night, but with every single weighted blanket I’ve tried, I’ve slept through the night, seven to eight hours straight. Among all the models I’ve tried, I’m pretty sure there’s at least one that could make your nights easier.
All manufacturers recommend using a blanket that is about ten percent of your body weight, and most come in 12, 15, or 20-pound weights.
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Best Overall: gravity weighted blanket
Starting at $199.99, originally $249.99 at Gravity
This is the original weighted blanket, sort of. Gravity caused quite a stir in 2017 with a Kickstarter campaign and in 2018 the Gravity weighted blanket was named as one of TIME Magazine’s Best Invention. So the folks at Gravity know what they’re doing and have the science to back it up. According to their website, 76% of people reported that they fell asleep faster with the weighted blanket, and that was absolutely the case for me. One night I fell asleep so fast that I still had my phone in my hand.
Its evenly distributed weight was comforting and the microfiber cover was truly luxurious. It got a little hot, so I had to make some adjustments to the rest of my bedding (and the speed of my ceiling fan) to accommodate that extra warmth.
However, removing the outer layer to run it through the washing machine was a bit tricky. Removing it wasn’t really the problem, and it machine washed and dried beautifully, but reassembling the outer shell to the inner weighted blanket (which should only be cleaned and air dried) required some thought and planning. It has zippers on three sides and ties and buttons on the fourth, and after some consideration and a couple of trial and error, I figured it out and it’s back together as it should.
Best for Hot Sleepers: Gravity Cooling Weighted Blanket
Starting at $200, originally $250 in Gravity
The aptly named Cooling Weighted blanket is from the same brand as our best overall and comes in six colors. With any of them it offers a nice shine, but it is more than attractive.
It’s one of the few products I’ve tried that promises cooling and actually delivers. I’m a big fan of a lot of covers, and this kept me cool and perky even with a duvet on top. In fact, it almost got too cold one night. The outer layer is made with 100% Lyocell, which comes from eucalyptus, which is what gives it its cooling properties. Eucalyptus products absorb more moisture and are three times more breathable than cotton. In addition, the cover is OEKO-TEX certified and non-toxic. In terms of weight distribution across the blanket, it was extremely well balanced and evenly weighted.
Like the original Gravity Weighted Blanket, removing the cover and washing it is exactly the same, and requires some thought to put it back together. It washed well with no noticeable wear to the outer blanket. However, you only have a 30-day return window, so choose your size and weight carefully. If you’re a hot sleeper, prone to night sweats, or generally enjoy sleeping in a cooler environment, this might be the blanket for you.
Best Budget Weighted Blanket:TrueTemp sleep number
Starting at $139.99, originally $199.99 at SleepNumber
This was the first blanket I tried and ultimately it’s a really solid, quality blanket that gave me a good night’s sleep. The outer shell, “True Temp technology,” felt a bit like the outside of a sleeping bag at first. That makes sense, since the cover is designed to attract and wick away moisture to keep it from getting too hot. It wasn’t as refreshing as the Gravity option, but it was comfortable enough. It’s available in 12 or 20 pounds, which seems like a pretty big difference, but Sleep Number recommends using the weight that’s closer to ten percent of your body weight, so you’ll likely have to adjust up or down. . With a 100-night return or exchange window, if the first size doesn’t work out, you have plenty of time to exchange for a new one; that’s a better period than what you get from Gravity too.
The outer shell is 100% polyester, so unsurprisingly it washed and dried fairly quickly. Putting it back together was a challenge as there are what seemed like 400 ties to hold the blanket in place that must be untied and then retied after washing. Helped to use the California or burrito method of attaching the outer shell, just because of the large number of ties that secure the interior to the outer shell. Once put back together, the inner blanket won’t shift or shift, keeping the blanket evenly balanced.
The Sleep Number has a lot of good qualities, an excellent warranty and return policy, and at around $140, it’s less expensive than most other blankets, which in our book makes it a great option for smaller budgets.
Best for easy care: Baloo Weighted Blanket
$199 for a full or queen size at Baloo Living
The Baloo Weighted Blanket looks so much like a regular blanket that you almost forget it’s weighted. It is very well balanced and highly breathable, made from 100% cotton inside and out. I don’t know how they do that and ponder it, but they do.
Better yet, it’s washable as a full blanket, eliminating the need to remove a cover that I appreciated. It comes with ties and Baloo sells a linen duvet cover for the blankets, if you want to dress it up.
Baloo is a women-founded and operated company, and the blanket arrived in a cute duffel bag with instructions on how to best introduce and use a weighted blanket. The full/queen blanket is designed to sit on top of the bed and not stick out, which for me meant a neater look when making my bed in the morning.
They have a free exchange program and a 30 day no excuses return policy. Of all the blankets I’ve tried, this one will probably stay on my bed for a long time and when it comes to washing it, there’s no doubt that this is the simplest.
Best for kids: baloo the mini
$149 at Baloo Living
Although there are no children in our house, we loved this little blanket and used it frequently for naps on the couch. Like its big brother, The Mini comes in an adorable duffel bag with detailed instructions on how and when to pack a weighted blanket. It only weighs nine pounds and is made from a breathable, vegetable-dyed cotton so it’s free of harmful chemicals. Like the full-size Baloo, this one washes up easily and is more manageable at just 40 x 60 inches. That also allows you to quickly proof on low heat.
It is important to pay attention to the usage suggestions when it comes to children and weighted blankets. Baloo recommends that children weigh at least 50 pounds and have the dexterity to remove the blanket on their own, without help. As a nice touch, if you check out and/or tag Baloo on social media, the company donates $5 to a nonprofit that provides new, clean pajamas and a book to children in need.
Prices are accurate and items are in-stock at time of publication.
