When it gets cold in the evenings, most of us reach for one of two things: a heated blanket or a small electric heater. You see both recommended everywhere, but no one ever explains the real difference in running cost, or why one can save you a surprising amount of money compared to the other. I’ve used both over the years, especially during the worst parts of winter, and the cost gap isn’t small. One of them genuinely keeps you warm on pennies. The other can quietly drive your energy bill up if you’re not paying attention.
This isn’t a technical breakdown — just a clear UK-based comparison of which is actually cheaper, which one warms you better, and when it makes sense to use each option. Everyone’s home is different, but the way these two appliances use power is very consistent, so the cost difference stays the same no matter where you live.
Why People Compare The Two in the First Place
Most homes have central heating, but the cost of running it for just one room in the evening doesn’t always feel worth it. When I was trying to cut down on heating costs, I found myself doing what everyone else does: choosing between a small plug-in heater or a heated throw/blanket. They both warm you, they both plug into the wall, and they both seem like they use “not much power.” But that isn’t the full story.
A heated blanket warms you. A heater warms the entire room.
Those two things don’t cost the same. That difference is the whole reason the running costs aren’t even close.
How Much a Heated Blanket Actually Costs to Run
Most heated blankets in the UK run at around 60 to 120 watts. That’s tiny compared to almost anything else in your home. When I checked mine with an energy monitor, even on a higher setting it pulled around 80 watts.
On the current UK average electricity rate, running a heated blanket costs roughly:
1–3p per hour.
That’s basically nothing. You could run it all evening and not even hit 10p. This is why heated blankets became so popular the past couple of winters — they give you direct warmth without heating the entire room.
The warmth also feels instant because the heat goes straight to your body instead of filling empty space first. If you’re sitting still, watching TV, working at your desk, or going to bed, a heated blanket covers the exact area you need heated, so it wastes almost no energy.
The Real Cost of Running a Small Electric Heater
Electric heaters are a different story entirely. Even the “low energy” ones usually start at around 1,000 watts (1 kW), and most go up to 2,000 watts (2 kW). That’s 10–20 times more power than a heated blanket.
A standard 2kW heater costs roughly:
68p per hour on the current UK electricity rate.
It doesn’t sound like much until you multiply it:
• Run it 3 hours after work → ~£2
* Run it every night for a week → £14–15 * Run it all month → £60+
This is why people feel like their electricity bills jump out of nowhere. A heater is basically like running a powerful kettle constantly.
It doesn’t mean heaters are bad — they’re brilliant for quick blasts of warmth — but for evening or night-time heating, they burn through energy fast.
The Real Question: What Are You Trying to Heat?
The difference between these two options really comes down to one question:
Are you trying to heat yourself, or the whole room?
If you’re only trying to warm your body while watching TV or sleeping, a heated blanket wins every time. You feel warm faster, you spend almost nothing, and the room temperature barely matters. In my home, using a heated blanket meant I could lower the thermostat by a couple of degrees every night without feeling it.
If you’re trying to heat a small office or a cold corner of the house quickly, then a heater can be useful. But even then, a lot of rooms lose heat faster than the heater can replace it. In that situation, the heater runs constantly and costs a lot more than people expect.
Comfort Differences You Only Notice After Using Both
A heated blanket gives a softer, more direct warmth. It doesn’t dry the air, it doesn’t blow heat around, and it doesn’t create hot and cold pockets in the room. Once it warms up, the heat stays exactly where you want it.
A heater changes the whole room temperature, which can feel nicer if you’re walking around or doing chores, but it can also dry the air and feel harsh if you’re sitting close to it. Oil-filled radiators are the gentlest type, but they still use far more power than a heated blanket.
The other thing I noticed is that heated blankets make you feel warm at lower room temperatures. A room at 16°C with a heated blanket feels fine. A room at 16°C with just a heater doesn’t, because the air warms slowly and unevenly.
Safety Differences (Worth Mentioning as a Homeowner)
Both devices are safe if used properly, but they work differently. A heated blanket doesn’t get dangerously hot, and modern ones have cut-off timers and temperature limits. An electric heater, especially a fan heater or open-element heater, has a higher risk of overheating items placed too close.
Oil-filled radiators are the safest of the electric heaters, but even then, they draw a lot of power and should never be plugged into extension leads.
Which One Is Actually Cheaper? The Real Answer
There’s no competition. A heated blanket is dramatically cheaper. In my house, using it for a full evening costs less than running an electric heater for ten minutes. It’s one of the most effective ways to stay warm without touching the thermostat.
If your goal is comfort without raising your energy bill, a heated blanket is the clear winner. If your goal is heating the whole room, then a heater has its place — but it’s the more expensive choice every single time.
How This Fits Into Lowering Your Overall Heating Costs
A heated blanket is one of those small changes that makes a huge difference across the winter. When I started using mine, I noticed I used the central heating less, relied on the electric heater almost never, and kept the thermostat lower.
It’s part of the bigger picture of reducing heat loss and improving warmth without spending more money — exactly the kind of approach covered in the full guide on how to keep a UK home warm for cheap.
Final Thoughts
If you’re choosing between a heated blanket and an electric heater for staying warm in the evenings, the heated blanket wins for comfort, cost, and practicality. The heater still has its uses, but if you’re looking for the cheapest, most efficient way to stay warm, the blanket is the obvious choice. The saving is huge, the warmth feels better, and your energy bill doesn’t take a hit.
