When evenings get cold, most people end up choosing between a heated blanket and a small electric heater. Both promise warmth, both plug into a standard socket, and both are often described as “cheap to run”. The reality is very different. One of these options costs pennies to use and delivers heat exactly where it’s needed. The other can quietly push electricity bills up if it’s used regularly.
This is a straightforward UK-based comparison of real running costs, comfort, and when each option actually makes sense. Homes differ, but the way these two appliances use electricity is consistent — and that’s why the cost gap between them is always larger than people expect.
Why people compare heated blankets and electric heaters
Central heating is designed to warm an entire house, not a single person sitting on a sofa in the evening. When energy prices rose, many households started looking for alternatives that could keep them comfortable without heating unused rooms.
The choice usually comes down to a plug-in heater or a heated blanket. Both feel small, both seem efficient, and both are easy to use. The key difference is what they are designed to heat.
A heated blanket warms the person using it. An electric heater warms the air in the room. That difference alone explains why their running costs are not even close.
How much a heated blanket costs to run in the UK
Most heated blankets sold in the UK use between 60 and 120 watts. Even on higher settings, many sit around 70–90 watts once warmed up. Compared to household appliances, that is extremely low power.
At typical UK electricity prices, a heated blanket costs roughly 1–3 pence per hour to run. Even if it’s used all evening, the total cost often stays under 10p.
This is why heated blankets became so popular during recent winters. They provide direct warmth almost instantly, without heating empty space. When you are sitting still, watching television, working at a desk, or going to bed, almost all the energy is used efficiently.
For reference, this is the type of low-wattage electric blanket many UK households use:
a modern electric blanket designed for overnight or evening use.
The real cost of running a small electric heater
Electric heaters operate on a completely different scale. Even models marketed as “low energy” usually draw around 1,000 watts, with many running at 2,000 watts on higher settings.
At current UK electricity rates, a 2kW heater costs around 65–70 pence per hour to run. That doesn’t feel expensive until it’s used regularly.
Running a heater for three hours in the evening can cost around £2. Using it nightly quickly adds up, and over a month it can push electricity bills up by £50–£60 or more.
Oil-filled radiators are often chosen because they feel gentler and safer than fan heaters, but they still operate at much higher wattage. A typical example would be something like
a standard oil-filled electric radiator used for room heating.
The most important question: what are you actually heating?
The choice between a heated blanket and an electric heater comes down to one simple question.
Are you trying to warm yourself, or the entire room?
If the goal is personal comfort while sitting still, a heated blanket is dramatically more efficient. It delivers warmth directly to the body and allows the room temperature to remain lower without discomfort.
If the goal is to raise the temperature of a room quickly — for example, a home office or a cold bathroom — an electric heater has a role. The trade-off is cost, especially in rooms that lose heat quickly.
Comfort differences you only notice after using both
Heated blankets provide gentle, consistent warmth. They do not dry the air, create drafts, or cause temperature swings within the room. Once warm, the heat stays exactly where it’s needed.
Electric heaters change the room temperature instead. This can be useful when moving around, but it often creates uneven warmth and can dry the air, particularly with fan heaters. Oil-filled radiators are gentler, but still consume far more electricity than a blanket.
Many people also notice that heated blankets allow rooms to feel comfortable at lower temperatures. A room at 16°C with a heated blanket often feels warmer than a room at the same temperature heated by air alone.
Safety considerations worth knowing
Both options are safe when used correctly. Modern heated blankets include automatic shut-offs and temperature limits, and they do not reach dangerously high surface temperatures.
Electric heaters require more care. Items placed too close can overheat, and higher-power models should never be used with extension leads. Oil-filled radiators are generally the safest heater type, but they still draw significant power.
Which is actually cheaper to run?
The difference is not marginal. A heated blanket is vastly cheaper to run than any electric heater.
In practical terms, an entire evening under a heated blanket can cost less than running a heater for ten minutes. For anyone trying to stay warm without increasing energy bills, the blanket is the clear winner.
Electric heaters still have a place, but they are always the more expensive option when used regularly.
How this fits into reducing heating costs overall
Using targeted warmth instead of heating whole rooms is one of the most effective ways to reduce winter energy use. Heated blankets allow lower thermostat settings, less reliance on plug-in heaters, and more consistent comfort.
This approach is part of a wider strategy for staying warm efficiently, which is explained in
How to Keep a UK Home Warm for Cheap.
Final thoughts
If the choice is between a heated blanket and an electric heater for evening warmth, the heated blanket wins on cost, comfort, and efficiency. The savings are substantial, the warmth feels better, and electricity use stays low.
Electric heaters still have specific uses, but for everyday comfort, the blanket is the smarter option in most UK homes.
