The 7 Best Portable Heated Blankets, Tested and Reviewed

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Stay warm without overpacking with these handy portable blankets.

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Travel + Leisure

A portable heated blanket is one of the most convenient ways to stay cozy this winter, whether you're enjoying a movie night in your own home, getting ready for a long plane ride, or sitting outside watching a football game. Many travel-sized and portable heated blankets have the same heating capabilities as their at-home, full-size siblings, but are made for packing and staying warm on the go. We tested 10 portable heated blankets as the temperatures dropped, using them at sporting events, in cold houses, and on road trips.

We looked at models that are powered by car outlets, in standard AC outlets, and use battery packs. Importantly, many options here do need to be plugged in, so while they are technically travel-sized and useful for packing and taking with you on the road, the models that need to be plugged in are best for use on planes, trains, in hotels or rentals, and sometimes in cars, depending on power source options.

This versatile blanket has good battery life for use outdoors and on-the-go and also plugs into a wall charger for at-home use.

The battery pack felt heavy and somewhat unwieldy.

We love how fast this blanket heated up — it started getting warm within one minute and only took a few minutes to reach its highest temperature — and how evenly the heating elements were spread out. We weren’t sure if the amount of heating elements would be enough, but they were highly efficient and distributed heat well throughout the blanket. The temperature stayed even without fluctuating, and didn’t cool down once it was fully heated.

Most importantly for travel, this is one of the few portable heated blankets out there that utilizes a battery pack, so you can use it while camping, watching a football game, or waiting to board your flight. We liked how the battery fit into its own pocket, though it was somewhat heavy and bulky, weighing down that part of the blanket. The battery life was advertised between two and eight hours depending on the settings, and we found that to be accurate throughout the testing period. When we were indoors, we plugged it right into the wall, and charged the battery via the USB port for travel. We washed this blanket several times during our two months of tests and saw no pilling or damage, and we appreciated the little screen that showed our battery life and charging updates.

The Details: 60 x 40 inches | Nylon and polyester | 113–149 degrees Fahrenheit | Battery and AC power | Up to 8 hours of battery | Machine washable

Each heat setting is quickly reached once you activate the coils, and the timer setting adds additional safety.

The king size we tested wasn’t quite a true king — we wish it was a little wider.

Like our top-rated blanket, the Westinghouse Heated Throw only took a few minutes to fully heat up, and we felt the coils start warming after just one minute. We used this with two people and both felt warm and cozy, appreciating how the blanket stayed at the setting without having to be adjusted. While it has no batteries, it comes with a decently long cord for plugging in. Once the blanket is heated to the first setting, it only takes a maximum of 45 seconds to get to the next one.

We tested the king size (100 x 90 inches), but it comes in multiple sizes that you can attach to a portable battery pack if you want to take it outside to sporting events or outdoor concerts. The buttons were easy to use and the instructions were clear and we found this to be perfect for a variety of situations inside and outside. We used this blanket almost every day during our two-month at-home testing period and it still looks and functions like it did when it was brand-new.

The Details: Five sizes | Polyester, flannel, and fleece | AC power | Machine washable

The material is very soft and has a great feel, especially right out of the package.

We felt this blanket was a little too light and thin to be as effective as we wanted.

This lightweight, packable blanket plugs into a wall but is compact enough to take traveling on trains, planes, and to chilly hotel rooms. The buttons were nicely labeled, including a preheat button that heated the blanket in about three minutes, and plus/minus buttons that changed the heat settings. Once it heated up, we didn’t notice any temperature fluctuations, and the blanket dispersed the heat well. Since this is a corded blanket, we mostly tested it on chilly nights at home, but wouldn’t be opposed to traveling with it. However, we have some concerns about the quality and durability — while it is machine washable, it seemed to pill and lose material after each wash cycle during our initial testing period. This hasn't been quite as noticeable during our two-month extended testing period, but we're still not sure how it will hold up over time. But for an extra throw blanket that you might not need to wash so often, it’s a great bet.

The Details: Five sizes | Polyester | AC power | Machine washable

It's battery-powered and has multiple power adapters, making this portable and convenient.

This blanket felt too small to really wrap up in.

This super plush blanket has a cozy heft with a luxurious and high-quality feel. It’s made with several layers of material, including a micro-plush velour face fabric with good heat distribution. The battery took about six hours to fully charge when connected to a wall outlet, and then offered three hours of battery life when disconnected. This blanket has a wide temperature range that maxes out at 108 degrees Fahrenheit with an automatic safety shutoff. The instructions suggest preheating the blanket while it’s folded, which we loved for the immediate warmth. Plus, it only took five minutes to preheat, so it felt fast and convenient.

It also has an efficient system for heating: the initial powering on puts the battery in surge mode (similar to extra-high), then after five minutes, it goes down to high, or you can select a medium or low setting. Setting the temperature is easy enough, but accessing the battery when you need it can be a bit of a pain, as it comes tucked into a pocket and all controls are on the battery. After using it regularly for two months, we've also noticed the battery pack makes this a little uncomfortable to walk around with, leading us to reach for other blankets if we don't truly need the heating feature. However, we like that it can be kept in the car (thanks to the included adapter) for cold-weather emergencies.

The Details: 60 x 60 inches | Polyester and micro-plush velour | Up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit | Battery, AC power, and car charger | 3 hours of battery life

The blanket plugs into a car charger and is plush enough where you don’t feel the heating coils.

The one-size offering is a little small for sharing.

We love this blanket for road trips but also for cabins, yurts, and front-country camping trips late into the chilly fall season. We hooked this up to our car charger during a long road trip, appreciating the easy on/off switch and heat setting controls. This blanket heats up fast and almost got too hot — we found ourselves turning the heat down once it was fully powered. The controller is easy to use and the recycled polyester surface material wipes off easily. After two months of testing, we found ourselves wishing we could plug it into an electrical outlet as opposed to only a car charger, but we've seen no changes in quality or performance. We would recommend this blanket for camping in RVs, overnights at trailheads, use after a day of skiing, and any time where you find yourself cold in the car and want an extra dose of warmth. We also loved the slightly heavier weight of the blanket, and the soft microsuede was a unique and cozy option we didn’t see on other tested models.

The Details: 72 x 52 inches | Polyester and microsuede | AC and car power

This blanket heats up fast and has consistent heating throughout.

An auto shut-off feature would give us peace of mind.

We used this heated blanket on an eight-hour road trip in the chilly Northeast, impressed by the quality, weight, and intuitive control switch. The controls felt less clunky than others we tested, and made it easier to want to take with us. The cord and car-ready power system was reliable and easy to connect, though we would love a battery option to take this out of the vehicle. The blanket took just a few minutes to heat to our desired temperature, and switching between the settings was simple. We appreciated how easy it was to wash thanks to the removable electric unit, and it wasn’t much of a hassle to put back together. This is a versatile blanket for vehicle use, and we can see ourselves taking it on early-morning trips during the winter. And after two months of regular use, it shows zero signs of wear and tear.

The Details: 55 x 40 inches | Flannel and fleece | 82–126 degrees Fahrenheit | Car charger | Machine washable

With five sizes and 10 color options, there is an option for everyone.

Even with an extension cord, this isn’t the most convenient option for use on the go.

This incredibly soft, comfortable microfiber blanket feels nicely weighted and comes in five different sizes, from twin to king. Though it requires AC power, we love the various size options for traveling or staying at other people’s houses, and it does pack down nicely into the included tote bag. This blanket held up nicely after being washed, and we didn’t notice any durability issues or pilling. We’d recommend this entirely for indoor use though, as we can see the material quickly collecting dirt and debris in an RV or outdoor situation. After two months of use, we've noticed the cords and controllers are a bit cumbersome, so we tend to keep the blanket in one spot. Finally, this has the widest range of heat settings of all the blankets we tested, with 20 settings and a 45-degree Fahrenheit range.

The Details: Five sizes | Polyester and microfiber | 80–125 degrees Fahrenheit | AC power | Machine washable

We tested 10 portable heated blankets to rate and use, and while not all of them made our best-of list, there were several that almost ranked high enough. Though these two didn’t quite make our top picks, they may still be good options for some travelers.

Gobi Heat Zen Portable Heated Blanket: This blanket kept us toasty with the multiple heat settings, but it weighs more than 5 pounds, and we’d recommend it more for car trips than air travel.

Woolrich Heated Oversized Mink-to-berber Throw Blanket: This blanket was one of the prettiest we tested, from a trusted brand with reliable heating. But with limited usage (it needs to be plugged in) we didn’t think it was entirely worth the value.

Travel + Leisure

To find the best portable heated blankets, we tested 10 different blankets to test over a two-week period. We recorded our initial impressions for comfort, softness, construction, and general quality, then record their thoughts on setup and heating. How fast did the blanket heat up? Were the settings adequate and accurate? We made sure to include rating sections for the amount of time the blanket took to reach different heat settings, how long it stayed charged for, and whether the advertised metrics were actually accurate in real-world tests.

We used the blankets multiple times during the testing period, and used them in various conditions including sporting events, in air-conditioned rooms, and outdoors in colder weather. We will continue using these blankets after this initial testing period and we will continue to update this article according to their feedback.

Travel + Leisure

While these are all portable blankets in the sense that they can be packed and taken with you, some require AC power and can’t be used on the go or outdoors. If you plan to use your blanket in hotel rooms, AC-powered RVs, or anywhere with a portable power source, you’ll be fine with AC-powered options. If you plan to use them on road trips, look for battery-powered models or blankets with car-charging capabilities. And if you’re using a battery-powered blanket, make sure it’s fully charged before bringing it with you, and keep track of the settings, as the blanket will drain battery faster with a higher-powered output.

Don’t take machine washing for granted! Some blankets come with removable electric coils and cords, and some will have specific instructions for washing. Many electric blankets require spot-cleaning or hand washing, and most will specify a gentle or low setting in the washer.

While that king-size heated blanket may be cozy at home, it’s probably not realistic for bringing to a sporting event or on a plane. To suitcase and trunk space, look for models that have a range of sizes or that are specifically made for travel. All of the blankets we listed can be taken with you on trips, but you’ll definitely want a smaller and more packable model for plane travel, whereas you can take a larger blanket with better coverage on a road trip or to a hotel. If you plan to travel with your electric blanket, look for one that comes with a tote or carry case for easier packing.

You can sleep on top of a heated blanket, but we generally recommend avoiding this for extended periods of time. Heated blankets are designed to be slept under, not on top of, as the heating elements can potentially overheat if they're compressed by limited air circulation from your body weight.

There’s a big range here depending on model, brand, and quality, but we typically say between five and 10 years depending on use and maintenance. Taking care of your blanket (including gentle washing and drying, folding to avoid crumpling the wires, and tracking battery charging) can increase the lifespan. Over the years, wear and tear can mean decreased effectiveness and more safety concerns, so we recommend periodically inspecting the blanket for signs of fraying, broken wires, or inconsistent heating.

"Electric blanket" and "heated blanket" are often used interchangeably, but they can refer to different products depending on their intended use and power source. An electric blanket will always have built-in electrical wires that heat up when plugged in, while a heated blanket is a broader term that can include electric blankets as well as battery-operated or rechargeable options.

Maggie Slepian is a Montana-based writer and editor with a decade of professional gear-testing experience in the outdoor world. For this article, she utilized T+L testing results to select the best portable heated blankets. She is an avid backpacker, bikepacker, skier, and camper, heading out backpacking and frontcountry camping in all seasons — including the cold months.

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