Best Weighted Blankets – Top Picks and Buying Guide

Weighted blankets — which may weigh anywhere from five to 30 pounds — are significantly heavier than standard comforters, duvets, and quilts. These blankets help improve sleep quality because they promote the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that controls your natural sleep cycle. They also facilitate production of ‘happiness hormones’ that can have a calming effect on the nervous system.

A wide range of weighted blanket models are currently available for sale. Some weighted blankets come in multiple weights to accommodate sleepers with different preferences, while others can be folded and refolded in order to distribute different amounts of weight. Costs vary by brand and model, but most are priced between $100 and $300. Weighted blankets are sold through companies and retailers, as well as private sellers who handcraft products for sites like Etsy.

This guide will explore how weighted blankets work, some common design features, tips for shoppers, and our picks for the top-rated weighted blankets sold today.

Weighted blankets provide a sensation known as ‘grounding’ that applies moderate pressure to the sleeper’s body and pushes them further into their sleep surface. Grounding also triggers the release of hormones that calm the nerves and lead to a good night’s sleep.

The blanket’s weight is key for preserving sleep quality and getting an adequate amount of rest each night. Weighted blankets should be tailored to the individual user. Most adults reach optimal comfort levels using a blanket that weighs roughly 5% to 10% of their own body weight. Children may also use weighted blankets; for most kids, a blanket weighing 10% of their body weight will yield the best results.

Weighted blankets carry health and safety risks for children under eight years of age; kids in this age group should avoid using a weighted blanket unless it has been prescribed by a physician or licensed therapist.

Additionally, people with the following conditions should speak with their doctor before using a weighted blanket:

• Issues with the respiratory and/or circulatory systems; weighted blankets — especially models that are relatively heavy — can cause complications for individuals who have a hard time breathing and/or circulating blood.
• Claustrophobia or other fears associated with being trapped or stuck, as the excess weight may trigger phobic episodes.

However, weighted blankets offer several benefits for sleepers, as well. We’ll discuss some of these advantages in the next section.

Weighted blankets help people sleep better in the following ways:

• Reduces cortisol levels:Grounding reduces the production of cortisol, a steroid hormone triggered by stressful situations. While cortisol is not necessarily bad, nighttime cortisol production can counteract the production of melatonin, which can in turn have a negative effect on sleep quality.
• Helps produce more melatonin: Natural light triggers melatonin, causing us to feel more tired at night and more wakeful the next morning. People with insomnia tend to produce less melatonin, leading to problems with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance. As a result, those who use weighted blankets for insomnia and other disorders linked to low melatonin production often experience notable sleep improvements.
• Triggers happiness hormones: Grounding triggers the release of serotonin, dopamine, and other ‘happiness hormones’ that calm the nervous system and make people feel more relaxed. Weighted blankets also promote the production of oxytocin, a hormone released during hugging.
• Reduces sleepwalking episodes: Interrupted or inefficient sleep can cause sleepwalking in adults and children. Weighted blankets cause people to feel more relaxed before falling asleep, which often leads to deeper sleep and more restful nights. As a result, weighted blankets can be very helpful for sleepwalkers – particularly toddlers and young children.

In addition to benefits for sleepers, weighted blankets can also alleviate stress and anxiety for many.  Dentists often provide weighted blankets to patients in order to alleviate their stress before exams. Physicians have also noted that adults and children with certain disorders and medical conditions may benefit from using a weighted blanket for anxiety. These include:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A weighted blanket for autism can be effective for several reasons, particularly among children with ASD. Individuals with ASD often have below-average serotonin and melatonin levels, which can lead to sleep difficulties. Additionally, children with ASD tend to experience anxiety, especially at night.
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Poor academic performance is a common issue among children with ADHD, and this problem may be compounded by lack of restful sleep. When used correctly, a weighted blanket for ADHD can not only improve the child’s sleep but also sharpen their focusing abilities in the classroom and boost their grades.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Like ASD, PTSD is a condition that can reduce serotonin production levels. By boosting these serotonin levels and alleviating stress – a common symptom of PTSD – weighted blankets can help people with PTSD improve their overall sleep quality.

This list is not exhaustive. Medical studies have also noted sleep improvements from using a weighted blanket among people with depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and restless legs syndrome.

Most weighted blankets are filled with plastic, glass, or steel beads that are evenly distributed to ensure proper weight distribution. The bead components are generally silent so as to not disrupt your sleep. Some blankets forgo the beads and contain other weighted filling materials, such as glass sand.

In addition to weighted materials, these blankets also feature fabric padding to provide a layer of cushioning between the beads and the sleeper’s body. Padding materials may include polyester, cotton, fleece, or chenille. Some weighted blankets are also designed to be waterproof or water-resistant, and may have a layer of moisture-wicking material included with the fabric padding.

Most weighted blankets come with a cover, which may be removable for washing or sewn on (allowing owners to wash the entire blanket together). The covers can be made from natural fibers like cotton or wool, synthetic fabrics like polyester or rayon, or fabric blends that incorporate both. Weighted blankets made from natural fibers like cotton or wool are more breathable and tend to sleep cooler, but they also carry the highest price-points. Synthetics like polyester are typically cheaper, but less breathable and considerably warmer.

Other design characteristics of weighted blankets include the following:

• Weight and weight distribution: The majority of weighted blankets weigh between five and 30 pounds. As mentioned above, adults usually feel most comfortable with weighted blankets that are roughly 10% of their own weight. For this reason, most weighted blanket manufacturers offer a wide range of blanket weights. On the other hand, some models come in ‘one-weight-fits-all’ designs; these can be folded in certain ways to distribute more or less weight, making them suitable for most users regardless of their size.
• Size: Generally, heavier weighted blankets are wider and longer than lighter ones. Most models are available in sizes that match common mattress dimensions, such as 60 inches wide by 80 inches long (which corresponds to a Queen size).
• Inner clasps: Some weighted blanket models have internal clasps to prevent the interior blanket from bunching up inside the cover and losing its full shape.
• Cleaning: Some weighted blankets are machine washable, but dry cleaning is generally recommended for all models to ensure they do not deteriorate too quickly.

Weighted blankets may be purchased through many different companies. Additionally, they are made by independent craftspeople and sold on sites like Etsy.com. Blankets manufactured and sold through companies tend to be of higher quality and often come with product warranties to product buyers against defects. Those sold by independent craftspeople are usually priced lower, but the quality may be questionable and virtually none come with any sort of warranty.

When shopping for a weighted blanket and comparing different brands and models, here are a few factors to keep in mind.

• What is your weighted blanket budget? Keep in mind that most weighted blankets cost at least $100 when sold through companies. Private sellers on sites like Etsy may price their weighted blankets lower, but they do not come with warranties and the quality is usually lower.
• How much do you weigh? Use your body weight to calculate the most suitable weight for your blanket. Surveys have found that people generally feel most comfortable under a blanket that weighs 5% to 10% as much as they do, but testing out different models is considered the best way to find the right fit. Also keep weight loss/gain in mind, as the most suitable blanket may change if your own weight fluctuates.
• Are you purchasing a weighted blanket for your child? According to sleep experts, children usually feel comfortable under a blanket that weighs 10% of their own body weight. However, children eight years and younger should not use weighted blankets due to the safety risks they present.
• Do you have a medical or psychological condition that may lead to discomfort under a weighted blanket? Certain individuals may feel less comfortable under weighted blankets, such as people with claustrophobia, women who are going through menopause, and people with respiratory and/or circulatory issues.
• What is your preferred blanket size? Some sleepers like blankets with minimal coverage while others enjoy wrapping themselves in longer, wider blankets. Keep in mind that weighted blanket size is usually tied to weight; the less a blanket weighs, the narrower and shorter it will be. You may have to compromise your width and length preferences in order to find a blanket that weighs the right amount.
• Do you sleep warm? Many people sleep excessively hot or warm, either due to their own body temperature regulation or the composition of their mattress (foam and latex sleep hotter than springs). Weighted blankets with covers made of natural fibers like cotton and wool tend to sleep cooler than synthetic fabrics like polyester. For this reason, people who sleep warm are urged to pick a weighted blanket with a natural fiber cover.
• Does the blanket come with a cover? Be sure to scope out the product specs. In some cases, weighted blanket covers are sold separately from the blankets themselves.
• What is your color preference? Cover color choice is purely aesthetic, although some models are available in dozens of colors for people with different tastes and decor arrangements.
• Does the weighted blanket come with a trial or warranty? Companies that sell weighted blankets often offer trial periods, which allow purchasers to return the blanket for a refund within a certain timeframe, and/or product warranties that protect the blanket from defects. Weighted blankets sold through private merchants usually come with neither.

For more information on bedding products that can improve sleep quality, please visit the following pages on Tuck.com:

• Bedding Buying Guide
• Best Pillows — Buying Guide and Information
• Best Cooling Pillows
• Best Mattress Toppers
• Best Mattress Pads and Protectors
• Best Cooling Mattress Pads and Toppers