In today’s wellness era, the market for weighted blankets is booming, each promising a range of benefits, from providing warmth and reducing anxiety to improving sleep issues. So, if you're already shunning screens thirty-minutes before bed, cutting caffeine after lunch, spritz your pillow in a gorgeously scented sleep spray and listen to a Headspace meditation pre-kip, it might be time to add a weighted blanket to your bedtime routine.
Designed to evenly distribute weight across the body, the best weighted blankets promise to help promote feelings of calmness, soothe anxiety, and act as a catalyst for a good night’s sleep. Typically filled with thousands of tiny glass beads that apply pressure to your body, weighted blankets mimic a therapeutic technique called “deep pressure therapy” to boost your mood. Basically, it’s just like receiving a big hug.
So, if you’re up for being swaddled like a baby, we've tried and tested the best options on the market to help you spend your money wisely. A good night's sleep is incoming.
The best early Black Friday deals — at a glance:
- Blue Weighted Blanket, Oodie — WAS £95, NOW £47.50
- Grey Cotton Weighted Blanket, ESPA — WAS £90, NOW £81
- Silentnight Wellbeing 9 Kg Weighted, Wayfair — WAS £79.99, NOW £71.99
Meet the experts:
- James Higgings, Sleep Expert & CEO of Ethical Bedding.
SKIP TO: What are the benefits of a weighted blanket? | Who should not use a weighted blanket? | How heavy should a weighted blanket be? | Do weighted blankets help with restless leg syndrome? | How we tested | Our full reviews.
What are the benefits of a weighted blanket?
Great for promoting an overall sense of security and grounding, weighted blankets essentially have the same effect on adults that swaddling has on a baby. Both swaddling and weighted blanket use are forms of Deep Touch Pressure (DTP) therapy, which researchers claim has a "calming effect on the alleviation of anxiety", and can also benefit those with autism and other medical conditions.
Studies have also shown that this gentle application of even pressure can reduce the body's levels of the stress hormone cortisol, while also boosting the production of both mood-boosting serotonin, and sleep-inducing melatonin.
Who should not use a weighted blanket?
Despite their benefits, there are some groups of people who wouldn’t be well-suited to sleeping underneath a weighted blanket. “Elderly individuals, older adults with reduced mobility, those with conditions such as sleep apnoea, and pregnant women should consider avoiding weighted blankets, as the added weight could make it difficult for them to change positions in bed,” says James Higgins, CEO & Sleep Expert at Ethical Bedding.
“Individuals living with neurological conditions, sensory disorders, or claustrophobia should also carefully consider whether a weighted blanket is the right choice for them, as the confined feeling of the blanket may increase anxiety," he adds.
How heavy should a weighted blanket be?
Most retailers suggest that you should pick a weighted blanket that’s roughly 10% of your body weight. So, a 4kg option for body weight of between 30 and 40kg, a 5.5kg option for a bodyweight of between 40 and 60kg, and a 7kg weighted blanket for a body weight of between 60 and 90kg.
Do weighted blankets help with Restless Leg Syndrome?
Weighted blankets definitely don’t cure Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), but they can help lessen the effects of it — particularly if you find stress a common trigger for a flare-up. "Weighted blankets provide gentle and even pressure across the body, offering sensory stimulation and a deep touch pressure sensation. This stimulation has been suggested to have a calming effect on the nervous system that could potentially reduce anxiety symptoms,” explains James Higgins.
How we tested:
To earn a spot in our best weighted blankets round-up, a GLAMOUR tester had to give the product-in-question their stamp of approval. Each weighted blanket in this edit performed well against our testing criteria, demonstrating even weight distribution, offering a variety of weights, and effectively soothing anxiety year-round while keeping reviewers warm. We also scored the best weighted blankets on their filling (from glass microbeads to plastic pellets), whether they had a removable cover, and how well each weighted blanket elevated their bedroom decor.
After more sleep content? Read about the best duvet covers, the best mattresses for every personal preference, and the best duvets for non-stop nappers. For more from GLAMOUR UK's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.
