Feeling stressed and anxious lately? Having trouble sleeping? Us too.
A weighted blanket is one of the best options we've found for improving our sleep. Weighted blankets do way more for your sleep than a regular blanket or even a super heavy comforter. They typically tip the scales between 10 and 20 pounds and offer a number of potential benefits for people who are anxious or suffering from insomnia. You see, weighted blankets apply deep pressure all over the body to promote the production of serotonin (the neurotransmitter that regulates mood), maintain the digestive system and battle sleep problems.
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Weighted blankets are also said to help calm kids on the autism spectrum and alleviate a range of conditions including stress, anxiety, sleep problems, restless leg syndrome, sensory disorders and sensory processing disorders. You can even get a weighted lap pad to apply deep pressure and make watching TV on the couch an even more relaxing experience.
Considering purchasing a weighted blanket to fight your insomnia? Luckily for you, there are tons of options available. There are ones that are made with soft, minky fabric, ones made of organic cotton, ones filled with glass beads, and ones filled with plastic beads. (Some require an outer cover.) There are also all kinds of sizes to choose from, from a smaller lap pad all the way up to king size. You can even get a cooling weighted blanket if you're a hot sleeper. With so many options, it's not always easy to find which one will help you battle your sleep problems, get the best night's rest or wind down after a stressful day. Here, we've rounded up some of the best weighted blankets you can buy. We update this list periodically.
If you're not sure how to pick, this guide gives you four tips for choosing the best weighted blanket. If you're feeling crafty, you can also make your own weighted blanket too, for kids or adults!
The Layla weighted blanket has limited size and weight options, but the blanket makes up for that with a well-made, luxurious-feeling product. The Layla comes in three sizes: Twin, Queen and King. I tested the Queen, which weighs 20 pounds. To be fair, it is challenging for me to move and maneuver the heavy blanket (as it's about 7 pounds over my recommended weighted blanket weight). However, it feels amazing to be under it and sleep.
The high quality blanket is double sided: one side of the blanket is black fabric and the other side is lined with a synthetic mink in a charcoal color (that has the "minky" feel that so many people are after these days). The fuzzy side feels soft and cozy, perfect for those looking to curl up and fall asleep with a good book on a cold winter night and it is machine washable. This is key, as this blanket isn't meant to be used with a removable cover.
Some weighted blankets remind me too much of sewn together cornhole bags, but I found the Layla to be more coherently a blanket and far less noisy than others. The Twin size blanket starts at $129, but it feels more high-end than the price would indicate.
- Rebecca Fleenor, CNET writer
YnM's weighted blanket is highly rated on Amazon and for good reason. It's sturdy, has seven breathable layers and comes in five different sizes and nine weight options from 5 to 25 pounds. Oh and it starts around $50, making it one of the best weighted blanket options for those on a budget. That means if you're dealing with anxiety, ADHD, or restless leg syndrome, this is the sensory blanket you use to see if some deep pressure helps your sensory processing. I bought this weighted blanket for myself last fall and I love it. To be honest, I think it played a key role in helping me feel calm in the stress and aftermath of a difficult breakup.
The inner blanket itself is well-made and filled with glass beads - not poly pellets. It's a great weighted blanket for adults and YnM sells many different machine wash friendly duvet covers that /make it far easier to keep the blanket clean. The outer cover options are available in a variety of fabrics, including the soft gray minky cover I have.
- Sarah Mitroff, CNET editor
One notable thing I like about Bearaby's The Napper blanket is the fact that it's designed in a big, knitted pattern. Though it makes it hard to pick up and fold neatly sometimes, I do wonder how much of that is due to its weight and not about its open-netting design.
Its benefit though is that it is aesthetically pleasing and its weighted material feels more open and "light" (even though it's not at all light) than other weighted blankets, which I was afraid would be too hot or stifling to get a good night's sleep. When I used it on my couch or to sleep in bed, it didn't feel hot. The breathable cotton is soft and high-quality. It actually feels a lot like the simple cotton scarf American Apparel used to sell a few years back.
At $249, the blanket runs on the expensive side - in fact it's more expensive than all of the other blankets in the list. You are paying for the novel texture, the fact that it objectively looks good on a living room couch and, according to the company, because it's made of ethically sourced organic cotton. Because this blanket isn't made with glass beads or plastic pellets, the weight distribution stays even, making it less likely to slide off when you're napping or falling asleep in bed for a restful night of sleep.
If you're looking for a weighted blanket more for its utility and don't care about its design I'd say skip it and try out a less expensive option. While laying under it did feel nice, I didn't notice much of a difference in my level of anxiety or ease of sleep - but that doesn't mean it won't help someone else get a good night of restful sleep or feel more calm.
Want a more traditional weighted blanket? The company also has a weighted comforter for sleep.
- Lynn La, CNET senior editor
Cooling Silky Satin Duvet Cover
That noted, SensaCalm's lineup accommodates an unusually high degree of customizability, featuring a wide array of weights, sizes and fabrics - including a handful of waterproof options, making it ideal for people with sensory issues who may have other health issues going on. You can add polyfil for a fluffier comforter or skip it for a flatter, more quilt-like blanket - though, ironically, that option costs more (you're paying for additional labor). You can also add snaps to connect to one of the company's many machine-washable duvet covers which start at $110. And you can add a monogram for $25.
SensaCalm's blankets start at $100 - and that's for the blanket for kids. The weighted blankets for adults are costlier. I explored the options on the company's website and, after selecting all of the extras, was able to build a 20-pound blanket that cost nearly $350. (Sadly, stuffing 350 dollar bills into your current comforter would only add about a pound.) SensaCalm makes its blankets in the US and offers free shipping on domestic orders over $100.
- Justin Jaffe, CNET editor
Also tested
We tested out many different weighted blankets and because many of them have similar construction and materials, it was hard to find something truly unique about all of them. The blankets listed below are still recommended by our staff, but didn't quite win high praise.
The best part of the Luna weighted blanket is the price. For just $65, you can get a 15-pound blanket which is the cheapest of all the blankets on this list. It uses organic cotton and has a multi-layer design with batting that makes the blanket feel like a thin comforter.
The model I tried out was 12 pounds and, like the YnM weighted blanket, Luna has a basic but sturdy design. This is the kind of blanket you'd want to put a duvet on, because unlike the Gravity, Harkla or Bearaby blankets, it's not stylish enough on its own to sit out on your couch. It also has ties at each corner, which are there to anchor the blanket in place of a duvet.
I see this as a good starter blanket. If you are curious about trying a weighted blanket, or you think your kids might like sleeping better with a heavy blanket, the Luna is an inexpensive way to find out. It starts at $39 for a 5-pound child-sized blanket and goes all the way up to 25 pounds for an adult weighted blanket.
- Sarah Mitroff, CNET editor
More bedding recommendations
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.