Among our best friends during winter are warm cuppas, cosy jumpers, portable heaters, and electric blankets. Those who are a fan of using electric blankets to stay toasty all night know well how handy they are – but did you know that we, Aussies, come out on top when it comes to producing these must-have winter staples? Yes, you read that right!

We’re proud to announce that an Aussie brand ranked first as the country’s go-to electric blanket in Canstar Blue’s 2022 review.

The comparison website surveyed a total of 400 consumers who bought an electric blanket within the past two years to get to the bottom of which product performed the best and won over the most shoppers.

And the result? Family bedding brand Jason claimed victory for its fully fitted washable electric blanket which comes in three sizes with prices starting at $99.95. It was awarded five stars from customers for overall satisfaction, value for money, and design.

Breville ranked second in the review, with five stars for value for money, ease of care, and additional features. Sunbeam came third, followed by budget brands Kmart and then Target.

The cheapest blankets from the top five brands came from Kmart, with electric blankets that retail from $25 to $55.

Australian brand Jason. Image Credit: Mydeal, Luxe Bedding​

As electricity bills soar this winter, electric blankets can be a budget-friendly option for staying warm, especially when the temperature drops at night.

Canstar Blue's research discovered that Aussie customers spend an average of $81 on an electric blanket. The blankets, of course, come with an additional running cost once purchased. But, according to Energy Australia, electric blankets usually consume little energy.

“On average, they cost about four cents an hour, compared to some space heaters which can cost around 15 cents an hour. According to calculations from Choice, it should cost around $20 per season to run a single bed electric blanket, including pre-heating it, every night for three months,” they stated on their website.

However, it’s worth mentioning that 9 per cent of the consumers surveyed said that they noticed an increase in their power bills after buying and regularly using an electric blanket – but this could be due to differences in tariffs.

The survey’s statistics. Image Credit: Canstar Blue​

The survey also found that among those who owned an electric blanket, only 51 per cent use it regularly in winter. 26 per cent of the participants were concerned about leaving their blankets on for several hours at a time, while 29 per cent slept with an electric blanket on throughout the night despite this not being recommended.

For added safety and cost-efficiency (and your peace of mind), opting for an electric blanket with a timer could be your best bet as it switches off on its own.

If your electric blanket doesn't have a timer, Canstar Blue recommended leaving it on the bed in a "high-ish" setting for an hour before hitting the sack. When you’re ready to hop in, switch the blanket off and the bed should stay warm for a couple of hours while you sleep.

Learn how you can safely use an electric blanket by watching the video below:

Video Credit: WorkSafe New Zealand​

 

[Ricci]

My electric blanket has three timer settings, 4hr, 6 and 12hrs. I've only ever used it on the 4hr setting which is the default. It also has temperature settings from 1 to 9 and I've never had it above 4 for a snuggly nights sleep.

 

[Benw]

Two days ago I bought a Jason DB fitted electric blanket with three power settings for $59 from Big W. Works well.

 

[Benw]

Make that QB !

 

[Crihitofer]

Electric blankets are the best that mankind has invented for the bedroom. It doesn't matter what color your sheets are or whether you light scented candles in the room. If you're cold without heating, then nothing will satisfy you like this thing. I think that four hours of heating is quite enough because the most important thing is to fall asleep in warmth I don't know how it works, but I can't fall asleep for a long time because of the cold. The temperature is even lower in the morning, but I will feel much less discomfort when I wake up. And it definitely doesn't depend on the comfort of the bed because I shouldn't complain about bamboo bed sheets.