Want A Weighted Blanket For Winter? What To Know

There’s almost nothing worse than a poor night’s sleep – and those suffering from a chronic sleep condition can see dramatic, negative impacts to their health. Sleep deficiency has been linked to many chronic health problems, from heart and kidney disease, to high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and more.

Sleep deprivation is broadly defined as when you don’t get enough sleep, sleep at the wrong time of day, or have a sleep disorder that causes poor-quality sleep. And according to the CDC, about one in three adults in the U.S. report not getting enough rest or sleep every day.

Disrupted sleep patterns can emerge due to high amounts of stress (not uncommon during the holiday season), certain medications, excessive caffeine or smoking, lack of exercise, inconsistent schedules, mental health conditions or noisy and bright sleep environments.

If you’ve been interested in testing out a weighted blanket for improved sleep quality, we’ve highlighted how they work, some of the filling options for weighted blankets, and a few top sellers on the market today.

What Is A Weighted Blanket And How Does It Work?

Now a popular sleep aid, the weighted blanket was first invented in 1997 by Keith Zivalich who was inspired by his 10-year-old daughter. Weighted blankets were designed to mimic deep pressure stimulation, which uses firm, controlled pressure to induce a feeling of calm.

Deep pressure stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for regulating the body’s “rest and digest” functions. The sympathetic system is referred to as the “fight or flight” response, and takes over during stressful or emergency situations. Deep touch pressure is thought to also decrease levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) during the sympathetic nervous response.

Important note: The weight of the blanket should not exceed 10% of your body weight.

Types Of Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets come in two main styles – knitted and duvet style. Duvet style blankets use plastic or glass beads or some other heavy fill, while knitted weighted blankets are woven using dense materials.

Common weighted blanket fillings:

• Glass beads: One of the most popular options, glass beads are heavier and easier to wash thanks to higher heat resistance.
• Plastic pellets: Affordable and durable, plastic pellet filling is might lighter but could result in bumps and unevenness in the blanket.
• Steel beads: Another popular choice, they add more weight compared to other filling types, but the steel beads can be loud and a little bumpy.
• Sand: An environmentally-friendly option, it’s almost impossible to wash this blanket, and sand can come out through the stitching as the blanket gets worn.

Weighted Blanket Options

1. Layla Weighted Blanket

Shop It: LaylaSleep.com

Price: $119, was $219 at LaylaSleep.com – $100 off

Weight Options:

• 15 pounds (48” x 72”)
• 20 pounds (60” x 80”)
• 25 pounds (80” x 87”)

Materials:

• Cover fabric: Cotton, polyester/mink
• Fill material: High-density micro glass beads
• Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

One reviewer said about the Layla weighted blanket, “I love this blanket! I bought it because I was curious to see if a weighted blanket would help me sleep better, and it has done so. I work [the] night shift, so my sleep schedule has been a bit off. It would take time for me to fall asleep during the day, but once the weighted blanket arrived, I was able to fall asleep quickly and wake up feeling rested.”

Another said, “This is a well made blanket. It has [a] good distribution of the beads, and they do not all slide to one side.”

Common complaints were that the blanket is pretty warm, so it would be hard to use in the summer, and the customer service wasn’t great when they needed support.

2. YnM Weighted Blanket

Shop It: Amazon

Price: starting at $84.99 plus additional coupon, was $99.99 (48” x 72”; 15 pound option)

Weight Options:

• 15 pounds (48” x 72”, 60” x 80”, 88” x 104”)
• 20 pounds (60” x 80”, 88” x 104”)
• 25 pounds (88” x 104”)
• 30 pounds (88” x 104”)
• 40 pounds (88” x 104”)

• Cover fabric: 100% rayon derived from bamboo
• Fill material: Glass beads and fiberfill
• Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

The YnM weighted blanket features a dual-sided design, with a “cooling side” made from rayon derived from bamboo, and a warmer side made from velvet.

One reviewer said, “I’ve struggled with insomnia for years and years, in part due to what I call ‘runaway brain’ and the inability to fall asleep for over an hour or more.” They went on to say after purchasing the blanket, “What happened right away is that the first time I used it, I fell asleep within 30 minutes…It was my first night of 8 hours of sleep in months and months.” Even months later they updated the review to mention continued improved sleep.

As with other weighted blanket reviews, some found it too hot to sleep comfortably, and others found the stitching did not hold up well under continued use with leaked beads coming free from the duvet.

3. Bearaby Cotton Hand-Knit Weighted Blankets

Shop It: Bearaby.com

Price: $249 at Bearaby.com (15 pounds)

Weight Options:

• 10 pounds (40” 64”)
• 15 pounds (40” x 72”)
• 20 pounds (45” x 72”)
• 25 pounds (48” x 72”)

Materials:

• Cover fabric: 100% organic cotton
• Fill material: None
• Care: Wash separately in cold water on delicate or permanent-press cycle, tumble dry on low

Bearaby is one of the more popular knitted weighted blanket producers on the market. One reviewer on Amazon mentioned, “Since using this blanket, I am shocked at how much my sleep has actually improved. I’ve always slept okay, but have found it takes me a while to settle down once I get in bed. Now, I’m falling asleep faster just by crawling underneath it, and I wake up feeling noticeably more refreshed.”

Multiple reviewers mentioned it was an ideal balance of weight and warmth, noting that it has a nice weight distribution and does not seem to get as hot as the other brands. As for the complaints, some wished it was larger (it’s most ideal for just one person), some found it too lumpy, and the loops can loosen after washing.

4. Cottonblue Sherpa Weighted Blanket

Shop It: Amazon

Price: $64.98 plus additional coupon, was $72.27 at Amazon (15 pounds)

Weight Options:

• 5 pounds (41” x 60”)
• 10 pounds (45” x 71”)
• 12 pounds (48” x 72”, 60” x 80”)
• 15 pounds (48” x 72”)
• 20 pounds (60” x 80”, 90” x 90”)

Materials:

• Cover fabric: Sherpa fleece
• Fill material: Ceramic beads
• Care: Spot clean or commercial machine wash, hang to dry or low tumble dry

This Cottonblue weighted blanket covers the ideal middle ground of weighted blanket options, with lower weights and sherpa fleece rather than cotton as the main fabric. One reviewer noted it has two sides, with one option warmer than the other so it's ideal for changing weather. “The weight is just right.” Other reviewers noted improved sleep quality and appreciated the weight options.

For complaints, some felt like it was just a heavier-than-usual blanket, not a true weighted blanket experience like some of the other options on this list. Others mentioned it felt smaller than expected.

How we made our decision

Materials

We sourced an assortment of weighted blanket types, including duvet and knitted materials, as well as a few different fill materials (including glass and ceramic beads).

Price

Many weighted blankets (with the average weight offering around 15 pounds), range between $100-200 dollars. We aim to keep the price reasonable and within the average, but also look to feature popular options on sale. And for first-time buyers, there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars until you find what suits you best.

Reviews

We let the reviewers speak for themselves. If a product has few (or no) verified reviewers, or the complaints outweigh the purpose and price of the product, we won’t feature it in our lists.

P​rices accurate and items in stock at time of publish.