Prices and stock checked 4 November 2026. Running costs at the price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026.
A heated throw costs about 1.2p to 4.1p an hour on its highest setting at today's price cap, by testers' meter readings, against about 53p for a 2 kW heater. Good Housekeeping's highest-scoring throw is the Lakeland StaySnug faux fur throw (£84.99); for less, the Independent's pick is the Silentnight Luxury Super Cosy (£60).
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Testers' published consumption on the highest setting
Throw
Rated power
Per hour, as published
Per hour now
Four hours, estimated
Beurer HD 75 Nordic Grey heated throw
90-110 W
0.044 kWh (Good Housekeeping)
1.2p
4.6p
Dreamland Hygge Days faux fur heated throw, Alaskan Husky
150 W
0.048 kWh (Good Housekeeping)
1.3p
5.1p
Silentnight Luxury heated throw
Not published
0.102 kWh (The Guardian)
2.7p
11p
Lakeland StaySnug faux fur heated throw
160 W
0.155 kWh (Good Housekeeping)
4.1p
16p
Hourly consumption as each tester published it: Good Housekeeping averaged over its test run, the Guardian measured the first hour, which includes warming up. Priced by us at 26.32p per kWh, the price cap's average electricity rate for Direct Debit, 1 October to 31 December 2026. Four hours assumes the same average use. On a lower setting it costs less. The price cap now.
Many throws use well under their rated power, because a thermostat switches the element on and off once it's warm. The Independent's tester found "the wattage shown on the label doesn't necessarily reflect what it will draw continuously". So the rating is a ceiling: a 150 W throw at full power all hour would cost 3.9p. Which?'s tests found heated throws cost 2p to 4p an hour on their highest settings.
What to look for
A timer or automatic switch-off. Most switch off after two to nine hours; some let you choose.
Size. 160 x 120 cm suits one person on a sofa; 180 x 130 cm or more is easier to share or tuck round you.
A detachable control, so the throw goes in the washing machine. Check the wash temperature on the label.
Even heat. Testers found cold spots at the edges of some throws; the picks here heated evenly.
The throws
Prices from the shop named on each button. Specs from the makers' and retailers' listings.
Soft faux fur over a 160 W element, nine heat settings and nine timer settings, with a detachable control so it goes in the washing machine. Testers found it heats evenly; it's the most expensive to run here, at about 4p an hour flat out.
Silentnight Luxury Super Cosy heated throwOur pickFor less
Nine heat settings and a two-hour switch-off rather than a timer. The Independent found the warmth even across the whole throw and the running cost about 1p an hour on its highest setting. Better for one person than two.
Size
120 x 160 cm
Heat settings
9 (the Independent's spec list)
Switches off
After 2 hours (no timer)
Washing
Machine washable at 40°C with the controller removed; air dry
Dreamland Hygge Days faux fur heated throw, Alaskan HuskyOur pickFast to warm
Faux fur with six heat settings and a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer. The quickest to warm up in Mumsnet's test, and one of the cheapest to run on Good Housekeeping's meter.
A thin, light fleece throw with a two-hour switch-off. Amazon and reviewers list nine heat settings; Silentnight's own page says three. The Guardian measured it at about 3p an hour on maximum.
Size
160 x 120 cm
Heat settings
9 on Amazon and in reviews (Silentnight's own page says 3)
Beurer HD 75 Nordic Grey heated throwCheapest to run
Larger, at 180 x 130 cm, with six settings and a three-hour switch-off. Good Housekeeping tested the Cosy version of the HD 75 and found it the most energy-efficient throw it tried; we haven't seen a test of this Nordic colourway.
Dreamland Snuggle Up heated throw, greyChoice of timer
A 150 W throw with six settings and a 1, 3 or 9-hour timer. Ideal Home named it the best heated throw, listed there as the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw (the same Amazon listing).
These are findings other testers have published, credited with links.
Lakeland StaySnug faux fur heated throwGood Housekeeping named it best overall at 97/100, with full marks for even warmth and a steady temperature, and measured 0.155 kWh in an hour on its highest setting. It was hard to fit in the washing machine and slow to dry.October 2026
Lakeland StaySnug faux fur heated throwThe Independent chose it as the best faux fur heated throw, with heat spread evenly across it, 32°C after an hour and about 4p an hour to run.August 2026
Silentnight Luxury Super Cosy heated throwThe Independent named it the best electric throw overall, for "impressively even warmth" with no cold patches, about 36°C after an hour and "just 1p an hour on the highest setting". There's no timer; it switches off after two hours.August 2026
Dreamland Hygge Days faux fur heated throw, Alaskan HuskyMumsnet named it the best heated throw, after it reached 38.1°C ten minutes into the highest setting, the fastest warm-up of the throws tested, though repeated washing made the fabric less soft.October 2026
Dreamland Hygge Days faux fur heated throw, Alaskan HuskyGood Housekeeping scored it 86/100, found the warmth evenly spread with small dips over three hours, and measured 0.048 kWh in an hour. Some faux fur shed.October 2026
Silentnight Luxury heated throwThe Guardian measured it at 0.102 kWh in an hour on maximum, "3p an hour on maximum", reaching just over 33°C, and found it thin and light, switching off after two hours.February 2026
Beurer HD 75 Nordic Grey heated throwGood Housekeeping named the Cosy HD 75 its best value electric throw at 89/100, "one of the best on test for even temperature distribution" and the most energy-efficient throw it tried, at 0.044 kWh in an hour.October 2026
Dreamland Snuggle Up heated throw, greyIdeal Home named it the best heated throw (listed as the Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw, on the same Amazon listing), for its six settings and five-minute heat-up, though it noted "fairly high energy usage".September 2026
In a power cut, a mains throw stops. A portable power station runs one for many hours: see which last the night.