We Tested 5 Weighted Blankets. Here's What We Found.
Whether one will help you sleep . . . that might take some experimenting at home
Some days you just feel like you need a big hug. That’s one of the benefits touted by the makers of weighted blankets, who also claim that they can calm you down if you’re anxious—or help you sleep if you have insomnia. But scientists have noted that evidence-based research on their ability to help you sleep better is sparse.
Still, weighted blankets have their fans, as evidenced by sales that have been soaring since well before the pandemic, according to SleepFoundation.org, an organization that tracks sleep issues and research.
So, what is a weighted blanket? As the name implies, a weighted blanket is a quilted blanket resembling a comforter but with quilted squares filled with glass or plastic beads.
“The beads are very, very small, and sewn into small pockets in the blanket so they can’t shift around,” says Bernie Deitrick, the test engineer who conducted Consumer Reports’ recent tests of five weighted blankets. The design ensures that the weight is evenly distributed, even as you shift or roll over.
Price: $169
Actual weight: 15.04 pounds
Pounds per square foot: 0.47
Size: 80x58 inches
Cover included: No
CR’s take: The Baloo weighted blanket has a cotton cover and does not come with a duvet cover. The beads are glass. Baloo says the blanket is machine-washable and dryer-safe. It’s sold in white.
Buy at: Amazon, Baloo Living
Price: $195
Actual weight: 14.84 pounds
Pounds per square foot: 0.64
Size: 70x48 inches
Cover included: Yes
CR’s take: The Gravity blanket comes with a micro-plush duvet cover. The beads are glass. Gravity says the cover is machine-washable in cold water and can be tumble-dried on low. The inner weighted blanket is hand-wash only and air dry (though we did run it through one wash cycle because it seems unwieldy to hand-wash something so large and heavy). This blanket is sold in three colors.
Price: $114-$146
Actual weight: 15.21 pounds
Pounds per square foot: 0.55
Size: 70x57 inches
Cover included: Yes
CR’s take: The Harkla weighted blanket comes with a fleece duvet cover. The beads are glass. Harkla says both the cover and the inner blanket can be machine-washed in cold water on the gentle cycle and put in the dryer on low heat. It comes in three colors.
Price: $70-$75
Actual weight: 14.44 pounds
Pounds per square foot: 0.60
Size: 72x48 inches
Cover included: No
CR’s take: The cover of the Luna blanket is cotton, and it does not come with a duvet cover. Luna says you can wash it in cold water on the gentle setting and hang it to dry or tumble dry on low heat. It is sold in 24 colors.
Price: $60-$79
Actual weight: 14.95 pounds
Pounds per square foot: 0.45
Size: 80x60 inches
Cover included: No
CR’s take: The YnM blanket has a cotton cover and does not come with a duvet cover, though YnM sells covers separately. The beads are glass. YnM says you can wash and dry it by machine on the gentle cycles but recommends washing the duvet cover rather than the inner blanket because “frequent washing may damage the heavy weighted blanket.” It comes in 26 colors.