Electric Blanket vs Hot Water Bottle vs Heated Throw: Which Is Cheapest to Run?
Running costs for the three cheapest ways to keep warm, at the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026).
Quick answer
At 26.32p per kWh, filling a hot water bottle from a full kettle costs about 5.3p. A single electric blanket at about 70W costs about 1.8p an hour, so warming the bed for 30 minutes is about 0.9p. A typical 120W heated throw costs about 3.2p an hour, or 9.5p for a 3 hour evening. All three cost far less than running a 2,000W heater, which is about 53p an hour.
Best electric blankets UKHeating one person is far cheaper than heating a whole house. Electric blankets, hot water bottles and heated throws all do that, but they cost different amounts and suit different times of day. We priced all three at the Ofgem price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026).
Short version: a hot water bottle is the cheapest per use, an electric blanket is cheapest for warming a bed, and a heated throw is best for evenings on the sofa. Want to try your own numbers? Use our heater running cost calculator.
Running costs side by side
Hot water bottle: about 5.3p each time, if you boil a full 1.7 litre kettle. Boil only what the bottle holds and it is a little less.
Electric blanket: about 1.8p an hour for a single at 70W, and about 3.2p an hour for a typical double at about 120W. Warming the bed for 30 minutes before you get in costs about 0.9p for a single.
Heated throw: about 3.2p an hour for a typical 120W throw on a high setting. Lower settings use less. A 3 hour evening is about 9.5p.
Compare with a 2,000W fan heater or oil-filled radiator at full power: about 53p an hour.
What each one costs over a winter
Over about 150 nights from October to March: a hot water bottle once a night costs about £7.90. A single electric blanket for 30 minutes a night costs about £1.38. A heated throw for 3 hours a night costs about £14.21.
These are rough figures at full listed or typical power. Real use is often lower, because blankets and throws cycle on and off once warm.
Which one should you choose?
For a warm bed: an electric blanket is the easiest and safest way to pre-warm the whole bed, then switch off or turn down. See our best electric blankets UK guide.
For the cheapest heat: a hot water bottle. Use a good one with a cover and never use boiling water straight from the kettle. See our best hot water bottle UK picks.
For the sofa: a heated throw keeps your whole body warm for hours without heating the room. See our best heated throws UK guide.
Cold feet as well? A foot warmer costs pennies too. See our best heated slippers UK guide.
Safety tips for all three
Check electric blankets and throws for worn cables, scorch marks or damage every year, and follow the maker instructions on folding and washing. Do not use them with a hot water bottle in the same bed.
Replace hot water bottles every couple of years. Many have a date flower on the neck. Fill with hot, not boiling, water and push out the air before closing.
How we worked it out
The rate is the Ofgem price cap average Direct Debit electricity unit rate, 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026. The single electric blanket uses 70W, the figure in our heater calculator. The double blanket and heated throw use typical 120W figures, so check your own label. The hot water bottle cost is a full 1.7 litre, 3,000W kettle boiled for about 4 minutes, which is about 0.2kWh. Standing charges are not included.
Why we give this advice
Costs use the Ofgem price cap rate (26.32p per kWh, 1 October to 31 December 2026), a 70W single electric blanket, typical 120W double blanket and heated throw figures, and a full 3,000W kettle for the hot water bottle. We have not metered these ourselves.
Who it is for
- Anyone choosing between an electric blanket, hot water bottle and heated throw
- Households trying to keep the heating lower this winter
Who should skip it
- People at higher risk from cold who need their home heated properly
- Readers wanting whole-house heating costs
Important limitations
- Double blanket and heated throw wattages are typical figures. Check your own label.
- Costs assume full power for the time stated, so real costs are often lower.
- Prices use the price cap average rate and exclude the standing charge.
- Affiliate disclosure: Amazon UK Associates (topmagpie-20) may earn a commission on linked guides.
Frequently asked questions
1.Is an electric blanket cheaper than a hot water bottle?
2.How much does an electric blanket cost to run per hour?
3.How much does a heated throw cost to run?
4.Is a heated throw cheaper than the heating?
5.What is the cheapest way to keep warm in winter?
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This page stays problem-focused. Product rankings, approximate price bands and Amazon UK links live on the buying guide.
Best electric blankets UKRelated buying guides
GuideBest Electric Blankets UK
Pre-warm the bed for pennies a night.
GuideBest Hot Water Bottle UK
The cheapest way to warm up, with safe covers.
GuideBest Heated Throws UK
Stay warm on the sofa without heating the room.
GuideBest Heated Slippers and Foot Warmers UK
Warm cold feet for pennies.
More winter advice
Affiliate disclosure: TopMagpie participates in the Amazon EU Associates Programme (store / tracking: topmagpie / topmagpie-20). Buying guides linked from this article may contain affiliate links; we may earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change our editorial selections.
Research note: This is a problem→answer editorial spoke, not a laboratory test report. We do not invent live prices. Product comparisons live on the linked money pages.