- Weighted blankets can provide an evenly distributed amount of pressure and steady sensory input that help ease anxiety and stress, allowing you to sleep better.
- Our top pick is the Gravity Blanket because it’s a premium-grade, therapeutic weighted blanket that can help improve sleep and reduce anxiety.
- Read more: The best comforters for your bed
If you’ve spent countless sleepless nights tossing and turning, it might be time to try a weighted blanket. These cozy therapeutic blankets may look and feel like normal comforters, but instead of being filled with lightweight down feathers or cotton, they are stuffed with anywhere from 5 to 25 pounds of glass beads or plastic pellets.
The constant pressure provided by the weights can help produce a hug-like sensation that stimulates the production of serotonin and dopamine, the naturally occurring chemicals our bodies use to feel calm, relaxed, and happy. Your body then converts these chemicals into melatonin, which makes you sleepy.
While some studies have shown that the soothing effect of weighted blankets can help both children and adults who suffer from anxiety, insomnia, autism, and ADHD, conclusive research is still limited. Anecdotally, however, many users report that weighted blankets do help them fall asleep faster and sleep better throughout the night.
We’ve tested several models and conducted hours of research to find the best weighted blankets you can buy. Whether you are in the market for a hypoallergenic option or one that keeps you cool throughout the night, you’ll sleep soundly with these picks.
Here are the best weighted blankets:
- Best weighted blanket overall: Gravity Blanket
- Best cooling weighted blanket: YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket
- Best hypoallergenic weighted blanket: Good Knight Weighted Blanket
- Best dual-sided weighted blanket: Brooklyn Bedding Dual Therapy Weighted Blanket
- Best weighted knit blanket: Bearaby Napper
- Best weighted comforter: Brooklinen Weighted Comforter
- Best weighted blanket for kids: Quility Premium Kids Weighted Blanket
Links and prices are accurate as of 8/11/20. We added information about the limited research surrounding weighted blankets, as well as a short updated review on Bearaby’s Nappling weighted blanket for kids. If you’re interested in weighted blankets for kids specifically, we’re currently working on a new guide rounding up the best options.
The best weighted blanket overall
The Gravity Blanket uses deep touch pressure stimulation to help you relax and sleep better.
What started out as a Kickstarter campaign has quickly become one of the most popular weighted blankets available. The Gravity Blanket is a high-quality therapeutic blanket that comes in four different weights, ranging from 15 to 35 pounds. It measures at 72 by 48 inches making it the perfect size to ground one person at a time.
The blanket features gridded stitching that ensures its internal weighted beads are distributed evenly throughout each use. Each blanket also comes with a super-soft, removable micro-fiber duvet cover that's available in two colors: gray and navy. Both the blanket and duvet cover are machine washable and super cozy.
Business Insider tech reporter Avery Hartmans is a huge fan of the weighted blanket, and says that she falls asleep instantly every time she uses it and it's responsible for "some of the best naps of my life." She also says "the Gravity Blanket makes me feel calm, relaxed - and very, very sleepy."
Gravity has a cooling version of its weighted blanket, which we've tested and reviewed here. It works the same way but is made with a breathable "faux tencel" material that keeps you from overheating.
Pros: Helps you fall asleep fast, super soft, removable duvet, machine-washable, three different weights to choose from
Cons: None
The best cooling weighted blanket
Foto: Source: YnM
The YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket is a high-quality weighted blanket that will keep you cool throughout the night.
Many weighted blankets are made with fuzzy fleece or microfiber fabrics that are very cozy but can cause you to overheat throughout the night. The YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket is made from a breathable, moisture-wicking 300-thread-count bamboo viscose fabric that will keep you cool all night long, making it the perfect option for people who get hot while they sleep.
The inside of the soft blanket is filled with thinner polyfill and premium glass beads. There are different weights to choose from. The blanket is machine washable and comes with a three-year warranty for free mending if unexpected damage occurs.
While the YnM Cooling Weighted Blanket is made from a more breathable fabric, the rest of the blanket works the same way as the brand's original option that was tested by Insider Reviews senior reporter Mara Leighton, "It has markedly improved the quality of my sleep, and it's something that has made me genuinely excited to climb into bed after a long day."
Previous reviews called out that there weren't many color options, but YnM has since introduced more colors and patterns, including leopard and flower prints.
Pros: Affordable, keeps you cool at night, moisture-wicking and breathable, good weight distribution
Cons: Pellets can shift in their pockets
Read our full review of the YnM Weighted Blanket
The best hypoallergenic weighted blanket
Foto: Source: Good Knight Blankets
If you have allergies or sensitivities towards certain fabrics and materials, opt for the hypoallergenic Good Knight Weighted Blanket.
The Good Knight Weighted Blanket is a quality-made hypoallergenic weighted blanket. It is made from 100% premium cotton and is weighed down with tiny, non-toxic, poly-pellets. You can also buy your blanket a separate duvet cover, which is made from 100% premium cotton as well.
The 15-pound blanket measures 60 by 80 inches. It comes in a sleek dark gray color that complements practically everything. There's also a 17-pound option. Customer reviews note the blanket's soft, cozy material, and strong stitching.
Pros: Hypoallergenic, made with 100% premium cotton and non-toxic pellets, soft and comfortable, helps you fall asleep faster
Cons: Duvet cover sold separately
The best dual-sided weighted blanket
Foto: Source: Brooklyn Bedding
One side of the Brooklyn Bedding Dual Therapy Weighted Blanket is cool and smooth, while the other side is warm and textured, providing two different sleep experiences for the price of one blanket.
If your body is sensitive to temperature changes, opt for the Dual Therapy Weighted Blanket. Because one side is textured and cozy while the other side is smooth and cooling, it works for multiple seasons and personal body temperatures. The textured side also provides sensory stimulation for your entire body.
It comes in two weights (15-pound and 20-pound) and one size (60 by 80-inches). These weight and size options are less expansive than those of other brands, but they're also a boon for someone looking for a simple shopping experience. This Dual Therapy blanket is the only weighted blanket offered by sleep startup Brooklyn Bedding, which we also love for its mattresses and trust for any type of accessory to help us fall asleep.
When I reviewed this blanket, I was able to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer since I was no longer overheating or shivering in bed. Because of its two different sides, the blanket will be able to transition through all the seasons of the year, so you never have to deal with storing and moving a heavy piece of bedding. -Connie Chen, senior reporter
Pros: Two different sides to provide a wider range of sleeping experiences, removable duvet
Cons: Only one color option
Read our review of the Brooklyn Bedding Dual Therapy Weighted Blanket
The best knit weighted blanket
Foto: Source: Bearaby/Instagram
The most attractive weighted blanket you can buy must be Bearaby's chunky knit Napper, which looks like an ordinary knitted blanket but also offers all the benefits of a regular weighted blanket.
Chunky knit blankets always look cozy, and combined with the therapeutic benefits of a weighted blanket, they become impossibly inviting. What makes the Bearaby Napper doubly special is that it's made from responsibly farmed organic cotton.
By using over 280 yards of yarn, Bearaby eliminates the need to use artificial fillers to create extra weight. Instead, you get comforting, all-natural weight to calm and soothe your body.
Available in three weights (15, 20, and 25 pounds) and five colors, it's a blanket that appeals to all types of needs and style preferences, which is probably why it's regularly sold out on Bearaby's website. If you're willing to wait, you can add your email to the list to be notified when your style is back in stock.
But once you do have it in your hands, you'll be rewarded with a blanket that's simultaneously eye-catching and functional. Former reporter Lulu Chang notes in her review, "While the Napper is not particularly tightly knit, it's incredibly warm and insulating" and it's breathable as well.
Bearaby also has a new kids' offering called the Nappling. It features the same cozy knit design, but it only weighs eight pounds. I've been testing it for the past month and find it to be a great option for napping or for someone who wants to try the benefits of a weighted blanket without spending too much money. - Connie Chen, senior reporter
Pros: Stylish, attractive colors, machine-washable, made from sustainable materials
Cons: Highly popular, meaning it's often sold out
Read our review of the Bearaby Napper
The best weighted comforter
Foto: Source: Brooklinen
Brooklinen places a weighted layer inside a comforter, solving the problem of a weighted blanket that constantly slips and slides off your other bedding.
Most weighted blankets are meant to go on top of whatever bedding you already have, which makes finding your ideal sleeping position more flexible: you can put it on or take it off depending on what you want for the night, or you can easily transport it into the living room for a deep afternoon nap. The main problem is, that extra top layer can move around or be cumbersome.
Brooklinen, the online company hailed for its soft, comfortable sheets, makes it a little easier to enjoy deep sleep without any interruptions by turning a regular weighted blanket into a weighted comforter. That means it's fluffier and thicker than a weighted blanket, but you still get the benefit of the weight.
The shell of the comforter is cool and smooth cotton sateen, and it has corner loops so you can attach it to your duvet cover. It comes in weights of 15 to 35 pounds, and the brand's site provides good guidance for which blanket is the best for your bed size and number of sleeping partners (e.g. 20 or 25 pounds for a Full/Queen mattress, or 30 pounds for two people).
Brooklinen's smart take on the weighted blanket is best for people who know they want to sleep every night with some extra weight, as well as sleepers who have already tried traditional weighted blankets but realize they need a more consistent and reliable solution. Given the extra heft of the comforter, we think it'll be more difficult to casually move around the house.
Insider Reviews' Jada Wong and Caitlin Petreycik have been testing the comforters and both appreciate that it's not an extra layer on top of their bedding. The fluffier comforter looks like any other comforter, but it's deceivingly hefty every time they reach for it at night; they're always surprised by the unexpected arm workout right before bed. -Connie Chen, senior reporter
Pros: Weighted layer is built into a comforter so you don't need to buy separate pieces of bedding, thick and fluffy feel, won't slip off your bed
Cons: May be less versatile than a thinner weighted blanket
The best weighted blanket for kids
Foto: Source: Amazon
If your children are having trouble sleeping, try the Quility Premium Kids Weighted Blanket.
The ideal weight of a weighted blanket should be around 10% of your body weight plus one or two pounds. Since most weighted blankets start at 12 pounds and go up to 25 pounds, they are typically too heavy for children to use. But the Quility Premium Kids Weighted Blanket comes in four different weights ranging from 7 to 12 pounds, making it perfect for children. There are also heavier options for teens and adults too. Check with your child's doctor before considering a weighted blanket to ensure safety.
The blankets are made with 100% breathable natural cotton and are filled with glass beads that stay evenly distributed in small pockets. Each blanket comes with a soft, removable duvet cover that is machine washable. The blanket's dimensions depend on which weight you choose and the measurements range from 41 by 60 inches to 60 by 80 inches.
A handful of customer reviews mentioned that the removable cover stained other items in the laundry. So be sure to clean it on its own, at least the first time you wash it.
Pros: Ideal weight for children, soft removable cover, helps kids fall asleep faster and stay asleep, four different weights to choose from
Cons: Need to wash it on its own
How to choose the best weight for your weighted blanket
Foto:
The general rule of thumb is to choose a blanket that weighs 10% of your body weight. Weighted blankets are typically available at weights of 15, 20, 25, and 30 pounds. Certain brands are also available in lighter weights, which may be better suited for napping or use by children. If you're considering one for your child, check with their doctor first to ensure the right weight.
Check out more great weighted blankets we tested and recommend
Foto: Source: BlanQuil
The HoneyBird Weighted Blanket (review coming soon)
HoneyBird makes a powerfully effective blanket that feels denser compared to other blankets I've tried. I find that the size (51'' by 75") is a little small to share, so it's best for single sleepers - because of its weight, it's difficult to sneakily pull over to your side without disturbing your partner.
It comes with or without a cover, so it's up to you depending on whether you have a duvet cover you already love. Adding the duvet cover does make the blanket more expensive, but you can take $30 off by taking the site's quick, three-question Blanket Quiz. -Connie Chen, senior reporter
Buy the HoneyBird Weighted Blanket on Honeybird starting at $105
Quility Premium Weighted Blanket review
I like the Quility Premium Weighted Blanket because the weight is well distributed, the materials are breathable and keep me from overheating, and it helps me to fall asleep quickly.
When it came to coping with her anxiety, my wife said, "this blanket is everything." It helps her to stop fidgeting at night so she can sleep. She still has some nights where sleep is rough, but they are less frequent and pronounced when she uses the weighted blanket. -James Brains, reporter
Buy the Quility Premium Weighted Blanket on Amazon starting at $69.70
BlanQuil Quilted Weighted Blanket
I've been sleeping under BlanQuil's 15 lb Weighted Blanket ($169) for more than a week, and I've had seven-plus nights of consistently great sleep. The BlanQuil comes in 15-20 lbs and the general rule of thumb is to order whatever is 10% of your body weight.
If you're in the market for better sleep, this is definitely worth taking a look at. -Rebecca Carhart, reporter
Buy the BlanQuil Quilted Weighted Blanket on Amazon for $169 - $249 (price varies by weight)
ZonLi Cool Weighted Blanket
No one should have to suffer through sleepless nights. If you're a light or anxious sleeper who wants to find an alternative to sleep medication, the weighted blanket is worth a shot. It worked for me.
The highly-rated ZonLi weighted blanket is well-priced and comes in a variety of sizes and weights. Right away I noticed a huge change in the quality of my sleep. -Rebecca Carhart, reporter
Buy the ZonLi Cool Weighted Blanket on Amazon (price varies by size and weight)
Check out our other bedding buying guides
Foto: Source: Brooklinen
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