The Lowdown on 5 Weighted Blankets, According to Consumer Reports' Tests

A weighted blanket distributes weight uniformly so that the user experiences a bit of gentle pressure along with some warmth. These throw- or bed-sized coverings (including the Baloo, Gravity, and Luna weighted blankets, tested below) typically resemble a comforter, but instead of down or fabric filling, it consists of glass beads or plastic pellets. Some users believe that these smooth, tiny glass beads make the blanket quieter and feel less like a beanbag. All the weighted blankets we tested have glass beads. You might also find knit weighted blankets, like the Bearaby, that are woven with thick yarns of fabric, so there’s more airflow. (These were not included in our tests.)

In terms of comforter-style options, the best weighted blankets enclose the glass beads in small pockets throughout the product. This prevents pooling and offers a better drape—“even as you shift or roll over,” says Bernie Deitrick, the test engineer who conducted our weighted-blanket tests.

Manufacturers suggest choosing a weighted blanket that’s around 10 percent of your body weight. So if you weigh 150 pounds, the weighted blanket for you should weigh 15 pounds. That’s the weight we tested.

In the lab, Deitrick weighed each blanket and recorded how close each came to the claimed weight of 15 pounds. The good news is that they all came pretty close, and the differences shouldn’t be too noticeable, he says. But keep in mind: With total weight being equal, the smaller the blanket the more weight you’ll feel on your body. That’s why we also provide the pound-per-square-foot value, below.

We also wondered whether the weighted blankets would sleep hot. So our lab used a tin-man-like series of temperature-controlled metal boxes to measure the insulation level of each blanket. Interestingly, a heavy blanket isn’t necessarily an excessively hot one. “All the blankets were fairly close to the warmth that you would get by adding one fluffy down comforter to your bed,” Deitrick says. Of course, the models with duvet covers felt hotter than those that didn’t have one. So if you’re a hot sleeper, you should opt for a weighted comforter without a duvet cover, or try a knit weighted blanket, which provides more air flow than a weighted comforters, or use a weighted blanket without the cover.

Finally, we tested how easy the blankets are to wash, and whether such a heavy load would be machine washable at home. All the blankets came through with flying colors and with no damage. But our front-loading washing machine became unbalanced during the spin cycle.

We tested the 15-pound version of each of the five blankets listed below in alphabetical order. But each manufacturer also offers multiple weights, ranging from 15 to 35 pounds, and multiple sizes.