The Very Best Heating Pads

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Type of heat:Dry| Features:Machine-washable cover, auto shutoff, three heat settings |Size:12 in. x 15 in.

This Sunbeam heating pad is one of the most versatile and affordable options out there, so it gets the top spot. It has four heat settings (warm, low, medium, and high), a two-hour automatic shut-off function, and a nine-foot cord. Dr. Sekhon likes it for period cramps, menopause, muscle stiffness, and general pain relief for the back, neck, and shoulders. While Sunbeam’s heating pads come in a lot of different sizes and shapes (including ones you can wrap around your forearm and others with magnetic clasps), I went with this standard 12-by-15-inch pad for testing. I used it to relieve period cramps and muscle pain after a workout and noticed the pad warmed up in under a minute. Despite it being less bulky and lighter than my old heating pad, it still provided plenty of heat, especially on its highest setting (though it never felt too hot). Switching between the heat settings was seamless, and the long cord was convenient since there’s a couple feet between my couch and the wall outlet. Storing it was also easy, since the cord’s detachable and the pad comes with elastic straps. On top of all that, the pad itself is machine washable and dryer safe.

Type of heat:Moist| Features:Machine-washable cover |Size:6.5 in. x 12 in.

SuzziPads are filled with flaxseed, millet, and clay beads to provide moist heat after a quick zap in the microwave. Two experts — board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy atActivecare Physical TherapyDr. Karena Wuand Heimann — recommended it. (Heimann notes her own mother found some relief from her neck arthritis after using the SuzziPad.) Both just note to make sure your microwave is clean before warming it up, because the pad tends to pick up any lingering smells. I felt a big difference between this and the Sunbeam heating pad (and any others I’ve used in the past), since my skin felt almost damp after using it. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it could be something to consider if you’re not used to a moist pad. A minute in the microwave warmed up the SuzziPad plenty but the pad didn’t feel too hot to pick up or place on myself. Of course, the biggest downside to this compared to an electric heating pad is that you can’t control the temperature. The pad stayed warm for about 20 minutes, which was longer than I thought it would last.

Type of heat:Moist| Features:Machine-washable cover| Size:14-inch diameter

If your main struggle is neck-and-shoulder soreness, you may want to consider a C-shaped heating pad since it’s easier to drape around your neck. This microwavablelavender one comes recommended by Strategist contributor Alex Ronan, who uses hers while working from home to help with tech neck. Like the above, it uses flaxseeds to retain heat, and also contains dried lavender for a pleasant scent as well as potential mood-stabilizing and anxiety-reducing benefits.Ronan says it’s able to retain heat better than any other lavender pillow she’s tried, and it has the perfect weight, “between a statement necklace and an albatross.” While she mainly uses it on her neck, she’s also used it like a traditional heating pad to alleviate abdominal cramps.

Type of heat:Dry| Size:Fits 35” to 47” waist

These single-use heating pads are activated by air after you take them out of their packaging. Unlike the other heating pads on this list, they don’t require plugging in or any prep like microwaving. Dr. Wu likes them as a low cost, low profile option under clothing or a good option if you’re in a pinch.

Type of heat:Dry| Features:Machine-washable cover, auto shutoff, and six heat settings |Size:12 in. x 24 in.

Pure Enrichment carries an extra-large heating pad that’s best for covering large areas. Dr. Sekhon likes it for back pain and swollen ovaries from IVF treatment. She also says that despite its larger size, it heats up quickly. It has six settings — two more than the best overall — as well as a machine washable cover and auto shutoff. It’s also been recommended by the musicianSantigold, who suffers from serious, chronic neck and shoulder pain. “I tried the pad. And I never had the pain at that intense level again,” she says. “You can drape it over your shoulder or wrap it around the side of your neck that hurts. You can put it on your hip, whatever — it really works.”

Type of heat:Moist| Features:Machine-washable cover, auto shutoff, and three heat settings |Size:14 in. x 14 in.

This Thermophore heating pad provides moist heat without having to throw it in the microwave. Instead, it’s electrical and is made with a specially woven cover that traps moisture from the air and generates moist heat therapy. Dr. Sekhon likes it for severe muscle pain, chronic conditions like arthritis, severe menstrual cramps, and menopause-related joint pain. However, she does note that it can get quite hot, so careful use is recommended.

Type of heat:Infrared| Features:Timer, auto shutoff, temperature customization |Size:14 in. x 14 in.

Infrared heat was also brought up by experts I spoke to. “It’s doing the same as a normal heating pad: enhancing blood circulation, increasing dilation of the vessels, but it can go deeper than others without burning,” says Heimann. “It’s going beyond the skin and subcutaneous level. It can help with healing.” Because of this, Dr. Sekhon likes far-infrared heat for chronic pain relief and deep muscle relief for severe menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms. The biggest drawback here is price, so it may not make sense to invest in this if you have standard cramps or muscle soreness.

Type of heat:Moist| Features:Three heat settings, three vibration settings, Bluetooth connectivity| Size:48 x 11 x 2 inches

TheHyperice Venom 2counts two Strategist staffers as fans, including writer Brenley Goertzen, who calls it “essentially a heating pad on steroids.” While it is the most expensive product on this list, you basically get an all-in-one heating pad andback massagerwith extra features. The cordless wrap has three heat levels and three vibration patterns for easing muscle tension, loosening knots, and decreasing soreness, and it can connect to the Hyperice app via Bluetooth. Goertzen appreciates that it heats up in a matter of seconds for a quick session,and writer Jeremy Rellosa adds that the first heat setting is plenty powerful for relaxing his muscles. It is designed to target the lower back, but Goertzen says that with a little MacGyver-ing, she’s been able to use it across her quads and under her calves to promote circulation.

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