The 8 Very Best Weighted Blankets

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Weight:10, 15, 20, and 25 pounds |Material:Available in Tencel lyocell, cotton, and velvet jumbo yarn |Filling:Chunky knit |Maintenance:Machine washable

Longtime Strategist readers shouldn’t be surprised to find the Bearaby weighted blanket at the top of our list. (It’s also our top choice for thebest overall cooling weighted blanket, a favorite of Strategist staffers, and is evencelebrity-approved.) What makes it unique is that, unlike other weighted blankets, the Bearaby doesn’t have a filling. Instead, it’s hand knit with a thick, chunky yarn made with layers of fabric, which creates the heft.And thanks to the open-knit construction, it’s inherently breathable, a boon to hot sleepers. It’s arguably the best-looking weighted blanket out there, too, resembling something cozy as opposed to therapeutic.

I tested a 15-pounder and found it to be extremely comforting and calming. I put it over my comforter during colder months and felt cozy and “pressed down” in a way that instantly put me to sleep. It’s admittedly harder to move around underneath it, because it’s so heavy, but that contributed to a deeper sleep. I will note that because of its construction, it’s a bit cumbersome to store and carry, and the loops require adjusting from time to time, so you’ll want to keep that in mind. Senior editor Jen Trolio, who has owned the velvet version for over three years and has given others as gifts, was first drawn to its look and is now “all in” on the Bearaby, though she notes that the “chunkiness can be an issue” for some, especially if you’re sharing a bed with someone. Strategist junior writer Bella Druckman is a recent convert: “I’ve been sleeping with it for a few months and find that it actually relaxes my body as I fall asleep,” she says. “I know experts always say that, but I didn’t realize how true it was until I tried it myself.”The Bearaby is available in 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-pound weights and comes in three materials (cotton,Tencel, andvelvet), though it should be noted that not all materials encompass the full range of sizes. Bearaby also offers the nicest and broadest color options, including lavender, butternut, and jade, depending on the style. As far as maintenance goes, it’s machine washable, but Trolio notes that it takes a while to dry.

Weight:5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 pounds |Material:Cotton, nylon, or microfiber |Filling:Glass beads |Maintenance:Machine washable

If you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of weighted blankets, consider ones from YnM, which, unlike Bearaby, are filled with glass beads (and are the more traditional style of weighted blanket), more affordable, and might be a little easier to wrangle than a chunky knit. An Amazon bestseller, it comes in the largest range of weights on this list, from 5 to 30 pounds, and in different materials including cotton, nylon, and microfiber. It’s a favorite of former Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell, who has owned the cotton weighted blanket since 2019. She defines her life “pre–YnM blanket and post–YnM blanket.” “Pre-YnM, it took me what felt like forever to fall asleep. My post-YnM sleep life, though, is very different,” shewrites. “Using the blanket, I couldn’t tell you how long it takes me to fall asleep, because I’m actually sleeping instead of having nightly staring contests with my ceiling.” It’s made of seven layers and is filled with glass beads that are distributed between 2” x 2” pockets.

YnM labels the blanket as cooling because of its many layers of breathable fabric and glass beads. But Milliner-Waddell clarifies, saying, “lying under it doesn’t feel like an ice bath, but as someone who sleeps hot, I will say using the blanket doesn’t make me any hotter, even on warmer nights.” As far as durability goes, after owning it for three years, Milliner-Waddell says that it’s “held up great, with no tears or staining, and all the beads are still in the right spot.” It comes in a bunch of fun colors, like sky blue and avocado, and cute patterns, depending on the size and material. While the instructions say that the entire blanket is machine washable (it does not come with a cover), reviews on Amazon are mixed on whether that’s a good idea. Your best bet would be to get aseparate removable duvet coverso you have to wash the actual blanket less.

Weight:12, 15, 20, and 25 pounds |Material:Cotton |Filling:Glass beads |Maintenance:Machine washable

For those looking for a glass-filled weighted blanket covered in cotton, Baloo makes a very nice one that comes in throw, full/queen, and king sizes, the latter two which allow you to share one with a partner. Trolio uses the Bearaby on herself, but when she wants to cover the entire bed with a weighted blanket so her husband is under it as well, she opts for the queen-size Baloo. “For actual beds and especially in partner scenarios, the glass beads are nice for a sleeker, slimmer look,” she says, adding that knits are better as a throw. Because she prefers to “sleep under the equivalent of a pile of bricks,” Trolio pairs the queen with a 12-pound throw on her side for extra weight. Even with the double layer, the bed still looks neat, and she’s not burning up under them, either. The cotton itself feels “very smooth, possibly even sateen-y,” says Trolio.

When former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson tested the blanket, she reported that it was comfortable for a hot sleeper like herself. “I felt cooler sleeping under the Baloo than most of the other blankets,” she says. While not specifically labeled “cooling,” the cotton material actually plays a huge part in the breathability of the Baloo. “We sleep more deeply in a cool environment. Heat loss and temperature regulation often occur from our feet at night. This is why people may kick their feet out from under the covers at night,” explains Peters, adding, “A material like cotton is more breathable, allowing for natural cooling.” The blanket has a thin profile, further contributing to its comfort, and the glass beads help with airflow because they’re not as tightly packed. It’s also machine washable, but Trolio prefers using a duvet cover for protection as it (and many glass-filled weighted blankets) comes with corner ties for that very purpose. She adds, though, that its weight makes it hard to keep the blanket from moving around inside the cover.

Weight:5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 22, 25, 27, 30, and 32 pounds |Material:Bamboo viscose |Filling:Glass beads |Maintenance:Machine washable

Here’s a weighted blanket that’s made of bamboo viscose that Ben Trapskin, founder ofSleep Sherparecommends. “It is one of the smoothest-feeling weighted blankets I have used,” he says, thanks to the bamboo fabric cover that, according to him, “has a silky feel and helps keep youcool.” The glass-bead-filled blanket incorporates layers of microfiber, which Trapskin says “gives it a more consistent feel, more like a regular blanket.” The extra padding “makes it so that you don’t hear the glass beads shifting when you move,” he adds. Another feature he calls out is the fact that it comes with a travel case. Because of it, “It’s easier to fold and put away than other weighted blankets I have used.” It’s machine washable, but you can buy aseparate coverfor added protection.

Weight:5.8 pounds |Material:Cotton |Filling:Cotton |Maintenance:Machine washable

Many weighted blankets can be too cumbersome to use every day, so I was interested in testing a few options that had extra heft to them without being a full-on weighted blanket. Coyuchi’s newly launched Dreamweight throw is a lower-weight weighted blanket that I can see myself using on a daily basis. It’s made of organic cotton inside and out and constructed with a gauzy matelassé weave that makes it look and feel like a lived-in quilt. Despite its 5.8-pound weight, the fabric gives it a breathable quality and is also quite soft to the touch. It’s a well-made, heirloom-quality blanket that also looks really elegant.

Weight:12.5 pounds |Material:Polyester |Filling:None |Maintenance:Machine washable

Here’s another option that looks like a traditional throw but has qualities of a weighted blanket. Cozy Earth makes a plushfaux-fur blanket available in an “extra-weight” option in addition to its regular throws. It weighs 12.5 pounds (the regular throws range from 6.2 to 11 pounds in weight), is furry on both sides, and is very thick, which is where the weight comes from (not glass beads). It is extremely soft, comforting, and plush, like a flat giant teddy bear. I could imagine using it on the floor like a fuzzy mat, too. It’s easy enough to drag onto the sofa for cuddling or bring back to bed for a little extra snugness.

Weight:8, 12, 15, 20, and 25 pounds |Material:Cotton |Filling:None |Maintenance:Machine washable

Silk & Snow makes a knitted weighted blanket ranging from 8 to 25 pounds in weight. I requested the lowest weight because I wanted to use it more like a throw. The brand bills the 8-pounder as a kids’ blanket. It has a looser weave than Bearaby’s knitted blanket, which explains its more manageable size. I found it interesting that the “yarns” were formed by flat pieces of cotton that have been twisted and folded. (Bearaby’s yarns are tubes that are filled with cotton batting.) Because the spaces are bigger between the yarns, you have to be more careful when handling it so that it doesn’t stretch out too much, but the weight makes it manageable.

Weight:1.5 kg (3.3 pounds), 2 kg (4.4 pounds), and 3 kg (6.6 pounds) |Material:Cotton |Filling:None |Maintenance:Machine washable

Blankets from Australia-based Woven Woven are also knitted but resemble a traditional (non-chunky) cotton blanket thanks to a proprietary knitting technique that evenly distributes the weight throughout the blanket. Though they are made for children and range in size from 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) to 3 kg (6.6 pounds), Strategist deputy editor Simone Kitchens has been sharing it with her daughter. Kitchens love its smaller dimensions, as the blanket doesn’t take over the whole bed and instead covers only her upper body. “It’s not on my legs, which always makes me feel a little trapped,” she says. “It adds this perfect amount of weight to my upper half and is a perfect mix of weight and a little warmth, especially for now when it’s freezing outside.” She points out that it’s very nicely woven and goes with her bedding more seamlessly than other weighted blanket styles she has tried. Kitchens got the 1.5 kg with her daughter in mind originally but found that she would kick it off at night. Kitchens would have maybe gone with a heavier one for herself, but she still loves using it on top of her comforter without feeling trapped by it.