10 best weighted blankets to ease stress and anxiety

Simba may be best known for its rolled-up mattresses, but the brand’s sleep-promoting expertise extends to weighted blankets, too, it seems.

The orbit blanket promises “better, deeper sleep”, and we found it delivered, helping our tester sleep soundly throughout the night.

The weighted blanket’s sleep-inducing powers are down to its design, which sees glass nano-beads equally distributed in quilted pockets, and the 100 per cent cotton cover. The result is a breathable blanket that’s soft and smooth on skin, and it can be machine washed to keep it fresh and clean – something you’ll want to do regularly if you’re replacing your duvet with this Simba option.

Once the ties were used to secure the weighted blanket inside the cover, it stayed in place until we removed it for washing.

Read our full review of the Simba orbit weighted blanket

Those who are the very opposite of our hot-sleeper tester will love the super-fluffy Sienna weighted blanket. Our tester said it felt like being hugged by an enormous teddy bear or a long-haired cat, and the weight was just right (of course, make sure you select the right weight for you when adding this blanket to your cart). One side of this blanket features the plush, almost faux-fur fabric, while the other is a soft fleece.

We found the bargain price astonishing, because it belies the high quality and effectiveness of the blanket in providing a soothing feeling.

Velvety soft and a charming baby-blue colour, this fleece weighted blanket is brilliant for those looking for a soothing sensory experience. Our tester tried the 4.5kg blanket and found it gave just the right amount of a light hug, evenly distributed around them, as they slept – but remember that heavier options are available to suit people of different body weights.

Of all the blankets we tried, this was one of the best for smoothness. The non-toxic glass beads, which provide the weight, are almost imperceptible in their pockets, thanks to the thick fleece outer. We also appreciated that the blanket can be machine washed on a gentle cycle, to allow us to keep it fresh even when used frequently. The price of the Oodie weighted blanket lies in the mid-range, but the quality of the make and material more than justifies the price tag.

Being hugged in bed can be a hot-sleeper’s worst nightmare, but this weighted blanket provides the benefits of an embrace without the added heat. Kudd.ly’s blanket ensures brilliant airflow and body temperature regulation, thanks to the brand’s HydroCool technology, which our tester – who runs hot in bed year-round – said was a dream. We think it would also be the ideal weighted blanket for people experiencing hot flushes and for use by everyone during the balmy summer months.

We liked that the blanket didn’t feel overwhelming, at just 4.7kg in weight, but we realise that may be too light for some people. Aesthetically, it features a stylish diamond quilted pattern and comes in two colours: light green and grey. However, it doesn’t come with a cover.

People quite often prefer to sleep with only natural materials, such as cotton and linen, but this microfibre weighted blanket certainly rivals those in terms of softness. The ultra-smooth blanket felt great next to our skin, and the 7kg weight delivered the perfect balance of pressure without being suffocating.

We were also particularly pleased with the size, which is generous enough to comfortably drape over yourself. Dunelm’s offering comes in two colours – sage green, which we tested and loved, and silver. The square quilted effect is also appealing.

If only the finest bedding will do, here is the weighted blanket to add to your linens collection. Owl + Lark’s blanket looks the part, with a sustainable 100 per cent bamboo ‘silk’ cover and metallic poppers instead of a zip. It feels sumptuously soft next to the skin, too. This is boutique-hotel-style bedding with the benefits of a weighted blanket.

The pure bamboo weighted blanket and cover are wonderfully breathable and a joy to sleep under during warmer evenings or coupled with a low-tog duvet on chillier nights. We also found the weighted glass beads were evenly distributed, preventing weighty spots. We think the stylish zip-up bag for storing your blanket is a bonus, and we reckon it would make a smart gym bag, too.

Take a quick glance at this option, and you wouldn’t immediately know it’s a weighted blanket. Instead, it looks like a standard high-quality knitted throw but that’s the magic of it: there are no beads or added components, because the weight comes from the layer upon layer of hand-knitted organic European cotton. That means consistently even weight with zero risk of heavy spots due to beads gathering up.

The cotton is super-soft next to the skin, and breathable for ultimate comfort, which our tester found helped them sleep much better. They particularly liked that this weighted blanket works just as well draped over the bed as it does in the living room on a chair or sofa. The design is gorgeous and comes in a range of colours, including a berry red, green, grey and blue. Our tester was also impressed by the ethical production process that ensures every worker at each stage is paid a fair wage.

Read our full review of the Sommio knitted weighted blanket

Most weighted blankets are designed for use by one person or, even if it’s a particularly big one, they usually won’t cover the whole bed. However, the Baloo weighted comforter is designed to be large enough for sharing, snuggling and sleeping soundly under. You’re even likely to find one that will cover your entire bed, so long as it’s no bigger than a superking.

So that it’s weighted where it matters, the glass beads are focused in the centre of the blanket, rather than on the edges. Our tester wasn’t sure if this would mean the weight wouldn’t cover all of their body, but the area is generous enough for the job.

Something we especially liked about the Baloo weighted comforter is its 100 per cent cotton exterior and interior and that it’s made with only natural and chemical-free materials. The result is a breathable, super-soft blanket that helps you adapt to changing temperatures for a comfortable night’s sleep.

This weighted blanket doesn’t come with a cover, but Baloo sells French linen duvet covers (£99, Balooliving.co.uk) with internal loops that correspond to those on the comforter, to keep it in place inside. Although the weighted blanket is machine washable, most domestic washing machines are unlikely to have a drum big enough to accommodate the size of the blanket (or the weight, if you opt for the heavier 11.3kg blanket) but most laundrette machines will cope just fine.

While looks may not be top of your list when choosing the best weighted blanket for you, as it’s likely to be on display a lot of the time, it should suit your interiors and tastes. If grey is your thing, most of the weighted blanket market has you covered but, for those who love a bit of colour or prints, Karmara is the brand for you.

The brand’s karma switch blankets come with removable covers in various colours, including indigo, mustard, salmon and, of course, grey. If that’s not enough choice, the covers are reversible to offer an additional option, and they can be bought separately, giving you much more choice. Karmara’s weighted blankets are also available in a wide range of weights, including 6kg, 8kg, 10kg and 12kg.

We tested the 6kg blanket with the midnight indigo cover, which has blue cotton on one side and textured velvet-style fabric on the reverse. It offered plenty of comfort, and we love that both the cover and the weighted blanket inside are machine washable, to help keep the blanket at its best. This one also comes with a dust bag for storage when not in use.

Some weighted blankets are just too big for use on single beds, which can see them sliding off in the middle of the night, but that is where this one has you covered. It is designed to fit perfectly on a single bed, and was the narrowest blanket for adults on test. While that definitely has its benefits, but we would recommend this blanket only for people with small builds, because it may struggle to drape fully over larger frames.

The low-pile fleece fabric is velvety smooth and cosy, and the cream colour matches any interior design in the home. We also loved the quilted pattern on the cover, which features an attractive square and cross design. This blanket is unique in that, instead of the cover having to be put on via an opening at the bottom, it goes on using a wide zip-up opening at the side. This feature made the job that bit easier – something we can all appreciate.