The £10 heated throw that pensioners say beats turning on the central heating – but safety experts add one condition

Steam didn’t rise from a boiling radiator this winter in Jean’s bungalow. It came from her mug. She sat under a slate‑grey heated throw she’d picked up in a supermarket sale for a tenner, the central heating dial still firmly turned down. The numbers mattered: on her pre‑payment meter, running the boiler for an evening now cost more than her weekly shop used to.

The throw promised something very specific on the box – “from 1p an hour to run” – and for once it felt like a slogan that held up. Jean could watch the news in a warm cocoon while the rest of the house stayed cool, without counting every minute of gas. Friends at her lunch club copied her within weeks.

“It’s the best £10 I’ve spent in years,” one 82‑year‑old told me. “I’d rather plug this in than touch the thermostat.”

Safety experts, though, keep repeating one quiet condition. These throws can be a game‑changer, they say, but only if the blanket – and the person using it – stay firmly inside the rules.

A blanket that costs pennies to run

Most budget heated throws use between 80 and 120 watts on a mid setting. On a typical UK electricity tariff, that works out at roughly 2–4p an hour. You feel the warmth within minutes, and you’re heating your body and the chair, not every cubic metre of air in the room.

By contrast, a gas or electric boiler has to drag an entire house up to temperature, and then hold it there. Even a modest three‑bed terrace can cost several pounds a day to keep comfortably warm in cold snaps. For someone on a pension or disability benefit, that daily decision – heat or save – is not abstract.

A throw does not replace a working heating system, but it can shrink how often you need to run it. Used well, it turns a chilly living room into a tolerable one without the hiss of every radiator on full blast.

Option	Typical power use	Rough cost*
Heated throw	80–120 W	2–4p per hour
Oil‑filled portable radiator	1–2 kW	25–60p per hour
Whole‑house central heating	8–24 kW boiler cycling	£2–£6 per evening

*Figures based on common UK tariffs; your exact costs will vary.

Why older people are turning to heated throws

Pensioners know the feel of a “cold house” long before they see the bill. Fingers stiffen when writing cheques, nostrils sting in the hallway, and it takes a second mug of tea to feel truly warm. Many grew up with coal fires and jumpers, so layering up is second nature. What’s new is the size of the gap between income and energy prices.

Charities hear the same stories again and again. People closing off spare rooms, living in one heated space, or timing the boiler to half an hour in the morning and half an hour at night. A plug‑in throw fits that strategy neatly. It is portable, straightforward and feels cosy in a way a single fan heater never quite does.

Family WhatsApp groups and Facebook marketplace chats now share links to “best cheap heated throws” as eagerly as recipes. Grandchildren buy them as early Christmas presents, adult children leave one draped over the good armchair “just in case”. The appeal is obvious: direct comfort, visible running costs, and no need to argue with the thermostat everyone pretends not to touch.

The one condition from safety experts

Fire services and electrical safety charities have all landed on the same message. A modern, good‑quality heated throw is a sensible way to stay warm – on one condition: you must be able to use it safely and keep the room itself above a basic healthy temperature.

“Don’t rely on a blanket to hide how cold your home really is,” one safety adviser said. “You need the person and the property to be safe.”

For older people, especially anyone with heart or lung disease, the NHS advises keeping living spaces at around 18°C or above. A hot lap and a warm torso do not protect you fully if the air you breathe is icy. Very cold indoor temperatures raise the risk of chest infections, strokes and falls.

Then there is the technical side. Safety experts only recommend electric throws that meet current UK standards, have built‑in overheat protection and are used exactly as the instructions describe. That single condition – safe blanket, safe user, safe room – sits under every piece of advice they give.

How to choose a safe heated throw for about £10

Bargains exist, but the wrong kind of cheap can be risky. Before you click “buy now”, check for a few non‑negotiables:

• Buy from a reputable retailer. Supermarkets, well‑known catalogues and established online stores are more likely to stock products that meet UK standards than anonymous marketplace sellers.
• Look for UKCA or CE marking and a UK plug. The label should be clear, permanent and matched by a proper instruction booklet in plain English.
• Check for safety features. Overheat protection and an automatic shut‑off after a set number of hours are worth having, even on a budget model.
• Prefer a detachable controller. Being able to unplug the lead makes storage, washing and visual checks simpler.
• Avoid second‑hand electric blankets. You cannot know their history, whether the cable has been trapped under a bed leg for years, or if they’ve been recalled.

If a brand you’ve never heard of claims a king‑size throw that runs on “almost no electricity” for a few pounds, treat it with caution. Electrical Safety First keeps a list of recalled electric blankets; it is worth a quick glance if you already own an older model.

Using one safely: do’s and don’ts

Like kettles and toasters, heated throws are designed for everyday use – but only within their limits. A few habits make the difference between “snug” and “risky”.

Do:

• Read the leaflet once, even if you think you know how these work.
• Lay the throw flat and smooth; creases and tight folds can create hot spots.
• Start on a low or medium setting and only turn it up if you need to.
• Switch it off at the wall when you get up, leave the room for long spells, or go to bed.
• Check the cable and controller every few weeks for fraying, scorch marks or loose connections.

Don’t:

• Don’t use it with a hot water bottle or another heating pad at the same time.
• Don’t tuck it tightly under you, sit on it folded, or wedge it down the back of a recliner.
• Don’t use it if you cannot feel heat properly (for example, with some forms of neuropathy) unless a carer is monitoring.
• Don’t leave it on overnight for someone who may fall asleep in a chair, particularly if they have dementia or mobility problems.
• Don’t wash it in a way the label forbids; some are machine‑washable, others are not.

If you ever smell burning plastic, feel a part of the blanket becoming much hotter than the rest, or see brown or yellow marks on the fabric, unplug it immediately and stop using it.

When a heated throw is not enough

There is a point where another blanket, electric or not, stops being the answer. If you can see your breath in the living room, pipes are at risk of freezing, or you dread undressing enough to wash properly because the bathroom feels like the outdoors, it is time to tackle the house, not just the sofa.

Councils, energy suppliers and charities run “warm home” schemes, from emergency fuel vouchers to small grants for boiler repairs and draught‑proofing. Many areas now open warm hubs – heated spaces where anyone can sit, chat and keep warm for a few hours – throughout the winter months. GPs and social prescribers can sometimes refer patients for home checks and extra support.

A heated throw can tip the balance from “unpleasantly cold” to “bearable” on tight days. It cannot, on its own, undo mould in the bedroom, chronic damp or a broken boiler. If you find yourself wearing it almost constantly, even while cooking or moving around the house, that is a signal to ask for help.

Small routine, big comfort

The pensioners who swear by their £10 throws share a similar routine. Boiler on just enough to stop the house sinking into dangerous cold. Layers of clothing, thick socks, maybe a hat for the chilliest evenings. Then, when it is time to sit and rest, the soft click of a controller and a slow wave of warmth.

Used with eyes open – and that one condition firmly in mind – a heated throw is not a guilty shortcut. It is a practical tool for getting through long British winters on a sensible budget, without choosing between a full tank and a warm lap.

Staying warm cheaply is not about “coping” better than the cold. It is about using every safe option you have, from the thermostat to the switch on a carefully chosen blanket.

FAQ:

• Can I use a heated throw instead of turning my heating on at all? For short spells, many people do, but safety experts advise keeping living areas for older or unwell people at around 18°C or above. Use the throw to reduce how often you heat the whole house, not to live in a consistently freezing home.
  
• Is it safe to sleep under a heated throw? Most manufacturers design throws for supervised use while you are awake. If you are likely to nod off in a chair, use the timer function and a low setting, and avoid leaving it on through the night.
  
• What if I already own a very old electric blanket? If it is more than 10 years old, or you do not know its age, safety groups generally recommend replacing it. Some local fire services offer free electric blanket testing events where they will check older models.
  
• Can pets sit on my heated throw with me? Many do in real life, but claws and teeth raise the risk of damage. Keep an eye on cables, never cover the controller, and stop using the throw if you see any signs of chewing or holes.