Are Electric Blankets Bad for You? Everything You Need to Know

An electric blanket is, well, electric. It heats. It warms you when you are cold and can be a welcome release from winter nights if you’re living in colder climates. This sounds like a perfect solution to cold weather and saving on your heating bill, right?

Well, it’s mostly true, and if you’re on this page, you may be asking yourself, Is my electric blanket safe to use?

In most cases, when an electric blanket is used appropriately and according to the manufacturer's guidelines, it does not pose any significant health or safety risks. However, an electric blanket can be unsafe and even dangerous if misused, particularly due to faulty wiring.

These risks can also go up if you have children or animals in the house. If you’re worried about this, there are ways to keep warm and save on that heating bill.

Are Electric Blankets Bad For You?

Each year in the U.S., around 500 fires are sparked by electric blankets and heating pads, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). The usual culprits?

Aging products—especially those over a decade old—with frayed wiring, unreliable temperature controls, or overheating elements that push beyond their limits. It’s a heated risk that’s not worth ignoring.

Did You Know: The cord is its direct link to the power source—and if that connection is damaged, you could be exposing yourself to serious safety risks.

Below, we will discuss whether electric blankets are safe, the potential risks associated with them, and how they may be detrimental to your health. We will also provide safety tips and alternatives that can keep you just as warm.

How to Make Your Bed Warmer

Before we discuss if are bad for you, there are other ways to make your bed warmer!

Staying warm in bed during the winter can be a real challenge! Some people find that layering up with extra blankets, like a cozy fleece throw on top of their comforter, helps. Others swear by warm socks, a hot bath before bed, or even using a Chilipad bed cooling system, which can warm up to 115 degrees!

If you're looking for more tips and tricks for staying warm all night, check out our guide on keeping warm in bed.

Possible EMF Exposure

First and foremost, they have some side effects that can harm your health. Leading advocates for the disuse of modern electric blankets (due to the health risks) argue that using these products enhances your risk of a cancer diagnosis, [1] pregnancy problems for women, and decreased fertility in men.

The above can be associated with the EMF (electromagnetic fields) to which electric blanket users are exposed. [2]

Like any electrical appliance, electric blankets and heating pads emit some EMFs. While scientists disagree on how harmful they can be, there's one thing that can't be argued: if a product emits EMFs, the last thing you want is for it to be on top of your body, especially for extended periods of time.

Many people remove EMF-emitting devices from their bedroom, including laptops, cell phones, and other devices and appliances.

Did You Know: Are you concerned about EMFs? Users can reduce EMF when enabling "Airplane Mode" with the Chilipad Dock Pro bed system, our best cooling mattress pad for the bed, and let the sleep system run quietly in the background.

Do Electric Blankets Cause Cancer?

Throughout the years, numerous studies have examined the connection between cancer and the extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) generated by electric blankets. Still, no conclusive evidence from those studies links electric blankets to cancer.

Safety Study: Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Use of Electric Blankets and other In-home Electrical Appliances and Breast Cancer Risk [3]

Concern About Using a Heated Blanket While Pregnant

Developing fetuses are susceptible to environmental conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women stop using electric heating blankets while pregnant to avoid any possible risk of complications. [4]

Electric blankets can be safe to use during pregnancy as long as they are set to a moderate temperature. Aim for a warmth level that keeps you comfortable, ideally using electric blankets with automatic shut off features to prevent getting too hot.

Electric Blankets and Male Fertility

According to Dr. Desiderio Avila at Phoenix’s Ironwood Urology, radiation from electric blankets can possibly damage a woman’s eggs as well as a man’s sperm.

“Testing has revealed that radiation emitted from electric blankets is astronomically high, reaching over 70,000 times acceptable levels,” says Avila. [5]

Potential Fire Hazard

There is a general rule for using electricity: there is always a potential for fire. The design of an electric blanket or heating pad is often constructed of wires and additional components; all it takes is one of those wires to fray or crimp, causing a life-threatening scenario. The fire hazard risk is minimal if you’re using a new electric blanket.

Did You Know: Electric heated blankets cause about 5,000 house fires per year in the US.

Regularly inspecting the wires inside the electric blanket is crucial to prevent safety hazards. To ensure the wiring in the blanket remains functional and safe for use, avoid crushing the heating elements and wires during storage.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), nearly 500 fires are caused yearly due to electric heating blankets and heating pads. [6] If they're over ten years old, they cause the majority of home fires.

Electric Blanket Fire Statistics: Ninety-nine percent of all electric blanket fires were started by blankets that were 10 years or older.

Before using electric heated blankets, please take a few moments to inspect it thoroughly before use. By taking a few extra seconds before use, you’ll be able to determine if there are any issues with the blanket that can result in injury or a house fire.

Risk of Body Burns

Heating products, especially those with high settings, also have the potential to burn users, with the most risk surrounding children and the elderly.

The skin on a child or older adult, when touched with heat, may be undetectable due to altered temperature receptors, leading to possible burning. [7]

Children under the age of 3 may be unable to control the temperature settings on an electric blanket properly.

Blanket Safety Tip: “It’s important that anyone with reduced sensation, inability to communicate, or diminished capacity not use electric blankets.” should be wary [8] as well since you don’t want to raise their body temperature to more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or it could be harmful to the baby.

Sleep Disruption

Using a heating blanket can help you fall asleep initially, as the warmth creates a cozy and comfortable environment.

However, heated blankets may affect sleep and interfere with your overall sleep cycle. Maintaining a higher body temperature throughout the night can prevent your body from naturally cooling down, which is essential for deeper, restorative sleep.

This continual elevation in temperature might lead to more frequent awakenings or lighter sleep, ultimately disrupting the quality of your rest.

Are There Alternatives to Electric Blankets

Yes, if you're looking for a safer, smarter way to stay warm at night, traditional electric blankets can overheat or pose fire risks, but there are better options out there.

From temperature-controlled cooling mattress toppers like the Chilipad Dock Pro to breathable thermal bedding, you can stay cozy without the hazards. Check out our full list of electric blanket alternatives for safer, more comfortable sleep.

Electric Blanket Safety Tips

Although today’s electric blanket technology has improved in safety over the years, it still remains important to take precautions to ensure that the experience is as safe as possible.

Below, you'll find a few safety guidelines you should follow to help prevent accidents with unsafe outcomes.

• If the electric blanket was stored folded, please do not turn the blanket on.
• Do not dry clean or wash the electric blanket.
• To avoid accidentally turning it on, avoid plugging it into an outlet controlled by a wall switch.
• Avoid using an electric blanket and heating pad at the same time.
• Avoid folding or bunching your electric blanket while it is in use to prevent overheating.
• Never use one on an adjustable bed, water bed, pull-out sofa, or recliner. The cords and wires can become frayed or pinched.
• Unplug the electric blanket when leaving it unattended.
• Store your electric blanket in a dry, cool place to prevent damage.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of safe options to stay warm at night without worrying about the dangers of using electric blankets. Today, many people continue to use them as a heat source. But keep in mind that they should adhere to current safety standards and have an auto shut-off mechanism to prevent fires and overheating.