The Best Heating Pad

Relieving aches, soothing cramps, warming kittens : These are just a few of the many reported uses for a heating pad. We tested seven plug-in heating pads and found that Pure Enrichment’s PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad is the best for those who want rapid, reliable heat. It warms up quickly and has twice as many heat settings as other pads, its backlit controller is easier to grasp and operate, and testers preferred the overall experience of using this pad to that of all others we tested.

Heating pads with a timer that can automatically turn the heating pad off can prevent burns.

We focused on heating pads certified by the two main labs used to test electrical products: Underwriters Laboratories and Electrical Testing Labs.

A quality electric heating pad is safety-certified, quickly reaches and maintains desired temperatures, and is equipped with an auto-shutoff function as well as a machine-washable cover. The PureRelief ticks every box plus offers added comfort and conveniences such as a plush—but not excessively sweat-inducing—cover, six heat settings, a grip-friendly controller with a backlit display, and a storage bag. It’s also covered by a five-year warranty.

If the PureRelief is unavailable or jumps significantly in price, Sunbeam’s King Size XpressHeat is essentially the same heating pad (and appears to be made by the same manufacturer). Like our pick, this pad offers six levels of heat, a comfortable cover that can be machine-washed, and a backlit controller. The cover texture, plug, and controller shape are not as nice on the XpressHeat, though, and it sounds more “crinkly” when bent or adjusted, according to some testers. It’s a top-rated, best-selling product from Sunbeam, the most prominent heating pad brand in the US and, like our pick, is also warrantied for five years.

If you’d prefer a microwaveable heating pad that can also be used as an ice pack, we recommend the Ohuhu XL Reusable Gel Pack for Hot & Cold Therapy. It’s flexible enough when hot or frozen to conform to various body parts, fits easily in compact microwaves, and comes with a unique wrap that has Velcro straps attached, enabling hands-free use.