This week's spotlight ·
Keep warm for less this winter: electric blankets, heated throws, airers and heaters compared
Warming yourself is far cheaper than warming the room. At the current price cap of 26.32p per kWh, an electric blanket or heated throw costs a few pence an hour, while a 2kW heater costs about 53p. So the cheapest way to feel warm this winter is to heat the person, not the house.
The clocks have gone back and energy prices are expected to rise again in January, so this is the week to sort it out. Below are the running costs, the deals we've confirmed today, and whether to buy now or wait for Black Friday.
Dreamland Starlight Express Fleece Super King Dual Control Underblanket
The 'was' price is notional, but £15 for a dual-control super king electric blanket is cheap whatever you compare it to.
Dreamland Indulgent Days XL Warming Throw, Grey Velvet, 140 x 180cm
Big enough for two on the sofa. Most other shops still charge £82 or more.
Dunelm 3 Tier Heated Airer (330W)
20% off, and about 4p an hour to run. The 90W Heated Ladder Airer is £32 (was £40) if you only dry small loads.
MeacoDry Arete One 10L Dehumidifier and Air Purifier
£20 under Meaco and John Lewis. Costco membership needed. Dries washing and cuts condensation for about 4p an hour.
Dimplex ECR20 2kW Oil-Free Column Radiator
£21 under its usual price, matched at Very and B&Q. Good for one room you use a lot, such as a home office.
Russell Hobbs 9-Fin Oil-Filled Radiator (RHOFR5002)
A cheaper, slower-to-warm alternative to the Dimplex. Oil-filled radiators keep giving off heat for a while after the thermostat clicks off.
Why now
Ofgem's price cap for October to December 2026 puts electricity at 26.32p per kWh, and analysts expect the January cap (announced on 25 November) to go up again, by around 12–14% on some forecasts. The clocks have also gone back, so evenings are colder and darker. Blankets, throws and airers sell best in November and December, and the good ones tend to sell out rather than get cheaper.
What each one costs to run
The cost per hour is simply the power in kilowatts multiplied by 26.32p. These are figures at full power; thermostats switch on and off, so real costs are usually lower.
- Electric blanket: about 2p to 7p an hour. Which? found some models cost under 2p an hour on the hottest setting. Most people only run one for half an hour before bed.
- Heated throw: about 2p to 8p an hour. In real-world testing, a throw used about 8p over a whole eight-hour evening.
- Heated airer: 2p to 9p an hour (90W to 330W). A tumble dryer cycle is about 79p.
- Dehumidifier: about 4p to 5p an hour for a 10–12L compressor model.
- Oil-filled or oil-free radiator: 26p an hour at 1kW, 39p at 1.5kW, 53p at 2kW.
- 2kW fan or convector heater: about 53p an hour.
The Energy Saving Trust reckons turning your central heating thermostat up by just 1°C can add around £145 a year. So keeping it a degree lower and using a throw on the sofa can genuinely pay for the throw in one winter.
Buy now or wait for Black Friday?
Buy now: electric blankets, heated throws and heated airers. These are seasonal, and the brands most people want (Dreamland, Silentnight, Lakeland's Dry:Soon) rarely get deeper cuts on Black Friday than they do now. Lakeland, for example, is already running a 20%-off code until 30 November.
Buy now: dehumidifiers. Which? found that last Black Friday only a handful of lesser-known dehumidifiers were discounted, and only slightly, because November is peak season for them.
Could wait: heaters. Plain oil-filled and convector heaters are cheap all year. Only buy one if you need a single room warm, not to replace central heating.
Prices worth paying
- Dreamland Snuggle Up heated throw: £40 or less (it's £49.99 everywhere today, so hold off)
- Dreamland Cosy Up faux fur throw: under £70
- Double electric underblanket: under £30
- 3-tier heated airer: £70 to £80
- Meaco Arete One 10L dehumidifier: £140 or less
- Dimplex ECR20 oil-free radiator: £79 or less
- 2kW oil-filled radiator: £45 to £50
How to choose
Electric blanket: an underblanket goes under your sheet and warms the bed before you get in. Choose dual controls for a double or bigger, so each side can set their own heat. Look for an auto shut-off timer, and check it's machine washable.
Heated throw: a 120 x 160cm throw suits one person; go for 140 x 180cm or bigger if you share a sofa. A timer and several heat settings are worth having.
Heated airer: count the rails. A 3-tier airer handles a full wash load; a single ladder airer is fine for a few items. Add a cover to dry clothes faster.
Dehumidifier: Which? suggests 7–12L for a small flat, 14–16L for a busier home or worse damp, and 18L or more for serious damp. Compressor models struggle in rooms below about 10°C, so a desiccant model suits a cold garage or conservatory.
Heater: oil-filled radiators are quiet and hold heat; fan heaters warm a room quickly but are noisy. Never leave any electric heater running while you sleep; Which? calls it a major fire risk.
Safety
Check electric blankets every year for scorch marks, fraying or loose wires, and replace any that are over ten years old. Don't use a blanket and a hot water bottle together. Buy from a known brand and a proper retailer, not a no-name marketplace listing.
For more on getting ready for November, see Black Friday 2026: what to buy now, what to wait for and every Black Friday guide.