How to Use the Heated Pad vs Electric Blanket Calculator
When choosing a winter bedding heater, one of the biggest questions is which one — a heated mattress pad or an electric blanket — costs less to run. Both are billed by wattage and hours used, but the way they generate heat differs enough that similarly sized products can have very different power draws. This calculator takes each product's wattage, daily hours, and total winter days used to project and compare full-season electricity costs.
Electric blankets heat directly through wire elements woven into the fabric, which tends to keep power draw relatively high while maintaining temperature. Heated mattress pads, on the other hand, usually rely on a small water heater that circulates warm water, so power draw often drops once the set temperature is reached — which is why they frequently end up cheaper to run on average. That said, results vary a lot by unit size, capacity, and temperature setting.
For an accurate comparison, it's better to use an average power draw that reflects real cycling behavior rather than the rated wattage alone. Also keep in mind that heated mattress pads typically cost more upfront than electric blankets, which is worth factoring into your purchase decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heated water-circulation pads often use less average power once they reach set temperature, since a small pump maintains water heat rather than a heating element running continuously, so they can cost less to run. But upfront price and specs vary a lot by product, so always check the actual wattage.
Check the rating label on the unit or the power cord, or the specifications in the manual, listed in watts (W). Actual average power draw is often lower than the rated wattage once the set temperature is reached.