Top 10 Best Heating Pads in 2024

While most people are familiar with heated blankets, not everyone might have heard of heating pads. It is true that some might not see any utility in them but they can prove to be quite useful. A heating pad usually heats up much faster than a regular heating blanket. They are also much thinner and need less power. They are also much easier to store due to obvious reasons and do not cost all that much. Heating pads are quite affordable and work well. At the same time, safety improved due to regulations. They come with a fail-safe mechanism that prevents them from overheating. In fact, it is highly unlikely to ever encounter issues with a heating pad.

Now that technicalities have been cleared, it is important to understand the utility of heating pads. Heating pads are primarily used to warm up certain parts of the body to manage pain. They can also be used just to keep a certain part of the body warm even if no pain is experienced. The size of these pads can vary a bit. For our list, we selected a good range of heating pads that should cover all needs. Now that this has been cleared up, let us have a quick look at the top 10 best heating pads in 2024.

Best Heating Pads in 2024

10. Milliard Electric Therapy Heating Pad

Milliard electric therapy heating pad is a good solution for the ones that have problems with blood flow and chronic pain. It can help soothe muscles and warm up different areas of the body. The pad measures 15 by 20 inches and it is made from a soft fleche material. The heat level can be adjusted using a small controller. In terms of safety, the pad is UL 130 compliant and can shut-off automatically to prevent overheating. Last but not least, the cover can be removed so that it can be machine washed.

Pros:

• Machine washable
• UL 130 compliant
• Soft fleche material

Cons:

• Leaves a lot of lint around after the first wash

The cover or the blanket itself used for the heating pad is quite easy to remove and clean. Once machine-washed for the first time, the fabric will leave a good amount of lint behind. It can be a bit messy but the issue goes away after a couple more washes.

9. PureRelief XXL Ultra Wide Microplush Heating Pad with Fast-Heating Technology

PureRelief XXL heating pad is one of the larger models on our list. It measures 20 by 24 inches which will provide better coverage for the ones that have lower back pain and problems with large muscle groups. The model is made from a soft material and has a small controller that can be used to adjust the heat level. Maintenance is simple since it is machine washable. The pad also has a rather long power cord and heats up quite fast compared with other pads.

Pros:

• Heats up fast
• Machine washable
• Generous size

Cons:

• Does not get very hot

Even at the highest heat level, the pad does not get very hot. Some might like it the way it is but its efficiency when it comes to soothing pain is debatable. On the other hand, not heating too much means there is less chance of encountering problems with the pad.

8. Sleep Restoration King Size XL Microplush Heating Pad

Sleep Restoration heating pad offers a bit more than the cheaper options out there. The pad is made out of a premium polyester fabric that does not leave lint and has 6 heating levels. It uses a small controller placed on the power cord and has a removable cover. The cover is machine washable which means that it is quite easy to clean. In terms of safety, the pad has an automatic shut-off system that prevents it from overheating. As for dimensions, this is one of the larger models on our list, making it a good pick for the ones that have frequent back problems.

Pros:

• Quite large
• 6 heat settings
• Automatic shut-off to prevent overheating

Cons:

• Not very hot even at the highest level

The heating pad has the same issue as some of the other pads we found. Even at the highest level, it is not particularly hot. It surely is warm enough to offer a comfortable sensation but it could have been a bit hotter.

7. Sunbeam Xpressheat Hourglass-Shaped Heating Pad

Sunbeam Xpressheat offers what most other pads do not which is the heating level. It actually gets quite hot at the highest level. It has 4 different heat settings that are easy to select using the controller placed on the power cord and it is easy to maintain. As expected, the pad is machine washable and comes with various protections such as an automatic shut-off after 2 hours. The pad is relatively small in size, making it a good pick for the ones that need to warm up small muscle groups.

Pros:

• Gets quite hot
• Auto shut-off after 2 hours
• Moist heat option

Cons:

• The power cord is not long enough

The power cord is not that long. Odds are, there will not be a power outlet close enough to a bed or couch. Users will just have to get a power cord extender just for the heating pad in order to use it.

6. Sunbeam MNV730 Heating Pad Plus Massage

The Sunbeam MNV730 heating pad is one of the few products that also comes with a massage feature. It was made to vibrate gently. Combined with the warming sensation, the pad can help soothe muscles and relieve pain. It measures 12 by 12 inches and as expected it is machine washable. In terms of protection, the pad has an auto shut-off function after one hour and features 2 heat settings and 2 massage settings that can be adjusted with the small controller on the power cord.

Pros:

• 2 heat levels, 2 massage levels
• Auto shut off after one hour
• Machine washable

Cons:

• The massage function is not very useful

The massage feature is nice to have but it is not that useful. It vibrates gently but not enough to make a difference. It helps is a bit of pressure is applied. This makes the massage a bit more intense and it transmits vibrations to the muscles. Otherwise, it does not do much.

5. Pure Enrichment PureRelief Neck & Shoulder Heating Pad

Pure Enrichment PureRelief heating pad is a great therapeutical gadget that can help reduce pain and soothe muscles. The pad was made with a contoured design which makes it much more suitable for the shoulder and neck area. In the bundle, the manufacturers included a small carry pouch as a bonus. Heat levels are quite easy to adjust and the pad itself is machine wash safe. Last but not least, the product comes with overheating protection and can shut off automatically.

Pros:

• Contoured shape for neck and shoulder
• Overheat protection
• Comes with a small carry pouch

Cons:

• Quite small

Because of its size and shape, the pad cannot be used for much else besides the shoulders and neck. It can be used for back pain but given the reduced size, it is not as effective as some of the other models that were selected for our list.

4. Sunbeam Heating Pad with UltraHeat Technology

Sunbeam heating pad is one of the more affordable models on our list. It heats up quite well and was made to be very practical. The model measures 12 by 15 inches and is made from a thin but soft material. The controller of the device allows the heat level to be adjusted while the power cord is reasonably long. As for use, the pad can be used to reduce back pain and relax big muscle groups.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Thin but soft material
• Gets quite hot

Cons:

• No automatic shut-off

For the money, it is difficult to find a better deal. The heating pad is decent but it lacks any safety mechanisms. It does not have an automatic shut-off like most other pads on our list. This means that it runs as long as it is connected to a power source.

3. Sunbeam Moist / Dry Heat Heating Pad With UltraHeat Technology

The Sunbeam heating pad is yet another inexpensive but practical means of dealing with back pain. It can be used for a wide range of applications and comes with a sponge that can be used to apply moist heat therapy which increases its effectiveness. The cover of the pad is removable and it is machine wash safe. The controller of the device allows for 3 heat levels while the power cord is reasonably long. As for pad size, the model measures 12 by 15 inches.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Moist and dry heating
• Removable cover

Cons:

• Takes quite some time to warm up

The heating pad does not need a lot of power. It is quite economical but it is also less powerful when compared to other models. What most people will notice is that it takes quite some time for the pad to heat up. It can require up to 30 minutes to reach a decent temperature.

2. PureRelief XL – King Size Heating Pad with Fast-Heating Technology

PureRelief XL heating pad is one of the most appreciated models that made it to our list. The pad comes with a simple remote and 6 heat settings as well as an LCD display that can show the currently selected level. The blanket itself is made from a very soft polyester material that is suitable for daily use and is machine wash safe. In terms of size, the pad measures 12 by 15 inches and heats up quite fast. As a bonus, a dedicated storage bag has been included in the bundle.

Pros:

• Heats up fast
• Comes with a storage bag
• 6 heat levels

Cons:

• Not very large

Despite the fact that the manufacturers claim it is an XL model, the heating pad is not that large. In fact, it has the same standard dimensions as most other heating pads in our list which measure 12 by 15 inches. It is still good enough to use for large muscle groups and back pain.

1. Sunbeam Xpressheat Heating Pad

Sunbeam Xpressheat heating pad managed to heat up much faster compared to other heating pads. It is made from a soft polyester material and according to the manufacturers, it can heat up in just 30 seconds. The dimensions of the pad are a bit unusual as it is 12 by 24 inches. This makes it longer than standard heating pads. As for heat settings, the controller allows for 6 levels that can be switched between. The pad also has an automatic shut-off feature that prevents it from running endlessly and prevents it from overheating.

Pros:

• Automatic shut-off feature
• Large, 12 by 24 inches
• Heats up in just 30 seconds

Cons:

• Smells like hot plastic in the beginning

The heating pad gets quite hot. What all users will notice is the smell of hot plastic when using the pad. The smell will go away after the first few uses. Also, washing the pad cover once will help eliminate the smell faster.

Picking A Decent Heating Pad

Heating pads are supposed to be used as therapy for chronic pain or to soothe muscles. This means that not all heat pads are suitable depending on the problem that needs to be handled. Some users might find certain models to be unusable for them. Buying the first heating pad that shows on the page of an online retailer is never a good idea. Here are some pointers on what matters and what should be taken into account when it comes to heating pads.

• Size: The size of a heating pad can be quite important. Using a very small pad for back pain will actually do nothing. Also, for neck and shoulder problems, it is better to get a special pad that has a curved shape and a different size.
• Heat up time: Not everyone is willing to wait 10 or 15 minutes for a pad to heat up. More expensive models heat up quite fast. Some pads can even get hot in as little as 30 seconds. It all depends on what compromise the buyer is willing to make.
• Heat levels: Some pads are made to just provide a sensation of warmth while others can get hot. In reality, the ones that do not get too hot are a bit safer for obvious reasons.