Electric blankets, especially on a cold winter day like the day I’m writing this, are a great way to warm up and stay cozy. However, as more people become aware of the dangers of EMF radiation, they start to ask themselves, is this electric blanket safe to be using?
That is what we’re going to be talking about today. First, I’m going to outline what I think are the best low-EMF electric blankets on the market in 2020. After we’ve reviewed those, I want to spend some time talking about what EMF radiation is, and specifically about the radiation dangers that electric blankets present.
I won’t get too in-depth if I can help it, but I’ll point you to other valuable resources that you can take advantage of!
Alright, let’s start by looking at the best low-EMF electric blankets available.
5 Best Low-EMF Electric Blankets of 2020
Alright, so first, a small disclosure. I have not personally tried all of these electric blankets. For the ones that I have not been able to personally try (I’ll keep updating this post as I try the rest of them) my ranking and review is based off of many hours or search, reading product reviews, chatting with customer support, etc.
In 2018 alone I personally tested and reviewed over 100 EMF related products to put together my recommended products page and review posts like this. I take a ton of pride in the fact that people trust my recommendations, so I don’t take it lightly.
Whenever I review a product, I always am sure to evaluate:
- Price
- Product quality
- Customer Reviews
- EMF Readings
- … and much more.
Alright, enough jabbing, let’s get to those products!
1. Serta Luxe Plush Fleece Heated Electric Throw
Check it out on Amazon.
Alright, starting off let’s talk about one of the few electric blankets on the market that claims to emit no EMF radiation right in the product description.
First let’s talk about some of the things I like most about this electric blanket.
It’s extremely soft and comfortable, as any quality electric blanket should be. However you’d be surprised how poorly designed some of these blankets actually are. It’s readily apparent that they thought way more about the heating aspect of the design, then actually making a simple and comfortable product.
The Serta Luxe Electric Blanket is made out of super soft micro-fleece fabric that honestly feels incredible on the skin.
Now let’s talk a little bit about the electronics of this blanket.
So to start with, and this is something I really like, the power box for the blanket takes 120 volt AC and converts into really low-voltage DC really similar to a simple battery. This not only allows it to emit far less EMF radiation, but also helps to keep you safe even if the blanket were to get wet.
It is still plenty enough power to provide as much warmth as you need, but I love that they actually thought of the EMF radiation emissions from their blanket, and took steps to reduce it.
The heating wires inside the blanket are extremely thin, to the point that you basically don’t even notice them. They are placed about 3 inches apart, and go head to toe for an all-over warmth.
The blanket itself is a twin size, so it’s perfect for a living room electric blanket to keep around.
It has a small non-slip computerized controller with a backlit display that allows you to adjust heat easily. I also love that it has a feature that will automatically turn off the blanket after 10 hours as a fail-safe in case you forget.
The heat it provides is extremely gentle and soothing, and will not feel hot to the hand, which I love.
Overall, this is one of the lowest EMF radiation electric blankets on the market. Although in their product description on Amazon they claim the blanket will emit no EMF radiation, I don’t think that will be the case. I think it may emit a very small amount from the computerized controller, but almost not enough to even worry about.
2. SoftHeat by Perfect Fit | Luxury Micro-Fleece Low-Voltage Electric Heated Blanket
Check it out on Amazon.
Alright, now this is another great low-EMF electric blanket that, to be honest, is very similar to the Serta blanket. However, there are a few differences that we’ll talk about.
So the primary part of this low-EMF electric blanket is an extremely soft micro-plush fabric that just feels super luxurious honestly. This one, unlike the last, is a queen size blanket, so it’s actually quite large and can be a great topper for your bed.
Like the Serta electric blanket, this one also has a power converter that changes the 120 volt AC that most blankets use, into a non-hazardous low voltage DC current. This allows the blanket itself to emit almost no EMF radiation, which is exactly what we’re looking for here.
The wires inside the blanket are extremely thin, so you really won’t even notice them. The way the are distributed keeps the blanket from having an hot or cold spots. The warmth it gives off honestly is really calming and relaxing.
There is a simple to use digital display to control the heat. One way that users liked to use this blanket was to have it as the topper for their bed, and then turn it on a few minutes before they crawled in. That way it’s like your crawling into a bed that is already warm and ready!
As far as EMF radiation for this blanket goes, I would expect the readings to be very similar to the Serta. The blanket itself should emit very little radiation the way it is designed. The control unit will likely emit a very small amount of magnetic radiation, but you don’t need to have this close to your body when using the blanket.
You can check the current price or purchase this blanket on Amazon.
3. BioSmart Luxurious Safe Low-Voltage Infrared Electric Heated Blanket
Check it out on Amazon.
Alright, now it’s time to talk about one of my absolute favorite blankets. If it wasn’t for the high price, it would be rated higher on my list.
However, this is a situation where you really get what you pay for. This is truly one of the absolute nicest electric blankets on the market, and perfect for someone that is EMF conscious or EHS.
First of all, the blanket is made out of several layers of fabric that create a super soft and plush comfort. The layers are breathable so that you don’t get overheated. The manufacturer also mentions that this helps supplement the body’s own infrared radiation with infrared heat generated by the low-voltage DC.
They mention in their product description that:
This eliminates the risk of electromagnetic radiation and other health hazards. There is no detectable wiring. The blanket will not generate “hot spots”. Safe for diabetics, pregnant women and the elderly.
Another one of my favorite features of this electric blanket is the dual remotes. In the King and Queen sizes of this blanket, there are actually two remotes, one on either side. This allows a couple to each set their own heat preferences if it is used as the primary or topper blanket for the bed.
Overall I think this is absolutely one of the best low-EMF electric blankets on the market. The price is a fair bit higher than other products on the market, which is why I rated it a bit lower overall.
If you want to read the reviews or check the price you can visit the Amazon listing here.
4. Beautyrest – Plush Heated Throw Blanket
Check it out on Amazon.
This is probably the best low-EMF electric blanket if you’re on a bit of a budget. For its price, it offers some fantastic features. The primary difference between this blanket and the others, is the size, as this is a standard throw size.
One of the coolest features of this blanket is their “Secure Comfort” heated technology. This allows the warmth of the blanket to automatically adjust based off of the overall temperate, spot temperatures, and ambient temperatures of the room to provide an even flow of warmth.
This also allows the blanket to emit virtually no electromagnetic field emissions.
The remote allows 3 different heat settings, and comes with an automatic 2-hour shutoff so you can’t accidentally leave it on.
The blanket is 100% polyester, and is super soft and cuddly. It’s easy to wash in the machine (just be sure to wash on cold and tumble dry on low heat).
Overall this is probably the best low-EMF electric blanket on the market for the price. If you’re interested you can check out the listing on Amazon here.
5. Sunbeam Microplush King Size Heated Blanket
Check it out on Amazon.
This one is fairly simple in both features and in price, but it is a very popular electric blanket nevertheless.
To it’s credit, this is probably one of the softest electric blankets I’ve ever tried, so it’s certainly something you’re going to enjoy.
It uses Sunbeam’s own patented Thermofine technology to auto-adjust for consistent heat control and distribution. The simple to use display makes choosing a heat setting extremely easy, especially if you’re prepping your bed ahead of time!
This blanket fits a King-size bead, is made of 100% polyester, and is machine washable and dryer safe.
As far as EMF radiation goes, this blanket falls about in the middle of the pack in my opinion. It is better than some of the more expensive and higher-tech blankets on the market, but it is likely to emit more EMF radiation then some of the other options on this list.
Alright, now that we’ved talked about the 5 best low-EMF electric blankets that are available, it’s time to talk a little bit about if they are safe. First, we need to touch on the general dangers of EMF radiation, then we’ll get into the specifics of electric blankets.
EMF Radiation and the Danger To Your Health
I don’t want to dive too deep into the general health dangers of EMF radiation since I already have so many articles on this topic in the Knowledge section of EMF Academy. However let’s just cover some of the basics, as it will help us better understand the specific dangers that a product like an electric blanket can pose.
In general, EMF radiation refers to three different types of radiation exposure: magnetic field, electric field, and radio frequency.
Magnetic field is extremely common, and is what you will primarily be exposed to with most electronics that do not have wireless or cellular connectivity.
Devices that do have wireless, like cell-phones, laptops, and Bluetooth devices, will emit radio frequency radiation as they transmit and receive data in packets.
It used to be that many people believed that low-level magnetic fields (often called ELF) were not hazardous to our health because they were non-ionizing. However, we now know that even very low levels of EMF radiation, especially in close proximity over long periods of time, can be quite harmful.
In 2007, a large group of doctors, researchers, and scientists published the now famous BioiInitiative Report. It looked at hundreds of studies in relation to EMF radiation dangers from things like cell phones, power lines, cell towers, smart meters, and other sources of EMF radiation in our everyday lives.
Amongst other things, the report concluded that evidence shows electromagnetic radiation can:
- Cause childhood cancers such as Leukemia
- Impact melatonin production, reducing both the quality and quantity of our sleep (read more).
- Break and damage our DNA
- Affect organ and immune functions
- Cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and more common symptoms
- … and much more.
Now, I don’t mention all of these to worry you, just to educate you. Reducing our exposure to EMF radiation in any way we can dramatically help to keep us healthy.
Are Electric Blankets Safe?
Now let’s talk specifically about the dangers of electric blankets (especially if you aren’t using a low-EMF electric blanket).
The primary type of radiation that electric blankets emit is magnetic field, which is dangerous over time. The primary concern with this is both the proximity of the radiation, and the length of exposure.
When it comes to EMF radiation, the greater distance we can gain between ourselves and a source of radiation, the more we reduce our risk.
We also know that the danger of EMF radiation is cumulative.
So, the fact that we use electric blankets for a long period of time, in close proximity to our body, is the main concern.
A study reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggested that frequent and consistent use of an electric blanket may increase breast cancer risk in women. In addition, a 2007 study by the European Journal of Cancer Prevention found that frequent use of an electric blanket correlated with a 15% higher risk of endometrial cancer.
In addition to these, exposure to EMF radiation has consistently been shown to reduce the quality of our sleep because it suppresses melatonin production in the pineal gland.
Alternatives to Electric Blankets
The low-EMF blankets that I recommended above, generate either no magnetic field radiation, or very little. So if you are going to use an electric blanket, I would highly recommend using one of those.
If the issue is that you are simply too cold at night, and want to avoid using an electric blanket, here are a couple other things you can do:
- Use flannel sheets or other thicker warmer sheets in general.
- Get a warmer comforter, or add another blanket on top.
- Wear more clothes to bed such as warm socks or even a soft beanie.
Final Thoughts
Since more and more people are understanding the dangers of EMF radiation, product manufacturers are beginning to respond to this growing need for safer devices. This is what happened with electric blankets, as many of them now emit very little to no EMF radiation, which is a win for everyone.
I truly hope you found this article helpful, if you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Yours in health,
