While the pressure of a weighted blanket can help reduce stress and help you stay asleep a little longer, that heaviness may seem like a nightmare to a hot sleeper. Thankfully, you don’t have to sweat through the night with one, as you can now find weighted blankets that sleep cooler than a normal weighted blanket. To find out what makes a weighted blanket feel less oppressively hot, I spoke to a panel of sleep experts, health specialists, and sleep-product reviewers and learned that the cooling factor usually comes from the outer-cover material.
Still, a weighted blanket isn’t necessarily cooling just because it’s advertised as such, according to Sarah Riccio, former senior writer and bedding expert at Sleepopolis. She says you’ll want to look out for what part of the blanket’s construction is the actual cooling part. “If there are no special textiles or cooling fabrics to be found, chances are it’s just a regular, temperature-neutral weighted blanket.” Those special textiles include Tencel, Lyocell, viscose, and wool, experts tell us. But Ben Trapskin, founder of Yawnder, explains that it’s important to temper your expectations: “There’s only so much cooling that fabric can provide.” The best way to find out is to test them out, which is what I did. Below, you’ll find the five best cooling weighted blankets — from chunky knit styles to more traditional ones, all made from more breathable material — that are great for hot sleepers, as recommended by myself and the experts I consulted.
Update on September 27, 2024: Added explanation on sizing; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Weight and cover material
Weighted blankets are typically made of two components: the inner weighted portion (typically filled with plastic pellets or glass beads) and a cover. (There is one major exception, which you will see below, that has neither a cover nor a filling.) As with cooling sheets, what type of fabric the cover is made with will dictate its ability to promote airflow and keep you comfortable. Most of the weighted blankets on this list are made of naturally derived fibers like lyocell (which also goes by the brand name Tencel, which you can read more about in our explainer here), a type of rayon made from wood cellulose. Lyocell, like bamboo (another type of rayon), is known to be soft, lightweight, and temperature regulating, making it a good choice for those looking for a weighted blanket with cooling properties. While cotton-covered weighted blankets may be comparatively cooler to blankets made of fleece, for instance, they won’t be actively cooling.
Scientifically speaking, while “more extensive research is needed before we can pinpoint the effectiveness of weighted or cooling blankets,” says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist in New York City and faculty member at Columbia University, “anecdotal evidence shows those who purchase either or a combination feel very happy with its effect on their sleep.” Over the years, I’ve heard from all sorts of sleep specialists about how the right temperature can make the difference between sleeping through the night and tossing and turning. Dr. Michael Grandner, the director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, probably put it best when he previously said, “Your body’s ability to regulate temperature is a big part of how it regulates sleep.” Regardless of how hot you sleep, a weighted blanket should be one that’s 10 percent of your body weight, as our experts note. If you fall between weight options, the recommendation is to size up, says Meghan Hunter, senior editor at Mattress Nerd.
Size
The size of each weighted blanket will also differ, based on how heavy it is. I should note that most blankets are designed to be used by one person. If it’s your first time trying a weighted blanket, I would suggest starting with a smaller throw size so that you can get a feel for its heft without it getting too unwieldy. I listed the dimensions below so that you can get a sense of how each style compares to the others.
Filling
What a weighted blanket is filled with is also important. The two most common fillers are plastic poly pellets and micro-glass beads, as mentioned above. Most of the blankets on this list are filled with glass beads, which, in addition to being more environmentally friendly and denser than plastic, have the added benefit of being more cooling as well. They’re also more expensive and therefore considered more high-end, laying smoother on the body and providing more even weight distribution. There’s also a class of weighted blankets that don’t use fill at all and instead rely on the weight of the jumbo yarn that they’re knitted from to provide the heft.
Maintenance
Most of the blankets come with a removable cover (separate from the weighted insert) that can be machine-washed or at the very least hand-washed.
Best cooling weighted blanket overall
Weight and cover material: 10, 15, 20, 25 pounds; Tencel Lyocell jumbo yarn | Size: From 40” x 72” to 48” x 72” | Filling: None | Maintenance: Machine washable
Even though it’s unlike most weighted blankets out there, Bearaby’s Tree Napper is the weighted blanket I heard about most and the first one I ever tried. It’s knitted from jumbo-size yarn made of layers of fabric, which gives the blanket its heft, instead of pellets or beads as in more traditional, coverlet-type weighted blankets. The first thing I noticed about the blanket was how huge and heavy it was: I got the 15-pounder and I was surprised by just how much blanket there was. But because of the chunky knit weave, it didn’t add extra warmth when I placed it over my top sheet and down comforter. All I felt was a pleasant pressing-down sensation on my body.
The large yarn loops, which help circulate air, make it exceptionally breathable and cooling, despite its weight. (Depending on your level of heat tolerance — I would say I’m an average sleeper — an exceptionally hot sleeper could even use it on its own without pairing it with a top sheet or duvet.) And in the case of this particular style, the yarn’s organic Tencel Lyocell fiber further contributes to the blanket’s cooling properties, as it’s a material that’s known to be silky, smooth, and moisture-wicking.
Almost every sleep-product reviewer cited it as among their top two picks for best cooling weighted blanket. Logan Foley, editorial director at Sleep Foundation, explained that the open weave allows a lot of air to get through, “making you feel less trapped in your body heat,” while Riccio points out that it can also help stave off night sweats. Robert Pagano, co-founder of Sleepline, compares it to the cool side of a pillow. And Hunter says it has almost a massaging feel thanks to the weave.
The tree napper is sustainably made and biodegradable, in contrast to the synthetic cover materials and plastic pellet or bead fillings of many weighted blankets. And one of the reporters of this story, Alexandra Ilyashov, finds poking and curling her fingers through the holes between the yarn strands to be anxiety quelling. There’s a downside to all that yarn, though, as senior Strategist Jen Trolio and devoted Bearaby user of three years tells me. Although you can wash the entire Bearaby blanket — unlike most other weighted blankets, which have a cover that has to be washed separately — it takes a long time to dry, and you’re better off with line drying. The loops also require some adjusting from time to time, says Trolio. Available in eight muted colors including lavender, sage, and “driftwood,” it also looks great on the bed. Bearaby just released the napper in a ten-pound option that measures 40 by 64 inches, making it a great starter weighted blanket for those who want to give it a try.
Best (less expensive) cooling weighted blanket overall
Weight and cover material: 10 and 15; polyester jersey shell filled with polyester yarn | Filling: None | Maintenance: Spot clean only
If you like the idea of a chunky-knit weighted blanket but want to spend about a hundred dollars less, check out Brooklyn Bedding’s throw blanket, which, like the Bearaby above, is made from thick, hand-knit yarn. Unlike Bearaby’s layered yarn, however, Brooklyn Bedding’s is filled with polyester fill. It’s recommended by David Rubin, a certified sleep-science coach and director of product testing at the Sleep Doctor, who says it’s ideal for people who sleep hot, as the open weave design “promotes airflow in contrast to many weighted blankets that can feel too warm after a while,” he says. “The loose, open-knit construction naturally allows heat to escape through open spaces. This should also help with heat buildup.” The blanket is made of a polyester jersey-knitted fabric yarn that Rubin says is “generally lighter weight, which makes it even more breathable than a standard textile, such as a heavier cotton.” He says it’s more absorbent as well, “making it ideal to wick away any moisture from sweat.” As far as maintenance, the manufacturer recommends spot cleaning it only.
Best moisture-wicking cooling weighted blanket
Weight and cover material: 15, 20, 35 pounds; 100% Lyocell from Eucalyptus | Size: From 48” x 72” to 90” x 90” | Filling: Glass beads | Maintenance: Machine-washable cover
If you’re a hot sleeper who prefers a traditional weighted blanket filled with beads, consider Gravity’s cooling blanket, which is covered in eucalyptus-derived lyocell fabric. While it lacks the air-circulating features of an open weave, it’s the cover fabric that contributes to its feel. The material is smooth, lightweight, and known to have moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties and feels almost like silk. (Check out my story on cooling sheets for more information on different fabrics and their ability to keep you cool.) It’s a favorite of the several experts I spoke to, including Hunter, who recommends it “for anyone looking for a cooling weighted blanket with a luxurious feel,” adding that you can tell the fabric wicks moisture because you don’t wake up sweaty and hot. Riccio agrees, saying that the fabric is “designed to actually cool the body down and relax you at the same time.” Ilyashov says at first this blanket is a little like sliding under a sheet that has been stored in a freezer, but the effect becomes subtler after an hour or so. Foley seconds this, saying that you won’t overheat with this blanket. The heaviest blanket, which weighs 35 pounds, comes in a size that would work for a queen or king bed and measures 90 by 90 inches, making it appropriate for two people to use at the same time.
Best bamboo cooling weighted blanket
Weight and cover material: 7, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25 30 pounds; Bamboo viscose | Size: 48” x 72” | Filling: Glass beads | Maintenance: Hand-wash
Bamboo viscose is another fabric that feels smooth, silky, and cool to the touch, and this weighted blanket from YnM is an Amazon-reviewer favorite that Dani Donovan, creator of ADHDDD, a community platform for adults with ADHD, says is “one of the best purchases I’ve made in a long time.” She calls it a “game changer” because it “gently cools me off without being too cold,” and she likes that she “can control the amount of cooling by putting it above or below my sheet.” She’s also sleeping better: “My husband told me he’s noticed I don’t move around in sleep anymore,” Donovan says. “All in all, it exceeded my expectations and has significantly improved the quality of my sleep.” The manufacturer recommends hand-washing the blanket, which does not come with a removable cover, and also suggests pairing it with one of its bamboo duvet covers for easier maintenance.
Best cotton cooling weighted blanket
Weight and cover material: 12 pounds; cotton | Size: 48” x 72” | Filling: Glass beads | Maintenance: Machine washable
All the other weighted blankets on this list are made from naturally derived fibers like bamboo and eucalyptus that are known to have cooling qualities, but if you prefer an all-natural material, consider Brooklinen’s weighted throw, which is made of cotton. It has a top layer of 99 percent cotton (plus one percent spandex) and an underside of 100 percent washed cotton. While I wouldn’t call the material actively cooling, the cotton itself is breathable and comfortable and also feels cool and crisp to the touch, reminding me of cotton percale sheets. The substantial cotton also adds a bit more heft to the 12-pound blanket, and I loved how it felt on my body at night. It’s meant to be used without a duvet, but I slept well through the night with it on top of my down comforter and imagine that an especially hot sleeper would have even better results sleeping with just the weighted blanket. Sized as a throw, its weight was evenly distributed over me without too much excess fabric. It stayed put, too, unlike the Bearaby, whose knit design made the blanket stretch and slide off the side of the bed. (Generally speaking, I think I prefer the traditional style of weighted blanket over the chunky knit kind because it’s easier to wrangle.)
Some more cooling bedding we’ve written about
Our experts
• Dani Donovan, creator of ADHDDD
• Logan Foley, editorial director at Sleep Foundation
• Dr. Sanam Hafeez, neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University
• Meghan Hunter, senior editor at Mattress Nerd
• Alexandra Ilyashov, Strategist contributor
• Robert Pagano, co-founder of Sleepline
• Sarah Riccio, former senior writer and bedding expert at Sleepopolis
• David Rubin, director of product testing at the Sleep Doctor
• Alex Savy, founder of Sleeping Ocean
• Ben Trapskin, founder of Yawnder
Additional reporting by Alexandra Ilyashov and Ambar Pardilla
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