URBAN PICKS

Heated Throw Blanket: Size, Controls and Care

By the Urban Picks team · Updated

A heated throw blanket is a lap-size blanket with a power cord and a controller, made for one person on a sofa or in an armchair. The usual size is 50 x 60 in, and the checks that matter are the size, how the controller works, and what the maker's instructions say about heat settings, shut-off and washing. We carry one heated throw, the red Christmas dogs throw at 50 x 60 in, and every fact about it here comes from its description in our store. Ships to US addresses only.

Key takeaways

  • A heated throw is usually 50 x 60 in: enough for one person's lap and legs on a sofa or armchair, not a bed blanket.
  • Our Christmas dogs heated throw is 50 x 60 in with a flannel face, a white Sherpa-style reverse, a white wired handheld controller and a power cord.
  • Its description does not list heat settings, an auto-shutoff or washing steps. Follow the operating and care instructions that come with the blanket.
  • Unplug a heated throw before you handle or clean it, and follow the supplied instructions for washing.
  • If you want warmth from fabric alone, with no cord and a plain machine-wash routine, a sherpa throw is the simpler choice.

What size is a heated throw blanket?

A heated throw is sized like an ordinary throw. The common size is 50 x 60 in, which is 50 in across and 60 in long. That covers the lap and legs of one person sitting on a sofa or in an armchair, and it folds over an armrest between uses.

Our heated throw with Christmas dogs measures 50 x 60 in and is described as sized for draping over your lap on a sofa or armchair. For a taller person lying down, or two people sharing a sofa, see the size chart in our guide https://urban-picks.com/guides/throw-blanket-size-chart before you choose a throw.

The size also decides where the cord reaches. Measure the distance from your seat to the nearest outlet before you buy, because the controller is wired to the blanket and the power cord has to reach the wall.

What comes with our heated throw

The Christmas dogs throw is red, patterned with Christmas dogs, green trees and white snowflakes. The face is flannel and the reverse is white Sherpa-style fabric, so you can turn it for a different texture.

The package includes one heated throw blanket with its wired controller and power cord. The controller is a white wired handheld unit that connects to the blanket, which keeps the controls in your hand and away from the patterned fabric.

That is everything our description states about how it heats. It does not list the number of heat settings, a timer or an auto-shutoff, so we do not claim any. It says to follow the operating and care instructions supplied with the blanket.

What to check before you buy: settings, timer and shut-off

Three things are worth confirming for any heated throw, ours included: how many heat settings the controller has, whether the blanket shuts itself off after a set time, and what the maker says about leaving it on.

Our description does not state these, so read the operating instructions that arrive with the blanket before the first use, and keep them. If one of these features decides the purchase for you, email support@urban-picks.com before you order.

Whatever the controller offers, use the blanket as the instructions describe. Do not fold it or tuck it under you while it is on unless the instructions say that is fine, and unplug it when you leave the room.

How to care for a heated throw

Care for a heated blanket is different from care for a plain throw, because it has a cord and a controller. Our description says to follow the care instructions supplied with the blanket, and it does not give a wash temperature or a drying method.

So the rule is simple: read the care label and the instruction sheet first, and do what they say. Unplug the blanket before you handle it or clean it. If the instructions allow washing, they will say how to deal with the controller and cord, and we do not guess at that for you.

Our guide https://urban-picks.com/guides/how-to-wash-a-sherpa-blanket covers the general routine for sherpa fabric: cold water, a gentle cycle, no fabric softener and little or no dryer heat. Use it for the Sherpa-style reverse only where the heated throw's own instructions allow washing at all, because the instructions for the electrical parts come first.

Heated throw or a regular sherpa throw?

A heated throw makes sense when you sit still for a while, such as reading or watching a movie, and want a source of warmth you can control from your hand. A sherpa throw is the better choice when you want a blanket you can carry anywhere without a cord, wash on a simple routine, or give as a gift without checking instructions.

The plaid throw with a sherpa reverse in khaki is 50 x 60 in and labeled machine wash cold on delicate, tumble dry low, no bleach. The cable-pattern throw is 50 x 60 in and labeled cold gentle cycle and air dry. The reindeer throw is 50 x 60 in, red with white reindeer, trees and snowflakes, with a white sherpa reverse. The reversible plush and sherpa throw is 50 x 70 in, 10 in longer than a standard throw.

If you like the Christmas look but want a plain fabric throw, the reindeer throw is the closest match to the heated one in size and color.

Heated throw and sherpa throws side by side

Each option includes one blanket. Where the last column points to the instructions or label, follow them for that blanket.

Delivery and returns

Most orders for our heated throw arrive within about 8 business days. Ships to US addresses only.

For the best chance of delivery by December 24, order by Thursday, December 10. That date gives the best chance, not a guarantee. Unused items can be returned within 30 days, and return shipping is on the buyer unless the item arrived damaged, defective or wrong.

Questions

What size is a heated throw blanket?
The usual size is 50 x 60 in, enough for one person's lap and legs. Our Christmas dogs heated throw is 50 x 60 in.
Does a heated throw blanket have a timer or auto-shutoff?
Our description does not list a timer or an auto-shutoff for the Christmas dogs heated throw, so we do not claim one. Check the operating instructions supplied with the blanket.
How many heat settings does the heated throw have?
Our description does not state a number of settings. It lists a white wired handheld controller that connects to the blanket. The supplied instructions cover how the controller works.
Can you wash a heated throw blanket?
Follow the care instructions supplied with the blanket. Our description does not give a wash temperature or drying method, so we do not give one. Unplug the blanket before you handle it or clean it.
Is the controller part of the blanket?
Yes. The heated throw comes with its wired handheld controller and power cord in the same package.
Is a heated throw better than a regular sherpa throw?
It depends on what you want. A heated throw gives you a warmth source you control by hand while you sit, but it needs an outlet and the maker's care steps. A sherpa throw needs no cord, and several of ours list a plain machine-wash routine.
Does the heated throw ship outside the US?
No. It ships to US addresses only, and most orders arrive within about 8 business days.

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