The Best Cheap Heating Pads

Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.

From a statistical perspective, these are the best electric heating pads for the money. Several were priced under $20 in the past year.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I might earn a referral fee (at no expense to you) when you click a link.

There are approximately 150 electric heating pads and blankets for sale online. Several of them have questionable user ratings and some have worrisome reviews that include photographs of melted plastic and singed fabric. I know this because I analyzed the heating pads available on Amazon, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

However, around 10% of the heating pads that I analyzed have fair prices and encouraging reviews. The following electric heating pads are legitimately-rated at four stars or better and have sold for $30 or less in the past 12-months. Some heating pads have sold for as little as $15 while on sale:

1. Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Lap Pad
2. Sunbeam Flexfit Heating Pad Wrap
3. Doneco King Size XpressHeat Heating Pad
4. Pure Enrichment PureRelief Heating Pad
5. Asani Extra-Large Dry Heat Pad
6. Sunbeam Renue Heating Pad
7. Cure Choice Large Electric Heating Pad
8. Asani XXL Electric Heating Pad
9. Sunbeam 4-Setting Heating Pad
10. Mighty Bliss Large Electric Heating Pad
11. Geniani Electric Heating Pad
12. Milliard Electric Therapy Heating Pad
13. Fitfirst Electric Moist and Dry Heating Pad

Electric heating pads are frequently misused. Many online reviewers admit to putting the pad beneath their bodies, attempting to use it for long periods of time, or leaving the pad on while sleeping. As a result, the heating pads’ safety features (which are intended to prevent fires and burns) are often treated as cons or negatives. I’ve tried to account for these scenarios while condensing the average user review into as few words as possible.

Beneath each product photo, I’ve also included a simple buying guide. “Good value” is the average sale price; “great deal” is the lowest price that I have on record. If you’d like to learn more about heat therapy, or to read more about my methodology for selecting products, scroll to the bottom of this buying guide for more information.

1. Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Lap Pad (20" x 12")

WeightedWarmth Lap Pad (20" x 12") 817387022460 — Image Credit: Pure Enrichment

Good Value: $40 | Great Deal: $30

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Kohl’s | Check Current Price on Target

Pure Enrichment’s weighted heating pad is soothing, comfortable and slip resistant (i.e. it stays in place), according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish this pad reached a higher temperature.

Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.

2. Sunbeam Flexfit Heating Pad Wrap

Flexfit Heating Pad Wrap (2108196) — Image Credit: Sunbeam

Good Value: $33 | Great Deal: $26

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Walmart | Check Current Price on Walgreens

Sunbeam’s Flexfit heating wrap is ideal for smaller body parts like wrists, ankles and elbows, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say the heating element is too thin and it only gets warm, not hot.

3. Doneco King Size XpressHeat Heating Pad (12" x 24")

King Size XpressHeat Heating Pad (675663272608) — Image Credit: Doneco

Good Value: $28 | Great Deal: $20

Check Current Price on Amazon

This plush heating pad is soft and comfortable, according to several online customers. Many reviewers (even happy ones) say the pad gets warm, but not hot. Some customers like that the pad automatically shuts itself off after two hours of use, but other customers wish that the pad would stay heated indefinitely.

4. Pure Enrichment PureRelief Neck and Shoulder Heating Pad

PureRelief Neck and Shoulder Heating Pad (853975005651) — Image Credit: Pure Enrichment

Good Value: $33 | Great Deal: $24

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Target | Check Current Price on Kohl’s

This moist heating pad is effective, comfortable and convenient, according to several online customers. Many reviewers praise the pad’s long cord and auto shut-off feature. Unhappy customers say the pad doesn’t get hot enough and it won’t stay positioned on the neck and shoulders (even when the clasp is fastened).

Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.

5. Asani Extra-Large Dry Heat Pad (12" x 24")

Extra-Large Dry Heat Pad (610395674580) — Image Credit: Asani

Good Value: $26 | Great Deal: $19

Check Current Price on Amazon

Asani’s XL heating-pad is plush, comfortable and easy to control, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish that the pad was heavier; others say that it doesn’t get hot enough.

Note: This heating pad is also available in grey.

Note 2: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.

6. Sunbeam Renue Heating Pad (22-Inch x 19-Inch)

22-Inch x 19-Inch Heating Pad (700–825) — Image Credit: Sunbeam

Good Value: $37 | Great Deal: $19

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Target | Check Price on Bed Bath & Beyond

Sunbeam’s ergonomic heating pad is soft, quick to warm and ideal for targeting pain in the neck and shoulders, according to several online customers. Reviewers have mixed feelings about the temperature settings: Some say it’s too hot; others say it doesn’t get hot enough. A few say the pad doesn’t fit their frame.

7. Cure Choice Large Electric Heating Pad (12" x 24")

Large Electric Heating Pad (642896866454) — Image Credit: Cure Choice

Good Value: $26 | Great Deal: $22

Check Current Price on Amazon

This affordable heating pad is soft, comfortable and effective, according to several online customers. Many reviewers appreciated the automatic shutoff timer, long cord and included storage bag. Some wish the heating pad was hotter on its highest setting.

Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.

8. Asani XXL Electric Heating Pad (20" x 24")

XXL Electric Heating Pad (610395674641) — Image Credit: Asani

Good Value: $25 | Great Deal: $20

Check Current Price on Amazon

Asani’s jumbo heating pad is soft, flexible and large, according to several online customers. Some reviewers didn’t find the instructions helpful, but many appreciate that this pad is machine washable.

9. Sunbeam 4-Setting Heating Pad for Pain Relief (12" x 24")

4-Setting Heating Pad for Pain Relief (000938–511–000U) — Image Credit: Sunbeam

Good Value: $25 | Great Deal: $15

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Target

This Sunbeam heating pad is extremely hot, even on the lowest setting, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish this pad was soft on both sides; others complained of a chemical odor.

10. Mighty Bliss Large Electric Heating Pad (12" x 24")

Large Electric Heating Pad (794604446158) — Image Credit: Mighty Bliss

Good Value: $40 | Great Deal: $28

Check Current Price on Amazon

This oversized heating pad is big, soft and hot, according to several online customers. Some reviewers were disappointed for various reasons (e.g. temperature, durability, etc.) and received a refund.

Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.

11. Geniani 12" x 24" Electric Heating Pad

12" x 24" Electric Heating Pad (860003205105) — Image Credit: Geniani

Good Value: $27 | Great Deal: $22

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Walmart

This inexpensive heating pad is large, soft and easy to wash, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish this heating pad was hotter; others say that it warms up too slowly.

Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.

12. Milliard Electric Therapy Heating Pad (12" x 15")

Electric Therapy Heating Pad (804879481218) — Image Credit: Milliard

Good Value: $21 | Great Deal: $15

Check Current Price on Amazon | Check Current Price on Walmart

Milliard’s heating pad is large and heats quickly, according to several online customers. Customers agree that the pad’s cover slips off too easily and that having to unplug the pad to turn it off is annoying.

13. Fitfirst Electric Moist and Dry Heating Pad (12" x 24")

Electric Moist and Dry Heating Pad — Image Credit: Fitfirst

Good Value: $23 | Great Deal: $20

Check Current Price on Amazon

Fitfirst’s heating pad is soft, large and it has a long cord, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say it’s easy to press the on/off switch by accident; some say the pad takes a while to warm up.

The Pros and Cons of Heat Therapy

Heat therapy is an effective way to reduce muscle pain, particularly lower back pain. That’s one takeaway from this 2014 review published in Postgraduate Medicine. The article is careful to distinguish that heat therapy provides short-term pain relief, but does not aid in recovery from injury.

Additionally, heat therapy is more effective than cold therapy at reducing lower back pain, according to a clinical study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. (All patients also used naproxen.)

One way to administer heat therapy at home is with an electric heating pad. However, even the best heating pads are a fire hazard if used improperly. (Heating pads and electric blankets cause almost 500 fires each year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International.) This fire risk can be minimized by using products with UL/ETL-listed power supplies and automatic shut-off timers.

Heating pads should never be used for more than 30 minutes in a session, nor should they be placed underneath a body part, according to safe-practice guidelines. A heating pad can cause burns over time, even on a low setting.

On top of that, prolonged- or incorrect-use of a heating pad may cause erythema ab igne. This unsightly skin condition (also known as “hot water bottle rash”) can harbor cancerous cells. Ask your doctor if he or she recommends an electric heating pad for pain management.

Can Heat Therapy Relieve Menstrual Pain?

Primary dysmenorrhea, which is the medical term for painful menstruation (without pathology), may be treatable via heat therapy, according to a review of randomized controlled trials published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal. The authors of the review state that “rigorous high-quality trials are still needed to provide robust evidence,” yet acknowledge that three controlled trials “found favorable effects of heating pads on menstrual pain compared with analgesic medication.”

How Much Does a Good Heating Pad Cost?

A good heating pad (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $28, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same electric heating pads cost around $21 while on sale: an average discount of 25%. This data also suggests that Amazon is the best place to buy a heating pad online.

Methodology for Selecting Products

I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find electric heating pads with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any heating pad with a price above the mid-point.

To find heating pads with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, around 10% of the pads remain.

About the Author: John DeFeo is a fitness enthusiast who suffers from lower back pain. He was formerly the head of insights for Live Science.