Best Heating Pads

Buying guide for Best heating pads

Written by Lauren Corona

Updated October 2024

When you find yourself cold inside or want some basic pain relief, there is no substitute for a good heating pad. Compared to a simple blanket, a heating pad acts more quickly and efficiently to get you nice and toasty. Best of all, you can use both for the ultimate level of warmth.

Most heating pads are electric and come in different sizes. To save some money, you can also look at non-electric options like microwavable and chemical heating pads that are common for simple pain relief. To choose what kind you want, think about your needs. Do you want a basic boost in warmth or do you need fine control over the temperature?

If you want to relieve pain or remain toasty indoors but don't know where to begin, read on for our handy heating pad guide. It has a list of several of the top heating pads along with helpful information like important features and other considerations.

A heating pad with a moist heat option is a good idea if you're buying it to help with pain relief, but it’s an unnecessary feature if you just want the pad for warming up or relaxation.

Buying guide for Who needs a heating pad?

The majority of people who buy heating pads do so to treat pain, whether chronic, recurring, or just occasional.

However, some people use heating pads simply to help them to relax after a long day. Others like them because they provide a great warm-up when it’s cold out.

Cord length is an important consideration when selecting an electric heating pad. Is it too short to provide an adequate reach? Is the length practical? These are questions we think about when we do our evaluations.

Size is a feature we factor into our research of heating pads. We note that heating pads come in a wide range of size options, from models that are suitable for small areas to larger options that can be wrapped around the body.

Some heating pads aren’t powered by electricity but are made to warmed in the microwave. We inform our readers about the benefits of this type of heating pad in our guide.

We look at the temperature controls when we assess electric heating pads. While some models only have a few settings, some pricier pads have numerous setting options.

Heatings pads are useful for easing many types of pain, including backaches, stiff joints, and sore muscles. We take this into account when we do our research.

In addition to dry heat, some heating pads offer the option of moist heat. When this feature is available we assess the benefits it provides.

We scrutinize the pros and cons of chemical heating pads. While easy to use and portable, they cannot be reused once activated.

Because safety is important when using a heating pad, some electric models have auto-shutoff to prevent burns. We look at this feature when it’s offered, and make note of the time the pad will heat before it shuts off.

Ideally, a heating pad includes a cover that’s soft and protects skin from burns during use. We assess covers in our research, noting they are often made of flannel or fleece.

Some manufacturers back their heating pads with a warranty. We take this into account when we choose models for our readers to consider.

Types of pain

As noted above, heating pads can help relieve pain, but not all kinds of pain. These are some of the types of pain that might be helped by a heating pad:

• The muscular soreness that occurs after overexertion can be quelled by a heating pad. For instance, you might rest your back or legs against a heating pad after vigorous exercise.

• Certain kinds of back pain can be relieved with a heating pad.

• A heating pad can soothe the stiff and painful joints that accompany osteoarthritis and some other conditions.

• Most kinds of cramps and spasms can be improved with a heating pad. This includes neuropathic spasms, restless leg syndrome, and menstrual cramps.

• Heating pads can help relieve many kinds of "all over" pain and sensitivity, including pain related to fibromyalgia, drug withdrawal, and vitamin D deficiency.

Some types of pain should definitely not be treated with heat. This including burns, fresh wounds, infections, and anything that involves inflammation. (Cold may help with inflammation.)

Moist heat vs. dry heat

The majority of heating pads provide dry heat. Essentially, this just means the pad heats up but isn't wet or moist in any way.

However, a heating pad like the PureRelief XL can provide moist heat in addition to dry heat. The “moist heat” function varies between models, but often, the product includes a sponge that can be moistened and inserted into the pad.

Why would a person want moist heat instead of dry? Here are a few reasons:

• Moist heat is less likely to dehydrate the skin.

• Moist heat penetrates more deeply under the skin, so it's good for deep muscle pain.

• Some people find moist heat to be a more effective pain reliever.

Heating pad types

Various heating pad types populate the market, all of which offer their own set of pros and cons. Below, we analyze the characteristics of electric, microwavable, and chemical heating pads.

Electric heating pads

These are the “gold standard” of heating pads. An electric pad is what you need if you have a chronic condition that requires regular heat relief.

• Depending on the make and model, an electric heating pad can provide dry heat, moist heat, or both.

• An electric pad with built-in temperature controls allows you to tailor the level of heat to your personal needs. As such, it’s more versatile than some other types.

• The main disadvantage of an electric heating pad is that it needs a wall socket to run. You can't easily use it on the go.

Microwavable heating pads

As the name suggests, these heating pads are warmed up in the microwave. The Thermalon Microwave Activated Moist Heat Pad in our product list is an excellent example of this technology.

• Microwavable pads are generally filled with thermal microbeads or natural materials like wheat grain. They heat up in the microwave and retain their heat for a number of hours.

• This type of pad is very affordable.

• If you want a heating pad for relaxation and occasional pain relief (like menstrual cramps), this type of heating pad could be right for you.

Chemical heating pads

These are small heating pads that warm up via a chemical reaction which is achieved by breaking them, shaking them, or exposing them to air. The Beyond BodiHeat Original gets its power from air exposure.

• These products typically take about 20 minutes to heat up fully.

• Once heated, the pad can be applied directly to your skin or to the outside of your first layer of clothing. Where you place the pad depends on the make and the amount of heat the pad puts out.

• The great thing about these pads is that you can adhere them to your problem body part and then proceed to work, the grocery store, or wherever you’re headed — and you’ll experience pain relief as you go.

• The downside to chemical heating pads is that they can get expensive after awhile, especially if you need to use them daily.

• Chemical heating pads don’t offer you the benefit of temperature control.

Features

Temperature control

While you can't fine-tune the temperature of microwavable and chemical heating pads, every electric heating pad we've examined offers some kind of temperature control.

Basic models like the Sunbeam 756-500 Heating Pad tend to have only three settings: low, medium, and high. However, high-end models usually offer more sophisticated temperature controls.

Automatic shut-off

Automatic shut-off, or auto shut-off, is a safety feature built into many electric heating pads. It basically means that the pad will turn off after a designated amount of time. For instance, the PureRelief XL has a two-hour shut-off feature, so it will switch itself off after that amount of time.

Some users might find auto shut-off frustrating, but you can switch the pad right back on again if you're still using it, and this feature greatly reduces the risk of fire — especially if you like to use your heating pad while falling asleep.

Cover

You need some sort of material layer between yourself and the heating pad to avoid scalding. If it’s to be pressed directly against your skin, you probably want it to be a soft material.

Reusable heating pads typically have covers made of a material such as fleece or flannel. For example, the Chattanooga Theratherm is housed inside a flannel cover that, according to the manufacturer, draws moisture from the atmosphere and releases it to the body for a deeper therapeutic experience.

Perhaps even more appealing, for some, is the PureRelief XL’s comforting microplush material. This heating pad also offers a moist heat option.

Flexibility

If you're using a heating pad for pain relief, look for one that's totally flexible so that it can mold to the contours of your problem areas or be wrapped around aching limbs.

Cord length

Cord length is a fairly important consideration if you want an electric heating pad. If you have a short cord, you either have to sit very close to a power socket or fiddle with an extension cord.

The PureRelief XL has a nine-foot cord, which should be ample for most users. Of course, if you go for a microwavable or chemical heating pad, you don't need a cord at all. This would certainly give you more physical flexibility during a therapeutic session.

Size

The size of heating pad you'll need depends on what you need it for.

If it's just for warming up or relaxation, a small model would probably keep you satisfied. The same holds true if you want to use it to treat a small area of pain, such as a wrist or knee.

However, if you want to be able to wrap it around your whole torso or lay it down the full length of your spine, you'll need to look for one of a sufficient size.

Price

The cost of a heating pad can vary wildly depending on its type, quality, size, and features.

• $10 to $20 will get you a decent microwavable heating pad or a small, basic electric heating pad with dry heat only.

• $25 to $30 will get you 24 single-use chemical heating pads or a medium-sized electric heating pad with moist or dry heat options.

• $30 to $40 will get you a large moist or dry electric heating pad with six or more heat settings. The PureRelief XL, with its six temperature settings, falls in this category.

• $60+ will get you a top-of-the-line, extra-large heating pad with fully customizable temperature controls.

Many heating pad manufacturers advertise exactly which parts of the body could benefit from their product.

FAQ

Q. Are heating pads safe to use?

A. There are some safety concerns related to heating pads, particularly electric ones, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use them. Follow these tips to stay safe when using your heating pad.

• Don't fall asleep using an electric heating pad unless it has an auto shut-off function.

• Look out for charred spots or frayed wires. Replace the product if you notice these types of problems.

• Never heat a microwavable heating pad for longer than the specified time or on a setting higher than prescribed.

• Keep heating pads away from any highly combustible materials, especially when on the highest setting.

Q. Which type of heating pad is best?

A. There's no single “best” type of heating pad. You need to find one that’s best for you.

If you're looking for pain relief at home, an electric heating pad would likely be the most effective choice. If you just want to warm up or to enhance relaxation, we recommend a microwavable heating pad.

Q. How does heat relieve pain?

A. Heat has long been used to relieve certain types of pain. When you apply heat to an area of the body, it dilates the blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and essential nutrients to get through. This can speed up the healing process.

Heat also helps the skin's pain receptors decrease the pain signals sent to the brain, resulting in less pain felt.

Finally, heat encourages soft tissues and muscles to stretch, which can help with stiffness and muscle pain.