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Jun 07, 2023

9 Best Heating Pads of 2023

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. Say goodbye to sore muscles,

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Say goodbye to sore muscles, cramps and back pain.

There's nothing enjoyable about the likes of menstrual cramps, back and neck pain or sore muscles and joints associated with conditions like arthritis or sciatica in pregnancy. But there's an easy fix that can help ease your suffering: heating pads.

Whether microwaveable, electric or hot water-based, "heating pads can be a convenient way to enhance circulation and relieve aches and muscle stiffness," says Stefani Sassos, a certified personal trainer and the Director of the Nutrition Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Heat brings more blood flow to the area, loosens up soft tissues that may be tight and can allow for improved mobility."

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts test all kinds of products to soothe and comfort, from the best electric blankets to the best period underwear. To find the best heating pads, we narrowed down the field by researching the best models on the market, looking for ones that feature soft, high-quality materials, sizable surface areas and lengthy cords, at least three heat settings and overwhelmingly positive customer reviews. The picks ahead are best-sellers from top-rated brands that impressed our experts with their features.

After reading about our picks, learn more about how we chose the best heating pads and what you should keep in mind while shopping for one.

If you’re looking for a versatile heating pad that you can use on your neck and shoulders, back, abdomen or elsewhere on your body, this extra-large pick will get the job done. We love that it features a soft material that'll feel like a blanket on your skin and features six settings from 105-140ºF. Along with an impressive five-year warranty, this heating pad includes a nine-foot cord, so you can use it on the couch or in bed without struggling to find an outlet that's close enough. While we haven't tested it in our Labs yet, this heating pad has racked up over 71K reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, where reviewers make note of the brand's exceptional customer service and the product's solid overall performance.

It may be super-affordable, but this heating pad from Sunbeam is a highly versatile option that'll soothe sore muscles and joint pain. Use it like you would any other traditional heating pad, or, for deeper pain relief, you can spray the cover with water and reap the benefits of moist heat, according to the brand. While it only has three heat settings (low, medium and high), our experts like that it’s offered in both standard and extra-large sizes and features a long 9-foot cord for convenient use. While the price is unbeatable, the polyester exterior won’t be quite as comfortable as other heating pads. If you prefer a softer feel and can pay a bit more, the Premium King Size Heating Pad is another excellent choice from Sunbeam, featuring a softer pad along with six heat settings.

Perfectly contoured for your neck and shoulders, this dedicated heating pad drapes over the area to target muscles where they ache the most. It features four temperature settings, so you can choose the right amount of heat for you. You can also use dry or moist heat, according to the brand. We haven't formally tested this pick in our Labs, but Pure Enrichment makes some of the most popular heating pads on the market, and our experts love how well you can cozy up with this pick. The super soft and plush exterior feels a lot like a soothing version of your favorite sweatshirt or blanket. Plus, the heating pad has a 9-foot power cord that affords you flexibility to move about or sit some distance from the nearest outlet. Unfortunately, there's no auto-shutoff feature on this budget-friendly pick.

If you're struggling with joint pain caused by a condition like pregnancy or arthritis, our experts say a wrap is a great solution, as it secures around the leg or arm for targeted pain relief. We love that this option has the ability to both heat and cool, since it offers dual relief — it can help increase blood flow and reduce inflammation all at once. When using for heat, you can toggle through three temperature settings on the electric heating pad; when using for cold therapy, simply slip a frozen ice pack inside the interior sleeve. For deeper pain relief, you can also use moist heat by spraying the pad with water prior to heating, according to the brand. The cord is long enough to afford some flexibility, but on the downside, some reviewers claim that it's relatively heavy and tends to get in the way unless you're sitting very still.

With more than 19K reviews, this 4.4-star heating pad is another relatively budget-friendly pick and one of the most popular on Amazon. While we haven’t tested it in our Labs yet, we like that this machine-washable electric heating pad warms up to its hottest setting in under 30 seconds, according to the brand, and that it’s made of a soft and fuzzy material for a comfortable, soothing experience. The extra-large size is ideal for versatile use all over the body, but ideal for large areas like the lower back, neck and shoulders or to soothe sciatica in pregnancy. As a nice bonus, the brand says you can also use a moist heat therapy method in tandem with low, medium or high heat, if desired.

Unlike other heating pads, this pick from UTK is composed of 52 jade and 20 tourmaline stones, which the brand claims benefit the body while heating up any sore muscles or cramps. Though we haven't tested those claims, our experts love that this heating pad comes in a large size to cover a lot of surface area — great for lower back pain and sciatica. You can even wrap it around your leg to soothe a sore knee or hip. We also love that you can pick the exact temperature you want to heat it up to on the controller. The hottest setting reaches temperatures above 100 degrees. There’s also a memory function, so you can save your favorite settings for future use, such as temperature and amount of time.

When you're menstruating, a heating pad is a good for cramps. Not only is this polyester heating pad the perfect size for placing on your abdomen, but it also gives off comfy vibes — ripe for snuggling while the heat soothes the zings in your belly. Customers can't get enough of the cute design and neither can we — just look at the bear's smile! It's easy to operate, too. All you have to do is remove the the interior flax seed- and lavender-filled pouch and place it in the microwave for one minute before replacing inside the plushie for a warm squeeze. Unfortunately, it doesn't get as hot as other options, particularly electric heating pads. But on the upside, you can also leave it in the freezer if you want to cool off instead.

If you’re a fan of weighted blankets, this heating pad is a great 2-in-1 pick. It features nine heat levels to choose from and a memory function to remember your favorite settings. It’s also safe to bring to bed with 11 auto-off timers, ranging from 30 minutes to nine hours. This makes it an exceptionally great pick for period cramps, since you can lay the pad over yourself like a blanket while the heat soothes the pain. While we haven’t reviewed this pick in our Labs yet, we love that this heating pad is made of soft flannel polyester that’s machine washable for easy care. We also like that the interior is composed of 2.2 pounds of glass beads to help distribute weight evenly across your body and provide just the right amount of pressure.

If you’d prefer to avoid dealing with the hassle of cords and electrical outlets, a hot water bottle is a great option for soothing pain, cramps and soreness. Offered in several bright colors along with a knit sleeve, all you have to do is add hot water, tighten the top and you’re good to go. You can also use the water bottle as a cold compress for any swelling, making this option a great choice for pregnancy. When handling hot water, our experts stress the importance of safety and recommend being extremely careful to ensure the lid is safely fastened before use.

While we haven't formally tested heating pads in the Lab, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s product testing experts and engineers know what to look for when it comes to buying a good heating pad: a variety of heat settings, auto-shut-off features, safety certifications, cord length, materials and size are the main criteria we considered. To make our recommendations, we looked for brands that typically perform well in our evaluations or materials with which our experts have experience, features that would be most useful and top consumer reviews with feedback on ease of use and cleaning.

✔️ Electric vs. non-electric: The first question to ask yourself before purchasing a heating pad is whether you want one that uses electricity or one that can be heated up in the microwave. The advantage of an electric heating pad is being able to quickly and easily adjust how much heat you need at any given time, though you’ll need to plug it into an electrical socket. Fortunately, most electric heating pads come with an auto-shutoff setting after two hours, in case you fall asleep or forget to turn it off. A microwavable or non-electric heating pad, on the other hand, oftentimes comes stuffed with material that can be heated up in the microwave, or in the case of hot wattle bottles, filled with hot water.

✔️Safety: If purchasing an electric heating pad, it’s important to check whether the product has a third-party safety certification like UL and whether it features an auto-shutoff. In addition to following instructions, our experts recommend taking a few important safety measures before using heat therapy: First, start on the lowest level and gradually increase the heat intensity. Second, never apply a heating pad directly to your skin; instead, try wrapping it in a towel or cloth before applying. When it comes to microwavable heating pads, Lexie Sachs, executive director of the GH Institute Textiles Lab, warns that these are “easier to accidentally overheat if you don’t follow directions properly, so make sure to adhere to any warnings and instructions from the manufacturer.”

✔️Size: When it comes to heating pads, size matters. Do you want a heating pad that’s smaller and specifically for period cramps and joint pain around the elbows or knees, or would you prefer a larger heating pad that covers a wider surface of your body area for days when you have lower back pain, a stiff neck or sciatica pain? If the latter, an extra-large size might be the best option for you.

✔️Material: Heating pads come in a range of shapes, sizes and materials. Typically, electric heating pads are made from polyester and fabrications like microplush or even flannel are generally regarded as the best material for heating pads, since they're softer and more comfortable to wear or drape over yourself. Microwaveable heating pads or non-electric heating pads like hot water bottles are generally made of plastic, which can then be wrapped with a softer cover of your choice.

At the GH Institute, Media & Tech Reviews Analyst (and frequent heating pad user) Olivia Lipski tests and reviews all of the best gadgets to hit the market, from electric bikes to home robots. With a B.A. from George Washington University and a Master’s in Communications from Sciences Po Paris, Olivia is dedicated to staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations in order to help GH readers make better buying decisions.

Brigitt Earley, a writer and editor with over 15 years of experience writing about home products and electronics, also contributed to this piece. She worked under the guidance of experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute to research and review the heating pads recommended in this story.

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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