There are two different types of sleepers: those who kick off the blankets and run hot and sweaty through the night, regardless of the temperature outside, and those who are perpetually freezing, requiring an arsenal of flannel, heated blankets and copious layers to stay warm enough to get to sleep in winter.
If you skew more icy than toasty, the prospect of the chilly months ahead is probably not filling you with joy. Even worse if the soaring cost of energy has you cringing every time your bill lands in your inbox.
Not sure how to keep warm at night without breaking the bank? We'll compare running costs and temperatures for both hot water bottles and electric blankets so you can decide which is the best option for you.
Plus, we'll share budget-friendly ways to stay warm and toasty overnight, with some costing next to nothing if you already have supplies in the cupboard.
Hot water bottles
If you've layered every blanket you own onto your bed and you're still freezing, hot water bottles are a budget-friendly option that'll deliver instant gratifying heat. They're cheap (some under $10) and the only ongoing cost is for hot water.
Depending on a few factors, such as the size of the bottle, the temperature of the hot water used and the quality and type of the material, a hot water bottle can stay warm for a couple of hours.
How warm exactly? Our expert testers got out their thermometers to find out.
They filled a hot water bottle with 50°C water and measured its external temperature. It started at 30°C and two hours later it was still around 27°C, so it held the heat pretty well – not bad for such a cheap product.
They're a great option if you just need something warm to help you doze off, but not much good if you're likely to wake up freezing when your bedroom turns Arctic in the middle of the night.
Hot water bottles are a budget-friendly option that'll deliver instant gratifying heat
A few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Never use boiling water straight from the kettle. Instead, let it cool down a bit or mix it with cold water, or just use water from the hot tap.
- Don't overfill a hot water bottle.
- Check it before use to ensure it's free of leaks and doesn't have cracks or other damage.
- Wrap the hot water bottle in a towel or use a cover to avoid direct contact with the skin.
Wondering if you can supercharge your hot water bottle experience? We suggest you don't bother with one in particular: the $159 Stoov Homey electric hot water bottle. Not only is its price tag hefty, our testers found that it wasn't as warm as a regular hot water bottle.
Electric blankets
In the spirit of heating the human and not the room (which is usually cheaper), electric blankets and heated throws are another popular and cost-effective option.
Each winter, CHOICE experts test electric blankets and heated throws in our labs, giving them scores on their performance and how easy they are to use.
We've found options for all budgets, with some blankets costing as little as $55, although blankets with premium features such as different body zones and Wi-Fi connectivity can cost up to $400 or more. Heated throws tend to be cheaper, with the ones we've tested ranging in price from $35 to $199.
And we've calculated that it will likely cost you less than $50 to run a single bed electric blanket over winter. The heated throws we've tested will cost you around $12 to $15 through the three chilly months of winter.
Our electric blanket reviews and heated throw blanket reviews list price and running costs for each model.
CHOICE tip: To be on the safe side, we advise against using an electric blanket or heated throw overnight, even if it has an all-night mode.
Chill-proof your bedroom
Ensuring your sleeping space is well-insulated and free from nasty, chilly drafts goes a long way towards keeping you warm at night. Before you go to bed, close your curtains, blinds and doors – this doesn't cost you a thing, but can make a big difference to the chill factor in your bedroom.
If you have hard floors or gappy floorboards, a rug can also help keep the cold air out. See more easy and cheap tips to keep warm this winter.
Layer up
The cheapest and easiest way to keep warm is of course piling on the blankets and layers. Even better if you have a cuddly pet or a partner who runs warm that you can share body heat with.
There's also a lot to be said for cosy flannelette pyjamas and sheets and a good pair of fluffy bed socks for frosty feet, even better (and cheaper) if you already have them in your cupboard so you don't have to rush out and buy anything when the temperature drops.
There's also a lot to be said for cosy flannelette pyjamas and sheets and a good pair of fluffy bed socks
Thick, heavier blankets made of natural materials such as wool, cotton and cashmere are often the warmest and most breathable. There are also blankets made from synthetic materials such as fleece or faux fur which can trap warmth in the fibres to keep you cosy but which are less breathable (and could leave you in a sweat).
Linen sheets are another warming option. Although you may associate the cool and light material more with summer, they're actually good for winter too. Linen sheets help regulate your body temperature and they absorb moisture, so they're great for layering under heavier blankets, saving you from sweating and overheating.
Reverse-cycle air con
If your fluffy socks and blankets aren't cutting it, and you really need to run an appliance while you sleep to stave off the chill, a reverse-cycle air conditioner is the cheapest and most efficient option.
Depending on the model and how you use it (and how cold it is outside), running a small air conditioner over the three months of winter could cost you around $130 in an average climate zone.
Of course this relies on you already having it installed, or being able to afford the high installation costs if you're the property owner.
If you do have air conditioning installed, our estimates show that running a reverse-cycle air conditioner for the entire year can cost less than running an electric heater for just three months over winter (read more below).
Read our tips for how to save money on running your air con .
Electric heater
Although they can be relatively cheap to buy, and are convenient and portable, electric heaters are the most expensive way to keep warm overnight. They can cost up to around 80c per hour to run, depending on the type and model, which could add around $400 to your energy bills if you run for 6 hours per day over the three months of winter. You can view the running costs for different models in our electric heater review.
CHOICE experts also advise to take care if running them while you sleep.
"Most heaters – particularly convection, panel and oil column heaters which don't have exposed heating elements – are safe to leave on overnight on a low setting, as long as they are well clear of any furniture, curtains and so on, as per the 'leave a metre for heaters' rule," says CHOICE heating expert Chris Barnes.
But it's best not to leave a heater on a high setting overnight, particularly in a child's bedroom or if you have pets. Also, check that the heater has a thermal cut-out feature (so it switches off if it gets too hot) and a tilt switch (so it turns off automatically if knocked over).
Verdict: What's the cheapest and best way to keep warm in bed?
Heating your body rather than the whole room is usually a more efficient and cheaper way to stay warm in bed.
Once you've done everything you can to minimise chilly draughts in your room itself, start by layering blankets and rugging up, and try adding a hot water bottle if that's not enough. If you still aren't warm, shelling out for an electric blanket might be worth the cost.
The only drawback of heating the person instead of the room is that hot water bottles and electric blankets can't keep you warm all night long (if you follow our recommendation not to leave your electric blanket switched on overnight).
Heating your body rather than the whole room is usually a more efficient and cheaper way to stay warm
So if you find you're still waking chilly in the middle of night, you might need to look at warming the room too.
If you already have air conditioning installed, running your air con overnight is the most efficient way to keep your bedroom warm. Some air con units will also have timers so you can program them to turn on in the morning and heat the room before you jump out of bed.
Finally, the most expensive option (but possibly a necessary last resort for many) is an electric heater. If you don't have air con installed and the options for warming your body just aren't cutting it, you might have to accept the extra cost.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
