A heated mattress pad warms your bed before you get in, and it goes under your fitted sheet. Here’s how to choose one, plus four heated mattress pads from the top 7 of the Electric Warming Mattress Pads Best Sellers.
Quick answer
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Pick a heated mattress pad that carries a certification mark, and check the label when it arrives. Health Canada says not to buy or use plug-in electrical products without a certification mark, and it lists CSA, cUL and cETL as examples. It has also told people to stop using JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads because the heating wires can overheat.
A simple place to start: the Kozyus queen heated mattress pad, ranked #1 in Electric Warming Mattress Pads when we checked. Its product page lists dual controllers, 10 heat settings, a 1 to 12 hour timer and a 22-foot cord. Want a known mattress brand? The Sealy is ranked #5 and has 17-inch deep pockets.
Four heated mattress pads, by what matters to you
| Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Kozyus queen heated mattress pad with dual controllers | Best if you want the longest cord. The product page lists a 22-foot power cord, dual controllers, 10 heat settings, a 1 to 12 hour timer, a memory function and a 15-inch deep pocket, and says ETL certified. #1 in Electric Warming Mattress Pads when we checked. | See price |
| Reaks queen heated mattress pad with preheat | Best if you want a preheat mode and more heat levels. The product page lists 12 heat settings from 87°F to 115°F (about 31 to 46°C), dual-zone control and a 1 to 12 hour auto shut-off, and says ETL and FCC. It adds that the padding is slight, so you may feel the wires a bit. #2 in Electric Warming Mattress Pads when we checked. | See price |
| Sealy queen heated mattress pad with 17-inch pocket | Best if you want a known mattress brand. The product page lists 17-inch deep pockets, a dual controller, 10 heat settings and a 1 to 12 hour auto power-off, and says ETL certified. #5 in Electric Warming Mattress Pads when we checked. | See price |
| DOPEDIO queen heated mattress pad with dual controllers | Best if you have a thick mattress. The product page says it fits mattresses up to 21 inches deep and lists dual-zone heating with 12 heat levels per side, a 1 to 12 hour auto shut-off and a 6.6-foot cord, and says ETL certified. #7 in Electric Warming Mattress Pads when we checked. | See price |
All four are queen-size pads. Features come from the retailer’s product pages and can change, so check the current page before you order.
What should you check for safety?
Three official pages are worth a minute before you plug anything in.
- The certification mark: Health Canada says not to buy or use plug-in electrical products without a certification mark, and gives CSA, cUL and cETL as examples. The four product pages say ETL (the Reaks page adds FCC), so look at the label on the pad or its controller to see which mark it carries.
- A Health Canada warning: Health Canada says to stop using JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads and throw them out, because the internal heating wires can overheat and cause a fire or burns. None of the four pads here is a JKMAX product.
- Nova Scotia’s advice for electric blankets: the province’s electrical safety page says not to tuck in an electric blanket or add coverings on top, because trapped heat can start a fire, and not to use electric blankets on children. That page is about blankets, so read your pad’s instruction sheet for what can go on top of it.
How do you pick a heated mattress pad?
- Size and depth: match your mattress size, then check the pocket. The product pages list 15 inches for the Kozyus, 17 for the Sealy and up to 21 for the DOPEDIO. Check the Reaks page for its depth.
- Controls: all four have dual controls so two sleepers can set their own side. Heat settings run from 10 (Kozyus and Sealy) to 12 (Reaks and DOPEDIO).
- Timer: all four list an auto shut-off timer of 1 to 12 hours.
- Cord: the Kozyus lists a 22-foot power cord, the DOPEDIO 6.6 feet, and the Reaks a 6-foot power cord plus a 13-foot controller cord. The Sealy page doesn’t list a cord length in its main points.
- Washing: all four are listed as machine washable. The Kozyus, Sealy and DOPEDIO pages say to unplug or detach the controller first, and the Sealy page says not to plug it in while it’s damp.
Common questions
Which certification mark should a heated mattress pad have? Health Canada gives CSA, cUL and cETL as examples of marks to look for on plug-in electrical products. The product pages for these four say ETL, so check the label on yours.
Has Health Canada warned about heated blankets or pads? Yes. It says to stop using JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads. Look up the brand and model in Health Canada’s recall and warning notices before you buy.
Which of these four fits the thickest mattress? The DOPEDIO, which the product page says fits mattresses up to 21 inches deep. The Sealy lists 17-inch pockets and the Kozyus 15.
Which one has the longest cord? The Kozyus, listed at 22 feet. That helps if your bed is far from the outlet.
Before you buy
- Choose the size that matches your mattress, and check its depth.
- Look for a CSA, cUL or cETL mark on the label.
- Search Health Canada’s recall and warning notices for the brand and model.
- Decide what matters most: a long cord, more heat levels or a deep pocket.
- Warming the room too? See our space heater guide, and stop cold air with our draft-proofing guide.
Sources: Health Canada, Electrical product safety; Health Canada warning, JKMAX heated blankets and heating pads; Nova Scotia Labour and Advanced Education, Electrical safety in the home. Product details come from the retailer’s product pages, so check the current page before you order.
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