How Heavy Should a Weighted Blanket Be?

How Heavy Should a Weighted Blanket Be?

Written by

Last Updated on Feb 20, 2023

In this article:

    According to a study conducted by American Sleep Association, 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleeping disorder. This could be due to a lack of proper bedding or the right sleep equipment for your needs. A weighted blanket is one such invention that is known to help people improve sleep quality.

    A Weighted blanket or gravity blanket, as it is sometimes referred to, is often used in the medical field by psychiatrists and therapists to treat patients. Today it has gone mainstream, with consumers taking advantage of its weight to help them sleep better at night.

    While it is debatable whether weighted blankets can help alleviate a person’s anxiety issues and other health concerns, some studies suggest that weighted blankets may help people feel more relaxed. But how heavy should a weighted blanket be?

    Let’s find out what a weighted blanket is and how heavy it should be in this detailed blog.

    33% OFF Everything!

    SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK SALE

    Shop Weighted Blanket

    What Is a Weighted Blanket?

    weighted blanket is a heavy blanket designed to relieve stress and create a sense of calm for a sleeper. According to sleep science experts, the popularity of weighted blankets has grown widely in the last year, thanks to the therapeutic benefits it provides sleepers.

    How to Choose a Weighted Blanket

    As mentioned above, the general rule is to select a blanket that is 10% of your body weight, but there are a few other guidelines that will help you buy a perfect weighted blanket for yourself and your family.

    Usage

    The recommended weight for a weighted blanket is 10% of your body weight. However, individuals with age-related sleeping problems such as respiratory issues or other health conditions like sleep apnea should avoid using blankets with a lot of weight.

    While choosing a blanket for children younger than 10 or for adults with health conditions like sleep apnea, you should always consult the doctor first.

    Size

    Using a blanket that is lighter than 10 percent of your body weight may not have the same advantages. We recommend using a weighted blanket that is the same size as your mattress. So a king size weighted blanket will fit well on a king size mattress.

    Filling Inside a Weighted Blanket

    Weighted blankets are composed of different types of fillings. The most popular ones are the micro glass beads that are larger grains of sand and are the heaviest weighted blanket with the least fill.

    Plastic Polly pebbles are tiny round beads but may be noticeable in how they move and feel.

    Sand is another option for weighted blankets, but they tend to clump when in contact with moisture, so they need special care while washing.

    Micro steel shot fillings are smooth, which allows them to move against one another smoothly.

    Rice, millet, or other grains also work like fillings, but they tend to rot after absorbing moisture.

    Your Height and Body Weight

    While the thumb rule is to choose one that is 10 percent of your body weight, selecting one is more of a personal choice. If you like a pound or two extra, you can choose one that weighs more. For even heavier blankets, we suggest you consult an expert.

    To get a blanket with ideal dimensions, consider the size of your bed and also your height. Height is not as important as weight but, you must select a blanket that will cover you completely. Most weighted blankets are available in standard sizes such as queen, king, twin, etc.

    Who Can Use a Weighted Blanket?

    Weighted blankets are helpful for people suffering from various clinical disorders, sleep anxiety being the most common among them. Weighted blankets are beneficial for sleepers suffering from any of the symptoms listed below:

    • Anxiety
    • Insomnia
    • ADHD
    • Restless leg syndrome
    • Autism
    • PTSD
    • Depression

    Whether it is restless leg syndrome, stress, or a sleep disorder, experts recommend buying a weighted blanket to help you sleep better. The purpose of a weighted blanket, other than to comfort you, is also to help you fall asleep faster.

    This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.
    {"faq":[{"_id":"94dcbb4","title":"Is a 35 lb blanket too heavy?","content":"\u003Cp\u003EYes, a 35-pound blanket is heavy, and you should avoid it if you cannot move.\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"46a5575","title":"When should you not use a weighted blanket?","content":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you face issues like asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, or claustrophobia, then weighted blankets may not be suitable for you.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"8528a9e","title":"Are weighted blankets bad for circulation?","content":"\u003Cp\u003EYes, the heaviness of a weighted blanket restricts airflow and is not great for circulation, especially for people suffering from diabetes and sleep apnea.\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"479776c","title":"Are weighted blankets suitable for side sleepers?","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWeighted blankets are beneficial regardless of the type of sleeper you are.\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"91290ca","title":"Can weighted blankets help with back pain?","content":"\u003Cp\u003EA weighted blanket uses\u00a0\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1300\/J004v24n01_05?journalCode=womh20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"\u003Etherapeutic pressure\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0to cure various pains in your body and can be helpful for back pain as well.\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"_id":"426120c","title":"How long does it take to get used to a weighted blanket?","content":"\u003Cp\u003EJust like any other habit, you would take 21 days to get used to a weighted blanket.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E"}],"__globals__":{"main_title_typography_typography":"globals\/typography?id=3e436c6","main_title_color":"globals\/colors?id=c758e82","question_typography_typography":"globals\/typography?id=9134c8d","answer_typography_typography":"globals\/typography?id=e88d36c","question_color":"globals\/colors?id=2f337da","answer_color":"globals\/colors?id=2325efb"},"main_title_typography_typography":"","main_title_typography_font_family":null,"main_title_typography_font_size":null,"main_title_typography_font_weight":null,"main_title_typography_text_transform":null,"main_title_typography_font_style":null,"main_title_typography_text_decoration":null,"main_title_typography_line_height":null,"main_title_typography_letter_spacing":null,"main_title_typography_word_spacing":null,"main_title_color":"","question_typography_typography":"","question_typography_font_family":null,"question_typography_font_size":null,"question_typography_font_weight":null,"question_typography_text_transform":null,"question_typography_font_style":null,"question_typography_text_decoration":null,"question_typography_line_height":null,"question_typography_letter_spacing":null,"question_typography_word_spacing":null,"question_color":"","answer_typography_typography":"","answer_typography_font_family":null,"answer_typography_font_size":null,"answer_typography_font_weight":null,"answer_typography_text_transform":null,"answer_typography_font_style":null,"answer_typography_text_decoration":null,"answer_typography_line_height":null,"answer_typography_letter_spacing":null,"answer_typography_word_spacing":null,"answer_color":"","_title":"","_margin":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_padding":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_element_width":"","_element_width_tablet":"","_element_width_mobile":"","_element_custom_width":null,"_element_vertical_align":null,"_position":"","_offset_orientation_h":null,"_offset_x":null,"_offset_x_end":null,"_offset_orientation_v":null,"_offset_y":null,"_offset_y_end":null,"_z_index":"","_element_id":"","_css_classes":"","motion_fx_motion_fx_scrolling":"","motion_fx_translateY_effect":null,"motion_fx_translateY_direction":null,"motion_fx_translateY_speed":null,"motion_fx_translateY_affectedRange":null,"motion_fx_translateX_effect":null,"motion_fx_translateX_direction":null,"motion_fx_translateX_speed":null,"motion_fx_translateX_affectedRange":null,"motion_fx_opacity_effect":null,"motion_fx_opacity_direction":null,"motion_fx_opacity_level":null,"motion_fx_opacity_range":null,"motion_fx_blur_effect":null,"motion_fx_blur_direction":null,"motion_fx_blur_level":null,"motion_fx_blur_range":null,"motion_fx_rotateZ_effect":null,"motion_fx_rotateZ_direction":null,"motion_fx_rotateZ_speed":null,"motion_fx_rotateZ_affectedRange":null,"motion_fx_scale_effect":null,"motion_fx_scale_direction":null,"motion_fx_scale_speed":null,"motion_fx_scale_range":null,"motion_fx_transform_origin_x":null,"motion_fx_transform_origin_y":null,"motion_fx_devices":null,"motion_fx_range":null,"motion_fx_motion_fx_mouse":"","motion_fx_mouseTrack_effect":null,"motion_fx_mouseTrack_direction":null,"motion_fx_mouseTrack_speed":null,"motion_fx_tilt_effect":null,"motion_fx_tilt_direction":null,"motion_fx_tilt_speed":null,"sticky":"","sticky_on":null,"sticky_offset":null,"sticky_offset_tablet":null,"sticky_offset_mobile":null,"sticky_effects_offset":null,"sticky_effects_offset_tablet":null,"sticky_effects_offset_mobile":null,"sticky_parent":null,"_animation":"","_animation_tablet":"","_animation_mobile":"","animation_duration":null,"_animation_delay":null,"_transform_rotate_popover":"","_transform_rotateZ_effect":null,"_transform_rotateZ_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_rotateZ_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_rotate_3d":null,"_transform_rotateX_effect":null,"_transform_rotateX_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_rotateX_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_rotateY_effect":null,"_transform_rotateY_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_rotateY_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_perspective_effect":null,"_transform_perspective_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_perspective_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_translate_popover":"","_transform_translateX_effect":null,"_transform_translateX_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_translateX_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_translateY_effect":null,"_transform_translateY_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_translateY_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_scale_popover":"","_transform_keep_proportions":"yes","_transform_scale_effect":null,"_transform_scale_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_scale_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_scaleX_effect":null,"_transform_scaleX_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_scaleX_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_scaleY_effect":null,"_transform_scaleY_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_scaleY_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_skew_popover":"","_transform_skewX_effect":null,"_transform_skewX_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_skewX_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_skewY_effect":null,"_transform_skewY_effect_tablet":null,"_transform_skewY_effect_mobile":null,"_transform_flipX_effect":"","_transform_flipY_effect":"","_transform_rotate_popover_hover":"","_transform_rotateZ_effect_hover":null,"_transform_rotateZ_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_rotateZ_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_rotate_3d_hover":null,"_transform_rotateX_effect_hover":null,"_transform_rotateX_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_rotateX_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_rotateY_effect_hover":null,"_transform_rotateY_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_rotateY_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_perspective_effect_hover":null,"_transform_perspective_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_perspective_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_translate_popover_hover":"","_transform_translateX_effect_hover":null,"_transform_translateX_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_translateX_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_translateY_effect_hover":null,"_transform_translateY_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_translateY_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_scale_popover_hover":"","_transform_keep_proportions_hover":"yes","_transform_scale_effect_hover":null,"_transform_scale_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_scale_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_scaleX_effect_hover":null,"_transform_scaleX_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_scaleX_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_scaleY_effect_hover":null,"_transform_scaleY_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_scaleY_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_skew_popover_hover":"","_transform_skewX_effect_hover":null,"_transform_skewX_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_skewX_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_skewY_effect_hover":null,"_transform_skewY_effect_hover_tablet":null,"_transform_skewY_effect_hover_mobile":null,"_transform_flipX_effect_hover":"","_transform_flipY_effect_hover":"","_transform_transition_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"motion_fx_transform_x_anchor_point":null,"motion_fx_transform_y_anchor_point":null,"_background_background":"","_background_color":null,"_background_color_stop":null,"_background_color_b":null,"_background_color_b_stop":null,"_background_gradient_type":null,"_background_gradient_angle":null,"_background_gradient_position":null,"_background_image":null,"_background_position":null,"_background_xpos":null,"_background_ypos":null,"_background_attachment":null,"_background_repeat":null,"_background_size":null,"_background_bg_width":null,"_background_video_link":null,"_background_video_start":null,"_background_video_end":null,"_background_play_once":null,"_background_play_on_mobile":null,"_background_privacy_mode":null,"_background_video_fallback":null,"_background_slideshow_gallery":null,"_background_slideshow_loop":null,"_background_slideshow_slide_duration":null,"_background_slideshow_slide_transition":null,"_background_slideshow_transition_duration":null,"_background_slideshow_background_size":null,"_background_slideshow_background_position":null,"_background_slideshow_lazyload":null,"_background_slideshow_ken_burns":null,"_background_slideshow_ken_burns_zoom_direction":null,"_background_hover_background":"","_background_hover_color":null,"_background_hover_color_stop":null,"_background_hover_color_b":null,"_background_hover_color_b_stop":null,"_background_hover_gradient_type":null,"_background_hover_gradient_angle":null,"_background_hover_gradient_position":null,"_background_hover_image":null,"_background_hover_position":null,"_background_hover_xpos":null,"_background_hover_ypos":null,"_background_hover_attachment":null,"_background_hover_repeat":null,"_background_hover_size":null,"_background_hover_bg_width":null,"_background_hover_video_link":null,"_background_hover_video_start":null,"_background_hover_video_end":null,"_background_hover_play_once":null,"_background_hover_play_on_mobile":null,"_background_hover_privacy_mode":null,"_background_hover_video_fallback":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_gallery":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_loop":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_slide_duration":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_slide_transition":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_transition_duration":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_background_size":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_background_position":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_lazyload":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_ken_burns":null,"_background_hover_slideshow_ken_burns_zoom_direction":null,"_background_hover_transition":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_border_border":"","_border_width":null,"_border_color":null,"_border_radius":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_box_shadow_box_shadow_type":"","_box_shadow_box_shadow":null,"_box_shadow_box_shadow_position":null,"_border_hover_border":"","_border_hover_width":null,"_border_hover_color":null,"_border_radius_hover":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_box_shadow_hover_box_shadow_type":"","_box_shadow_hover_box_shadow":null,"_box_shadow_hover_box_shadow_position":null,"_border_hover_transition":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_switch":"","_mask_shape":null,"_mask_image":null,"_mask_notice":null,"_mask_size":null,"_mask_size_scale":null,"_mask_position":null,"_mask_position_x":null,"_mask_position_y":null,"_mask_repeat":null,"hide_desktop":"","hide_tablet":"","hide_mobile":"","_attributes":"","custom_css":""}
    ×