What to Buy Massagers & Pain Management The 10 Best Heating Pads for Every Part of Your Body Prepare yourself for some serious pain relief. By Madison Alcedo Madison Alcedo Madison Alcedo writes writes on health, beauty, lifestyle, and travel topics. Her work has appeared across several publications, including Real Simple, Travel+Leisure, People, and Men's Health. health's editorial guidelines Updated on October 19, 2022 Medically reviewed by Mohamad Hassan, PT Medically reviewed by Mohamad Hassan, PT Mohamad Hassan, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist at Premier Physical Therapy in Chicago. He works in both outpatient rehab and in-home physical therapy. learn more Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Amazon/Getty Images With a quick Google search on heating pads, you'll find that most results are associated with body pain. That means many people are in the same boat as you—they're looking for an easy way to get rid of pain fast or nurse their muscles back to health after an intense workout. Heating pads can be great tools to help soothe pain at home, whether it's period cramps or sore muscles from exercise. They also help with shoulder, neck, and foot pains; acute low back pain is another common health concern that may benefit from heating pads. Here's what you need to know about the 10 best heating pads, depending on your preferences. How Do Heating Pads Help With Pain? If you have stiff joints or muscle spasms, heat works to reduce them both by bringing more blood to the area of discomfort. People have used heat therapy—or thermotherapies, such as mud baths, steam treatments, and hot springs for centuries. And we still turn to them today as a remedy for everyday aches and pains. For example, heat can help relax tense uterine muscles, which explains why heating pads can soothe menstrual cramps. Additionally, research has found that using heat to relieve musculoskeletal pain is helpful compared to using medications, placebos, or no treatment. Heating pads can offer pain relief through dry heat and moist heat methods, which differ based on whether moisture is needed to reduce discomfort. It's important to note that heating pads and wraps are usually a short-term fix for acute pain. Furthermore, always consult your healthcare provider about any major pain you're experiencing: Not all pain can benefit from heating pads. What Are the Best Heating Pads To Alleviate Soreness? Best Overall: Sunbeam King Size Heating Pad Best for Neck and Shoulders: Sunbeam Renue Microplush Tension Relief Heating Wrap Best for Cramps: Nature's Approach Aromatherapy Belted Lumbar Wrap Herbal Pack Best for Feet: Serta Ultra Soft Plush Electric Heated Warming Pad Best Full-Body: Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad Best for Back Pain: MightyBliss Large Electric Heating Pad Best for Travel: Sunbeam Small XPress Heating Pad Best Wearable: iTeknic Heating Pad Best Moist Heat: Sable Heating Pad Best Microwavable: My Heating Pad Microwavable Best Overall: Sunbeam King Size Heating Pad Amazon Buy on Amazon This extra-large pick is a customer favorite due to its easy-to-use control presets, nine-foot power cord, and automatic shutoff after two hours. Sensor control technology ensures you get an even heat across the entire 12-by-24-inch pad so you can treat everything from your spine to shoulders. Plus, its plush fabric is comfy and machine-washable. Price at time of publication: $30 Best for Neck and Shoulders: Sunbeam Renue Microplush Tension Relief Heating Wrap Amazon Buy on Amazon Suppose you're prone to neck and shoulder pain. In that case, you'll appreciate how this heating pad's unique design rests precisely on your shoulders for targeted treatment. Experiment with dry or moist heat and be sure to take advantage of the automatic turn-off after two hours. The machine-washable wrap has a weighted magnetic closure on the front to secure its positioning. Amazon customers love it because they can relieve pain while sitting up and working on other tasks. Price at time of publication: $36 Best for Cramps: Nature's Approach Aromatherapy Belted Lumbar Wrap Herbal Pack Amazon Buy on Amazon "For some women, using a heating pad or taking a hot bath or shower can provide some relief from period pain," Brett Worly, MD, a clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, told Health. Use the heating pad for that time of the month (or whenever you have lower back pain). Just pop it in the microwave for about a minute and a half, and it's ready. The strap makes it even easier to wear on the front or back of your waist. Shoppers love that it relaxes their muscles and minds thanks to the blend of herbs like lavender, chamomile, and peppermint. Price at time of publication: $26 Best for Feet: Serta Ultra Soft Plush Electric Heated Warming Pad Amazon Buy on Amazon If you hate sitting around with cold feet, we have a solution. Not only does the heating pad have material that feels super soft on skin, but reviewers love its simple and flat design. It even has a deep pocket to slip your feet into while sleeping. With a handful of colors to choose from, this machine-washable pick is bound to become a bedroom staple. Price at time of publication: $75 Best Full-Body: Sunbeam Quilted Heated Mattress Pad Amazon Buy on Amazon Consider trying a heated mattress pad on your bed for all-around comfort to soothe achy legs, back, neck, or shoulders. Amazon customers love this plush pick, which has 10 different heat settings that auto-adjust to your body's natural temperature fluctuations throughout the night. And thanks to a 10-hour auto-off feature, you can sleep with peace of mind. Price at time of publication: $140 for queen size Best for Travel: Sunbeam Small XPress Heating Pad Amazon Buy on Amazon Sunbeam created a travel-sized version of its trusted heating pads, and hundreds of reviewers agree it lives up to its full-sized predecessors. The compact pick heats up in just 30 seconds, offers six different temperature presets, and is completely machine-washable. Simply attach the pad to your body or a chair using the fastening straps and press the power button for two hours of continuous pain relief. Price at time of publication: $23 Best Wearable: iTeknic Heating Pad Amazon Buy on Walmart Multitaskers will be obsessed with this wearable heating pad shaped like a medieval vest. The unique shape is comical, but it allows you to simultaneously soothe your neck, shoulders, and back in just one dry heat treatment. You'll have the choice of six different heat settings on the LED controller, which all run automatically for two hours. Better yet, the soft flannel is machine-washable. Price at time of publication: $30 Best Moist Heat: Sable Heating Pad Amazon Buy on Walmart Deep aches and pains are best soothed by moist heat, which better penetrates the skin than dry heat and doesn't leave it dehydrated. But dry heat offers benefits, like feeling good against the skin and lasting longer. Luckily, this top-rated pick offers a nine-foot power cord, two-hour automatic shut-off, and six heating settings. Price at time of publication: $20 Best Microwavable: My Heating Pad Microwavable Amazon. Amazon Buy on Amazon Skip wires and plugs by opting for this microwavable pad instead. It's filled with a combination of flaxseed and rice and heats up in just 90 seconds to give you instant relief. Small enough to fit onto knees or the crook of your neck, it's double-sided with plush fleece and a smooth cotton exterior to suit your preference. The budget-friendly pick, also great for cold therapy, has thousands of perfect reviews from shoppers who say it's durable, reliable, and easy to use. Price at time of publication: $30 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library. Ice packs vs. warm compresses for pain. Clijsen R, Stoop R, Hohenauer E, et al. Local Heat Applications as a Treatment of Physical and Functional Parameters in Acute and Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders or Pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2022;103(3):505-522. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2021.06.015