The 9 Best Heating Pads of 2023

Heating pads are an effective, non-invasive treatment for pain and cramps, which is why it's wise to keep one around. When looking for the best heating pad for your needs, it is important to find a device that has multiple heat settings, feels comfortable against the skin, and has key features like an auto-off function.

Additionally, Shane Davis, MD, physiatrist and non-operative sports medicine specialist with UCLA Health, explains that the heating pads should conform to the body. This ensures that the device adequately provides targeted heat to the area of concern—especially important for issues like muscle spasms.

To find the best heating pads, the Health team tested 17 heating pads in the Health Testing Lab in New York City and continued testing them at home, looking for effective design, additional features, heating quality, and comfort.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Pure Enrichment XL Electric Heating Pad at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Neck and Shoulders:

Pure Enrichment PureRelief Heating Pad at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Travel:

Sunbeam GoHeat Portable Heated Patches at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Back Pain:

Sunbeam Heating Pad for Pain Relief XL at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Microwavable:

SuzziPad Microwavable Heating Pads at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Wearable:

Sunbeam Heating Pad Back Wrap at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Menstrual Cramps:

Yeamon Portable Cordless Heating Pad at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Feet:

Gintao Electric Heated Foot Pad at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Massager:

Comfier Heating Pad with Massager at Amazon

Jump to Review

4.8

Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Heating Pad

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Belk.com

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Features

5/5
Heating Quality

4.5/5
Value

4.8/5

Why We Like It: With the heating pad’s easy-to-use features and comfortable design, this product was an effective balm for pain and cramps.

It’s Worth Noting: There is only option for the auto-off timing (two hours), so you’ll have to turn it off manually if you want to use it for less time than that.

After testing a variety of heating pad options on the market, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Heating Pad was an easy choice for best overall. First, the heating pad was so easy for us to set up and then use. All we needed to do was unwrap the heating pad, plug it in, and then place it on the area of concern so we could experience full heat within one minute of use. Second, the heating pad's large size makes it an optimal choice for individuals who are looking to cover a large area of their body. We found that the heating pad easily covered both legs to provide quick warmth for our limbs.

Also, the heating pad comes with six different heat options, so there was always a heat level that felt comfortable against our skin. Speaking of comfort, the micro plush material feels soft against the skin.

The one downside of the product is that its auto-off feature only turns the product off after two hours of use, where we’d prefer to have more timing options. However, this is a small flaw for a product that is overall very well-designed.

Price at time of publication: $35

Product Details:

Size: 12 inches by 24 inches
Material: Micro plush, polyester
Temperature Range: 105 degrees to 140 degrees
Features: Two-hour shut off, six heat levels, machine-washable fabric, LED remote controller

4.8

Pure EnrichmentÂ® PureReliefâ¢ XL Heating Pad

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Dick's

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Features

5/5
Heating Quality

4.5/5
Value

4.8/5

Why We Like It: The heating pad conforms seamlessly to the body and works for other parts of the body, too, not just the neck and shoulders.

It’s Worth Noting: The auto-off feature only activates after two hours of use.

It can be tough to target neck and shoulder pain with a heating pad—most of them aren’t engineered to stay on that area of the body. However, with an upright collar and sections that drape over the shoulders and back, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief pad is expressly made to work on this tricky area. The heating pad comes with light weights built into the shoulders to keep the heating pad from slipping off, while an adjustable band wraps around the back to keep the rest of the heating pad in place. We found that this made for a comfortable and wearable design when targeting back and neck pain. It’s not just for this part of the body, though: We found it worked equally well on our legs, making it a versatile option for treating pain and cramps.

Additionally, the heating pad comes with four different heat settings. On the medium setting, the heating pad was fully heated within three to four minutes. Although we tested the product with clothes between the heating pad and skin, we found that the soft fibers of the fabric would make for comfortable wear if the heating pad was placed directly against the skin. It is important to note, though, that the auto-off feature only shuts off the product after two hours of use.

Price at time of publication: $40

Product Details:

Size: 29 inches by 24 inches
Material: Micro-mink
Temperature Range: 110 degrees to 140 degrees
Features: LED remote controller, four heat settings, machine-washable fabric, auto-off feature, adjustable elastic belt

4.2

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Target

Our Ratings

Setup

4.5/5
Design

4/5
Features

3/5
Heating Quality

5/5
Value

4.2/5

Why We Like It: The heating patches delivered targeted heat to the body within 10 to 20 seconds of use.

It’s Worth Noting: The heating patches stick directly to the skin and might cause irritation for sensitive skin.

You can address pain and cramps on the go while wearing SunBeam’s GoHeat Portable Heat Patches. These patches stick directly onto the skin and provide targeted heat to the area within ten to twenty seconds. Here’s how it works: The patches attach to a portable heat control that clips to the waistband of your pants. Upon turning the device on, you can select between three different heat settings that provide heat to the area of concern. We found that the heating patches delivered heat quickly to the body and were also seamlessly designed to make for easy transport wherever we went.

The device does not include a self-timer, but it does come with a rechargeable control unit and two reusable patches that should each work for up to ten uses. One thing to note, though, is that the patches stick directly onto the skin. We discovered that for people with more sensitive skin, some redness and irritation can occur after removing the patches.

Price at time of publication: $19

Product Details:

Size: 3 inches by 5 inches
Material: Latex-free adhesive patches, lithium batteries
Temperature Range: N/A
Features: Three heat settings, rechargeable control unit

4.2

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bed Bath & Beyond

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4/5
Features

3/5
Heating Quality

3.5/5
Value

4/5

Why We Like It: This product covers large portions of the body that need heat relief, and you can use it to provide moist or dry heat.

It’s Worth Noting: The controller is so lightweight that it often slips off surfaces.

For treating back pain, it’s important that the device fits around a large portion of the body. This heating pad did just that. Its long length stretches from the upper portion of the back all the way to the lower back, providing full coverage. The pad offers three different heat options, and it reaches full heat within five minutes.

What makes this heating pad different from some others on the market is that it comes encased in a removable, machine-washable cover. Inside the cover is a sponge that warms up to provides targeted heat. If you want moist heat on the area of concern, you can wet the sponge with water before turning on the device. We found that while the cover was made of soft fiber, it did not feel as soft on the skin compared to other heating pads that we tried. But overall, the size of the product worked well to address large areas of the body, such as the back and the legs.

Price at time of publication: $25

Product Details:

Size: 12 inches by 24 inches
Material: Polyester
Temperature Range: N/A
Features: Three heat settings, sponge included, machine-washable fabric

4.5

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Suzzipad.com

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4/5
Features

4/5
Heating Quality

4.5/5
Value

4.3/5

Why We Like It: You don’t have to be near an outlet to enjoy this heating pad, and it can also work as a cooling pad.

It’s Worth Noting: The heating pad’s fabric absorbs the smells from the microwave, so you might want to clean the appliance before heating the pad.

Who said you needed a device with tons of features to get pain relief? This no-frills microwaveable heating pad is affordable and it provides comfortable heat. Instead of an electrified center, this pad is filled with millet, flaxseed, and clay beads, so it feels nice against your skin. All you need to do is place the heating pad in the microwave for sixty seconds, and then the heating pad maintains a comfortable temperature for about ten minutes of use. The best part? In testing, the heating pad never got too hot or caused discomfort against the skin. When using it, we found that it works best against the shoulders because the pad molds itself around the area and does not require us to hold onto the device. If you use it for other portions of the body, though, then you might have to hold onto it while using it so that it does not slip off. If you like, you can also put it in the freezer, to make it serve as a cooling pad.

One downside with the product is that the heating pad’s fabric absorbs any smells that come from your microwave. We recommend giving your microwave a scrub before placing your heating pad inside it to avoid the pad smelling like the food you last heated.

Price at time of publication: $18

Product Details:

Size: 8 inches by 12 inches
Material: Plush fabric, linen, flaxseed, clay beads, millet
Temperature Range: N/A
Features: Microwavable

4.5

Sunbeam, Heating Pad Back Wrap with Adjustable Strap

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS

Why We Like It: You can secure this heating pad to your body with comfortable elastic straps so you can move around while using it.

It’s Worth Noting: Although the heating pad conforms to most areas of the body, it is best for the lower or upper back. Also, it has a cord, so you are still tethered to the wall.

Pain and discomfort do not need to leave you immobile. During our test, we found that the Sunbeam Heated Back Wrap sits snugly against our back, thanks to its elastic waist strap, even when we moved around. Additionally, the heating pad comes with an extra-long cord so that you can perform tasks around the room without needing to take it off.

What makes this heating pad stand out is the fact that the device comes with two different elastic straps so that anyone can find a comfortable fit that works for their body. The heating pad also comes with four different heat settings that heat the device up within minutes. We found that the heat reached the edges of the heating pad, so all areas of the back should feel pain relief when using it. Although the heating pad could conform to other parts of the body, such as the abdomen or the legs, we discovered that it worked best against the lower and upper back.

Price at time of publication: $24

Product Details:

Size: 23 inches by 15 inches
Material: Micro mink
Temperature Range: N/A
Features: Four heat settings, auto-off feature, hands-free design, moist-heat option

4.5

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Yeamonbeauty.com

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4.5/5
Features

5/5
Heating Quality

5/5
Value

4.5/5

Why We Like It: With a discreet design, people can wear this heating pad underneath clothes.

It’s Worth Noting: The plastic exterior feels uncomfortable against the skin, especially when you lie down while using the device.

Cramps are an unfortunate, but normal, symptom before or during a menstrual cycle. However, applying heat to the abdomen helps relieve these symptoms, because it relaxes the uterine contractions, which then eases the pain. What makes the Yeamon Portable Cordless Heating Pad a standout for treating menstrual cramping is the targeted heat relief it delivers to the abdomen. To use it, you first charge the device before strapping it around either your stomach or back. Then the heating pad delivers direct heat relief to the area within one minute of turning it on. We loved the portable design of the device because it allowed you to use it unplugged. Also, the device was small enough to fit under clothes without attracting attention. Besides providing heat relief, the device also comes with multiple vibration settings to help massage the muscles. We found this feature a little too intense, but some might like it.

Additionally, the inside of the device is made of velvet, so it feels comfortable against the skin. Nonetheless, the device’s exterior is made of hard plastic. We found that this could cause discomfort if we used the device while lying down.

Price at time of publication: $27

Product Details:

Size: 9 inches by 5 inches
Material: Velvet, elastic, plastic
Temperature Range: 113 degrees to 149 degrees
Features: Vibration massager, three heating modes, USB chargeable, auto-off feature, wearable design

4.2

Electric Heated Foot Warmers for Men and Women

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4/5
Features

3.5/5
Heating Quality

3.5/5
Value

4/5

Why We Like It: The heating pad’s plush material feels comfortable and cozy against bare skin.

It’s Worth Noting: You might need to wrap your feet tightly in the heating pad because the product’s large design leaves gaps.

Providing heat relief to your feet can reduce inflammation in your muscles and joints while also alleviating pain. The Gintao Electric Heated Foot Warmer was simple to use in our tests: All we needed to do was slip our feet into the pocketed design and turn the device on. The heat was more concentrated towards the middle of the pad, and it took about ten minutes for the device to fully heat up, but we found that the pad’s fabric was comfortable and cozy against our skin. With three heat settings, the device offers options for the user depending on how much heat they want to apply to the area. The device was large enough to provide lots of relief, as it even covered portions of the ankle and lower legs. However, because of the heating pad’s large size, we found that the device worked better when we wrapped it tightly around our feet to get the most pain relief.

Price at time of publication: $30

Product Details:

Size: 22 inches by 20 inches
Material: Flannel
Temperature Range: N/A
Features: Three heat settings, auto-off feature, remote control

4.8

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Comfier.com

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Features

4.5/5
Heating Quality

5/5
Value

4.8/5

Why We Like It: The product fits like a weight lifting belt, offering support to the lower back while heating the area.

It’s Worth Noting: While we enjoyed the massager feature, we think that the device could have stronger vibrations or more setting options.

Heat assists with relieving pain and cramps, and massaging vibrations can loosen muscles and alleviate discomfort. Together, they’re a great combination, which is why we like the Comfier Heating Pad—it combines heat and massage therapy in its wearable design. The heating pad includes a strap made with a fleece-like material that feels comfortable and supportive against the skin. Once you strap the heating pad on, then you can choose between two heat modes and three massage settings. The heat setting worked to deliver target heat relief within one minute of turning on the device. For the massage settings, we found that they helped loosen and relax our lower back muscles. The one downside of the device, though, was that a higher intensity for the vibrations would have provided more relief to the area. Otherwise, we found that the device provided helpful support and relief, especially when treating lower back pain.

Price at time of publication: $43

Product Details:

Size: 45 inches by 9 inches
Material: Velvet, polyester
Temperature Range: N/A
Features: Two heat modes, three massage settings, auto-off feature, wearable design

Our Testing Process

To find the best heating pads to treat pain and cramps, the Health team tested heating pads in our New York-based lab and in our homes. We tested 17 heating pads, including microwaveable devices, electric heating pads, and portable patches, to determine which ones were convenient, effective, user-friendly, and functional.

Before using each product, we analyzed how to set up each heating pad and the additional features that each pad provided. Then we used these products on different portions of the body and made note of how long it took for the product to heat up, as well as what settings seemed to work best in treating pain and discomfort. After using each product, we made notes of the positive characteristics of each product and what could be changed to improve the experience. We then spoke with Quy Nguyen, MD, an OBGYN with UCLA Health, and Shane Davis, MD, a physiatrist and non-operative sports medicine Specialist at Tufts Medical Center, about what they recommended individuals look for when selecting and using heating pads.

What to Know About Heating Pads

Temperature

When using a heating pad, Dr. Nguyen recommends choosing the heat level based on what feels comfortable for you as the user of the device–whether that entails a lower or higher heat setting. “You want to avoid harming yourself,” he says, “so you want to avoid burning that area of the skin.” One 2018 study looking at the benefits of heat therapy for menstrual cramps and pain found that heat therapy ranging from 104 degrees to 113 degrees eased menstrual pain. Nonetheless, many heating pads on the market do not advertise the temperature range and instead provide different levels of heat for the user.

Dr. Davis recommends starting at a lower level when using a new heating pad and then increasing the temperature if needed. He warns that the device will get hotter the longer it is against the skin, so a lower temperature prevents any future discomfort. “During those first few seconds and minutes, the heating pad is warming the skin, so when you leave it at one temperature, it will be hotter at twenty minutes of use,” he says.

Features

Heating pads come with a variety of features depending on the device, such as an auto-off sensor, multiple heat settings, vibrations, and a moist-heat option. Deciding which features might work best to treat your cramps and pain largely depends on your own personal preferences.

Dr. Nguyen recommends selecting a product with a range of heat levels to help you find the most comfortable temperature for your body. Additionally, Dr. Davis advises using an electric heating pad with an auto-off feature to prevent the device from staying on too long—useful especially if you’re prone to falling asleep, he says.

He also recommends a device that fits around the area of the body that receives the targeted pain relief. “Some heating pads are more fitted to certain areas of the body,” he says. “That can make it conform to the location of the body and therefore accomplish what it needs to accomplish.”

How Heating Pads Help With Pain

“Heat dilates the blood vessels so it will bring increased blood flow and increased blood oxygen,” Dr. Davis says. “It makes the tissue more elastic and stretchier, so that helps someone who is having pain or cramps.” The targeted heat can also assist with joint stiffness. “Things tend to move better and feel less tight, and as a result, someone feels less pain,” he adds. One study found that individuals who used heat therapy for pain or cramping experienced more pain relief than those who used a placebo.

What You Can Expect to Pay

Pain relief does not need to come with a hefty price tag. Even putting warm water in a bottle and applying it to your skin can help, says Dr. Nguyen. There are, however, many affordable options that provide pain relief without breaking the bank. The options here are generally less than $50.

Your Questions, Answered

Is it OK to use a heating pad every night?

Heating pads are safe to use every night if an individual finds that it assists with pain relief. However, Dr. Davis warns against leaving the device on for extended periods, such as throughout the night. Staying awake not only avoids any potential safety concerns with the device but also prevents any adverse reactions. “You want to monitor if it is getting too hot or causing a burn, either on you or the material,” Dr. Davis says. “You also want to monitor the skin and make sure you are not getting a rash or skin breakdown.” He advises using heating pads for about fifteen- to twenty-minute increments, depending on the individual.

When should you not use a heating pad?

People who have a rash or skin condition in the area where they place the heating pad should avoid using the device. This is because heat therapy could exacerbate the skin condition.

Dr. Davis also advises against using a heating pad if an individual experiences numbness or neuropathy at the targeted site because it could prevent them from feeling if the device is too hot against the skin. People with vascular or blood flow problems might want to speak with a doctor before using a heating pad on certain areas of the body. “The other thing I will say is heat will cause more blood flow,” Dr. Davis says. “If you just injured something and have a lot of swelling, then heat will worsen the issue. So, it is not the best option in the first few days.”

Who We Are

Danielle Zoellner is a Boston-based freelance writer with an emphasis on health and wellness writing. She has written for The Independent, Verywell Health, DailyMail.com, and Vox Magazine, among other publications. Growing up in a household of healthcare professionals has fueled her passion for topics relating to health, fitness, wellness, and the medical industry. Danielle has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and English from the University of Missouri. As someone who has experienced extreme menstrual cramping, Danielle has found that a heating pad that heats up quickly and offers multiple heat settings works best to relieve the pain, such as the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Heating Pad.