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Aches and pains got you down? We researched the best heating pads on the market before purchasing 10 top models to test side-by-side. We used them to soothe our muscles after working out, to help us get through flu season, and to ease stiffness from day-to-day activity. We timed how quickly each pad heated up, measured their maximum temperature, and used an infrared thermometer to measure the average surface temperature. We also noted which are easiest to use, and which ergonomically designed options are best to soothe particular sore spots. Whether you need a new heating pad for pain relief, to speed recovery from an injury, or just to help you warm up on cold nights, our in-depth review will help you find the perfect one for your needs and budget.
With so many wellness products on the market, finding the right ones can be overwhelming. It is our priority to meticulously test only the best of the best. So whether you're looking for a great foot massager to help you relax, the best electric blankets for staying toasty in a cold bedroom, or one of the best electric kettles to help you make it through flu season, our homecare experts will help you find the best gear to keep you healthy.
Editor's Note: We updated our heating pad review on August 2, 2024, to include more specs for our award winners.
Our favorite overall heating pad is the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size. It was consistently the hottest of any plug-in model we tested, with a measured maximum temperature of 121.3°F. It also heated up extremely evenly, showing only a few degrees of variation between the center and corners — this, surprisingly, is a unique quality compared to other pads. It has a wide range of heat settings, and you can toggle the two-hour auto-shutoff on and off, so it's possible to keep the unit running for as long as you'd like. While it has become standard among plug-in pads, this one is also machine washable.
Despite all of our praise, this heating pad isn't perfect. It is a general-use pad and not designed for one specific body part. Our tester noted, “It doesn't conform particularly well to the neck or shoulders”. It can slide off the shoulders and neck easily since it is not weighted and lacks a tie-down. Even though we love all the heat settings, they're simply numbered 1-6, instead of corresponding to an actual temperature. Despite these shortcomings, this pad delivers what we need the most: a hot, consistent heat source with user-friendly features. If you are shopping for a heating pad specifically for the neck and shoulders, check out the SuzziPad Microwave 7x18".
The Pure Enrichment XL King Size pad has a complement of six heat settings and wraps nicely around limbs to provide heated relief to aching muscles.
The SuzziPad Microwave 7x18" is an excellent option if you need warm relief on a tighter budget. It is also our favorite microwavable model — if you don't want to manage a cord or have your relaxation routine tethered to an outlet, this is a worthwhile option. This pad gets nice and hot in the microwave and does so quickly. It reached 100°F in only one minute and had the highest maximum temperature of any pad we tested, 121.8°F. It has a nice weight to it, which is a soothing feature in its own right, even without heat. It is just the right dimensions for shoulders and legs, and feels nice across the neck and face. The exterior fabric is also super soft, so it feels great even placed directly against the skin.
We should note this is one of the few models in our lineup that isn't machine washable. As a microwavable pad, it also doesn't generate its own heat, so it starts to cool down the moment you remove it from the microwave. Its length is an asset for simultaneously covering larger areas like a shoulder and part of your back, but it also means that it must be folded in half to fit on the carousel of most microwaves. Minimal gripes aside, this is our favorite microwavable option for folks who desire simplicity or have hesitations about keeping a heating element plugged in for hours. If you prefer a machine washable heating pad that you can plug in, we like the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size.
The SuzziPad Microwave heats up quickly to provide relief without being anchored to an outlet.
The Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Back & Neck is a specially contoured heating pad that simultaneously targets the neck, back, and shoulders. Its large dimensions hug the major muscles of your upper half, and it has a soft, micro mink exterior that feels nice against the skin. We love the included elastic belt that makes it easy to secure around the waist, and we appreciate the weights sewn into the perimeter of the shoulder flaps to help hold it in place up top. It has an admirable maximum temperature of 115.3°F, and its single-button control panel is super easy to use with high, medium, low, and warm settings. Its two-hour auto shutoff ensures that it doesn't stay on all night if you fall asleep with it on.
Unfortunately, the size detracted from its performance as a neck and back pad. It isn't quite long enough to reach down to the lower back of folks six feet or taller (or those with long abdomens). The magnet on the collar is weak, and we struggled a bit more than we needed to keep it in place. The auto-shutoff is also a permanent feature and can't be turned off — this may be a plus for some but could be a deal-breaker for others who want their pad to run longer than two hours. Still, if you're searching for a heating pad designed to cover the neck, shoulders, and back all at once, this one is the best. Folks who specifically want to target their lower back should check out the Pure Enrichment PureRelief Lumbar and Abdominal.
The Pure Enrichment XL Back & Neck is shaped with a collar and Velcro belt to fit around your entire back.
For those struggling with a lower back or abdominal strain or who tend to have painful cramps, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief Lumbar and Abdominal is one of the most effective and relieving models we've found for this specific purpose. Its tapered shape and built-in straps allow you to securely affix it to your lower back or abdominal area, providing targeted heat regardless of your position. The pad comes with a cold pack that can be put in the freezer and then placed in a slot on the pad, allowing for convenient hot and cold therapy. This model offers fast and intense heat when you need it, with a quick heat-up time of under two minutes and a maximum temperature of 114°F.
Like all specialized heating pads, its shape and size make it a little difficult to use in areas outside of your midsection. The more symmetrical shape and added straps made it a bit easier to wrap and secure this pad on a knee or hamstring than the neck and shoulder models we reviewed. That said, it was still less amenable to these situations than the simple rectangular pads. But if your lower back and core usually give you grief, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief Lumbar and Abdominal is the most convenient pad we tested for this specific purpose. If you want to target a broader area, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Back & Neck is great for the neck, shoulders, and back.
The Pure Enrichment Lumbar & Abdominal pad is perfect for lower back soreness or abdominal cramps.
Credit: Laura Casner
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The Sunbeam Renue Neck & Shoulder spreads heat from the base of the neck and down into the shoulder muscles.
Credit: Laura Casner
How We Test Heating Pads
For this heating pad review, we researched over two dozen models and selected the 10 most promising to buy at full retail price. We tested each model using an infrared thermometer to determine the maximum temperature of each pad, and to measure how long it took each pad to heat up from room temperature to 100° Fahrenheit. We used the same thermometer to measure multiple spots across each model's face to better understand the average surface temperature and evenness of heat distribution. We also assessed the ease of use of each model by looking at the control layout, and the number and type of settings.
Scores for heating pads are divided across four rating metrics:
Maximum temperature (30% of overall score weighting)
Heat evenness (30% weighting)
Heat up speed (25% weighing)
Ease of Use (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Heading up our review is Ben Applebaum-Bauch. He has reviewed home goods and electronics with GearLab for six years. As an avid long-distance hiker — including thru-hikes of the PCT and Colorado Trail — he is no stranger to sore muscles and the relief a heating pad can bring.
Another tester, Max Mutter, has been testing and writing about consumer technology products for more than five years. In that time, he's reviewed more than 50 health and wellness products like air purifiers and humidifiers. He is also a lifelong athlete who has endured multiple surgeries, so he knows the value of a good dose of heat therapy.
The Sunbeam Xpressheat is a versatile, general-use heating pad.
Credit: Laura Casner
Analysis and Test Results
Most of our testing and grading of these heating pads focused on three aspects of heating performance: maximum heat, heat-up time, and evenness of heat distributed. We also considered how easy each pad is to use, analyzing key characteristics like the control panel, the number of heat settings offered, and whether any accessories make affixing the pad to specific body parts easier and more secure. For our heat tests, we used an infrared thermometer to take readings.
What's the Best Value?
Value is a critical factor in many purchasing decisions. But we don't include a 'value' variable when scoring each product because our performance considerations are ranked prior to considering the price tag. Instead, we want to acknowledge the significance of what you get when you spend your money. So when we talk about value, we compare each product's overall performance to its cost, which helps us understand which models provide the most 'bang for the buck' (i.e., points per dollar). While paying top dollar can buy you things like more features or greater durability, pricier products are not always more valuable. We're always looking out for diamonds in the rough — models that overperform relative to what we would expect at a given price point. For this review, options like the Pure Enrichment XL King Size for an electric pad and the SuzziPad for a microwaveable pad offer excellent overall value.
The SuzziPad is nice and long making it a great option to drape over a sore shoulder.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Maximum Temperature
We measured the maximum surface temperature of each of our heating pads by letting them warm up on high for 10 minutes and then taking the temperature of the center point of the heating surface with an infrared thermometer.
The total range of the maximum temperature of the pads we tested was fairly narrow, from 101.2°F to 121.8°F. Although we noticed an appreciable therapeutic effect at 100°F, we also noticed that often we wanted a much hotter temperature for some larger muscles (like hamstrings and glutes).
The Pure Enrichment XL King Size heats up quickly and was consistently the hottest plug-in that we tested.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
For plug-in models, the Pure Enrichment XL King Size took a top honor with a maximum temperature of 121.3°F. It provided exceptional soothing warmth and the adjustability to dial it down when we needed something less intense. The Sunbeam King Size XpressHeat was not far behind with a maximum temperature of 116.5°F, delivering more than enough heat to loosen sore muscles. The Geniani XL and Pure Enrichment XL Back & Neck each measured maximum temperatures at just over 115°F. While the former is a general-use pad, the latter is specifically designed to target neck, back, and shoulder pain simultaneously.
The microwavable models are worth discussing separately. Without the ability to generate heat independently, their maximum temperatures depend on the power and duration of the microwave used to heat them up. We followed the (sometimes vague) instructions for these models as best we could to achieve maximum temperature.
The extra heat of the Sunbeam Xpressheat is good for larger muscle groups.
Credit: Laura Casner
With that in mind, the SuzziPad actually had the highest maximum temperature of any model in the entire lineup, turning the heat up to 121.8°F. This suggests that its fill absorbs heat efficiently, while the flaxseed in the SacksyThyme Flaxseed pad was able to heat to a respectable 113.7°F.
The SacksyThyme Flaxseed pad doesn't get super hot when microwaved as directed. But we wouldn't always want that for forehead and eye relief.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Heat Evenness
Some pads have a uniform heat output, with very little variance from corner to corner and through the center. Others have higher temperatures in the middle that drop off closer to the edges. We measured the temperature at the center of each pad with an infrared thermometer and then took four more measurements at the corners of each model. We also calculated the variance between each measurement to understand how different the temperature could be across the entire pad.
The simple, rectangular Pure Enrichment XL King Size had the most even heat across its surface. With a difference of only 1.5°F between the highest center temperature and lowest corner readings, it was far and away the most evenly heated pad of any that we tested. It sits alone as a top-tier contender in this metric.
Testing the heating evenness of the SuzziPad.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
One of the largest options, the Renpho Heated Shawl, had a center-to-corner temperature spread of 5°F, which seems very reasonable for a pad designed to cover your entire back. On average, the surface temperature varies only 2.6°F on its highest heat setting, offering a comfortable, evenly heated wrap for your entire back. Compared to the Pure Enrichment XL Back & Neck — which dropped 13.6°F from center to corner and varied an average of 4.8°F across its surface — the Renpho wrap actually offers a more even heat output, even if it doesn't get quite as hot.
For the slightly smaller options, the Pure Enrichment Lumbar and Abdominal pad offered one of the most even heat distributions of the lineup, with an average temperature variance of only 2.6°F and a center-to-corner drop of only 4.5°F. This was key to delivering consistent relief for cramping backs. Surprisingly, the smaller microwaveable options like the SuzziPad and SacksyThyme Flaxseed pads did not deliver an even heat distribution, with an average 12°F drop from the center to the corners. We also noticed that because the filling can shuffle around, the temperature of these pads can drop significantly if they are not thoroughly heated through — it's a good idea to shake them up halfway through heating to better guarantee a consistent heat output.
There's something to be said for a pad that just covers a lot of surface area and that is certainly true of the shoulder, neck, and back models like the Pure Enrichment XL Back & Neck.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Heat Up Speed
We often turn to heating pads to relieve pain or discomfort, so getting that relief as quickly as possible can make a big difference. We measured heat-up speed by placing every pad on the same low-conductivity surface, turning them to their highest setting, and starting a timer. We took continuous readings with an infrared thermometer at the center of the pad until it read 100°F — an achievable temperature for every pad and the point at which these pads start delivering therapeutic relief. For microwavable pads, we checked them every 15 seconds until they achieved a reading of 100°F.
For plug-in models, the Pure Enrichment XL King Size once again outperformed the rest, taking just over a minute to reach the 100°F mark. Surprisingly, the non-electric SuzziPad was the fastest to heat up, taking exactly 60 seconds in the microwave. Similarly, the Geniani XL clocked in at just over 90 seconds, and its comparable, microwaveable counterpart, the SacksyThyme Flaxseed pad, took 91 seconds to heat up — both still quite fast.
We time how long it takes each pad to get to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Some other notable models are the Sunbeam XpressHeat and the Renpho Heated Shawl, which heated up quite fast, particularly considering their size. The Pure Enrichment Lumbar and Abdominal pad was also notably fast, an important consideration for quickly treating back and abdominal cramps. While most pads clocked in somewhere close to one to three minutes, the Sunbeam XL Ultraheat limped in at almost seven minutes.
The Sunbeam Xpressheat has six different heat settings, tying it with the most adjustable pads we tested.
Credit: Laura Casner
Ease of Use
A heating pad has one simple purpose. But some pads deliver heat relief better than others, thanks to particular design features. Useful features like the control unit, the ability to set an appropriate temperature, how a pad secures to your body or a particular body part, and auto-shutoff timers can all improve the ease of use. We also considered whether or not these pads are machine washable.
For the most part, all of these pads are fairly straightforward to use. You either plug them in and press the power button or, if appropriate, pop them in the microwave for a minute or two. With that in mind, it's hard to imagine how you would make a microwaveable pad, like the SuzziPad and SacksyThyme Flaxseed pad, any easier to use — no buttons, screens, or cords to manage.
All of the plug-in models that we tested are conveniently machine washable (usually on a gentle or delicate setting).
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
For plug-in models, the Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL King Size offers the most adjustability with six temperature settings and a two-hour auto shutoff that can toggle on and off. However, the settings are just numbered 1-6, which isn't helpful for understanding how those numbers relate to precise temperatures. The Sunbeam XpressHeat has a very similar configuration, while the Geniani XL has a single button to toggle through high, medium, and low settings. The Pure Enrichment Lumbar and Abdominal and Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Back & Neck include an additional 'warm' setting on top of the standard high, medium, and low settings.
Controllers have slightly different configurations and features. From left to right, the Renpho Shawl, Geniani XL, Pure Enrichment XL King Size, and Pure Enrichment XL Back & Neck.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The only real headscratcher was the Renpho Heated Shawl, which appears to be well-configured with six different temperature settings and the most adjustable auto shutoff timer, which can be set to 30, 60, or 90 minutes. However, the temperature setting on the screen is completely divorced from the actual temperature output that we measured, sometimes by as much as 40°F. Additionally, and somewhat frustratingly, the buttons were finicky and didn't always register inputs.
For consistent heat output and ease of use, the Pure Enrichment Lumbar and Abdominal pad is one of our top choices for quick relief.
Credit: Laura Casner
Conclusion
There are many important things to consider when choosing the perfect heating pad, including shape and size, temperature settings, and controls. However, depending on your specific needs, other pieces of wellness gear may better suit your aches and pains.
Investing in a muscle massage gun may be more worthwhile for post-workout muscle aches. Or perhaps you use a heating pad for extra warmth, whereas a top-rated space heater would be more practical. Whatever the case may be, our health and wellness experts will help you find the perfect piece of gear to help improve your well-being.
