Insomnia and poor sleep quality can impair your overall quality of life and potentially put you at risk of daytime fatigue, reduced concentration, diabetes and heart diseases, among other conditions. Weighted blankets provide a calming effect that can help you to sleep faster and better. Therapists recommend them as sleeping aids for people struggling with stress, restless leg syndrome or sleep disorders. We have included a weighted blanket weight chart that will help you choose the best weighted blanket that will be comfortable and calming without making you feel trapped.
Read on to find out how heavy a weighted blanket should be and more. Our article features in-depth information about the benefits of a weighted blanket, proper usage, safety precautions, and how to pick the right blanket for adults as well as children.
Before we get into the weighted blanket size and weight chart, let’s first define a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets feature different types of fillers that add weight to the blanket. The additional weight helps to calm your nervous system by using deep pressure therapy to stimulate various pressure points on your body. Depending on the model, a weighted blanket might include a cover that you can remove to ease cleaning. If not, you would have to purchase the cover separately.
So, how much should a weighted blanket weigh? Weighted blankets range from 5 to 30 pounds in weight. You should use the weighted blanket weight guide we have included in this article to identify the model that will be the safest and most comfortable for you.
A weight chart for weighted blankets for deep pressure would benefit Trusted Source The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences - PMC Deep pressure is widely used by occupational therapists for people with autism spectrum disorders. There is limited research evaluating deep pressure. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov most adults and kids, especially the ones suffering from stress and sleep disorders. The soft surface of a weighted blanket and the pressure relief from it helps to relax the body.
Weighted blankets are mainly used to relieve sleep anxiety, but they are also useful for sleepers with depression, autism, ADHD, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia.
According to the weighted blanket recommended weight chart, the weight of a weighted blanket should be approximately 10% of your body weight. However, there are people who prefer a weighted blanket that weighs from 5% to 12% of their body weight.
Below is a weighted blanket weight chart in kg/lbs that you can use for quick reference to help you with your decision.
Blanket weight | Body weight |
2-6 lbs/1-3 kg | 25-60 lbs/11.5-27.5 kg |
3-8 lbs/1.5-3.5 kg | 35-84 lbs/16-38 kg |
5-12 lbs/2.5-5.5 kg | 50-120 lbs/22.5-54.5 kg |
6-14 lbs/3-6 kg | 60-144 lbs/27.5-65.5 kg |
7-18 lbs/3.2-8 kg | 75-180 lbs/34-81.5 kg |
8-19 lbs/3.5-8.5 kg | 85-194 lbs/38.5-88 kg |
10-24 lbs/4.5-11 kg | 100-240 lbs/45.5-109 kg |
11-26 lbs/5-12 kg | 110-264 lbs/50-120 kg |
12-30 lbs/5.5-13.5 kg | 125-300 lbs/56.5-136 kg |
15-36 lbs/6.5-16.5 kg | 150-360 lbs/68-163.5 kg |
The recommended weight for the best weighted blankets for adults is 10% of your body weight. The weighted blanket for adults weight chart provides the general recommendation for choosing the right product for your body weight. However, other guidelines such as body size, age, comfort, safety, bed size and personal preference still play a major role for most adults shopping for a weighted blanket.
A comfortable weighted blanket is one that keeps you warm without getting too hot and one with a soft and smooth surface that feels cozy. The type of filling used will determine the weight and texture of the weighted blanket.
A safe weighted blanket should allow you to move freely underneath it without making you feel like you are suffocating or trapped. This is particularly important for claustrophobic sleepers. Speaking of suffocation, never use weighted blankets on children below 3 years to avoid the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) Trusted Source Unsafe Infant Bedding Use Still Common | National Institutes of Health (NIH) Despite recommendations against the practice, many infants are still placed to sleep with bedding that increases the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome. www.nih.gov .
It is also a good idea to check out the weighted blanket size and weight chart which can help you match a suitable blanket to the size of your bed. This ensures that you get a weighted blanket that covers the surface of the bed fully and still have some of it draping over the edges.
Some bedding brands offer free trial periods, 100 nights or the 120 nights available for Layla Weighted Blanket, which enable you to test the mattress before committing yourself. There is no harm in trying out models of different weights to see how heavy you want a weighted blanket to be if you prefer a blanket that is one or two pounds heavier than the recommended weight chart for weighted blanket. Otherwise, you should consult an expert before choosing a blanket that is much heavier than the recommended weight.
The weighted blanket weight chart for a child will be different to an adult’s because of differences in age as well as in body height, weight and size. A weighted blanket for adults typically weighs 12 to 20 pounds, although the weight can go up to 35 pounds for some weighted blankets. Most Companies offer weighted blankets in the standard bed sizes which include twin, queen and king.
We also suggest confirming your height and matching it to the weighted blanket size and weight chart to pick a weighted blanket with the proper dimensions to cover you completely while leaving room for free movement.
As mentioned above, weighted blanket weight chart for kids are different from weighted blanket weight guides for adults. The best weighted blankets for kids are smaller and lighter in weight to match the tinier bodies.
The weighted blanket recommended weight chart for a child adds one to two pounds to 10% of their body weight. See the chart below.
Blanket weight | Body weight |
3-4 lbs | 20 lbs |
4-5 lbs | 30 lbs |
5-6 lbs | 40 lbs |
6-7 lbs | 50 lbs |
7-8 lbs | 60 lbs |
8-9 lbs | 70 lbs |
9-10 lbs | 80 lbs |
10-11 lbs | 90 lbs |
Micro glass beads are considered among the best filling for weighted blankets. Other popular options include sand and plastic poly pellets. Micro steel beads are also used to fill weighted blankets because they are smoother. You might find pebbles and dried grain in inexpensive and DIY weighted blankets because they are easily available.
As we come to the end of our weighted blanket weight guide, here is a recap of what we have covered. We have explained who can use weighted blankets and how to use them properly for optimal comfort. Weighted blankets are soothing and relaxing when chosen and used correctly. They can relieve anxiety associated with sleep disorders to help you get rejuvenating sleep. We have also discussed the weighted blanket weight charts for adults and kids, noting the differences between the two charts. Lastly, we have outlined a few valuable safety tips that will serve to protect you and your loved ones.