Consider the cost. Weighted blankets are usually very expensive. There are a few affordable options that we recommend, but there is also a lot of junk. If you can get a prescription from a doctor, your insurance might cover the cost. Some health savings accounts can be used to purchase weighted blankets. 

Think about material. Do you sleep hot? You probably don't want a super-plush blanket. Opt for an open knit or cool cotton.

Choose your weight. Most companies advise that the weight should be around 10 percent of your body weight; for example, if you're 150 pounds, that would be a 15-pound blanket. But we often wanted a much heavier blanket. As Yaasa's website points out, the 10 percent rule is just a guide. Do you like to be tightly cuddled while you sleep? You probably can go with a heavier blanket. Kids or elderly folks should go with something light—there are a bunch of kid-specific options.

What about the size? The bigger the blanket, generally the less heavy it feels, because the weight is distributed over a larger area. So a 12-pound throw might feel more weighty than a 15-pound queen-size blanket. 

Who shouldn't use a weighted blanket? Babies, animals, or anyone who can't physically remove it. If you or a family member has a motor impairment, compression shirts may give you the same result—consider talking to a doctor.

The Yaasa is the best weighted blanket I (Medea) have tried. It's sufficiently heavy, cooling, and pretty to look at. At 45 inches wide, the 20-pounder is just shy of covering the top of a full-size bed. It feels heavier than blankets that weigh more because it's stiffer and its weight is evenly distributed; there's no filling inside that can pool to one area. The open-knit design allows air to circulate, so you shouldn't feel like you're heating up. 

Yaasa now offers returns within 30 days, but you'll lose $20 for an “inspection fee.” It can only be dry-cleaned—though I was able to spot clean it easily enough. I loved how stiff it is, but if you want a softer, drapey blanket, look to our other options.

Available in 15 or 20 pounds

I've tried budget blankets that were disappointing—like one from Target that wasn't worth the money saved. The filling pooled to one side and pulled it off my bed, and the cover quickly ripped. This Tranquility blanket, on the other hand, genuinely surprised me.

It feels great to cuddle up under, and it's sufficiently weighty. There's one soft side and a slinky cool side (that actually stays pretty cool as you lay with it). The beads move around more than more expensive blankets, but it's not too bad—the actual blanket is sewn in a grid, so beads can shift only within their little sections. The cover is also machine-washable.

Available in 15 or 20 pounds