Weighted Blanket vs. Comforter: What Is the Difference?

What’s the difference between a weighted blanket vs. a comforter? If you’re asking this question, chances are, you take your sleep very seriously — as you should! Research shows that getting insufficient sleep can lead to a host of health problems, including diabetes, obesity, heart attack and stroke. Choosing comfortable bedding that promotes deep, restorative sleep is a small step we can all take to catch more Zzzs and live healthier lives.

So, should you replace your old bedding with a high-quality weighted blanket designed to support a calmer night’s sleep? Or should you choose a classic comforter that makes you feel like you’re sleeping on a fluffy cloud? Ultimately, the best decision comes down to your personal preferences. 

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between weighted blankets and comforters so you can invest in bedding that best suits your needs.

What Is a Weighted Blanket?

Do you often struggle to turn off your mind at night and fall asleep? If so, a weighted blanket might be the perfect bedding for you. These heavy blankets provide an even distribution of pressure to the body, evoking a relaxation response that may help you fall asleep faster and increase the quality of your slumber. Users often say that sleeping under a weighted blanket is akin to receiving a gentle, reassuring hug all night long.

Most weighted blankets consist of a protective outer covering and a weighted insert. Inside the weighted insert is a filler material — usually micro glass beads or plastic poly pellets — to make the blanket feel significantly heavier than a standard blanket. The science behind this added weight is that it can reduce symptoms of anxiety and insomnia by stimulating the production of serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter) and melatonin (the sleep hormone) while also decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.

Weighted blankets are available in many different sizes and weights, but most come in single size (72" x 48") and fall within five to 35 lbs. If you're interested in sharing your weighted blanket with a partner, our best-selling Gravity Weighted Blanket is available in a queen/king size to fit your bed.

Shop Weighted Blankets

What Is a Comforter?

A comforter is a thick, fluffy and (sometimes) decorative type of bedding used as the top covering on your bed. Like a weighted blanket insert, a comforter generally consists of an outer layer (known as the “shell”) sewn together in a gridded stitch pattern to help keep the filler material in place. But while weighted blankets typically contain glass beads or plastic pellets, comforters are almost always filled with fluffy, airy materials — like cotton, wool, goose-down or down alternative — that provide warmth and give the blanket a cloud-like appearance. 

What’s the Difference Between a Weighted Blanket vs. a Comforter?

At a glance, weighted blankets and comforters share many similarities. They both typically feature a gridded stitch pattern to ensure even distribution and are made with cozy materials to provide maximum comfort as you sleep. They even tend to hover around the same price point depending on the quality of the materials used.

However, that’s about where the similarities end. Weighted blankets and comforters also have several significant differences that may influence your choice of bedding. These include:

Weight – Because weighted blankets typically contain glass beads or plastic poly pellets, they’re significantly heavier than comforters.

Thickness and Warmth – Comforters are generally much thicker than weighted blankets and provide more insulation, keeping the user warmer on cold nights.

Benefits – Both comforters and weighted blankets can help you achieve higher quality sleep by creating a “microclimate” around the skin. However, weighted blankets take things one step further by relieving symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and maybe even chronic pain.

Ease of Washing – Comforters are notoriously difficult to wash, whereas weighted blankets often come with a protective outer covering that is easy to remove and wash.

Weighted Blanket vs. Comforter: Which One Is Best?

Choosing between a weighted blanket vs. a comforter can be a difficult decision. Ultimately, the choice comes down to your personal needs and preferences.

Choose a weighted blanket if…

• You toss and turn at night due to unrelenting anxiety. Weighted blankets promote a sense of calm, helping you turn off your brain at night and finally get the rest you need.
• You want your bedding to have a layered look. Because weighted blankets are relatively thin, they pair well with thicker types of bedding, including comforters.
• You sleep hot. If you’re a hot sleeper, skip the comforter and go for a cooling weighted blanket. Made with revolutionary moisture-wicking fabrics, our cooling weighted blanket will keep you calm and comfortable throughout the night. 

Get Your Cooling Weighted Blanket

Choose a comforter if…

• You sleep cold. Comforters typically have excellent insulating properties, making them ideal for cold sleepers or winter bedding.
• You prefer fluffy bedding. High-quality comforters are typically filled with thick, airy materials that make you feel as though you’re sleeping on a cloud.
• You want more style options. Comforters are available in a wide variety of prints, patterns and colors, while style options for weighted blankets can be somewhat limited.

Get Better Snooze with Gravity Blankets

Are you now on the hunt for a high-quality weighted blanket? At Gravity Blankets, we offer several different styles of weighted blankets and weighted blanket covers to help you get the high-quality sleep you deserve. Browse our entire collection of sleep wellness products, designed for your comfort in mind!  

 

Your use of this website, its content, and any products obtained through this website is at your own risk. This website, its content, and any products obtained through this website are provided on an “as is” basis, without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, infringement of intellectual property, or fitness for any particular purposes. No warranty or representation is made with respect to the completeness, reliability, quality, or accuracy of this website or its content. This website, its content, and any products obtained through this website do not constitute medical treatment and is not a substitute for a medical examination or diagnosis. If you are dealing with a health condition check with your health care provider before using. This website may contain affiliate links that allow us to earn a commission on purchases made through such links. We may accept forms of advertising or sponsorships in connection with this website. There might also be paid topic insertions. We may accept and keep free products, services, and other forms of compensation from others.