The Big Heat: The 6 Best Extra Large Heating Pads (2023)
Extra large and XXL heating pads are the best solution for people who want to cover a large painful area (such as the entire back) in one session and maximize heat therapy for pain relief, increased blood flow, and stress relief.
But, how do you find the best large heating pad – for the lowest price?
In this post, you’ll find the best options – compared and reviewed – and where to find the best price for each extra-long heating pad.
The XL heating pads below would be great for all kinds of large pain areas in your body:
1. Back pain and sciatica pain
2. Leg Pain
3. Fibromyalgia, arthritis, multiple injuries after a car accident, etc.
These 6 heating pads use different heat therapy types (dry heat, moist heat, or infrared heat), and you’ll see the pros and cons of each of them right below the table.
| Large Heating Pad | Bottom Line | Size | Temperature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pure Relief XL Heating Pad | Best Value | 12" x 24" | 105-140℉ | ✅ $35 at PureEnrichment |
UTK Infrared Heating Pad | Best Infrared heating pad Weighted (natural stones) | 31" x 21" | Up to 159 F | ✅ $180 on Amazon |
Sunbeam King Size Heating Pad | Fastest Heating | 12" x 24" | 3 heat settings | ✅ $37-$43 on Amazon |
Thermotec Moist Heating Pad | Hottest XL Heating Pad Best Moist | 14" x 27" | 150 - 165 F | ✅ $65 on Amazon |
Sharper Image Heating Pad | Far infrared Weighted | 26" x 35" | 3 heat settings | ✅ $119 with code LABORDAY at Sharper Image |
No ads, reader-supported: This post may contain affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
Overview
Heating Pad Sizes
Heating pads come in a variety of sizes, from small sizes starting at 12″x”15″, to extra large sizes up to mattress sizes.
A standard size heating pad is about 12″ x 15″, and is too small to cover most of your back. An extra large heating pad is usually at least 12″ x 24″.
Small heating pads are intended for small muscle areas and small joints (knee/elbow).
Medium-size heating pads can cover larger areas such as the lower back or thighs, and large heating pads can cover most of your body if not all of it – from neck to feet.
| Heating Pad Size | Inches | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Small heating pad | 9"x9" 12"x15" | Targeted pain relief Stomach Pain Elbow Pain Knee Pain Neck pain |
| Medium-size heating pad | 14"x14" 13"x11" | Large muscle groups Lower/upper back pain Thighs |
| Large Heating Pads | 12"x24" and up | Wrap around large muscle groups Full body |
👉 See exactly where to place a heating pad for sciatica/constipation/UTI/period cramps
The 6 Best Extra Large Heating Pads
Extra-large heating pads come in a wide range of prices, mainly due to different features such as different heat options, multiple heat settings, and a removable cover.
The most expensive ones are infrared heating pads, which deliver radiant heat through natural gemstones and emit almost no EMF.
Since these high-quality pads can last you for years, you may want to invest a little more in a heating pad with these special features.
1. Pure Relief XXL Heating Pad Best Value
The Pure Relief XXL heating pad is large enough to cover large muscle groups or the entire back, 6 temperature settings to choose from (with the digital LCD controller), and a moist therapy option for deeper heat penetration.
The highest heat setting is 140F, and the lowest is 105F.
The cover is soft and comfortable (machine washable) and the extra-long cord (9-foot) makes it easy to use from your bed, sofa, or chair, and it is very easy to travel with as well.
coils are wrapped by super soft plush
The Pure Relief heating pad shuts off automatically after 2 hours, which is important if you fall asleep on it, and comes with a storage bag for easy transport.
Cons
While the cover can be removed (there’s a zipper) and washed – it requires gentler washing – on the delicate cycle with cold water.
Also, Some users have reported that the cord is too short, making it challenging to use the pad in some situations.
✅ Price – XXL Size – $45 at Pure Enrichment, and on Amazon ($45)
XL Size – $35 at Pure Enrichment, and $37 on Amazon
2. Sunbeam King Size Heating Pad Fastest Heating
- Size – 12” X 24”
- Weight – 1.4 lbs.
- Material – microplush
- Temperature Range – 3 settings (low/medium/high)
😍 Heats up fully in 30 seconds, many heat settings, gets very hot at the highest setting
😣 Cover promotes sweating, some quality issues reported by consumers
✅ $37-43 on Amazon
The Sunbeam XL heating pad (HSA/FSA Eligible) heats up in only 30 seconds, has 6 heat settings (so you can pinpoint the most comfortable heat for your needs), and offers both dry and moist heat.
The digital controller allows you to track the heat and set the auto shut-off time, the super comfortable cover is made with micruplush, and it comes with a 5-year warranty.
How Hot Does it Get?
The highest heat setting (6) is too hot to put next to your skin and even too hot to touch. It would require at least one layer of clothing between the pad and your body, we doubt you’ll even use it.
Cons
It can’t be sharply folded (though you can mold it gently to wrap around your joints), and the cover is not removable (this can be solved by getting a replacement heating pad cover, like this one)
Can be folded on a chair
✅ Available on Amazon ($37-43)
Get Your Free PDF 🎁The Complete Guide to Low Back Pain Relief – at Home!
3. Thermotech Digital Moist Heating Pad Best Moist
- Size: 14″ x 27″
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Material – flannel cover
- Temperature range – up to 160℉
😍 One of the hottest pads available, moist heat (without water), flexible and wrappable
😣 May stop working after 1 year, more expensive than average
This large heating pad (moist) allows you to set the exact temperature you want with your controller, has a temperature lock, and it gets very hot: you can set it up to 160℉!
The Thermotec doesn’t require water to stay moist: it uses the humidity in the air to produce moisture, and it is flexible and wrappable.
The cover is removable and washable and it comes with a velcro strap to help separate it from other clothes in the washing machine.
Cons
The only con we found is the somewhat annoying 15-minute auto shut-off.
But, it can be adjusted to one hour instead (which is still not enough), and the warranty is only for one year.
✅ Available on Amazon ($65)
4. UTK Infrared Jade Heat Mat (XL) Best Weighted Infrared
- Size: 31″ X 21″, about ½” thick (yet this is only the medium size. There’s a giant one that can cover your entire body)
- Weight: 4.8 lbs. , includes 126 natural jade stones
- Material – Jade stones, carbon fiber, PU Leather
- Temperature Range – up to 159℉ (in any increment)
😍 Deep penetrating infrared heat, negative ions, high-quality build, durable, highly customizable heat, FDA-cleared
😣 Heavy to move around, bulky
Through my personal experience, the UTK large Infrared heating pad is the best (and safest) large infrared heating pad and the one I recommended to my friends.
Here’s why:
While electric heating pads are effective and not expensive, there’s still one thing that concerns me: they all emit EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation.
For the last 2 decades, many studies have investigated the health dangers of EMF, suspecting that it can weaken the immune system, hurt brain DNA, and increase the risk of cancer.
Most studies haven’t found a direct link, but none of them were able to rule it out either.
This is especially true when you use a large electric device so close to your body, for a long time.
This is why I’ve recommended an Infrared Heating pad, which emits very low to no EMF radiation at all, and uses Jade or Tourmaline stones to deliver the deep penetrating infrared healing rays (up to 159 F) into your body (and negative ions!).
Plus, compared to electric heat, The UTK infrared heating pad penetrates 10 times deeper into your body – without exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
My UTK jade & tourmaline heating pad
Utk Heating Pad Pros
- UTK heating pad contains natural jade/tourmaline stones to deliver deep-penetrating infrared heat
- Relieves stress and boosts energy through negative ions therapy
- Infrared heat makes you produce more sweat than via electric pads (helps to detox)
- Heat is deep penetrating and effective without feeling extremely hot
- Digital controller with auto-shutoff
- Comfortable to lean on and you can sleep on it
- 1-60 heat settings, 50 feels comfortable for most people
- Flexible and can be used to wrap any part of your body
- Built-in timer, but allows for continuous heat
Cons
- I’ve found no cons other than the price.
✅ Available on this Amazon page
5. Sharper Image XL Infrared Heating Pad
- Size – 26″ x 35″
- Weight – 1.72 lbs.
- Material – Velveteen
- Temperature Range – 3 heat settings (up to 149℉)
😍 Deep-penetrating Infrared rays through carbon fiber, multiple heat settings
😣Heat settings feel the same to some users, expensive
The Sharper Image extra-large heating pad emits infrared rays via carbon fibers at wavelengths greater than 3000 nanometers (far infrared). deep penetrating heat is proven to be more effective for pain relief. Plus, it doesn’t get too hot to the touch.
It has no semi-precious stones in it so it’s relatively lightweight (only 1.72 lbs.) and flexible – it can be used on a chair and a recliner, and even as a foot warmer. The cover is soft and comfortable, but it is not machine washable.
It has 3 heat settings (with 1-hour auto shut-off)
Like all FIR heating pads, the surface does not get hot to the touch, but the heat penetrates deep into your tissues as you lay on it for at least 30 minutes.
Since it is not a jade heating pad, it comes in second in the best large infrared heating pads category.
✅ Available at Sharper Image ($119 with coupon code LABORDAY)
What is the Largest Heating Pad Available?
The largest electric heat pad would be a full-body pad, also known as a heated mattress.
Our top recommendation for 2023 is the Ereada infrared heating mattresses – high-end FIR heating pads with negative ions and PEMF magnetism.
The largest size is the 32″L X 20″W one.
Another option we’ve found is the Sunbeam Heated Mattress Pad, which comes in full bed sizes, including twin, full, queen, and king sizes.
Sunbeam heated mattress pad – with 1o-hour auto shut off!
The Sunbeam soft quilted heated mattress topper comes with dual-side controllers for you and your partner and 10 heat settings you can choose from, to relieve pain all over your body. This one also features the longest auto-shut off of no less than 10 hours.
It has a warmer zone at the bottom and a cooler zone near the head with a medium Zone in the middle. Many people seem to use it as a blanket and not as a mattress pad.
See all the details on this Amazon page!
What is the Hottest Large Heating Pad?
The Thermophore MaxHEAT Moist Heat Pack (14″ x 27″) is the hottest XL heating pad of 2023 and can run between 150 to 165 degrees F.
It is slightly weighted, with weights positioned to make it conform to your body and reduce air pockets so more heat is delivered to your body.
Thermophore MAXHEAT – the hottest large heating pad on Amazon
This is literally a steaming heating pad, which produces intense moist heat without adding any water, and the new design comes with simple one-touch control and a 25-minute auto shut-off timer.
Warning – this pad is not meant to lie on, only to place over your body.
If you do lie on it, check frequently to avoid burning.
What is the Best-Selling XL Heating Pad at Walmart?
Through our research, the top-rated and best-selling large heating pad at Walmart is the Sunbeam King-Size Heating Pad with Auto Shut Off (12 x 24 inches), with 4 heat settings, and 2-hour auto-off.
Sunbeam King-Size Heating Pad – $23 at Walmart
The Sunbeam has a removable, machine-washable cover, and can also be used as a moist heating pad, by simply wetting the sponge insert inside the pad.
What’s the Best Selling Large Heating Pad on Amazon?
The best-selling XL heating pad on Amazon (12″ x 24″) is the Sunbeam XL SoftTouch, which comes with 4 heat settings, and a digital controller, and shuts off after 2 hours.
It has a very soft plush cover (machine washable) and consumers have stated that it maintains continuous heat.
This top-selling heating pad on Amazon has a few safety problems – view on Amazon
However, we do not recommend it because a few reviewers received defective items, and one of them even burned and almost caught her mattress. We recommend the other heating pads on this post instead.
Conclusion
It wasn’t easy finding the best extra-large heating pad for my aching friend. Some heating pads heat quickly, while others take longer. Some have heat settings and some offer exact temperature control.
Some have removable covers, and some emit too much EMF. The list goes on and on.
It’s not like there’s any quick way to compare size and features on most websites.
When I stumbled upon the hidden EMF danger in heating pads, it made me quickly search for an alternative, and that’s how I found the safest one I recommended above.
To your health and happiness,
The Back Pain Relief Products Team
P.S
👉 See the best heating pads for menstrual cramps
