Call me old before my time, but I find hot-water bottles particularly comforting. I can’t be alone, either: once the relic of grandparents’ bedrooms, hot-water bottles are having a revival. Maybe it’s the effects of high energy prices, or an increasing desire to achieve cosiness.
But how different can hot-water bottles really be? Fill them, hug them – job done, right? Well, yes and no. Since hot-water bottles have been trending, manufacturers have upped the ante. Yes, there are the traditional hot-water bottles sloshing about with bellies full of hot water, but there are also rechargeable hot-water bottles, which often stay warm for far longer. And, many people prefer the comforting weight and safety of microwavable “hot-water” bottle alternatives, often filled with natural grains, such as wheat.
I’ve spent months at home with a thermometer and a stopwatch to find the best hot-water bottles. Do friends often comment on how weird my job is? Yes – yes, they do. Read on to find out about my methodology.
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At a glance
Best overall:
CosyPanda majestic mustard waffle hot-water bottle
Best budget:
Argos hot-water bottle with chunky knit cover
Best long hot-water bottle:
Yuyu long hot-water bottle with luxury fleece cover
Best microwaveable hot-water bottle:
Warmies highland cow
Best hot-water bottle for kids:
Disney Stitch winter warmers
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Why you should trust me
I’ve been testing products for five years. During that time I’ve tested a lot of stuff, from kids’ toys to coffee machines and mattresses, so I’m used to putting products through their paces and investigating how a brand’s claims match up to the reality of using its product. I’ve tested hot-water bottles before, as well as heated throws and electric blankets, and I like to think of myself as an expert in keeping cosy during the winter months.
How I tested
Testing hot-water bottles was a balance between cuddling and geeking out. I tested more than 20, pitting them against one another on how easy they were to fill or warm, how long they stayed warm, and how protective their cover was.
I used an infrared thermometer to measure the surface of the hot-water bottle when it had been freshly made, then set a timer for 30 minutes to check the temperature again. I lined them up next to me, constantly rubbing their little tummies, then made a note of when they no longer felt warm to the touch.
Geeky part out of the way, I also snuggled up with each one. I’ll level with you – when I started this article, we were in the middle of a heatwave, so I waited for cooler weather before I did too much comfort testing. I looked at how soft the covers were, and I wore any hot-water bottles that were designed to be worn for a full session; I wanted to eliminate any itchy ones. Although we’ve noted the full capacity on each, you should really only fill them three-quarters full.
After testing was completed, any hot-water bottles that weren’t collected by their brands were donated to Refugease, a charity that provides emergency aid and long-term support for displaced people.
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The best hot-water bottles in 2026
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<em>Best overall:</em>CosyPanda majestic mustard waffle hot-water bottle
- What we love:Cosy with long-lasting heat
- What we don’t love:Shipping isn’t included, and it can get pricey
I loved the cheerful mustard of this waffle hot-water bottle from CosyPanda. It’s like autumn sunshine, and makes it feel more cosy. It’s a simple design: an open funnel end, with a wide collar to make it easy to fill; there’s no need to awkwardly shove the bottle back in a cover.
Why we love it
This hot-water bottle is gorgeously tactile – I couldn’t help but keep stroking the satisfying waffle as I cuddled it. The cover is made from cotton, and the wadding inside is made from 50% bamboo and 50% cotton.
Both are breathable fabrics that will stop you feeling sweaty, and the bamboo is great at insulating. During testing, it took well over an hour to drop even 1C from the original temperature. Bamboo is a more sustainable option than many synthetic fibres.
It’s a shame that … when you add the cost of shipping, this hot-water bottle gets a tad expensive.
Capacity: 2l
Removable cover: yes
Machine washable: yes (delicate wash)
Stayed warm for: 2hrs 30mins
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<em>Best budget:</em>Argos hot-water bottle with chunky knit cover
- What we love:Incredible value without feeling cheap
- What we don’t love:There’s only one colour
Dressed in a little winter jumper of its own, this Argos hot-water bottle looks as cosy as can be. It’s no-frills, with a funnel neck opening inside the turtle neck of the cover. With a capacity of 1.8l, it’s a standard size too.
Why we love it
This is cheap for a hot-water bottle, yet it doesn’t feel cheap. The cover is thick and well made. I did a thorough check for frayed edges and pulled threads – it passed – and the washable cover didn’t feel scratchy or irritating to hug.
It’s also a crowd pleaser – it’s inoffensive and fairly bog standard, so will suit anyone who wants a traditional hot-water bottle. The bottle inside is made from natural rubber, which is naturally insulating and will stay warmer than its synthetic counterparts. It reached 47C pretty quickly – one of the hottest I tested. It retained this heat for more than an hour, dropping only a few degrees.
It’s a shame that … it comes in only one colour.
Capacity: 1.8l
Removable cover: yes
Machine washable: yes
Stayed warm for: 2hrs 45mins
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<em>Best long hot-water bottle:</em>Yuyu long hot-water bottle with luxury fleece cover
- What we love:Lovely, strokeable cover with a flexible long body
- What we don’t love:It cools down quite quickly
Yuyu has a strong reputation in the hot-water bottle world, and a friend with endometriosis swears by its hot-water bottles when she’s having a flare-up. Although it comes in different covers, this fleecy one feels particularly snuggly for days when you need extra comfort. The fleece is as soft as a kitten, with no exposed stitching that irritates.
The long body and robust strap mean you can tie it around your stomach, back or neck to make it wearable and hands-free. Or you can cuddle it flat for a fuller-length warming effect in bed. As well as using it for heat, you can freeze these water bottles and insert them in the cover to use for cold relief – a brilliant life hack in a heatwave.
Why we love it
The fleece is so soft and strokable, and despite being made from synthetic fibres, it didn’t ever feel sweaty. A wide opening made it easy to fill, and a drawstring means you can tuck away the top afterwards. The fabric is thick enough to be warming without feeling alarmingly hot on the skin – and it got up to 47C when first filled.
The well-made cover has a lining inside that does a good job of retaining the heat. The strap was well made and extra long, meaning most people could tie it around their stomachs without running out of flex. Another big tick for me is that the bottle is made from biodegradable natural rubber that’s sustainably sourced. Yuyu also offers two-year warranties on its bottles.
It kept its temperature well – after 30 minutes it was 48C (presumably my body heat had actually warmed it up a degree), but it cooled rapidly – and had mostly cooled totally down (25C) around the 90-minute mark.
It’s a shame that … it didn’t stay warm for longer.
Capacity: 1l
Removable cover: yes
Machine washable: yes, at 30C
Stayed warm for: 1hr 30mins
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<em>Best microwaveable hot-water bottle:</em>Warmies highland cow
- What we love:Adorable design with a lovely aroma
- What we don’t love:It’s more of a warm bottle than a hot one
Hot-water bottles in the shape of highland cows are popular. Who knew there was such demand for bovines involved in keeping us warm? This cute little fella goes in the microwave and is filled with specially treated millet and French lavender, which gently warms when given a spin.
Why we love it
Despite not being a particular fan of highland cows (although I have no particular beef with them), it’s hard to deny how cute this is. The fur is soft, and the millet in the belly makes it pleasingly squeezable. Indeed, Warmies says its products are weighted for extra comfort, and it did feel calming to lie with it on top of me.
I’m a huge fan of lavender, so I loved the aroma of this product – much better than the usual whiff of rubber. It was easy to warm: just stick it in the microwave for between 45 and 90 seconds, depending on your microwave, following the instructions on the sewn-in label. The cow then comes out warm without being hot – he was 33C after 60 seconds in my microwave. It did increase to about 35C after a minute or two out of the microwave, which is a much gentler heat than some others on this list.
Now for the safety bit. When using a microwave hottie, always follow the heating timing and wattage instructions to the letter, being careful not to overheat, as this can be a fire risk. You should also store them in a cool, dry place. This model complies with BS 8433:2004 and European Toy Safety Standard EN71-1/2/3.
It’s a shame that … it didn’t get slightly hotter, or stay hotter for longer.
Capacity: not applicable
Removable cover: no
Machine washable: no
Stayed warm for: 45mins
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<em>Best hot-water bottle for kids:</em>Disney Stitch winter warmers
- What we love:A design that children will fight over
- What we don’t love:The fleece could be thicker, as it gets hotter than some
Bang on trend (thanks to 2025’s live-action Lilo & Stitch), this Stitch hot-water bottle made my kids squeal with delight. With cute floppy ears and a cosy, fleecy body, it’s immediately recognisable to those in the know. This one is slightly smaller than the traditional size, which works well for kids.
Why we love it
It was a huge hit with my young children. They argued over who got to use it – nothing is impervious to sibling rivalry when you’re under 10 years old.
Stitch heated up well, reaching 44C, and faster than many others on this roundup. My mini testers loved the floppy ears and fur you can stroke, snuggling up to him during family movie nights. As a boring parent, I was more concerned with filling Stitch’s innards. The bottle opening is large enough to safely fill (for an adult) and the envelope cover opens and closes with Velcro, so the whole water bottle is tucked away during use to help reduce the risk of burns.
It’s a shame that … the fleece isn’t slightly thicker, or the cover lined. This means our friend Stitch is hotter than many hot-water bottles. With that in mind, it’s always sensible to be extra vigilant with children using hot-water bottles and follow safety advice to the letter (such as never leaving them unattended with the bottle).
Capacity: 600ml
Removable cover: yes
Machine washable: no
Stayed warm for: 2hrs 20mins
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The best of the rest
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Wuka wearable hot-water bottle
- What we love:Versatile design for targeted heating
- What we don’t love:The tie strap could be a little longer
Best for: your neck
I suffer from occasional neck and shoulder pain, so I know there’s something soothing about applying heat to the area. Nestling a traditional hot-water bottle on your shoulder requires you to lie down, however.
This Wuka wearable hot-water bottle allows you to sit and work while it gently warms your shoulders. It’s long enough to wrap around your neck for that “Britney Spears snake at the VMAs” look if you want, and I found it brilliant while slung over my shoulders. It also has a pouch to stick your hands in if you want to wear it like a hot-water bottle belt. However you wear it, it’s soft and highly strokable.
It didn’t make the final cut because … the tie strap could have been longer.
Capacity: 1.6l; removable cover: yes; machine washable: yes, at 40C; stayed warm for: 2hrs
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Beurer HK 77 Heaty rechargeable heat pad
- What we love:Lasts for eight hours on a single charge
- What we don’t love:Expensive – albeit for obvious reasons
Best for: a rechargeable hot-water bottle
OK, so this isn’t a traditional hot-water bottle, but it does the same job and is convenient. Plug in the cushion (there’s a discreet little input on the back of the label) and it charges an onboard battery. You then click the “on” button on the label, and it quickly comes up to temperature. There are three levels of heat you can choose from – the hottest got to 38C.
I liked that you could control the temperature, and it would maintain that heat level throughout use. There’s about eight hours of battery life in the Heaty, but the hotter you have it, the more quickly it will burn through the charge. Still, it lasts much longer than a traditional hot-water bottle, and it’s reassuringly safe to use. LED lights on the label show which heat setting you have it set to and the remaining battery life.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s pricey.
Capacity: not applicable; removable cover: yes; machine washable: yes, at 30C; stayed warm for: 7hrs
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Boots extra-soft fleece hot-water bottle
- What we love:Good value, easy to fill and a toasty temperature
- What we don’t love:The cover could be softer on the skin
Best for: a fleecy hot-water bottle
This budget-friendly hot-water bottle from Boots comes in an inoffensive stripy fleece case, with an envelope closing at the back. Inside is a PVC hot-water bottle with a capacity of 1.6 litres, which is reasonably generous. The bottle is suitable for those with latex allergies and is phthalate-free PVC.
I found it easy to fill – flip it out of the envelope, and there’s a large opening to pour in the water. Once filled, it came up to 41C, which kept me warm enough without overheating. The fleece cover is padded for added protection from scalds.
It didn’t make the final cut because … while the cover is padded, the fleece could be softer. However, it’s a bargain at less than £15 (RRP).
Capacity: 1.6l; removable cover: yes; machine washable: yes, at 30C; stayed warm for: 1hr 55mins
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Caroline Gardner merino hot-water bottle
- What we love:Soft merino wool cover provides the perfect temperature
- What we don’t love:It’s pricey
Best for: a premium hot-water bottle
There’s something so snug-looking about this hot-water bottle – it looks like it might feel like a big hug. Easy to fill, thanks to the exposed opening at the top, its envelope opening also makes it easy to remove the merino wool cover.
The wool is soft and non-itchy, as well as being a great temperature regulator. Caroline Gardner is a certified B Corp, too, meaning it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
It didn’t make the final cut because … just shy of £60 feels expensive.
Capacity: 2l; removable cover: yes; machine washable: cool hand wash only; stayed warm for: 2hrs 30mins
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What you need to know
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What should you look for in a hot-water bottle?
Before you consider the aesthetics, there are three things all hot-water bottles should be: safe, nice to cuddle and good at retaining heat.
For safety, always go for hot-water bottles that are made from rubber or thermoplastics that won’t split or leak at first fill. Check for the BS 1970:2012 safety mark (for traditional bottles) or BS 8433:2004 (for microwavable warmers). This ensures the hot-water bottle meets strict British safety standards.
Heat retention is important. During testing, I found that it’s more than a little disappointing when a hottie becomes a not-hottie within an hour. Thicker walls on the bottle and padded or lined covers will help lock in heat. A ribbed or textured surface on the bottle diffuses warmth gently and helps prevent burns.
A comfortable cover is also desirable. Something that feels soft and cosy, but that won’t get all sweaty, is ideal. Moisture-wicking fibres, such as bamboo or wool, are great. Look out for washable covers so you can keep your hottie in good nick year after year (but you should replace the actual bottle every two years – more on that below).
How long do hot-water bottles last?
If you look after your hot-water bottle well – completely drying it out between uses and storing it in a cool, dark place – then most should last about two years. After this, the rubber or plastic could crack or leak. This degradation isn’t a definite, but accident-prevention charities recommend replacing hotties after two years. Look out for signs of wear and tear, such as cracks or splits, or hardened rubber, and always check that the stopper fits neatly before filling it.
If you’re not sure how old your hottie is, all hot-water bottles in the UK should have a flower marking on them. The number in the middle of the flower is the year it was made; the number of “petals” with dots inside tells you the month; and the number of dots indicates which week. So if it’s 25 and there’s one petal with two dots inside, the bottle was made in the second week of January 2025.
Could they just print the date on the water bottle? Sure, but where’s the fun in that?
What’s the safest way to fill and use a hot-water bottle?
Hold your hot-water bottle upright, holding it under the collar of the neck. Let boiled water cool for five minutes before pouring it into your hot-water bottle, and only fill it up to two-thirds full. Carefully let the air out before firmly screwing the stopper on.
You should never sit on a hot-water bottle, nor use one without a cover. If you notice itchy skin or a net-like patterned rash when using a hot-water bottle, you may have “toasted skin syndrome”, AKA erythema ab igne. This can happen when you’re close to a heat source for too long. As soon as you notice these symptoms, remove the hot-water bottle and cool the area with running water.
There’s nothing to stop you from using a hot-water bottle during pregnancy, but you may want to avoid putting it directly on your bump.
For more ways to keep toasty for less, read the Filter’s guides on the best electric blankets and the best electric heaters
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Zoë Phillimore is a journalist and product-testing geek. She’s been a journalist for more than 20 years. Her laser-like focus and a capacious spare room to house endless product samples make her ideally suited for the gig. Mattresses, makeup, trampolines and toys – she’s tested the lot. As she works from home, Zoë is a big fan of hot-water bottles as an efficient way to keep warm without switching on the heating. When she’s not taking the temperatures of inanimate objects, Zoë spends a lot of time trying to keep her kids entertained – and she shares her endeavours on her Instagram account
