Keeping warm for less: electric throws from £24, draught excluders from £5 and what they cost to run

As the nights get colder, there are cheaper ways to stay warm than turning the heating up. We checked Dunelm and B&Q when we checked on 1 November. Dunelm has 20% off several electric throws, and B&Q sells draught-proofing kits for a few pounds. None of the offers showed an end date.

At a glance

• Electric throws: Dunelm's Fleece Electric Throw is £24, down from £30. It's 100W, and Dunelm puts its running cost at about 3p an hour.
• Draught-proofing: B&Q has a 10m self-adhesive draught seal for £6 and a 1m door draught excluder kit for £5.
• Draught excluders: Dunelm's Teddy Bear Draught Excluder is £8.
• Hot water bottles: Dunelm's Otto the Otter Long Hot Water Bottle is £10, and a microwaveable Cooper the Capybara Hottie is £7.
• Thermal curtain linings: from £22 at Dunelm.

Electric throws and blankets

Dunelm had 20% off these when we checked:

• Fleece Electric Throw (130cm x 160cm, six heat settings): £24, was £30
• Woodland Friends Fleece Electric Throw: £24, was £30
• Billie Fleece Electric Throw: £28, was £35
• Highland Cow Sherpa Electric Throw: £32, was £40
• Double Sided Faux Fur Electric Throw: £36, was £45
• Teddy Electric Blanket: £28 to £40, was £35 to £50, depending on size

It also had a 3 Tier Heated Airer at £76, down from £95, which can save running a tumble dryer. For a cheaper option with no running costs, its Tassel Throw (130cm x 170cm) is £4.20, down from £6.

Draught-proofing

Gaps around doors and windows let warm air out. B&Q's own-brand kits are cheap:

• White self-adhesive draught seal, 10m: £6
• White draft excluder kit, 1000mm: £5
• Volden self-adhesive draught seal, 6m: £7
• Stormguard white plastic draught excluder, 0.84m: £10

B&Q also lists Haltons reflective radiator insulation foil (5m x 60cm) for £9.99. It goes behind radiators on outside walls to reflect heat back into the room. Click + Collect is free, and home delivery on B&Q's own stock is £6, or free over £100.

At Dunelm, the Teddy Bear Draught Excluder is £8 and the Scandi Floral Draught Excluder is £14. Don't block air bricks or vents, which are there to let air move.

Curtains and hot water bottles

Thick curtains help keep heat in at night. Dunelm's Thermal Eyelet Curtain Linings cost £22 to £38 and can go behind curtains you already own. Its Wynter Thermal Eyelet Curtains are £60. These weren't reduced.

Otto the Otter Long Hot Water Bottle is £10, and Cooper the Capybara Microwaveable Hottie is £7. A heavier winter duvet can help too: Dunelm's Fogarty Superfull 13.5 Tog Winter Duvet is £30.60 to £41.40, down from £34 to £46.

Worked example: running costs

Ofgem's average electricity price for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is 26.32p per kWh on Direct Debit.

• A 100W electric throw uses 0.1kWh an hour, so it costs about 2.6p an hour. Four hours a night for 30 nights is 12kWh, or £3.16.
• A 2kW electric heater uses 2kWh an hour, about 52.6p. The same 120 hours would cost £63.17.

A throw only warms you, not the room, but for an evening on the sofa it could save around £60 a month against a plug-in heater.

What to do now

1. Find the draughts. Hold your hand near doors, windows and letterboxes on a windy day.
2. Seal the worst gaps first with cheap self-adhesive strips.
3. Close curtains at dusk and add linings if they're thin.
4. Warm the person, not the room, with a throw or hot water bottle for evenings on the sofa.
5. Check your Warm Home Discount. If you're eligible, a letter is on its way. Read our guide to Warm Home Discount scams.

Questions

Is an electric throw safe to leave on?

Follow the maker's instructions, check for wear before each winter, and switch it off at the wall when you're not using it.

Does draught-proofing make a home damp?

Not if you only seal unwanted gaps. Keep vents, air bricks and extractor fans clear.

Will these be cheaper on Black Friday?

Maybe, but there's no sign yet. A throw at £24 is already a fair price for a 100W model.

Ways to save

See our Dunelm, B&Q and Matalan pages, and Morrisons for hot chocolate deals.

Sources: Dunelm: The Cosy Zone, Dunelm: Fleece Electric Throw, B&Q: draught excluders, B&Q: radiator foil, Ofgem: price cap rates. Prices checked on 1 November 2026 and may change.

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