The best hot water bottles
Cold feet, chilly sofas and draughty bedrooms: hot water bottles that stay warm for hours and feel lovely to cuddle, all made to the British safety standard.
A hot water bottle is still the cheapest way to warm a cold bed. The modern rubber bottle was patented in 1903 by the Croatian inventor Slavoljub Eduard Penkala, and the design has barely changed, because it works.
Safety matters with anything filled from the kettle, so every bottle here is made to the British Standard, BS 1970. RoSPA's advice: fill it no more than two-thirds full with hot, not boiling, water, and check the little daisy-shaped date mark near the neck, replacing older bottles, as the material wears with age.
What matters
- Made to BS 1970, the British safety standard.
- Size: 2 litres is standard; long bottles wrap round a back or neck.
- A soft cover, so it's cosy and never too hot against skin.
- Rubber or latex-free thermoplastic.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Revitale Luxury 2L Hot Water Bottle with Plush Cover
£11.99 RRP
A thick natural-rubber 2-litre bottle in a soft faux-fur cover, made to exceed British Standard BS1970:2012. The single ribbed side keeps the heat gentle against you, and the wide mouth makes filling less splashy.
What owners say: Owners say the cover feels wonderfully soft, it stays warm for a long time, and it's lovely on cold winter nights.
A closer look: Pop it under the duvet a little while before bed and the sheets are warm when you get in. The cover comes off for washing.
- 2 litres
- Natural rubber
- Removable faux-fur cover
- Made to BS1970:2012
- Wide, easy-fill neck
Best for: Cosy nights in bed
- Size
- 2 litres
- Bottle
- Natural rubber
- Cover
- Faux fur
- Made to BS 1970
- Yes
#2 of 5
Best for backs and shoulders
Homealexa Extra Long Hot Water Bottle (2L, 73cm)
£10–£20 Price range
At 73cm long and 14cm wide, it drapes round the neck and shoulders or across the lower back, in a soft fleece cover. It holds two litres like a standard bottle, just spread out.
What owners say: Owners say it's soothing for backs and shoulders, stays warm on cold nights, and has a super-soft cover that's cosy to hug.
A closer look: Squeeze the air out before tightening the cap, as the maker recommends, so it lies flat round your shoulders. In summer, fill it with cold water and leave the cover off for a cool compress.
- 2 litres, 73cm long
- Natural rubber
- Soft fleece cover
- Wraps round neck or back
- Hot or cold use
Best for: Backs, necks and shoulders
- Size
- 2 litres, 73 × 14cm
- Bottle
- Natural rubber
- Cover
- Fleece
- Made to BS 1970
- Yes
#3 of 5
Best latex-free
Fashy 2L Hot Water Bottle with Fleece Cover
£10–£20 Price range
From the German maker Fashy, it's made of odourless thermoplastic rather than rubber, so it suits anyone with a latex allergy, and it's fully recyclable at the end of its life. The extra-wide 29mm neck makes filling safer.
What owners say: Owners say it's good quality, stays warm for hours and feels soft, without a rubbery smell.
A closer look: The fleece cover goes in the washing machine, so it stays fresh all winter. As with any hot water bottle, fill it with hot rather than boiling water, and no more than two-thirds full.
- 2 litres
- Latex-free thermoplastic
- Recycled polyester fleece cover
- Extra-wide 29mm neck
- Machine-washable cover
Best for: Latex allergies
- Size
- 2 litres
- Bottle
- Thermoplastic, latex-free
- Cover
- Fleece, machine washable
- Made to BS 1970
- Yes
#4 of 5
Best for cold hands
BOLEi Hot Water Bottle with Faux Fur Pocket Cover (2L)
Under £10 Price range
A fluffy faux-fur cover with a pocket at each end, so you can tuck your hands in on the sofa while the 2-litre natural-rubber bottle warms your lap. The bottle is made to BS1970:2012.
What owners say: Owners love how cosy and pretty it is, say it holds its heat well, and think it's great value for winter nights.
Heads up: The fluffy cover can shed a little at first, so give it a good shake outside before the first use.
A closer look: The date wheel moulded near the neck shows when the bottle was made, which helps you know when it's due for replacing. It makes a sweet stocking filler for anyone who's always cold.
- 2 litres
- Natural rubber
- Faux-fur cover with hand pockets
- Made to BS1970:2012
- Leakproof stopper
Best for: Sofa nights and cold hands
- Size
- 2 litres
- Bottle
- Natural rubber
- Cover
- Faux fur with hand pockets
- Made to BS 1970
- Yes
#5 of 5
Best budget
Cassandra Ribbed Hot Water Bottle (1.8L)
£5.99 RRP
The classic plain rubber bottle, ribbed on both sides for gentler heat, made to exceed BS1970:2012 and backed by a five-year guarantee. Each one is tested as it's made.
What owners say: Owners say it keeps them toasty at night, helps with aches and pains, and does the job simply and well.
Heads up: It doesn't come with a cover, so wrap it in a towel or add a cover to keep hot rubber off bare skin.
A closer look: Cassandra's own instructions: hot, not boiling, water, filled two-thirds full at most, then lower it onto a flat surface to push the air out before doing the stopper up finger-tight.
- 1.8 litres
- Natural rubber
- Ribbed on both sides
- Exceeds BS1970:2012
- 5-year guarantee
Best for: A spare for every bed
- Size
- 1.8 litres
- Bottle
- Natural rubber, ribbed both sides
- Cover
- None
- Made to BS 1970
- Yes
How they compare
| Feature | #1Revitale 2L | #2Homealexa extra long | #3Fashy fleece | #4BOLEi pocket bottle | #5Cassandra ribbed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for backs and shoulders | Best latex-free | Best for cold hands | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.7 |
| Price | £11.99 RRP | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £5.99 RRP |
| Size | 2 litres | 2 litres, 73 × 14cm | 2 litres | 2 litres | 1.8 litres |
| Bottle | Natural rubber | Natural rubber | Thermoplastic, latex-free | Natural rubber | Natural rubber, ribbed both sides |
| Cover | Faux fur | Fleece | Fleece, machine washable | Faux fur with hand pockets | None |
| Made to BS 1970 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Cosy nights in bed | Backs, necks and shoulders | Latex allergies | Sofa nights and cold hands | A spare for every bed |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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