Top 5 compared
The best hot water bottles
Cold feet warmed and a chilly bed made cozy, with hot water from the kettle and nothing to plug in.
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The top 5 at a glance
A hot water bottle is still a low-cost way to warm a cold bed, and it works anywhere, from a drafty bedroom to a tent. The classic kind is natural rubber, which holds heat well; PVC and thermoplastic bottles are latex-free and don’t smell of rubber. Most are the standard flat shape, while long, thin ones drape around the neck or across the back.
Whatever it’s made of, the makers’ safety advice is much the same: fill it no more than about two-thirds full with hot, not boiling, water, squeeze the air out before closing the stopper, keep a cover between the bottle and bare skin, and replace it once it shows any wear.
What matters
- A cover in the box, since some bottles come without one.
- A cover that comes off for washing.
- A wide mouth or a clear body, for easier, safer filling.
- A stopper that screws in tight and seals.
#1FORICOM 2L Hot Water Bottle with Cover
$10–$20
A 2L bottle in odorless, BPA-free PVC with a patterned surface that FORICOM says holds the heat longer, and a cover of its own. It’s a good size to lay across the lower back, the neck or a pair of cold feet, and it can be used cold as well as hot.
What owners say: It stays warm for around three hours, owners say, and some find it works better than an electric heating pad. They like the soft cover and the size, which shapes well around a neck, a hamstring or a back, and it packs easily for travel.
A closer look: FORICOM suggests filling it two-thirds full with water at about 176°F, hot but well short of boiling, and never heating it in the microwave. Flat and only 13 oz, it lies neatly across a stomach or lower back and slips into a suitcase for a drafty hotel room.
- Patterned surface holds heat
- Doubles as a cold pack
- Slips into a suitcase
- 24-hour leak test
- One-year warranty
Best for: Warming a chilly bed or aching neck
- Size
- 68 fl oz (2L)
- Bottle
- PVC, BPA-free
- Cover
- Included
#2samply 2L Hot Water Bottle with Knitted Cover
Under $10
A clear 2L bottle, so you can see the water level while filling, with a wide mouth that makes filling less splashy and a chunky knitted cover in purple, navy, pink or black.
What owners say: Owners love the look of the knitted cover, say the bottle holds its heat well and find it a help with cramps. One says it made camping in 20-degree weather bearable, though a few report leaks of hot water.
A closer look: Watch the water line through the clear bottle and stop at about two-thirds, then squeeze out the air before closing it. Empty, it packs flat into a duffel bag, so it can come camping and go into the sleeping bag half an hour before bed.
- Wide mouth, less splashing
- Purple, navy, pink or black
- Packs flat when empty
- Hot or cold compress
Best for: Cramps and camping trips
- Size
- 68 fl oz (2L)
- Bottle
- Clear PVC, BPA-free
- Cover
- Knitted
#3Fashy 2L Hot Water Bottle with Fleece Cover
$20–$30
From the German maker Fashy, the bottle is odorless thermoplastic rather than rubber, so it suits anyone with a latex allergy, and Fashy says it holds the heat longer than a traditional rubber bottle. It comes in a soft blue fleece cover.
What owners say: Owners say it does its job well, keeping them warm without a leak.
A closer look: The fleece cover slips off for washing, so it stays fresh through the winter. Fashy advises replacing the bottle after two years of use, so note the date it arrives, and fill it with hot rather than boiling water.
- Removable, washable cover
- Works as an ice pack
- Odorless and BPA-free
- Replace after two years
Best for: Anyone sensitive to latex
- Size
- 68 fl oz (2L)
- Bottle
- Thermoplastic, latex-free
- Cover
- Fleece
#4Revitale Extra Long Hot Water Bottle with Faux Fur Cover (28 in)
$10–$20
At about 28 in, this long, thin bottle drapes around the neck and shoulders or across the whole lower back, where a standard bottle only warms one spot. It still holds 2L, and it comes in a soft faux-fur cover finished with pom-poms.
A closer look: Being long and thin, it fills from less than a full kettle, and laid lengthwise under the covers it warms a strip of bed rather than one spot. It also spans both knees or a pair of cold feet at once.
- Spans both knees at once
- Warms a strip of bed
- Needs less than a kettleful
- Rose pink or slate gray
Best for: Backs, necks and shoulders
- Size
- 68 fl oz (2L), 28 in long
- Bottle
- –
- Cover
- Faux fur, pom-poms
#5HomeTop Classic Rubber Hot Water Bottle (2L, red)
$10–$20
The classic red rubber bottle, plain and simple, made in natural rubber with a ribbed surface to the British safety standard BS 1970:2012. Tuck it under the covers a while before bed and the sheets are warm when you get in.
What owners say: It holds its heat for a good while, and one owner finds it helps with migraines. Opinions differ on the rubber, the size and the smell, and a few had leaks, so check the stopper each time.
Heads up: It comes without a cover, so wrap it in a towel or add a cover to keep hot rubber off bare skin.
A closer look: Hold it upright by the neck to fill it, then lower it onto the counter until the water reaches the top, which pushes the air out, and screw the stopper in finger-tight. Natural rubber isn’t for anyone with a latex allergy.
- Made to British safety standard
- Classic red finish
Best for: A classic bottle for the bed
- Size
- 68 fl oz (2L)
- Bottle
- Natural rubber, ribbed
- Cover
- None
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1FORICOM 2L | #2samply knitted | #3Fashy fleece | #4Revitale extra long | #5HomeTop classic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best for your back | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Price | $10–$20 | Under $10 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | $10–$20 |
| Size | 68 fl oz (2L) | 68 fl oz (2L) | 68 fl oz (2L) | 68 fl oz (2L), 28 in long | 68 fl oz (2L) |
| Bottle | PVC, BPA-free | Clear PVC, BPA-free | Thermoplastic, latex-free | – | Natural rubber, ribbed |
| Cover | Included | Knitted | Fleece | Faux fur, pom-poms | None |
| Best for | Warming a chilly bed or aching neck | Cramps and camping trips | Anyone sensitive to latex | Backs, necks and shoulders | A classic bottle for the bed |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
