The best hot water bottles for keeping warm without turning on the heating this winter

As the temperature drops, you may be tempted to turn up the central heating, but for those of us trying to cut down on our energy consumption and save money on our gas and electric bills, there are other ways to keep warm this winter.

You could wrap up in a hooded blanket, use an energy-efficient electric heater or switch on your electric blanket, but one of the best cost-efficient ways to keep warm is by using a hot water bottle.

The humble hot water bottle has been around for hundreds of years. While the earliest bed warmers were used in the 16th century, it wasn’t until the invention of rubber in the late 19th century that the hot water bottle as we know it was patented and widely sold.

As we head into winter, these old favourites are the perfect cold weather companion. There are now many different hot water bottle styles to choose from. We scoured the web to find the best hot water bottles to keep you warm during cold nights, including luxurious faux fur covered ones to extra large ones and hot water bottles designed for wearing around your neck.

The best hot water bottles at a glance:

• Best premium hot water bottle: Revitale Luxury Cosy Faux Fur Pom Pom Hot Water Bottle
• Best long hot water bottle: Revitale Extra Long Hot Water Bottle
• Best extra-large hot water bottle: Peterpan Rubber Hot Water Bottle
• Best small hot water bottle: Vagabond Bags Stars Grey 0.5 Litre Hot Water Bottle
• Best value hot water bottle: Cassandra Hot Water Bottle
• Best hot water bottle for necks: CityComfort Neck Hot Water Bottle
• Best hot water bottle for kids: Habigail Llama Hot Water Bottle
• Best hot water bottle for cramps: Apostle Rubber Water Bag

The best hot water bottles

Best premium hot water bottle: Revitale Luxury Cosy Faux Fur Pom Pom Hot Water Bottle

A great gift

This hot water bottle features a super soft, luxurious faux fur cover, ideal for snuggling up under the covers.

Available in a range of covers with matching pom poms, this hot water bottle looks as great as it is practical and makes for an ideal winter gift.

Best long hot water bottle: Revitale Extra Long Hot Water Bottle

Great for warming up the bed

Measuring in at over 70cm long, this hot water bottle is ideal for warming up just one side of the bed - making it perfect for those who prefer a warmer bed than their partner.

While it’s longer than a standard hot water bottle, it still has the same 2-litre capacity as most medium-sized hot water bottles, just elongating the spread of heat and making it ideal for wrapping around cold areas.

Best extra-large hot water bottle: Peterpan Rubber Hot Water Bottle

Ideal for soothing aches and pains

This 3-litre hot water bottle is 50% larger than most standard hot water bottles, making it great for those who want to heat larger beds (or just cuddle with it on the sofa).

Made from high-quality rubber and with its included faux fleece cover, this hot water bottle is ideal for those who want to heat larger areas.

Best small hot water bottle: Vagabond Bags Stars Grey 0.5 Litre Hot Water Bottle

Perfect for keeping in a hoody pouch

This little hot water bottle fits perfectly in the pouch pocket of most hoodies, making it ideal for those working from home.

While its 0.5-litre capacity is much smaller than other hot water bottles, this little bottle from Vagabond Bags is perfect for packing on trips or travelling in the car on cold days.

Best value hot water bottles: Cassandra Hot Water Bottle

A simple solution for keeping warm

This no-frills hot water bottle is perfect for those looking for a straightforward way to warm up their beds on cold nights.

Available with two ribbed sides, one ribbed side, or completely smooth, this basic hot water bottle does everything you need. Plus, it’s great for filling with cold water and using it for keeping cool on hot days.

Best hot water bottle for necks: CityComfort Neck Hot Water Bottle

Soothing and warming

This hot water bottle has been specifically designed to wrap around your neck, making it ideal for soothing aches and pains.

With a U-shaped design and a soft fleece cover, this hot water bottle is ideal for wearing around your neck, like a wearable pillow, on cold nights or for soothing neck pains or headaches.

Best hot water bottle for kids: Habigail Llama Hot Water Bottle

A super-cute bedtime companion

This adorable llama design is just one of Habigail’s super cute hot water bottle covers that wouldn’t look out of place in any kid's bedroom.

While its cover may be the star here, this 1-litre hot water bottle is ideal for keeping kids warm on colder nights and features anti-leak safety features for complete peace of mind.

Best hot water bottle for cramps: Apostle Rubber Water Bag

Perfect for wearing around the house

This innovative design is ideal for those looking to soothe lower back pain, abdominal pain and cramps.

The bag is designed to hold the included 1-litre hot water bottle with a velcro strap closure meaning you can fill up the bottle, insert it in the bag, strap it around your waist and get on with your day without worrying about having to constantly adjust it - making it perfect for those working from home.

If you want to read more product guides, check out our Household page, where you’ll find more home recommendations, including the best energy-efficient heaters, the best weighted blankets and the best hooded blankets.