10 of the best hot water bottles you can buy right now
NOW that the long, cold winter is well and truly here, staying warm has become a challenge. With fuel prices on the rise and the cost of living extortionate, we’re always looking for wallet-friendly ways to stay warm without whacking up the central heating. One of the best - and cosiest - ways to stay snug is with a great hot water bottle.
Hot water bottles come in all shapes and sizes, but typically are made of a rubber bottle, usually with a capacity of between one and two litres, and a cover, made from faux fur, cotton, shearling, wool or a whole host of other materials.
Hot water bottles aren’t just great for keeping you warm, but can also relieve cramps and stress too.
We tested some of the best hot water bottles, ranking them on everything from their value for money and design to their size and style. Get ready to cosy up with our pick of the best.
Best hot water bottles at a glance:
- Best long hot water bottle:
- Best biodegradable:
- Best for kids:
- Best value:
- Best lux option:
WUKA
- WUKA Wearable Hot Water Bottle, £24.99 from WUKA -
Pros: Strap feature, cosy fleece cover, pocket
Cons: Only one colour option
Rating: 5/5
If you haven’t yet tried a long hot water bottle, get ready to have your life changed. The Wearable Hot Water Bottle from period-wear brand WUKA (which stands for Wake Up Kick Ass) is a dream for those uncomfortable, crampy times of the month, and is the ideal companion to soothe sore tummies and backs.
With a cosy fleece cover, the hot water bottle has plenty of tricks up its sleeve to make it extra useful, including a handy strap to tie it around your body so you can keep warm while on the move, and a pocket to keep your phone or other necessities inside.
Material: Fleece cover Dimensions: L 77cm Warranty: 2 years Dimensions: 34 cm x 22 cm x 7 cm Warranty: 14-day returns
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YuYu
- YuYu Cotton Waffle Hot Water Bottle in Grey, £45 from The Rug Seller -
Pros: Cosy waffle material, lots of colours to choose from, strap feature
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
This super comfy YuYu Cotton Waffle Hot Water Bottle from The Rug Seller is made with 100% cotton, making it perfect for sensitive skin, and comes in loads of colours to suit all tastes.
The hot water bottle comes with a nifty extendable strap, which means it can be worn hands-free and tied around the body - genius when you want to stay warm on the move. It can also be filled up with cold water to keep you cool during those hotter months.
Capacity: 1 litre Material: 100% cotton Dimensions: 81x13cm
Warranty: 2-year manufacturer’s guarantee
Disney
- Disney Winnie the Pooh Hot Water Bottle, £16 from Boots -
Pros: Cute design, affordable
Cons: Small
Rating: 4/5
Affordable and adorable, the Mad Beauty Disney Winnie The Pooh Hot Water Bottle from Boots is a winner for fans of the honey-loving bear. It’s made of cosy teddy material and embroidered with Winnie the Pooh’s face, and it’s removable and washable for ease of use.
The hot water bottle also comes in seriously cute packaging, making it an ideal Christmas or birthday gift.
Capacity: 500ml Material: Polyester Dimensions: H25 x W17.5 x D6cm
The White Company
- Super Soft Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle, £35 from The White Company -
Pros: Super soft faux fur, zip closure, four colours to choose from
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
For a luxuriously snug option, we loved the Super Soft Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle from British brand The White Company.
Available in four stylish neutral tones, the hot water bottle’s cover is made from recycled fibres derived from plastic bottles, and has a long, extra soft and silky pile to make you want to take it to bed every evening. It’s also got a subtle zip closure to make removing the cover a doddle.
Capacity: 2 litres Material: 100% recycled polyester, derived from plastic bottles Dimensions: W39cm x L22cm
Argos
- Argos Home Blush Pink Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle, £12 from Argos -
Pros: Affordable, easy to remove and clean, many colours and styles available
Cons: Small
Rating: 5/5
If you’re on the hunt for an affordable and reliable hot water bottle, we recommend this generously sized, cosy Blush Pink Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle from Argos. It’s priced at just £12, and available in multiple styles and colours, including olive green and faux shearling.
We liked the fact that the neck of the bottle is covered by the cover, making it extra secure. It has a removable and washable cover for ease of cleaning and also comes with a manufacturer’s one-year guarantee, representing great value for money.
Capacity: 1.5 litres Material: Faux fur polyester Dimensions: 21 cm x 27 cm Warranty: Manufacturer's 1-year guarantee
Revitale
- Revitale Luxury Cosy Faux Fur Pom Pom Hot Water Bottle, £12.99 from Amazon -
Pros: Affordable, four colours to choose from
Cons: Short warranty
Rating: 5/5
As you might expect, Amazon has a huge selection of hot water bottles to choose from, and we were big fans of this 2-litre Luxury Cosy Faux Fur Pom Pom Hot Water Bottle from Revitale.
Available in four colours, the soft faux fur cover is comfy to cuddle up with, and there are cute pom poms on it too. Best of all, it’s super affordable at under £13.
Capacity: 2 litres Material: Faux Fur Dimensions: 34.8 x 23.1 x 4cm
Warranty: 30 days
FORICOM
- FORICOM Hot Water Bottle with Cover, £8.99 from Amazon -
Pros: Affordable, four colours to choose from
Cons: Small
Rating: 4/5
If you’re not a fan of the faux fur covers so often seen with hot water bottles, you may prefer this FORICOM Hot Water Bottle. While the cover is still soft, it makes a change from the fluffy covers that are so widespread, and there are four colours to choose from.
It’s super affordable at under a tenner, and it can also be used with cold water to make an ice pack.
Capacity: 2 litres Material: Polyvinyl Chloride Dimensions: 33.4 x 22.7 x 5.7cm Warranty: 1 year
Next
- Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle, £18 from Next -
Pros: Affordable, cute design, capacious
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
For an affordable and generously sized hot water bottle, we love the Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle from Next. With a cosy faux fur cover, and a cute bobble design, it’s available in navy blue or olive green.
At under £20, it’s well-priced and reliable, with the 2-litre capacity providing lots of warmth. The bottle stopper is also tucked away under the cover, making it extra secure. If you’re not a fan of the dark colours on offer, the brand has lots more hot water bottles in different designs and colours, including stripy knitted options, Christmas-themed designs and leopard print too, all at similar prices.
Capacity: 2 litres Material: Polyester Dimensions: 36cm x 21cm
Loaf
- Shearer Hottie hot water bottle, £59 from Loaf -
Pros: Super cosy, large
Cons: Expensive, professional leather clean only
Rating: 5/5
If you’re looking to splash out on a truly decadent hot water bottle you’ll want to snuggle up with every night, look no further than Loaf’s Shearer Hottie Hot Water Bottle.
Generously sized and made from 100% natural shearling, responsibly sourced from New Zealand, it’s impossibly soft and cuddly and is the type of hot water bottle you’ll want to proudly display on your bed rather than putting it away when you’re not using it.
Capacity: 1 litre Material: 100% natural shearling, responsibly sourced from New Zealand
Snugel
- Snugel Cocooning Hot Water Bottle, £38 from Snugel -
Pros: Lots of colours to choose from, capacious, cosy material
Cons: No strap or tie feature
Rating: 4/5
Another fantastic option for those seeking a long hot water bottle, the Cocooning Hot Water Bottle from Snugel is made from a furry fleece material, and comes in four different colours. It can be used to keep you toasty and warm, or can also be used with cold water to help ease swelling and to keep you cool on warm days.
The brand’s mission is to help beat fuel poverty by providing reasonably priced heating solutions for people. They say that using five of these hot water bottles per day will keep you warm for over 10 hours at a cost of £3 per month, compared to skyrocketing gas prices of £333 a month. Now that’s money-saving we can get behind!
Material: Faux fur
Can you use a hot water bottle when pregnant?
Thankfully, the answer is yes. Pregnancy can be a time of endless aches and pains, and hot water bottles are a perfect, inexpensive way of alleviating these. Just make sure you always use a cover, and that it’s not too hot. You can use it for pain in your back, sides or legs.
Do hot water bottles expire?
Hot water bottles should be replaced every two years because if they’re old, they can break and cause burns. Rubber is a natural material so it degrades over time.
Before using one, you should always check for signs of wear and tear, as old bottles can split open - not ideal when you’re using near-boiling water to fill them up. Even if you don’t notice signs of wear and tear, replace your inner bottle every two years.
You should also always use the stopper that came with your hot water bottle, as using another stopper may compromise the safety of the hot water bottle.
How long do hot water bottles last?
Hot water bottles and their stoppers need to be replaced every two years, but of course, you can keep your cover and simply replace the inner rubber bottle.
You should always check your bottle to make sure it has not degraded before using it, as using a bottle with splits or degradation can cause serious injury. Many hot water bottles have a number inside them, inside a symbol that looks like a flower.
The number shows you the year it was made - for example, 22 means 2022. This number will help you determine when you need to replace your bottle.
How to fill a hot water bottle
The water you use to fill up your hot water bottle should be hot, but not boiling: fill up your kettle and leave it for about 15 minutes before filling up your hot water bottle.
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Fill up the bottle to two-thirds or less, and make sure the outer cover is always on when you fill it up. You should also expel all the air above the water level before sealing, and make sure the stopper is securely screwed on.
It’s best not to take the bottle to bed, and to make sure there is a layer of clothing between you and the bottle. It’s also recommended that your hot water bottle should not have direct prolonged contact with the same area of skin. When you store your hot water bottle, make sure you don’t place anything on top of the bottle during storage.