Guide · Furniture and bedroom
How long should an electric blanket last in Australia?
An electric blanket bought for around $90 should last about 4 years or more.
If an electric blanket overheats or the controller fails, stop using it. That kind of fault is usually covered, and it’s worth checking for a recall too.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long an electric blanket should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $40 | 2 years |
| $40 to $100 | 4 years |
| $100 to $250 | 5 years |
| $250 to $500 | 7 years |
| Over $500 | 8 years |
For one bought around $90:
- Under 2 years: very likely covered.
- 2 years to 4 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 4 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- The controller fails or the heat is uneven
- It overheats, has hot spots or smells of burning
- Wires show through or the connector gets hot
What usually isn’t covered
- Damage from folding it tightly, spills or washing it when it shouldn’t be washed
- A pet’s claws or teeth
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
Safety first. If it overheats, sparks, smells of burning or has hurt someone, stop using it. Then check Product Safety Australia for a recall.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought an electric blanket here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for an electric blanket
If it overheats, stop using it before you do anything else. Then check the recall list. Electric blankets turn up there from time to time.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should an electric blanket last?
By our guide, an electric blanket bought for around $90 should last about 4 years or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to an electric blanket after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if an electric blanket fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Is it worth the bother if an electric blanket was cheap?
Yes. Cheap things are covered too, with no minimum price. A quick, polite ask at the service desk is usually the way to go. You’ll still need proof you bought it. A receipt, a bank or card statement or an order email will do.
More guides
- How long should outdoor furniture last?
- How long should an office chair last?
- How long should a sofa last?
- How long should a mattress last?
- See all guides
Where this comes from
ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · Product Safety Australia: recalls