Weighted Blanket Calculator

Occupational Therapy & Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation (DPTS)

Occupational therapists recommend weighted blankets utilizing Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation (DPTS), which stimulates pressure receptors beneath the skin to lower cortisol (stress hormone) and boost serotonin and melatonin for restorative sleep.

Primary Sizing Guidelines

• Individual Adult / Teen: Blanket Weight (lbs) = (Body Weight × 0.10) + 1 to 2 lbs

• Therapeutic Range: 8\% to 12\% of body weight

• Shared Couple Sizing: 7.5\% of combined body weight + 5 lbs

• Blanket Sizing Principle: Always size the blanket to the person's body, not the mattress dimensions. Blankets hanging over bed edges slide off during the night due to gravity.

• Pediatric Safety: Never use on infants, toddlers under 3 years old, or children weighing less than 50 lbs (23 kg).

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your Body Weight (Pounds) (e.g. 160.0 in lbs), Blanket User Category — choose from Individual Adult / Teen (10% + 1-2 lbs), Child (Over 3 Years & 50+ lbs — 10% Body Weight), Shared Queen/King Bed (Couple — 7.5% Combined Weight), Deep Pressure Touch Sensation — choose from Standard Therapeutic (10% Body Weight + 1-2 lbs), Gentle / Light Pressure (8% Body Weight), Deep Pressure DPTS (12% Body Weight), and Blanket Dimension Format — choose from Personal Throw Size (48" × 72" — Body Only), Twin Bed Size (48" × 78"), Queen Size (60" × 80"). Results update instantly as you type — adjust any value to compare scenarios.

The Formula

Formula Reference: Weighted Blanket Calculator

Input variables:

bodyWeightLbs — Body Weight (Pounds)

userCategorySelect — Blanket User Category

pressurePreferenceSelect — Deep Pressure Touch Sensation

mattressBedSizeSelect — Blanket Dimension Format

Computed outputs:

recommendedBlanketWeightLbs — Recommended Blanket Weight

recommendedBlanketWeightKg — Recommended Weight (kg)

safeWeightRangeMinLbs — Minimum Therapeutic Range

safeWeightRangeMaxLbs — Maximum Safe Range

standardCommercialSize — Standard Retail Market Size

Mathematical relationships extracted from calculation logic:

targetLbs = (bw * pct) + adder

minLbs = bw * 0.08

maxLbs = (bw * 0.12) + 2.0

diff = Math.abs(opt - targetLbs)

Reference constants:

pct = 0.10

adder = 1.5

closestSize = 15

Standard: NIST / ISO mathematical definitions

Worked Example

A 160-lb individual benefits most from a 15-lb or 20-lb personal throw blanket, which delivers therapeutic calming pressure without dragging over bed edges.

Understanding Your Result

Weight and mass conversions: 1 kg = 2.2046 lbs; 1 stone = 14 lbs = 6.35 kg; 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg = 2,204.6 lbs. For shipping and freight: dimensional weight (DIM weight) often applies — carriers charge for whichever is higher between actual weight and volumetric weight (L × W × H ÷ 139 for inches, or ÷ 5,000 for cm in kg). Always confirm whether the target application needs mass (kg) or weight-force (Newtons) — they differ by the local gravitational constant.