It’d be so great if you have a neck heating pad as a drug-free way to relieve the constant pain and unwind from the tightness of the day. It’s simple but can make you feel much better and speed up your recovery from either a long, hard day.
But do you know why does a neck wrap heat pad help?
You feel pain because the neck is overused, causing strains in the soft tissues, muscles, and joints. Then the circulation is restricted. And thermal heating therapy can alleviate spasms and reduce pain by:
- dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the injured position
- warming your skin and flamed muscles to decrease pain signal transmission to the brain
So, heated neck pads can truly help with aches, tension, stress, fibromyalgia, arthritis, headaches, and migraines, etc. Heat therapy is fantastic, even surpass your expectations. Promise me, give it a try. Heating pads neck are perfect to use at home, at work, during trips and travels.
I’ve spent days to dig out the best top-rated heating pads for neck pain and finish this review. Now let’s check!
Top Picks
Best Microwave: #1 Sunny Bay Hands-Free Neck Wrap Heating Pad
“Perfect before bedtime. You can feel your eyes starting to get heavy while enjoying the heat and comfort it provides. Neck pain relief. And it’s not fragranced.”
Best Electric: #2 Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder Pain
“It puts soothing heat directly on your stiff neck and shoulder. Its cord is 9 feet long. And you’ll be happy with the provided 4 heat levels and 2 heat types.”
Best scented: #3 SHARPER IMAGE Hot Heat Herbal Neck Wrap Pad
“It’s filled with blended 100% natural herbs and seeds. The healing heat and find aroma can surely relax spasming muscles and promote restful sleep.”
Best for neck, back, shoulder: #4 Pure Enrichment XL Heating Pad
“The size is extra-large. This electric heat pad for neck pain delivers heat to not only your neck but also back and shoulder at the same time. 5-year-warranty.”
Best budget: #5 Bed Buddy Comfort Wrap for Neck
“The most budget-friendly heated neck wrap gives you treatment with a subtle aroma.”
#6 Calming Comfort Weighted Hot Neck Shoulder Wrap
#7 My Heating Pad Microwave Neck and Shoulder
#8 Soothing Company Microwavable Heating Pad for Neck
#9 Snailax Heating Pad for Neck and Shoulders
Before we dive into our picks, let’s check the features that you should pay attention to.
Microwave or Electric?
Microwave neck wrap heating pads
Pros: great moist heat, weighted therapy, hot and cold, herbal scented option, portable, no electric shock risk
Cons: usually need to reheat every 30 minutes, make sure to clean microwave before use
Should check: fit for body parts, size, fabrics, fragranced scent, filling ingredients
Electric neck heating pads
Pros: moist or dry heat settings, heat level options, auto-off, lightweight
Cons: lower heat intensity, only hot, cords restricted movement, no scented
Should check: fit for body parts, size, material, auto turn-off timer, number of heat options, heat up time, length of the power cord
#1 Sunny Bay Hands-Free Neck Wrap Heating Pad
Unscented, relieve pain, perfect for falling asleep
This neck heat pad works amazing for pain relief and recovery at home, in the office, or on the go, especially before bedtime. Sunny Bay Hands-Free Neck Heating Wrap gives you the perfect heat and won’t get hotter and hotter as you fall asleep.
Besides, it’s filled with fresh flax seeds, which conforms to your shape and relax every space where you need attention on your achy neck. And you’ll be happy with the super-soft fleece cover. With the extra-long built-in elastic, you can easily tie around the neck and free your hands. I mean, you won’t need to constantly re-adjusting the heat cushions.
Usually, you just need to heat it in the microwave for 2 minutes and it would last up to 30 minutes. If you want more, when the microwave shuts off, heat it up for an additional 1 minute (but don’t heat it up for 3 minutes at once).
Here is a bonus tip. The Large size is fine. And you can go XL for more coverage while Medium for lightweight. It does have some weight to it, but it’s not that heavy.
Sunny Bay Hands-Free Neck Heating Wrap Features:
Give super nice comfort while lying down or sitting
Relax tense muscle and reduce pain in the neck
Repeated use for both heat therapy and cold therapy
#2 Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder Pain
Electric (75W), moist and dry heat settings, auto-shutoff
What does a small electric heating pad for neck win over the traditional microwave heating pad? It gets hot fast, and you don’t have to heat it up with microwave, again and again, every 30 minutes. Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder top of the best. Moreover, it targets not only your neck but also the shoulder and the back of the head.
The neck & shoulder heating pad measures 22 x 19 inches and has a 9-ft. cord. You’ll get super nice stress relief and heated healing. And it has an extra-tall, adjustable collar to provide a snug fit around the neck. Also, the weighted ends and magnetic clasp closure hold the pad in place.
You would like it even if you’re sensitive. Because it offers 4 heat settings (high, medium, low, warm), moist heat, dry heat, and 2-hour auto-off. And the cover uses soft Micromink fabric.
Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck & Shoulder Features:
Multiple settings and a 5-year limited warranty
The comfortable micromink fabric cover is machine washable
HSA/FSA eligible
#3 SHARPER IMAGE Hot Heat Herbal Neck Wrap Pad
Aromatherapy spa, blend natural herbs and seeds, penetrating warmth
SHARPER IMAGE Hot Heat Herbal Wrap Pad is filled with 100% natural herbs and flax seed, including lavender, chamomile, lemongrass, peppermint, and wheat. It’s proven that they are helpful to cure sore muscles, stiff joints, headaches, and insomnia, etc.
You’ll like the pleasant smell very much. To enhance aroma, massage herbs. And it comfortably cradles the neck & shoulders and applies heat, helping relieve the muscle pain, tension, and cramps.
One more thing, remember only microwave this over the shoulder heating pad for 1 minute. If necessary, give it an additional 30 seconds. Make sure you don’t heat it up long, like more than 3 minutes, or it will smell like burnt popcorn.
As for cold therapy, just leave it in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours. Then take it out and enjoy it.
SHARPER IMAGE Hot Herbal Neck & Shoulder Wrap Pad Features:
Nice scent and healing aroma, non-electric
Deliver gentle warmth on neck and shoulder
Microwave for soothing moist heat or chill for a cooling compress
#4 Pure Enrichment XL Heating Pad for the Neck, Back & Shoulders
XL size, 120V, 60Hz, 85W
If you’re looking for an extra-large neck and back heating pad, check Pure Enrichment XL Heating Pad. Its size is 29” x 24”, covering your Neck, Back, and Shoulders simultaneously. Plus, you also can just lay it across the abdomen.
There is a built-in LED controller. You can use it to set warm, low, medium, high, and 2-hour shut-off. It includes built-in loops and an elastic belt, which help keep the pad stay in place. So, put it on and then you can enjoy the drug-free therapy.
It’s easy to clean. Take off the silky cover made with anti-pill Micromink fiber and throw it to the washing machine.
Pure Enrichment XL Heating Pad for Neck, Back & Shoulders Features:
Large plug in electric heating pad for neck and shoulders
Certified safe
5-year-warranty
#5 Bed Buddy Comfort Heat Wrap for Neck
Fragranced, cheap heating pad
Bed Buddy Comfort Heat Wrap for Neck gives you the treatment to help you recover and rejuvenate from accumulated work stress, neck fatigue, and more. And it’ll be aromatherapy.
As it uses essential oils and 100% natural grains in it, you’ll smell a soothing scent while enjoying the spa with moist heat. So far, there are 3 available scents: lavender & rose, Lavender, and Lavender & Mint.
Most importantly, this small heating pad neck is very light and not bulky: 0.8 x 5 x 19 inches and 1.6 pounds. And it’s quite cost-effective, pricing under $20.
In addition, pop this in the microwave for 2 minutes and you can relax for almost an hour. However, when you reheat it up, microwave for 15 to 75 seconds. The only issue is, when you place it around your neck, you can’t either tie it or cover every space on your neck.
Bed Buddy Comfort Wrap for Neck Features:
3 kinds of scents
Great for tight budget
Lightweight
#6 Calming Comfort Weighted Hot Neck Shoulder Wrap
3 pounds or 5 pounds, aroma, hot and cold therapy
In case you prefer to have a weighted therapy pad to relieve tension, take a look at Calming Comfort Weighted Hot Neck Shoulder Wrap. You would love the weight of this (3LB or 5LB).
It has been made to go up the neck (4.75’’) and around the shoulders (4.5’’), filled with clay beads and covered with soft velveteen breathable fabric. And the subtle scent of herbs can help you relax and refresh. (Fragrance is not mentioned)
Also, you can use it for both hot and cold. The heat soothes pain and the cold helps with migraines.
Calming Comfort Weighted Hot Neck Shoulder Wrap Features:
Nice weighted feeling
Ease aches and relieve tension
It comes with a storage pouch
#7 My Heating Pad Microwave Neck and Shoulder
Unscented, rice and flaxseed, 3.2 LB, high collar
My Heating Pad Microwave Neck and Shoulder uses 2 types of fabric. Soft fleece is on the side that around your neck to give moist warmth while the cotton fabric is on the other side to retain heat. It measures 19” x 12” x 1” with a 4” collar.
The heated neck pad weighs about 3.2 LB and provides gentle pressure. But you may want it to be a little bit lighter if you’re suffering from should pain or you’re so much sensitive to pressure.
It’s made of merely rice and flaxseed. Thus, it comes unscented. You’d like that if you’re sensitive to smell. But please note that there may be a mild scent of the natural ingredients after you microwave it.
How long should you heat in the microwave (1000-Watt)? For 120 seconds and the warmth would last for 20-30 minutes. And you need to adjust the heating time according to the wattage.
My Heating Pad Microwave Neck and Shoulder Features:
Smartly use soft fleece and cotton fabric
No extra aroma except the natural rice and flax seed
Made in the USA
#8 Soothing Company Microwavable Heating Pad for Neck
Herbal aromatherapy, fit for neck and shoulder
Soothing Company Microwavable Heating Pad for Neck (19.5” x 11.8”) is filled with 100% natural heat-absorbing clay beads and flax seeds. And it smells so soothing with blended scents: flax seed, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and chamomile.
This microwavable heat pad is a great fit for the neck. Apart from that, it also gives you a heavy, solid feel. That’s very relaxing. The problem is that it doesn’t stay warm for very long.
Soothing Company Microwavable Heating Pad for Neck Features:
Nice aroma to relax
Solid feel on the neck
Have to warm it up repeatedly
#9 Snailax Heating Pad for Neck and Shoulders
2 heat levels and 5 massage modes, 12v low wattage output
Want a neck-warming pad that can vibrate for your back and shoulders? Snailax Heating Pad for Neck and Shoulders is just exactly what you need (20 x 13.4 inches). Plus, you also can use it on your abdomen, waist, and legs.
Amazingly, it heats up fast. You can feel the heat within 2 minutes. And it has 2 vibration motors that can provide awesome massage. By the way, you get 5 pre-programmed massage modes (pulse, continuous, wave, quick pulse, mixed).
It’s adorable that you can set high and low heat to help relax chronic intense pain and stress. And the magnetic clasp makes the pad stay in place. For sure that it’s safe owing to its built-in UL approval overheat protection thermostat. And it provides the setting: 30 minutes auto-shutoff.
The only thing is, you may wish it get hotter provided that there are only 2 adjustable heat options.
Snailax Heating Pad for Neck and Shoulders Features:
Heat up and massage function
2-year safety warranty
Silky velvet polyester cloth
Summary
Thanks for reading and I hope the neck heating pads review helps you know more about the details. Take one and make your days easier when working projects or weekend home things taking their toll on your neck!