Upgrade Your Vehicle's Cabin With Expert-Picked Heated Seat Covers for 2024

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Remember when power windows and door locks were considered luxury features? The bar has moved—considerably. Today, pretty much every new car and truck model comes equipped with, or can be optioned with, power everything—including heated seats. For those of us who still drive cars that lack those sumptuous glute-warming coils, bring your cabin up to date and elevate your driving experience with a set of heated car seat covers.

The Gear Team has scoured the web for the best solutions for those looking to add heated seats to their vehicles. While OEM-like fully integrated seat heating would be nice, a heated seat cover can get you most of the way there while also protecting your vehicle's original upholstery. Some even offer ventilation (cooling) and/or massage features. Here are our favorites.

Things To Consider

Compatibility with Your Vehicle: Make sure the seat covers are compatible with your car's make and model. Many covers are considered universal, but we know there are some funky seats out there so check for any specific requirements or constraints related to your vehicle's seats, such as side airbags, built-in seatbelts, and special bolsters or headrests.

Power Source and Cord Length: Many heated car seat covers are powered by your vehicle’s 12-volt cigarette-lighter socket; others are battery-powered or rechargeable. If applicable, ensure the power cord is long enough to reach the socket without being obtrusive to the driver and passengers, as well as not impeding seat movement and adjustability.

Fit and Securing Mechanism: A good fit is crucial for both aesthetic and safety reasons. A quality seat cover should not move around or interfere with the function of your seat, including any adjustment mechanisms.

Aesthetics: There are plenty of seat covers out there—many featuring some seriously questionable designs. We kept this at the front of our minds when selecting these covers. You shouldn't have to compromise the look and feel of your vehicle's cabin just to get a warm tush. Consider a seat cover that fits the aesthetic of your ride.

The Best Heated Seat Covers

Heated and Ventilated Car Seat Cover

This Paffenery heating and ventilating cover offers the most features of any seat cover on this list. Once plugged into your vehicle's 12-volt outlet, it provides eight ventilation fans, three temperature settings, and five massage modes. It's made from leather and mesh with a nonslip backing that helps to keep it from sliding around on your seats. Better still, it's available in multiple styles, including Fashion and Sport designs, for most colors.

It's also airbag-compatible, features an automatic 30-minute shut-off timer, and comes with a one-year warranty. If you're looking for a heated car seat cover that provides year-round comfort, this is it.

Universal Deluxe Heated Car Seat Covers

Cozy Winters specializes in winter warming products for the home, pets, clothes—and cars. Better yet, they're available direct from the company with free shipping on orders over $75. Its Universal Deluxe heated seat cover stands out as one of the few affordable options we could find that protects the entire seat, offers back and bottom heating, and boasts universal fitment. This full slip-on cover design is perfect if you want to protect your upholstery along with adding heating. It's available in bucket-seat style as well as a seat-plus-headrest configuration, and both styles can be had in gray, tan, or black. So not only will it fit most cars and trucks, it'll match most vehicle interiors.

Power comes from your vehicle's 12-volt outlet, and there are three levels of heat to choose from. There's also an auto-off feature that will prevent the cover from draining your car's battery if you forget to turn it off.

Heated Seat Cover

We like this cover for its simple good looks and large heating area. Reviewers tend to agree. The cover features a leather design that, like the Model T, only comes in black. Power comes from your vehicle's 12-volt port, and the large heating area can get up to temperature in just three minutes. A wireless remote allows you to adjust the temperature setting. A nonslip rubber backing and adjustable straps keep it secured to your seat, and the auto-off feature will turn off the cover after 50 minutes of use. It even comes with a wireless remote control.

We love that this heated seat cover offers all these functions and is still comparatively affordable. Even better, the whole package is backed up by an impressive three-year warranty, a term many other heated seat covers don't offer. Win-win-win.

Sheepskin Car Seat Covers

Sheepskin can get very pricey, and if you're going to pony up big bucks for sheepskin seat covers, we recommend custom-fitted ones. Still, this set from Zonetech is one of the more affordable full sets of universal-fit sheepskins we could find.

These covers are not heated at all. But ask anyone who has ever owned a set of sheepskin car seat covers and they will tell you that they're not only warm, but they're super comfy, stay cool in the summer, protect your seats, and look great. You secure the cover to the seat using elasticized bands and straps, but we encourage you to check out the dimensions of the cover as well as your seat to determine if these will work for you. They're available in six colors; you can buy just one or save a bit by purchasing a pair or a set of four.

Universal Heating Pads

This set of heated seat covers offers a strong value proposition, but with one minor drawback: While two handsome covers for this price is a great deal, these can only be purchased and used as a pair since there's only one control module, and it's connected to the power wire that runs to both covers. This isn't a huge deal if you were planning to put heated covers on both front seats anyway, but it's an important consideration. It's a Home Depot best seller, and you can pick it up at your local store or have it shipped direct, free.

This set is powered by your vehicle's 12-volt outlet and provides back and bottom heat to both front seats. Made from polyester, it features straps for fitting and only comes in black.

Massage Seat Cushion with Heat

Does your daily driver have uncomfortably stiff or worn seats? Here's a solution. In addition to two heat levels in the lumbar area, this seat cushion also features five vibrating massage nodes that target various parts of your back and bottom. The best part? It not only plugs into the wall but also (supposedly*) comes with a 12-volt car power adapter. So you can also use it on your office chair and/or in your favorite recliner.

*Buyer beware, however: Some Amazon reviewers claim that their Carshion seat cover did not come with the 12V car adapter and they had to purchase one separately. Either way, if you have to spend an additional 15 bucks or so this heated/massaging seat cover will still cost less than many other heated seat covers.

Heated Rear Seat Cushion

The back seat may be a bit of an afterthought for some, but for those with children, pets, or other passengers a little heat back there could be appreciated. While this product does technically cover the rear seat, it's worth pointing out that it's more of a heating pad than a seat cover. Still, it's an affordable way to add four- or even five-passenger seat heating when combined with any of the heated front seat covers on this list. At 49.6 inches long by 18.5 inches deep, it's designed to be a universal fit for most cars, trucks, and SUVs.

FAQs

Are heated seat covers safe?

Yes, when used correctly. Look for covers with safety features like automatic shutoff. Be sure to read over any instructions that are provided and always keep an eye out for damaged or frayed wiring.

Can I use heated seat covers on leather seats?

Generally, heated seat covers can be used on both leather and fabric seats. However, it's always a good idea to check both the vehicle's and the cover's manufacturer recommendations.

Can heated seat covers drain my car's battery?

If used while the engine is running, they should not drain your battery. However, using them without the engine running can drain the battery. We recommend unplugging any devices powered by your 12-volt port when not in use.

Will a heated seat cover interfere with my car's side airbags?

This will depend on the design of the seat cover. Many are designed to accommodate side airbags, but you should confirm this before purchasing heated seat covers for your vehicle.

Are there heated seat covers for different seat sizes?

While many covers are "universal," nothing is truly universal and there are often various sizes available. It's important to choose a size that fits your vehicle's seats well. When possible, purchase the seat cover designed specifically for your vehicle.

Why Trust Us?

Road & Track and its sibling publications at Hearst Autos represent three of the most influential automotive publications in the world. We rely on decades of experience in the automotive and gear spaces to help readers make informed purchasing choices. Read more about our testing process here.

With the legacies of Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track behind us, the Hearst Autos Gear Team is more concerned with the trust our readers have in us than our bottom line. We won't tell you to buy something if we wouldn't buy it ourselves or recommend it to our friends, and we'll never claim to have used or tested something we haven't.

We've evaluated dozens of product categories, from heated steering wheel covers to traction boards. Our picks and recommendations of products and gear are based on testing and knowledge, not hype.

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