Heated Jackets for Men & Women

A heated jacket does what a coat can't: it adds warmth instead of just holding onto it. Elements across the chest and back, a rechargeable battery in the pocket, and adjustable heat settings — built for work, winter, and standing around in the cold.

How to Choose a Heated Jacket

Reviewed by The Warming Store gear team · Updated July 2026

A regular coat is a container. It slows the escape of heat you're already making, and on a cold enough day, or after enough hours outside, that runs out. A heated jacket puts warmth back in — which is why it can rescue you when you're already cold, and an ordinary coat can't.

Why the Core Comes First

If you're buying one piece of heated gear, the jacket is usually the right one. Warming your torso doesn't just warm your torso: when your core is comfortable, your body stops restricting blood flow to your hands and feet, and your extremities warm up as a consequence. Plenty of people buy gloves to fix cold hands when the actual problem is a cold chest.

Softshell, Insulated, or Shell?

Softshell jackets are the everyday pick — wind-resistant, flexible, and light enough to wear at work or around town. Insulated puffers add loft for genuinely cold conditions and keep working if the battery dies. Shells prioritize weather protection and layering. Match it to your climate: in a mild winter an insulated jacket will cook you, and in a hard one a thin softshell will leave you relying entirely on the battery.

Size for What Goes Underneath

Heated outerwear is meant to be layered over. A jacket that fits well over a t-shirt in October may be too tight over a fleece in January — and a compressed jacket heats less effectively, because the elements need light contact, not pressure. Use the size chart on the product page rather than assuming your usual size carries over between brands.

Riders: 12V Is Its Own System

Motorcycle heated jackets are a separate family built around the bike's 12V electrical system. Most wire into the bike for heat that lasts as long as the ride, hybrid designs can run from a battery pack too, and some 12V pieces take packs sold separately. Jacket liners — thin heated layers worn under your armored gear — are the classic form. If you ride, start at heated motorcycle jackets instead of the general catalog.

Think About the Battery System

Batteries rarely cross between brands. If you expect to add a heated vest or heated gloves later, picking a brand and staying inside it means one charger and packs you can swap between pieces. It's an easy thing to overlook on your first purchase and an annoying one to discover on your second.

Finding the Right Jacket

We carry heated jackets from around $50 for lightweight styles up to premium motorcycle systems, from brands including Gerbing, ActionHeat, Gobi Heat, Mobile Warming, Aheata, Ravean, and Venture Heat. Start with men's heated jackets or women's heated jackets for sized fits, see our editors' shortlist in Best Heated Jackets, or shop Mobile Warming heated jackets by brand. On the jobsite, heated workwear collects the hi-vis and work-ready designs.

FAQs

Should I buy a heated jacket or a heated vest?

Both heat your core, and that's the main event. A jacket adds sleeves — warmth on your arms and a complete outer layer, so it works as your only coat. A vest is lighter, less bulky, and layers under a shell or a work coat you already own. If you need one garment that does everything, buy the jacket. If you already have outerwear you like and just want to add heat underneath it, buy the vest.

How warm is a heated jacket, really?

Warm enough that most people run it on the lowest setting most of the time. The elements are designed to add comfortable warmth, not to roast you — running one on high all day is usually a sign the jacket is underinsulated for the conditions, not that the heat is weak. The right combination is adequate insulation with heat topping it up, not a thin jacket leaning entirely on the battery.

Do heated jackets still work when the battery dies?

They still work as jackets. An insulated heated jacket keeps insulating; a softshell keeps blocking wind. You lose the added heat, not the garment. This is worth thinking about when you choose: if you'll be out for longer than a battery lasts, an insulated model gives you a floor to fall back on, while a thin softshell leaves you with a thin softshell.

How long does the battery last?

Run time depends almost entirely on the heat setting, and manufacturers quote the figure from the lowest one. Run high for a few minutes to warm up, then drop to low — that's how you get through a day rather than a morning. Jackets typically use larger batteries than gloves, so they run longer. Many people carry a second pack for long days. Check the individual product page for that jacket's rating.

What size heated jacket should I order?

Size for what goes underneath. Heated outerwear is meant to be worn over a layer or two, so a jacket that fits snugly over a t-shirt may be too tight over a fleece — and a compressed jacket heats less effectively, because the elements need light contact rather than pressure. Sizing varies between brands, so use the size chart on the product page.

Can I wash a heated jacket?

Most heated jackets are washable once the battery is out, and removing it first is non-negotiable. The usual routine: disconnect the battery, zip it up, wash cold on a gentle cycle, air dry. Never tumble dry, never dry clean, never iron over an element. Care requirements vary by brand, so check the label or product page for the specific garment.

Are heated jackets safe?

Yes. They run on low-voltage batteries and are engineered to warm rather than to get hot. Normal sense applies: don't sleep in one, don't run it on high against bare skin for hours, and stop using a garment with visibly damaged wiring. If you have reduced sensation anywhere on your body, talk to your doctor first and start on the lowest setting.

What's the difference between 7V, 12V, and 20V heated jackets?

Voltage tells you what powers the jacket. Lower-voltage systems run on a rechargeable pack in your pocket — that's the standard for everyday heated apparel. Higher-voltage systems are typically built to draw from a vehicle, which is why they're common in motorcycle gear: the bike supplies unlimited power. Some brands build around the same battery platform as their power tools, which is worth knowing if you already own them.