Homemade Heat Packs
These Homemade Heat Packs are easy to make, with just a few supplies, are inexpensive and make great gifts too!
While these Reusable Heat Packs are easy to make and use, there are some questions that need to be answered –
What should I use the rice heat pack for?
- The homemade heat packs can be used for sore muscles, when someone is not feeling well or even to warm up on a cold night.
- You can add Essential Oils like lavender or peppermint to the rice before filling the heat pack, which not only makes them smell good, but also helps to calm (lavender) and helps with colds and breathing when you are sick (peppermint).
Who should use the heat packs?
- Making your own heat packs with rice makes them very user friendly for any age. The concern with an electric heating pad is they are not recommended for everyone.
- The heat packs are great for athletes, people who workout, gardeners – really anyone can use the reusable heat packs.
How should you use the homemade heat packs?
- These DIY Heat Packs are made for the microwave. Heat for 1-2 minutes, shake gently and apply to area that is needed.
- You can also place the pack in the freezer and use as a cold compress.
What should I use to fill the homemade heat packs?
- Long-grain rice is the preferred filler, be sure it’s NOT instant rice.
- However, you can also use other grains like beans, corn, wheat, barley, or millet.
- Dried Cherry Pits have also been used as filler.
What should I use to make the homemade heat pack?
- Cotton fabric is best to use. It can be found at any fabric or craft store, and some discount stores like Walmart.
- You can also make the heat packs using white muslin and then make a sleeve that the heat pack slides into – making the heat pack easier to clean.
What size should the heat packs be?
- Any size will work. The ones I made are 5 inches x 8 inches after they are filled.
- Rectangle size works great for wrapping around your neck or knee.
Homemade Heat Packs Supplies
- Fabric – cotton works best – the fabric I used were fat quarters that I purchased at Walmart. Any fabric or craft store should have or any fabric by the yard works fine too. I found that it was super easy to cut the fat quarters since they were already the length I wanted. I got 3 heat packs from 1 fat quarter.
- Long Grain Rice – be sure it’s not instant. You can also use other grains for the filling like beans, corn, wheat, barley, millet. Cherry Pits are also another alternative for filling.
- Essential Oils – this is optional, but I like them. Using lavender essential oil gives a calming feeling and using peppermint is good for when you have a cold.
- Sewing Machine
- Cutting Mat (optional)
- Rotary Cutter (optional)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pins
- Thread
- Needle
- Funnel (not pictured)
How to Make a Heat Pack
- Cut fabric. Any size will work. Determine your finished size, then double the LENGTH and add 1/2 – 1 inch for seam allowance. These are cut – 6 inches by 18 inches – making the finished heat pack 5 x 8 after sewn and filled. A cutting mat and rotary cutter works great, but you can also use a ruler and scissors.
- Fold fabric in half with right sides together
- Using a sewing machine, sew around all the sides. BE SURE to leave about 2 inch opening for filling
- Turn heat pack right side out and iron seams
- Use a funnel to fill with rice. Fill about 3/4 full. For this size of heat pack, I used 1 (3) pound bag of long grain rice for 3 heat packs.
- Pin the opening closed
- Using a needle and thread, stitch the opening closed
- I found it easiest to sew several heat packs at once, repeating the steps for each heat pack at once. So – cut all the fabric, then sew, turn, iron, fill, stitch closed.
Giving the Homemade Heat Packs in gifts is a great idea! You can add lotions, games, movies, snacks and more to a gift basket along with the heat packs. Having a few reusable heat packs ready, you can easily put them together with some chicken soup, crackers and other items for a friend or family member when they are not feeling well.
When you make these Homemade Heat Packs or any of my other recipes or projects – I’d love to hear what you thought, leave a comment below in the comment section or tag me on Instagram with #simpleeasycreative so I can see them!
Do you need to use cotton thread?
Hi Barbara, I don’t think cotton thread is totally necessary.
However, I did talk about cotton fabric in the instructions, not cotton thread.
I do believe cotton fabric is easiest to use. You could also use flannel.
-Liz
can you use a pillow case
I haven’t tried using a pillow case but it should be fine.
-Liz
How long do they stay hot? I want to use them to transport hot food/casserole in an insulated bay.
They will retain heat for around 20 minutes when not in an insulated container so I think it would be safe to say that it would last up to 45 minutes in an insulated container.
Hi,
I know I’m probably being dense, but what are fat quarters? Also I’ve had these before, but never made them. Mine were made using soft flannel. I really like the idea of using muslin on the inside and then making a slightly larger cover that can be washed.
Thanks…
Hi there, Fat Quarters are pieces of fabric that are cut and sold in packages. You can find them at any Fabric Store or Walmart in the craft department.
I do like the idea of flannel as well.
-Liz
How do you make the sleeve?
Hi Jennifer, the steps for making the heat pack are in this post.
You can see the photos – they are numbered with the steps as well as the photos.
And below the photos are the written steps.
Hope that helps!
-Liz
How do you make the sleeve to go over the hand warmers?
Sorry Jennifer, I’m not familiar with what you are asking.
-Liz
I make mine much longer for my neck, probably about 15″, so it wraps around my neck. Also, I add cord loops at each end to hold onto, also helps that I can hang it up on a hook when not in use. I also line mine with fleece, makes it so much softer.
Great idea, thanks Pat!
Hi! I love the idea of using a cover so you can wash it. I was just wondering what you would recommend using to close the cover? Would a button be okay or would it melt in the microwave? Thank you!
Hi Ashley, I believe a button would melt or be too hot. You could try a snap, however that may be hot as well, but it wouldn’t melt.
Stitching it closed would work and then just remove stitching to wash. I know that’s a lot more work.
-Liz
I like the idea of the essential oils. I made one for my husband and it smells like rice when he heats it. My husband and I are trying the Keto diet so we have tons of rice we cannot use. So everyone is getting a heat pack for stocking stuffers this year, win, win!
That sounds great Gale! Have fun making the heat packs as gifts.
-Liz
I’ve made some of these using Linseed or Flaxseed and added dried lavender. They really bring relief to arthritic joints. I never went to bed without the warm pads prior to having both my hips replaced. Now they just help to keep me warm in winter.
I worked in a school office and one of our teachers gave this to the office staff at Christmas 12 years ago. I recently had total hip surgery it has been my soothing salvation. Thank you for the instructions on how to make them. I love, love the funnel idea. Mine was made out of corn.
Hi Nancy, I’m so glad the heat packs have helped!
Thanks for stopping by to let me know!
-Liz
Would dried peas be a good filler and if so, which pea? black eyed or the split pea. If using corn, and put in microwave, will that make the corn pop when heated?
Hi Marie, dried beans would work, I’m not sure about peas.
If you use corn, be sure it’s feed corn and not popcorn.
-Liz
How do you launder these?
Hi Sam, you can spot clean them or remove the rice and launder them in the washing machine.
-Liz