If you live on the floor,
a hot carpet
is just right.

Heating wires run through the carpet and warm the parts of your body touching it. An insulating layer underneath blocks the cold floor, so less heat escapes from your body into it. Most models split the surface into 2 (or 3) zones so you can heat only the side you use.

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These are Panasonic's published energy use per hour (15°C room, industry measurement method). "Per tatami" is our own division. 1 tatami ≈ 1.6 m².

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Carpet types cost about ¥5 per tatami on high, whatever the size — bigger ones cost more simply because they're bigger. The wood-look floor-heating type (かんたん床暖) uses about 1.8–1.9 times as much for the same size.

Professor Plug: buy 3 tatami "just in case" and run it all, and you pay about 1.4 times what 2 tatami costs. Matching the size you actually use is the best saving.

1. Size it to where you sit

   Cost goes up roughly with size. Smaller for one or two people, bigger for a family lounging on the floor. If you go big, get one with zone switching.

2. Check the zone switching

   Some models offer 2 or 3 zones (2面切替 / 3面切替). If you always sit in the same spot, heating just that part avoids waste.

3. Auto shut-off

   Panasonic's models switch off automatically after a set time (8 hours). It's worth having, in case you nod off with it on.

4. Carpet type or floor-heating type?

   The wood-look floor-heating type looks neat, but as the table shows it costs about 1.8–1.9 times as much. If running cost matters most, choose a carpet type.

5. Heater only, or with a cover?

   Some hot carpets are sold as the heated base only (本体のみ); others come with a cover (カバー付き). With base only, you'll need a cover or rug of the same size.

A hot carpet warms you by contact, so staying on the same spot for a long time can cause a low-temperature burn. Japan's NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) says burns can occur after 3–4 hours at 44°C, 30 minutes to 1 hour at 46°C, or 2–3 minutes at 50°C. Panasonic also warns about low-temperature burns, dehydration and heatstroke.

1. Search in Japanese

   Hot carpet is ホットカーペット (also 電気カーペット). Size is in 畳 (tatami): 1畳, 2畳, 3畳. Base only is 本体のみ; cover is カバー; zone switching is 面切替.

2. Sizes in tatami

   1 tatami ≈ 1.6 m², so 2 tatami ≈ 3.3 m² and 3 tatami ≈ 5 m². Check the exact dimensions in centimeters on the product page.

3. Look for the PSE mark

   Household power here is 100V. Electric carpets are covered by Japan's electrical safety law, so buy one with the PSE mark that's made for Japan.

4. Your electricity rate may differ

   We use ¥31/kWh, the industry guideline. Your actual rate depends on your plan and power company.