The Complete Guide to Hand Warmers in 2023

When you’re cold, sometimes adding some warmth from hand warmers is just the thing to keep you toasty.

You have a lot of choices of types of hand warmers — disposable, USB rechargeable, refillable with lighter fluid, chemical (sodium acetate), and DIY hand warmers — and some are better than others in different situations.

In this guide, I’ll talk about different types of hand warmers and the pros and cons of each. By the end, you’ll know which kind will best suit your needs.

Quick recommendation if you’re in a hurry: pick up a bulk pack of Little Hotties disposable hand warmers the next time you’re at Costco; and also buy a USB rechargeable. Both of those are cost-effective, simple to use, and good in emergencies.

Read on for more about each hand warmer type.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Best situations for hand warmers — what I do

When it’s 20F or colder, I offer my kids some disposable hand warmers as they head out the door to school. It’s something cozy for their pockets or gloves. These have a chance of staying warm all day, especially if the kid remembers to seal it in a container or plastic bag when they get to school.

If I’m at home and can’t warm up, I make tea, add a layer of blankets or a scarf, and use either a microwaveable or a rechargeable hand warmer.

Just holding it for a few moments can take the chill off of my fingers.

Which type of hand warmer is best for my situation?

Cold situation	Best hand warmer for your situation	Why I recommend this type of hand warmer
You work in a cold office setting and have access to a power outlet or microwave	USB rechargeable hand warmer; rice sock	Recharge the hand warmer at work and turn it on as needed. Or, use a rice if you have access to a microwave.
You’re at an outdoor event for a few hours	Disposable hand and body warmers; USB rechargeable; refillable hand warmer	These last several hours and can keep your hands, feet, and various body parts toasty, depending on where you place them.
You’re taking a short walk in the cold	Rechargeable hand warmer; chemical/sodium acetate; rice sock	Opt for a rechargeable (USB or chemical/sodium acetate) or a rice pack/sock. These are suited for short uses and are reusable.
You’re exercising outdoors	Disposable hand warmer and/or footwarmer; chemical/sodium acetate	Lightweight, can fit in gloves, and you can throw them in a trash can if you start to get too warm. Should last for a long workout. Or, try chemical/sodium acetate HotSnapZ, especially if you have pockets and want to store them rather than hold them for your whole workout
You’re shoveling snow	Disposable	It depends on where you’re feeling cold. Cold feet = add toe warmers or insole warmers. For hands, tuck in a disposable hand warmer inside mittens
You’re camping	Lighter fluid/Zippo; disposable	If you don’t mind the refilling process and can have a safe place to set it when you’re not using it, a Zippo refillable could provide up to 12 hours of heat while you’re camping, per refill. You can’t sleep with it. Disposable warmers are another good bet for their weight and ease of use.

How disposable hand warmers work

Disposable hand warmers work by creating a chemical reaction when exposed to air. Remove them from their plastic packaging, shake them to start the activation, and wait a few moments for them to warm up.

Their contents usually include a mix of iron, salts, activated carbon, and absorbent material such as polymers or wood.

Here’s more on the science of how disposable hand warmers work.

You can hold these in your bare or gloved hands or tuck them inside gloves or mittens. Some people like to keep them in their coat pockets.

Some brands make disposable warmers for shoes (insoles, or toe warmers), to use with a blanket, or placed on your body (such as your lower back). Here’s a variety pack if you’d like to sample.

How long do disposable hand warmers last?

How long they’ll stay warm can vary by brand and product type. Temperatures can range from 100-180 Fahrenheit for HotHands products and last up to 8 to 18 hours maximum, depending on the product.

In some cases, you can expect 3-4 hours of warmth, and then they may start to cool. As always, it depends on the product type and your environment.

Brands include HotHands, Little Hotties, Grabber, L.L. Bean.

Pros of disposable hand warmers

• Great for emergency use. Keep some in your car or emergency kit
• Since they’re activated by air, you won’t need anything else to heat them
• Small and compact, will fit in some gloves and mittens
• Inexpensive
• Some are biodegradable

Cons of disposable hand warmers

• They still create trash, even if they biodegrade
• Their temperatures may not last 
• Pricey if you buy single packs. Workaround: Buy in bulk
• Can expire. Be sure to check dates
• May not work as well at higher altitudes due to lower oxygen in the air
• Not great if you need just a few minutes of heat. When you’re done, you can place them in an air-tight container or bag to deactivate the reaction and save them for another use

Best situations for disposable hand warmers

• If you’re at an outdoor event for a few hours
• Keep some in your car emergency kit
• Using them for several hours of heat

Can you microwave disposable hand warmers?

No! You could start a fire or ruin your microwave. These contain iron. Once you’ve used them, recycle or dispose of the hand warmers according to manufacturer instructions. 

Where to buy hand warmers near you

I buy our disposable hand and foot warmers in bulk at Costco. You can also buy them at Amazon, at drugstores like Walgreens (I’ve seen them in the seasonal goods aisle or near the registers).

At Walmart, I’ve spotted hand warmers in the sporting goods section. Here’s a quick link to help you see if any hand warmers are in stock at Lowe’s.

You might find hand warmers near the checkout at grocery stores, too, but the best deal is to get them in bulk.

How USB rechargeable hand warmers work

Rechargeable hand warmers work by plugging them into a USB charger. Once fully charged, they generate heat via a heating plate powered by the internal lithium battery. Earlier versions of USB hand warmers worked with different electrical elements or even chemical reactions.

I have this Ocoopa rechargeable hand warmer. I like using it during quick walks and walking my child to school. I’m not outside for long, so when I get home, I can power it off and save it for later. A disposable hand warmer would be wasted in that situation, so I’m glad I have the rechargeable for this.

But, I find it can be too hot on my bare skin if I hold it in one place for too long.

See my full review on the Ocoopa rechargeable hand warmer. Other brands include Zippo (yes, they also have USB rechargeable hand warmers!).

Pros of USB rechargeable hand warmers

• They can feel warm for hours
• They’re useful for quick outings
• Some can be used to charge your phone

Cons of USB rechargeable hand warmers

• You need access to a power source to recharge, so they aren’t practical if you’re camping or hiking if you don’t have a way to recharge them
• They may get too hot. This is my biggest complaint of these
• They’re bulky and won’t fit comfortably inside gloves

Best situations for USB rechargeable hand warmers

• If you’re in a cold office
• If you’re outdoors for a short time and only need a few minutes of extra warmth
• If you’ll be outdoors for several hours and need reliable warmth
• If you’re experiencing a power outage

How Zippo refillable hand warmers work

I’m far too accident-prone and lazy for a lighter-fluid hand warmer, so I haven’t tested this kind.

Fluid refillable hand warmers such as those made by Zippo work by pouring liquid fuel into the device and lighting it with a match or lighter.

Here are product instructions for the Zippo 6 or 12-hour hand warmer. Read them before purchasing to make sure you want to deal with it. The instructions are far more detailed and specific than this quick summary here.

You’ll fill the hand warmer with either Zippo Premium Hand Warmer fuel or Ronsonol Lighter Fuel. Pour in the fuel using the included funnel, light it, and place it in the included fabric pouch which provides a barrier between the device and your skin.

Pros of refillable hand warmers:

• Can stay warm for 6 or 12 hours, depending on model
• Durable and reusable
• If you have enough fuel and replacement burners, you can get a lot of uses out of these in an emergency power outage or off-grid situation

Cons of refillable hand warmers:

• Once you’ve lit the device, you’ll need to let the fuel burn out. There’s no way to turn it off.
• There’s no way to control the heat level. It could get too hot in your hands, but you can add an additional “piece of cloth” around the included fabric bag, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• You have to replace the burner element. Combine that with the costs of fuel, and it may not be the most cost-effective warmer for you

Best situations for refillable hand warmers:

• If you’re going to be in a cold environment for 6+ hours, or 12 hours with the larger model
• If you don’t mind pouring fuel and following the instructions perfectly
• If you don’t have access to electricity

How chemical sodium acetate or boilable hand warmers work

These reusable hand warmers are a chemical reaction, activated by using your fingers to invert or snap the metal button inside the pouch.

Here’s a video about how to activate the reaction.

To reactivate the crystals, boil these on the stove or follow instructions to use in the microwave.

These warmers tend to reach surface temperatures between 115-130F.

Brands of this style include HotSnapZ and Hot to Go.

Pros of snap-activated/sodium acetate hand warmers

• Reusable and cost-effective
• Less trash waste than disposable hand warmers

Cons of reusable sodium acetate hand warmers

• You’ll need to reactivate them often
• You might not have access to a stove (in a kitchen or campsite) or microwave
• Expect warmth to last 30-60 minutes for the smaller sizes and up to 2 hours for larger packs
• Keeping up with the boiling/reactivation frequency might be a hassle

Best situations for reusable chemical reaction hand warmers

• Short durations in the cold such as a walk, run, or quick outdoor event

Why you should have a hot water bottle

It’s not technically a hand warmer, but this classic deserves a mention. Fill with hot or boiling water (check manufacturer instructions to see what temperature yours can handle).

My hot water bottle stays warm for an hour or so.

• Warm up your bed before crawling between the sheets
• Hold it while sitting in a cold car
• Cuddle with it under some warm blankets during the day
• Take it to your office and place it on your lap or behind your back to take the chill out of the cold office air

How to make microwaveable rice sock hand warmers

You’ll need a cotton sock and uncooked rice. That’s it! Fill the sock with rice and tie a knot at the end.

If you have a mason jar, you can place the sock inside the jar. Hook the outer part of the sock over the rim and pour the rice in. Don’t fill it as full as possible. Instead, leave some room so you can shake the grains around so the heat will be more evenly distributed within the sock.

The sock should be made with cotton, so it doesn’t melt or do anything weird in the microwave.

Heat it by warming the rice sock in your microwave. Depending on the size and your microwave settings, you’ll need to experiment to find how much time. Start with 30 seconds and go from there.

Apply the warmed sock anywhere on your body to soothe sore muscles or stay warm.

Pros of microwaveable rice socks:

• Inexpensive
• Easy to make. You likely have materials for this right now!
• Reusable

Cons of microwaveable rice socks:

• The heat isn’t as long-lasting as other hand warmers. Usually 30 – 60 minutes of warmth, depending on size
• Smells like hot, uncooked rice, which some people may not prefer. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil
• Can’t easily tuck these into gloves or boots unless your exterior fabric is a small square, rectangle, or circle

Table: Hand warmer comparison

Type of hand warmer and popular brands	Price (updated 2023)	Power source	Reusable?	Hours of use per charge
Disposable (Hot Hands, Little Hotties)	$0.43 – $0.65+ per pair (buy in bulk!)	Air-activated	No	5-10+ depending on brand and type
USB rechargeable (Ocoopa)	$20-40 depending on model	Electrical outlet to recharge	Yes – plug in to power supply	4+ depending on setting
Fluid refillable (Zippo)	$20-25; $8 for replacement burner; $3/ 4 oz. fluid (5-11 refills, depending on size)	Liquid fuel + match/lighter	Yes – add fluid	6-12+ depending on size
Chemical sodium acetate (HotSnapZ, Hot to Go)	$24 for a pack of 8, or around $3 each	Stove or microwave	Yes – boil them on stove or use microwave	30-60 mins depending on size
Rice sock (DIY)	Free with materials you already have/$8-15 on Etsy	Microwave	Yes	30-60 minutes

Bottom line: There’s a hand warmer for everyone!

Whew! Thanks for making it to the end of this piece. If you’re like me, you’ll find that having a few types of hand warmers will help you through a variety of chilly situations.

• Keep those disposable hand warmers and toe warmers in your car emergency kit and in your emergency supplies at home.
• Have a USB rechargeable hand warmer to use if you need short bursts of warmth, though these can stay warm far longer. Bonus: this can double as a phone charger (don’t forget the charging cable!).
• Finally, some DIY hand warmers can help you stay warm for just a few pennies.

Do you know that phrase, “cold hands, warm heart”? With a bit of planning, you can have warm hands. As for your heart? That’s up to you.