DIY Homemade Rice Heat Packs

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Originally published December 8, 2014 and updated October 13, 2023.

These homemade rice heating pads are extremely easy to make and cost less than a dollar if you use repurposed fabric, Make homemade DIY rice heat packs for yourself or to give as gifts. There are easy ways to customize with this easy to follow tutorial, including how to make a simple rice sock.

A man is using a DIY rice heat pack on a bed.

You’ll love how these DIY heating pads are so versatile. You can use them as:

If we’ve ever been in the same room together in the winter, you’ve heard me complain about being cold.  I’m always cold in the winter and I. don’t. like. it.  I really, really don’t like going to bed at night in the winter and sliding my feet down to the bottom of the freezing cold bed.  All winter long, I find myself going to sleep with my legs crisscrossed and my feet tucked under my legs at the knees.  How crazy is that?!  Then I remembered reading about bed warmers in the “olden days.”  A bed warmer was a pan on a stick.  You’d put hot coals in the pan and slide it between the sheets to warm them up before you got into bed.  Brilliant!  I decided it was time to make some new fangled bed warmer heating pad with rice. 

Close up of stacks of neatly folded fabric on shelf.

You choose any all-cotton fabric you’d like to use. As long as the fabric is cotton, you have many different options available.

  • Since you don’t need a very big piece of material, you can use scraps you already have.
  • Look for inexpensive fabric remnants in the sale bin at your fabric store
  • Bed sheets
  • Pillow cases
  • All cotton socks, look for a fun sock pattern if you’re making gifts
3 pairs of colorful socks laying on black table
three pink and red bandanas
  • You can upcyle clothing you already have or find at the thrift store. And you know me, I had to turn my own heated rice pad into an upcycled project using recycled fabric from an item I found at the thrift store. 
red and white Hawaiian floral fabric pants.

Last year I found these slacks with fun, cheerful fabric at a thrift store.  I used part of one leg to make an upcycled wine gift bag.  I’ve been looking at these slacks for a year, wondering what would be the perfect project for them.  So when my crazy brilliant idea to make DIY reusable rice pads came up, I knew that I wanted to use these red aloha fabric slacks.    Fortunately, these slacks are 100% cotton.

How to Make a Microwave Heat Pack

Make a homemade warming pad with this easy tutorial that is perfect for beginning sewing skills and to make many at a time.

Supplies

DIY Rice Heat Packs - Organized 31

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Sewing machine
  • Needle for hand sewing

Confession time.  I’m not a seamstress and I am a bit of an impatient crafter.  You should probably plan and measure the size of your warming pad before you cut the fabric.  Bu-uut I didn’t. I simply laid the bag of rice next to the pants leg and eyeballed my measurements.  I wanted the packs to be smaller than the full bag of rice.  I also eyeball allowed that I’d have to cut the angled part of the leg to square up my heating pad.  So, if you want to craft like they did in the wild wild West, do what I did. But otherwise, plan and measure before you cut your fabric.

DIY Rice Heat Packs - Organized 31

Steps to Make a Microwavable Heating Pad

Cut 2 pieces of fabric into a rectangle, square or long rectangle for a neck heating pad. The two pieces should be the same size. Plan for a 1/2 inch seam allowance. That means you should add 1/2 inch to each measurement.

Place the 2 pieces of fabric with the same sides together. Line up the edges.

I sewed a 1/4  inch seam around the outside of the rectangle, leaving a 1 1/2 inch opening for turning the pack right-side out. 

sewing

Clip the the corners of fabric before turning it right side out.

Once the bag was turned right-side out, I sewed a seam on the right side about 1/4 inch in from the edge all the way around the bag, but left the opening open. I sewed the second seam to reinforce the edges and to keep any wayward grains of rice from working their way out of the seam of the heat pack. 

Fill the heating pads with rice or your grain of choice.  I started with a funnel, but found it got clogged up too easily so I used an index card as a homemade funnel.  I simply filled the fabric bag comfortably full, with approximately 1 cup of rice.  I needed enough wiggle room to be able to sew the opening closed, but other than that, it’s a personal preference how full you fill the pack.

DIY Rice Heat Packs - Organized 31

Expert Tips

You can sew compartments to keep the rice in place. This is helpful with larger pads where you have to shift the rice into place so it doesn’t bunch up in one corner. I recommend leaving the opening in the middle of one side of the bag. Simply place some rice in one end of the bag and sew a compartment. Do the same with the other end of the bag. Then fill the middle of the bag and close the opening. You can create more compartments with the same process of working from the ends towards the center.

Close up of orange homemade rice heating pad on person's back.

Add drops of essential oil for aromatherapy rice bags heat therapy. Popular options are:

  • Lavender essential oil
  • Cinnamon
  • Eucalyptus
  • Peppermint
  • Sage

To make an easy DIY heating pad, simple place the rice in a cotton tube sock and sew the end closed or tie it off with cotton thread.

You can make a removeable cover the same way you did in making the original heat pad. This allows you to remove the cover for washing. 

How to Heat a DIY Rice Heating Pad

Make sure that the fabric, thread and homemade heating pad contents are microwaveable. Then place the bag in the microwave. Heat in 20-30 second increments. Check after each time to make sure the heating pad hasn’t gotten too hot. Turn the bag over for more even heating and then heat for another session. Heat no longer than 3 minutes total. If the microwave heating pad begins to smell, immediately stop the microwave.

You can add a cup of water sitting next to the DIY heat pad in the microwave to keep the rice and cotton from scorching. 

Because I was giving these as a gift,  I added a tag with instructions on how to use the DIY heat packs

DIY Hawaiian floral fabric heat packs tied with gold ribbon.

DIY Rice Heat Packs

I was able to get 7 microwaveable heating pads from this 1 pair of pants.  But remember, I’d already used part of one pant leg for my wine gift bag.  I think you could get 9-10 from an entire pair of pants.

Red and white floral DIY rice heat packs tied with ribbons.

You can make DIY Rice Heating Pads using $1 bandannas.

I had so much fun making these floral DIY rice heat packs that I ran to my stash of clothes to repurpose (don’t tell me I’m the only one with a pile of clothes just waiting for a repurposed project!) and grabbed these cotton flannel pajama pants. The fabric is soft and I thought the pattern would work better for a guy.

flannel

The grey and white stripped flannel heating pad turned out just as charming as the floral ones. 

DIY Rice Heat Packs - Organized 31

Then because I can be a bit craft-crazed, I grabbed these bags that came with new sheets and pillowcases I’d just bought.  They’re 100% cotton fabric and very soft.

DIY Rice Heat Packs - Organized 31

They made smaller heat packs that are perfect as handwarmers.  I’m charmed by the simplicity of these white cotton heat pads. “Charming” appears to my thought when it comes to these warming packs.

DIY Rice Heat Packs - Organized 31

I can’t wait to give these as gifts, but first I chose one for each bed in our house.  No one will have to sleep with their legs all twisted up under them this winter in my house, thanks to these DIY rice heat packs.  I lo-ove them! 

red and white floral heat packs with white and grey and white stripe packs.

 FAQs about Rice Bag Heating Pads

How many times can you use a rice heating pad?

100+ times depending on the quality of the fabric, type of rice, strength of your microwave and whether you heat the pack too long and in effect overcook the rice rather than just heat it.  Use best practices when heating rice bag heating pads – heat no longer than 3 minutes and turn the bag over every 20-30 seconds for even heating. If the rice starts to smell unpleasant, remove the rice, wash the cover and fill with new rice.

What is the best fabric for rice packs?

Use only fabric that is 100% cotton content.
Do not use synthetic fibers that may melt in the microwave. Also, do not use flammable fabrics or fabrics with metal threads or fiber.
Choose fabric with a tight weave that is also soft enough to be comfortable against your skin.
Be sure you wash the fabric before making your own heated rice bag. 

What do you put in homemade heating pads?

You can use uncooked white or brown rice, but not instant rice. Instead of rice you can also use uncooked :
Barley, pot or pearl barley
Buckwheat groats
Feed corn
Wheat
Whole flaxseed
Dried beans

Print out this Heated Rice Bag Tutorial

Yield: 1

DIY Microwave Heat Pack

DIY Hawaiian floral fabric heat packs tied with gold ribbon.

A simple tutorial for beginner sewing skills to make a reusable heat pack for just a couple of dollars.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Difficulty Beginning
Estimated Cost $3 - $5

Materials

  • Cotton fabric
  • Cotton thread
  • Uncooked rice or other grain listed below

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Sewing machine
  • Needle for hand sewing

Instructions

Cut 2 pieces of fabric into a rectangle, square or long rectangle for a neck heating pad. The two pieces should be the same size. Plan for a 1/2 inch seam allowance. That means you should add 1/2 inch to each measurement.

Place the 2 pieces of fabric with the same sides together. Line up the edges.

Sew a 1/4  inch seam around the outside of the rectangle, leaving a 1 1/2 inch opening for turning the pack right-side out. 

Clip the the corners of fabric before turning it right side out.

Once the bag is turned right-side out, sew a seam on the right side about 1/4 inch in from the edge all the way around the bag, but leave the opening open.

Fill the heating pads with rice or your grain of choice.  Use a funnel or index card rolled up to act as a funnel. Fill the fabric bag comfortably full, with approximately 1 cup of rice.  Leave enough wiggle room to be able to sew the opening closed, but other than that, it’s a personal preference how full you fill the pack.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

More DIY Rice Heat Packs

2 rice heat packs with hearts on pink blanket

DIY Rice Heating Pads from Bandannas 

Tie-Dyed Rice Heat Pack #CycleSurvival #Ad

Tie-Dyed Rice Heat Pack

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41 Comments

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  2. I am also not a super fan of cold. I often have cold feet and cold hands and find that I cannot go to sleep until they are warm! This is an easy and frugal way to get warm and go to sleep! Great idea!

  3. I didn’t realize you made them from an old pair of pants. That makes them even better. All the more reason to pin. Thanks Susan.

  4. Next time, instead of a funnel, cut soda bottle in two (horizontally). The top, with the mouth of the bottle, works great as a funnel for larger things. For example, I use one for filling my bird feeders. Scoop the bird seed up with the bottom portion of the bottle and use the upper part as a funnel to pour it into the feeder.

  5. What a great idea. Did you think about adding some lavendar in with the rice. It make them soothing as well as warming.

    1. What a great idea, Julie. I’m on the look out for some more pretty fabric, so I’ll add some lavender in the next ones I make.

  6. Thank you for this gift of these ideas,I do small heat bag(rice bags) for the kids to use in there little gloves,school,ballgames,keep our little angels warm.you can make out of there old receivIng blankets,school colors,the teenagers really do like them at the ballgames.good luck, bless you..

    1. Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea of making handwarmers, Linda. I’m excited to hit my thrift store and see what fabric I can find to appeal to the younger crowds.

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  9. You’re on familiar turf with my sister-in-law; she makes these rice packs too, but she infuses the rice with lavender or cinnamon oil, whichever one recipient chooses, and uses the packs for therapeutic purposes. “Ahh,” arthritis or aching muscles murmur. “Just what we need!”

    1. I can see where adding scents would make these rice packs that much more special. Cinnamon sounds heavenly! Thanks for the tip, JJ.

  10. I’ve made these for quite a few years, but I make a separate bag to hold the rice that way the outer bag can be washed if needed. I also have added dried herbs from my herb garden such as lavender, lemon basil, rosemary, cinnamon basil, or anything you might find soothing or refreshing to the bag of rice, the heating of the rice bag activates the scent of the herbs, you can research herbs to see which ones are relaxing etc and mix up your own concoctions! Just some more creative thoughts !!

    1. I love the idea of making a separate bag for the rice so that the outer bag can be washed. Brilliant! Adding dried herbs is also a wonderful idea and great way to personalize each rice heat pack. Thanks for sharing your tried and true tips, Sheli.

    1. It depends on how large you make the fabric bag, Dallas. I was able to get about 6 rice packs out of one bag of rice. I haven’t tried them as an ice pack, but that’s a good idea

  11. If you keep the rice bag in the freezer then it is ready all the time. If you need a heat pack then just take it out of the freezer and microwave.

  12. I LOVE your rice-filled heat packs! I also enjoyed your un-fussy directions; I, too, am an eyeballer! Quick and easy, fun crafts that turn out well are my kind of projects. Thanks!

    1. Thanks so much, Nancy. Sometimes I don’t feel like a serious crafter, but to be honest, I’m just to busy to be fussy. 🙂 Enjoy!

  13. This is such a great idea. My mother had one given to her years ago, and I’ve been trying to get a pattern for it ever since. I’m looking forward to seeing what else you may have in store for me to try.

  14. I love this idea , May I add It will last longer if you make a little removable cover for it that you can wash!Make different covers so you can change them . Something soft and cozy for a cover.

  15. I make rice bags, i first make a liner dividing it into sections so the rice won’t end up in one place. Machine them closed. Then make the outside covering. You can make them any size you like, long ones are particularly useful for putting round the neck.

    1. That’s a great point, Margaret. 🙂 You could make an extra cover that you slip over the heat pack and wash between uses.

  16. Thank you for sharing this upcycled craft. It’s an amazing, cheap way of making fantastic usable gifts. They look great. I’m going to invest in some packets of long grain rice and maybe some ESSENTIAL OILS … I can’t wait to get going.
    PURE GENIUS

  17. I have purchased these in the past and the only problem that I had was that they did get dirty after a while, so I am planning to make them as guy gifts for Christmas (after I racked my brain for ideas for men. This seemed perfect and inexpensive, and who doesn’t need them for aches and pains. I will probably use velcro to close the covers, since I think that is the easiest. I am using upcycled clothing, but also, I have some cute cotton and flannel fabric that I can use.

    1. The velcro closure is a great idea. I’ve seen people who have created a cover with velcro that can be removed for washing. Happy crafting, Cathy.

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