If you're looking for an inexpensive way to experience the benefits of grounding, choosing the right product is crucial. Not all grounding products are created equal, and some are significantly more effective, convenient, and comfortable than others. Below, we compare four common inexpensive grounding options—heel straps, wrist straps, grounding mats, and grounding pillowcases—with pillowcases emerging as the clear winner.

Heel Straps: The Worst Option

Heel straps may seem like a convenient way to stay grounded while walking, but they come with several major drawbacks:

• Limited Effectiveness – Heel straps don’t work on most indoor surfaces, especially wood, tile, or carpet, which are common in homes and offices. Related: Can I Ground on Concrete?

• Uncomfortable & Awkward – Many people find them ugly, bulky, and a hassle to wear daily.

• Short Usage Time – Even if they do work, most users don’t wear them long enough to experience meaningful grounding benefits.

Verdict: Avoid heel straps if you want a reliable and comfortable grounding experience.

Wrist Straps: Better, But Still Not Ideal

Wrist straps are commonly used in electrostatic discharge (ESD) applications and personal grounding, but they have notable limitations:

• Restrictive & Annoying – Wearing a grounding wrist strap means being physically connected to a grounding source, which limits mobility and comfort.

• Low Usage Time – Most people don’t wear them for more than an hour or two per day. To experience real grounding benefits, longer exposure is needed.

• Not Practical for Daily Use – While useful in specific settings, most people won’t use a wrist strap consistently enough for significant health improvements.

Verdict: Wrist straps offer some grounding benefits but are restrictive and impractical for long-term use.

Grounding Mats: Good, But Not for Everyone

Grounding mats are a popular choice and offer more practical benefits compared to heel or wrist straps:

• Effective for Desk or Bed Use – If you sit at a desk or sleep with a mat under your feet, you can get a few hours of grounding daily. Related: How to Test a Grounding Mat With a Multimeter

• Limited Usage Time – Most people use grounding mats for just a couple of hours per day unless they work at a desk all day. Related: Grounding Mats: How Long Should You Use Them?

• Encourages Sedentary Behavior – Since grounding mats are usually placed under desks or on the floor, they encourage inactivity, which isn’t ideal for an active lifestyle.

Verdict: A good option if you have a desk job or already have limited mobility, but not as good as an overnight solution.

Grounding Pillowcase: The Best Budget-Friendly Option

For consistent, effective, and effortless grounding, a grounding pillowcase is the best inexpensive grounding product to buy. Here’s why:

• 8 Hours of Grounding While You Sleep – Unlike the other products that require conscious effort to use, a grounding pillowcase works while you sleep, providing a full night’s worth of grounding benefits. Related: Does Earthing Improve Sleep?

• Portable & Travel-Friendly – Unlike mats or bulky grounding sheets, a pillowcase is easy to pack and use anywhere you go. Related: Does Grounding Help With Jet Lag?

• Comfortable & Non-Restrictive – You don’t have to wear anything on your body or be tied to a specific location during the day like with mats and wrist straps.

Verdict: A grounding pillowcase is the best, most practical, and budget-friendly grounding solution for daily use.

Final Recommendation

If you’re serious about grounding and want an inexpensive option that actually works, go for a grounding pillowcase. It provides the longest grounding exposure (8+ hours per night), is comfortable and portable, and doesn’t restrict your movement. Related: Why Choose a Grounding Pillowcase Over a Sheet?

Heel straps and wrist straps are too restrictive and impractical, and grounding mats—while better—still require you to be sedentary. If you want to experience the real benefits of grounding, a grounding pillowcase is the clear winner!

Take Your Grounding to the Next Level!

While a grounding pillowcase is an excellent budget-friendly option, a full grounding sheet provides even more comprehensive benefits by covering a larger surface area. If you're looking for the best way to stay grounded throughout the night, check out our high-quality Grounding Sheets today!