Our 5 Highest Rated Mattress Pads for 2024 – Expert Reviewed

At Sleep Advisor, our product reviews are based on findings from in-person tests that allow us to have a genuine understanding of how the product feels and performs. We pull our information from a database of over 100 tested mattresses and sleep accessories.

For this roundup, we prioritized features that are especially important for mattress pads. We paid special attention to components such as topper thickness, support elements, motion transfer, and cooling features.

What to Look For in a Mattress Pad

Materials

Cotton

Cotton is a natural material, so it’s more expensive than synthetics. There are organic and non-organic choices, and many products offer a blend of cotton with other types of fabrics. Cotton is durable, and one of its mechanical properties is wet strength, so it can resist breaking down even when wet. Cotton bedding can retain its shape and usefulness even after several washings.

Wool

Wool, whether it’s organic or non-organic, offers a more natural sleep surface, and it’s great for temperature control. The material can insulate well when temperatures are chillier, and it has a superior ability to wick away moisture for those who sleep hot. Most wool products are machine washable, but we recommend checking the label first. Buying a high-quality wool mattress pad may be costly, but the material will likely last you a long time.

Feather

Feathers are often found in pillows due to their cloud-like comfort, adjustability, and optimal breathability, which helps you keep cool. In pads, their function is largely similar. Naturally-sourced feathers are often expensive, but there are many feather alternatives that aim to mimic the feel without harming the actual bird or triggering allergies.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is commonly found in mattresses but has made its way to other sleep products as well, including pads. Memory foam becomes more malleable as it heats up and slowly conforms to your shape to maximize pressure relief. Modern memory foams often incorporate heat-conducting materials to help prevent heat retention and are typically covered in breathable fabrics. If you’re a hot sleeper who loves memory foam, those cooling capabilities are key.

 

Latex

Though it offers slightly less conformance, Latex’s response time makes it easier to move around on, and the material is naturally cool. Latex is also highly durable, though often more expensive. There are natural choices and synthetic latex products, along with different latex processing methods that can change the feel of this versatile material. Dunlop tends to be more natural, somewhat more dense, and less consistent. Though Talalay requires more chemicals in its processing, the result is a springier and lighter sleep experience.

Other Fibers

Other materials that can be found in pads include polyester, rayon, viscose, microfiber, or other synthetics that are processed from polymers. While synthetics are less sustainable, a product that is at least partially poly-based does have some advantages. For instance, these usually are less prone to wrinkling, can hold up through washings, and are more easily designed to be hypoallergenic than some of their more all-natural alternatives. Viscose has a soft feel that is very similar to silk but at a fraction of the price, which may make your sheets slide on more easily. Old-fashioned synthetics are often rough and scratchy, but this is often not the case with newer blends.

Sleep Position

Back sleepers and combination sleepers tend to sleep best on medium-firm mattresses. In the case of combination sleepers, medium-firm beds are more versatile for multiple sleep positions, and for back sleepers, this feel is often best for both support and pressure relief. Therefore if these sleepers have a firm bed, a softer mattress pad may help provide a more medium-firm overall feel. 

Stomach sleepers need a firmer surface in order to keep their hips elevated. If you sleep on your stomach, you may want a pad that can offer additional firmness. With side sleepers, they could benefit from a softer mattress pad because these help relieve pressure around their hips and shoulders.

Firmness 

If you want support, we recommend a firmer mattress pad that significantly alters the support in your existing mattress. This is often the case with older mattresses that are breaking down.

Thickness

In general, mattress pads are thinner than toppers, which means they’re going to provide less cushioning and support compared to a topper. In the event you need a more substantial adjustment to your bed space, we’d recommend going with a mattress topper instead.

Cooling

Take note of what kind of materials are used in each mattress pad and how conducive they are to airflow. breathable materials will let hot air escape. Some might also contain extra features like phase-change technology that can help keep the temperature at a comfortable level.

Explore our top picks for the best cooling mattress pads.

Durability

Durability can influence how long your mattress pad lasts. Generally, mattress pads and toppers last between 3-5 years, though a product made with poor-quality materials that aren’t very durable could shorten this lifespan. 

Edge Support  

If your bed noticeably sags when you sit or sleep on the edge, it is lacking edge support. If you would like to add some support to your mattress, you may want to consider a firm mattress pad. Enhanced edge support can give couples more space and help those with mobility issues get in and out of bed more easily. 

Motion Isolation

If your partner’s nocturnal movements wake you up, you will likely appreciate the motion-isolating capabilities of a mattress pad made from memory foam. A memory foam pad may absorb the motion created by your sleeping partner and allow you to sleep undisturbed.  

Sex 

A latex mattress pad may make the movements and repositioning associated with sex better for couples. Latex is a bouncy and responsive material that quickly snaps back to shape after pressure from body weight has been put on it. This prevents couples from feeling stuck down in the mattress.

Budget

Mattress pads can be a budget-friendly way to change the feel of your bed because they are considerably less expensive than a mattress. There are mattress pads in many different price ranges. Plus, you may be able to score more savings if you shop during major holiday sales.

Trial & Warranty

If you’re shopping online for a mattress pad, it’s a good idea to ensure that there’s a trial and warranty available for the product. These will likely be shorter than sleep trials and warranties for mattresses, but they can give you peace of mind to ensure the pad is a good fit for your needs.

Mattress & Sheet Compatibility

Your mattress pad should correspond with your bed size. If your pad is too small or too large, it likely won’t secure to your bed properly, and this may cause it to shift around throughout the night.  

Additionally, your sheets correspond to your mattress size, they should fit over the mattress pad without difficulty, so you will want to make sure that the pockets of the fitted sheets you own are deep enough to do so.

Benefits of a Mattress Pad

• Mattress protection – A great mattress pad can offer some damage protection to your mattress in the event of accidents or spills. 

• Added plushness – Adding a pad may give your mattress a slight upgrade in plushness, which may be all that stands in the way between you and the perfect amount of pressure relief.

• Extend mattress use – A mattress pad can help extend the life of your mattress. 

• Cheaper alternative – Mattress pads are considerably less expensive than a new mattress, providing a great way to improve your bed space on a budget.

Difference Between a Mattress Pad vs. Mattress Topper vs. Mattress Protector

A lot of people may use these terms interchangeably, but there are subtle differences in design and intent that can help you tell them apart.

What is a mattress pad?

If your purchase is less than an inch thick and only intended to provide a subtle comfort shift while also protecting your mattress, it is probably a mattress pad. The thinner material can protect your mattress from most damage, but that is not its sole purpose. These products are rarely waterproof but often quite breathable.

What is a mattress topper?

A product more than 1 inch thick that provides an additional comfort layer that changes the feel of your bed is likely a mattress topper. These lay right on top of the bed, and some have elastic placement straps to secure them. The materials are sometimes covered in fabric, but in many cases, they are not. For additional information, read our page about differentiating between a mattress pad vs mattress topper.

What is a mattress protector?

Protectors are often even thinner than mattress pads and some wrap around the entirety of the mattress. Their sole purpose is to provide a tight layer of protection between the mattress and the outside world. They are often equipped to shield the bed from higher volumes of liquid from spills and provide a resistant surface to most allergens. These rarely change the feel of the bed, though. For more, see our article on how to tell the difference between a mattress pad vs protector.

Our Final Thoughts

Mattress pads can help modify the feel of your mattress and provide additional protection for your bed space. This will come in handy if you have purchased a bed that may be too soft or too firm for your sleep position or body type. Given that they cost considerably less than a mattress, mattress pads are also a cost-effective way to add life to your mattress. 

Best Mattress Pad FAQs

Do mattress pads provide support?

Depending on the type of mattress pad that you get, some can provide additional support to your mattress. If you are looking for a more supportive mattress pad, check out those made from memory foam or latex. That being said, if you need more substantial support, it’s best to go with a topper or an entirely new mattress altogether.

Are mattress pads waterproof?

Mattress pads are not typically waterproof. Products marketed as mattress protectors are far more likely to provide protection from severe spills, such as urine or dumped drinks on a mattress. If these are concerns of yours, you may want to invest in a protector. For more info, check out our guide for the best waterproof crib mattress pads.

Are mattress pads thick or thin?

That depends on your definition of thick and thin, but generally, pads are thinner than 1 inch. Some are significantly thinner and other choices are called “overstuffed” because they achieve a higher loft with additional fill. If you’re looking for something thicker, you may want to look at mattress toppers.

What’s the difference between a mattress topper and a mattress pad?

Mattress toppers are often thicker and intended to noticeably change the feel of your mattress to a firmer or softer feel. Mattress pads, on the other hand, are often thinner so they provide less of a change in feel. However, they’re also ideal for protecting your mattress against any contaminants.