Our 6 Highest Rated Mattress Pads for 2023

There are no standard definitions that can help you identify a mattress pad as opposed to other kinds of products. For many, it may be a subtle matter of degrees in features like thickness, design, and proposed purpose.

For most pads, the purpose is to add a touch of softness while protecting it from the lion share of typical damage. For the most part, mattress pads are less than an inch thick and contain stretch fabric or elastic that allows them to be fitted to the bed much like a fitted sheet.

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

A product more than one inch thick that provides an additional comfort layer that changes the feel of your mattress is likely a topper. These lay right on top of the bed, and some have elastic placement straps to secure it. The materials are sometimes covered in fabric, but in many cases, they are not.

If your purchase is less than an inch thick and only intended to provide a low shift in the amount of comfort while providing some damage control, 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.

Finally, 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 and 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 some complain that they can make the mattress a touch hotter than it would be without the cover. For more, see our article on how to tell the difference between a Mattress Pad vs Mattress Protector.

The packaging and advertising for most of these products can point you in the correct direction. After all, what you require in your mattress enhancement is often described on the website or box. Some features may be more subtle, so we’ll help break down what you should be looking for based on your needs.

• If You Want Support: We recommend a firmer product that significantly alters the support in your existing mattress. This is often the case with older mattresses that are breaking down. If your budget is tight, one of the best mattress toppers could buy you time for a fraction of the price of a new mattress.
  

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• If You Want to Adjust Firmness and Feel: Again, you’re probably looking for a mattress topper, as these are thick enough to adjust the feel of your existing bed. Some are as many as 4 to 5 inches thick, and depending on materials used, can make your bed firmer or plusher. If you only need a slight upgrade in plushness, a pad might be thick enough.
  

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• If You Want to Protect the Bed: If you're only looking to protect your mattress and not cushion it, you’re going to want to look for one of the best mattress protectors. These have waterproof capabilities, enhanced shielding features, and allergen deterrents. However, pads may be a possible alternative if your needs are more general. If you don’t expect spills or moist conditions, a mattress pad may provide all of the protection you need.
  

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• If You Want a Hypoallergenic Sleep: This depends on your degree of need. If your allergies are severe, a mattress protector may be able to shield you from more contaminants than a pad. Still, many pads are designed to be resistant to most allergens and may be sufficient.
  

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• If You Want to Reduce Noise from a Protector: The waterproof materials that some protectors contain can make crinkling noise when you move around. A pad will make less noise but probably offer less protection.

The type of material in your padded cover will make a difference in how it performs, how long it holds up, and how much protection it offers.

Cotton

• Cotton is a natural material, so it's more expensive than synthetic materials. There are organic and non-organic choices, and many products offer a blend of cotton with other types of fabrics.
• Cotton products, in general, are more eco-friendly and require fewer chemicals to process.
• For those looking for durability, cotton is a fantastic choice. One of its mechanical properties is wet strength, so it can resist breaking down even when wet.
• To maintain a healthy sleep environment, you’ll need to wash your bedding regularly. Cotton bedding retains its shape and usefulness even after several washings.

Wool

• Wool, organic and non-organic, offers a more natural sleep surface than other kinds of materials, and this material has some useful properties unique to its structure.
• Typically, this product is harvested from sheep, then carded and processed into fabric. Lambswool is often softer and a lot more expensive.
• Wool is popular because of its temperature control. Heat can travel through the material easily so it shouldn’t congregate close to your skin when you’re hot. The materials can insulate well when temperatures are chillier. It also has a superior ability to wick away moisture, ideal for those who tend to sweat while they sleep.
• If you’re looking for a wool product, be sure to read the care instructions carefully as they may vary, though most products are machine washable. Buying a high-quality mattress pad made from wool may be expensive, but the material will likely last you a long time.

Feather

• Despite some misleading claims, there's a difference between feather and down, as these come from different parts of the bird. Feathers have quills, but down does not.
• 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.
  

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Memory Foam

• Also called visco-elastic foam, this is a material commonly found in mattresses, but some pads have begun to incorporate thin layers of it into their construction.
• Originally developed by NASA, this material becomes more malleable as it heats up and slowly conforms to your shape to maximize pressure relief.
• There are few materials do better to cushion pressure points, but they can sleep hot. Luckily, modern memory foams incorporate heat-conducting materials to help keep temperatures regulated.
• Products that incorporate these foams often are covered in breathable cover fabrics that incorporate heat regulating features. Thin memory foam is also not likely to cause repositioning problems as it can in mattresses.
  

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Latex

• Latex emerged in recent years as an alternative to memory foam. Though it offers slightly less conformance, it’s response time makes it easy to move around in and move air through. The result is cooler bedding.
• There are natural choices and synthetic choices, and there are also a number of 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.
• This can be a pricey material, so adding a latex mattress pad to the top of your bed may be more cost-effective with this material than purchasing a 100% latex mattress.
  

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Other Fibers

• There are many other materials, fabrics, and blends that are common in mattress pads. Some of these choices include polyester, rayon, viscose, microfiber, or other synthetics that are processed from polymers.
• Many steer away from synthetics because they are less sustainable, and this is a legitimate concern. However, 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 easier.
• Old-fashioned synthetics are often rough and scratchy, but this is not the case with newer blends.

Be sure to examine your choice carefully before deciding which attachment method is best.

The vast majority of mattress pads incorporate some kind of stretch fabric that fits around the bed much like a fitted sheet. These choices either contain elastic in the hem of the skirt or incorporate a stretch fabric on the side panels that wrap around the corners of your bed.

Some pads completely encase the mattress, guaranteeing that the entirety of the surface is covered and cannot come loose. Other mattress pads may include elastic straps that button or are sewn onto the pad’s cover to fit around the corner of the mattress. This more minimalist approach is usually more adjustable than fitted pads for beds of varying heights.

Finding a pad that fits your bed exactly is ideal for several reasons. Firstly, a pad that is too tight or too big will slip off the corner and force your sheet to come loose when you move around in bed. Secondly, an overly large cover may bunch up in spots underneath your sheet and create uncomfortable pressure points.

Take a ruler and measure how thick your mattress is, and this will tell you how deep the pockets need to be on a mattress pad that is fitted. Most product description will tell you the maximum number of inches that the brand can accommodate, and bear in mind that a tighter fitting pad is more likely to come loose and it may be more advantageous to invest in deeper pockets.

Take note of what kind of materials are used in each brand and how conducive they are to airflow because 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 equilibrium.

Explore our top picks for the best cooling mattress pads.

There are a variety of extra features that a product might contain that may tip the balance when deciding which to purchase.

Some brands offer money-back guarantees, which is great if you’re worried about fit or temperature. You can try the product out in your home to see if its right. Some companies can give you up to 30 nights to 10 years to decide.

Special quilting and the design and placement of the fill may give you a better idea of how durable the product is and if the filling is likely to remain evenly distributed or may move around. Read reviews to get a better idea of how these things perform long term.

On the upside, a great mattress pad can offer some damage protection to your mattress without restricting airflow and making the bed uncomfortably hot. Materials, depending on the loft, 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.

That said, they will not improve the firmness or support in a bed that is wearing out and cannot significantly alter the feel of your mattress. Furthermore, they cannot offer waterproof protection against more severe spills and stains. Mattress pads that are ill-fitting can have a tendency to come loose or bunch up underneath you, causing discomfort.

Mattress pads are a good happy medium between the other types of mattress covers because they deliver the best of both worlds. A lot depends on what specifically you’re looking to do to your sleep space and what kind of bedding you require for your personal comfort.

Not typically, no. 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.

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.

Mattress toppers are often thicker and intended to 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. But they're also ideal for protecting your mattress against any contaminants.