Upgrade and Protect Your Bed With These Tester-Approved Mattress Pads (2024)

One of our biggest takeaways from testing over 40 mattress pads in The Lab is that they’re not meant to add more comfort to your mattress. Instead, think of mattress pads as an insurance policy on your mattress. They’re the first defense against smells, spills, dust, and dead skin that accumulate—but unlike your mattress, they can be washed regularly.

We enjoyed testing mattress pads on their additional features like cooling capabilities and waterproof construction, but the make-or-break feature we identified was how well they stayed on the bed. A well-fitting mattress pad ensures your mattress is completely covered and makes your sheets easier to put on.

Whether you're looking for a thickly padded, temperature-regulating, or waterproof mattress pad, we've handpicked some of the best options to upgrade and protect your mattress.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated in November 2024 to include additional shopping context and long-term testing insights.

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What We Like

  • Breathable material

  • Doesn’t alter fit or feel of sheets

  • Protects against liquids

What We Don't Like

  • Very thin

For mattress protection on a budget, we like the Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by The Spruce's parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) Although we tested a variety of mattress pads—with some ranging over $200—we found that the less expensive designs were just as good, if not better than their more expensive competitors.

The Better Homes & Gardens mattress pad costs less than $40 (for a queen size), but it delivers on its promises—including keeping water and other liquids off your mattress. In our testing, we liked how securely the pad fit our mattress; even with tossing and turning, it remained firmly in place. Plus, it didn’t affect the fit of our sheets, as its thin profile made it just as easy to make the bed as if the pad wasn’t there.

When we dropped water onto the mattress pad, it sat on top of the fabric. In total, it took about five seconds for it to begin absorbing–providing a decent level of water resistance before actually getting wet. The bottom waterproof layer also ensured our mattress stayed dry, which is key in keeping it protected against accidents and wear. However, the pad is quite thin.

While we liked the fact that this didn’t alter the feel of our sheets or mattress, we were able to feel an acupuncture mat placed underneath in testing. If you don’t need cushioning or extra comfort, though, the thinness won’t be a drawback in its feel. Overall, we think this is a great pick, especially considering its long-term durability—it hasn't had any changes in quality or performance even after six months of regular use in our homes.

Material: Cotton, polyester, polyurethane | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full, queen, king | Pocket Depth: 22 inches

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What We Like

  • Plush finish

  • Quilted top keeps filling in place

  • Secure on mattress

What We Don't Like

  • Warms up quickly

If you’re looking for a mattress pad that adds just a little bit of softness to the top of your mattress, we thought the Bedsure Quilted Mattress Pad was a great option for a reasonable price as well. We loved how easy it was to put this mattress pad on top of our testing mattress, and we had plenty of depth left in the pockets, which can fit mattresses up to 21 inches deep.

The mattress pad is made of polyester microfiber and also has a poly-microfiber fill on the top. Although it is advertised as cooling, we didn’t find this to be true. The plus side of this construction is that it’s very durable and should not stretch or shrink much over time.

The quilting on the top of the pad also keeps the microfiber filling evenly distributed so you won’t experience any lumps across your mattress. We were slightly disappointed by this pad’s lack of loft, given the manufacturer photos, which make it seem very plush, but it has a softer finish than some of the other mattress pads that we tested, like the Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad.

All in all, we enjoyed using this mattress pad and think it's a great value given the under-$30 price point.And after six months of testing this product, we're happy to report that it has held up great, even with monthly laundering.

Material: Polyester, microfiber | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, short queen, king, Cali. king, RV king | Pocket Depth: 21 inches

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What We Like

  • Adds extra comfort

  • Waterproof liner

  • Strong temperature regulation

What We Don't Like

  • Could be more plush

If you have a mattress with cooling properties in it, the last thing you want to do is add a mattress pad on top that’s going to negate the cooling material in your mattress. We loved how the Sijo TempTune Mattress Pad helps prevent overheating while adding just a little bit of extra plush to the top of the mattress.

Of all of the mattress pads we tested, this one helped dull the pressure from an acupuncture mat underneath pretty well, despite not being an overly cushioned pad. We also loved that this mattress pad seemed to easily re-adjust after being rumpled from tossing and turning, so it shouldn’t become untucked after a restless night.

While we didn't find that this mattress topper felt cool to the touch, we did find it to be quite breathable and temperature-regulating. It prevents us from overheating at night, which can be especially helpful for hot sleepers. What's more, this mattress pad has held up fantastically for over a year. We think it improved the comfort level of the mattress a noticeable amount, and our testers plan on purchasing this mattress pad again after recently upgrading their mattress size.

The shell of the mattress pad is made from eucalyptus-based Tencel lyocell and a Mica-infused nylon blend, both of which have temperature-regulating properties. The pad is also lined with a waterproof coating, which proved very effective when we dropped water on top of it.

Material: Mica nylon blend and Tencel | Sizes: Full, queen, king, Cali. king | Pocket Depth: 18 inches

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What We Like

  • Does not alter feel of mattress

  • Maintains temperature

  • Liner does not make noise

What We Don't Like

  • Jersey could potentially pill over time

If you don’t want to change the feel of your mattress at all and simply want something to protect it from moisture, the Cotton Jersey Waterproof Mattress Pad from The Company Store is a wonderful option. We loved how undetectable it was underneath our fitted sheets. We even tested this mattress pad in a child's room and it successfully protected the mattress from a bedwetting incident.

Despite its thin plastic lining, the pad made no rustling noise, which can be a downside of this type of mattress pad, based on our testing. In addition to not altering the feel of a mattress, the pad also surprisingly had no impact on our comfort temperature-wise.

We even completely forgot that we had put this mattress pad on our bed while testing this at home—it’s that thin. We had no complaints about this mattress pad. The only precaution that we could think of is that the jersey cotton may pill over time, especially if covered by a textured fitted sheet like jersey or linen.

However, none of our durability tests led us to believe that this pad would degrade quickly and we think it’s a great purchase for any mattress type.In fact, it looks and feels as good as new after six months with nightly use and consistent laundering.

Material: Cotton and thermoplastic polyurethane | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cali. king | Pocket Depth: 11 or 18 inches

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What We Like

  • Soft, quilted top

  • Breathable construction

  • Hypoallergenic fill

What We Don't Like

  • Gusset rides up on sides

Mattress pads typically don’t offer much added comfort, since they’re designed to protect a mattress, but we loved that the Puffy Deluxe Mattress Pad had a soft quilted top. Effectively transforming our mattress into a pillow top, we found this design made a noticeable difference in our overall comfort. The padding rises two inches above the surface of the mattress, and when we used the pad at home we could feel it contouring to our body.

Our initial lab testing also made this mattress pad a front-runner in comfort because it dulled the feeling of an acupressure mat underneath it and it did not shift much on our testing mattress. We noticed that the longer sides of the pad gusset rode up on our testing mattress, but the corners never came untucked.

The pad is made with bamboo rayon, which is a naturally cooling material and its filling is also hypoallergenic so users with sensitive skin and allergies may especially enjoy this option. However, we felt like the quilted top occasionally caused us to overheat at night, meaning hot sleepers may not love this mattress pad as much as our best temperature-regulating option, the Sijo TempTune Mattress Pad.

We still think this mattress pad is a great choice for most sleepers, especially those who prefer a cozy, pillowtop bedroom setup.Plus, its performance and quality are top-notch after two months of using this product in our homes.

Material: Bamboo rayon | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cali. king | Pocket Depth: 15 inches

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What We Like

  • Soft fill

  • Smooth sateen shell

  • Hypoallergenic construction

What We Don't Like

  • Can trap heat

It should come as no surprise that Parachute, a company that makesgreat pillowsand bedding, also makes an exceptionally comfortable mattress pad. This down alternative mattress pad features microfiber fill, which recreates the loft and softness traditionally associated with down. The double-stitched construction ensures that the down alternative fibers also stay inside the shell.

While a down alternative mattress pad can be more affordable than a down-filled option, this particular design is still on the higher end of pricing when compared to other choices. That said, we think its high-quality materials and durability make this a good pick.

We're big fans of the soft sateen shell, which felt soft and cozy during our tests. It doesn't add significant plushness to the mattress, but we found it to be comfortable regardless. Note that the inner fill of the pad may trap heat, which means it may not be the best choice for sleepers who run hot.

Material: Cotton, microfiber | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Pocket Depth: 18 inches

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What We Like

  • Moisture wicking material

  • Does not make noise

  • Extra layer of comfort

What We Don't Like

  • Difficult to launder

If you have a deeper mattress, the Serta Power Clean Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad has a stretchy gusset that can fit mattresses up to 18 inches deep. Plus, we loved all of the moisture-wicking and waterproof properties of this pad during testing. The pad has a quilted top, adding just a little bit of comfort to the top of a mattress without changing any supportive features you may love already.

We found the mattress pad is also incredibly moisture-wicking, as it quickly absorbed water that we poured on it and spread the water out, rather than trapping it in one part of the quilting. A waterproof backing prevents any moisture from seeping into the top of your mattress as well.

We didn’t notice any crinkling noises in the lab from this backing, but at home, we did hear a subtle crinkling noise when getting out of bed at first. However, after six months of testing, we found that the crispness of the mattress pad had softened up after washing and sleeping on it for an extended period. We like the texture more with use.

Note that this mattress pad is more challenging to launder because of its moisture-wicking and waterproof backing, so you may find that it needs an extra dry cycle to fully remove any wet patches. All in all, you can’t go wrong with this pad, especially given its lower price, and versatility on deeper mattresses.

Material: Not listed | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cali. king | Pocket Depth: 18 inches

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Final Verdict

Our overall best pick is the Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad, which we like for its effective waterproof capabilities, breathable construction, and value at its price point. If you're looking for an option that adds a bit more cushioning, consider the Puffy Mattress Pad. Its soft pillow top design will improve the overall comfort level of your mattress more than other options we've tried.

What's the Difference Between a Mattress Topper and a Mattress Pad?

While searching for a mattress pad, you may run into products listed as mattress toppers and mattress protectors. Here’s the difference between each product:

  • Mattress pads typically aren't as thick as mattress toppers, and they're also usually less expensive. Some also have features designed to protect the mattress, such as waterproofing. One real added benefit is that they are machine-washable more often than not.
  • A mattress topper is designed to change the overall feel of the mattress beneath it. It is generally thicker than a mattress pad, falling somewhere in the 2- to 4-inch range. One drawback is that they most likely can’t be machine-washed. If you’re looking for one of these, check out our list here.
  • A mattress protector does exactly what it claims and protects your mattress with a waterproof material that’s also sometimes resistant to bed bugs and allergens.

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How We Tested Mattress Pads

To find the very best mattress pads for every mattress owner’s unique needs, we've tested a range of top-rated options in The Lab and our homes.

The most important consideration when choosing a mattress pad, of course, is whether or not it can protect the bed. We sent our mattress pads home to a variety of testers, including households with children and pets. For mattress pads that claimed to be waterproof, we noted whether or not each mattress pad successfully prevented stains and damage from spills and accidents.

Mattress pads generally don’t offer much support or loft, as their main objective isn’t to enhance comfort but to protect the mattress. However, we noted the texture of the material as well as any plushness or cushioning, if any. We also looked for red flags like bunching material, shifting, or crinkling, plasticky noises.

Despite claims of cooling properties, we found these mattress pads didn't significantly impact sleep temperature, especially when covered by a fitted sheet. So we mainly tested for breathability and temperature-regulation, asking our team members to report if their mattress pad caused them to overheat at night.

We checked in after six months, noting how the performance, texture, and quality of each mattress pad held up over time. Most of the mattress pads we tested are machine-washable, so we evaluated the long-term durability through repeated washings.

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How to Choose a Mattress Pad

Prioritize a Comfortable and Durable Shell Material

As you shop, be sure to consider what bedding material you find comfortable and easy to maintain. Mattress pads are often constructed from materials similar to those of sheets and other bedding elements. You’ll also want a material that handles any mattress protection concerns you might have.

The shell material and fill material of a mattress pad can differ slightly and both have different purposes. The shell material will ultimately determine your mattress pad’s durability, quality, and water resistance. The mattress pads in our list are made from cotton, bamboo, polyester, and Tencel. All of these materials are considered durable options.

Our best budget pick, the Bedsure Quilted Mattress Pad, is made from polyester and microfiber, so it's very durable and stain-resistant, and it won’t show as much wear over time. However, polyester and microfiber are not the most breathable materials.

If you have issues with overheating, we recommend our best temperature-regulating pad, the Sijo TempTune Mattress Pad, which has a nylon shell infused with mica, a mineral with naturally cooling properties.

Additionally, waterproof coatings like the polyurethane one on our best waterproof pick, The Company Store Company Cotton Jersey Waterproof Mattress Pad, can sometimes crinkle or smell. However, we didn’t find that to be the case with The Company Store’s mattress pad.

Consider Fill Material and Additional Support

Mattress pads have varying levels of fill, which allows them to be inexpensive ways to alter the feel of your mattress. The fill material of your mattress pad also impacts the comfort and breathability. Plush mattress pads can upgrade a firm mattress and make it more cozy.

Our best pillow top pad, the Puffy Deluxe Mattress Pad has a quilted top that offers just the right amount of cushion. It’s also made with a hypoallergenic bamboo rayon fill, making it great for users who have allergies to certain bedding materials.

Most often you’ll find mattress pads with fill materials like cotton or polyester. The filling can also impact the moisture-wicking abilities of a mattress pad, so keep that in mind if you’re a hot sleeper who frequently sweats at night.

As we mentioned, mattress pads do not alter the support of your mattress. If you’re looking for a way to alter the overall feel of your mattress, we recommend checking out our mattress toppers list.

Check Pocket Depth

Not to be overlooked as a major factor, the pocket depth of a mattress pad can make or break your bed-making experience. We tested all of the mattress pads in this list on either 9.5- or 10-inch mattresses and we never had to fight to secure them on the beds.

The mattress pads on our list are advertised as fitting mattresses between 11 and 22 inches, so pay close attention to the pocket depth spec listed under each of our picks. If you have a particularly deep mattress, we recommend the Serta Power Clean Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad (best deep pocket), which can stretch to fit mattresses up to 18 inches.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Emma Phelps, an associate editor for The Spruce, has also covered various bedding topics including Tempur-Pedic mattresses and the softest bed sheets. Phelps uses a waterproof mattress pad at home to protect her mattress without altering its feel. For this roundup, she considered our testing insights as well as her experience shopping and using a mattress pad.

After Years of Testing Mattresses, These 9 Are the Best

Upgrade and Protect Your Bed With These Tester-Approved Mattress Pads (2024)
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