The 6 Best Mattress Pads That Help Renew Your Aging Bed
Making your mattress feel more plush, and in turn enhancing your sleep, is often as simple as adding a piece of bedding, like a mattress pad. The best mattress pads provide subtle cushioning while extending the longevity of your mattress by protecting it from spills, stains and the wear and tear of daily use. Our best overall pick, the Saatva Signature Mattress Pad, has a quilted waterproof cover that offers both protection and softness to your current mattress setup.
While mattress pads are primarily for protection, many feature design elements to address various sleep needs, including temperature regulation, comfort and allergens. Depending on your specific expectations and preferences, we found six editor-approved mattress pads that can help protect your investment and improve your quality of sleep.
Material: Percale cotton (top and bottom layers), polyester and spandex blend (side panels) | Pocket depth: 17 inches | Trial: 45 nights | Warranty: 1-year limited
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This Saatva Mattress Pad features a quilted cover made from a crisp and breathable percale cotton weave, and adds four inches of cushioning to your mattress that several customers note has improved the overall comfort of their mattress. Its waterproof protection comes via a layer of non-rubbery polyurethane, which is sandwiched between two layers of cotton to provide a barrier against spills, humidity and more. The knit elastic side panels can fit mattresses up to 17 inches high, and are outfitted with thick silicone elastic bands to keep the pad in place throughout the night. Like many of Saatva's other bedding, the mattress pad is Oeko-Tex Standard-100, which shows it's free of harmful chemicals and substances for a cleaner night's rest.
Material: Polyester | Pocket depth: 21 inches | Trial: 30-day return policy | Warranty: None
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Bedsure's affordable mattress pad has a unique honeycomb design that works to keep the polyester microfiber filling evenly distributed for better support and body pressure relief. The top and bottom zones of the pad feature a wavy design for further comfort, and the cover has a brushed, soft-to-the-touch feel. At 21 inches, it has the deepest pockets of all our picks and can easily accommodate thick mattresses and mattress toppers. While the pad is unable to prevent larger spills from soaking through, its three layers serve as protection against stains and dirt, and it can be tossed in the wash when needed. Although Bedsure labels the mattress pad as breathable, several customers found they slept hot, likely due to the polyester retaining body heat.
Material: Tencel lyocell and Mica nylon blend | Pocket depth: 18 inches | Trial: 7-day trial and 30-day return policy | Warranty: None
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Hot sleepers might be wary of adding another layer of bedding, but Sijo's mattress pad is a temperature-regulating model that's meant to absorb and distribute excess body heat. The shell of the pad is made from a Mica nylon and Tencel blend for a temperature regulating, silky feel that also has moisture-wicking properties. Beneath the shell is a cotton lining infused with the brand's Clima phase-changing microcapsules that adapt to the body's temperature to not only keep you cool when you're hot, but warm when you're cold. In addition to the waterproof layer's spill resistant capabilities, it's a quiet layer that doesn't disturb you as you move throughout the night. Those looking for an extra 'clean' mattress pad can also appreciate the Oeko-Tex certification and hypoallergenic materials.
Material: Polyester, nylon and spandex | Pocket depth: 15 inches | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10-year limited
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Sleepers who are prone to frequent bed-related mishaps because of pets, children or a bedtime induldgence gone wrong need a mattress pad that provides ample coverage and protection. While most mattress pads only protect the top of the mattress, Sleep Number's Totel Protection pad offers extended side protection against stains and spills. For those sensitive to allergies, the waterproof fabric is also hypoallergenic antimicrobial, which means it hinders the growth of bacteria to keep your mattress from housing allergens and odor at bay. The mattress pad has a thinner profile than other options on our list and isn't as cushiony, but its textured surface is soft and cool.
Material: Cotton sateen shell with European white down | Pocket depth: 18 inches | Trial: 60 days | Warranty: 3 years
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The Parachute Down Mattress Pad almost makes sleeping on a cloud a reality thanks to its fluffy and airy 550-fill power. The comfortable filling consists of 75% down and 25% down and feather fibers, which lends the pad its plushness. To keep the fill from migrating, the 100% cotton sateen cover is double stitched in a box pattern. And with a pocket depth of 18 inches, the pad can fit on most mattresses, including ones with mattress toppers and other bedding. Putting the pad on the mattress should be relatively easy, as it features a continuous elastic hem that surrounds around the mattress like a fitted sheet. Unlike mattress pads made from synthetic materials which can make noise underneath your movements, several customers noted a lack of sound thanks to the cotton shell.
Material: 100% cotton top | Pocket depth: 18 inches | Trial: 30-day return policy | Warranty: 5-year limited
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Whether you run cold, live in a frigid climate or deal with aches and pains, a heated mattress pad can provide much needed warmth to help lull you to sleep. This heated pad from Sunbeam features 12 heat settings and includes dual controls, so if you're sharing a bed with a partner you can both adjust your respective sides to your desired temperatures. The hourglass-quilted cover is made from Oeko-Tex certified cotton with a water-resistant backing for protection against liquids. To give you peace of mind while you sleep, the pad has a built-in auto-shut off function, and the wired technology that heats the pad is shielded for further safety. Cleaning the pad is as easy as throwing it in the wash, although be sure to disconnect the cord beforehand.
The Forbes Vetted sleep team consists of writers and editors with years of experience testing, researching and writing about the best sleep and mattress products. In the pursuit of helping our readers achieve the best sleep, we've covered everything from mattress toppers to cooling pillows.
When selecting the best mattress pads, we looked at highly rated products from reputable brands that the Vetted sleep team has thoroughly researched or tested.
Before buying a mattress pad, there are a few key factors to consider to ensure it works best for you and your mattress. Here's what to keep in mind.
Most mattress pads are made from a blend of materials, with the cover/shell being constructed from different material(s) than the inside or fill of the pad. How breathable, durable and/or comfortable a mattress pad largely depends on the cover's materials. When shopping for mattress pads, you can see the most common materials used for the covers are cotton and polyester. 'Cotton is an excellent material due to its softness and durability, and it doesn't trap heat like synthetic materials,' says Kristie Rhodes, manager of woven product development at Cotton Incorporated.
The fill material is what lends the mattress pad its fluffiness, or lack thereof. If you want a noticeably cushioned mattress pad, look for models like Parachute's Down Mattress Pad, which packs 550-fill power for a cloud-like feel and look.
While all mattress pads offer protection to a certain extent, some offer more than others. Mattress pads like the Sleep Number Total Protection reflects water all the way to the sides of the mattress, preventing liquid from intruding. Other pads like Bedsure's Quilted Mattress Pad are not water-resistant and are best suited to protect against dirt, dust mites and minor stains, and help maintain the overall cleanliness of the mattress. If you live in a household with pets and children who are frequently on the bed, you might want to consider a mattress pad with a higher level of protection.
Before purchasing a mattress pad, it's important to know whether or not it fits on your mattress. The pocket depth of a mattress pad indicates how tall of a mattress and accessories it can accommodate. When looking at pocket depth, you can also consider additional bedding that might add more height to the mattress, like a mattress topper.
What Is The Highest-Rated Mattress Pad?
Of the mattress pads included in our list, the highest-rated mattress pad is the Saatva Signature Mattress Pad. The mattress pad has a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Saatva's site, with customers saying the pad fits nicely and adds additional comfort to their mattress.
What Is The Best Material For A Mattress Pad?
The best material for mattress pads depends on your sleep preferences, although experts agree that cotton is one of the best. 'Cotton is an ideal material for a mattress pad due to its comfort, breathability, and durability. As a natural fiber that allows air to circulate, cotton helps to regulate temperature and keep you cool throughout the night, thus supporting better sleep,' says Rhodes.
What Is The Difference Between A Mattress Topper And A Mattress Pad?
Mattress pads and mattress toppers bear some similarities, although there are major key differences. Mattress toppers are thicker than mattress pads and are designed to alter the feel of your mattress, whether it's adding more firmness, softness or coolness. Because they're thicker, they tend to be made from memory foam or latex.
While some mattress pads can add comfort to a mattress, the primary function of a mattress pad is to protect the mattress from spills, stains and the wear that comes with daily use.
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