Our 6 Highest Rated Mattress Pads for 2024 – Expert Reviewed

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. The best thing about cotton is its durability, but let’s not forget its mechanical properties and wet strength. Cotton has excellent resistance even when wet, and it does a good job of retaining its shape.

Wool, whether it’s organic or non-organic, offers a more natural sleep surface, and it’s great for temperature control. This material is a champ when it comes to insulating when temperatures are chillier, and it also has excellent moisture-wicking abilities. Most wool products are machine washable, but we recommend checking the label first. Now, if you’re worried about the price, yes, wool can be pricier. However, the material is likely to last a long time, so we’d say it’s a worthy investment. 

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

Memory foam is commonly found in mattresses but has also been used in other sleep products, including pads. One of its best aspects is that it 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. 

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. Dunlop tends to be more natural, somewhat more dense, and less consistent. Though Talalay is processed using more chemicals, the result is a springier and lighter sleep experience.

Other materials found in pads include polyester, rayon, viscose, microfiber, or other synthetics 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. 

If your purchase is less than an inch thick and only intended to provide a subtle comfort shift while also protecting your mattress, you’re probably looking at 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.

A product that is more than 1 inch thick and 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.

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.

How you’ll wash a mattress pad depends on your exact pad. In most cases, you’ll get specific instructions from the manufacturer, which we advise you to follow. A heated electric mattress pad is meant for spot-cleaning only, which is best done with a damp cloth and mild soap to avoid getting it too wet. Pads safe to wash in a washing machine are arguably easier to clean, but again, avoid harsh chemicals and high heat.

How often you’ll wash your mattress pad is up to you. However, a good rule of thumb is to wash it at least once or twice a month if you’re a hot sleeper. If you typically don’t sweat at night, washing your mattress pad once or twice every two months is okay.

Most people prefer memory foam, latex, down, and down alternatives. Which one you choose is entirely up to you, but make sure to consider your needs and preferences and what you want from your mattress pad. For covers, we’d suggest looking at natural material like cotton for its hypoallergenic properties and breathability.

Mattress pads are typically under one inch thick, whereas toppers are 2 to 4 inches. Which thickness would work the best for you is up to you to decide based on your preferred sleeping position and body weight. Also, do you want to alter the feel of your mattress? If so, it’s best to go for the thickest mattress topper regardless of whether you want to go the soft or firm route. 

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

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.

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