The 7 Best Mattress Pads of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad

$39 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

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 $35, 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.

_{Material: Cotton, polyester, polyurethane | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full, Queen, King | Pocket Depth: 22 inches}

Best Budget

Bedsure Quilted Mattress Pad

$27 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

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 it to be a particularly cooling option, which we think is because of the synthetic fibers. 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 the mattress pad and think it's a great value given the under $30 price point. 

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

Best Cooling

Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Mattress Pad

$175 At Amazon View On Sijo $175 At Nordstrom

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

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 delivers on its promises of being a cooling mattress pad 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. 

We also noticed very little difference in temperature between the side of the mattress pad that we laid on for five minutes versus the rest of the pad. The mattress pad’s cooling properties come from its blend of materials. The Sijo Clima tech temperature-regulating fill is patented and designed to absorb and dissipate heat as necessary, so you always stay comfortable. The shell of the mattress pad is made from Tencel lyocell, a eucalyptus-based material that’s naturally cooling, and a Mica-infused nylon blend, which also helps keep the surface of the pad cool. It’s 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}

Best Waterproof

The Company Store Cotton Jersey Waterproof Mattress Pad

View On The Company Store

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  4.5/5
• Value
  4/5

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. Despite having a 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 in one of our homes—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. 

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

Best Pillow Top

Puffy Mattress Pad

View On Puffy.com

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Support
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

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, it made a slight difference in our overall comfort. The padding on the pad raises two inches above the surface of the mattress, and our team member who used the pad in her home for two months could feel it contouring to her body while lying her side. 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, our team member who used this pad in her home said that she felt like the quilted top did sometimes cause her to overheat at night, so hot sleepers may not love this mattress pad as much as our best cooling option, the Sijo TempTune Mattress Pad. However, we still think this mattress pad is a great choice for most sleepers, especially those who prefer a cozy, pillowtop bedroom set up.  

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

Best Down Alternative

Parachute Down Alternative Mattress Pad

$160 At Parachute

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Durability
  3.5/5
• Support
  4/5
• Value
  3/5

It should come as no surprise that Parachute, a company that makes great pillows and bedding, also makes an exceptionally comfortable mattress pad. This down alternative mattress pad features a sateen cotton shell and a 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. The inner fill of the pad can also trap heat, which means it may not be the lightest or airiest choice for sleepers who run hot. However, a three-year warranty adds extra protection to your purchase.

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

Best Deep Pocket

Serta Power Clean Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad

$25 At Amazon $49 At Wayfair $27 At Home Depot

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Support
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

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 of 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 our team member who used the pad on their mattress at home said they did notice a subtle crinkling noise when they would get out of bed. However, it was not enough to disturb sleep or cause our team member to remove it from their bed. Additionally, the 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}