1. Organic mattress pads
2. Synthetic mattress pads
Mattress pad info
One of the best mattress pads might be all you need if you feel that your mattress could benefit from a tiny comfort boost. Mattress pads will give your bed an additional plush layer, and they can give your mattress added protection, too.
The best mattress pads bring some of the benefits you'll get from the best mattress toppers and the best mattress protectors. While a mattress pad won't change the feel of your bed as radically as a premium mattress topper, it can help smooth out an almost-perfect bed, and like a mattress protector it can safeguard your bed against dust mites, sweat and even spillages in some cases. Some mattress pads provide temperature regulating qualities, and most of them are washable to help keep things fresh.
If you've invested in one of the best mattresses, a mattress pad may be all you need to give it that perfect final touch, although most aren't waterproof so you may still need a mattress protector to safeguard against spills. If you're not sure about the difference between a mattress pad and a mattress topper, our mattress pad vs mattress topper guide tells you everything you need to know. Otherwise, read on to discover our top picks for the best mattress pads right now.
The best mattress pad in 2024
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Organic mattress pads
Cover: Organic cotton
Fill: Organic cotton
Mattress depth: Up to 16"
Price: From $195
The Saatva Organic Mattress Pad is made entirely with GOTS certified organic cotton, has a luxurious feel and wicks away moisture as well as making your mattress feel that little bit cooler; it'll also protect your bed from sweat and stains. It ensures a snug fit with side panels woven with spandex, plus a thick silicone-elastic band at the bottom. It's expensive but well worth the money; customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with plenty of praise for the quality of its build and its luxurious feel.
Cover: Organic cotton
Fill: Cotton fiber
Mattress depth: Up to 16"
Price: From $149
You don't see many mattress pads that specifically promise to protect your bed from spills, but the Birch Organic Mattress Pad is an exception. Like many pads it'll wick away moisture but it's also designed to provide absorption protection against spills and stains, making it a good choice if you don't want to double up with a mattress pad and a mattress protector. It's made with GOTS-certified organic cotton in three layers, with a sateen weave design on the top layer to keep things smooth and soft at night.
Cover: Bamboo viscose
Fill: Bamboo viscose
Mattress depth: Up to 15"
Price: From $199
The Nolah isn't going to add a lot to your bed in terms of plushness, but it'll give your mattress a light and silky layer of protection, and it's breathable, hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking. It covers your mattress like a fitted sheet, and its snug fit makes it ideal for keeping dust mites and bed bugs out, and also means that this mattress pad won't slide around in the night. This pad is both FSC and OEKO-TEX certified, and while the MSRP is a bit high it's there's usually 25% off.
Read more: Nolah Bamboo Mattress Pad review
Cover: Organic cotton
Fill: Organic cotton
Mattress depth: Not stated
Price: From $119
Awara's mattress pad is made entirely out of organic cotton that's non-GMO and free of persistent or synthetic pesticides. Its cover is a cotton sateen fabric made with single-ply yarn for strength and durability, while the fill is cotton fibers designed to provide an extra layer of super soft mid-weight comfort for your mattress. There's a one-inch wide gripper elastic band around the edge of the skirt and the mattress pad is machine-washable on a normal cycle, while Awara recommends an enzyme-based stain remover to remove stains. There's free shipping ad free 50 days unopened returns.
Cover: Organic cotton
Fill: Organic cotton
Mattress depth: Up to 22"
Price: From $239
Built to deliver the benefits of both a mattress pad and protector, the Avocado Organic Quilted Mattress Pad Protector is an absorbent but non-waterproof alternative to plastic-based waterproof protectors, which brings a touch of extra comfort too. It's made entirely with GOTS-certified organic cotton, and it's quilted with reinforced edges, a cotton skirt and elasticated edges to keep it in place. At 16 inches deep it'll fit all Avocado mattresses but there's a 22-inch deep pocket version if you have a deeper mattress from another brand. There's a 100-night trial and 1-year warranty.
Cover: Viscose from bamboo
Fill: Viscose from bamboo
Mattress depth: Up to 20"
Price: From $210
Cozy Earth prides itself on its ethical production, and its Bamboo Mattress Pad is a great example of this. It's made with premium 100% viscose and it's breathable and naturally temperature-regulating. It'll fit mattresses up to 20 inches deep, and a 360-degree elastic hem should keep it nicely in place. Cozy Earth recommends spot cleaning or dry cleaning it, but it can be machine washed in a rinse cycle only; the brand also suggest hanging it out in moderate sunlight every few months to freshen it up. This one comes with a 100-night sleep trial as well as free shipping.
Synthetic mattress pads
Cover: Cambric cotton
Fill: Down alternative
Mattress depth: Up to 18"
Price: From $159
The Parachute Down Alternative Mattress Pad can give your bed an instant plush makeover at an agreeable price. While it's not a mattress topper, it can take the edge off a too-firm mattress. Its fiber fill feels like natural down, although this means it can leave you feeling warmer in the night. An elastic hem helps keep it in place, and it can be easily removed for dry cleaning or even machine washing. 70% of customer reviews give this pad a five star rating, complimenting its softness, fit and build quality.
Cover: Bamboo blend
Fill: Bamboo fabric
Mattress depth: Up to 15"
Price: From $169
The Puffy Mattress Pad is another pad that's made with bamboo fabrics, meaning that it's naturally breathable with great cooling features. It's hypoallergenic and a knitted jacquard design adds to the Puffy Mattress Pad's luxurious feel. There's a 101 night sleep trial with this pad, making it a safe choice if you're not sure whether a mattress pad is right for you. It's safe for machine washing and drying, and customer reviews are positive, finding it well-made, soft and supportive as well as helping keep things cool.
Cover: Outlast fabric
Fill: Outlast material
Mattress depth: Up to 20"
Price: From $179
The Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad is suitable for mattress depths of up to 20 inches, so it should fit the most generously proportioned luxury beds with ease. It's a more expensive option, but it regulates temperature really well. It's made with Outlast, a NASA-approved material that absorbs heat when you're too hot and releases it when you're too cold, and many customers agree that it regulates temperature well. This pad's machine-washable and comes with a 60-night trial (but only a 180-day warranty).
Cover: Fabric with copper fibers
Fill: Down alternative
Mattress depth: Up to 18"
Price: From $199.95
Like the Parachute pad further up the page, the Viscosoft Copper Mattress Pad is filled with a breathable microfiber down alternative that'll give any mattress a bit of a plush boost. It also has a cooling, moisture-wicking cover made with copper threads. It's hypoallergenic as well as being machine washable, and its pocket skirt features strong elastic to ensure a snug, non-slip fit around your mattress. Most customer reviews give it a five star rating, praising the quality of its materials and its generous fill; not all were impressed by the effectiveness of its cooling. It's not cheap but there's 25% off right now.
Cover: Polyester, polyethylene
Fill: Polyester
Mattress depth: Not stated
Price: From $149.99
If you often find yourself too hot or cold at night, this mattress pad from Sleep Number could save you the expense of investing in the best cooling mattress or piling on extra covers. It features what Sleep Number calls 37.5 technology: active particles that move heat and humidity away to help you sleep at the perfect temperature, and it has a smooth, cool-to-the-touch cover. There are hefty elastic straps at the corners, and this mattress pad comes with a 100-night trial as well as a 1-year limited warranty, with free shipping included. It's machine washable on a cold setting.
How to choose the best mattress pad
Once you've decided to invest in the best mattress pad for you, how do you choose? There are a few key factors that you should think about. First up is the sort of materials you'd like your mattress pad to be made of; all-natural pads made and filled with cotton, bamboo or similar are an attractive and eco-friendly option, but they're likely to cost you more and need more careful maintenance.
Synthetic pads will be cheaper and lower-maintenance, but they're more likely to trap heat, and while many come with temperature-regulating properties you could still find yourself a little too warm in the night.
Think about how firm your mattress is, and how much of a comfort boost you want to give it; a thick, plush pad could make a medium-firm mattress too soft for you, while a thinner pad may not make much difference at all to a firmer mattress, especially after a few months of use.
Finally, pay careful attention to the maximum mattress depth a pad can accommodate; you definitely don't want a mattress pad that won't fit, but you have a thinner mattress, a more capacious pad could prove too big and end up sliding around in the night.
How often should you replace a mattress pad?
The best mattress pads should stay in good shape for longer than mattress protectors, which should ideally be replaced every year or two. If you take good care of your mattress pad and wash it regularly (every couple of months or so should do the trick), it should last between three and five years.
Obviously that figure can vary depending on which mattress pad you've bought and what materials it's made from, so you should judge for yourself whether your pad needs replacing. If it's starting to get worn or even torn around the edges, that's a sure sign, but the most obvious indicator is if its filling's tired and no longer providing that important layer of softness.
Because that change can be very gradual you might not even notice it happening, but if you're finding yourself suffering from aches and pains in the morning, take a proper, critical look at your mattress pad; you might find that its best days are definitely behind it.
