The 10 Best Mattress Pads of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad

$39 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

Editor’s Note: Better Homes & Gardens is owned by PEOPLE’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.

This mattress pad won our vote for best overall because it manages to do everything you’d want a mattress pad to do and at a reasonable price. At less than $50, we were impressed at how high quality this Better Homes & Garden mattress pad felt as soon as we took it out of the packaging. It was free of any snags and tearing, and when we held it in our hands, it felt well-made. That sentiment was only amplified when we put it on the bed: It never lost its fit, even after tossing and turning. The amount of cushioning, however, was pretty minimal. Because it fits like a fitted sheet, there was a slight bit of padding sewn in, so if you’re looking for something with noticeable comfort, this may not be the right match. 

The real winning aspect of this mattress pad is its waterproof qualities. During testing, it absorbed all liquids without letting any of them get close to the mattress itself. If your mattress is comfortable all on its own and you mainly just want something sturdy that will protect it, this is a great option. 

Material: Cotton, polyester | Pocket Depth: 20 inches | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full, queen, king | Waterproof: Yes

Best Budget

Serta Power Clean Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad

$22 at Amazon $40 at Target $53 at Wayfair

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  4/5
• Quality
  5/5

If you want something simple and affordable solely to protect your new mattress, this one by Serta is perfect. It isn’t going to give you the noticeable comfort or plushness that some others on our list might, but it still feels substantial and well-made. Our favorite features were the reinforced elastic gussets that keep the pad securely in place over the mattress, and the fact that it felt pretty breathable even though it’s polyester. 

While it isn’t necessarily cooling, we didn’t find that it was remarkably hotter on the mattress once it was added. At just $25, this would be a great buy for a guest room or a bedroom you’re trying to furnish on a budget. The pocket depth felt substantial and it comes in lots of sizes, too.

Material: Polyester | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes

Best Quilted

Bedsure Quilted Mattress Pad

$27 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  3/5
• Quality
  5/5

If you want a little bit of texture and comfort but already like your mattress’s feel in general, a quilted mattress pad is worth the purchase. This one by Bedsure is not only affordable but also great quality — it will stay tightly on the bed even when you toss and turn. 

While it did fit nicely on the bed, we still felt quite a bit of stretch that would definitely accommodate thicker mattresses or an added topper. Our main issue with this mattress pad was the fact that it claims to have “cooling” properties, but we still felt like it absorbed a lot of heat. If you want something affordable with a little bit of plushness, or if you have a thicker mattress you’re worried about finding the right size for, this would be a great purchase. 

Material: Polyester | Pocket Depth: 21 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, short queen, king, California king, RV king | Waterproof: Yes

Most Comfortable

Matbeby Quilted Mattress Pad

$32 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  4.5/5
• Quality
  4.3/5

While most mattress pads aren’t going to get you much added support, this one really impressed us with its fluffy and silky feel, which is why it won our vote for most comfortable. During testing, we felt a noticeable difference in the softness and coziness of the mattress, which is perfect for those on the firmer side — such as mattresses for back pain.

Even though it does have some density to it due to the microfiber material, it still did a good job of staying nice and taut on the bed; there wasn’t any shifting or bunching throughout any of our tests. However, we did notice that the corners were a bit uneven after being fitted over the mattress. For example, when it was stretched over to the exact edge on one side, it was slightly off on the opposite side. This wasn’t necessarily something we could feel during our tests, but after prolonged use (and washes), we could see the elastic wearing out and this becoming an issue. However, it’s very reasonably priced at just under $40, and its plushness alone makes it worth the purchase to us. 

Material: Microfiber | Pocket Depth: 21 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, short queen, king, California king, RV king | Waterproof: No

Best Bamboo

Puffy Mattress Pad

View on Puffy.com

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

Bamboo fabric is a great investment because of all of its unique features: Not only is it characteristically soft and smooth, but it’s also known for being temperature-regulating and antimicrobial. This one is our top recommendation for people who prefer bamboo bedding because it’s not only lightweight and easy to get onto a mattress, but it also has nice quilting — it feels enforced and holds its shape even when you lay on it. 

It has a nice cushioned effect that’s noticeable compared to regular mattress pads. It also did a great job of keeping the bed’s temperature regulated — we didn’t notice it getting too hot or too cold. The main con we noticed with this one was that it started to edge up from the sides when tossing and turning. Although it didn’t completely come undone, this could become annoying if you’re an active sleeper. 

Coming in at around $200, we can’t deny that this mattress pad is significantly more expensive than the others we tested. If you don’t truly appreciate bamboo for what it is, you probably won’t find this worth the investment. But for its temperature regulation, softness, and lightness, it is a good quality bamboo fabric.

Material: Bamboo rayon | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: No

Best Cooling

Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Mattress Pad

$175 at Amazon $175 at Nordstrom View on Sijo

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

It’s important to sleep in a cool environment if you want a good quality rest, and that’s hard to do if you tend to sleep hot. This mattress pad by Sijo is filled with CLIMA fiber, which is designed to help you maintain a comfortable body temperature. It definitely delivered on its promise, which is why it won our vote for best cooling. There was no noticeable heat build-up, and that’s something we didn’t find in many other pads we tested. Aside from that, the fabric feels well-enforced and fits over the edges of the mattress nicely so there was no bunching, even after tossing and turning. It’s also very protective — the valleys of the stitched quilted top diffused liquid from the mattress and intercepted all of our spill tests. 

For full transparency, you shouldn’t expect any added softness from this one. The quilted material feels nice when you run your hands over it, but it isn’t exactly supportive. However, for its cooling and protective features, we find it to be worth the price. 

Material: Tencel, clima, nylon | Pocket Depth: 16 inches | Sizes: Full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes

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
• Breathability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

One of the main reasons you may want a mattress protector is so that you can prevent your mattress from being stained by inevitable spills and messes. We were very impressed by this one’s protective qualities; during all of our waterproof tests, it did an excellent job of intercepting any moisture. Although it didn’t cause the water to bead on the surface like you’d expect waterproof fabrics to do, it did absorb all the liquids that were spilled so that the mattress itself stayed completely dry. Even though it’s highly absorbent, it’s still incredibly thin and lightweight, which makes it easy to slide onto your bed (and toss into the washing machine as necessary). The elastic reinforcements also keep it in place on your mattress nicely, so you don’t have to worry about it coming loose when you’re tossing and turning at night. 

With all this being said, because it is so lightweight and fits more like a fitted sheet, it isn’t particularly soft and won’t give any added plushness or comfort to your mattress. But if you’re solely looking for something protective, it’s worth the investment. 

Material: Cotton | Pocket Depth: 11 or 18 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes

Best Lightweight

Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad

$244 at Slumber Cloud

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

If you’re looking for a breathable but cozy mattress pad, you’ll love this one from Slumber Cloud. What we liked most about it was how easy it was to put onto a bed. Thanks to the ample pocket depth and lightweight cotton/viscose material, you’ll be able to get it on and off to wash with no trouble. The cotton material also makes it breathable without sacrificing the coziness. It has a little bit of cushion to it and keeps you warm, which is ideal for those who sleep cold. 

One thing we didn’t love about this one, especially when considering the ~$200 price point, is that it isn’t waterproof. While most of the waterproof pads we tested allowed spills to roll over the surface, this one definitely wouldn’t repel liquid like some of the others. However, it is machine washable, so you can throw it in the washer and dryer without any trouble. Aside from this, it still feels soft and well made, so for its temperature regulation and lightweight feel we think it’s worth the purchase. 

Material: Cotton, viscose | Pocket Depth: 20 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king | Waterproof: No

Best for Guest Rooms

Leisure Town Mattress Pad

$40 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  5/5
• Breathability
  2/5
• Quality
  3.5/5

We found that this mattress pad by Leisure Town is perfect for a guest bed. The under-$75 price point makes it fairly inexpensive compared to most on the market, so you won’t have to make a major financial investment, especially considering it won’t be getting much long-term use. Unlike most of the others we tested, it comes in a dark gray color which makes it ideal for concealing stains and dirt. Although it’s on the lower end cost-wise, it has a quality feel. It not only maintains its thickness and shape after laying on it for extended periods, but the roomy pocket depth allows it to stay on the bed, even if you toss and turn. 

The main drawback with this one is that it retains quite a bit of heat. While this wouldn’t be ideal for those who sleep hot, it would work well for guests who are staying for short periods. Overall, this is a great, affordable option for a second bedroom.

Material: Cotton, down alternative | Pocket Depth: 21 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, super queen, king, California king | Waterproof: No

Best Hotel Quality

The Company Store Legends Hotel Mattress Pad

$107 at Home Depot $134 at The Company Store

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Support
  4.5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5

Doesn’t everyone wish they could design a bedroom that mimics the luxury hotel experience? You’ll get one step closer with this mattress pad from The Company Store. If you’ve ever pulled down the layers of a hotel bed, you’ll probably see a quilted surface on the mattress pad. This is typically what gives it a cushiony, cloud-like feel. This one has a 400-thread-count quilted cotton surface, and it’s stuffed with synthetic polyfill that captures that lofty, plush hotel feel that you can sink into. That volume didn’t change after laying on it for prolonged periods either, so you can tell that it’s made with high-quality materials. It also delivered on its waterproof promises — during testing, all spills rolled over the surface and were easy to wipe up. 

If you want something that is specifically designed to be warming or cooling, this won’t be the right fit as it stays fairly neutral when you lay on it. However, this would be a nice compromise for couples who have different temperature preferences. The main drawback we saw here was the price — it’s on the higher end, especially for mattress pads, so it would be more of a splurge. But if you’re looking for something more luxurious that will add substance and loft to your bed, and don’t have a strict budget to stick to, it certainly won’t do you wrong. 

Material: Cotton, synthetic polyfill, thermoplastic polyurethane inner layer | Pocket Depth: 11 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes