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A good mattress is an investment, and a mattress pad is the cheap insurance that keeps it that way. It slips on like a fitted sheet and adds a layer between you and the bed, guarding against spills, sweat, and body oils while making things a little softer.
Some go further, regulating temperature or sealing out liquids entirely. We spent more than 40 hours sleeping on, washing, and spill-testing a dozen of them. These fourteen are the ones worth your money.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Matbeby Quilted Mattress Pad at Amazon $32
- Best Overall: Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad at Walmart $34
- Best Budget: Serta Power Clean Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad at Amazon $24
- Best Hotel Quality: The Company Store Legends Hotel Mattress Pad at The Company Store $214
- Best Cooling: Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Mattress Pad at Amazon $175
- Best Cooling Alternative: Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad at Amazon $128
- Best Waterproof: The Company Store Cotton Jersey Waterproof Mattress Pad at The Company Store $139
- Best Lightweight: Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad at Amazon
- Best Quilted: Bedsure Quilted Mattress Pad at Amazon $30
- Best for Guest Rooms: Leisure Town Mattress Pad at Amazon $43
- Great for Combination Sleepers: Bare Home Quilted Mattress Pad at Amazon $37
- Best Comfortable: Buffy Plushy Mattress Protector at Buffy $160
- Best Down Alternative: Parachute Down Alternative Mattress Pad at Parachute Home $190
- Best Heated: Sealy Heated Mattress Pad at Amazon $120
Best Overall
Matbeby Quilted Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Made the mattress feel softer
- Didn’t shift or bunch
- Comes in hard-to-find sizes
What We Don’t Like
- Pockets fit a little unevenly
Most mattress pads won’t add much real support. This one still won us over with a fluffy, silky feel, which is what earned it the top spot. If your mattress runs a touch too firm, or you just want a cozier surface without springing for a full topper, this microfiber pad is an easy upgrade. We felt the difference in softness right away.
It has some loft from the microfiber fill, but it stayed put through testing. It also comes in both standard and unusual sizes, like full XL and RV king, which are surprisingly hard to track down. Just know it isn’t waterproof. The corners looked a bit uneven once fitted, and while we couldn’t feel that while sleeping, repeated washing may loosen the elastic over time.
Specifications Material: Microfiber | Pocket Depth: 21 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, short queen, king, California king, RV king | Waterproof: No Colors: 6 | Padding Thickness: 0.63 inch
Best Overall
Better Homes & Gardens Waterproof Cotton Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Doesn’t change the fit or feel of your sheets
- Strong liquid protection
- Stays put through tossing and turning
What We Don’t Like
- Very thin, no extra padding
This one checks a lot of boxes. It’s cheap, it works, and the fit is secure. We tested pads north of $200, and the less expensive ones often matched or beat them.
This pad runs under $40 for a queen and still keeps water off the mattress. When we dripped water on it, the liquid beaded on top for about five seconds before starting to soak in, and the waterproof bottom layer kept the mattress dry underneath. It’s thin, though. So thin you can feel an acupuncture mat through it. If you don’t want added cushioning, that’s no issue. Six months of nightly use later, it hasn’t lost a step.
Specifications Material: Cotton, polyester, polyurethane | Pocket Depth: 22 inches | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full, queen, king | Waterproof: Yes | Padding Thickness: Not listed
Best Budget
Serta Power Clean Quilted Waterproof Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Waterproof and moisture-wicking
- Adds a little comfort
- Comes in several sizes
What We Don’t Like
- A bit harder to launder
- Crinkles at first
Serta’s Power Clean pad covers the waterproof, moisture-wicking basics for around $30. The stretchy gusset fits mattresses up to 18 inches deep, and the quilted top adds a little softness without touching the support underneath.
We poured water on it to test, and it absorbed fast instead of pooling in the quilting, while the waterproof backing kept the mattress dry. Early on, the backing gave off a faint crinkle whenever we got out of bed. Six months of washing softened it, and it’s quieter now. Laundering takes a little more effort because of that backing, so you may need an extra dry cycle. For the money, it’s tough to beat.
Specifications Material: Polyester | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes | Colors: White | Padding Thickness: 0.75 inch
Best Hotel Quality
The Company Store Legends Hotel Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Cloud-like feel
- Passed every waterproof test
- 400 thread count
What We Don’t Like
- Higher price
This was the closest we got to a hotel-bed feeling. Of all the waterproof pads we tested, it was one of the few that felt built for comfort first and protection second. The quilted top adds a real layer of softness, and our tester never felt the waterproof barrier underneath. It held its shape well too, staying cushioned instead of flattening out.
Spills sat on the surface long enough to wipe away before reaching the mattress. It stays fairly neutral temperature-wise, so it’s not the pick if you’re after cooling or warming. The price is the main sticking point, sitting well above most of the list.
Specifications Material: Cotton, synthetic polyfill, thermoplastic polyurethane inner layer | Pocket Depth: 11 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes | Colors: White | Padding Thickness: 1 inch
Best Cooling
Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Repelled water
- Fit the mattress perfectly
- Diffused heat
What We Don’t Like
- Adds no real support
Cool sleep matters for good rest, which is tough if you run hot by nature. This Sijo pad is filled with temperature-regulating Clima fibers and finished with a moisture-wicking blend that keeps heat from building overnight. Next to the other waterproof pads we tried, it slept noticeably cooler.
The fabric felt smooth and well made, and the pad stayed in place without bunching. It also passed our spill tests, keeping liquid off the mattress. The catch: it won’t add softness or cushioning. To make a firm mattress feel plusher, look elsewhere. But if overheating is what wakes you at night, this handles it without giving up protection.
Specifications Material: Tencel, Clima, nylon | Pocket Depth: 16 inches | Sizes: Full, queen, king | Waterproof: Yes | Colors: White | Padding Thickness: 0.75 inch
Best Cooling Alternative
Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Soft, high-end fabric
- Adds some plushness
- Easy to clean and care for
What We Don’t Like
- Premium price
- Not waterproof
Cozy Earth’s bamboo sheets are already team favorites, and this pad lives up to the name. The bamboo viscose is plush and comfortable, and it helps hot sleepers stay cool. One of our testers said it outdid every mattress pad they’d used.
It adds soft texture and cushioning to the top of the bed, and it doesn’t slide around, even with active kids in the house. It holds up to washing too, machine washable and dryer-safe, though you’ll want to mind the cycles. The price is the catch. It’s a plush upgrade, not the pick if you want something budget-friendly or just a thin waterproof layer.
Specifications Material: Viscose from bamboo | Pocket Depth: 20 inches | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: No | Padding Thickness: Not listed
Best Waterproof
The Company Store Cotton Jersey Waterproof Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Holds temperature well
- Liner stays silent
What We Don’t Like
- Jersey may pill over time
- Very thin, no extra padding
Tested in a kid’s room, this one shrugged off a bedwetting accident without letting it reach the mattress. If you want pure protection and no change to how the bed feels, that’s the pitch.
Despite the thin plastic lining, it doesn’t rustle, which is the usual giveaway with waterproof pads. It also didn’t shift our sleeping temperature. It disappears under a fitted sheet, to the point that we forgot it was on the bed. Same caveat as our top pick, though: too thin for anyone wanting cushioning. The jersey cotton may pill over time, especially under a textured sheet, but our durability tests gave us no real worry. It looked new after six months.
Specifications Material: Cotton | Pocket Depth: 11 or 18 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes | Colors: White | Padding Thickness: No padding
Best Lightweight
Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Deep pockets
- Warm and cozy
- Breathable material
What We Don’t Like
- Not waterproof
For the sleeper who starts the night cold and wakes up warm, this one splits the difference. The temperature-regulating fabric absorbs and releases heat as needed, which helps with the swings that have you throwing blankets off at 2 a.m. It also felt light when making the bed. Thanks to the deep pocket and flexible build, it was one of the easiest pads we tested to get on and off.
It adds a little cushioning without bulk, and the machine-washable design keeps upkeep simple. The main drawback is that it isn’t waterproof, so it won’t protect like much of the rest of the list. If temperature matters more to you than spills, that’s a fair trade.
Specifications Material: Cotton, viscose | Pocket Depth: 20 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king | Waterproof: No | Colors: White | Padding Thickness: 0.25 inch
Best Quilted
Bedsure Quilted Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Room for thicker mattresses or a topper
- Flexible material
- Plush and comfortable
What We Don’t Like
- Absorbed a lot of heat
A slightly-too-firm mattress is what this quilted pad fixes, at least partway, adding softness without changing the bed’s character much. It stayed in place well, and the deep-pocket design left plenty of room for thick mattresses and pillow-tops. It also felt well made for the price, which makes it a fit for guest rooms, college apartments, or anyone after a cheap comfort bump.
The quilted top adds cushioning, but we noticed heat building up during testing. It’s also not thick enough to rescue a bad mattress. If you mostly like your bed and just want a little more softness, though, it does the job without costing much.
Specifications Material: Polyester | Pocket Depth: 21 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, short queen, king, California king, RV king | Waterproof: Yes | Colors: Beige, black, grey, white | Padding Thickness: 0.8 inch
Best for Guest Rooms
Leisure Town Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Deep pockets
- Holds its shape
- Dark gray hides stains
What We Don’t Like
- Holds onto a fair bit of heat
This one surprised us. For a cheap pad, it felt softer and more substantial than expected, adding comfort while keeping the support of the mattress underneath. The cotton top was pleasant against the skin, and the deep pockets kept it secure through plenty of tossing and turning.
It also held its shape over time instead of flattening after a few nights. The one note: it slept warmer than some of the others. If you’re always kicking off the covers, that’s a downside. If you like a bed that feels cozy, especially in cooler months, the extra warmth may be a plus.
Specifications Material: Cotton, down alternative | Pocket Depth: 21 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, super queen, king, California king | Waterproof: No | Colors: Gray, white | Padding Thickness: 0.5 inch
Great for Combination Sleepers
Bare Home Quilted Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Soft and plush
- Easy to slip on
- Held its shape after washing
What We Don’t Like
- Not waterproof
This Bare Home pad feels more like a plush topper than a pad, and because it’s soft and stays in place so well, it’s a good match for combination sleepers.
The material is smooth and silky, closer to a flattened comforter in thickness. The packaging had us bracing for something thin; it wasn’t, and we fell asleep fast the first night. It goes onto a king easily and doesn’t slip, even with tossing and turning, and washing doesn’t change its shape. The one catch is that it isn’t waterproof, so it’s comfort over protection.
Specifications Material: Microfiber | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, king, California king, split head flex king | Waterproof: No | Colors: Dark Blue, black, grey, white
Best Comfortable
Buffy Plushy Mattress Protector
What We Like
- Comfort and protection in one
- Stays cool to the touch
- Built to stay in place
What We Don’t Like
- Hard to wash in smaller machines
This Plushy protector is built for a mattress that’s gone flat, adding a soft, cushioned layer without the bulk of a full topper. We like that it pairs comfort and protection, with plush filling inside and a waterproof backing underneath. The cooling cover is a nice extra, keeping the bed cooler than a lot of heavily padded protectors.
It also skips the crinkly, plastic feel that gives some protectors away. The downside is that all that cushioning adds weight, which makes laundry day a bit of a haul. If comfort is the priority, this is one of the few protectors that actually puts softness first.
Specifications Material: Polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: Yes | Colors: White | Padding Thickness: Not listed
Best Down-Alternative
Parachute Down Alternative Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Soft fill and smooth shell
- Double-stitched construction
- Doesn’t over-pad the mattress
What We Don’t Like
- Not ideal for hot sleepers
Parachute makes good pillows and bedding, so a comfortable mattress pad tracks. The microfiber fill mimics the loft and softness of down, and the double-stitched seams keep the fibers from working their way out.
It’s pricey for a down alternative, on the higher end of what we tested, but the materials make the case for it. The sateen shell is the standout, soft and cozy. It doesn’t add much plushness, but it’s comfortable regardless. One thing to flag: the inner fill can trap heat, so hot sleepers should look elsewhere.
Specifications Material: Cotton, microfiber | Pocket Depth: 18 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: No | Colors: white | Padding Thickness: thick
Best Heated
Sealy Heated Mattress Pad
What We Like
- Two separate remotes
- Soft fleece top cover
- Doesn’t shift on the mattress
What We Don’t Like
- Cords and outlets to manage
For cold sleepers who shiver the second they get into bed, the Sealy heated pad is the fix. It warms up within a minute even on the lowest setting (we liked level two) and stays put on a thick king.
It’s also good for couples who can’t agree on temperature. Two separate remotes mean one side can run hot while the other stays off entirely. There are ten heat levels and a timer up to 12 hours. It’s thick and cozy, with a fleece top, and padded enough that the wires stay nearly undetectable. The catch is the plugs, which sit at the foot of the bed, a long reach from the outlets near a headboard, so the sides of your bed may end up looking a little cluttered.
Specifications Material: Coral fleece | Pocket Depth: 17 inches | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Waterproof: No | Colors: white