While they might seem like the same thing, mattress protectors and pads are quite different. Here’s a head to head of mattress protectors versus mattress pads, with everything you need to know to tell the two apart and figure out which is best for your needs.
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Mattress pads – what are they and when do you need one?
A mattress pad usually comprises a one to two inch quilted, pillowy material that sits on top of your mattress like a fitted sheet. Some mattress pads don’t have fabric around the sides and instead stay in place thanks to corner elastics or ties that slip over the corners of the mattress.
Mattress pads can offer some protection to the mattress below but are primarily meant to make a mattress feel more plush and soft. These pads don’t have quite as much of an effect on how a mattress feels as a mattress topper would, but they’re usually more affordable, portable, and washable.
Some mattress pads have a waterproof layer but this doesn’t usually extend around the sides of the mattress.
In summary, a mattress pad:
- Is usually thicker than a protector, measuring up to 1.5 inches or thereabouts
- Alters the feel of the sleep surface
- Provides pressure relief and extra cushioning and height
- Can help lessen mattress sagging (in some cases)
- Supports body temperature regulation
- Helps wick away sweat for a more comfortable sleep
- Provides hypoallergenic protection (reducing exposure to dust mites and their feces).
Mattress protectors – what are they and when do you need one?
Mattress protectors are usually thinner than a mattress pad and have a sandwich construction with a waterproof membrane between two breathable layers of softer fabric such as cotton.
As with mattress pads, mattress protectors come in different styles that fit your mattress in different ways. Some sit right on top of your mattress, others have corner ties or elastics, some are a fitted sheets, and some offer full mattress encasement on all six sides.
What a mattress protector can and can’t do
However they fit, mattress protectors are meant to shield the top of your mattress (at least) from liquid spills, stains, dirt, and some bugs and bacteria.
Because a mattress protector is quite thin, it usually won’t make your mattress feel much different in terms of firmness. You may, however, notice that the mattress protector affects breathability, can make your mattress feel sweaty, and can be noisy, depending on how it is put together.
Most mattress protectors are lightweight and machine washable. Most are waterproof, but some are only intended to guard against bed bugs and dust mites, not against liquids.
In summary, mattress protectors:
- Are usually thinner than a mattress pad
- Can provide a waterproof or water-resistant barrier
- Can protect your mattress from bed bugs, dust mites, and bacteria Prevents critter and bacterial contact
- Can help wick away sweat
- Can support thermoregulation.
Mattress pad vs. mattress protector: Which one do you need?
Whether you focus your research on finding a mattress protector or a mattress pad will depend on:
- How you live
- How you sleep (and who with)
- The age and feel of your mattress
- Where you live
- If you have allergies
- Many other factors!
Here’s a side by side comparison of mattress protectors and mattress pads, to help guide your purchasing process.
| A mattress pad is best for: | A mattress protector is best for |
|---|---|
| Anyone looking for an affordable way to make an overly firm mattress feel softer | Protecting your new mattress against spills, stains, dust mites, and more without voiding the warranty |
| Providing pressure relief as you get older or while injured and convalescing | Not altering the feel of a mattress |
| Folks who don’t want to wash the mattress pad too frequently | Extending your mattress’s lifespan |
| Taking with you when traveling, to make every bed more comfortable | Sweaty sexy times |
| Homes where bed bug protection isn’t necessary | Anyone who eats or drinks tea, wine, coffee, etc., in bed |
| Putting some distance between your skin and a memory foam or synthetic mattress | Co-sleeping with young children |
| Making a sweaty sleep surface more breathable, moisture-wicking, and thermoregulating | Children’s beds or guest beds |
The list above isn’t exhaustive, and the simple fact is that both a mattress pad and a mattress protector are great additions for most bedrooms.
Final thoughts on mattress protectors vs. mattress pads
Faced with a choice between the two, a mattress protector is always going to win against a mattress pad. After all, every mattress can benefit from being protected against spills, sweat, and other bodily fluids.
Mattress pads are fantastic products, though, so why are they lower on my list of priorities? Because the ideal situation is for everyone to have a mattress that is perfectly comfortable and adjustable all by itself.
This is why I love layered mattresses made by companies with a ‘comfort exchange program’, i.e., where you can change a layer or two of your mattress to alter its overall feel should your sleep needs change with age or circumstance (such as in pregnancy, illness, injury, or with a different sleep partner).
All that said, both pads and protectors have a place and purpose. Together, these two items help to:
- Optimize sleep
- Improve hygiene
- Extend your mattress’s useful life.
Mattress pads and protectors are also very useful when traveling. Take both with you to improve your chances of a comfortable sleep and to reduce worry over accidentally ruining someone else’s mattress. Just remember to wash and dry your mattress protector and pad to avoid bringing any unpleasant elements home with you to your own bed. (See mattress protector and pad care and maintenance.)