Mattress pad vs mattress protector, what is the difference?

Apprehensive about your current mattress going out of shape, or do you feel uncomfortable? You are rightfully anxious if you have spent enough money on your mattress. 

You can go for some options to make your mattress feel more relaxed and comfortable again. You can either go for a mattress protector or a mattress pad. They both are pretty good choices to tackle the issue.

This guide will compare mattress pads with mattress protectors and see what each has to offer. It will help you decide which one to go for, so continue reading till the end. 

What’s a Mattress Pad?

Traditionally, a mattress pad is a barrier between your mattress cover and your body. These pads add a layer of comfort around 1 inch in thickness. 

You can attach these pads to your mattress with the help of a fitted sheet. Some even come with a strap design making it much simpler to join your pad with the mattress underneath. 

You might have heard about mattress troopers, upgraded and thicker versions of these mattress pads that sit right on top of a mattress. 

The primary goal these mattress pads look to achieve is to provide more comfort and adjust the firmness of your sleeping surface (also check the top rated mattresses with great comfort). 

Who Should Use a Mattress Pad?

Mattress pads are ideal if you want to modify your mattress’s overall comfort level. You can add a layer of plushness if you want to go for a softer mattress pad in case your mattress is too firm for you. 

Similarly, you can go for a firmer mattress pad if you think that your mattress is a bit too soft under you. Some people even turn to mattress pads to keep their mattresses safe from spills or other accidents. Apart from that, you can use these mattress pads to make your sleep surface more responsive. 

Pros & Cons of a Mattress Pad

Pros

• Mattress pads can provide additional comfort and support for medical or personal reasons. 
• They make your old mattresses more comfortable if you don’t want to replace your mattress. 
• Mattress pads are not only good for added comfort and support, but they are great for protecting your mattress from any spills or accidents. 
• They keep any bacteria or allergens off the mattress surface. 

Cons

• Mattress pads are relatively expensive, especially mattress toppers (check the best selling mattress toppers with great comfort). 
• Thinner mattress toppers don’t provide any noticeable comfort or support.
• Cleanliness and maintenance are not that easy. 

What’s a Mattress Protector?

A mattress protector, on the other hand, is just designed to keep your mattress clean. Usually, they are made of polyester or cotton and are around one inch or less thick. You will notice that these mattress protectors are much thinner than mattress pads.

These mattress protectors are typically secured using elastic bands or fitted sheets. Some of them can zip over your mattress. These are usually known as full-encasement mattress protectors. 

Most of these mattress protectors come with waterproofing features. So, they can wick moisture and sweat from your mattress. These mattress protectors keep allergens, dust mites, and other bacteria off your mattress.

Who Should Use a Mattress Protector?

If you have kids or pets in your house, these mattress protectors will come in handy. These mattress protectors are designed to keep your new mattress clean and safe.

The primary goal is to keep any dust mites, allergens, or bacteria away from your mattress. These mattress protectors are pretty easy to clean and maintain too. 

They are certainly not designed to make your old mattress feel more comfortable according to your sleep preferences. These protectors are just about keeping your mattress clean and new for a long time. 

So, if you have bought a new mattress (check the top rated mattresses), you should go for a mattress protector to keep it clean and fresh for a long time. It will allow you to extend its lifespan too.

Pros & Cons of a Mattress Protector

Pros

• Mattress protectors work as contaminant barriers and protect your new mattress from spills, bacteria, and dust mites. 
• Most mattress protectors are waterproof, and almost all are water resistant, so they work well against spills or liquids. 
• Idea choice for a home with kids or pets. 
• They wick away moisture from your mattresses. 
• You can use them on top of a mattress pad to keep it in place on your mattress. 
• Most of them are hypoallergenic and won’t trigger any allergies. 
• They are much easier to clean and maintain. 

Cons

• They don’t help much if you want to modify your mattress’s cushioning and support. 
• Based on the materials, a mattress protector might sleep hot (also check the top rated cooling mattresses for hot sleeper). 
• Waterproof mattress protectors might cause crackling noise as you move on them. 
• You have to wash them frequently, and this can degrade them faster. 

What’s the Difference Between Mattress Pad & Mattress Protector?

You can make the right buying decision if you understand the key differences between mattress pads and mattress toppers. Here are some important factors you must remember when deciding between mattress pads and mattress protectors. 

	Mattress pads	Mattress protectors
Materials	Wool, cotton, latex, memory foam	Synthetic materials or cotton.
Purpose	Providing support and cushioning along with mattress protection.	Providing mattress protection only.
Pricing	More expensive	Less expensive
Size	Sizes match the mattress	Larger than a mattress to cover it entirely
Protection	Pretty good	Excellent
Breathability	High	Low
Cleaning and maintenance	Relatively difficult	Easy

Materials – Mattress Pad is the Winner

Mattress pads are made of materials that provide a cushion for a supportive feel based on your chosen firmness level. They are made of wool, latex, cotton, or memory foam. 

On the other hand, mattress protectors are primarily made of synthetic materials to offer better waterproof or water resistivity. 

Purpose – Mattress Pad is the Top Priority

Mattress pads are designed to work with old or new mattresses. You can use them to make your sleep surface more comfortable and aligned to your specific sleep requirements.

For example, you can go for a firmer mattress pad if your older mattress has started to sag (also check the best selling toppers for sagging mattress), or you can consider going for a softer mattress if you think your new mattress is too firm. 

On the other hand, the primary objective of a mattress protector is to protect your new mattress from allergens, dust mites, and spills. They are much easier to clean and make your mattress last longer. 

Pricing – Mattress Protectors are Our Budget Pick

Mattress pads are more expensive compared to mattress protectors. Another significant contributing factor is the materials used to construct these pads and protectors. 

A mattress pad provides support and comfort to your sleep surface and keeps your mattress cleaner for longer. Whereas a mattress protector is only designed to make your mattress stay cleaner and doesn’t offer much comfort and support.

Size – Here’s a Tie

You need to put your mattress pads right on top of your mattress. So, they have the same size as your mattress. On the other hand, Mattress protectors have larger sizes than your mattress as they come with fitted sheets, or you can just lay them on your mattress. 

Protection – Mattress Protector is the Winner

Regarding protection, both mattress pads and mattress protectors are pretty compelling. Most mattress pads don’t come with waterproof or water resistivity features. These features are available in most mattress protectors and are more effective in keeping your mattress safe from spills, bacteria, or even dust mites. 

Breathability – Mattress Pads have high Breathability 

Most mattress protectors have waterproofing features, which means they are not very breathable. They are mostly made of synthetic materials that don’t allow much airflow. This is not the case with mattress pads because they are made of different materials, and most of them are highly breathable. 

Cleaning and maintenance – Mattress Protector is Easy to Clean

Mattress pads are slightly more difficult to clean and maintain than mattress protectors. This is because these mattress protectors are just like sheets made of synthetic materials or cotton in some cases. That is why you can easily wash a mattress protector to keep it effective, but not the mattress pads.

Conclusion:

Mattress pads and mattress protectors are pretty handy. If you want to add more cushioning or support to your sleep surface and keep your mattress clean, go for a mattress pad. 

However, if you have kids or pets in your home and want to keep your mattress safe from spills or fluids, then you need to choose a mattress protector with waterproofing. You can choose both of them and enjoy the best of both worlds.