Copper Mattress Pads: Benefits & Disadvantages – Should You Buy a Copper Mattress Pad?

In the 1865 cholera outbreak in France, 3.7 out of 1000 infected people died. The French physician Victor Burq found out that the percentage for copper smelter workers was only 0.45 per 1000 infected individuals. Being surrounded and covered by copper particles had kept those copper workers relatively safe against infection. Surprisingly, metals like copper and silver have been used to kill bacteria for thousands of years – even before anyone knew anything about microbiology. For example, one of the oldest books in the world, an Egyptian medical text called the Edwin Smith Papyrus, describes the use of copper for preventing infections in chest wounds. So, you might wonder, what are some benefits and disadvantages of copper mattress pads…

The benefits of copper mattress pads are that they are antimicrobial, dissipate body head, and don’t retain body odors. However, the disadvantages of copper mattress pads are their high price, heavy weight, and lack of waterproofing. 

The best copper topper we recommend

Copper, when introduced into a mattress pad, can create a natural fungus resistant and antibacterial sleeping environment. Copper can kill bacteria on the mattress pad surface, and within the fabric itself, which can be highly beneficial for the person who is sensitive or allergic to biochemical antibacterial materials used by some manufacturers in the mattress industry.

Let’s not forget that sleeping beds and kitchen utensils have been (and still are in limited instances) made of copper.

Furthermore, copper can help to reduce unfavorable odor produced by proliferating microorganisms. Copper also tends to dissipate heat better and provide you a cleaner  and cooler night’s sleep.

And before we go on, in this link you will find an abstract from a research conducted on the biocidal properties of copper oxide in textiles, including mattress sheets and covers.

In general, we know that copper has two vital properties:

• Copper is an excellent heat conductor.
• It is an antibacterial.

In this article, we will focus on the effect of these two main features of copper; heat conduction and the antimicrobial strength, on human sleep experience. If you’re interested in the benefits of magnetic mattress pads, you may also enjoy our other article.

What is a Mattress Pad?

A normal mattress pad that’s 3” thick and can be fitted to a mattress up to 18 inches deep. Image from: Bedsure.

A mattress pad is an additional thin layer that can be placed over your mattress to add more comfort, protect it from body oils, and extend the life of your mattress. 

Let’s take a look at the spring coil mattress. It is probably the most common type of mattress. Look at its surface. It is rather distorted and has bumps and troughs. Any mattress pad will help level some of the lumps and bumps out. 

Mattresses themselves are made with a synthetic fabric which is a rough aggregate. The fabric with which mattresses are made is very durable, but it is coarse and can be felt through your fitted sheet. In addition to that, accidents will happen in bed, whether it be a spilled drink or food or something entirely different, especially with young children. Mattresses are quite expensive and they’re very difficult to clean. No one wants to buy a new one every time something spills on their mattress. 

So, a mattress pad is a solution that is going to offer that additional layer of protection. Apart from accidents, body oil will also find its way through that fitted sheet. Even if you wash your sheets every week, you produce body oil that will leak through the fitted sheet and it will soil your mattress over time. Again, a mattress pad is going to provide that layer of protection. 

Copper Mattress Pad Benefits and Disadvantages

As we said above, it is a good idea to lay a mattress pad between you and your mattress. We have used copper for a long time in our garments for its beneficial properties, and it makes sense if we add it to our sleeping surface. A copper mattress pad can actually be fitted over any kind of sofa or bed.

The benefits of a copper mattress pad include that it will eliminate mites, fungi, bacteria, and other microbes, sleep cooler, and with its high tensile strength it can consequently help to prolong wear and tear time. However, they tend to be more expensive, heavier, and not waterproof. 

The benefits of a copper mattress pad include:

• It will eliminate mites, fungi, bacteria, and other microbes.
• It will make you sleep cooler, as copper is an efficient heat exchanger.
• It has higher tensile strength than the fabric and it would consequently help to prolong wear and tear time.

Conversely, copper mattress pad disadvantages include:

• Unless stated by the manufacturer, a mattress pad is not a waterproof layer (it is not a mattress protector), so this isn’t a unique disadvantage of a copper mattress pad.
• Copper mattress pad can be significantly higher in price than its gel infused or microfiber counterparts.
• Slightly heavier, as the industry standard for the copper addition is 12 oz. per sqr yard, and it could be higher.

Related articles:

• Do you need a mattress protector?
• How do you cut a memory foam mattress pad, mattress topper, or mattress?

 Is A Copper Mattress Pad Safe?

A copper mattress pad is just like any other mattress pad, with copper particles either infused in gel foam, or copper microfibers interwoven within the pad’s microfibers, closer to the upper surface.

Copper mattress pads are safe and there have not been any copper poisoning cases reported due to sleeping on a copper infused mattress pad.

In fact, the biocidal effect of copper surfaces is well-documented in many studies and institutes; such as The American Society for Microbiology.

So far, there are no complaints on the presence of copper in low concentrations in bedding, reports about injuries of any kind, or objections from medical institutions about copper based mattresses or mattress pads. You can find more information here at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Related articles:

• Wondering about how to use a magnetic mattress pad instead of a copper mattress pad?
• How long do magnetic mattress pads last?

Recommended Mattress Pads from Amazon

Below is a table of the 3 highly rated copper mattress pads from Amazon.

Product name and link to Amazon	What are the benefits of this mattress pad	Approximate price
eLuxurySupply Copper Infused Mattress Pad	The pad is overfilled with cool high-density down alternative fiberfill that has the feel of goose & duck down without the side effects.	$90
ViscoSoft Copper Infused Mattress Pad	Feels thicker. Test the product for 60 days before you buy it.	$75
Sleep Philosophy Copper Infused Mattress Pad	Excellent quality for an affordable price.	$35

eLuxurySupply Copper Infused Mattress Pad

This pad is packed with cool high-density RevoLoft, an up-to-date down substitute fiberfill that gives the original feel of goose & duck down minus the feather allergies or poking.

Laboratory tested and certified safe according to Consumer Product Safety Commission 16 CFR Part 1632 without the use of flame retardant chemicals.

ViscoSoft Copper Infused Cooling Mattress Pad

This copper-infused cooling mattress pad feels thicker than others, keeps you cool while  you sleep, and helps mitigate pain. The performance fabric and copper yarns provide a naturally cool mattress topper experience.

Sleep Philosophy Copper Infused Anti Bacterial Mattress Pad

Elevate comfort and cleanliness with Mattress Pad. With interwoven copper fibers to safeguard you against bacteria and help diminish odor, this mattress pad provides an additional layer of comfort and protection. The side to side square-shaped quilting blocks the fill from migration.

Related article:

• How do you fix a mattress pad that makes you sweat or sleep hot?
• Can you put a mattress pad on a foam mattress?

Should you Buy a Mattress Pad or a Mattress Topper?

A mattress pad made of cotton. Mattress pads are much thinner than mattress toppers. They are designed more for protection than for increasing comfort. Image from CO-Z Mattress Pad Cover.

4 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper. Mattress toppers are thick enough to change the feel of your bed. Image from: Novilla.

Buy a mattress pad if you are primarily interested in protecting your mattress and adding a thin padding. Buy a mattress topper if you want to change the feel of your mattress. 

Mattress pads can tweak the feel of your bed if your mattress is uncomfortable however they don’t have as much of an impact as mattress toppers. Typically, mattress pads are thin enough that they can be washed in the washing machine. Along with a mattress protector, a mattress pad can also provide an efficient barrier to block spilled liquids or stains (including body fluids) from directly getting down into your mattress.

Mattress toppers, on the other hand, are thicker than mattress pads. They are designed to completely alter the feel of your bed. Want to make your bed softer or firmer? You need a mattress topper. Want to smoothen out the bumps on your mattress? You need a mattress pad. Mattress toppers are also great for raising the height of your mattress.

We’ve done a much deeper discussion about mattress toppers vs. mattress pads in our article do you need a mattress topper? We’ve also discussed the difference between mattress pads vs. mattress covers / protectors!

Below we’ve provided other similar situations and our recommendations. 

Situation	Should you buy mattress pad or mattress topper	Why?
To give your mattress a softer feeling	Mattress Topper	Will offer a softer feeling, protects against stains, extends the mattress lifecycle.
To even out bumpiness on top of your mattress	Mattress Pad	Thin and cheap. A mattress pad will flatten the top of your mattress without changing its feel much.
You need to protect your mattress from stains or damage	Mattress Pad with a Mattress Protector	Together the pad and protector will extend the mattress lifecycle, and provide great isolation from liquids and stains.
Your mattress needs extra support and cushioning	Mattress topper	It will give you the same feeling as a new mattress, for a relatively low price.
Your mattress feels too firm or soft	Mattress topper	It will replace the top of your mattress because its so thick.  You can tailor the mattress topper to the right firmness.  In our article we discuss how to choose a mattress topper size and thickness.

A word of warning:

For the sake of science, please stay away from the quacks, charlatans, and pseudo-healers, as some claim that sleeping over copper has a positive effect(s) on health that makes you look younger, heals arthritis, acts as an anti-inflammatory, enhances your cardiovascular system, and shields you against radiation emanating from Earth! 

None of the above suggestions have been medically or scientifically proven. 

In a nutshell

Copper is an excellent conductor. Accordingly, it can quickly absorb heat and lose it. Whether infused into a memory foam mattress pad, or intertwined within a microfiber one, copper acts like a little network of pipelines that dissipate the extra heat away from you. This keeps you from heavy sweating at night.

Copper provides a natural antibacterial surface. Essentially, it constantly resists any potentially harmful microorganisms that may slip into your sleeping area. Thus, if you were ill, forgot to shower, or happened to be over sweating, your copper mattress pad would be there to disable the ugly stuff to maintain your mattress hygiene and keep you smelling fresh while you sleep and dream.

I hope you enjoyed this short tour on the benefits of copper mattress pads. If you’re curious about how to protect your new copper mattress topper or mattress pad, you might want to read our article on how to protect a mattress topper or mattress pad.

Other related articles:

• Mattress fire retardants, a complete guide