Mattress pad

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

A mattress pad, topper, or underpad sits on top of a mattress to add comfort or protection. They’re made from materials like wool, cotton, memory foam, feathers, or latex and are usually about 1–4 inches thick. While a thin mattress protector only guards the bed, toppers are meant to improve comfort, adjust firmness, or add warmth or cooling. They’re useful for travel and dorms because they’re portable, and many are machine-washable.

Types you’ll see:
- Pillow-top toppers: filled with natural fibers (cotton or down) or synthetic fibers (microfiber) and have pocketed sections to stay in place; common in hotels for a plush feel.
- Memory foam (visco-elastic) toppers: respond to pressure and temperature, offering support and potential better spinal alignment; often used to relieve pressure in medical settings.
- Latex toppers: two main forms—Dunlop (heavier, good for support) and Talalay (lighter, fluffier, comfort layer).
- Eggshell toppers: claimed to extend the life of older beds.

Electric mattress pads have built-in heating elements and are called electric blankets in the UK and Commonwealth countries.