The Best Heated Mattress Pads We've Ever Tested

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Make your bed even cozier with these tested picks.

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Real Simple / Henry Wortock

When winter finally arrives, there’s no better feeling than getting warm and cozy in bed, and there’s no better way to do that than with a heated mattress pad. With a heated mattress pad, the days of cranking up the thermostat or piling on heavy blankets are over—you’ll get instant warmth directly on your body, which is a necessity for those who often wake up cold in the middle of the night.

That’s why we tested 22 heated mattress pads and evaluated them on how they performed, what you get for the price, and how they hold up to narrow the options down to the ones you’ll find on this list. Before you know it, this little luxury will be a staple in your winter bedtime routine.

In our testing, the Reaks Heated Mattress Pad stood out for its comfort and heating abilities. Even though this pick is not very lofty or squishy, we could barely feel the wires with our hands. We noticed that the mattress pad felt pleasant and warm on the lowest setting and definitely put out a good amount of heat on the highest setting. The heat was also evenly distributed throughout the pad.

For queen, king, and California king sizes, each side of the mattress pad has a separate controller that we found easy to use. There’s a simple on/off button and another button that toggles between the 10 heat settings and timer function, which can be set from one to 12 hours.

This mattress pad effectively prevented most of the spill from leaking onto the mattress during our tests. (However, we were perplexed by the manufacturer’s washing instructions, which specify that you can wash the pad for only two minutes.) We were impressed by its durability, though, as it maintained the same soft texture even with frequent washing. After six months of use, the mattress pad had no wear and tear, and the controllers were still performing perfectly.

Overall, we were impressed with this mattress pad’s performance, especially considering the price. It's comfortable, provides even heat, and outperformed many other mattress pads in the same price category and even some more expensive models during our testing.

We found the Perfect Fit SoftHeat Electric Mattress Pad's cover’s fine terry cloth texture to be very cozy—we didn’t feel any of the wires when we were putting the mattress pad on the bed or laying on the mattress, which is what makes this pick stand out from the rest. For the price (it ranges between $70 and $100 on Amazon), it also is a great value for its quality.

This mattress pad was about 75°F on its lowest temperature setting and 78°F on its highest setting, so it left a bit to be desired in terms of the temperature range. We were satisfied with how warm it was on the highest mode, but we wished the lowest setting was a bit cooler.

That said, we like the dual controllers and the 10 settings it has, so it would work well for couples who share a bed and prefer different temperature settings. There's also an auto shut-off feature if you don't want to keep it on throughout the night.

It performed well in terms of durability, with no signs of damage or degraded heating quality after washing—plus, it stayed firmly in place throughout our testing. Even after six months of use, the mattress pad still looked and performed as if it was new.

During our spill test, simply washing this mattress pad removed the stain. Even so, we recommend avoiding scrubbing when spot-treating any messes, as it could ruin the texture of the mattress pad.

Warmth is a key consideration when selecting a heated mattress pad, but if the material or wiring is uncomfortable, it can undermine the overall quality of your pad. For those primarily concerned with comfort, this is your best bet.

We feel the comfort and heating on high make this dual-control mattress pad a worthwhile purchase. It was also easy to set up and had even heat distribution, which was our favorite thing about it overall. One thing to note, however: During testing, we found that the wires were noticeable, so if you’re sensitive to any small bumps while sleeping, you should opt for another heated mattress pad on our list.

In addition to its 12 heat selections, The Sunbeam Restful Quilted Heated Mattress Pad also has timer controls and an auto shut-off function, all of which stood out to us. We really appreciated the easy-to-use controls, making it ultra-accessible for anyone to use.

During the spill test, this pick also repelled the liquid and prevented it from reaching the mattress, making it ideal for those prone to messes or who have small children. Plus, this mattress pad can be machine-washed and dried, so you can throw it in the wash like a regular load of laundry.

Even though there were no physical signs of damage post-wash, the highest temperature was noticeably lower than the initial temperature, with a drop of about four degrees. After six months of use, the mattress pad maintained the same heating performance as it had when it was first opened, though it took slightly longer to heat up at times.

Sleep preferences can fluctuate with the weather, so finding a heated mattress pad with plenty of settings can keep you comfortable and cozy as the temperature changes. This mattress pad does just the trick.

In addition to its deep-pocket design, this heated mattress pad has virtually undetectable wires and a soft surface that earned stellar scores during our testing.

This mattress pad really stood out for its comfort, and we appreciated its fluffy fleece texture. We also thought that the controls and functionality of the pad were straightforward, comprehensive, and easy to operate from a lying position.

With a deep 17-inch pocket, the Woolrich Sherpa Heated Mattress Pad will fit snugly on any bed, ensuring that it stays in place whether you have a thick mattress or tend to toss and turn throughout the night. It also has a 10-hour auto shut off feature, and two controllers for two separate temperature zones for queen and king sized pads. After a number of minutes, the controllers were no longer illuminated, which may be good for those who are sensitive to light when trying to fall asleep.

The main downfall of this pad, though, is that the heat settings are limited (five), and the difference between lowest and highest was barely perceptible (about four degrees).

Its heating capabilities remained consistent throughout the six-month testing period, though we did notice that the material had pilled slightly.

With its deep-pocket design and cozy, Sherpa material, this mattress pad excels in terms of comfort and staying secure on thick mattresses.

Our favorite heated mattress pad is the Reaks Heated Mattress Pad for its easy-to-use dual controls, which reached a range of cozy temperatures in our testing. We also like its comfortable feel and reasonable price point.

For an even less expensive option, we recommend the Perfect Fit SoftHeat Smart Heated Mattress Pad. It's a no-frills option that's extremely comfortable since we didn’t feel any of the wires while laying on the mattress.

We used an infrared thermometer to test the heating function and temperature output, starting with a reading of the mattress pad before turning it on. Since heated mattress pads come in different designs, we tailored our tests for standard models, single and dual controllers, and pre-heat functions.

For each type, we took the temperature in three areas and averaged the results. For pads with a pre-heat function, we measured the temperature after 10 minutes of pre-heating.

With single controllers, we set the heat to the highest setting and checked if it matched the manufacturer’s range. For dual controls, we set one side to the lowest and the other to the highest, recording temperatures separately to see if there was a noticeable difference between the two sides. We also checked for any gaps between heating zones.

After temperature testing, we spent five minutes lying on the bed to evaluate the pad's texture, how detectable the heating components were, and whether they felt too hot or comfortably warm. We also assessed the controller’s ease of use, brightness, and indicators.

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

To test for protection against spills, we poured 1/4 cup of apple juice on the pad, let it sit for five minutes, and checked if the mattress was protected. If machine-washable, we followed the manufacturer's laundering instructions and noted if multiple drying cycles were needed. For spot-clean-only pads, we blotted the stain and treated it with a Tide pen.

After laundering, we re-fitted the pad and checked for shrinkage, damage, or texture changes, and retested the heating function to ensure it reached the same temperature as before washing. Lastly, we tested them at home for six months to see how well they held up over time.

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

A UL or ETL certification is the best way to ensure that a heated mattress pad has safe, non-hazardous components. Options that have earned either certification were tested in Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) and found safe, so you can purchase them with more ease of mind. All of the heated mattress pads on our list have been tested according to the UL or ETL standards.

Real Simple / Henry Wortock

Heated mattress pads are generally fine to leave on all night, as long as you leave them at a low temperature and don't intend to sleep longer than 10-12 hours. If used for longer than 12 hours, you may run the risk of overheating or damaging your sheets.

Luckily, all of our picks have auto-shut off features, so you won't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. Some even have more advanced timer capabilities, allowing you to program exactly how long you want the heat on. Our overall best and most settings picks, the Reaks Heated Mattress Pad and Sunbeam Restful Quilted Water Resistant Heated Mattress Pad, actually have an adjustable controller with one- to 12-hour auto shut off functions.

This article was written by Quinn Gawronski, associate commerce editor for Real Simple, who has three years of experience writing and editing product reviews and roundups, and updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To compile this list, we tested 22 heated mattress pads in our lab and evaluated them on effectiveness, comfort, durability, and value. For expert tips, we consulted Brianne Deerwester, communications coordinator for the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).