Serta Heated Mattress Pad Plush Top Quilted Queen

Why it's worth it

Ten heat settings per side give you smaller jumps between levels than our top pick, and the timer runs from one to 12 hours in one-hour steps. The plush quilted surface is softer, but the skirt only stretches to 17 inches.

Ten heat settings give you room to fine-tune. More steps mean smaller jumps, and smaller jumps mean you land on the level that's right instead of the one that's merely close. Good Housekeeping's testing found that granular controllers hold you within a couple of degrees of your target, while basic three-setting units swing far wider. If you've ever flipped between too cool and too warm on an old electric blanket, you know exactly what that feels like.

The timer bends to your schedule. You can set the auto shut-off anywhere from one to 12 hours, in one-hour increments. Use one hour to knock the chill off before bed. Use 10 if you want warmth carrying you through the whole night. Anything that quits after five or six hours is a nuisance for overnight use, and plenty of cheaper pads stop right there.

From our review of 6 dual-zone heated mattress pads

What we like

• +Ten heat settings give you room to fine-tune
• +The timer bends to your schedule
• +Serta publishes an actual temperature range
• +The plush quilted top earns its place

What to know

• –The skirt stops at 17 inches
• –Two zones only start at queen