Sleep patches are stickers that contain melatonin and can be applied right to your skin before bedtime. They often contain additional ingredients like valerian root and passion fruit extract for added sleep benefits that some melatonin supplements lack. But how do they measure up to cheaper melatonin tablets? I tested seven types of patches from three popular patch brands: The Patch Brand, Deeps and The Good Patch. As someone who often turns to melatonin supplements, here's how my experiences with patches differed. 

How do sleep patches work?

Sleep patches claim to work faster than melatonin supplements since they bypass the gastric system and absorb directly into the bloodstream. Applying a melatonin patch directly to your skin allows for slow release during the night. Patches claim to help you stay asleep longer compared to tablets. However, sleep patches are new to the market and medical studies on this are few and far between. 

Another benefit of sleep patches is the additional ingredients. Patches oftentimes contain natural ingredients that are scientifically linked to sleep, calm and reduced anxiety such as:

• Valerian root
• Passionfruit
• Magnesium
• Bacopa monnieri
• Hops
• Ashwagandha
• Black peppercorn extract
• Lavender
• L-Theanine
• Lemon balm
• Tart cherry extract

As with any supplement, make sure to speak with your doctor before trying melatonin for sleep issues. There might be an underlying condition that needs attention. 

The Patch Brand 

The Patch Brand is the most well-known of the brands I tested. Including sleep, it offers eight different vitamin patches for various wellness needs such as increased energy, calm or recovery.  

One box of patches costs $12, and it includes 15 patches. Plus, you can save 20% if you subscribe. Since each patch costs around $.80, this is by far the cheapest melatonin patch I tried. It's also one of the most affordable on the market. 

Sleep Patch 

This 1.5-inch square patch is thin and clear. Each sticker-like patch contains 3 mg of melatonin, 2.5 mg of bacopa monnieri extract, 4.5 mg of valerian root extract, 3.5 mg of passionfruit extract, 1 mg of vitamin B2, 750 mcg of magnesium citrate, 500 mcg of hops and 15 mcg of vitamin D. It can be worn up to 8 hours. 

The Sleep Patch from The Patch Brand was the first product I tested, but it remained my top pick by the end of the two weeks. Each patch has a moon symbol that seems to dissolve into your skin upon application. While it does feel like a sticker, it wasn't distracting during the night. I put one underneath the band of my watch, and I hardly felt it. The patch also didn't leave any sticky residue when I removed it in the morning. Plus, I think the amount of melatonin it contains is perfect -- it's not too much (anything over 5 mg may be too high for some sleepers), and it's not too little. I fell asleep quickly each time I tried a Sleep Patch.  

Deeps Patches

Deeps is unique in that it makes patches solely for sleep. Each product is drug-free, cruelty-free, vegan and has slow-release technology. Its products are lab-tested for purity and made in the US. The patches are meant to be worn on the underside of your wrist, and you should alternate each wrist every night.   

One tin of sleep patches will cost you anywhere from $25 to $29, depending on the product you choose. This is about $5 to a little under $6 per patch. It's the most expensive patch I tried.  

Nightly Sleep 

The Nightly Sleep patch is the most popular and your basic sleep patch. It contains 4 mg of melatonin, 8 mg of ashwagandha, 3 mg of valerian root, 5 mg of lavender, 1mg of L-theanine, 1 mg of passionflower, 1 mg of black peppercorn extract and 0.5 mg of lemon balm. You can wear the patch for up to 12 hours. 

Stay Asleep 

The Stay Asleep patch has a slightly higher amount of melatonin. Each patch contains 5 mg of melatonin, 4 mg of ashwagandha, 4.5 mg of magnesium, 3 mg of valerian root, 5 mg of lavender, 1 mg of L-theanine, 1 mg of passionflower and 1 mg of black peppercorn extract. You can wear the patch for up to 12 hours. 

Super Sleep

The Super Sleep patch has the highest amount of melatonin. Each patch contains 6 mg of melatonin, 4.5 mg of ashwagandha, 5 mg of valerian root, 6 mg of lavender, 1 mg of L-theanine, 1 mg of passionflower and 1 mg of black peppercorn extract. You can wear the patch for up to 12 hours.  

Although Deeps has the biggest sleep patches, they were by far the most comfortable. I loved that each patch is made with what feels like sports tape. It moves with your skin and doesn't leave any residue when you peel it off. The Nightly Sleep patch is my favorite and is a close second for the best overall (just under The Patch Brand). It has 4 mg of melatonin, which was enough to make me sleepy didn't overdo it. I also love that it contains valerian root, lavender, passionflower and lemon balm, which, funnily enough, are all ingredients in the sleepytime tea I drink each night. The only reason this is my second favorite is the higher price. 

I also enjoyed the Stay Asleep and Super Sleep patches. The amount of melatonin in the Stay Asleep patch is the same amount I take in tablet form, and with the added ingredients, I get extra benefits. I didn't have any issues sleeping when I tested both. However, the Super Sleep patch has a little higher dose than the 5 mg I'm used to. I would urge someone to try a lower dose before going to 6 mg.  

The Good Patch 

Similarly to The Patch Brand, The Good Patch has a large selection of patches for wellness needs other than sleep. This includes patches for skincare, energy and focus. The Good Patch third-party tests their ingredients and the patches are vegan, paraben free and latex free. 

One pouch costs anywhere from $12 to $16 and contains 4 patches. You can find this brand at Target. 

Slumber 

The Slumber patch is the newest in The Good Patch lineup and is melatonin-free. One patch contains L-theanine, magnesium and tart cherry extract. The website and the pouch don't state how much of each ingredient it may contain. It may be worn for up to 12 hours.

Nite Nite 

The Nite Nite patch is unique in that it's made with hemp. One patch contains 15 mg of hemp, 3 mg of melatonin and black pepper extract. The website and the pouch don't state how much black pepper extract it may contain. The patch may be worn for up to 12 hours.

Dream

The Dream patch has the highest amount of melatonin of any product I've ever tested. One patch contains 10 mg of melatonin. It also contains hops, valerian root and black pepper extract; however, the website and the pouch don't state how much of each ingredient it may contain. The patch may be worn for up to 12 hours. 

I wouldn't quite recommend the sleep patches from The Good Patch. While I did like that the brand had a melatonin-free option, Slumber, I drank sleepytime tea the night after I tried it and felt similar effects (not to mention that sleepytime tea is cheaper). Additionally, the brand doesn't tell the consumer how much of the added ingredients are in each patch. I also wouldn't recommend the Dream patch. It contains 10 mg of melatonin, which is the maximum amount that experts recommend. I would caution anyone who isn't used to melatonin supplements from this product. Try something with a smaller amount first. On top of that, my other biggest gripe with the brand is that it left adhesive marks on my wrists after removal. It took a day to come off, even after a shower. 

Are sleep patches really worth it?

If you have a hard time winding down for bed and are interested in supplements, melatonin is a good place to start. I have been taking melatonin supplements for nights when I toss and turn for over seven years now, and I personally have had little to no issues with it. However, melatonin supplements can make you feel groggy the next day, as they sometimes make me. While some sleep patches claim that they are the exception, I haven't experienced this. During my testing with the sleep patches, I found that I felt the same way in the morning that I do when I take melatonin tablets: a little tired and muddled. If you are looking for melatonin that won't make you a little foggy in the morning, sleep patches are not the solution for you. 

While I do like the ease and fun of melatonin patches, I do ultimately still favor tablets. While the melatonin in the patches might have kicked in just a bit faster than tablets, the difference was minimal. Tablets are also cheaper and available in lower doses of melatonin. I've been taking Nature Made Melatonin tablets for years. One bottle costs around $10 and has 90 tablets. Each tablet contains 5 mg of melatonin, and even if I were to take a pill each night, it would last me 90 days. Sometimes, I split them in half, so a bottle could potentially even last me 180 days.     

If price isn't a concern, sleep patches might be worth it for you. They are fun, painless, easy to apply and sometimes have extra sleepy ingredients like valerian root or lemon balm. Especially if you are traveling, sleep patches might be more convenient. Make sure to get patches that don't leave adhesive on the skin like The Patch Brand or Deeps.