The Best Mattress Toppers

A great night of sleep is necessary to be happy and healthy, and a comfortable bed can help you achieve just that. Mattresses can be expensive and hard to transport but there is an easy solution to getting a good night of sleep when you’re on a budget or you’re not at home: mattress toppers. 

A mattress topper can serve multiple purposes: it can soften your bed, add firmness, cool your bed, provide back support, or address a combination of issues. And while it won’t solve an old and sagging mattress, it can add some cushioning to your shoulders, hips, knees, and other areas to help you feel more comfortable. 

A mattress topper (as the name suggests) is placed on top of the mattress, and some are secured to the mattress with straps. You can also use a mattress protector to keep your mattress topper safe from spills, dust, bedbugs, and damage. 

A mattress topper isn’t the same as a mattress pad, which does add some softness and plushness while also potentially protecting from spills; however, it’s less expensive and adds some comfort (though not as much as a topper). 

However, keep in mind that a mattress topper isn’t a permanent solution for a mattress or pillow that results in discomfort or pain in your neck, back, hips, and other parts of your body while you sleep – but it can help immensely. 

Because mattress toppers can add some height to your bed, be sure you have sheets that will fit properly. 

Types of Mattress Toppers

There are several types of mattress toppers: 

• Memory foam topper: This mattress topper can add cushioning, support, and pressure-relief for your body – it can even be infused with gel or graphite to keep it cool. Memory foam toppers are the most popular type of mattress topper due to its versatility, and come in a variety of price points so you can find one that works for you even if you’re on a budget.  Memory foam (also known as viscoelastic foam) is soft, comfortable, and supportive due to recovering its shape more slowly than other materials. The denser the foam, the more supportive the topper; it may also feel firmer in a colder room or softer when it warms up.  Memory foam toppers can also come with cooling gels that absorb extra heat, and are sold as cooling mattress toppers. It may also come with a slight odor, so you can air it out for a few days before use.
• Fiber-fill or pillow-top topper: This type of mattress topper adds softness and padding to your bed, and it can be made of fluffy down feathers or fiberfill (a polyester filling that is more affordable than down, and it’s also hypoallergenic and animal-free).  Fiber-filled toppers (also called down-alternative toppers) need to be regularly fluffed to keep the filling evenly distributed. It also doesn’t provide as much cushioning as other types of toppers, such as memory foam or latex. However, it tends to be more comfortable and cooler than other types of toppers. Depending on the type, it can even be dry-cleaned or machine-washed. Mattress toppers made of 100% down (which are also known as feather beds) are sewn in a way to keep the feathers from shifting, although you still have to fluff it regularly to help maintain its shape. While it’s comfortable, it can feel crunchy due to the shape of the feathers, which can also poke through. Feather toppers also can’t be put in the washer or dryer and are only able to be spot-cleaned.
• Latex mattress topper: Latex is a type of natural foam made from rubber trees and allows for more springier support than feather- or fiber-filled toppers and allows your body to rest comfortably on top rather than sinking into it. It’s great if you prefer springiness to the memory foam-type body hugging.  Latex typically retains less heat than memory foam since your body won’t sink into it as much. It’s more expensive, but it’s also durable. You may notice an unpleasant smell when you first open it, but that will air out over time.
• Wool mattress topper: These are the best at temperature regulation and tend to be more expensive than other types of toppers.  Wool toppers are around 1 to 2 inches thick, so they don’t offer as much cushioning and simply flatten out over time.  Some wool toppers can be machine-washed or dry-cleaned; they can even be fluffed in the dryer. 
• Hybrid mattress topper: Hybrids typically blend different types of mattress toppers so you can enjoy the multiple benefits, such as softness and support with a latex foam  cushion with a fiber-fill cover or a topper with fiberfill and memory foam clusters to allow for softness and support. 

The type of mattress topper that’s right for you depends on what you are looking for. Do you want more support for your body, or do you prefer a little softness? Or would you like to address a combination of issues?

Comfort is key. When you’re shopping for a mattress topper, consider the feel of it — is it squishy, lumpy, crunchy, or does it feel like it molds and works with your body? 

It’s important to also look at the thickness. A good mattress topper should be a minimum of two inches, but the thicker it is, the more support you’ll get – especially for foam toppers (most memory foam toppers are 2 to 4 inches in thickness). 

Mattress toppers can also come with temperature regulating features (such as cooling gel) if you tend to overheat at night. 

Some mattress toppers can be washed (with the exception of ones made of foam or down) – something else to keep in mind in case this is an important factor for you. 

For those looking for ethical and cruelty-free down toppers, check to see if it’s certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which ensures that ducks and geese are treated humanely. 

It’s also essential to find a mattress topper that’s fits with your bedsheets once it’s on the bed — otherwise, you may have to get new bedsheets too!

A good warranty and return policy is important, especially if you are buying a more expensive topper — you want to be able to replace or return your topper is it doesn’t work for you. 

The Best Mattress Toppers

Nolah Mattress Topper

Nolah’s mattress topper uses the brand’s signature AirFoam technology for excellent cushioning, pressure relief, and durability without the sagging. It also dissipates heat better than many traditional memory foam toppers to give you a cooler sleeping experience.

This 2-inch topper has wide elastic bands to secure it to your mattress, and it has a breathable and moisture-wicking cover made from organic cotton (although it can’t be removed for cleaning). It’s designed to fit any standard mattress measuring 10” top and 15” tall.  You can choose between two firmness levels — luxury firm and plush. 

TEMPUR-Topper Supreme

The Tempur-Pedic Supreme mattress topper is made from 3 inches of luxurious, dense, and firm foam that gives you more support and a stable surface while also softening up a firm mattress. Even though the memory foam is very firm on its first use, it slowly adapts to your body shape (while never bottoming out) and cradles pressure points to give you endless and personalized comfort. 

The Tempur-Topper Supreme allows for motion isolation, which ensures you’re much less likely to notice your partner moving in the night, and it doesn’t cause you to overheat since it’s breathable and minimizes heat retention. 

This mattress topper is so sturdy that once it’s on the bed, it won’t move around (but it may take two people to wrangle it on the bed due to its weight). Its allergen, dander, dust mite, and mold-resistant. Bonus: it comes with a removable and machine-washable polyester/Lycra cover, so keeping it clean is easy. 

Sleep Number DualTemp Individual Layer

The Sleep Number DualTemp Individual Layer is a unique and innovative topper that is ideal for those who want their bed to have a personalized temperature. It allows you to choose from multiple temperature settings and use a remote to adjust how warm or cool you want your topper. It comes with a floor unit that sends cool or hot air through a tube, which is then evenly distributed through the air chambers in the topper (the tube can be kept under a fitted sheet and the floor unit under the bed). 

This 1 inch tall mattress topper has a universal design that fits on half of the bed — left or right — which is perfect if you prefer a different temperature to your bedmate. You simply need to place it on top of your mattress, tuck it in, and cover it with a fitted sheet.

The topper stays warm or cool as long as the air is flowing, and comes with a timer that automatically shuts off at the time of your choice (in one hour increments up to nine hours).

Sleep Number ComfortFit Mattress Layer

The ComfortFit Mattress Layer from Sleep Number is a soft, luxurious, and plush mattress topper made of memory foam pieces blended with down alternative fibers that adds a layer of comfortable support to your bed. It comes with a breathable hypoallergenic lyocell blend cover and corner anchor bands that hold it securely in place. 

Parachute Down Mattress Topper

This down mattress topper from Parachute is an excellent way to add softness to your bed. It’s a luxurious, cloud-like featherbed that has two layers of down and feathers constructed in a baffle box to keep the fill evenly distributed. It’s 3 inches in height and contains a 85% down and a 15% down/feather blend. The topper won’t flatten out easily and keeps its loft (although it needs to be fluffed occasionally), and the feathers won’t poke through thanks to the tightly woven outer fabric made of cotton sateen. It won’t give you much pressure-point relief, but it’s fluffy, airy, and cushiony (although less so than memory foam and latex). Plus it stays in place securely. 

For those who have allergies to down feathers, Parachute also offers a down-alternative version made with microfiber fill. Both the down and down-alternative version are dry clean only. 

Lucid Down Alternative & Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper

This luxurious hybrid mattress topper uses fiberfill and foam for comfort and support, with the bottom layer comprising of memory foam infused with gel, and the top layer is made of pockets of down alternative that gives plush padding. It’s four inches high (half foam and half pillow top) and the two layers can be used together or separately, giving you three different options for your sleep experience. It fits on your bed securely thanks to fitted panels (similarly to a fitted sheet), and doesn’t require a strap to keep the two layers in place since the top layer holds everything together. The down alternative layer is machine-washable and dryer-safe. 

This topper adds a layer of softness to your bed and it can be used once it has fully expanded, which may take up to 48 hours after it has been opened. You can use a heating pad with it (as long as it isn’t over 125 degrees), and it can be spot cleaned — however, it’s recommended that you put a mattress protector over it to keep it pristine.

Sleep On Latex Pure Green Natural Latex Topper

The Sleep On Latex Pure Green Natural Latex Topper gives you foam cushioning without the sinking sensation commonly associated with memory foam since latex is springier than memory foam. It’s a springy and dense topper that allows the foam to hug your pressure points. 

The Pure Green Natural Latex topper is available in 1-, 2-, and 3-inch thicknesses and soft, medium, and firm density options for a more personalized sleep experience. The 1-inch topper adds softness without height, the 2-inch topper adds some firmness and pinpointed support, and the 3-inch topper adds significantly to mattress comfort and firmness and comfort. The soft, 3-inch version is the best-selling model, and the other options cater to sleep needs and preferences. 

This topper is made of solid sheets of natural latex foam from the Earthfoam production line, which is harvested from organically grown rubber trees in Sri Lanka. 

A separate washable cotton and polyester cover is available to help keep it clean. However, it’s not waterproof so you may want to use a waterproof mattress protector over it. 

Saatva Mattress Topper

Saatva offers three variations of the mattress toppers, depending on what you are looking for — a 1.5-inch body-contouring foam layer for support and pressure-point relief; 3-inch graphite-infused foam to draw heat away from the body, allow for pressure-point relief relief, and limit motion transfer; and a 1.5-inch hypoallergenic all-natural latex version for breathability, durability, plushness, and pressure-point relief. 

The topper not only enhances your current mattress, but also prolongs the life of an older mattress. It works with any mattress brand and it’s designed to blend seamlessly into any mattress. It also comes with four elastic anchor bands to secure it without shifting. 

This topper has matching a breathable, moisture-wicking organic cotton cover that protects it and provides cooling comfort.

Viscosoft Serene Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress Topper

Looking for the best of both worlds? This topper from Viscosoft combines foam and fiberfill so you can enjoy the benefits of both. It comes in both 3- and 4-inch thickness and has two layers of cooling support. The bottom layer has 1.5 inches of gel-infused CertiPUR-US memory foam (for 3-inch toppers) and 2.5 inches of gel-infused memory foam (for 4-inch toppers).

This topper comes with an easy-to remove machine-washable pillow-top cover that is 300-thread count. It has a plush 700 GSM down alternative fill that provides a quilted layer and gives you the soft comfort of a pillow top (but not too soft or too firm). It also comes with a strap to attach it to the foam and pillow top layers, and it has a deep-pocket elastic skirt (similar to a fitted sheet) that can be tucked into your bed securely (it can be used with mattresses up to 18 inches high). 

Viscosoft’s topper is made in the US and comes with a 90-day guarantee, a 5-year warranty, and free delivery to your door. 

Avocado Green Organic Latex Mattress Topper

This high-quality organic latex topper from Avocado is made of durable latex and either wool or cotton fill (for those who want a vegan option), along with an outer cover constructed with breathable, moisture-wicking cotton. 

You can choose between a plush or firm: a plush topper will add cushioning while a firm one will give you extra support while also relieving pressure points. (Side sleepers typically prefer the soft topper and back and stomach sleepers prefer a firm topper). 

This 2-inch topper is spot clean only for the cover since latex is not machine-washable. Maintenance is easy, with Avocado suggesting you turn it every other month to help with longevity. 

Linenspa Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper

If you’re looking for an effective topper without the high price tag, Linenspa’s gel-infused memory foam topper is what you need. 

It’s an ultra plush topper that softnesses a hard mattress and adds support to your body, with thousands of tiny cooling gel beads in the foam for temperature regulation (and prevent overheating caused by memory foam). It’s ideal for side sleepers since it relieves pressure around the joints. You can choose between a 2-inch or 3-inch topper — the thicker the topper, the more plush and conforming it is. 

Linenspa offers a topper cover that can be bought separately to protect it long-term. 

Tuft & Needle Mattress Topper

This 2-inch topper from Tuft & Needle adds cushioning and support while making your bed softer and relieving pressure points on your hips and shoulders — which is especially ideal for side-sleepers. 

The foam topper is unique due to the responsive foam that is resilient without sinking in and it’s made with open cells to be more breathable, allowing you to lie on the surface and keeping you cool throughout the night. 

The topper is compatible with most mattresses, and though it doesn’t come with straps to attach it to your mattress, it has a non-slip bottom that prevents sliding on the bed and a soft outer cover is made of a comfy knit that prevents sheets from bunching.