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If your mattress is feeling a little too firm or too soft, a mattress topper can be a relatively inexpensive fix. Most toppers won’t completely change the feel of your existing mattress, but they can make a dramatic difference by revitalizing one that’s lost some of its spring, adding extra pressure relief for achy joints, or helping you hone your comfort preferences until you’re ready to buy a new one.
Of course, the type of mattress topper you want depends on what you’re trying to achieve — whether it’s to make your mattress feel cushier with a plush layer of foam, down, or fiberfill; add more support to help get back pain in check; or regulate your body temperature with something that’ll release heat rather than trap it. (If you happen to be an especially warm sleeper, you should also check out our guide to the best cooling mattress toppers.)
To write this guide to the best mattress toppers, I looked for toppers made with a wide variety of materials — including memory-foam, latex foam, down, and fiberfill — that can change the feel of your mattress in a variety of ways. I’ve featured several toppers that I’ve personally tested, as well as recommendations from Strategist staffers, sleep-product experts, and an occupational therapist. Below, you’ll find more details about what to consider as you shop, and for ease of comparison, all prices shown are for a queen-size mattress topper, but every topper on this list is available in all standard mattress sizes. Once you’ve selected a topper, I also recommend consulting our guide to the best mattress protectors to keep it clean and ensure any warranties remain intact until it’s time to replace your actual mattress.
Update on November 19, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What to look for
Material
The material a topper is made of is generally what determines its feel. The most common mattress topper materials are memory foam, latex foam, down, synthetic fiberfill, wool, and cotton. To majorly change the firmness and feel of a mattress, I usually recommend a memory-foam or latex mattress topper — both of these materials can vary in how soft or firm they are, but they tend to make the most noticeable effect. Memory foam is good for pressure relief, because it contours around the body to cushion every pressure point. Latex tends to feel springier and more responsive than memory foam. It can provide pressure relief, too, but usually keeps you feeling more “on top” of the bed, rather than letting your body sink in. Latex also tends to stay cooler than memory-foam, which naturally traps heat. (Though to counteract that, some memory foams include cooling features such as infusions of gel, copper, or graphite.)
Mattress toppers made with down, synthetic fiberfill, wool, and cotton tend to provide a subtler change. Down can make a bed feel plusher, fluffier, and more luxurious but won’t have as much of an impact on firmness as latex or memory foam — I can often still feel the mattress underneath when sleeping on a down topper. The same is generally true for toppers made with synthetic or natural fibers (including wool and cotton). Down mattress toppers are more expensive than down-alternative toppers and can possibly trigger allergies, while down-alternative toppers (which are usually made from synthetic fibers like polyester) offer a similar softness in a cheaper, hypoallergenic package.
You should also match the material of your mattress topper to your typical sleep position, as the pressure relief and support you need will change based on whether you’re a side sleeper, a back sleeper, a stomach sleeper, or a combination sleeper. Side sleepers tend to need more pressure relief, since you are resting your body weight on your hip and shoulder joints. Stomach sleepers need more support to keep your hips from sinking into the bed, which can cause your lower back to bow out of alignment. And back sleepers are right in the middle — you need enough support for spinal alignment with some sink-y pressure relief around your lower back and shoulders.
Thickness and density
The thickness, or height, of your mattress topper will also affect how it feels. Typically ranging from one to five inches in height, thicker mattress toppers will feel plusher and offer a more noticeable difference compared to your bare mattress. Thinner mattress toppers can still feel comfortable but will make less of an impact. For memory-foam toppers, the density is another important factor. The density refers to the weight per cubic foot and basically translates to how solid the foam is. Imagine a plastic bag filled with 100 packing peanuts, versus the same size bag filled with 50 packing peanuts. The bag of 100 will have a firmer and more dense feel, while the bag of 50 will still feel cushioned but not as supportive. Higher-density memory foam weighs five pounds or more per cubic foot, while more moderate-density foam weighs around three to four pounds per cubic foot. Below, we’ve listed the thickness of each mattress topper, and the density when available, as not all brands provide that detail.
Price
Price is especially worth considering when purchasing a mattress topper because for many people, toppers are a stopgap before purchasing a new mattress. Once a mattress topper reaches a certain price threshold, it’s worth questioning whether you should buy the topper or put that money toward a new mattress instead. Naturally, that threshold will differ for everyone according to their budget. If your existing mattress (or the one you’re planning to buy next) cost around $1,000, an $800 topper probably isn’t worth it. But if you’re sleeping on a luxury mattress that cost $5,000, the $800 topper seems more justifiable. Since most of us aren’t sleeping on $5,000 mattresses, I deferred toward toppers that felt worthwhile, price-wise, for people who are sleeping on budget to mid-range mattresses (which I’d cap around $2,000 for a queen-size mattress).
The cheapest mattress toppers come in under $100 for a queen size, and can definitely improve a mattress, but are often made with lower-quality materials and lack extra features like a washable cover or straps to secure the topper to the mattress. The $100 to $300 range feels like the sweet spot to me — you’ll get a step up in quality, but these toppers are still affordable enough that they aren’t nearing the price of a whole new mattress. Toppers in the next range, from $300 to $500, can be worthwhile but definitely require closer attention to what you’re getting for the higher price. The cost is usually due to the materials used, like latex foam, which can be considerably more expensive than memory foam. There are two toppers on this list over $500, which is a price range I can only define as luxury. These toppers definitely aren’t for everyone, but they generally offer top-tier materials and construction.
Trial period and warranty
Sometimes what feels great on the first night can feel saggy or too firm after a week, so lots of companies offer extended trial periods (usually up to 100 nights). Some brands offer warranties that cover your topper from defects for additional months or years. Just be sure to read the fine print: Companies that offer 100-night trials on mattresses don’t always offer the same terms on toppers, and return policies may vary depending on whether you buy the topper directly from the brand or from a third-party retailer like Amazon.
Best mattress topper overall
Material: Memory foam | Thickness and density: 3-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: No trial and no returns, 10-year warranty
At three inches thick, the Tempur-Adapt topper will add noticeable plushness to any mattress. Compared to other toppers on the market, I think it offers the all-around best combination of comfort, convenience, and price (especially considering that Tempur-Pedic often has sales). Made with Tempur-Pedic’s signature Tempur material, this topper offers a classic memory-foam feel. When I tested it, I loved how the foam felt somewhat firm at first — it’s very dense — but the longer I laid on it, the more I felt like I melted into the material (though without sinking all the way through to the mattress).
The Tempur-Adapt topper really contoured around each and every point on my body. When I laid on my back, it compressed under my shoulders and butt and filled in the gap between my lower back and the mattress, which I always find very comfortable and which seemed to keep my spine neutral. On my side, I could feel the foam cushioning my shoulder — evidently the pointiest part of my body, which can sometimes feel sore and jammed up after lying on a too-firm mattress. But while lying on the topper, I didn’t feel any pressure from my body weight resting on it.
Part of what makes the foam so cushioning and comfortable is the high density, which means this topper is quite heavy — about 32 pounds for the queen size. It can be a bit of a pain to lift, so you might want to grab a friend or partner to help you get it into position on the bed. But the weight of the topper and its wide, elastic corner straps help keep it secure so that it doesn’t shift throughout the night, something that tends to happen with lighter-weight toppers. The standard cover is a slightly meshlike poly blend that is dust-mite and allergen resistant, as well as moisture-wicking (or, for an extra $80, you can upgrade to a cooling cover, which is made of “performance” yarns to create a cool-to-the-touch feel). If you run hot, you might want to spring for the cooling cover, because the standard version I tested did get a little warm. The Tempur-Adapt topper also comes with a ten-year warranty, among the longest on this list. And conveniently, the cover zips off for cleaning and can be machine washed, which is another reason I’ve named this topper our best-in-class pick.
Best (less expensive) mattress topper overall
Material: Gel-infused memory foam | Thickness and density: 3-inch or 4-inch thickness, 3-pound density | Trial period and warranty: 90-day money-back guarantee, 5-year warranty
Like our best-overall pick, this ViscoSoft mattress topper is three inches thick and made of high-density memory foam. However, if you’re looking for a thicker or thinner topper, it’s also available in a two-inch version and a four-inch version. As with the Tempur-Adapt, this topper feels firm at first but molds around you to cushion your body the longer you lay on it. However, after testing both, I’d say this one isn’t quite as pliant as the Tempur-Adapt and feels slightly firmer overall. For me, this meant I didn’t get quite as much cushioning around my shoulder as on the Tempur-Adapt when lying on my side.
Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa, a side-and-stomach sleeper, bought the four-inch version of this topper in 2022 to add more comfort and pressure relief to a too-firm Ikea mattress. Even though it is slightly firm, the four-inch-thick memory foam has actually made Rellosa’s mattress feel more plush. He’s now been sleeping on it for over a year and a half and says he’s forgotten how uncomfortable the original mattress was.
Rellosa also sleeps very hot — “I usually have a fan on in the room, even when it’s in the 40s outside and my heat is off” — and finds this topper really does keep him cool at night. It has a bamboo-blend cover, which helps with temperature regulation, as well as gel infusions in the memory foam. However, Rellosa has noticed that the pockets of gel used to keep the mattress topper cool get firmer when it’s cold and softer when it’s hot out. The result, he says, is that “sometimes it feels a little too plush when it’s warm,” so take note if you live in a climate with wild temperature swings or a home with a finicky thermostat.
Best cooling mattress topper
Material: Copper-infused memory-foam | Thickness and density: 4-inch | Trial period and warranty: 60-night trial, 5-year warranty
Recommended by two of the experts we spoke to while researching this guide, ViscoSoft’s four-inch Active Cooling mattress topper has all the benefits of the ViscoSoft topper above, plus some added plushness and cooling features, like copper-infused foam. Annie Schlecht, an occupational therapist and sleep consultant, says the copper draws heat away from the body — beneficial since memory-foam is known for trapping heat. Sarah Riccio, a former senior writer at Sleepopolis, adds that it “offers a classic memory-foam feel.”
The topper also has a sweat-wicking and machine washable cover that’s designed to keep you dry and it feels cool to the touch, thanks to phase-change materials that absorb and release heat in real time: As your temperature increases, the material changes phase to liquid and stores the heat, releasing it later once your temperature has decreased. This all happens within the fibers, though, so don’t worry about your topper feeling wet.
Best plush mattress topper
Material: Cross-cut memory-foam and microfiber blend | Thickness and density: 5-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 100-day free return window, 5-year warranty
The five-inch-thick Coop Sleep Goods Retreat topper is stuffed with the brand’s signature cross-cut memory foam and microfiber blend (the same one found in our top-pick pillows) with baffle-box stitching to keep the material in place. Similar to our top-pick Tempur-Adapt topper, the Retreat topper has a weighty denseness to it, but the Retreat topper has a fluffier feel since the baffle-box stitching creates pockets filled with foam and fiber — like rows of mini-pillows — instead of a slab of foam. This fluffiness is what makes it my No. 1 choice for a plush mattress topper; both the materials and the construction make this topper feel luxuriously cushy.
Adding this topper to a mattress is like adding a pillow-top layer — it creates tufts of softness to sink into. When I tested it, I felt cushioned but still supported by the pockets of foam-and-fiber fill; the foam adds enough structure that the topper didn’t make the bed too soft. Yet, while I did feel like I could sink into the material, it didn’t totally contour around my body like the Tempur-Adapt or ViscoSoft memory-foam toppers. Because it’s not a flat surface, it feels more like you’re floating in the puffs of padding, with the softness of down if down had a little more supportive oomph to it.
Since the Coop Retreat topper is the thickest topper on this list, it will provide a very noticeable difference in both the appearance and feel of your mattress — the potential trade-off for comfort is a slightly lumpier look under your sheets, but the topper’s brushed-microfiber exterior gives it a pleasingly smooth texture to lie down on. One downside is that you can only spot-clean this topper; it does not come with a removable cover, and it’s not going to make it through the washing machine.
Best latex mattress topper
Material: Talalay latex foam and wool | Thickness and density: 2-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 100-night sleep trial, 10-year warranty
This Birch Plush topper layers wool and an organic-cotton cover over two inches of ventilated latex foam. It comes in one firmness level, which I would say is fairly firm, despite what the name implies. Overall, the feel is responsive and bouncy, rather than super cushioning.
This makes the topper a good choice for adding extra support to your bed without sacrificing comfort. While I felt it was too firm for side sleeping, it was quite comfortable when lying on my back or stomach. If your current mattress is too soft or lacking in support, adding the Birch Plush could help firm it up. I felt very “on top” of the bed while lying on this topper and didn’t sink in much at all. The topper stays quite cool, thanks to its ventilated latex foam, temperature-regulating wool, and breathable cotton cover — but the cover isn’t removable, so the topper is spot-clean only.
Best soft mattress topper
Material: Memory-foam | Thickness and density: 2.5-inch, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 101-night sleep trial, lifetime warranty
Puffy is known for its ultrasoft memory-foam mattresses, and this topper delivers the same cushiony, all-foam feel. It actually comes in a soft or firm version, but I tested the soft version and found it felt plush but still reasonably supportive — it enveloped my pressure points but didn’t make the bed feel too squishy. The topper is made with a 2.5-inch slab of memory foam, which felt just thick enough to sink into and to actually alter the mattress to feel softer. Similar to the Tempur-Adapt topper, the foam feels quite dense, so while the topper did feel a little firm at first, it softened up quite a bit after I laid on it for a while. It ended up feeling considerably softer to me than the Tempur-Adapt.
This topper also has a bamboo-rayon-polyester-blend cover, which adds a slight cooling effect, thanks to the bamboo rayon. The cover has a skirt, which fits fully around the mattress like a fitted sheet and completely secures the topper in place. I’ve seen lots of toppers with straps, but not many that completely fit over the mattress like this one, which I think is a smart way to keep the topper from shifting. And the cover is washable — always a plus in my book for memory-foam toppers.
Best firm mattress topper
Material: Latex | Thickness and density: 1.5-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 180-night sleep trial period, 1-year limited warranty
The majority of mattress toppers I’ve tried are designed to make the bed feel softer, so it can be tricky to find one that actually makes the bed feel firmer. But this latex topper from Saatva — the maker of our best mattress overall — does just that. It’s made with an inch and a half of latex and, like the other latex toppers on this list, it gives the bed a more responsive and buoyant feel than most memory-foam toppers will. But because it’s only an inch and a half thick, I found it doesn’t allow much room to sink into the latex foam. The result is a topper that feels firm but not rock hard. The foam feels similar to the also-firm Birch Plush, but I think the combination of firm latex foam and a thinner profile gives the Saatva an even firmer feel.
The latex does have some give — I felt a bit of contouring around me — but overall this topper firmed up the mattress I tried it on. I think this could be a great addition to a too-soft and sink-y memory-foam mattress, but it also is pretty expensive at over $400 for a queen size. That’s very comparable with other latex toppers, but nevertheless a lot to spend.
The topper also has an organic cotton cover, which adds a slight softness to the surface of the topper and allows for additional airflow, helping the already-cool latex stay cooler. And it has straps to secure it to the mattress, which I always like to see. However, you can’t remove the cover to wash it.
Best hybrid mattress topper
Material: Gel-infused memory-foam and down-alternative pillow-top | Thickness and density: 3-inch or 4-inch thickness | Trial period and warranty: 90-day money-back guarantee, 5-year warranty
Just like a hybrid mattress is made with layers of different materials, like coils and memory foam, so is a hybrid mattress topper — but on a smaller scale. This Serene Hybrid topper from ViscoSoft combines memory foam with a plush pillow top and comes with two pieces: a slab of gel-infused memory foam that you place on top of your mattress, and then a quilted cover stuffed with down-alternative fiberfill that attaches to the foam with straps and then goes over the rest of the mattress like a fitted sheet. The pockets are 18 inches deep, which will easily fit around most mattresses and help keep the topper from shifting.
When I tested the Serene Hybrid topper, I felt the cushioning and sinkage I usually expect from memory foam, but it was slightly dampened by the pillow-top cover — like I couldn’t sink in quite as much as I did on the Tempur-Adapt or the ViscoSoft. The foam also didn’t feel quite as dense as the foam in those two toppers. If you want pressure relief but hate feeling too cocooned by memory foam, this hybrid topper could be a good bet. I also liked how the cover added a pillowy, tufted texture to the surface of the bed. Plus, the cover is machine washable.
The topper comes in two thicknesses, three inches or four inches. For the three-inch version, the topper has two inches of memory foam and the last inch comes from the cover. For the four-inch version, the topper has two and a half inches of foam, and one and a half inches comes from the cover. If you want a plusher feel, go for the four-inch.
Best down mattress topper
Material: Down | Thickness and density: 3-inch thickness, 750 fill power | Trial period and warranty: Free returns within 60 days, 3-year warranty
For a high-end-hotel-bed feel, a down topper is the way to go. This three-inch topper from bedding-and-bath retailer Parachute feels luxuriously plush, thanks to its two-chamber construction; the upper chamber is filled with a mix of 85 percent down and 15 percent feathers, while the lower chamber is 100 percent feathers. The upper chamber has a fill power of 750, which makes it ultrasoft, fluffy, and easy to sink into, while the lower chamber provides some sturdiness. Both chambers are encased in a cotton sateen shell with baffle-box stitching to evenly distribute the filling. The stitching also creates a tufted texture, furthering the plush vibe. Made entirely of cotton and down/feathers, this topper is breathable but doesn’t feel noticeably warm or cool.
When I tested this topper, the cushy top layer felt quite lavish but I could still feel the mattress beneath me. So I’d say that adding this topper is basically like adding a feather bed — it ups the luxe level but it won’t change the firmness of your mattress too much. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is in desperate need of pressure relief, but I did love how I felt cocooned in softness while lying on it. At close to $400, this topper is on the expensive side, but the price of luxury is high. One drawback is that the topper doesn’t have straps to secure it in place. And it is dry-clean only.
[Editor’s note: The twin XL, full, and queen sizes are sold out, but you can join a restock waitlist at Parachute. All other sizes are currently in stock.]
Best down-alternative mattress topper
Material: Down-alternative microfiber | Thickness and density: 3-inch, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: Free returns within 60 days, 3-year warranty
Designed to feel like down, down-alternative toppers (which are typically made from synthetic fibers) are a good alternative to the real thing if you have allergies, don’t want to use animal products, or simply want to save some money. Sleep-product experts love this topper from Parachute for many of the reasons I recommend the brand’s down style: fluffy softness, baffle-box construction, and a 100 percent cotton shell. Former Sleepopolis contributor Alex Savy likes this topper because it’s hypoallergenic, durable, and “generously stuffed.” Former Strategist writer Lauren Levy tested this topper firsthand and said sleeping on it felt like being “lightly sandwiched between layers of plushness.” She said it shaped around her like memory foam but felt much lighter and airier. Like its down counterpart, this Parachute topper is dry-clean only.
Best micro-coil mattress topper
Material: Micro-coils and latex | Thickness and density: 2.5-inch | Trial period and warranty: Not returnable, no warranty details
If you’re new to sleeping on memory foam or another type of all-foam mattress and missing the bounciness of your old innerspring mattress, Keith Cushner, co-founder of Tuck, suggests this “micro-coil” topper. It combines supportive latex with a layer of small coils, almost like a mini-mattress. While Cushner admits it won’t transform a foam mattress into a spring one, it’s an option if you prefer that bouncier feel. It’s also a topper you’ll want to aim to get on sale; with a regular price of over $700 for a queen size, it costs more than some of our favorite budget friendly mattresses.
Some more mattress toppers we’ve written about
Our experts
• Keith Cushner, co-founder of Tuck
• Lauren Levy, former Strategist writer
• Latifah Miles, former Strategist writer
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer
• Sarah Riccio, former senior writer and bedding expert at Sleepopolis
• Alex Savy, former Sleepopolis contributor
• Annie Schlecht, occupational therapist and sleep consultant
Additional reporting by Latifah Miles, Ambar Pardilla, and Karen Iorio Adelson.
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