Best Mattress Toppers

A mattress topper is similar to a mattress pad: it is an addition that you put on your mattress to increase its comfort. You might need this for orthopedic reasons. A mattress topper can also be used to essentially convert your mattress from a spring mattress to a memory foam mattress, by using a memory foam topper. A mattress topper can also “save” an old mattress. If your old mattress has become worn down and is no longer firm enough for you, a mattress topper can provide the firmness that you’re looking for.

Mattress toppers come in a variety of materials, as well as thicknesses. There are also a number of other considerations to take into account, such as the dimensions. You’ll want to match the mattress topper to your mattress size: A tight-fitting mattress topper will ensure that the mattress doesn’t make noise when you shift from side to side. (That might disturb your spouse if they’re a light sleeper.)

 We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a mattress topper. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of mattress topper,

• See useful tips about that particular type of mattress topper,

• Read reviews of different mattress toppers, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of mattress topper, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Memory Foam Mattress Toppers: Memory foam has the property of becoming more malleable when subjected to body heat. This makes it adapt to the body’s shape and slowly spring back when pressure is removed. Memory foam thus provides support and comfort. However, this dependence on temperature may lead to memory foam being too hard in cold temperatures, and not supportive when it’s warm outside. It also has the disadvantage of retaining heat, and not “breathing”.

• Cool Mattress Toppers: You’ll see “cool mattress toppers”, which have additives to the memory foam. For example, gel memory foam consists of a gel being mixed with the memory foam. The gel can be mixed into the memory foam homogenously, or just in a single layer. Other materials, such as aloe vera or activated charcoal, can also be added. This “cools” the memory foam, since it will let heat dissipate, and spring back to its original shape more quickly. The ComforPedic Loft Beautyrest Supreme Gel Memory Foam Topper uses this construction.

• Egg Crate Mattress Toppers: You can find egg crate mattress toppers, which have the memory foam arranged in hills and valleys. It looks about as comfortable as sleeping on a bed of nails! But, this actually allows for adjusting the body’s contours, providing support and reducing pressure. The eggs crate shape also allows for better airflow. But, the egg crate design is less durable, in that over time, it will start to retain a depression where you sleep most often.

Milliard 2-inch egg crate ventilated memory foam mattress topper

• Down Mattress Toppers: These will be filled with duck feathers. This will make them very warm and comfortable. But down mattress toppers may give problems to people who are allergic. And cleaning it might be a formidable job (see below, about cleaning instructions).

• Cotton and wool: You can find toppers made from cotton or wool. Cotton is a breathable material and has less of a chance of causing an allergic reaction. Wool is warmer but avoids any problems due to sensitivity to chemicals. These materials can give problems with dust mites over time, however.

• Latex: This is made from the sap of the rubber tree. People who want to go “green” prefer latex because it is 100% natural. When used as a mattress topper, it is made into breathable, porous open-celled foam that lets air flow freely. It is also more responsive than memory foam.

• Fiberfill: This is a material made of polyester that has been molded into cluster puffs, similar to cotton balls. It has the advantages of being hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites and other pests, inexpensive, and even recyclable!

• ILD rating: You’ll see mattress toppings rated by an ILD number. It stands for “Indentation Load Deflection”. This measures the mattress topper’s firmness and how fast it “bounces back”. Latex bounces back fast, while memory foam regains its shape slowly. An ILD of 12 means that the mattress topper is soft, while a firm mattress can have an ILD of around 50.

• Elastic straps: People are pleased with mattress toppers that come with elastic straps, which affix the topper onto the mattress. This will keep it from shifting from place to place as you move around while sleeping.

• Sizes: The dimensions of your mattress topper will depend on the size of your mattress. Here is a brief guide to the various sizes, as offered by Beautyrest ComforPedic Loft:

  • Twin-size: 74” (L) x 38” (W)
  • Full-size: 74” (L) x 53” (W)
  • Queen-size: 79” (L) x 59” (W)
  • King-size: 79” (L) x 75” (W)
  • California King-size: 83” (L) x 71” (W)

• Thicknesses: Lucid Mattress makes memory foam mattress toppers in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 2” to 4” in half-inch increments. ComforPedic offers mattress toppers in 2”, 3”, or 4” thick. The thickness depends on your body weight. A 2” thick topper is adequate for people under 165 pounds. Up to 250 pounds, a 3” thick topper will suffice. And for people over 250 pounds, they can go for a 4” thick topper.

• Accessories: When you buy a mattress topper, some manufacturers will also provide a bed skirt (an extra piece of fabric that reaches over the sides of the bed almost to the level of the floor) and a bed cover. For example, when you buy a Sealy 3” mattress topper, they also include a 12” bed skirt and mattress cover.

• Cleaning the mattress topper:  It’s wise to use a mattress protector, made from some sort of waterproof material as a backing. A mattress protector will cost around $20, while a mattress topper can go for $100 or more. This will give even further protection to the mattress, as well as to the mattress topper. Even if you don’t buy a mattress protector, the mattress toppers with a removable casing are the easiest to clean. You just zip off the casing and throw it in the washing machine (if the laundering instructions allow it). If you have a down feather mattress topper, it may require dry cleaning. Alternatively, you can try machine washing on a delicate cycle. It can be dried in a machine dryer, on a gentle cycle. But down toppers are very delicate--doing this often (more than twice a year) may damage the topper.

• Sealy was founded by Daniel Haynes in Sealy, Texas in 1881 as makers of cotton-filled mattresses. They make innerspring mattresses, memory foam mattresses, and hybrid mattresses, which use innerspring and memory foam together. Their Posturepedic technology incorporates orthopedic technology in the mattress design.

• Lucid are makers of sleep products incorporating sleep technology, using materials such as gel-infused memory foam and latex mattresses, mattress toppers, mattress protectors, bed bases, and more.

• Linenspa was founded in 2003, with the aim of making affordable bedding. Besides mattresses from memory foam, latex foam, or springs, they also make supportive pillows, waterproof mattress protectors, and mattress toppers.