Honorable Mentions
Not everything we test makes the cut as a pick, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad mattress topper. Here are a few that our testers slept on and got a good night’s sleep with but didn’t love as much as the picks above.
Avocado Alpaca Topper for $1,240: If you’re looking for a mattress topper that’s extra soft, WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson recommends the Avocado Alpaca Mattress Topper. He says it’s one of the softest things he’s ever slept on, and that it’s like sleeping in a cocoon of fluffiness. While it’s only 2 inches thick, it still has that cozy sinking sensation of deeper mattress toppers. There are two options: medium-firm or plush, with the first using organic wool and the second using what Avocado calls “baby alpaca” fiber. Luckily that’s a reference to how soft it is, not the age of the alpaca itself. It’s certainly a luxury purchase, but a great pick of you want something super soft. Right now only the twin and twin XL sizes are in stock.
Avocado Eco Organic Mattress Topper for $339: This is another good organic mattress topper, made from latex foam. It’s got a pleasant bouncy feel to it thanks to the latex, rather than a sinking feeling you’ll get from memory foam. It’s softer than our main organic pick, which might be more your preference, but I really prefer this to memory foam if I’m not sleeping on the Birch topper.
Brooklyn Bedding 3-Inch Latex Mattress Topper for $629: This latex mattress topper was fine, with a nice spring to it and a good softness without being too soft. But the Avocado Eco was more comfortable and nearly half the price.
Helix Dual Comfort Mattress Topper for $372: If you and your partner have different sleep surface needs—specifically, one of you loves a firm surface while the other wants a softer one—Helix has made a mattress topper with you in mind. The Helix Dual Comfort Topper has a softer side and a firmer side, so each person can get their ideal mattress feel without needing to splurge on a split king bed. The softer side uses memory foam infused with copper gel, which promises the “Luxury Plush” feel that has a gentle sinking sensation, while the firmer side uses high-density foam that kept my back-sleeper husband’s spine nice and straight as he likes. Plus, it has a cooling cover wrapping it up into one cohesive topper.
Helix Premium Memory Foam Mattress Topper with GlacioTex for $372: This memory foam topper doesn’t have as much of a sinking sensation as the Company Store or Tempur-Pedic toppers, for better or worse—my hips felt a little lower than the rest of my body, and I noticed more motion transfer than with the aforementioned foams. But this Helix topper is a good option if you don’t want that super-sinking feeling. There’s no heat retention whatsoever due to the hypoallergenic GlacioTex cover, and it has handy straps that attach to each corner of the mattress. Helix also has a trial period and limited lifetime warranty, so you can give this one a try and change your mind, unlike Tempur-Pedic, which has no return policy. —Kat Merck
Nest Soft Latex Topper for $644: Nest’s latex-based topper looks and feels like an incredibly soft pillow top has been added to your mattress. It’s one of the softest toppers I’ve ever tried, and it had a memory foam-adjacent feel of sinking into the topper, but with a little more spring and pillowy feel to it. It’s one of the most expensive ones we’ve tested, though, and isn’t hugely better, nor does it offer the most support.
Nolah Mattress Topper for $292: If you’re looking for that new-bed feel, Nolah’s topper adds a fresh layer of a semi-dense proprietary foam inside an organic cotton cover to the top of any mattress. It’s just 2 inches thick, and the firm version softened WIRED reviewer Martin Cizmar’s bed, offering some pressure relief and a plush new-bed feel.
PlushBeds Natural Latex Mattress Topper for $316: If you love something firm but want a thicker option than 2 inches, Scott recommends PlushBeds’ topper instead. It has five firmness levels, and he’s a big fan of the extra-firm option. It’s also a nice range if you want to pick a really specific level of firmness, as most other toppers only offer one or two options.
Saatva’s Graphite Memory Foam Topper for $305: This topper’s three inches of foam are infused with graphite, which draws in and dissipates heat. Memory foam is notorious for running hot, but WIRED reviewer Kat Merck and her husband both thought the graphite worked pretty well in cutting down on some (though not all) of the body-heat absorption, and the thickness of the CertiPUR-US-certified foam worked to virtually eliminate motion transfer. Former WIRED reviewer Julia Forbes similarly found the cooling properties to be more neutral than truly cooling, but that can still be a big help. Saatva offers a long trial of 180 days, so you can easily try it out and see if it works for you.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper for $359: According to WIRED reviewer Kat Merck, our resident memory foam fan and reviewer, this is a top-of-the-line memory foam topper for softening a too-firm mattress, and it works very well to prevent motion transfer. It doesn’t have her favorite iteration of Tempur-Pedic’s memory foam, but it still works well. It also has a washable cover that zips off, and corner straps keep the topper securely in place, plus a 10-year warranty (but no trial or returns).
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Topper for $164: I like a soft bed. In fact, if you had asked me before I tried the Tempur-Cloud topper if a bed could be too soft, I’d have said no. But I have changed my mind. There actually exists a mattress topper that might be too soft. I’m a stomach sleeper, and this memory foam is so plush and so deep that during my week of testing I found myself having to practically fling my body if I needed to move at any point during the night. It also has a tendency to sleep hot, and because a user sinks so deep, there’s a potential for neck pain if they normally sleep with an overstuffed pillow. But aside from that, the Tempur-Cloud topper is basically the last word for soft-bed fans who want to completely eliminate both motion transfer and any trace of a hard mattress. —Kat Merck
Turmerry Latex Mattress Topper for $199: If you want something organic on a budget, this 2-inch latex topper is a good price and our favorite organic topper on a budget. You’ll have to buy the cover separately, but you don’t need it if you want to save the money. Turmerry uses a five-zone design to make the topper firmer in some areas, like your head, and softer around others, like your shoulders.
Toppers We’d Skip
Leesa Mattress Topper for $224: This mattress topper didn’t have great construction. We found it didn’t fit neatly on the bed, had weird spots on the edges, and was too soft.
Brooklyn Bedding 4 lb. Memory Foam Topper for $290: Neither my husband nor I could get a good night’s sleep when this mattress topper was on our bed. It also doesn’t offer the same benefits as other memory foam toppers we’ve tested.
What About Mattress Protectors?
If you looked up mattress toppers when you really meant mattress protectors, which are a thin, water-resistant covers to keep your mattress safe from spills and stain, then fear not: We have a few options for you. You might even want to buy one of these to protect your mattress topper, especially if it doesn’t have a washable cover. Here are a few mattress protectors we’ve tried and liked.
Bear Waterproof Mattress Protector for $72: I love this waterproof mattress protector. It’s on my son’s bed, and I’m incredibly jealous of how easy it is to get on and off the bed; my bed has an irritating design that needs to go underneath the mattress and get zipped on and off. This Bear one is similar to a bedsheet with elastic sides to go over the mattress. The sides of the cover aren’t waterproof, but the long middle section is and is easy to spot with its quilted topping. You’ll want to line up the cover to make sure you cover as much of your mattress as possible. While it’s lightweight and thin, it’s kept everything from nighttime accidents to surprise throw-up sessions off the mattress, and has walked away from it stain-free after a quick wash. I need one for every bed in the house in this era of my life with young children. The protective top layer is made of cotton and polyester. Bear also promises that it’s breathable and won’t hinder the Celliant cooling factor of its mattresses or similar ones thanks to HeiQ technology built into the protector.
Sijo TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad for $175: I’d personally consider this model from Sijo as a mattress protector more than a pad, since it functions more as a protective cover to help the bed stay cool rather than adding much padding. It’s made from moisture-wicking mica nylon (mica is a naturally heat-resistant and thermally conductive mineral) and Tencel (synthetic fiber made from eucalyptus wood pulp), which combine to help create a cooling fabric that regulates surface temperature. It also has a cotton lining underside that’s infused with Sijo Clima microcapsules that Sijo claims adapt to your body to stay at optimal temperatures throughout different seasons. The surface is also waterproof, which I consider more water-resistant, as it didn’t soak up liquid entirely, but when I dumped half a glass of water on the surface, it stayed on top for over thirty seconds before I started to feel the liquid seep below. I also appreciated the 16-inch deep sides that helped it stay on top of my mattress, unlike some others I tested. Plus, it’s Oeko-Tex certified and has a 30-night trial, and free shipping on orders over $100. Although this cover is more water-resistant rather than -proof, it stayed on without bunching throughout the night. It added another layer of protection; just don’t expect it to add cushioning like a true pad would. —Molly Higgins
Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Mattress Protector for $80: I like eucalyptus bedding because it’s breathable—good for hot sleepers like me—and it has a silky, soft feel. The eucalyptus fibers naturally wick away moisture, and this protector from Sijo is OEKO-TEX certified, hypoallergenic, and asthma-friendly. It’s composed of soft lyocell—semisynthetic fiber made from wood pulp—on top, with recycled polyester, and enhanced double TPU backing for waterproof protection. Because of the softer lyocell, this water-resistant cover isn’t crinkly or noisy like similar models claiming to be waterproof. However, the elastic sides tended to bunch and pull up on the sides, and it didn’t stay perfectly in place nightly. Overall, I’d say this protector is more water-resistant than waterproof. During testing, I poured small amounts of water, which didn’t leak through to the mattress underneath, but any more than half a cup slowly leaked to the side underneath and needed to be dried/aired out. If you’re looking for a lightweight, cooling natural eucalyptus cover that will resist small amounts of moisture, this works, but don’t expect to be able to have complete protection against accidents or major spills. —Molly Higgins
Quince Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector for $82: If you’re looking for an inexpensive water-resistant mattress protector that’s more heavy-duty and also organic, this is the pick for you. Although it’s not as “crunchy” and stiff as older waterproof mattress cover models of yesteryear, it definitely feels more natural and utilitarian than other models I’ve tested. It has a slightly rough feel because it’s made from undyed organic jersey cotton. Its underside is a waterproof polyurethane nonwoven material. Of all of the mattress protectors and covers I tested, this one kept the mattress drier for longer, although after over a minute and a half of a knocked-over glass of water, there was some seepage. My mattress underneath still stayed a lot drier than other models tested. I appreciated that this model is naturally hypoallergenic and doesn’t include harmful chemicals like phthalates or latex, and was deep enough with stretchy elastic that it stayed on my bed without slipping. Although it is a little rougher to the touch because of the woven natural fibers, it’s an affordable price point for a high-quality, water-resistant, organic mattress cover. —Molly Higgins
FAQs
What Is a Mattress Topper?
A mattress topper is a sheet of supportive materials—options include memory foam, latex foam, cotton, or even coils—that you add to the top of your mattress to change the feel without replacing the entire mattress. It’s a good option to soften up a mattress that’s too firm or to add some targeted support to a mattress you already like. Some toppers can make a mattress more firm, too, like our favorite organic topper pick.
How Do You Know if You Need a Mattress Topper?
It’s a great thing to add if you need a surface change without needing to replace your entire mattress. A mattress topper won’t fix an old or unsupportive mattress (check out our guide to the Best Mattresses to fix that!), but it can take a good mattress and make it into a perfect one with the right makeup.
I struggle with back pain and am a side sleeper, so I gravitate toward toppers that are soft for my shoulders but aren’t so soft that my back isn’t supported. My editor Kat Merck has a too-firm mattress to which she likes to add a memory foam topper to achieve her ideal level of softness. What you want in a topper will depend on your sleeping preferences and what changes you want in the mattress you already have. But a lot of folks can benefit from a good topper.
What Are the Types of Mattress Toppers?
Wool: Wool mattress toppers are usually filled with wool batting or stuffing—think the stuff you fill a quilt or upholstered chair with—and wrapped in cotton. It’s soft, but not as extremely soft as memory foam and not as springy as latex is, either. Wool is a good temperature regulator, so it’s a nice choice for hot sleepers.
Pillow Top: Pillow top mattress toppers are designed to have the fluffy feel of a pillow on top of your mattress. The insides of a pillow top can vary: Some add a pillow top design over layers of foam, while others are simply a pillowy layer of down feathers between you and your mattress. Our favorite pillow top uses latex but still has a fluffy, slightly sinking feeling of lying down on a pillow.
Latex: Latex is a manufactured substance, made from rubber trees. That rubber base gives it a nice bounce and spring compared to memory foam. Even though it’s not labeled as foam, a latex topper usually has a foamlike sheet similar to memory foam as its base. It’s also sometimes referred to as man-made organic, since its base is a natural substance, but it does have to be processed in order to become the latex you’d sleep on or use in other products. You’ll get less sinkage with latex compared to memory foam, and less heat retention.
Memory Foam: Memory foam is actually polyurethane (a plastic polymer) foam, created by adding other compounds—the exact combination of compounds varies by company—to the polyurethane to create the memory foam itself. It’s also known as “viscoelastic” polyurethane foam, or low-resistance polyurethane foam (LRPu). It’s designed to conform to your body but return to its original shape afterward; the “memory” name comes from remembering its original shape. Memory foam tends to be one of the softest toppers, and it has a lot of sinkage (which you might love, might hate) and tends to retain more heat. Some companies add extra ingredients, like cooling gel or graphite, to help make the memory foam cooling.
Serene Foam: Serene foam is a newer trademarked material created by Carpenter Co., the parent company of Casper Sleep. It’s made of billions of polyurethane bubbles like memory foam, but also consists of microscopic air capsules. It’s designed to address some of the downsides of traditional memory foam, including heat retention and variable firmness levels, while maintaining the same plush, pressure-relieving feel. A quick warning if you love a heating pad: polyurethane Serene foam is not recommended for use with heated devices like electric blankets or heating pads.
Hybrid: Hybrid mattress toppers use multiple fillings that can be found on their own. These combinations can vary; our favorite hybrid topper from Helix uses coils and foam, while ViscoSoft’s hybrid topper uses a mix of memory foam and soft fiber for a pillow top feel. If you’re feeling like a single type of topper isn’t suiting your needs—whether it’s too soft or not soft enough—a hybrid option might be best for you.
How Thick Should a Mattress Topper Be?
Mattress toppers are usually available in 2- or 3-inch heights, and some even come in a whopping four inches. The inches aren’t necessarily an indicator of how good a topper will be for your sleeping needs, but if you know you want a super soft experience, you might want a thicker topper to get a softer feel.
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