Mattresses inevitably put on out, irrespective of how fancy or costly they’re, and changing them is a significant buy that many people have to avoid wasting up for. If you might want to eke out a bit extra life out of your mattress earlier than you substitute it — possibly you are near transferring or ready for the mattress offers that intensify round nearly each vacation — a mattress topper is your greatest wager.
Whether or not you favor reminiscence foam, latex, wool or down, toppers add consolation and safety and might improve sleep high quality — and for a lot lower than the $1,000 a 12 months many US adults mentioned they’d spend on higher relaxation, per a latest CNET survey. Plus, you may also expertise a softer, extra contoured floor with out splurging on a brand new mattress — or tweak the texture of a mattress outdoors its return window earlier than you realized it wasn’t fairly what you wanted.
CNET’s sleep specialists have been testing mattresses and their toppers for years. Based mostly on firmness, really feel, building and guarantee, these are our greatest mattress toppers for facet sleepers, scorching sleepers, those that desire a softer mattress and folks on a finances. Costs are for queen mattress toppers, and this listing is usually up to date — so examine again usually.
A handful of the toppers we have examined are stacked collectively in our mattress testing facility.
Greatest general mattress topper
We selected Nest Bedding’s Cooling Topper as the most effective general, because of its impartial really feel and responsive, breathable foam. It gives a cushty mixture of help and stress aid. Regardless of its title, this mattress topper isn’t actively cooling, nevertheless it ought to assist preserve you temperature-neutral all through the evening. Nest Bedding’s mattresses and toppers are additionally CertiPUR-US licensed and freed from dangerous toxins and chemical substances.
Greatest mattress toppers for 2025
The Nest Bedding Cooling Topper is an accommodating mattress topper that gives help and cushioning with out drastically altering the texture or firmness of your mattress. It has a impartial really feel because of Nest’s Energex Temperature Responsive Foam, which is extra responsive and breathable than conventional reminiscence foam.
Although it is Nest’s Cooling Topper, we would not take into account it overly cooling — however to be honest, most mattresses and toppers usually are not truly cooling until they characteristic particular cooling know-how. This topper has breathable supplies and an open polymer design that enables for extra airflow to assist regulate your physique temperature, so you continue to should not overheat on it. The foams are CertiPur-US licensed, that means they’re made with out dangerous toxins or chemical substances.
This 2-inch thick topper provides stress aid and sturdiness with out drastically altering your mattress. We examined this utilizing the Saatva Latex Hybrid mattress and our proprietary Mattress Smasher 9000 gadget. With out the topper, the mattress firmness stage is 7.2. With the topper on the mattress, the smasher supplied a mean firmness stage of 6.7, making the texture barely softer however not considerably. General, it is a mushy, cozy topper with a easy design providing a nice middle-of-the-road sensation.
Runner-up: The Nolah Mattress Topper is a sturdy topper with plush and luxurious agency choices (we might advocate plush for facet sleepers and luxurious agency for again and abdomen sleepers). It options Nolah’s distinctive AirFoam, which has a blended foam really feel. It conforms round your curves however is extra responsive than reminiscence foam, so you will not have as a lot of that “caught” feeling.
Professionals:
- Snug and accommodating impartial really feel
- Gives stress aid and help
- Easy design with breathable supplies
- Straps in every nook for securing to the mattress
Cons:
- Not actively cooling (regardless of the title)
- Spot clear solely
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 2 inches
- Firmness: Medium
- Guarantee: 10-year guarantee
- Trial: 30 nights
Try the Layla Reminiscence Foam Topper if you wish to soften your mattress or add a layer of cool plushness. It makes use of the identical copper gel-infused foam because the Layla Mattress, creating a lightweight and ethereal really feel that is extra buoyant than historically dense reminiscence foam whereas nonetheless contouring properly round your curves as you sink in.
Although the copper gel beads inside this topper work to tug your physique warmth away, our staff does not discover it overly cooling; nonetheless, it can assist you sleep temperature-neutral. When you’re a particularly scorching sleeper who wants additional cooling know-how that will help you sit back at evening, take a look at our listing of the Greatest Cooling Mattress Toppers.
Including the two” thick Layla Reminiscence Foam Topper will soften your mattress by one to 2 factors on the firmness scale — for instance, a mattress with a firmness ranking of seven will likely be softened to someplace between 5 and 6. That is notably nice for facet sleepers wanting additional cushion and stress aid across the shoulders and hips or for these presently sleeping on a mattress that is merely method too agency.
Runner-up: When you’re a facet sleeper in search of one thing extremely plush and fluffy (that is not foam), take into account Saatva’s Down Various Featherbed Mattress Topper. It is stuffed with hypoallergenic down and lyocell fiber and is mushy sufficient to make it really feel such as you’re sleeping on a cloud.
Professionals:
- Ethereal impartial foam really feel
- Copper-infused gel for cooling
- Gentle and cushioning for facet sleepers
- Straps for securing to the mattress
Cons:
- Is likely to be too mushy for strict again or abdomen sleepers
- Not probably the most cooling
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 2 inches
- Firmness: Medium-soft
- Guarantee: 5-year guarantee
- Trial: 30 nights
Scorching sleepers, take a look at the Helix GlacioTex Premium Topper. It is one of many coolest toppers we have examined — actually. The GlacioTex material is slick and genuinely cool to the contact, which is right if you happen to’re seeking to forestall overheating at evening. It has two firmness choices, so you possibly can select the most effective one based mostly in your sleeping place and choice. Its distinctive hybrid design with metal micro-coils and high-density foams makes it probably the most sturdy and supportive toppers we have examined — and a very nice possibility for heavier people and {couples}. At 3.75 inches thick, it is a sturdy and splendid mattress topper made with high-quality supplies that may final.
The mix of froth and coils creates a dense reminiscence foam sensation that may doubtless drastically alter the firmness and really feel of your mattress. We examined the plush and luxurious agency mattress toppers with our Mattress Smasher 9000. The plush topper modified the firmness of the mattress from 7.2 to 4.4 out of 10 — taking the medium-firm mattress to medium-soft to medium. We advocate the plush model if you happen to’re a facet sleeper or your mattress is just too agency and also you need extra stress aid.
The luxurious agency mannequin felt fairly agency after I first laid down, however as my physique warmth warmed the foams, I started to sink in and really feel the supportive contouring. As anticipated, the luxurious agency GlacioTex Premium Topper didn’t impression the mattress’s firmness stage as a lot because the plush, bringing it down barely from 7.2 to six out of 10. We advocate this mannequin if you would like just a little extra help and sturdiness.
Runner-up: The Saatva Cooling Graphite Mattress Topper is 3 inches thick and has reminiscence foam infused with graphite, which pulls your physique warmth away that will help you sleep cooler. It has a medium to medium-firm profile, making it nice for all sleeping positions.
Professionals:
- Two firmness choices
- Actively cooling
- Sturdy hybrid design
- Has straps for securing to the mattress
- CertiPur-US and GreenGuard Gold licensed
Cons:
- Heavy (weighs nearly 24 kilos)
- Costly
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 3.75 inches
- Firmness: Agency or mushy
- Guarantee: 1-year restricted guarantee
- Trial: 100 nights
“I added a Linenspa mattress topper to my mattress in school, and it made an enormous distinction to its really feel. My school mattress was far too agency for me, however the gel topper gave me the right quantity of stress aid that I wanted. The mattress topper moved with me, and I’ve used it for over 4 years now. It’s nonetheless in nice form and lives on my visitor mattress. For the worth and high quality, it’s arduous to beat this topper,” explains Caroline Igo, CNET sleep editor.
The reminiscence foam varieties round and cradles your curves as your physique heats the froth. Regardless of having gel infused in its supplies, it does sleep on the hotter facet, as most reminiscence foams do. “Do observe that it does warmth up at evening. I am a scorching sleeper, and I usually [when I would sleep on it, I don’t anymore] get up sweating in the course of the summer season because it absorbs a lot of my physique warmth,” Caroline says.
The Linenspa Reminiscence Foam Topper is obtainable in 2- and 3-inch top choices. We advocate going with the 3-inch profile if you happen to’re heavier or in search of additional plushness. A queen-size 2-inch topper retails for $60, making it one of many most cost-effective mattress toppers we have examined. It is a wonderful, inexpensive possibility for including consolation and contouring plushness to your visitor mattress, dorm room mattress or awkward pullout sofa mattress.
Runner-up: The Amazon Fundamentals Queen Mattress Topper is a 2-inch gel-infused topper with CertiPur-US Licensed foams. It is available in reminiscence foam or polyester latex choices, each of which offer cooling consolation and stress aid — although reminiscence foam tends to sleep hotter than latex as you sink into it. Priced at $40 for a queen measurement, it is a steal of a deal.
Professionals:
- Nice value for the standard
- Two top choices
- Gives stress aid for hips and shoulders
- CertiPur Licensed foams
Cons:
- No straps for attaching to the mattress
- Not actively cooling
- Not for individuals who do not like the texture of reminiscence foam
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 2 or 3 inches
- Firmness: Medium
- Guarantee: 3-year guarantee
- Trial: 30 nights
Avocado is likely one of the most sustainable mattress manufacturers available on the market, and its toppers are a few of the most eco-friendly we have examined. The Eco Natural Mattress Topper (my private favourite) is obtainable in 2-inch and 3-inch thickness choices, and you’ll select from natural Dunlop latex or pure Talalay latex — the latter of which is vegan-certified.
We examined the 2-inch Dunlop latex topper, which has a medium firmness stage. It provides an opulent layer of consolation and help to your mattress and will barely alter the firmness of your mattress relying on what you sleep on (it did not change the general firmness of the mattress after we examined the topper with our Mattress Smasher 9000, maintaining the firmness stage at 7.2). It gives a responsive pillow-top really feel that may assist relieve stress round your joints and supply extra help for wholesome spinal alignment.
In order for you a a lot softer really feel, we advocate the 3-inch plush mannequin, which gives added contouring and plushness, which we might advocate for facet and mixture sleepers. Each varieties of latex foam naturally sleep cooler than dense reminiscence foam, as their open-cell construction gives elevated breathability and airflow. The Eco Natural toppers have an earthy but luxurious feel and appear and are topped with a GOTS-certified natural cotton cowl. It is superb for these wanting so as to add a responsive, eco-friendly and hypoallergenic layer of consolation to their mattress.
Runner-up: The Birch Plush Natural Mattress Topper is just a little firmer than the Avocado Eco Natural Topper. This 2-inch topper options all-natural, GOLS- and GreenGuard Gold-certified supplies, with a mushy cotton cowl and grippy backing to assist preserve it in place in your mattress.
Professionals:
- Eco-friendly and sustainably sourced
- Thickness and really feel choices
- Latex is extra breathable than reminiscence foam
Cons:
- Costly; extra cost for 3-inch and plush choices
- No straps for securing to the mattress
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 2 or 3 inches
- Firmness: Medium or mushy
- Guarantee: 1-year guarantee
- Trial: 100 nights
Brooklyn Bedding’s 3″ Latex Topper is obtainable in mushy, medium or agency consolation ranges, so it may possibly work for any sleeping place and physique sort. Once we added the medium mannequin of the Brooklyn Bedding Latex Topper to the Saatva Latex Hybrid mattress and examined it with our Mattress Smasher 9000, it modified the firmness of the mattress from 7.2 to five.7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it really feel barely softer.
The thick latex provides a cushioning mixture of consolation and help, providing an general responsive and bouncy really feel. It contours properly round your stress factors but is buoyant sufficient to simply change positions with out feeling “caught” within the foam. The design is straightforward: a 3-inch layer of 100% latex foam surrounded by a detachable natural cotton cowl. You may take away and wash the duvet, however be warned that placing it again on afterward will be tough.
A queen measurement retails for $663, making it one of many pricier mattress toppers we have examined. Factoring in Brooklyn Bedding’s frequent reductions can deliver the worth all the way down to $500, however that is nonetheless in the identical value vary as some budget-friendly mattresses.
Members of CNET’s sleep staff toured the 3Z manufacturing facility in Arizona for an inside have a look at how Brooklyn Bedding’s mattresses and toppers are manufactured. Study extra about how the foams are made and why it issues.
Runner-up: With its open-cell construction, the PlushBeds Pure Talalay Latex Topper might help you sleep cool by permitting your physique warmth to disperse. The GOLS-certified latex is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, out there in 2-inch and 3-inch thickness choices and 5 totally different firmness ranges.
Professionals:
- Three firmness choices
- Hypoallergenic and breathable supplies
- Sturdy and responsive
- Cotton cowl is machine cleanable
Cons:
- No straps to carry it in place on the mattress
- Costly
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 3 inches
- Firmness: Gentle, medium or agency
- Guarantee: 3-year guarantee
- Trial: 30 nights
The Brooklinen Down Various Mattress Topper is a good possibility if you happen to’re in search of a lightweight and fluffy topper that capabilities extra like a mattress pad or protector. Quite than having straps across the corners, this topper suits round your mattress like a sheet. It is thinner than the opposite toppers on this listing, that means it will not drastically alter the texture or firmness of your mattress. Nevertheless, it does add a skinny layer of softness and safety.
The scale are massive sufficient to suit mattresses as much as 18 inches tall, however remember that this implies it will not match tightly round a mattress that is round 15 inches thick or much less. The Brooklinen Down Various topper is tufted so the microgel fill stays evenly distributed, and it is wrapped in a clean, sturdy cotton casing. This topper can also be machine cleanable — so long as you wash in cool water and tumble dry on low.
It feels crisp and splendid, and although it will not make you sleep cooler, it should not warmth up at evening. Its tight waterproof barrier on the backside provides one other stage of safety towards spills and stains, serving to to maintain your mattress cleaner for longer.
Runner-up: The”> has a water-resistant cowl that wraps round your mattress like a sheet, functioning like a protector. Its cooling gel reminiscence foam gives aid for warm sleepers whereas offering zoned help for cushioning and help the place your physique wants it probably the most.
Professionals:
- Machine cleanable
- Protecting towards spills and stains
- Gentle and fluffy really feel
Cons:
- Not very thick
- Will not present a ton of help or stress aid
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 1 inch
- Firmness: Gentle
- Guarantee: 2-year guarantee
- Trial: 365 nights
How we check mattress toppers
CNET’s staff of sleep specialists has been testing mattresses, sleep equipment and bedding for years. We have developed standardized strategies of assessing and completely analyzing every product we check, whether or not beds, sheets, pillows, sleep masks or headphones. Our in depth roster of testing and reviewing expertise permits us to check and distinction mattress toppers — particularly when factoring in how acquainted we’re with the texture of mattresses with out them.
Firmness
Firmness is strictly what it appears like — how arduous or mushy is the mattress topper? Does it noticeably alter how agency or mushy your mattress is?
All through the mattress trade, firmness is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest. Although firmness is essentially subjective — how agency one thing feels to it’s possible you’ll differ for another person relying on physique weight and kind, private choice, sleeping place, and so on. — our staff also can check firmness objectively utilizing CNET’s proprietary Mattress Smasher 9000 gadget.
Along with testing firmness by having a number of sleep specialists lie on the toppers in every sleeping place, we utilized the smasher. Utilizing the identical mattress beneath as a management variable, we “smashed” every mattress topper to see if they really altered the firmness of the mattress in a method or one other based mostly on the supplies and supposed goal.
Our Mattress Smasher 9000 “smashes” the Helix GlacioTex Topper to check its firmness.
For instance, utilizing the Saatva Luxurious Hybrid mattress as a management (which has a firmness ranking of seven.2 out of 10), we smashed the luxurious plush model of the Helix GlacioTex Premium Topper. It lowered the firmness to a mean of 4.5 out of 10, that means the mattress went from medium-firm to only under medium — exactly the purpose of this plush topper.
Really feel
The texture can also be what it appears like — how does the mattress topper really feel while you lie on it? Does it alter the texture of your mattress? Is it plush and cushioning? Responsive and springy? Do you slowly sink into its layers? We do our greatest to investigate and describe what mendacity on the mattress topper in every sleeping place appears like. The texture is primarily decided by what they’re manufactured from — together with the kind of mattress you’ve got beneath it.
Getting a really feel for the latex foam within the Brooklyn Bedding 3″ Latex Topper.
Building
A mattress topper that adjusts the texture of your mattress may change sure traits that we check in mattresses, similar to edge help and movement isolation. Relying on the development and supplies, some mattress toppers can improve or worsen the sting help, which is how sturdy the perimeter of your mattress is. It might additionally improve or worsen the movement isolation, which is how nicely the mattress or topper deadens motion all through the floor. We check these components as we’d with some other mattress to supply an overarching clarification of how every mattress topper might carry out.
When assessing every mattress topper, we observe its thickness and general building. Many toppers are easy slabs of froth, although some supply a mixture of supplies that make it higher for some sleepers. For instance, the Helix GlacioTex Topper has a layer of micro-coils — a reasonably neat characteristic for a mattress topper that may improve help and sturdiness.
We additionally observe any extra encompasses a topper might have, like cooling know-how or straps that safe it to the mattress. If a model claims its mattress topper has cooling know-how, we study how true that’s and whether or not it helps you sleep actively cool or just temperature-neutral.
When attainable, we open the mattress toppers to look at the development and supplies.
Guarantee and trial data
Warranties and trial intervals are commonplace within the on-line mattress trade — nearly each model will supply them since you normally cannot check a bed-in-a-box mattress earlier than buying it. Whereas this principally applies to mattress toppers, some manufacturers don’t supply a trial interval or guarantee, and that is value factoring into your determination. All of those particulars are included for every topper on this listing.
What to think about when purchasing for a mattress topper
Mattress toppers differ considerably in value and high quality, and the right topper for additionally, you will rely in your private preferences, together with sleeping place, well being wants and the present situation of your mattress. To make sure you’re getting the most effective bang on your buck, preserve these key elements in thoughts whereas looking on-line:
- Materials: What the topper is manufactured from largely determines the way it feels. When you dislike feeling engulfed in dense reminiscence foam, take into account a topper with a combined or impartial foam really feel or pillow high as a substitute. Moreover, if environmental sustainability is vital to you, you will need to prioritize one with natural supplies similar to Birch, PlushBeds or Avocado.
- Thickness and firmness: The kind and thickness of the mattress topper’s supplies will decide how mushy or agency it’s. Realizing what end result you need from the topper will assist you slender down the thickness and firmness you must select.
- Extra options: Some toppers have additional options like cooling know-how, which is a good attribute to search for if you happen to usually get up drenched in sweat. Whereas not all cooling mattress toppers will actively cool you, many are breathable and permit airflow to assist regulate your physique temperature.
When you are likely to toss and switch at evening or sleep close to the sting of your mattress, you will need to ensure that your mattress topper is securely hooked up and will not shift as you do. Many manufacturers deal with this by including straps within the corners, grippy backings or a skirt in order that the topper wraps across the mattress like a sheet.
- Well being situations: When you have continual again or joint ache otherwise you’re sagging uncomfortably into your outdated mattress, take into account a medium-firm topper that may supply loads of help on your backbone — some toppers, just like the Dosaze DreamAlign, have zoned help and focused stress aid. On the flip facet, in case your mattress is just too agency and also you want one thing softer and extra cushioning round your hips and shoulders, take into account a mushy to medium-soft topper that is thicker (3 to 4 inches) to help you sink into the layers.
When you have aches, pains or soreness from sleeping on a saggy outdated mattress, it is in all probability time to improve your mattress. A topper is usually a nice momentary resolution, however typically a brand-new mattress is the only option — relying in your scenario and well being wants.
We observe all of the toppers’ options, together with whether or not they have straps or a grippy bottom (just like the Birch Plush Natural Topper proven right here).
What are the various kinds of toppers?
Like mattresses, toppers are available quite a few varieties of supplies. A few of the most typical embody:
Reminiscence foam
Reminiscence foam is created from polyurethane and added chemical substances that improve its density and temperature sensitivity. It gives stress aid as the froth warms up out of your physique warmth, permitting you to sink into the layers. It’s possibility for these in search of cushioning and contouring round their curves. Reminiscence foam isolates movement nicely, so that you should not really feel your associate transferring round as a lot if you happen to share the mattress — however it may possibly make it tougher to modify positions as it’s possible you’ll really feel extra “caught” within the foam.
Reminiscence foam isn’t as breathable or ethereal as different varieties of foam, which might make you sleep hotter because the supplies conform round your physique and retain warmth. To fight this concern, many manufacturers supply gel-infused reminiscence foam mattress toppers to assist dissipate your physique warmth.
Try: Tempur-Adapt Topper
Latex
Latex toppers are bouncier and customarily firmer than reminiscence foam, springing again into form faster and making it simpler to modify positions. They are a good possibility for individuals who need added stress aid however do not just like the sinking, conforming feeling of reminiscence foam. The perforations inside latex foam additionally improve airflow, serving to it sleep just a little cooler. Pure latex foam can also be hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, which is nice information for these with allergens or sensitivities.
Try: Saatva Pure Latex Mattress Topper
Feather or down
Toppers with down (the undercoat of birds) or feathers (outer chook feathers) are mushy and fluffy, normally encased in a cotton cowl. You may alter the quantity of filling so as to add kind of help, and so they sometimes require common fluffing to maintain their form, as they’ll compress and flatten over time. The airflow between feathers makes down and feather mattress toppers gentle and breathable, so that you should not overheat.
Try: Quince Luxe Downtop Featherbed Mattress Topper
Wool
Wool mattress toppers are natural and naturally breathable, serving to to wick away moisture whilst you sleep. They’re usually not very thick, so they will not present a ton of stress aid or help in comparison with different varieties of toppers.
Try: PlushBeds Pure Wool Mattress Topper
Artificial or polyester blends
Artificial or polyester mattress toppers are simpler on the pockets however supply the least quantity of help or cushioning. A mattress topper with a polyester mix feels just like feathers or down, which could possibly be a good selection if you would like a feather topper however have allergy symptoms. Nevertheless, remember that artificial manufacturing includes chemical substances. Polyester toppers additionally are likely to compress extra over time.
Try: Amazon CoonP Mattress Topper
Sure, a mattress topper might help enhance your sleep setup. Relying in your private wants, the correct mattress topper might help make your mattress really feel firmer or softer or add additional help and cushioning on your backbone and joints. It might enhance your general sleep high quality by resolving points along with your present mattress that will have been inflicting discomfort or maintaining you awake.
It might additionally alter the texture of your mattress if wanted — for instance, if you happen to understand you do not like the texture of dense reminiscence foam after buying a reminiscence foam mattress, a latex topper can add a bit extra bounce and responsiveness (and vice versa).
The commonest motive for getting a mattress topper is to make your mattress extra snug. It is less expensive than shopping for a completely new mattress and might prolong the lifespan of your present mattress by defending it from put on and tear or sagging. One more reason is to change the texture of your mattress — whether or not you need it to really feel extra cushioning and pressure-relieving with a luxurious topper or firmer and extra responsive with a latex one. Cooling mattress toppers might help regulate your physique temperature and forestall you from overheating at evening if you happen to’re a chronically scorching sleeper.
The primary distinction is that toppers are sometimes supposed to vary the firmness or really feel of your present mattress, whereas mattress pads are designed to guard the mattress from stains and spills.
Mattress pads are thinner than toppers (starting from 1 / 4 to 2 inches thick) and will not change your mattress’s firmness stage. They’ll barely alter the texture of your mattress by including a bit of additional plushness or cushioning, however normally not sufficient to note a big distinction.
You may doubtless need to go for a mattress topper that’s a minimum of two inches thick, nevertheless it depends upon private elements similar to your sleeping place and elegance, physique weight and the situation of your mattress.
Generally, lighter people will not want as thick of a mattress topper for it to make a distinction, whereas heavier people might have a barely thicker one for extra help. When you’re a facet sleeper, a thicker mattress topper can add extra stress aid and cushioning on your shoulders and hips. On the flip facet, a thinner mattress topper ought to be enough for again and abdomen sleepers — however remember that all of it depends upon the firmness, really feel and situation of your present mattress.
In case your mattress is fairly outdated, worn out or sagging, you will desire a thicker mattress topper that is a minimum of three to 4 inches tall.
It is a good suggestion to issue within the depth of your mattress topper when deciding sheet sizes. Take note, you will desire a deeper sheet measurement to suit it correctly.
Mattress toppers do not usually have to be flipped, however rotating them each few months is a good suggestion.
