Best mattress topper − tried and tested for comfort, cooling, and cost

The best mattress topper could transform the look and feel of your mattress for a fraction of the price of a brand-new bed. It's an easy and affordable way to add an extra layer of cushioning to a firm, inflexible mattress or sleeper sofa. With so many mattress topper makes and models, it can be difficult to know where to start shopping.

That's where I come in. As Homes & Gardens' resident Sleep Editor and in-house expert, I lead a team of mattress testers across America. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, body types, and sleep styles, so we know the pros and cons of different toppers for different sleepers. We've spent years in the mattress industry, testing foam, feather and down, and latex models in the search to find the world's best mattress topper.

We sleep on each topper for eight hours a night, seven nights a week, for a minimum of 30 days before we write our reviews. That's hundreds of hours of testing for pressure relief, thermoregulation, motion isolation, and edge support. We also consider the practicalities of buying a mattress topper, including delivery, sleep trials, warranties, and price. Our reigning champion is the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper, which combines the contouring comfort and motion isolation of memory foam with a cooling cover for thermoregulation. Still, you might find that another of our tested toppers is a better match for you. Follow my mattress topper buying rules and you won't go far wrong.

Best mattress topper – 6 tested options at a glance

Quick disclosure: we tested these toppers prior to our implementation of a more scientific testing method. Going forward, our tests will look a lot more qualitative. For now, though, our testers feel confident in the scores they gave and how each topper compares against the others we've tested.

Below, you'll find a bite-size summary of each topper, including who it suits and how it feels. Make sure to use my mattress jargon buster to define any unfamiliar terms. To learn more about a particular product, keep scrolling, or hit 'read more below' to skip straight to that section. There, I've listed the need-to-know specs, including thickness and firmness, before diving into the details of our testing experience.

The best mattress topper overall

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The Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper is our reigning champion for the title of 'best mattress topper', three years running. According to our expert tester, Alexandra Pamias, the Tempur-Topper is suitable for all sleep positions, with a stretch-knit cooling cover to soothe hot sleepers on summer nights.

'As a side sleeper, I immediately noticed a difference between the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper and other memory foam models I've tried in the past,' says Alexandra. 'I felt like I was sleeping on top of the topper, rather than sinking into it. The memory foam contoured around my curves to bear my weight, keeping my hips and knees from sinking too far beneath my neck and shoulders. I felt like my spine was in perfect alignment.'

Like any decent foam mattress topper, the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper boasts excellent motion isolation, which is good news for light sleepers and anyone who shares a bed with a pet or partner. It's the edge support that's really impressive: Alexandra could comfortably sit on the side of the topper without feeling like she was about to slip off. Unlike some of the other entries on this list, the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper comes with stretchy corner straps to comfortably accommodate thick mattresses.

Alexandra likes almost everything about the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper. She's confident you will, too, but warns that there's no mattress sleep trial period: you won't be able to refund your topper if you don't like it. It's also worth knowing that the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper retails for $419 for a Queen, and the cooling cover costs extra. Still, you can save 40% when you shop with our code TOPPERS40.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Alexandra Pamias

Alexandra is one of our freelance reviewers, whose work features in TechRadar and Top Ten Reviews. As a side sleeper, Alexandra needs a topper that's soft yet supportive to keep her hips and knees in line with her neck and shoulders. As a restless sleeper who shares a bed, she looks for excellent motion isolation to help her partner sleep undisturbed. Read the full review: Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper

Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper | $251.40 at Tempur-Pedic with TOPPERS40

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The best mattress topper for back pain

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I asked Dr. Clayton Skaggs, a chiropractor with the Central Institute for Human Performance, what makes a good mattress topper for back pain. First, he wants to clarify that 'A good mattress or type of bed can rarely speed the recovery or resolve someone with back pain. But a poor or undesirable bed or mattress can sure slow the recovery down. The right mattress can be an asset and help with someone’s sleep which is essential and important for resilience.'

I asked Dr. Clayton which mattress topper types are best for back pain. Although he hesitates to prescribe one solution for all sleepers, Dr. Clayton notes that 'natural and ideally organic wool, latex and cotton are the least toxic and provide for good air flow and temperature neutrality. Steer clear of flame retardants, formaldehyde, and other pollutants. Natural chemicals and materials can contribute to less inflammation which is present in most back pain conditions. Less inflammation, less back pain.'

I combed through our back catalog of reviews to find the mattress topper that best matches Dr. Clayton's description and landed on the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper. 'With just enough sinkage to feel supportive, this latex mattress topper feels a lot like memory foam, only without the heat retention or questionable eco-credentials,' says expert tester Antonia Santoro. 'There's nothing better for natural pressure relief. It's a great option for anyone who suffers from backache.'

Avocado makes some of the best organic mattress toppers. The latex is GOLS certified, the cotton is GOTS certified, and the whole thing is certified MADE SAFE. Antonia says that 'the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper is proof you don't have to compromise your comfort for your conscience.'

'If the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper came with corner straps, I'd give it the full five stars,' says Antonia. In the absence of a stretchy knit skirt or a grip pad on the underside, you'll have to learn how to keep your mattress topper from sliding if you buy the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper. Alternatively, you could opt for a mattress topper with corner straps, such as the Tempur-Adapt Tempur-Topper.

Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper | Was $299, now $269 at Avocado

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Antonia Santoro

Antonia is one of our freelance reviewers. She tested the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper alongside the Avocado Green Mattress as an affordable alternative. As a side sleeper, Antonia puts a lot of pressure on her joints, and she needs a mattress to bear her weight and ease her aches and pains. Read the full review: Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper

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The best cooling mattress topper

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If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you always seem to wake up warm, then the problem might just be your mattress, trapping heat. You could spend thousands of dollars on the best cooling mattress, or you could get the look and feel for less with the best cooling mattress topper.

'I started testing the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper in the middle of the hottest summer New England has ever seen, so I can confirm it lives up to those cooling claims,' says expert tester Kaitlin Madden. Graphite is a highly conductive material, which works to channel excess thermal energy away from the body and out of the bed. The Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper works to dissipate heat, wick moisture, and block odors, so you can stay cool in the night and wake up feeling refreshed.

'On a firmness scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is super-soft and 10 is ultra-supportive, I'd rate the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper around a 5 or a 6,' says Kaitlin. 'The best way to describe it is to show you a picture of my handprint in the mattress (in the picture gallery above). You can see that the topper contoured around the shape of my hand to bear my weight, all the while sinking no more than an inch.' If you know you need a firm surface, I suggest the Nolah Mattress Topper, instead.

'I couldn't review the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper without mentioning the price,' Kaitlin concludes. A Queen-sized topper goes for $445, though you might be able to save a little money in this mattress sales. Still, at that price, you might as well skip the mattress topper in favor of the best affordable mattress.

Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper | $445 at Saatva

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Kaitlin Madden

Kaitlin is one of our freelance reviewers, whose work features in Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Martha Stewart Living, and more. As a short-term rental host, Kaitlin is looking for a mattress topper to suit all sleep styles and accommodate all her guests. As a hot sleeper hosting through the summer, Kaitlin needs a topper to keep herself and her guests cool.

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The best mattress topper for side sleepers

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According to common consensus amongst physical therapists and sleep scientists, the best mattress firmness for side sleepers is medium-firm. That's soft enough to cushion your hips, knees, ankles, and shoulders, but not so soft that you start to sink into the surface, throwing your spine out of alignment. Out of all the toppers we've tested, the Earthfoam Mattress Topper strikes the best balance between strength and softness.

'I started sleeping on the Earthfoam Mattress Topper back in spring 2023,' says expert tester Louise Oliphant. 'Just two inches thick, this organic latex layer has more bounce and less depth than memory foam. While the latex core offers springy support, the comfort layers of organic wool and cotton contoured around my curves to take the pressure off my joints. Just a few nights into testing, I was falling asleep faster and waking up without any of my usual aches.'

Now, the Earthfoam Mattress Topper is on the more expensive side, retailing for $349 for a Queen. Then again, organic latex is an incredibly expensive material to manufacture, and Earthfoam doesn't cut any corners. Their latex is GOLS certified, their wool and cotton is GOTS certified, and the mattress topper as a whole is certified Fair for Life, indicating responsible supply chains. The Earthfoam Mattress Topper is a good option for eco-conscious shoppers.

'Unlike dense memory foam, latex has an open-cell structure with plenty of air pockets to boost breathability throughout the bed,' says Louise. All the same, she slept a little warm with the Earthfoam Mattress Topper. If you're a hot sleeper, and you're keen to shop sustainably, I suggest the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper, instead.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Louise Oliphant

Louise is our former Sleep Editor. In her time at Homes & Gardens, she tested all manner of mattresses, toppers, pillows, and bedding. As a side sleeper, Louise needs a mattress topper that's firm enough to support her spine yet soft enough to cushion her joints. Read the full review: Earthfoam Mattress Topper

Earthfoam Mattress Topper | $349 at Earthfoam

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The best memory foam mattress topper

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Right before she started testing the Earthfoam Mattress Topper, Louise was sleeping on the Coop Retreat Mattress Topper. Where the Earthfoam feels firm, the Coop feels soft and squishy, filled with five inches of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber to form a plush pillow-top. It's just the thing to soften up a firm, inflexible mattress.

'Memory foam is made to cushion your joints and bear your weight to relieve pain,' explains Louise. 'Where a firmer surface might apply more pressure to the affected area, the Coop Retreat Mattress Topper acts as a pillow. I typically suffer from knee pain, but I noticed that the aches subsided a few nights into testing.'

Just because the Coop Retreat Mattress is soft doesn't mean it's unsupportive. If you sleep on your side, like Louise, you might appreciate the enhanced sinkage. 'I need my knees to stick together, instead of overlapping, so I don't feel a twinge in my lower back,' says Louise. 'The Coop Retreat Mattress Topper allowed me to sleep in the optimal position. The foam cushioned my body and cradled by joints.'

Still, if you sleep on your back or stomach, I suggest you opt for a firmer surface, such as the Nolah Mattress Topper. If you love the feel of memory foam, but you're a hot sleeper, then you need a specialist cooling topper, such as the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper.

Coop Retreat Mattress Topper | $299 at Coop Sleep Goods

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The best firm mattress topper

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If you sleep on your back or stomach, you need a firmer surface to keep your pelvis from sinking too far into the mattress and throwing your spine out of alignment. Filled with high-density memory foam, the Nolah Mattress Topper is made to toughen up soft, sagging mattresses.

Expert tester Jamie Davis Smith bought a new bed a few years back. She appreciated the soft support, but her husband was waking up in agony. 'I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours trying and buying a new mattress that might not even meet my husband's needs,' says Jamie. 'That's where the Nolah Mattress Topper comes in. Since we started testing, my husband says his back pain has completely disappeared, which is proof it was never a musculoskeletal issue, but a mattress issue.'

Much like the Nolah Original Mattress, the Nolah Mattress Topper is filled with memory foam and strategically perforated to boost breathability throughout the bed. 'As a woman of a certain age, I've suffered from night sweats and hot flashes, but I didn't have any thermoregulatory issues with the Nolah Mattress Topper,' says Jamie. Still, if you're a really hot sleeper, or you live in a warmer climate, you'll appreciate the cooling comfort of the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper.

A word of warning: when Jamie first unboxed the Nolah mattress Topper, she noticed a chemical sort of smell from the mattress off-gassing. It's totally harmless, and typical of memory foam, but it's pretty unpleasant. Jamie decided to leave the topper for 24 hours in a ventilated room before she started testing, and I suggest you do the same.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is one of our freelance reviewers. She's tested three toppers for Homes & Gardens, including two made from organic latex, but this memory foam model is her favorite. As a back and stomach sleeper, Jamie appreciates a firmer surface to keep her spine straight. Read the full review: Nolah Mattress Topper

Nolah Mattress Topper | Was $449, now $292 at Nolah

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Best mattress topper – Side by Side

Honorable mentions

Over the years, our expert team has tested a whole range of toppers. My top 6 represents the very best for pressure relief, thermoregulation, motion isolation, and edge support. Still, I wanted to shout out three more toppers that performed well in our tests that might meet your needs.

How we test mattress toppers

I lead a team of seasoned product testers across the country to rank and review mattress toppers. We test each topper for at least 30 nights before we publish our initial review. This gives the most accurate indication of future performance, while accounting for the time it takes to get used to a new topper. As Homes & Gardens' resident sleep writer, it's my job to check in with my testing team and continue to monitor the performance of each product. If I hear that a topper is starting to sag and lose support, I'll remove it from the buying guide and edit the review to reflect our findings.

We assess each mattress topper against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. The Homes & Gardens mattress topper review process is editorially independent and not influenced by third parties. To learn more about how we test mattress toppers at Homes & Gardens, consult our expert guide.

We assess pressure relief by lying on the topper and switching between our front, back, and side. We consider which position feels most comfortable, scoring out of five. We assess thermoregulation by paying attention to how our body temperature changes in the night, taking into account the time of year and the temperature in the bedroom. To measure motion isolation, we fill a glass with water and set it on the topper. Then, we apply pressure across the topper, moving closer to the glass. The more the glass moves, and the more water spills, the worse the motion isolation, and the less suitable the topper for couples and light sleepers. To assess edge support, we sit on the side of the topper and measure how far we sink. The further we fall, the worse the edge support, and the harder it might be to get into and out of bed.

We like to compare our results against verified customer reviews. It's the best way to pick out recurring concerns or problems with a mattress. We consider our findings against the cost of the mattress, factoring in sleep trials and delivery charges, to help you determine value for money.

How to choose a mattress topper

A mattress topper is an invaluable bit of bedding for anyone buying on a budget. To make sure you don't waste your money, you want to get it right the first time. Here are the most important considerations to keep in mind while shopping.

The current state of your mattress

As a Sleep Editor, I'm often asked when to buy a mattress topper. My answer depends on the current state of your mattress: how long you've had it and what condition it's in.

If you've had your mattress for a long time – upwards of seven years − and you can feel the foam deforming and the coils creaking, then it might be time to replace your mattress. Even the best topper can't stop time or fix the structural issues inside your mattress.

If you've only had your mattress for a few years or less, but you can't get comfortable, then a mattress topper might be able to change the look and feel of your bed. To work out what sort of topper you need, lie down on your mattress and settle into your usual sleep position. If you feel like you're sinking through the mattress, and your spine is starting to curve, that's a surefire sign that your mattress is too soft. If you feel like your hips and shoulders are getting crushed against the surface of the mattress, then it might be that your mattress is too firm.

Your sleep position

Your sleep position – whether you lie on your front, back, or side − impacts your spinal alignment and informs what sort of mattress feels best for you.

Without trying a topper in person, the best way to understand how it might feel on your bed is to talk in terms of mattress firmness. Some brands rate firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is super-soft and 10 is ultra-firm. Others prefer to categorize their toppers as Soft, Medium-Soft, Medium, Medium-Firm, and Firm.

Side sleepers need a softer surface to cushion their joints while supporting their hips to keep their spine straight. Back sleepers tend to appreciate a medium-firm topper to stop their hips from sinking into the surface of the mattress, while stomach sleepers need a firm topper to keep their hips in line with their chest.

Your spinal alignment

'Your spine has a natural S-curve that is ideally maintained day and night,' says Dr. Thomas Pontinen, pain expert and co-founder of Chicago's largest pain center, MAPS. 'Back pain can rapidly devolve if you're sleeping in a non-neutral spinal position, especially if there are other factors at play, like an injury or chronic pain.'

Dr Thomas says that 'proper spinal alignment will depend on your sleep position. While lying on on your side, your hips should not sink too much or too little: same with your arms and shoulders. Ideally, the center of your chest should line up and be level with the center of your pelvis. A pillow between both legs can also help to keep your pelvis aligned.'

I asked Dr. Sherry McAllister, President of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, what sorts of mattress toppers she recommends for different styles of sleepers. Dr. Sherry says that 'back sleepers typically benefit from firmer toppers to prevent excessive sinking that can stress the joints of the spine. My research indicates that a 40mm topper is ideal. Side sleepers may need a softer topper to ensure support for the shoulder and hip. These are areas that can become pressure points. Stomach sleeping is not recommended, as it leads to reversing the lower back curve (lordosis) while sleeping. However, if you have trouble breaking the habit of stomach sleeping, best to have a firmer mattress topper to support the body in this position.'

Your sleep temperature

If you suffer from hot flashes or night sweats, or you live in a warm climate, then you need one of the best cooling mattress toppers (or pads) to regulate your temperature. As a general rule, I recommend natural materials, such as latex, for their breathability, although some memory foam models incorporate phase change materials for active cooling.

Your budget

Some mattress toppers are seriously expensive. Our expert tester Jamie Davis Smith slept on the Saatva Organic Quilted Mattress Topper, which goes for a little less than $1,000 for a Queen. You don't need to spend anywhere near that much to get a good mattress topper. I'd expect to spend somewhere in the remit of $200 - $400, though you do find more affordable options on Amazon. Just make sure you read the customer reviews before you buy.

Cited sources

• Dr. Clayton Skaggs, a chiropractor with the Central Institute for Human Performance and author of The Power of Doing What Matters
• Dr. Thomas Pontinen, co-founder and physician with the MAPS Centers for Pain Control
• Dr. Sherry McAllister, President of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
• Lee Yu-Chi et al, 'Better combination of thickness and hardness of mattress topper for supine sleeping posture', International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics (July 2020)
• Fan-Zhe Low et al, 'Effects of Mattress Material on Body Pressure Profiles in Different Sleeping Postures', Journal of Chiropractic Medicine (March 2017)
• National Library of Medicine, 'In brief: How does the spine work?' (last updated May 11, 2022)

FAQs

Why should I buy a mattress topper?

If you can't get comfortable on your bed, then a mattress topper could be an easy and affordable solution to your problems.

Perhaps you've got a soft, sagging mattress that you want to toughen up. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, maybe you've got a firm, inflexible mattress, and you could use a bit of plush comfort. The best mattress topper could help you get comfortable and tide you over until you're able to afford a new mattress.

Where does a mattress topper actually go?

Your mattress topper goes above your mattress and beneath your fitted sheet. If you're also using one of the best mattress protectors, then you should still place your mattress topper directly over your mattress, beneath your protector and your bed sheets.

Even the best mattress topper should only ever be a short-term solution. If you've slept in the same bed for more than seven years, and your mattress is starting to squeak and sag, then it might be time to invest in the best mattress. I've ranked and reviewed 9 of the best innersprings, hybrids, latex beds, and memory foam models to suit every sort of sleeper.