As the resident Sleep Editor here at Homes & Gardens, I'm often asked how to keep a mattress topper from sliding. The whole point of a topper is to make your mattress more comfortable. If your mattress topper is bunching towards the bottom of the bed or shifting as you move in your sleep, then it isn't doing its job.
Many of the best mattress toppers come with corner straps to ensure a secure fit, while others feature a no-slip grip pad on the underside. If you've bought a basic topper from a local home store, then you might be missing some of these special features that hold your topper in position.
Luckily for you, there are ways to keep your mattress topper from sliding. I'm drawing on my hard-won wisdom as a product tester to recommend practical solutions, incorporating items you already have at home. Just in case you're missing any essentials, I've picked out a few of my favorite products to solve the problem.
How to keep your mattress topper from sliding – 6 quick fixes
Before you can solve the problem, you need to work out why your mattress topper might be moving around. 'First things first: you need to take your mattress topper off the bed and have a good look at it,' says James Leinhardt, inventor of Levitex, a sleep tech company.
'As you inspect your topper, consider: are there any elasticated corners to grab hold of the mattress? Look at the material on the base and feel it for friction: could this topper realistically maintain contact with your mattress?'
If you feel a smooth surface without any elasticated corners or straps to grip your mattress, then that might be the reason your topper keeps sliding. Alternatively, you might have bought the wrong size topper for your mattress. Double-check your dimensions against our mattress size chart.
This pad features a dual-sided grip to grab hold of your mattress and your topper at the same time. Available in every size from Twin to King, with special options for couch seats and armchair cushions, Gorilla Grip gets to work in any sleep space. It gets a great write up on Amazon, with more than 8,000 verified five-star reviews.
You could pick up smaller strips from your local hardware store, but I buy my Velcro in bulk from Amazon: this 16 foot roll costs less than $1 per foot. Tape Velcro around the corners and edges of your mattress, perhaps with a diagonal strip across the center for more security. Then, position your topper in line with the tape and press down to bond.
Also known as sheet straps, bed sheet holders are elasticated bands with clips on either end. Originally designed to clip onto fitted sheets, you could repurpose sheet fasteners by clipping a strap to each corner of the topper and sliding the band under the mattress. One pack from Target contains 10 clips, enough to go all the way around your bed base to secure your topper from all angles.
I can almost guarantee that you've got some cloth tape hidden away in your kitchen drawer or tool kit. If you haven't, you can pick up 8 yards of Double Sided Cloth Tape for less than $8 per roll at Home Depot. Simply cut some strips, stick them to the corners of your mattress, and lower your topper onto the double-sided tape. I recommend cloth tape over duct tape because it's easier to remove and replace if you get the wrong angle.
Another way to stop a mattress topper from shifting is to wrap your mattress and your topper tightly together in a mattress encasement: a special sort of protector that covers the top, bottom, and all four sides of a mattress. The SureGuard Mattress Encasement is one of Amazon's best-sellers, with more than 16,000 verified five-star reviews. 'I like the roominess of this product,' reads a recent review. 'It fits our queen mattress without any stress or strain,' so it could easily accommodate a topper.
A nice, tight fitted sheet with deep pockets should help to weigh down your mattress topper. I'm in the middle of testing this sheet set from Sleep Number, and I think the elasticized edges and anchor bands at the corner seams would create a snug, secure fit around your mattress and topper. As for the sheets themselves, they're loosely woven from cotton percale, which is cool and crisp, the sort of sheeting you find in luxury hotels.
If you've tried everything, and your mattress topper keeps sliding, then it might be time to get a new one with sturdy corner straps. I've combed through our back catalog of reviews to bring you the best mattress toppers to suit every sleep position and every budget.
I often hesitate to recommend the Tempur-Adapt Topper because it's so expensive, but you can save more than $150 when you shop with our code TOPPERS40. 'The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Topper ticks all my boxes,' says expert tester Alexandra Pamias. 'It's thermoregulating, pressure-relieving, and highly supportive, especially around the edges.'
Read the full review: Tempur-Adapt Topper
'I spent the summer sleeping on the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper. I'd give it top scores for pressure relief, thermoregulation, motion isolation, and edge support, with a special shout out to those stretchy corner straps,' says expert tester Kaitlin Madden.
Read the full review: Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
'This firm memory foam mattress topper is just the thing to toughen up a soft, sagging mattress,' says expert tester Jamie Davis Smith. 'For a little less than $250, you get deep support, excellent motion isolation, and pressure relief around your hips, knees, and shoulders.'
Read the full review: Nolah Mattress Topper
It's worth saying that a mattress topper is only ever a quick fix for a more persistent problem with a mattress. If you're considering buying a new topper, you might better off saving your money to buy the best mattress you can afford and solving the root of your sleep problems.
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