How We Test Mattress Toppers for Pressure Relief, Thermoregulation, Motion Isolation, and Edge Support
Here, we detail our thorough processes for carrying out meticulous assessments to bring you recommendations and reviews you can trust
Emilia Hitching
If you'd like to know more about how we test mattress toppers here at Homes & Gardens, the process is simple, yet thorough.
As the resident Sleep Editor, I assign toppers to our team of hugely experienced testers from across the country, carefully matching them to ensure they solve the problem manufacturers claim they do: Cooling toppers for hot sleepers, softer toppers for side sleepers, supportive toppers for relieving chronic pain, and so on.
As a team of testers, we represent a wide range of body types, ages, and sleep styles, and most of us sleep with a partner, so you'll be able to find someone who sleeps like you.
Once matched, each tester sleeps on every topper for at least 30 nights before reporting back on their findings. For fairness, we assess each mattress topper against the same criteria: Pressure relief, thermoregulation, motion isolation, and edge support. We also consider the practicalities, including how well the topper fits the mattress and how easy it is to clean, as well as warranties, delivery, and the all-important price point.
To be included in our guide to the best mattress toppers, a mattress topper must perform well in all categories or excel to make up for its shortcomings − for example, it might lack in edge support, but boast impressive cooling qualities.
The Product
- Pressure relief: Pressure relief refers to the topper's ability to cushion and support body weight, and reduce aches and pains in high-tension areas like hips, necks, and backs.
- Thermoregulation: Thermoregulation is measured by how well a topper balances your temperature. A good topper should work to keep you cool and comfortable all night long as you sleep.
- Motion isolation: Motion isolation refers to how well a topper absorbs movement. This is particularly important if you share a bed with a partner, children, or pets. We're looking for impressive motion isolation that boasts minimal transfer.
- Edge support: Edge support prevents sagging around the edge of the mattress and increases stability as you get into and out of bed. We're looking for firm support that holds when you sit right on the edge.
The Practicalities
- Fit: We want to make sure each topper fits securely, without slipping and sliding throughout the night.
- Cleaning and maintenance: We assess how easy each topper is to clean. For example, a topper with a removable, machine-washable cover will score highly in this category.
- Warranties: How long a mattress topper's warranty is ensures good value for money.
- Price and value: At the end of the reviewing period, we determine whether the price of the topper is sufficiently reflected in the value and experience of sleeping on it.
What Our Testers Look for in a Mattress Topper's Pressure Relief Qualities
We begin by testing the pressure relief of each mattress topper.
We assess pressure relief by lying awake on the topper and switching between our front, back, and side to consider which sleep position feels most comfortable. The ideal mattress topper is one that keeps your spine straight, taking the pressure off your joints while stopping you from sinking too far into the surface, helping you to sleep better in turn.
That's just an initial impression. We then sleep on the toppers for the month-long period, taking our main sleep position − and the pressure points that it might exacerbate − into account.
For example, a side sleeper will likely find a medium or medium-soft mattress topper offers good pressure relief, but a topper that's too firm or too thin causes pressure issues around the shoulders and hips. Equally, a soft mattress topper will feel insufficiently supportive for a back or stomach sleeper, causing pressure problems in their back and neck.
Importantly, a topper's thickness is as important as its firmness. As a general rule, a thicker topper will feel softer, and a thinner one will feel firmer. In the absence of an industry-standard measurement of mattress firmness, we rate each mattress topper ourselves on a scale from Soft to Medium to Firm.
How firm a topper feels is also influenced by the mattress underneath it, and we take that into account too. A slow-moving memory foam mattress topper could counterbalance a firm, inflexible mattress. A firm topper, made from latex or high-density memory foam, could toughen up a soft mattress, but it's no long-term solution for a sagging, aging mattress, particularly if you've already started spotting signs you're sleeping on a bad mattress.
How We Assess Each Mattress Topper's Thermoregulation Qualities
Thermoregulation relates to how cool or hot a mattress keeps or makes us as we sleep.
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, noting any changes, and comparing them with toppers we have tried before.
We even switch off our AC and sleep through heatwaves and hot nights, making note of any times we wake up in a sweat.
In our search for the best cooling mattress toppers, which are always matched to hot sleepers for testing, we also consider the science of the materials. We scour the specifications for mentions of gel-infused memory foam, ventilated foam, or cooling covers that incorporate materials like bamboo and TENCEL.
As a general rule, natural fibers, such as latex, tend to be more breathable and effective at keeping a bed cool in summer than synthetic substances, such as memory foam.
How We Test the Motion Isolation of Each Mattress Topper
We use weights to test the motion isolation of mattress toppers, shown here for our review of the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper.
To measure motion isolation, we fill a glass with water and set it on the topper. Then, we apply pressure across the topper, usually with a weight, 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.
We also test this when using the toppers for a month, noting whether we are more or less disturbed by our partners, children, or pets, and ask our partners for their experiences, too.
In general, memory foam mattress toppers tend to have the best motion isolation, since foam is made to absorb movement, while latex toppers are springy and responsive. Then again, if you're looking for a mattress topper with a bit of bounce to counterbalance a firm, inflexible mattress, you might not mind a bit of motion transfer − it's a matter of personal preference.
How We Assess Edge Support
Here, you can see our expert tester Meg St-Espirit testing the edge support of the Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress for her review.
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 will be to get into and out of bed.
We also use the same weight-and-water-glass combination, or just a weight, from the motion isolation test to reinforce our findings, moving them to the edge of the mattress topper and measuring how much, if any, water spills.
A mattress topper with good edge support will feel comfortable to sit or sleep on, and makes it easier to get into and out of bed, which is particularly important for anyone who struggles with mobility or chronic pain.
Practical Points
Each of these practicalities play an important role in how we test mattress toppers.
Slippage: One of the most important tests for a mattress topper is purely practical: Does it stay on the mattress? Ideally, we're looking for sturdy corner straps for a snug, secure fit. If a mattress topper keeps sliding from side to side, and we keep having to adjust it in the middle of the night, that's proof it isn't fit for purpose.
Cleaning: We're also interested in how easy it is to clean and care for each mattress topper. A mattress topper with a removable, machine-washable cover will score highest in this category.
Warranties: We'll make note of the length of the mattress topper warranty as an indication of durability, as well as any mattress topper sleep trials that allow you to test the topper at home before you commit to your purchase.
Off-gassing: Most mattress toppers arrive plastic-wrapped and vacuum-packed in cardboard boxes, delivered to your door. Sometimes, as we unbox our toppers, we notice a chemical smell. That's a tell-tale sign of the mattress off-gassing, releasing VOCs into the air as it inflates to full size.
For the most part, the smell is completely harmless, but it is unpleasant. We've learned to leave our toppers for at least 24 hours before we try to sleep on them, closing the door to the testing room and cracking open a window to let the smell out.
Verified customer reviews: We like to compare our findings against verified reviews, which is the quickest way to pick up, consider, and debunk any common customer concerns.
Price vs Value for Money
Finally, we determine the value for money.
We consider our findings against the cost of the mattress, factoring in sleep trials and delivery charges, to help you determine value for money.
At the end of each review, we take stock of our results and bring it all back to the price of the topper. In our time, we've tested some seriously luxe models (the most expensive is the Saatva Organic Quilted Mattress Topper), as well as some more affordable options, such as the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper.
It wouldn't be fair to rank an outstanding affordable topper below a more expensive option just because it's missing a few special features. That's why we compare the price of a mattress topper against its performance to rate it on its own terms. For a good price, we might forgive, but still mention in our reviews, a few minor faults in motion isolation or edge support, for example.
Meet the Testers
As the Sleep Editor here at Homes & Gardens, I lead our team of expert testers, matching them with products that meet their needs, sleep style, and body type − hot sleepers with solutions to keep them cool and comfortable, sleepers with back pain with supportive, pressure-relieving items, and so on. My role also involves hunting down the best deals, and testing all things sleep in my own home, from bedding and pillows to protectors and toppers. Recently, I tested (and am still enjoying) the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper.
Meg is one of our regular freelance product testers. She likes a firm mattress to ease her chronic lower back pain and take the weight off her joints. She has reviewed the Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper, and the Viscosoft High-Density Mattress Topper, as well as duvets, comforters, mattresses, and pillows.
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. She has reviewed the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Topper.
Jamie is one of our freelance reviewers. She's tested three toppers for Homes & Gardens: Saatva's Organic Quilted Mattress Topper, the Nolah Mattress Topper, and the Turmerry Latex Mattress Topper, along with three mattresses. As a back and stomach sleeper, Jamie appreciates a firmer surface to keep her spine straight.
Louise is our former Sleep Editor. In her time at Homes & Gardens, she tested all manner of mattresses, toppers, pillows, and bedding, including the Earthfoam Mattress Topper and the Coop Retreat Mattress Topper. As a side sleeper, Louise needs a mattress topper that's firm enough to support her spine yet soft enough to cushion her joints.
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. She has tested the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper, and the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper.
We test mattresses just as thoroughly as we test mattress toppers. And don't forget, before you buy a mattress topper, check the returns policy. That way, if it doesn't suit you, you are most likely able to return it with no issues.
Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.