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 it’s good to eke out a bit extra life out of your mattress earlier than you substitute it — perhaps you are near transferring or ready for the mattress offers that intensify round nearly each vacation — a mattress topper is your finest guess.
Whether or not you favor reminiscence foam, latex, wool or down, toppers add consolation and safety and might improve sleep high quality — and for much lower than the $1,000 a yr 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 exterior its return window earlier than you realized it wasn’t fairly what you wanted.
CNET’s sleep consultants have been testing mattresses and their toppers for years. Primarily based on firmness, really feel, development and guarantee, these are our greatest mattress toppers for aspect sleepers, scorching sleepers, those that favor a softer mattress and other people on a price range. Costs are for queen mattress toppers, and this checklist is frequently up to date — so test again typically.
A handful of the toppers we have examined are stacked collectively in our mattress testing facility.
Finest total mattress topper
We selected Nest Bedding’s Cooling Topper as one of the best total, due to its impartial really feel and responsive, breathable foam. It gives a cushty mixture of assist and strain aid. Regardless of its identify, this mattress topper shouldn’t be actively cooling, nevertheless it ought to assist preserve you temperature-neutral all through the night time. Nest Bedding’s mattresses and toppers are additionally CertiPUR-US licensed and freed from dangerous toxins and chemical substances.
Finest mattress toppers for 2025
The Nest Bedding Cooling Topper is an accommodating mattress topper that gives assist and cushioning with out drastically altering the texture or firmness of your mattress. It has a impartial really feel due to 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 contemplate it overly cooling — however to be truthful, most mattresses and toppers should not truly cooling until they characteristic particular cooling know-how. This topper has breathable supplies and an open polymer design that permits 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 strain 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 degree is 7.2. With the topper on the mattress, the smasher supplied a median firmness degree of 6.7, making the texture barely softer however not considerably. Total, it is a comfortable, comfortable 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 would advocate plush for aspect 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:
- Comfy and accommodating impartial really feel
- Offers strain aid and assist
- Easy design with breathable supplies
- Straps in every nook for securing to the mattress
Cons:
- Not actively cooling (regardless of the identify)
- 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 light-weight 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 crew does not discover it overly cooling; nevertheless, it would enable you sleep temperature-neutral. In case you’re an especially scorching sleeper who wants additional cooling know-how that will help you relax at night time, take a look at our checklist of the Finest 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 score of seven can be softened to someplace between 5 and 6. That is notably nice for aspect sleepers wanting additional cushion and strain aid across the shoulders and hips or for these at present sleeping on a mattress that is merely method too agency.
Runner-up: In case you’re a aspect sleeper in search of one thing extremely plush and fluffy (that is not foam), contemplate Saatva’s Down Different Featherbed Mattress Topper. It is stuffed with hypoallergenic down and lyocell fiber and is comfortable 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 aspect sleepers
- Straps for securing to the mattress
Cons:
- Is perhaps too comfortable 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
Sizzling 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 good in case you’re trying to stop overheating at night time. It has two firmness choices, so you possibly can select one of the best one primarily based in your sleeping place and choice. Its distinctive hybrid design with metal micro-coils and high-density foams makes it one of the vital sturdy and supportive toppers we have examined — and a very nice choice 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 in case you’re a aspect sleeper or your mattress is just too agency and also you need extra strain aid.
The luxurious agency mannequin felt fairly agency once 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 influence the mattress’s firmness degree as a lot because the plush, bringing it down barely from 7.2 to six out of 10. We advocate this mannequin in order for you just a little extra assist 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 comfortable
- 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 strain 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 exhausting 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 aspect, as most reminiscence foams do. “Do notice that it does warmth up at night time. I am a scorching sleeper, and I typically [when I would sleep on it, I don’t anymore] get up sweating through the summer season because it absorbs a lot of my physique warmth,” Caroline says.
The Linenspa Reminiscence Foam Topper is offered in 2- and 3-inch top choices. We advocate going with the 3-inch profile in case you’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 superb, inexpensive choice 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 give cooling consolation and strain 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 worth for the standard
- Two top choices
- Offers strain 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 among the most eco-friendly we have examined. The Eco Natural Mattress Topper (my private favourite) is offered 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 degree. It provides an opulent layer of consolation and assist to your mattress and should barely alter the firmness of your mattress relying on what you sleep on (it did not change the general firmness of the mattress once we examined the topper with our Mattress Smasher 9000, holding the firmness degree at 7.2). It gives a responsive pillow-top really feel that may assist relieve strain round your joints and supply extra assist for wholesome spinal alignment.
If you’d like a a lot softer really feel, we advocate the 3-inch plush mannequin, which gives added contouring and plushness, which we would advocate for aspect and mixture sleepers. Each forms 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 look 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 comfortable 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 comfortable
- Guarantee: 1-year guarantee
- Trial: 100 nights
Brooklyn Bedding’s 3″ Latex Topper is obtainable in comfortable, medium or agency consolation ranges, so it might 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 assist, providing an total responsive and bouncy really feel. It contours properly round your strain factors but is buoyant sufficient to simply swap positions with out feeling “caught” within the foam. The design is easy: a 3-inch layer of 100% latex foam surrounded by a detachable natural cotton cowl. You possibly can take away and wash the quilt, however be warned that placing it again on afterward could 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 worth vary as some budget-friendly mattresses.
Members of CNET’s sleep crew toured the 3Z manufacturing unit 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, obtainable 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 mechanically 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 Different Mattress Topper is a good choice in case you’re in search of a light-weight 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 checklist, 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 size are massive sufficient to suit mattresses as much as 18 inches tall, however take into account that this implies it will not match tightly round a mattress that is round 15 inches thick or much less. The Brooklinen Down Different topper is tufted so the microgel fill stays evenly distributed, and it is wrapped in a easy, sturdy cotton casing. This topper can be mechanically 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 night time. Its tight waterproof barrier on the backside provides one other degree of safety in opposition to 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 decent sleepers whereas offering zoned assist for cushioning and assist the place your physique wants it probably the most.
Professionals:
- Mechanically cleanable
- Protecting in opposition to spills and stains
- Mild and fluffy really feel
Cons:
- Not very thick
- Will not present a ton of assist or strain aid
Extra particulars:
- Thickness: 1 inch
- Firmness: Gentle
- Guarantee: 2-year guarantee
- Trial: 365 nights
How we take a look at mattress toppers
CNET’s crew of sleep consultants has been testing mattresses, sleep equipment and bedding for years. We have developed standardized strategies of assessing and totally analyzing every product we take a look at, whether or not beds, sheets, pillows, sleep masks or headphones. Our in depth roster of testing and reviewing expertise permits us to match and distinction mattress toppers — particularly when factoring in how acquainted we’re with the texture of mattresses with out them.
Firmness
Firmness is precisely what it seems like — how exhausting or comfortable is the mattress topper? Does it noticeably alter how agency or comfortable 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 chances are you’ll differ for another person relying on physique weight and kind, private choice, sleeping place, and so on. — our crew may take a look at firmness objectively utilizing CNET’s proprietary Mattress Smasher 9000 gadget.
Along with testing firmness by having a number of sleep consultants 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 technique or one other primarily based on the supplies and meant function.
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 score of seven.2 out of 10), we smashed the luxurious plush model of the Helix GlacioTex Premium Topper. It lowered the firmness to a median of 4.5 out of 10, that means the mattress went from medium-firm to simply beneath medium — exactly the objective of this plush topper.
Really feel
The texture can be what it seems 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 made from — together with the kind of mattress you’ve beneath it.
Getting a really feel for the latex foam within the Brooklyn Bedding 3″ Latex Topper.
Development
A mattress topper that adjusts the texture of your mattress might also change sure traits that we take a look at in mattresses, reminiscent of edge assist and movement isolation. Relying on the development and supplies, some mattress toppers can improve or worsen the sting assist, which is how sturdy the perimeter of your mattress is. It might additionally improve or worsen the movement isolation, which is how effectively the mattress or topper deadens motion all through the floor. We take a look at these parts as we might with another mattress to supply an overarching rationalization of how every mattress topper might carry out.
When assessing every mattress topper, we notice its thickness and total development. 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 fairly neat characteristic for a mattress topper that may improve assist and sturdiness.
We additionally notice any extra contains 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 doable, we open the mattress toppers to look at the development and supplies.
Guarantee and trial info
Warranties and trial durations are normal within the on-line mattress trade — nearly each model will supply them since you often cannot take a look at a bed-in-a-box mattress earlier than buying it. Whereas this largely applies to mattress toppers, some manufacturers don’t supply a trial interval or guarantee, and that is price factoring into your determination. All of those particulars are included for every topper on this checklist.
What to contemplate when purchasing for a mattress topper
Mattress toppers range considerably in worth 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 one of the best bang in your buck, preserve these key components in thoughts whereas shopping on-line:
- Materials: What the topper is made from largely determines the way it feels. In case you dislike feeling engulfed in dense reminiscence foam, contemplate a topper with a blended or impartial foam really feel or pillow high as a substitute. Moreover, if environmental sustainability is vital to you, you may wish to prioritize one with natural supplies reminiscent of Birch, PlushBeds or Avocado.
- Thickness and firmness: The kind and thickness of the mattress topper’s supplies will decide how comfortable or agency it’s. Realizing what end result you need from the topper will enable you slim down the thickness and firmness it is best to select.
- Extra options: Some toppers have additional options like cooling know-how, which is a good attribute to search for in case you frequently 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.
In case you are likely to toss and switch at night time or sleep close to the sting of your mattress, you may wish to be certain that your mattress topper is securely hooked up and will not shift as you do. Many manufacturers tackle 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 circumstances: In case you have continual again or joint ache otherwise you’re sagging uncomfortably into your previous mattress, contemplate a medium-firm topper that may supply loads of assist in your backbone — some toppers, just like the Dosaze DreamAlign, have zoned assist and focused strain aid. On the flip aspect, in case your mattress is just too agency and also you want one thing softer and extra cushioning round your hips and shoulders, contemplate a comfortable to medium-soft topper that is thicker (3 to 4 inches) to mean you can sink into the layers.
In case you have aches, pains or soreness from sleeping on a saggy previous mattress, it is most likely time to improve your mattress. A topper generally is a nice momentary resolution, however generally a brand-new mattress is your best option — relying in your state of affairs and well being wants.
We notice 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 several types of toppers?
Like mattresses, toppers are available in quite a few forms of supplies. A number of the most typical embody:
Reminiscence foam
Reminiscence foam is comprised of polyurethane and added chemical substances that enhance its density and temperature sensitivity. It gives strain aid as the froth warms up out of your physique warmth, permitting you to sink into the layers. It’s an excellent choice for these in search of cushioning and contouring round their curves. Reminiscence foam isolates movement effectively, so that you should not really feel your companion transferring round as a lot in case you share the mattress — however it might make it more durable to modify positions as chances are you’ll really feel extra “caught” within the foam.
Reminiscence foam shouldn’t be as breathable or ethereal as different forms of foam, which may make you sleep hotter because the supplies conform round your physique and retain warmth. To fight this subject, 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 usually firmer than reminiscence foam, springing again into form faster and making it simpler to modify positions. They seem to be a good choice for individuals who need added strain aid however do not just like the sinking, conforming feeling of reminiscence foam. The perforations inside latex foam additionally enhance airflow, serving to it sleep just a little cooler. Pure latex foam can be hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, which is sweet 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 hen feathers) are comfortable and fluffy, often encased in a cotton cowl. You possibly can alter the quantity of filling so as to add kind of assist, they usually sometimes require common fluffing to maintain their form, as they will compress and flatten over time. The airflow between feathers makes down and feather mattress toppers mild 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 when you sleep. They’re usually not very thick, so they will not present a ton of strain aid or assist in comparison with different forms 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 assist or cushioning. A mattress topper with a polyester mix feels just like feathers or down, which may very well be a good selection in order for you a feather topper however have allergic reactions. Nevertheless, take into account 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 proper mattress topper might help make your mattress really feel firmer or softer or add additional assist and cushioning in your backbone and joints. It could enhance your total sleep high quality by resolving points together with your present mattress that will have been inflicting discomfort or holding you awake.
It could additionally alter the texture of your mattress if wanted — for instance, in case you notice 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 most typical cause for purchasing a mattress topper is to make your mattress extra snug. It is less expensive than shopping for a completely new mattress and might lengthen the lifespan of your present mattress by defending it from put on and tear or sagging. Another excuse is to change the texture of your mattress — whether or not you need it to really feel extra cushioning and pressure-relieving with an opulent topper or firmer and extra responsive with a latex one. Cooling mattress toppers might help regulate your physique temperature and stop you from overheating at night time in case you’re a chronically scorching sleeper.
The primary distinction is that toppers are sometimes meant 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 degree. They’ll barely alter the texture of your mattress by including a bit of additional plushness or cushioning, however often not sufficient to note a big distinction.
You may doubtless wish to go for a mattress topper that’s no less than two inches thick, nevertheless it depends upon private components reminiscent of your sleeping place and elegance, physique weight and the situation of your mattress.
Usually, lighter people will not want as thick of a mattress topper for it to make a distinction, whereas heavier people may have a barely thicker one for extra assist. In case you’re a aspect sleeper, a thicker mattress topper can add extra strain aid and cushioning in your shoulders and hips. On the flip aspect, a thinner mattress topper must be enough for again and abdomen sleepers — however take into account that all of it depends upon the firmness, really feel and situation of your present mattress.
In case your mattress is fairly previous, worn out or sagging, you may need a thicker mattress topper that is no less than three to 4 inches tall.
It is a good suggestion to issue within the depth of your mattress topper when deciding sheet sizes. Consider, you may need 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.
