The best mattress topper will fix your sleep. They add cushioning and support and in some cases can even revitalise an old mattress. Not only that, but they can adapt your mattress to suit you, keeping you cool, warming you up, or making your bed as firm or as soft as you need it.
Here at Homes & Gardens, we never stop reviewing — even when we're asleep, we're testing the best mattress toppers. Our team of experts have trialled some of these toppers for up to a year at a time. Not only have I personally managed most of the sleep content at H&G, but I'm also a verified customer advisor on mattresses.
Mattress toppers are great for adding increased support or cushion to your mattress, but if your bed has started to permanently sag, you should head straight to our guide to the best mattress, featuring the full-size editions of several of the toppers on this list. With Presidents' Day discounts approaching, these are the best mattress toppers money can buy.
Best mattress toppers 2023
Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Why we love it:
This topper gave ultimate comfort and pressure support. It's also hypoallergenic, breathable, and offers minimal motion transfer, so you won't wake up your partner if you roll over in the night. The proprietary Tempur material uniquely responds to your weight, shape, and temperature, adapting to your body for truly personalized support. Our tests found that the medium-firmness is comfortable for all sleepers, making it excellent for couples with different sleeping styles. It's a great investment — it's just like a traditional Tempur-Pedic mattress, but with a smaller thickness and lower price.
Good to know:
I can't fault the performance of this mattress topper, but there's a significant caveat: you can't return it. Because it's Tempur, we think it's very likely that it fits every body type and sleep style, but if it doesn't, you could be left holding the bag.
Editor's note: We've tested and reviewed the Tempur-Topper Supreme (opens in new tab), a predecessor to the Tempur-Topper Adapt. The new upgrades include straps, something we criticised on the original mattress, and a new breathable, moisture-wicking cover. Other than that, all specs remain the same. If you get hot in the night, it's also worth considering the Tempur-Adapt + Cooling (opens in new tab) topper, which has all the features of the Adapt as well a high-performance cool-to-the-touch cover.
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Why we love it:
If you get hot in the night, this is the mattress topper for you. A 2" layer of clever copper-infused memory foam transfers heat away from your body to keep you cool. This is coupled with another 2" layer of ventilated memory foam to increase breathability and provide support. Our reviewer, Lauren Allain, says that it offers pressure-point relief when sleeping on your side, but it's also firm enough for sleeping on your stomach. This memory foam is also great at isolating motion, so you won't be woken by your partner turning in the night. The cover is washable, and the topper utilizes a breathable mesh anti-slip backing and elastic straps that conveniently connect it to the bed.
Good to know:
Though Lauren didn't have a problem with this, online reviews noted that they've struggled with the straps on already thick mattresses, or that the bands snapped. at 4 inches, this is one of the thicker toppers on the list, so it might not suit thick mattresses.
Our ViscoSoft Active Cooling Memory Foam Mattress Topper review has more details.
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Why we love it:
This 3" medium-firm design appeals to all sleep types, offering body-contouring support. It evenly distributes weight, relieving pressure on your shoulders and hips if you sleep on your side. Though the inner isn't organic, the GOTS-certified cover is, and offers excellent breathability. What's more, the graphite in this mattress absorbs body heat, so it's great if you run a little hot — our reviewer and homes expert Kaitlin found that it kept her cool even in a hot July without air conditioning. We especially love the long 180-night in-home trial period. If you don't love the mattress topper after six months, you can return it for a full refund.
Good to know:
While Kaitlin loves this topper's performance, you should bear in mind that the warranty is only a year long. It's also not as versatile as the Tempur-Pedic topper above. While Kaitlin found that it suited her perfectly, those who prefer a plush mattress might find it a little firm. If 3" is too thick for you, Saatva also offer 1.5" latex or high-density foam versions without the graphite layer.
Our Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper review has more details.
Why we love it:
Avocado's Organic Latex Mattress Topper is a good choice for those with sensitive skin. If you need to to avoid memory foams, latex blends, and chemical adhesives, this topper is made with USDA-approved organic latex, wool, and cotton.
One of our favorite features is that Avocado offer plush and firm versions of this topper, so you can choose exactly what you need. We tested the plush version, and our reviewer Antonia found that while her mattress still felt firm, the topper adds extra cushioning that relieves pressure points.
If you're vegan, this is the topper for you, because Avocado also make a Vegan Mattress Topper (opens in new tab) with the same specifications and latex but with a cotton rather than wool cover. Avocado also offers the same remarkable one-year trial period on its toppers as its mattresses as well as a fantastic 10-year warranty.
Things to note
This topper doesn't have any straps to secure itself to your mattress. Instead, there's an organic cotton canvas on the bottom of the topper will keep the mattress from slipping. While our tester Antonia found that it was secure, this might not work for every mattress.
A few reviewers note that the toppers were slightly smaller than their existing mattress, which is most likely the result of the topper's handmade nature and thus decreased the sleeping surface just a smidge. Others mentioned a faint "barn house" smell that is a result of the wool and will fade with time.
Our Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper review has more details.
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(opens in new tab)Why we love it:
We've found that this mattress topper bridges the gap between too plush and firm, suiting stomach, back, and side sleepers. If you and your partner don't sleep quite the same way, this topper will be right for both of you. It's soft and luxurious but without that sinking feeling, and firm and supportive but not rigid. Our tester Kaitlin dubbed this 'the Goldilocks experience' — not too hard, not too soft.
Its simple but effective materials include an organic cotton cover, a hypoallergenic wool layer, and a Talalay latex base layer. These work in tandem to wick away moisture and cushion your shoulders and hips. It's a good choice for sleeping in summer, as Talalay is one of the most breathable kinds of latex. It comes with a good 10-year warranty and a 101-night sleep trial, so if it isn't feeling right after a couple of months it's easy to return.
Good to know:
Our tester Kaitlin mentioned that after almost a year of sleeping on the Birch topper, there is still a slight crease down the middle from the way to the mattress topper was folded and packed in the box. It doesn't affect those who perhaps stay on their side of the bed, but could be a bit cumbersome when you cross over. Kaitlin described the sensation as like a blanket or sheet bunched up underneath. It also doesn't have straps to tie it down to your mattress. While Kaitlin found that it didn't move, this may not be the case with every mattress
Our Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper review has more details.
What we like
This topper offers four inches of plush, contouring support for the softest bed you can get. The Ultra-Soft design employs a three-inch cooling gel memory foam layer with a one-inch washable quilted topper that stretches over the memory foam and mattress to secure itself to the bed like a fitted sheet. The soft topper contours to your body with just the right amount of sink.
Good to know:
Those who have tried this mattress topper found it extremely comfortable but very warm despite the cooling gel layer, so it may not suit you if you like to be keep cool at night.
What we like
It might be surprising that PlushBeds makes a firm topper, but this is one of the firmest, most supportive latex toppers on the market. PlushBed's all-natural Talalay latex topper offers superior support and pressure point relief for increased comfort through the night. The latex also has an open-cell airflow design that offers heat distribution to keep you cool and also isolates motion from your partner. The Extra-Firm is recommended for those who enjoy very firm surfaces, stomach or back sleepers, and those over 250lbs.
One of the best features is that these toppers come in from four different firmness levels, as well as two and three inch depths. You can set your firmness and depth exactly as you like it, and make sure your topper precisely fits your bed.
Things to note
PlushBeds warns that the extra-firm design might put a little pressure on your shoulders, hips, and knees. While this topper provides excellent support, we suggest trying the medium-firm topper if these are problem areas.
What we like
A three-inch soft mattress topper, this 550-fill power feather bed with a cotton cover feels like pure luxury. It features a dual-chamber design with two layers of down and feathers for enveloping comfort and uses baffle box stitching to keep the fill evenly distributed and puffy. Your new topper will be like sleeping on a cloud every single night, and it's comfortable for back, side, and even stomach sleepers. There's no sleepless nights worrying about where the down came from, either, as this topper is Responsible Down Standard certified.
It's also much more breathable than memory foam or latex and will suit hot sleepers.
Things to note
The mattress topper has no straps to secure it in place, so you'll want a snug-fitting mattress protector to keep it from slipping around.
The down topper adds more or less a soft surface, rather than increased pressure relief or additional lumbar support. This is for the person who wants to be surrounded by softness, but not necessarily looking for support. You'll need to look to latex or memory foam for that.
Down is also not hypoallergenic, so if you are sensitive to allergens or dust, you'll want to consider a down alternative, which Parachute also makes, or one of the other memory foam or latex designs on this list.
What we like
Both hypoallergenic and environmentally conscious, Coyuchi's Climate Beneficial Wool Mattress Topper is more durable than foam and more supportive than down. It'll keep you cool when you want it, and warm when you need it. Wool is naturally non-allergenic and dust-mite resistant. It's also beloved as a temperature regulator in both warm and cool weather for true year-round comfort. This wool is also climate friendly, sourced from farms with a Carbon Farming plan and processed with biodegradable soap, which Coyuchi claims reduces the carbon imprint by up to 150lbs of CO2 per garment. The topper is hand-knotted in 9" squares to hold the wool in place then encased in an organic cotton shell. While it won't necessarily mold to your body like memory foam, it maintains its shape to offer gentle pressure relief.
Things to note
The topper is designed to be used underneath the mattress cover and mattress pad, not directly under your sheet. Some reviews have also found that it doesn't fit squarely on every matress.
How we test the best mattress toppers
The Homes & Gardens' mattress review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. Our expert mattress testers sleep on each rated mattress topper for at least two weeks. All our reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home. The products are given to us free of charge. Often times we are able to keep our mattress, which gives us the opportunity to return to our reviews for updating, so you can keep up-to-date with how it's fared over a period of time.
All of the mattresses toppers on this best list with rankings have been personally reviewed by members of our team, who take into account value for the money, construction, comfort, and support, and the accuracy of any special features. We also understand that mattress topper firmness is subjective, so each reviewer is transparent about their sleep habits as well as getting second opinions from others.
If the mattress topper is unranked, we're still working to get our hands on a sample, or may even be in the midst of testing it out. For these instances, we've researched and, perused through hundreds of reviews, and deep-dived into their construction, special qualities, and who they may suit best.
For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our Homes & Gardens review guidelines.
Our testing team includes:
Jaclyn is H&G's eCommerce editor and oversees all things shopping. She's also a bonafide sleep expert, and previously managed all sleep content on Homes & Gardens and sister magazine Real Homes – in fact, she has passed our five-step certification process to become a verified customer advisor on mattresses.
Kaitlin is a writer and editor covering all things home. Her work has appeared in Real Homes, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, Refinery29, Modern Luxury Interiors, Wayfair, The Design Network, and lots more. She graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in journalism and currently lives in Connecticut with her husband, three kids, and black lab.
Alexandra is a contributor to Homes & Gardens where she reviews household products to make your life easier at home, whether it's cooking, cleaning, or sleeping.
Lauren is a freelance journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. She often covers topics and products related to sleep or home appliances. She’s serious about getting eight hours of sleep each night and will nap every day if time allows. Besides sleeping and writing, Lauren enjoys rock climbing and traveling to places no one has ever heard of.
Why use a mattress topper?
People choose mattress toppers for varying reasons. They're excellent to add personalized comfort for extended stays at a vacation rental, or even for a college-aged student's dorm room.
Your preferences in terms of what you want from a mattress may have changed over time, and instead of buying an all-new mattress, a topper is an economical and practical way to make your bed more comfortable and tailored to what you need right now. If a mattress is too firm, a soft mattress topper can make your bed comfortable again, and vice versa.
Mattress toppers are also beneficial if you're looking to try the feeling of memory foam or latex if you've spent most of your life on an innerspring mattress.
They can also extend the life of your existing mattress, and delay additional sagging or wear. However, if your mattress is already lumpy or saggy, or even over seven years old, we recommend that it's time to consider a new mattress.
A mattress topper sits on top of your mattress and provides support that can prolong a mattress's life by reducing pressure on the springs, delaying any sagging or general wear.
Which type of mattress topper is best?
The majority of mattress toppers fall into the following categories, and typically come down to personal preference:
Memory foam mattress toppers
Back and side sleepers typically love the cushioning and contouring effects of memory foam, which is a byproduct of polyurethane. Memory foam does tend to run warmer, but new technologies featuring gel foam, or infusions of materials like copper or graphite help with increased airflow and wicking away moisture. Overall, memory foam offers exceptional pressure relief for aches and pains and a soft, cradling comfort feel.
Latex mattress toppers
Latex offers responsive support, with common buzzwords describing them as resilient and buoyant. Compared to memory foam, they are more cooling and firm, but both offer great pressure relief and motion isolation. Unless you have a latex allergy, latex is also antimicrobial and non-allergenic, making it a good choice for those with allergy sensitivities. Perhaps of even more interest, all-natural latex is better for the environment and uses fewer chemicals and harmful substances in production.
Featherbeds
Featherbeds emulate a classic pillowtop experience. They're typically plush and available in down or alternative down fabrications, it simply depends on your personal preference. These tend to be the most breathable and cooling, but offer less pressure relief and support.
Wool
Comparable to featherbeds, wool toppers offer an all-natural, allergen-free sleep surface, with increased temperature regulating and moisture-wicking properties for year-round comfort. They offer a bit of padding but are not nearly as thick as most memory foam or latex options. They're usually harder to find, and the most expensive.
What features to look for in a mattress topper?
Thickness
Most mattress toppers are between 1" and 4". The thicker the mattress topper, the more cushioning you'll experience, which will alter the original feel of your mattress. You may need to invest in deep-pocketed sheets depending on the thickness of your current mattress and new topper. Also, consider how the depth will affect your ability to get in and out of bed, as the thicker the topper, may make it more difficult for short people to get in and out of bed.
Cooling properties and breathability
While memory foam is known to retain body heat, features such as perforated foam, cool to the touch covers, and gel infusions with temperature regulating substances like copper or graphite are designed to help you sleep cooler.
Pressure relief and support
If you seek relief from back pain or any other body aches, you'll need a mattress topper that offers excellent spinal alignment by offering cushioned support. Memory foam and latex designs offer the most support.
Comfort
If you're looking to make a firm mattress more forgiving, a soft topper like a feather bed or a thick, plush memory foam topper will add a nice amount of cushion that can relieve achy joints.
Motion isolation
Memory foam and latex mattress toppers are also excellent at minimizing disruptions for your partner moving around in bed beside you.
What's the difference between a mattress topper, a mattress protector, and a mattress pad?
A mattress topper will effectively change the feeling of your mattress.
A mattress pad is typically a thin quilted layer designed to protect your mattress from stains and sweat while adding subtle cushioning to your bed. It'll usually fit over your bed like a fitted sheet, and are often machine-washable.
Mattress protectors come in many forms to expand the lifespan of your mattress by protecting it against spills, dust, pests, stain, and more. Most will stretch over your mattress like a fitted sheet, while full-mattress encasements will protect you from bedbugs and other unwanted pests. You'll likely want to use a mattress protector on top of your new mattress topper as well.
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