The 8 Best Mattress Toppers We've Slept On
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
.jpg)
-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg)
I remember my first mattress topper. It was bright blue, made entirely of thin foam, and was purchased some random night off of Amazon. I used it to try to relieve some of my back pain on the super-thin mattress I owned in my post-college days. It didn’t do much—it was just a thin sheet of foam on an equally thin mattress. I thought after that experience that mattress toppers were near pointless, but boy, was I wrong. While a mattress topper can’t save you from needing a more supportive mattress or a new one after a mattress gets too old, a topper can easily improve the feel of a mattress and give you a better night's sleep.
After testing 16 mattress toppers, these are our favorites, ranging from soft options and memory foam to the best firm and hybrid toppers. All of these mattress toppers were tested against uncomfortably firm mattresses to see how much cushion they provide, if they can add any extra support or cooling, and if they really can make your sleep better. As someone who's been unimpressed by mattress toppers in the past, I'm hooked now on having one for a good night's sleep.
From super-soft wool to extra-firm latex, our guide to the best mattress toppers has every kind of topper you might want. Our top pick, the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper, does a great job at being soft without being too soft, keeping you supported with its thick wool and cotton layers. If you're looking for something more plush, we love the Company Store's Serene Foam Memory Foam Topper for our memory-foam lovers. Firm fans should shop the My Green Mattress Organic Latex Topper.
If you're looking for more gear to improve your sleep, don't miss our guide to the Best Pillows, Best Sheets, Best Body Pillows, and Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks. If you think you might need a new mattress under that topper, check out our guides to the Best Mattresses, Best Mattresses for Back Pain, Best Cooling Mattresses, and Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers. All prices below are for queen-size toppers.
Updated February 2025: We've added the Nest Soft Latex Topper, the Company Store Serene Foam Memory Foam Topper, and My Green Mattress Organic Latex Topper as new picks. We've also added more toppers to our Honorable Mentions section, and we added a new section about types of mattress toppers.
| Next Up |
|---|
| We're testing the Helix Dual Comfort Topper and the ViscoSoft memory foam toppers for our next update. |
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
Types of Mattress Toppers
Wool: Wool mattress toppers are usually filled with wool batting or stuffing—think the stuff you fill a quilt or upholstered chair with—and wrapped in cotton. It's soft, but not as extremely soft as memory foam and not as springy as latex is, either. Wool is a good temperature regulator, so it's a nice choice for hot sleepers.
Pillow Top: Pillow top mattress toppers are designed to have the fluffy feel of a pillow on top of your mattress. The insides of a pillow top can vary: Some add a pillow top design over layers of foam, while others are simply a pillowy layer of down feathers between you and your mattress. Our favorite pillow top uses latex but still has a fluffy, slightly sinking feeling of laying down on a pillow.
Latex: Latex is a manufactured substance, made from rubber trees. That rubber base gives it a nice bounce and spring compared to memory foam. Even though it's not labeled as foam, a latex topper usually has a foamlike sheet similar to memory foam as its base. It's also sometimes referred to as man-made organic, since its base is a natural substance, but it does have to be processed in order to become the latex you'd sleep on or use in other products. You'll get less sinkage with latex compared to memory foam, and less heat retention.
Memory Foam: Memory foam is actually polyurethane (a plastic polymer) foam, created by adding other compounds—the exact combination of compounds varies by company—to the polyurethane to create the memory foam itself. It's also known as “viscoelastic” polyurethane foam, or low-resistance polyurethane foam (LRPu). It's designed to conform to your body but return to its original shape afterward; the “memory” name comes from remembering its original shape. Memory foam tends to be one of the softest toppers, and it has a lot of sinkage (which you might love, might hate) and tends to retain more heat. Some companies add extra ingredients, like cooling gel or graphite, to help make the memory foam cooling.
Serene Foam: Serene foam is a newer trademarked material created by Carpenter Co., the parent company of Casper Sleep. It's made of billions of polyurethane bubbles like memory foam is but also consists of microscopic air capsules. It's designed to address some of the downsides of traditional memory foam, including heat retention and variable firmness levels, while maintaining the same plush, pressure-relieving feel. A quick warning if you love a heating pad: polyurethane Serene foam is not recommended for use with heated devices like electric blankets or heating pads.
Hybrid: Hybrid mattress toppers use multiple fillings that can be found on their own. These combinations can vary; our favorite hybrid topper from Helix uses coils and foam, while ViscoSoft's hybrid topper uses a mix of memory foam and soft fiber for a pillow top feel. If you're feeling like a single type of topper isn't suiting your needs—whether it's too soft or not soft enough—a hybrid option might be best for you.
- Photograph: Wired
Best Overall
Birch Plush Organic Mattress TopperBirch’s plush mattress topper combines cotton, wool, and latex for a super comfortable topper that’s nice and soft while still giving some support and pressure relief. The latex base gives a firmness that other mattress toppers can lack, while the cotton and wool layers on top of it give it a plush feel. I used it on the firmest side of the Plank Firm Natural, which usually gives me shoulder stiffness as a side sleeper, but I woke up without a hint of stiffness thanks to this topper, and my lower back still felt nicely supported all night long. I woke up pain free from my usual pressure points, too, which isn't something I always find on softer toppers.
My back-sleeper husband loves it too, and likes that it adds a little softness without erasing the firmer feel he prefers. It doesn’t have straps to hold it in place, but has a nice weight to it and has yet to move around for me at all. It's made with entirely organic materials, and like its mattresses, Birch offers a trial on its mattress toppers for 100 nights.
Prices range from $279 for a twin to $499 for a California king.
Composition Wool and latex layers, cotton cover Firmness One option, plush Height 2 inches Cooling No Cover Not removable or washable Trial period 100 nights - Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Pillow Top
Nest Soft Latex TopperNest's latex-based topper looks and feels like an incredibly soft pillow top has been added to the top of your mattress. It's one of the softest toppers I've ever tried, and it had a memory foam-adjacent feel of sinking into the topper, but with a little more spring and pillowy feel to it.
I'm not a huge soft bed person, since I need plenty of support for my back pain, but I was impressed that my back didn't flare up after sleeping on such a soft topper. The Nest promises spine-neutral support and a pressure-free feel, which I'd say I got, but my daily aches kicked in earlier in the day after sleeping on this topper compared to a firmer one. Still, I was pleased I didn't wake up in pain, which is a problem I usually have on soft surfaces. If you don't battle aches on this level and love a super-soft, pillow-top feel, this is a great topper. I also love that there are included securing straps. While there was a slight odor when I initially unboxed it, it went away after the first day.
Prices range from $379 for a twin to $709 for a California king.
Composition Nolah's AirFoam, cotton cover Firmness Two options, plush or firm Height 2 inches Cooling Yes Cover Not removable or washable Trial period 30 days
- Photograph: Kat Merck
Best Serene Foam Topper
The Company Store Serene Foam Memory Foam TopperThe Company Store markets this topper as memory foam, but it’s actually Serene foam, which uses microscopic air capsules to address the heat retention and firmness problems of memory foam while keeping the same plush, pressure-relieving feel. It accomplishes these goals for me, and I have yet to take this topper off my bed. However, it should be said I’m a proponent of a soft bed, and this thing is capital-S Soft. At first touch, it’s even softer than the Tempur-Pedic Cloud, which I had previously deemed potentially too soft, something I never thought I would write. Unlike the Tempur-Pedic Cloud, however, this hypoallergenic topper did not sleep hot—or even warm—nor did it inhibit motion. My husband and I also woke without a single ache or pain, which is rare on a super-soft surface.
I don’t love that the corners and sides of the topper hang over the mattress a bit or that there’s a large informational sticker on the foam that can’t be taken off without tearing out chunks of the topper. I'm also not super into the included cover that wraps around the mattress but doesn’t enclose the whole topper. Some online reviewers complained about an off-gassing chemical odor, but I didn't notice one. All that said, even though the foam itself is only 2 inches thick, this might be the most state-of-the-art way to soften a too-firm mattress that I’ve tried. —Kat Merck
Prices range from $159 for a twin to $289 for a California king.
Composition Serene foam Firmness One option, very soft Height 2 inches Cooling Yes Cover Not removable or washable Trial period None - Photograph: Kat Merck
Best Memory Foam Topper
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress TopperI bought and loved a Tempur-Cloud mattress almost a decade ago, but when it came time to replace it, I was devastated I couldn't afford a new one. So I did the next best thing: paired a cheaper, firmer mattress with the 3-inch Tempur-Pedic Adapt topper to try to replicate the experience I'd had before.
Those who owned a Tempur-Pedic more than five years ago might be slightly disappointed with this current iteration, as the newer Adapt topper contains a lighter, springier memory foam instead of the deep-sinking yet supportive foam they may remember. Even so, this is still a top-of-the-line memory foam topper for softening a too-firm mattress, and it works very well to prevent motion transfer. It includes a washable cover that zips off, and corner straps keep the topper securely in place. Keep in mind that Tempur-Pedic does offer a 10-year warranty but does not accept returns. —Kat Merck
Prices range from $319 for a twin to $469 for a California king.
Composition Memory foam, knit or cooling cover Firmness One option, plush Height 3 inches Cooling Yes (optional add-on feature for +$100) Cover Removable, machine-washable Trial period None
-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg)
- Photograph: My Green Mattress
Best Firm Topper
My Green Mattress Organic Latex Topper (Queen)If you love a firm bed, you might find yourself frustrated over time when it looses some of that fresh mattress firmness. If you're looking to recapture the ultra-firm magic your mattress once had, add the My Green Mattress Organic Topper. The two-inch organic latex topper is incredibly firm—WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson, who loves a firm bed, says it's the only thing he's slept on that he think could be a little softer.
Even with all that firmness, he says this topper still conforms nicely to your body, and is comfortable for all kinds of sleeping positions. It's even firm enough to stand on its own; his daughter is currently using the topper alone as her sleeping surface. There's no securing straps, but this lightweight topper does a good job of staying in place on a mattress without them. The topper has a one year trial and a five year warranty.
Prices range from $166 for a twin to $314 for a California king.
Composition Latex, organic cotton cover Firmness One option, firm Height 2 inches Cooling No Cover Removable, not machine washable Trial period 365-night trial - Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Latex Topper
Avocado Eco Organic Mattress TopperAvocado's Eco Mattress Topper is its cheapest mattress topper, but certainly doesn't feel like it. This latex topper is incredibly light and springy, making even my superfirm mattress feel soft and contouring without that strange sinking sensation you can get on other soft mattress toppers. There's two feel options, Medium and Plush, both of which use different types of latex. I tested the Medium, which still gave me plenty of softness, and the GOLS-certified (Global Organic Latex Standard) organic Dunlop latex was very airy to sleep on. Not only is it a great topper, but it's budget-friendly, too, compared to others we've tested.
Prices range from $199 for a twin to $399 for a California king.
Composition Latex, with a cotton cover Firmness Two options, medium or plush ($50 upgrade) Height 2 or 3 inches ($50 upgrade) Cooling No, but very breathable Cover None Trial period 100 days
-SOURCE-Nena-Farrell.jpg)
- Photograph: Kat Merck
Best Cooling Topper
Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress TopperSaatva’s Graphite Memory Foam Topper, which arrives shrink-wrapped in a box with a one-year warranty, attaches to a mattress with elastic straps at each corner and has a grippy, tight-fitting cover. Its 3 inches of foam are infused with graphite, which draws in and dissipates heat. Memory foam is notorious for running hot, but my husband and I both thought the graphite worked pretty well in cutting down on some (though not all) of the body heat absorption, and the thickness of the CertiPUR-US-certified foam worked to virtually eliminate motion transfer.
The Graphite Memory Foam Topper definitely has softness and give, but it didn't alter the feeling of a very firm mattress as much as other toppers we recommend. It would likely be best for someone who generally likes the feel of their existing mattress but is looking for more memory foam support, or is wanting to extend their mattress’s life. Thankfully, if you’re on the fence, Saatva offers a 180-day trial period for mattress toppers, which is unusually generous. —Kat Merck
Prices range from $215 for a twin to $430 for a split king.
Composition Graphite-infused memory foam, organic cotton blend cover Firmness One option Height 3 inches Cooling Yes Cover Not removable or washable Trial period 6 months - Photograph: Wired
Best Hybrid Topper
Helix Sleep GlacioTex Premium Mattress TopperThis topper comes from Helix, the brand that makes our longtime pick for the best mattress you can buy online. Like its big brother, it's a hybrid that uses both steel micro-coils and several varied layers of foam to create a supportive feel. It's rather rare to see steel coils integrated into a topper, but I enjoyed the effect. I tested the firm on top of the Bear Elite hybrid you see atop our list of the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers and found that even as it's firm it still softened up the overall feel. The other nice feature about this topper is that the cover is made from Helix's proprietary GlacioTex fabric, a blend of polyester and polyethylene meant to help regulate body temperature. The coils also help with this as they promote airflow between the foam layers and your regular mattress. —Martin Cizmar
Prices range from $299 for a twin to $499 for a California king.
Composition Foam and coil layers, cooling cover Firmness Two options, plush or firm Height 3.75 inches Cooling Yes, cooling cover Cover Not removable or washable Trial period 100 nights
-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg)
.jpg)
Not everything we test makes the cut as a pick, but that doesn't mean it's a bad mattress topper. Here's a few our testers slept on and still got a good night's sleep with, but didn't love as much as the picks above.
- Avocado Alpaca Topper for $829: If you're looking for a mattress topper that's extra soft, WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson recommends the Avocado Alpaca Mattress Topper. He says it's one of the softest things he's ever slept on, and that it's like sleeping in a cocoon of fluffiness. While it's only 2 inches thick, it still has that cozy sinking sensation of deeper mattress toppers. There are two options: medium-firm or plush, with the first using organic wool and the second using what Avocado calls “baby alpaca” fiber. Luckily that's a reference to how soft it is, not the age of the alpaca itself. It's certainly a luxury purchase, but a great pick of you want something super soft.
- Brooklyn Bedding 3-Inch Latex Mattress Topper for $498: This latex mattress topper was fine, with a nice spring to it and a good softness without being too soft. But the Avocado Eco was more comfortable and nearly half the price.
- Nolah Mattress Topper for $292: If you're looking for that new bed feel, Nolah's topper adds a fresh layer of a semi dense proprietary foam inside an organic cotton cover to the top of any mattress. It's just 2 inches thick and the firm version softened WIRED reviewer Martin Cizmar's bed, offering some pressure relief and a plush new-bed feel.
- PlushBed Natural Latex Mattress Topper for $497: If you love something firm but want a thicker option than two inches, Scott recommends PlushBed's topper instead. It has five firmness levels, and he's a big fan of the extra firm option. It's also a nice range if you want to pick a really specific level of firmness, as most other toppers only offer one or two options.
- Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Topper for $155: I like a soft bed. In fact, if you had asked me before I tried the Tempur-Cloud topper if a bed could be too soft, I’d have said no. But I have changed my mind. There actually exists a mattress topper that might be too soft. I’m a stomach sleeper, and this memory foam is so plush and so deep that during my week of testing I found myself having to practically fling my body if I needed to move at any point during the night. It also has a tendency to sleep hot, and because a user sinks so deep, there’s a potential for neck pain if they normally sleep with an overstuffed pillow. But aside from that, the Tempur-Cloud topper is basically the last word for soft-bed fans who want to completely eliminate both motion transfer and any trace of a hard mattress. —Kat Merck
- Turmerry Latex Mattress Topper for $239: If you want something organic on a budget, this two-inch latex topper is a good price and our favorite organic topper on a budget. You'll have to buy the cover separately, but you don't need it if you want to save the money. Turmerry uses a five-zone design to make the topper firmer in some areas, like your head, and softer around others, like your shoulders.
- Leesa Mattress Topper ($224): This mattress topper didn't have great construction to it. We found it didn't fit neatly on the bed, had weird spots on the edges, and was too soft.
- Brooklyn Bedding 4 lb. Memory Foam Topper ($271): Neither my husband nor I could get a good night's sleep when this mattress topper was on our bed. It also doesn't offer the same benefits as other memory foam toppers we've tested.
Wired Coupons
10% Off Wayfair Promo Code with sign-up
20% off Dyson Promo Code
$50 Off In-Person Tax Prep When You Switch From Your Tax Current Provider
Up to $500 off cameras at Canon
Save extra 10% Off TurboTax
Exclusive: Up To 50% Off 6 Boxes With Factor Promo Code