The best mattress toppers in 2024, tried and tested

It’s not always practical to upgrade to one of the best mattresses if your bed isn’t giving you the best night’s sleep. This is where a good mattress topper comes in. The best mattress toppers can breathe new life into an aging mattress, making it feel like a brand-new bed without your having to drop serious cash. They can also spruce up a guest room bed, ensuring visitors sleep comfortably.

However, choosing the right mattress topper can be challenging with so many options available. Some are designed to make your bed softer, while others make it firmer. There’s also the material to consider, from foam to hybrids and even mattress toppers with micro coils.

To help, we’ve tested nine popular mattress toppers from brands like Casper, Tempur-Pedic and Saatva. After weeks of testing, we found five of the best mattress toppers perfect for various types of sleepers. Whether you want to make your bed softer or firmer, or just need extra pressure relief, we have the mattress topper for you.

Best mattress topper for side sleepers: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper

A common complaint among side sleepers is waking up with achy shoulders and hips due to a mattress that’s too firm. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper caters to those who need pressure relief so you don’t wake up sore. Tempur-Pedic says this topper gives “personalized support that instantly responds to your weight, shape and temperature.” We found this to be true. When we initially lay on the bed, it instantly started molding to our body.

The foam also felt different from the ones in other foam mattress toppers we tested. It has a squishy sensation and conforms to your body shape more than the others. As a combination sleeper, we found sleeping on our side very comfortable.

There aren’t any inherent cooling features in the foam, like cooling gel, and even though there was some heat buildup, we didn’t overheat while we slept.

Upon opening the mattress topper from the plastic packaging, there wasn’t an unpleasant smell; however, there was a very faint chemical odor when we were initially lying down. Fortunately, after a short period of airing out, any lingering smell dissipated entirely.

The topper comes with a removable and washable cover, making maintenance a breeze, and the elastic corner straps ensure a secure fit to your mattress.

Best mattress topper for back pain: Helix GlacioTex Mattress Topper

The Helix GlacioTex Mattress Topper almost feels like a mini mattress. It’s quite heavy because it contains micro coils along with foam. It comes rolled up in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag with plastic wrap around it, similar to how many mattresses-in-a-box are packaged. Because of the weight and the wrapping, we recommend having two people set this up to make it easier; we set it up by ourselves, but it took quite a bit of effort.

For those who like an extra-firm sleeping experience, this mattress topper is for you. When we slept on it, we felt like we were lying on top of it, and it had very little give. So those who need a mattress topper that’s firm enough that it won’t sink in will appreciate the firmness.

We’re typically a combination sleeper, but this topper was too firm to sleep on our side. However, we tended to sleep on our backs more and felt fully supported. We also didn’t wake up with a backache.

The cover is made with what Helix calls their GlacioTex cooling fabric, which is supposed to pull heat away from your body. Like most cooling fabrics, this felt cool to the touch; some heat does build up if you stay in one position, but we didn’t overheat.

There isn’t a removable washable cover. The brand recommends spot cleaning, so you’ll have to be careful not to get it dirty or have an accidental spill.

Best pillow-top mattress topper: Mood Pod Moon Cloud Mattress Topper

The Moon Pod Moon Cloud Mattress Topper stands out because instead of using a slab of foam, it uses memory foam clusters and microfiber for the fill. This combination gives it a unique feeling that’s soft and squishy when you lie on it. This mattress topper is good for someone who wants to add softness to a bed that’s too firm.

It was comfortable sleeping on our back or side on the Moon Pod topper. Our only complaint is that we could sometimes feel the space between the large quilted squares, but it wasn’t enough to deter us from saying this is one of our favorite mattress toppers. There was some minor heat buildup when we slept, but it didn’t make us feel hot.

Not only was this topper soft and squishy, but it was also easy to put on the bed straight out of the box without too much wrestling. It has four elastic straps to go around each corner of the bed to secure it in place.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a removable, washable cover.

Best firm mattress topper: Casper Comfy Mattress Topper

Straight out of the box, the Casper Comfy Mattress Topper felt light compared to others we tested, so it was easy to unpack and position on the bed. It came with a separate cover that unzips on three sides, but it took some time to get the mattress topper lined up properly with the casing and zip it up. This would be much easier with two people.

The foam has perforations to let heat and moisture escape, but we noticed some heat buildup, which we didn’t expect since the foam is perforated. That said, we didn’t overheat, and if we changed positions, the heat released quickly.

The foam is firm, so this is best for someone looking for a firmer mattress topper. When we slept on this, it felt more like our body was on top of the mattress rather than sinking into the foam.

It’s not the best for side sleepers because it’s so firm, but our bodies felt well-supported while we slept on our backs. Stomach sleepers will likely also find this comfortable.

Best cooling mattress topper: Lift by Amerisleep Mattress Topper

One drawback of foam mattress toppers is that they tend to cause overheating. The Lift by Amerisleep Mattress Topper stood out for how cool it kept us while we slept. The cover feels cool and the memory foam has an open-cell construction so heat doesn’t get trapped in the foam. It felt the coolest among the toppers we tested, effectively preventing heat buildup throughout the night.

Two choices for firmness are available. The Comfort option is geared toward combination and side sleepers, while the Support option is made for back sleepers, stomach sleepers or anyone who wants to add firm yet gentle support. We slept on the Comfort option and found it accurate to its description. We enjoyed sleeping on our side and back. Those who like a firm feel or need more support should opt for the Support option, since the Comfort option will likely be too soft.

The foam feels soft and has some give, but it doesn’t mold to your body, so you don’t have the feeling of being trapped in the foam when trying to move.

Setting it up was fairly easy, only requiring you to cut away the plastic. It comes inside the removable and washable cover so you don’t have to go through the hassle of putting the foam inside. It had a faint smell when first opened, so you may want to let it air out for a few hours before using.

How we tested

To test the mattress toppers for this review, we first compiled a list of top-rated 3-inch mattress toppers and then brought six queen-sized mattress toppers in for testing. We slept on each topper for at least two nights and noted the following during testing.

Delivery and setup

Comfort

Cooling

Other mattress toppers we tested

The memory foam in this Saatva mattress topper molds to the body enough to support side sleepers without the feeling of being swallowed by the bed. Our front, back and combination sleepers also reported pressure relief and ease of movement in bed.

This topper was very easy to unbox and place on the bed, and there was no odor when we unpacked it either. It features four elastic corner straps that fix it securely to the mattress. We used a fitted sheet and found it did not shift or slide as we slept.

Some mattresses and mattress toppers use graphite for temperature regulation, pressure relief, fire retardancy and breathability and in this Saatva topper, graphite is infused into the memory foam. We tested it during July and August and felt noticeably less hot while we slept on it, compared to nights with just a mattress on its own.

​​One drawback, however, is that although the cover is made from sweat-wicking organic cotton, it isn’t removable. The only way to clean this Saatva is by wiping it down with water and a mild detergent. Another downside is the price. At $445 for a queen, it was the second most expensive topper we tested.

This is an incredibly well-made and heavy topper. It took two of our testers to heave it out of the box and onto the bed. The latex makes it rather springy and unwieldy once released from the plastic wrap. So, unless you’re a gym buff with a wide arm span, you’ll probably need help to unbox and install on your bed.

Despite the weight, it feels surprisingly soft, breathable and bouncy. It’s cool to the touch and retains its shape perfectly, even after sustained pressure from our testers weighing over 175 pounds. None of our testers reported feeling overheated while using it during the summer.

It doesn’t have straps to secure it to the mattress, but we discovered that it’s weighty enough to stay in place on its own with a fitted sheet. It did give off a slightly rubbery odor for the first 24 hours, but we removed the cover to let it breathe and the scent quickly disappeared.

We loved the organic cotton cover and the fact you can remove it for washing. The cover also stays in place beautifully thanks to its slimline zipper. The rest of the topper can be spot-cleaned with warm water and mild soap.

It’s available in soft, medium or firm options, which is a big bonus. We tried the medium and found it quite soft, so it’s worth testing your firmness preference before purchase. This topper is made from Talalay latex (made from rubber tree sap), which is a very durable material.

But at full price, it costs $664 for a queen, which is by far the most expensive topper we tested. It does, however, come with a three-year warranty. Brooklyn Bedding also offers a generous 120-night comfort trial, so there’s minimal risk involved.

This mattress topper from Casaluna (i.e. Target) consists of two layers that fasten together with fabric ribbons and plastic poppers. The top layer is a softer white duck down, while the bottom is a denser combination of waterfowl feathers and down. Target claims that all the feathers and down are ethically sourced.

It’s about 4.5 inches thick when no one is lying on it, but it’s filled with air, so a standard-depth fitted sheet will cover it easily. It would vacuum-pack well for storage or travel and has no odor. Our testers, who mostly favor a medium-firm sleeping base, found it a bit too fluffy and soft, but we tried it with two of our kids (girls aged four and six) who were avid fans.

This can sometimes make the bed look lumpy, but it doesn’t feel that way when sleeping on it. It’s extremely poofy, like lying on a few feathers or down duvets. Because of that softness, however, we felt like it didn’t offer enough support to ease aches and pains or soothe pressure points.

Four elastic bands hold it to the mattress and the underside is covered with tiny grippy dots to stop it sliding around. Another plus is that it’s easier to clean and dry than all others in our testing pool. Just use mild soap and cool water, then hang dry. Because it comes in two layers, you can wash them separately, which is a major convenience.

We tested the 3-inch version of this Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper, and the first thing we noticed upon initially lying on it was that it felt very firm — almost hard. However, after lying on it for a few minutes, our body heat started to make the foam softer. It has the typical feel of memory foam that you would expect. Our body sank into the mattress, and the topper molded to our body. We found it comfortable, and it relieved pressure points.

One complaint we had, though, was that if we moved to a different spot, it felt hard, and we had to go through the process of waiting for it to warm up from our body heat again. This may not be as much of an issue in warmer summer months or for those who keep their bedrooms warmer. (For reference, we keep our thermostat at 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.) We noticed some warmth buildup while we slept, but if we changed positions, the heat dissipated.

A washable, removable cover is available for it but sold separately. The cover has nonslip rubberized dots on the bottom to help keep the mattress protector in place.

Unfortunately, there was a very strong chemical odor when we removed the foam mattress topper from the plastic vacuum-sealed bag. We had to open a window and shut the door to our bedroom to let it air out. The smell lasted about a day. Linenspa claims the topper is CertiPur-US certified, but we’re skeptical of it due to the strong chemical smell.

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Why trust CNN Underscored

CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors with many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to make certain we are testing each product accurately and speaking about the pros and cons of each.

For this article, writers Jamie Ueda and Isla Harvey each spent several nights testing every mattress topper to find the best worth buying. Ueda has years of experience managing a lot of Underscored’s sleep content, including guides on the best mattresses and the best pillows. Harvey is also a frequent contributor, having written guides to the best body pillows and the best bath mats.