Photograph: Courtesy Photo View image in fullscreen Photograph: Courtesy Photo Guardian journalism is independent. We earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more .
A topper can make a good mattress great, or change the feel of a mattress to your comfort level. After many nights of testing, we’ve found the best of the best
The best sleep masks and best Bluetooth sleep masks in the US
Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things
Prefer the Guardian on Google I f you make your bed, you’ve gotta lie in it, but a mattress topper can help make it a more pleasant experience. These pads sit on top of the mattress, adding an extra layer that can fundamentally change the feel, making it firmer, softer or just helping to smooth out bumps and lumps. None of these products can fix an old and broken mattress: if the springs are shot or there is a dip in the mattress the shape of a long-dead relative, you may need a new mattress. But if you are stuck with a mattress that is too hard or too soft, adding a mattress topper can make it juuusssst right.
Best overall mattress topper in the US Helix Ergoalign Read more $349 Buy at Helix Best budget mattress topper in the US Viscosoft Restore hd Read more $170 Buy at Viscosoft Best mattress topper to make a firm mattress softer Coop Retreat Read more $263 Buy at Coop Best mattress topper to make a soft mattress firmer Naturepedic Adagio Read more $599 Buy at Amazon Best for: Organic materials Brooklyn Bedding 3” latex Read more $587 Buy at Brooklyn Bedding Why you should trust me I’ve had nearly sixty years of experience in sleeping, and for over half of that, I’ve been testing consumer products ranging from automatic coffee makers to xBox peripherals for publications including PC World, Reviewed.com, CNET and many others. For all of those publications, I bring an objective scientific eye to testing products and helping consumers make better buying decisions.
View image in fullscreen Photograph: Richard Baguley/The Guardian How I tested mattress toppers My wife and I tested eight mattress toppers designed to make an existing mattress more comfortable. We tested each topper on two mattresses: a newer,very firm one and an aging,rather lumpy and squishy older mattress, assessing how easy the toppers were to install, how well they stayed in place and their build quality. Our tests took place over the course of several nights, evaluating how the topper improved our sleep. I also tested to see how each handled differing body weights using weights, how they regulated temperature using an iButton temperature & humidity logger under my back and if they improved the motion transfer of the mattress. For all of these criteria, we considered the improvement over the old mattress that they were tested with.
After this review was completed, I donated all of the mattress toppers to furniture banks in Massachusetts that provide household goods to families in need.
For more, check out our guides to getting a better night’s rest with the best pillow , sleep mask , and comfy PJs .
View image in fullscreen Photograph: Richard Baguley/The Guardian The best Mattress Toppers in the US All of the mattress toppers fundamentally change the feel and comfort of the tested mattresses: after all, they are the first layer of contact with your body. Stuck with a plank-like dorm mattress? A soft topper can turn your prison-esque dorm experience into a stay in…