The importance of a good mattress is clear: you spend a third of your life asleep and the foundation for the place you rest your head at night should support your bones, muscles, and joints, as well as provide adequate comfort for your sleeping position. A good mattress topper is arguable just as important, and can elevate your sleep experience and extend the lifespan of your mattress. When it’s time to select the right mattress topper for you, keep these considerations in mind.
Materials
Just as mattresses come in many shapes, sizes, and materials, the best bed topper for you and your sleep style varies:
- Foam: A mattress topper made from foam can contour to your body and provide firm support for your muscles and joints. Foam, especially memory foam, is soft, comfortable, and relatively breathable–especially when a gel layer is included to discourage body heat retention. Foam toppers are also great at minimising mattress movement, which can be beneficial to those who sleep with a restless partner.
- Latex: Firmer than foam mattress toppers, latex toppers are great for those who need a little more durability and support. Fortunately, though latex mattress toppers are very comfortable, ideal for sleepers who tend to run hot during the night or prefer a more responsive bounce.
- Down: Mattress toppers made from duck down or feathers are some of the softest, most comfortable options. They respond well to your own body temperature and provide a cloud-like layer on top of your mattress that can last for many years. However, down toppers can run fairly warm and don’t provide as much support for your muscles and joints as other materials.
- Polyester or Cotton: Those that want a softer mattress but may be on a budget or want a more affordable option may want to consider a polyester or cotton blend mattress topper. These come in a variety of thicknesses, cooling levels, and can significantly alter the feel of your mattress without breaking the bank.
Thickness
Whether you’d like to make your bed firmer, higher, softer, or change the way your mattress responds to your body temperature while you sleep, the thickness of your mattress topper will provide extra padding to meet a variety of needs for a variety of sleepers. Denser toppers tend to provide more firmness, and can make a semi-worn out mattress feel like new.
Thinner mattresses, or those that are typically less than 2 inches, tend to be softer and less dense, which has less of an impact but can be ideal for those who experience pressure point pain during the night.
Support
Depending on your sleeping position, some mattress toppers are better than others at providing support to adequately cushion the pressure points of your body. Side sleepers should look for a topper that is at least three inches thick and firmer, while people who tend to rotate between a variety of positions may want a topper that is bouncier and more responsive to their nighttime movements.
If you experience regular back or joint pain, it’s especially important that you prioritise the support capacity of your mattress topper. A good mattress topper should support whatever your natural sleeping position and leave you feeling refreshed and pain-free in the morning.
Price
Like anything, higher cost does not automatically mean higher quality. Your unique needs should dictate the mattress topper you end up with, and not whether something is the best that money can buy. Look for a topper within your price range that can provide the comfort and softness you need for a good night’s rest. Some foam, cotton, and polyester mattress toppers, while less expensive, could be just what your body needs to get high-quality, restorative sleep.
