Top Mattresses For Comfort and Style
Maybe you’re not quite ready for a new mattress, or maybe your old one has lost its comfort. The right top mattress will breathe new life into your bed.
Pillow top mattresses are padded mattresses with extra padding sewn on top of the mattress cover. They’re typically comfortable but not suited for every sleeping style.
Support
A mattress topper is an inexpensive way to give your bed a comfortable makeover. It is placed directly on top of the mattress and is held in place with straps. They can vary in thickness from about an inch or two to as thick as eight inches or more. Thinner ones don’t usually offer much extra support or cushioning, but they can help hide lumps and bumps in your current mattress.
Memory foam conforms with the body and relieves pressure points. It also offers good motion isolation so that partners will not be disturbed as much by each other when changing positions in bed.
This topper is available in six bed sizes and is made in the U.S. using natural latex that’s sustainably farmed. It’s breathable, helping to keep the sleep surface cool and dry. It’s encased in a cotton cover that looks and feels luxurious. It’s washable and hypoallergenic, resisting mildew and dust mites. It is backed by a generous warranty.
Comfort
This mattress is made with foams which create a plush feeling and a medium amount of body contouring. It provides a solid support that can promote spinal alignment and relieve back pain. It’s a great choice for back, stomach, or side sleepers.
It’s also flippable, so you can choose between a soft or firm side of the bed. It’s made with a layer of softer memory foam and a layer of firmer latex, so it’s ideal for all types of sleepers.
It’s hard to quantify comfort, as it varies from person to person. However, our team has received many positive reviews about this mattress, including anecdotal feedback like never having back pain when waking up or never sweating through the sheets. It is also affordable and comes a generous 30-day trial period. It doesn’t provide the same comfort as an all-foam mattress and tends towards compression around the edges. To properly cover the mattress, you’ll need a fitted sheet with a deep pocket.
Durability
A pillow top mattress is one with a thick, soft layer that is stitched or glued to the mattress’ outer cover. It is usually between 2 and four inches thick and made from a variety of materials.
The cushioned top helps to reduce pressure at key points such as the hips and shoulders. It also distributes weight evenly for a better night’s sleep. This is particularly important for those with shoulder, back or hip pain.
Pillow top mattresses tend to sag with time. This is often unavoidable, but rotating the mattress every few months can help prolong its life. Also, pillow top mattresses tend to be deeper than standard mattresses, so it’s important to select sheets that can accommodate the additional cushioning.
Value
The Allswell is the latest mattress-in-a-box from Walmart, and it offers great value at $699 for a queen. It’s a hybrid bed with layers of temperature-regulating foam and copper-gel-infused memory foam. It’s not as plush as top ten mattresses, but it is still comfortable for most people.
It has excellent edge support for a mattress made of foam. It comes in a variety of sizes including California king, and a huge 80 by 76-inch King for heavyweight couples.
As Tom’s Guide’s mattress expert, Claire is responsible for all sleep product testing for the site. She has years of product-testing experience and is a certified sleep coach to help readers find the best beds for them. She has written for The Spruce and Apartment Therapy as well as Livingetc. She loves helping readers solve their sleep problems and wind down well at night. Her favorite mattress is the Nest Bedding Alexander Medium Firm.