If you can’t afford a new mattress and you already have a good pillow and duvet, the best mattress toppers offer a quick and relatively cheap way to improve the quality of your sleep.
“If your mattress is starting to wear a little, or feels too firm, a mattress topper might resolve it,” says Dr. Lindsay Browning, founder of the Trouble Sleeping clinic. “However, they cannot be a substitute for a mattress that is too old and unsupportive, especially if it is sagging.”
There have been huge advancements in topper technology in recent years, from integrating springs to help with back pain to using graphite to regulate temperature. Many of the best mattress makers such as Simba and Emma make toppers, too. We’ve tested them all, including hybrid, wool and memory foam mattress toppers. Below you’ll find our full reviews and some common FAQs. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a look at our top five:
The best mattress toppers: At a glance
How to choose the best mattress topper
When selecting a mattress topper, look out for material, firmness, thickness, size and durability, says Nicole Eichelberger, a BSM-certified sleep expert and consultant at Mattressive. “A bad quality mattress topper may be made of inferior materials, have a poor level of firmness, be too thin or too thick, be the wrong size for your mattress or be poorly made and prone to breaking down quickly. It is important to do your research and choose a topper from a reputable brand to ensure that you are getting a good quality product.”
Dr Lindsay Browning, a sleep expert at TroubleSleeping.co.uk, recommends choosing a topper to suit your body weight and particular needs. “As with mattresses themselves, you would want to buy a mattress topper that matches the level of support you require,” she says.
“If you have a mattress that is too firm you might want to go for a softer mattress topper to even out the overall comfort level.”