Written by Tony Klespis, Staff Writer
A mattress topper can add some new life to your bed. But if you’re looking for that true “sleeping on a cloud” feeling, a soft mattress topper is your answer. I’ve rounded up seven of the best soft mattress toppers that I’ve tested that can do just that.
There’s something for everyone, so keep reading to see my full list.
Our Verdict: The Best Soft Mattress Topper
We named the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper as our best overall soft mattress topper. It uses a single slab of memory foam that’s 3″ thick. It has that classic, slow-moving memory foam feeling that cradles joints and significantly softens mattresses. The graphite infusion helps pull away body heat, so you shouldn’t sleep too hot.
Our Top Picks for the Best Soft Mattress Toppers
- Best Overall – Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
- Most Responsive Soft Mattress Topper – Nolah Mattress Topper
- Best Soft Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil
- Most Plush Mattress Topper – Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Topper
- Best Soft Cooling Mattress Topper – Bear Pro Mattress Topper
- Best Soft Memory Foam Mattress Topper – Viscosoft Mattress Topper
- Best Soft Latex Mattress Topper – PlushBeds Latex Topper
How We Choose our Products
Our team of sleep specialists tested many mattress toppers currently on the market, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to find the best of the best for our readers. For the “best soft mattress toppers” list, we considered many toppers, but paid close attention to how soft the topper feels and how much the topper is able to soften a mattress.
In this roundup, we give you a number of options so you can select a product that not only fits your preferences, but find one that is also long lasting, breathable, and extremely comfortable. We also encourage you to check out our Buyer’s Guide at the bottom of the page. There, we take a deeper dive into all of these attributes so you can make the most informed purchase possible.
Best Overall – Saatva
Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
If you love the pressure-relieving qualities of memory foam, but don’t want to invest in a brand new mattress, the Saatva Graphite mattress topper could be just the thing for you. In addition to its soft feel, this 3” topper has many cooling features.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full Review
Our Expert’s Take
Saatva is our go to for many of our lists because the products are top notch and high-quality. The Saatva Graphite mattress topper is made with a 3” slab of memory foam, which makes it a great choice for those who really want to soften a firm mattress. One thing that makes this one of our best overall picks is that the foam comes inside a cotton cover. This adds to the durability of the foam, and you can attach the topper securely to your mattress with elastic straps.
The memory foam is soft and slow-moving, which cradles joints and offers a substantial amount of pressure relief for side sleepers. Its thickness also keeps back sleepers from sinking in too deep and offers body contouring. The graphite-infused foam helps pull body heat away, making it a good choice for hot sleepers, too. This topper ticks all the boxes, making it a clear winner for our best overall pick.
What our testers say: “Like all of Saatva’s products, the Saatva Graphite mattress topper is made with high-quality materials, so it should last several years. I really felt a lot of pressure relief in my shoulders and hips, and thanks to the cover and graphite infusion, I didn’t feel too hot. This is a pricey topper, but if you really want a long-lasting, luxurious topper, the price is worth it, to me.” – Elisa Regulski, Editor
What We Love About the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
- This topper is made from a single slab of graphite-infused memory foam. This gives the topper a soft, slow-moving feel. And the graphite is great for hot sleepers because it pulls body heat away, so this topper sleeps cool.
- On the outside, there is an organic cotton cover. This is removable and machine-washable for easy care. And in each corner, there are elastic straps to attach the topper to your mattress.
What To Keep In Mind About the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
- This topper costs around $450. This might be out of budget for some, but considering the high quality materials, and a cover that protects the foam and can attach to your mattress, we expect it to be a worthy investment. Plus, if you’re not satisfied, this topper does have an extensive 180-night trial period with a full refund for returns.
Read our full Saatva mattress topper review.
Most Responsive – Nolah
Nolah Mattress Topper
The Nolah Mattress Topper uses its proprietary CertiPUR-US certified foam to achieve a super pressure-relieving yet supportive feel.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
Memory foam is known for its slow-moving quality. For some, this is ideal because they’d rather sink into the foam and be cradled by it. However, this feeling causes some people to feel “stuck” in the foam, and it makes moving around or getting in and out of bed harder than it should be. These days, there are foam toppers that will spring back into place right away, just like the Nolah mattress topper.
This is a 2” thick mattress topper made from Nolah’s proprietary AirFoam. The foam here has something called an “open cell” structure, which not only allows for airflow, but also makes it considerably less dense than traditional memory foam. Because the foam will spring back into place immediately, this makes the foam feel very responsive and easy to move around on.
What our testers say: “I’ve tested memory foam toppers that were hard to move around on. But moving around on the Nolah topper is so easy because of how it springs back into place immediately. I tested the plush version of this topper, and as a side sleeper who switches sides frequently while I sleep, I had no trouble on this topper. As a bigger guy though, this was a little on the thinner side for me.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Nolah Mattress Topper
- The memory foam used in the Nolah mattress topper springs back into place right away. This makes it very easy to move around on.
- Nolah offers this topper in two firmnesses: plush and firm. While this list is for soft toppers, having firmness options could work out for couples who sleep on a split king bed and want different firmnesses.
- The outer cover has elastic straps to attach the topper to your bed.
What We Love About the Nolah Mattress Topper
- While this topper is soft and responsive, it’s only 2” thick. For some, this might be too thin of a topper to significantly soften a firm mattress.
- The outer cover is not removable, meaning when accidents happen, you’ll have to spot clean the cover.
Read our full Nolah mattress topper review.
Best Soft for Side Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding
Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil Mattress Topper
The Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil topper blends memory foam and a thin layer of coils to offer even more support and body contouring to your mattress.
Our Expert’s Take
Side sleepers will want to make sure they have a thick enough topper to add great pressure relief to the top of their mattress. Soft mattress toppers are the best way to get that, and one of my favorite toppers for side sleeping actually involves coils. The Brooklyn Bedding microcoil mattress topper has two layers of foam that sandwich a thin layer of microcoils. Don’t worry, you won’t feel them through the foam.
The coils do two things for side sleepers: They prevent sleepers from sinking all the way through the foam, and they help the foam contour to the curves of your body. The Brooklyn Bedding microcoil topper is almost 4” thick, so it’ll significantly soften firm mattresses while adding necessary pressure relief for side sleeping.
What our testers say: “Coils inside of a mattress topper aren’t exactly common, but they add an incredible amount of support for side sleeping. I felt almost no pressure in my shoulders and hips when I rested on my side, and because of the coils and the height to this mattress, I didn’t feel myself touching the mattress underneath.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil Topper
- The thin layer of coils between the two layers of foam provide some support and additional body contouring. But you won’t have to worry about feeling them, thanks to the soft, thick foam on top.
- This is a thick topper that will significantly soften firm mattresses. On our firmness scale, this should soften a mattress by two points.
- The outer cover is removable, machine-washable, and has corner straps which attach it to your mattress.
What To Keep In Mind About the Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil Topper
- Brooklyn Bedding does include the microcoil topper in seasonal discounts, but the full price for a queen-size topper is over $600. This could put it out of range for some budgets.
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil mattress topper review.
Most Plush – Coop Sleep Goods
Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
Breathable and comfy, the COOP Sleep Goods Retreat mattress topper is a great choice for a king-size bed.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
If your goal is to give your mattress a pillow-top look and feel, why not sleep on a topper that literally feels like you’re sleeping on a ton of memory foam pillows? The Coop Sleep Goods Retreat mattress topper is one of the only mattress toppers I’ve tested that’s made with shredded memory foam instead of a single slab of foam.
Shredded foam sits inside in a soft, smooth polyester cover that is sewn through with a baffle box construction. This construction detail makes sleeping on this topper feel like you’re sleeping on a ton of tiny foam pillows. So, if you’re going for a pillow-top look and feel, this is a great choice to consider. This 5” thick topper can securely attach to your mattress with straps in the corners, and it’s very easy to move around on.
What our testers say: “Sleeping on the Coop Sleep Goods Retreat mattress topper really did feel like sleeping on a bunch of tiny pillows. The baffle box construction keeps the foam from clumping, and I was impressed with how plush and tall the topper was able to stay after resting on it.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
- The Retreat topper has an outer cover that is sewn through, giving this topper a pillow-top look and feel. This keeps the shredded foam in place and prevents bunching.
- Because of its pillow-top construction, this topper feels very soft and plush.
- Like many toppers on this list, this topper has straps in the corners. This helps keep the topper from shifting if you move around frequently while you sleep.
What To Keep In Mind About the Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
- Because the outer cover is sewn through to keep the foam in place, cleaning it could be difficult. When accidents happen, you’ll have to spot treat the dirty areas.
Read our full Coop Sleep Goods Retreat mattress topper review.
Best Soft Cooling Topper – Bear
Bear Pro Mattress Topper
The Bear Pro Mattress Topper is a great addition to your mattress to help dissipate body heat and add extra comfort.
Our Expert’s Take
Memory foam mattress toppers don’t always sleep hot. With the Bear Pro mattress topper, hot sleepers should be able to say cool and sweat-free. The Bear Pro topper is a single slab of memory foam that comes inside a cotton/polyester blend cover. But it’s the polyester that’s infused with a material called Celliant that helps with the cooling.
Celliant can absorb body heat, which means that this unique material has a temperature-regulating quality. Part of the reason memory foam can sleep hot is because you sink into the foam and it reflects your body heat back on to you. It’s been my experience that toppers with covers add pressure relief, but don’t make you sink too far into the foam. This, coupled with Celliant’s temperature regulating property, makes for a cool night of sleep.
What our testers say: “As a hot sleeper myself, I’m very aware of how memory foam can trap heat. But sometimes all you really need is a cooling cover to go around that foam. The Bear Pro’s cover felt cool to the touch, and I never felt like I was going to overheat on this topper. When I changed positions, the other side of the bed was very cool.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the Bear Pro Mattress Topper
- Bear is known for using a material called Celliant in its covers. This not only helps promote muscle recovery, but it is designed to be cool to the touch, making it a good choice for hot sleepers.
- The foam is soft, slow-moving, and cushioning. But because the foam comes inside of a cover, it’s easier to move around on this topper.
- This topper should work well for side sleepers because I felt little pressure in this sleeping position.
What to Keep In Mind About the Bear Pro Mattress Topper
- This topper has a 30-day return window. For some, this might not be long enough to get used to the topper in order to decide if they want to keep it or not.
Read our full Bear Pro mattress topper review.
Best Soft Memory Foam – Viscosoft
ViscoSoft Select High Density Mattress Topper
If you’re craving a memory foam sleeping surface, but don’t want to spring for a new mattress, the Select High-Density ViscoSoft mattress topper may just be the answer. This 3” gel-infused mattress topper has excellent body contouring at a low price.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
Our Expert’s Take
Memory foam is king when it comes to adding plush, soft comfort to the top of your mattress. One of the softest memory foam mattress toppers is the Viscosoft High Density mattress topper. This topper comes in two height options: 3” or 4” and both feature that classic, slow-moving foam.
Side sleepers should be able to get a good amount of pressure relief from this mattress topper, and back sleepers should feel some body contouring. The foam also has a gel infusion, which could be beneficial for hot sleepers. While you’ll sink in a bit, the foam shouldn’t reflect your body heat back on to you because the gel will pull it away and absorb it.
This topper should also last a good while, thanks to its outer cover. The outer cover will protect the foam, helping it last longer than toppers that don’t have a cover. In each of the corners, there are straps which attach it to your mattress and help it stay nice and secure.
What our testers say: “When I lie down on the ViscoSoft topper, I feel myself sink into the foam. I felt some great body contouring and pressure relief. But while I love the soft, plush feel of this topper, it can be a bit difficult to move around on. But if that’s what you love, this will significantly soften your mattress.” – Elisa Regulski, Editor
What We Love About the Viscosoft Mattress Topper
- The 3” and 4” thickness options make this a good choice for most back and side sleepers. Light-to-average-weight back and side sleepers should opt for the 3” model, while heavier individuals should opt for the 4” model.
- The foam is infused with gel, which can help pull body heat away. Coupled with the breathable bamboo rayon cover, this topper won’t trap a lot of heat.
- This topper has your classic slow-moving memory foam feel. You’ll sink into the topper and get a good amount of pressure relief.
What To Keep In Mind About the Viscosoft Mattress Topper
- Because it is so slow-moving, combination sleepers might have difficulty changing positions during the night.
Read our full Viscosoft mattress topper review.
Best Soft Latex – Plushbeds
Plushbeds Natural Latex Mattress Topper
If you want variety in your latex topper, Plushbeds offers an impressive five different firmness levels. This will fit every single body type and sleeping position out there.
Our Expert’s Take
Most of the toppers on this list feature memory foam. But if you prefer a responsive, bouncy feeling on the top of your mattress, you may want to consider the PlushBeds latex mattress topper. Latex is springy and responsive, which means you won’t sink into this type of foam; you’ll sleep more “on top” of this topper rather than “in it.”
The latex foam is perforated with holes, which makes it easier for air to flow through the topper. This helps keep the topper cool while you sleep, so it’s another win for hot sleepers. Latex foam is also very durable and can last several years. PlushBeds offers this topper as-is, or you can opt in for a cotton cover (albeit for an extra fee) to help the topper last longer.
What our testers say: “Personally, I love a bouncy, responsive feel to my bed, and that’s what I felt on the PlushBeds latex topper. I’m a side sleeper who moves around a lot at night, so being able to move around easily on this topper is a big win. It is pricey, especially if you opt for the taller model with a cotton cover. But latex is so durable that this topper will last you a very long time.” – Tony Klespis, Reviewer
What We Love About the PlushBeds Latex Mattress Topper
- PlushBeds offers this topper in five different firmness options, two of which are called soft and medium-soft. With such specific firmness options, you should be able to find the right firmness for you.
- The latex foam is perforated with holes, which allow for airflow. This is great for hot sleepers.
- You won’t sink too far into this topper, thanks to its bouncy and responsive feel. This topper is easy to move around, and it offers a combination of comfort and support.
What To Keep In Mind About the PlushBeds Latex Mattress Topper
- While this topper is incredibly durable, it could be out of budget for some people. Additionally, you can opt for a cotton cover, but this comes at an extra fee, making the topper even more expensive.
Read our full PlushBeds Latex mattress topper review.
What to Keep In Mind When Looking for the Best Soft Mattress Toppers
There are a few key things you should consider when looking for the best soft mattress toppers. I’ve identified four of the most important, but if you’d like a more detailed buyer’s guide, be sure to check out our best mattress toppers list.
Firmness
Most of the time, toppers are classified into three main firmness categories: soft, medium, and firm. Typically, brands only offer one mattress topper in one firmness. However, some brands are beginning to offer multiple firmness options. Some of the toppers on this list come in different firmness options. So, it’s important to pay close attention to what firmness the topper is set to before checking out.
Materials
What a mattress topper is made out of can also influence its firmness. In my experience, traditional memory foam is going to be your best bet for getting the softest of soft. This means you’ll want to look for those toppers that have that slow-moving quality to them. When I talk about “slow-moving” I mean if you were to press your hand into the foam, it takes a second or two for the foam to return to its original shape.
Latex foam can also be quite soft and cushioning. However, you won’t sink too far into a latex foam topper. But in terms of durability, latex lasts much longer than memory foam.
If you prefer slow-moving, plush memory foam, but want it to last longer, consider getting a topper with a protective cover. This might mean you end up spending a little more, but it ends up being worth it in the long run.
Cooling
Most of the toppers on this list are made of some type of memory foam. In the past, memory foam has been known to trap heat. These days, most foam has some kind of cooling innovation worked into it. The most common cooling feature you’ll see in memory foam is a gel infusion. These small gel beads can pull heat away from your body and keep you cool.
Sometimes, foam toppers come inside of a cooling outer cover, as is the case with the Bear mattress topper. Covers that include phase change material, TENCEL, or bamboo are great for hot sleepers because they’re breathable, moisture-wicking, and often cool to the touch. This means you shouldn’t feel too hot and sweaty while sleeping on these toppers.
Height/Thickness
Toppers typically range between 2”-4” tall. When it comes to achieving that perfectly soft feeling on the top of your mattress, opting for a thicker topper is the way to go. If you have a mattress that’s close to perfect, but needs a topper, a 2” soft topper like the Nolah mattress topper will achieve that “Goldielocks” feeling.
But if you’ve got an especially firm mattress, thinner toppers might not work out because they simply won’t be thick enough to change the firmness. Heavier individuals should also look at thicker toppers, because they will likely press too far into thinner toppers. As a bigger guy myself, thick toppers are usually what feel the most comfortable to me.
Who Should Buy a Soft Topper?
When it comes to firmness preferences, it really depends on the individual. But as a general rule of thumb, your sleeping position plays the biggest role in how firm your topper should be.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers who have a firm mattress probably aren’t getting the pressure relief they need and could run the risk of developing shoulder and hip pain. Side sleepers benefit the most from soft toppers because they’ll be able to get the comfort and pressure relief they need.
Back Sleepers
If you’re a back sleeper who has a mattress that’s too firm, a soft topper should help. A soft topper can help make a firm mattress feel closer to medium-firm, so back sleepers will be able to get the support and comfort they need.
Stomach Sleepers
Soft toppers don’t provide enough hip support for stomach sleepers. More often than not, I recommend that stomach sleepers keep their mattress as firm as possible in order to prevent their spine from dipping down out of alignment. If you’re a stomach sleeper who is dealing with a mattress that’s too soft, be sure to check out our list of the best firm mattress toppers.
Summary
| Mattress Topper | Best For |
| Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper | Best Overall |
| Nolah Mattress Topper | Most Responsive Soft Mattress Topper |
| Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil Mattress Topper | Best Soft Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers |
| Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper | Most Plush Mattress Topper |
| Bear Pro Mattress Top | Best Cooling Soft Mattress Topper |
| Viscosoft Mattress Topper | Best Soft Memory Foam Mattress Topper |
| PlushBeds Latex Mattress Topper | Best Soft Latex Mattress Topper |
The Best Soft Mattress Toppers FAQs
How do I choose a soft mattress topper?
Look at the materials. More often than not, memory foam is the softest material. Latex foam can also feel incredibly soft, but it depends on the type. There are two types of latex foams: Dunlop, which is firmer, and Talalay, which is softer. If you don’t want to sink into a memory foam mattress topper, but still want softness, consider getting a topper made from Talalay latex.
Many brands sell toppers in multiple firmness options these days, too. PlushBeds and Nolah are two brands on this list that offer different firmness options, so be sure to pay close attention to what firmness you have selected before checking out.
Which is better, a 2” or 3” mattress topper?
If significantly softening your mattress is the goal, I’d recommend going for a 3” thick mattress topper. The thicker the topper is, the more separation there is between you and the mattress underneath. And if you’re sleeping on a particularly firm mattress, a thin topper won’t be able to soften your bed as much as a thicker topper will.
What is the softest type of mattress topper?
In my experience, memory foam mattress toppers are the softest type of mattress toppers. This is because, for the most part, they have that classic, slow-moving feel that lets you sink into the foam. That said, memory foam can be made to be a bit more responsive and easy to move around on If you’re worried about feeling “stuck” in the foam, opt for a responsive topper such as the Nolah