Let’s face it, mattress shopping doesn’t always work out the way you want. Sometimes a mattress is just too firm. If you’re at a point where you can’t get a new mattress, a pillow top mattress topper can be a budget-friendly solution.
I’ve compiled a list of the best pillow top mattress toppers for the year, and there’s something for everyone. Keep reading to find out our top picks.
Our Top Picks for the Best Pillow Top Mattress Toppers
- Saatva Memory Foam Topper – Best Overall
- Tempur Adapt Topper – Best Pillow Top Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers
- Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Topper – Best Pillow Top Mattress Topper for Back Pain
- Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper– Best Hypoallergenic Pillow Top Mattress Topper
- ViscoSoft Memory Foam Topper – Best Cooling Pillow Top Mattress Topper
- Layla Memory Foam Topper – Best Soft Pillow Top Mattress Topper
- Helix GlacioTex™ Premium Mattress Topper – Best King Size Pillow Top Mattress Topper
- Puffy Topper – Best Queen Pillow Top Mattress Topper
- Parachute Down Mattress Topper – Best Down Pillow Top Mattress Topper
- Avocado Latex Topper – Best Organic Pillow Top Mattress Topper
Our Verdict
We named the Saatva Graphite mattress topper as our best overall pillow top mattress topper. This topper uses 3″ of memory foam to add a lot of pressure relief and comfort to the top of your mattress. The graphite infusion pulls heat away and keeps sleepers cool. It uses a mix of high-quality materials, and should last longer than. your average mattress topper.
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 ReviewOur Expert’s Take
Saatva is known for its luxurious feeling pillow top mattresses. But if you’re wanting to refresh your mattress and make it feel soft and plush, without buying a brand new mattress, this topper is a stellar option.
It’s made from a single piece of slow-moving memory foam that will soften mattresses a good deal. One of the best things about this topper is that it has a cotton cover and straps which can be attached to your mattress with elastic straps.
The foam has been infused with graphite, which is a great addition for hot sleepers. It will draw heat away from your body, so you shouldn’t have to worry about overheating.
What We Love About the Saatva Mattress Topper
- If you’re wanting to add a memory foam feeling to your mattress, the Saatva topper is great for that. This will soften up mattresses a good deal.
- Memory foam is great for those who need some added pressure relief in the hip and shoulder area. This topper is 3” tall and can add that needed pressure relief.
- People who move around a lot shouldn’t worry about this topper shifting because it has straps to help secure it.
What To Keep In Mind About the Saatva Mattress Topper
- Even though we love it for its memory foam feel, combination sleepers who move around frequently may feel “stuck” in the memory foam.
- For a topper, this is a bit of an investment. This isn’t going to be the best topper for those shopping on a budget.
Read our full Saatva memory foam topper review.
Best For Side Sleepers – TEMPUR-Adapt
TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling Mattress Topper
The TEMPUR-Adapt is a soft memory foam mattress topper. It should be a good match for back sleepers, side sleepers, and fans of slow-moving memory foam.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
Side sleepers who find themselves sleeping on a firm bed probably will need some pressure relief. And the TEMPUR-Adapt topper is full of slow-moving TEMPUR material, the proprietary memory foam of TEMPUR-Pedic, to offer some of the best pressure relief for side sleepers.
And if you’re a side sleeper who frequently changes from one side to the other like I do, you can rest easy knowing this topper isn’t going anywhere. It has Staytight™ Corner straps to firmly attach the topper to your bed.
This topper should last you a long time, too. It has a removable, machine-washable outer cover for easy care and can protect the foam core from dust and allergens. Not only that, TEMPUR offers a 10-year warranty to back it up.
What We Love About the TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress Topper
- Side sleepers will get some great pressure relief on the TEMPUR-Adapt. The TEMPUR material is that iconic memory foam feel which helps cradle your joints and contour to your body.
- The outer cover is removable and machine-washable for easy care. The straps allow it to firmly attach to your mattress.
What To Keep In Mind About the TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress Topper
- Unless you opt for the cooling cover (which is an extra fee), this topper doesn’t have cooling features. If you’re a hot sleeper, this might not be the best choice.
Read our full TEMPUR Adapt topper review.
Best For Back Pain – Coop Sleep Goods
Coop 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 you’re dealing with back pain on your current mattress, a topper can help relieve some of that pain. Some toppers can be single slabs that start to sag after a while, but one unique topper I’ve encountered that won’t sag is the Coop Retreat Mattress Topper.
This topper has a baffle box construction to it, meaning the outer cover is stitched with a box design. Each box is full of a soft, plush, memory foam and microfiber fill that will give you great pressure relief. The baffle box construction keeps it from shifting or clumping in areas so it’ll stay evenly distributed. It, quite literally, feels like sleeping on a lot of pillows, making it perfect for those who want to get a pillow top feel.
This is another topper that has straps that will firmly attach to your mattress to keep it from shifting. And if you have allergies, this is a great option because it’s hypoallergenic, too.
What We Love About the Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
- The shredded foam and baffle box construction gives your mattress a pillow top look and feel.
- It’s 5” tall and should help beds that are sagging in the middle feel taller. This could help those dealing with back pain by providing enough support to maintain a healthy spinal alignment.
- Like many on this list, it comes with straps that help it firmly attach to your mattress.
What To Keep In Mind About the Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
- This topper is quite soft. While it’s a great choice for back and side sleepers who want to soften their mattress, stomach sleepers won’t find enough support on this topper.
- At the time of writing this list, the Retreat topper is not offered in standard twin or full-size options.
Read our full Coop Sleep Goods Retreat mattress topper review.
Best Hypoallergenic – Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper
The Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper will add that pillow top look and feel to your mattress. It’s plush and hypoallergenic and will stay nice and fluffy.
Our Expert’s Take
Your room is your safe space, so don’t let allergies invade it; get the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper, the hypoallergenic solution to creating a more comfortable bed.
This topper is filled with a holofil made of Sorona, a plant-based polymer, which helps create a soft and strain resistant mattress topper. On the surface of the topper, a moisture-proof barrier adds extra protection, helping you keep it clean. Speaking of clean, you can wash this topper through a cold machine wash. Each wash makes the topper loftier, according to Peacock Alley.
In terms of setting up this topper, an elastic, polyester skirt will help it securely attach to mattresses 14-18″ deep, so you won’t have to worry about sliding around while you’re in bed.
What We Love About the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper
- This topper is made with hypoallergenic materials, making it a good choice for those who have sensitive allergies.
- There’s a moisture-proof barrier helps the topper stay water resistant for when accidents happen.
- It features an elastic skirt helps this mattress stay secure on your bed.
What To Keep In Mind About the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper
- Currently, Peacock Alley only offers this topper in twin, queen, and king sized beds.
- At full price, this topper costs $270 for a queen, which might make it out of budget for some.
Full review coming soon!
Best Cooling – 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 ReviewOur Expert’s Take
One of the drawbacks to foam toppers is that they can trap heat. But that’s why many brands have started using gel infusions, amongst other methods, to keep sleepers from overheating.
One such topper comes from ViscoSoft. This topper comes in three-inch or four-inch options that will provide new life to an old mattress or give exceptional pressure relief to a firm mattress, all while keeping you cool.
It has a gel infusion in the foam, which rests inside a breathable, machine-washable cover, which attaches to your mattress with handy elastic straps.
What We Love About the Viscosoft Mattress Topper
- This topper has a few cooling features to help you from overheating. The foam has a gel infusion and the outer, removable cover uses bamboo rayon, which is breathable and moisture-wicking.
- The topper comes in 3” or 4” heights, so you’ll get plenty of additional pressure relief from the slow-moving memory foam.
- Viscosoft offers a 5-year warranty on its topper. With a removable cover and high-quality materials, this topper should last several years with good care.
What To Keep In Mind About the Viscosoft Mattress Topper
- Because of the slow-moving quality of the foam, those who move around a lot may find themselves feeling “stuck” in the foam.
Read our full ViscoSoft memory foam topper review.
Best Soft – Layla
Layla Mattress Topper
If it’s a cooling memory foam mattress topper you’re after, take a look at the Layla. This popular online mattress brand is known for their high-quality products, and this mattress topper is no exception.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.20 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
One of the main reasons we get mattress toppers is to soften a mattress that’s too firm. Layla makes a great flippable mattress, with an incredibly soft side to it. But you can also find that soft side of the mattress with the brand’s topper.
This topper is a little thinner than others, but it’s still incredibly soft and slow-moving. But because it’s a topper and not a full mattress, it’s still easy to move around on, so you shouldn’t feel trapped by the foam.
Layla has infused copper gel into the foam that makes up this topper, which pulls heat away from your body. And like most toppers on this list, you can use elastic straps to secure it to your mattress.
What We Love About the Layla Mattress Topper
- If you’re looking for more of a softer, pillow top feel this topper should do the trick. It’s only 2” of foam, which still softens a mattress but is also easy to move around on.
- Layla’s topper has a number of cooling features. The outer cover is breathable and the foam uses copper gel, which pulls body heat away from you to keep you from overheating.
What To Keep In Mind About the Layla Mattress Topper
- While this topper is great for those who want a thinner topper for that pillow top feel, if you want something thick to offer more pressure relief, you’ll want something thicker than this.
Read our full Layla memory foam topper review.
Best King-Size – Helix
Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper
The Helix GlacioTex™ Mattress Premium mattress topper uses both foam and coils to offer comfort and support. It comes with a cooling cover to keep sleepers from overheating.
Our Expert’s Take
The Helix GlacioTex™ mattress topper is basically a mini mattress that you can put on top of your mattress. It combines both foam and coils, but can still achieve that pillow top feel. This topper is offered in two firmness options, which works well for couples who have a split king mattress for different firmness preferences. The firmness choices also make it a good pick for all sleeping positions. Back and side sleepers do better on the plush version while stomach sleepers should find support on the firm.
This topper should also last a long time thanks to the steel coils and the fact that it comes inside a cover. The GlacioTex™ cover is a material that is proprietary to Helix. It pulls away heat so hot sleepers should sleep cool on this topper, too.
What We Love About the Helix GlacioTex™ Premium Mattress Topper
- It’s offered in two firmnesses so it has a wide appeal for each sleeping position and what they need. Those who need to soften their mattress or are side sleepers should get the plush version. Stomach sleepers or those who need more support should get the firm.
- The GlacioTex™ cover is designed for cooling. It shouldn’t trap heat. This cover also has straps which securely attach it to your mattress.
- Because it comes inside of a cover and has coils inside of this topper, it should last several years with good care.
What To Keep In Mind About the Helix GlacioTex™ Premium Mattress Topper
- While Helix does include this topper in seasonal discounts, a king-size topper could still be out of some budgets.
Read our full Helix GlacioTex mattress topper review.
Best Queen – Puffy
Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper
The Puffy mattress topper is not only hypoallergenic but includes a removable and washable cover, which can help keep your surface extra clean.
Mattress Clarity Score
5.00 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
When it comes to sleeping on a cloud, it doesn’t get better than Puffy. If you’re looking for cloud-like comfort for your queen-sized bed, the Puffy memory foam topper is a great choice.
This topper actually comes with a skirt to attach itself to your bed, so you definitely won’t have to worry about this topper shifting around while you sleep. Puffy offers this topper in two firmnesses to meet different needs. The firm will work best for some back sleepers and stomach sleepers while the soft version is best for side sleepers.
It’s hypoallergenic, so if you have sensitive allergies this won’t trigger them. It also won’t trap too much heat because it features bamboo in its outer cover. Bamboo is great for hot sleepers because it’s moisture-wicking and very breathable!
What We Love About the Puffy Mattress Topper
- The two firmness options will meet different needs. The firm model is best for stomach sleepers, which is the model we tested.
- It has a soft, breathable outer cover and this topper shouldn’t trap too much heat.
- The outer cover has a stretchy material that lets you attach the topper to your mattress, which should help keep it in place.
What To Keep In Mind About the Puffy Mattress Topper
- The firm model of this topper is not ideal for side sleepers, so go for the soft model if you need pressure relief.
Read our full Puffy mattress topper review.
Best Down – Parachute
Parachute Down Mattress Topper
The Parachute Down Feather Bed is a soft, fluffy mattress topper that could be a great match for hot sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.30 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
Down clusters feel luxuriously soft and plush. One of the best down toppers to add some pillow-like comfort to your mattress comes from Parachute.
This topper is 3” of plush down comfort and works well for back sleepers looking for a pillow top for their mattress. This topper features a baffle box construction, which means the down will stay evenly distributed throughout the topper.
It also features a luxurious, breathable sateen cotton cover. The sateen cotton cover feels very soft to the touch, and adds a breathable component to the topper.
What We Love About the Parachute Down Mattress Topper
- The combination of down and feathers gives this topper a really plush feel, perfect for those looking to achieve a pillow top feel.
- Down is great for year-round use. It insulates heat in cold months to keep you warm, but it’s breathable enough to not overheat during warm months.
What To Keep In Mind About the Parachute Down Mattress Topper
- Unfortunately, this topper does not have a removable cover, and when it gets dirty, you can’t machine-wash it. You may be able to spot clean, but Parachute recommends dry cleaning.
Read our full Parachute Down Mattress Topper review.
Best Organic – Avocado
Avocado Latex Mattress Topper
Avocado’s Latex mattress topper is made from the highest quality organic materials and has a bouncy, supportive feel.
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
If you’re on a mission to become a more eco-friendly shopper, Avocado is one of the best organic brands on the market. The Avocado Latex topper is the best topper for anyone looking for an eco-friendly organic option. All of the materials used in this topper are certified organic.
It’s made up of latex foam that’s bouncy and easy to move around on. And it doesn’t trap much heat thanks to latex’s natural breathability. It also features a breathable cotton cover, and there’s a temperature-regulating layer of wool.
This is also one of the few toppers that can firm up a mattress that’s too soft. While you can certainly get this in a plush version, Avocado offers a firm option of this topper.
What We Love About the Avocado Mattress Topper
- The latex foam is bouncy and responsive. The plush model should still offer some good pressure relief, and it’ll be easy to move around on over traditional memory foam.
- Avocado works with third-party organizations to acquire certifications that verify its materials are organic, eco-friendly, and responsibly and sustainably sourced.
- The combination of latex, wool, and cotton makes for a temperature-regulating and breathable topper. This means it won’t trap heat.
What To Keep In Mind About the Avocado Mattress Topper
- This topper should last a very long time, but it is a bit of an investment. A Queen-size topper will cost around $650.
- The firm model has its place for some back sleepers and stomach sleepers, but side sleepers should look at the plush model.
Read our full Avocado Latex topper review.
What to Consider When Buying a New Pillow Top Mattress Topper
We’ve got a more detailed buyers guide in our Best Mattress Toppers list, but there are few things to cover when talking about pillow top mattress toppers.
What is a Pillow Top Mattress Topper?
Similar to a pillow top mattress, pillow top mattress toppers are going to add some plush, pillowy comfort to the top of your mattress. The only difference is that the toppers can be removed and can go on just about anything.
Pillow tops are made from a variety of materials, but today more often than not, they’re made from memory foam. Many of the toppers on this list are made from slow-moving memory foam, but there are some down and latex foam toppers here!
Regardless of materials, the goal is the same: to make your mattress feel soft and pillowy.
How to Clean a Pillow Top Mattress Topper
Not all toppers are made the same, and if you’re trying to squeeze some extra life out of your mattress, keeping your topper clean can help its longevity.
Caring for your topper ranges from spot cleaning only to machine washing.. Toppers like the Saatva, COOP, and Parachute toppers are spot clean only. These toppers have materials or covers that can’t be put in a machine.
Toppers on this list that feature a machine-washable cover include: Puffy, Helix, and TEMPUR-Pedic.
Best PIllow Top Mattress Toppers FAQs
Can you put a mattress topper over a pillow top mattress?
You certainly can. The name of the game is softening your mattress after all. And many of the toppers on this list will attach with elastic straps or a skirt.
However, some brands, such as Brooklinen, make a point to mention that its topper will perform the best if you’re putting over a mattress that doesn’t already have a pillow top
How thick is a pillow top mattress topper?
Pillow tops don’t tend to be very thick when they’re part of the mattress itself. And toppers come in a range of thicknesses, from two to four inches. All the toppers on this list fall within this range, and some come with different height options to fit your needs.
