Best Mattress Toppers (2026) 

The Saatva mattress topper is a luxurious option for sleepers seeking high-end materials that provide a comfy place to land. It earned a perfect 5/5 in materials and value, with tester Matt Shickling saying, “All of the materials feel very high quality compared to other toppers I’ve tested. The cover is comfortable and breathable, and there is no notable pilling, weird stretching, or bad stitching. It’s just really nicely made.” 

Although it’s got a luxurious feel, it doesn’t come with a super-luxurious price tag, and is actually more of a bargain. It retails for less than $300 for a queen size. Matt thought the quality of this topper justifies the cost. He awarded it a 4.5/5 in value because of this.

Those who decide on this topper should expect “good memory foam support.” Matt said, “If you’re looking to add some plush support to your bed — and enjoy a slow sinking memory foam feel — this is an excellent choice.” He then added that this may not be the topper for those looking to add extra support and firmness.

Saatva touts that this topper has advanced cooling technology because the foam is infused with graphite. Matt said that cooling was “pretty good for memory foam,” because the material is more prone to trapping heat than other materials. He said that he lounged around on the topper on his stomach for approximately 15 minutes and didn’t experience a noticeable uptick in the temperature. However, if you are looking for a topper that provides a top-notch cooling experience, this may not be your best bet.  

Typically, memory foam toppers excel at motion isolation because the dense material traps and dampens movements before they travel to the other side of the bed. However, this wasn’t Matt’s experience when he tested this with a partner. “I felt more motion than I expected, given that this topper is made entirely of memory foam,” he said. “Although it certainly wasn’t an extreme amount, it was more than I expected.” 

On the flipside, he found it had a quicker response than most memory foam toppers. “It’s memory foam, so it’s not the most responsive thing in the world, but when you change position or get off the bed, it retains its original shape pretty quickly,” Matt said.

Mattress toppers can be an excellent way to change up the feel of your mattress. However, some more luxurious options, like Helix GlacioTex Premium mattress topper, are essentially a mini-mattress. This unique topper uses microcoils between two foam layers to provide sleepers a sturdy and firm surface. 

Our product tester said, “This topper is very supportive and firm. It has some slight sinkage, but overall, I feel more ‘on top’ of this mattress topper than sinking in.” He ranked the firmness at a 7, just a tick above what we considered medium-firm. Although he prefers a softer topper, he ranked this topper’s support at 4/5. This score aligned with the GlacioTex’s  consistently high scores throughout our performance testing, including a 4 in cooling, motion transfer, and value; and a perfect 5/5 in materials and durability.  

Although our tester found the almost $500 price tag (before sales or discounts) a little high for his liking, he did appreciate the value and durability of the materials. “This mattress topper is of very nice quality,” he said. “The materials consist of two foam layers with the GlacioTex technology in between. The cover is luxurious and feels cool to the touch.” 

Ultimately, he thought the quality and durability of the materials justified the price. “The double layers of dense foam seem like they will hold up well over time,” he said. “I don’t think there would be sagging after nightly use, especially because of how firm this topper is.”

If your mattress sleeps warm, this topper may be a way to cool it off. The cover consists of GlacioTex, which is designed to pull heat away from your body. To test this, Our Tester took an initial surface temperature reading on the topper and then captured another one after he lay on it for five minutes. He saw about a 5-degree increase, which we consider great cooling. 

Read the full Helix GlacioTex Premium mattress topper review for more information.

Light sleepers who share their bed will want to prioritize motion isolation, or a topper that prevents movement from spreading across the entire mattress. The Nectar Softer Mattress Topper is a soft 2-inch topper made with gel-infused memory foam, providing plush contouring and sinkage to relieve pressure around your joints. It’s also a prime option for motion isolation, earning a 5/5 from our in-house tester in this category. 

“I hardly felt any movement from this plush mattress topper,” our tester said. “I barely noticed my testing partner’s movements.”

Usually, a soft topper that excels at motion isolation won’t have the bounce or responsiveness of a firmer model; however, even with its soft feel, this topper was still pretty responsive and easy to move on. “Even though you sink more into this mattress topper, it was surprisingly easy to move around and adjust my sleeping position,” she said, rating the responsiveness at 4/5. “And when I pushed the top with my hand, it’d quickly snap back to its original shape, too.”

The Nectar Softer Mattress Topper also has decent cooling capabilities, which earned another 4/5 score. Our tester measured the surface temperature with our thermal gun and found it increased by nearly 9 degrees after she lay on the mattress topper for several minutes. Even with the slightly higher temperature rise, she stated that the mattress topper remained cool to the touch. “It was very comfortable to be on, and it felt breathable,” she said.

Due to its softer feel, this mattress topper from Nectar won’t have as much support as a firmer bed or topper, so we rate the support at 3/5. You might feel some sinkage around the hips, as our tester did, which could set your spine out of alignment.  For a more supportive topper, we recommend the Helix Premium GlacioTex topper.

That said, it’ll have nice cushioning if you like to feel “in” your mattress instead of “on” it. “It has a cozy feel, and you feel cocooned in the topper as well,” added our tester. This is a solid choice to get the feel of one of the best soft mattresses at a fraction of the cost.

If you’ve ever dabbled in smart mattresses and smartwatches for sleep tracking, then I have the mattress topper for you: the Orion Sleep System. Not only does this topper provide a stabilizing, firm feel, but it also features dual-zone temperature regulation, allowing couples to personalize the topper’s heating or cooling to their preferences.

Our in-house tester gave the cooling capabilities of the Orion Sleep System a 5/5, saying the topper’s accompanying app provided great instructions in the form of text, images, and videos. “It still does take some time to set it all up, though,” she added. You’ll also have to add water to the included tower to pump through the mattress topper’s tear-resistant tubing, but once you have the cover set and water tank in place, you can adjust the water temperature to anywhere between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. 

You can quickly adjust the temperature in the app and set times for the temperature to rise or fall throughout the night. The cover and app can also track sleep metrics like sleep cycles and heart rate variability (although those smart features require a subscription).

“I have the Helix Dusk Luxe, a medium-firm mattress, and this topper definitely made it feel a bit firmer,” she added. “It’ll provide more lift to a mattress, rather than soften it up.” This led our tester to award the Orion Sleep System a 4/5 for support.

The materials are high quality as well, earning a 5/5 in this category. The mattress topper is a polyester-and-bamboo blend to help regulate airflow, and the side panel features both spandex and polyester to help the topper stretch over mattresses up to 16 inches thick.

This is a solid smart mattress topper if you want control over your bed’s warmth or coolness, but it comes at a premium of about $2,300, plus a subscription service if you want the added sleep insights. I should also note that the mattress topper is available in only three sizes: queen, king, and California king. If you have a larger bed and the budget for it, this can be a great option to help optimize your sleep.

Want something cheaper? Check out the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper, our best pick for affordability.

Mattress toppers are an excellent way to add fluffy plushness to a firm mattress. We selected Tempur-Pedic’s TEMPUR-Adapt Topper as the best plush mattress topper because it earned a flawless 5/5 in support, motion isolation, durability, and cooling. While those scores are impressive, our in-house tester’s thoughts on her experience solidified that this was the best plush topper available.  

“This topper hugs you in all the right places,” she said, “It completely envelops my body, and I feel like I am resting on clouds.” 

Despite its cloud-like feel, our tester was also taken with how well it supported her. “Although this was like splashing down on a giant cotton ball, I found it to be surprisingly supportive,” she said. “My spine felt incredibly aligned, and I was just very comfortable overall.” She didn’t hesitate to give this bed a perfect 5 for support.

She also gave it 5 stars for its cooling capabilities. Although she felt very cozy, she didn’t get hot. “The topper felt cool-to-the-touch when I ran my hand over it,” she said. “As I lay on it, I noticed that the temperature rose to more of a neutral feel, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. The topper didn’t feel hot. It did a great job of not warming up from my body heat.”

If you’re adding this plush topper to a mattress that you share with a partner or pet, you’ll be pleased to know that it offers excellent motion isolation. Our tester had a co-worker join her for this test. As she lay on one side of the bed with her eyes closed, her colleague got in and out of bed, and then tossed and turned like a bedmate repositioning. 

“I could not feel any motion from my partner from this topper,” she said. “It isolated the motion completely from my partner, and I could not feel even large movements on my side of the bed.”

However, as is often the case with mattresses and toppers that excel in motion isolation, the TEMPUR-Adapt lacked responsiveness. Our tester said that if you’re a combination sleeper who changes positions a lot throughout the night, this likely isn’t the topper for you. You might like the Birch topper instead, which features bouncy latex.

Read more in our TEMPUR-Adapt topper review.

Who says you can’t help save the planet while you sleep? The Birch Plush organic latex mattress topper is made with eco-conscious organic materials, including responsive, all-natural latex. The bouncy nature of our pick for best organic mattress topper also makes it a great pick for sexually active couples and combination sleepers. 

When my colleague Kenny Timper tested this, he was mightily impressed with how the GOLS-certified latex performed during the responsiveness, cooling, and durability tests. The Birch Plush earned 5/5 in these categories.

If your mattress wraps you in a deep hug, making repositioning difficult, adding this responsive topper may be an easy fix. Kenny noted that when he pressed into the topper, it went back to its original shape “in a snap.” “This topper is surprisingly bouncy thanks to its latex,” Kenny said. 

However, he noted that the bounce comes at the cost of motion isolation. When Kenny had a colleague toss and turn on the topper while he lay stationary, he indicated that he could feel some of their movement. He didn’t think it would be enough to disrupt his sleep, but light sleepers may be affected. 

Latex is often praised for its breathability and natural cooling effect, and this topper was no exception. He was especially fond of how breathable the cover and aerated latex foam were, allowing for ample airflow. 

Considering that toppers are often a more economical way to improve your sleep environment than buying a new mattress, the Birch’s cost could be a drawback. A queen topper will set you back $500, and if you sleep on a king-size mattress like me, you’ll be out over $600. (For something cheaper, I recommend the Nectar topper.) 

However, given the high-quality materials that are used in this topper’s construction, the higher prices can be justified. Kenny said, “This screams quality. Nothing feels flimsy or like it would tear or sag easily.” So, if your budget allows, the Birch Natural topper is a comfortable and eco-friendly option that should hold up for a long time. 

Read more in our Birch mattress topper review.

Looking for a truly affordable way to upgrade your mattress? Check out the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper, our pick for the best cheap mattress topper. Brooklyn Bedding packs this 2-inch topper with gel-infused memory foam to create a comfortable sleep surface that’s versatile enough to work for all types of sleepers. Our tester, Riley Otis, tested this out and gave it a perfect 5/5 for motion transfer, as well as 4/5 in materials, durability, and overall value. 

Not only did Riley run this through performance tests in our sleep lab, but she also has plenty of real-world experience with this topper, as she used one throughout college. She said that one of the main reasons she chose it in college was because a twin XL (the size of most college dorm beds) runs around $100 on sale. Since she knows it can withstand several years of use, she gave it high marks for its quality and longevity. 

Given that a twin XL mattress isn’t really built for two people, Riley hadn’t had any experience with how this topper would do when it comes to absorbing movements made by someone sharing your bed. However, when she and her partner tried this out at home, she was pleased to see how well it dampened the motion of their movements. “I couldn’t feel anything when they were tossing and turning or when they got in and out of bed,” Riley said. “The memory foam did a great job absorbing all of their motion.”

Riley also praised how well the “plush and squishy” all-foam topper contoured around her, saying, “I love how it cushions my hips and shoulders. I think it’s great for side sleepers.” She thinks that back sleepers will find it beneficial, but doesn’t think it is enough for stomach sleepers who are hoping to add some additional firmness to their mattress.

Although Riley didn’t feel that her mobility was compromised because she was stuck down in the foam, she did say, “It’s definitely not going to give you much bounce. It takes a few seconds to return to its original shape after pressure has been applied.”

Another feature it isn’t going to give you much of is cooling. Despite the gel infusions, which Riley noted should, in theory, draw heat away from sleepers, she didn’t experience this. “The topper isn’t cool to the touch, and my partner and I both noticed that we felt hotter than we typically do,” she said. Nonetheless, for the price, Riley thinks this is an excellent value. 

Looking for a better cooling topper? Check out the aptly named ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper.

My current mattress is the Nolah Evolution. I am a super fan of this company and its products. However, I am not a huge fan of all-foam products, so I was interested to see how the Nolah Mattress Topper would perform. After my colleague Kenny Timper, CSSC, tested this mattress out in our Charlotte, NC, sleep studio, we decided that it was the best memory foam mattress topper. Kenny gave this mattress a 5/5 in motion isolation, materials, and durability.

If you want to add a little plushness to a firm mattress, this Nolah topper is a solid choice. Kenny said, “This mattress topper is very soft, and my body mostly sinks through it. This feels great overall, and I think this feels really great on your side if you need more cushioning for your shoulders and hips.” 

It could also be a good choice for those who sleep on a bed with poor motion isolation. Memory foam is an excellent way to dampen the movement made by a restless partner or pet. Kenny tested this feature with a co-worker. “I could sense a little movement but there was no bouncing,” he said. “The motion didn’t ripple across the mattress but was instead absorbed by the soft memory foam.”

However, if you frequently switch positions or have mobility issues, Kenny cautions that although he didn’t feel stuck down in the topper, he did have to put a little more effort into rolling around. He followed up with, “It’s soft memory foam, which is great for folks who enjoy a slow sinking or a deep hug feel from their mattress, but if you want something more responsive, this isn’t your best bet.”

For those seeking a mattress topper that will last a long time, Kenny recommends this as an excellent choice for lightweight and average-weight sleepers, but cautions that it may break down more quickly if used by a larger-bodied sleeper. “The topper feels really nice overall with the organic cover, and the foam feels very cushiony,” he said. “I believe it would hold up over five years for those weighing 130 pounds or less and up to 230 pounds, but those that weigh more than that may experience some smashed down areas in the topper over time since it is so soft.” These folks should look at the Helix Premium GlacioTex Topper instead, which features miniature coils.

Although Kenny was on the fence about if the materials justified the $449 price tag ($337 on sale), he noted that its customer reviews had earned it a 4.6/5 on the Nolah site. Reviewers were impressed by its quality and how soft it was. Side sleepers noted that the added cushioning helped alleviate stiffness in their joints.

Read more in our Nolah Mattress Topper review.

Sleeping on a mattress that makes you warm is the sweaty pits. A cooling mattress topper like the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper can be a convenient and cost-effective way to chill your mattress out. If you’re worried that the foam construction will trap heat, our expert tester says not to be. He gave this mattress topper an impressive 4.5/5 in cooling. However, proving it is not a one-trick pony, the Copper Topper also received a 4.5/5 for support and a perfect 5/5 for durability and materials.

To test cooling, our tester took an initial surface temperature reading of the topper, then another after lying on it for a few minutes. He was impressed that the temperature only increased by 4 degrees. Since he found this topper to be both super plush and supportive, he spent an additional 20 minutes on it. He said, “I didn’t notice any distinct temperature rise. I am a hot sleeper, and I was worried that the foam would trap my body heat, but it didn’t. I would recommend this for hot sleepers.”

In addition to improving your temperature regulation, our tester thinks that it’s a thoughtful design and its quality materials could “even improve an awful bed.” He appreciated how the 4 inches of foam supported his larger body, and he gave a nod to the girdle-like straps that secured the topper to the mattress. He also said that the cover is soft and well-stitched. The quality and durability of the materials earned an “easy 5” from our tester. 

Sharing a bed with a partner or pet can not only raise the temperature of the bed, but their motion can also lead to you being awakened. However, after our tester tested the motion isolation with a coworker, he noted that the ViscoSoft topper effectively kept both the temperature and motion down. “Although I could feel that my partner was moving, I couldn’t tell you what they were doing,” he said. “The motion isolation on this topper was pretty good.” Therefore, if you have a bed that doesn’t absorb motion and movement well, this topper can likely help you out in that area as well. 

All that said, if you’re looking for a topper that will add some responsiveness to your bed, this is not the best choice. We noted that it has an authentic memory foam feel, meaning that most sleepers will sink and experience more of a hug from this topper. For a bouncier feel, check out the Birch topper.

I love the feeling of down-filled sleep accessories, but I am much less fond of being poked by the feathers that always find their way through. However, many manufacturers have started using alternatives that mimic the feeling of down, minus the poking and sneezing. We chose the Brooklinen Down Alternative Mattress Topper as our pick for the best down alternative mattress topper after it earned a perfect 5/5 in materials and durability, as well as a solid 4/5 in responsiveness and value.

This topper uses soft, silky microgel fill as an alternative material to down. Expert tester Kenny Timper said, “It gives the mattress a little boost, and it feels soft on my back.” If you find you’re sleeping on a too-firm mattress, the Brooklinen topper could be a cost-effective way to soften it up. 

Given that this topper is fairly thin, Kenny didn’t think that it was particularly responsive, nor did the actual topper have much in the way of motion isolation. “I don’t think this topper is thick enough to have an impact on these performance tests, one way or the other,” he said. 

Although its thinness meant that there wasn’t much for him to press into and evaluate how quickly it responded, he did say, “This topper definitely isn’t hard to move around on.” He feels that those who switch sleeping positions during the night and sexually active folks won’t experience any hindrance when using these toppers.

However, this type of mattress topper doesn’t absorb a restless partner’s movements. “The topper isn’t thick enough to make a noticeable difference in the amount of motion you feel,” Kenny said. “That will mainly be decided by the mattress under you.” If you’re a light sleeper with a restless partner, I recommend the TEMPUR-Adapt topper instead.

Additionally, some Brooklinen products are available on Amazon, but this one isn’t. You will need to order it from the official website. Under the shipping and returns section for this topper, it states that most of the company’s products can be returned within a 365-day trial period. However, returns are subject to a $9.95 return fee. 

Read more in our Brooklinen mattress topper review.

As someone who has lived in the South for most of my life, I know a thing or two about seasonal allergies. If coughing and sneezing are keeping you up at night, a mattress topper like our top pick for best hypoallergenic, the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Topper, may help. 

I started sleeping with two Peacock Alley Down Alternative pillows during a brutal flair-up of seasonal allergies, and they made a noticeable difference. So I was excited to test this topper’s performance.  My fellow tester ran it through our testing protocol, and this topper shone brightly in both value and motion transfer, earning 4/5 in both categories. However, he was most impressed by the craftsmanship and materials, which garnered a perfect 5/5. 

“The topper feels very well made,” our expert tester said. “The filling reminds me of a feather bed, but minus the sneezing those beds cause for me. Despite its softness, it remains quite supportive. I love how the cotton cover is soft to the touch and that it secures to the bed like a fitted sheet.”

Not only does the topper filled with fluffy feather alternatives keep you from sneezing, it also does a great job of dampening motion isolation. So, if your restless partner is keeping you up at night, the Peacock Alley Topper may help with that as well. 

Our tester asked a coworker to get in and out of bed and then mimic the nightly tossing and turning of a partner. The thick filling did a solid job of keeping the motion from disturbing him. However, he cautions that he noticed a crinkly noise that may disturb sleepers who are sensitive to sound. 

Given its plush construction, our tester wasn’t surprised that it wasn’t particularly responsive. “Responsiveness is not a strong point on this mattress—and I feel like that’s kind of intentional,” he said. “It’s plush and soft, and you sink into it a little bit. I think this is made for people who want to feel cradled and add more soft plushness to their beds.” For a bit more responsiveness from your topper, I’d suggest the Nectar topper instead. 

Additionally, as a fan of hypoallergenic down-alternative products, I would be remiss not to mention that this topper is machine-washable (in a large-capacity or commercial washer). Being able to toss it in the washing machine is another way to keep allergens at bay, and the company claims that the topper gets loftier with each washing. 

The 3-inch Bear Pro Mattress Topper is our pick for the best mattress topper for back sleepers. Individuals who prefer sleeping on their backs typically require a medium-firm topper that offers support, contouring, and spinal alignment. After my colleague tested the Bear Pro, we agreed that it was a solid pick.

This topper earned a 4.5/5 for our support test. My fellow tester said, “I felt supported throughout my shoulders and hips. My spine stays aligned, and the thickness of the topper prevents me from feeling the mattress underneath, and honestly, makes the mattress feel more supportive.” She thinks that the Bear would be an excellent remedy for back sleepers who may be tucking themselves in on a bed that is too soft to provide adequate support. She said she sank in just enough to experience comfortable contouring, but not so much that she felt stuck in the layers. 

The Bear’s supportiveness could potentially help with back pain. Dr. Dasgupta said, “Sleeping on an overly soft mattress that doesn’t provide enough support can cause poor spinal alignment.” By adding this pressure-relieving topper to your sleep surface, you may experience some relief from lower back pain.  

Although the Bear Pro will set you back $345 when it is not on sale, it is made with quality materials that can help justify the cost. “I think the materials are of good quality that would hold up for quite some time,” our tester said.

This topper should also withstand a restless partner. Our tester  judged how well it isolated motion by having a co-worker mimic a bedmate getting in and out of bed and changing positions. “I feel little to no movement when someone is on the other side of the topper,” she said. “There is a slight shifting from the cover of the topper, but the dense foam prevented me from feeling my partner change positions or move around. Once we both lay down, I felt alone on the topper. I don’t roll towards them or wiggle around when they are moving.”

However, if you’re a back sleeper who gets hot and sweaty during the night, this may not be the top topper for you. Our tester noted that she could feel it warming up while lying on it. Although it never made her feel hot, she thinks people who heat up when they sleep could get uncomfortable. However, if you are like her, you’ll likely have more of a “cozy blanket experience.”

For a cooler topper, check out the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Topper. Read more in our Bear Pro topper review.