If your sleep setup is nearly perfect, but not quite comfy enough, adding one of the best mattress toppers might be the little upgrade you need. “Good mattress toppers can help align the spine and help with shoulder, neck, hip and back pain,” Vijay B. Vad, MD, a sports medicine physiatrist at Hospital for Special Surgery, tells SELF.
No mattress topper, no matter how supportive or plush, will save a totally busted bed (like one that’s already sagging or has loose springs). But it can make a fine night’s sleep on your current mattress feel truly dreamy. Check out our favorite options below, then read on for pro topper shopping tips from Dr. Vad.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper with GlacioTex, $499
- Best for Side Sleepers: Lift by Amerisleep Mattress Topper Comfort Layer, $429
- Best Latex: Birch by Helix Plush Organic Mattress Toppe, $523
- Best Budget Pick: Casper Comfy Mattress Topper, $299
- Best Cooling: Helix Premium Mattress Topper with GlacioTex, $499
- Best Cooling Budget Pick: Arctic Sleep by Pure Rest Cool Gel 5 Zone Memory Foam Topper, $45
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Shop the best mattress toppers
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Best Overall: Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper with GlacioTex
Helix
ErgoAlign Mattress Topper with GlacioTex
The ErgoAlign topper from SELF Certified brand Helix is designed with back pain in mind. Its midsection is extra dense, firm, and supportive, which helps take some pressure off your lower back while you sleep. The head and foot of the topper are made with softer materials that better contour to your shoulders and knees. All three sections have two layers of foam—this design helps prevent aches and pains (and prevents you from feeling swallowed by the topper), Dr. Vad says.
A few key practical details make this topper easy to set up and a joy to sleep on, like sturdy straps that wrap around the corners of your mattress to hold it in place. Plus, its cooling cover helps regulate your body temperature while you sleep (bye, night sweats).
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Thickness: 3 inches | Key materials: Dual-density foam
Best for Side Sleepers: Lift by Amerisleep Mattress Topper Comfort Layer
Amerisleep
Mattress Topper Comfort Layer
As SELF has previously reported, side sleepers tend to benefit from a medium-firm (as opposed to a truly firm) mattress. This position puts more weight on your shoulders, hips, and knees, so it can be helpful to sleep on a bed with a little more give—that contouring sensation should prevent uncomfortable pressure points from building up.
That’s why we like Amerisleep’s Comfort Layer mattress topper for those who curl up to catch some z’s. Its cushioning cradles you, providing pressure relief along the weight-bearing side of your body. For those concerned about sinking too deep into their bed (and not being able to roll over easily), the brand’s proprietary Bio-Pur memory foam retains its shape without collapsing overnight.
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Thickness: 3 inches | Key materials: Brand-specific memory foam
Best Latex: Birch by Helix Plush Organic Mattress Topper
Birch Living by Helix
Plush Organic Mattress Topper
Dr. Vad likes latex mattress toppers because they tend to last longer than foam or down options (about seven and a half years compared to three, by his estimate). So if you’re looking for a topper that can go the distance, take the latex route.
We love Birch’s Luxe Natural Mattress, and the brand’s Plush Organic Mattress Topper uses the same materials for a body-conforming, pressure-relieving sensation. Its organic cotton cover feels soft and airy, while its main layer of organic latex feels supportive (and not too squishy). It’s thinner than most of our other top picks, but it still feels substantial—it’s a good pick if you don’t want to wrestle with a chunky layer, but still need to make your mattress more comfortable.
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Thickness: 2 inches | Key materials: Organic cotton, organic natural latex
Best Budget Pick: Casper Comfy Mattress Topper
Casper
Comfy Mattress Topper
Casper makes our favorite budget mattress, so it’s no surprise that its just-under-$300 Comfy Mattress Topper is an excellent choice too. It’s made with two foam layers: The first is lighter and hugs your body, while the second is denser for added support. Again, double layered memory foam mattress toppers provide better pressure relief, so we’re pleased to see this topper checking that essential box—and for a couple hundred dollars less than other high-quality layers.
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Thickness: 3 inches | Key materials: Dual-density foam
Best Cooling: Helix Premium Mattress Topper with GlacioTex
Helix
Premium Mattress Topper with GlacioTex
Another top-notch topper from Helix, this model features a mid-layer of small coils, which has a few sleep-friendly benefits. For one, it helps the topper map the shape of your body, no matter your preferred sleeping position. For another, it makes the topper more durable. And it helps promote airflow, so the topper can more easily shed body heat if you tend to run warm. (Bonus: Its GlacioTex Cooling Cover also disperses excess heat, for a truly chill night’s sleep.)
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Thickness: 3.75 inches | Key materials: Foam, steel coils
Best Cooling Budget Pick: Arctic Sleep by Pure Rest Cool Gel 5 Zone Memory Foam Topper
Arctic Sleep
Cool Gel 5 Zone Memory Foam Topper
One SELF contributor (a self-described hot sleeper) swears by this cooling, gel-infused memory foam pad for comfier snoozes. She likes that it’s ventilated, so heat can escape and air can flow through the topper, and that its soft feel minimizes her aches and pains (though we should note that its single-layer design isn’t the best for pain relief, per Dr. Vad’s recommendations).
Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Thickness: 1.50 inches | Key materials: Gel memory foam
What should you look for in a mattress topper if you deal with back pain?
Dr. Vad recommends latex and memory foam mattress toppers for people who deal with back pain and need additional support when they sleep. Down and down-alternative mattress toppers are better for pure comfort, and need to be pretty thick to provide substantial support.
One thing to note about foam mattress toppers: They can trap heat. If you tend to sleep hot, make sure you’re shopping for a cooling mattress topper that’s well-ventilated.
“Two inches will suffice [for] latex or memory foam, but usually three to four inches are needed for better support and spinal alignment,” Dr. Vad says. It takes a little trial and error to see what thickness feels best for you. Whether your topper affects how fitted sheets fit over your bed could also factor into your choice.
This is a matter of personal preference to some extent, but a good firmness to start with is medium-firm, Dr. Vad says. Back and stomach sleepers can try firmer mattress toppers, while side sleepers may find that models with a true medium-level of firmness are comfier.
How do you know if a mattress topper is working?
If you add a supportive topper and don’t see any improvements in your pain after a few weeks, your bed may be the issue. Have a relatively new mattress and your bedding is in good shape, but still feeling achey? Dr. Vad says it’s time to visit your healthcare provider for a full evaluation.
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