Andrew Heinzman
Everybody’s gotta use a mattress. But sometimes, you end up with the most terrible, painful, evil mattress. Why not soften it up with a foam mattress topper?
Now, if your bed is so bad that you related to that evil joke on a spiritual level, maybe you need to skip our look at toppers and jump right into getting a brand new budget-friendly foam mattress. If you just need to freshen up the one you have, however, let’s dig in.
Foam mattress toppers can come in different thicknesses and densities, but they all aim to make your bed more comfortable by adding some cushion and support. When you’re sick of your uncomfortable mattress, you can save a lot of money by buying a topper instead of a brand new mattress. A topper can even extend the life of your mattress by diffusing bodyweight, a nice bonus that anybody can appreciate.
But it can be difficult to find the mattress topper that’s right for you. Some mattress toppers are incredibly soft and thick, to the point that your entire body can sink deep into their foamy goodness. But if you like to sleep on a surface that’s a bit more supportive, then you’ll want to find a mattress topper that’s on the thin side, or one that’s made with layers of different densities.
Luckily, we’ve done some of the work for you. Here are our favorite mattress toppers, from super-plush to super-supportive. We’ve listed the queen-size price for these mattress toppers, but almost all of them are available in other sizes—you’ll, naturally, pay a bit more for a king size and a good bit less for a twin.
Sleep Innovations 4-Inch Gel Topper With Quilt Cover ($152)
If you have a really terrible mattress, then you may want to get a super deep mattress topper. The Sleep Innovations 4-inch topper is deep enough to completely transform your mattress. And it’s made of a gel memory foam that conforms to the shape of your body, and sucks away your excess body heat. No more waking up in sweats!
This Sleep Innovations topper is 4-inches thick, and it comes with a 2-inch quilted cover. That’s an extra 6-inches on top of your mattress. The quilted cover is a little denser than the gel topper, so it can softly diffuse a bit of your weight and add some extra support for your back.
A super-plush mattress topper may not be right for everybody. If you need a firmer topper, then you’ll want to look somewhere else. This one is for the people that are obsessed with softness.
$139.99 
Tempur-Pedic Supreme 3-Inch Topper ($347)
Some people don’t want to sink into their mattress. If you have back problems, or you just want a bit more support from your mattress, then you need to find something that’s a little dense. The Tempur-Pedic mattress topper is made from a memory foam that supports your body, rather than consuming it. It also comes with a soft allergen-resistant cover, a nice alternative to the heat-trapping plastic covers that usually come with mattress toppers.
Tempur-Pedic branded mattress toppers cost a lot of money. I mean, this mattress topper costs about $200 more than any of our other favorite toppers. But it’s a great topper from a company with a lot of experience in the field—and hey, you get a bit of that Tempur-Pedic goodness without buying the whole mattress.
$251.40 $399.00 Save 37%
LUCID 2-Inch Ventilated Mattress Topper ($83)
If you’re looking for a mattress topper that’s plush, but not too thick, then you should check out the 2-inch LUCID mattress topper. It’s made of a memory foam material, and it has a bunch of small holes for ventilation and weight distribution. Who said you needed “cooling gel” to keep things cool?
This is a neat, affordable mattress topper. It’s not too thick, so it’s a good way to get some extra support for your back without breaking the bank. But if you need a super thick mattress topper with all kinds of bells and whistles, you’re going to have to look somewhere else.
UTTU 3-Inch Red Respira Ventilated Topper ($170)
The Uttu is a unique mattress topper, and it’s doing a good job standing out in this dog eat dog world. It’s 3-inches thick, and it’s made with a dual-layer design that keeps things from feeling too dense or two plush. The bottom layer is a deep, soft foam that diffuses and distributes the weight of your body without a lot of resistance. The thin top layer is a bit denser, and it gives you a bit of extra support. Oh, and both of these layers are ventilated, so you won’t wake up in sweats.
This is a good mattress for people with back problems, or for people that have an especially uncomfortable mattress. It’s thick enough to transform your mattress, but it’s designed to keep you feeling comfortable and supported.
$99.99 $109.99 Save 9%
Pure Green 2-Inch 100% Natural Latex Topper ($130)
Memory foam is a neat product that can help a lot of people. But it’s made from petrochemicals that can take a toll on the environment, and a lot of people aren’t totally comfortable with all the chemicals pumped into toppers to keep them flame-retardant, fragrant, and stain-resistant.
Luckily, there are natural alternatives to memory foam mattress toppers. Brands like Pure Green make their mattress toppers from latex foam, a durable foam that retains its form and stays cool.
This is a relatively inexpensive way to add some cushion to your bed, and you may sleep better knowing what your mattress topper is made of. Just keep in mind that latex mattress toppers are a bit denser than memory foam toppers, and if you have latex sensitivities you’ll want to avoid the category altogether.
