A high-quality mattress is so crucial to getting a good night’s sleep each day. The problem, of course, is that high-quality mattresses are typically very expensive. Thankfully, there’s a shortcut to restful sleep that not enough people consider, which is a shame since it costs so little compared to a new mattress. We’re talking about mattress toppers, and the expert product reviewers at BGR are here to recommend the best ones out of the dozens of popular options we tested. While you’re at it, don’t miss our guide on the best bed sheets.
Our top picks
- Best memory foam mattress topper: LINENSPA 2-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best pillow top: Niagara Bamboo Mattress Topper
- Best cooling mattress topper: Niagara Cooling Mattress Topper
- Best extra-thick topper: LUCID 4 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best egg crate topper: Best Price Mattress Egg Crate Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best premium mattress topper: ViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Want more details about what makes each of those choices the best in its respective category? You’ll find our in-depth takes on each mattress topper down below.
1. Best memory foam mattress topper: LINENSPA 2-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Pros: Affordable, comfortable, breathable, relieves pressure, long-lasting
Cons: Some people think it sleeps hot
Memory foam continues to be the most popular material choice when it comes to mattress toppers. We’ve tested more than two dozen different options, and our favorite is the LINENSPA 2-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
LINENSPA’s memory foam mattress topper strikes the perfect balance between comfort, quality, and price. It’s not the most plush option out there, but it has that signature memory foam feel that most people are looking for when they buy a memory foam mattress topper.
It takes about 24-48 hours to fully expand when you first get it, just like any other memory foam option. After that, it sleeps like a dream. The memory foam is supportive but not too firm, and it’s great for relieving pressure. It’s easy to see why this memory foam mattress topper has more than 87,000 5-star reviews.
Some people think this LINENSPA topper retains too much heat. We didn’t find that to be the case in our tests, but your mileage may vary. As a matter of fact, we actually found it to be on the cooler side compared to other memory foam mattress toppers we tested.
2. Best pillow top: Niagara Bamboo Mattress Topper
Pros: Ultra-soft, great thickness, machine-washable, affordable
Cons: Not as supportive as memory foam
Memory foam is the most popular option, but some people want a mattress topper that’s softer and more pillow-like. If you want to feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud, definitely try the Niagara Bamboo Mattress Topper.
This mattress topper is very soft and plush, but it’s not too so soft that you’ll start getting back pain. That’s a real problem with mattress toppers that are too soft. One reason the Niagara mattress topper is still supportive is that it doesn’t go overboard with thickness, like so many other ones we tested.
Niagara’s bamboo cover is ultra-soft, and you can feel the difference even through your bed sheets. It’s also easy to wash since you can just toss it into your washing machine like the rest of your bedding.
The only real downside people talk about is that this mattress topper isn’t as supportive as a memory foam topper. As we covered above, however, we find that it offers great support compared to other pillow top options out there.
3. Best cooling mattress topper: Niagara Cooling Mattress Topper
Pros: Excellent cooling and heat dissipation, comfy quilted feel, high-quality materials, good price
Cons: Thinner than some other options
If you sleep hot, the Niagara Cooling Mattress Topper is the perfect mattress topper for you. It’s super comfy and plush, yet it doesn’t trap heat at all, so you stay nice and cool all night long.
For this mattress topper, Niagara Sleep Solutions uses cooling nylon fabric that is the most breathable sleep surface we tested. The quilting on the surface of this mattress topper also helps ensure that heat isn’t trapped between you and the bed.
Thankfully, this mattress topper doesn’t sacrifice comfort or quality for cooling. It’s among the most comfy mattress toppers we tested, which is saying a lot. It’s also machine-washable, so it’s very easy to keep it clean.
The only real downside people speak of is the thickness. This model is definitely on the thinner side, but we found that it’s still more than thick enough to be comfortable.
4. Best extra-thick topper: LUCID 4 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Pros: Great for pressure relief, very thick, high-quality, good value
Cons: Can trap heat, slides around on some mattresses
If you’re looking for the thickest high-quality memory foam mattress topper you can get, look no further than the LUCID 4 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper. 46,000+ 5-star reviews can’t be wrong.
LUCID’s ultra-plush memory foam is CertiPUR certified and adds a thick layer of quality foam to any mattress. If you like to feel cradled by memory foam while you sleep, it doesn’t get any better than this.
This mattress topper uses gel memory foam that contours to your body while you sleep. It also does a good job of dissipating heat, though some user reviews do mention that it sleeps too hot for them.
The other main issue that people have with this mattress topper is dependant on what type of mattress is on your bed. If it has a slick surface on top, this extra-thick mattress topper may slide around a bit as you toss and turn. Of course, it should go without saying that the same is true of any memory foam mattress pad that’s 4 inches thick.
Overall, this is by far the best extra-thick mattress topper we tested.
5. Best egg crate topper: Best Price Mattress Egg Crate Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Best Price Mattress Egg Crate Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Pros: Awesome egg crate feel, high-quality memory foam, great thickness, sleeps cool
Cons: Some people think it’s smelly
There are plenty of people out there who love the feel of an egg crate-style mattress topper. We tested half a dozen of the best-selling options on the market, and our favorite was the Best Price Mattress Egg Crate Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
This comfy memory foam mattress has a unique feel that many people love to sleep on. Underneath you, you obviously can’t really feel the egg crate texture because it gets compressed. You definitely feel it on the edges of your body, though, as well as on your arms. There’s something so comforting about the peaks and valleys that this memory foam has.
Another benefit of egg crate-style mattress toppers is that they’re very efficient at dissipating heat. This topper sleeps very cool, which is especially handy in warm weather.
We tested three different thickness options and found that the 3-inch option was our favorite. Some people complain that this memory foam has an odd smell, but we didn’t have that issue with any of the toppers we tested. Remember, you should always leave memory foam to expand and off-gas for two or three days. After that, you should be fine.
6. Best premium mattress topper: ViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Pros: Best-in-class comfort, outstanding quality, cooling, great for pain relief
Cons: Expensive
Everyone knows that if you want the best of the best, it’s going to cost a little extra money. Such is the case with the ViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
ViscoSoft’s memory foam mattress topper is easily one of the best options we tested. It’s soft but supportive, and it shines especially bright when it comes to pain relief. If you’ve been dealing with nagging back pain when you wake up in the morning, give this mattress topper a try.
This topper uses special gel-infused memory foam that keeps cool throughout the night. It’s plush and soft yet supportive enough to prevent the sinking you get with cheap memory foam.
The memory foam ViscoSoft uses obviously isn’t machine-washable, but the cover is. And since the foam dissipates heat so well, you shouldn’t have to worry about sweat building up in the memory foam.
As for downsides, the only issue is the price. All things considered, however, it’s really not that much more expensive than other mattress toppers on our list.
