Are mattress toppers worth it? A case for and against.
The best mattress toppers on the market can make an instant difference to the comfort levels of your mattress and give you a far better night’s sleep. Like a mini mattress, mattress toppers are a thick layer made of a variety of fillings (such as memory foam, latex, cooling gel and wool) that sit on top of your mattress. But whilst there are many reasons to rate mattress toppers they’re not ideal for every situation. Sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and invest in a new mattress (read our guide to the best mattresses on the market if you’re thinking of buying). In this guide, we’ll look at the pros and cons of mattress toppers and look at some specific situations to help you make your decision.
Are mattress toppers worth it: Pros
Mattress toppers can help your sleep in a variety of ways. One of the most useful things about them is their ability to change the ‘feel’ of a mattress instantly. There are options to cool you down, add extra support and stability or to help relieve pressure points, to name but a few. Mattress toppers are a fantastic way to transform an older mattress and give it a new lease of life, or a gentle way to break in a new mattress that’s a little unforgiving! And they’ll also help lengthen the life of your existing mattress by keeping it free from stains and spills. Some mattress toppers are even machine washable (for those that aren’t, we recommend investing in a good quality mattress protector which can be bunged in the wash!).
So, in summary, the pros of a mattress topper are:
· It can help prolong the life of an older mattress.
· It can soften up and help to break in a new mattress.
· It can boost the comfort of a thinner mattress.
· It can change the ‘feel’ of a mattress, making it cooler, softer or providing extra support.
· It’s far easier to clean than an entire mattress.
Are mattress toppers worth it: Cons
A mattress topper isn’t always a magical fix for sleeping problems. With most bed toppers coming in at between 2 and 4 inches, they won’t fix a sagging mattress or one that has springs poking through the top. More serious issues need a new mattress. And a good quality mattress topper can cost a few hundred dollars. And different materials can have other issues. Latex toppers can be too firm and bouncy for some sleepers, whilst memory foam can sleep hot and make it hard for sleepers to turn over in bed. Polyester blends are cheaper but become lumpy and compress quickly, whilst feathers can be noisy and bad for those with allergies.
So, in summary, the cons of a mattress topper are:
· It won’t fix serious problems with your mattress.
· It can be costly to get a good quality topper.
· Some toppers aren’t great for those with allergens.
· Different materials aren’t suitable for everyone.
Worth it if: Your mattress has a couple of years left
Good quality mattresses are built to last for a decent amount of time (anywhere from 7 years to 25 years depending on the materials they’re made from). But even the best quality mattresses will start to lose a little quality over the years. Even with regular rotation and flipping (if suitable) your mattress will be a little more worn down in the areas where we lie each night. A mattress topper adds a valuable layer to your existing mattress, helping to smoothen the surface out and give you a more comfortable surface to sleep on. A topper can help to relieve pressure points, add some stability, make it easier to turn over in bed or cool sleepers down, to give but a few examples.
Not worth it if: Your bed is sagging and worn-out
Whilst a mattress topper can help with a few gentle depressions, it’s not going to be able to fix a sagging and worn-out mattress. If your mattress has passed its sell-by date, you’ll need to invest in a new mattress as opposed to a topper. How can you tell if your mattress needs replacing? You might notice that its sagging in areas even when you’re not lying on it. Foam doesn’t spring back after a sleeper lies on the mattress and the sagging will increase further. If the mattress has springs, some of these might have broken or be poking through the surface. Most tellingly, it’s likely that you’ll be waking up with back, shoulder or neck pain – or indeed all three. Unfortunately a mattress topper, which is only a few inches thick, won’t be enough to solve these problems.
Worth it if: Your brand-new mattress needs softening up
With the proper research, you should be able to find a mattress that suits your body and sleep style. It’s really important to buy a mattress that will offer you the right kind of support for the way you sleep and will help prevent you waking up with aches and pains. However, the perfect mattress can be a bit of a shock to the system if you’ve been sleeping on an older, softer mattress. In this case a mattress topper can be an ideal addition to your new mattress. Whilst you’re waiting for the mattress to soften up and adapt to your body, the topper will provide a softer comfort layer that prevents you waking up sore.
Not worth it if: You are replacing your mattress soon
If you’re already planning to replace your mattress, buying a mattress topper is an expensive waste of money. It’s unlikely to offer you any improvements to your sleep if you’re sleeping on an old, tired mattress and certainly won’t prolong the life of one that’s sagging and past its useful lifespan. In addition, you will have no way of knowing if the topper will work with your new mattress and you might well not need a topper with a brand-new mattress. Save your money and put the difference into your new mattress purchase. You can always look to add a mattress topper at a later date if you need to.
Worth it if: You are boosting the comfort of a sofa bed
Sofa bed mattresses are not known for their plushness and comfort! In order to fit a mattress inside a sofa, manufacturers have to be very precise about the depth of said mattress and the resulting offering is usually not very thick. In fact, many sofa beds are so uncomfortable to sleep on that they become a huge waste of money. This is where a mattress topper can come in useful. Many of them are thin enough to leave on the sofa bed when they’re folded away and they add enough plushness to make sofa beds comfortable enough to snooze the night away on. Plus they’re considerably cheaper than buying a new sofa!
© Jo Plumridge