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If your mattress is feeling a little too firm or too soft, a mattress topper can be a relatively inexpensive fix. Most toppers won’t completely change the feel of your existing mattress, but they can make a dramatic difference by revitalizing one that’s lost some of its spring, adding extra pressure relief for achy joints, or helping you hone your comfort preferences until you’re ready to buy a new one.
Of course, the type of mattress topper you want depends on what you’re trying to achieve — whether it’s to make your mattress feel cushier with a plush layer of foam, down, or fiberfill; add more support to help get best cooling mattress toppers.)
To write this guide to the best mattress toppers, I looked for toppers made with a wide variety of materials — including replace your actual mattress.
Updated on October 24, 2025
I added a new pick for a best less-expensive latex mattress topper, the Silk & Snow Organic. All prices and stock are up-to-date.
Our top picks
What to look for
Material
The material a topper is made of is generally what determines its feel. The most common mattress topper materials are memory foam, latex foam, down, synthetic fiberfill, wool, and cotton. To majorly change the firmness and feel of a mattress, I usually recommend a memory-foam or latex mattress topper — both of these materials can vary in how soft or firm they are, but they tend to make the most noticeable effect. Memory foam is good for pressure relief, because it contours around the body to cushion every pressure point. Latex tends to feel springier and more responsive than memory foam. It can provide pressure relief, too, but usually keeps you feeling more “on top” of the bed, rather than letting your body sink in. Latex also tends to stay cooler than memory-foam, which naturally traps heat. (Though to counteract that, some memory foams include cooling features such as infusions of gel, copper, or graphite.)
Mattress toppers made with down, synthetic fiberfill, wool, and cotton tend to provide a subtler change. Down can make a bed feel plusher, fluffier, and more luxurious but won’t have as much of an impact on firmness as latex or memory foam — I can often still feel the mattress underneath when sleeping on a down topper. The same is generally true for toppers made with synthetic or natural fibers (including wool and cotton). Down mattress toppers are more expensive than down-alternative toppers and can possibly trigger allergies, while down-alternative toppers (which are usually made from synthetic fibers like polyester) offer a similar softness in a cheaper, hypoallergenic package.
You should also match the material of your mattress topper to your typical sleep position, as the pressure relief and support you need will change based on whether you’re a Stomach sleepers need more support to keep your hips from sinking into the bed, which can cause your lower back to bow out of alignment. And back sleepers are right in the middle — you need enough support for spinal alignment with some sink-y pressure relief around your lower back and shoulders.
Thickness and density
The thickness, or height, of your mattress topper will also affect how it feels. Typically ranging from one to five inches in height, thicker mattress toppers will feel plusher and offer a more noticeable difference compared to your bare mattress. Thinner mattress toppers can still feel comfortable but will make less of an impact. For memory-foam toppers, the density is another important factor. The density refers to the weight per cubic foot and basically translates to how solid the foam is. Imagine a plastic bag filled with 100 packing peanuts, versus the same size bag filled with 50 packing peanuts. The bag of 100 will have a firmer and more dense feel, while the bag of 50 will still feel cushioned but not as supportive. Higher-density memory foam weighs five pounds or more per cubic foot, while more moderate-density foam weighs around three to four pounds per cubic foot. Below, we’ve listed the thickness of each mattress topper, and the density when available, as not all brands provide that detail.
Price
Price is especially worth considering when purchasing a mattress topper because for many people, toppers are a stopgap before purchasing a new mattress. Once a mattress topper reaches a certain price threshold, it’s worth questioning whether you should buy the topper or put that money toward a new mattress instead. Naturally, that threshold will differ for everyone according to their budget. If your existing mattress (or the one you’re planning to buy next) cost around $1,000, an $800 topper probably isn’t worth it. But if you’re sleeping on a luxury mattress that cost $5,000, the $800 topper seems more justifiable. Since most of us aren’t sleeping on $5,000 mattresses, I deferred toward toppers that felt worthwhile, price-wise, for people who are sleeping on budget to mid-range mattresses (which I’d cap around $2,000 for a queen-size mattress).
The cheapest mattress toppers come in under $100 for a queen size, and can definitely improve a mattress, but are often made with lower-quality materials and lack extra features like a washable cover or straps to secure the topper to the mattress. The $100 to $300 range feels like the sweet spot to me — you’ll get a step up in quality, but these toppers are still affordable enough that they aren’t nearing the price of a whole new mattress. Toppers in the next range, from $300 to $500, can be worthwhile but definitely require closer attention to what you’re getting for the higher price. The cost is usually due to the materials used, like latex foam, which can be considerably more expensive than memory foam. I have opted not to include toppers on this list that cost more than $500 for a queen size, with one (very expensive) exception: a high-tech option that has built-in fans to keep you cool.
Trial period and warranty
Sometimes what feels great on the first night can feel saggy or too firm after a week, so lots of companies offer extended trial periods (usually up to 100 nights). Some brands offer warranties that cover your topper from defects for additional months or years. Just be sure to read the fine print: Companies that offer 100-night trials on mattresses don’t always offer the same terms on toppers, and return policies may vary depending on whether you buy the topper directly from the brand or from a third-party retailer like Amazon.
Best mattress topper overall
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Material: Memory foam | Thickness and density: 3-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: No trial and no returns, 10-year warranty
At three inches thick, the Tempur-Adapt topper will add noticeable plushness to any mattress. Compared to other toppers on the market, I think it offers the all-around best combination of comfort, convenience, and price (it is expensive, but Tempur-Pedic often has sales). Made with Tempur-Pedic’s signature Tempur material, this topper offers a classic memory-foam feel. When I tested it, I loved how the foam felt somewhat firm at first — it’s very dense — but the longer I laid on it, the more I felt like I melted into the material (though without sinking all the way through to the mattress).
The Tempur-Adapt topper really contoured around each and every point on my body. When I laid on my back, it compressed under my shoulders and butt and filled in the gap between my lower back and the mattress, which I always find very comfortable and which seemed to keep my spine neutral. On my side, I could feel the foam cushioning my shoulder — evidently the pointiest part of my body, which can sometimes feel sore and jammed up after lying on a too-firm mattress. But while lying on the topper, I didn’t feel any pressure from my body weight resting on it.
Part of what makes the foam so cushioning and comfortable is the high density, which means this topper is quite heavy — about 32 pounds for the queen size. It can be a bit of a pain to lift, so you might want to grab a friend or partner to help you get it into position on the bed. But the weight of the topper and its wide, elastic corner straps help keep it secure so that it doesn’t shift throughout the night, something that tends to happen with lighter-weight toppers. The standard cover is a slightly meshlike poly blend that is dust-mite and allergen resistant, as well as moisture-wicking (or, for an extra $100, you can upgrade to a cooling cover, which is made of “performance” yarns to create a cool-to-the-touch feel). If you run hot, you might want to spring for the cooling cover, because the standard version I tested did get a little warm. The Tempur-Adapt topper also comes with a ten-year warranty, among the longest on this list. And conveniently, the cover zips off for cleaning and can be machine washed, which is another reason I’ve named this topper our best-in-class pick.
Best (less expensive) mattress topper overall
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Material: Gel-infused memory foam | Thickness and density: 3-inch, also available in 2-inch or 4-inch thickness, 3-pound density | Trial period and warranty: 90-day money-back guarantee, 5-year warranty
Like our best-overall pick, this ViscoSoft mattress topper is three inches thick and made of high-density memory foam. However, if you’re looking for a thicker or thinner topper, it’s also available in a four-inch version. As with the Tempur-Adapt, this topper feels firm at first but molds around you to cushion your body the longer you lay on it. However, after testing both, I’d say this one isn’t quite as pliant as the Tempur-Adapt and feels slightly firmer overall. For me, this meant I didn’t get quite as much cushioning around my shoulder as on the Tempur-Adapt when lying on my side.
Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa, a side-and-stomach sleeper, bought the four-inch version of this topper in 2022 to add more comfort and pressure relief to a too-firm Ikea mattress. Even though it is slightly firm, the four-inch-thick memory foam has actually made Rellosa’s mattress feel more plush. He has now been sleeping on it for over two years and says he’s forgotten how uncomfortable the original mattress was.
Rellosa also sleeps very hot — “I usually have a fan on in the room, even when it’s in the 40s outside and my heat is off” — and finds this topper really does keep him cool at night. It has a bamboo-blend cover, which helps with temperature regulation, as well as gel infusions in the memory foam. However, Rellosa has noticed that the pockets of gel used to keep the mattress topper cool get firmer when it’s cold and softer when it’s hot out. The result, he says, is that “sometimes it feels a little too plush when it’s warm,” so take note if you live in a climate with wild temperature swings or a home with a finicky thermostat.
Best cooling mattress topper
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Material: Copper-infused memory foam | Thickness and density: 4-inch thickness | Trial period and warranty: 60-night trial, 5-year warranty
I decided to test ViscoSoft’s four-inch Active Cooling mattress topper after it was recommended by two sleep experts. It has all the benefits of the ViscoSoft topper above plus some cooling features like copper-infused foam (to draw heat away from your body) and a cooling cover. The cover has a noticeably cool-to-the-touch feel, though the effect was somewhat diminished once I put bedsheets on top. Rather than making me actively feel colder (like the Perfectly Snug topper below), the ViscoSoft’s various cooling materials worked in the background to keep me from overheating. At four inches tall, this topper is hefty. And like the ViscoSoft topper above, it’s slightly firmer than I expected it to be. As someone who likes a good amount of cushioning — particularly for my shoulder while sleeping on my side — I found the Active Cooling topper a bit too unyielding for my taste. It’s not as soft as my Best Overall pick, the Tempur-Adapt, but should offer enough cushioning to soften up a too-firm mattress. If you want to prioritize cooling features, the ViscoSoft is a good option.
Best fan-powered mattress topper
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Material: Memory foam with built-in fans for temperature control | Thickness and density: 1-inch thickness | Trial period and warranty: 30-day trial, one-year limited warranty
While the ViscoSoft Active Cooling topper stays cool for a foam topper, the Smart Topper from Perfectly Snug is actually equipped with fans that send warm or cool air through the topper to help with temperature control. The topper has two layers: a one-inch layer of memory foam and a one-inch layer of “3-D mesh,” the plastic layer the air actually flows through. Both of those layers are encased in a mesh fabric, for breathability. You’ll get the feeling of lying on a foam topper, while the air moving through the 3-D mesh layer helps keep you comfortable.
Using the topper’s corresponding app, you can select the temperature setting in a range from ten (max heat) to negative ten (max cooling). Perfectly Snug doesn’t designate the exact temperature in degrees, so you may have to fiddle with it a bit to find your ideal level. After about two weeks of sleeping on the Perfectly Snug, I narrowed my preferred temperature range to a high of three for heat and a low of negative three for cooling. I did test higher levels and found that the negative-ten cooling setting is quite powerful, so even the sweatiest sleepers should find some relief. (Note that the topper doesn’t actually condition the air it’s moving, so it’s somewhat limited by the starting temperature of the air in the room, but you will absolutely feel a difference if you crank it up.) The fan-powered cooling also acts fast — as soon as I switched on the topper, I could feel the air circulating. And since I sleep with a partner who runs warmer than I do, I appreciated that we could set each side of the bed to a different temperature range.
Thanks to the memory foam, this Smart Topper does offer an extra bit of cushioning to the mattress, but not nearly as much as the thicker toppers on this list. And while it also offers much more powerful and direct cooling than the ViscoSoft topper above, the Perfectly Snug is also significantly more expensive. If adding a cushioning topper is main priority, but you don’t want to overheat, I’d go with the ViscoSoft. But if your main priority is cooling (or warming) and you’d also like a bit of cushion, the Perfectly Snug is a solid choice.
Best latex mattress topper
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Material: Dunlop or Talalay latex | Thickness and density: 2-inch or 3-inch thickness | Trial period and warranty: 100-night sleep trial, 1-year warranty
Talalay latex; Dunlop tends to be firmer and denser, while Talalay tends to be softer and more pliant. Trolio says this topper provides great pressure relief for her joints and lower back without feeling too “sinky” or trapping too much heat. The latex is perforated to encourage airflow, and the topper has an organic-cotton cover. Although it doesn’t have straps to secure it to the mattress, Trolio hasn’t had any trouble with it shifting around.
Best (less expensive) latex mattress topper
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Material: Dunlop latex | Thickness and density: 2-inch thickness | Trial period and warranty: 100-night sleep trial, 3-year warranty
Latex is more expensive than polyurethane foam by default, so it’s tricky to find a true “budget” latex topper. But this one from Canadian brand Silk & Snow is a good (slightly) less-expensive option. It’s similar in construction to the Avocado topper above, with an organic cotton cover over a slab of perforated latex foam. It also comes in two firmness options — medium and firm — and both are made with Dunlop latex (which tends to be firmer and denser than Talalay latex).
I tested the medium version of the Silk & Snow topper for a couple of weeks on top of the Purple mattress, which has a squishy top layer. The Silk & Snow topper gave the mattress a smoother, firmer surface but with the classic bounciness and flexibility of latex. Since I had the medium model, it firmed up the softer Purple mattress to feel more medium-firm, but on a firmer mattress, it would likely help add a bit of softness and bounce. Overall, I thought the topper added good support without making the mattress feel too rigid.
Of course, if you are specifically looking for a firm mattress topper, you’ll likely want the firm version of the Silk & Snow. If you prefer the softer feel of Talalay latex or you’re looking for a more plush topper, the Avocado topper above is probably the better choice; not only is the Silk & Snow firmer, generally, but it only comes in a two-inch height, while the Avocado is available in two heights, two inches and three inches (and the thicker the topper, the more of a difference it can make). If you are looking for the bouncy, firm-tofu-esque feel of latex and want a slightly firmer feel, the Silk & Snow is a good option that’s a bit more affordable.
Best plush mattress topper
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Material: Cross-cut memory-foam and microfiber blend | Thickness and density: 5-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 100-day free return window, 5-year warranty
The five-inch-thick Coop Sleep Goods Original topper is stuffed with the brand’s signature cross-cut memory foam and microfiber blend (the same one found in our top-pick plush mattress topper.
Adding this topper to a mattress is like adding a pillow-top layer — it creates tufts of softness to sink into. I felt cushioned but still supported by the pockets of foam-and-fiber fill; the foam adds enough structure that the topper didn’t make the bed too soft. Yet, while I did feel like I could sink into the material, it didn’t totally contour around my body like the Tempur-Adapt or ViscoSoft memory-foam toppers. Because it’s not a flat surface, it feels more like you’re floating in the puffs of padding, with the softness of down if down had a little more supportive oomph to it.
Since the Coop Original topper is the thickest topper on this list, it will provide a very noticeable difference in both the appearance and feel of your mattress — the potential trade-off for comfort is a slightly lumpier look under your sheets, but the topper’s brushed-microfiber exterior gives it a pleasingly smooth texture to lie down on. One drawback is that Coop only makes this topper in twin XL, queen, king, and California king sizes; if you need a topper for a twin- or full-size mattress, you’re out of luck. Another drawback is that you can only spot-clean this topper; it does not come with a removable cover, and it’s not going to make it through the washing machine.
Also worth noting: Coop makes a Cool+, which I have also tested. It offers a similar plush feel, but I wasn’t overly wowed by the cooling factor, so I don’t think it’s particularly worth the extra cost.
Best down mattress topper
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Material: Down | Thickness and density: 3-inch thickness, 750 fill power | Trial period and warranty: Free returns within 60 days, 3-year warranty
For a high-end-hotel-bed feel, a down topper is the way to go. This three-inch topper from bedding-and-bath retailer fill power of 750, which makes it ultrasoft, fluffy, and easy to sink into, while the lower chamber provides some sturdiness. Both chambers are encased in a cotton sateen shell with baffle-box stitching to evenly distribute the filling. The stitching also creates a tufted texture, furthering the plush vibe. Made entirely of cotton and down/feathers, this topper is breathable but doesn’t feel noticeably warm or cool.
When I tested this topper, the cushy top layer felt quite lavish but I could still feel the mattress beneath me. So I’d say that adding this topper is basically like adding a feather bed — it ups the luxe level but it won’t change the firmness of your mattress too much. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is in desperate need of pressure relief, but I did love how I felt cocooned in softness while lying on it. One drawback is that the topper doesn’t have straps to secure it in place. It is also dry-clean only.
[Editor’s note: The king size of this topper is currently sold out, and some sizes are low in stock. You can sign up for restock notifications on Parachute’s website.]
Best down-alternative mattress topper
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Material: Down-alternative microfiber | Thickness and density: 3-inch, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: Free returns within 60 days, 3-year warranty
Designed to feel like down, down-alternative toppers (which are typically made from synthetic fibers) are a good alternative to the real thing if you have allergies, don’t want to use animal products, or simply want to save some money. Sleep-product experts love this topper from Parachute for many of the reasons I recommend the brand’s down style: fluffy softness, baffle-box construction, and a 100 percent cotton shell. Strategist lead editor Lauren Levy tested this topper and said sleeping on it felt like being “lightly sandwiched between layers of plushness.” She said it shaped around her like memory foam but felt much lighter and airier. Like its down counterpart, this Parachute topper is dry-clean only.
Best wool mattress topper
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Material: Merino wool | Thickness and density: 1-inch, filled with 400 grams of wool per square meter | Trial period and warranty: 90-day return policy, no warranty listed
Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone has been sleeping on this merino-wool topper from U.K.-based bedding brand Piglet in Bed for about a month and says it has transformed her already-great mattress into cloudlike perfection. This topper is filled with 100 percent merino wool sourced from free-range Merino sheep in Europe (wool is known for its temperature regulation, odor resistance, and breathability) and has a 100 percent organic-cotton cover. There are straps at the corners to hold it in place, and Malone likes that the topper slightly overhangs her mattress, preventing what she calls the dreaded “cliff edge” that can appear when a topper’s dimensions are slightly smaller than those of the mattress. (It’s squishy enough that she hasn’t had any issues fitting it under a sheet.) It’s about as thick as a duvet, so it doesn’t fully envelop her. “Overall, it’s like I’ve added a little smidge of marshmallow,” Malone says; the effect is that her bed feels slightly softer without veering into full-on plush or squishy territory. And thanks to wool’s natural moisture-wicking properties, it prevents her from waking up hot and sweaty. “The first night I slept on it, I had food poisoning and was very, very sweaty. However, my bedsheet wasn’t damp in the same way my duvet cover was,” Malone says.
Piglet in Bed doesn’t recommend washing the topper — instead, the brand advises occasionally setting it out in the sunshine to sterilize the cotton and wool and to allow the wool to expand. Also, because the wool isn’t “overprocessed,” you may smell lanolin (or wool grease) on the topper but the smell should reduce over time. Malone aired hers out for two days before sleeping on it, which helped reduce the light lanolin smell she noticed when she first received it. She notes, however, that the smell was no stronger than that of any other wool products she has purchased.
This topper comes only in full/queen or king/California king sizes, so it won’t work for a twin XL mattress or smaller. (Piglet in Bed does make its toppers in U.K. sizes; when you purchase from the brand’s U.S. website, it will automatically send you the U.K. equivalent so you don’t have to worry about ordering the wrong size.)
Best micro-coil mattress topper
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Material: Steel micro-coils and gel-infused foam | Thickness and density: 3-inch | Trial period and warranty: 180-day trial period and 1-year limited warranty
If you’re looking for some additional support, Saatva’s Micro-Coil topper is a good option. It’s made with a layer of gel-infused foam over one-inch steel micro-coils — kind of like a mini hybrid mattress. While most toppers are designed to let you sink in, this one will keep you much more “on top” of its surface; when I tested it, the micro-coils gave me a little extra lift off the mattress, while the foam kept it from feeling overly firm and allowed for some pressure relief. If your current mattress is too soft, adding this topper should give you some support.
I tested the Saatva Micro-Coil topper on the Boring Hybrid mattress, which isn’t overly soft or squishy but does lack some bounce. The topper made it easier for me to change between sleeping positions. It also has an organic-cotton cover and elastic straps at all four corners to keep it secure.
Other mattress toppers we like
While the ones above are my absolute favorites, the Strategist tested dozens of mattress toppers — many of which are also quite good. Below, I’ve included some other toppers we tried that didn’t stand out enough to make the main list but are still options I recommend.
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Material: Gel-infused memory-foam and down-alternative pillow-top | Thickness and density: 4-inch, also available in 3-inch thickness | Trial period and warranty: 90-day money-back guarantee, 5-year warranty
Just like a hybrid mattress is made with layers of different materials, like coils and memory foam, so is a hybrid mattress topper — but on a smaller scale. This Hybrid Lux topper from ViscoSoft combines memory foam with a plush pillow top and comes with two pieces: a slab of gel-infused memory foam that you place on top of your mattress, and then a quilted cover stuffed with down-alternative fiberfill that attaches to the foam with straps and then goes over the rest of the mattress like a fitted sheet. The pockets are 18 inches deep, which will easily fit around most mattresses and help keep the topper from shifting.
When I tested the Hybrid Lux topper, I felt the cushioning and sinkage I usually expect from memory foam, but it was slightly dampened by the pillow-top cover — like I couldn’t sink in quite as much as I did on the Tempur-Adapt or the ViscoSoft. The foam also didn’t feel quite as dense as the foam in those two toppers. If you want pressure relief but hate feeling too cocooned by memory foam, this hybrid topper could be a good bet. I also liked how the cover added a pillowy, tufted texture to the surface of the bed. Plus, the cover is machine washable.
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Material: Memory-foam | Thickness and density: 2.5-inch, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 101-night sleep trial, lifetime warranty
Puffy is known for its ultrasoft memory-foam mattresses, and this topper delivers the same cushiony, all-foam feel. It actually comes in a soft or firm version, but I tested the soft version and found it felt plush but still reasonably supportive — it enveloped my pressure points but didn’t make the bed feel too squishy. The topper is made with a 2.5-inch slab of memory foam, which felt just thick enough to sink into and to actually alter the mattress to feel softer. And while the topper did feel a little firm at first, it softened up quite a bit after I laid on it for a while, so it ended up feeling considerably softer to me than the Tempur-Adapt.
Strategist writer Emma Wartzman is also a fan of the Puffy mattress topper. She first tried it while staying on her mother’s sleeper sofa and says it made the not particularly comfy pullout couch so comfortable she purchased her own topper to use on her mattress at home. Wartzman describes the topper as not too squishy and says it has helped reduce her and her partner’s back pain since they started sleeping on it at home.
This topper has a washable bamboo-rayon-polyester-blend cover, which adds a slight cooling effect thanks to the bamboo rayon. It also has an elastic edge that fits fully around the mattress like a fitted sheet and completely secures it. I’ve seen lots of toppers with straps but not many that completely fit over the mattress like this one, which is a smart way to keep the topper from shifting.
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Material: Talalay latex foam and wool | Thickness and density: 2-inch thickness, density not listed | Trial period and warranty: 100-night sleep trial, 10-year warranty
This Birch Plush topper layers wool and an organic-cotton cover over two inches of ventilated latex foam. It comes in one firmness level, which I would say is fairly firm, despite what the name implies. Overall, the feel is responsive and bouncy, rather than super cushioning.
This makes the topper a good choice for adding extra support to your bed without sacrificing comfort. While I felt it was too firm for side sleeping, it was quite comfortable when lying on my back or stomach. If your current mattress is too soft or lacking in support, adding the Birch Plush could help firm it up. I felt very “on top” of the bed while lying on this topper and didn’t sink in much at all. The topper stays quite cool, thanks to its ventilated latex foam, temperature-regulating wool, and breathable cotton cover — but the cover isn’t removable, so the topper is spot-clean only.
Some more mattress toppers we’ve written about
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Our experts
• Keith Cushner, co-founder of Tuck
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer
• Emma Wartzman, Strategist kitchen and dining writer
Additional reporting by Karen Iorio Adelson.
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