10 Best Pillow Top Mattresses: 2024 Buyer’s Guide
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- Best Pillow Top Mattress Overall: Amerisleep Organica
- Best Luxury Pillow Top Mattress: Zoma Boost
- Best Affordable Pillow Top Mattress: Vaya Hybrid
- Best Innerspring Pillow Top Mattress: Saatva Classic
- Best Cooling Pillow Top Mattress: Nolah Evolution 15
- Best Pillow Top Mattress for Athletes: Bear Elite Hybrid
- Best Pillow Top Mattress for Side Sleepers: Helix Midnight Luxe
- Best Latex Pillow Top Mattress: Avocado Green
- Best Hybrid Pillow Top Mattress: Brentwood Home Oceano
If you love the feeling of drifting off to sleep in a plush bed, a pillow top mattress is a great choice for you. These mattresses have a top layer of padding, usually at least 2 inches thick. The cushioning padding is usually either foam, latex, fiberfill, cotton, or wool. The result is a luxurious sleeping surface and pressure point relief. Not all pillow-top mattresses are created equally, though.
Pillow tops are most commonly found on innerspring and hybrid beds. In this post, we review our favorite pillow-top mattresses and offer pointers on how to choose the best one for your sleep needs.
Best Pillow Top Mattress Overall
Amerisleep Organica
Warranty
20 Years
Sleep Trial
100 Nights
Shipping
Free
Amerisleep Organica Overview
Our editors’ choice for the best pillow top mattress is the Amerisleep Organica, a bed that features eco-friendly cushioning materials with responsive pocketed coils. The bed is swift to adapt to movements and changes in position, providing pillowy comfort backed by plenty of support.
The Amerisleep Organica comes with free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty, as do all Amerisleep mattresses.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Amerisleep Organica as the best pillow top mattress overall of 2024.
- Latex Foam Cushion
More bouncy than traditional memory foam, with a natural construction.
- Wool Flame Barrier
To establish a mattress free of fiberglass, natural wool provides flame protection.
- Pocketed Coil Comfort
Wrapping the coils decreases potential motion transfer, limiting jarring ripples of movement.
The Amerisleep Organica is officially rated as a medium, a feel that’s meant to suit most sleeping positions and body types. Bolstering its responsiveness is the buoyant feel of its latex cushion and pocketed coils, with the pillowy touch of wool and cotton.
The latex foam doesn’t enable as much easy conformity as memory foam, so there’s less sinkage than some might expect with a pillow top mattress.
Comfort Layers
The surface of the Amerisleep Organica is cotton fabric, made with GOTS-certified organic yarn. Not only is this cotton free of potentially harmful or irritating chemicals, it’s also woven for breathability and durability.
Next is a layer of organic wool, doubling as temperature-neutral cushion and flame protection. Like cotton, wool pulls away heat and moisture, and the inch-thick layer adds a touch of pillowy comfort.
A 2-inch layer of soft, contouring latex is what delivers the mattress’s primary comfort. It deepens the bed’s pillowy feel while also adding support to the surface.
Transition Layers
Separating the latex comfort layer from the coil support is a layer of firmer latex transition foam. Its bouncy feel keeps sleepers from bowing too far into the mattress.
Support Layers
The support of the Organica is a series of wrapped coils, allowing every coil to react independently to a sleeper’s movements. The pocketed coils provide effective motion isolation, ensuring that your bed partner is unlikely to disturb you if they have to slip out of bed in the night.
The coils rest on a base to promote longevity, giving them a surface to bounce off as sleepers shift around.
Zoma Boost Overview
The Zoma Boost is an excellent pillow top mattress for people with a physically active lifestyle. It’s perfect for those who enjoy softer feels that aren’t too plush. The mattress design relies on innovative graphite memory foam technology that not only supports your body but also relieves pain, absorbs motion, and keeps you cool throughout the night.
All Zoma mattresses ship free and come with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Zoma Boost as the best luxury pillow top mattress of 2024.
- Instantly Cooling Surface
The light, technologically advanced cover fabric is gently cool on the skin.
- Quilted Soft Cushion
The two foam layers work together to compress under the body for quick comfort.
- Contouring Wrapped Coils
The coils adapt to the body, bolstered by the transition foam layer.
The Zoma Boost’s 15-inch depth may sound intimidating, but it’s the key to providing a truly luxurious feel. Its premium cooling cover fabric delivers chilly comfort, like a relaxing cool compress to aching joints and muscles.
The fabric is light on delicate skin and stays cool as it presses close to the body, creating a soothing sleep environment. Despite feeling like gossamer, the fabric is durable enough to withstand years of use. And the underlying foam layers deepen the hug-like surface.
Comfort Layers
The quilted top foam layer and graphite-infused memory foam layer provide full-body pressure relief, ensuring a restful night’s sleep.
Transition Layers
Reactiv™ provides the perfect amount of light pushback to keep sleepers from sinking too far and feeling uncomfortable.
Support Layers
The pocketed coil core gently supports the spine, contouring to your body for weightless relaxation.
Along the sides of the mattress are multiple handles. These handles let you easily grab the bed and lift the mattress to change the sheets and clean around the bed.
Best Affordable Pillow Top Mattress
Vaya Hybrid
Warranty
10 Years
Sleep Trial
100 Nights
Shipping
Free
Vaya Hybrid Overview
While pillow top mattresses aren’t necessarily the most expensive type of mattress, they can be a touch of costly thanks to their combination of supportive and cushioning materials. If you want a lot of comfort without a steep price, we suggest a mattress like the Vaya Hybrid. Vaya’s motto “pure comfort” expresses their commitment to a restful sleep experience.
The Vaya Hybrid ships free and comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Vaya Hybrid as the best affordable pillowtop mattress of 2024.
- Cooling Cotton Cushion
Cotton establishes a pillow feel that remains temperature neutral, staying cool and dry as you sleep.
- Responsive Foam Comfort
The comfort foam is highly adaptable, easing tension while feeling mildly springy
- Bouncy Pocketed Coils
The coils are highly supportive, staying strong and stable after years of use.
The Vaya Hybrid has a bouncy, balanced feel, with a touch of soft-but-not-too-soft cotton cushion on top of responsive comfort foam. The top layer of cotton and its breathable cover ensure the surface stays consistently cool. Yet the supportive coils ensure the torso remains buoyed for optimal spine alignment, no matter how a sleeper might toss and turn.
Comfort Layers
The top of the Vaya Hybrid is quilted cotton, 2 inches thick. While the cotton is quite pillowy and embraces the body, it feels mildly springy as well. Plus, it absorbs heat and sweat well, wicking them away from the sleeper.
The main comfort of the Vaya Hybrid comes from its layer of Vaya Comfort Foam, also 2 inches thick. This comfort layer delivers full-body pressure relief.
Support Layers
The pocketed coils of the Vaya Hybrid are sturdy and supportive, with edge support along the sides. The coils rest on a thick foam base—2 inches thick, while many bases are only an inch thick. The added support helps the coils stay standing strong and provide high value.
Best Innerspring Pillow Top Mattress
Saatva Classic
Warranty
Lifetime
Sleep Trial
365 Nights
Shipping
Free
Saatva Classic Overview
Anyone who wants a classic pillow top mattress with all the comforts of a modern bed should consider the Saatva Classic. This mattress takes the traditional innerspring design and upgrades it with pocketed coils, antimicrobial protection, and targeted back support.
The Saatva Classic comes with a 365-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty. Saatva not only ships their mattresses for free but will also arrange a setup appointment with you, and will even haul away your old mattress if you wish.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Saatva Classic as the best pillow top innerspring mattress of 2024.
- Antimicrobial Mattress Surface
The cotton cover is treated with a botanical compound that repels microbes.
- Memory Foam Back Support
The dense memory foam works with active wire for extra lumbar support.
- Pocketed and Traditional Coils
The transition is pocketed coils, with underlying open steel coils.
The Saatva Classic comes in three different firmnesses, so how the mattress feels will depend on which you choose. No matter what feel you choose, though, you’ll have the benefit of its crisp, cool cotton-covered pillow top. This surface has added support in the torso area, ensuring the spine remains in neutral alignment as you stretch out on the pillow top.
Comfort Layers
The top of the Saatva Classic is a Euro pillow top with organic cotton. Aside from its natural cool and hypoallergenic fibers, the cotton provides antimicrobial protection thanks to the botanical treatment Saatva places on it. The treatment inhibits bacteria, mold, and mildew, so the surface is more likely to stay fresh with little extra effort on the sleeper’s part.
Underneath is a dense memory foam layer that is CertiPUR-US® certified. With a Lumbar Zone® Active Spinal Wire for enhanced back support, this memory foam boosts comfort.
Transition Layers
The transition layer of the Saatva Classic isn’t foam, but a series of miniature pocketed coils, made with recycled steel. These coils are zoned for stronger support in the middle of the mattress, underneath the torso.
Support Layers
The support core of the Saatva Classic is tempered steel coils with an open design. The coils are engineered for durability and minimal chances of sagging. Ringing the coils is a perimeter of sturdy foam, meant to further deter sagging and ensure edge support.
Best Cooling Pillow Top Mattress
Nolah Evolution 15
Warranty
Lifetime
Sleep Trial
120 Nights
Shipping
Free
Nolah Evolution 15 Overview
Sleeping hot is a concern for many, particularly if they live in one of the warmer areas of the country. Pillow tops can be quite cooling if they have an airy feel, though it’s also possible for them to feel stifling if they hug too close to the body. If coolness is your top priority, we suggest the Nolah Evolution 15.
The Nolah Evolution 15 comes with free shipping, a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty. Shoppers who want to deepen their savings can choose to remove the sleep trial at checkout.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Nolah Evolution 15 as the best cooling pillow top mattress of 2024.
- Euro Topper with Border Gusset
Airy foam with quilted comfort and cooling cover fibers.
- Tri-Zoned Coil Support
The three zones of the pocketed coils ensure plenty of back support.
- Advanced Comfort and Transition Foams
With four top foam layers, this mattress offers durable, responsive cushion.
How the Nolah Evolution 15 feels underneath your body depends on your chosen firmness, allowing the pillow top to offer different levels of plushness or firmness. What remains consistent is the sense of cooling relief as you lie down on the bed, with the relaxing feel maintaining its hold as the mattress works to move away absorbed body heat.
Comfort Layers
The surface of the Nolah Evolution 15 is ArcticTex™ fibers designed for swift heat dissipation, paired with organic cotton fibers for natural cooling comfort.
Next is a layer of breathable foam with high thermal conductivity quilting, surrounded by an AirBreath™ border gusset enables heat dissipation for elevated breathability.
The main comfort foam layer is AirFoamICE™, an innovative form of the brand’s original comfort layer. This foam is infused with graphite for swifter cooling comfort.
Transition Layers
Two foam layers serve as the Nolah Evolution 15’s transition layers. The first one is a layer of resilient foam to deepen the bed’s full-body support, particularly for the back area. Then a thinner layer of high-density transition foam for extra responsiveness.
Support Layers
The core of the Nolah Evolution 15 is a series of pocketed coils, arranged to provide targeted support in the back area and overall boost the pressure relief of the comfort foam. The base of the Nolah Evolution 15 is recycled plant fibers for a stable foundation, surrounded by sturdy border fabric with carrying handles.
Best Pillow Top Mattress for Athletes
Bear Elite Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime
Sleep Trial
120 Nights
Shipping
Free
Bear Elite Hybrid Overview
Bear has built their reputation on designing high-performance mattresses for athletic recovery. The cream of their crop, however, is their pillow top mattress the Bear Elite Hybrid. With a pillowy surface and advanced materials for a cool, pristine surface, the Bear Elite Hybrid enables you to drift off and wake up in tip-top shape.
The Bear Elite Hybrid ships free and comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid as the best pillow top mattress for athletes of 2024.
- Cooling Quilted Top with Speciality Materials
Celliant® and PCM ensure the top stays cool as it hugs the body.
- Copper Infused Memory Foam
Copper particles maintain a cool feel and keep microbes from settling.
- Individually Wrapped Pocketed Coils
Coils are zoned for targeted back support with reinforced edge support.
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes in multiple firmnesses to better suit a wide range of sleep styles. All firmnesses have a stay-cool feel thanks to the multiple high-tech cooling materials used in the mattress.
Comfort Layers
The top of the Bear Elite Hybrid is a pillow top with phase change materials and Celliant® fibers for technologically provided coolness. Celliant® even takes the absorbed heat and transforms it into infrared energy, which can penetrate the body and boost local blood flow.
The main comfort layer is memory foam with a copper infusion for added cooling and microbial protection.
Transition Layers
The dynamic transition foam offers support and contouring, taking on the body’s weight.
Support Layers
The individually encased pocketed coils are zoned, with coils in the middle for extra lumbar support. The coils contour to the body for pressure relief and provide breathable, sturdy support.
The coils rest on a layer of high-density foam to minimize sagging.
SEE ALSO: Best 14-Inch Mattress
Best Pillow Top Mattress for Side Sleepers
Helix Midnight Luxe
Warranty
15 Years
Sleep Trial
100 Nights
Shipping
Free
Helix Midnight Luxe Overview
Pillow top mattresses can be a good fit for side sleepers who enjoy a bouncy bed. While a pillow top mattress isn’t necessarily synonymous with a soft mattress, its cushioning embrace can hug a side sleeper’s body to ease tension. The Helix Midnight Luxe is designed specifically for side sleepers, with targeted support for shoulders and hips.
The Helix Midnight Luxe ships free and comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Helix Midnight Luxe as the best pillow top mattress for side sleepers of 2024.
- TENCEL™ Cover or GlacioTex Cooling Cover
Shoppers can choose an eco-friendly cooling cover or opt for a technologically advanced one.
- Copper Gel Foam & Advanced Memory Foam
The pillowy feel comes from two comfort foams underneath a plush cooling cover fabric.
- Pocketed Coils Zoned for Support
The coils are not only wrapped but arranged to provide softer support under the shoulders and firmer support under the hips.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is designed to offer a medium feel, however, it’s a medium specifically tailored for side sleepers. The area underneath the shoulders is quick to flex under the body and ease tension, while the section under the hips is less quick to yield to buoy the body.
Comfort Layers
The surface of the Helix Midnight Luxe can be one of two cooling cover fabrics—TENCEL™ is the standard option or GlacioTex Cooling Cover for added comfort.
The comfort layers are copper gel-infused memory foam with a durable high-density, followed by Memory Plus Foam.
Transition Layers
The transition layer is high-grade polyfoam for ergonomic support and contouring, keeping the sleeper’s body weight buoyed.
Support Layers
The base of the Helix Midnight Luxe is a series of wrapped coils, with the coils carefully arranged for a softer feel under the shoulders and firmer under the hips to cradle the body and maintain spine alignment. The foundation is DuraDense foam for more durable support.
Avocado Green Mattress Overview
The Avocado Green Mattress has nearly 7,000 customer reviews, averaging 5 stars. For shoppers looking for an eco-friendly mattress made with all-natural latex, organic cotton, GOTS organic certified wool, and no chemical flame retardants, Avocado is a popular choice.
Avocado mattresses also have an option to add a pillow top when placing your order, though there is an upcharge for this. If the Avocado Green mattress meets the rest of your buying criteria, it may be worth the splurge. It consistently ranks well on lists of the best mattresses.
After your Avocado is delivered to your doorstep, you have a whole year to test it out and decide if it’s a fit for you. Avocado also backs their beds with 25 years of warranty coverage. To offset the environmental impact of manufacturing and shipping its mattresses, Avocado supports carbon offset reforestation projects.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Avocado Green as the best pillow top latex mattress of 2024.
- Gentle Firm Support
The mildly firm feel of the Avocado Green ensures pillowy cushion without the surface feeling like a sinkhole.
- Eco-Friendly, Certified Materials
The latex, cotton, and wool have organic certifications. Even the coils are made with upcycled steel.
- Free of Adhesives
Instead of relying on glues, the Avocado Green has tufting holding its layers together.
Even with the optional pillow top, Avocado mattresses are a 6 on the firmness scale (10 is the firmest). In other words, they are medium-firm. This means you’ll get a plush feel from the cushioning while still getting the support you need from your mattress.
Avocado mattresses are made without phthalates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and formaldehyde. They have no off-gassing, receiving both STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®: Class 1 certification and MADE SAFE® Non-Toxic certification. Eco-friendly Avocado mattresses are handmade in the USA and GREENGUARD Gold Certified.
Comfort Layers
The pillow top adds an additional 2 inches of latex rubber foam onto the original 11-inch mattress. While the classic model has 3 inches of latex foam for cushion, the pillow top brings it to a full 5 inches of comfort.
Avocado mattresses start with a soft, needle-tufted cover made from organic cotton with underlying wool. Needle-tufting by hand binds the layers of the mattress together without using solvents or adhesives.
Conventional mattresses are usually made with flame retardants. There is an increasing amount of evidence showing that these flame retardants may impact our health. They have been linked to everything from endocrine disruption to cancer. Because wool is naturally flame resistant, federal regulations do not require Avocado to treat their mattress with chemical flame retardants.
Support Layers
The Avocado features 1,414 individually-pocketed coils in three gauges, arranged in five different ergonomic zones. A reinforced steel perimeter provides support along the edges of the mattress. As a bonus, the steel is upcycled for a ‘greener’ bed.
Avocado mattresses are designed to minimize motion transfer, evenly distribute weight, and contour to your body for back support and pain relief.
Best Hybrid Pillow Top Mattress
Brentwood Home Oceano
Warranty
25 Years
Sleep Trial
1 Year
Shipping
Free
Brentwood Home Oceano Overview
If you like eco-friendly mattresses with a softer feel, the Brentwood Home Oceano is worth checking out. It’s a medium-plush hybrid mattress, made in the United States with premium materials. Reviewers praise it for its comfort and workmanship, with many calling it the best mattress they’ve ever had.
Brentwood Home offers you a whole year to try their bed and decide if you like it. Brentwood Home also backs the mattress with a 25-year warranty.
The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Brentwood Home Oceano as the best pillow top mattress for side sleepers of 2024.
- Natural and Plant-Based Comfort
The cover is Tencel™ with underlying plant-based memory foam.
- Gently Plush Mattress Surface
Soft surface hugs the body for pressure point relief.
- Micro-Coils and Pocketed Coils
Hundreds of micro-coils serve as a responsive transition, bolstering the main coil support system.
The medium-plush feel of the Oceano provides that “soft, but not too soft” feel that many side sleepers and lightweight individuals need for comfortable sleep. The surface is quick to embrace the body without allowing sleepers to bow too far into the bed.
Comfort Layers
The Oceano has a plant-based Tencel™ blended fabric cover to wick away moisture while you sleep. This soft, breathable material is sustainably produced.
Next is a Euro top made from 100% GOTS Organic Certified Wool, sourced sustainably from organic cooperatives in India. Wool regulates temperature and it is naturally flame retardant, which means the Oceano does not have added flame retardant chemicals or synthetic fibers. CertiPUR-US® certified contouring gel-infused swirl memory foam provides pressure point relief and cooling.
Transition Layers
What makes the Oceano unique among the other options in our list is its double layers of innerspring units. The first transition layer is a 2.5-inch layer of individually wrapped recycled steel micro support coils. This responsive innerspring layer offers sleepers precision support.
Next is a 2-inch layer of breathable foam for deeper pressure relief.
Support Layers
The support core is a zoned pocketed coil system, with the mattress delivering 7 separate support zones. These coils are also individually wrapped and made from recycled steel. Base support comes from a 1-inch layer of CertiPUR-US® Certified High-Density foam over a 100% GOTS organic certified cotton canvas base.
The Oceano mattress is GREENGUARD Gold Certified and handcrafted in California by workers paid living wages. Mattresses ship in two boxes, one for the Euro top and one for the mattress.
What Is a Pillow Top Mattress?
Pillow top and Euro-top mattresses have an added layer of cushioning for even more comfort. Whst material this cushioning is can vary, from foamlayers to more traditional pillowy materials like down, wool, or cotton.
However, a pillow top mattress is not the same as a soft mattress. Soft mattresses have more padding throughout. A pillow top mattress can have firm construction. This firmness is then tempered with a plush pillow top. The result is a mattress with a cloud-like luxurious feel and the support you need to sleep comfortably.
Pillow Top vs. Euro Top Mattresses
Pillow top and Euro top are often used interchangeably when discussing some of the best mattresses. Both types of mattress tops serve the same function. The difference between them is in their form.
A pillow top is often sewn to the top of a mattress, but it may also be attached with straps or zippers. It has the appearance of being a separate layer, almost like a mattress topper. A removable pillow top has the added advantage of being washable.
A Euro top is flush with the rest of the mattress. It appears more like a part of the mattress, rather than a separate top. It offers more edge support and is more durable than a pillow top because of how it is incorporated into the mattress, rather than simply resting on top of it. Many also simply prefer the clean look of a Euro top mattress.
What Are Pillow Tops Made From?
Pillow tops can be made from a variety of materials. These include:
- Down — Down is a natural pillow top filling with a plush feel. Although down compresses over time, it can be fluffed up again to reshape. This gives it a leg up over foam.
- Latex — Natural Dunlop latex is a cooler option than down and foam. It is eco-friendly and sleepers appreciate its responsiveness and motion isolating properties. Synthetic latex is derived from petroleum. It is a cheaper option than natural latex, but the quality is not as high. If you are allergic to rubber, you should avoid natural latex pillow tops.
- Memory foam — Memory foam, also known as viscoelastic foam, offers a nice balance of cushion and support, contouring to your body as you sleep. This relieves pain and pressure points.
- Polyester — Polyester is found in many budget-friendly pillow-top mattresses. This material is affordable, but it is also prone to overheating and compression.
- Polyurethane foam — Another budget pillow-top option, polyurethane foam offers an added layer of comfort, but it has a shorter lifespan than other materials. Because it is petroleum-based, off-gassing may be an issue.
- Fiberfill — Fiberfill is a more luxe version of polyester. It is higher quality, but may still retain heat and compress over time.
- Wool — Wool is an excellent material for temperature regulation. It is soft and breathable. Naturally flame retardant, wool does not need any added chemicals to meet federal flammability standards.
Some reviewers mention their pillow top mattresses lose cushioning after a few months. High-density memory foam will last longer than polyurethane foam layers. Like other down bedding, the feathers in a pillow top may compress. Opt for denser materials for the longest mattress lifespan.
Another factor to consider is heat retention. Choose breathable materials like natural latex if you sleep hot. When purchasing a memory foam pillow top mattress, pick one with cooling gel. This keeps it from overheating.
Types of Pillow Top Mattresses
Typically, a pillow top mattress is either an innerspring or a hybrid mattress, both types of mattresses that rely on coil support. Traditionally, the classic innerspring mattress design was a simple way of creating a more comfortable surface, and many newer innerspring and hybrid models continue to feature them.
While both these types of mattresses have their similarities, there are differences to consider as well.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses were once the typical choice of mattress, though other types have risen to prominence with the innovation of mattresses in a box. The typical structure of an innerspring mattress is open steel coils sandwiched between cushioning materials, typically quite thin.
The purpose of a pillow top is to provide a more pressure-relieving surface than what a flat, firm surface of a standard innerspring mattress provides. However, even with a pillow top, classic-style innerspring mattresses still have their issues.
SEE ALSO: Innerspring Mattress Buying Guide
Hybrid
A hybrid mattress borrows elements from an innerspring bed, combining a spring base with the comfort foam layers of a memory foam or latex mattress. Though while most innerspring mattresses have unwrapped coils, it’s standard for hybrid mattresses to have pocketed coils for motion isolation.
Hybrid mattresses are generally considered more comfortable than traditional innerspring mattresses. Their added cushion lessens the need for a pillow top, but many hybrid mattresses are still designed with one for a pillowy feel.
SEE ALSO: Hybrid Mattress Buying Guide
What Are the Benefits of Pillow Top Mattresses?
There are many reasons to choose a pillow top mattress. As with all mattress choices, it often comes down to personal preference about what makes the most comfortable mattress. Some enjoy the luxurious feel of a pillow top and how they can gently sink into the surface.
Your sleeping position makes a difference too. Side sleepers tend to like pillow top mattresses more than stomach sleepers. This is because pillow top mattresses help with side sleepers’ spinal alignment by hugging the shoulders and hips, but a stomach sleeper may sink too far into the surface of one if it’s not a firm mattress.
Shoppers buy pillow top mattresses because:
- They make firm mattresses more comfortable. Many of us like firm support, but we also want the feeling of a plush bed. Pillow top mattresses offer the best of both worlds, offsetting a firm base with a cloud-like top for maximum comfort.
- They stop motion transfer. If you want a hybrid or innerspring mattress without the motion transfer, a pillow top will absorb movement. The extra cushioning of a pillow top limits jarring movements, which is good news for restless sleepers seeking motion-isolating mattresses for couples.
- They relieve pain in key pressure points. If you are a side sleeper, you may experience pain in your shoulders, lower back, and hips. This pain often starts at night but continues throughout the day. The added layer of cushioning provided by a pillow top contours to your body weight for a good night’s sleep. A high-quality pillow top will help align your spine to make up for an awkward side sleeping position, establishing one of the best mattresses for pressure points.
What Are the Drawbacks of Pillow Top Mattresses?
Before you take the plunge and purchase a pillow top mattress, you should be aware of common complaints about them. Some sleepers dislike pillow top mattresses for the following reasons.
Heat Retention
Pillow top mattresses can retain heat. This happens for two reasons. First, some materials used to make pillow tops, like polyester and memory foam, can retain heat.
Second, a pillow top provides extra cushioning to give you the feeling of sinking into your mattress. When you sink in, the heat retained by your pillow top surrounds your body.
If this is a concern, choose a breathable material that wicks away moisture and regulates body temperature. A bed with a pillow top can still be a cooling mattress if it has high-quality materials in a clever design.
You can also reduce the chances of heat build-up by investing in cooling bedding:
- Best Cooling Sheets
- Best Cooling Pillows
- Best Cooling Weighted Blankets
- Best Sheets for Memory Foam Mattresses
- Best Cooling Mattress Topper
Uncertain Lifespan
While there’s rarely a 100 percent certain answer to the question of how long a mattress lasts, some types have a greater expected lifespan than others. Pillow top and Euro top mattresses are not designed to be flipped (although you may be able to rotate them instead).
This means your mattress may wear out faster, particularly as most pillow top mattresses rely on coils that can lose support with time. Pillow tops made with lower-quality materials like polyester or polyurethane foam will also need to be replaced more frequently, as low-density fillers condense and develop indentations more easily.
May Require New Bedding
On a more trivial note, because Euro top and pillow top mattresses can be taller than other mattresses, you’ll need to buy fitted sheets and mattress protectors to accommodate that extra mattress thickness. However, if you already have deep-pocketed sheets and protectors, you may not need to do so.
Is it necessary to replace your bedding? Well, if you have ill-fitting sheets, they are quite likely to slip off in the night. And having one of the best waterproof mattress protectors will keep your mattress in good shape for years to come.
What About Mattress Toppers?
Mattress toppers are not unlike a pillow top mattress, though some types of toppers will have a more pillowy feel than others. A mattress topper can upgrade your sleep without the cost of choosing a new mattress, creating more comfort in an older mattress. Some examples include:
- If you’re a side sleeper and need more pressure relief from your sleep surface, a mattress toppers for side sleepers can increase your bed’s cushion.
- If you find yourself waking up with a stiff back, you can use a mattress toppers for back pain
- If you have a pull-out mattress, a futon mattress topper can greatly boost its comfort.
We also want to stress that mattress toppers and mattress pads are different items, though some toppers do have a pad-like design and slip over the bed like a fitted sheet. A mattress pad can add a touch of cushion, but a topper can more significantly alter a mattress’s feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pillow top mattress dip?
A pillow top mattress may eventually develop dents and permanent impressions that dip under the body. Sagging is a risk of any spring mattres, as coils will eventually lose bounce and support. Even pure foam beds will eventually lose their support and dip underneath sleepers.
What does a pillow top do for a mattress?
The intended purpose of a pillow top is to increase a mattress’s pressure-relieving cushion. It was traditionally used to improve the feel of an innerspring mattress, which can feel too firm for some sleeping styles. With foam beds growing more popular, pillow top mattresses aren’t the only way to enjoy soft mattresses.
Are pillow top mattresses good for your back?
The comfort of a pillow top mattress can reduce back pain and other aches. The surface can’t be too soft, though, as the torso could sink too far into a too-plush surface and cause spinal misalignment. This is why it’s important to look at the support the mattress also offers.
How long do pillow top mattresses last?
As a pillow top mattress is typically a type of spring mattress, the bed will last until its coils wear out and lose support. The quality of the coils and how they are structured affects the bed’s expected lifespan. Lower-quality open coils may only support a sleeper for a handful of years, while the average set of pocketed coils inside a hybrid lasts around 7 or more years.
Which type of mattress is best?
There is no one type of mattress that’s best for everyone, regardless of whether or not you’re interested in a pillow top. Largely, what determines what the best mattress type for you is your personal preferences. You may also have to consider budgetary concerns, as some types of mattresses are more affordable than others.
Conclusion
A pillow top can boost the comfort level of a bed. They are designed to temper the support of a firm innerspring or foam mattress with cushioning to give you the feeling of sleeping on one of the best pillows.
To choose the right option for you, think about your budget, the type of materials you prefer, and the reason you’re looking for a pillow top mattress. If you’re uncertain, choose a mattress with a generous sleep trial.
