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Best mattress toppers: This hack will transform uncomfortable flat-share mattresses
Trust us, you’ll sleep like a baby
Have your dreams not been so sweet lately? Then it might be time to consider upgrading your sleep set-up – and we’re not just talking about splashing out on Instagram’s fave eye mask, although maybe that too…
Making sure your mattress and pillows are supportive and right for you is a must, but it can get pricey, so instead of jumping to a mattress upgrade at the first sight of 3am, why not try a mattress topper? Popping one on top of your existing mattress should take it from lumpy to lush and help banish those sleepless nights.
What mattress topper should I buy?
If you’re ready to nod off in next-level comfort, these are our top bed buddies:
- Best mattress topper: Silentnight Airmax 600 Mattress Topper
- Best for sustainability: Panda The Topper
- Best for moving house: M&S Duck Feather & Down Mattress Topper
- Best for allergies: The Duvet Store Dacron Allerban Anti-Allergenic 3 Inch Mattress Toppers
- Best for hotel-like luxury: John Lewis & Partners Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Dual Layer 6cm Deep Mattress Topper
- Best for support: Dormeo Octasmart Essentials Mattress Topper - Firmer Support
Are mattress toppers worth it?
Obviously getting the right mattress is a big deal, after all, we spend about a third of our lives in bed, but when you’re renting, you generally have to take the mattress that comes with your room - visible springs and all. Enter: mattress toppers.
While mattress protectors keep your mattress spick and span, mattress toppers add extra padding, making things comfy without requiring a whole new bed, and they’re more portable when moving day comes around again. Whether it’s the firmness, warmth or softness that you want to change, there are lots of designs so you can make your existing mattress work for you.
What to look for in a mattress topper?
To pick the right mattress topper for you, you need to think about how you like to sleep. If you tend to curl up on your side, then a memory foam design will give you the most support. That said, memory foam can get quite hot and isn’t the cheapest option.
For extra softness and padding, rather than support, there are feather and down toppers. These are ideal if you tend to stretch out on your front like a starfish or want something a bit cooler than memory foam. Just make sure you fluff it up on a regular basis, for maximum comfort.
The last type we have on our list are microfibre toppers. These tend to be cheaper and are often anti-allergy but can flatten more quickly than other styles.
In terms of thickness, it really can range according to design but around 5cm would be plenty. Make sure you clean your topper regularly too – as often as your bedsheets is a good rule for keeping any bacteria at bay. Some can go in the washing machine or have machine washable covers, but feather and down toppers generally require spot cleaning instead.
How we test mattress toppers
We recruited a panel of testers to road test a range of mattress toppers at home – they slept on them for a few weeks and then reported back on how comfortable, supportive and breathable each topper was.
We put them through a few tests ourselves too, looking at how well each fitted a double mattress, how smooth they felt under bedsheets and how well the filling was distributed.
No, you’re not dreaming, our best mattress toppers really can help you sleep better:
Slipping under the covers with this top-scoring mattress topper will definitely not disappoint. Despite testing it during a heatwave, our testers raved about it, saying that it improved the quality of their sleep, made drifting off easier and crucially didn’t cause them to overheat.
It’s also hypoallergenic, machine washable and easy to fold away. We could only fault it for a less than sturdy storage bag and a slightly small fit. Otherwise, it’s a real winner.
Key specs
Type: Hypoallergenic fibre
Features: Machine washable and straps
Thickness: 8cm
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Green dreams are made of toppers like this one; the cover is made with bamboo and it’s naturally anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic. You can machine wash it too and our panel found it silent to sleep on.
They also noted that it was comfy and responsive, with the memory foam even moulding around hands and feet, although it wasn’t as breathable as they’d have liked. The odd corner did escape too, but the adjustable straps generally held it in place. It’s a real sleep-improver.
Key specs
Type: Memory foam
Features: Removal, machine-washable cover, adjustable straps
Thickness: 5cm
Sizes: Single, small double, UK double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU king, EU emperor
Moving from flatshare to flatshare doesn’t mean you have to accept bad sleep; this mattress topper packs away easily, so you can settle into a new bed knowing you’re in for a comfy night.
On test, the feather and down-filled design proved pretty dreamy to sleep on – in fact, our panel loved the experience. Although it’s a soft topper that fitted double mattresses well, testers did find that the filling didn’t distribute evenly and it rustled a bit too, so avoid if you’re a fidgeter, or if you have an aversion to spot cleaning!
Key specs
Type: Feather and down
Features: Elasticated straps
Thickness: Unspecified
Sizes: Double, king, super king
The Duvet Store Dacron Allerban Anti-Allergenic Mattress Topper
Hear that? That’s the sweet sound of a sneeze-free sleep courtesy of this hypoallergenic mattress topper. This is one you’ll have to splash the cash on, but for uninterrupted sleep, we reckon it’s a price worth paying.
It was a tad smaller than our double mattress in testing but it secured to our beds well and while its soft, sink-in style worked for some of our panel, it wasn’t quite right for those who prefer a firmer bed. If that sounds like a bit of you though, it’s a luxe treat.
Key specs
Type: Dacron fibre filling
Features: Elasticated straps
Thickness: 7.5cm
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king, emperor
John Lewis & Partners Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Dual Layer 6cm Deep Mattress Topper
Give your room a five-star makeover with this thick and comfortable mattress topper. Its zip-up cover can be bunged in the washing machine if it needs a refresh and it’s lightweight so moving it and storing it is a doddle.
It was a little small and, again, if you need something to firm up your mattress and boost support give this one a miss. If you need to make a hard mattress more cloud-like, though, or you want one that’s cosy – panellists felt it wasn’t the most breathable design – then it’s a great buy. Now you just need the bedding to complete your bed’s glow-up…
Key specs
Type: Polyester
Features: Machine washable top layer and elasticated straps
Thickness: 6cm
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king
If you’re goblet-squatting on the reg, then having a supportive mattress will help you recover from your workouts quicker. This one is on the firm side and felt comfy and bouncy, moulding to our tired bods well for a snug sleep.
It’s lightweight and stores well but it doesn’t have any straps so did move around a little bit. It can’t be machine washed either but got a high score from our panellists who slept fairly soundly.
Key specs
Type: Foam
Features: Comes with a free pillow
Thickness: 5cm
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.
Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.
Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.
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