Getting into bed should be one of life's little luxuries. Clean sheets, a plump pillow, and finally being able to put my feet up – it's something we daydream about even at the start of the day. But if that isn't the case, chances are you're sleeping poorly, and your mattress is part of the problem. Luckily, the best mattress toppers can transform your bed without the expense of buying a whole new mattress.
I'm certainly not alone in wanting a better night's sleep. Research published by The Sleep Charity in 2024 found that nine in 10 UK adults surveyed experienced sleep problems, with almost a third finding it difficult to fall asleep.
Best mattress toppers at a glance
- Best overall – Simba hybrid mattress topper: £399, Simbasleep.com
- Best budget – OHS deep sleep mattress topper: £35, onlinehomeshop.com
- Best feather and down design – M&S duck feather mattress topper: £130, Marksandspencer.com
- Best for eco-friendly comfort – OTTY bamboo mattress toppers with charcoal: £159.99, Otty.com
A topper won't solve every reason for lying awake, but it can add cushioning if your mattress feels too firm. Or, it can add support if your old mattress is a little tired. It sits between your mattress and fitted sheet, and there are several fillings to choose from. Memory foam moulds around your body, while hybrid designs combine foam with miniature springs. Hollowfibre and feather-and-down options feel more like sleeping on a large pillow, which might appeal if you love a soft, sumptuous bed.
Prices range from around £35 to more than £500, but does spending more mean sleeping better – or would you be better off buying a new mattress? I tried eight mattress toppers to find out which are worth the money.
How I tested
I've been reviewing home and sleep products for almost seven years – which means I change my mattress more often than most people. On average, I test around two to three mattresses a year. I'm used to comparing different materials and levels of firmness, and for this guide I wanted to find out whether a topper could make my bed more comfortable, and whether that improvement justified the price.
I slept on each topper for two weeks, giving myself time to get used to it rather than making my mind up after one night. Using the same mattress throughout helped me compare what each one added.
Comfort came first. I considered how easy it was to settle into bed, whether there was enough cushioning around my shoulders and hips, and whether I could turn over comfortably. I also paid attention to warmth and how the topper felt by morning.
The practical details mattered too: how easily each topper fitted onto the mattress, whether it stayed put, whether my fitted sheet still fitted and how straightforward it would be to clean. Finally, I weighed up the comfort and features against the price to decide which topper would suit and whether it was worth spending more.
Simba hybrid mattress topper
★★★★★ Best: Overall mattress topper
What we love: Supportive, breathable memory foam, secure fit, washable cover, and generous sleep trial
Take note: Pricey – almost £400 for a king size
I loved getting into bed with the Simba Hybrid topper. At 6.5cm deep, it's not the thickest topper I tested, but from the first night, it added a luxurious layer of comfort that made my bed feel completely different. I could sink into the foam, but still feel the support of up to 1,900 miniature Aerocoil springs underneath. It was soft without being too soft, and I couldn't feel my old mattress through it at all. That first impression held up over the following nights. I tossed and turned less, slept more soundly and generally woke feeling more refreshed. I tested it at the end of summer, when I expected memory foam to feel warm, but it stayed surprisingly breathable. It also fitted my king-size mattress perfectly, with secure straps keeping it in place, so I could enjoy the comfort without having to straighten it each morning.
At £399, it's an investment, but this was the topper that gave me the best combination of comfort, support and more settled sleep. It transformed my bed without the expense of replacing the mattress, earning it my best overall pick.
Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king
Type: Hybrid – memory foam and 1,900 Aerocoil springs
Depth: 6.5cm
Trial period: 200 nights
Warranty: 10 years
Care: Cover can be unzipped and machine washed
£399, Simbasleep.com
OHS deep sleep mattress topper
★★★★☆ Best: Budget mattress topper
What we love: Generous 10cm depth, low cost, soft, and evenly distributed fill
Take note: No sleep trial or warranty, no springs or foam for support
Unrolling the OHS Deep Sleep topper was much like unrolling a quilt. I spread it across the mattress, put my fitted sheet over it and had a softer bed ready for that evening. Lying down felt like being cushioned all over by a large pillow, which I enjoyed at the end of a day, especially ones where I'd been physically active with my kids.
At £35 for a king size, it's outstanding value. You can barely buy some pillows for that, let alone a layer of comfort covering the whole bed. The polyester microfibre cover and a hollowfibre filling give it that fluffy feel, with a depth of 10cm, although that's a fluffy layer of filling rather than the substantial foam you get with the Emma. The simpler filling helps explain the low price. You don't get the body-moulding support of memory foam, but if your mattress already supports you well and you want extra softness, it's well worth £35.
Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king
Type: Polyester microfibre, polyester hollowfibre
Depth: 10cm
Trial period: Not specified
Warranty: Not specified
Care: Machine washable at 30 degrees
£35, Onlinehomeshop.com
Silentnight Airmax mattress topper
★★★★☆ Best: Breathable mattress topper
What we love: Hypoallergenic, machine washable, decent 8cm depth, mesh sides, and elasticated straps
Take note: Limited sizes – not available in standard double or single
If your mattress feels hard and stuffy, the Silentnight Airmax is an affordable way to make it more inviting. The hollowfibre filling softened the surface, while the mesh sides allowed more air through. My bed felt cooler and less stuffy, which I appreciated when settling down for the night.
The corner straps kept it in place, so I wasn't constantly straightening it. I did give it a shake now and again to keep the filling soft and plump, but that was little effort for the comfort it added. Being machine washable is useful, too.
Where it fell short was support. It made my hard mattress more bearable, but didn't give me the supported feel of a memory foam topper like the Simba or the Emma. At £41, though, I thought it was good value for adding softness and breathability. I'd recommend it for a stuffy bed that needs a comfort boost or one in a warm room like an attic, rather than a bed where lack of support is the main problem.
Sizes available: King, super-king
Type: Hollowfibre-fill
Depth: 8cm
Trial period: Not specified
Warranty: Two years
Care: Machine washable
£41, Silentnight.co.uk
M&S duck feather and down mattress topper
★★★★☆ Best: For sumptuous softness
What we love: Pillow-like comfort, natural filling, smooth cotton cover, secure corner straps
Take note: Cannot be washed or dry cleaned
The M&S topper felt like sleeping on a thick, soft quilt. I loved the sumptuous cushioning beneath me, and settling into bed felt like a treat after a long day. A quick plump when making the bed restored its softness, so if you like a bed you can snuggle into, I'd put this on your shortlist.
I tested it at the end of summer and found it a little too cosy on warmer nights. I'd enjoy that extra warmth in winter, but if you're a hot sleeper, I'd choose something more breathable. It can't be washed or dry-cleaned, so I used my mattress protector over the top to keep it fresh. In a home with pets or kids, you'd definitely need to buy an extra protector if you don't have one already, which would add to the cost of your bedroom set-up. While it doesn't offer the body-moulding support of memory foam, I found it more sumptuous than the hollowfibre toppers I tested. For softness and winter cosiness, it's a solid choice – as long as you protect it.
Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king
Type: Duck feather and down
Depth: Approx 6cm
Trial period: Not specified
Warranty: Not specified
Care: Do not wash, do not tumble dry, do not dry clean
£130, Marksandspencer.com
OTTY bamboo mattress topper with charcoal
★★★★☆ Best: Hypoallergenic mattress topper
What we love: Breathable open-cell memory foam, grippy anti-slip base, hypoallergenic, and low price given the quality
Take note: Guarantee is only for one year; not machine washable
Bamboo and charcoal give this OTTY topper something extra. They're infused into the memory foam to help with breathability and freshness, and I like that they're hypoallergenic too. If you suffer from allergies, OTTY could be the answer to extra comfort at night without setting off any triggers.
While it looked a little low on the bed, the 5cm foam did make my mattress softer and more inviting. I was pleasantly impressed by how well the foam supported my body, given that it's not as thick as the Simba or the Emma. I liked that I could settle into the cushioning without feeling swallowed by it, giving the bed more of that comfortable hotel feel. Unlike down or fibre toppers, there's no loose filling to plump up when making the bed, and the anti-slip base helped keep it in place. My one gripe is the cleaning. The cover unzips, but it needs dry cleaning, which is not that practical. You'd have to time the cleaning around a holiday, as it's unlikely you can take it off in the morning and have it cleaned the same night. A machine-washable cover would make life easier and earn this mattress a perfect five, as it is excellent value for such supportive memory foam.
Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king
Type: Memory foam
Depth: 5cm
Trial period: 14 nights
Warranty: 1 year
Care: Dry clean only
£159.99, Otty.com
Emma Original Pro topper
★★★★☆ Best: Premium memory foam mattress topper
What we love: Temperature-regulating, generous 9cm depth, quality memory foam, breathable cover
Take note: Expensive (king size is over £400)
Climbing into bed felt like more of an occasion with the Emma. At 9cm, it was one of the deepest foam toppers I tested, and the extra height made me feel a little like the princess and the pea – thankfully without the pea. The soft, cocoon-like feel was inviting, especially at the end of a tiring day.
I loved that sense of settling into a generous layer of cushioning. If you want your bed to feel softer and more indulgent, rather than simply adding a thin layer over the mattress, the Emma wins when it comes to weight and substance. It felt well-made.
My main frustration was that it moved around. I had to straighten it every morning, which took some of the shine off an otherwise comfortable experience. Elasticated straps at each corner would be a welcome addition to hold it around the mattress. For softness, it was a favourite, but for staying put, there's room for improvement.
Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king
Type: Thermosync (temperature-regulating) memory foam
Depth: 9cm
Trial period: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
Care: Unzip cover and machine wash
£409, Emma-sleep.co.uk
TEMPUR One mattress topper
★★★★☆ Best: Mattress topper for pressure relief
What we love: Cushions motion transfer, supports joints, promotes spinal alignment, and relieves pain points
Take note: Most expensive topper I tested
I was cynical about the TEMPUR One at first. More than £500 is a lot to spend on a topper, and I wondered how much difference a 5cm layer could really make. But when I lay down, I loved how the foam moulded around me. It added a luxurious layer of cushioning to my mattress, while keeping me comfortably supported underneath. I sometimes suffer pain in my shoulders and hips, which can exacerbate my tossing and turning, but I didn't experience much of this on the TEMPUR topper. I fell asleep fast.
There's some impressive technology behind that feel. TEMPUR developed its material from NASA innovations, and this topper uses its medium-feel Adapt foam to contour around your body and relieve pressure. It also absorbs movement from a partner, which is useful if you share a bed with someone who's forever turning over. I can't say if the motion transfer absorption worked as I'm the one most likely to fidget in our house, but my husband did say the TEMPUR One topper was his personal favourite.
The price is still the biggest hurdle, but it is genuinely outstanding quality. My mattress was already comfortable, yet I was impressed by how much the TEMPUR added to it.
Sizes available: Double, king, super king
Type: TEMPUR Adapt memory foam
Depth: 5cm
Trial period: 30 days
Warranty: 10 years
Care: Unzip cover and wash at 40 degrees
£549, Tempur.com
DUSK memory foam 5cm mattress topper
★★★★☆ Best: Budget memory foam mattress topper
What we love: Excellent value, supportive, breathable memory foam, and an easily washable cover
Take note: Takes time to properly unfold and bounce up, and no sleep trial
The DUSK memory foam topper costs around a quarter of the TEMPUR and a third of the Simba, making it a good-value way to try memory foam. Its 5cm layer adds cushioning without the expense of the premium toppers, and I found it breathable enough to cope with late summer nights. I was impressed by how it made my hard mattress much more forgiving and easier to settle into. It didn't have the deep, cocoon-like comfort I loved about the 9cm Emma, but I was pleased with the difference it made for the price. The soft jersey cover also unzips and goes in the washing machine, making it straightforward to freshen up.
However, you do need to be patient after unpacking. Mine took 72 hours for the packaging creases to even out, so give it time to settle before making up the bed. Plus, bear in mind that there's no sleep trial, so you need to be fully invested in the concept of a memory foam mattress before you buy.
Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king
Type: Memory foam
Depth: 5cm
Trial period: None
Warranty: 1 year
Care: Machine washable
£120, Dusk.com
What is the best mattress topper?
The Simba Hybrid is my overall choice. Its spring-and-foam construction, washable cover and lengthy trial make a convincing package for someone who wants a substantial upgrade. TEMPUR deserves a special mention if comfort is your priority and the budget allows. Both of these made me feel like I was on a new mattress. If you are more limited for funds, the DUSK memory foam mattress topper offers excellent bang for your buck. And on the lower end of the price scale, the Silentnight Airmax topper is a brilliantly affordable way to cool down your bed.
How do mattress toppers work?
A mattress topper sits above your mattress and beneath your fitted sheet, adding a separate comfort layer. Some attach with elasticated straps, while others use an anti-slip base. Choose the same dimensions as your mattress and check that your sheet is deep enough for the extra height.
The filling changes the effect. Foam offers a more contoured feel, hybrids add a spring layer, and hollowfibre or feather-and-down fillings provide pillow-like cushioning. A topper can soften a sound mattress that feels too firm, but it cannot restore damaged springs or flatten a lasting dip.
Is a thicker mattress topper better?
I would choose by filling and preferred feel before depth. A 10cm hollowfibre topper compresses differently from a 5cm foam model, so comparing those measurements alone tells you little about how the bed will feel. A deeper topper also raises the sleeping surface and may require new fitted sheets.
Why trust me?
Home appliance expert Zoe Griffin has reviewed home products professionally since 2021, including washing machines, tumble dryers, dehumidifiers, cleaning tools, bedding and sleep accessories. As a mum of four, she runs a very real-world test house: laundry includes school uniform, towels, sports kit and the inevitable last-minute item needed the following morning. For this guide, she combined repeated hands-on use with the manufacturers' latest care, loading and safety guidance, and checked every measurement and capacity against current product information.
