Best Affordable Mattress Toppers

If your mattress isn’t providing the support or comfort you need, there’s no need to replace it—you can add a cheap mattress topper for a sliver of the cost. Not only can a mattress topper transform the entire feel and firmness of your bed, but it can also extend its life, saving you money in the long term.

To also save you time, we’ve rounded up our favorite toppers that strike a nice balance between high quality and low price. Read on for our picks, plus some advice on shopping for a cheap mattress topper below.

The Best Affordable Mattress Toppers

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Affordable Mattress Topper Buying Guide

What should I look for in an affordable mattress topper?

A good mattress topper doesn’t have to be expensive—but not just any old model will cut it. Here’s what to consider when looking for a high-quality mattress topper. Just note that personal preference will also play a big role.

Firmness: A mattress topper can change the overall firmness of your bed by making it feel more soft or more firm. If you add a medium or soft topper to a firm or medium-firm bed, you can lower that bed’s firmness and give it more pressure relief for sleeping on your side. Conversely, a firm topper on a medium to medium-firm mattress will make your bed feel firmer, which might help you feel more supported when sleeping on your back or stomach.

Material: Mattress toppers are made of several different materials, including memory foam, polyfoam, down alternative, and more. Below we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how they relate to your budget. When it comes to foam, look for certifications that indicate a higher-quality, less chemical construction—such as CertiPUR-US Certification.

Thickness: Much like feel, there’s no prescribed level of optimal thickness—it’s all reliant on personal preference, sleep position, and even your body side. To give you some indication of where to start: If you’re a heavier person and/or you sleep on your side, you might want a 3” topper for more pressure relief. If you’re lighter and/or you sleep on your back or stomach, look for something that’s 1” or 2” thick.

Durability: If the topper is going on your primary bed, it’s worth spending a little more money for something that will last longer. We explain which materials will last the longest below. You’ll also want to check the length of each mattress topper’s warranty to ensure the company stands behind its predicted longevity.

What’s the best material for an affordable mattress topper?

Mattress toppers come in several different constructions, all of which play a part in your comfort level and the amount you can expect to spend. Here’s how to understand the differences between each type of fill.

Memory Foam
Memory foam is great for pressure relief—particularly if you’re a side sleeper—because it contours and conforms to your body, giving it a cradled sensation. Memory foam mattress toppers are made of a denser foam than polyfoam, and tend to have a soft, plush feel that’s slow to respond when you change positions. The biggest downside of memory foam is that it can trap body heat, so those who tend to overheat at night might want to choose a topper made from gel foam or polyfoam.

Polyfoam
Polyfoam, or polyurethane foam, is cheaper than other mattress topper materials because it tends to be less dense than memory foam and less durable. That said, polyfoam provides many of the benefits of memory foam—like comfort and some pressure relief—at a lower price.

Gel foam
Gel foam is like memory foam in that it molds to your position to create a cradled feel, but it generally feels a bit bouncier and less slow-moving. It’s also designed to solve memory foam’s temperature problem with an open-cell structure that releases heat, so it sleeps cooler and breezier than pure memory foam. It also tends to be more expensive than memory foam, though this can vary based on the quality and durability of both materials.

Down Alternative
Down alternative is designed to mimic the super-soft luxury and lofted feel of duck and goose feathers without the allergens and use of animal products. It’s also a far cheaper material than real down, and easier to machine-wash. But like memory foam, it also tends to sleep warm, and it’s just not as breathable or durable as real down.