In the world of mattress toppers, the desired effect is to add a little plushness and give to a firm bed. However, there are instances when time and toll can make already-cushy beds uncomfortably soft. You sink in, your spine loses its alignment, and you wake up every morning with a litany of aches and pains. Adding one of our best firm mattress toppers can be a great way to get a little extra support without you having to go all in on a brand-new bed.
Best Firm Mattress Toppers of 2022
- Editor’s Pick – Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Topper
- Best Firm Mattress Topper for Back Pain – TEMPUR-Adapt Topper
- Best Firm Mattress Topper for a Heavy Person – airweave Top Mattress
- Best Extra-Firm Mattress Topper – PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper
- Best Cooling Firm Mattress Topper – GhostBed Memory Foam Topper
Editor’s Pick
Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Topper
Brooklyn Bedding’s Talalay Latex mattress topper is one of our all-time favorite firm toppers. This product is incredibly versatile; it comes in two different options for covers and three different firmness levels. The topper cover options include an organic cotton cover and a luxury cooling cover for sleepers who overheat at night. And as for firmness, you have your choice between Soft, Medium, and Firm. While those looking for a firmer topper will likely want the Firm version, the latex in each option should result in a more supportive feel overall.
Pros:
- The latex used in this topper should prevent you from getting too hot at night, as it’s a naturally cooling material.
- Latex is naturally bouncy and sturdy. Adding this topper to your mattress should give you the feeling of sleeping on top of of the bed, rather than sinking into it.
- The interior of the topper is Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it’s free of harmful chemicals.
Cons:
- Some customers have reported inconsistencies in the sizing of the topper, which can cause it not to align perfectly with your bed.
A review for the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Topper is coming soon.
Brooklyn Bedding's Talalay Latex mattress topper is a natural, cooling mattress topper. Talalay Latex, which is the interior material in this topper, is an Oeko-Tex certified material, meaning that it is free of harmful chemicals, and it's naturally bouncy, durable, and cooling. This topper is available in three different firmness levels and is three inches tall.
Best Firm Mattress Topper for Back Pain
TEMPUR-Adapt Topper
The TEMPUR-Adapt Topper is a mattress topper from the classic brand TEMPUR-Pedic, known for their high-quality memory foam mattresses. We think this firmer topper is a solid match for those with back pain because it uses a balance of comfort and support. Overall, the memory foam in this topper creates a slow response to pressure and provides some great pressure relief. Also, its thick foam gives it a firmer feel and added support. This balanced construction is ideal for back sleepers and side sleepers.
Pros:
- This topper is basically a mini mattress; it’s three inches thick, so it’s very durable. Because of this, we think it’d make a good camping mattress or even a makeshift guest bed.
- The cover is made of a knit polyester blend that’s soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking.
- TEMPUR-Pedic offers a 10-year warranty on this topper.
Cons:
- While the cover is washable, the TEMPUR material inside is not.
- This topper is definitely on the pricier side, so if you’re shopping on a budget, it may not be the best option for you.
Get the top story on the TEMPUR-Adapt Topper in our full review!
The TEMPUR-Adapt Topper is a mattress topper from the classic brand TEMPUR-Pedic, known for their high-quality memory foam mattresses. This topper uses the same TEMPUR material to offer a classic memory foam feel, which allows the sleeper to sink deeply into it. The cover is made of a knit polyester blend that is soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking.
Best Firm Mattress Topper for a Heavy Person
airweave Top Mattress
If you’re a heavier sleeper looking for added support, search no further than the airweave Top Mattress. This product is designed to create a luxurious and firm sleeping surface. It’s made with the brand’s proprietary airfiber and constructed from 100% food-grade polyethylene (which is BPA free, eco-friendly, and hypoallergenic). Heavy sleepers should feel supported and shouldn’t experience uncomfortable sinkage on this high-quality topper.
Pros:
- This topper is so impressive because it can increase a mattress’ firmness by 30–50%. This is handy for heavier people, who will find the feel of mattresses to be softer than an average-weight person.
- The airweave Top Mattress helps improve a mattress’s edge support.
- airweave’s proprietary airfiber filling allows for much more airflow than other materials like memory foam, creating a cooler sleeping experience.
Cons:
- This topper is quite expensive, so while it’s a good investment, it may not be ideal for budget shoppers.
Airing on the side of purchasing the airweave Top Mattress? Learn more in our full review!
airweave's Top Mattress is designed to create a firm sleeping surface. It's made with the brand's proprietary airfiber, which is constructed from 100% food-grade polyethylene that's BPA free, eco-friendly, and hypoallergenic. Essentially, it looks like tangled plastic string. The airfiber not only allow airflow that keeps you cool, but can make your mattress firmer and give you the feeling of floating on top of your bed.
Best Extra-Firm Mattress Topper
PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper
The PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper is extremely versatile. It’s available in two thicknesses—two or three inches—and in five different firmnesses, including extra-firm (which is great for raising the firmness of a way-too-soft bed). The extra-firm version is ideal for stomach sleepers or heavier sleepers who are looking for something extremely supportive. Perhaps one of the best parts about this topper is that it’s environmentally friendly; the latex is free of toxic chemicals.
Pros:
- This topper regulates temperature well, as the latex used in its construction is a naturally cooling material.
- PlushBeds provides free shipping and a 5-year warranty.
- If you’ve been wanting to try out latex as a sleeping surface but don’t want to invest in a brand-new mattress just yet, this topper is a great way to modify the bed you already have.
Cons:
- The topper doesn’t come with a cover, but you can purchase one for $99. The PlushBed cotton cover is GOTS certified organic.
A review for the PlushBeds Latex Mattress Topper is coming soon.
This mattress topper is made with 100% natural latex that's Oeko-Tex certified for safety standards. It's available in two thicknesses—two or three inches—and in five different firmnesses, including extra-firm. You can also add a GOTS certified organic cotton cover for an additional $99.
Best Cooling Firm Mattress Topper
GhostBed Memory Foam Mattress Topper
If you’re a hot sleeper who doesn’t want to invest in a cooling mattress, then we highly recommend you give the GhostBed Memory Foam Mattress Topper a try. Its three-inch thick foam layer helps give this product a firmer feel while also working to contour pressure points. And although memory foam has a reputation for trapping heat, the GhostBed topper intends to defy it. With a breathable cotton cover and cooling gel-infused foams, you shouldn’t overheat at night.
Pros:
- This topper boasts a zoned support system for targeted pressure relief.
- Its cotton cover is deep-pocketed and serves as a mattress protector, covering both the topper and bed.
- The GhostBed topper features the GhostGrip elastic band that holds the topper and the cover in place.
Cons:
- The foam is three inches thick, so you’ll want to be sure your sheets will fit over your bed with those additional inches on top.
A review for the GhostBed Memory Foam Mattress Topper is coming soon.
GhostBed's memory foam mattress topper is made with three inches of contouring and cooling gel foam. It also features five targeted comfort zones to support your head, shoulders, torso, legs, and feet.
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Firm Mattress Toppers
Choosing the right mattress topper with the purpose of adding firmness is always a bit tricky, because what’s firm to one person may be completely soft for someone else. With that in mind, there were a few specifics we looked at when assembling our list.
Materials
Certain topper materials tended to hold firmness better than others. We found that the variance in firmness of memory foam was ideal more often than not, because it added the proper amount of resistance without sacrificing comfort.
Breathability
Mattress toppers are usually bought in lieu of purchasing an entirely new mattress, and as a result, they can be low-cost and made of artificial or synthetic materials. These materials tend to breathe poorly, so it was important to us to factor in how cool the topper kept through the night.
Convenience and Accessories
A firm mattress topper can be a great investment on its own, but including a quality cover that can be easily attached to a mattress is a great bonus. It also helps if the cover can be removed and washed.
Firm Mattress Topper Tips
Here are a few additional things to consider before making your purchase!
Thickness
You really want to factor in the thickness of the mattress topper when determining what’s right for your needs. If you’re looking to cover an extremely soft mattress in order to firm it up, look at thicker toppers (four or more inches). If you only need a small change in firmness, you may be able to get away with a thinner topper (two or three inches).
Sleeping Position
This ties in with the thickness of a mattress topper. For side sleepers who need additional pressure relief on the hips and shoulders, we recommend selecting a thicker topper for deeper contouring. Stomach sleepers, however, require more support, and they’re better off purchasing a thinner topper. Back sleepers are often somewhere in between based on their personal preferences.
Longevity
Odds are, if you’re opting for a mattress topper, you’re avoiding buying a new mattress. That shouldn’t mean that you select something cheap and disposable. Investing in a high-quality mattress topper can pay off dividends in the long run.
Who Should Buy a Mattress Topper
Those Who Want to Change the Feel of Their Mattress
If you like your mattress for the most part but feel minor adjustments in firmness could make all the difference in the world, then we definitely suggest purchasing a topper. A mattress that’s too soft, too firm, and even too lumpy can be adjusted with the right topper.
Those Who Want to Extend the Lifespan of Their Mattress
A topper can help avoid premature wear and tear of a mattress. Depending on the product, spills, excess moisture, and dirt particles can be trapped by the topper itself and not the actual mattress. In this sense, we consider toppers to be a great investment. Mattresses can be expensive, and the more you can protect the condition of the one you own, the better.
Those Who Sleep Hot
There are many cooling mattress toppers on the market. Some of them have naturally cooling materials, and others boast the newest cooling technology. Either way, hot sleepers should consider a topper if they’re looking to lower their body heat or wick away some extra moisture at night.
Related: Best Cooling Mattress Topper
Those Who Want to Save Money
Mattresses can be extremely expensive, and toppers are a fantastic way to adjust firmness without breaking the bank.
Related: Best Cheap Mattress Topper
Who Shouldn’t Buy a Mattress Topper
Those Who Already Sleep on a Worn-Out Mattress
A mattress topper can’t save a mattress that’s already experiencing problems. Adding a topper won’t fix sagging in the middle of the mattress, nor will it fix your spinal alignment. If a mattress is too old, we recommend purchasing new one.
Related: Best Mattresses of 2022
Mattress Toppers vs Mattress Pads vs Mattress Protector
Mattress pads and toppers are used to alter the feel of a mattress, but mattress toppers are around two to three inches thicker and often heavier. While some of these products can fight against contaminants, it’s not what they’re built for. Mattress protectors, on the other hand, can save your mattress from moisture, bed bugs, allergens, and other contaminants. They aren’t intended to change the feel of your mattress, but they can extend the life of your mattress.
The Best Cooling Mattresses of 2022
| Topper | Best For | Price (Queen) | Mattress Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Topper | Editor’s Pick | $449 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Coming Soon! |
| TEMPUR-Adapt Topper | Back Pain | $399 | TEMPUR-Pedic Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| airweave Top Mattress | Heavy Sleepers | $1,700 | Coming Soon! | Read Our Review! |
| PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper | Extra-Firm | $445 | PlushBeds Coupon | Coming Soon! |
| GhostBed Memory Foam Topper | Cooling | $429 | GhostBed Coupon | Coming Soon! |
Our Review Process
Our Sleepopolis reviewers personally test each mattress topper, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. By seeing how the topper performs in each position, we’re able to give our final verdict for a variety of sleepers.
