What is a pillow top mattress topper and should you buy one?

Pillow-top mattress toppers are touted as offering ultra-plush comfort, promising to add soft, hotel-luxury to your bed. But what are pillow-top mattress toppers, and can they deliver on their promises?

Some of our favorite beds in this year's best mattress guide feature pillow-tops, as this luxury feature can give plenty of pressure relief and cloud-like softness. Because of these benefits, you'll sometime see pillow-tops on the best mattress toppers — but these differ from the pillow-tops you find on pillow-top mattresses.

Here, I'll explore what pillow-top mattress toppers are, how much they cost, and if they're any good. After weighing up the pros and cons you should understand if pillow-top mattress toppers are right for you, so I've also included three of the best pillow-top bed topper deals in this month's mattress sales.

What are pillow-top mattress toppers?

The best pillow-top mattresses usually have pillow-tops made from comforting and contouring foam. However, pillow-top mattress toppers are slightly different, and tend to be made from different materials. There are two kinds of pillow top mattress toppers:

1. Mattress pads: Many pillow top mattress toppers are simply just down alternative or micofiber mattress pads. They are thin and rarely over 2" deep. 
2. Hybrid mattress toppers: These are the real pillow-top mattress toppers. They're called hybrid as the main body is made out of foam while the top consists of a fiberfill, creating the classic pillow-top. They are much thicker than mattress pads; usually over 2" deep.

Are pillow top mattress toppers any good?

So, are pillow-top mattress toppers worth buying? Yes, but only if you buy the hybrid kind. The non-hybrid kind are basically just mattress pads, which are thin and don't adjust the firmness of a mattress.

Recently, I bought a microfiber bed topper to soften up a firm mattress and it was a huge mistake. Why? Because the pad was too thin to add any plushness or cushioning to the hard surface of my bed. In other words, I advise you to only buy a mattress pad if you're looking to add some breathability and an extra cover to your mattress.

Hybrid pillow-top mattress toppers, on the other hand, are worth buying. The foam body offers support and pressure relief, completely changing the feel of your bed in a similar way to the best memory foam mattress toppers. Meanwhile, the fiberfill pillow-top complements the foam by adding a soft-to-the-touch cover that boosts airflow for a refreshing sleep.

How much do pillow-top mattress toppers cost?

The price of a pillow-top mattress topper depends on the style you go for. Many shoppers are sucked into buying mattress pads disguised as pillow-top mattress toppers due to the ridiculously low price. A queen usually sells for under $50.

Real hybrid pillow-top mattress toppers tend to be pricier. However, you get a much better performance for your money. For example, a queen-size ViscoSoft Hybrid Lux, one of our favorite mattress toppers, is usually sold at $151.96 for a 3" model and $199.95 for a 4" model. Meanwhile, the Sleep Innovations 4" Dual Layer Topper is one of the best cheap mattress toppers and is typically sold between $100-$130 for a queen on Amazon.

Should you buy a pillow top mattress topper?

Buy a pillow top mattress topper if...

✅ You plan on buying a hybrid pillow-top mattress topper: Opting for the thicker pillow-top mattress topper with a foam base can alter the feel of your mattress for the better, adding quilted softness to your bed.

✅ You want a washable cover: Many mattress toppers have pillow tops than can be removed and machine washed for an easy clean that helps keep your mattress fresh.

✅ You want an affordable way to overhaul your mattress: While hybrid mattress toppers aren't as cheap as mattress pads, they are typically cheaper than memory foam bed toppers and latex bed toppers.

Don't buy a pillow top mattress topper if...

❌ You're getting a mattress pad billed as a pillow-top bed topper: Look out for so-called pillow-top mattress toppers that have no foam base and are less than 2" tall. These thin mattress pads won't do much to change the feel of your bed.

❌ You need to make your bed firmer: Most pillow-top mattress toppers are designed to add plushness to beds, so stomach sleepers or plus-sized sleepers may need something firmer.

❌ You deal with severe night sweats: While the pillow top adds some breathability and the foam base is usually infused with cooling, these mattress toppers aren't cooling enough for extreme hot sleepers.

Top 3 pillow top mattress toppers to shop right now