Best Mattress Topper
in Australia 2024

How to Choose a Mattress Topper

There are a wide variety of mattress toppers available, and unless you’re an expert on mattress toppers, it’s easy to get confused. You can use our guide below to pick the mattress topper that fits your needs best.

Size

Just like mattresses, mattress toppers come in a variety of sizes. If you know the size of your bed, you won’t have any problem choosing what size mattress topper to get. However, if you don’t know, it can be hard to decide due to the similarity in size names.

Here are the main Australian mattress/mattress topper sizes that you’re most likely to come across:

• Single size (92cm x 188 cm)
• Long single size (92cm x 203 cm)
• King single size (107cm x 203 cm)
• Double size (138cm x 188 cm)
• Queen size (153cm x 203 cm)
• King size (183cm x 203 cm)
• Super King size (203cm x 203 cm)

Material

Mattress toppers can be made out of a wide range of materials, as they can serve many different purposes. It’s crucial to pick one made of high-quality materials to ensure it lasts for a long time, but there’s more to it than just durability. Let’s look at some of the most popular materials used in mattress topper production, discuss their purposes, and see their pros and cons.

Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the healthiest materials used in mattress topper production, as it’s an organic material. The bamboo fabric is hypoallergenic, so it’s a safe choice for everyone, including kids.

Bamboo fabric can help keep you cool as you sleep and prevent moisture buildup inside your mattress. Moreover, bamboo is a very breathable material. This is a very important feature as you’ll be sleeping on your mattress every night.

One downside of the bamboo fabric is that it needs special care. It will wear out much quicker than a synthetic fabric like polyester, and it’s usually not recommended to machine wash and tumble dry a bamboo mattress topper.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is widely used in bedding products such as pillows and mattresses. This is due to the ergonomic nature of memory foam, which helps relieve pressure off the body. Memory foam mattress toppers are available in different firmness levels and can be used to make your bed softer or firmer.

Mattress toppers made of memory foam are very durable. They are good for back pain as they support your body to keep your spine aligned while you sleep. However, they can absorb your body heat. Choose one with a porous structure that provides extra breathability to prevent it.

Latex

Latex mattress toppers usually add a firm but bouncy feel to your mattress. They can be made of natural or synthetic latex. Natural latex may not be suitable for allergy sufferers, but it has a much bouncier feel than synthetic, and it’s softer.

Synthetic latex is less bouncy and has a firmer feel. It can also give off a plastic smell, especially the first few times you use the mattress topper. On the other hand, they are more durable than natural latex, and they’re also free of allergens.

Feather and Down

Feather and down mattress toppers offer the best softness out of all the materials, but this comes at a price.

They are not very durable, and the feathers may start sticking out of the topper as the top layer wears over time. Some people may be allergic to these toppers as the feathers inside are collected from ducks or geese.

Microfiber and Hollowfibre

These are the most affordable mattress toppers you can find, and for a good reason. If you don’t want to spend too much, they do get the job done, but it’s generally not recommended to use a microfiber mattress topper.

Microfiber material traps heat inside, making sleeping in hot environments difficult. This material is also not super durable as it can sink down and flatten in a short period.

Wool

Wool is another material that offers a very soft sleep surface and a comfortable sleeping experience, but these mattress toppers are usually on the pricier side. They are also good at keeping bed bugs and mites away from your bed, as wool isn’t a material prone to infestations.

A downside of wool is that it can get too hot during the summer. Also, wool mattress toppers are a bit more expensive than the other materials. They are not great for making a bed firmer, but they definitely provide a soft surface if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thickness

You can choose the thickness of your mattress topper depending on what you intend to use it for. If you have a thin mattress that doesn’t offer much support, you can go for a thick mattress topper like the Bambillo. These toppers are usually around 5-7 cm thick and can change the thickness of your bed.

If you’re satisfied with the thickness of your current mattress and just want a softer or cooler surface to sleep on, you can go for a thin mattress topper, which is usually about 3-4 cm in thickness.

Firmness

As we mentioned, mattress toppers can come in various firmness levels.

If you have a soft mattress and want to make it firmer, you can use a high-density memory foam or a latex mattress topper. For extra firmness, go for synthetic latex, which is also more durable and hypoallergenic.

If you want to make your bed softer, on the other hand, you can use a feather and down mattress topper, one of the softest options out there. Of course, you can also use a wool pillow top mattress topper like the Halcyon Dream wool topper, but wool tends to get too hot during the summer.

Sleep Position

Most people may not realize it, but your sleeping position plays an important role in your mattress topper choice.

Back sleepers can choose whatever type of mattress topper they want, as long as it offers average support. If you’re a side sleeper, on the other hand, your body will need extra support to keep your spine in a neutral position. Therefore, a mattress topper on the firmer side can be a good option.

Stomach sleepers usually need the most support out of all types of sleepers, which is why they need a very firm bed. Therefore, you can consider going for a mattress topper that can add firmness to your mattress, like the Peacelily.

Warranty

When you buy a mattress topper, you want to set it and forget it. A mattress topper is not something you want to replace regularly; it’s just inconvenient. This is why it’s essential to go for a durable mattress that can fulfill your needs for a long time. Look for good warranty coverage.

While some mattress toppers like the Peacelily offer extensive long-term warranties that last as long as 10 years, others can be for one year and only cover manufacturing errors or faulty material/craftsmanship. Therefore, it’s best to consider the warranty coverage before buying a mattress topper.

Lastly, make sure always to read the fine print. While some brands may offer a long-term warranty, they might only cover manufacturing errors, which isn’t much. Always read the terms of the warranty, and if the brand doesn’t offer a warranty, see if they offer at least a trial period.

Mattress Toppers: Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use a mattress topper?

Mattress toppers can serve many purposes. The main reason many people use a mattress topper is usually to make the mattress more comfortable. A mattress topper can achieve this by either making the mattress firmer or softer, depending on the kind you get.

Despite not being their primary purpose, mattress toppers protect the mattress and extend its lifespan. The right mattress topper can save your mattress from staining and sweating, and it also serves as a protection layer for usual wear and tear that might occur over time.

Additionally, if your mattress gets too hot during the summer, you can also use mattress toppers that offer a cooling feature like the OCTAsmart Topper, which creates a comfy bed while providing breathability.

What are mattress toppers made of?

Mattress toppers can be made out of a variety of materials. Some of the most popular materials are bamboo, synthetic and natural latex, feather, memory foam, microfiber, and wool.

How thick is a mattress topper?

Mattress toppers can be on the thinner side, which is around 2-4 cm, but there are also thicker ones available that are usually around 5-7 cm in thickness. If you want to raise your mattress a little and change the firmness of your bed, it’s recommended to go for a thicker mattress topper.

What kind of mattress topper is best for side sleepers?

Side sleepers will benefit from the additional support of a firmer mattress topper to maintain spinal alignment. Therefore, a latex or memory foam mattress topper like the IKEA Tussoy from our top picks above can be a great choice for side sleepers.

What is the best mattress topper for back pain?

If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, having a mattress topper that’s on the thicker side can provide pressure relief. As for the material choice, memory foam is known to provide great support and also provide relief in your body’s pressure points. A great memory foam topper you can go for is the OneBed mattress topper we have reviewed above.

Are mattress toppers worth it?

A mattress topper can really help you sleep more comfortably. If you’re sleeping in a hot environment and having trouble falling asleep, you can find a mattress topper that can cool your body. Therefore, it’s safe to say that mattress toppers are worth it!

How long do mattress toppers last?

Since mattress toppers can be made of various materials, their lifespans vary as well.

Usually, memory foam and latex mattress toppers are the most durable ones, and they can last for as long as 5 years. This is the absolute longest you should keep your memory mattress topper as they sink and lose their firmness over time, and they can also get too dirty due to dead skin and dust accumulation.

As for other types of mattress toppers, it’s recommended to change them every couple of years at the latest.

How do bamboo toppers compare to cotton toppers?

Bamboo mattress toppers are in most cases far better than regular cotton toppers. They are softer and higher quality. Unlike regular cotton toppers, once washed bamboo toppers don’t lose their softness. We’d recommend checking out Ecoy’s bamboo mattress topper to find out more about the benefits.

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