Think of luxury mattresses, and chances are good a classic pillow top comes to mind. With their soft, cushioning top layer, these mattresses look as inviting as they feel. And while they may seem tailor-made for side sleepers, who certainly benefit from the extra softness around their hips and shoulders, the best pillow top mattresses can actually be a great option for just about anyone. The key is finding the right mix of materials to ensure indulgent softness that won’t sag under your weight.
The best pillow top mattresses provide support, cushioning and comfort.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
To steer you in the right direction, we rounded up 11 of the best pillow top mattresses for different sleep needs and preferences. Our favorite pillow top mattress overall is The WinkBed, a dreamy hybrid with a quilted Euro pillow top and layers of gel-infused foams and pressure-relieving coils. Whether you sleep hot, share the bed with a partner, prefer organic materials or need a mattress to ease pressure point pain, we have a recommendation for the best pillow top mattress for the job.
The WinkBed is a hybrid mattress, meaning it combines contouring foam with supportive springs to bring the best of both materials to your sleep—and it’s designed to address everything that could keep you up at night (well, almost). The mattress pairs a gel-infused foam layer with sturdy, individually wrapped pocket coils, meaning each coil is individually wrapped to provide optimal contouring as you sleep. These materials boost airflow for cooler, more comfortable sleep, but those aren’t the only cooling features in the WinkBed. The cover is made with a eucalyptus-based performance fiber—and according to the company, it’s cooler than linen and more absorbent than cotton. Firm support in the form of heavier gauge coils around the perimeter makes this mattress particularly great for couples and anyone else looking to maximize their sleep surface. Plus, it’s available in four firmness levels to accommodate different body weights and sleeping positions.
What the reviews say: There are over 8,000 reviews for The WinkBed, all from verified buyers, with an overall rating of 4.8 stars. Customers share that they’ve “never slept better.” They call the mattress “very well constructed and extremely comfortable.” One says it’s the “best investment in ourselves ever. Excellent craftsmanship and so comfortable. [My] back pain has decreased and we are both sleeping like babies.”
The DreamCloud Premier combines multiple layers of CertiPUR-US-certified memory and soft foams with sturdy innerspring coils. According to the company, that spells an equal level of comfort and support. Memory foam is quilted into a breathable, cashmere-blend Euro top for excellent pressure relief. The mattress also has two additional foam layers to keep you feeling cradled all night long, along with a support layer composed of individually wrapped coils. For all its features and upgrades, it’s also surprisingly well priced: A queen is typically less than $1,000 with discounts.
What the reviews say: With close to 5,000 reviews and an overall 4.5-star rating, the DreamCloud Premier Mattress has plenty of glowing feedback. One customer says, “I got this right before back surgery and I’m so glad I did. [I have] no more pressure points lying on my side,” saying they’re also impressed with the price. “We paid $4,000 for our old mattress that didn’t last five years. My husband was concerned because it didn’t cost more than [our old mattress] but after sleeping on it he said the same thing I did—why did we wait?” Another customer is just as pleased, saying “great decision, great mattress and great value.”
Best Firm Pillow Top Mattress
For Those Who Prefer A Firmer Sleep Surface
Helix
Helix Twilight Luxe
Type: Hybrid | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 15 years
Some people just prefer a firmer mattress, even with a pillow top. That’s exactly what you get from the Helix Twilight Luxe. It’s a hybrid mattress that’s designed to feel somewhat plush but noticeably supportive. Even with the uppermost pillow top layer, the company ranks it as an 8 or 9 our of 10 on its firmness scale. The quilted pillow top is made with high-density memory foam for a mildly cushioning, supportive feel without that sink-in sensation that’s typical of many memory foams. The mattress also is designed with zoned support, meaning it’s a little softer around the shoulders and a little firmer beneath the hips.
What our editors say: Forbes Vetted Contributor Lindsey Vickers tried out the Twilight Luxe in a showroom. “As a stomach sleeper, I like firm mattresses. I was surprised by just how firm the Twilight Luxe felt when I tried it out. The mattress hit a great balance between support and cushion—I found it super comfortable.”
Saatva calls its Classic Mattress “the country’s best-selling online luxury innerspring.” It’s the company’s most popular bed and it’s particularly well-suited to people with aching backs and joints. You can chalk that up to the plush, 3-inch Euro top (a pillow top with a specific sewing structure), which has a cradling effect to relieve pressure point pain. This is paired with stronger, firmer coils in the center third of the mattress, which help ensure proper spinal alignment in any sleep position. The mattress is available in three firmness levels and two heights at no extra charge.
What reviewers and our writers say: One customer says, “After two years of poor sleep and increasing back pain on a popular brand of a mattress in a box, we switched to the Saatva Classic. We’ve been sleeping on it for a month and it’s magic.” Another says, “I tried Saatva at the recommendation of an ortho doc who had one. It was amazing. I slept better, had less pain and had deeper sleep. Five years later it still looks and feels like new.” One Forbes Vetted contributor also found the Saatva Classic was a great option for her sleep following a back injury.
Nolah’s Evolution Mattress is a hybrid model designed for comfortable sleep in every way, including keeping you cool at night. The cover has a layer of patented fibers with high thermal conductivity to draw away body heat, while the Euro top is made with 2 inches of breathable foam. The mattress has multiple heat dissipating features. One is the border gusset, which is a side panel around the top that adds a cushioning feel and dissipates excess heat. It also has graphite-infused foam layers that are designed to keep heat from accumulating inside the mattress. Together, these make for a system that actively cools you down all night long. The mattress is available in four firmness levels—including a model designed for plus-size sleepers—so you can find something that fits your exact needs.
What the reviews say: Self-proclaimed hot sleepers rave about the Nolah Evolution. One customer calls it “very comfortable and cool. I have not broken a sweat.” Another says, “This bed was one of the best purchases I have made in my life. Completely worth every penny. Super balanced comfort; not too hard, not too soft. [It] keeps your temperature neutral at night as I am a hot sleeper.”
Best Organic Pillow Top Mattress
A Latex Mattress That's Sustainable From Top To Bottom
Avocado Green Mattress
Avocado Green Mattress
Type: Hybrid | Trial: One year | Warranty: 25 years
The all-natural and organic Avocado Green Mattress is a latex hybrid designed to provide the right balance of support and comfort. Tempered steel coils in three gauges are arranged in five separate zones to support the spine, evenly distribute body weight and contour to your curves. From top to bottom, the mattress features non-toxic materials and is the recipient of a lengthy list of certifications including: Greenguard Gold, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Made Safe. The latex, wool and cotton used in the Avocado Green Mattress are certified organic, and there are no solvent or water-based adhesives used, either. The pillow top addition is a $500 upgrade from the base model, but the splurge proves to be worth it for many. It gives you an extra, attached layer that adds 2 inches of latex for what Avocado calls a “gentle-firm feel.” The company recommends the pillow top version for side and combination sleepers and anyone in need of deeper pressure relief, as well as those searching for a more luxurious feel.
What the reviewers and our editors say: “The organic, natural materials are perhaps what separates this bed from others, while it’s the amazingly comfortable and superior support that I think tops my list,” says one customer. One of our kitchen and home editors, Sholeen Damarwala, has had her Avocado Green Mattress for two years and still loves it just as much as when she got it.
Best Luxury Pillow Top Mattress
Choose Between Three Pillow Top Firmnesses
MOST POPULAR
Stearns & Foster
Stearns & Foster Lux Estate
Type: Hybrid | Trial: 90 nights | Warranty: 10 years
The Lux Estate Mattress from Stearns & Foster is packed with luxury features, including a cooling and breathable Tencel cover, patented pressure-relieving memory foam by Tempur-Pedic and a supportive base of innersprings. The pillow top models come in three firmnesses: soft, medium and firm—so you can choose the best fit for your sleeping position and needs. The Lux Estate is handcrafted and ships flat with complimentary white glove delivery, meaning the brand sends a team to set up your new mattress in your room of choice and take away your old one if needed.
What the reviews say: One 5-star reviewer describes the Lux Estate as “perfect,” saying the “quality and comfort are beyond expectations.” Another writes, “The only thing negative I can say about the mattress is that you don't want to get off of it in the morning.”
The beauty of memory foam is its pressure relief, and the Beautyrest Black L-Class Mattress delivers in spades. The mattress comes with multiple firmness options and upgrades, distinguished via three “classes,” which include advanced cooling features, additional comfort and support layers, and higher density foams. The L-Class is the company’s base model, but it’s no slouch. A pocketed coil system is designed to deliver more support in the center third of the mattress, while gel-infused memory foam in the upper layers contours the body to relieve pressure. The pillow top upgrade in this class range puts the mattress squarely in the luxury mattress category, and gives you a choice of two firmness levels for a customized feel. For people who are fans of the cradling sensation of memory foam, this is a good, albeit expensive, option to explore.
What the reviews say: Customers say the Beautyrest Black is “everything I wanted and more.” One says “I have been pain-free since purchasing.” Another explains that it “contours to your body as it remains firm with each turn and movement while sleeping, providing the perfect amount of pillow top thickness for continuous comfort.”
Best Medium-Firm Pillow Top Mattress
Strikes The Right Balance Between Firm And Soft
Birch
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress
Type: Hybrid | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 25 years
The Birch Luxe is made with responsibly sourced and non-toxic materials, including wool, latex and cashmere, that combine for a true medium-firm feel. The layers, paired with a lumbar support zone for proper spinal alignment and a plush, quilted Euro top finished in soft, organic cotton give the mattress a “just-right” feel that’s between a 6 and 7 on a 10-point firmness scale, according to the company. That range is considered a universally comfortable level of comfort for most sleepers and different sleep positions.
What the reviews say: Customer reviews have plenty of great things to say about the Birch Luxe, saying it’s “not too hard, not too soft [and] just the right amount of support,” as well as calling it a “sublime investment.” As one customer puts it, “[I] love that the in-person experience lived up to the website description.”
The Sparrow Hybrid Mattress from Nest Bedding is designed to accommodate every sleeper and all sleep styles—even for couples sharing the same bed. It’s a bold claim that made us skeptical, but it’s possible thanks to a zippered fabric exterior and foam comfort layer atop the mattress, which can be swapped out to adjust its firmness. You can choose plush, medium or “lux firm” when you order, and during the 365-night home trial, you can contact the company to exchange this uppermost foam layer for another firmness level if it’s not working out. Couples with different preferences can customize this foam layer on either side in king and California king mattresses. Not only does that eliminate the need for compromise, the dual foam layers mean excellent motion isolation.
What the reviews say: There are over 7,600 reviews for the Sparrow Signature Hybrid. Couples in particular enjoy that it’s customizable on both sides. One reviewer writes, “We love, love, love this bed. My husband and I both agree it’s the most comfortable bed we’ve owned and we’ve had a few luxury mattresses. We were attracted by the ability to split the top comfort styles because my husband and I always differed in support [needs].”
Best Pillow Top Mattress For Heavy People
A Luxury Hybrid Specifically Designed To Support More Weight
The Saatva HD is a luxury hybrid mattress that was engineered to accommodate the specific needs of bigger bodies. The 3-inch Euro pillow top is made with two layers of zoned latex and premium memory foam for superior lumbar support and pressure point relief. A dense comfort foam layer below tops reinforced recycled steel coils that are 25% stronger than the industry standard, according to Saatva. The mattress also has double the edge support with high-density foam rails designed to maximize the sleep surface and make it easier to get in and out of bed. At the base of the mattress, two inches of high-density hard foam add stability and durability.
What the reviews say: “I bought this bed for my 6’3” husband who is a big guy,” writes one customer. “It doesn’t sink. It doesn’t dent. There is no sag to it. It’s simply amazing.” Forbes Vetted senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman adds, “Along with being super supportive, this bed is also really plush and luxurious.”
We’ve done extensive research and published numerous stories on sleep and sleep products over the years. We’ve drilled down on everything from the best sheets for hot sleepers to great heated blankets to testing a popular sunrise alarm. In fact, multiple Vetted editors, including both our mattress and sleep editors Bridget Chapman and McKenzie Dillon, have years of professional experience testing mattresses and other sleep products. We tap their expertise, as well as our full team’s nightly sleep experience to bring you sleep products that we know well and often use and trust in our own homes.
How We Chose The Best Pillow Top Mattresses
Jessica Timmons, Forbes Vetted contributor and author of this article, has been researching and writing about mattresses for more than six years and leaned into everything she’s learned to make her recommendations in this story. She prioritized tried-and-true brands, targeted mattresses with features that accommodate all the different ways people sleep and read through stacks of product reviews from customers like you. She included a wide range of materials, so you can find options from latex to memory foam to wool, and she kept the price and convenience of delivery in mind, too.
Considerations When Shopping For A Pillow Top Mattress
There’s a lot to think about when choosing your next mattress, from technical features of a bed itself, to whether you sleep alone or share the bed with a partner. We outlined key things to keep in mind.
Mattress Height
That cushioning top you find on most pillow top models can add several inches (usually it ranges from one to four) to a mattress, so you want to make note of the mattress’s overall height before you place an order. Height can be an issue if you don’t have deep-pocket fitted sheets, but you also want to make sure your bed frame and the mattress combined won’t make for an overly elevated sleep experience.
The thickness of the pillow top can affect a mattress’s feel, too. A thinner pillow top likely offers more pressure relief, while a thicker one has a more cushioning, cloud-like feel. Material choice plays a role here as well—latex and high-density memory foams have a denser feel than wool, for example.
Body Type
Individual body type plays a role in how a mattress feels, pillow top or not. Generally, lightweight sleepers benefit from softer mattresses. The heavier you are, the softer a firmer mattress feels.
While most body types can benefit from pillow top mattresses, it’s important to be mindful of firmness. The lighter you are, the less you sink into the soft cushioning of a pillow top. Conversely, the more weight you have, the more you sink—which could create the sensation that you’re sleeping “in” the mattress as opposed to “on” it. For that reason, a Euro top, with its denser materials, secure attachment and enhanced durability, is likely a better option for heavyweight sleepers. You might also consider a pillow top mattress specifically designed for more weight, like the Saatva HD or the Plus model of The WinkBed.
Firmness
Firmness describes how hard or soft a mattress feels. The comfort layers of a mattress, including a feature like a pillow top, dictate its firmness. Most brands offer a firmness rating on a 10-point scale, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Of course, firmness is subjective, and factors like sleeping position and body type and weight directly influence how firm or soft a mattress feels.
Since the pillow top is designed to add a layer of plush cushioning, these mattresses tend to have a softer feel. That’s worth keeping in mind if you know you need a firmer mattress.
Temperature Regulation
Pillow tops aren’t necessarily cooler or warmer than other mattresses. Airflow or heat retention depends on the materials in the pillow top, as well as the construction in the rest of the mattress. Latex in the pillow top, for instance, can help wick away body heat, while traditional memory foam can trap heat. If the goal is cooler sleep, look for a pillow top mattress with a breathable cover, moisture-wicking materials like cotton and wool, and materials like latex and gel-infused foams.
Trial Periods
Reading all about a mattress is helpful, but the best way to test one out is always going to be in the comfort of your own home. Look for trial windows that give you ample time to get used to a new sleep surface (usually your body needs 30 days to adjust), so you can then decide if a pillow top is right for you. And double check the fine print for returns and exchanges, too—some companies charge you a flat fee for return shipping.
Long-Term Performance (And Warranty)
The materials used in a pillow top affect its long-term performance. Lower-density foams, for example, can compress over time, in which case you may sacrifice your comfort. Look for high-quality materials, like latex and higher-density foams, for better longevity and performance over time.
Softer materials in this top layer, like wool and cotton, may shorten the expected lifespan on a pillow top mattress, simply because they’re more likely to compress faster. You may be able discern how well a mattress holds up by looking at user reviews.
If nothing else, you always want to watch for a solid warranty policy. Most online mattress companies have 10-year warranties, and that’s around when you want to replace a mattress, anyway. Nonetheless, if the materials wear down or develop issues within that time, you can rest assured that the company has your back.
Sale Pricing
Pillow-top hybrid mattresses can be expensive, so you want to time your purchase to get the most bang for your buck. Just like brick-and-mortar stores, online mattresses companies often have great sales around holidays that offer significant savings.
Pillow Top Vs. Euro Top Mattresses
Some of the pillow tops on our list are billed as Euro tops, not pillow tops. But what’s the difference? While both of these top padding layers describe cushioning on the very top of a mattress, they can differ in feel, materials and attachment styles.
Pillow tops tend to have detached edges—picture a little lip that runs the perimeter of the mattress, which gives them a layered appearance. They’re often luxurious and pillow-like (hence the name), with a softer feel than a Euro. These padded layers are often filled with cotton, wool, foam, even down, to create a plush, cushioning sensation with benefits like pressure relief and gentle contouring.
Euro tops are also attached, but they’re usually fully secured and flush at the edges. That can make them feel a little more supportive around the edges and slightly softer toward the center of the mattress. They also tend to be made with denser materials, like latex and memory foam. And because Euro tops are fully attached, they’re often more durable than pillow tops.
Pillow Top Mattress Pros
Soft, pillow-like feel
Consistently plush throughout
Pillow Top Mattress Cons
Softer materials can flatten with time
Support may be lacking along the perimeter
Euro Top Mattress Pros
Better edge support
Improved durability
Euro Top Mattress Cons
Denser materials increase mattress weight
Can be more expensive
What Is A Pillow Top Mattress?
Pillow top mattresses have a soft, cushioning layer sewn onto the top that’s distinct from underlying layers. This uppermost layer is typically made with materials designed for pressure relief or support, and gives a mattress a soft-to-the-touch feel. Pillow tops vary in depth and may be made from a variety of materials, including latex, memory foam, cotton or wool.
Pillow tops are often found on hybrid and innerspring mattresses. They serve as an additional comfort layer to balance out the sturdier support layers below. For those who want a cradled sensation—and some side sleepers in particular—this type of mattress can be a great choice.
What Is The Best Rated Pillow Top Mattress?
The WinkBed is a highly-rated pillow top mattress with 4.8 stars based on more than 8,400 reviews. It’s our pick for the best overall pillow top mattress thanks to its layers of gel-infused foams and innersprings, choice of firmness and breathability.
Are Pillow Top Mattresses Better?
The primary advantage of a pillow top mattress is added comfort and cushioning that you feel the second you snuggle in for the night. In some cases, a pillow top adds additional pressure relief or responsiveness. There can be other benefits too—though exactly what those are depends on the material and thickness of the layer. For example, a memory foam or latex piece in the pillow top layer can be great for a little relief from back pain.
How Thick Are Pillow Top Mattresses?
Mattress heights can vary significantly depending on brand, mattress type and materials. Pillow tops generally add 1 to 4 inches to the height of a mattress, which can itself be anywhere from 9 to 16 inches, so they’re generally on the taller side.
