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When you're hunched behind computers all day, it’s important to have a bed that’s not just comfortable and restful, but offers full support for the back and eases any potential pain. Mattress toppers are an easy way to soften your too-hard mattress and offer you proper support and comfort.

When looking for a mattress topper, make sure it has a supportive structure of spring or foam as sleeping "on the wrong mattress can worsen or cause back pain," says Daniel K. Park, MD, an associate professor with the Department of Orthopedics at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine in Michigan. We researched dozens of memory foam mattresses and evaluated their back support, cooling features, thickness, density, cover material, and price. We also had a physician from our Medical Expert Board review the contents of this article for medical accuracy and integrity around comfortable sleep and the best ways to evaluate memory foam mattress toppers. 

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We chose this Tempur-Pedic Topper as our best overall choice because it's made of a 3-inch foam that has motion transfer reduction technology. This means you can toss and turn without your partner feeling a thing. The Tempur material is also designed to uniquely respond to your weight, shape, and ideal temperature for a one-of-a-kind personalized support, and comes with a removable and washable cover that resists mold, allergens, and dust mites. 

The topper is a great choice for customers who don’t want to buy a full Tempur-Pedic mattress but still want the back support. This topper comes with a 10-year limited warranty and a promise that it will last for years to come.

Price at time of publication: $399

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This 2-inch, gel-infused memory foam mattress topper is a great option for someone on a budget. This foam topper conforms to your body and distributes weight evenly to keep your spine aligned and alleviate pressure points. Plus, it’s infused with temperature-regulating gel beads that capture and dissipate heat to prevent you from overheating and keep you cool throughout the night. Backed by a three-year warranty, this topper promises to offer back support and protect your current mattress from wear and tear.

Price at time of publication: $60

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Sure2Sleep’s memory foam mattress topper is hailed as one of the best for tackling back and neck pain. Its thick, 3-inch foam offers extra support for the spine and is infused with gel designed to keep you cool throughout the night. The foam is great for pain because it conforms to your body’s weight and shape to offer full support and reduce aches as you rest, regardless of your sleeping position. 

This topper is also made with CertiPUR-US certified materials, meaning it meets the standards for content, emissions, and durability, and the company offers a full three-year warranty for complete protection of your topper.

Price at time of publication: $113

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This 3-inch memory foam topper is the perfect option for hot sleepers who toss and turn at night and end up soaking their sheets with sweat. ViscoSoft’s topper is infused with gel and is designed to optimize air flow and reduce trapped body heat to keep you cool at night. The breathable, ventilated design allows body heat to be distributed throughout the topper and its high-density memory foam aligns with your body shape and spine to relieve pressure and offer you the best support possible. Plus it comes with a removable and washable bamboo-rayon cover that features no-fuss elastic straps to secure onto the mattress.

Price at time of publication: $250

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Buying the perfect mattress depends on your sleeping patterns. Dr. Park says some people with back or neck pains may prefer to sleep on their sides to alleviate and align their spines. For example, “If you have arthritis of the spine joints, sleeping sideways curled up a little may open up the joints and alleviate pain.”  

This 2-inch foam mattress topper is a great fit for side sleepers because it relieves pressure points on the hips and shoulders. This responsive foam is soft, supportive, and cool all night long. It also features a non-skid bottom to assure it stays in place even if you toss and turn. A perk of this topper is that it’s free of harmful chemicals, as it’s Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US certified.

Price at time of publication: $250

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Stomach sleepers need a mattress topper that will offer comfort but enough firmness to keep the hips and body from falling too far into the bed, which can lead to spine misalignment. The Pure Green mattress topper is made of 2 inches of latex foam that naturally stays cool and offers a soft airy cushion with enough firm support to keep your spine in alignment. This topper is designed to prevent the feeling of sinking into the mattress as well as help sleepers who suffer from hip and shoulder pain from mattresses that are too firm.

This product is also a win for those passionate about the environment and it’s naturally made and is Global Organic Latex Standard Certified as well as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. This topper is also a great option for hot sleepers as the natural latex foam is heat neutral and won’t absorb any body heat.

Price at time of publication: $165

Saatva

If you're looking for luxury, the Saatva Mattress Topper should be your first pick. This moisture-wicking memory foam mattress topper features straps that will hold the topper in place as you toss and turn at night. A graphite layer draws heat away from you body as the memory foam layer contours to your spine while you sleep. This pick is a bit more expensive than some of the others, but Saatva offers free shipping and 45-day free returns.

Price at time of publication: $345

Mattress toppers work wonders when it comes to getting a truly restorative and restful sleep. Whether you suffer from back pain or simply have an old mattress you’d like to make firmer, mattress toppers can help relieve pain, align your spine, prevent you from overheating, and get you back to dreaming. If you’re searching for a simple version we suggest Tempur-Pedic’s TEMPUR Topper Supreme 3-inch Mattress Topper, which though expensive, offers the best back support. If you sleep hot and need a cooling feature, ViscoSoft’s 3-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a great pick that will let you wake up sweat-free.

For many, back pain is a big factor in purchasing a mattress. At times mattresses can lack good support and are old. A mattress topper can make it firmer and offer the spine support you need. People who suffer from back and neck pain due to age, exercise, or daily wear and tear can use mattress toppers to alleviate the stress in their backs. Depending on your pain, you may need to opt for a firmer or softer selection.

Hot sleepers often look for breathable sheets sets, bedding, and mattress toppers that won’t make them sweat at night. There are plenty of options on the market that offer breathable, ventilated designs to help distribute body heat. Look for options that are gel-infused or use graphite in their materials.

There is a slew of mattress toppers on the market at various price points. With many, the higher the price, the better the quality. But there are just as many affordable options on the market that still feature high-quality materials. Figure out what you're looking for in your mattress topper to help you determine your price point.

"There is no single mattress type that works for all people. The main important point is you need support and sleeping on the wrong mattress can worsen or cause back pain.”—Daniel K. Park, MD, an associate professor with the Department of Orthopedics at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine in Michigan

For toppers with covers, you can remove and wash the cover in the washing machine. For toppers without covers, it’s best to vacuum the pad when you change your bedsheets and spot-clean stains. For a deep clean every few months, remove the pad from the bed and place it on a tarp on the floor. Vacuum the topper, treat stains and odors, spritz with a liquid detergent, rinse with a clean cloth or an outside water hose, and air dry.

Yes, a memory foam mattress topper should be flipped and rotated every six months if both sides have the same sleep design. If the memory foam is only on one side, it’s best to rotate it but not flip it. Memory foam mattresses often just have memory foam on one side, however, most memory foam toppers have the same design on both sides and should be flipped.

The wrong type of topper may cause or worsen back pain. A mattress or topper that is too soft may not provide enough support and can cause your spine to fall out of alignment. On the other hand, a mattress or topper that is too firm can cause joint or pressure pain. The key is to find the correct amount of support for your body type.

Yes, memory foam toppers respond and adapt to your body, providing personalized comfort and support. They are ideal for evenly distributing weight and decreasing motion transfer. Soft toppers added to an overly firm mattress can relieve pressure points on your hips and shoulders. A more firm topper added to a softer mattress can provide more back support and help keep your spine in alignment, which could work in tandem with a posture corrector. Toppers that are gel-infused or include graphite increase airflow to keep you cooler at night.

As a health writer, Marlene Lenthang knows just how important it is to find the right product for your body and mind. Over the years she has written about health crises, vaccines, and product guides. She takes careful note of doctor recommendations, medical research and customer reviews in every product review to assure readers can choose quality products and understand the science behind them.