Confirm Mattress Size and Type A new memory foam mattress topper should fit the dimensions of your existing mattress perfectly to ensure it functions as intended. Determine the exact size of your mattress before you begin shopping for a topper, and take the mattress type into consideration to help select the right thickness. Mattresses with a pillow top or a quilted top may not require a topper with the same thickness as those with standard tops due to the extra cushioning afforded by these designs. Also, mattresses with specialized tops may have special requirements for rotation. Remove Any Pads or Toppers Be sure to remove any existing pads or toppers. Mattress pads are typically far thinner than toppers, and serve to protect a mattress top rather than cushion it. If you already have a removable topper, replacing it with a memory foam topper can make for a more tailored and comfortable sleep experience. For best results, use only one topper of the appropriate thickness per mattress.
Inspect Your Mattress for Signs of Wear It's important to inspect your bare mattress top for obvious signs of wear. Look for areas worn smooth by constant turning or indentations from poor weight distribution. If your mattress shows this kind of wear, you'll want a mattress topper that is thicker than 3 inches. These toppers provide greater levels of cushioning and support along with enhanced protection for the underlying mattresses. Mattresses with little signs of wear may work best with a 2-inch topper or less, especially if you prefer a firmer mattress for a good night's sleep. Select the Right Topper Thickness Take into account your mattress type and condition when deciding on a mattress topper thickness. For mattresses that already have decent padding or a built-in pillow top, a memory foam mattress topper of 2 inches is recommended. If your mattress is particularly firm or worn, then a thickness of 3 to 4 inches should provide an appropriate level of comfort. Consider Memory Foam Density
A final consideration that can be as important as your topper's thickness is the memory foam density. When it comes to memory foam, denser material offers greater support for sleepers while less dense memory foam makes for a plusher sleep surface. Those who toss and turn frequently at night can benefit from a denser foam. For mattress density to make a noticeable difference, a minimum thickness of 2 inches is recommended for most sleepers.What It Is, Why It Works, And The 5 Key Things To Look For When Buying A Memory Foam Bed Or Topper. While memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970's, it didn't hit the consumer market until the early 1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads, and later used in memory foam mattresses. Since then, memory foam mattresses have become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more companies selling memory foam mattresses and topper pads, and it is very difficult, even for those of us in the industry, to keep up with all the new memory foam products being introduced.
What is a consumer to do? 1. Brief History Of Memory Foam And Why Not All Memory Foam Created Equal - Some Just More Comfortable And Sleeps Cooler Than Others 2. How To Choose Between Different Memory Foams 3. What To Look For In A Memory Foam Mattress Or Topper, And When You Might Need To Get A New Mattress In this guide, I'm going to do my best to give you the straight story on what memory foam is, how it works, and what to look for in memory foam (density and quality, memory foam toppers versus memory foam mattresses, etc.). Armed with the information, I hope you are able to find just the right memory foam mattress, topper pad, or other product that fits your needs. Where the mattress industry so often sells on hype about latest greatest technology, I wanted to concentrate on actual, verifiable information when putting together this guide. So before we go into the details about memory foam, I thought it was important to first look at the bottom line -- how does memory foam compare to standard innerspring mattresses for comfort.
And what is great about the internet is that these days you can cut through the hype to see the actual data on this -- real reviews, by real folks, trying out the mattresses in their own homes. And while it was hard to get this kind of objective information back in '94 when I was first starting out selling memory foam after it helped me with my back pain, in 2014 all this information is now at your fingertips, literally. While comfort is subjective, what is no longer subjective is that certain types of mattress are just more comfortable than others. And you don't have to take my word for it, or any other mattress retailer. The numbers don't lie. Based on over 22,000 real people's mattress experiences, the meta site Sleep Like the Dead found that in analyzing this information that memory foam mattresses received the highest level of customer satisfaction of any mattress type at 81%. In contrast, only 64% of innerspring owners said they were satisfied. That is a huge difference, and shows the simple reason why memory foam has gained such popularity -- it delivers comfort in a way that far surpasses the standard innerspring mattress.
Where did memory foam come from and what gives memory foam its unique comfort properties? It is an interesting story and starts with the space program. But these days there are lots of different foamers making memory foam, and while they are all referred to as "memory foam", they have different formulations and in terms of comfort and sleeping cool memory foams are definitely not created equal -- which I will cover in our next section. Next > Brief History of Memory Foam, And Why Not All Memory Foam Created Equal - Some Memory Foam Is Just More Comfortable And Sleeps Cooler Than Others Memory foam mattress toppers tend to have a thickness between 2 and 5.5 inches. The more softness and support you want to add, the thicker your topper needs to be. Take into account your sleeping position when you choose a mattress topper. If you sleep primarily on your back or stomach, your weight is dispersed over a relatively large surface area, and the moderate amount of thickness of a 2-inch topper works fine.
In contrast, if you sleep on your side, all of your weight is concentrated into a narrow part of your body, and as a result, more pressure is placed on your hips, shoulders and knees. In this case, you may prefer a 3 to 5.5-inch thick topper. If you want a cushy bed that you sink into, you need a soft or plush firmness rating. In contrast, firm and medium toppers are considered to be the best for providing relief for aches and pain, as they absorb movement and provide stability. Finally, plush firm, the perfect compromise for many sleepers, invokes the sense of lying in a cloud but still supports your back and joints. The density of your mattress topper refers to the pounds of material per cubic foot of mattress. If you buy a topper with a density of 3-pounds, every cubic foot of the mattress contains 3 pounds of foam or gel. The more support you want; the more density you need. If you're just looking for a bit of a boost, 2 pounds of density may be enough, but if you want serious relief for pain or discomfort, turn up the dial to 4 pounds or higher.
Three-pound density is the perfect compromise and the most popular. Traditional memory foam pads for mattresses feature a thick layer of polyurethane foam, but you can also find mattress toppers that contain gel. These toppers feature gel beads infused into memory foam. They tend to cost a bit more than traditional toppers of the same thickness, but they offer greater air flow. The cooling nature of a gel-infused mattress topper is ideal for steamy nights and sleepers who love the cool side of the pillow. If you like the peace of mind of an old-school name in the mattress industry, you can stick to mainstay brands such as Simmons BeautyRest, Broyhill, and Sealy. If you prefer to focus on specs rather than labels, ignore the brand and focus on the numbers. Find the firmness, thickness and density you like, and then choose a less expensive memory foam mattress topper that meets your needs. Most memory foam mattress toppers receive high customer ratings, regardless of brand. A mattress topper is ideal for softening a hard bed and adding support to an aging mattress.