#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Mattress Topper Reviews > Memory Foam Mattress Topper Reviews Based on 38,517 Actual Consumer Experiences THE GOOD: Most popular mattress topper • often highly effective at improving mattress comfort • available in several varieties to suit personal need and preference. THE BAD: Potential for initial odor and heat retention • can be too firm for people under 120 lbs • somewhat difficult to move on / get up off • squishy feel possible • fairly heavy. THE COMPETITION: See how other topper types compare to memory foam in the topper comparison. Ratings show how the various memory foam topper varieties compare to the average mattress topper. Ratings indicate what tends to be true; ratings for a particular model or individual topper may vary. The table below compares toppers with 89% or better owner satisfaction based on at least 500 consumer experiences. * Memory foam density indicates how
For example, foam with 3.0 lb (or lbs/ft) density means that a cubic foot of this foam weighs three pounds. See the above grid and memory foam density: low vs high to learn more about differences in density. ** Gel-infused memory foam tends to sleep about 25% cooler longer than regular memory foam all other things being equal. *** CertiPUR-US certified foam meets standards for content, emissions, performance and durability. Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals to increase density. The foam is made up of millions of spherical shaped, open cells. What makes memory foam unique is its temperature and weight sensitivity. Memory foam mattress toppers should generally be expected to last about three to four years with regular use – a rate somewhat better than that of the average mattress topper. Memory foam toppers with higher density foam (4 lbs/ft or more) may last somewhat longer than those with lower density foam (3 lbs/ft or less).
As the toppers age and wear, they tend to lose their resiliency and support. They may also discolor and tear. Memory foam toppers often have warranty lengths of 2-5 years. Owner experience data suggests that the likelihood of successfully filing a warranty claim is low. Consumers, as a result, should probably not place much emphasis on warranty coverage when shopping. When unpackaged, memory foam can initially give off a gas or odor which can last from hours to weeks. Off gassing is the main complaint by memory foam topper owners as about 18% report the problem. Off gassing can be a small annoyance to some people and unbearable to others. Learn more about memory foam off gassing. There is often randomness as to whether and how much a memory foam mattress topper will off gas. However, owner experience data suggests that off gassing tends to correlate with topper thickness. * Off gassing lasting more than 24 hours. About 7% of memory foam topper owners – vs about 4% for the average mattress topper – report that their topper sleeps hot or, in other words, fails to disperse body heat resulting in an unnaturally warm sleep surface.
Thicker memory foam toppers tend to have more heat-related complaints than thinner varieties. This appears to be due to the fact that the sleeper often sinks further into thicker toppers where there is less air circulation. High density foam toppers may also increase the potential for heat retention. * Heat retention is enough to undermine sleep quality at least some of the time. Gel-infused memory foam tends to sleep about 25% cooler longer than regular memory foam – all other things being equal. Memory foam toppers can often be added to just one side of a bed to, in effect, provide different firmness and feel for each side. This can make a mattress more suitable for couples. Learn more on how to have a topper on one half of a mattress. Higher-density and thicker memory foam toppers can impact romantic activity. While they offer some advantages such as improved comfort, they also may reduce bounce and make movement more difficult and awkward. Learn more about the pros and cons of memory foam on this issue.
Best memory foam mattress topper Memory foam mattress toppers are the most popular choice among users, and we found more reviews for them than for any other type of topper. A number of memory foam mattress toppers get very high ratings at different review sites across the Internet, but none fares better than the Serta Ultimate 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Est. $200 and up). Owners say the Serta Ultimate Foam mattress topper is very comfortable and supportive, and many report that it provides relief from pain and stiffness. This Serta is reported to be on the soft side, so it gets better ratings from back sleepers than from side sleepers. That's not unusual for softer mattresses and mattress pads as side sleepers tend to sink deeper into those. However, for those who love a soft bed, the Serta Ultimate is the "ultimate" in comfort, users say, with many likening it to sleeping on a cloud. For some, though, that cloud feels more like a giant sponge, and some say that this memory foam topper traps heat too much and also makes it difficult to move around.
This Serta memory foam mattress topper comes in a wide range of sizes, twin, full, queen, king and California King. The four inch thickness is a great choice if you're a heavier individual, or if your mattress is significantly hard or sagging. The 2-inch thick Serta only comes in three sizes, queen, king and California king. The Serta Ultimate mattress topper is a good choice for allergy sufferers as it's is hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Long-term reviews indicate that this mattress topper is quite durable, although some experts say that you can only expect a memory foam mattress topper to last about three to five years. Since the Serta comes with a long, three-year warranty, it seems that this one may be at the longer range of that scale. The Red Nomad 2-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Est. $70 and up) is another great choice that gets raves from experts and owners. It also comes in a wider range of sizes, twin, twin XL, full, queen and California king. The Red Nomad also comes in a 3-inch thick size.
, where it earns an overall owner satisfaction sample of 94 percent. However, that is based upon far, far fewer owner surveys (for example, 788 surveys for Red Nomad, 25,542 for Serta; Serta earns a rating of 89 percent). That's significant because in our research on both mattress toppers and mattresses, which we cover in a separate report, the more input a manufacturer has, the lower their ratings tend to be. Still, owners at retail review sites love the Red Nomad mattress topper. They say it adds a lot of comfort to a too-hard bed and that it fits extremely true to size. Most say they noticed absolutely no odor upon unpacking the mattress topper; others say it had a slight odor, but that it aired out very nicely. , is another popular memory foam mattress topper. Owners give it high praise for comfort and pain relief. Many say that after trying this on their own bed, they have purchased additional mattress pads for other beds in the home. This mattress topper also comes in a full range of sizes, twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king.
The Memory Foam Solutions pad gets more durability complaints than the Serta or the Red Nomad, with some saying the foam disintegrates within a few months. gets good reviews for dealing with complaints. If you tend to get hot when you sleep, you might prefer the Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Est. $85 and up). This memory foam mattress pad is infused with a gel designed to disperse heat and improve airflow. Owners generally agree that the Lucid mattress pad doesn't make them too warm, and most say it's very comfortable, although, as with all memory foam mattresses, there are those who say it's just too soft. It gets raves from back pain sufferers who say that the supportive softness eliminated their morning pain and stiffness. The bamboo fabric cover on the Lucid Gel mattress topper gets good reviews for its softness and for protecting the mattress topper, but some say it makes the pad too slippery and that it slides around on the bed. We also read a notable number of complaints about the odor when this mattress pad is first unpacked.