{"title":"Mattress toppers","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat does a mattress topper do?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mattress topper changes how a mattress feels, usually making it softer, by adding a removable layer of foam, fibre or another filling on top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA topper is most useful on a mattress that's in good condition but feels too firm: a new mattress that's firmer than you expected, a guest bed, or a rented or student bed you can't replace. A side sleeper on a firm mattress may find that a soft topper lets the shoulder and hip sink in a little further. What a topper can't do is change the support underneath. It also adds height, which matters for fitted sheets and raised beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCan a mattress topper fix a sagging mattress?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mattress topper can't fix a sagging mattress, because a topper follows the shape of whatever is underneath it, dip included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your mattress sags, has lumps, has springs you can feel or leaves you waking up stiff, it's due for replacing rather than covering. An adult mattress typically lasts around 7 to 10 years. Check the base before you blame the mattress, though: broken or widely spaced slats can make a sound mattress dip. If you are replacing it and a softer feel is what you're after, start with our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/soft-mattresses\"\u003esoft mattresses\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMemory foam or fibre topper: which is better?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose a memory foam topper if you want a bed to feel softer and mould around you, and a fibre topper if you want a lighter, quilted softness that's easier to lift and often easier to wash.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMaterial\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHow it feels\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBear in mind\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMemory foam\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoftens with body heat, moulds to your shape and recovers slowly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCan feel warmer, is heavier to lift and can't go in the washing machine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFibre (hollowfibre or microfibre)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft and quilted, like lying on a thick duvet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlattens with use, so shake it out regularly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLatex\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBouncy and responsive, and cooler than memory foam\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNatural latex can affect people with a latex allergy, who should check with their GP\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMemory foam was developed in the 1960s from NASA-funded research, and it's the material to choose for a slow, sink-in feel. If you like that feel enough to want it all the way through, our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/memory-foam-mattresses\"\u003ememory foam mattresses\u003c\/a\u003e combine it with a supportive base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow thick should a mattress topper be?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mattress topper should be only as thick as the change you need: a thinner topper takes the edge off a firm mattress, while a deeper one changes the feel more but raises the bed further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThinner toppers\u003c\/strong\u003e soften the surface a little and add little height, so your existing sheets are more likely to fit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeeper toppers\u003c\/strong\u003e make a bigger difference to the feel, but need a fitted sheet and protector with a pocket deeper than the mattress and topper together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOn a raised bed\u003c\/strong\u003e, any topper counts towards the depth limit, so read the next section first.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo stop a topper sliding, look for elastic corner straps or a fitted skirt, and put the fitted sheet over the mattress and topper together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCan you put a mattress topper on a bunk bed?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can put a mattress topper on a bottom bunk, but on a top bunk, high sleeper or cabin bed the mattress and topper together must stay at or below the maximum mattress line, and on most top bunks there's no room for one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder BS EN 747, the line marks the highest the sleeping surface can sit while leaving at least 16 cm of guard rail above it. Many raised beds take a mattress no deeper than 15 to 16 cm, and a topper lifts the surface just as a deeper mattress would. If a child finds a top bunk mattress too firm, a softer slim mattress is a safer fix than a topper. For more on finding and measuring the line, see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bunk-bed-mattresses\"\u003ebunk bed mattresses\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/high-sleeper-mattresses\"\u003ehigh sleeper mattresses\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA new topper can change how high your shoulder sits, so check your \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pillows\"\u003epillow\u003c\/a\u003e still suits the way you sleep, and put a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mattress-protectors\"\u003emattress protector\u003c\/a\u003e over the top to keep the topper clean. If you're weighing a topper against a new mattress, \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact\"\u003etell us about your bed\u003c\/a\u003e and we'll give you an honest view.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/mattresstown.co.uk\/collections\/mattress-toppers.oembed","provider":"Mattress Town","version":"1.0","type":"link"}