After speaking with Dr. Lees to understand the benefits of a pillow top mattress and what to look for, we researched dozens of pillow tops and scoured customer reviews to find the best ones on the market. Our favorite is the Saatva Classic Mattress, a choice that offers both the support of an innerspring with a 3-inch Eurotop, as well as a lifetime warranty. Take a look at the best pillow top mattresses on the market. Our own reviewer found it to be equally as comfortable for both side and back sleeping. The plush feel provides superior comfortability, but not at the expense of support, which is provided by the dual coil design made with recycled carbon steel underneath. Saatva also offers a comprehensive guide on its website to help you figure out which mattress is ideal for your individual needs. Customers love Saatva for its high-quality products and exceptional customer service. It also doesn’t hurt that there’s free in-room delivery and setup, a 365-night home trial, and a lifetime warranty. Our own reviewer felt the mattress didn’t do a great job of preventing motion transfer, but the plush feel of this mattress made that a worthy compromise. Price at time of publish: $1,795 for a Queen This mattress also boasts minimal motion transfer and breathability for anyone who sleeps a bit hot. Some users have complained about its durability, stating that over time there can be some compression, especially along the edges. Price at time of publish: $520 for a Queen Some customers complained that this mattress was too soft for them. However, there’s no shortage of satisfied purchasers who found the customer service to be exceptional in the case of a return. There’s no bait and switch here; a 100-night trial gives you a chance to let it break in and see if it’s right for your needs. Price at time of publish: $1,995 for a Queen For some users, this mattress isn’t breathable enough, and it also has an off-gassing smell (but don’t worry, that dissipates over time). It’s a worthwhile investment as one of our more affordable options on the list, especially with its ability to keep you supported and motion-free while asleep. Price at time of publish: $669 for a Queen One drawback for this mattress includes an off-gassing smell that some customers found to be particularly unpleasant. It’s important to note, though, that the smell will go away. Additionally, free Zoom sales appointments are available to learn more and get professional input before buying, a detail that totally upgrades the purchasing process. Price at time of publish: $2,499 for a Queen The medium firmness also makes this pillow top mattress a great selection for side sleepers, as it offers enough support to maintain spine and neck alignment. Unfortunately, the warranty is limited, which has left some customers disappointed. However, a 120-night trial is a great way to see if it’s right for you. Price at time of publish: $1,199 for a Queen We also like the different firmness options you can choose from. Winkbeds offers a range of choices, including softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus, which means there’s something out there for stomach, back, side, and heavier sleepers alike. One drawback for this mattress is its weight. It’s a bit heavier, and with no handles that makes it a bit challenging to move. Price at time of publish: $1,799 for a Queen Customers also like this bed-in-a-box for its free shipping and the back pain relief it provides. However, one complaint is the reinforced edges, which, as one user said, caused them “to roll toward the middle” of the bed. Price at time of publish: $2,099 for a Queen One drawback for some with this mattress was less breathability than desired. Thankfully, a 365-night trial lets you see if that’s the case for you after purchasing. Price at time of publish: $1,199 for a Queen The best part about The Allswell is it won’t break the bank. A king comes in at under $550, making it one of our cheapest options on the list. One drawback for some customers was the edge support, but as noted by a customer, “Luckily, the Allswell customer service team is amazing, and they refunded my purchase without question within five minutes of my request.” Price at time of publish: $539 for a King Keep in mind, however, that this mattress is heavy – moving it on your own can be challenging, so you’ll want to have help on hand when it arrives. Additionally, some customers take issue with the fees charged in addition to the cost of the mattress. You’ll have to pay a disposal fee for your old mattress, so factor that into your overall cost before checkout. Price at time of publish: $1,090 for a Queen This mattress is unfortunately limited in its sizing options, with no twin sizes available, and some sleepers find it to be too firm for their needs. But, customers love that it comes matching the description exactly. Also, the lower price tag is definitely something that piques our interest. Price at time of publish: $540 for a Queen One drawback is this mattress isn’t compatible with regular foundations and box springs. When all is said and done, though, it’s a hit, with one customer saying “I am so thankful for all the help of the Saatva team and thankful for them creating this mattress!” Price at time of publish: $2,995 for a Queen
Support
Pillow top mattresses are inherently soft, but you can still choose different levels of support and firmness. Research suggests that a medium firm mattress is best for back pain. “It’s important to have the comfort level be there; however, for longevity of the mattress I’ve found that the medium firmness tends to be more preferred by patients,” says Dr. Samantha March-Howard, doctor of chiropractic at 100% Chiropractic office in Dunwoody, Georgia. “When it’s too firm, it’s just as bad as being too soft, and it’s hard for the muscles to relax on any materials that are like that.”
Trial Period
If you’re buying a mattress online, there’s no way to know if you like it until it arrives. That’s why it’s important to see if the retailer offers a trial period so you can test the mattress out at home. Consider things like the trial length, refund policy, and shipping logistics.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written and researched by Justine Harrington, a product writer for The Spruce who specializes in home and lifestyle topics. Her work has been published in national outlets like Fodor’s and Backpacker, among others. For additional background information about mattresses, we talked to Dr. Samantha March-Howard, doctor of chiropractic at 100% Chiropractic Office in Dunwoody, Georgia, who spoke about mattress firmness.
