Mattress Toppers and Pads

Mattress pads and toppers have been available in many materials for years and natural filling such as feather down, natural latex or wool remain
very popular. More recently synthetic fillings have become more sophisticated and hence more affordable. In particular you can today buy a wide variety of memory foam toppers as a less
expensive alternative to a memory foam mattress.

What is a Mattress Pad or Topper?

What's The Difference?

A mattress pad is simply a thin pad which lays on top of - overlays - your existing mattress to provide increased support and comfort. The terms "topper" and "pad" are often used interchangeably. However whilst toppers are always used to increase comfort, there are other sorts of pad. These are thinner pads which are normally used for reasons of hygene or allergy.

For this reason I personally prefer to use the term "mattress topper" when referring to a product you buy for strictly domestic use. However you should be aware that different sources might be
using the terms in different ways.

Mattress toppers are available in all standard bed sizes, but do double check the exact measurements: different manufacturers and stores sometimes have different opinions as to what is meant by "double", "king" etc. The "standards" aren't totally standard so check before you buy!

Adding a topper can improve the performance of almost any mattress. However it can't save a really old one. If your mattress is thirty years old, sagging and with springs poking through... don't bother. Buy a new mattress rather than trying to make the old one last.