Mattress or Topper: When Is a Topper a Good Idea?

Mattress topper or a new mattress: Which one do you need?

It depends on what bothers you about your mattress: how its surface feels or how it supports you. Many people are dissatisfied with their mattress; instead of buying a new one right away, they add a mattress topper.

A mattress topper adds a few centimeters of padding to the mattress. According to Stiftung Warentest, it doesn't improve a poor-quality mattress. Here's how to decide:

Keep in mind: Some mattress toppers cost as much as a good mattress, warn Stiftung Warentest, Which?, and Altroconsumo. According to Mara Vital’s terms and conditions, you can try out a new mattress for up to 100 days and return it for free if it doesn’t work out.

For information on how your shoulders and pelvis should settle when lying on your side, see the " Side Sleeper" guide.

What is a topper, and how is it constructed?

A topper is a comfortable pad that you place on top of your mattress: a foam or latex core enclosed in a cover. Stiftung Warentest describes it as a kind of second, thinner mattress.

With Mara Vital, the core is made of foam—usually gel foam or cold foam—or latex, and the topper is 6 to 10 cm thick. Beka’s Horizon toppers consist of two layers of gel foam, each 3 cm thick, stacked on top of each other: You simply flip the topper to the side that suits you best.

On most models, you can remove the cover using a zipper. Which model is the best fit depends on the inner construction and the cover, and the topper must match your mattress, including in size.

According to Which?, a topper—as an additional layer—also provides some protection for the mattress against stains and wear; however, unlike a waterproof mattress protector, it is usually not waterproof.

Read more in the guide

Mattress Protectors: Molton, Waterproof, or Encasing?

Which mattress protector is right for your needs.

When is a mattress topper no longer enough?

When the mattress itself no longer provides adequate support: A topper changes the surface, not the support underneath. According to Altroconsumo, it does not extend the life of a worn-out mattress because it lacks the necessary support.

Three signs that it's time for a new mattress:

• Dents: If dents have formed in your old mattress, Stiftung Warentest recommends replacing it.
• Has become much softer: If the mattress has sagged significantly over time, a mattress topper makes little difference, according to Which?
• Old or Damaged: If the mattress is old or its springs are damaged, Altroconsumo says it's time for a new one.

If, on the other hand, it’s too firm for you, a mattress topper will make it softer. Our guide to firmness explains how this affects the firmness level.

Read more in the guide

Mattress Firmness Level

Read the hardness levels and match them to the model.

What do Topper reviews show, and is there one from Kassensturz?

There is no topper test by Kassensturz: The “Tests from A to Z” list mentions a mattress test from 2021, but no topper (as of October 2026). Stiftung Warentest has also not tested toppers individually to date.

Mattress toppers were tested by Öko-Test in Germany (13 foam toppers, 2015), Which? in the United Kingdom (39 toppers, 2023–2025), and Altroconsumo in Italy (12 toppers, purchased in 2023). All three organizations placed the toppers on a test mattress and measured:

• Firmness: how much the topper softens the test mattress. Öko-Test used a firm to very firm cold-foam mattress for this test.
• Support: how deeply the body sinks into the mattress when lying on the back or side; rated on a scale of up to 36 points by Which? and Altroconsumo.
• Pressure: how body weight is distributed—as measured by Altroconsumo on a mat with over 10,000 sensors.

The result: According to Öko-Test, sleeping on a hard mattress was more comfortable with any topper—most of which were soft to medium-firm. In the Altroconsumo test, half of the toppers earned four stars or more for comfort, but 10 out of 12 failed to meet the standard for support. More comfort, yes; more support, no—that’s what a topper can do.

We won’t list the results of individual models here. The only way to find out how a topper feels on your mattress is to lie down on it: In our showrooms in Volketswil and Dagmersellen, you can try out toppers in person—by appointment and with no obligation to buy.

Which topper is right for which need?

It depends on what you want to change: If your mattress is too firm, choose a soft topper; if you want two different sleeping experiences, choose a reversible one. Here’s how the product pages describe the twelve toppers from Mara Vital:

Based on your needs, this narrows down the options as follows:

• Mattress too firm: According to the product page, Brinkhaus’s Talalay Latex and DT Soft-Therm are “ideal for mattresses that are too firm”; the Gelactive Ergo Soft Sensitiv is designed to balance out a sleeping surface that feels too firm.
• Two sleeping experiences: The Horizon Soft (H2) features a soft layer on top of a medium-firm layer, while the Horizon Firm (H3) has a firm layer on top: Simply flip the topper and sleep on whichever side suits you best.
• Slightly firmer: According to the product page, the Top Hybrid Plus is suitable for a normal or slightly firmer sleeping experience, while the Horizon Firm enhances the mattress without making you sink noticeably deeper.
• Cold foam or gel foam: The Top Elegance KS features a Waterlily® cold foam core, while the Top Watergel features a WaterGEL® gel foam core; both have 7 zones and a cover that can be removed via a zipper and washed at 60 °C.
• Staying Warm in Bed: According to the product page, one side of the Horizon Soft Cool and Horizon Firm Cool mattress toppers dissipates heat more quickly. You can find the Elements Cool mattress topper and more information in the guide “Sleep Cooler.”

How thick should a mattress topper be?

As high as it feels comfortable on your mattress: None of the tests specify a height that suits everyone. According to Altroconsumo, 3 to 9 cm is typical; according to Öko-Test, it’s usually 4 to 8 cm, and up to 10 cm for high-quality models.

Thickness and material work together: An 8-cm-thick latex topper feels significantly different from a 5-cm-thick foam topper. Both should be compatible with your mattress. Mara Vital toppers are available in the following thicknesses:

• 6 to 7 cm: Top Watergel, Top Geleffect Plus, and Top Hybrid Plus.
• 7 cm: the four Horizon toppers from Beka and the DT Soft-Therm from Brinkhaus.
• 8 cm: Surf 100 and Top Elegance KS.
• 10 cm: Talalay latex and Gelactive Ergo Soft Sensitiv by Brinkhaus.

A mattress topper also raises the sleeping surface. According to Öko-Test, this is comfortable if you have trouble bending your knees; according to the product page, the Surf 100 makes it easier to get out of bed thanks to an additional 8 cm in sleeping height. Be sure to factor in the height of the mattress topper when using a fitted sheet: see the “Space and Freshness” section for more details.

How does a topper stay in place and stay fresh?

It comes with an anti-slip pad, a fitted sheet that covers both, and a washable cover. According to Altroconsumo, a mattress topper can easily slip off the mattress, especially a lightweight one.

• Pad: Place the non-slip pad between the topper and the mattress—no adhesive required; it is machine washable at 30 °C.
• Fitted sheet: Putting a fitted sheet over your mattress and topper helps prevent them from slipping. It needs to fit the height of both: According to the product page, the CelinaTex Jersey fitted sheet fits heights from 14 to 26 cm, while the waterproof Aquastop mattress protector fits heights up to 30 cm.
• Same Size: The topper and mattress should have the same dimensions. Beka’s Horizon toppers are available in 24 sizes, ranging from 80 × 200 to 200 × 220 cm.
• Washable cover: Which? recommends reading the care label before washing. Remove the cover from the Horizon topper using the zipper that runs all the way around, and wash it on the gentle cycle at 60 °C; do not tumble dry.