A high-quality mattress topper will help provide pressure relief, prevent unwanted sagging, and offer additional support to a current mattress. They are a great option for anyone whose mattress is a little too soft, or a little too firm, but doesn’t need replacing entirely. They’re also beloved by college students living in a dorm room since they are provided with mattresses that are almost like sleeping on a coffee table. Keep in mind that the toppers in this guide won’t be as good quality as if you were to opt for a pricier option – a lot of the best mattress brands sell toppers that can deliver some of the same effects as their full mattresses, but you’ll need to pay more than $50 for those. A lower budget means you’ll likely end up with a thinner topper, fewer fancy features, and no clear waranty – but the picks below all represent good value for money, and can still make a big difference to your overnight comfort. Many people opt for a topper rather than buying a whole new bed, but if your mattress is looking really tired, be aware that the competitiveness of the market means that mattress sales are common, and picking up one of today’s best mattresses might not be as expensive as you think.
The best cheap mattress toppers under $50
The Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper is the best overall value if you’re looking for a quick and economical way to upgrade the comfort of your current mattress. It’s available in either a 2 or 3-inch profile – choose the taller one if you need more plushness. You can purchase the topper on its own or add a removable, washable cover for more hygienic sleep. In addition to standard sizes it also comes in sizes for cots and RV beds – 10 sizes total. This cheap mattress topper is great for college dorm room mattresses that feel like a sheet of paper and could use some extra love. Or if you have a mattress that’s a tad too firm, you can throw this on top to make it feel a bit softer and more comfortable. If you deal with body aches and pains, the Linenspa topper can help provide relief as it works to align the spine and evenly disperse body weight across the entire bed. (Head to our guide to the best mattress for back pain for more tips on what to look for there.) The Serta Comfort Zone Memory Foam Mattress Topper is quite thin at only 1.5 inches, but if you only need to makes the slightest change to your current bed, then it should be perfect for that. Rather than being flat, this budget topper has a textured surface that might look a little odd under your sheet, but is designed to move where you do, while providing pressure relief to the joints and muscles that need it most. Meanwhile, if you’re prone to waking up in a sweat, the Serta mattress topper is made from a breathable memory foam that’s designed to maintain just the right temperature while you sleep (even the best memory foam mattress toppers can occasionally trap body heat, but cheaper models are typically worse for this). It also helps that it’s not as thick as other foam toppers on this list, so there’s less likelihood of heat being trapped. Also note that warranty terms here are unclear, but Serta is one of the most trusted names in the sleep business. You can be sure you’re getting a well-made product at a reasonable price. The Easeland Pillow Top Mattress Pad sits somewhere between a mattress pad and a topper. It’s ideal if you don’t need to make a dramatic change to the feel of your bed or don’t care for the feel of memory foam. And unlike the foam options on our list, you can toss this one in the washing machine and tumble dry on low. It boasts a soft and fluffy surface, with a cotton top plus a down-alternative fill that’ll aid in pressure and pain relief. Add to that the breathability of cotton and you have a budget topper that’s also good for keeping night sweats at bay. You won’t have to worry about it shifting, either, as its deep pockets easily tuck under the corners of the bed for sturdy placement. If you want to transform your current bed into a suitable cooling mattress, take a look at the Best Price Mattress Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper. It comes in five height profiles – the most of any on this list. Choose from 1.5 to 4 inches of memory foam, opting for the taller sizes if you want to make your bed super plush. (But note that the tallest sizes are well out of cheap mattress topper territory.) To help disperse body heat, the Best Price mattress topper is ventilated and infused with cooling gel. Memory foam is notorious for holding heat, so these measures will make for a more restful (and less sweaty) sleep for most people. It’s also highly responsive, as it’ll adapt to the contours of your body and evenly distribute your weight as soon as you lay on it. If you toss and turn in the middle of the night, then you might notice your sheets come off and everything becomes a disheveled mess. The Oaskys Mattress Pad is designed to stay firmly in place while adding some extra protection and durability. It’s also easy to care for. When it comes time to clean this mattress pad, simply toss it in the washing machine and let it do the work for you. Made from down-alternative fill, this mattress topper offers a fluffy layer that rests right between you and your bed. It doesn’t have as much padding as other toppers mentioned in this list; however, it does stay put thanks to its deep pockets and elastic band that seamlessly fit over the corners of the bed. If you don’t need to make a major change to your current bed, the Oaskys Mattress Pad should check the right boxes, especially at such an affordable cost.
How thick should my mattress topper be?
The thickness of your mattress topper really depends on what your needs are. For example, a newer mattress likely won’t need a topper more than 1-2 inches thick because the bed hasn’t undergone much wear so it’s still pretty plush. However, for older mattresses, you’ll want to opt for mattress toppers that are 3-4 inches thick. This will provide extra cushioning and support for beds that may have lost their lacquer over the years and make them feel more comfortable and less worn out. You’ll also want to tailor the type of mattress topper you buy to your primary sleep style. We’d usually recommend a softer mattress for side sleepers (to allow pressure relief around the hips and shoulders) and a firmer mattress for back and front sleepers (who need extra spinal support in those positions). Thus, go for something softer/taller if you sleep on your side.
What can I use instead of a mattress topper?
There are a number of things you can add to a mattress to increase comfort or add features. We’ve already touched on mattress pads – these are typically thinner than a topper, and often take the form of a synthetic or down-stuffed pillow top (a couple of the entries in our cheap mattress topper under $50 guide could be considered more pads than toppers). If you purely want something to prevent wear, tear and stains on your mattress, you’d be better off consulting our best mattress protector guide. You’ll find more detail in our mattress protector vs mattress topper explainer, but these are designed predominantly to create a barrier between you and your mattress and work to keep everything clean and in pristine condition. For example, if your toddler wets the bed, then a mattress pad would be a great barrier to keep the mattress from getting stained and smelly. Some mattress protectors even have a bit of padding, which shifts them to somewhere closer to pad territory. In fact, there’s plenty of overlap between all three of these categories, so don’t go purely on what the brand has decided to call its product – instead you want to consider if what’s on offer will help suit your needs.
