Customize Your Bed's Feel With 5 Of The Best Firm Mattress Toppers

Forbes

01-05-2025

If you're not yet in the market to replace your mattress but you want to extend its life or make your sleep setup a little more comfortable, a mattress topper is a great solution. For those who prefer a firmer feel, we curated this list of the best firm mattress toppers; we relied on the firsthand testing experience of our sleep team, consulted an expert and took a deep dive into the newest product offerings. Most firm toppers are made from latex or memory foam and come in a range of firmness levels. We think the Nolah Mattress Topper is the best firm mattress topper overall because its medium firmness is a good mid-range feel for most people, plus it comes with a convenient washable cotton cover.
'A firm topper is ideal if your current mattress feels too soft, if you need better spinal alignment or if you're experiencing back discomfort and want to extend your mattress's life,' says Will Taylor, and interior design author, TV host and founder of Bright Bazaar. In order to find the ideal option for your sleep needs, we've selected five of the best firm mattress toppers for a variety of sleepers.
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Luxury firm | Trial: 30 nights | Warranty: 10 years
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
The Nolah Mattress Topper is made from the company's proprietary 'AirFoam HD,' which is designed to offer superior motion isolation and pressure point relief. Weighing in at only 4 pounds, it's easy to unpack as well as to install using its elastic straps to secure it to your mattress. Taylor also notes that this mattress topper is 'a solid choice, particularly for its pressure relief and cooling features.'
While this topper in luxury firm is a good choice most sleepers, it's also available in a plush feel for those who prefer something a bit softer yet supportive for dedicated side sleepers. It comes with a cover made of organic cotton that is not only removable but also washable, unlike some other topper covers. The materials' certifications ensure you're getting a product that doesn't release harmful chemicals and meets rigorous safety standards. Additionally, Nolah offers a generous 10-year warranty on this topper.
Type: Foam | Firmness: Medium firm | Trial: 180 nights | Warranty: 1 year
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
If you're looking for a mattress topper for back pain, starting with one that's at least a medium firmness in feel, like the Saatva High-Density Foam Mattress Topper, is a good idea. This topper is made using organic materials that have certifications attesting to their sustainability. 'Saatva offers excellent quality, especially for those looking for natural materials and durability,' Taylor says.
While this option offers support and cushioning for all sleepers, it's an especially good topper for side sleepers who are looking for a little more body contouring. Note that while the organic cotton cover is removable, the company's care instructions are to spot-clean only, as needed.
Type: Latex | Firmness: Extra firm | Trial: None offered | Warranty: 5 years
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
This organic latex topper from Plush Beds is available in several options, so you can find one that's tailored to your needs and preferences. Not only does it come in a range of sizes including twin XL and California king, but you can also choose from a height of either 2 or 3 inches. But best of all, it's available in a selection of five firmnesses, from soft to extra firm. This topper is optimized for pressure point relief and is also suited for use by heavier-weight sleepers over 250 pounds.
This topper also is GOLS-, GreenGuard Gold-, Eco-Institut- and Oeko-Tex Standard 100-certified, so you can be confident that you're sleeping on a product made with quality and sustainable materials. And if you choose to upgrade to the option with the organic cotton cover, that is GOTS-certified as well.
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium firm | Trial: 90 nights | Warranty: 7 years
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
Gel-infused memory foam is supportive and contouring, and offers comfort particularly suited for sleepers suffering with joint pain. The topper is available in a staggering array of sizes (including nontraditional ones like full XL and short queen) as well as three thickness choices (2, 3 or 4 inches), so there should be an option for everyone. The 4-inch-thick topper is best for heavier-weight sleeper, and the straps that help the topper stay put are adjustable, so it works with a mattress of any height.
Despite being cushiony, this topper offers solid edge support, which some toppers don't achieve quite as well. Additionally, its medium-firm feel and excellent motion isolation make this a good option for couples.
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Luxury firm | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 1 year
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
The Helix Premium Mattress Topper is composed of two high-quality foam layers with a layer of steel microcoils sandwiched in between. This hybrid design provides durable support from inside the topper, which secures to your mattress with elastic straps. But the comfort layers and premium foam make this ideally suited for side sleepers looking for relief for aching pressure points.
I tested this topper with a firm mattress, and think it's is ideal for someone who is looking to add a little plush pressure relief to their sleeping situation. It offers a contouring, cradling sensation, and the GlacioTex cover is cool to the touch. One downside is that I lost a little edge support otherwise provided by my mattress when adding the topper.
The Forbes Vetted sleep team has years of deep experience testing and researching every type of sleep product available, including mattresses, pillows and mattress toppers.
To select our recommendations for the best firm mattress toppers, we looked to high-quality, trusted brands, consulted an expert, did some firsthand testing and made sure to offer a variety of options to reflect materials, designs and price points suited for different sleepers.
Not everyone wants the same thing out of their firm mattress topper, so it's important to look into a few factors before purchasing.
Most firm mattress toppers are made of either latex or memory foam, but hybrid options are also available. 'Look for materials that offer both firmness and support, like high-density memory foam or latex, and make sure the topper matches your mattress size and sleeping needs,' Taylor says.
Firmness is subjective, and it can take up to a month to break in a new topper and get used to it, so a generous trial period is nice to have. Additionally, some toppers come with more sustainability and safety certifications than others, so look out for those that if that is a priority for you. 'Great toppers hold their shape, provide even support and are made with durable, breathable materials. A truly great one also comes with certifications for quality and safety, like CertiPUR-US or Oeko-Tex Standard 100,' Taylor adds.
Again, what feels firm to you may not be firm enough for another sleeper, and additionally, brands may have different standards to describe their toppers' feels. If your mattress is firm and you choose a topper with a medium feel, you can effectively reduce the firmness of your mattress. So if you're looking for a firm option, choose a topper made of materials such as memory foam or latex and look for a trial period.
If you're trying to get a little more life your of your old, worn mattress, most firm toppers do the trick—to a point. 'Most firm toppers will work well on standard spring, memory foam or hybrid mattresses, but it's best to avoid using them on mattresses that are heavily sagging or too old,' Taylor says.
If you tend to sleep hot, it's possible a topper may add some heat to your bed. To combat this, several options—like as the Helix Premium Topper With GlacioTex—come with a cooling or cool-to-the-touch cover. Additionally, memory foam tends to trap heat more so than latex, so you might want to look for one made with cooling materials like latex or gel-infused foam to help dissipate heat and maintain airflow, advises Taylor. Some great options include the Plush Beds Organic Latex Mattress Topper and the ViscoSoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper.
Firm mattress toppers tend to be made of latex or memory foam. To ensure that your topper has a firm feel, look for ones described as being made of 'high-density' materials. Also, a thicker topper tends to be firmer than a thinner one.
In general, yes, but that depends on the topper and the mattress under it. If your existing bed is in decent shape and you're looking for a little more support, a topper can help you extend the life of your mattress. 'A firm topper can adjust the feel of your mattress to better support your sleep position and improve overall comfort,' Taylor says. But if your mattress is more than 10 years old or very worn or saggy, you're better off shopping for a new mattress.
Yes. The Plush Beds Organic Latex Mattress Topper is available in two thicknesses and five feels, including extra firm. We recommend it for sleepers looking for pressure point relief, people over 250 pounds and anyone who prefers an extra-firm feel.