Best Pillow-Top Mattresses of 2024
The Joint’s Dr. Kevin Lees discusses pillow-top mattresses in an article from U.S. News & World Report.
Original article published by U.S. News on January 29, 2024, on U.S. News
The best pillow-top mattresses provide a comfortable upper layer while also offering ergonomic support. Some sleepers feel best on a mattress with conforming upper layers for help with pressure relief. This can be especially desirable for side sleepers, says chiropractor Dr. Kevin Lees. “Pressure points can lead to restless sleeping and tossing and turning,” he says. “The correct sleeping surface can help create a more restful sleep.”
If you’re considering a pillow-top mattress, we’ve listed the pros and cons of our top choices below. We also compiled a list of shopping tips to keep in mind while searching for your ideal mattress.
Best Overall: Saatva Classic
4.5 Stars U.S. News Rating
Pros
- Three-inch plush Euro pillow top
- Three levels of firmness available
- Two height options
- Dual-coil support system
Cons
- $99 return fee
- 14.5-inch model can’t be used on adjustable bases
The Saatva Classic Mattress is our overall choice for a pillow-top bed. The innerspring mattress uses a 3-inch Euro pillow top layer for cushioned support and pressure relief. The layer also features Saatva’s LumbarZone Quilting to give extra support to the center third of the bed where our bodies are the heaviest. The bed’s cover is made with breathable cotton that uses the company’s Guardin antimicrobial treatment, aiming to keep the mattress free from bacteria and mold.
The Saatva Classic also uses a layer of memory foam for extra pressure relief above the two layers of coil support. The bed comes in three firmness levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. Saatva recommends the Plush Soft version for side sleepers and lightweight people while mentioning the Luxury Firm is suitable for all sleeping positions. The Firm is recommended for stomach or back sleepers, those with heavier bodies, or people who prefer extra-firm beds.
You can select the Saatva Classic with an 11.5- or a 14.5-inch height, but keep in mind the taller model isn’t compatible with adjustable bases.
The Saatva Classic comes with free white glove delivery and has a year-long sleep trial.
Specs
Price (Queen): $1,995
Mattress Type: Innerspering
Sleep Trial: 365 Nights
Best Budget: The WinkBed
4.2 Stars U.S. News Rating
Pros
- About $1,800 for a queen-size
- Three firmness levels available
- Two to three layers form the Euro pillow top
- Additional edge support
Cons
- Still more expensive than many beds
- Queen size weighs 135 pounds
The WinkBed Mattress is a hybrid bed that comes in three firmness levels and is our top choice for a budget-friendly pillow-top mattress. Costing about $1,800 for a queen size, it’s one of the more affordable pillow-top beds that still gives you ample support.
Measuring 13.5 inches tall, the WinkBed is made with several layers of pressure-relieving and supportive foam above a layer of individually pocketed coils. The softest version – what WinkBed calls “Softer” – is made with a Euro pillow top consisting of three layers to cushion to hips and shoulders which gently conform to the body. The Luxury Firm and Firmer models of the WinkBed have a Euro-pillow top with two layers of pressure relief. All firmness levels have WinkBed’s Extra-Edge Support System which provides additional support around the perimeter of the bed. When it comes to cooling, the WinkBed uses a moisture-wicking Tencel cover and the quilted Euro pillow top uses a gel-infused foam that resists heat retention. The coil base naturally allows for airflow within the mattress.
Specs
Price(Queen): $1,799
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Sleep Trial: 120 Nights
Best for Back Relief: Nolah Evolution 15
4.2 Stars U.S. News Rating
Pros
- 2-inch quilted Euro pillow-top
- Three firmness levels available
- Zoned foam and coil layers for support and pressure relief
Cons
- $99 return fee
- Taller profile might not suit everyone
The hybrid Nolah Evolution 15-Inch is our choice for the best pillow-top mattress to help with back pain relief. The mattress comes in three firmness levels: Plus, Luxury Firm, and Firm. All three models have a 2-inch foam Euro topper for additional cushion. Nolah explains the Evolution excels in spinal support through several comfort foam layers, including the pillow-top. The mattress also uses a layer of zoned foam for both pressure relief and responsiveness. The coil layer is also separated into three zones of support which could be beneficial for keeping the spine in ideal alignment. Nolah mentions the Luxury Firm is popular with back sleepers while the Firm option offers minimum spinal support.
True to its name, the Nolah Evolution 15-Inch measures 15 inches in height. Such a tall mattress could require sleepers getting deep pocket fitted sheets – though when we tried this mattress out in our lab we found it took a bit of time for it to fully expand to this height.
Nolah uses CertiPUR-US foams in the mattress which indicates the material isn’t produced with formaldehyde, ozone depleters, and heavy metals. Nolah offers a 120-night sleep trial for the Evolution 15-Inch. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states, but returns come with a $99 fee.
Specs
Price (Queen): $2,499
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Sleep Trial: 120 nights
Best for Side Sleepers: Helix Midnight Luxe
Pros:
- Medium level of firmness designed for side sleepers
- Plush memory foam pillow top
- Zoned lumbar support coils
Cons
- Cooling cover costs extra
- Medium firmness might not suit all sleepers
Side sleepers looking for a pillow-top mattress might sleep comfortably on the Helix Midnight Luxe which is specifically designed for supporting side sleepers. The position often needs additional pressure relief in the hip and shoulder areas, according to Dr. Kevin Lees, the director of chiropractic operations at the Joint Chiropractic. “Memory foam or latex is ideal to provide support and help eliminate pressure points for side sleepers,” he says. The Helix Midnight Luxe uses a quilted pillow-top layer with responsive foam for extra contouring. Two additional layers of foam provide support and comfort above the core of individually wrapped coils. The coil layer is zoned to help with spinal alignment and lumbar support.
Helix considers the Midnight Luxe to be a 5 to 6 on the firmness scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest. The Luxe lineup of Helix mattresses use CertiPUR-US foams which indicates they’re free of heavy metals, ozone depleters, and formaldehyde. The Helix Midnight Luxe comes with a cooling Tencel cover or sleepers can upgrade to GlacioTex Cooling Cover, a hypoallergenic cover made with materials that pull heat away from the body. In a queen size, the Helix Midnight Luxe costs about $2,375 and the extra cooling cover costs an additional $265.
Specs
Price (Queen): $2,373.80
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Sleep Trial: 100 nights
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress
Pros
- Made with certified organic cotton, wool, and latex
- Quilted Euro top made with organic cotton
- Materials support breathability and airflow
Cons
- Expensive
- Medium-firm feel might not work for all sleepers
If you tend to overheat at night but want the pressure relief of a pillow-top bed, the Birch Luxe Natural Mattress could be a cooling solution. The plush Euro-top is quilted and made with breathable organic cotton. Below this, a layer of organic cashmere and wool adds to the plush feel of the comfort layers and the bed’s overall breathability. Two additional layers of organic wool sit above the bed’s pressure-relieving layer made of latex foam that carries a GreenGuard Gold certification, signifying the foam has low emissions from substances known to pollute indoor air. This latex layer is also designed to help with overall airflow within the mattress, in addition to the coil layer. The support layer of individually wrapped coils includes extra lumbar support and reinforced edge support along the entire perimeter of the bed.
On the firmness scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest, Birch rates the Luxe Natural Mattress as a 6 or 7. A queen-size Luxe Birch Natural Mattress costs about $3,250 and comes with a 100-night sleep trial.
Specs
Price (Queen): $3,248.80
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Sleep Trial: 100 nights
The Bottom Line
Pillow-top mattresses can provide a plush level of comfort for those seeking pressure relief. The Saatva Classic is our top pick, coming in three levels of firmness and two height options. We also like the long 365-night sleep trial and free white-glove delivery with the mattress. If budget is a priority, the least expensive mattress on our list is the WinkBed, which also comes in multiple firmness levels.
Things To Consider When Buying Mattresses
Firmness: Firmness level plays a large role in determining which mattress is right for you. Most mattresses are rated on a firmness scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest option. Sleep expert Dr. Carleara Weiss explains sleepers should identify which firmness levels work best for them before choosing a mattress. She adds that side sleepers often feel the most comfortable on a medium to medium-firm mattress or something ranked at a 5 or 6.
Stomach and back sleepers often prefer something firmer than side sleepers to keep the spine in ideal ergonomic alignment without letting the middle section of the body dip below the rest. Many of the mattresses in our rating come in several firmness levels, including the Saatva Classic, the WinkBed, and the Nolah Evolution 15-Inch.
Material: The materials of a mattress can impact its performance, comfort level, and durability. If you’re shopping for a pillow-top mattress, consider what type of materials you find the most comfortable. The pillow-top layer is designed to offer extra pressure relief and often comes in the form of foam, but it can also include latex, cotton, or wool.
If you tend to sleep hot, look for materials that excel in cooling like hybrid or innerspring beds. These both include at least one layer of innerspring coils that tend to breathe better than all-foam beds. If the pillow top is made of memory foam, shop for one that uses a cooling element like gel-infused foam or a cooling cover made from a breathable material like cotton or Tencel.
If you prioritize eco-friendly materials, some mattresses focus on using certified organic materials like the Birch Luxe Natural mattress. Keep in mind some mattresses that mention using natural materials might not be certified organic.
Warranty: Almost all mattresses come with a warranty that protects the owner should they find a flaw in the bed. It’s common for a mattress warranty to cover defects in materials and manufacturing but not cover normal wear and tear.
It’s always wise to check what type of base the mattress brand recommends using as support for the bed. Many mattresses come with guidelines about compatibility with adjustable bases, platform beds with slats, and box springs. Using the mattress with an unapproved base could void the warranty. The fine print also details what fees are associated with a warranty claim, if any. Some brands will replace the mattress at no cost to the owner while others pass on transportation fees to the owner. For example, the Saatva Classic has a lifetime warranty, but the brand charges a $149 processing fee for warranty claims after two years of ownership.
Edge support: The edge support of a mattress refers to how supportive it feels along the perimeter. Some people sleep close to the edge of the mattress or sit on the edge of the bed when getting ready in the morning or preparing for sleep at night. These people might want to shop for a mattress with strong edge support, rather than a mattress that could leave someone feeling unstable on the perimeter of the bed. Some all-foam beds tend to collapse under applied weight around the edges, but other beds are made with reinforced edge support.
How We Chose the Best Mattresses
The 360 Reviews team of sleep contributors and editors began this roundup by consulting with several experts. Dr. Carleara Weiss who focuses on sleep education contributed to this article as did chiropractor Dr. Kevin Lees. Following their advice, we narrowed down the options of pillow-top mattresses, taking into account factors like the quality of the material, cooling ability, and mattress height. During our final round of product selection, we looked into price and company policies like the sleep trial and warranty. Overall, we found pillow-top mattresses are typically more expensive than some mattress types like all-foam, but some sleepers will feel best with the additional cushion.
WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?
The team of contributors and editors at 360 Reviews have years of experience when it comes to product testing and reviews. We also prioritize including information that comes from industry experts. Lauren Allain, the author of this piece, has over five years of experience researching, testing, and writing product reviews with an emphasis on sleep goods, including mattresses. In addition to U.S. News, her work has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Homes & Gardens, and Mashable. As a hot sleeper who’s easily disrupted, Lauren prioritizes breathability and motion isolation in a mattress.
Business Structure
The Joint Corp. is a franchisor of clinics and an operator of clinics in certain states. In Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, The Joint Corp. and its franchisees provide management services to affiliated professional chiropractic practices.
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