Mattress topper or new mattress? How to tell which you need

When a bed starts to feel wrong, the cheapest fix is tempting. Sometimes it is also the right one. The trick is knowing which problem you have.

A topper changes how the surface of a bed feels. A new mattress changes how the bed holds you up. Buy the first when you need the second and you will be back in a few months, a little poorer. Here is a quick way to tell them apart.

The two-minute check

Strip the bed down to the mattress and look at it in daylight. Then lie on it, in the position you sleep in.

• Run a long ruler or a broom handle across it. If you can see a gap under the middle where you sleep, the mattress has dipped.
• Sit on the edge. If it collapses or tips you forward, the edge has gone.
• Lie still for a few minutes. If your hips or shoulders feel jammed, the surface may be too firm for you. If your back feels like it is in a hammock, the support may have gone.
• Lift the mattress and look at the base. Broken slats or a sagging divan can make a sound mattress feel worn.

When a topper is the right answer

• The mattress is sound but a little firm for you. No dip, a firm edge, but your shoulders and hips want more give. A soft topper takes the edge off the surface without touching the support.
• The bedroom is cold. A wool topper adds an insulating layer under you. We explain why in our guide to wool in winter.
• You want to look after a mattress you love. A topper takes the daily wear on its surface. Marshall & Stewart recommends a topper on its beds and suggests replacing it every four to five years.
• A guest bed needs softening for a visit. A topper can make a firm spare-room mattress kinder for a few nights.

When you need a new mattress

• The ruler shows a dip that comes back after turning. A topper follows the shape beneath it and settles into the dip within weeks.
• The edge has collapsed. Nothing laid on top will rebuild it.
• You wake stiff and sleep better anywhere else. That is usually a support problem, and support lives in the springs, not the top few centimetres.

Before you decide, read the signs a mattress needs replacing. Some dips in a natural mattress are normal settling and even out with turning.

If it is a topper: choosing the filling

• Wool: springy and breathable, and good at handling moisture. It suits people who run warm in summer and cold in winter.
• Feather and down: soft and cloud-like. It needs shaking out regularly to stay even but is very hot.

On our floor you will find toppers filled entirely with wool, latex toppers, and toppers with a horsehair core surrounded by wool and cashmere. Hypnos makes toppers to go with its beds, and Marshall & Stewart makes one for its own, which can also be bought on its own. Lie on the mattress with the topper on it, for at least ten minutes, before you decide.

If it is a new mattress: where to start

Start with the support you need, then choose the feel. On our floor you can compare Hypnos, Tréca Paris, Marshall & Stewart and our own Westend beds side by side, with or without a topper on top, so you can feel what each layer is doing.

Frequently asked questions

Can a mattress topper fix a sagging mattress?

No. A topper follows the shape of the mattress beneath it, so it settles into a sag within weeks. It can change the feel of a sound mattress, but it cannot restore lost support.

How do I know if I need a topper or a new mattress?

Check for a dip with a straight edge across the mattress, sit on the edge, and look at the base. If the mattress is level and the edge is firm, a topper can fix a feel that is too firm. If it dips or the edge has gone, you need a new mattress.

Should I use a mattress protector with a topper?

Yes. Hypnos warns that failing to use a mattress protector could invalidate the guarantee on its mattresses. The protector goes on the top of the topper.