Selecting the Right Bed Topper Thickness

When it comes to mattress toppers, there are two questions: what material to use and how thick? To select a topper that gives you the best chance at a good night’s sleep, you need to answer the first question before you can answer the second. There are many materials used today to create mattress toppers, and knowing the characteristics of each will impact how thick you want your topper to be.

The most popular of all foam materials are memory toppers. The unique, temperature-sensitive formulation of this material is what makes it so popular, as it alleviates pressure and creates a cloud-like cushion for its users. But at the same time, that temperature-sensitivity can become a problem for mattress toppers. In general terms, the thicker a memory foam topper, the softer it gets. This is because as you sink deeper into memory foam, you continue to heat and further soften deeper parts of the mattress. This makes something like a 7-inch topper softer than a 3-inch memory foam topper that has a solid base under it.

Conventional materials follow suit to a point, but have more predictable behavior due to their non-reactive nature. Depending on the quality and firmness of the material, there is a certain point where maximum softness is reached, and going any thicker adds nothing but an increase of bed sizes in inches. This is based off the chosen material, and it is best to discuss the particular characteristics of a foam with your retailer to give you the most insight before your purchase.

Regardless of the foam type you select, there are still a couple rules that apply universally. Toppers less than two inches are not thick enough to support an adult’s weight and will bottom out, essentially not existing. In a common-sense fashion, body weight also plays a role. The larger the individual, the deeper they will sink into a mattress. Because of this, larger people are suggested to use thicker and firmer materials, like high quality 4 inch foam, while lighter people can use thinner materials and should use softer foam to prevent a topper that is too hard and uncomfortable.