The Right Thickness Of A Mattress Topper

You are probably thinking of replacing your mattress or enhancing the one you have and trust me I know how expensive replacing your mattress can be.

A mattress topper is a great way to revitalize or change the style of your bed instead. With the right information you can get a topper that will last you for years and you won’t have to spend much while at it.

How to choose the right thickness of a mattress topper

Let us see how to select a mattress topper.

Different sizes of mattress toppers

The following are the available sizes and why people choose them.

  • 2 inches – Is the thinnest topper available. It can introduce more comfort and softness to your mattress and give you an extra plush and luxurious feel. You should only buy a 2” mattress topper when you have a brand-new mattress and you only want to add an extra soft layer to it and make it feel a bit softer.
  • 3 inches – A 3-inch mattress topper is a bit thicker and depending on the material you choose and whether you purchase a softer or firmer topper, it will provide you with greater comfort and support. It can also make up for certain deficiencies in an older mattress, but this again depends on the type of a topper you choose.
  • 4 inches – Is considered to be a maximum thickness of a mattress topper and anything thicker than 4 inches would be classed as a mattress rather than a mattress topper. However, some 5 or 6-inch-thick toppers can be found as well. A 4-inch mattress topper is ideal for covering the deficiencies of an older mattress. It will provide you with a smooth and supportive layer and a comfortable sleeping surface for a sleep without any body aches.

The thickness of your mattress topper will be determined by what exactly you want to change.

The best topper thickness for you

Let’s look at these reasons in depth.

  1. To change the level of softness or hardness

Sometimes you will purchase a new mattress and it may be a bit hard for you or after a long time of use it may become too soft. Rather than changing your mattress and the same problem re-occurring, purchasing a topper will help and in many cases a -inch one will be sufficient although 3 inches will last more.

  1. To renovate an old mattress

As they age because of the obvious reasons they will develop lumps become saggy or develop depressions. If the mattress starts showing signs of unevenness or wears due to constant turning or indentations then you will need a topper of more than 3-inches -5-inches depending on what your fancy.

  1. For medical reasons

This is mostly if you require orthopedic support. In such a case viscoelastic sleeping surface may be most preferred. A 4-inch topper is better and most preferably latex. For these we can suggest you purchase a 4-inch Memory Foam mattress topper.

  1. To increase the height of the mattress

Maybe you find your bed too low for you and that extra inch may make a whole lot of difference. An extra 2 or 3 inches would help you with this. And again, it is inexpensive than purchasing a new mattress.

Mattress topper density

Apart from the thickness of the mattress topper, something else that is of importance is its density. It is measured in pounds per cubic feet, or kg/m3 in some countries. Most have a density ranging between 2 and 6+ pounds per cubic feet.

Higher density usually means higher cost, but also much better support for the body and longer-lasting conformity to your body shape.

  • 3 pounds or under per cubic feet – will feel much softer and less supportive than higher densities. Your body will sink into it faster than higher densities. More light-weight and easily transported too.
  • 4 to 5 pounds per cubic feet – a good option for most people, providing a balance of soft, yet supportive surface. Will mold to your body a little slower than lower densities.
  • 6+ pounds per cubic feet – better for people who have medical needs and/or in need of a high level of support for the body. Will take longer to conform to your body shape and weight, and support you for much longer than lower densities.

And if you’re a heavy person, a higher density might be a better choice so you can benefit from the extra support for longer during the night.

The thickness and density of the topper have to go hand in hand for you to have the most benefits of it. A rule of thumb is that higher density means you can get enough support with less thickness.

But a 2-inch topper with a low density really won’t provide much support and could be too soft. Likewise, a very thick topper with a very high density might prove unnecessarily firm, not to mention heavy.

For example:

  1. You prefer a firm surface or sleep on your front

Try a thinner 2- or 2.5-inch topper with a high density of 4+ pounds. That will provide good support (the density) but stop you from sinking into the topper in an uncomfortable way (the thinner material).

  1. You sleep on your side or back

Try a medium thickness of 3 inches to get more support for your back and limbs. You may also go for a low density of 3 pounds to add some softness, or a higher density of more than 4 pounds to provide firmer support if you prefer that.

Conclusion

The reality, however, is that with the huge range of material types, additional layers, and variation of manufacturing between countries and companies, it’s hard to predict exactly how a mattress topper will feel.

So, it’s worth asking in advance if the company can offer advice based on your size and needs.

And if you can try one in a store or they have a returns policy if you’re not happy with the topper.

With such information you can even be able to go into a store and test a topper for yourself if you know your mattress sizes.

Be sure to consider the reason why you want the topper in the first place to fit your preferences.