Pillow Top Mattresses

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Pillow top mattress buying guide

What is a pillow top mattress?

Pillow top mattresses are often inexpensive compared to other mattress models. Made of wide-ranging materials from memory foam to latex to fiberfill, pillow-tops change the firmness level and add contouring to the mattress. In addition to adding pressure relief or bounce, they can also help isolate motion transfer for people who share the bed.

A pillowtop is an extra layer of padding sewn on top of the mattress to enhance its plushness. The pillow top layer comprises materials like cotton, wool, down, fiberfill, memory foam, or latex foam. These materials promote plushness while diminishing the bounce and firmness from the coil layer, or the innerspring support layer underneath.

The benefits of pillow top mattresses

• These mattresses are affordable. Most mattresses that people associate with comfort, like memory foam or gel, are highly expensive. Pillow top mattresses are cheaper and more affordable.
• Pillow tops relieve aches and pains. These mattresses can drastically improve the softness and contouring abilities.
• Not likely to produce chemicals. Many popular mattresses are infamous for off-gassing, or producing harmful chemicals. Mattress pillow tops are less likely to do so.
• Pillow top mattresses cushion and relieve pressure points without sacrificing the support of an innerspring bed. This maximizes spinal alignment while distributing body weight to prevent and decrease back pain.

Pros & Cons of a Pillow Top Mattress

Pros:

• A plush feel on the top of the mattress that pillows the body on top of the support layers.
• Great support for sleepers with orthopedic issues or those who require additional padding on a mattress
• Add a plush, pillowy feel to a mattress, regardless of its firmness
• Available in a variety of styles and price points
• Relieve aches and pains, especially for side sleepers with hip and shoulder pain

Cons:

• Durability may be an issue as pillow tops tend to compress quickly.
• Sagging may also be an issue due to the breakdown of the pillow top layer over time. This can also factor into poor edge support.

Pillow-top mattress types

Today the term pillow top is used interchangeably to refer to pillow-top mattresses, euro top mattresses, and sometimes pillowtops.

Pillow-top has a minor variation to it, known as a Euro top. As the name suggests, the Euro-style originated in Europe and is more common there. Both act as a comfort layer to relieve pressure points.

• Pillow Top Mattress: Pillow top mattresses have additional padding at the top, as though a pillow was sewn onto the top of the mattress.
  
  A regular pillow top is sewn on top of the mattress with a noticeable gap above the comfort layer, giving the impression of extra padding.
• Euro Pillow Top Mattress: Euro top mattresses have additional padding and are sewn flush with the mattress underneath for a streamlined appearance.
  
  In a Euro top, the additional padding layer is sewn underneath the cover of the mattress making it look more flush and uniform—there is no gap, leading to better edge support. Euro top layers are comprised of foam or fiberfill, appearing thicker and denser than a regular pillow top.

The main variations in pillow top mattresses will occur in the makeup of the pillow top’s materials. The padding inside the pillow top can include foam, memory foam, fiberfill, cotton, or wool, all of which have unique benefits and drawbacks. We’ll discuss them more below.

A mattress topper, not to be confused with a pillow top mattress, is a removable layer that sits on top of a mattress to provide extra cushioning.

What are mattress pillow top sizes?

Most of our pillowtop mattresses are available in single, small double, double, king, and super king. To find out the dimensions of each size, check out our Mattress Size Guide.

- Single pillow top mattress size (3' x 6'3")
- Small double pillow top mattress size (4' x 6'3")
- Double pillow top mattress size (4'6" x 6'3")
- King size pillow top mattress size (5' x 6'6")
- Super king pillow top mattress size (6' x 6'6")

What to consider when buying a mattress pillow top?

Sleeping position

If you sleep on your side, a pillow top can be a healthy addition to mattresses that otherwise would feel firm on your shoulders and hips. If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, we recommend making sure the mattress underneath the pillow top is the appropriate firmness for this sleeping position, which requires more consistent support throughout the body to keep the spine aligned.

Weight

A sleeper’s bodyweight will come into play when choosing the firmness and style of the mattress that sits underneath the pillow top layer. Also, because pillow tops are typically soft and thin, most sleepers will be able to feel the mattress underneath. This creates a nice balance of firmness and softness for heavier sleepers who need a supportive, firmer mattress but prefer a soft feel. For more information, see our best mattresses for plus sized sleepers article.

Temperature

If you tend to sleep hot, look for pillow-top mattresses that incorporate breathable materials and airflow-improving construction. Innerspring mattresses or hybrids with pocketed coils tend to sleep cool, as do pillow top layers that incorporate cotton, wool, and latex. We have a number of resources for folks who tend to sleep hot, such as our best cooling mattresses and best cooling sheets roundups.

Price

One of the reasons pillow top mattresses are so popular is that they are affordable. Whereas other mattresses made of materials like latex and gel memory foam can cost thousands of dollars, most pillow top mattresses are much less.

The exact cost varies greatly depending on what the pillow top is made of, as well as the material in the rest of the mattress. Brand and size also have a high impact on cost.

Materials

There’s no shortage of pillow top mattress options on the market, so whether you’re looking for an option that incorporates eco-conscious materials or a pillow top layer with cooling foam, an option out there for you.

Firmness

Whatever pillow top mattress you choose, you’ll be able to feel the mattress underneath the top layer. Choose the firmness that’s appropriate for your body weight, sleeping position, and personal preferences, keeping in mind that the pillow top will only slightly alter its feel (making it softer to the touch). Take a look at our best firm mattresses and best soft mattresses articles for more info.

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What is a Euro Top Mattress?

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel experience, a Euro top mattress is the perfect choice for you. Euro top mattresses are a plush combination of soft and supportive material, and they are also excellent for those who struggle with any sort of back or neck pain. Euro top mattresses tend to be softer than pillow tops, and they are also stitched right in to the top layer of the mattress making them flush with the edge.

Euro top mattresses are generally very similar to pillow tops, but they tend to be more premium when it comes to high quality materials and more technical design. With a Euro top mattress you will feel much more support towards the edges because the topper has a panel on the side of the mattress that makes it flush to the rest of the mattress and does not have a “flap” or indentation like pillow tops do.

Benefits of a Euro Top Mattress

• Unlike pillow tops, there is no gap or v-shaped indentation to sink further into because Euro tops are stitched beneath the mattress cover. The construction results in a more supportive feel.
• Euro tops are better supported by the bottom layers of the mattress because they lie directly atop them, making them less likely to shift out of place. They are also protected by the mattress cover, enhancing durability.
• Euro tops are designed to be even in width with each layer of the mattress, offering better edge support and a cleaner look.

Pillow-Top Mattress vs Euro Top Mattress

Many mattress manufacturers use “pillow top” and “Euro top” interchangeably, but the truth is there are many notable differences between these two types of mattress tops. As mentioned, a pillow top includes a single layer of foam material that feels soft to the touch and is sewn to the mattress. A euro top is a single layer of foam or fiberfill that’s typically denser and higher quality than a pillow top. Euro tops are sewn flush to the top edges of the mattress, creating a stacked, streamlined appearance.

How to Choose Between a Euro Top Mattress and Pillow Top Mattress

As mentioned above, Euro top and pillow top mattresses have unique benefits and drawbacks. If you are having trouble choosing between the two, consider your preferences surrounding the following.

Softness: Pillow tops are generally softer than Euro tops because the absence of material between the add-on layer and mattress cover allows sleepers to sink further into the bed. This also results in superior contouring and pressure relief—a good choice for anyone with painful pressure points.

Motion isolation: Euro tops are thicker and better at absorbing your or your sleep partner’s movements before they transfer across the bed. Euro tops may be the best option for anyone who frequently tosses and turns, and they make great mattresses for couples because they’re better at isolating motion than regular pillow tops.

Durability: Euro tops are more durable than sewn-on pillow tops because they are stitched beneath the cover, making them flush with the edges of the mattress and thus, less likely to flatten, sag, or shift.

Aesthetic appearance: Euro tops blend in with the mattress and may be more aesthetically pleasing, especially after extensive use.

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Frequently asked questions about Pillowtop mattress

What is the purpose of a pillow top mattress?

A pillow top mattress is a mattress that has a separate looking piece on top, that looks like a pillow. It is attached to the bed, and is not removable. They usually consist of various padding layers. The SOLE purpose of a pillow top is to add extra padding to the mattress, thereby making the mattress softer.

Pillow top mattresses generally have spring support systems in the middle of the mattress, though there could be a pillow top on a memory foam mattress as well (it is just not very common).

Is a pillow top mattress good?

Whether or not a pillow top mattress is good for you all depends on what sort of comfort and support level you are looking for. Pillow top mattresses tend to sink and compress after the first few years of use and they also do not have the best edge support. One of the defining characteristics of a pillow mattress is that they are attached by stitching, but still have a flap around the edges that is not completely attached. When shopping for mattresses it’s important to take these things into consideration.

How long does a pillow top mattress last?

A pillow top mattress generally lasts 8-10 years but the pillow top layer itself lasts only a few years before it starts to compress and lose its fluffiness.

What is a tight top on a mattress?

A tight top on a mattress means that it does not have the extra layer of cushioning that a pillow top, box top, or Euro top mattress has. Instead, there is a thick layer of upholstery-like fabric that stretches across the top. These mattresses tend to be firmer than a pillow top or Euro top mattress.

How do you rotate a pillow top mattress?

If your pillow top mattress does have a pillow topping on the other side as well, you can completely flip it over. Experts recommend doing this about every three months. You can also rotate the mattress 180 degrees once every month to try and prolong its life. This would, ideally, make the compressing less of an issue over a longer period of time.

Can you turn over a pillow top mattress?

Generally you are not able to turn over a pillow top mattress because they only have the pillow cushioning on one side. Turning over the mattress would not really make sense, because the side with the pillow topping is supposed to be the side you sleep on.

Is A Pillow Top Mattress Good For Side Sleepers?

One of the best features of a pillow top mattress is that it’s great for every style of sleeper, including side sleepers! Regardless of your preferred sleep position, pillow top mattresses offer long-lasting support to promote pain relief.

What does a pillow top mattress mean?

What is Pillow Top? A pillow top is an extra layer of padding sewn on top of the mattress to enhance its plushness. The pillow top layer comprises materials like cotton, wool, down, fiberfill, memory foam, or latex foam.

Is a pillow top mattress better than memory foam?

Are pillow tops or memory foam mattresses better? Memory foam mattresses score higher in customer satisfaction than pillow tops because they offer more comfort and are longer-lasting. Pillow tops can make an innerspring mattress more comfortable, but they’re not the first choice for many shoppers.

How long pillow top mattress last?

Well, this depends on how you use your pillow top mattress and the materials used to create it. Typically, this product can last between 5 to 8 years with the right care. The top of pillow mattresses is a pillow that can become lumpy over time.

What is the advantage of a pillow top mattress?

Less Pain The extra cushioning of a pillow top allows for proper support for the spine while also perfectly contouring to the back, hips, and shoulders. The extra cushioning layers provide additional support for your back and relieve your back of the pressure points that traditional mattresses tend to create.

Why do pillow top mattresses sag?

Pillow top mattresses sag. In conjunction with the durability issue, some consumers report that their pillow top mattress sags due to the faster break-down of the plus pillow top.

Can a pillow top mattress be turned over?

Because pillow-top mattresses are often only padded on one side, this is generally the best method for reducing wear. However, if you have a mattress with double-sided pillow-top, you may also want to flip it over once a year.

What is a luxury firm pillow top mattress?

Luxury Firm Pillow Top Mattresses are typically made with extra material to give firm support while still providing pressure relief of a pillow top. … Luxury Firm Pillow Top Mattresses are a perfect choice for couples who have different comfort preferences and cannot decide between a firm or a soft mattress.

Which is better Eurotop or pillow top?

Euro top mattresses tend to be softer than pillow tops, and they are also stitched right in to the top layer of the mattress making them flush with the edge. Euro top mattresses are generally very similar to pillow tops, but they tend to be more premium when it comes to high quality materials and more technical design.

Can you wash a pillow top mattress cover?

Wash a pillow top mattress cover made of down feathers or wool in warm water. Use a large washing machine to prevent the cover from tearing. If necessary, take the cover to a laundromat to secure a large enough machine.