Jamey Powell

Author:

September 20, 2022

Jamey Powell

Contributing writer

By Jamey Powell

Contributing writer

Jamey Powell is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, NY. Previously the senior market editor at Healthline.com, she has years of experience scouring endless product reviews and testing out the latest and greatest products in the sleep, fitness, and nutrition markets.

best pillow-top mattress Brentwood mattress on bed

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Have you ever slept on a hotel mattress so comfortable, you wanted to take the bed home with you? If so, odds are it was a pillow-top mattress—the perfect combination of firm support with soft, pillowy comfort on top.

Sleep is essential for so many aspects of our physical, mental, and emotional health, and studies show that more than 70% of Americans are not getting as much restorative sleep as they should. If you’re hoping for a hotel-quality sleep at home, a new mattress might be just what you need. Read on for our picks of the best pillow-top mattresses to bring a feeling of five-star luxury to your bedroom.

What is a pillow-top mattress?

Pillow-top mattresses are beds that are topped with an added layer of fiber or foam to provide a pillowlike feel. “They have a very light and airy feeling; they’re super comfy and fluffy,” explains Shelby Harris, PsyD, DBSM, and author of Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. 

On our list, you’ll find traditional pillow-tops (which are sewn onto the top of the bed) and Euro pillow-tops (which are incorporated into the top layer of the bed and are typically a bit firmer and flatter). 

The added layer of cushion and plushness doesn’t often take away from the overall support of a bed, so Harris says pillow-top mattresses are generally a good pick for any sleep style. Side sleepers, in particular, will appreciate the cloudlike feeling on their shoulders and hips.

Are there any downsides to going plush?

Not many, but Harris says there are a few factors to consider. First, pillow-top mattresses “tend to be a bit heavier than a standard mattress, making them more of a challenge to rotate or move around if needed,” she explains, noting that some do require regular rotation to evenly disperse wear and tear. 

If you’re switching to a pillow-top mattress, you should also be prepared for some added height. “You typically need deeper sheets to fit the mattress as well,” adds Harris. 

Lastly, some people don’t like the tufted feeling of a pillow-top bed. If that’s you, a Euro top might be a better fit. For added comfort and joint support with a potentially smoother surface, you could also consider a mattress topper.

How we picked.

Each mattress on this list is made in the USA and is CertiPUR-US Certified, which means it meets rigorous quality and emissions standards. Some even have additional certifications for organic materials.

Some pillow-top mattresses cost slightly more than an all-foam option, but there are still plenty of budget-friendly options out there. We tried to meet a range of budgets with our list.

We read hundreds of positive and negative reviews on these beds to ensure they were worth the hype, especially when it came to their pillow-top layers.

Wherever possible we try to highlight brands that are taking Mother Earth into consideration with their manufacturing and business practices. There are a few standouts in that department on our list.

Our picks for the best pillow-top mattresses:

Pros:

  • Organic, sustainably sourced materials
  • Good for back and stomach sleepers

Mattress type: Hybrid

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Trial period: 365 Nights

Warranty: 25 Years

How it’s made & how it arrives: 

The brand’s flagship bed, this mattress is a combination of supportive coils, GOLS-certified organic latex, and GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton. Initially on the firmer side, the design is available with an optional pillow-top for $400, which adds both a 2-inch latex layer and cotton pillow-top. Permanently attached to the mattress, the small addition provides extra pressure relief for joints and ensures this bed suits side and combination sleepers alike.

We love that Avocado is a certified B corporation (meaning the products meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact) and that the brand is committed to using organic, sustainably sourced materials. Avocado is also a carbon-negative company, which means it offsets 100% of emissions. 

This mattress ships from the company’s factory in California and arrives compressed and rolled in a box—but thanks to the mattress’ natural and organic materials, you won’t need to worry about any off-gassing smells as it expands.

What customers say:

This mattress has 4.7 out of 5 stars overall and over 17,000 reviews. People have great things to say about the supportive design of this bed (both with and without the attached pillow-top). Still, it’s a firmer mattress even with the pillow-top. It’s also worth mentioning that the most common complaints are about the free delivery service, with shoppers highly recommending that you pay the extra money for delivery and setup.

Pros:

  • Multiple firmness options
  • Organic cotton Euro top

Cons:

  • Not for foam lovers
  • Smaller folks might find it too firm

Mattress type: Innerspring, Euro-Top

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King

Trial period: 365 Nights

Warranty: Lifetime

How it’s made & how it arrives: 

The Saatva Classic tops off three layers of recycled steel coils and nontoxic memory foam with a plush, organic cotton Euro pillow-top. You can choose between three firmness options and either an 11.5- or 14.5-inch height. The Luxury Firm is the brand’s bestselling model, and it’s a good pick for combination and back sleepers, but strict side sleepers might appreciate the added cushion of the Plush Soft model. Whichever firmness you choose, the Euro-top offers enhanced support in the middle to keep your hips in alignment. 

While the cover is made from organic cotton, this mattress is not the most sustainable choice from the brand’s lineup. Saatva’s most environmentally friendly option is the Zenhaven Natural Latex Mattress, which is made from high-quality, nontoxic, and hypoallergenic organic latex sourced from rubber trees.

All mattresses are sent with white glove delivery, never compressed or rolled up in a box—and you might even qualify to have your old mattress and box spring removed (just check the website because the company won’t take everything). 

What customers say: 

This is one of the most highly rated mattresses on the market today. All types of sleepers claim to love the luxury feel and the pressure-relieving support. Most reviews mention relieved aches and pains, especially with the Luxury Firm model. On the con side, some side sleepers do find it a little too firm. Saatva’s customer service is known for being some of the best, and you’ll have 365 nights to make up your mind about your mattress.

Pros:

  • Great for side sleepers
  • Eco-friendly materials & sustainable efforts

Cons:

  • Only one firmness option
  • Smaller folks might find it too firm

Mattress type: Hybrid, Euro-Top

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Trial period: 365 Nights

Warranty: 25 Years

How it’s made & how it arrives: 

It’s hard to find a memory foam bed with a Euro pillow-top, but the Oceano Luxury Hybrid mattress delivers. This model combines a plant-based memory foam and 3,000 pocketed coils to provide a supportive hybrid feel without losing the squishy sensation people love in a memory foam mattress. The plush, tufted Euro pillow-top gives it a medium-soft firmness, which makes this bed a good pick for side sleepers.

Brentwood Home is a sub-brand of Avocado and produces all of its mattresses in the parent company’s same factory in California, using sustainably sourced, GOLS-certified organic materials. The brand is Climate Neutral certified and carbon negative, which means it measures and offsets carbon footprint. When it arrives, the Oceano Hybrid will be compressed and wrapped in a box—you can sleep on it right away, but the expansion takes a full 24 hours to reach the max size. 

What customers say: 

Reviews from people of all sleep styles say this bed is an excellent combination of soft and supportive. Some warn that if you’re looking for a true memory-foam feel, this mattress might be too firm for you. However, anyone who wasn’t pleased with their mattress had great things to say about the generous sleep trial and Brentwood Home’s helpful customer service.

Pros:

  • Luxury hotel bed feel
  • Multiple firmness options

Cons:

  • Too firm for some
  • Longer delivery time

Mattress type: Hybrid

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Trial period: 120 Nights

Warranty: Lifetime

How it’s made & how it arrives:

Featured in our roundup of the best mattress for back pain, this hybrid pick is made from recycled, individually wrapped steel coils; gel-infused foam; and a plush, tufted Euro-top. One of its best features is that it comes in four different firmness options: Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer, and Plus (intended for heavier folks). The Luxury Firm is rated at a 6.5 out of 10 on WinkBed’s firmness scale and is the brand’s bestseller with a true hotel-bed feel. (I should know, I sleep on this mattress every night!) Although it has a very supportive and plush surface, there are also reinforced edges for those who like to sprawl out at night. 

WinkBed’s foams are CertiPure certified; the Tencel© cover is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class 1 certified and eco-friendly; and the coils are made from recycled steel. Still, there are more sustainable mattress options available.

This mattress arrives compressed and rolled in a box and will expand within a couple of hours; you can sleep on it as soon as it’s reached full height.

What customers say:

The WinkBed mattress has 4.8 out of 5 stars across 8,000 reviews. The plush top layer is a hit with all sleep types, but the supportive coils make it particularly ideal for back or stomach sleepers who need a little extra support. Everyone has different needs, and some reviewers complain that this mattress is either too soft or too firm. Fortunately, the brand will allow you to exchange it for a different firmness option (or return it altogether) within the first 120 nights.

Pros:

  • Organic, sustainably sourced materials
  • Breathable latex for cooler sleep

Cons:

  • Only one firmness option
  • Spot-clean only cover

Mattress type: Hybrid, Euro-Top

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Trial period: 365 Nights

Warranty: Lifetime

How it’s made & how it arrives:

This mattress is a medium-firm hybrid that includes buoyant Dunlop latex and individually wrapped coils. It’s the taller, more luxurious option of the brand’s two models and includes a Euro-top wrapped in organic cotton and organic, moisture-wicking New Zealand Wool, which makes for a cooler sleep surface—all details that have earned this design multiple certifications, including Rainforest Alliance, GREENGUARD Gold, and the Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX.

Although this mattress is compressed and shipped in a box, there shouldn’t be any off-gassing smells while it expands (thanks to the natural latex and cotton). It’s a little heavy, but there are also four handles on the bed that will help you get it onto your base.

What customers say:

The Awara Premier mattress has overwhelmingly positive reviews. Most people comment on the plush support, saying it’s a great medium-firm mattress. Of course, some folks say it’s too firm, and there is only one firmness option. Luckily, you’ll have 365 nights to sleep on it before deciding it’s for you.

Pros:

  • Customizable firmness on each side
  • Natural, organic materials

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Doesn’t fit with all adjustable bases

Mattress type: Air Bed, Latex, Euro-Top

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King, Split California King

Trial period: 365 Nights

Warranty: Lifetime

How it’s made & how it arrives: 

While the size of a mattress doesn’t dictate comfort, there are definitely a few mattresses where bigger is in fact better—especially if you share your bed with a partner. The Solaire is an air bed, so you can switch between 50 firmness options, simply by using a remote. For the queen size or larger, there are separate air chambers so you and your partner can customize your own side. Like the Saatva Classic, the Solaire has a 3-inch Euro pillow-top made with organic cotton and natural latex, giving it a very luxurious feel. The foams are CertiPUR-US Certified, the coils are made from recycled steel, and the cover is organic cotton. All Saatva mattresses are made in the United States.

This mattress comes with free white glove delivery and setup, which is especially helpful if you order a split king model or Saatva’s adjustable base. 

What customers say:

There aren’t a ton of reviews for this mattress online, but the majority are positive. A few folks do say their bed slopes toward the edges a bit, or that it took a while to get used to. On the positive side, almost every reviewer mentions Saatva’s excellent customer service—even those who ended up returning their beds during the full-year sleep trial.

Pros:

  • Multiple firmness options
  • Targeted support for side sleepers

Cons:

  • Tall height might not be for everyone
  • Motion control could be better

Mattress type: Hybrid, Euro-Top

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King

Trial period: 120 Nights

Warranty: Lifetime

How it’s made & how it arrives: 

While this mattress is a good pick for all sleep styles (there are three firmness options), it is particularly great for side sleepers, thanks to its individually wrapped coils that add targeted support to keep your neck and head aligned. The plush Euro pillow-top adds a luxury feel and cloudlike comfort, especially when paired with the Plush or Luxury Firm model. The mattress also includes a layer of graphite-infused foam, which the brand says promotes cooler sleep. 

This mattress will arrive compressed and rolled in a box. It’s unclear from the website how long you should wait for the mattress to expand before sleeping on it—but some reviewers mention “cheating” and sleeping on it the same night without complaint. 

What customers say:

Customers rave about reduced joint pain, the mattress’ cushy Euro top, and Nolah’s excellent customer service. It’s not easy to find a negative review on the brand’s website (hmm…), but one person mentions that they can feel their spouse move throughout the night, so the motion control could be better.

Pros:

  • Less expensive
  • Cashmere & memory foam Euro top

Cons:

  • Not sustainable
  • Only one firmness option

Mattress type: Hybrid, Euro-Top

Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Trial period: 365 Nights

Warranty: Lifetime

How it’s made & how it arrives: 

This upgraded version of the original DreamCloud mattress elevates the hybrid design by adding a luxurious Euro pillow-top with a breathable cashmere cover. The cashmere-blend Euro top is made with a combination of memory foam and soft foam to provide added comfort and a natural cradling effect for your body. 

Even with the improved pillow-top, this is the least expensive mattress on this list—it doesn’t skimp on quality, though. This bed offers a true, supportive, hotel-bed feel, and if you don’t love your DreamCloud in the first year, you can return it for a full refund. While this is an affordable option, you do sacrifice sustainability, as it is not a nontoxic mattress.

The DreamCloud Premier will arrive compressed and wrapped in a box, and the brand recommends leaving it to expand for 24 hours before sleeping on it. 

What customers say:

With nearly 8,000 reviews and 4.8 out of 5 stars, this mattress gets extremely positive feedback. Reviewers say they feel supported (a few mention the feeling of sleeping “on top” of the bed vs. sleeping “in” it), and many comment on reduced aches and pains. Of course, some say it’s too firm, while others say it’s too soft—and unfortunately, there’s only one medium-firm option on this bed.

How to choose.

With multiple materials available (memory foam, latex, cotton, wool, etc.), taking stock of what you like in your current mattress can help you decide which material is best for you. For example, if you’re a hot sleeper, breathable materials like latex or cotton are probably your best option. 

Mattresses can get expensive, but these days there are plenty of budget-friendly options on the market. Weigh the pros and cons of each, and there’s bound to be a cloudlike bed that works for you without breaking the bank.

We also recommend taking advantage of your chosen mattress brand’s trial period. Each brand featured here has a trial of at least 100 nights, so you can make sure the mattress is the best fit for you before committing to a long-term relationship.

FAQ

What’s the difference between a pillow-top and a Euro top mattress?

The difference lies mostly in the mattress’ design. A standard pillow-top is a comfort layer that is often sewn onto the top of a mattress, while a Euro top is incorporated into the top layer of the mattress and therefore might appear more flat.

Are pillow-top mattresses good for side sleepers?

Pillow-top mattresses are a great pick for side sleepers, as they offer an additional layer of pressure-relieving cushion that cradles hips and shoulders.

How long should a good pillow-top mattress last?

The longevity of a mattress depends on the quality of the bed and how much use it gets. A quality pillow-top mattress should last between five and 10 years, assuming you take good care of it. For an even longer shelf life, consider a flippable mattress.

The takeaway.

If you love the luxurious feeling of a hotel bed, you’ll be happy to know you can achieve that same pillowy comfort in your own home. Whether you’re a side sleeper, a hot sleeper, or anything in between, we’re sure one of the pillow-top beds on our list will have you sleeping like you’re on vacation in no time.