The Differences Between Mattress Toppers

• Even expensive mattresses might feel more comfortable with a topper. Jose Luis Pelaez/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Mattresses range in firmness from soft to extra firm, and buyers often discover that they haven't selected the right firmness at the store. Mattress toppers offer options to help improve the quality of sleep and comfort. They come in vastly different styles and models, each offering both advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs.

Memory Foam

• Originally designed for NASA in the 1970s, memory foam mattresses have become well known for their ability to not only conform to the body, but also to not transfer movement, as illustrated by TV commercials in which a person jumps on one side of the bed while a glass of wine doesn't spill on the other side of the mattress. But memory foam also comes as a mattress topper for a regular mattress, offering some of the support and comfort without the high price tag. The problem with memory foam can be its difficulty in cleaning, the initial chemical smell and the fact that it retains body heat, making it less desirable in warmer seasons. But for a fraction of the price of a full memory foam mattress, which can run over $2,000, memory foam toppers can be purchased for under $100. They also help relieve muscle or joint pain for many people.

Feather

• Feather mattress toppers can be good options for people with firm mattresses. Feather toppers provide softness, but not very much support. They also flatten easily, giving them even less support over time. But unlike memory foam, they can be cleaned or washed easily. Hypoallergenic versions offer an alternative to people with allergies. Some mattresses come with the feather topper attached to the mattress, but these can flatten and can't be removed to be washed, so separate feather mattress toppers offer more flexibility. But they do tend to move more and require readjustment.

Wool

• Wool mattress toppers come in both natural lamb or alpaca wool or in synthetic wool for those with allergies. The same problems arise as with feather toppers, in that they don't offer much support and can flatten easily. They do provide softness, though, making them more appealing for owners of a firm or very firm mattress. They can also be dry cleaned. And like feather toppers, wool toppers that can be removed from the mattress offer more cleaning and fluffing options. They will need to be adjusted, though, if they slip or move.

Latex Foam

• Latex foam doesn't possess the same chemical smell as memory foam, while still providing good support. It conforms to the body and reduces movement transfer. But like memory foam, it is difficult to clean. Latex foam helps people who suffer from allergies, though, because it's hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. Another advantage over memory foam is that latex foam breathes more, so it releases some body heat and stays more comfortable.