Best Feather Mattress Toppers

A mattress topper is an extra layer added to the top of a mattress to change its feel. Toppers can make the bed softer or firmer, and they can add more cushioning or support. While choosing the right mattress for you can improve your sleep experience, combining it with the right mattress topper can take your sleep surface to the next level.

Several different materials are commonly used in mattress toppers, including latex, polyfoam, memory foam, down alternative, down, and feathers.

Feather mattress toppers, also called featherbeds, typically contain feathers, down, or a combination of the two. The down and feathers used in a topper may come from ducks, geese, or both. Feather toppers are perhaps best known for their softness and luxury, but many sleepers also appreciate their breathability, responsiveness, and added support.

Even if you’ve narrowed down your topper search to feather toppers, you’ll have a lot of choices to make. There are many feather toppers on the market, and their unique materials and designs have direct impacts on their performance. We’ll cover our top picks for the best feather mattress toppers, explain what makes them unique, and go over some of the most important factors to consider as you shop.

Product Details

If you normally find featherbeds uncomfortable because they sink too much, you’re a great candidate for Quince’s Luxe Downtop Featherbed Mattress Topper. This is largely thanks to a 3-inch gusset that helps the topper resist deep sinkage and maintain a full, lofty shape. Chambered construction adds to the excellent overall shape retention. The top layer consists of premium white down that feels luxuriously plush and provides deep cushioning for your sore spots, while the base contains feathers that provide decent overall support.

A shell made of smooth cotton sateen encases the fill. The shell is quilted with large baffle boxes to give the featherbed a luxurious, hotel-inspired appearance. Although the topper is technically machine-washable, it will be too large for most machines and you’ll likely need to have it dry cleaned. Using a protector can safeguard the featherbed from stains and other types of damage. Queen and king/California king sizes are available, making the topper best suited to couples or solo sleepers who use larger mattresses.

Quince’s 365-night sleep trial is among the longest in the online bedding industry. The company also offers free ground shipping with all orders, as well as expedited delivery for an additional fee.

Premium feather toppers can be fairly expensive. On the other hand, budget-friendly featherbeds often sacrifice construction and material quality in order to achieve an affordable sticker price. The Baffle Box Featherbed from Pacific Coast is the best of both worlds: a well-crafted topper packed with luxurious feather clusters to create the plush, cloud-like feel people love about featherbeds, at a sticker price that won’t break the bank.

The topper is quilted with large baffles to ensure plenty of loft. Each baffle box is sewn through to help distribute the fill — but you may still need to fluff the featherbed on a regular basis. Thick corded trim strengthens the perimeter, making the fabric more resistant to rips and tears that can cause fill to escape. Five sizes are available ranging from twin to king and California king. Since the topper is too large for most washing machines and dryers in any size, you should spot clean the surface if stains occur and use a protector to safeguard against other contaminants.

In addition to its accessible price-point, the Baffle Box Featherbed qualifies for free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Pacific Coast allows returns within 30 days if you are dissatisfied with the topper, or if you experience symptoms of a feather allergy. The featherbed is further backed by a 3-year warranty.

The Parachute Down Mattress Topper is a luxury topper that balances plushness and support. This 550 fill power feather bed is constructed of two chambers. The top chamber has a softer feel for surface-level cushioning, while the bottom chamber is firmer to limit sagging and sinkage.

Premium, all-natural European white down makes up the topper fill. In total, it contains 85 percent down and 15 percent down and feather fibers. The use of primarily down gives the topper an especially soft, cozy feel without as much risk of feather quill shafts poking out. A sateen cotton shell encases the fill and lets airflow into and out of the topper so that excessive heat can escape.

Thanks to its baffle box construction, the down and feather fill fluffs up nicely and stays evenly distributed across the surface. This topper measures 3 inches thick, leaving plenty of room for the sleeper to sink in and enjoy a luxury hotel feel. Parachute uses down which has been certified by the Responsible Down Standard, meaning the birds were cared for following certain guidelines about humane treatment. The topper is dry clean only.

Free domestic ground shipping is available within the United States. The Parachute Down Mattress Topper is eligible for a 60-day return policy and a 3-year warranty.

The Down on Top Featherbed from Pacific Coast has a unique dual-layer design that should appeal to anyone hoping to make their sleep surface feel exceptionally soft. The top layer features baffle boxes packed with plush goose down for cloud-like cushioning, while feathers fill the base to create a sturdy support system. A 3-inch gusset helps the bottom maintain a full shape, and helpful side handles allow you to easily fluff the down.

A breathable cotton shell encases both layers. The proprietary Barrier Weave is exceptionally tight to prevent rips and tears that allow fill to escape. Pacific Coast thoroughly washes all down and feathers to decrease the potential for allergy symptoms from dust and other contaminants. A certification from the Responsible Down Standard ensures the plumage used in this topper is never collected from live animals, and that farms working with Pacific Coast adhere to humane housing and feeding practices.

The Down on Top Featherbed is available in five sizes that correspond to standard mattress dimensions. Standard ground shipping is free for shoppers in the contiguous U.S. You may return the topper within 30 days of your delivery date. Each purchase is covered under a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty against structural defects. You’ll also receive a 30-day “allergy warranty,” allowing you to return the featherbed if you experience down allergy symptoms.

Side sleepers can benefit from a plush sleep surface that cushions the shoulders and hips, two areas prone to pressure buildup for people who primarily use the side position. The Quince Premium Featherbed is one of the softest toppers our team has tested. Measuring 3 inches thick, the topper’s feather fill creates a cloud-like surface that cradles your body, but the gusseted design provides decent support and prevents you from sinking too deeply. 

A shell made of durable, wear-resistant cotton twill encases the feathers. The shell is quilted with sewn-through baffles to evenly distribute the fill, so you shouldn’t need to fluff the topper too frequently. Since the topper does not include corner straps, we recommend tucking it beneath your fitted sheet. Full, queen, and king/California king sizes are available. The topper is technically machine-washable, but may be too large for some household appliances, such as especially washers with agitators. 

A certification from the Responsible Down Standard indicates no waterfowl were harmed or treated inhumanely to obtain the feathers. The Premium Featherbed is competitively priced and Quince provides free standard shipping for all orders. You’ll receive a generous 365-night trial with your purchase, ensuring ample time to test the topper and decide if it’s right for you. Returns and exchanges are honored during this time frame, even if you’ve used and laundered the topper.

The best feather toppers provide a balance of softness and support, resulting in a cloud-like feel without excessive sinkage. That’s the case for the Standard Textile Down Featherbed, which features a top layer of plush pure down over a second layer that primarily consists of feather fill. Most sleepers will sink a bit beneath the surface, but the base layer provides decent reinforcement for side and back sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds.

The topper’s shell is made of breathable cotton, which offsets the down’s heat-insulating properties to a noticeable degree. Thick baffle-box stitching helps the topper maintain a full shape with minimal clumping or shifting, and also prevents fill from escaping. The seams are piped for added stability.

The down and feathers have received certification from the Responsible Down Standard, ensuring the topper is cruelty-free. The Down Featherbed’s price-point is quite reasonable compared to other similarly constructed toppers. Standard Textile also offers full refunds and free shipping on all returns initiated within 90 days of your original purchase.

How to Choose a Feather Mattress Topper

What is comfortable varies between individuals, so a wide array of mattress toppers are available to suit diverse preferences. Even between feather toppers, there are distinct differences in softness, supportiveness, materials, and more. This section will highlight some of the key differentiating factors that make each topper unique.

What to Consider When Purchasing a Feather Mattress Topper

These are some of the main factors to consider as you consider a feather mattress topper. While some of these factors may not be as important to you as others, most shoppers will want to prioritize a few of these items over the rest to help find the best topper for them.

Some manufacturers may make misleading claims that imply their feather topper will be the ideal solution for any sleeper, but it’s important to remember that each individual has unique needs and preferences. While a topper may feel comfortable for many people, it may not be right for your needs. Focusing on the actual traits of different toppers with your needs in mind can help you find the best match for you.

Price
Because down and feathers vary widely in price, so do mattress toppers that use these materials. Budget-friendly options can cost less than $100, while some luxury options are over $1,000. However, most feather toppers cost between $100 and $300.

Sleeping Position
Your preferred sleeping position affects your pressure points and spinal alignment, so it is an important factor in determining which feather topper is best for you.

Side sleepers may prefer a feather topper with more cushioning to reduce pressure buildup around their hips and shoulders. Down fill usually adds plushness, so a topper with more down may appeal to side sleepers. Back and stomach sleepers usually need more support to keep their spines well aligned, so they may prefer a topper with a significant feather layer to help prevent them from sinking in excessively.

Quality Materials
Feather and down toppers are often seen as high quality, but as with most materials, quality varies. Down generally has a stronger reputation for quality than feathers because it’s usually softer, fluffier, and lacks quills. Goose down is also typically higher quality than duck down because geese usually produce larger down clusters, lending to a fluffier topper. Some inexpensive toppers may also use chicken feathers, which tend to be more prickly and less soft.

Firmness Level
The firmness of a feather topper can affect its supportiveness and pressure relieving capability, but feather mattress topper manufacturer’s do not typically rate the firmness level. Luckily, shoppers can deduce a lot about a feather topper’s feel based on its construction. A topper with more feather fill will typically be more supportive, while a topper with more down will probably be softer and fluffier. Many feather toppers contain both feather and down to strike a balance between softness and support.

Thickness
The thickness of a feather topper influences how significantly it alters the feel of your existing mattress. If you like the feel of your existing bed, a thin feather topper can provide a bit of plushness. If your existing bed is too soft or too firm, a thicker topper can adjust the feel so that it more closely matches your needs and preferences.

Pressure Relief
Feathers and down do not contour to the body and redistribute weight like memory foam, polyfoam, and latex, so a feather topper may not relieve pressure as much as some alternatives. However, some sleepers feel the cushioning of a feather topper reduces their pressure points.

The pressure-relieving properties of a feather topper depend largely on its thickness and materials. While most feather toppers can relieve pressure to an extent, thicker toppers and those that contain down typically provide more cushioning than thinner toppers and those with exclusively feather fill.