Best Pillow-Top Mattress of 2025

Whether you prefer the contouring qualities of memory foam or the responsive bounce of innersprings, a well-designed pillow-top mattress can enhance your sleep experience. In general, you have two options: A traditional pillow-top gives the appearance of an additional layer sitting on top of the mattress, while a Euro-top lines up flush with the edge of the layers beneath. Our list below includes both. Plus, we’ll share some tips for buying a new pillow-top or Euro-top mattress.

How We Evaluated & Reviewed

Meta Analysis: Of the 2,000+ mattresses in our product database, roughly 150 contain pillow-top or Euro-top layers. Based on historical data and construction analyses, our team chose the top 30 models for additional in-depth testing.

Hands-On Testing: Our testing team thoroughly evaluated each of the top 30 models, using state-of-the-art tools and technology to assess pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support, and other important performance metrics. Our team includes testers in different weight and sleep position groups to ensure our findings are inclusive of all sleepers.

Field Testing: Next, we sent each top performer home with a team member to sleep on in their own bedroom for up to two weeks to see how well a mattress performs in a real-world sleep environment.

User Reviews: We collected data from roughly 31,000 reviews from verified owners of pillow-top mattresses to ensure our team’s findings line up with customers’ experiences.

What Is a Pillow-Top Mattress?

Pillow-top mattresses feature an extra top layer designed to enhance cushioning or responsiveness on the surface. The layer is typically composed of foam, latex, wool, or various fibers, and usually measures 2 to 4 inches. The edge of the pillow-top layer is not attached to the edge of the layer beneath, which gives it a cloud-like feel.

Pros	Cons
Plush comfort with a soft, luxe feelContouring properties for pressure reliefAbsorb motion to minimize sleep disruptions for co-sleepers	Traps heat (though some add cooling features to offset this)Prone to sagging along the edges

Pillow-Top vs. Euro-Top

While pillow-tops and Euro-tops both feature a soft 2- to 4-inch layer sewn to the top of the mattress, there are several important differences between the two models. On a pillow-top, the perimeter of the surface layer is not attached to the mattress layers beneath. 

By contrast, the perimeter of the Euro-top surface layer is sewn onto the rest of the bed, creating a seamless appearance. Euro-tops also sometimes use denser materials that make the top layer feel more integrated with the mattress.

Euro-tops are often available in a wider range of firmness levels and can accommodate more types of sleepers. They also offer stronger edge support and better durability than traditional pillow-tops. As a result, Euro-tops generally carry a higher price-point. That said, they don’t always offer the immediately plush sensation that sleepers expect from a pillow-top.

Who Should (and Should Not) Sleep on a Pillow-Top Mattress?

Pillow-Top Mattresses Are Best For

Side Sleepers

• In general, side sleepers appreciate the extra padding and contouring of pillow-tops.

Those Who Like a Plush Surface

• If you want a supportive mattress but don’t love a firm feel, a pillow-top can provide that cloud-like feel without compromising support.

Couples

• Pillow-top mattresses tend to absorb motion well so they can be a good fit for couples who don’t want to disturb each other when shifting positions during the night.

Pillow-Top Mattresses Are Less Than Ideal For

Sleepers Over 230 Pounds

• Pillow-top mattresses don’t always have strong enough support for those over 230 pounds and might allow these sleepers to sink too far into the mattress.

Those Who Like a Firm Feel

• If you like to sleep on a flat, even surface, the plush quality of a pillow-top won’t be to your taste.

How to Choose the Best Pillow-Top Mattress

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a mattress, whether it’s a pillow-top or not. We’ll walk you through some of the main considerations and explain how they vary according to a sleeper’s individual needs and preferences. 

Materials 

Materials determine the quality and feel of the entire mattress, including the pillow-top layer. Common materials used in pillow-tops include foam, latex, wool, and fiberfill. Natural fibers tend to be more durable than synthetic fiberfill, which varies in quality and may break down faster. 

Foam often provides deeper contouring than other materials but ranges widely in quality. In general, low-density foam is less durable than high-density foam. Those who want a more responsive pillow-top layer may prefer latex. The bouncy feel provides strong ease of movement, but this also means it will not hug the body as closely as foam. Latex is a natural material and more durable than foam.

The comfort layers and pillow-top rest above a layer of coils. Many hybrid models feature pocketed coils, but there are several other types of coil — offset, continuous wire, and Bonnell — which play a role in the overall feel and durability of the mattress.

Firmness

Pillow-top mattresses tend to feel less firm than traditional hybrid or innerspring mattresses, but keep in mind that mattress firmness is subjective. How a mattress feels depends largely on the sleeper’s body weight and sleeping position. For example, a person who weighs over 230 pounds may find a medium firm mattress too soft and prone to sinking, while a sleeper who weighs 130 pounds might find the same mattress too firm. The best firmness level for you is one that provides a comfortable balance of pressure relief and support. 

While pillow-tops usually suit sleepers who prefer softer beds, pillow-top and Euro-top mattresses are available in a range of firmness levels.

Feel and Support

Pillow-top mattresses are designed for sleepers who like a soft feel to their sleeping surface. The quilted surface layer cradles the body, while coils beneath push back. The balance of cushioning and support is important to maintaining healthy sleep posture. A mattress that promotes spinal alignment will offer enough cradling for the shoulders, hips, and spine while maintaining support for areas like the lower back. 

Pillow-tops are usually meant to feel soft and luxurious, but the rest of the mattress should still provide ample support. “As a sleep specialist, I emphasize that softness alone isn’t enough—support is key,” says sleep medicine physician Pranshu Adavadkar, M.D. “A pillow-top mattress should cushion pressure points but also provide a firm foundation to keep the lower back and spine properly aligned.”

Thickness

Because of the extra layer quilted on top, both pillow-top and Euro-top mattresses tend to have a taller profile than the average mattress. Standard mattress thickness is generally 10 to 12 inches. For a pillow-top, expect a range of 13 to 15 inches. You may need to purchase deep pocket sheets in order to fit the higher profile. 

Price

Shoppers looking for a cheap mattress with pressure relief sometimes opt for a pillow-top innerspring model, which tends to have a lower price-point. These models are typically less durable, but they cost as little as a few hundred dollars. 

Euro-top and pillow-top hybrid models usually carry a steeper price-point because of their higher quality materials and more complex construction. They may cost anywhere from $700 to over $3,000 for a queen size. You can usually find a quality Euro-top or pillow-top hybrid for between $1,000 and $2,000.

Many online mattress companies include free shipping. Some also provide services like old mattress disposal and White Glove delivery. Keep in mind that since pillow-top mattresses often have taller profiles, you may need to invest in deep pocket sheets.

Temperature Regulation

The thick comfort layer that pillow-tops provide can sometimes come with heat retention because the materials conform to the body, though this depends on the specific materials used. Memory foam conforms closely and can trap heat, while latex provides more gentle contouring. It’s also worth noting that pillow-tops are always found on coil mattresses, and coil support cores are great at encouraging airflow.

Edge Support

Edge support refers to a mattress’ ability to stand up to weight along its perimeter. Because a traditional pillow-top isn’t fully connected to the rest of the mattress, it is prone to sagging along the edge. Euro-tops, by contrast, have better edge support because the top is sewn to the rest of the bed, and Euro-tops often incorporate denser materials.

“For older adults or those with mobility issues, firm edge support offers added stability,” Dr. Adavadkar says. “It helps them sit comfortably on the side of the bed without sinking in, provides a stable surface to push off from when getting out of bed, and helps prevent the feeling of rolling off.”

Motion Isolation

The added plushness of a pillow-top helps absorb motion so it doesn’t travel across the surface of the bed. A pillow-top’s ability to isolate motion does depend on its materials. Foam absorbs motion better than fiberfill, for example. All-foam beds also take the prize when it comes to motion isolation as there is always some movement transfer in a coil bed.

Ease of Movement

The softness of a pillow-top can make it slightly more difficult to switch positions than a bed with a more even surface. That said, the coil layer offers push back, so pillow-tops tend to have better ease of movement than all-foam beds.

Which Mattress Types Feature a Pillow-Top?

Pillow-tops are usually found on hybrid and innerspring mattresses, since they’re typically meant to balance the coils with extra cushioning and contouring. Foam mattresses already offer strong conforming, so it’s rare to find a foam model with a pillow-top.

Hybrid

Definition: Hybrid mattresses combine sturdy coils with comfort layers made of foam, latex, or other conforming materials.

Highlight: These mattresses are intended to provide a balance of cradling and support with the combination of coils at the base and contouring materials on top. Adding a pillow-top boosts the cushioning even more.

Innerspring

Definition: The most simple, traditional mattress design, these beds consist of supportive coils encased in a cover.

Highlight: A pillow-top adds cushioning and pressure relief to the otherwise firm design.

How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science

Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.

In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.

How We Determine Our Overall Scores

Dive Deeper – Mattress Guides by Type

If you’re still not sure if a pillow-top mattress is the best choice for your specific needs, take a look at our other guides broken down by mattress type.