Even though your mattress has the biggest influence on whether your bed feels firm, medium-firm or soft, your mattress topper also plays a role. A mattress topper gives you the ability to fine-tune the feeling of your bed and make it either a little softer or a little firmer, depending on what you want.
A mattress topper can be firm, medium-firm, or soft, but what do these terms actually mean? And which option is best for you?
How firm should your mattress topper be?
We are all very different when it comes to how soft or firm we like our beds.
"The combination of your mattress and a mattress topper is what creates your sleeping comfort. Do you want to sink into the bed or do you prefer to be a bit more "on top of" the mattress topper?"
– Peter, Category Manager, JYSK
When you need to choose how firm your mattress should be, your primary point of departure should be your own personal preference and what will best complement your current mattress.
Recommendations: How the mattress topper feels
- If you want the sensation of sinking into your bed, memory foam, gel foam or hybrid foam are good materials to choose.
- If you prefer to feel like you are lying on top of the mattress topper, polyether and certain types of latex mattress toppers are better choices for you.
When you've put some thought into your personal preferences, you can match them with JYSK's general recommendations on how firm, or how soft, your new mattress topper should be.
Recommendations: mattress topper firmness
- If you have a soft bed that you'd like to feel a bit firmer, choose a memory foam or polyether mattress topper.
- If you have a firm bed that you'd like to feel a bit softer, choose a latex or hybrid foam mattress topper.
To be sure that you choose the right mattress topper for your personal needs and preferences, you should always try it out at a store before you buy it.
What do soft, medium-firm and firm actually mean?
A firm mattress topper has:
- Less flexibility and elasticity
- Limited ability to adapt to your body
- Example: A 5 cm thick top mattress of PUR foam.
A mattress topper made of polyether foam isn't as flexible as a latex mattress topper, for example. The material inhibits the movement of the springs in the underlying mattress, and you'll also notice that you don't sink particularly far down into it.
A medium-firm mattress topper has:
- Medium flexibility and elasticity
- Medium ability to adapt to your body
- Example: A 5 cm thick mattress topper of memory foam.
The thicker a mattress topper made of memory foam or polyether foam is, the firmer it will feel. Thinner mattress topper – for example, the 3 cm thick ones – will have only a minimal effect on the springs' movement. The result will be a somewhat firmer feeling when you're lying in bed.
A soft mattress topper has:
- High flexibility and elasticity
- Greater ability to adapt to your body
- Example: Mattress topper made of latex, gel foam or Comfort+ foam
There are some exceptions, but generally mattress toppers made of latex, gel foam or hybrid foam will make the bed softer, and you'll feel like you are sinking further down into it. With these materials, the general idea is that the thicker they are, the softer they feel.
What determines the firmness of a mattress topper?
The firmness of a mattress topper is primarily determined by the material. The following guidelines apply to the various types of material.
- Polyether foam: The thicker a mattress topper made of polyether foam is, the firmer it will feel.
- Memory foam: The thicker a mattress topper made of memory foam is, the softer it will feel, because it will allow your body to sink deeper into it.
- Gel, latex, hybrid foam: The thicker a mattress topper made of one of these materials is, the softer it will feel.
The cover of the mattress topper will also impact how it feels. Polyester has a softer feel, while a so-called tufted mattress topper – a mattress with "holes" in it – has a very soft feel.
Our assortment includes soft mattress toppers, firm mattress toppers, and medium firm mattress toppers. Learn more about how to find the right mattress topper for your needs: Which mattress pad and topper should you choose? The ultimate guide.
