6 Best Latex Mattress Toppers, According to Our Testing

Our analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab begin the testing process by researching the materials, specifications, features and claims of popular mattress toppers. Then, product experts and consumer testers evaluate the mattress toppers at home from how easy it is to set up to how comfortable it is to sleep on before providing firsthand feedback, once after several weeks and again after a longer period of time. Here are a few factors we consider when evaluating the best latex mattress toppers:

✔️ Ease of use: Our testers give scores for how easy (or difficult) it is to set up the topper on their beds.

✔️ Overall comfort: Testers rate the mattress topper on how comfortable it feels to lie on at night.

✔️ Comfortable body temperature: Users share whether they maintained a comfortable sleeping temperature at night when using the topper.

✔️ Stay-in-place capabilities: Each topper is given a score for how much it shifts around on the beds during use.

✔️ Sound: Each topper is also assessed for any noise to ensure the toppers stay quiet and undetectable during use.

✔️ Mattress enhancement: Reviewers tell us if and how the topper changes the feel of their mattresses.

✔️ Overall satisfaction: Finally, our testers share whether they liked sleeping on the mattress topper and whether they plan to continue using it in addition to any other likes, dislikes or comments.

With mattress toppers, like mattresses, there isn't one best option for everyone, so here are some things to keep in mind when searching for the best latex mattress topper for you:

✔️ Thickness: A good mattress topper should be at least 2 inches thick, but thicker toppers will offer more support. If you're only searching for a small upgrade, a thinner model would be the best option. Just keep in mind that a thicker topper will add to the height of your mattress and some bed sheets may not be able to accommodate the total height.

✔️ Softness: If your mattress is too firm, consider looking for a plusher or softer firmness option for your topper. If you're looking for something with more support to firm up your existing mattress, go with a firmer option.

✔️ Support: If you're feeling pain when you wake up, adding a latex topper can increase the firmness or give you pressure relief around your joints.

✔️ Stay-in-place features: If you're concerned about the topper shifting at night, look for a topper that has straps to hook onto your mattress or consider adding a mattress protector to help keep everything in place.

✔️ Care: Many mattress toppers aren't washable, but some may come with a removable cover that can be washed by hand or in a machine.

✔️ Certifications: Here are some of the most common emblems you may see when shopping for latex mattress toppers:

• OEKO-TEX: The Standard 100 by Oeko-TEX shows whether any fabric (such as the outer cover) has been tested and passed evaluations that ensure there are no unsafe levels of known harmful chemicals.
• GOTS: The Global Organic Textile Standard confirms that the entire manufacturing process of the product follows strict standards. Note that GOTS only certifies the entire product and not the components. This certification is often misused by brands that only use one or two organic components, like an organic cotton cover, so you can always check the GOTS public database to be sure.
• GOLS: The Global Organic Latex Standard is similar to GOTS, but confirms that any latex used in the product is certified organic. GOTS and GOLS are often used together.
• GREENGUARD: This certification for indoor air quality ensures that the topper has met chemical emission standards. The GREENGUARD Gold certification requires lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels.

Latex is a natural foam derived from rubber trees, making it a more expensive option with great durability and resiliency. Compared to memory foam mattress toppers, which offer great pressure relief, support and comfort, latex toppers have more bounce and breathability, making them a great option for hot sleepers. When shopping for latex mattress toppers, you may encounter some hybrid options that feature a layer of latex foam with fiber fill. These typically offer a more luxe experience, similar to a pillow-top on a bed with the contouring support of the latex underneath.

You'll often see both Dunlop and Talalay latex options when shopping for latex mattresses, latex mattress toppers or latex pillows. These terms refer to the two main processes used to create latex foam. While neither process is inherently better than the other, Dunlop tends to be more dense or spongey while Talaylay is often more bouncy. Here's more information on the two processes and the subsequent differences in their final products:

✔️ How it's made:

• Dunlop latex: Liquid latex is poured into a mold until full and placed into a vulcanization oven before being washed and dried at a high temperature.
• Talalay latex: Liquid latex is poured into a mold until partially full. The mold is sealed, and the latex inside is expanded to completely fill the entire mold before being placed into a vulcanization oven, washed and dried.

✔️ How they differ: Dunlop latex is denser and can feel more springy. Talalay latex is less dense, because of the expansion step, and can feel more bouncy.

Grace Wu is a textiles product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab. In addition to conducting in-Lab tests on bedding products and analyzing feedback from hundreds of consumer testers, she's written several stories on latex options, including the best latex mattresses and best latex pillows. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.