Are you waking up every morning with hip pain? Your mattress might be to blame. But before you throw away the whole thing and order a new one, consider trying to correct the problem with a mattress topper. These accessories are placed on top of your bed to change the firmness and feel of your mattress—without spending thousands of dollars on a brand-new bed.
The best mattress toppers for hip pain should provide contouring, plush comfort, and plenty of sinkage for maximum pressure relief around this sensitive joint. Among the dozens of toppers our expert testers reviewed, we chose the ones that best fit the criteria to have you on your way to pain-free, comfortable sleep.
Editor’s Note: The information provided in this article should not be considered a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a medical professional if you have personal health-related questions.
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Mattress Topper for Hip Pain?
In our opinion, the best mattress topper for hip pain is the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam topper because of its soft yet supportive, luxurious feel, which should contour to the hips in just about every sleeping position. For an all-foam topper, we thought it also didn’t trap too much heat, and the dense, 3-inch construction should last you a long time—well beyond the topper’s one-year warranty.
The Best Mattress Toppers for Hip Pain
- Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper – Best Mattress Topper for Hip Pain Overall
- Mattress Topper Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper – Best Affordable Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
- Nolah Mattress Topper – Best Soft Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
- Avocado Organic Topper – Best Organic Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
- ViscoSoft Active Cooling Topper – Best Cooling Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
How We Tested and Selected the Mattress Toppers
“Pressure relief is essential for maintaining comfort when dealing with pain or discomfort in the body,” says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, our chief medical advisor. “Softer, contouring materials cradle pressure points like the hips as they sink into the mattress.” If you’re dealing with hip pain on your current bed, there’s a chance it’s not providing the pressure relief you need.
That’s where a pressure-relieving mattress topper would do wonders. We aimed to include toppers with materials like memory foam and latex, honing in on those that had a softer, more cushioning feel overall.
Generally, softer toppers are better, but if your mattress also lacks support, you may want to opt for a medium or medium-firm feel. Among these toppers, a few offer multiple firmness options or also scored highly in the support category.
The last thing you want is a mattress topper that’s too thin to cause a significant change in feel for your mattress. For hip pain, it’s even more important, especially if you sleep on your side. As you sink into the topper, you don’t want to bottom out on your old mattress, even more so if it’s too firm or unsupportive.
For that reason, we recommend you stick to toppers that are at least 2 inches thick. Many on this list go above that or are available in even thicker sizes.
Finally, a good mattress topper will last you a long time. If you’re buying one to save money on a new mattress, you don’t want it to conk out on you after a few months—especially since many high-quality mattress toppers can run you a couple of hundred bucks, depending on the size you need.
Our testers evaluate the construction of each topper they test in terms of how it looks, feels, and ultimately performs. Included in this evaluation is a materials score, which is rated out of 5. This speaks to the quality of the topper itself, based on the price point and advertised construction. A higher materials score often indicates higher quality and, therefore, durability.
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches selected the best mattress toppers for hip pain by looking for top performers in the categories above: pressure relief, thickness, and durability.
But our full process involves testing several aspects of a mattress topper’s performance, including cooling, support, and more. We evaluate and score these factors using specialized technology as well as firsthand accounts of how a mattress topper feels to testers with different body types.
Once we have all those scores, we calculate the overall score using a weighted formula. This overall score is a good indicator of a topper’s general quality, and is always a number out of 5.
As we decide which mattress toppers to feature on any roundup, we only include those with an overall score of 3.5 out of 5 or higher. Even if a mattress topper does certain things well, we won’t point you towards it if it falls below this baseline.
- 500+ mattresses and 100+ sleep accessories tested in person
- 30+ data points collected for each bed
- 7 Certified Sleep Science Coaches on staff
- Expert input from our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta (MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM) and our Chief Medical Product Tester Dr. Hannah Habeeb (DPT)
- 40,000+ readers who bought a new bed based on our recommendations
Learn more about Mattress Clarity.
Read about our testing experience with each of the mattress toppers on our list below.
Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper – Best Mattress Topper for Hip Pain Overall
Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper
A premium graphite-infused memory foam topper with additional cooling layer.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.1 / 5
Saatva’s Graphite Memory Foam Topper has the perfect profile for folks with hip pain: dense, pressure-relieving memory foam that’ll conform to the contours of your body. It’s 3” thick, the perfect height to transform the surface of your existing mattress. My colleague and fellow tester, Matt Schickling, was most impressed by the quality of this topper’s construction, awarding it a perfect 5/5 materials score. He also gave the topper high marks for support and value, each earning 4/5.
The Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper is a whopping 3 inches thick, with an overall “dense and high-quality feel,” per Matt. He thought it was a level up from other toppers he’d tested. “The cover is really nice and breathable. There is no notable pilling, weird stretching, or bad stitching. This thing is really nicely made,” he said.
It also has a true memory foam feel, which Matt thought would work well for sleepers “who want to add some plush support to their bed.” You’ll sink deeply into this topper, to be sure, but not too much that you feel fully unsupported. Back and side sleepers should achieve the most comfort.
Graphite is a mineral known for its high thermal conductivity, so it’s often added to dense, heat-trapping materials like memory foam to help with overheating. Matt noted that this topper wasn’t cool-to-the-touch, but he said, “I’d say the cooling is pretty good for memory foam. I was lying on my stomach for 14 minutes on this topper, and it didn’t noticeably heat up beneath me.”
Memory foam generally has a doughy, slow-moving feel that leaves impressions and indentations whenever you sink into it. But Matt was surprised by how well this foam topper held its shape. “It’s not bouncy, but when you change positions or get up off the bed, it does retain its original shape pretty quickly,” he explained.
This dense feel usually means that the foam is better at absorbing motion, which would keep movement from traveling across the surface. However, Matt called the motion transfer “just okay” for memory foam. “I can feel a good amount of movement—more than you’d expect for this material, but not extreme or anything like that.” For folks looking for a topper that’s great at isolating motion, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper, also on this list.
If the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper is calling your name, though, you can purchase it on Saatva’s site for about $295. It’s definitely on the higher end, but Matt proudly proclaimed that “the quality justifies the expense.” You also get a 1-year warranty and 45 nights to try it out for yourself.
Read more in our full Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper review.
Mattress Topper Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper – Best Affordable Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
Mattress Topper 2.5-lb Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper
If you’re a fan of the slow-moving memory foam feel, but you’re not ready to spring for a brand new mattress, then this topper may be the perfect thing for you.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.2 / 5
If you’re looking for a high-quality topper that doesn’t break the bank, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper. This memory foam topper offers plenty of cushioning, and it features cooling gel infusions to keep things cool. It also absorbs motion like a champ, scoring a perfect 5/5 score for motion isolation. But the best part of this topper is that a queen-size will only run you about $130, thanks to frequent sales; this earned it an admirable 4.5/5 score for overall value.
I once purchased the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper years ago as a broke college student, looking to freshen up my twin-XL mattress from Amazon. My colleague Riley Otis recently tested a new queen-size topper, and based on her findings, it seems the quality has held up at a budget-friendly price.
She called the topper “super thick and durable, thanks to its high-quality materials.” There were a few holes in the foam, since the topper is one massive slab, but nothing that compromised the integrity. It’s also available in 2-inch and 3-inch configurations, depending on what you need for your bed.
The overall feel is “plush and squishy,” per Riley. It’s best for a mattress that needs more cushioning. Riley specifically recommended it for side sleepers who need extra pressure relief around the hips and shoulders. On her back, she was able to remain in alignment, too, so back sleepers looking for a softer mattress should also love this topper.
“This topper is also excellent at absorbing motion,” Riley said. “Even with another person on top of it moving around and hopping in and out of bed, I couldn’t feel any movement on my side.” She thought it would be a good choice for couples who share the bed with an especially light sleeper.
This topper gets its name from the cooling gel-infused memory foam in its construction, which gives the topper a swirly blue cloud look. The cooling gel is the reason I was drawn to the bed in college, and I found it did offer some improvement to my setup: an all-foam bed in a room with no air conditioning.
Riley thought the topper performed best with one sleeper in the bed: “When I was sleeping beside my partner, I felt much hotter than I usually do, but once he left for the morning, things cooled down. I even felt a bit chilly.” If you’re looking for a cooling topper that’ll tackle overheating for couples, consider peeking at the Viscosoft Active Cooling Topper.
As I mentioned, the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper is available for as low as $129 for a queen-size in the 2-inch variant, with an extra $20 for the 3-inch model. Brooklyn Bedding allows for returns within 30 days of purchase and also offers a generous 3-year warranty for this topper.
Find out more in our full Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper review.
Nolah Mattress Topper – Best Soft Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
Nolah Mattress Topper
AirFoam™ topper offering plush softness and enhanced contouring.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.3 / 5
Soft mattress toppers are a great match for hip pain, especially if your current bed is too firm. The Nolah Mattress Topper has an uber-soft feel that provides excellent cushioning and sinkage around the hips. Besides its softness, our testers appreciate its dense, doughy feel for its motion isolation and durable construction, two categories that scored 5/5 in our tests.
My colleague Kenny Timper gave this mattress topper the old college try, and he immediately noticed how soft it was when he plopped down onto it. “Your body sinks right through it, which feels great in terms of pressure relief,” he said. “I think it’s great if you’re a side sleeper that needs more cushioning around the hips and shoulders, or you’re just looking to soften up a too-firm mattress.”
Despite its super-soft feel, Kenny thought the topper should hold up well. “The foam is dense and cushioning,” he said. “The organic cotton cover also feels soft and high-quality.” He did note that the softness could pose a problem for heavyweight sleepers, who might start to see signs of wear and tear more quickly. “I think its softer feel would hold up for lightweight and average-weight sleepers, more than 5 years, at least.”
Kenny also found that the soft feel should appeal to couples who share a bed with a restless partner. “Since it’s very soft memory foam and there’s plenty of sinkage, there’s no chance that you’ll feel any movement. I think if you’re a light sleeper, you’ll be able to sleep comfortably throughout the night.”
If you’re a combination sleeper, though, you might encounter some pushback. Kenny noted that he never felt “stuck” in this topper, but you’re going to need to put effort in to move around on the surface. For a bouncier mattress topper, you might like one made of latex, such as the Avocado Organic Topper.
The Nolah Mattress Topper currently retails for $292 for a queen-size. You have a 30-day window to decide whether or not this topper is for you, after which it’s backed by an extremely generous 10-year warranty.
Read more in our full Nolah Mattress Topper review.
Avocado Organic Topper – Best Organic Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper
The Avocado is an all-natural mattress topper that is a good option for those who want something comfortable and eco-friendly.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.3 / 5
Seeking sustainable but comfortable sleep with hip pain? Consider Avocado’s Eco Organic Topper. I tried out this organic mattress topper, and the softest version is a match made in heaven for joint pain. This super-thick slab of latex has a uniquely buoyant yet pressure-relieving feel that molds to your body. It also provides a modicum of support so you don’t sink too far into its plush surface. I awarded it high scores for support (4.5/5) and materials (5/5).
I opted for the 3-inch soft version of this topper, which is available in two different height options and multiple firmness levels. Right off the bat, this 3-inch latex topper is extremely hefty. It doesn’t just feel very squishy and dense; it was a workout to get it onto my already tall bed. Upon closer inspection, it looked like the topper is actually made up of multiple latex layers fused together, but there’s no tugging or budging them apart.
The cover is also made from organic cotton, a breathable, soft fabric that should feel nice beneath your sheets. Though I wouldn’t call this topper cooling, I think it kept my bed feeling temperature-neutral. I think it’s a great alternative if you’re a hot sleeper who likes a cushy sleep surface.
While this topper has a soft, cushioning feel, it also provides a lot of support. I sank into the surface just enough, but it wasn’t like a super-plush memory foam topper where you felt completely swaddled up in it. It was most comfortable while resting on my back, but side-sleeping was comfortable too. I think it would work great on a too-firm mattress, but also on one that might’ve started sagging in support.
Latex also has a bit more of a springier feel than foam, which I could tell when I moved around on this topper. I chose the Saatva Classic (the mattress I currently sleep on) for its bounce, and I was worried that this uber-soft topper would cancel it out. But that wasn’t the case—while it’s not as bouncy as coils, it offers enough ease of movement that I think most combination sleepers will appreciate.
This bouncier profile may not offer the best motion isolation, though. There’s a chance the latex will amplify movements rather than absorb them, disturbing light sleepers on the other side of the bed. I’d opt for something made with true memory foam in this instance, like the Nolah Mattress Topper.
Depending on which iteration you prefer, the Avocado Organic Topper can cost anywhere from $329 to $499 for a queen-size. Since it’s made with organic latex, I understand the higher price tag. I think it’s well worth the extra money to transform the surface of your mattress. With this topper, you also get a 100-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty.
For more information, check out our dedicated Avocado Mattress Topper review.
ViscoSoft Active Cooling Topper – Best Cooling Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper
The ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper is a 4-inch memory foam mattress topper that’s infused with copper to provide a crisper, fresher sleep surface.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.5 / 5
Overheating on your current bed? Before you toss it out and find a new one, consider a cooling mattress topper like the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Topper. This topper features a breathable 4-inch foam construction and a cover infused with copper to promote airflow and wick away excess heat from your body. My colleague Matt Schickling awarded this topper a 4.5/5 for cooling, and it also earned impressive ratings for materials (5/5) and support (4.5/5).
This ViscoSoft topper is one of the thickest I’ve ever seen. This means it should not only make a significant difference in how your mattress feels but also hold up with use. Matt called the topper “really well-made and thoughtfully designed.” He added, “It could probably improve even a bad mattress. The cover is soft and well-stitched, and there are even straps to secure it to the bed.” It was an “easy 5” awarded for materials.
Since it’s such a dense slab of foam, we were curious if the name would hold up in our cooling test. Matt brought out a thermal gun to measure the increase in surface temperature after he lay on it for a few minutes. “The temperature only rose 4 degrees after I was lying there for five minutes,” he said. “Even when I lay on it for 20 minutes, I didn’t notice anything overheating. It’s impressive and a good choice for hot sleepers, despite its foam construction.”
Aside from its cool feel, Matt also appreciated how supported he felt on this topper. “I’m a heavy sleeper, and this has a lot of sink for me, but it’s super plush and supportive at the same time,” he explained. “Side and back sleepers who are looking to soften up a firmer bed will really enjoy the pressure relief and support this gives.”
Matt also noted the bed’s “true memory foam feel” that had him sinking deeply, which could also absorb some motion from his fellow tester. “I could feel that my partner was moving, but I couldn’t tell you what they were doing,” he explained. He did note that this posed a problem when trying to move around on the surface. “It’s foam, so it’s not very responsive,” he said. (If you’re worried about feeling “stuck” in this topper, you might want to try out a bouncier one, like the Avocado Organic Topper.)
The ViscoSoft Active Cooling Topper comes in at $400 regularly for a queen, $300 on sale. Matt thought the price was “fine for the high quality.” The brand also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, plus a 5-year warranty.
Find out more in our ViscoSoft Active Cooling Topper review.
Other Mattress Toppers We Considered
If you didn’t find what you were looking for in our top picks above, here are some other mattress toppers we’ve reviewed that could work well for hip pain:
- Helix Premium Topper with GlacioTex – If your current mattress isn’t supportive enough and leaves you waking up hot and sweaty, you might like the Helix topper with GlacioTex. This topper features a cool-to-the-touch cover and breathable foams to keep temperatures down. It also includes a layer of microcoils for pinpoint support, sort of like a mini-mattress for your regular mattress. However, it might be a touch too firm for side sleepers looking for a softer sleep surface to sink into.
- Bear Pro Topper – The Bear Pro Topper is great for folks who want to feel hugged by their mattress. It’s a 3-inch slab of memory foam that provides plenty of cushioning for aching hips. Though it’s great for softening a mattress, our testers thought the price was a bit too high, especially considering the topper offers no fancy features; it’s really just one block of foam.
- Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper – Latex toppers like the Birch Plush topper are a good choice for hip pain if you’re looking for the pressure relief of foam without the sometimes stuffy feeling that comes with it. It also has a unique buoyant feel that could appeal to combination sleepers. This organic mattress topper is super thick and cushy, but it doesn’t offer as much sinkage as other mattress toppers on the list.
What Goes into a Great Mattress Topper for Hip Pain
Dr. Dasgupta touts that the best mattresses for hip pain will “offer pressure relief without allowing you to sink in too far.” It follows that mattress toppers for hip pain should subscribe to a similar theme. We also believe that a good topper should be thick and durable to make a significant difference in your sleep and to last a long time, making the investment worth it.
Pressure Relief
When you lie down on your side or back, different parts of your body come into contact with the mattress and sink into it, causing pressure points. If too much pressure builds up around these areas, it can lead to discomfort or even pain. That’s why pressure relief is especially important for addressing hip pain. If your existing mattress isn’t pressure-relieving enough for your needs, a topper that excels in this area is paramount.
A mattress topper that provides good pressure relief will be made from contouring materials that conform to your body’s shape. The most popular are memory foam and latex. Softer feels are also generally more pressure-relieving than firmer ones. They allow for your body to sink deeper into the mattress, meeting less resistance and therefore less pressure buildup.
Of course, you’ll also have to consider the nature of your current mattress. If your current bed is too soft, you may not need a super-soft topper. Some high-density foam and latex toppers have a firmer feel while still maintaining a pressure-relieving surface, which can also lend support for sleepers who need it. Dr. Dasgupta recommends sticking to a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress for hip pain, so you might want to recreate this by combining the right topper and mattress.
You can also change how you sleep to achieve better pain relief; for example, some folks may find it beneficial to change from sleeping on their side to their back so their hips don’t dig into the mattress. But this isn’t always an easy switch. Consider outfitting your sleep environment with everything you need to remain comfortable and supported. “I recommend putting a pillow between or underneath your knees while sleeping on your side and back,” suggests Dr. Dasgupta. “This not only helps take pressure off the knees, but it can help with your spinal alignment as well, lessening stress on other parts of the body.”
Mattress Topper Thickness
I’ve seen mattress toppers as thin as 0.75 of an inch and as thick as 3 inches. What works best for you will depend on a number of factors, but for hip pain, I recommend going thicker rather than firmer.
As we’ve established, hip pain from a mattress is usually caused by excess pressure buildup. If you buy a mattress topper that’s too thin, you might sink right through it and end up lying on top of your mattress anyway. And when you’re opting for a mattress topper for budget reasons, the last thing you want is to waste money.
I recommend sticking to toppers that are at least 2 inches thick for this reason. This should be enough to change the overall feel of your mattress, and hopefully prevent you from “bottoming out” on the surface below.
Of course, always consider the height of your mattress and the overhead space. Adding a mattress topper to a bed makes it taller.
Durability
Buying any new sleep product is an investment, and I’m sure you want your investment to last. Mattress toppers are no different. In fact, I might consider durability especially important, because if your mattress topper starts deteriorating too fast, you may wish you had just saved up to buy a new mattress.
What’s in a durable mattress topper? “When it comes to durability, I recommend latex over memory foam, and generally firmer-feeling mattress toppers,” says Dr. Dasgupta. “The latter is because, with repeated use, we assume that the topper will get softer and softer.”
Since softer toppers may be best for hip pain, we want to consider all aspects of topper quality. Among the many categories we evaluate is our materials test. Here, our testers inspect every inch of the topper, noting the quality of its cover, inner layers, and any straps or extra flaps for a snugger fit. Included within this is whether they believe the materials will hold up over time.
They also take into account the product’s price to ensure the quality received is more than worth it. Oftentimes, we hold more expensive products to a higher standard. But we’ve also been pleasantly surprised by so-called budget options. Regardless of price, all toppers receive a rating out of 5 for the materials. Higher ratings mean better quality and more durable constructions.
You can also take a glimpse at the company policies, particularly the warranty. Warranties for sleep accessories like toppers are already rare, so including one speaks to confidence in the product. The length of the warranty can also speak to how long the manufacturer expects the product to last before showing signs of wear and tear. A longer warranty, like one that covers the topper for 5 or 10 years, may signal a product that’ll weather the storm.
What Else Is Important When Buying Mattress Toppers for Hip Pain?
If you’re still struggling to find the mattress topper that will work for you, here are some other considerations you might want to take into account to help narrow the field:
Materials
What goes into a mattress topper largely determines its firmness, feel, and other performance factors. Some types of mattress toppers should appeal more to those with hip pain or other orthopedic considerations. Let’s go over what the materials I most commonly see used in mattress toppers, as well as their pros and cons.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is a dense, cushioning material that often has a slow-moving feel. This means when you press your hand into it, it leaves an indentation and takes a while to snap back into place. As you lie down on a memory foam mattress or topper, the layers will often mold to your body. This cradling sensation provides pressure-point relief around the hips, shoulders, lower back, and knees—or any part of your body that digs into the mattress.
Memory foam mattress toppers are also great for couples. The same foams that contour your body can also better absorb motion, keeping it from traveling across the surface and disturbing whoever is resting on the other side.
This cushy feel isn’t for everyone, though. Memory foam often holds onto and traps body heat, which can spell trouble for hot sleepers. This is why many toppers are made with gel-infused memory foam or swaddled in cooling covers to wick away excess heat. Foam’s slow-moving nature might also make it difficult to move around on the surface of a mattress. Combination sleepers or sexually active couples may like something with a bit more bounce.
Latex
Latex, a manmade material naturally derived from rubber tree sap, has similar properties to foam, but a different feel. Some studies tout latex as more pressure-relieving and breathable than traditional foam. Latex is definitely more bouncy than foam, though, as it has an inherent buoyant property that gives it an acquired taste. It should still contour to the joints and help folks with chronic pain find relief and a peaceful night’s sleep.
The organic and sustainable nature of latex does drive a higher price tag than other materials. For a mattress topper, it might not be the most budget-friendly option, but if you love the feel and all it has to offer, I’d say it’s worth it.
Down
Down comes from the super-soft underlayer of feathers from certain fowl, like ducks or geese. It gives toppers a fluffy, lightweight feel. Oftentimes, they’re used to mimic a pillow top in the absence of one. “Down mattress toppers don’t offer much in the way of support or contouring,” says Dr. Dasgupta, “but they may slightly soften a mattress that’s too firm for a sleeper’s preference.” They also don’t offer as significant a change as memory foam or latex mattress toppers, so they might not be the best option for hip pain.
Since down is an animal product, it might not be the best choice for folks with animal-related allergies. They might want to opt for a down alternative—usually made with other fibers, synthetic or otherwise, such as cotton, bamboo, or polyester —to create the same fluffy feel.
Microcoils
Microcoil mattress toppers are a newer innovation. These toppers feature both comfort layers and a miniature coil layer, creating what looks (and feels) like a miniature mattress on top of your mattress. They’re great options for folks who aren’t getting enough support from their current bed, as the coils provide an extra supportive layer to better align the spine.
Most microcoil toppers are going to be firmer. Unless your bed is too soft or you sleep on your stomach, I wouldn’t recommend a firmer mattress topper for hip pain relief. Because of their complex design, they’re also quite expensive.
Sleeping Position and Body Weight
“Your sleeping position and body weight have an effect on how a mattress feels to you,” says Dr. Dasgupta. “This also means that some mattresses are better-suited to certain body shapes and preferred sleeping positions.” If your current mattress doesn’t fit your body or your sleeping position, you can augment it with a mattress topper to achieve the desired feel. But if you don’t know where to start, I’ll outline what we recommend for each sleeper type.
- Side sleepers’ hips and shoulders dig into the surface of the mattress, so pressure relief is paramount. The ideal firmness for most side sleepers is between soft to medium-firm, as this allows for the proper sinkage. Most side sleepers with hip pain are experiencing such because the bed is too firm, so I’d recommend a soft mattress topper for these folks.
- The easiest sleepers to please are back sleepers, who can do well on just about any mattress that provides support and a touch of softness. For folks with hip pain, though, I’d recommend something with plenty of pressure relief, ideally a topper that allows your bottom half to comfortably sink in just enough without compromising your alignment. Also, don’t forget about your lower back; you’ll want the mattress to contour the gap near your lumbar spine to prevent lower back pain.
- Stomach sleepers need an especially firm surface to keep their hips lifted. If their hips fall out of alignment, this can put stress on the lower back and on their hips. Most stomach sleepers with hip pain should therefore opt for a medium-firm to extra-firm topper with a more supportive feel, depending on your needs and preferences.
Most mattress toppers are designed with only “average-weight” sleepers in mind, which we categorize as folks between 130 and 230 pounds. But sleepers on either end of the spectrum may encounter unique issues that they’ll need to consider when choosing the right mattress topper for their needs.
- Lightweight sleepers (under 130 pounds) often struggle to sink into a mattress surface and activate the pressure relief and cushioning of comfort layers. For this reason, we often recommend that sleepers encountering these issues opt for a softer mattress. A softer mattress topper can allow for deeper sinkage, further taking pressure off the hips.
- On the other hand, heavyweight sleepers (over 230 pounds) are more likely to sink too far into a mattress. They might “bottom out” on the super-firm support layers or coils, leading to an uncomfortable night’s sleep. Firm mattress toppers may better suit these sleepers, even with hip pain, as some of this firmness will be “wiped out” as they sink into the topper.
Temperature Regulation
Cooling mattresses are a popular choice for hot sleepers, but if you don’t have one, you can outfit your bed with a cooling topper to make things more chill.
For cooler sleep, I’d opt for a natural latex topper over a foam topper. If you do want a memory foam feel, stay away from the super high-density mattress toppers and look for those with more breathable constructions or gel-infused foams. Many toppers also feature cooling covers, such as those made of GlacioTex, phase-change material, copper, or other cooling fibers.
With each mattress topper we try, our testers also evaluate its ability to regulate temperature. Some toppers are described as cooling, while others are for a more cozy feel, which we’ll take into account when giving our review. We ultimately rate every topper’s cooling ability out of 5, with 3.5/5 or above indicating decent cooling and a good pick for hot sleepers.
Price
Most people buy mattress toppers in lieu of a new mattress to save money. However, you don’t want to skimp on a cheap mattress pad, or you might regret your purchase when it starts to crumble prematurely. That’s why we don’t just rate the price of a mattress but its overall value. Sometimes, budget-friendly options can have a higher quality of construction than the higher-end mattress toppers.
Value takes into account how the topper was built and how it performed in our tests across the board. The final rating out of 5 is our testers’ opinion of whether or not the product they received was worth the price they paid.
A high-quality mattress topper will probably run you at least $100. This can change depending on the complexity of its construction or the materials used within it. In our list above, we included a range of options for all price ranges. Since they’ve all been vetted for quality, you can peruse without worrying that any will be a rip-off.
FAQs
Does a mattress topper help with hip pain?
If your current mattress is causing you hip pain, then a topper is a good way to help address it without having to purchase an entirely new mattress. Just be sure to figure out what your mattress needs; if it’s too firm, choose a softer topper to contour around the hips, but if it’s lacking support, you might want something a bit firmer to keep the hips elevated.
What materials alleviate hip pain in toppers?
Pressure-relieving materials like memory foam and latex are the best for hip pain, as these will cushion and cradle the hips while still maintaining a level of support. Some folks might like down for just an extra bit of softness, but it likely won’t offer the same amount of contouring, and there’s a chance you might sink too far and “bottom out” on your mattress below.
What kind of mattress do I need if I have hip pain?
According to our chief medical advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a good mattress for hip pain will “provide plenty of pressure relief around the joints while still maintaining a level of support.” He recommends hybrid mattresses that fall somewhere between medium-soft to medium-firm to achieve this, prioritizing beds with thicker comfort layers and contouring materials.
What is the best mattress topper for shoulder and hip pain?
The best mattress topper for shoulder and hip pain is the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam topper. Though it’s our pick for the best topper for hip pain overall, the same qualities that make it good for relieving hip pain should also help folks with shoulder pain: pressure-relieving memory foam that also has a dense, supportive feel to keep you properly aligned and lifted.
References
- Zhao, L., Tang, J., Zhou, M., & Shen, K. (2022). A review of the coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of graphite. New Carbon Materials, 37(3), 544–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1872-5805(22)60603-6
- Low, F.-Z., Chua, M. C.-H., Lim, P.-Y., & Yeow, C.-H. (2017). Effects of Mattress Material on Body Pressure Profiles in Different Sleeping Postures. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 16(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.09.002
