The quick list
1. Best overall
2. Best value
3. Best luxury
4. Best for side sleepers
5. Best for back pain
6. Best cooling
7. Best organic
8. Best for stomach sleepers
9. How we test
A pillow-top mattress delivers plush, sink-in softness as soon as you lie down while providing the support you need to remain comfortable all night – not to mention, it gives your bedroom an instant luxury upgrade. We've rounded up the best pillow-top mattresses our experts have tested below, with links to full reviews if you're curious to learn more.
We rate the Saatva Classic luxury innerspring hybrid as the best pillow-top mattress of 2024, awarding it an overall review score of 4.5/5 after a year of testing. It's technically a Euro-top mattress, which features a more streamlined design than a traditional pillow-top. Many of the best mattress brands use the terms interchangeably.
Pillow-top mattresses tend to sit at the premium end of the pricing scale, but the good news is that all of the picks on our list are discounted as part of Labor Day mattress sales. This is one of the best times of year to buy a new bed, and many Labor Day offers will offer a glimpse of what to expect come Black Friday.
Best pillow-top mattress: Quick list
In a rush? Here's an overview of our top recommendations for this year's best pillow-top mattresses for a range of budgets and sleep positions...
Type: Innerspring hybrid
Firmness: Soft, Luxury Firm or Firm
The Saatva Classic is our favorite mattress sold in the US, and without a doubt one of the most comfortable options on the market. It comes in three firmness options, as well as two heights, meaning that it suits all types of sleepers. The handcrafted innerspring hybrid comes with a generous Euro pillow top for comfort and support, replicating the most luxurious hotel mattresses. You’ll also get a 365-night trial, a lifetime warranty and free White Glove delivery, including removal of your old mattress and foundation.
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Type: Hybrid
Feel: Soft, medium, firm
The cooling pillow-top on the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is an optional extra, costing from $150. During testing we found that it offers a responsive and supportive sleep surface for a reasonable price compared to its rivals. Like the Saatva Classic (#1), the Signature Hybrid comes in three firmness options, but it also comes in a lot more sizes, including specialist RV mattress sizes. It also doesn't sleep as cool as its sibling, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe (#4) so choose the Aurora Luxe is overheating is a problem for you.
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Type: Hybrid
Feel: Soft or firm, pillow-top optional
If you're unfamiliar with Stearns & Foster, this is the brand behind the famous Ritz Carlton Bed. Despite the high price tag, this is one of the more affordable mattresses in Stearns & Foster’s range. Choose from a soft or firm feel – unfortunately, there's no middle ground here. The pillow-top is an optional add-on. It offers excellent spinal alignment in all positions and does a good job of keeping sleepers cool at night. Extras are slightly disappointing for a premium mattress, as you’ll only get a 90-night trial and a 10-year warranty. There is free White Glove delivery, though.
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Type: Hybrid
Feel: Medium-firm
The Helix Midnight Luxe performed well for pressure relief and lumbar support during our in-house testing, with our panel rating it as the best choice for side sleepers. The addition of the pillow top gives it an instant hit of softness when you lie down, and we found the entire mattress to be good at isolating motion (perfect if you share your bed with a restless sleeper). The Helix Midnight Luxe isn't supportive enough for stomach sleepers, so choose the Helix Dusk Luxe (#8) if you sleep on your front. Otherwise, this is a great pillow-top mattress for relieving pressure along the sides of the body.
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Type: Hybrid
Feel: Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer or Plus (no pillow-top)
Well-made and competitively priced, The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid offering a balance of zoned support and cushioned comfort similar to the Saatva Classic (#1). It’s our top pick for back pain sufferers and comes in multiple firmness options to suit all sleeping styles and body types. It boasts a plush Euro-Pillow Top for instant comfort, as well as sturdy edges so you can easily push off the surface if you need to take your time getting up in the morning. WinkBeds offers a lifetime warranty plus a 120-night trial.
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Type: Hybrid
Feel: Soft, medium or firm; pillow-top optional
The Aurora Luxe shares several traits with its cheaper cousin, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (#2), including variable firmness levels, multiple size options and a specialty cooling cover. However, the Aurora Luxe is more effective at drawing away heat thanks to specially engineered foam designed to adapt to your body temperature. It's cozy, but you won't feel suffocated – which is the best chronically hot sleepers could hope for with a pillow-top mattress. It comes with a 10-year warranty and a 120-night trial.
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Expand list...
Type: Hybrid
Feel: Soft, medium or firm; optional pillow-top or box-top
The Avocado Green is the best organic mattress on the market, prioritizing eco-friendliness and high-quality materials. The standard mattress is best suited to heavier sleepers and back sleepers, but the addition of the pillow-top gives the mattress a softer feel, making it more suitable for a wider range of sleepers. There's also a box-top for the plushest experience. Just a heads up that the pillow-top and box-top upgrades can cost year almost as much as a whole other mattress altogether, even after discount. You’ll get a year-long trial and a 25-year warranty.
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Type: Hybrid
Feel: Medium
Despite its medium feel, the Helix Dusk Luxe is a superb choice for stomach sleepers (and back sleepers as well), offering a good balance of pressure relief and support without feeling too firm. Motion isolation and edge support are superb, but we did find temperature regulation to be average at best. Thanks to almost permanent sales, you’ll never pay full price for the mattress, but the usual 20% discount does rise to 25% at major sales events. You’ll also get a 100-night trial, 15-year warranty and free shipping.
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The best pillow-top mattresses 2024 – tested by experts
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The best pillow-top mattress overall
✅ You suffer from back pain: The Saatva Classic does an excellent job of keeping the spine perfectly aligned thanks a chiropractor-approved design that features extra support in the lumbar region.
✅ You want to customize your mattress: With three different firmness ratings and two heights, the Saatva Classic allows sleepers to choose the mattress that’s right for their specific sleeping style.
✅ You prefer a traditional bed feel: The Saatva Classic is a 'hybrid innerspring' that feels like a traditional mattress yet looks as luxurious as a 5-star hotel bed.
❌ You want a memory foam ‘hug’: Even the Plush Soft version of the Saatva Classic keeps you sleeping on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it. If you want more of that hugging feeling, we’d recommend checking out the best memory foam mattresses.
❌ You share your bed with a restless sleeper: The Saatva Classic is a highly responsive mattress, due to its double layer of coils and minimal foam. Great for changing position and keeping you cool, but less great for isolating motion.
❌ You’re non-committal: Although you get a whole year to trial the mattress, you’ll have to pay $99 to return it if you don’t like how it sleeps.
🔎 The Saatva Classic is an exceptional pillow-top mattress and a great all-rounder. Thanks to its customizable options it can be adjusted to suit the vast majority of sleepers, and its luxury feel is hard to beat. With fantastic extras as well, this mattress is extremely good value for money.
The best pillow-top mattress we've tested is the Saatva Classic, a bed that's no stranger to accolades. (It even tops our general best mattress guide and our best hybrid mattress roundup.) It arrives flat and is handcrafted at one of 14 factories across the United States. In our year-long review, we were thoroughly impressed by this mattress, noting that it’s still in pristine condition without any signs of sagging or dips.
This is mainly due to the premium materials Saatva uses, which include CertiPUR-US foams and recycled steel coils. You’ll also find a contouring three-inch Euro pillow top for that plush, supportive feeling. This pillow-top has extra lumbar support added to the center third, making this one of the best mattresses for back pain sufferers. It doesn’t contain much foam overall outside of the lumbar crown and high-density foam rails to aid in edge support. This bodes well for temperature regulation but as we'll explain later, it lacks that sink-in softness that some sleepers might prefer.
The Saatva Classic is available in three firmness options – Plush Soft (rated 3/10), Luxury Firm (rated 5-7/10) and Firm (8/10). There are also two different height options (11.5” and 14.5”), although the only difference here is the height of the springs. We tested the Luxury Firm and found it a fantastic all-rounder that suited a vast array of sleepers. It’s particularly suited for back sleepers – side sleepers should look at the Plush Soft, while stomach sleepers will appreciate the great support of the Firm option.
Due to the lack of memory foam, this isn’t a mattress you’ll sink into so if you’re looking for that ‘hug’ the Saatva Classic isn’t the right choice for you. Even the softest version of this mattress will keep you lying on top of it. Of course, this is what helps the Saatva Classic provide superior lumbar support and pressure relief. There is some motion transfer on the Saatva, so if you share your bed with a restless sleeper this again might not be the best choice. (The comparable WinkBed further down the list performs better in this regard.) But these are the only small blemishes in an otherwise perfect mattress.
Considering how luxurious it is, the Saatva Classic is incredibly well-priced – thanks to an almost permanent Saatva mattress sale, you can usually pick up a queen for under $1,700. We’d still recommend buying around major holidays, as this is when Saatva is most likely to bring out its very best offers.
Extras with the Saatva Classic are also extremely generous. You’ll get a 365-night trial along with a lifetime warranty, giving you plenty of time to decide whether the mattress is right for you. There’s free White Glove delivery as well, with the mattress delivered flat to a room of your choosing and your old mattress and foundation taken away if necessary. It is worth noting, however, that Saatva charges $99 for returns.
- Read more: Saatva Classic mattress review
The best value pillow-top mattress
✅ You want to customize your mattress (for less): With three different firmness ratings, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is another mattress that allows sleepers to customize it for the perfect fit – but for less than Saatva, WinkBeds and Stearns & Foster.
✅ You share your bed with a restless partner: Despite the responsiveness of the foam and springs, this mattress has good motion isolation. The plushness of the pillow-top absorbs movement and will prevent you from being disturbed by your partner at night.
✅ You need an unusual size: There are loads of size options for the Signature Hybrid, including RVs beds and less common dimensions like short queen and split California king.
❌ You’re a hot sleeper: Despite a GlacioTex cover, this mattress does not stay cool and could disturb your sleep if you run hot at night The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe (#5) will be a better choice if you regularly overheat.
❌ You want strong edges all over: The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has great edge support on its sides, but it’s very weak at the corners and ends.
❌ You'd rather not pay for returns: You get 120 nights to trial it at home but beware of the $99 fee if you decide to send it back.
🔎 The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid offers customizable firmness plus a broad range of sizes at a lower cost than the other beds on this list. The pillow-top adds plush comfort to even the firmest option, and there’s plenty of bounce so it's easy to change positions at night.
If you can't quite splurge on a premium pillow-top mattress, the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid may be more your speed. It's often on sale for at least 25% off the MSRP. The pillow-top isn't included – it's an add-on worth up to $400. Even then, a queen Brooklyn Signature Hybrid with pillow-top will fetch less than $1,300 after discount, which is comfortably within the upper-mid range bracket. Among the broader market, it's one of the cheapest pillow-top mattresses around.
Like the Saatva Classic above, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comes in three firmness options, allowing customers to tailor the mattress to their particular sleeping style. Our tester slept on the Firm version with the optional extra Cloud Pillow Top, and our Sleep Editor tried out the Medium option on a visit to the 3Z Brands showroom.
The mattress is made with individually wrapped coils alongside layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foams. There’s no memory foam in this mattress and you shouldn’t expect to sink into it at all. Rather, it uses more responsive foam that makes it easy to move about. With a bouncy, springy feel, this is a mattress that you lie ‘on’ rather than sink into, although the pillow-top does give it some plushness.
The pillow top softens up the mattress overall. We thought that it made the Firm version, which is rated at 7/10, feel more like a 6.5/10. With the pillow-top, the firm version is best suited to back sleepers and some lighter-weight stomach sleepers. The medium firmness should also be fine for back sleepers, whereas side sleepers should seek the soft version. This bouncier feel can take time to get used to and, although the spine is kept aligned in all sleeping positions, some sleepers may find that there’s not enough ‘give’ in the mattress for adequate cushioning at their pressure points. But combination sleepers in particular should enjoy this mattress, as it's very easy to change position throughout the night.
For our weeks-long test, we added the pillow-top for more cushioning and plushness – and it includes a cover made from GlacioTex fibers to help keep sleepers cool. Whilst the pillow top has a cooling cover, temperature regulation on the Brooklyn Bedding mattress was otherwise disappointing, and our tester frequently woke up at night feeling too hot. Meanwhile, edge support is good along the sides, but poor at the corners and ends. On the other hand, motion isolation is excellent, with the pillow top doing a fantastic job of absorbing any movement. If you share your bed with a restless partner, this mattress is one to consider.
Another big plus point of the mattress is the sheer choice of sizes it comes in. There are lots of niche options, including a good range of sizes for RVs, and we rate the mattress as one of the best queen size mattresses on the market. The mattress trial and warranty are fairly standard at 120 nights and 10 years, and you do need to be aware that there’s a return fee of $99. Overall, this is a deservedly popular mattress with customers, providing a comfortable and supportive night’s sleep at a reasonable price.
The best luxury pillow-top mattress
✅ You sleep warm: It might not be a specialist cooling mattress, but the Estate does a really good job of keeping sleepers cool at night with its clever ventilated coil system.
✅ You like to use the entire surface of your bed: Whether you like to sleep starfish-style or you sit on the edges to help get yourself out of bed, the Estate will provide you with plenty of support.
✅ You'd like a mattress that's easy to move: The Estate has eight side handles for easy maneuvering when you're rotating your mattress or moving house.
❌ You want better perks: A 90-night trial and a 10-year warranty pale in comparison to what our #1 pick, the Saatva Classic, offers at a much lower cost.
❌ You want something in-between soft and hard: Whilst you can customize the feel of the Estate, you can only choose between extremes. The Helix Dusk Luxe (#7), or instance, has a medium-firm feel.
❌ You need something that can endure regular use: Be careful, as the Estate's pillow-top is prone to indentations. Something like the WinkBed (#5) may be a better option if you're a heavier build or just want something sturdy.
🔎 The Stearns & Foster Estate is a truly luxurious mattress that will add a touch of 5-star luxury to any bedroom. It’s extremely supportive and comfortable, and it does an excellent job of preventing sleepers from waking up hot and bothered. Whether you want something exquisitely plush or decidedly firm, you'll find what you're looking for here.
If you wonder about the mattresses hotels use, Stearns & Foster is the company behind the famous Ritz-Carlton Bed. Among direct-to-consumer models, the Stearns & Foster Estate is the brand's best-selling hybrid and one of its cheapest options. Cheap is relative here – these are all premium mattresses, and adding the optional pillow top raises the price even further. But if you’re open to splashing cash for a truly luxurious pillow-top mattress, the Stearns & Foster Estate is our pick.
Handcrafted in the US, the Estate starts with a quilted Tencel cover followed by a layer of Tempur-Indulge memory foam for deep pressure relief. Under this is a layer of coils with a high-density border, finished by a system of ventilated coils and air vents to prevent the mattress from overheating. We also like that there are eight side handles on the mattress, making it easy to move or rotate.
As-is, the Estate comes in either soft (3/10) or firm (9/10). Adding the optional pillow-top brings the firmness level down to 1-2 or 7-8, respectively. Our testers slept on a firm Estate mattress with a pillow top and found it comfortable from the start, keeping the spine well-aligned and supported. Despite the plush top, this isn’t a mattress you sink into but rather lie on top of – but Stearns & Foster customers rave about how supportive the mattress is, with many claiming to have found relief from arthritis and back pain.
Provided you're not a light sleeper, you'll find the Stearns & Foster Estate's level of motion isolation acceptable. Edge support is very good, so sleepers can spread out across the whole width of the bed, as well as sit comfortably on the edge when getting in or out of bed. We were impressed with the Estate's temperature regulation; it always felt cool or neutral to the touch. The mattress has several features designed to keep sleepers cool – a ventilated coil system where the coils are surrounded by fabric full of holes alongside external silver air vents to prevent trapped air. A breathable Tencel cover wicks away moisture.
Unfortunately, we found that the pillow-top formed slight dips where our testers slept after only four weeks, which shouldn’t happen with such a premium mattress. We’d also like to see a medium firmness option introduced to cover more sleeping preferences. However, we still find it an extremely supportive and comfortable bed.
You’ll get free White Glove delivery with the Estate, with the mattress being delivered to a room of your choosing and your old mattress taken away at the same time. Look out for offers of a free bedding bundle as well when you’re ordering. However, the trial period is distinctly underwhelming at only 90 nights which, when you compare it to Saatva’s year-long trial, seems decidedly stingy. The warranty lasts for 10 years, which is rather paltry for the cost, as well.
- Read more: Stearns & Foster Estate mattress review
The best pillow-top mattress for side sleepers
✅ You sleep on your side or back: The Helix Midnight Luxe is specifically designed for side sleepers, with its outstanding pressure relief. But it’s also supportive enough for back sleepers, thanks to its enhanced lumbar support.
✅ You share your bed with a restless sleeper: Motion isolation is excellent on the Helix, and you shouldn’t be disturbed by any movement from a partner.
✅ You want a sturdy edge: Some pillow top mattresses can have poor edge support because of their plusher feel. But the Midnight Luxe has plenty of support from the foams and coils, allowing sleepers to use the full width of the bed and sit on it comfortably.
❌ You sleep on your stomach: The Midnight Luxe is too soft to support stomach sleepers, who will end up with their spines out of alignment and hips sinking into the mattress.
❌ You have a smaller budget: If you sleep on your side and have a smaller budget, we recommend the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid in a soft comfort level.
❌ You want to be able to move your mattress easily: There are no handles on the Helix, which makes it difficult to manoeuvre, particularly if you’re on your own.
🔎 The Helix Midnight Luxe is purpose built for side sleepers and we scored it 4.5/5 in our in house testing for pressure relief, with a review rating of 5/5 for motion isolation. Both of those scores mean this is the best pillow-top mattress if you and your bed partner side sleep and you often wake each other up from sleep by changing position during the night.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is the brand’s upgraded version of the original Helix Midnight. With the addition of a plush pillow top for extra comfort and contouring. It’s specifically designed for side sleepers, offering exceptional pressure relief at the shoulders and hips, and is our top pick in our best mattresses for side sleepers round up. However, it’s also supportive enough for back sleepers with its enhanced lumbar support.
Made from a combination of foams and coils, the Midnight Luxe starts with a quilted pillow top Tencel cover. There’s also the option to upgrade to Helix’s GlacioTex Cooling Cover, which is designed to draw heat away from the body and keep the mattress cool to the touch. We would recommend this if you’re a hot sleeper as although the mattress does a decent job on temperature regulation, it’s still a plush design with a memory foam hug.
Underneath the cover is a premium quilted pillow top sewn into the top of the mattress, giving a plush and contouring feel with a distinct ‘hug’. Directly beneath this is a dense layer of responsive foam for support, followed by a layer of copper gel-infused memory foam for support and stability. These sit on top of a layer of up to 1,000 steel coils with advanced lumbar support and reinforced coils around the hips to keep your spine perfectly aligned. There’s also reinforcement around the edges for better edge support. A dense foam base layer provides support for the whole structure.
Although the pillow top gives sleepers a lot of cushioning comfort and pressure relief, it’s by no means a soft mattress. The responsive foams and coils underneath provide plenty of support so that you won’t sink too far into the mattress. In fact, as well as being ideally suited for side sleepers, it also offers enough support for those sleeping on their backs.
Motion isolation on the Midnight Luxe is excellent, and you’re unlikely to be disturbed by a restless partner overnight. Edge support is also good, with a little sinkage from the pillow top when you sit on the bed, but plenty of support from the layers underneath. It’s not supportive enough for stomach sleepers though, but the Helix Dusk Luxe at No. 4 on our list is specifically designed for stomach sleepers and still has the pillow top feel.
The trial period is slightly disappointing at only 100 nights and there’s no option to upgrade to white glove delivery. You will get a 15 year warranty though. Frequent Helix mattress sales mean there’s no need to pay full price and you should expect to get 20% off the MSRP, with two free pillows thrown in.
- Read more: Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review
The best pillow-top mattress for back pain
✅ You want to customize the feel of your mattress: The WinkBed offers four different firmness levels, including one specifically for heavier bodies (although that option lacks a pillow-top in favor of a more supportive build).
✅ You need targeted support: The WinkBed has zoned coils, with targeted support and pushback in specific areas. This makes the mattress feel firmer in some spots and softer in others – great for alleviating aches and pains.
✅ You want superior edge support: The WinkBed has sturdy edges so you can sit on the it comfortably if you need to take your time getting in or out of bed.
❌ You have no one to help you set up: This is a pretty hefty mattress and there’s no option for White Glove service, so moving one around on your own could be challenging.
❌ You deal with frequent night sweats: We found the WinkBed's temperature regulation sufficient but it may not be enough for chronic overheaters. Take a look at the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe (#6) if that sounds like you.
❌ You’re not 100% sure about the mattress: The WinkBed is another mattress that charges a return fee, although this one is a little less at $49.
🔎 The WinkBed's zoned coils offer superior support around the lumbar region to keep your spine aligned while alleviating pressure along your joints. With four firmness options you'll be able to find a comfort level that suits your needs – although it should be noted that the firmest one, the WinkBed Plus, doesn’t have a pillow-top.
The WinkBed is a staple at several luxury hotels across the US, including The Time Hotel in New York City. It's very similar to our #1 pick, the Saatva Classic, as it's a customizable mattress designed to suit any sleeper, especially if they struggle with back pain. It features stronger coils in the center third to support the lumbar and ensure the spine doesn't come under strain.
Choose from soft (4.5/10), luxury firm (6.5/10) and firm (7.5/10) – as well as a fourth option for heavier bodies, the WinkBed Plus (8/10). We tested a luxury firm WinkBed and found it offered superior lumbar support for optimal alignment while relieving pressure points around the knees, hips and shoulders. The luxury firm is a good all-rounder that will suit most sleeping positions. Lightweight and side sleepers should enjoy the extra cushioning of the soft option, while firm will suit stomach and back sleepers who prefer to sleep on top of the mattress rather than sinking in.
All WinkBeds start with a breathable Tencel cover, followed by a gel-infused Euro pillow top. The soft WinkBed has a three-layered pillow-top for pressure relief and gentle contouring, while the luxury firm and firm options each have a two-layer pillow top.
Underneath is a layer of pressure-relieving foam and recycled steel coils offering different levels of support across the mattress. There’s also a reinforced perimeter that yields excellent edge support – a plus for back pain sufferers who need to ease their way in our out of bed. Motion isolation is very good, while temperature regulation is decent. (Chronically hot sleepers should consider the Nolah Evolution 15 directly below.)
Note that the WinkBed Plus is specially designed for sleepers who weigh over 250lbs and has a slightly different design to offer extra support. It lacks a pillow-top but instead has a layer of anti-sag foam followed by a layer of pure latex. We consider it one of the best mattresses for heavy people, though keep in mind that this altered design makes the WinkBed Plus more expensive than the standard version.
All versions of the WinkBed are perpetually on sale at $300 off the MSRP. The trial period is average at 120 nights, but you do get a lifetime warranty and free shipping. Slightly disappointingly, there’s no option to upgrade to a White Glove delivery service at all for this bed-in-a-box. This is a heavy mattress so enlist the help of a friend or family member to help you set it up.
- Read more: The WinkBed mattress review
The best cooling pillow-top mattress
✅ You want to lower your electric bill: The cooling prowess of the Aurora Luxe impressed us. If you're one to crank the A/C at night in an effort to stay cool, buy this mattress and you're likely to save on your energy bills.
✅ Your bed is an unusual size: In addition to variable firmness, the Aurora Luxe comes in less common sizes like short queen and split California king. You'll even find a couple of RV bed sizes.
✅ You crave cushioned pressure relief: The pillow-top gives the Aurora Luxe a nice bounce but it also cushions your joints without making the bed feel too plush. You'll still get the support you need.
❌ You share a bed: Motion isolation is the Aurora Luxe's Achilles heel. Even less vigorous movements will likely transfer to your side. The cheaper Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (#2) performs better on this front.
❌ You're particular about your bed feel: The GlacioTex cover is effectively cooling, but it's also incredibly slippery. This could be annoying if you like your fitted sheets to feel snug, or you don't want wrinkles on the surface of your bed.
❌ You don't want to pay for returns: Free returns are common among the sleep industry, but Brooklyn Bedding makes you cough up $99 if you decide to send it back.
🔎 The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe will allow hot sleepers to enjoy the comforting embrace of a pillow-top bed without overheating thanks to a collection of materials that effectively wick heat and moisture away from the body. Multiple firmness levels and a broader selection of sizes than average make it a versatile, practical choice.
Brooklyn Bedding makes an appearance on our list for a second time with its Aurora Luxe hybrid mattress. Unlike the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (#2), the Aurora Luxe is a specialist cooling mattress – and we think it plays that role well.
The Aurora Luxe comes with an optional pillow-top in three firmness levels: soft (2-4), medium (4-6) and firm (7-8). One of our testers slept on a medium Aurora Luxe in her home while our sleep editor checked out the pillow-top version at the Brooklyn Bedding showroom.
Wrapped in a GlacioTex cooling cover that feels cool to the touch, the Aurora Luxe hybrid has a layer of CopperFlex foam infused with phase change material to adapt to your body temperature. (It also has antimicrobial properties, per the brand – useful if you suffer from airborne allergies.) Combined with the natural airflow from the 1,000-plus coils, this luxury bed impressed us with its cooling prowess. Just note that the GlacioTex material can be a tad slippery, which could be annoying if you're particular about your fitted sheet being tight.
If you opt for the soft model, you'll sink into multiple memory foam layers, including two inches of soft memory foam plus an inch of gel swirl memory foam that purports to aid with cooling (albeit very minimally). The medium model (which we tested) instead has two inches of medium memory foam along with the gel swirl foam, while the firm model instead has 1.5 inches of firm memory foam coupled with a 1.5-inch VariFlex transition foam for a more supportive feel.
Cooling aside, what is the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe like to sleep on? Adding the pillow-top to the medium model gives it an undulating surface, and we found it comfortable to sleep on in any position. The extra padding provides loads of cushioning for your joints but it doesn't make the bed feel too squishy – in fact, there's still plenty of support underneath.
We'd advise against the Aurora Luxe if you're a light sleeper who shares a bed with even a moderately restless sleeper. Whether we were with or without the pillow-top, our testers couldn't help but feel the movements of their sleeping partners. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Bedding would be our recommendation if you need a pillow-top bed that's decent at dampening movement.
As typical for Brooklyn Bedding mattresses, the Aurora Luxe comes in a broad range of sizes for campers and non-conventional dimensions. It's always on sale for between 20% and 30% off; for the best discounts, shop near major holidays. (The pillow-top upgrade will add up to $400 to the final price.) A 120-night trial and a 10-year warranty are included, though you'll have to pay $99 to send it back.
- Read more: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress review
The best organic pillow-top mattress
✅ You want a bed that'll last a long time: Latex mattresses can last decades with proper care. Avocado includes a 25-year warranty with purchase, giving you an idea of how long you can expect to sleep on it.
✅ You’re a hot sleeper: With breathable cotton, wool and latex alongside well-spaced coils to promote airflow, the Avocado Green should keep sleepers cool and comfortable throughout the night.
✅ Your sleeping partner fidgets a lot: The Avocado Green offers excellent motion isolation, so you shouldn’t feel much movement from your partner.
❌ You want that memory foam ‘hug’: Latex is a bouncier material that you’ll sleep on top of, rather than sinking into. While it offers great pressure relief, it'll offer a more subtle contour than memory foam. For more of that 'hug,' consider the Aurora Luxe (#6).
❌ You're on a strict budget: The pillow-top and box-top upgrades can cost nearly as much as a mid-range mattress on their own. Even after regular sales, you'll be forking over a lot of money for this bed.
❌ You’re not 100% sure about the mattress: The Avocado is another mattress that charges a $99 fee to return it.
🔎 The Avocado Green is a gorgeous mattress crafted of quality organic materials – and it has the eco credentials to match. Latex is a durable material that'll last a long time so if you're seeking a 'forever mattress,' this is as close as you'll get to it. With the addition of the pillow-top it's good all-rounder but we think back sleepers in particular will benefit from its superior pressure relief and lumbar support.
Widely regarded as one of the best organic mattresses on the market, the Avocado Green is a luxury hybrid packed full of quality materials and impeccable eco credentials. The optional pillow-top makes it a good all-rounder with a medium-firm feel. You’ve also got the option of adding a box top, which is super plush and ideal for side sleepers, or opting for the standard (and firmest) model if you like to sleep on your back or stomach. Note that pillow-top and box-top upgrades cost between $360 and $820 extra – and that's already on top of a premium price tag.
The cover features 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool, which are breathable and moisture-wicking materials. Wool is also naturally antimicrobial and protects against dust mites, making it a great option for allergy sufferers. The optional pillow-top adds two inches of Dunlop latex for added pressure relief and is followed by another layer comprised of two inches of Dunlop latex and a one-inch layer of Dunlop organic latex in the base/support layer. All of the latex is GOLS-certified and extremely durable – a latex mattress should last for many years. The support layer/core of the mattress is made up of 1,414 coils across five ergonomic zones, along with reinforced steel around the perimeter.
The addition of the pillow top makes this mattress particularly suited to side and back sleepers, although lighter-weight stomach sleepers should also find it firm enough for their needs. The pressure relief from the Avocado is excellent, with the spine kept aligned and supported. (We tested the standard version of the bed, minus the pillow-top.) Due to the bouncier nature of latex, you’re not going to sink into this mattress but, after a short adjustment period, you will feel plenty of support and comfort.
We wouldn’t recommend the Avocado Mattress to lighter-weight side sleepers without the box top instead, and average and heavier-weight stomach sleepers should stick to the mattress without the pillow top. Like many of the choices in this round-up, the fact that the Avocado is customizable means it can appeal to a wider range of sleepers.
The Avocado Green excels when it comes to motion isolation, which is perhaps surprising considering it’s a latex mattress. But those sharing a bed with a restless sleeper shouldn’t be disturbed. Edge support is superior, allowing sleepers to spread out across the whole bed and sit comfortably on the edges without sliding off. We were also impressed with the temperature regulation of the Avocado, which always felt cool to the touch. Cotton, wool, and latex are all naturally breathable materials, and the addition of well-spaced coils helps to keep air flowing through the mattress, preventing any build-up of heat.
The mattress comes with a generous 365-night trial plus a 25-year warranty. Shipping is free for mattresses up to a queen size but above that, you’ll pay a delivery charge because of weight (this starts at $99). White Glove delivery is available, starting at $249 and if you want to return the mattress, you’ll also be charged $99. Avocado mattress sales take place year-round so you'll never have to pay full price.
- Read more: Avocado Green mattress review
The best pillow-top mattress for stomach sleepers
✅ You sleep on your back or stomach: The Helix Dusk Luxe is specifically designed for back and stomach sleepers, offering zoned support that keeps the hips lifted and the spine in perfect alignment.
✅ You suffer from back pain: The zoned support here helps to ease back pain. By ensuring the spine stays aligned throughout the night, your hips won’t dip down into the mattress and cause strain on your back.
✅ You want a durable mattress: We were impressed with the build quality of the Helix Dusk Luxe. It's crafted from high-quality materials and should last you many years without any visible sagging.
❌ You’re a side sleeper: The Helix Dusk Luxe is specifically designed for back and stomach sleepers. Within the Helix family, go for its Midnight line of mattresses – or check out the softer versions of the Saatva Classic (#1) or WinkBed (#4).
❌ You’re a chronically hot sleeper: Temperature regulation is average. Upgrade to the GlacioTex cover, or seek a specialist cooling model like the Aurora Luxe (#6).
❌ You want to customize your bed feel: The Helix Dusk Luxe comes in one medium-firm comfort level. If you'd like something firmer to support your hips, look elsewhere.
The Helix Dusk Luxe sits in the middle of Helix’s range, between the brand’s standard Core Collection and the top-of-the-line Elite Collection. It’s specifically designed for back and stomach sleepers, hitting the magic spot between soft and firm to keep sleepers supported. Helix designs its range so that there are mattresses for each specific sleeping style.
The Helix Dusk Luxe is specifically aimed at back and stomach sleepers to provide the perfect blend of comfort and support. If you’re a side sleeper looking for a medium feel, you should buy the Helix Midnight Luxe instead. (its cheaper cousin, the Helix Midnight, is our top pick in our best mattresses for side sleepers round-up.)
The mattress starts with a premium quilted cooling top made from breathable Tencel. There’s also the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex Cooling Cover for an additional fee – this is designed to pull more heat away from your body and keep the mattress cool to the touch. Underneath is a layer of foam that’s designed to contour to the body, followed by a layer of Helix Dynamic Foam, a latex-foam hybrid that’s designed to provide medium-level support to back and stomach sleepers.
Up next is a memory foam layer to adapt to your body weight, which sits on top of a layer of 1,000 individually wrapped coils. These are reinforced around the perimeter and mid-section for stronger support along the edges and lumbar respectively. The whole mattress is anchored by a base layer of DuraDense foam for stability.
There’s slightly more contouring with this mattress than with many of the others on our list, and you’ll feel the responsive foam contouring slightly around your body. There’s some nicely cushioned support along the knees, shoulders, and hips. Pressure relief is excellent, and many customers report improvements in back pain from sleeping on this mattress.
Motion isolation is pretty good as well, although you might feel some slight transfer if your fellow sleeper turns over from back to stomach in bed. Edge support along the sides of the mattress is excellent but do note that it’s slightly weaker in the edges and corners. We were slightly disappointed by the temperature regulation with the Helix, with our tester feeling the breathability of the mattress was only average. Hot sleepers would be well advised to pay extra for the GlacioTex Cooling Cover.
The trial period is 100 nights, which is about the shortest you’ll find with mattresses in a box. You’ll also get a 15-year warranty and free shipping, but there’s no option to upgrade to White Glove delivery. Frequent Helix mattress sales shave at least 20% off the MSRP and throw in a pair of free pillows, too.
- Read more: Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review
How we test pillow-top mattresses
Our mattress methodology lays out exactly how we test pillow-top mattresses, and the process begins with us selecting which beds we want to review. All of our choices are editorially independent, as is our entire review process, user review analysis and the publication of our in-house testing data.
We test pillow-top mattresses in several key areas: comfort, support, temperature control, edge support, firmness, durability and set-up. As we test mattresses for three consecutive weeks, we rely on customer reviews in addition to our own expert opinion on the quality of the materials used to make the pillow-top mattress as a means to gauge durability.
We score the mattress out of 5 in each of these key testing areas, then use those scores to award the pillow-top mattress an overall review score out of 5. Only the very best pillow-top mattresses are featured in this guide.
Pillow-top mattress FAQ
When is the best time to buy a pillow-top mattress?
There are five major mattress sales throughout the year, with the best time to buy a mattress being Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is when we typically see the lowest MSRPs on pillow-top mattresses coupled with the biggest discounts, so your money stretches further during this major holiday sale compared to the average month.
Beyond the Black Friday mattress deals, other key sales to look out for are Cyber Monday mattress sales, which land on the Monday directly after Black Friday, followed by the Presidents' Day mattress sales in February. The Memorial Day mattress sales in May are your last chance to get a cheaper price on a top-rated pillow-top mattress before prices generally rise over summer. They then drop again in time for a shower of discounts in the Labor Day mattress sales.
What is the difference between a pillow-top and a Euro-top?
A pillow-top adds height and plushness to a mattress. It's sewn on top of the surface and looks as if you can remove it since it's separate from the rest of the mattress. (You can't/) However, pillow-top mattresses are prone to premature sagging and usually don't have the strongest edges to sit on.
A Euro-top is a type of pillow-top. It's more discreet than a traditional pillow-top since it's built into the mattress instead of sewn on, giving it a sleeker appearance. Choose a Euro-top if you want a durable bed with excellent edge support – but if you crave that sink-in softness, go with a standard pillow-top instead.
