Something I've noticed in the run-up to Black Friday this year is that there seems to be a lot more interest in mattress toppers than I've seen in previous sales events. And that makes sense to me; for many people money's a bit tight right now, and even with Black Friday mattress deals the new bed you want could still be out of your financial reach.
Consequently a lot of people appear to be eyeing up the best mattress toppers as a more cost-effective alternative to a splashing out on the best mattress. So do you really need a new mattress for Black Friday or is a topper a better deal? Let's take a look, and if you're looking for more than a mattress or a topper, our Black Friday deals hub has all the top sales, whatever you're looking for.
What is a memory foam mattress topper?
A memory foam mattress topper sits on top of your existing mattress to give an extra layer of comfort and support. And when I say memory foam, in actual fact quite a few toppers feature other kinds of foam, and that's a helpful thing to know as the feel of memory foam isn't to everybody's taste; some people don't like the distinctive memory foam 'hug', while others will find that memory foam's heat-trapping tendency means they'll get too hot in the night.
Our top US choice right now is the Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper, which is made with 2.5" of premium memory foam and comes in soft and firm options; there's 15% off for Black Friday, and a queen size will cost you $195.
In the UK we'd recommend the Panda Bamboo Mattress Topper, made with third-generation gel-infused memory foam to help keep things cool. Panda's taking 15% off for Black Friday, which means you can get a double for £118.96.
Where are the best Black Friday memory foam topper deals?
Most leading sleep brands sell memory foam mattress toppers (as well as other types of toppers) alongside their mattresses, although not all of them are included in their Black Friday mattress sales. For example Saatva has quite the range of toppers, but only its most premium option, the Saatva Organic Quilted Mattress Topper, is in its sale with $200 off the queen size and larger. At $795 for a queen, though, you might be better off with a new mattress. (Although, a topper is the most affordable way to enjoy Saatva's luxury quality – learn more with our guide 'which Saatva mattress topper should I buy?')
Other strong US options are the Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper, which you can get with 40% off right now, bringing a queen size down to $251.40, or alternatively there's the Sleep Innovations Mattress Topper that's four inches deep with cooling memory foam and a pillow top cover; there's 18% off at Amazon for Black Friday and a queen size will cost you $114.79.
In the UK I'd direct you towards Simba, which is taking 35% off the price of its Hybrid Essential Topper; this one features a thin layer of coils as well as foam to keep you cushioned and cool, and a double will cost you £181.35. For a slightly cheaper option, the Emma Flip Topper has 30% off in the Black Friday sale; it's double sided so you can have either a firm or soft feel, and a double is on sale for £160.30.
Is a memory foam mattress topper worth it?
If your existing mattress is starting to show its age, or if it simply doesn't feel quite right to you, adding a memory foam mattress topper can be an affordable and worthwhile alternative to buying a whole new mattress.
Mattress toppers can start at under $100/£100, and while there are some really premium options on the market, in my experience you can easily pick up one that'll really change the feel of your bed for around the $200/£200 mark. I go into more details in my article on whether a mattress topper would be a better Black Friday deal than a new mattress. TL;DR: yes, unless your old mattress is really past it, i.e. sagging, lumpy or visibly damaged.
