Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers: Which one should you buy?
It's Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic in our mattress topper head-to-head
Note: This article originally compared the Saatva mattress topper to the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Topper Supreme, which has been discontinued. We've updated it to instead include the new version, which you can read about in our Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt topper review.
In this head-to-head, we compare Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers to see which of these highly rated accessories delivers on comfort, support and price. Both sit highly in our best mattress toppers guide and are designed to give your bed an extra dollop of all-over cushioning, support and (depending on the material), pressure relief.
Both Saatva and Tempur-Pedic make toppers that are so plush they rival some of the more affordable mid-range options in our best mattress guide. This is especially true of the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt, a three-inch slab of pure Tempur material that’s facing off here against the popular Saatva Mattress Topper.
In addition to adding either cooling, comfort, softness or firmness (depends on the material and thickness), these accessories are useful for extending the life of your bed as. Why? Because, in addition to a good quality mattress protector, they keep your mattress safe from spills, allergens and wear and tear.
Each brand makes two of the most well-rated options for all sleepers, so read on now to see who will emerge victorious in the battle of Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers.
Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers: Overview
- Both offer premium comfort, cooling and support
- Tempur-Pedic’s topper has a removable washable cover
- Saatva’s has three materials on offer: latex, foam or graphite
Both Saatva and Tempur-Pedic are titans in the mattress world, with each delivering award-winning luxury beds. So, as expected, each brand’s toppers are also made to an excellent standard.
Saatva makes a selection of toppers, and when this article was originally written, they were all housed on the same page on the Saatva website. Now they're separated into their own separate pages, which makes sense as the designs are very different. We've tested out two of them, and you can read out what we thought in our Saatva Graphite topper review and Saatva Foam topper review. There's also a latex option and micro-coil option.
The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt is priced from $319, with a queen size costing $419 at Tempur before markdowns. As we note in our Tempur-Adapt topper review, this replaces the Tempur-Supreme, which had a much lower starting cost of $179.
Saatva offers a 180-night risk-free trial, plus free shipping within the contiguous US and a year’s warranty. Tempur-Pedic offers free shipping within the contiguous US, and a 10-year limited warranty, but there is no trial period.
Neither of these can be cleaned in the washing machine, although the Tempur-Adapt has a removable cover that can be washed in cold water. Learn how to clean a foam mattress topper to keep it fresh night after night.
Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers: Prices
- Tempur prices sit between Saatva’s latex and graphite options
- Saatva’s range starts with an affordable foam topper
- You can find occasional sales for Tempur-Pedic’s topper
The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt starts at $319 for a twin and rises up to $469 for a king size. (You can upgrade to a topper with a specialized cooling cover for $80 more.) However, recent Tempur-Pedic mattress sales have cut as much as 40% off the MSRP, and in some cases included one of Tempur Pedic’s best pillows for free with purchase.
With Saatva the price you pay for the Saatva Mattress Topper depends on the material you choose, with the standard foam option starting at $160, and the latex and graphite starting at $220 and $235 respectively.
As you go up in size, some of the Saatva prices start to catch up with the Tempur-Pedic, with the foam, latex and graphite coming in at $295, $475 and $400 in a Cal king size. For the latest savings, see our guide to the best Saatva mattress sales and discounts.
Obviously the affordable choice here is Saatva’s standard foam option and the brand has an enviable reputation for making luxury sleep products. If you are looking for more comfort or cooling with the latex and graphite options, you are looking at prices on par with the Tempur-Adapt.
Winner: Tempur-Pedic
The all-foam Saatva is good value for money, and overall the range is excellent quality. However, we feel that the Tempur-Pedic is well-priced for the quality, even in light of the price increase between models. (We also tend to see more discounts on Tempur's toppers.) It’s a great way to experience some Tempur-Pedic mattress magic for much less than the cost of a full Tempur-Adapt bed. So we’re giving this one to Tempur-Pedic.
Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers: Design
- Saatva fits with straps; the Tempur-Pedic has no fastenings
- Tempur has a washable cover; Saatva is spot-clean only
- The Tempur-Pedic option is 3” deep; Saatva ranges from 1.5” to 3”
Both brands’ designs are straightforward, with a layer of foam and a cover. Saatva’s medium-firm memory-foam option is 1.5” deep and suitable for all sleeping positions, especially back and side sleeping, as it conforms to the shape of your body and minimizes motion transfer.
The latex option (1.5” deep) is excellent if you suffer from neck, back and shoulder pain. It’s durable, cozy, breathable and cushioning for pressure-point relief.
If you want more cooling, then Saatva’s graphite offering is for you. Under the cooling organic-cotton cover is a layer of graphite-infused foam that draws heat away from the body. This sits on standard memory foam for plenty of cushioning comfort. Because of that dual layer, the graphite mattress topper is 3” deep, which makes it as plush and thick as the Tempur-Pedic offering.
The Saatva option is easy to fit on top of your mattress, attaching securely with four elasticated bands for a snug fit and no shifting. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt topper also has corner straps, which is a design change from the Tempur-Topper Supreme. We found this helped sufficiently keep the mattress topper in place without it wiggling around.
The Tempur-Adapt topper is 3” tall, giving it an instantly luxurious feel with Tempur material conforming to your body’s shape. It also comes with a removable and washable cover, which is convenient if you want an instant refresh – ideal if you sleep hot and sweat in bed. While it can only be washed in cold water, the Tempur is more practical than the Saatva, which can only be spot cleaned and has no removable cover.
Winner: Tempur-Pedic
The Saatva Mattress Topper uses elasticated straps to keep it in place, which was an advantage it had over Tempur-Pedic before the latter updated its design to include the same. Now Tempur-Pedic has the edge thanks to being easier to clean via its removable cover.
Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers: Materials
- Saatva’s topper comes in foam, latex, or graphite
- Tempur-Pedic uses its patented Tempur material
- Both options are hypoallergenic
When comparing Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic, it’s important to note that both use high-quality materials. That said, when it comes to your choice of material, Saatva offers more variety with all-foam, latex, and cooling graphite-infused foam options. (If you sleep hot, also read our best cooling mattress guide.)
The all-foam option is made with high-density foam for pressure-point relief and contouring, while the buoyant, natural-latex option is made from renewable materials. The 3” graphite pad adds another layer with graphite-infused foam. All options are wrapped in an organic-cotton cover that is cooling and breathable. For more organic options, see our best organic mattress guide.
With its Tempur-Adapt, Tempur-Pedic uses its proprietary Tempur material, which is durable, breathable and minimizes heat retention. Tempur prides itself on this material being unlike “ordinary memory foam – or any other material on Earth”. The material was originally created by NASA for use by astronauts to cushion them while they travelled, while back down on Earth Tempur tweaked it for use in mattresses.
As with the best memory foam mattress, all the materials used across both brands are hypoallergenic. So if you suffer from allergies or asthma, then you can sleep well knowing these conditions won’t be triggered by your bedding.
Winner: Saatva
While the Tempur material is award-winning and an excellent choice if you’re suffering from joint pain, Saatva wins here because it offers a greater range of materials that address a range of sleep issues. These include hot sleeping, back pain, and restlessness.
Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic mattress toppers: User reviews
- Plenty of positive feedback on Tempur-Pedic’s website
- Hardly any user feedback on Saatva’s website
- Majority 5-star rating for the Tempur Topper Supreme
Although there are many excellent reviews for Saatva’s mattresses on its website, there were limited reviews, but the user reviews we did find were very complimentary, with comments such as, “Totally worth paying the extra for this. Perfect for a hard mattress”.
The Tempur-Adapt may be replacing the Tempur-Supreme, but it's already been available for years. On Tempur-Pedic’s website there are over 5,400 user reviews for the Tempur-Adapt topper – over 4,000 of which are 5 out of 5 stars. Fans of this topper like that it's soft yet supportive, with many reviews comparing the feel of the Tempur material to a cloud.
As mentioned, it’s difficult to compare user reviews here as Saatva has barely any feedback and Tempur has plenty. However, while there was no negative feedback for Saatva, some of Tempur-Pedic’s comments mentioned that the topper is too soft, and others bemoaned the fact there was no trial period.
Winner: Tempur-Pedic
Tempur-Pedic comes out on top here because it has a higher number of 5-star user reviews, with plenty of praise for the Tempur Adapt. Saatva also has excellent feedback but there are too few of them to analyze.
Saatva vs Tempur-Pedic: Which should you buy?
We feel there are enough differences here for most people to make an informed choice about what will suit them best. If you’re looking for a straightforward slice of cushioning comfort, then the 3” Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt is a great choice. We're inclined to recommend you pay for the upgraded cooling cover if overheating is an issue as the Tempur-Adapt on its own is prone to trapping a little bit of heat.
But do bear in mind that there is no trial with the Tempur-Pedic, so once you buy, you’re locked in. However, if you're a side sleeper who loves the plush feeling of a luxurious, hotel-style bed, then the Tempur-Adapt may be just what you need. It comes with a 10-year warranty, too.
If you’re looking for a more personalized choice, look to the Saatva instead. The price range here is also better on the smaller sizes, with the all-foam option undercutting the Tempur-Pedic by quite some way. Saatva offers a trial period too – handy if you’re considering treating yourself to the more expensive organic latex option and want to be sure it fully hits the mark.
While neither are a long-term substitute for buying a new mattress if yours has seen better days, both are built to last and are excellent for giving your bed a big comfort boost in the interim, or for supercharging sleep in your guest bedroom.
Read more:
- The best mattress in a box for all budgets
- Sleep calmer with the best weighted blankets
- The best comforters for cozy sleep
- Save on sleep with the latest mattress sales
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Grace is an experienced sleep writer and mattress reviewer who also contributes to our sister site TechRadar, among other Future plc brands. She's a big fan of organic sleep products and has recently invested in a wool mattress topper that she quite happily describes as "life-changing." (Hey, we're serious about our sleep products). When she isn't testing mattresses or writing about sleep, Grace enjoys reading and creative writing, and incorporates meditation and yoga into her wellness routine.
- Alison BarrettaFreelance reviewer and writer