Can you use a mattress topper as a mattress? Yes, but there are risks — here's why

Bed toppers are affordable and increasingly advanced, so you might be wondering if you can use a mattress topper as a mattress. While sleeping on just a mattress topper might save you money it won't save you from back pain, so we only recommend it as a temporary solution.

The best mattress toppers we've tested can alter the feel of your bed, as well as bringing some life to an old mattress. Even the best mattress of 2025 can potentially benefit from a topper as it ages.

However, toppers are significantly thinner than a mattress and this lack of support means we only recommend using a bed topper as a mattress in the short-term. In this guide, we'll explore when a bed topper can be used as a mattress, plus why this isn't a long-term sleep solution.

Toppers are cheaper than mattresses, but regular mattress sales can help you save on an appropriate sleep set-up — and you might be surprised by how many good cheap mattresses are available.

Can you use a mattress topper as a mattress?

Sleeping on a mattress topper instead of a mattress can be comfortable, but only on a short-term basis.

Mattress toppers (also known as bed toppers) are used to add comfort, support or temperature control to your existing mattress. They're designed to work alongside your bed to enhance the feel, not to be used in place of a mattress

Mattress toppers generally measure between one and four inches tall (any smaller than that and you're looking at a mattress pad.) That's significantly under the 10-inch mattress thickness we recommend for an adult.

Sleeping for eight hours a night on a mattress topper alone will not provide the support or comfort you need on a long-term bases. Without proper support, you're likely to experience aches and pains, sending you in search of the best mattress for back pain.

What’s more, sleeping on a topper in lieu of a mattress may void the warranty of your mattress topper, as well as reducing its overall lifespan. 

However, as a short-term solution, sleeping on a mattress topper instead of a mattress is generally okay. If you've ever tried sleeping on a camp bed, or the floor, you'll known that some padding is better than nothing. And that's primarily what the mattress topper provides in this scenario — some padding.

When buying a mattress topper to use as a temporary bed, we recommending opting for a firm topper made from dense latex foams or thick memory foams. This will ensure your spine is at least getting some support and relief.

When to use a mattress topper as a mattress 

A mattress topper can be used instead of a mattress on a short-term basis only. We recommend using a topper with a minimum depth of two inches, otherwise, you'll be able to feel the floor or bed base beneath you. 

Camping trips or overnight stays are two reasons you need to sleep on just a topper. Other scenarios where a mattress topper could be used as an alternative to a mattress include: 

• Unexpected overnight guests and you don't have a spare bed
• You’re camping and want to add cushioning to your camp bed
• You’re waiting for a new mattress to be delivered and don’t want to sleep on the couch
• Your child is sick and you need to sleep on their bedroom floor to be near them
• You're moving house and waiting on a new mattress
• You're traveling and want a transportable solution for different spaces
• You can't navigate the stairs to your bedroom, after surgery or an injury for example

Why you shouldn't use a mattress topper as a mattress long-term

1. There will be little to no pressure relief 

Mattresses contain cushioned or responsive layers that cradle the body to relieve pressure at the touch points (where your body pushes into the bed.)

The upper comfort layers are primarily responsible for this relief, and while the level varies based on sleep position and preference (the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to have more cushioning than the best stomach sleeper mattresses) all mattresses contain some contouring to reduce pressure.

Without this relief, you may quickly develop pain at the touch points, as the thin cushioning is unable to distribute your weight evenly.

Worse still, you might sink straight through the topper and find yourself pressing against the hard floor or frame beneath.

2. You won't get the support your spine needs 

Mattresses use multiple layers of materials to create support, ensuring your spine is held in neutral alignment and your lumbar is gently cradled.

A mattress topper is much thinner than a mattress and not equipped to keep your spine in alignment. It lacks the depth to keep the entire body held at the correct angle.

Instead, whatever you have beneath the topper is likely to provide the majority of the support. And as we've already discussed, this means minimal pressure relief.

 3. Toppers don’t last as long as mattresses 

Mattress toppers are designed to work in conjunction with a mattress and not be used as a standalone product. Using a bed topper alone is likely to void your warranty.

In addition, the average mattress topper lasts around three years, far below the typical mattress lifespan of seven to 10 years. And using a mattress topper by itself is likely to reduce that durability, as they aren't designed to solely support your weight for a prolonged period of time.

This means the sagging and sinking that happens as a mattress ages is likely to afflict your bed topper sooner rather than later, deteriorating support and increasing discomfort.

Budget alternatives to using a topper as a mattress

If cost concerns are driving you to consider a mattress topper instead of a mattress, our best cheap mattress guide features our expert-chosen affordable bed picks, including queen mattresses under $300.

The Siena is our number one cheap mattress pick and in our Siena Memory Foam Mattress review we found this budget bed offers impressive support. Check out our Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress review for another affordable choice.

And you might be surprised to learn that a high-quality mattress topper can often rival a budget mattress in terms of price. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress topper, for example, is comparable to the Zinus and it lacks the same level of long-term support.

Opting for a mattress over a mattress topper as a permanent sleep solution will make a huge difference to your ongoing sleep quality, as well as your physical health.