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You need a new mattress but don't have the budget — is a new topper worth buying this World Sleep Day instead?
This Sleep Awareness Week 2025, you might be wondering whether it's time to replace your mattress.
We all know that mattresses have a lifespan, with even the best mattresses needing to be replaced at some point. But buying a new mattress can be expensive, even if you do manage to find a decent sale.
In some cases, investing in one of the best mattress toppers instead could be the answer.
Mattress toppers are cheaper than most standard mattresses, come in a variety of materials and can instantly change the feel of your bed.
But they’re not miracle workers and sometimes you might just have to accept that a new mattress is the way forward.
Not sure whether you need a new mattress or a bed topper? Let's take a closer look...
What is a mattress topper?
A mattress topper could almost be described as a mini mattress that’s placed on top of your existing mattress.
Mattress or bed toppers, as they’re sometimes known, are thick, cushioning mats made from different materials such as memory foam, latex, cooling gel, microfibre or even hybrid options with springs.
You’ll want to generally look for a topper that’s between two to four inches thick, as this will provide enough padding to adjust the feel of your mattress.
You’ll find options that can make beds firmer, softer, cooler or even help with aches and pains, so make sure you know how to choose a mattress topper to get the perfect pick for your sleeping style.
When you should buy a mattress topper
If your mattress isn’t providing you with a comfortable night’s sleep, you may think your only option is to replace it.
But in some cases a mattress topper could be a temporary fix. Here’s how to tell if a new mattress topper will tide you over until you buy a new mattress.
1. Your mattress is less than five years old
Different types of mattresses have different lifespans, so knowing how long yours will last is important, particularly when it comes to choosing between a new mattress or a bed topper.
But, in general, if your mattress is less than five years old it shouldn’t need replacing.
Even cheaper mattresses should last between seven to 10 years (a few very cheap innerspring mattresses may have a shorter lifespan.)
So, if your mattress is on the youthful side, we’d recommend investing in a mattress topper to prolong its lifespan. A topper can help to add a little more support in areas that have started to wear down.
2. Your mattress is uncomfortable, but still supportive
Leading on from our first point, a mattress can become uncomfortable even when it’s still quite young.
This can often be due to people forgetting to rotate their mattresses regularly, which can lead to areas of the mattress dipping and becoming worn in the areas you lie on.
But if the structure of your mattress is sound and supportive, a topper should be enough to give you your comfort back.
Most mattress toppers are designed to either soften or firm up a mattress but if you want to add in comfort, you need to pick the right topper.
We’d suggest staying away from any toppers under two inches thick, cheap mattress pads and microfibre options, as these are unlikely to provide enough support.
3. Your mattress feels too warm
Many mattress toppers are specifically designed to provide advanced cooling and temperature regulating features.
These are similar to those found in the best cooling mattresses but, where these toppers are often prohibitively expensive, a topper will be far more reasonably priced.
You’ll find toppers using naturally cooling latex or gel infused foams to help keep sleepers cool, while some more expensive toppers will use specialist materials to help regulate temperature.
Brands often use GlacioTex material to provide the perfect overnight temperatures to sleepers. GlacioTex is a fabric made of fibres with high thermal conductivity, which help to quickly pull heat away from the body, keeping sleepers cool and comfortable.
When you should wait to replace your mattress
Sometimes a mattress topper just won’t do the job and you’ll be better off waiting until you can afford a new mattress.
The good news is that there are mattress sales every month, so you will be able to pick up a bargain with a bit of careful shopping.
1. Your mattress is older than 10 years
As we noted above, even the best mattresses have a lifespan. This differs according to what sort of mattress you have so, for example, you’ll need to consider whether your bed is a memory foam mattress, hybrid or a bed in a box.
Even with the best care, there are certain things that will happen to your mattress after 10 years, including it beginning to sag, getting painful to sleep on and even gaining weight as the mattress absorbs shed skin, dust, moisture and other allergens.
The only exception to this rule is a few expensive latex mattresses, and the best organic mattresses, which can last up to 20 years with proper care and attention.
2. Your mattress is sagging, damaged or unsanitary
It’s natural for a mattress to dip a little but, as it gets older, those dips will lead to deeper areas of sagging and an uneven sleep surface.
Mattresses compress under our bodies and, over time, don’t bounce back as quickly as they used to. If you have a hybrid or innerspring mattress, you may also start to feel the coils poking through, which makes for a very uncomfortable sleep surface.
This may happen slightly more quickly if you have a heavier body weight and sleeping on a mattress with adequate support. If you think this might be the case, consider checking out the best mattresses for heavy people.
Mattresses can also become unsanitary over time, turning yellow and starting to decay due to oxidation. You can’t get rid of these stains by cleaning, but it is worth knowing how to clean your mattress so you can be sure you've dealt with any other stains that you can remove.
3. You’re waking up every day with aches and pains
If you’re sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress your body is going to feel the strain of trying to get comfortable.
If you’re waking up every day with aches and pains, there’s a high chance your mattress isn’t supporting your spine and pressure points, meaning you’ll be more susceptible to problems. Consider choosing from one of the best mattresses for back pain.
Before you blame your bed, do consider your level of physical activity. If you work out regularly or do a very physically demanding job, you could be suffering from delayed onset muscle soreness.
If you think this could be the case consult with your doctor before making any mattress decisions.
