The Best Down Mattress Toppers, According to Bedding Experts
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A mattress topper made with real down is the kind of bed level-up that nobody technically needs but everyone can enjoy. The best ones are soft but not scratchy, plush, and billowy in a way that mattresses — and even other mattress pads — are simply not. Sleeping on actual feathers also has a kind of old-world, aristocratic appeal, if we do say so.
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The price tags on down mattress toppers tend to be higher — anywhere from around $100 to $500 for a queen size — than their synthetic alternatives, perhaps save the space age-iest of memory foam options.
This means picking out the right one is more important, as there’s a not-insignificant investment involved. For this piece, SPY spoke with a team of experts and tested a few of the most popular products from brands like Brooklinen and Casper.
What the Experts Say
Sources within the bedding industry say that buying a down mattress topper is simply a matter of knowing which materials and constructions are worth the investment. For this story, SPY spoke with Julia Forbes, sleep expert at Sleep Advisor; Martin Seeley, founder and CEO of Mattress Next Day; Robert Pagano, owner of Sleepline; and Olivia Walton, sleep expert at Bedz4U, to help sort through the best down mattress toppers available now.
Helpfully, there are three numbers to look for when shopping for down mattress toppers that reveal much of what consumers need to know. “The first thing you want to look for in a down mattress topper is a high fill power,” says Walton. This figure refers to how many cubic inches of loft you get from one ounce of the down fill. “It’s a measure of the fluffiness and insulation abilities of the down — a higher fill power tends to mean a better-quality, longer-lasting mattress topper,” he adds.
Another metric to consider is down cluster percentage or down-to-feather ratio. “Down clusters” is a technical term that refers to the down and plumule that sits below the feather layer on a bird. Down clusters tend to be softer and more insulating than feathers. “Premium down mattress toppers tend to have a higher ratio of clusters to feathers, which means that you’ll get a softer topper with a more luxurious feel,” Walton says.
The third number to consider is thread count, which should be familiar to anyone who’s ever shopped for sheets. Generally, a higher thread count means that “the cover will be soft and comfortable (and will hold up over the long run),” Pagano says.
Nearly all of the experts agree that no matter what materials are inside the mattress topper, baffle-box construction is a must. “A good down mattress topper should have a baffle box construction,” ” Walton says. “This means sewn-in walls or boxes that ensure an even distribution of the down and prevent it from clumping together.”
Forbes adds that she values responsible sourcing in her down, and looks for certifications like the Responsible Down Standard. Some down toppers are machine-washable and some aren’t, so it’s also a good idea to check the washing instructions before purchasing.
BEST OVERALL
Allied Essentials Luxe Featherbed Mattress Topper
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This down mattress topper boasts great stats and a solid price, with baffle-box construction and solid ethical bona fides.
“This topper stands out because of its turtle top construction; it has two compartments filled with 550 fill power down and goose feathers,” says Forbes. The shell is 300-thread count cotton, and the down itself is Responsible Down Standard-certified. It’s also part of Allied Essentials’ Track My Down traceability program that allows consumers to look up the test reports for the exact material in the item they purchased.
Price-wise, at $134 for a queen, this mattress topper is less expensive than expected for a model that’s this warm, soft, and transparently sourced.
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Linenspa Essentials Queen Down Alternative Mattress Topper
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This pick from The Home Depot is top-rated after hundreds of reviews for its soft, plush hypoallergenic down alternative fill. It adds three inches of fluff and comfort to any bed and is made with heavy-duty straps that attach it securely to the mattress. The cover is made with breathable cotton for temperature control and it has a three year warranty for buyer protection.
SPY-TESTED
Brooklinen Alternative Down Mattress Topper
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Brooklinen’s microgel mattress topper is one of the most popular options on the market, but instead of taking hype at face value, SPY staff writer Jason Lalljee tested it for himself. “This is basically a padded top sheet that slips over the mattress itself. To be honest, it didn’t feel that different than sleeping on a comforter, but a Brooklinen employee told me that it doesn’t get warm like a comforter would because of the gel,” he says.
He notes this option would be great for warm sleepers who need to prioritize staying cool and want something extra soft. “This would improve the experience of a too-firm mattress if you weren’t interested in buying a new one. The gel is also novel, it doesn’t feel like a water bed, just a slightly viscous down. Out of everything I tested, it seems by far the easiest to store and clean, as it’s machine-washable.”
BEST HYBRID
Puredown Overfilled Bed Topper
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This mattress topper is unique in that it’s filled with both goose feathers and synthetic materials, a combination that gives it the benefits of both.
Forbes says that polyester, a popular down alternative, “adds comfort” to this topper; its 100% cotton cover is also breathable and feels luxurious to the touch. It is dry-clean only, though, so maintenance is a bit less convenient, but experts recommend using a protector for down mattress toppers, in general, to minimize trips to the dry-cleaner.
The $170 price tag for a queen is reasonable despite the presence of the less expensive polyester.
SPY-TESTED
Casper Comfy Mattress Topper
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Casper’s mattress topper, rather than down, is made of a blend of AirScape perforated foam and memory foam for extra comfort and temperature regulation. Lalljee visited the Casper store in Manhattan to check out the product and discuss its pros with their team.
His initial impression was that this thicker mattress topper almost felt like an additional, thinner mattress rather than a thinner sheet. “It’s not foldable, but I personally like that it’s basically half a mattress,” says Lalljee. “The brand calls this mattress topper ‘medium firm’ but I will say I thought it was pleasantly soft; I could sink into it a bit.”
BEST HYPOALLERGENIC
Pacific Coast Down on Top Featherbed
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Pagano says this mattress topper is “not cheap, but it’s by far one of the best” — particularly for those with more to spend who may or may not need a hypoallergenic option.
Forbes is also a fan of this topper. He cites the Resilia feathers, which are the product of a proprietary process that Pacific Coast says “results in tightly curled feathers that are springy yet soft.” The 230-thread count cotton shell, American Down and Feather Council certification, and 525 fill power round out this great option.
A queen-sized version of this featherbed is $345, which is more than the competitors on this list but worth it for those with bigger budgets and sensitive sinuses.
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Avocado Luxury Alpaca Wool Plush Mattress Topper
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Avocado’s price points qualify it as a luxury brand, plus the fact that it uses natural and organic materials like 100% natural alpaca instead of regular ol’ polyester. Does that make a difference in the feel of this topper? SPY’s Lalljee notes “This is a semi-thick comforter you can lie down on, and the temperature control makes it feel cool to the touch. I like that it folds up easily and feels plush to lie down on.”
He also compares it to the top-sheet design from brands like Brooklinen, which may seem more secure but actually required more adjusting during his testing. “This option reminded me most of Parachute’s Down Alternative Mattress topper, just less plush, denser, heavier, and more expensive,” he says.
BEST SATEEN
Parachute Down Mattress Topper
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Sateen — a fabric made using a satin weave structure — can be slightly polarizing, but its fans would love this mattress topper from Parachute, which has a silky-smooth, 100% cotton sateen shell.
Inside the shell are two layers of down and feathers with a whopping 750 fill power. That’s a good deal warmer than most of the other mattress toppers on the market, which makes it a great choice for those who sleep cold. Seeley also says that “fill power, which quantifies the elevation and fluffiness, is an indicator of quality” — and this topper scores high marks, there.
High fill power and high quality mean a high price to match. But for sateen enthusiasts who are willing to pay a premium, this model is a good option.
BEST THICK
Blue Ridge Home Fashions Luxury 5" Down Pillowtop Featherbed
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Most down mattress toppers are three inches thick. This one is five.
When evaluating mattress toppers, Forbes advises focusing on their specific materials, build quality, and supportive construction methods. This topper does well on the first two counts, but its more complex construction really makes it stand out. The base layer is 100% feathers, its middle layer is a 75/25 blend of down and feather fibers, and its top layer is a one-inch pillow top filled with white down.
The $119 price tag for this queen-sized topper is a better-than-good deal considering the complexity and thickness it offers.
SPY-TESTED
Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper
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Avocado makes two different Latex Mattress Toppers, a Firm one and a Plush one. Lalljee notes that the only difference between the two is the feel, and they can get even firmer and softer depending on your preference. “Even though it’s firm, I was a big fan of it, because it gave in to my body when I laid down and still felt soft even on the firmest bed they had,” he says.
He also describes an ideal thickness, for him, compared to some of the other brands. “It’s not a foldable sheet like Brooklinen, but not a half mattress like Casper. It feels like a quarter of the size of Casper’s, but that’s a good thing because you can halve it and shove it in a closet if need be. Also, the latex is filled with holes for cooling so you don’t roast.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Mattress Toppers
Why do I need a mattress topper?
There’s something lacking about your current sleep setup. Maybe your mattress isn’t comfortable. Or maybe you’ve decked out your bedroom with a white noise machine and blackout curtains and you want to go all-in on an ideal sleep setting.
Why is down a good material for a mattress topper?
Down is soft, fine, and fluffy. It has been used in all kinds of bedding — pillows, comforters, and mattress toppers alike — to create soft, warm surfaces to sleep upon.
Will buying and sleeping on a down mattress topper make me a fancy boy?
The fanciest.
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