Best mattress topper for dorm beds – certified for great sleep on campus

The best mattress topper for dorm beds could transform your sleep on campus. If you've just arrived at college, and you forgot to pack a mattress topper, don't panic − you can buy one online and get it delivered to your dorm. Since most schools won't allow you to bring your own bed, a mattress topper is a truly invaluable bit of bedding – and you can get a good one for less than $100.

I still remember my first night in a college dorm. I was staying the night before an admissions interview, so the college had put me up in one of their student rooms. I woke up with a stiff neck and an aching back, cursing that firm, inflexible mattress. I swore to my mom that, if I ever got into that school, the first thing we were buying was a mattress topper.

A few months later, I moved into that same dorm, armed with the best mattress topper I could afford. I carried it across campus every time I moved and it totally saved my sleep. These days, I'm H&G's specialist Sleep Editor, so I understand what makes the best mattress topper for dorm beds: breathable materials, secure corner straps, and a reasonable price point. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the ViscoSoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper, but you might find that another mattress topper better meets your needs.

Best mattress topper for dorm beds 2024

To help you compare and contrast, I've ranked and reviewed each of the best mattress toppers for dorm beds against the same criteria: comfort; support; cooling properties; motion isolation; and the all-important price. I've found plush toppers to soften up firm beds and firm toppers to toughen up old innersprings.

The quick list

If you've already got your eye on a particular mattress topper, then you can skip straight to that section using our navigation menu. If you'd rather take stock of your options, you can browse the best mattress toppers for dorm beds below.

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The best mattress topper for dorm beds

This top-quality topper should solve all the common problems with dorm beds. The ViscoSoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper is plush enough to soften up firm mattresses and sufficiently supportive to minimize motion transfer. ViscoSoft stocks the widest range of sizes of any mattress manufacturer I've seen, including a Full XL option to fit those awkwardly sized beds you find in some dorms.

This mattress topper is filled with high-density foam to cushion your neck and shoulders while lifting your lower back to promote proper spinal alignment. It's suitable for all sleepers, whether you lie on your front, back, or side.

Old dorms are often poorly insulated and you might find that your new room tends to trap heat. Luckily, the ViscoSoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper is infused with a cooling gel to dissipate heat, wick moisture, and block odors.

The ViscoSoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper isn't perfect. Although it comes with straps to ensure a secure fit, those straps aren't sufficiently supple to stretch over deep mattresses (not that you're likely to find a plush mattress in your dorm room). According to customer reviews, it's pretty heavy, so you might need a friend or family member to help you carry it from your car onto campus. Still, when all is said and done, this is the mattress topper I'd buy if I were going back to school.

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The best firm mattress topper for dorm beds

Unless you're moving into a brand-new dorm, you're likely to find an older mattress that's softened with age and action and might be starting to sag. Something nice and firm like the Nolah Mattress Topper should lend more support to your college mattress.

If you tend to sleep on your back or stomach, then you need a firmer surface to keep from sinking in and maintain the natural alignment of your spine, especially after spending long hours hunched over your desk. A firm mattress topper should set you straight, though it might not have enough give for side sleepers. The Nolah Mattress Topper is filled with slow-moving foam to minimize motion transfer. Plus, the edge support is excellent, so you can comfortably sit on the side of your bed to work or chat with your roommate.

The Nolah Mattress Topper is filled with AirFoam: that's just marketing-speak for memory foam, perforated with thousands of little air pockets to boost breathability. Our expert tester, Jamie, slept on the Nolah Mattress Topper and she recommends it for hot sleepers and warm dorms.

There's only one thing I don't like about the Nolah Mattress Topper. When you unbox the topper and fold it out on your dorm bed, you might notice a chemical sort of smell emanating from the foam. That's just the mattress off-gassing: the smell is totally harmless, and it should disappear after a day or two, so hopefully your roommate won't mind.

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The best plush mattress topper for dorm beds

If you're sleeping on a firm mattress in your dorm room, and you're waking up with aches and pains, you might feel tempted to throw it out and replace it with the best mattress you can afford. Unfortunately, most universities don't allow you to replace your old mattress: even if they did, you'd struggle to find somewhere to store your old mattress in your dorm. A plush mattress topper could transform your sleep for less.

The Helix Plush Mattress Topper fits more like a mattress protector: instead of corner straps, you get a bed skirt, which is sufficiently supple to stretch over deep mattresses. Filled with thermoregulating fibers of polyester and bamboo viscose, the Helix Plush Mattress Topper is a lot lighter than a thick slab of foam, which makes it much easier to carry across campus. 'The Helix Plush Mattress Topper is the comfiest topper I've ever slept on,' says our expert tester, Alex. 'It added a layer of softness and coziness to my mattress that I didn't even know I was missing.'

Best of all, the Helix Plush Mattress Topper is super budget-friendly. A Twin XL topper costs $109 at full price and much less when you shop the mattress sales. You could comfortably invest in the Helix Plush Mattress Topper without making too much of a dent in your funds for the semester.

The reason that the Helix Plush Mattress Topper is so light and fluffy is because it's filled with fiberfill, rather than high-density foam. That means you don't get the same contouring comfort and motion isolation you'd get from a memory foam mattress topper. Still, for enhanced cooling and plush comfort, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

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The best organic mattress topper for dorm beds

Most mattress toppers are made from memory foam. It's an excellent mattress material for motion isolation and pressure relief, but it tends to trap heat, and it's not exactly great for the environment. If you like the look and feel of foam, but you want to sleep cool and shop sustainably, then you should consider the Earthfoam Mattress Topper. I'd put it up there with the best organic mattress toppers.

The Earthfoam Mattress Topper is filled with organic latex, which is made to mold to the shape of your body then spring back into shape as soon as your weight is removed. Springy and responsive, it's a firmer feel than memory foam, but it's also breathable and bouncy. I'd recommend a latex mattress topper for hot sleepers, eco-conscious shoppers, and anyone who prefers the feel of a firmer surface.

Our expert tester, Louise, slept on the Earthfoam Mattress Topper for a few months last summer. Previously, she'd only ever slept on shredded memory foam toppers, and she couldn't believe how much more supportive latex feels. 'The Earthfoam Mattress Topper offers the perfect balance between support and softness,' she says. It's just the thing to toughen up an old mattress.

Out of all the mattress toppers on this list, this is the most expensive, retailing at $299 for a Twin XL. I might not have been able to afford the Earthfoam Mattress Topper on a student budget, but I'd have loved to receive it as a gift before I went up to college.

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The best cooling mattress topper for dorm beds

If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you simply tend to run a little warm, then you're what's known as a hot sleeper. You'll want one of the best cooling mattress toppers to sleep comfortably. Maybe you're going to college in a warm climate or you know your dorm room tends to trap heat: you'll also appreciate the cooling comfort of the Lucid Memory Foam Mattress Topper.

This gel memory foam mattress topper is designed to retain and release excess body heat at strategic intervals throughout the night, keeping you cool and dry. It's even ventilated for superior airflow and thermoregulation.

This is one of the best-rated mattress toppers on Amazon, with more than 45,000 verified five-star ratings. According to a recent customer review from a pregnant woman dealing with night sweats, the Lucid Memory Foam Mattress Topper 'really does live up to its claims to keep the body at a cool and comfortable temperature.'

As a hot sleeper, I'm a big fan of the Lucid Memory Foam Mattress Topper. I only wish it came with corner straps. You'll have to rely on a snug fitted sheet to secure this mattress topper.

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The best luxury mattress topper for dorm beds

At some colleges, you stay in the same dorm room throughout your whole four years. If you know you're going to spend a lot of time in one room, and you're serious about your sleep, then it makes sense to splurge on a mattress topper.

The Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper comes in every size, from Twin to California King, and has two comfort levels to suit your sleep needs. You could go firm to spruce up a sagging mattress or opt for soft to ease the pressure on your joints.

Filled with two and a half inches of memory foam, the Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper is thick enough to transform the feel of your mattress, but not so thick that your mattress will dramatically increase in height and leave you cramped up against the ceiling. The Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper fits more like a mattress protector than your typical topper: there's a stretchy bed skirt in place of corner straps.

The Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper is wrapped in a unique blend of polyester and bamboo rayon to enhance flexibility and boost breathability, then reinforced with elasticated corners. This topper is suitable for hot sleepers and anyone who tosses and turns: not bad for $200.

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How we test

I put a lot of thought into how we test mattress toppers. From our pool of mattress experts, I pick the reviewer who best fits the brief: I assign hot sleepers to cooling toppers, back or stomach sleepers to firmer toppers, and so on. I ask each reviewer to test their topper for at least four weeks to monitor its performance over time.

For the sake of a fair fight, we assess each topper against the same criteria: comfort; support; breathability; and motion isolation. We also consider all the practical parts of buying a mattress topper: whether it comes with supportive straps, for example, and whether it incorporates any organic materials. You can learn more about how we test at Homes & Gardens when you read our review guidelines.

How to choose a mattress topper for your dorm

When you're shopping for the best mattress topper for dorm beds, there are three key considerations to keep in mind.

Size: make sure your mattress topper matches your mattress. If you're yet to move to college, and you're buying a mattress topper as part of your college dorm room checklist, then it's worth getting in touch with your school to find out the size of your mattress. Your average dorm bed is a Twin XL, but not all mattress toppers are available in this single size, so prepare to shop around to find the size you need.

Firmness: your average dorm bed has seen better days. My college beds were soft and sagging, lacking support after years of nightly use. If you can feel the springs digging into your side, or you find yourself rolling into a dip in the mattress, then you need the best firm mattress topper to bolster your bed. High-density memory foam offers the best balance of comfort and support.

Budget: as a student, you're likely working with a smaller budget. You might like the look of a plush topper from a specialist sleep store, but you know you can't afford it. I've been there – to get the best mattress topper at a price you can actually afford, I suggest you shop at any of the best places to buy affordable bedding.

FAQs

What size mattress topper should I get for my dorm?

Look for a Twin XL mattress topper − the vast majority of dorm beds are Twin XLs, but you can always check with your RA before you buy. If I were you, I'd double-check the dimensions of my topper against our mattress size chart.

How thick should a mattress topper for dorm beds be?

You're looking for a mattress topper between two and three inches thick. That's just thick enough to soften up a firm mattress and ease your aches and pains. You don't want anything too thick, especially if your dorm room has bunk beds or low ceilings: adding too thick a mattress topper will only make the space feel smaller. Plus, a thinner mattress topper is easier to store between semesters and transport from home to campus.

Final thoughts

Once you've bought the best mattress topper for dorm beds, it's time to update the rest of your bedroom. A set of the best affordable bed sheets should stay soft, keep cool, and wash well on a student budget.