Best Mattress Toppers for Sofa Beds
Sofa beds are underrated. Generally speaking, anyone who’s had a negative experience sleeping on a rusted fold-out sofa in their grandmother’s basement has probably held a grudge against these pieces of furniture ever since, which isn’t right! Sofa beds are a staple in countless family homes. They’ve facilitated many family visits and childhood slumber parties, so they’re valuable and definitely deserve our love.
Sofa bed technology has changed quite a bit since the horrible nights of sleep you likely had on an ancient fold-out, with a metal bar that left a permanent dent in your back. Today, these beds are as comfortable as they are compact. Even if you end up with a sofa bed that doesn’t quite cut it, there are solutions available to make them as comfortable as your everyday bed. A mattress topper is a single product that can hug a mediocre sofa bed and turn it into a heavenly sleep surface. Add this to any sofa bed and you can expect a sleep so satisfying that you might never want to sleep on another bed again.
The only question is which mattress topper to get. After all, not all toppers are created equal and only a few work perfectly with a sofa bed. Sure, you could waste days trying different toppers and returning them to the store in frustration. Or you could depend on the experts here at The Sleep Judge. We’ve already done the research for you, and below you’ll find our six favorite mattress toppers specifically for sofa beds. You’ll also find a detailed guide about what features to look for in a mattress topper. All you need to do is keep your eyes glued to this page and scroll away; soon you’ll be an expert and have the perfect mattress topper to make your sofa bed an exquisite sleep surface!
1. Best Price 4-Inch Memory Foam – Editor's Choice
- Includes removable, washable cover
- Medium-firm support
- Comfortable
- 10 year warranty
2. ViscoSoft 4 Inch Pillow Top Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Memory foam is gel-infused for an added cooling effect
- Ideal for pressure relief
- No chemical offgassing smell
- Cover is machine washable
- 5 Years Warranty
3. LUCID 2-inch Gel Memory Foam
- Great ventilation
- Adds softness
- Flexible
- Decent warranty
- 3 year warranty
4. Balichun Mattress Pad Cover Queen Size Pillowtop
- Most affordable
- Machine washable
- Adds pillow-like softness
- Lightweight
5. Red Nomad 2-Inch Memory Foam
- Most flexible to fold into sofa bed
- Adds medium support
- Comfortable
- 5 year warranty
6. Recci 2.5-Inch Mattress Topper
- Relieves back pain
- Gel-infused cooling technology prevents overheating
- CertiPUR-US certified – precision technology
- Excellent for stomach and back sleepers
- 30-night sleep trial
Best Sofa Bed Mattress Topper Reviews
1. Best Price Mattress 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Queen – Editor's Choice
Highlights
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Short Queen, Queen, King, California King
- Dimensions: 80″ x 60″ x 4″ (Queen)
- Weight: 29 pounds
- Material: Memory foam, polyester
- Warranty: 10 years
Pros
- Includes a removable, washable cover
- Medium-firm support
- Comfortable
Cons
- Won’t fold into a sofa
- Sleeps hot
Finding a mattress topper for a sofa bed is easier than you think. When you need extra support along with comfort, the Best Price Mattress 4-inch memory foam topper might be just be the perfect fit. It’s made of two layers of foam: the bottom half is made up of high-density support core foam, while the top half has a softer comfort layer. Together they work to cradle your body which should mask any metal bars poking through your mattress. The removable cover is also machine washable, which is a huge plus. This topper is an affordable choice and comes with a long 10-year warranty. Perhaps the one drawback that consumers have had with this topper is its thickness. At 4 inches thick, it’s unlikely you’re going to be able to fold this up and into your sofa bed. This will be a topper that you’ll have to store separately. As many memory foam toppers do, this one tends to sleep hot. If your guests are warm sleepers, you may need to crank up the air conditioner if this is an issue for them. Other than these potential issues, there’s nothing to complain about here. This affordable topper will turn any sofa bed into a heavenly transporter to dreamland.
2. ViscoSoft 4 Inch Pillow Top Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper – Best for Hot Sleepers
Highlights
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Short Queen, Queen, King
- Dimensions: 80″ x 60″ x 4″ (Queen)
- Weight: 25.8 pounds
- Material: Memory foam, latex
- Warranty: 5 years
Pros
- Memory foam is gel-infused for an added cooling effect
- Ideal for pressure relief
- No chemical offgassing smell
- Cover is machine washable
Cons
- May be too soft for some
One of the main reasons to buy a mattress topper can be for the added cooling effect, which often happens for those that have memory foam mattresses on the firm side. As well as softening the mattress, a topper can give you a cooler sleep surface rather than memory foam that’s known for trapping heat. Made from cooling gel foam and a plush down-alternative fabric, this breathable topper will keep you cool as you sleep in your sofa bed and won’t cause you to toss and turn.
This mattress topper is also a good choice for couples who are sharing a sofa bed, as the plush memory foam adapts to the body, doesn’t trap heat and reduces motion transfer. The cover is machine washable, includes four elastic corner tabs to secure the memory foam in place, and an elastic to wrap around the entire mattress to secure it tightly. It’s important to find a mattress topper for your sofa bed that’s also soft enough to fold into the couch, and this pillow-top option would make a great companion for that old, uncomfortable mattress you may have in your sofa that needs a revamp!
3. LUCID 2-inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper – Queen – Best Ventilation
Highlights
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, King, California King
- Dimensions: 80″ x 60″ x 2″ (Queen)
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Material: Memory foam, gel
- 3 year warranty
Pros
- Great ventilation
- Adds softness
- Flexible
- Decent warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t offer much support
- May be too thick to fold up
- Doesn’t have a washable cover
LUCID has addressed the issue with memory foam that’s most common: dense foam traps heat. It’s an unfortunate reality, and it can be worse for some sleepers who tend to sleep hot. The manufacturer tried to take care of the heat issue in two ways. One, the memory foam is ventilated to help with breathability, and two, the foam is gel-infused which keeps sleepers cool. For the most part it works, but it’s not guaranteed to work for everyone, as some consumers have still said it sometimes traps heat. Using this mattress topper should add an extra layer of softness to your mattress, however, you shouldn’t expect a great deal of support as this isn’t made of high-density foam. It is flexible enough that if your sofa bed has room to fit a mattress and topper, you should be able to fold this into your sofa. If you’re concerned about cracking, though, you could roll the topper up and store it in a closet until you need it.
4. Balichun Mattress Pad Cover Queen Size Pillowtop with 8-21-Inch Deep Pocket – Best Value
Highlights
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Dimensions: 16.4″ x 12.2″ x 5.8″ (Queen)
- Weight: 5.35 pounds
- Material: Cotton
- Warranty: N/A
Pros
- Most affordable
- Machine washable
- Adds pillow-like softness
- Lightweight
Cons
- Little support
- May shift on the bed
- No warranty listed
This is one of those pillow top mattress toppers that are soft and squishy and often compared to clouds. Instead of filling this one with goose feathers or down, a down alternative is used, or a fiberfill. One of the best things about this topper is that it’s only about 1.5 inches thick, so it’s sure to fit inside your sofa bed when you fold it up. The bad news is that because of this, it won’t offer you much support. As long as you have a quality mattress on your sofa bed, this topper could give you or your guests some extra loft that might be missing. The topper is lightweight, so you can easily toss it onto your sofa bed, and it’s machine washable – a huge convenience. Although the pockets on the stretchy sides of this mattress topper will fit almost any mattress, it could shift a bit if the mattress it’s on the thinner side.
5. Red Nomad – Queen Size 2-Inch Memory Foam Topper – Best Foldable Topper
Highlights
- Sizes available: Full, Queen
- Dimensions: 20.25″ x 12.5″ x 2″ (Queen)
- Weight: 11.48 pounds
- Material: Visco-elastic memory foam
- Warranty: 5 years
Pros
- Most flexible to fold into sofa bed
- Adds medium support
- Comfortable
Cons
- No cover included
- May sleep hot
The decision to add a mattress topper to your sofa bed means investing in something that you hope makes your guests more comfortable. The Red Nomad 2-inch mattress topper is made of visco-elastic foam, which provides a little support and a lot of comfort. This isn’t the same as memory foam, so you shouldn’t expect a super-dense topper, but it’s a flexible and comfortable option. The best part about adding this mattress topper to your sofa’s mattress is that it’s flexible enough to easily fold up inside your sofa when it’s not in use. Unfortunately, it comes with no cover, so you may need to buy a mattress protector to keep it clean. Because it’s foam, it may sleep hot for some people, though it won’t trap heat as much as others on the market.
6. Recci 2.5″ Mattress Topper Pressure Relief for Back Pain – Best for Back Pain
Highlights
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, King, Cal King
- Dimensions: 74.8″ x 37.8″ x 2.5″ (Twin)
- Weight: 11.64 pounds
- Material: Memory foam
- Warranty: 30-night sleep trial
Pros
- Relieves back pain
- Gel-infused cooling technology prevents overheating
- CertiPUR-US certified – precision technology
- Excellent for stomach and back sleepers
Cons
- Shorter warranty
As its name suggests, this memory foam topper by Recci is an ideal option for those who experience back pain, which is common for sofa sleepers. The foam technology optimizes your comfort and allows your spine to relax in its natural arc as you sleep. It’s not too thick at 2.5 inches, and like our other picks you’ll need to air it out before use to alleviate the foam off-gassing smell and let it fully expand. Users have reported that its squishy surface is extremely comfortable, without it feeling too lightweight and not supporting your body weight. This is another great choice for those who don’t want to break the bank, or if you’re trying out a foam topper on your sofa bed for the first time and don’t know what to expect.
Its main drawback, however, is that it only offers a 30-night sleep trial rather than a standard warranty like our other picks. While it’s a noticeable difference from 30 days to 3-5 years, it shouldn’t take too many sleeps to decide whether this topper offers comfortable support for you or your guests.
A Guide To Sofa Bed Mattress Toppers
Sofa beds can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s always convenient to have a pullout sofa bed for overnight guests, but it’s not always the most comfortable option. If your guests have started bringing along an airbed to sleep on at your house, even though you have a sofa bed ready to go, it might be time for you to consider adding a mattress topper to your sofa bed. These little slices of comfort can go a long way in making even the bumpiest, most creaky and oldest sofa bed a cloud of slumber heaven. While it might seem like a topper couldn’t possibly transform the sensation of an entire mattress, trust us. It’s true. A good topper can be a miracle worker for any possible mattress. Choosing the best mattress topper for your sleeper sofa comes down to personal preference, a few must-have features, and the right price point.
Even the Most Comfortable Sofa Bed May Need Some Help
No matter the age of your current pull out couch, there’s a chance that the mattress is thin, lumpy or generally uncomfortable and possibly causing back problems. This isn’t your fault or your mattress’ fault, it’s just the nature of sofa beds. Consider your own bed right now. Your mattress, whether it’s a traditional innerspring bed, memory foam, latex, or hybrid, always sits on a flat surface. That surface is typically a foundation of slats made of wood or metal, and your mattress never moves.
Now consider your pull out couch. It has to bend in the middle so it can fold up and back into the sofa frame. Because of this, there’s usually a thick metal bar or two in the center of the bed. Chances are, whoever sleeps on it is going to feel those bars in the middle of their back.
These things have improved considerably over the past few years, and many manufacturers have forgone the old innerspring mattresses in favor of foam beds. The flexible foam of today can bend and fold and then unfold again without breaking, cracking, or tearing. This makes them ideal for sofa beds. If you get one that’s thick enough, you may not even notice the metal bars.
Over time, a sleeper sofa mattress could still become uncomfortable, and if your guests start complaining of sore backs, you’ll want to fix the issue right away. If you can’t afford to replace the whole mattress, you might want to consider getting a topper for your mattress to make their stay a little more comfortable.
Types of Mattress Toppers
You have a variety of choices when it comes to adding an extra layer of comfort to your convertible couch. Just like mattresses, the toppers that make sleeping on a subpar bed more inviting, come in a variety of materials. You should make your selection depending on your comfort needs, e.g. if you prefer more firm or softer support, if you’d rather a mattress topper that keeps you cool, or whether you need hypoallergenic materials to sleep on.
Feather
These are like a giant feather or down-filled pillows for your bed. There’s even feather down alternatives you can try. While they offer quite a bit of softness, they don’t offer much support. You’d still likely feel a bar beneath you if your mattress is thin. Buying one of these might also be problematic if your guests have allergies and can only sleep on hypoallergenic surfaces.
Memory Foam
We’re all very familiar with this material. NASA started the craze, and one big-name company seemed to corner the market since the 1980s. Many other mattress companies jumped into the game and started creating these foam mattresses with their bounce-back features. When you use a memory foam mattress topper, it’s like slicing off the top layer of a memory foam mattress.
Latex
These toppers look a bit like their foam counterparts, but they’re made of all-natural latex. That drives the cost of these mattress toppers up, but they do offer a balance between comfort and support. Latex also tends to dissipate heat better than memory foam, as it’s typically known to trap heat.
Hybrid
Plenty of bed topper manufacturers blend two or more materials to make a hybrid that’s cooling, comforting and supportive. A great example is gel-infused memory foam to give you that hugging feeling when you sleep on it, but remains cool and doesn’t trap heat.
Pillowtop
When you need to add softness, but not necessarily support, a pillowtop mattress topper usually does the trick. These are typically pumped with fiberfill in little square pockets. If you have a comfortable mattress on your sofa bed, this kind of topper will make it softer for the sleeper.
To Fold or Not to Fold
This question doesn’t have a strict yes or no answer. In some cases, a mattress topper can easily fit into a pull out bed even when it’s all folded up. In other cases, you could risk the material ripping or tearing. To ensure you don’t damage the topper, you should store it elsewhere if possible and only retrieve it when you have guests. It might not be the most convenient option, but it will ensure that your mattress topper enjoys a long and satisfying life. Some 2 to 3-inch mattress toppers can handle being folded up with no problem, and they’ll still fit in your pull out couch, but it may just take some trial and error. Another good way to find out is to read through reviews or a guide like ours that includes consumer feedback.
Conclusion
The right mattress topper for your sofa bed depends on which features you or your guests will really need. If you already have a firm and supportive mattress on your sofa bed, you may just need an extra layer of softness. If you can feel the bars underneath, a firmer, more supportive mattress topper could be a better choice. There’s one topper that stands out above our remaining five recommendations. The Best Price Mattress 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper is an affordable option that provides support and comfort, which can help disguise that metal bar that might dig into your back. It can definitely prolong the life of your sofa bed’s mattress and can even fit inside your sofa bed when folded up. If not, just roll it up and store it in a linen closet if you have room. This mattress topper comes with a five-year warranty, which gives you ease of mind in case of any defects. The best peace of mind possible will always be storing your mattress topper separately. The more love and care that you give to your topper, the more comfort it will offer you and your guests.
Recent Updates
December 6, 2021: The SleepBetter Iso-Cool Mattress Topper has been removed due to unavailability, replaced with the popular ViscoSoft 4 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
June 14, 2021: Our sixth product recommendation, the SleepJoy 2″ ViscO2 Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Queen has been replaced with the Recci 2.5″ Mattress Topper Pressure Relief for Back Pain due to product unavailability and popularity of the Recci brand. Product awards have been assigned to each including Editor’s Choice, Best Value, Best Foldable Topper etc. Additional Resources and Recent Updates sections have been added.
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking for an affordable yet standout mattress topper to make your sofa bed more comfortable, the Best Price Mattress 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen) is our top pick. Double layered with a 1.5-inch thick memory foam top and a 2.5-inch high density foam base; it gives you the option to choose a side that’s comfortable for you. Cradling your body irrespective of the side, the topper evenly distributes your weight to help you get a good night’s sleep. It comes with a removable cover that is machine washable and a 5-year warranty that well surpasses the one year of usual mattress toppers.
The answer to this may seem obvious – as you’ve just read our review of the best mattress toppers for sofa beds – but it’s important to know that you definitely can use one of these on sofa beds, not just on your main bed. Depending on the mattress size that comes with your sofa, you should find a topper that’s the same size and fits the measurements of the mattress. Be sure to do your homework and measure your sofa bed before going on the hunt for a topper.
Yes, despite what you may think at first, sofa bed mattress toppers can be quite comfortable. Of course, what you find comfortable will be based on your personal preferences, which is why mattress toppers come in many types. If you want to make your bed softer, feather and pillowtop are both great options that do the trick well. Memory foam toppers on the other hand conform to your body shape and offer bounceback. Latex or hybrid should be your choice if you’re not just looking for comfort but also support.
No, mattress toppers aren’t a necessity for sofa beds. However, if you’re having hard time sleeping on the pullout bed or receiving passive-aggressive comments from your guests about the sleeping “situation”, a mattress topper may be the solution. Covering the entire length of the sofa bed and available in varied heights, it can make you forget about the thick metal bar or two in the middle that helps you fold your sofa bed. It also adds another layer of support and depending upon the material you choose, it can be soft or firm. A good mattress topper can transform even the lumpiest sofa beds, making them comfortable and relaxing.