For many sleepers, nothing exemplifies luxury and comfort quite like a pillow-top mattress. A pillow-top is a layer of cushioning material sewn to the top of a standard mattress, creating a plush surface. Pillow-tops may be filled with foam, latex, fibers, or a combination of these materials. They are usually found on innerspring and hybrid mattresses.
A standard pillow-top is sewn to the top of the mattress to create the appearance of a separate layer. This differs slightly from a Euro-top, which is stitched into the surface. This places the cushioning layer level with the rest of the mattress for a neater, more uniform look. However, both pillow-tops and Euro-tops serve the same purpose and provide comparable experiences.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about pillow-top and Euro-top mattresses, including our picks for the best mattresses with these features. We’ll also discuss pillow-top construction, pros and cons, and mattress-buying tips.
Find Your Perfect Mattress
We know mattresses work differently for different types of sleepers. Use the filters below to help narrow down your options for your best bed.
Read on to see why the following five options made our top picks list of 2024’s best pillow-top mattresses.
Sleep Doctor’s Picks
Best Overall
WinkBed
Sleep Doctor’s Review
The WinkBed’s four firmness options, adaptive Euro-top, and supportive coils made it a hit with many of our testers. The Euro-top adds a bit of surface cushioning for pressure points, while a zoned transitional layer and coils prevent the midsection from sinking too deeply into the mattress.
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Couples
Medium Soft (4), Medium Firm (6), Firm (7), Plus (8)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Good Value
Pros
- Four firmness options including firm (8) for people over 230 pounds
- Zoned coils reinforce the edges and minimize sinkage
- ybrid design provides excellent support and responsiveness
Cons
- People with sharp pain in their joints may prefer a model with more substantial cushioning
- Couples who prioritize motion isolation may find the coils transfer too much movement
Why We Like It
The WinkBed is a standout pillow-top mattress with four different firmness levels: medium soft (4), medium firm (6), firm (7), and Plus (8).
All WinkBed models feature a cover made with breathable Tencel fabric. Underneath, each mattress also has a Euro-top surface padded with adaptive polyfoam. Standard models include an additional foam layer for extra support without making the mattress feel too stiff or creating excessive motion transfer. The Plus mattress features a 2.5-inch transitional layer composed of responsive latex. The layer is divided into seven firmness zones that our testers found ensured extra reinforcement around the midsection.
How Does It Feel?
The WinkBed’s support core contains zoned pocketed coils that we noticed stabilized the mattress and helped maintain an even sleep surface for our testers. Steady airflow throughout the coils helps regulate the temperature of the mattress.
The medium soft (4) feel provides plushness and close contouring, making it well suited to people under 130 pounds, particularly for our side-sleeping testers. Side sleepers under 230 pounds who want a balanced feel will enjoy the medium firm (6) model, which contours to the body and delivers strong overall support. The firm (7) model offers minimal conforming and will best suit back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds.
Testers over 230 pounds found the firm (8) model the most comfortable. A robust support system reduces sinkage and bolsters the edges, allowing sleepers to move across the surface with relative ease.
Best Value
Allswell Supreme
Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Allswell Supreme is a foam hybrid with premium cooling features at a lower-than-average price-point. Our testing found the breathable coils and cooling infusions helped cut down on heat buildup, which hot sleepers should enjoy. Meanwhile, a mid-range feel and balanced cushioning and support appeal to many sleeper types.
Buy From Walmart
Combination Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Great Value
Pros
- Memory foam infused with graphite and cooling gel help the surface stay cool
- Individually wrapped coils deliver excellent edge support
- Affordable pricing in all sizes
Cons
- Back and stomach sleepers will probably prefer a firmer mattress, especially if they weigh more than 230 pounds
- People with sharp pressure points may need more cushioning
Why We Like It
The Allswell Supreme has a true medium firm (6) feel. Gentle fibers cushion the Euro-top to make the surface feel plush without sacrificing support. Our testers found the memory foam comfort layer provided some contouring, and a transitional layer of responsive Energex foam reinforced pressure relief. A robust coil system provides additional stability.
How Does It Feel?
The memory foam, infused with graphite and gel, is engineered to reduce heat buildup. Steady air circulation through the coil layer provides additional temperature control, and since the Supreme is fairly firm, you’re less likely to sink beneath the surface and lose surface airflow. Additionally, extra coils line the perimeter to provide excellent edge support. During testing, we noticed the Supreme’s firm feel was best suited to side and back sleepers who weighed 130 pounds or more.
Most Comfortable
DreamCloud Premier
Sleep Doctor’s Review
The DreamCloud Premier is a high-profile hybrid that strikes an excellent balance between thick, pressure-relieving foam layers and a robust coil system. Our testers found they could comfortably sink into the mattress surface for pressure-point relief, while the coils prevented excessive sinkage and unnecessary strain.
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Hot Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Good Value
Pros
- Memory foam layers conform closely to align the spine and alleviate pressure
- Above-average motion isolation for a hybrid
- Generous 365-night sleep trial
Cons
- The foams in the mattress may produce an off-gassing odor for the first couple of nights
- Couples may find the mattress’ plush surface restricts movement
Why We Like It
DreamCloud Premier is a high-quality hybrid mattress with an affordable price-point and a medium firm (6) feel. A Euro-top cushioned with memory foam followed by a memory foam comfort layer creates an invitingly plush feel when you get into bed. However, the mattress is also highly supportive. A polyfoam transitional layer prevents sleepers from sinking too deeply into the mattress, while the pocketed coil support core provides excellent overall stability.
How Does It Feel?
We found that the close contouring of the mattress was ideal for side sleepers who normally find hybrids too firm or rigid, especially those weighing between 130 and 230 pounds. The Premier also appealed to our testers who tend to sleep hot. The coils generate consistent airflow, allowing the mattress to maintain a comfortable interior temperature.
Our testers noticed the thick foam layers absorb movement and reduce transfer across the surface, making the Premier a good fit for couples who require motion isolation to sleep soundly.
Best Luxury
Avocado Green Mattress
Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Avocado Green Mattress is a high-end latex hybrid with luxury materials to match. The cover and comfort layers all hold certifications ensuring they were sourced sustainably and produced ethically. The natural materials also earned the Avocado high marks in our temperature control tests, appealing to hot sleepers.
Buy From Avocado
Hot Sleepers
With Pillow-Top: Medium Firm (6)
Responsive Latex
Good Value
Pros
- Composed of natural and organic materials
- Highly durable and breathable latex hybrid design
- Sleep trial allows customers to test out the mattress for one year
Cons
- The mattress holds a higher-than-average price-point
- The mattress’ bouncy feel may transfer more movement and cause sleep disturbances
Why We Like It
The Avocado Green is a luxury hybrid mattress constructed from sustainably sourced materials. The comfort layer consists of Dunlop latex certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard. The mattress also features an organic cotton cover and a top layer made of organic wool batting, both of which have received certification from the Global Organic Textile Standard. A transitional latex layer and pocketed coil support core complete the hybrid design.
How Does It Feel?
The standard firm (7) Avocado Green models, which measure 11 inches thick, do not include a pillow-top. For an additional fee, customers can add this feature, which is cushioned with 2 extra inches of organic latex. This increases the Green’s profile to 13 inches and makes the surface slightly softer, resulting in a medium firm (6) feel. Side sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds may want to consider this option, as well as back and stomach sleepers who weigh 130 to 230 pounds.
Our testing team found that the Avocado Green offered excellent temperature control with its breathable organic cotton cover, moisture-wicking wool batting, and ventilated latex layers. The coils also help the mattress stay cool by promoting steady airflow through the interior. Since latex is a naturally responsive material and the coils provide a noticeable bounce, the Green will also appeal to anyone who enjoys sleeping on a springy mattress.
Best for Side Sleepers
Helix Midnight
Sleep Doctor’s Review
Side sleepers on our team appreciated the Helix Midnight Luxe’s thick foam comfort system, which helped reduce pressure-induced pain in their hips and shoulder. A zoned coil system also prevented the sides of their bodies from sinking too much and misaligning the spine.
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Combination Sleepers
Medium Firm (6)
Plush, Supportive Surface
Great Value
Pros
- Above-average pressure relief and motion isolation
- Zoned coils support the midsection and reduce sinkage along the perimeter
- Breathable Tencel fabric helps the pillow-top sleep cool
Cons
- Back and stomach sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds may find the mattress too soft
- he foam comfort system may trap too much heat for some hot sleepers
Why We Like It
Although the Midnight Luxe is geared toward side sleepers, the balanced medium firm (6) feel of the mattress makes it an appealing option for most people under 230 pounds.
Memory foam has a tendency to trap heat, but the Midnight Luxe’s cover is made of breathable Tencel fabric that reduces heat buildup on the surface to help you stay cool. Tencel also has moisture-wicking properties.
How Does It Feel?
The pillow-top includes adaptive memory foam that responds slowly to your body and provides a cradling sensation. Our testers noticed that the second memory foam layer provided additional contouring, while a polyfoam transitional layer prevented them from sinking too deeply into the mattress.
The support core contains pocketed coils divided into different zones. This ensures extra reinforcement for the lower back and hips as well as less sinkage along the perimeter. In addition to providing excellent stability, the coils circulate air throughout the interior to help the mattress stay cool.
The Midnight Luxe’s construction gives the mattress an advantage over other hybrids in certain performance categories. We found the thick memory foam layers absorbed movement very well, resulting in less motion transfer than you might expect from a mattress with coils. The Midnight Luxe’s pressure relief is also above-average, particularly for side and back sleepers.
Why You Should Trust Us
Each member of our testing team brings years of experience and expertise to our product evaluations. We personally test mattresses, pillows, and other sleep products and assign ratings based on different performance metrics.
Our team evaluated dozens of pillow-top and Euro-top models for pressure relief, motion isolation, temperature regulation, and other performance categories. The testers represent different sleep positions, body weights, and firmness preferences to ensure that our ratings are well rounded and inclusive of all sleeper types.
A pillow-top mattress features a layer of padding material sewn to the top surface, resulting in a plush feel when you get into bed. We recommend pillow-top mattresses to anyone who needs extra cushioning to sleep comfortably.
