Mattress Ratings > Pillow Top Mattresses
The Truth About Pillow Top Mattresses → Review, Ratings & Complaints Based on Data From 1,065 Mattress Owners
Page last updated November 23, 2011
What You Need To Know
While pillow top mattresses overall have above-average initial comfort, they are at least two times more likely than non-pillow top mattresses to have durability / longevity problems.
In addition, pillow top mattresses are somewhat more likely to sleep hot than non-pillow top mattresses.
Pillow tops with memory foam tend to be effective in relieving pain, including back pain, but they can off gas more than tops without memory foam.
Which Mattresses Have Pillow Tops?
Pillow tops are often found on innerspring mattresses and airbeds. They are only occasionally found on other mattress types, such as memory foam, latex and water.
About Our Research
Our research findings are based on over 1,000 mattress consumer reviews that were collected using an unbiased, accurate methodology.
Good Initial Comfort
Our collected owner data shows that the initial comfort of an innerspring or air mattress with a pillow top is good or excellent. The pillow top is initially effective at minimizing pressure points, relieving pain and encouraging better sleep. But the initial comfort often does not continue beyond the first few years or even the first few months in some cases, especially in regard to pillow tops on innerspring mattresses.
Pillow Top Durability
At least 30% of pillow top mattress owners report premature sagging, that is, significant compression of the top as well as loss of comfort / support within three years of ownership. By contrast, about 17% of non-pillow top mattress owners report premature sagging-related problems.
A person's weight and size does not appear to be a significant factor in regard to whether or not a pillow top will prematurely sag.
Pillow Top Lifespan
The chart below shows the lifespan of pillow tops as a group according to owner experiences. In other words, it shows how long a pillow top maintains all or most of its initial comfort before it compresses, sags, and or develops body impressions.
Sleeping Hot
Pillow top mattresses, especially those with memory foam, are at least two times more likely to sleep hot than non-pillow top beds. About 7-9 percent of pillow top mattress owners report that their bed acts as a heat trap resulting in an uncomfortably warm sleeping surface. By contrast, about 3-4 percent of non-pillow top mattress owners report a sleeping hot issue.
Initial Odor / Off Gassing
Initial odor or off gassing refers to the chemical-like smell a mattress can give off when it is new.
The intensity of the odor can vary, and the odor can last from a few hours to a few weeks.
Non-pillow top mattresses have few complaints regarding off gassing or initial odor. By contrast, about 8 percent of pillow top bed owners, especially owners of beds with memory foam tops, complain about odor.
It should be noted that Sealy has a high percentage of owners (about 20%) who complain about their memory foam pillow top giving off an initial and fairly strong odor.
Pain Issue
Pillow tops tend to be fairly effective in the relief of pain, including back, hip and shoulder pain, when they are new. At least 20% of owners report pain relief benefits. As the top ages, compresses and sags, most pain benefits disappear however.
In addition, pillow tops with memory foam tend to be more effective in the relief of pain than pillow tops without memory foam.
Pillow Tops: Airbeds Vs Innerspring Mattresses
As mentioned earlier, airbeds and innerspring beds are the mattress types most likely to have a pillow top.
Airbeds
Any part of an airbed can be replaced, including the pillow top. The top is not permanently attached to the airbed, and, as a result, the existing top can be easily removed and a new top added. An airbed owner can contact the airbed manufacturer to have a new top sent to him or her. The cost of the top may or may not be covered under the warranty terms.
In addition, the pillow top of an airbed can often be easily rotated or flipped to extend the life of the top.
Innerspring Beds
In contrast to an airbed, a pillow top on an innerspring mattress is almost always permanently attached and cannot be easily replaced or replaced at all. This likely means that, unlike the case with airbeds, the entire mattress would need to be replaced or repaired by a professional if the pillow top lost its comfort. The cost of replacing / repairing the mattress may or may not be covered under the warranty terms.
Some innerspring mattresses have a pillow top on both sides of the bed. This allows the mattress to be flipped on occasion to increase the lifespan of the pillow top and therefore the entire bed. Our collected owner data, however, is unclear as to whether and how much a two-sided pillow top bed improves lifespan.