At a Glance:
What Is a Pillow Top Mattress?
Who Is a Pillow Top Mattress Good For?
What To Know Before Buying a Pillow Top Mattress
Top 3 Pillow Top Mattresses from Walker Furniture
Pillow top mattresses first came on the scene in the early 2000s, and they were an instant hit. The first pillow tops were innerspring mattresses, giving consumers a more comfortable experience at a price point lower than memory foam. Today’s pillow top mattresses come in all budgets and types – innerspring, hybrid foam and coil springs, memory foam, and even gel foam mattresses can come with pillow top options.
But is a pillow top mattress right for you? Here is what you need to know about owning a pillow top mattress with our three best pillow top mattresses reviewed.
What Is a Pillow Top Mattress?
A pillow top mattress has an additional “pillow” cushioned layer sewn into the top of the mattress, but not directly atop it. The pillowing layer can be made of memory foam or other cushioning materials and is sewn for a small gap between the mattress and the pillow top.
As mentioned, a pillow top could be added to almost any type of mattress, and many options are available. It is important to note that pillow top mattresses are different from Euro top in that a Euro top is sewn directly onto the mattress for firmer edges and less of a pillow effect.
Who Is a Pillow Top Mattress Good For?
Different types of pillow top mattresses are good for different types of sleepers. A pillow top can be made of almost any mattress material, and the materials used affect how the pillow top mattress sleeps. The pillow top mattress is best for these sleepers:
Discover Dream-Filled Nights Again
Hot sleepers keep cool with pillow top mattresses
A pillow top mattress made of breathable materials can be a great option for hot sleepers. Cooling mattresses are available but much more expensive than most pillow top mattresses. Because the pillow top is a loose layer over the rest of the mattress, it won’t retain heat unless it is made of memory foam or other dense material.
Pillow top mattresses are the perfect balance between sleeping cool and staying warm.
Side sleepers with back and hip pain benefit from pillow top mattresses
Side sleepers with back and hip pain love their pillow top mattresses. This is because you can get a more firm supporting mattress with the cushioned pillow top layer. The pillow top mattress offers cushioned support for hips and shoulders to relieve back and joint pain.
A review for the BeautyRest queen pillow top mattress below talks about this benefit of pillow top mattresses specifically:
“Great Mattress”
“I absolutely love my mattress. In fact, I have one of these at my primary residence and a 2nd one at my second home. So comfortable and firm for people like myself with lower back issues. If I have 2, I must love my mattress.”
- John D
Pillow top mattresses are the perfect balance of support and comfort.
Pillow top mattresses offer affordable comfort and support
Generally, a pillow top mattress is great for someone who needs added support and comfort but can’t afford the more expensive memory foam or hybrid mattresses. Pillow tops cost about 30percent more on average than mattresses without the feature but much less than luxury mattresses.
Pillow top mattresses are the perfect balance between affordability and comfort.
What To Know Before Buying A Pillow Top Mattress
Pillow top mattresses require different care and maintenance than other types of mattresses. Before buying a pillow top mattress, here are a few other things to know.
Pillow top mattresses have lower weight limits
The nature of pillow top mattresses means that the upper layer can break down quickly under too much weight. Although pillow top mattresses may not list a weight limit, it is best to assume that a pillow top won’t be the right mattress for larger or overweight people. According to the Sleep Foundation, people weighing more than 230 pounds need a firmer mattress.
Pillow tops require rotation
Since you can’t flip these mattresses, it is important to rotate them occasionally to ensure they wear evenly. This is especially important if you have a memory foam mattress or a memory foam pillow top on an innerspring or hybrid mattress.
There is a fine line between a well-broken-in mattress and one that is beginning to sag and break down. Rotating the mattress three or four times per year allows the memory foam to break in evenly to make the mattress last longer.
A pillow top mattress is higher than average
The average mattress height is 8 to 12 inches, with 10 to 12 inches being the standard. By contrast, pillow top mattresses are between 15 and 16 inches thick. The overall bed height could be too tall when placed on an older bed frame.
Pillow top mattresses often require new sheets
Another downside to having a thicker pillow top mattress is that your current sheets and bed linens may not fit the new queen pillow top mattress. Linen manufacturers make deep-pocketed sheets for thicker luxury mattresses, but they cost more than traditional sheet sets.
Pillow top queen mattress is heavier
Adding a pillow top to the mattress increases its weight by about 20 percent over comparable mattresses without the added layer. The weight of a mattress isn’t important to many people, but if you rent and move frequently, a heavier bed could be a disadvantage.
Top 3 Pillow Top Mattresses from Walker Furniture
Not all pillow top mattresses are the same. Inferior mattresses can break down very quickly. However, there are several great queen pillow top mattresses under $3000. The experts at Walker Furniture in Las Vegas have pulled together our top three pillow top mattresses.
These three pillow top mattresses have a few things in common. All three of these mattresses are hybrid, meaning they are made of foam and coils. However, BeautyRest and Serta use different technologies to encase the coils.
Without further ado, here are the top 3 queen pillow top mattresses under $3,000 from Walker Furniture.
Beautyrest® Harmony Lux™ Carbon Series Pocketed Coil Plush Pillow Top Queen Mattress
This Beautyrest pillow top mattress is well loved by many sleepers. It uses the Beautyrest proprietary T2 pocketed coil system with a memory foam mattress. This mattress also features:
- InfiniCool Lux sleep surface for a cool night’s sleep.
- Seaqual Technology uses recycled plastic from our oceans in the manufacturing process
- Tight Top vs. traditional pillow top has firmer edges
The Beautyrest mattress stands out because its pillow top is made up of a combination of different types of foam and fabrics. These include a 1.25-inch Air Feel foam, a 1-inch layer of Right Temp Wave foam, 2 inches of Gel Touch foam, a half-inch layer of Dynamic Response memory foam, and a 1.5-inch Gel Touch foam for a total pillow top of 6.25 inches.
Serta® Blissful Excellence™ Luna Vista Plush Pillow Top Queen Mattress
This Serta pillow top mattress also makes use of more than one type of memory foam in making their pillow tops, though not as many as Beautyrest. Serta pillow tops have these features:
- FireShield Fiber
- Gentle Support Air foam
- Gel Active gel foam
- Gel Active gel memory foam
- 825 Edition Custom support coil
- Best Edge foam encasement of coils
Serta recommends using their Serta Support Pad with all of their pillow top mattresses to protect them from stains while adding an additional layer to a firmer mattress.
Serta® Perfect Sleeper® Renewed Sleep™ Plush Queen Mattress
There are only a few differences between the Serta Perfect queen pillow top mattress and the Serta Blissful mattress above. The biggest difference between the two Serta pillow top mattresses is in the types of foam used in their construction.
Features of the Serta Perfect Sleeper pillow top mattress:
- HexCloud gel memory foam
- Wonder Cloud memory foam
- 1000 Edition of the support coil system
- Cool Feel Cover is breathable, sustainable, and kills 99.9percent of bacteria on contact
The best thing about Serta pillow top mattresses is that you can get them in varying firmness. Back sleepers do better with a softer mattress and cushioned pillow top, while side sleepers should have a firmer mattress for added joint support.
FAQs
What is the average life of a pillow top mattress?
Pillow top mattresses don’t last as long as other mattresses because the pillow layer breaks down faster than a solid memory foam mattress. The average life span of a mattress is eight years, but according to My Move, pillow top mattresses only last 5 to 7 years. However, the mattresses above are under warranty for 10 years.
Can you flip over a pillow top mattress?
No, you cannot flip over a pillow top mattress unless it has the pillow top on both sides. This is not common, and the feature costs quite a bit more than these pillow top mattresses.
What’s the difference between a pillow top mattress and a regular mattress?
A pillow top mattress has an added layer sewn onto the top of the mattress for additional cushioning.
Why Trust Walker Furniture & Mattress?
Walker Furniture and Mattress has been providing incredible customer service and top furniture expertise to the Las Vegas area for over 67 years. This locally owned furniture store had humble beginnings as mattress builders in the Chicago area since the 1900’s which blossomed into a booming legacy of selling furniture and mattresses. in 1973, Deanne and Oscar Alterwitz purchased Walker Furniture from original owners, Ruth and George Walker.
Walker Furniture helps Las Vegas and Henderson home owners and renters find the best living room, dining, and bedroom furniture selections to complete their home. Complete with mattresses and patio or home office furniture, they invite you to see all that Walker Furniture has to offer for yourself!
Shop Pillow Top Mattresses At Walker Furniture & Mattress
Stop by and of the 3 Las Vegas furniture locations or our Henderson, NV furniture store to see what a difference buying local with an experienced staff can make. Or shop pillow top mattresses online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find the perfect mattress — whether you call us at 702-384-9300, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
Learn More: 6 TV Recliners for Binge-Worthy Nights