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A pillow top mattress has an extra quilted layer of padding stitched onto its top surface. It gives a softer first feel when you lie down, while the springs underneath keep your spine supported. It suits side sleepers and anyone who finds standard mattresses too hard, but it can't be flipped.
How is a pillow top made?
Start with an ordinary mattress, usually pocket sprung. Then a separate quilted panel of soft filling is sewn onto the top, often with a visible gap or border between the two. That panel is the pillow top. It sits between you and the springs, so you feel the cushioning first and the support second.
Because the padding is fixed to one side only, you sleep on that side for the life of the mattress. Rotating it head to foot keeps the wear even.
Who is a pillow top mattress good for?
Side sleepers get the most from it. Lying on your side, your shoulder and hip carry most of your weight, and a firm surface pushes back on exactly those points. The extra layer lets them sink in a little so your spine stays straight.
It also suits anyone who has bought a firm mattress and regretted it, and couples where one person likes it softer. If you sleep on your front, it may let your hips sink too far. Pick something firmer.
Pillow top mattresses from our range
Pillow top vs memory foam
Both feel soft, in different ways. A pillow top springs back as soon as you move, so turning over is easy. Memory foam moulds slowly to your shape and holds you there, which some people love and others find sticky. Memory foam also holds more body heat, so if you run warm, a sprung pillow top is usually the better choice.
Which of ours should you choose?
Our Pillow Top Mattress (from £219.99) is the softest feel in the range. The 2000 Pocket Sprung Pillow Top (from £194.99) adds more springs underneath, which helps when two people share the bed. If you want a pillow-top surface on the firmest support we make, go for the 3000 Pocket Sprung (from £169.99).
All come in single, small double, double, king and super king. Compare everything on our mattresses page. Free UK delivery in 5 to 7 working days, and you can add a mattress to any bed order at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Can you flip a pillow top mattress?
No. The comfort layer is only on one side. Rotate it head to foot instead, every few weeks at first and then every few months.
Is a pillow top mattress good for back pain?
It can be if you sleep on your side, because it lets the shoulder and hip sink in. If you sleep on your back or front and need firm, flat support, an orthopaedic mattress is usually the better choice.
Is a pillow top the same as a mattress topper?
No. A topper is a separate layer you lay on top and can remove. A pillow top is sewn onto the mattress, so it stays in place and doesn't slide around.
Do pillow top mattresses sleep hot?
A sprung pillow top lets more air move through it than solid memory foam, so most people find it cooler than a foam mattress.
How long does a pillow top mattress last?
It depends on how often you rotate it. Rotating regularly stops one area of the comfort layer flattening before the rest.
