I bought a "mattress topper" on Amazon and regretted it — here’s why and how to avoid the same mistake this Labor Day

Labor Day has officially arrived, which means retailers like Amazon are flooded with deals on many of this year's best mattress toppers. However, before you rush out to shop for all your bed topper needs, don't make the same mistake I did.

Last year, suckered in by the cheap price, I bought a mattress topper from Amazon and it was a huge mistake. It made little difference to my hard mattress, and it wasn't even worth the low cost — but I've now learnt from my mistake.

Here I'm explaining where it all went wrong for me, plus I'm sharing the five big mistakes you should avoid too when shopping the Labor Day mattress sales for a comfy new topper.

Unsure whether you need a new topper or a new mattress? You can see all our top recommendations in our best mattress of 2025 guide, plus all the latest deals as they drop in our Labor Day sleep and mattress sales live tracker.

My big Amazon mattress topper mistake

There are huge benefits to buying a mattress from Amazon: diverse options, big-name brands, cheaper prices, and speedy shipping. It's no wonder I turned to the retailer when I needed a mattress topper to soften my rock-hard spring mattress.

I spotted one that offered (in verbatim) "Luxury Soft Silky Comfortable" — whatever the heck that means — and that sounded good to me. Plus, at just under $55, it was an absolute steal.

However, when it arrived, I quickly found my purchase to be a huge mistake. It was thin (under 2" thick), had no cushioning or support, and was nothing more than a mattress pad (which nobody needs — just buy a good mattress protector, and you're set).

Looking pack, I should have seen the signs — its Amazon page was full of red flags. Hindsight is 20/20 though, so below I've compiled five mistakes to avoid when buying a mattress topper from Amazon in the Labor Day sales.

5 mattress topper mistakes to avoid this Labor Day

1. Buying a topper with an overly long title

"Mattress topper luxury breathable soft velvety silky smooth mattress pad cushion."

If you've been hunting for cheap mattresses on Amazon, you're bound to come across product with names like the one above. Not even a proper title, just a jumble of keywords thrown together to make word soup.

Most products on Amazon have names likes this to include every search term to increase visibility and optimize search results.

Basically, the more keywords they use, the more likely they are to show up when you search for a mattress topper.

This means that mattress pads will often have the word "mattress topper" in their title as they know that's what shoppers are searching for.

So, I bought that terrible mattress pad last year because they used the word "mattress topper" in the title as they knew that's what people with hard mattresses would be looking for.

2. Buying based on cheap price alone

Choosing the cheapest mattress topper you can find on Amazon is a false economy, so don't be swayed by a low price.

Usually, there's a good reason why they're so cheap, such as a thin mattress-pad design or shoddy materials.

These mattress toppers just aren't durable, and you'll end up replacing them as soon as they (quickly) lose any luster they had.

3. Buying a topper with no foam

Basically, a foamless mattress topper is just a mattress pad.

Foam (be it memory foam, latex foam, or any other CertiPUR-US certified foam foam) is what creates a comfort-boosting layer between you and a hard or uncomfortable mattress, and you'll see no difference to your bed without it.

While mattress pads are sometimes made with foam, you'll also find them created from the likes of cotton, wool and down.

Mattress toppers should ideally be between 2" and 4" tall if you want to change the feel and firmness of your mattress, and foam is the key ingredient to making that happen. Which brings me to my next point...

4. Buying a topper under 2" tall

Even if you do find a cheap foam mattress topper, that doesn't mean you're looking at a decent product.

There are a lot of mattress toppers out there (especially on Amazon) that are incredibly thin, so they won't provide a comfort or support layer between you and the bed.

You can read more about how thick your mattress topper should be depending on your sleep position and mattress, but most will be comfortable with a topper no thinner than 2" and no thick thicker than 4".

5. Not shopping around

And last but not least: don't forget that there are other places to look for a mattress topper deal.

Yes, Amazon can be a great place to find mattress topper bargains. To tell you the truth, however, the last few major sales haven't really brought that many impressive mattress topper savings.

Most mattress toppers on sale are only discounted in one size or offer either the same or lesser savings than the brand's official website.

The best sales I'm seeing on mattress toppers are from the brands themselves, and buying directly from the likes of premium Helix or budget-friendly Lucidwill actually guarantee some great extras such as trials and warranties.

The one Amazon mattress topper deal I recomend...

Casper Comfy Mattress Toper: twin was $199 now $159.20 at Amazon
We gave the Casper Comfy Topper a 4.5 star rating (read our Casper Comfy Mattress Topper review for more), and this Amazon deal offers you a much cheaper price than if you were to buy it directly from the brand. Currently, a twin is down to $159 at Amazon, whereas Casper is selling a twin for $179.10. Meanwhile, a queen is $239.20 at Amazon compared to $269.10 at Casper. The only difference is that you get a 5-year warranty and 30-night sleep trial when you buy a Comfy Mattress Topper directly from Casper, but Amazon does offer free 30-day returns. So it comes down to whether you don't mind sacrificing a few benefits for a cheaper price.

Our score:★★★★½
User score:★★★★ (197 ratings on Amazon)

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