The biggest shock of heading to college can be discovering the mattress you're expected to sleep on. Let's face it, dorm mattresses can be too thin, too firm, and even (literal) hotbeds for dirt and allergens. However, there is a product that can miraculously upgrade an old dorm mattress in no time: a mattress topper.
Costing much less than a new mattress, a thick foam bed topper can instantly transform a germy old dorm bed into the best mattress for you. Plus, they're much easier to set up and bring along when moving into your college dorm.
You can find all of our favorite bed toppers we've tested in this year's best mattress toppers guide. For this guide, though, we've narrowed all of our top picks down to the five best mattress toppers for dorm beds in this month's mattress topper sales and back to school sleep deals — saving you money, your sleep, and your grades.
1. The best dorm mattress topper overall
Seriously, how could the Sleepyhead Cooling Copper Topper not top this list? It's specifically designed for college students needing to spruce up their uncomfortable dorm bed, with two thickness options in a twin XL (a standard college size) plus a warranty that'll cover you throughout your studies.
At three inches thick (a twin XL also comes in a 2" option), the Cooling Copper's design covers all bases. Its antimicrobial copper-infused foam adds comfort and allergen resistance to thin and hard mattresses, while its removable and machine-washable cover keeps thing hygienic and holds the topper in place with its corner straps and anti-slip underside.
Our lead tester loved the body-hugging comfort the memory foam provided while side sleeping, making it perfect choice for softening too-firm dorm mattresses or adding height to thin beds that need a boost.
Be aware that testers felt this Sleepyhead topper doesn't quite live up to its cooling title (hot sleepers may want to look at the Saatva Graphite at #5) and it may be too soft for staunch stomach or back sleepers. However, the slightly shallower 2" twin XL design could provide a firmer front-and-back sleep surface.
At $319 for 2" twin XL and $419 for a 3" twin XL, the Sleepyhead Cooling Copper isn't in the budget price category, but testers say that this hypoallergic comfort booster is a worthy investment for your college years. Plus, you get a 20% student discount, a five-year 'Good 'til graduation' guarantee, and the brand has now increased its 60-night sleep trial to 100 nights — so you can return it three months into your studies if you find it's not right for you.
- Learn more: Sleepyhead Cooling Copper Mattress Topper review
2. The best budget mattress topper for dorm beds
While the Sleepyhead Cooling Copper Topper may be #1 in this guide, we do acknowledge that it may be outside a lot of student's budgets. That's why we've included the budget-friendly Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper, a memory foam bed booster that's excellent value for even the tightest budgets.
While the low price means the Lucid Gel Memory Foam Topper doesn't come with all the bells and whistles as the pricier options on this list (for instance, it doesn't come with a cover), this slab of ventilated foam delivers softening comfort for hard beds. Plus, you can customize the height by choosing a 2", 3", or 4" thickness.
We slept on the 4" version, and found it to deliver exquisite plushness for side sleeping. Not only did it provide cozy pressure relief for our shoulders and knees, it surprised us by delivering great temperature regulation, too.
However, as you'd expect from a cheap mattress topper, there are some flaws. The lack of a removable cover may be a deal breaker for some (but not for us, especially if you've got yourself one of the best mattress protectors) and you may find it too soft if you're stomach or back sleeper.
However, the 3-year warranty is a good indication of how long this mattress topper is likely to last, and the 30-night trial gives you some time to test it out (be aware, however, that trials begin from their delivery date). As for its main draw, the price, a twin XL starts at $52.99 for a 2" (though thanks to frequent 25% to 30% discounts, it's typically under $40) and $89.99 for a 4" (usually under $70).
- Learn more: Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper review
3. The best luxury mattress topper for dorm beds
While bringing one of this year's top luxury mattress with you to college might be a bit of a stretch, a well chosen mattress topper can bring a slice of luxury mattress for a fraction of the price: the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt + Cooling mattress topper.
Tempur-Pedic is one of the best-known sleep brands in America thanks to a range of mattresses that use its unique, body-soothing Tempur-Material, and the Tempur-Adapt Topper is literally cut from the same cloth. The Tempur-Adapt + Cooling offers three inches of the premium foam and has a cool-to-the-touch cover for extra temperature regulation.
The Tempur-Adapt + Cooling took our testers' beds and transformed them into cloud-like pillows perfect for side sleepers, and added welcome cushioning to hard beds. The new cover also provided a cooling upgrade to the original Tempur-Adapt Topper, fixing the heat build-up we experienced during our Tempur-Adapt mattress topper review.
That said, back and stomach sleepers may find it too soft, and there is another caveat when purchasing this luxury mattress topper: while it's the same price as the Sleepyhead at #1, it doesn't include any sleep trial (just a 30-day return policy for unopened boxes.)
However, there is a 10-year warranty, which is a testament to the durability of the Tempur-Material, but you shouldn't keep mattress toppers for more than five years unless they're latex toppers. Still, it's a good lengthy warranty to have during your four years of study, and frequent 20% to 40% discounts knock the price of a twin XL (called a twin long at Tempur-Pedic for some reason) down from $329 to $279.
4. The best mattress topper for old, thin dorm beds
Older, thin mattresses (under 8" in depth) require a bigger, cozier comfort boost, and there's no better way to do this than the Casper Comfy Topper. The topper became a firm (or rather, soft) favorite among our team thanks to its cloud-like comfort that lives up to its title.
The Casper Comfy Topper is three inches tall with a dual-layered design consisting of a top comfort layer of perforated premium foam and a bottom support layer of base foam. These layers are encased in a stylish gray soft-knit cover.
In our full review, we describe the feel of this bed topper as "plush and cushiony". Not only did testers claim this to be the best memory foam mattress topper for side sleepers, they were also impressed with how cool it kept them despite the fact that the Comfy Topper isn't billed as a cooling mattress topper. Overall, it's a thick comfort booster for older thin beds from the trusted brand that revolutionized the best mattress in a box.
Still, there are some drawbacks to adding this topper to your dorm bed. Firstly, the Comfy Topper will be too soft for back and stomach sleepers. Another flaw is that the cover shouldn't be removed or put in the washing machine (only spot cleaned and air dried) which may be a pain when treating spills or food stains.
Curiously, Casper seems to have removed the 30-night sleep trial that you could preciously get with the Comfy Topper, though it is still returnable. There is, however, a five-year warranty, so this mattress topper should see you through your studies. The Comfy Mattress Topper is usually 10%-20% off, with a 20% discount getting you twin XL for $175.20 (MSRP: $219).
- Learn more: Casper Comfy Mattress Topper review
5. The best antibacterial mattress topper for dorm beds
While the Sleepyhead at #1 uses antimicrobial copper for a hygienic sleep, Saatva's mattress toppers are all treated with the brand's trademark Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment to prevent the growth bacteria, mold, and mildew growing. While all Saatva mattress toppers have this treatment, it's the Saatva Graphite that makes this list thanks to its support, thickness, and cooling.
The Saatva Graphite consists of a three inch-thick slab of graphite-infused memory foam, with the infusion providing temperature regulation. The memory foam is encased in a moisture-wicking, breathable organic cotton blend cover, complete with anchor straps. According to Saatva, the topper is designed to "prolong the life of an older mattress with one easy addition".
While our testers felt supported and comfortable in a all sleep positions, they felt most supported when sleeping on their backs. Our main tester, at the time of the reviewing process, was laid up in bed with a back injury and felt the topper did a good job of evenly distributing her body weight and providing relief to an achy lower back region. We were also impressed with the cooling properties of the graphite infusion, which helped to draw body heat away.
That said, there are some drawbacks to an otherwise brilliant mattress topper. The cover, although antimicrobial, is not removable or machine-washable. Instead you have to spot-clean it with mild detergent. Also, the topper may support all sleep positions, but it may take stomach sleepers a while to get used to the body-hugging feel.
The Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper is of luxury quality, so you'll have to pay a premium price, with a twin and twin XL both priced at $215. While mattress toppers are never included in the Saatva mattress sales, the Saatva Graphite isn't actually as expensive as the other luxury mattress topper on this list, the Tempur-Adapt + Cooling Topper at #3. Plus, that luxury price includes a one-year warranty and generous 180-night sleep trial.
- Learn more: Saatva Graphite mattress topper review
How we test the best mattress toppers for dorm beds
The mattress topper review process at Tom's Guide is editorially independent and not influenced by third parties. Each tester sleeps on a mattress topper for at least two to three weeks to gauge how comfortably they slept on it and how well they were supported.
At Tom's Guide, we test and review mattress toppers in five key areas: value for money, design and materials, delivery and set-up, comfort and support, and temperature regulation. We also look at customer reviews to see how well the bed topper performs in a certain area that we are unable to measure, such as durability and how it treats certain ailments that our testers don't experience.
When scoring a topper's value for money, we examine past and present prices and deals and how they compare to others on the market. We then take a closer look at the design and materials, such as how thick the foams are and whether the cover has anchor straps.
For delivery and set-up, we record how straightforward (or difficult) it is to unbox and install the topper, and there's any strong off-gassing. To judge support and comfort, we sleep on the topper in different sleep positions (back, stomach, and side) and rate how comfortable and supportive it feels. Temperature regulation, meanwhile, is gauged by how cool-to-the-touch the cover is, how cool we slept, and if it keeps conditions such as night sweats at bay.
Best dorm mattress toppers FAQs
What is the best mattress topper for a college dorm bed?
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The best type of mattress topper for a dorm bed tends to be a memory foam one, as they have a lifespan of up to five years to see you through your studies. While latex mattress toppers have the longest mattress topper lifespan (up to 15 years) they tend to be much more expensive as they use sustainable, organic materials.
Don't be tempted by the cheap price of microfiber or down alternative mattress toppers; they are little more than thin mattress pads that won't make any difference to your bed whatsoever. In fact, one of our testers bought a microfiber bed topper to soften up a firm mattress and said she regretted it.
How thick should a dorm mattress topper be?
To soften a hard bed or to boost the support and comfort of an old, thin dorm mattress, you'll need a mattress topper thickness of between two and four inches. Any thinner, and the topper won't make a huge difference, but any thicker and you're looking at a bed that's too tall and squidgy.
However, the rules are different if your dorm mattress is on a bunk bed. Bunk bed mattresses can't be too tall (for obvious reasons) so look for a mattress topper with high-density foam that's between one and two (preferably two) inches tall. While we don't usually recommend a mattress topper shorter than 2", there are some thin mattress toppers on the market that provide comfort thanks to high-quality and dense foams. One great example is the High-Density Foam Mattress Topper by Saatva, which provided a luxuriously soft sleep surface during our Saatva High-Density Foam Mattress Topper review despite a 1.5" height.
When should you buy a dorm mattress topper?
If you're looking to buy a mattress topper ahead of the academic year, then there is the upcoming Labor Day mattress sales that will hopefully bring some increased savings on the above mattress toppers. Despite Labor Day occurring on September 1 this year, the mattress sales usually begin in August. This should allow you plenty of time to find a mattress topper before the fall semester starts.
That said, when you buy your mattress topper can depend on when your planned moving-in day is. For instance, if you leave it too late, your desired option may be out of stock and you'll need to pre-order (this happens a lot with the Viscosoft Active Cooling Mattress Topper and the Viscosoft Hybrid Lux Mattress Topper) and so it may not arrive in time.
However, if you buy too early, then your mattress topper will be stuck in its box for over a month, which can cause its materials to deteriorate (four weeks from the delivery date is the maximum amount of time it should remain unboxed.)
