Mattress Topper: Is It Worth It? 2026 Guide
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A mattress topper — or topper — is a layer placed on top of the mattress. It does not replace the mattress: it adjusts it. It serves to soften a mattress that is too firm, to give a few more years to a mattress that is starting to sag, or to improve the bed in a guest room without buying a new one.
This guide tells you when it is worth it, which thickness to choose, and what is available in Portugal — including the two models we manufacture.
When a topper makes sense
- Your mattress is too firm. A memory foam layer softens the surface without you having to change the mattress.
- The mattress is starting to sag but the structure holds. A topper corrects small irregularities and delays the replacement.
- You get hot while sleeping. Some materials help dissipate heat better than others.
- Guest room or holiday rental. It renews the feel of an older mattress for a fraction of the cost of replacing it.
- You want to try memory foam before investing. A topper is the cheap way to find out whether you like the feel.
When it does not solve the problem
Let us be clear: a topper does not save a mattress at the end of its life. If you wake up in pain, if you feel the springs, or if the mattress is more than eight to ten years old, the problem is the mattress. A topper masks and delays — it does not correct a structure that has given way. See the signs that it is time to replace it.
There is a test you can do on your own in thirty seconds: remove the sheets and look at the mattress from the side, at eye level. If the line of the surface is curved, a topper is not what will solve it.
It does not work miracles with temperature either. Memory foam runs warmer than springs, by nature. If your main problem is heat, compensate with cotton or linen sheets, or choose a smaller thickness.
Thickness: the number that decides
It is the first thing to define, and the one that changes the result the most. In Portugal, most toppers on the market are between 4 and 8 cm.
- 4 to 5 cm — fine-tune. A slight adjustment. It keeps the feel of the mattress and adds a layer of adaptation. This is what you choose if the mattress is already good and you only want to improve it.
- 6 to 8 cm — transform. A noticeable change. This is what you choose if the mattress is too firm and you want to change the feel for real.
More thickness is not always better. Above 8 cm two practical problems start to appear: the fitted sheet no longer fits with enough slack, and the soft layer can cancel out the support the mattress was providing. If you need more than 8 cm to feel comfortable, what you need is a different mattress.
Density: the number nobody shows
Thickness tells you how much material there is. Density tells you what material it is. A low-density memory foam sinks after a few months and does not recover; a high-density one holds up. That is why two 7 cm toppers can last five years or a year and a half.
Not all brands publish the density. When they do, it is a good sign — it means the number can stand being seen.
Material: memory foam, latex or fibre
Memory foam moulds to the body and relieves pressure points. It is the best option for side sleepers, where the shoulder and the hip carry almost all the weight. It runs warmer.
Latex is more elastic and cooler. It recovers its shape faster and does not have the sinking feeling. It costs more.
Fibre is the softest and the most affordable, but it compresses with use and lasts less. It makes sense in rooms used only occasionally.
The simple rule: if the mattress is firm, look for cushioning; if the mattress sags, look for support. A soft topper on a soft mattress is the combination that comes up most often in our calls — and the one that does not work.
What exists on the Portuguese market
It is worth knowing what you are comparing against. The references below are published on the brands' own pages, as at the date of this guide.
| Brand | Reference | Thickness | What they publish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreamura Shizuka | Memory foam + high-resilience foam | 5 cm | Medium firmness · made in Portugal · 2-year warranty |
| Dreamura Nemuke | Memory foam + high-resilience foam | 8 cm | Low firmness · made in Portugal · 2-year warranty |
| Hypnia | Bamboo Topper | 8 cm | Presented as a top option for 2026 |
| LeCamaleon | Memory foam topper | 7 cm | High-density memory foam |
| Dailydream | Memory foam topper | — | OEKO-TEX certification · 50 kg/m³ memory foam |
| Emma | Topper | — | 3-year warranty · 100-night trial · delivery in 5 to 10 working days |
| Maxcolchon | Memory foam topper 5 | 5 cm | Free shipping |
| Pikolin | Topper range | — | Memory foam, fibre and feathers |
Notice what this table shows and what it hides. Almost everyone publishes the thickness. Almost nobody publishes the density. And few say where it is made.
The two Dreamura mattress toppers
We have two, and the difference between them is exactly the difference between fine-tuning and transforming.
Shizuka — 5 cm, medium firmness
Shizuka (静か) means silence or calm in Japanese: something you feel without hearing it. That is its function. Five centimetres of memory foam over high-resilience foam, with elastic straps that fix it to the mattress.
Choose it if you bought your mattress one or two years ago and want to fine-tune the feel, or if you share the bed and only one of you wants more comfort — in that case, it is used on one side only. From 190x90 to 200x160, from 149 €.
Nemuke — 8 cm, low firmness
Nemuke (眠気) is drowsiness — the moment when the body is already ready to let go. Eight centimetres of memory foam over high-resilience foam. It turns a firm mattress into a welcoming one in a single night.
Choose it if the mattress is too firm, if you want to try memory foam before investing in a new mattress, or if you are going to equip a holiday home. From 190x90 to 200x160, from 159 €.
Shizuka or Nemuke
| Shizuka | Nemuke | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 5 cm | 8 cm |
| Firmness | Medium | Low |
| Structure | Memory foam + high-resilience foam | Memory foam + high-resilience foam |
| What it does | Fine-tunes the mattress you have | Transforms the feel |
| Choose it if | The mattress is recent and almost right | The mattress is too firm |
| Price from | 149 € | 159 € |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Both are made in Portugal, come with free delivery in mainland Portugal within five working days, and payment in three interest-free instalments with Klarna. See the collection at Mattress Toppers.
How long a topper lasts
Three to five years, with daily use. That is less than a mattress, and it is normal — the topper is the layer that receives the body directly and the one that compresses the most. It is part of the same reasoning we apply to protectors and pillows: each layer has its own cycle. It is what we call sleep hygiene.
To make the topper last as long as possible: use a protector on top, rotate it every three months, and air it when you change the bed linen.
Frequently asked questions
Does a topper replace a new mattress?
It replaces the comfort, not the structure. If the mattress still has a sound structure and is only too firm, a topper solves it. If the structure has given way, it does not.
Which mattress topper thickness should I choose?
If the mattress is almost right, 5 cm. If it is clearly too firm, 8 cm. Above that, the sheet no longer fits properly and you lose support.
Does it make sense to put a topper on an expensive mattress?
It does. It relieves pressure on the surface and extends the life of the mattress. Many customers add the Shizuka to Hisui or Samurai mattresses for that reason.
Does the topper slide?
Both models have elastic straps that adjust to mattresses of any height.
Can I wash the mattress topper?
Not in the washing machine. Use a mattress protector on top — that is the piece that gets washed.
Does a topper run hot?
Memory foam runs warmer than springs. If you feel hot at night, choose the smaller thickness and use cotton or linen sheets.
How long does a mattress topper last?
Three to five years with daily use. That is less than a mattress because it is the layer that receives the body directly and the one that compresses the most.
In short
A topper is worth it to fine-tune a mattress that is still good, to soften a mattress that is too firm, or to renew a guest room. It is not worth it as a patch for a worn-out mattress.
If you tell me the age of your mattress and how you wake up in the morning, I will tell you whether a topper solves it or whether it is time to think about something else. I can help in ten minutes on the phone.
— Ana Cristina, Dreamura Sleep Advisor · Talk to me
