Best pillow top mattresses for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

The pillow top mattress is the industry’s answer to traditional innerspring beds, which used to be a popular choice for their durability and support but lack the snuggly comfort of foam mattresses. In the past, these mattresses had a thin comfort layer made of wool or cotton, but were almost entirely made of innerspring coils. You had to invest in a separate mattress topper if you wanted a cozy plush layer, whether that be a memory foam mattress topper or a quilted mattress pad of some kind. Today, pillow top mattresses typically include a small but fair amount of comfort foam, a supportive pocketed coil base layer and a fluffy pillow top that softens up the feel of the firm steel below.

I personally love pillow top mattresses and have been sleeping on one for a few years now. Spoiler alert: It might be listed as one of my picks below. I don’t love the feel of memory foam, but I really enjoy the airy pillow-like cushioning pillow top mattresses provide. In this mattress roundup, I reveal the best pillow top mattresses options from my experience as a mattress tester, including the top picks for side sleepers and the best eco-friendly pillow top mattress.

There are lots of options for replacing your existing mattress. Narrowing down the best pillow top mattress for your needs from a sea of mattress brands can be overwhelming, to say the least — especially if you plan on spending over $1,000 on a new mattress. That’s why I’ve done the hard part for you by spending hours upon hours laying on beds that have a mattress topper comfort layers (it’s a rough gig, I know) trying my best to describe how each mattress type feels and if I think it’s worth the money. Wondering what I chose? Let me be your mattress advisor and keep reading to find out.

The prices below are for queen size models and were recently updated.

More for a better night’s sleep

• The best firm mattress in 2021
• The best mattress for side sleepers in 2021
• The best weighted blanket for 2021
• The best cooling mattress for hot and sweaty sleepers
• The best mattresses in a box for 2021
• Best air mattress for 2021: SoundAsleep, REI and more compared
• Best king mattresses in 2021
• Best mattress toppers for 2021
• The best alarm clock for 2021
• The 10 best pillows in 2021, according to the internet 
• Best organic mattress 2021
• Best dog beds of 2021
• Best cooling mattress toppers for 2021