Once seen as a purely practical add-on for tired beds and spare rooms, mattress toppers have moved far beyond their functional roots to become an essential sleep upgrade. I personally used to think mattress toppers were more of a nice-to-have than a game-changer, but after testing more than a few, I’m officially converted. It’s also one of the easiest ways to upgrade your sleep surface without committing to the price tag of a new mattress. There’s plenty of choice out there, from the best memory foam mattress topper for back pain and pressure relief, to a cooling mattress topper that hot sleepers will love, to breathable wool mattress toppers for year-round comfort. For this mattress topper roundup, we've tested everything from super king luxury mattress toppers to budget-friendly small double designs, trying big names like Simba, Silentnight and Panda London.