How To Choose a Mattress Topper For a Lumpy Mattress

A lumpy mattress could cause back or neck pain that will result in poor quality sleep due to excessive tossing and turning during the night. Disturbed sleep has long term effects on your health and should be eliminated as soon as you notice it. For more information about the consequences of disrupted sleep, read this article from the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health. If you wake up with body aches and soreness, then you should examine your mattress for lumps and indentations. You can fix a lumpy mattress temporarily by flipping the mattress, or by adding a pillow under the saggy area of the mattress. However, if you are looking for a more durable solution, then purchase a suitable mattress topper for a lumpy mattress.

To choose a mattress topper for a lumpy mattress, buy a high-quality mattress topper made of memory foam with 4 to 5 pounds per cubic foot density, and 3 to 5-inch thickness. 

A mattress topper adjusts the firmness of your mattress. So if your mattress is too firm, choose a mattress topper that is made of feather or fiberfill. However, if your mattress is too soft, then you should select a mattress topper that adds more firmness and support to your bed. Keep in mind that mattress toppers with high densities provide more body support in comparison to mattress toppers with low densities. Read our mattress topper density guide to find out more about the range of densities and their specific benefits. 

High-density mattresses can be very thick, firm, and heavy. A proper combination between thickness and density is the key to the perfect level of support and comfort. This medium-firm mattress topper from Amazon has a thickness of 3 inches which makes it easy to install on your bed, while still providing optimum support. 

This mattress topper with 3 inches of infused gel memory foam covers the lumps of your mattress, cushions your body, and eliminates the strain on pressure points. Generally, mattress toppers that are thicker than 2 inches thick will change the feel of your bed’s lumps. Image from Amazon.

What Causes Mattress Indentations or A Lumpy Mattress?

A Lumpy mattress. Notice how it’s not as flat as the piece of plywood that’s laid on top of it.  Image from myslumberyard.com.

A dent in the mattress may not seem like such a big deal but it could affect your spine alignment and pressure relief. Over time, your sleep health and physical health could suffer from inadequate rest due to a sagging or lumpy mattress. 

Causes of mattress indentations and lumps include over-usage, short fibers inside the mattress, and a mattress made entirely of Polyurethane foam which degrades and loses structure over time.

Reason 1. Over-Usage 

People usually sleep on the same surface of the mattress, and in their favorite sleeping position every night. Excessive pressure on the mattress night after night causes indents, lumps, and sags in the mattress. The mattress’ materials continually compress and soften over time. 

The durability of a mattress depends on the materials. Innerspring mattresses for instance, are made of thin coils, which can weaken over time and cause sagging. Hybrid mattresses contain an innerspring coil system along with layers of other materials such as foam, wool, cotton, or latex. These also tend to wear out sooner than latex mattresses for example. A responsive Latex mattress like this one from Amazon dissipates the weight of the sleeper and has a good recovery rate so it can regain its structure when not in use. 

Reason 2. Short Fibers

There are many factors that make a mattress lumpy and most of them are inside the mattress where you can not see them. For the most part, the dips and hills that can form in a mattress are caused by inferior fibers. During your sleep, you move back and forth to get comfortable on your mattress, when you do that the shorter fibers break and compress rapidly. As these short fibers break apart and compress, your mattress becomes lumpy. Read this article from manufacturer Barnet Europe to learn more about fibers and how they are manufactured. 

Reason 3. Polyurethane Foam

There are many mattresses on the market today that consist of only polyurethane foam stacked and glued on even more layers of polyurethane foam. Most polyurethane foam mattresses will become lumpy over time, as they soften with your body heat and form a permanent indentation according to the shape of your body. 

We would recommend that you buy a mattress with a combination of comfort foam and gel-infused memory foam like this one from Amazon because the comfort foam retains the structure and support of the mattress, and the gel foam regulates temperature and conforms to your body during sleep. 

Also, do you happen to know what to do if your mattress edge collapses? Make sure to take a look at our related article to find out.

How Thick a Mattress Topper Do You Need to Fix a Lumpy Mattress? 

Mattress toppers generally range in thickness from 1-4 inches or more. The thicker the topper is, the better its ability to change the feel of the underlying mattress. However, it is not always the best choice to go and buy the thickest mattress topper on the market to fix a lumpy mattress. 

You need a mattress topper that’s 3-4 inches thick for a lumpy mattress because it is sufficiently thick to withstand body weight and offers an appropriate level of comfort and support. 

Try out  this 3 inch gel memory foam mattress topper from Amazon with additional cooling features to fix your lumpy mattress. Read our article about mattress topper size and thickness to understand the varying thicknesses and how they alter the feel of a mattress.

Is an Extra Firm Mattress Topper Better For a Lumpy Mattress? 

Firmness is determined by the density of the mattress topper. Most toppers have a density ranging between 2 and 6+ pounds per cubic feet. 

An extra firm mattress topper is better for a lumpy mattress because it provides an extra buffer against a lumpy mattress. Choose a mattress with 4-5 pounds per cubic foot because it helps achieve a noticeable level of comfort and support.

As a general rule of thumb, the higher the density of the topper, the more support it can provide and the more weight it can handle. And if you’re a heavy person, a higher density might be a better choice to withstand more weight without sagging or collapsing. Read our article on how to choose a mattress topper for a heavy person to learn about how mattress topper density and thickness affect the type of support offered. We like this  4 pound density memory foam mattress topper on Amazon because the high density foam prevents the sleeper from sinking into the mattress.   

What Mattress Topper Material Should You Use for a Lumpy Mattress? 

The variety of mattress toppers available makes it possible to find the precise combination of cushioning and support for individual needs. The type of mattress topper required to eliminate the lumps on an underlying mattress would need to provide a sufficient barrier between the mattress and sleeping body.

You should use a mattress topper made of memory foam or latex materials to fix a lumpy mattress because they are durable and retain their shape and structure over long periods when maintained correctly. 

Memory foam mattress toppers offer different firmness options, all of which cradle your body and eliminate pressure points. Latex mattress toppers can also make a difference when used over the lumpy mattress because they are durable and can stand up to substantial use. Read our article about Latex vs memory foam mattress toppers to learn more about their differences. 

Additionally, make sure to read our related article explaining how to reduce mattress topper smells for when you do purchase a new topper. The tips and tricks in that article will definitely help you out!

Below are examples of mattress toppers that can be used to fix a lumpy mattress:

Product name + Link from Amazon	Material	Density	Thickness	Price
Subrtex 4 Inch Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper with Cooling Pad and Bamboo Cover	Gel-infused memory foam	3.5 lbs. per cu. ft.	4 inches	~$165
Pure Green 100% Natural Latex Mattress Topper – Soft – 3 Inch – Queen Size (GOLS Certified Organic)	100% Natural Latex	4 lbs. per cu. ft.	3 inches	~$200
Starcast 3 Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper Queen Size with Bamboo Cover	Gel-infused memory foam	4 lbs. per cu. ft.	3 inches	~$160

Now, if you’re ready to dress up your mattress, take a look at our guide to bed skirt styles and 10 interesting ideas as well as our quick and easy bed skirt hacks to elevate the look of your room. You might also be interested to find out that sleigh beds are still a great choice in contemporary bedrooms too. Make sure to check out these 7 sleigh bed ideas to enhance your bedroom as well.

In a Nutshell

A lumpy mattress can be easily remedied with a good quality mattress topper that is dense enough to dramatically alter the feel of the mattress if necessary. If however, you find that your mattress topper still has a lumpy feel then read our step-by-step guide on how to fix a lumpy mattress topper for helpful tips that are sure to improve your sleeping experience.