Last updated: September 2026
Yes, a mattress topper is worth it if your mattress is basically sound but feels too firm, or if you are trying to get more life out of a bed you are not ready to replace. It is not worth it, and will not help, if the mattress underneath is sagging or you can feel the springs, because a topper cannot fix a broken structure, only add a comfort layer on top of one that still works. That is the honest, short answer. The rest of this guide explains why, what a topper actually is, what one should cost in South Africa, and when to skip it and buy a new mattress instead.
What is a mattress topper?
A mattress topper is a separate layer of foam that sits on top of your existing mattress, under your fitted sheet. It is not a mattress protector, which is a thin waterproof sheet that guards against spills and dust mites, and it is not a new mattress. A topper's only job is to change how the surface of your existing bed feels, usually by adding softness and pressure relief over a mattress that is structurally fine but too firm.
Toppers range from thin fibre layers a couple of centimetres thick to real memory foam layers of 5cm and up. The thickness is what decides whether you actually feel a difference once you lie down, or whether it disappears under a fitted sheet within a week.
What toppers typically cost in South Africa
Prices and thickness vary a lot depending on the material. Based on what is currently listed by most South African retailers, here is roughly what each category looks like:
| Topper type | Typical thickness | Typical price in South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre or egg crate topper | 2 to 3cm | R400 to R1,000 |
| Standard foam topper, elastic corner straps | 5cm | R750 to R1,500 |
| Memory foam topper | 4 to 6cm | R1,600 to R4,000 |
| Specialist medical-grade memory foam topper | 5 to 6cm | R4,000 and up |
| Mr Mattress Memory Foam Topper | 7cm, 30 density | R1,499 to R3,999 |
A small number of specialist toppers on the South African market are made slightly thicker than 7cm. Thickness on its own is not the whole story though: density matters as much as height, since a thick but low-density foam still packs down and stops doing its job within a year. We publish 30 density on ours for the same reason we publish density on every mattress we make, so you know what you are actually buying.
The two details almost nobody checks before buying
Is the top quilted, or a flat cover?
Most toppers are a flat, unquilted cover pulled over a foam slab. It bunches and slides as the foam moves under you. Ours has a quilted top, stitched through to the foam in a pattern, exactly the way we build the top panel of a mattress, so the cover stays where it belongs and the surface feels finished before the memory foam underneath even starts working.
How does it stay on the bed?
Most toppers under about 5cm rely on thin elastic straps at the corners, which stretch, slip and eventually snap. Ours is finished with a fitted border in the same material we use on our mattresses. It wraps around the sides of your mattress like a fitted sheet, so it holds its shape and stays put without straps. Your own fitted sheet goes over the top as normal, though you will want a deep pocket one.
Best for a bed that is too hard
This is the single most common reason South Africans buy a topper. A mattress that felt fine in a showroom can feel noticeably firmer once it is on your own base at home, and a 7cm memory foam layer is thick enough to genuinely soften that surface rather than just take the edge off for a week.
Best for hip, shoulder and lower back pressure
Side and back sleepers who wake up sore at the hip or shoulder are the people a topper helps most, because memory foam contours under pressure points instead of pushing back against them. It will not replace a proper firmness assessment if the pain is serious, but for a mattress that is simply too unforgiving, it is often the fastest and cheapest fix available.
Best for a caravan, sleeper couch or guest bed
Caravan and sleeper couch mattresses are usually thin and built down to a price. A topper on top of one, or a custom-cut topper for an awkward caravan or bakkie canopy shape, makes a real difference at a fraction of the cost of replacing the whole mattress. We cut toppers to order for exactly this.
Best for stretching the life of an older mattress
If your mattress is a few years old, still feels supportive with no sagging or visible springs, but has lost some of its original softness, a topper can buy you real extra comfort while you save for a full replacement. It is a genuine stopgap, not just a sales line, provided the mattress underneath is still doing its job.
When a mattress topper is NOT the answer
Be honest with yourself here, because this is where people waste money. A topper adds a comfort layer. It does not add support. If your mattress sags in the middle, if you can feel a spring, or if two people roll toward the centre when lying still, the base structure has failed and a topper will not fix that. You will feel the sag through the topper within weeks. In that case the mattress itself needs replacing, not covering up.
A topper also will not fix a bed that is the wrong firmness in the opposite direction. If your mattress already feels too soft and you are sinking in, adding a soft memory foam layer on top makes that worse, not better.
Sizes and prices
Our Memory Foam Mattress Topper is 7cm of 30 density soft memory foam with a quilted top, a fitted border, and a soft knit, deep pocket, hypoallergenic cover. It ships flat and folded, not rolled or vacuum packed, so there is no expansion wait and no roll crease. It comes with a 3 year warranty and a 365 night trial, with free delivery nationwide. On the product page you choose a Size first, then a Bed Length.
| Size | Bed Length | cm | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Standard Length | 92 x 188 | R1,499 |
| Single | Extra Length | 92 x 200 | R1,499 |
| Three Quarter | Standard Length | 107 x 188 | R1,999 |
| Three Quarter | Extra Length | 107 x 200 | R1,999 |
| Double | Standard Length | 137 x 188 | R2,399 |
| Double | Extra Length | 137 x 200 | R2,599 |
| Queen | Standard Length | 152 x 188 | R2,599 |
| Queen | Extra Length | 152 x 200 | R2,799 |
| King | Standard Length | 183 x 188 | R2,999 |
| King | Extra Length | 183 x 200 | R3,499 |
| Super King | Extra Length only | 200 x 200 | R3,999 |
Need a custom size for a caravan, bakkie or sleeper couch? We cut toppers to order in the same 7cm 30 density memory foam.
How ours compares to the other toppers you are looking at
We have written these side by side, with their live prices and specs, including the sizes where they beat us:
Frequently asked questions
Is a mattress topper worth it?
Yes, if your mattress is structurally fine but feels too firm. No, if the mattress sags or you can feel springs, because a topper cannot fix a base that has failed.
What is a mattress topper?
A separate layer of foam, usually foam or memory foam, that sits on top of an existing mattress under the fitted sheet to change how firm or soft the surface feels. It is different to a mattress protector, which is a thin waterproof sheet, not a comfort layer.
What is the best mattress topper in South Africa?
For a bed that is genuinely too hard, a thick memory foam topper of around 7cm at a real published density does the most, since thinner layers under about 3cm rarely change how a firm mattress feels once you lie down on it.
How thick should a mattress topper be?
Toppers under 3cm mostly add a small amount of surface softness. To genuinely change how a firm mattress feels, look for 5cm or more of real foam, with the density published.
Should the top be quilted?
Yes, if you can get it. A quilted top is stitched through to the foam so the cover holds its position. A flat, unquilted cover slides and bunches as the foam moves under you. Most toppers on the South African market use a flat cover.
Will a topper fix a sagging mattress?
No. A topper adds comfort, not support. A sagging mattress or one where you can feel the springs needs to be replaced, not covered.
Does a memory foam topper sleep hot?
Memory foam holds a little more warmth than a coil mattress. A cotton fitted sheet and a ventilated room manage this for most people.
Can I get a custom size topper?
Yes, toppers can be cut to order for caravans, bakkies and sleeper couches in the same memory foam used in the standard sizes.
Backed by a 365 night trial and free delivery nationwide, from a manufacturer with over 25,000 beds delivered and a 4.8 star Google rating from 433 reviews.
Reviewed by Andries Taljaard, Founder of Mr Mattress.