Pillow Top Mattress Advantages

Price Range

• Some more expensive pillow top mattresses are made entirely of memory foam. Some less expensive pillow tops are inner-spring mattresses with a memory foam cover. As of April 2011, you can buy a pillow top mattress cover for around $70 to $80. Pillow top mattresses range from around $200 to $3,000, depending on the quality and brand name. While the longevity and durability of the mattress partially depends on the quality of the materials, a less expensive pillow top mattress is softer and smoother than a classic spring mattress. Latex rubber and memory foam are the most durable pillow tops.

Softness and Support

• If you are a person who likes a firm, solid surface, a pillow top mattress is probably not for you. However, one of the big advantages of a pillow top mattress is its ability to support your body while feeling soft. Some pillow tops give you the feeling of sinking into the bed while dispersing your weight. This is said to be good for those with joint and back pain because it relieves pressure from single points in your body. Pillow tops that disperse your weight also help prevent the mattress from sagging in the center.

Durability

• After a period of time, a classic inner-spring mattress will sag, putting pressure on the hips, back and neck. A pillow top mattress provides a cushioned layer between your body and the springs -- if it has springs. If a pillow top mattress does not have springs, it eliminates the poking and pressure a classic mattress causes over time.

Flipping and Rotating

• Many classic inner-spring mattresses must be flipped and rotated every couple months to prevent them from sagging. One advantage of a pillow top mattress is that most do not need to be flipped because the protective covering distributes weight. If not being able to flip your mattress has kept you from buying a pillow top, some types of pillow top mattresses are double-sided.