Define Pillow Top

Materials

• Pillow tops are constructed from a variety of materials, including cotton, wool or foam. Some pillow tops use a specialized type of foam known as memory foam, which is designed to contour to fit the curves a person's body, but then return to its original shape when the person rises from the bed.

Types

• One-sided pillow tops have the extra cushion or pillow only on one side of the mattress, which prevents owners from flipping the mattress over to sleep on the other side. A small number of retailers sell two-sided or flippable pillow tops, which allow users to sleep on either side of the bed, slowing down wear.

Misconceptions

• Many people believe that since a pillow top is softer, it does not provide as much support and can be bad for the back, but the Better Sleep Council Canada explains that pillow tops are not any worse for your spine. This is because only the top of the mattress is soft, but the innerspring inside of the bed still provides adequate support.

Size

• Twin and full pillowtops are both 75 inches in length with widths of 38 inches and 53 inches, respectfully. Queen and King pillowtops are 80 inches in length with widths of 60 inches) and 76 inches, respectively.

Considerations

• Pillow tops are often thicker than standard mattresses and may require "deep pocket" sheets. Some people have difficulty getting into pillow tops because of their height, but many manufacturers offer low profile box springs or frames to make the mattress lower to the floor.