What is a pillow top spring mattress?

Pillow tops are most commonly found on innerspring or innerspring-hybrid mattresses.

Cushioning materials

Pillow tops commonly use foam, latex, wool, or fiberfill.

• Check the material named in the product details.
• Foam often provides deeper contouring than other pillow-top materials, but quality varies.

Sewn-on construction

A conventional pillow top is sewn onto the mattress’s top surface.

• Use the construction description to check whether the top is sewn on.
• Compare the fill name with the sewing description.

Pillow tops create a bowed appearance and feel consistently plush and conforming across the surface, while Euro tops have padding built beneath the cover and flush with mattress edges.

Raised, separate pillow top

A conventional pillow top is sewn onto the mattress’s top surface.

• Look for a distinct visible layer above the mattress surface.
• Sleep Foundation describes pillow tops as softer and fluffier.

Flush, built-in Euro top

Euro-top padding is built beneath the top cover.

• Check the product details for padding beneath the top cover.
• Look for padding that runs flush with the mattress edges.

The comfort layer sits above the coils, and coils form the spring core.

The comfort layer

The comfort layer sits above the coils and helps cushion the sleeper.

• The layers on top also help reduce pressure points.
• Comfort systems can use memory foam, polyfoam, latex, cotton, wool, or polyester.
• Check the materials listed for the comfort system.

The spring core

The spring core is the metal coil center behind an innerspring’s classic springy, bouncy feel.

• Foam, padding, and sometimes more coils can sit above the core.
• Saatva says what sits above the coils is just as important to sleep comfort.

In most cases, underlying design and firmness matter more to a mattress’s feel than whether it has a pillow top or Euro top. Compare the 3 firmness choices for Saatva’s Classic: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm.

Use sleep position to focus on contouring, lumbar support, or firmness.

Side sleepers

For side sleepers, compare contouring at the hips and shoulders; they usually prefer medium-soft to medium-firm mattresses.

• In general, side sleeping concentrates much of body weight on one hip and shoulder.
• That position creates more prominent pressure points.

Back sleepers

For back sleepers, prioritize lumbar support so the hips do not sink too deeply, Saatva says.

• The specific concern is hips sinking too deeply.
• Underlying design and firmness usually affect overall feel more than top style.

Stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers should look for enough firmness to keep the hips from sinking and the spine from bowing unnaturally.

• Check whether the hips sink.
• The spine should not bow unnaturally.

Coils leave room for airflow, while foam comfort layers tend to trap heat; open coils do not control motion transfer well.

Pocket coils

Pocketed coils are individually wrapped in fabric.

• Check the mattress description for fabric wrapping around each smaller coil.
• Coil-based mattresses tend to sleep cooler than all-foam mattresses because coils leave room for airflow.

Open-coil springs

Saatva says open-coil innersprings provide general support but do not control motion transfer well.

• Use motion transfer as a point of comparison for an open-coil mattress.
• Foam comfort layers tend to trap body heat; some mattresses add cooling gel or graphite to the foam.

Check the surface over time and follow the manufacturer’s directions on flipping.

Flattening over time

A pillow top’s light, fluffy design will eventually flatten, leaving an uneven sleep surface.

• Look for unevenness as a pillow top flattens over time.
• Check a pillow top over time for flattening.

Flipping, base fit, and shape

Sleep Foundation advises that most mattresses should not be flipped unless the manufacturer specifically recommends it.

• Follow the manufacturer’s flipping instructions before turning the mattress.
• Pillow tops can have a distinct bowed profile above the mattress surface.

A conventional pillow top is sewn on, while a separate topper is counted in sheet measurements.

Attached pillow top

A conventional pillow top is sewn onto the mattress’s top surface.

• Compare the product’s listed fill with its attachment method.
• Common pillow-top materials include foam, latex, wool, and fiberfill.

Separate topper

Include a separate topper in your sheet measurement.

• Count its additional thickness in the measurement.
• Consider mattress height when choosing sheets.

Consider mattress height; if the mattress is taller than 14 inches, confirm the bed’s height.

Sheet depth

Consider mattress height when choosing fitted sheets.

• Ignoring mattress height can leave excess fabric or lead to ripped sheets.
• Standard sheet sets might not fit mattresses taller than 14 inches, so confirm the bed’s height.

Finished mattress height

If the mattress is taller than 14 inches, confirm its height before choosing sheets.

• Standard sheet sets might not fit a mattress taller than 14 inches.
• Include any topper or pad in sheet measurements.

At a physical store, you can sit or lie on a mattress to assess your comfort level.

Try sitting or lying down

Use sitting or lying down to get a feel for your comfort.

• Sit or lie on the mattress to assess comfort.
• Notice whether the comfort layers cushion you.

Check comfort and support

Underlying design and firmness usually affect overall feel more than the top style.

• Saatva advises back sleepers to consider lumbar support so the hips do not sink too deeply.
• Saatva advises stomach sleepers to look for enough firmness to keep the hips from sinking.
• Compare stated firmness separately from top style.

A basic innerspring has supportive coils in a cover; the cited figures also compare lifespan and cost.

Innerspring

The cited source describes the beds as having supportive coils encased in a cover.

• The coil core gives the bed its classic springy, bouncy feel.
• Check the listing for the mattress’s construction details.

Lifespan and cost

Saatva says a basic innerspring lasts about 7-8 years, while its own innerspring models may last over 10 years with normal use.

• The longer estimate is for Saatva innerspring models.
• High-quality innerspring mattresses generally cost less than high-quality memory-foam and latex beds.
• Compare beds at similar quality levels.

Does a pillow top sleep hot?

A pillow top with a foam comfort layer may retain body heat, because foam comfort layers tend to trap body heat. Some mattresses add cooling gel or graphite to a foam comfort layer. Coil-based mattresses tend to sleep cooler than all-foam mattresses because coils leave room for airflow.

Does a pillow top add height to a mattress?

Yes, Saatva lists a 3-inch Euro pillow top on its Classic, HD, and Solaire mattresses. Include any mattress pad or topper in your sheet measurement because its added thickness needs to be counted.

Does a Euro top usually have firmer edges?

Sleep Foundation describes Euro tops as a bit firmer around the edges and more cushioned toward the center. They generally offer better edge support because they are firmer around the outer perimeter and flush with the mattress edges.

We read 11 published pages from 2 sites (Saatva, Sleep Foundation), checked in October 2026. Every sentence in the answers above cites one of them; the offer card at the end names its own source. This page reports published sources only; we did not test mattresses in person.