Can You Use a Memory Foam Mattress Topper on a Sofa Bed?

Sofa beds are good for overnight guests. The mattress quickly pulls out of your couch, transforming a living space into a temporary guest room. Sofa beds may not be as comfortable as a regular mattress because the bed is thinner and contains fewer materials—adding a memory foam mattress topper can add some needed comfort and help you get a good night’s sleep.

In our article, we detail why a memory foam topper is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to make your sofa bed more comfortable, and we’ll help you find the best memory foam topper for your needs.

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What’s the Difference Between a Sofa Bed and a Regular Mattress?

Sofa beds make excellent guest mattresses, providing sleeping space for visitors if you don’t have a guest room. A sofa bed folds and tucks inside a couch when not in use, which can damage other mattress types. Regular mattresses (a.k.a. the ones you’d use in a normal bed frame) are thicker and contain materials that don’t perform as well when the bed is folded up for long periods. A sofa bed’s thinner structure makes it more malleable and easier to store.

Why is a Memory Foam Topper Better?

A memory foam mattress topper is one of the best ways to make your sofa bed more comfortable. Memory foam conforms to your body for optimal pressure relief and reduces motion transfer.

Pressure Relief

As you lie on memory foam, your body heat and weight soften the foam, causing it to mold to your body and relieve pressure points for pain relief. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed instead of sore the following morning. Memory foam quickly bounces back to its original shape, leaving the surface smooth and even.

Motion Isolation

Another benefit to a memory foam topper is motion isolation. When you toss and turn, the movement can travel across the sleep surface and wake your partner. Adding a memory foam topper to the sofa bed restricts motion transfer and reduces sleep disruptions.

Other Types of Mattress Toppers

If you don’t like memory foam, there are other topper materials, including latex, feather, and pillow tops that you may find more comfortable.

Latex Toppers

Latex toppers share similarities with memory foam. Both latex and memory foam conforms to the body for pressure relief and reduces motion transfer, but latex is naturally firmer and cooler than memory foam.

The added bounce prevents you from sinking too deep and makes it easier to change sleeping positions. If your sofa bed feels too soft, a latex topper offers a good balance of softness and support. Natural latex can last up to 15 years if properly taken care of.

Feather Toppers

Feather mattress toppers usually contain a mix of feathers and down. Down feathers are fluffy and soft, and they don’t have quills like feathers which add some extra support. Holding the feathers inside square pockets ensures the feather fill stays in place and doesn’t shift to one side.

If you have allergies, a feather topper may not be ideal. Feathers attract more dust mites than other materials and cause allergic reactions. Try a hypoallergenic material like memory foam or latex instead.

Pillowtop Toppers

Pillowtop toppers often contain a mix of fiberfill materials, like cotton and polyester clusters. Like feather toppers, the fiberfill is sewn inside square pockets to ensure the filling is evenly distributed. Pillowtop toppers are also hypoallergenic.

How to Find the Best Memory Foam Mattress Topper

To find the best memory foam mattress topper, consider thickness, cooling properties, and return policies and warranties. Doing the extra research can narrow down potential options and help you find a long-lasting memory foam mattress topper.

Thickness

Memory foam mattress toppers range in thickness, but the best topper should be 2 to 3 inches thick. The topper provides ample pressure relief without causing you to feel stuck. Thinner memory foam toppers may not be supportive enough to make a difference when placed on a firm mattress. Thick toppers can cause a sofa bed to feel too soft and make it difficult to get in and out of bed.

Cooling Properties

Traditional memory foam mattress toppers can cause overheating. The dense structure has fewer air pockets, restricting airflow. Instead, choose a cooling memory foam topper, like one made with gel foam, plant oils, an advanced open-cell design, copper, or graphite. These cooling materials are good for hot sleepers avoiding night sweats.

Gel Memory Foam

Gel memory foam dissipates body heat, so it’s a popular additive to cool down the foam. Usually, the gel is infused or swirled into the foam; some brands even use gel beads to absorb heat.

Plant-Based Memory Foam

Manufacturers replace a portion of the petroleum with plant-based oils during the manufacturing process. Plant oils trap less body heat, so you don’t wake up sweaty. Plus, adding plant oils reduces off-gassing odor.

Plant-based memory foam, like our proprietary Bio-Pur®, is also more responsive than traditional memory foam. You’re less likely to feel stuck and may find it easier to switch sleeping positions at night.

Advanced Open-Cell Memory Foam

Even though regular open-cell memory foam contains air pockets, some manufacturers inject even more air inside the material, creating larger air pockets. This advanced open-cell design improves air circulation to better regulate body temperature.

Copper and Graphite-Infused Memory Foam

Copper and graphite are natural heat conductors, and when infused with memory foam, they can prevent night sweats. Both materials pull heat away from the body, reducing heat retention. Copper is also antimicrobial, and graphite is a natural fire retardant, taking the place of harsh chemicals, like formaldehyde.

Return Policy and Warranty

Before committing to a potential memory foam mattress topper for your sofa bed mattress, take a look at the return policy and warranty.

Return policies allow you to return the memory foam topper if you don’t like it. Most return policies last 30 days, though some can last up to 90 days. Make sure to read the fine print first. Some manufacturers only accept a return from unopened toppers or only provide a partial refund for used toppers.

Warranties cover sagging greater than 1 inch, though this measurement depends on the brand. The mattress company will either repair the topper or send a replacement as long as the memory foam topper is within the warranty period. You may have to pay the shipping and handling fees.

Consider the Lift™ by Amerisleep

If you want to dress up a sofa bed with a memory foam topper, we would have to recommend our Amerisleep Lift™.