Explaining Euro Top vs Pillow Top Mattresses

There’s something truly satisfying about nestling into a pillow that makes sleep all the more enjoyable. Once you find that perfect spot to cradle your head, it’s lights out, and you’re on your way to dreamland. It’s so effective, mattress brands have gone so far as to wonder, “Why not enjoy the softness of a pillow for the entire body?”

And that’s the story of how pillow top and Euro top mattresses became a thing. Both are considered some of the plushest beds on the market and feature an added layer of top comfort for a cloud-like feel that are on their own level — but not identical. Luckily, we’ve summed up the difference between a Euro top vs pillow top mattress for you in this quick buying guide, including recommended mattresses from our catalog of leading bed brands.

What is a Pillow Top Mattress?

Did you know you can enjoy a soft mattress that doesn’t swallow you whole? The solution is a pillow top mattress. For the most part, this type of mattress is similar to an innerspring or pocketed coil bed, only with an added layer of cushioning to the uppermost part of the cover. This extra padding — which sits directly atop the bed and is easily identifiable by its signature gap —instantly creates more contouring comfort and acts as a buffer between coils to limit motion transfer.

If you like the feel of a hybrid mattress, but want a more affordable option, pillow top mattresses are a great alternative to explore. While you won’t get as many layers of foam with a pillow topper as on a hybrid mattress, the feel and support are similar, especially since many of the options manufactured these days use memory foam inside the topper. Just keep in mind, some pillow top mattresses require special bed sheets, such as deep-pocket sheets. Using the right bedding on a pillow topper will protect the padded layer from shifting and compacting for a more comfortable surface that lasts longer.

✓ Pillow top mattresses are best for…

To some sleepers, traditional coil mattresses are too hard and lead to uncomfortable pressure points, yet their stability is the best for healthy spine support. But pair a pillow topper with innersprings, and you can enjoy the best of support and comfort, especially if you’re a side sleeper or back sleeper. For some, a pillow topper can feel stuffy, but if you’re all about a cozy bed, a pillow top mattress can feel like a haven.

Recommended Pillow Top Mattress: Beautyrest Black® Series 3 Pocketed Coil® 16.75" Plush Pillow Top California King Mattress

Shop This Beautyrest Black Mattress

Double up on plush comfort with this pillow top mattress from the Beautyrest Black Series 3 collection. Expertly crafted with layers of exclusive sleep tech, you'll enjoy this sleep solution the moment you lie down and get lost in its pillow-y surface with quilted memory foam. This mattress goes beyond basic support with specially designed Micro Diamond memory foam with added durability and contouring, plus two types of coil support. Altogether, this premium pillow top mattress is an experience only Beautyrest offers and a night of sleep you'll love experiencing every day.

Features:

• Micro Diamond memory foam
• Self-Response Late
• 2K Nano Coils
• Sleep Climate Technology

What is a Euro Top Mattress?

The biggest drawback to a pillow top mattress is its lifespan, which typically ranges between five to eight years, mostly due to shifting in the upper lining (which is why we highly recommend using the right sheets). However, the biggest difference between pillow top and Euro top mattresses is that Euro top mattresses have a topper sewn directly beneath the mattress cover. This simple alteration allows them to outlast pillow top mattresses with an average lifespan of eight years and up to 10 years when properly taken care of.

This sewn-in design also creates more of an even surface with considerably better edge support than with pillow top mattresses, although some sleepers feel this restricts how much contouring the layer is able to provide. However, this is a plus when it comes to using sheets on a Euro top mattress. While deep-pocket sheets are still highly recommended, you’ll experience a flush surface on a Euro top mattress, meaning regular bed sheets are often compatible.

✓ Euro top mattresses are best for…

To protect their layers of padding from compacting, many Euro top mattresses use denser materials in their filling, which can be a plus for sleepers seeking relief from back and neck pain. Like their counterparts, European top mattresses offer a luxurious foundation for back and side sleepers, but their reinforced surface is agreeable to virtually every kind of sleeper, but not every wallet. Compared to pillow top beds, Euro top mattresses are the more expensive option.

Recommended Euro Top Mattress: BestSleep Crawford II 15" Hybrid Medium Firm Euro Top Queen Mattress

Shop This BestSleep Mattress

If splurging is your idea of sleep royalty, this firm Euro top mattress from BestSleep is our recommendation. It's a one-of-a-kind experience, designed with high-density foam beneath a top layer of quilted tufts that cradle the body in hotel-worthy goodness. Altogether, three different kinds of foam (memory foam, gel memory foam, high density foam) offer a trinity of comfort, while reinforced edge support makes every inch of this lush mattress usable sleep space. Upgrade your sleep with this option from Best Mattress today!

Features:

• Tri-Zoned wrapped coils
• Firm Fitness Foam
• Full Body Surround 
• Pocketed coil base 

How to Choose Between a Euro Top vs. Pillow Top Mattress

The first step to shopping for a new mattress should start with identifying your best sleep position. Once you’re familiar with your needs, consider these pointers while shopping between a pillow top mattress vs Euro top mattress.

Support

As always, we like to remind our shoppers that support does not equal softness. Instead, think of support as how much a mattress suspends your body. Does your body sink? Or does it sit parallel to the surface? Both qualities have their benefits, but ultimately, who they benefit relates to the type of sleeper.

Side sleepers experience the best support on a softer mattress that contours to the natural curve of the spine when sleeping in the fetal position, or in other words, a pillow top bed. On the other hand, Euro top mattresses offer more stability, which is ideal for sleeping on the back or on the stomach.

Motion

Both pillow top and Euro top mattresses are good performers when it comes to motion response. Overall, they absorb more movement than innerspring mattresses, and when added on top of a pocketed coil bed, you get motion response second only to memory foam. Compared side-by-side, Euro top mattresses provide slightly better motion response than pillow top mattresses.

Longevity

Overall, you’ll probably spend more on a Euro top mattress than a pillow top mattress, but they last longer and provide comfort many sleepers compare to luxury hotel suites. If you’re looking for a quick mattress replacement that is plush yet sturdy and less expensive than a Euro top, go for a mattress with a pillow topper. If you can splurge, a premium mattress with a Euro top is a sound investment.

Why Trust Us?

There’s a reason Best Mattress has been named the Best of Las Vegas several years in a row. For starters, we provide more than 30 years of craft, specializing in the art of good sleep, meaning the moment you step through our doors, getting you better rest is our priority.

Every day, we solidify our reputation by tailoring each of our buyers’ interactions, so whether it’s finding the right bed for side sleepers or comparing over 10 top-rated mattress brands, we have the answers you’re searching for. That includes our state-of-the-art BestFit program that uses the latest sleep technology to pinpoint the type of mattress and comfort level ideal for every sleeper’s needs.

Bottom line, for other mattress stores in the area, it may just be sales, but for us, it’s personal, which is why we stay connected to our community beyond the store by working with local charities and organizations. With 15+ mattress showrooms across Las Vegas, Henderson, and Mesquite region in Nevada and operations in the St. George East region in Utah, we welcome you to explore the better way to shop for mattresses from the locals with the most awards!