How to Stop a Mattress Topper From Sliding

You make the bed, and by morning the topper has crept several inches toward one side or is hanging off the foot. It is a small annoyance that spoils an otherwise good topper, and it can usually be fixed without buying a new one. This guide sets out why it happens and what works, following the Sleep Foundation’s guidance on keeping a topper in place. We did not test any of these methods ourselves.

For what to look for when buying, including how a topper attaches, see our mattress topper buying guide.

Why toppers move

Most toppers simply lie on the mattress. Three things then decide whether they stay there.

• The sheet. The Sleep Foundation’s explanation is that a correctly fitting sheet, stretched taut, holds the topper down, while the spare fabric of a loose one lets it shift each time you move.
• The surfaces. A smooth topper base on a smooth mattress cover has little grip. Some toppers are made with an anti-slip coating on the underside for that reason.
• Movement. The more you turn over, sit on the edge or get in and out, the more chances it has to creep.

Fixes, least effort first

1. Check the sheet’s pocket depth. Add the thickness of the topper to the depth of the mattress and compare it with the pocket depth on the sheet’s label. Consumer Reports points out that a topper adds from one to four inches to the bed. A sheet that is too shallow will ride up and take the topper with it. Deep-pocket sheets are the fix.
2. Put a non-slip mat underneath. A thin, rubbery rug pad between the mattress and the topper grips both. The Sleep Foundation notes that these come in several sizes and can be trimmed to fit, and that they do not change how the bed feels.
3. Add sheet straps. Elastic straps with clips, sometimes called sheet suspenders, pull the fitted sheet tight under the corners of the mattress. If they seem to make no difference, the usual reason is that they are too slack or a clip has not gripped.
4. Use hook-and-loop strips. For a hold that lasts, strips can be fixed to the top of the mattress and the underside of the topper. The Sleep Foundation’s advice is to put the rough hook side on the topper and the soft loop side on the mattress, and to line them up before pressing together. Think before you glue anything to a mattress that is still under warranty.
5. Safety pins, if nothing else works. The Sleep Foundation describes using large pins spaced evenly along the edges, at least five a side, with the points facing down. Pins leave holes and can tear fabric under strain, so this is the last option, and not one for a bed a child sleeps in.

The warranty caution and the note about children’s beds are our own; the methods are the Sleep Foundation’s.

If it still moves

These three checks are our own reasoning from how the fixes work. They are not from a test.

• Is the topper the right size? Measure the topper and the mattress. A topper that is narrower or shorter than the bed has room to travel, and no sheet will stop it.
• Is there a smooth layer underneath it? A waterproof protector fitted between the mattress and the topper puts a slick surface exactly where you need grip. Put the protector over the topper instead, which also keeps the topper clean.
• Is the bed adjustable? Raising the head of an adjustable base tips the topper toward the foot every night. Friction alone is unlikely to be enough; straps or hook-and-loop strips are the realistic options.

If you are buying a topper

• Corner straps. Elastic loops at each corner hook under the mattress. Consumer Reports’ advice is to choose a topper with straps to help it stay put.
• A skirt. Some toppers have an elastic skirt that wraps the mattress like a fitted sheet.
• A non-slip base. Look for the words anti-slip or grip in the description of the underside.
• The right size and thickness. A thick topper needs deeper sheets. Our guide to how thick a topper should be covers the trade-offs.

How we researched this

The methods here come from the Sleep Foundation’s published guide to keeping a topper in place, with Consumer Reports’ buying advice on straps and bed height. We have not tested them and cannot say which works best on a given bed. Where we have added a caution or an inference of our own, the text says so. A sliding topper is one of several ordinary complaints; mattress topper problems covers the rest.