How To Keep Your Mattress Topper From Sliding? 9 Simple Fixes

Updated On

Written by:

Max Stevens

How To Keep Your Mattress Topper From Sliding? 9 Simple Fixes

Got a mattress topper that keeps sliding off again and again? Let’s face it. Fixing your bed every time your mattress topper slips off is annoying.

What’s worse is waking up two to three times to fix and secure your topper’s position.

Not to mention, a misaligned mattress topper and bed surface can cause bed sores or back pain. Getting back soreness and/or back pain leads to low quality of sleep, and low quality of sleep ultimately leads to low quality of health. Nobody wants those, right?

But don’t fret because we’ve prepared ways, tips, and tricks to help you secure your mattress topper from sliding. We guarantee you won’t wake up again at night just to fix your uneven and misaligned bed!

9 Tips Keep Mattress Topper From Sliding?

And an estimated 8 out of 10 of the general population experience back pain at any point in their lives. And while mattress toppers can help you sleep with lower back pain, they can also cause it.

These tips and tricks help to keep and secure your mattress topper from sliding:

1. Use Tight-Fitted Sheets

woman putting tight fitted sheets on bed

Tight-fitted sheets have garters and/or elastic straps that make them tightly attached to your bed.

They hug your mattress topper to the mattress itself resulting in it being tightly secured. Think of tight-fitted sheets like burger buns, the mattress topper as the pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce, and the mattress as the beef patty—the buns hold them all together.

The downside with tight-fitted sheets is that it’s not a foolproof way to secure your mattress topper. If you’re a restless sleeper who tosses and turns vigorously at night, your sheets can also come off.

If you have a thick mattress over 12″, make sure you choose the right bed sheets and have an extra pair of hands to help put them on. This helps stop the corners from coming away every time you move.

2. Consider Better Bed Frames

different bed frames with pillows and mattress

If you have the extra budget to invest in a much better bed frame, it’s a good idea.

If your bed frame is significantly larger than your mattress and mattress topper, your mattress will move more, affecting your topper positioning.

If you’re wondering what “better” is, it’s a bed frame the same size as your mattress and mattress topper.

To find a better bed frame, measure your mattress and mattress topper length, width, and thickness and search for bed frames that fit those measurements.         

3. Use Sheet Suspenders

woman putting suspenders on bedsheet

Sheet suspenders use stretch bands (or garter) to ensure your sheet doesn’t wiggle around your bed too much.

They are applied to the edges of your bed, and it tucks underneath the mattress to complete that clean bed look.

Are Sheet Suspenders fitted sheets?

Sheet suspenders are NOT fitted sheets. They are pieces of stretchy bands that go around the edges of your bed to secure it.

Sheet suspenders are suitable for restless sleepers, as well as combination sleepers. They are really tight and securely attached.

You can buy some for a few pounds from Amazon. It also attaches easily, so it’s a great and cheap hack to secure your topper from sliding.

4. Use Velcro Strips

Velcro is a cloth-like tape with two opposite sides that ‘stick’ to each other. Velcro is a brand name whose name is “hook-and-loop fasteners”.

If you already have a better bed frame, sheet suspenders, or a tight sheet, using velcro strips to secure your mattress topper might be overkill.

Stitching is also required; you might damage your mattress or mattress topper. If you aren’t experienced with stitching, we suggest using other tips, as you risk voiding your warranty if you poke a hole or cut open the mattress topper.

To attach the velcro to help secure your topper:

  • Stitch the hook side of a velcro strip to the bottom of your mattress topper and place them near the edges.
  • Stitch the loop side of the velcro strap to your mattress and make it completely parallel to the hook side you just stitched to the bottom of your topper.
  • Position the mattress topper on the mattress and push down to stick the velcro strips together.

5. Try Non-Skid Mats

Non-skid or non-slip mats increase friction between two surfaces, commonly used for bathrooms, kitchens, and other slippery areas.

You need to buy a few and place them underneath your mattress topper, and these will help create additional friction to stop your topper from sliding.

You can buy a good one(s) for less than £20. But you can go higher for larger ones that can cover the surface area of your bed.

6. Use Safety Pins

Using a safety pin to secure your mattress topper is an easy task. Use 6-8 large pins, about 5.5 centimeters large, pin it through your mattress topper and mattress, and secure the clasp shut.

But do this carefully. Safety pins can damage your mattress topper and mattress if you’re not careful. It’s also wise to note that damaging them might void your warranty, so always check your warranty/care instructions.

7. Try Out Duct Tape

Another trick is using mighty old duct tape. Before discussing further, this trick is not for you if you don’t want to see duct tape on your bed.

Grab your duct tape, cut a few long pieces, and tape the edges of your mattress topper to the edge of your mattress.

While duct tape ruins your bed’s ‘clean’ look, it’ll help secure your mattress topper. We recommend using this as a last resort or if you don’t have the budget for any workarounds.

8. Invest In a Non-Slip Mattress Topper

If you’ve tried everything, you only have two options:

What a waste of money, right?

Some mattress toppers come with elastic straps that secure your mattress topper from moving and wriggling too much. Some also have grip dots that increase friction between two surfaces, so your bed feels tight and secure.

To find a non-slip mattress topper, product research is imperative. See if it comes with bands and straps that keep it from moving and ask the salesperson to confirm the product is non-slip.

9. Use a Cotton Layer

Adding a cotton layer to your mattress topper will often do wonders if your mattress topper slips off repeatedly.

You can buy tight-fitting cotton sheets and place them on the mattress and the mattress topper. You can also buy a cotton mattress pad and put it in between the mattress and mattress topper.

Mattress toppers often skid away because of the smooth surface. Still, with cotton, friction is significantly increased, making your bed slip-resistant.

The non-skid mats and the cotton layer have the same principles: they increase friction, leading to more grip and resistance to skidding and slipping.

If you want tight-fitting cotton sheets or cotton mattress pads, you can browse Amazon and order them.

Why Do Mattress Toppers Slide Off?

Mattress toppers slide off because of a variety of reasons. We’ll discuss them further down below:

Do Mattress Topper Thickness Influence Sliding?

Yes, thinner toppers are more prone to sliding than thicker ones. This is because of the weight of the mattress toppers.

Thinner mattress toppers are lighter and can be moved around easily. In contrast, thicker ones are heavier and more difficult to move around.

But it is great to note that thicker doesn’t mean immovable—your thicker mattress topper can still move around. Hence, it’s best to supplement with the tips we’ve covered above so you can stop it from sliding.

Do Mattress Topper Firmness or Softness Influence Sliding?

No, mattress topper firmness or softness doesn’t cause itself to slide off. Softness or firmness can actually cause YOU to slide off your bed.

Mattress toppers slide off because of the lack of friction between the mattress and mattress topper surfaces. Firmness or softness doesn’t have anything to do with the mattress surface, so rest assured that your soft mattress isn’t what causes it to slide off.

Although topper softness and firmness don’t influence sliding off, they can affect sleep quality as medium-firm beds significantly improve back pain.

Does Mattress Topper Material Have To Do With Sliding?

It depends. Different mattress topper covers can be so smooth that they’re more prone to sliding off than other covers. So if your mattress and mattress topper both have smooth surfaces, chances are, your topper will slide off.

If both your mattress and mattress topper have smooth surfaces, feel free to use the tips and tricks we’ve taught you just now.

Which Mattress Topper Types Are More Prone to Sliding?

There are quite a few mattress topper types out there. Light mattress toppers such as down and feather and wool are prone to sliding off because of their weight.

Denser toppers such as (gel) memory foam and latex are more challenging to be moved around as their weights secure their positions. However, memory foam toppers lasts longer, and latex even longer.

So if you want a mattress topper that is difficult to move around, invest in heavier ones or the ones with straps to secure them through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Mattress Pads Help Secure Mattress Toppers?

No, mattress pads don’t secure mattress toppers. Pads are meant to adjust your bed’s comfort level, and it’s so light it can’t secure your topper.

But there’s a workaround. If you have a cotton mattress pad, put it between the mattress and mattress topper to increase friction and grip. We’ve taught this above (using a cotton layer).

Can You Put a Mattress Topper Under The Mattress?

No, toppers are meant to alter the feel of your mattress, so placing them under the mattress to prevent it from sliding off defeats the purpose of getting a mattress topper.

Mattress toppers are intended to be the top layer where you lie down, so you enjoy its benefits. Otherwise is just a waste of your money as your topper would only get damaged and dirtied.

Does a Mattress Topper Go Under a Mattress Protector?

Yes, toppers go under a mattress protector. Protectors are usually waterproof, so they can prevent staining on both the topper and the mattress.

A protector can also lightly secure the topper since they have garters or elastic straps.

Mattress protectors are also often made with a smooth material called polyester. Rest assured that slipping off won’t be a problem since garters and/or elastic straps secure themselves to the bed.

Do mattress protectors slide off?

They’re equipped with garters and straps to secure and fasten themselves into the bed.

2 Sources

  1. Alsaadi SM, McAuley JH, Hush JM, Maher CG. Erratum to: Prevalence of sleep disturbance in patients with low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2012;21(3):554-560. doi:10.1007/s00586-011-1954-8
  2. Jacobson BH, Boolani A, Dunklee G, Shepardson A, Acharya H. Effect of prescribed sleep surfaces on back pain and sleep quality in patients diagnosed with low back and shoulder pain. Appl Ergon. 2010;42(1):91-97. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2010.05.004

Written by:

Max Stevens