# How to Make a Firm Mattress Softer Without Buying a New One By the Urban Picks team · Updated October 15, 2026 A too-firm mattress is one of those problems that sneaks up on you. Maybe the bed felt supportive in the store, or maybe it broke in less than you hoped. Either way, you wake up with a sore shoulder or an aching lower back, and you start wondering whether you really have to replace the whole thing. The good news is that you usually don't. Softening a firm mattress is often a matter of adding the right comfort layer on top and giving the bed a little time. Below we walk through what actually helps, in the order most people should try it, so you can spend the least amount of money for the most comfort. ## Key takeaways - Give a newer mattress a few weeks and check your foundation before spending money. - A mattress topper is the most effective, affordable way to soften a firm bed. - The ECOFORMERS Quilted Deep-Pocket Mattress Topper adds a soft quilted layer and fits beds about 8 to 20 inches deep. - Layered bedding and smart pillow placement fine-tune comfort and ease pressure points. - If the mattress is old or sagging, replacement beats a topper as a long-term fix. ## First, rule out the easy fixes Before you buy anything, give a newer mattress a few weeks of regular use. Many beds feel firmer out of the box and ease slightly as the materials settle with body weight and warmth. This won't turn a rock into a cloud, but it can take the edge off, and it costs you nothing but patience. Check the basics too. A very hard or slatted foundation can make any mattress feel firmer than it is, and a wide gap between slats offers less give. If your bed sits on a rigid platform, that firmness you feel may be coming partly from underneath rather than from the mattress itself. ## Add a mattress topper (the biggest lever) If the easy fixes aren't enough, a mattress topper is the most direct way to soften a firm bed. A topper adds a fresh comfort layer on top of the existing surface, so you feel cushioning first and the firm support underneath second. It's far cheaper than a new mattress and takes about two minutes to install. The ECOFORMERS Quilted Deep-Pocket Mattress Topper is built for exactly this. It's a soft quilted fabric layer that adds cushioning on top of a firm mattress. A 360-degree elastic deep-pocket skirt holds it in place and fits mattresses roughly 8 to 20 inches deep, which covers most beds. It comes in Twin, Queen, King, and California King, in white, and it's machine washable, with a reusable storage bag included. A quick note on honesty: the fabric is a blend of 60% viscose made from bamboo and 40% polyester, so expect a soft, bamboo-derived feel rather than raw bamboo, and the loft or thickness isn't listed on the spec sheet. If thickness matters to you, check the product page before buying rather than trusting a round number from anywhere else. ## Layer your bedding for a softer feel Bedding does more than you might expect. A plush mattress pad, a thicker fitted sheet, or an extra quilted layer can add a small but noticeable cushion between you and a firm surface. On its own this rarely solves a genuinely hard bed, but paired with a topper it fine-tunes the feel. Think of it in layers, from the mattress up: mattress, then topper for real cushioning, then a fitted sheet, then whatever plush blanket or quilt you like on top. Each layer softens the transition a little, and the combination is often what finally makes a firm bed feel welcoming. ## Adjust your sleep position and pressure points Firmness bothers side sleepers most, because shoulders and hips carry more concentrated pressure. If that's you, a topper plus a supportive pillow that keeps your neck aligned can relieve a surprising amount of ache. Back and stomach sleepers usually tolerate firmness better, so smaller changes may be enough. You can also use pillows strategically. A pillow under the knees for back sleepers, or between the knees for side sleepers, takes strain off the lower back and helps a firm surface feel more forgiving while you dial in the rest of your setup. ## When softening isn't the answer Be honest with yourself about the mattress. If it's old, sagging, or leaves you sore no matter what you add on top, a topper is a patch rather than a cure, and replacement may be the better long-term call. Toppers shine on beds that are simply too firm, not on ones that are worn out. If you're within a mattress return or trial window, factor that in too. Sometimes the smartest move is to exchange the mattress for a softer model while you still can, and save the topper approach for later when your options are more limited. ## Questions - **Will a mattress topper really make a firm bed softer?** Yes. A topper adds a cushioning layer on top of the firm surface, so you feel softness first and support underneath. It's the most reliable low-cost fix for a bed that's simply too firm. - **How thick is the ECOFORMERS Quilted Deep-Pocket Mattress Topper?** The exact thickness or loft isn't listed on the spec sheet, so we won't guess a number. It's a soft quilted comfort layer in a fabric of 60% viscose made from bamboo and 40% polyester; check the product page for the latest details. - **Will the topper fit my mattress?** It has a 360-degree elastic deep-pocket skirt that fits mattresses roughly 8 to 20 inches deep, and comes in Twin, Queen, King, and California King. Measure your mattress depth to confirm before ordering. - **How long does shipping take?** Most orders arrive within about 8 business days (including handling), from warehouses within the United States. Shipping is free, except on picks whose page says “Shipping calculated at checkout”: those ship at the carrier rate you choose at checkout, and everything else in the same order still ships free. We currently ship within the US only. ## Related picks - [Quilted Deep-Pocket Mattress Topper, Viscose-from-Bamboo Blend](https://urban-picks.com/products/bamboo-mattress-topper): from $20, was $45.99 (save 57%) · in stock · Shipping calculated at checkout ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/bamboo-mattress-topper.md)) A soft quilted layer for a mattress that feels too firm, with a deep-pocket skirt for beds 8–20 in deep. - [Deep Pocket Microfiber Fitted Sheet](https://urban-picks.com/products/deep-pocket-microfiber-fitted-sheet): from $11.99, was $26.99 (save 56%) · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/deep-pocket-microfiber-fitted-sheet.md)) Elasticized all the way round, and it still fits a 16-inch mattress. [More in Bedding & Sleep](https://urban-picks.com/collections/bedding) ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/collections/bedding.md)) Questions about a specific product? Email [support@urban-picks.com](mailto:support@urban-picks.com) or see the [FAQ](https://urban-picks.com/faq). [View this page on urban-picks.com](https://urban-picks.com/guides/how-to-make-a-firm-mattress-softer)