At times we are compensated for the links you click at no cost to you. Learn more about why you should trust our reviews and view our disclosure page.
An old proverb says: “If you want something done right, do it yourself”. The saying applies to so many things, including mattress toppers. In today’s guide we’ll teach you the entire step-by-step process for building your own DIY mattress topper. We’ll also go over the pros and cons so you can decide if the DIY route is right for you.
How to Make a DIY Mattress Topper
Step 1: Gather materials
For a DIY mattress topper, you’ll need the following tools and materials:
Tools
- Long ruler or tape measure
- Marker pen
- Bread knife or electric carving knife
Materials
- For the pad, choose among latex or memory foam (single piece or shredded), chunky wool or wool stuffing, or feather filling
- For the cover, get natural and durable fabric such as cotton or bamboo and a zipper.
If you decide to make your own mattress topper cover from scratch, you will also need a hand-sewing kit or a sewing machine.
Adding a zipper to the cover is always practical, so you can take the cover off and wash it separately from the pad. If you add straps, it will be easier to keep the mattress topper in place and avoid slipping during sleep. The zipper should be a few inches shorter than the topper width.
Before starting, we recommend reading the following guide: What is a Mattress Topper?. It gives you a broad overview of the different features you’ll need to focus on when building one of your own.
Step 2: Cut/shape the components
Covers
For any toppers that are filled using a stuffing material such as feathers, wool, or shredded foam, you only need to cut two equally large pieces of fabric. They should each be 3-4 inches larger than your bed size, because one part of it will be lost when you make the seams and another part of it will be taken up as you fill the topper. When you start adding materials inside, the topper rises in height and this pulls the sides, making it a bit shorter and narrower. The more you stuff the topper, the more it will rise.
When it comes to one-piece foam toppers, you don’t really need a cover. You can simply place the topper on your mattress and pull the sheets over both of them. If you do want to get into sewing, you first need to double-check the foam chunk dimensions and then cut the materials for each side. You will need three sets of two equally-sized pieces of fabric. Two largest for the top and bottom side, two thin, long ones for the left and right side, and two more thin, but shorter ones for the head and leg sides. Each piece should be 1/2 to 1 inch bigger than the foam dimensions because you’ll need to start your seams a bit away from the end of the fabric.
Foam toppers
If you are crafting a topper with solid materials such as natural latex or memory foam, you or your supplier should cut the components to desired measurements. Shredded foam requires no cutting.
First, you should take the measurements of your bed. The mattress width and length are also the measurements for the pad. Mattress sizes are standardized, so you may look for information on the manufacturer’s website or get informed in our article about the exact dimensions for all mattress sizes. If your supplier is cutting pads for you, they will need to know the dimensions.
If you’re doing it yourself, place the pad on a flat, hard surface, such as floor. Pin down the corners to ensure it’s even, but avoid stretching it, which is especially risky with natural latex. Mark your measurements with a marker. Once you draw the lines, use a sharp knife to cut along them.
An electric carving knife is perfect for slicing thick latex pads and rigid memory foam, which can be difficult otherwise. You can reduce the chances of slipping and skewing away from the lines with a sharp electric knife. Soft foam is more likely to warp, while the rigid foam is harder to cut. So, if you’re cutting memory foam, place some cardboard underneath to avoid warping or breaking. Alternatively, you can use a bread-cutting knife because foam is kind of like bread.
Wool toppers
You don’t need to cut any components to make a wool topper. If you want to make a pure wool mattress topper out of 22 pounds of wool, the making time will depend on your wool braid knitting skills.
If that’s too much work for you, you can also just buy wool stuffing. The only preparation before stuffing the covers would be to make sure your wool isn’t too clumped up, so you might want to stretch it out a bit with your hands. The topper should be full of wool, but at the same time, you want this wool distributed equally throughout.
Feather toppers
For feather toppers, you only need to cut the cover materials. There’s no need to prepare the feathers in any way other than opening the package. If you’re mixing down with feathers, it’s better to mix them up in a large bag before transferring them into the cover.
Step 3: Assemble the topper
Ideally, you should assemble your topper on the floor, because a bedroom or living room floor should be large enough for maneuvering and it’s also completely flat, which you really need if you want to be precise.
Foam toppers made of a single foam piece
Once your foam pad is carved to match the mattress size, you’re practically done!
If you’re planning to make a topper pad with more layers, you may use some glue to put components together, but the cover should be capable enough to keep the structure together. Most two-layer toppers consist of two types of memory foam, the firmer foam serves as a base, while the softer foam provides the sleeping surface. Hot sleepers may consider not using glue or adhesives between the layers. This way, the space between layers will be more breathable, and the topper will sleep somewhat cooler. To be honest, if you’re a hot sleeper, you should probably avoid memory foam altogether because toppers can make you sleep hot.
You can then sew the cover, which is not a must. You can just place a fitted sheet on top.
If you do want a cover, add a zipper to one side so that you can remove your cover and wash it separately from the pad. Also, it’s easier if you want to change the padding only or make minor corrections in the topper filling.
Start by deciding which side of your fabric is on the inside and which is on the outside. Start by taking one large piece of fabric and one of the narrow ones. Place one against the other, so that the outer sides are facing each other, and sew the seam about 1/2 of an inch away from the end of the fabric. Then add another large fabric to the narrow part, and sew another seam. Keep adding parts until the whole cover is assembled. Leave only the bottom side (leg side) open. The last step is to turn it inside out and add a zipper at the side which remained open.
Finally, place the topper inside and zip it.
Feather, wool, and shredded memory foam toppers
For the feather, wool, and shredded memory foam toppers, you should first sew the cover. Place the two parts of the fabric against each other, so that the outer sides face each other. Make seams along the three sides, and put a zipper on the leg side. Then turn it inside out and you can start stuffing.
Fill the cover with as much goose stuffing as you need to reach the desired firmness, and then close the remaining gap.
It’s very easy to play around with firmness because you can always add or remove the stuffing. In case you don’t have enough, you can order more, and if you have extra, you can use it to make some new pillows.
If you don’t really care about being able to remove the filling from the cover, you should quilt the topper once it’s full and closed. This way the contents will not move around inside of it. Also, this is how many manufacturers ensure the high quality of their feather and wool toppers.
Mattress Topper Requirements
Before you start with the topper DIY project, consider three basic requirements:
- Thickness – a mattress topper should be about 2-4 inches thick. Everything thinner is basically a protector or a mattress pad, and everything thicker is a mattress.
- Firmness – a mattress topper should adjust the firmness of the old mattress to a certain degree. If you like a softer sleeping surface you may opt for low-density memory foam, feather, or wool mattress topper. If you want to firm up your bed then the option is latex or high-density memory foam.
- Bed temperature regulation – if you sleep too hot, consider latex toppers with a breathable cotton cover. Memory foam toppers tend to sleep warm. Wool and feathers are neutral as natural insulators.
Where to Shop for Materials
It shouldn’t be a problem to get everything you need from local stores or the internet. Recently, there have been many online suppliers of natural bedding materials oriented to serve DIYers. Their customer services may help you to choose the best combination of materials for a DIY mattress topper project.
The nearest fabric supplier or textile store can sell you rolls of different fabrics. Chains like Joann or Michael’s can provide you with sewing materials, such as fabrics, elastic straps, threads, zippers, and buttons. For online purchases, you can check out Fabric Depot.
The filling might be slightly more challenging to find, but websites like Etsy should have your back there. You can find wool cheap, and a variety of other filling materials, including those sourced in the USA. But you can also run a search for companies like Mountain Meadow Wool, which is a 100% US company and sells wool stuffing per pound and Dream Solutions USA has down and feather filling as well as various foam cushioning types. Of course, Amazon is always an option when you’re shopping for sleep.
When looking for wool, feathers, or shredded memory foam, you should search for them as pillow stuffing materials, since rarely anyone advertises them as “topper fillings”. It’s because way more people stuff their own pillows than they do toppers.
If you decide to use old filings and materials for padding, it is a possibility that feathers from old pillows or foam from the old mattresses are not comfortable as they used to be and this will not result in a comfy new topper.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Homemade Mattress Toppers
Toppers by themselves do have some benefits and drawbacks, but homemade toppers have their own pros and cons.
Pros
- If you need to add comfort in the form of light adjustments in firmness and bed temperature, making a DIY topper is cheaper than buying an entire new mattress.
- By making your own topper, you will build in all qualities that may not be standardized in commercial mattress toppers. For example, with extra support in a specific spot or raised head top, you can make your design.
- You will be 100% sure what material is in the mattress topper, which is important if you want to make an eco-friendly, natural topper.
Cons
- Creating your high-quality mattress topper is more expensive than the cost-effective options on the market.
- DIY mattress toppers last shorter than commercial ones. Sometimes because of the sewing skills and sometimes because of the quality of the materials. Higher quality material is more accessible to commercial manufacturers.
- If you want to save money (and time), perhaps this DIY project is not for you. You may end up with a low-quality mattress topper, which could get uncomfortable quickly and be impossible to sleep on.
FAQs
Toppers are unique because they can change the firmness of a traditional mattress and regulate body temperature. You could use a mattress protector or a mattress cover, but they’re very thin compared to a topper. If you have some thick blankets, you could combine them with a protector to get something that slightly resembles a topper – but don’t expect any extra support.
Depends on what you need and want. Mattress toppers can be made of artificial materials such as memory foam or polyurethane or natural materials such as natural latex, wool, and feathers. You should choose materials according to your sleeping preferences. For example, memory foam is the most suitable for side sleepers. Natural or organic latex is convenient for side and back sleepers who prefer a firmer sleeping surface. For soft bed lovers and hot sleepers, there are wool or feather topper options.
You can’t make your own memory foam. This material is made using specific chemicals, in a specific environment, and using industrial manufacturing equipment. Some videos online show the process of making tiny pieces of foam at home, but that cannot be used for anything even remotely useful as a pillow, let alone a topper.
The choice of filling depends on your expectations about the comfort you want to achieve. It’s easier to make memory foam or latex mattress toppers because all you have to do is to match the pad and cover. If you like soft surfaces, then wool or feathers are the best. For hot sleepers, a latex topper may cool down the mattress and bedding. And, of course, if you’re concerned about the health of your family and children, especially if they have sensitivities to artificial materials, all your toppers should be made of natural materials.
Conclusion
Making your own topper can be fun and a great way to develop your skills and feel a sense of accomplishment, especially if your existing mattress is no longer comfortable. Moreover, you can make it as soft or firm as you want, without having to rely on commercially-made products. For easier options, go with memory foam or latex, and for more temperature regulation, choose wool or feathers. If you are planning to save some money, then this DIY project isn’t the right thing to do. High-quality materials can be expensive and repurposing old and worn-out materials will not bring the wanted comfort.
Next step: Read our Ghostbed mattress topper review. If you aren’t ready to DIY your own mattress topper, Ghostbed is by far the best pick. We like it because it has cooling capabilities, pressure relief, and is suitable for all sleeper types.
Sleepline is the #1 mattress review and sleep information resource on the web.
We personally test every product we review to make sure it meets our strict performance criteria. If we don't like it, we don't recommend it.
- Why is it illegal to remove a mattress tag? (what the penalty is) - July 7, 2025
- Best mattresses for kids (top 5 picks) - January 14, 2025
- Best 12-inch mattress – data-backed performance tests on 11+ brands - January 24, 2024
Psst… the sleep review industry is full of liars, sharks, and thieves. It’s a modern-day version of getting ripped off at your local mattress store. So, why should you trust us?