When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

Pillow-top, Euro-top, and tight-top are terms that youre likely to come across when shopping for a mattress.

They sound good who doesnt like the thought of sleeping on a giant pillow?

A pillow-top mattress (left) and a Euro-top mattress (right)

The separation between pillow-top and mattress gives a luxury look

but you probably don’t know what any of it means.

Nowadays, we tend to see more of Euro-top and tight-top mattresses.

What is a pillow-top?

A pillow-top mattress on a bed frame in a room

The separation between pillow-top and mattress gives a luxury look

A pillow-top is a plush layer of cushioning that sits on the very top of a mattress.

Theyre most often found on hybrid and innerspring mattresses, and are commonly associated with luxury beds.

This rounded, differentiated edge is the easiest way to spot if a mattress has a pillow-top.

A Zinus Hybrid mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom

What is a pillow-top made of?Pillow-tops consist of a cover and a layer of comfort material.

Pillow-top vs Euro-top: what’s the difference?

The primary difference is how the top is attached to the bulk of the mattress.

Helix Midnight mattress

The Helix Midnight mattress has a tight-top design

A Euro-top sits flush to the mattress with squared edges, while the pillow-top is raised above the mattress.

The squared-off design tends to give Euro-tops better edge support than the bowed edge of a pillow-top.

Its worth noting that mattress brands can be inconsistent with the terminology.

Pillow-top vs tight-top: what’s the difference?

A tight-top mattress is basically just a mattress without a pillow- or Euro-top.

The addition of amattress toppercan transform a tight-top mattress into a pillow-top mattress.

However, you cant change a pillow-top mattress into a tight-top.

Should I buy a pillow-top mattress?

There are reasons for and against buying a pillow-top mattress, which well cover below.

Even the look of a pillow-top mattress has come to signal luxury.

Pillow-tops tend to have a bouncier cushioning compared to the hug of memory foam.

A Euro-top is better, or look for a hybrid with reinforced edges.

(We have a guide toedge support, if you want to learn more.)

You want durability:One big issue with the pillow-top mattress is longevity.

As pillow-tops are generally made of less dense foams, they can start to sag with frequent use.

The seams around the edges can also cause issues, as they are a point of weakness.

you oughta be very careful when moving a pillow-top mattress.