NOVASTILE is a small family business in La Habra, California, and mattress toppers are one of the things we sell. This review covers both of them: the 550 GSM medium plush topper and the 1000 GSM ultra plush topper. We sell them, so read this as a seller being specific about trade-offs rather than a neutral lab report. Everything below comes from our own product specifications and the way the two toppers are built.
What do the two NOVASTILE toppers have in common?
Both toppers are queen size, 60 by 80 inches, sold as a pack of one. Both use a cover made from a bamboo viscose and polyester blend, and both are filled with 7D down alternative (polyester) fiber in a quilted pillow-top construction. Both have an elastic deep-pocket skirt that stretches over the corners of the mattress. Both come in green.
Care is the same for each one. Shake it out for up to five minutes to bring the loft back, and allow 24 to 48 hours for it to reach full loft after unpacking or washing. Machine wash on a gentle cycle at 30 degrees Celsius or cooler, do not bleach, tumble dry with no heat and do not iron or dry clean. Keep it away from flame.
The real difference is fill weight. GSM stands for grams per square meter, which measures how much fiber is packed into each square meter of the topper. The 1000 GSM has roughly twice the fill of the 550 GSM, and almost every other difference follows from that.
| 550 GSM topper | 1000 GSM topper | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Queen, 60 x 80 inches | Queen, 60 x 80 inches |
| Cover | Bamboo viscose and polyester blend | Bamboo viscose and polyester blend |
| Fill | Down alternative | Down alternative (7D polyester) |
| Fill weight | 550 GSM | 1000 GSM |
| Mattress depth it fits | 8 to 20 inches | Up to 21 inches |
| Overall feel | Medium plush, you stay on top | Ultra plush, you sink in |
| Price (queen) | $36.00 | $59.99 |
What is the NOVASTILE 550 GSM topper like?
The 550 GSM topper is the lighter of the two. It adds a visible layer of cushion to the top of the bed and softens the surface, and it stays low enough that the mattress underneath still decides most of how the bed feels. If your mattress is a little firm and you want to take the edge off, this is the topper built for that job.
Where the 550 GSM does well
- Softens a slightly firm mattress without turning the bed into a hammock.
- Carries less fill, so there is less insulation between you and the bed. Warm sleepers usually prefer a lighter fill.
- Easier to handle: lighter to lift, quicker to shake out, simpler to fit into a household washing machine.
- The 8 to 20 inch pocket depth covers a wide range of mattresses, including ones with a pad already on them.
Where the 550 GSM falls short
- On a mattress that is very firm or worn out, 550 GSM may feel too thin to change much.
- Heavier sleepers who like a deep cushion may feel the fill compress sooner than they want.
- If you picture a thick hotel pillow top that you sink into, this is a lighter version of that idea.
A reader on a firm bed will find more detail in our guide to a mattress topper for a firm mattress, which walks through thickness and GSM by how firm the mattress is.
What is the NOVASTILE 1000 GSM topper like?
The 1000 GSM topper is the high-loft version. With about twice the fill, it makes a thick, enveloping layer on top of the bed. You sink into it instead of resting on it, and the shoulders and hips settle into the fill. It is the topper we point people to when the mattress underneath is firm enough, or tired enough, that a thin layer will not change the experience.
If the 1000 GSM sounds right, see why it is the best 1000 GSM mattress topper for firm beds.
Where the 1000 GSM does well
- Gives the deepest cushion we offer, a pillow-top feel closer to a hotel bed.
- Hides a firm or aging mattress surface better than a lighter fill.
- Fits mattresses up to 21 inches deep, which suits taller or pillow-top mattresses.
- Side sleepers who want their shoulder and hip to sink in tend to like the extra loft.
Where the 1000 GSM falls short
- More fill means more insulation. Even with a breathable bamboo viscose surface, it will sleep warmer than the 550 GSM.
- It is bulkier and heavier. Washing it takes a large-capacity machine, and it needs more drying time and more shaking to restore the loft.
- If you like the feeling of sleeping on top of the bed rather than in it, this will feel like too much.
- It raises the bed height more, so check that your sheets have deep enough pockets.
Which one should you buy?
Start with the mattress you already own, then think about how you sleep and how warm you run.
| If this describes you | Lean toward |
|---|---|
| Mattress is only a little too firm | 550 GSM |
| Mattress is very firm or noticeably worn | 1000 GSM |
| You tend to sleep warm | 550 GSM |
| You sleep on your side and want a deep cushion | 1000 GSM |
| You sleep on your back or stomach | 550 GSM |
| You want something easy to wash at home | 550 GSM |
| Mattress is deeper than 20 inches with its pad | 1000 GSM |
| Two sleepers with different preferences | 550 GSM, the middle ground |
We wrote a longer side-by-side on this exact choice: 550 vs 1000 GSM mattress topper. If you have not decided between a topper and a pad, start with mattress pad vs mattress topper.
How well do the toppers stay in place and stay clean?
The elastic skirt stretches over the corners and holds the topper in position, and the quilted construction keeps the fill distributed instead of letting it migrate to one side. Topper fit does depend on your mattress. If you measure the mattress depth, including any pad on it, before ordering, you will get a snug fit. Our guide on how to stop a mattress topper from sliding covers the setups that cause trouble.
Cleaning is straightforward for the 550 GSM and takes more room for the 1000 GSM. Follow the care steps in how to wash a mattress topper, and use cold water, a gentle cycle and no heat in the dryer.
What should you know before you buy?
- Both toppers are queen only. We do not offer other sizes.
- Both come in one color, green.
- Neither is a memory foam or latex topper. They are fiber-filled pillow tops, which feel soft and lofty rather than dense and contouring.
- A topper changes the surface comfort. It does not repair a mattress that has sagged or lost its structure. If your mattress is failing, read mattress topper or new mattress before you decide.
To see the full range, browse our mattress toppers or the queen mattress topper page. If you sleep warm, our cooling mattress toppers page and the cooling mattress topper guide explain what a bamboo viscose surface does and does not do.
The verdict
Buy the 550 GSM if you want a softer surface, run warm, or have a mattress that is nearly right. Buy the 1000 GSM if you want a deep, plush, hotel-style layer and your mattress is firm or tired. Both are honest fiber-filled toppers with the same cover, the same fill type and the same care routine, and the choice comes down to how much cushion you want between you and the mattress.
