Nectar Premier Mattress Review

Written by Bridget Chapman, Senior Product Editor

Our Methodology

Our Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 300 mattresses in our lab, testing each one on its materials, comfort, cooling, support, and other categories.

Learn more

In This Review

We’re covering the Nectar Premier, the Nectar Original’s all-foam luxury sibling. Side sleepers and back sleepers should enjoy its plushness and memory foam feel.

»

The Nectar Premier is one of Nectar Sleep’s bed-in-a-box mattresses that aims to bring cooling, comfort, and support to sleepers of all kinds. Like the original Nectar mattress, the Premier is a thick memory foam bed that provides plenty of pressure relief. Unlike the original Nectar, the Premier uses dual-action cooling technology to keep you cool throughout the night.

But is this new memory foam mattress right for you? To help you decide, I’m going to discuss the Nectar Premier’s feel, construction, and more below. Read on and get more details of the Nectar Premier mattress review, or skip down to my review summary for some quick info.

Nectar Premier Mattress Overview

The Nectar Premier is a more luxurious take on Nectar’s flagship mattress. Similar to the original, the Premier is an all-foam mattress with a memory foam feel and pressure-relieving qualities. During testing at the Sleepopolis lab, we determined the Premier has the same firmness level as the original mattress: 6 out of 10 (medium-soft).

Unlike the original, however, the Premier takes the memory foam game a step further with additional cooling abilities. The polyethylene cover is designed to be literally cool to the touch, and we felt the effects of it in our mattress lab. Also, the foam in the comfort layer is infused with Phase Change Material (PCM). This material helps regulate one’s body temperature and prevents folks from overheating at night.

Nectar Premier Mattress Review Video

Within this video, you’ll find a whole new look at the Nectar Premier mattress. Check out the YouTube video below to see its materials up close and how it performed on all of our tests. At the end of the video, you’ll see all of the individual scores for the Nectar Premier. In total, this mattress scored a 4.25 out of 5.

Nectar Premier Mattress Sleepopolis Score

Poor

Average

Excellent

---

1

2

3

4

5

4.5

4

3.5

4

4

5

5

4.5

You might notice that the Nectar Premier scored a bit lower in its overall value. However, there are deals throughout the year that bring the overall price down by hundreds of dollars. If you’re looking for a really affordable mattress, we recommend looking at our roundup of the best mattresses under $1,000.

What Is the Nectar Premier Made Of?

The 13-inch thick Nectar Premier mattress is made with plenty of memory foam to offer a pillowy feel. All its foams are CertiPUR-US® Certified, which means they’re free of any harmful chemicals or heavy metals. Read on below to see exactly what’s inside this bed.

Cover — The Nectar Premier’s quilted cooling cover is made with polyethylene fiber. These fibers wick away heat and provide a cool-to-the-touch sensation, which is a great perk for hot sleepers.

Comfort Layer — The top layer of this mattress is made of a 3-inch breathable layer of gel memory foam. This foam is surface infused with Phase Change Material to prevent the mattress from trapping body heat and encourage airflow.

Transition Layer — Next up is a soft foam layer. This 3-inch layer has a slow response to pressure and works with the layer of memory foam above it to provide plenty of pressure relief to sleepers.

Base Layer — Rounding things out is a 7-inch support layer made of high-density poly foam. This layer provides overall support and durability to the mattress.

Nectar Premier Mattress Firmness

Now that you know the basics, let’s dive into how this mattress feels. Remember, feel is subjective and a mattress will feel different to you depending on your body weight and preferred sleeping position. Because of this, I like to ask my coworkers for their firmness opinions as well and average them into my final score. 

I find the Nectar Premier to be a medium-soft mattress. I gave it a 6 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale. For reference, the industry standard for medium-firmness is 6.5 out of 10. The Premier offered plenty of pressure-relieving sinkage, and felt great when I was on my side and back.

Sleeping Position and Body Weight

Sleepers of different weights need different levels of support. Additionally, your preferred sleeping position is going to affect how a mattress feels for you. Take a look at some of my recommendations below.

We recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes, and people of every size deserve a mattress that works for their body type. We use the weight categories light, average, and heavy to more easily categorize sleepers based on how mattresses will perform for their body type, as most mattresses are designed for the group we call “average” (130 to 250 pounds).

As a general rule, lighter sleepers don’t require as much support as average weight sleepers, and mattresses will tend to feel firmer to them. On the other hand, heavy sleepers tend to need more support than average weight sleepers and tend to sink into the mattress more.

As far as sleeping positions go, side sleepers tend to need a softer mattress while stomach sleepers usually need a firmer, more supportive one. Back sleepers are usually somewhere in the middle.

Is the Nectar Premier a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?

• Light Back Sleepers – I think this is a nice mattress for light back sleepers, especially those looking for a really pressure-relieving feel.
• Light Side Sleepers – I’d readily recommend this bed to these sleepers, who need a plush feel to give them some sinkage at the hips and shoulders.
• Light Stomach Sleepers – The Nectar Premier is a touch too soft for most of these sleepers. Stomach sleepers need a firmer feel to keep their hips from sinking out of line with their shoulders.

Is the Nectar Premier a Good Mattress for Average Weight Sleepers (130 – 250 pounds)? 

• Average Weight Back Sleepers – I’d recommend this bed to most average weight back sleepers. It offers enough support that these sleepers should be able to maintain a proper spinal alignment, but it’s soft enough to really contour to the curves of your lower back. 
• Average Weight Side Sleepers – Side sleepers should really like this bed. It has a soft, pressure-relieving feel that should give them some much-needed contouring.
• Average Weight Stomach Sleepers – I don’t think stomach sleepers will find what they need from this soft mattress. I’d recommend a firm mattress instead.

Is the Nectar Premier a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 250 pounds)? 

• Heavy Back, Side, and Stomach Sleepers – This bed doesn’t have the level of support that heavy sleepers need. I’d check out our roundup of best mattresses for heavy people instead.

Nectar Premier Mattress Performance

A big part of what we do here at Sleepopolis is run a series of tests on each mattress we review. This helps our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches get an objective view of what it would be like to sleep on them. These tests also allow us to make even more specific recommendations in addition to sleeping position and body type. Below, see how the Nectar Premier performs in areas such as pain relief, motion transfer, cooling, and more.

Nectar Premier Mattress Pain Relief Performance

The first test I ran on the Premier shows how it relieves pain. A mattress that helps pain will exert low pressure on sensitive areas like the hips, shoulders, and lower back. Alleviating pressure in those spots can help prevent pain and stiffness over time.

To test out the Nectar Premier’s pressure relieving capabilities, I used a pressure map. I laid the map down on the bed and hopped on top. I tested out a few different sleeping positions, and the map recorded the pressure each caused. You’ll see my results in the graphic below. Low pressure areas will be blue to green on the map, and high pressure areas will be yellow to red. We cover three different areas: back pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain.

A few last words of advice: consider your sleeping position first, then look at our pressure map results. Side sleepers won’t want a mattress with a lot of yellow to red at the shoulder and hip, as the pressure buildup will likely cause quite a bit of discomfort.

Overall, we think this should be a fantastic mattress for side sleepers and back sleepers with back pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain. You’ll see a tad bit of yellow in the side sleeping position, but don’t be alarmed. It’s normal to see a bit of buildup here since side sleepers put so much pressure on these sensitive joints. As for stomach sleeping, we think folks in the prone position would fare better on a firmer mattress.

Motion Transfer

Motion transfer is a measure of how much movement travels from one side of the bed to the other. A mattress with low motion transfer is great for couples, because it will make it harder to feel disturbed by a beloved pet or a restless bedmate.

The total motion transfer score is determined using a three separate tests. First off, we lie down on the mattress with a colleague, roll around, and see how much of each other’s movement we feel. Secondly, we place a full wine glass on the mattress, and see how much the wine moves around with us. If we see little to no movement, this indicates low motion transfer.

Finally, there’s our seismometer test. This involves dropping a 10 pound steel ball from three different heights of four inches, eight inches and 12 inches. Then, we measure the level of disturbance with a seismometer. The bigger the lines on the graph, the bigger the disturbance and the higher the motion transfer.

These are impressive motion transfer results, from which we can surmise that you’d only be able to feel larger movements. Therefore, we think the Nectar Premier is a solid choice for anyone who sleeps with a restless partner or pet.

Responsiveness

We test each mattress’s responsiveness by pressing down on its top layer, removing our hand, and seeing how quickly the surface returns to its original shape. Memory foam beds (like the Nectar Premier) usually have a low response to pressure, while hybrid mattresses with coils tend to have a high response to pressure. Responsive mattresses are usually good for sex since they make it easy to change positions and move around. These traits also make them good for combination sleepers who switch sleeping positions at night.

Unfortunately, this bed has little bounce and wasn’t very responsive, so you might have a tough time switching positions. For those wanting a good mattress for sex, I’d keep in mind that you usually have to sacrifice good motion absorption for bounce, so it depends on which factor is more important to you as a couple.

Cooling

Several factors contribute to a mattress’s cooling ability. First and foremost, we consider its construction. Though some memory foam mattresses sleep hot, this bed actually sleeps pretty cool. That’s because it has a cooling cover and its top layer of memory foam has a gel infusion with Phase Change Material, which keeps it from trapping heat.

Edge Support

Finally, I tested out the Premier’s edge support. Edge support is a measure of whether or not you’ll be able to sleep all the way on the edge of the bed and still feel supported. It’s a great feature for heavier people and couples who need to spread out over their entire sleeping surface.

I was actually pretty impressed by the Nectar Premier’s edge support. I felt supported enough to sleep near the edge of the bed, which isn’t always the case with soft foam mattresses.

Nectar Premier Mattress Performance for Couples

With impressive motion transfer results, good cooling, and strong edge support, it’s safe to say the Nectar Premier is going to be a mattress fit for many couples. However, if you’re looking for a bouncy bed for sex or combination sleeping, know that the Premier won’t deliver as well in this category. You might want a mattress with coils (like an innerspring or hybrid) or some other naturally responsive material (like latex).

My Final Thoughts About the Nectar Premier Mattress

Still not sure if the Nectar Premier mattress is for you? I can’t make the decision for you, but I can leave you with a few last thoughts to help you decide for yourself.

Who I recommend the Nectar Premier for

• Side sleepers looking for lots of body contouring and pressure point relief should be happy on this soft memory foam mattress.
• Back sleepers who like a soft feel should also enjoy the Nectar. Its gel memory foam layer does a great job filling in the lumbar region for some additional pressure relief.
• Anyone who loves the feel of memory foam should enjoy this mattress! It uses plenty of thick memory foam to offer the hug-like feel these folks are looking for.

Who I don’t recommend the Nectar Premier Mattress for

• Stomach sleepers will probably find the Premier too soft. I’d recommend these sleepers check out our best mattresses for stomach sleepers to find a firmer mattress.
• Heavy sleepers (over 250 pounds) probably won’t get the support they need from the all-foam Nectar Premier. I’d recommend these folks opt for one of our best mattresses for heavy people instead.
• Anyone looking for a bouncy mattress may not find this all-foam bed to fit the bill. I’d recommend they take a look at one of our best innerspring mattresses instead. These beds will have a bouncier feel and also make it easier to change sleeping positions throughout the night for combination sleepers.

Nectar Premier Mattress Pricing and Sizing

Price is a huge factor in any mattress purchasing decision. Take a look at the chart below for pricing and sizing information. And be sure to visit our Nectar mattress coupon page to get a deal on this bed.

Price listed will be before discount or offer for each size.

Nectar Mattress Policies and FAQs

Nectar Premier Mattress Vs

To give you a better idea of whether or not the Nectar Premier could work for you, I’ve compared it to some similar beds from a few other online mattress companies.

Nectar Premier vs Casper

Both of these beds are all-foam mattresses, but unlike the softer Premier, the Casper has a more medium-firm to firm feel. If you struggle with back pain, the Casper’s zoned support system might be a good fit for you. It should offer some extra lower back support where you need it.

• Price: The Casper is a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Nectar Premier at full retail, but I encourage you to compare prices, as year-round sales can bring down the price quite often.
• Sleeping position: Both mattresses are well-suited to back sleepers and side sleepers.
• Cooling: The Nectar Premier should be slightly more cooling than the Casper, as it includes more cooling features.
• Body weight: The Casper is designed to support more bodyweight than the Nectar Premier, which we don’t recommend for anyone over 250 pounds.

Interested in this mattress? Learn more in the full Casper mattress review, or head over to the Nectar vs Casper mattress comparison for more information on how these beds compare.

Nectar Premier vs Tuft & Needle

The Tuft & Needle (T&N) is an all-foam mattress with a firm feel, and the Nectar Premier mattress is an all-foam mattress with a medium-soft feel.

• Price: The T&N is cheaper than the Nectar Premier when comparing full retail prices, but keep a close eye on deals throughout the year.
• Sleeping position: Both beds better suit back sleepers and side sleepers.
• Cooling: While both mattresses should sleep cool for all-foam beds, we think the odds of overheating are a bit lower on the Premier.
• Body weight: We don’t recommend either mattress for heavier sleepers.

Find out more in the full Tuft & Needle mattress review. You can also take a look at our Nectar vs Tuft & Needle mattress comparison for a more in-depth comparison of these two beds.

Nectar Premier vs Leesa

The Nectar Premier and the Leesa are both all-foam mattresses with soft firmness levels. The Nectar Premier boasts a pressure-relieving memory foam feel while the Leesa has a much more responsive, bouncy feel unlike traditional memory foam. Both are fantastic mattresses for couples.

• Price: The Nectar Premier is pricier than the Leesa at original retail value, but can be cheaper with deals.
• Sleeping position: The Leesa is best for back sleepers, while the Nectar Premier readily accommodates back and side sleepers.
• Cooling: Each mattress does well when compared to the traditional foam mattress, but we think the Premier’s more luxurious cooling features might help it sleep a bit cooler.
• Body weight: Both beds accommodate sleepers up to 250 pounds.

Want to know more? Check out our full Leesa mattress review.

Other Models from Nectar

Nectar also makes another memory foam mattress model. I’ve compared it to the Nectar Premier below to give you an idea of what it might feel like!

Nectar Premier Mattress vs Original Nectar Mattress

The original Nectar has a similar firmness level as the Nectar Premier, but

• Price: The original Nectar is less expensive than the Nectar Premier.
• Sleeping position: Back sleepers and side sleepers should fare well on either mattress.
• Cooling: The Nectar Premier sleeps cooler than the original Nectar, so hot sleepers should prefer it.
• Body weight: These beds are recommended for lightweight and average-weight sleepers.

Head over to the Nectar mattress review for more information on the brand’s flagship offering.

Nectar Premier Mattress vs Nectar Premier Copper Mattress

The Premier Copper is a medium-firm to firm mattress, while the Nectar Premier is a bit softer. The Premier Copper also includes thicker layers of memory foam than the Original or Premier mattresses.

• Price: The Premier Copper is priced higher than the Premier.
• Sleeping position: Both Nectar beds support back and side sleepers well.
• Cooling: The Copper is the coolest mattress in the Nectar all-foam line.
• Body weight: Sleepers under 250 pounds should feel well-supported on either bed.

Learn more in the full Nectar Premier Copper mattress review.

Bridget Chapman

Senior Product Editor

About Author

Bridget is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and senior editor here at Sleepopolis. From testing mattresses to writing about various sleep health topics, her goal is to help you get a good night’s sleep. You can also find her in videos on our YouTube channel. Bridget graduated magna cum laude from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and a minor in English. Before joining the Sleepopolis team, she was a TV news reporter and worked in cities across the country. She loves spending time outdoors, checking out new restaurants, snuggling with her pets, and of course — getting some quality Zzz’s.

Combination Sleeper