Written by Bridget Chapman, Senior Product Editor
So you want to find the best mattress for your needs, but have no idea where to start. Not only are there choices to be found at brick-and-mortar establishments, but there are hundreds more swirling in the world of digital brands. So what are the best mattresses of 2023?
Keep in mind that the word “best” is somewhat subjective. Different sleepers require different characteristics from a bed, so what works for one person may not work for another. That’s why we kept a wide range of categories in mind when presenting our best mattresses. Our hope is that most folks should be able to find not just the “best” mattress, but the mattress that’s best for them.
To select the very best mattresses, we put the models through a series of tests to determine how well they perform in certain areas such as cooling, responsiveness, and more. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all mattress, we tried to choose beds with different strengths. Some are more cooling than others, some are better at pain relief. But one thing’s for sure: all of these beds are quality options, and all of these beds were meticulously tested by the Sleepopolis team.
Our Best Overall Mattress Pick
The Helix Midnight mattress earns the top spot due to its medium-firm feel that can appeal to a variety of different sleepers, regardless of sleeping position or body type. Plus, the support layer of individually wrapped coils provides a lift that can relieve pressure on your shoulders and lower back.
Best Mattresses of 2023
- Best Overall Mattress – Helix Midnight
- Best Affordable Luxury Mattress – Saatva
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Nectar Premier
- Best Mattress for Heavy People – WinkBed Plus
- Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers – DreamCloud Original
- Best Cooling Mattress – Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
- Best Hybrid Mattress – Nolah Evolution
- Best Mattress for Couples – Emma Hybrid Comfort
- Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Leesa
- Best Mattress That Won’t Sag – Titan Plus
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – Puffy Cloud
- Best Soft Mattress – Bear Elite Hybrid
Best Mattress 2023 Video Review
Compare the Best Mattresses of 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Helix Midnight Mattress | Saatva Mattress | Nectar Premier Mattress | WinkBed Plus Mattress | DreamCloud Original Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Emma Hybrid Comfort | Leesa Original Mattress | Titan Plus | Puffy Cloud Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | |
| Rating | ||||||||||||
| Firmness | Soft: 6/10 | Multiple firmness options | Soft: 6/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Medium-firm: 7/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 7/10 | Soft: 6/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Soft: 6/10 | Multiple firmness options |
| Material | Hybrid | Innerspring | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid |
| Cooling | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- | ✓ | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sleep Position | Back & Side | Back & Stomach | Back & Side | Back & Stomach | Back | Back & Side | Back & Side | Back & Stomach | Combination | Back & Stomach | Back & Side | Back & Side |
Helix Midnight – Best Overall Mattress
The Helix Midnight has a medium support level and bounce that will appeal to a wide range of sleep preferences. The Midnight also does an exceptional job of isolating motion, making it a great choice for couples that move around at night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Helix Midnight has a medium support level and bounce that will appeal to a wide range of sleep preferences. The Midnight also does an exceptional job of isolating motion, making it a great choice for couples that move around at night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Helix Midnight has a medium support level and bounce that will appeal to a wide range of sleep preferences. The Midnight also does an exceptional job of isolating motion, making it a great choice for couples that move around at night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
Helix offers an extensive selection of hybrid mattresses, and the Midnight is right in the middle in terms of firmness. It has a medium feel that will appeal to a wide range of sleepers, which is why we chose it as our Best Overall pick. One of the areas the Helix Midnight excels in is its pressure relief. When lying down on it, you’ll get some immediate relief on the lower back and shoulders, while still getting a bit of a lift from the support layer of individually wrapped coils.
We know this because we put the Helix Midnight through our pressure map test, which involves setting a mat down on the mattress and using it to track areas where the most pressure builds up. While lying down on the mat, our map showed mostly blue and green, indicating low pressure buildup. There was a bit of yellow at the hip, showing the Helix Midnight may not be great for side sleepers with hip pain. But because the map didn’t show any orange or red, most back and side sleepers should be comfortable on this bed.
What our tester says: “I love that the Helix Midnight offers solid edge support — you can use the whole bed! It also has great motion isolation, which makes it a nice option for couples. I also really like this bed for combination sleepers. The mattress is bouncy, making it easy for you to roll over or switch positions at night without worrying that you’ll get ‘stuck’ in the bed.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
A lot of reviews mention the Helix Sleep Quiz, which takes 30 seconds and helps shoppers find the best Helix model for their needs. Many shoppers bought the Helix Midnight because of the sleep quiz, and a lot of these folks have positive reviews.
Pros of the Helix Midnight Mattress
- Motion transfer refers to how much movement ripples across a mattress. We determine this by dropping a steel ball onto the bed and measuring its vibrations with a seismometer. The Helix Midnight has low motion transfer, which means partners aren’t likely to feel each other moving around at night.
- Back sleepers should appreciate the Helix Midnight’s balance of comfort and support. They’ll get some cushioning in the lumbar region, and the coils will help keep their spines neutrally aligned.
- Side sleepers also require a mixture of comfort and support. They should get some pressure relief and contouring at their shoulders and hips. These are areas where they put the most pressure on while sleeping. For extra pressure relief, we recommend the Helix Midnight Luxe, the standard Helix Midnight’s luxury version.
Cons of the Helix Midnight Mattress
- Of all the sleeping positions, stomach sleepers need the most support, and they’re not likely to get it on the Helix Midnight. They’d be better off on the company’s firmer Helix Dawn mattress.
Learn more in our full Helix Midnight mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Saatva Classic – Best Affordable Luxury Mattress
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It's a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It's a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It's a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Saatva Mattress
Material
Innerspring
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Saatva Mattress
Material
Innerspring
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Saatva Mattress
Material
Innerspring
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
When you test as many beds as we do, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But the Saatva Classic is a sturdy, high-quality mattress that offers a luxury feel at a more affordable price. So, there was no question that it had to take the spot for best affordable luxury mattress. Feel-wise, it’s an innerspring mattress that comes in three different firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm.
While testing out the Luxury Firm, we found it to be bouncy, responsive, and supportive. We perform our motion transfer test primarily for couples; a low motion transfer shows that they won’t be disturbed by each other’s movements during sleep. We dropped a 10-pound steel ball on the mattress surface from heights of four inches, eight inches, and 12 inches. We found high motion transfer results on the Saatva, showing that while it may not be the best for couples, it’s a really responsive option. We attribute this to its coil-on-coil construction — i.e. two separate layers of springs. This indicates the Saatva is a fantastic option for combination sleepers and for sex, as switching positions and sexual activity both require being able to move around easily.
What our tester says: “The Saatva classic is a bouncy, high-quality mattress with durability and great edge support. I think it’s a nice option for back sleepers and combination sleepers. I appreciate how the Saatva Classic comes in three different firmness levels and two different heights, so sleepers can choose the model that works best for their needs.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
It was no surprise that many of the customer reviews highlighted Saatva’s delivery and customer service. They’re one of the few mattress companies that offers free mattress delivery, as well as free mattress setup. They’ll even remove and dispose of your old mattress.
Pros of the Saatva Mattress
- Because it’s available in three very different firmness levels, the Saatva has a model for side sleepers (Plush Soft), back sleepers (Luxury Firm), and stomach sleepers (Firm). Combination sleepers should be able to easily change positions on any of these beds.
- With so many coils in its construction, there’s a lot of room for airflow in the Saatva, so it sleeps nice and cool.
- Saatva offers free white glove delivery service with every mattress. That means a delivery team will bring the (uncompressed) bed into your room of choice, set it up, and remove your old mattress at no additional cost.
Cons of the Saatva Mattress
- Due to its bounciness, the Saatva has fairly high motion transfer. This likely won’t be a problem for most couples, but if you or your partner are light sleepers, you might wake each other up with your movements.
Learn more in our full Saatva mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Nectar Premier – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Nectar Premier mattress is a medium-soft memory foam mattress, making it a great fit for side sleepers or those who deal with shoulder or hip pain. It also sleeps very cool, an added bonus!
The Nectar Premier mattress is a medium-soft memory foam mattress, making it a great fit for side sleepers or those who deal with shoulder or hip pain. It also sleeps very cool, an added bonus!
The Nectar Premier mattress is a medium-soft memory foam mattress, making it a great fit for side sleepers or those who deal with shoulder or hip pain. It also sleeps very cool, an added bonus!
Nectar Premier Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nectar Premier Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nectar Premier Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
Throughout the night, sleeping on your side puts a lot of pressure on two areas: the shoulder and the hip. If you have too firm of a mattress, it can lead to extra discomfort and even unnecessary pain at these areas. To prevent this, you need a pressure-relieving mattress like the Nectar Premier.
In fact, the Nectar Premier is so cushioning that it tested excellently for shoulder pain and hip pain. During this testing, we also determined that the Nectar Premier should support side sleepers under 250 pounds. These results were all determined by our pressure map, which showed very low pressure (only blue and green) for back and side sleeping.
What our tester says: “My favorite thing about the Nectar Premier is its great pressure relief. This medium-soft mattress is a great fit for side sleepers looking for plush comfort. It might also be a nice fit for sleepers who deal with shoulder pain. If you’re a back sleeper looking for a new mattress to replace your old Nectar Lush (which has been discontinued), I’d also consider the Premier.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
In the comments, there are a few categories of people who seem to have the most success with the Nectar Premier: back sleepers, side sleepers, hot sleepers, and couples. We think this is probably because of the Nectar Premier’s balanced feel, specialty cooling properties, and good motion transfer results.
Pros of the Nectar Premier Mattress
- We found the Nectar Premier’s medium feel (6 out of 10 on our firmness scale) should provide a balanced feel for back sleepers under 250 pounds.
- The Nectar Premier uses Phase Change Material in its comfort layer, which works to regulate your body heat. So, this is a solid option for hot sleepers.
- For an all-foam mattress, the Nectar Premier has good edge support. So, you shouldn’t feel like you’re falling off the bed if you sleep at its perimeter.
Cons of the Nectar Premier Mattress
- Stomach sleepers will find the Nectar Premier is far too soft to properly support their sleeping position throughout the night.
Learn more in our full Nectar Premier mattress review or click here for our best deal.
WinkBed Plus – Best Mattress for Heavy People
Built with heavy people in mind, the WinkBed Plus has a bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers. It's also a great mattress for couples. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Built with heavy people in mind, the WinkBed Plus has a bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers. It's also a great mattress for couples. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Built with heavy people in mind, the WinkBed Plus has a bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers. It's also a great mattress for couples. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.WinkBed Plus Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
WinkBed Plus Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
WinkBed Plus Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
We understand that sleepers over 250 pounds have different needs when it comes to mattress-shopping — namely more support. That’s why we often nudge them toward mattresses like the WinkBed Plus, a bed designed specifically with them in mind. It contains many support layers and high-quality foams that can handle the compression of additional weight. It also has reinforced edge support.
To give you an idea of how it might feel, we recruited Paulie, who has a larger body type, to test it out. He found the WinkBed Plus to be about a 7.5 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale.
What our tester says: “I’m a fan of the WinkBed Plus’s bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers. I’d also recommend the Plus to couples, since it has some nice motion isolation.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
Many customers state that the WinkBed Plus provides lots of firm support for keeping their spine aligned and relieving their back pain.
Pros of the WinkBed Plus Mattress
- Average-weight stomach sleepers usually need a firmer mattress that will keep their hips elevated and their spine aligned throughout the night. The WinkBed Plus checks these boxes.
- Because of its tall coils, the WinkBed Plus has a traditional innerspring feel: bouncy, responsive, and supportive.
- Hybrid mattresses and innerspring mattresses are often a good fit for hot sleepers because the coils leave so much space to flow through the bed. The WinkBed Plus is no different.
Cons of the WinkBed Plus Mattress
- Heavier side sleepers will probably need a mattress that’s a bit softer and offers more pressure relief.
Learn more in our full WinkBed Plus mattress review or click here for our best deal.
DreamCloud Original – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers
The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great combination of support and pressure relief that back sleepers will really enjoy.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great combination of support and pressure relief that back sleepers will really enjoy.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great combination of support and pressure relief that back sleepers will really enjoy.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
The DreamCloud is a luxury hybrid, meaning it’s similar to the type of mattress you’d sleep on in a high-end hotel. When you lie down on it, you can feel the balance of the mattress’s cushioning foam and sturdy coils. You’ll feel “on top of” the bed as opposed to “in” it. This tells us that it should be easy for combination sleepers to switch positions throughout the night.
Of course, we wanted to test this out for ourselves. While resting on the DreamCloud, we had no trouble rolling around on its springy surface. It’s a responsive mattress, so you shouldn’t feel stuck while changing sleeping positions.
What our tester says: “I really like how luxurious this mattress feels and how it could work for a variety of sleepers. Along with that, I found that the breathable cashmere cover helps the DreamCloud sleep cool throughout the night. Thanks to its medium-firm to firm support, I think the DreamCloud is a durable mattress. It balances support with plenty of pressure relief for back sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
Though this mattress is responsive and has a more “on top of” feel, many customers comment on the pressure relief this bed delivers. They fondly speak of the luxurious pillow top, and how well it cushions the joints.
Pros of the DreamCloud Mattress
- Back sleepers need a lot of support to keep their spines neutrally aligned while also getting pressure relief to prevent pain at the lower back. They should feel like they’re on top of the bed and, at the same time, get a little bit of a hug from the memory foam.
- Although it doesn’t isolate large movements, the DreamCloud does a decent job of trapping your partner’s small movements, promoting a restful sleep. It’s responsive enough for sex and boasts impressive edge support, so couples can spread out.
- The memory foam has an infusion of cooling gel, keeping it from trapping heat like traditional memory foam does. And the bed’s coils make room for quite a bit of airflow. So, hot sleepers should be happy on this mattress,
Cons of the DreamCloud Mattress
- While back-side combination sleepers should be okay, strict side sleepers will likely find this bed too firm.
Learn more in our full DreamCloud mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – Best Cooling Mattress
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is a hybrid bed-in-a-box mattress. It comes in three firmness levels and with an optional Cloud Pillow Top, so sleepers can pick the best model for their needs. It also has cooling tech in nearly every layer, which means it sleeps super cool!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is a hybrid bed-in-a-box mattress. It comes in three firmness levels and with an optional Cloud Pillow Top, so sleepers can pick the best model for their needs. It also has cooling tech in nearly every layer, which means it sleeps super cool!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is a hybrid bed-in-a-box mattress. It comes in three firmness levels and with an optional Cloud Pillow Top, so sleepers can pick the best model for their needs. It also has cooling tech in nearly every layer, which means it sleeps super cool!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
When we just place a hand on the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, its cover is literally cool to the touch. But the mattress’s cooling capabilities don’t stop there. When we lie down, we don’t feel at all like we’re going to overheat. There’s plenty of air circulating between the coils in the support layer, and the foams in the bed have infusions of gel and copper, which absorb body heat and release it, rather than trapping it in the layers. Hot sleepers should be especially comfortable on this mattress.
What our tester says: “My favorite thing about this bed is how cooling it is. Hot sleepers who enjoy a soft feel should enjoy the Phase Change Material and breathable pocketed coils. I also appreciate how soft and cuddly this bed is. It feels similar to a lot of luxury hybrids on the market right now, but is a little cheaper than these beds.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
Many couples comment on how cooling the Aurora Luxe is, despite there being extra body heat from two people sleeping together. There were many reviews that recommended other shoppers opt for the Cloud Pillow Top, which provides extra cushioning and cooling.
Pros of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress
- Although the Aurora Luxe is a luxury hybrid mattress, Brooklyn Bedding owns its own factory, so you can often find the bed at a value price.
- The Aurora Luxe comes in a variety of firmnesses, so most sleepers should find a version that suits their needs. We tested the Medium model and liked it best for back and side sleepers since its comfort layers provide lots of cushioning and joint pain relief.
- The comfort layers are good at isolating motion, but the mattress is still responsive enough for sex. However, it is worth noting that the Aurora Luxe’s edge support isn’t the strongest.
Cons of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress
- Larger folks who weigh more than 250 pounds are better off looking at our best mattresses for heavy people.
Learn more in our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress review or click here for our best deal. .
Nolah Evolution – Best Hybrid Mattress
The Nolah Evolution provides good pressure relief and body contouring. It’s a great choice for side sleepers, and back sleepers who like a softer mattress will enjoy it too. The soft pillow top is a great touch for shoulder or hip pain as well.
The Nolah Evolution provides good pressure relief and body contouring. It’s a great choice for side sleepers, and back sleepers who like a softer mattress will enjoy it too. The soft pillow top is a great touch for shoulder or hip pain as well.
The Nolah Evolution provides good pressure relief and body contouring. It’s a great choice for side sleepers, and back sleepers who like a softer mattress will enjoy it too. The soft pillow top is a great touch for shoulder or hip pain as well.
Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
Being a hybrid mattress, the Nolah Evolution combines various foams with a bottom layer of coils for a mixture of comfort and support. It comes in three different firmness levels: Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. We tested out the Luxury Firm and found it to be a tad on the softer side, scoring a 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale (for context, medium-firm is 6.5 out of 10). We think it could be a good fit for a variety of sleepers. And like any good hybrid, it has several different cooling features.
What our tester says: “I love how the Nolah Evolution comes in three different firmness models, so you can choose the best fit for you. One of my favorite features is the soft pillow top. It’s a great touch for anyone that suffers from shoulder or hip pain, as it allows you to sink into bed for a plusher feel.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
Customers praise the customer service at Nolah, saying that the company representatives were patient and accommodating. Many folks had good experiences with returns and refunds as well.
Pros of the Nolah Evolution Mattress
- Since there are three different firmnesses to choose from, we think there’s something for everyone. Side sleepers and back sleepers will likely be most comfortable on the Plush or Luxury Firm depending on their firmness preferences, and the Firm model may work for stomach sleepers.
- The mattress’s proprietary foams are designed to be a cooler alternative to memory foam, and the coils allow lots of air to flow through the bed’s construction. This means the Nolah Evolution should be a good choice for most hot sleepers.
- During testing, we found that the Nolah Evolution had decent motion isolation, which muffles smaller movements. Also, couples can stretch out because of the bed’s exceptional edge support. At eight inches tall, the Nolah Evolution’s springs are wrapped in Edge-Tech support foam, which holds up the sides of the bed, as well as the middle.
Cons of the Nolah Evolution Mattress
- Heavy people should seek out a firmer, more supportive mattress that can accommodate heavier weights.
Learn more in our full Nolah Evolution mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Emma Hybrid Comfort – Best Mattress for Couples
The Emma Hybrid Comfort is a firm, supportive, and bouncy mattress. A good fit for back sleepers and stomach sleepers, it also has open-celled foam for cooling.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Emma Hybrid Comfort is a firm, supportive, and bouncy mattress. A good fit for back sleepers and stomach sleepers, it also has open-celled foam for cooling.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Emma Hybrid Comfort is a firm, supportive, and bouncy mattress. A good fit for back sleepers and stomach sleepers, it also has open-celled foam for cooling.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Emma Hybrid Comfort
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Emma Hybrid Comfort
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Emma Hybrid Comfort
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight and heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and heavyweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
We had a feeling the Emma Hybrid Comfort would be a good couples mattress because of its sturdy materials. Its combination of high-density foam and strong coils should have no problem supporting two bodies at night. We experienced this mattress to be about a 7.5 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale for average weight couples, although heavier couples might feel that it’s a bit softer. When it comes to the mattress’s performance, we thought the Hybrid Comfort was extremely cooling and responsive. It’s very easy to switch positions on its surface — a crucial element for sex.
To test motion transfer, we dropped several steel balls of different weights onto the surface of the Emma Hybrid Comfort, then used a seismometer to measure the vibrations. Even though this is a bouncy and responsive mattress, the vibrations were still fairly low, which means that partners are unlikely to feel each other tossing and turning at night. This is an obvious plus for couples.
What our tester says: “The Emma mattress’s supportive foam layers and responsive coil system make it a fantastic choice for couples who prioritize motion isolation and mobility.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
What Customers Say
A lot of customers compliment the Emma Hybrid Comfort’s balanced feel, often using phrases such as “perfect balance” and “best of both worlds” of comfort and support. Of course, heavier sleepers are most likely to feel this balanced feel, as the firmness was designed with them in mind.
Pros of the Emma Hybrid Comfort Mattress
- Stomach sleepers need a lot of support, and the Emma Hybrid Comfort has been constructed with a laundry list of durable materials: multiple layers of foam, reinforced edge support, sturdy coils, etc. So, stomach sleepers of all weights should be very comfortable.
- As long as they prefer a firmer mattress, average weight and heavier back sleepers should get the comfort and support they need from this bed.
- As we said, it’s easy to change positions on the Emma Hybrid Comfort, which means it’s an excellent choice for combo sleepers.
Cons of the Emma Hybrid Comfort Mattress
- Lightweight and average weight side sleepers probably won’t sink into the Emma Hybrid Comfort enough to get the pressure relief they need.
Read our full Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress review to learn more or click here for our best deal.
Leesa – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
Are you a fan of the feel of an all-foam mattress, but can’t seem to find one that’s bouncy enough? The Leesa original mattress might be right up your alley. This bed-in-a-box mattress provides gentle pressure relief as well as responsive support.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Are you a fan of the feel of an all-foam mattress, but can’t seem to find one that’s bouncy enough? The Leesa original mattress might be right up your alley. This bed-in-a-box mattress provides gentle pressure relief as well as responsive support.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Are you a fan of the feel of an all-foam mattress, but can’t seem to find one that’s bouncy enough? The Leesa original mattress might be right up your alley. This bed-in-a-box mattress provides gentle pressure relief as well as responsive support.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Leesa Original Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Leesa Original Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Leesa Original Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
When it comes to finding a good mattress for back sleeping, we think the most important thing to remember is that there needs to be a balanced feel. The mattress should have the cushioning pressure relief to ease tension at the hips, but it should also have the support to keeps the hips lifted and properly aligned with the rest of the spine.
The Leesa excels at this balance, and consequently it’s our favorite mattress for back sleepers. While testing, we found it worked especially well for back sleepers under 250 pounds. For these folks, it should feel medium-soft (about a 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale). Our pressure map test showed little pressure at the hips for back sleeping, which tells us that the Leesa is a fine choice for back pain.
What our tester says: “I think the Leesa is a great choice for back sleepers and should give them the comfort and support they desire. It could also work for some combination sleepers, as it’s bouncy enough to easily move around on.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
A lot of folks have great things to say about the Leesa’s durability. For an all-foam mattress, the Leesa seems to be lasting many customers eight, and in some cases, even 10 years.
Pros of the Leesa Mattress
- Side sleepers need sufficient pressure relief to prevent discomfort at the shoulder and hip. Luckily, the Leesa should be soft enough for average-weight side sleepers, especially those who like a firmer feel.
- Budget shoppers should like this mattress. With discounts, the Leesa is priced at less than $1,100 for a queen.
- For an all-foam mattress, we were extremely impressed with the Leesa’s cooling abilities. It should keep night sweats at bay for most folks.
Cons of the Leesa Mattress
- During testing, we found this bed to lack the proper support for folks over 250 pounds.
Learn more in our full Leesa mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Titan Plus – Best Mattress That Won’t Sag
Titan Plus
The Titan Firm Hybrid from Brooklyn Bedding is a durable mattress featuring 6-inch heavy-duty support coils, making it a great option for heavier sleepers. This mattress also has a Titanflex foam comfort layer, which provides nice lift and bounce for heavier weights.
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Titan Plus
The Titan Firm Hybrid from Brooklyn Bedding is a durable mattress featuring 6-inch heavy-duty support coils, making it a great option for heavier sleepers. This mattress also has a Titanflex foam comfort layer, which provides nice lift and bounce for heavier weights.
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Titan Plus
The Titan Firm Hybrid from Brooklyn Bedding is a durable mattress featuring 6-inch heavy-duty support coils, making it a great option for heavier sleepers. This mattress also has a Titanflex foam comfort layer, which provides nice lift and bounce for heavier weights.
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Expert Opinion
What’s better than a great value mattress? One that’s also a durable long-term investment. Cue the Titan Plus; it’s a hybrid mattress that’s built to support sleepers over 250 pounds. During testing, we found that this mattress’s combo of high-density foam and individually wrapped coils performed especially well for heavy sleepers, as well as average weight back and stomach sleepers.
While testing edge support, or how strong a mattress’s perimeter is, we didn’t feel as if we were sliding off the edge of the bed; it all felt sturdy and supportive. With fantastic edge support and high-quality materials, the Titan Plus could last some folks over 10 years.
What our tester says: “The materials under the Titan Plus’ hood are sturdy and durable. You get just the right amount of cozy mobility on top, but the theme here is support. Heavier people with back problems will likely enjoy the lower body alignment the Titan Plus provides.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
Several customers took time to note the Titan Plus’s price point. For a firm and durable mattress, many felt the $1,249 for a queen was an excellent value price.
Pros of the Titan Plus Mattress
- The Titan Plus scored well in motion isolation and edge support. These are two crucial qualities of a good mattress for couples.
- Sleepers with back pain should feel incredibly supported by this mattress, which prevents the hips from sinking out of alignment. But the Titan Plus also has cushioning foams to comfort sensitive joints, especially at the lumbar area.
- This mattress tested very well for responsiveness, meaning combination sleepers should find it easy to change sleeping positions.
Cons of the Titan Plus Mattress
- Lightweight sleepers probably won’t be comfortable on the Titan Plus, as they will find it too firm.
Learn more in our full Titan Plus mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Puffy Cloud – Best Memory Foam Mattress
Puffy Cloud Mattress
The Puffy Cloud is an all-foam bed-in-a-box with a medium firmness that is great for a wide range of sleepers. It also does a good job of reducing aches and pains, thanks to its balance of support and pressure relief.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
101 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Kids
This bed is perfect for young sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Puffy Cloud Mattress
The Puffy Cloud is an all-foam bed-in-a-box with a medium firmness that is great for a wide range of sleepers. It also does a good job of reducing aches and pains, thanks to its balance of support and pressure relief.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
101 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Kids
This bed is perfect for young sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Puffy Cloud Mattress
The Puffy Cloud is an all-foam bed-in-a-box with a medium firmness that is great for a wide range of sleepers. It also does a good job of reducing aches and pains, thanks to its balance of support and pressure relief.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
101 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Kids
This bed is perfect for young sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Expert Opinion
Memory foam mattresses are known for their slow sinkage and contouring abilities. Because of this, they’re often extremely pressure-relieving and recommended for side sleepers (who put pressure on their shoulder and hip), as well as those with joint pain. However, the best memory foam mattresses also provide support, and we think the Puffy Cloud does an excellent job of this. It’s our favorite memory foam mattress for a number of reasons, from its traditional feel to its ability to comfort back sleepers and side sleepers.
We put the Puffy through our pressure map test and found that it should be a fantastic match for back sleepers. Its medium-firm feel and ability to cushion the hips while still supporting them makes for a nice and balanced feel. While side sleeping, we naturally found pressure at the shoulder and hip, but most folks should be comfortable on this bed. If you have severe pain, you might want a softer option.
What our tester says: “I really enjoyed the combination of pressure relief and support the Puffy Cloud offers. I think it will do a good job of reducing aches and pains that some people experience when sleeping on a mattress that isn’t the right firmness level for their sleep style.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
Many customers say the Puffy truly feels like they’re sleeping on a cloud. And for a memory foam mattress, it keeps pretty cool.
Pros of the Puffy Cloud Mattress
- While it may not be as cooling as an innerspring or latex bed, the Puffy Cloud does well for a memory foam mattress. This is thanks to the layer of gel-infused cooling foam in the comfort layer.
- The strong motion isolation results make this bed a nice option for many couples.
- This all-foam mattress should provide the slow-sinking feel memory foam fans know and love.
Cons of the Puffy Cloud Mattress
- Heavier sleepers weighing above 250 pounds probably won’t find comfort on the Puffy.
Learn more in our full Puffy Cloud mattress review or click here for our best deal.
Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Soft Mattress
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
The Bear Elite Hybrid is Bear's “ultra-luxurious” model with a traditional mattress feel, plus advanced cooling and support technology. It comes in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm.
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime Warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
The Bear Elite Hybrid is Bear's “ultra-luxurious” model with a traditional mattress feel, plus advanced cooling and support technology. It comes in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm.
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime Warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
The Bear Elite Hybrid is Bear's “ultra-luxurious” model with a traditional mattress feel, plus advanced cooling and support technology. It comes in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm.
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime Warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
Soft mattresses are fantastic options for anyone looking for maximum pressure relief or cushioning. Typically, side sleepers or those with joint pain prefer a softer mattress, as the thicker comfort layer reduces pressure buildup and eases sensitive areas. The Bear Elite Hybrid has three different firmness options, but the Soft model makes for our favorite soft mattress on the market.
During testing, we found that the memory foam layers helped keep us cushioned, but the dual layers of coils still gave us the support we need for a neutral spinal alignment. On our pressure map test, the Bear Elite Hybrid proved to be a solid option for back pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain; we didn’t see any indications of pressure buildup in these areas.
What our tester says: “I’d recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid for most side sleepers.I think they’ll get the needed pressure relief and contouring at the shoulders and hips on this bed. But if they want even more cushioning, then I’d opt for the Soft model.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
What Customers Say
A lot of customers highlight the Bear Elite Hybrid’s ability to be cushy yet supportive, which for them makes it a great option for joint pain and back pain.
Pros of the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
- The Bear has a cover made of Celliant, a material that’s cooling and may promote blood flow and recovery (the studies on this so far are small, but promising). While we haven’t verified this ourselves (except for the cooling), these factors all make the Bear a popular choice among those with an active lifestyle.
- Those with joint pain should feel cradled by the Soft model’s two memory foam layers.
- Being a foam bed, the Bear isolates motion well, but it’s still responsive enough for sex. It sleeps pretty cool and even scored decently on edge support. This means it’s a solid option for many couples, who should be able to spread out and utilize the entire surface of the mattress.
Cons of the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
- Even though the Bear Elite Hybrid has support from its coils, we still recommend the Firm model and not the Soft model for stomach sleepers.
Learn more in our full Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review or click here for our best deal.
How To Find the Best Mattress for You
If you didn’t find a mattress you wanted above, you might benefit from one of our more specific mattress guides. Below are a few of our recommendations based on body type, age, sleeping position, pain management, and more. You can also take a look at our guide on how to chose a mattress that fits your needs, and if you’re still feeling overwhelmed, consider taking our mattress quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Sleeping Position
- Side sleepers do best on soft to medium-firm mattresses that cushion pressure points at their hips and shoulders. Check out our best mattresses for side sleepers.
- Back sleepers need an appropriate balance of pressure relief and support to keep their spines in a straight line, and they’ll typically find that in a medium-firm mattress. They can find some high-quality options in the best mattress for back sleepers roundup.
- Stomach sleepers need a firm bed that keeps their hips aligned with their shoulders. Learn more about why that’s important in our best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
- Combination sleepers usually prefer mattresses that are easy to move around and change positions on. We recommend these sleepers stick to a bouncy mattress with a medium-firm feel, like the ones in our best mattresses for combo sleepers.
Mattress Construction
- Innerspring mattresses rely on coil support systems. They often have a firm, bouncy feel and work well for stomach, back, and combination sleepers. You can check out our best innerspring mattresses to learn more.
- Hybrid mattresses use a mix of foam and coil support, and their feels vary widely. Check out the best hybrid mattresses to find out more.
- Foam mattresses don’t include any coil support. They use layers of foam to both cushion and support the sleeper. Memory foam mattresses are a popular type of all-foam mattress that offer a lot of body-contouring and pressure relief. Take a look at the best memory foam mattresses to learn more about these beds.
- Latex mattresses are often made with eco-friendly Dunlop or Talalay latex foam. These beds are naturally cooling and bouncy. Combination sleepers and heavy people often like these beds. Check out the best latex mattresses for more on this natural material.
- Air mattresses use air to support the sleeper overnight. Some of the best adjustable beds are advanced air mattresses. Learn more in our roundup of best air mattresses.
Pain Management
Choosing a sleep surface that helps mitigate pain is especially important for sleepers who live with chronic pain. We’ve selected mattress options that could help with several different types of pain. Depending on what you need, we’d recommend looking at the best mattresses for shoulder pain, best mattresses for back pain, best mattresses for hip pain, or best mattresses for sciatica articles to learn more about pain management solutions.
How Can Your Mattress Alleviate Pain?
A mattress that has strong pressure relief and support is key for helping with pain. Without pressure relief, you can wake up stiff and sore — which we know you don’t want. Along with relief around your pressure points, your body needs support to achieve spinal alignment.
Here are the areas that need the most support depending on your preferred sleeping position:
- Back sleepers: Lower back and shoulders
- Side sleepers: Shoulders and hips
- Stomach sleepers: Hips
Price
- If you want a durable value mattress, check out the best cheap mattresses.
- If you’re more interested in finding a high-quality bed that’s worth the price, take a look at the best mattresses for the money.
- If you’re on a strict budget, see our best mattresses under $1,000 and the best mattresses under $500.
Hot Sleepers / Cooling Technology
- If you’re looking for a mattress that sleeps cool, we’d recommend opting for a latex, hybrid, or innerspring mattress. These beds tend to promote airflow, which is important for keeping a low temperature at night.
- You can see our favorite breathable beds in our roundup of best cooling mattresses.
Body Type and Body Weight
- Sleepers under 130 pounds will often find mattresses firmer than average-weight sleepers. We’d recommend these sleepers take a look at the best soft mattresses to make sure they get the pressure relief they need.
- Sleepers over 250 pounds need a bed that offers extra support to prevent premature mattress sagging. Overall durability and edge support are usually important concerns. To learn how to choose a mattress for your body type, visit our page for best mattresses for heavy people.
- Kids have rapidly growing and changing bodies with specific sleep needs. Learn how to prioritize your child’s sleep health in our best mattresses for kids.
- Seniors (over 65) generally prefer more traditional feeling mattresses that offer mobility and support, but are still gentle on sensitive joints. We’d recommend taking a look at our best mattresses for seniors to find a feel that will work well for you.
- Teens are still growing, and they have specific sleep needs, too. Learn more about choosing a comfortable mattress for them in our best mattresses for teenagers.
Sleeping with a Partner
- If you share a bed with a partner (or pet), it’s important to choose a mattress that features low motion transfer. We’d recommend taking a look at the best mattresses for couples for some examples, as well as beds with impressive edge support, cooling features, and other needs that couples may consider.
- Similarly, couples in search of the best mattresses for sex can check out our guide for beds that are responsive and comfortable enough for getting close.
How We Picked The Best Mattress Of 2023
When we test a new mattress, we (not surprisingly) lie on it to give you our personal opinions on its feel, but we don’t ask you to take our word for it. Once we’ve tried the mattress ourselves, we test it with a pressure map, seismometer, and more methods to give you objective measures of a bed’s motion transfer, pressure relief, bounce, and edge support capabilities. We also evaluate our test mattresses layer by layer to examine their materials and cooling tech. This helps us ensure each brand is living up to its marketing promises.
Pressure Relief
One of our most important tests is for pressure relief. Pressure relief is a measure of how evenly distributed your weight is on a mattress. A mattress with great pressure relief cushions pressure points at the shoulders, hips, and lower back to prevent you from waking up stiff and sore in the morning. A few examples of pressure-relieving beds can be found in our best pillow top mattresses article.
To test out pressure relief, we use a pressure map test. A reviewer lies down on a pressure mat (like the one you see above) in several different sleeping positions. The mat records the pressure exerted and creates a “pressure map” that shows areas of low pressure in blue, medium low pressure in green, medium pressure in yellow, medium high pressure in orange, and high pressure in red. Those results let us know how pressure-relieving a mattress will be in each of the main sleeping positions. Take a look at an example of a pressure map result below.
Bounce
Our bounce test lets us know how responsive a mattress is. This is important for combination sleepers who need a responsive bed that’s easy to move around and change positions on. It’s also important for couples looking for a mattress that’s one of the best mattresses for sex.
Our bounce test is quite simple, we just drop a 10-pound steel ball onto the mattress and measure how high it bounces. The higher the ball bounces, the more responsive the mattress. Latex mattresses tend to do quite well on this test. Take a look at us performing the bounce test below.
Motion Transfer
Another important test is our motion transfer test. Motion transfer is a measure of how much movement travels from one side of the mattress to the other. If you sleep with a partner or pet, this is a measure of whether or not you’ll feel disturbed by them tossing and turning at night. We use a seismometer and a steel ball (like you see below) to measure motion transfer.
During this test, we drop the steel ball onto the mattress from heights of four inches, eight inches, and 12 inches to mimic various movements, from tossing and turning to jumping on the bed. The seismometer records all this motion and creates a graphic like the one below. A graphic with small lines tells us a mattress is good at isolating motion. Large lines tell us that you’ll likely feel disturbed by a restless partner on a certain mattress.
Why Motion Isolation Matters
If you’re a solo sleeper, you may not care about your mattress’s motion isolation abilities. However, people who sleep with a partner, kid, or pet can appreciate a mattress that minimizes motion transfer. Mattresses with good motion isolation can help prevent you from being disturbed by their movement throughout the night.
Edge Support
Our edge support test lets us know if you can sleep (or sit) all the way on the edge of a mattress without feeling like it might collapse. Innerspring mattresses often have very strong edges. Edge support is important because strong edges can make your mattress feel a little bigger since you can spread out across its entire surface area. Strong edge support also prevents premature sagging in the middle of your mattress, because you’re able to evenly distribute your weight.
Our edge support test is very simple, we just sit and lie all the way on the edge of the bed.
Materials
After all that testing, we open up each mattress’s cover to evaluate the materials inside. We go over each foam layer-by-layer to explain how the bed works to you. We also look for things like hypoallergenic covers, eco-friendly materials, CertiPUR-US® Certified foams, and cooling technology.
Value and Company Policies
Once we’ve tested out a mattress’s feel, materials, and performance, our team evaluates each bed’s price, mattress warranty, shipping policies, sleep trial period, and customer service teams in the context of the mattress industry overall. This is how we decide if you’re getting a good deal on your new bed. All of our reviewers have great mattress knowledge to share and strive to offer informative, honest reviews of all of the beds they test. From there, we come up with an overall score for every mattress.
Buying a Mattress Online vs In-Store?
You might have noticed that all the mattresses we’ve recommended above are available online. That’s because the Sleepopolis team prefers buying mattresses in the digital space. But, whether you should buy a mattress online or in stores really depends on your preferences. To learn more about what works for you, check out our In Store vs Online Mattress Buying Guide.
We prefer buying online because online mattress retailers cut out overhead costs like salespeople and showrooms, which means you can normally save more money by choosing an online mattress. We also find buying online and having a bed shipped to my door more convenient. Regardless of what you decide, we’d recommend checking out our mattress coupons and promo codes page before purchase to ensure you get a good deal.
In Store vs Online Mattress Buying
Here at Sleepopolis, we prefer to buy our mattresses online. Here are a few reasons why:
- Convenience: Online mattresses get shipped right to your door in just the click of a button
- Money saving: Online retailers don’t require salespeople and showrooms, so their mattresses are typically less expensive. They also tend to have more deals and coupons offered.
- Trial periods: Because you can’t try the mattress out in the store, online retailers usually offer generous trial periods. This means you can actually sleep on the mattress instead of just laying down on it for a few moments. If you decide you don’t like it, you can usually return or exchange it.
FAQs
How much should I spend on a mattress?
While this is going to depend on your individual budget, a value mattress is generally considered to be one that’s under $1,000 for a Queen-size. So set that as your spending limit if you’re looking to save money. We think the Bear is an excellent cheap mattress, and you can often get the luxury DreamCloud for under $1,000 after discounts.
When is the best time to buy a mattress?
Many bedding brands launch huge sales around federal holidays, so keep an eye out for deals around President’s Day, Memorial Day, and even Labor Day. You’ll also naturally find a ton of deals around Black Friday. Check out our mattress coupons and promo codes page year-round to stay up to date on the latest discounts.
How often should I replace my mattress?
In general, you should replace your old mattress every 7–10 years. However, a mattress can sag prematurely if you don’t place it on a proper foundation or treat it roughly. You can also extend the life of an old mattress for a few months by adding a mattress topper.
Whenever you’re buying a new bed, it’s important to take a look at its warranty, which can also give you a good idea of how long it should last.
What is the best mattress for back pain?
Most people who struggle with back pain find that a firm or medium-firm mattress is best for them. This type of bed will help you keep your spine straight overnight, which can help alleviate a lot of pain. To find a mattress that can help with your specific back pain, check out our roundup of the best mattresses for back pain.
What’s the best mattress for stomach sleepers?
Of all the sleeping positions, stomach sleepers require the most support. With that in mind, they’re best off with a bed that’s reinforced with pocketed coils. If they’re looking at the mattresses on this list, the WinkBeds Plus and the Saatva could be good options. For a more expansive selection, they can always check out our roundup of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
What’s the best mattress for side sleepers?
Side sleepers are on the other end of the spectrum from stomach sleepers. While they still require some support, they tend to prefer softer beds (or medium-firm) that have a lot of cushioning for their shoulders hips. Many of the mattresses on this list should be a great match for side sleepers, most notably the Helix Midnight. We also have a roundup of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
How We Chose These Mattresses
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has reviewed more than 220 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give every bed an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.
Since we wanted our roundup of Best Mattresses of 2023 to truly represent the best of the best, we took each bed’s overall score into account. All of the mattresses on this list have an overall score of 4 out of 5 or above. Click here to learn more about our methodology.
The Best Rated Mattresses of 2023
That’s it for our breakdown of the best mattresses of the year. If you’re interested in a side-by-side comparison of these beds, take a look at the chart below.
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Queen) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix Midnight | Overall | $1,332 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Saatva | Affordable Luxury | $1,995 | Saatva Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Nectar Premier | Side Sleepers | $1,499 | Nectar Coupon | Read Our Review |
| WinkBed Plus | Heavy People | $1,999 | WinkBeds Coupon | Read Our Review |
| DreamCloud | Combination Sleepers | $1,332 | DreamCloud Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | Cooling | $2,265 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Nolah Evolution | Hybrid | $2,499 | Nolah Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Emma Hybrid Comfort | Couples | $1,199 | Emma Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Leesa | Back Sleepers | $1,299 | Leesa Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Titan Plus by Brooklyn Bedding | Won’t Sag | $1,249 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Puffy Cloud | Memory Foam | $2,399 | Puffy Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | Soft | $2,111 | Bear Coupon | Read Our Review |
Sources
Caggiari Gianfilippo. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2021. https://jorthoptraumatol.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
