Written by Lauren Hapgood, Performance Staff Writer
The only thing better than one mattress is two mattresses in one. Fippable mattresses used to be more common, however, their popularity steadily declined in the early 2000s. Mattress companies began to design their beds from top to bottom, with softer materials up top for pressure relief and firmer materials below for support. But, flippable mattresses are not a thing from the past, and there are many great options on the market.
Flippable mattresses often offer two different firmness options depending on which side faces up. However, it’s important that your mattress is the correct firmness for your sleeping position. According to Sleepopolis Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, “back sleepers generally benefit from a medium-firm mattress for spinal alignment. Side sleepers find slightly softer mattresses comfortable to cushion pressure points. Stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress to prevent back strain.”
Flippable mattresses have a number of advantages and are great for almost any sleeping situation. However, what determines the best flippable mattress? Our sleep experts at Sleepopolis test each mattress in our lab for factors such as support, cooling, motion isolation, edge support, and more. I also recognize that price is a very important factor. In this roundup, the beds range from $998 to $2,995 for a full-size bed. In just 2024, Sleepopolis helped 12,544 people find their perfect mattress. Hopefully, you’ll find your perfect flippable bed somewhere in this roundup!
My Top Pick for the Best Flippable Mattresses
I chose the Plank Firm as our top pick because of its uniqueness. Not only does it have both a firm and an ultra-firm side — it manages to be highly durable and supportive, despite being made of foam.
Best Flippable Mattresses of 2024
- Plank Firm – Best Overall
- Zenhaven – Best Flippable Luxury Mattress
- Helix Kids – Best Flippable Mattress for Kids
- Layla Original – Best Flippable Memory Foam Mattress
What I Look For In The Best Flippable Mattress
Comfort
I made sure to test the comfort of both sides of every mattress in this list myself. I also paid attention to the quality of the materials to ensure that each bed is supportive enough for a wide variety of sleepers.
Temperature Regulation
It’s important that a flippable mattress has strong airflow, which helps both sides of it stay cool and clear of dust. That’s why I measured each of these beds’ temperature with a thermal gun. I laid down on the mattress’s surface for five minutes, then measured how much the temperature rose.
Support
If you’re using both sides of a mattress, you’ll want to make sure that the construction is strong enough to keep the sleeper lifted. That’s why I didn’t include any beds that are prone to sagging.
Compare Best Flippable Mattresses
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| Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Mattress | Zenhaven Mattress | Helix Kids Mattress | Layla Mattress | |
| Rating | ||||
| Firmness | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Soft: 5.5/10 | |
| Material | Foam | Latex | Hybrid | Foam |
| Cooling | — | |||
| Best For |
Stomach Sleepers,
Back Pain, Seniors |
Hot Sleepers,
Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers |
Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Kids, Hot Sleepers
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Couples
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Plank Firm – Best Overall
The Plank Firm more than lives up to its name with its ultra-sturdy foams and supportive feel. While this bed certainly isn’t for everyone, it should be an ideal fit for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and combination sleepers who want to feel more on top of their mattress than in it. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Plank Firm is one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress, the firm side and extra firm side, should give these sleepers the support they need to keep their hips in line with their shoulders. Back sleepers who like a firmer feel should also be happy on the firm side of the Plank.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
If you’re looking for a firm bed that sets the standard for the flippable mattress game, try the all-foam Plank Firm. It has dual firmness: one side is designed to be firm (7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and the other extra-firm (8 out of 10 firmness). This allows sleepers to decide what’s best for their needs and preferences. Its construction consists of high-density foams that offer stronger-than-usual support, and no matter which side sleepers choose, they’ll experience a soft, cooling cover. I tried out both sides of the Plank and concluded that Brooklyn Bedding definitely succeeded in creating a mattress that’s responsive, supportive, and yes, very firm.
Zenhaven – Best Flippable Luxury Mattress
As a flippable mattress, side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers alike should be able to find a side that works for them on the Zenhaven. This organic mattress is also made from high-quality latex foam that’s environmentally friendly and provides a bouncy, responsive feel. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I really like that the Zenhaven is a flippable mattress. The firmer side is great for stomach and back sleepers, while the softer side is great for side sleepers. Because it can cater to so many different sleepers, I think the Zenhaven is one of the best mattresses on the market for eco-friendly shoppers looking for an organic be made of natural materials.” – Logan Block, former content director
Expert Opinion
When resting on the flippable Zenhaven, I felt like royalty, thanks to its luxurious materials: a cover of 100 percent organic cotton and New Zealand wool, followed by several plush latex comfort layers and a dense support layer. It has two firmnesses: a Luxury Plush side (6 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and a Gentle Firm side (7.5 out of 10 firmness). Because each side lies close to the industry standard of medium-firm (6.5 out of 10), I think it should work for most sleeping positions.
Helix Kids – Best Flippable Mattress for Kids
When choosing the best mattress for your little one, you want to pay special attention to quality materials, adequate pressure relief for growing pains, and overall durability for long-lasting support. The Helix Kids checks all these boxes and is entirely tailored towards children between 3 and 12. It’s also made with completely non-toxic materials, earning a GREENGUARD Gold certification. Learn more about the Helix Kids in our video roundup of the best mattresses for kids.
What our tester says:
“What a great option for parents trying to find a mattress that will work for their growing child. I really liked the Helix Kids’ flippable, hybrid design. I found it offered high-quality materials and great support for younger people.”– Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
Expert Opinion
As kids develop, they go through clothes, shoes, and a plethora of other items that are sure to put pressure on parents’ wallets over time. Mattresses are yet another expense, as children can quickly outgrow a mattress that was once suitable for their body weight and height at the age of five. Luckily, the popular hybrid brand Helix created a mattress specifically for growing kids, and parents who don’t want to shell out money on multiple mattresses to accommodate their child’s needs. As kids age, parents can flip to the firmness that better supports their development and spinal alignment.
Layla – Best Flippable Memory Foam Mattress
It’s not often you find a foam mattress that’s comfortable for side sleepers and stomach sleepers alike, but the Layla fits the bill. With both a soft side and a firm side, it features foams that are both contouring and supportive. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“The Layla is a memory foam mattress with the classic memory foam feel that many sleepers love. This bed features a lot of the material, so epitomizes its characteristic sinkage and contouring hug. As far as sides are concerned, I think side sleepers will prefer the ‘Soft’ side and stomach sleepers will be better off on the ‘Firm’ side.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
Expert Opinion
Memory foam lovers should adore the flippable Layla mattress. When I tested out this all-foam bed, I found both of its comfort layers to be fantastic for pressure relief, with lots of hug-like contouring and comfortable sinkage. Its two firmness levels, soft (5.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and firm (7.5 out of 10 firmness) should appeal to a wide range of sleepers. I think the soft side is best for anyone experiencing hip and shoulder pain, while the firm side is ideal for back pain.
Advantages of a Flippable Mattress
Dual Sided Mattresses Can Last Longer
Mattresses get worn out when we put pressure on the same spots night after night. Flippable mattresses can allow one side of the mattress to get a bit of a break. However, durability ultimately depends on the quality of materials, the construction, and how you care for your mattress. For more sturdy mattress options, check out our roundup for the best mattresses that won’t sag.
Flippable Mattresses are Great for Kids and Teens
Models such as the Helix Kids or Saatva Youth are meant to be flipped as your child grows. One side accommodates younger sleepers, and when the time comes, you can flip to the side that suits older kids.
A Flippable Mattress Will Work Well in Guest Rooms
Whether you’re hosting at home or at a vacation rental, guests have a number of different sleeping preferences. Purchasing a flippable mattress allows guests to choose their desired firmness based on their own needs.
Disadvantages of a Flippable Mattress
Price
Because of the dual construction and dual layers on both sides (compared to a single-side mattress), flippable mattresses tend to come with a higher price tag. Of course, depending on your budget, there are mattresses that can be more affordable. However you might be compromising on factors such as warranty, quality of materials, and pressure relief.
Heaviness
As innovative as flippable mattresses are, they tend to be heavier than the average mattress and aren’t exactly easy to move. You may need someone to help you flip over the bed.
Shorter Durability
If not flipped regularly, one side can wear out quicker than the other, reducing the benefits of having a flippable design.
How Often Should You Flip Your Mattress
Not all mattresses are designed to be flippable, so check the bed’s label before turning it around. However, if the bed is designed to be flippable, I recommend flipping it every 3 to 6 months. Flipping these beds twice a year can help them last longer, as you’re distributing weight more evenly, thus preventing premature sagging. For more information on mattress flipping, read our complete guide here.
Finding the Ideal Firmness in a Flippable Mattress
Firmness Scale
When I test every mattress in studio, I place each bed on our mattress firmness scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest bed we’ve ever tested. A mattress with a firmness of 6.5 out of 10 is known as a true medium-firm mattress. These beds tend to provide the best balance of comfort and support. To learn more, check out our mattress firmness guide.
Which firmness you go with truly depends on your sleeping position and preferences. Side sleepers should aim for a softer mattress (4–6 on the scale) to cushion their shoulders and hug their hips. Stomach sleepers should go for a firmer bed (6–8 on our scale) in order for it to support their hips and lower back. Back and combination sleepers are the most interchangeable, but I recommend that they look for a true medium-firm mattress sitting at a 6.5. Learn more in our mattress firmness guide.
One or Dual Firmnesses
The mattresses featured in this article all have dual-sided firmness, but some brands have flippable mattresses with the same firmness on both sides. If you know what firmness level works best for you and you don’t foresee a need to switch firmnesses, then a flippable bed with one firmness is best.
It’s important to note that not all mattresses are flippable. If you’re unsure, I recommend checking in with the manufacturer. If your mattress isn’t flippable, you can prolong the life of your bed by flipping it 180 degrees from head to foot. That way, you aren’t putting pressure on the same areas of the bed every single night.
The Best Materials for Flippable Mattresses
Memory Foam
Memory foam beds are known for their hug-like feel and deep sinkage. The foam contours to pain points and provides pressure relief. Couples often select memory foam mattresses because they tend to have great motion isolation, so partners shouldn’t feel each other tossing and turning at night.
That said, the plush nature of memory foam can cause it to sag. It’s important to look for a memory foam bed with high-density base foam to increase its durability. These beds have a reputation for sleeping hot, but luckily, many companies use modern cooling technology to prevent this. This could include infusions of copper, graphite, charcoal, or cooling gel in the foam for additional breathability. Phase change material is my favorite thermoregulating technology, and it’s used in some memory foam mattresses as well.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are popular because of their traditional feel. These beds primarily feature sturdy coils as a support layer and use a thin comfort layer. This makes them responsive or bouncy — qualities that are important for combination sleepers or anyone looking to avoid sinkage. The coils in these beds add breathability and durability.
The high number of coils in an innerspring can result in a bed with less pressure relief, and thus they’re popular with those who prefer a firmer feel. And because of the thin comfort layer, innersprings usually have poorer motion isolation. This is bad news for couples, since a mattress with high motion transfer makes it easier to feel each other’s movements at night.
Hybrid
Hybrid beds offer the best of both worlds, using both coils and foam. They combine the innerspring’s durability and the memory foam’s pressure relief to create a balance of comfort and support. This results in good motion isolation, durability, and cooling. That said, if you’re looking for a super-soft or super-firm mattress, you’re probably better off exploring memory foam and innerspring options, respectively.
Latex
Latex beds are known to be durable and naturally cooling. They boast a responsive, bouncy feel. This is ideal for those who enjoy sleeping more “on top of” the mattress, such as combination sleepers. Often, companies will use natural latex to construct organic mattresses, something eco-conscious shoppers should also love.
Those with latex allergies should certainly search for another option. And couples and light sleepers may not appreciate how these mattresses are poorer at isolating motion.
Important Considerations for a Flippable Mattress
Cooling
If body heat is too much with a partner or pet, or if you wake up sweaty, invest in a cooling mattress. While innerspring, latex, and hybrid mattresses tend to be the best for hot sleepers, a memory foam mattress with modern cooling technology can do the trick. When testing mattresses, I make sure to look for materials that are breathable, phase changing, or have gels, coils, or cooling covers, as these make a big difference in keeping you cool at night. Flippable mattresses tend to have the same cooling technology on both sides.
In our mattress lab, I use a thermal gun to determine how fast a mattress dissipates heat. I’ll lie on the bed in various sleeping positions for five minutes, then measure the temperature increase. We consider anything under an 8 degree difference to be good cooling and anything under 5 to be great cooling. The thermal gun also helps me understand if there are particular parts of the bed that hold more heat compared to the rest.
Edge Support
Edge support refers to how supportive and sturdy the edges on your mattress are. Edge support is especially important for anyone who needs a little extra support when getting out of bed, including seniors, heavy people, or anyone with chronic pain.
Edge support is also crucial for couples, as it allows two people to use the whole surface of the bed, stretch out, and not worry about falling off.
Because of the nature of flippable beds, they don’t tend to perform well for edge support. However it also depends of the materials. Memory foam and latex mattresses tend to perform the worst compared to hybrid and innerspring beds. We test for edge support by using a yard stick or tape measure to measure the amount of sinkage experienced when sitting or laying on the edge of bed.
Motion Transfer
If you sleep with a partner or pet, it’s important to get a bed with good low motion transfer. Motion transfer refers to the amount of movement that’s felt across the mattress when your partner, pet or kid moves around. If a mattress is good at isolating motion, it has low motion transfer.
We test motion in a couple ways. First we use a seismometer test, where a tester drops steel balls from various heights and uses a seismograph to measure how much movement is felt across the mattress. The higher and bigger the lines are on the graph, the more movement you’ll likely feel across the bed. We also use a red wine test, in which we place a glass of wine on one side of the mattress and rotate through various sleeping positions on the other side of the bed. We then observe whether the liquid in the glass moves.
Is a Flippable Mattress More Durable?
If you’re worried about longevity, purchasing a flippable mattress can help with durability. Flipping the mattress at least once a year can even help it last 5 to 7 years longer. If you’re lying in the same spot night after night, the mattress can wear down and sag quickly. Flipping the bed can also help distribute where weight is being placed, thus giving you the chance to sleep on different areas over time.
How to Purchase Your Flippable Mattress
How Much a Flippable Mattress Should Cost
While great options can fall out of this range, most flippable mattresses cost around $800–$1,500. Keep in mind that a heftier price tag doesn’t always mean better materials or a better construction. Also, remember that a cheaper mattress may not offer you the same durability or support. When shopping within a budget, you can also check out our recommendations for the best mattresses under $1,000.
What Time of Year You Should Buy a Mattress
The best times to buy a mattress are around holiday sales. There are five times during the year where most companies slash prices significantly:
- Presidents’ Day (February)
- Memorial Day (May)
- Labor Day (September)
- Cyber 5 (November)
- Christmas (December)
Where to Find Coupons and Deals on Flippable Mattresses
You can find a number of exclusive deals on our Mattress Coupons and Promo Codes page.
Company Policies
Warranties
Warranties bind the manufacturer to replace a mattress if it’s delivered with damages or defects. A longer warranty is always better because it offers a longer protection period and represents a company’s confidence in their product. Always make sure to read the fine print, since warranties differ from company to company. I recommend going for a mattress warranty that is over 10 years.
Sleep Trials
Sleep trials are a set period where the customer can decide whether or not they want to keep the mattress and test it in the comfort of their own home. It’s important to make the most out of this trial period and consider how much the product matches your sleeping position, body type, and overall preferences. I recommend going for a sleep trials that’s above 60 days, as this allows you to fully break in the mattress and see if it’s an ideal fit.
Shipping
Every mattress selected on this list offers free shipping, so you don’t have to worry about that added cost. For an extra charge, however, some mattress companies offer a service called white glove delivery which includes them hand delivering, setting up the bed, and removing your old mattress. This is a great option if you struggle with any chronic pain like spinal stenosis or if you’re alone when the mattress is delivered.
Shipping can also be very expensive if you’re purchasing internationally, so I also looked into some of the best Canadian mattresses to help you navigate international mattress shopping.
FAQs
Do flippable mattresses still exist?
While many brands don’t specialize solely in flippable mattresses, many have at least one flippable model. Helix, Saatva, Zenhaven, Serta, Layla, Brooklyn Bedding, Brentwood Home, and Nest Bedding are some examples of companies offering flippable mattresses.
Is it better to have a flippable mattress?
It all comes down to your individual needs. Two-sided mattresses can be great for people who are unsure of their preferences, growing kids and teens, and even guest rooms. They offer a customizability that one-sided mattresses don’t provide.
Does a flippable mattress need a box spring?
Box springs are great for providing support and protecting your mattress from premature wear. It’s important to check with the manufacturer before using a box spring with your flippable mattress. For many flippable models (Layla Original, Nest Bedding Robin, Brentwood Home Crystal Cove, Brooklyn Bedding Ecosleep, Plank), box springs are encouraged.
Who should buy a flippable mattress?
Flippable mattresses can appeal to a variety of sleepers. Some people like buying beds like the Helix Kids or Saatva Youth for their children. These beds have one side designed to support younger sleepers and another side for when they get older. Flippable mattresses are also great for guest rooms, as your guest can choose which side they prefer. I also like flippable mattresses for couples. Two bodies wear a mattress down quicker than just one person, and being able to flip the bed can help prevent sagging.
How We Chose These Mattresses
Here at Sleepopolis, we’ve reviewed more than 300 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 mattress 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.
The best flippable mattresses are comfortable, supportive, durable, and use high-quality materials. We made sure to pay careful attention to each of these factors while testing and scoring. Click here to learn more about our methodology.
The Best Flippable Mattresses of 2024
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Queen Size) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plank Firm | Best Overall | $1,332 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Review |
| Zenhaven by Saatva | Luxury | $3,195 | Saatva Coupon | Read Review |
| Helix Kids | Kids | $998 (Full) | Helix Coupon | Review Coming Soon |
| Layla Original | Memory Foam | $1,099 | Layla Coupon | Read Review |
Logan Block
Mattress Reviewer
About Author
Logan is the former content director of Sleepopolis. As content director, he reviewed new mattresses every week and curated the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. Logan perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.
Combination Sleeper