Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers

Written by Bridget Chapman, Senior Product Editor

Our Methodology

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

We’ve recently re-reviewed all our top mattress picks for combination sleepers and added more feedback from the testers in our lab – so you can rest easy that if it’s on this list, we’ve personally tested it, slept on it, and stand by its recommendation.

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Combination sleeping can be a tricky business. If you’ve never heard the phrase before, it refers to a person who sleeps in multiple positions throughout the night (back, side, or stomach). It can be difficult for these folks to find the best mattress for combination sleepers — i.e. one that supports them across all of these different positions, especially since these positions typically need to be different firmness levels to be comfortable.

Back and stomach sleepers tend to go for a firmer mattress in order to get stability and support for their lower back, keeping their spine in a neutral alignment. On the other hand, side sleepers tend to look for a softer mattress in order to get extra pressure relief around sensitive areas, like their shoulders and hips. So, what should a sleeper do if they rest in all of these positions during the night?

Luckily, we’re here to introduce you to the best mattresses for combination sleepers. Though they differ in terms of style, construction, and price, they’re all designed to sleep comfortably across multiple positions. They might have an added pillow top or memory foam, zoned support in the construction, or even a flippable mattress that gives you two different options to choose from.

That said, you still have to think about your weight, cooling preferences, and whether or not you sleep with a partner or a pet. We also put these mattresses through several tests to see if they really are the best fit for you. This includes a rest test (determining the firmness of the mattress), a pressure map test (seeing how well this mattress works to combat joint pain in the hips, shoulders, and lower back), and a motion transfer test (to find out if this mattress isolates movement from one side of the bed to the other). We’ll also go into specifics on the materials used in these mattresses to see if they are especially cooling, eco-friendly, or pressure relieving.

So, if you’re a combination sleeper that wants to find a bed that fits all three positions, but also matches your other preferences and needs, keep on reading to see our roundup of the ten best mattresses on the market today.

Our Top Pick For Combination Sleepers

The Nectar mattress landed this accolade thanks to its ability To keep combination sleepers feeling hugged and cool throughout the night. CertiPUR-US-certified foams make the mattress a healthy, cool, and comfortable option for all kinds of combination sleepers.

Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

• Best Overall Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Nectar
• Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers with Back Pain – Helix Midnight Luxe
• Best Luxury Mattress for Combination Sleepers – WinkBed
• Best Latex Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Nolah Natural
• Best Innerspring Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Saatva
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Bear Elite Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Couples – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Heavy Combination Sleepers – Titan Plus Luxe
• Best Firm Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Plank Firm
• Best Mattress for Back and Stomach Combination Sleepers – Birch Natural

The Best Mattresses for Combo Sleepers – Our Video Roundup

What We Look for in The Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation refers to how much movement you can feel when laying on the mattress, and it is important because if a mattress has poor motion isolation you may find yourself feeling restless. Because of this, we made sure to test the motion isolation in the best mattresses for combination sleepers so you can be sure your movements aren’t waking your partners or pets up, or that theirs aren’t disturbing you. To do this we dropped a ball onto the mattress and measured its impact using a seismograph.

Durability

When you move around in your sleep, your mattress may start to sag or lose its comfort earlier than those who don’t move much. Because of this, we made sure to look for mattresses with strong and durable construction and materials so that you can be sure your mattress will endure your movements every night for a long time.

Firmness

How firm you like your mattress is a personal preference, so we made sure to test every mattress in this list for how firm it is so you can find the best one for you. To do this we used our firmness scale, which ranks mattresses on a scale from 1-10, which 10 being the most firm. While firmness is up to you, we generally recommend a mattress around a 6 to 7.5 for combination sleepers.

Compare the Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

Best Overall Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Nectar

Expert Opinion

Nectar receives our best overall superlative because, while it can be difficult to find a mattress made of memory foam that’s also good for combination sleeping, the Nectar Original does an excellent job. This mattress impressively maintains a traditional slow-moving memory foam feel, but it also scored well in our responsiveness test. So, folks who switch between back and side sleeping should find that they don’t have to sacrifice ease of movement for cushioning, or vice versa.

This mattress has a simple yet powerful construction, with gel-infused memory foam on top for pressure relief, soft conventional foam in the middle to prevent excess sinkage (and keep combo sleepers more elevated), and high-density support foam at its foundation. During our pressure map test, we found it works wonders for joint pain and back pain in the back- and side-sleeping positions. We saw little to no pressure buildup on the graphic created by our pressure map.

What our tester says: “The softness of this mattress gives it a hugging, cradling feel, which is good for sleepers looking to relieve joint pain or pressure. However, even though it is a softer feeling, it is still responsive enough for combination sleepers to move as they need to.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

Many users on the Nectar website commented how well the Nectar helps relieve pressure at sensitive areas. Other customers also stated that they were impressed with Nectar’s customer service.

Pros of the Nectar Mattress

• This mattress is set at an excellent value, as echoed in a number of the Nectar’s reviews. You can often find a queen size for under $700 after discounts.
• The memory foam included in the Nectar can help relieve pressure around joints and other areas of pain, which is helpful for almost nay sleeper, and any combination of sleeping positions.
• For a budget memory foam mattress, we felt the Nectar scored really well in material quality (4 out of 5).

Cons of the Nectar Mattress

• Those with larger bodies, regardless of their preferred sleeping position, will want a mattress with added support. They should check out our roundup of the best mattresses for heavier sleepers.

Click here to get the best deal, or learn more in our full Nectar mattress review. You can also check out more of the best overall mattresses.

Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers with Back Pain – Helix Midnight Luxe

Expert Opinion

The luxury upgrade of the standard Helix Midnight, the Helix Midnight Luxe is made from a blend of foam layers and pocketed coils that add luxurious support and comfort. When we lie down on this mattress, its springs offer enough support and responsiveness to prevent us from feeling stuck in the bed — perfect for combination sleepers with back pain. These sleepers should be able to switch positions and move around on top of the mattress with ease during the night while still feeling that their spine is kept aligned and supported.

During our pressure map test, where we used a thermal technology pressure map to see where pressure is relieved, both models of the Helix Midnight Luxe lit up entirely blue, which represents low-pressure buildup. However, the Luxe model is especially helpful for back pain because it includes a zoned coil structure in its construction. This helps provide pressure relief around the shoulders, while also keeping your hips lifted on the mattress and in line with your shoulders. These coils can also keep the mattress breathable and cool. All of this should help promote a healthy spinal alignment, alleviating pain in this area.

What our tester says: “[The coils used in the Midnight Luxe have] zoned support, which means that they’re softer at the shoulders for added pressure relief and firmer at the hips to help promote a neutral spinal alignment. Zoned support is great for sleepers with back pain, as it helps keep the spine nice and straight (the key to preventing and soothing back pain).” – Logan Block, former Sleepopolis director of content and mattress tester

What Customers Say

Customers on the reviews section of the Helix website love how cushioning the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress is, with many saying the mattress helped alleviate their joint pain and back pain. Other users also commented on how well this mattress keeps them cool during the night, with some stating that their night sweats stopped altogether.

Pros of the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress

• Sleepers who prefer to rest on their back should get an adequate amount of support from the coils included in the construction of the Helix Midnight Luxe. At the same time, the upper foam layers should provide these sleepers with some extra cushioning to fill in the lower back.
• Couples should love the bouncy feel of the Helix Midnight Luxe that comes from the pocketed coils. This makes it a worthy bed for sex, as couples can switch positions and move around easily on top of it. The Helix Midnight Luxe also has reinforced edges that help with edge support, so couples can use the full surface area of their mattress without fear of sagging.
• The Helix Midnight Luxe includes a soft Tencel cover that encourages breathability and temperature regulation. There’s also a cooling gel-infused pillow top and a copper-infused comfort layer that combats body heat, making it a wonderful choice for hot sleepers.

Cons of the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress

• With a firmness of 6 out of 10, neither the standard or the Luxe model of the Helix Midnight is going to be firm enough for stomach sleepers. These sleepers need a firmer mattress with more support to elevate the hips. If this sounds like you, check out our roundup of the best mattress for stomach sleepers to find some better options.

Read all about this bed in our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review. Ready to purchase? Click here to get our best deal. And if you’re still searching for that perfect bed, check out our roundup of the best mattresses for back pain.

Best Luxury Mattress for Combination Sleepers – WinkBed

Expert Opinion

The luxury hybrid mattress known as the WinkBed comes in four firmness options: Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer, and Plus (for heavier sleepers over 250 pounds). We tested out the Luxury Firm and gave it a 7 out of 10 on our firmness scale, which means it’s firmer than the industry standard (the Firmer model will be even, well, firmer). This, coupled with the quality, eco-friendly, American-sourced materials used in its construction, makes the WinkBed an upscale and especially durable mattress that should last the test of time. The WinkBed also includes a support layer made of helix coils with multiple support zones, so your body should stay support during the night no matter which sleeping position you happen to be in.

As a firmer mattress, the WinkBed has that typical “on top” feel that gives combination sleepers that ability to switch positions throughout the night without sinking or feeling stuck in the mattress. However, the WinkBed does include a plush pillow top that adds a little bit of pressure relief to the sleepers, making this mattress a great choice for combination sleepers who spend some time on their side.

What our tester says: “One of my favorite things about the WinkBed is its durability. I also really like the bouncy support this mattress offers. It should be a hit with combination sleepers who need some mobility to change positions at night.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

Many reviews on the WinkBed website comment on how sleepers experience back pain relief after sleeping on the mattress. Some of these folks have suffered from back pain for more than nine years, and have even undergone surgery to treat it. These customers say that the WinkBed is the best investment they have made in their sleep future.

Pros of the WinkBed Mattress

• Back sleepers should rest comfortably on the WinkBed because of its quilted cover made from eucalyptus wood cellulose (a material known as Tencel). The cover helps contour and fill the space around the lumbar region, which should provide pressure relief for the lower back during the night.
• Couples should love the reinforced edges on the WinkBed that allow for solid edge support throughout the night. With this, couples can spread out and use the full surface area of their mattress without fear or sinkage or sagging around the edges.
• Shoppers will be happy to know that the WinkBed is made free from fiberglass. The foams used in the WinkBed are also CertiPUR-US Certified, so they are free from harmful chemicals and heavy metals.

Cons of the WinkBed Mattress

• Because of its innerspring responsiveness, the WinkBed doesn’t isolate motion as well as an all-foam mattress might, as seen in our motion transfer results. If you or your partner is a light sleeper, you might hear each other’s movements during the night. Take a look at our roundup of the best mattresses for couples to find one with better motion isolation.

Sold on the WinkBed? Click here to see our current best deal. Not sure WinkBed is right for you? Learn more about it in our full WinkBed mattress review, or see our other picks for the best luxury mattress.

Best Latex Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Nolah Natural

Expert Opinion

Latex beds are great for combination sleepers because they have a buoyant, “on top” of the bed feel that makes switching positions easy. We think that the hybrid Nolah Natural perfectly embodies these traits. When we tried it out, we got a lot of bounce and responsiveness from its two layers of Talalay Latex, with support coming from below from a layer of targeted support coils. We were able to move around without feeling like we were stuck in the bed.

Many of the mattresses on this list have also been fairly firm, but the Nolah Natural scored a 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale, making it softer than the industry standard for medium firm. It is unique for a soft mattress to be good for combination sleepers, but the latex used in the construction of the Nolah Natural makes it bouncy enough to keep combo sleepers elevated, despite the soft feel.

What our tester says: “I really like how eco-friendly this mattress is, while also remaining luxurious. It’s very comfortable for back and side sleepers — giving them pressure relief and support. As a hot sleeper myself, I also appreciate the cooling factors of this bed.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

On the Nolah website, many customers who sleep with partners commented that they can no longer feel the other person’s movements during the night. Even small things like sitting on the edge of the mattress to put on shoes didn’t affect the sleeper on the other side. Other users commented on how springy this mattress is, which made switching positions during the night much easier than it was on their previous bed.

Pros of the Nolah Natural Mattress

• Sleepers who suffer from back pain should love the cushy pressure relief offered by the Nolah Natural. The soft feel of this mattress coupled with the bouncy latex should keep these sleepers’ backs elevated and comforted. During our pressure map test, the back area lit up entirely blue (equating to low pressure in this area).
• The coils and latex included in the construction of the Nolah Natural makes it especially bouncy, which is great for sex. Couples should appreciate how easily they can move around and switch positions on top of the bed.
• Eco-friendly customers should appreciate that the Nolah Natural is created with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic wool, GOTS certified organic cotton, and recycled steel. The Talalay latex included in this mattress is also hypoallergenic for sleepers with allergies.

Cons of the Nolah Natural Mattress

• As a softer mattress, the Nolah Natural is probably not the best fit for strict stomach sleepers. These folks will want a firmer mattress that can keep their hips in line with their shoulders to create a healthy spinal alignment. Check out our roundup of the best firm mattresses to find one fit for stomach sleepers.

Sold on the Nolah Natural? Click here to see our best deals. You can learn more about this mattress in our full Nolah Natural mattress review, or check out our best latex mattress page.

Best Innerspring Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Saatva

Expert Opinion

Featuring a coil-on-coil construction, the Saatva is a traditional innerspring bed that’s supportive, bouncy, firm, and comfortable. The responsiveness of the coils allowed us to move around the bed with ease — a crucial trait for combination sleepers. That same support from the coils also helps keep the spine neutrally aligned, helping prevent back pain.

The Saatva also comes in multiple firmness options (Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm) and heights (11.5 and 14.5 inches), so sleepers really can customize this mattress to fit their own needs and preferences perfectly. Finally, the Saatva includes a zoned support system in its layers, so it allows certain areas of the mattress to feel firmer or softer, depending on where the memory foam is placed. Once again, this creates this balance between bounciness and firmness — perfect for combination sleepers who switch positions.

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 also like the Saatva for heavier sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

Reviews on the Saatva website often talk about how friendly and helpful the customer service is. Users also loved the free white glove delivery that comes with buying a Saatva, as they didn’t have to set up their mattress or wait for an unboxing and off-gassing period.

Pros of the Saatva Mattress

• The Saatva also has a reinforced edge support system that combines coils and polyfoam, so you don’t have to worry about sagging or sinkage around the edge of your mattress.
• As a firm mattress, the Saatva is extra-supportive. This is great for heavier sleepers (those over 250 pounds) who need a more durable mattress to stand the test of time.
• The space between the Saatva’s coils helps the mattress sleep cool throughout the night, making it a great choice for hot sleepers.

Cons of the Saatva Mattress

• Due to its springs, the Saatva has high motion transfer. If you sleep with a partner and either one of you wakes up easily, this may not be the right bed for you.

If you think the Saatva is the perfect match, learn more in our full Saatva mattress review, or click here to see our current best deals. Still shopping? Check out our other picks for the best innerspring mattresses.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Bear Elite Hybrid

Expert Opinion

A hybrid mattress is a fantastic option for combination sleepers because it has coils, which add a responsive and bouncy feel. We found that, in the case of the Bear Elite Hybrid, the coils prevents combination sleepers from sinking into the material, making it easy to move around and switch positions throughout the night. The Bear Elite Hybrid also stands out for its optional cover that’s quilted with Celliant, a breathable material that may assist with muscle recovery and blood flow by increasing oxygenation of your body tissues, according to recent research. However, the cover must be purchased for an additional cost, around $130. This notable feature makes Bear mattresses popular among athletes and those who lead an active lifestyle.

The Bear Elite Hybrid also comes in three different firmness levels (Soft, Medium, and Firm), so combination sleepers can pick the right model for them based on other factors, like their weight or whether or not they sleep with a partner with a different sleeping position preference than their own. We tested the Medium model, which scored a 6 on our firmness scale, making it softer than the industry average. Because of this, some sleepers might want to up their level to the Firm model to get some added stability and support.

What our tester says: “The Bear Elite has a nice cushiony feel but is also easy to move around on, so it’s a nice fit for back and side combination sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

The reviews on the Bear website often comment that the Bear Elite Hybrid is super-inviting and comfortable to lay in, almost making it difficult for these customers to get out of bed in the morning. Other users stated that the Bear Elite Hybrid never made them feel stuck in the bed, proving that this mattress really does have that “on top” feel that combination sleepers need.

Pros of the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress

• Sleepers who suffer from shoulder pain should appreciate the top foam layer included in the construction of the Bear Elite Hybrid. It adds some pressure relief to sensitive areas like the hips and shoulders, and should bring immediate comfort and body-contouring upon laying down on this mattress.
• The individually encased coils in the Bear Elite Hybrid make this mattress especially bouncy, which is great for sex. Couples should appreciate how easily they can move around and switch positions on top of this mattress.
• The Bear Elite Hybrid includes a cooling cover and copper-infused foam that helps to get rid of body heat during the night. There is also Phase Change Material in the top layer that absorbs body heat. All of these additions make the Bear Elite Hybrid an excellent pick for hot sleepers who want to stay cooler longer during the night.

Cons of the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress

• Stomach sleepers may not be the ideal customer for the Bear Elite Hybrid since the Medium model still scored a 6 on our firmness scale. These sleepers might want to check out our roundup of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers to find a firmer option in order to keep their hips in line with their shoulders.

Ready to purchase? Click here to get the best deal. Or find out more in our full Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review. You can also check out more options in our best hybrid mattress roundup.

Best Mattress for Couples – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid

Expert Opinion

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid regularly makes our best mattress for couples roundup because it has strong edge support, which means couples can spread out and take advantage of the full surface area of their mattress without fear of sinkage or sagging around the edges. When testing it out, we were easily able to sleep along the edge of this mattress without feeling like we were going to fall off. The Brooklyn Signature Hybrid also has low motion transfer, so you shouldn’t feel your partner tossing and turning at night. We tested this out by dropping a 10-pound steel ball from three different heights on the mattress and measuring how much its motions rippled with a seismometer.

Of course, the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid wouldn’t be on this roundup if it wasn’t also a great bed for combination sleepers. This mattress has a bouncy, responsive feel that made it easy for us to switch positions and move around without feeling like we were sinking or getting stuck in this mattress’s layers. This “on top” feel comes from the comfort layer of Hyper-Elastic Supreme Response Comfort Foam. This material really helps lift the sleeper up and out of the mattress while also providing some pressure relief and body-contouring.

What our tester says: “I really like how the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comes in three different firmness levels. I also like that this mattress offers an ‘on-top-of-the-bed,’ plush feel. I think it’s a great choice for combination sleepers who need a mattress that makes it easy to change positions at night.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

What Customers Say

Users on the Brooklyn Bedding website love how durable and stable the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid feels to them. Many state that they can tell this mattress will last the test of time, and other users commented that they appreciated the bed’s competitive pricing.

Pros of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress

• Lightweight sleepers who primarily rest on their back or stomach should sleep comfortably on the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid.
• Although the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid doesn’t include any advanced cooling technology, the spaces between the coils make room for plenty of airflow to keep you from sleeping hot.
• Sleepers who suffer from back pain should love the balanced feel of the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid. The foams should fill in the space around their lumbar region, and the coils should be able to keep their spine aligned throughout the night.

Cons of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress

• Sleepers suffering from shoulder pain most likely won’t receive the pressure relief they need from the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid. There was some yellow present around the shoulder area during our pressure map test, signifying that we felt higher pressure around our shoulders. These sleepers can check out our roundup of the best soft mattresses to find a better option.

Want to learn more about this mattress? Check out our full Brooklyn Signature Hybrid mattress review. Ready to buy the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid? Click here to see out latest deals. Still looking? Check out more top-rated mattresses for couples.

Best Mattress for Heavy Combination Sleepers – Titan Plus Luxe

Expert Opinion

Heavy sleepers over 250 pounds benefit from a more supportive mattress. Fortunately for these folks, Brooklyn Bedding created the Titan Plus — a mattress built with extra-durable materials — just for them. The Titan Plus Luxe is an upgrade of this bed, with an additional two inches in height and an extra layer of contour foam. We asked our colleague, Paulie — who has a larger body type — to help test our this mattress. He felt that the bed’s high-density foam and sturdy coils kept him elevated and comfortable on top of the Titan Plus Luxe.

At the same time, the Titan Plus Luxe includes a cover with quilted gel memory foam., This foam helps to provide some pressure relief and body-contouring, and it even works to resist against body impressions, which is great for heavier sleepers who tend to sink into their mattresses. For Paulie, the Titan Plus Luxe scored a 6.5 on our firmness scale, but to a more lightweight sleeper, the Titan Plus Luxe would most likely feel more like a 7 or 7.5 on this scale.

What our tester says: “The Titan Plus Luxe is built to last and should do a great job supporting heavier sleepers, especially back, side, and combination sleepers. Personally, my favorite thing about the Titan Plus Luxe is its great motion isolating abilities.” – Madison Schaper, former Sleepopolis staff writer and mattress tester

What Customers Say

After reading the reviews on the Titan by Brooklyn Bedding website, it is evident that heavier sleepers appreciate how durable and supportive the Titan Plus Luxe is. However, users also comment that this bed still provided them with enough pressure relief and body-contouring to be able to sleep on their side without pain.

Pros of the Titan Plus Luxe Mattress

• The Titan Plus Luxe is a great mattress option for couples who may be in different weight classes. This mattress may feel medium firm to a heavier sleeper and much firmer to a lighter partner, making it a great option for couples who enjoy a different firmness level than their partner.
• Strict stomach sleepers should appreciate how firm the Titan Plus Luxe is. This firm mattress should help to lift these sleepers’ hips higher so they can stay in line with their shoulders, promoting a healthy spinal alignment.
• The Titan Plus Luxe is a great mattress choice for sleepers who suffer from back pain because it should help alleviate pressure around the lumbar region. This can be seen on our pressure map test, where Paulie’s back lit up completely blue (equating to low pressure in this area).

Cons of the Titan Plus Luxe Mattress

• It was made to support heavier sleepers, so it’s a bit firmer than a typical memory foam mattress. Customers looking for the traditional sinking feel of a memory foam mattress might want to look elsewhere. These sleepers can check out our roundup of the best memory foam mattresses to find a softer version.

Click here to get our best deal, or learn more in our full Titan Plus Luxe mattress review. You can also check out more of the best mattresses for heavy people.

Best Firm Mattress for Combination Sleepers – Plank Firm

Expert Opinion

Believe the name; the flippable Plank Firm from Brooklyn Bedding is one of the firmest mattresses around. Where many flippable mattresses have a soft side and a firm side, the all-foam Plank has a firm side and an ultra firm side. The firm side of the Plank Firm scored a 7.5 on our firmness scale, and the extra-firm side scored an 8.5 on the scale, making both sides firmer than the industry standard for a medium-firm mattress. This firmness gives the Plank Firm a very “on top” feel to it, which is great for combination sleepers, as it allows them to move around and switch positions easily throughout the night without sinking into their mattress and getting stuck.

Combination sleepers can try out both sides of this flippable mattress and see which one works best for them, but the main difference between the two sides is the layer of Brooklyn Bedding’s proprietary TitanFlex foam included on the firm side of the Plank Firm. This material adds more cushioning to the firm side of this mattress, so there is a little more pressure relief and body contouring for the sleeper.

What our tester says: “I really like that the Plank Firm is a flippable mattress with two firmness options. This makes it feel like you’re getting two beds for the price of one. I also think this is a great choice for anyone who loves a firm feel — if you’re looking for the firmest mattress out there, the ultra-firm side of the Plank is the way to go.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

Users on the Plank by Brooklyn Bedding website often comment that their back pains and aches have completely gone away after sleeping on the Plank Firm. Other customers also commented on how appreciative they are of the price point of this quality mattress.

Pros of the Plank Firm Mattress

• Lightweight sleepers (those under 130 pounds) should enjoy the firm side of the Plank Firm, especially if they sleep on their back or stomach for the majority of the night. This side of the mattress should provide enough support for these sleepers, while the added comfort layer on the firm side of this mattress will add some pressure relief to their lumbar region.
• The Plank Firm is a great mattress option for stomach sleepers who need an extra-firm bed to keep their hips in line with their shoulders, promoting a healthy spinal alignment. These sleepers can pick which side of the Plank Firm best suits them, depending on their weight and sleeping preferences.
• The Plank Firm has great motion isolation results, which are tested by dropping a 10-pound steel ball from three different heights and using a seismometer to measure the transfer of motion across the top of the mattress. This is good news for couples because they shouldn’t be able to move their partner’s movements during the night.

Cons of the Plank Firm Mattress

• Side sleepers should probably avoid both sides of the Plank Firm mattress because either side is most likely going to be too firm to give them the pressure relief they need around their hips and shoulders. Instead, these sleepers can check out our roundup of the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Click here to get the best deal, or find out more in our full Plank Firm mattress review. Want to do some more exploring? Check out the best firm mattresses.

Best Mattress for Back and Stomach Combination Sleepers – Birch Natural

Expert Opinion

The Birch Natural mattress from Helix Sleep is an all-natural bed that uses organic cotton, wool fibers, and natural Talalay latex to create a structure that’s as eco-friendly as it is comfortable. The top layers of latex foam give the mattress a little bit of contouring and pressure relief, while the coils allow the bed to stay responsive, which is an important for combination sleepers who need to move around easily.

This mattress falls on the firm side, ranking at a 7 out of 10 on our firmness scale. This means that both stomach sleepers and back sleepers should feel comfortable and supported. The coils allow promote spine and hip alignment, which is crucial for both of these types of sleepers.

What our tester says: “The Birch offers great bounce, which means combination sleepers should feel comfortable on this mattress, as they can move around comfortably and smoothly throughout the evening.” – Madison Schaper, former staff writer

What Customers Say

Over 4,000 reviewers rave about how comfortable the Birch Natural mattress is. One reviewer even said it is the “he most comfortable mattress I’ve ever been on.”

Pros of the Birch Natural Mattress

• Latex is a naturally cooling material, plus the coils leave plenty of room for airflow. This means the Birch is a good choice for hot sleepers.
• The bounciness and responsiveness of the mattress should help combination sleepers move around comfortably and with ease throughout the night.
• The all-natural construction of this mattress, as well as the breathable coils, make the Birch great option for environmentally considerate shoppers, and may be good for sleepers with allergies.

Cons of the Birch Natural Mattress

• If you’re easily disturbed by a restless bedmate, the Birch probably isn’t a good fit for you. Its bouncy feel means that it’s easy to feel motion from the other side of the bed.

Ready to purchase? Click here to get the best deal. Or find out more in our full Birch Natural mattress review. You can also check out more options in our best hybrid mattress and best natural mattress roundups.

How We Chose the Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers

Mobility

First and foremost, you’ll want to consider a bed’s mobility. When we refer to mobility, we’re really just talking about how easy (or not easy) it is to move around and change positions in the night. A highly mobile mattress is one on which sleepers can toss and turn without feeling too “stuck” in the structure. Since combo sleepers snooze in many different positions, good mobility is key.

So, how do you figure out whether or not a bed has sound mobility? By focusing on the materials. In an all-foam mattress, you’ll want to make sure there’s at least a little bit of latex foam incorporated into the top layers. This all-natural material has a quick response to pressure that should help lift the sleeper up and out of the structure. Memory foam, on the other hand, is known for its contouring effect, which can reduce the overall mobility of a bed.

The presence of pocketed coils and springs can also increase the mobility of a mattress, especially when paired with buoyant latex foam. If bounce and lift are especially important to you as a combo sleeper, I’d recommend sticking with a hybrid mattress that combines gentle foams with coils.

Combination Sleepers = Movers

The mobility of a mattress is an ultra-important factor to consider if you’re a combination sleeper. If you consistently switch what position you’re sleeping in, then it’s important that your mattress doesn’t hinder your ability to do this. You should be able to toss and turn all night without getting stuck in the mattress or accidentally waking up from the effort it takes to move around.

Pressure Relief

Excellent mobility aside, combo sleepers also need to find a mattress that provides uniform pressure relief across multiple positions. While strict-position sleepers can get away with a bed that only really feels great in one position, combo sleepers need to feel just as cozy on their backs as they do on their sides and stomachs. This can be a tricky proposition, but one that a fantastic mattress will be able to pull off with ease.

The secret here is honing in on a bed with a balanced design. When we use the term “balanced,” we’re talking about a mattress that combines a lot of different materials together to strike a pleasant chord between firm support and gentle pressure relief. Beds that have a one-note design (say, all memory foam or all latex foam) can provide plenty of comfort, but not usually across multiple positions.

This balance between lift and give will ensure that your spine stays aligned to, help alleviate tension at pressure points like the shoulders, hips, and back. Ideally, whatever mattress you choose would actively work to set your spine into this neutral alignment. Otherwise, you could end up with aches, pains, and limited mobility. Plus, studies show healthy alignment could mitigate common nighttime issues like snoring or insomnia.
 

Why Combination Sleepers Need “Balance”

Combination sleepers may sometimes find it difficult to find a bed that feels comfortable no matter what sleeping position they’re in. Because they’re such versatile sleepers, they need a bed that is the perfect combination of supportive and pressure relieving. In a way, a combo sleeper needs a combo bed.

A bed that is “balanced” will use a combination of features to ensure that the sleeper is comfortable no matter how they sleep.

Firmness

Tied into this conversation about support, pressure relief, and neutral spine alignment is firmness, a measure that refers to how “soft” or “hard” a bed is. A soft mattress can be just as supportive as a firm one, so it’s important to acknowledge that the terms firmness and support are not synonymous with one another. Read more about firmness in our mattress firmness guide.

That being said, most combo sleepers will prefer a mattress that’s on the medium to slightly firm range. This usually means a bed that scores a 5 to 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale (where 1 is super-soft and 10 is the most firm). For reference, the industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5 out of 10.

Why is medium firmness the ideal? Well, it implies that the mattress strikes an ideal balance between supportive lift and pressure-relieving give. This will help achieve neutral spine alignment, set you up for some solid sleep hygiene, and bring optimized comfort to the hips, shoulders, and back.

How We Test a Mattress’s Firmness

As you’ve seen throughout the mini reviews in this roundup, we test each of our mattresses individually to see exactly how firm they will feel to the sleeper. For the majority of these tests, one of our Sleepopolis mattress testers will do what’s called a 15-minute rest test on the mattress. However, for some reviews, we use Paulie — our colleague with a larger body type — to see how these mattresses would feel to a heavier sleeper (those over 250 pounds). This helps us see exactly how firm or soft a certain mattress is, which is a big consideration, especially for combination sleepers.

So what does our 15-minute rest test entail? First, we lay down on the mattress in all three different sleeping positions (back, side, and stomach), and we make sure to move around and see how easy or difficult it is to switch positions. We also see if we can feel any pressure building around our hips, shoulders, or lower back. This is a good time to determine if the mattress is especially bouncy, responsive, or plush, all of which can come in handy later when we’re deciding who is best to recommend the mattress for.

After we’ve completed the rest test, our mattress testers will compile their scores together to get an average firmness score for the mattress. The industry average for a medium-firm mattress is a 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, so looking at the example above, you can see that the Saatva HD mattress is slightly firmer than the industry average, with a score of 7 on our firmness scale. Other mattresses could be much firmer or much softer than this, but the 6.5 number gives us a good place to start when thinking about whether we like the feel of a firm or soft mattress better.

How does this help combination sleepers find the right mattress for them? Let’s take a look at which firmness levels are best for certain sleeping positions. Back and stomach sleepers are going to want a firmer mattress that’s able to keep their hips lifted and in line with their shoulders, promoting a healthy spinal alignment. However, side sleepers are going to need a softer mattress with more pressure relief around their hips and shoulders — areas that are prone to pain when slept on for the entire night.

In the end, all sleepers are different, but the majority of combination sleepers are going to want to go for a medium-firm feel when looking for their new mattress. If you know that you sleep primarily on your back and stomach as a combination sleeper, you can probably opt for a firmer mattress if you prefer that style. Same goes for a combination sleeper who primarily rests on their side. But in general, using the score from the rest test to find the best fit for you will help you to find a mattress that supports you without causing pain. Happy shopping!

FAQs

What is a combination sleeper?

A combination sleeper is a person who doesn’t primarily sleep in just one position — on their back, side, or stomach — but rather changes between positions throughout the night. Combination sleepers may rotate through all three positions, or might generally switch between two, such as a back/side combination sleeper.

What type of mattress is best for combination sleepers?

The best mattress for combination sleepers will likely have a medium firmness, balanced feel, and be responsive enough for easily changing between sleeping positions.

What firmness is best for combination sleepers?

We generally recommend a medium firmness for combination sleepers, as they are trying to accommodate the needs of multiple sleeping positions. However, depending on which positions you primarily sleep in, you could go softer or firmer. As a back/side combo sleeper, you could likely sleep on a medium-soft mattress to achieve pressure relief on the shoulder and hip while side sleeping, without losing support for back sleeping. As a back/stomach combo sleeper, you could opt for a firmer bed to keep your hips lifted up on your stomach and maintain a neutral alignment on your back.

What is the best pillow for combination sleepers?

The best pillow for combination sleepers will also need to strike a balance to work for multiple sleeping positions. We’d recommend a pillow with a medium loft and medium firmness to work well in multiple positions.

How We Chose These Mattresses

Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has 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 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.

Because combination sleepers are so versatile, we’ve given special consideration to both comfort and support. All of the products scored at least a 4 out of 5 in each of these categories. Click here to learn more about our methodology. And if you’re still not sure of the right mattress at the end of this article, you can take our mattress quiz to be shown a selection of mattresses curated to your sleep preferences.

Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers 2024

Bridget Chapman

Former Senior Product Editor

About Author

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

Combination Sleeper