Buying a mattress as a couple can be quite the task. What if you and your partner enjoy two different firmness levels? How do you know which mattresses will perform well for amorous activities? What about motion transfer, materials, budget, and other factors? These are just a few of the questions that you’ll want to consider when buying a mattress as a couple.
Not to worry, Sleepopolis has highlighted all of the main topics that make a mattress good for couples as well as specific mattresses that are designed to serve their needs best. I want to emphasize that the information below consists of my opinions, reflecting my own preferences and biases, so use it as a starting point.
Best Mattresses for Couples
- Editor’s Pick – Helix Midnight
- Best Mattress for Couples with Different Preferences – Saatva
- Best Mattress for Heavy Couples – WinkBed Plus
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Nectar
- Best Mattress for Couples with Different Weights – DreamCloud
- Best Mattress for Sex – Bear Pro
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – GhostBed Flex
- Best Mattress For Hot Sleepers – Leesa Hybrid
- Best Mattress for Couples with Back Pain – Layla
- Best Pressure Relieving Mattress for Couples – Brooklyn Bedding Sedona
Read on for why I chose these mattress brands! Toward the bottom, I’ve also included more in-depth information on what I look for when reviewing mattresses for couples. And make sure to check out our full mattress review series to find the best models for all types of sleepers.
BEST MATTRESSES FOR COUPLES – TOP CHOICES DETAILED
Below I have listed my favorite and best mattresses for couples. I’ll continue to update this list as I test and review new mattresses. Down at the bottom I have all of my favorite mattresses for couples compared in one handy chart.
Editor’s Pick
Helix Midnight
The Helix Midnight is Helix’s most popular bed, likely because its medium-firm feel is comfortable for most sleepers, myself included! I chose this as my favorite mattress for couples this year because it’s a high-quality bed that should appeal to almost every type of sleeper out there.
This hybrid mattress is bouncy and responsive, which makes it easy to move around on (a perk during sex). But, its memory foam top layer offers plenty of cozy pressure relief and helps to reduce motion transfer. This means you’re unlikely to feel overly disturbed by your partner tossing and turning at night. That combination is the sweet spot for most couples, and another reason why the Helix Midnight is at the top of my list.
Learn more in my full Helix Midnight mattress review.
The Helix Midnight is a medium-firm mattress that should feel comfortable for most types of sleepers. It's bouncy and responsive, but maintains low motion transfer.
Best Mattress for Couples with Different Preferences
Saatva
If you and your partner have very different sleep preferences, it may be difficult for you to land on a bed that suits both of your needs. For those who fall into this camp, the Saatva mattress may offer a solution. It has a “traditional” innerspring feel that many sleepers are comfortable on, so it should appeal to a variety of different folks.
This popular innerspring mattress that features individually wrapped coils and a European-style pillow top. It’s super supportive and sleeps nice and cool, two perks for any sleepers out there. Plus, its pillow top adds a nice amount of cuddly pressure relief, which should please a lot of different sleepers. The Saatva is offered in three different firmness levels, so you and your partner can choose what you need to get a great night’s rest.
Read the full Saatva mattress review to learn more.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
Best Mattress for Heavy Couples
WinkBed Plus
The WinkBeds Plus mattress is a version of the WinkBed made specifically for individuals over 300 lbs, and that helps make it great for heavy couples. The Plus provides additional pressure relief and exceptional support for heavier individuals and couples. The WinkBeds Plus is also built to be extra-durable, which could be an appealing feature for larger couples who want a bed to last for years. And it has great support throughout, including at the edge, allowing you and your partner to better utilize the full surface of the mattress.
Read our full WinkBeds Plus mattress review here.
The WinkBeds Plus was designed to be bouncy, cooling, and particularly supportive for heavier sleepers! Just enter your email to save
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Nectar
Do you and your partner love sleeping on your sides? If so, the memory foam Nectar mattress is the mattress for you. It offers plenty of gentle body-contouring and sinkage to protect your pressure points in this position. Plus, the Nectar is more cooling than most traditional memory foam mattresses, so you won’t overheat on it the way you might on another be designed for side sleepers.
If you share a bed, you know that any movement you make throughout the night has the potential to disturb your partner. Fortunately, the Nectar mattress’s memory foam absorbs motion, so neither of you will be stirred awake from one another’s movements. So if you’re a side sleeping couple looking for a new bed, I’d highly recommend the Nectar!
If you want more information, take a peek at my Nectar mattress review.
Sleepers will sink deep into the Nectar mattress for some soothing pressure relief, something that side sleepers will particularly appreciate! Click here to get $399 of free accessories with every mattress purchase!
Best Mattress for Couples with Different Weights
DreamCloud
One of the most common questions I receive from couples looking for a new mattress is surrounding what to do if they have different sleep preferences, or need different levels of support because their weights are vastly different. The DreamCloud mattress could be a great solution for couples of different weights.
The DreamCloud is a firm-feeling hybrid with sturdy pocketed coil support. It should offer firm-feeling support to a lighter partner, and medium-firm support to a heavier partner. But, both sleepers should get a nice mix of pressure relief and support on this bed!
I especially like this mattress for couples of different weights because it has great edge support. This means couples will be able to use the entire surface area of their mattress without feeling like they might fall off the side of the bed. It also means that they’ll be able to distribute their weight a but more evenly, preventing this bed from starting to sag on one side more quickly than the other.
Learn more in our DreamCloud mattress review.
This tall hybrid mattress combines foams with pocketed coils for a luxuriously supportive sleeping experience.
Best Mattress for Sex
Bear Pro
Couples need a mattress that cuts down on motion transfer so they’re not overly disturbed by a partner’s movements at night. But they also need a bed that’s responsive enough to offer some mobility during sex. The Bear Pro fits that bill by combining soft top foams with springy coils for a great mix of pressure relief and mobility!
In addition to being easy to move around on and preventing you from disturbing your partner with nighttime tossing and turning, the Bear has a soft feel that should appeal to side and back sleepers. This bed also sleeps cool, which is another perk for most couples!
Check out the full Bear Pro Mattress review to learn more.
Specifically designed for athletes, the coils in the Bear Hybrid allow sleepers to change position easily, without any stuck feeling.
Best Memory Foam Mattress
GhostBed Flex
The GhostBed Flex is a memory foam hybrid that’s a great option for couples. Its gel memory foam layer does a lot to make this mattress work for anyone who sleeps with a partner. First, this layer isolates motion, which means you won’t be overly disturbed by a restless bedmate. Second, its very cooling, which means you won’t overheat when sleeping with a partner. And finally, this layer offers body-contouring and pressure relief that makes it a great fit for back and side sleepers.
The GhostBed Flex is also a responsive mattress, which means it’s good for combination sleepers. A mattress with a little bounce is also good for sex, another reason this GhostBed is a great choice for couples.
Read our full GhostBed Flex mattress review to learn more. And if you’re on the hunt for a new foundation or bed frame, check out the GhostBed’s adjustable base bundle to save on your new mattress and your new base! GhostBed’s adjustable base is one of the best deals out there right now, and includes great upgrades like phone charging stations and massage features.
The GhostBed Flex uses a combination of soft memory foam and bouncy coils to provide nice pressure relief with the worry of feeling stuck in the mattress. The GhostBed Flex also uses great materials to help you sleep cool throughout the night.
Best Mattress For Hot Sleepers
Leesa Hybrid
If you and your partner sleep hot at night, you might want to consider the Leesa Hybrid. This mattress combines premium foams with pocketed coils for a sleep that’s as cozy as it is ultra-cooling.
So, what makes this bed a temperature-regulating star? Well, first off, its memory foam layer is tucked under one of poly foam. By keeping the poly foam closer to the sleeper, the bed is able to mitigate memory foam’s tendency to trap and absorb body heat. Secondly, the mattress features a tall section of individually wrapped pocketed coils. These springs move independently of one another, which creates a ton of airflow throughout the structure. All in all, this is a bed that’s breathable, bouncy, and oh so wonderfully cool.
To learn more about this mattress, take a look at my full Leesa Hybrid mattress review.
Thick layers of foam and pocketed coils come together to offer sleepers the perfect hotel-bed feel.
Best Mattress for Couples with Back Pain
Layla
If you share a bed and one or both of you suffer with back pain at night, the original Layla mattress might be the answer you’re looking for. This flippable mattress features a soft and a firm side, and I think the firm side is a great option for anyone with back pain. It offers enough support to keep your spine neutrally aligned, but enough pressure relief to relieve tension at the lower back.
The Layla is also a great fit for couples because it does a great job of absorbing motion, so you won’t feel disturbed by a restless partner tossing and turning on the other side of bed. Plus, it’s infused with copper, so should sleep much cooler than a traditional memory foam bed!
To find out more information about Layla mattresses, take a look at my main Layla mattress review.
A flippable design makes the Layla mattress a truly customizable bedroom accessory.
Best for Pressure Relief
Brooklyn Bedding Sedona
Couples looking for a pressure-relieving mattress might be happy on the Brooklyn Bedding Sedona mattress. This bed has a nice soft feel that offers plenty of cushioning around sensitive joints. But, it also includes pocketed coils that ensure it’s supportive enough for two bodies.
The Sedona also does a great job isolating motion transfer, which means you’re unlikely to feel disturbed by your partner’s movements at night on this bed. If you deal with shoulder or hip pain, or are a side sleeper looking for cuddly pressure relief, the Sedona could be a great option for you and your partner!
Read our Brooklyn Bedding Sedona mattress review to learn more.
Resilient, latex-like foam offers sleepers of all styles great, pressure-relieving support!
Picking A Mattress For Couples
When choosing a mattress that will work for you and your partner, the following criteria will come in handy before making your selection.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer plays a big role with regards to purchasing a mattress as a couple. Nobody wants to roll over and wake their partner, or be woken by their partner’s movements. A mattress with very little motion transfer is a huge benefit for most couples. A mattress that has the ability to dissipate movement can be the difference between sleeping well and not sleeping at all. If you or your partner tend to be lighter sleepers, motion transfer is even more important.
Memory foam mattresses are usually the best choice when trying to avoid motion transfer (like the Amerisleep Mattress, which we rated highly for restless sleepers). The memory foam construction helps to absorb motion and / or dissipate any energy that tries to make its way across the mattress. That said, memory foam has a very distinct feel that isn’t great for everyone.
For these types of couples a latex, hybrid, or polymer mattress can be a great compromise. These types of mattresses offer a significant improvement over traditional coil mattresses, but still have more response, bounce, and less of a sinking / stuck feeling.
Support
In terms of general support, a good mattress should evenly support your body in a variety of sleeping positions, helping to maintain a neutral spinal alignment. Any quality mattress should meet this basic requirement.
However, for couples, support sometimes needs to go a step further. A couple collectively places more pressure on a mattress, which requires better support. This is especially critical for heavier sleepers who sleep together on a Full or Queen size mattress.
If the heavier sleeper rolls towards the middle of the mattress and creates somewhat of a downward slope, the lighter sleeper may end up rolling into their partner. This can create additional motion transfer and interfere with the support and feel of the mattress for both sleepers. As a result, couples (especially heavier sleepers) need to select a mattress with excellent support and material design.
FAQ: Best mattress for heavy people
Sex
Sex is an important consideration when purchasing any mattress, but especially for couples. No couple (that I know of) wants to go buy a mattress that falls flat of anything short of a good time. For couples engaging in amorous activities, bounce, response, support, edge support, and comfort all play an important role. For a more complete guide to sex, see our best mattress for sex here.
For starters, bounce goes hand-in-hand with response time. The quicker a mattress is able to respond, the more natural and enjoyable the bounce and push-back feels. Traditionally, only innerspring mattresses were able to provide couples with a high degree of bounce. Today, many all foam mattresses or hybrid designs offer a similar level of response and bounce, opening up new choices.
Typically, mattresses with good bounce also have a good response time. For example, latex or latex alternatives offer nearly instant response and great bounce, but still create a balanced contoured hug for sleepers. Very traditional memory foam mattresses may not be ideal for sex. These types of mattresses are very slow to respond.
Lastly, good support and good edge support further play into the amorous activity performance. Beyond just support for the purposes of sleeping, the mattress needs to be able to support the weight of two adults located in generally the same place on the mattress. That’s a lot of weight. Selecting a mattress with robust materials and a good design will ensure the mattress is capable of properly supporting the full weight, while still creating good comfort, bounce, and response.
Firmness & Feel
Perhaps the most important factor in selecting a mattress for you and your significant other is simply the firmness and feel. Nothing else really mattress if you aren’t comfortable on the mattress. Fortunately, there are several good options to ensure you and your partner can get the feel and firmness level best suited for you.
FAQ: What mattress firmness do I need?
First, you can select a mattress designed with a universal and/or adaptive feel. These types of mattresses are usually in the medium firmness range. They are designed to provide an equal level of support and pressure relief regardless of body type, weight, and sleeping position.
If you’re wary about the idea of universal comfort you can go with a split option. With a split option you’ll generally have a Split Queen or Split King. In this setup you’ll have two separate mattresses side by side. This setup is ideal if you and your partner have very different needs and find a compromise in the middle just isn’t an option. For example, if one partner is very heavy and the other partner is very light, a split mattress may be a good choice.
With split mattresses you have a few options. Some companies provide different firmness levels for their mattress. This allows you to get the same general design, but in a soft, medium, or firm option. This also helps you keep a similar aesthetic and size.
However, the design and form of many online mattress companies are similar enough that you could also simply purchase two different Split Queen or Split King mattresses and use side by side, provided they are the same thickness.
Last, but certainly not least, we have full customization. While there aren’t many of these mattresses available yet, we do have at least one really good option with the Helix mattress. Helix allows couples to each customize their own side on the mattress. However, the mattress is still one single bed. Helix also has the ability to be as firm or as soft as you need it, in addition to being customized for body type, weight, certain medical conditions, sleeping position, and other factors. This makes it a really strong contender and one of the best mattresses for couples available today.
Best Mattress for Couples: Details and Pricing
Here is one last look at all coupons and information you need for you choose from the best mattresses for couples:
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Queen) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix | Editor's Pick | $1,099 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Saatva | Different Preferences | $1,499 | Saatva Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| WinkBed Plus | Heavy Couples | $1,799 | WinkBed Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Nectar | Side Sleepers | $1,198 | Nectar Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| DreamCloud | Different Weights | $1,598 | DreamCloud Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Bear Pro | Sex | $1,295 | Bear Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Ghostbed Flex | Memory Foam | $2,145 | Ghostbed Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Leesa Hybrid | Hot Sleepers | $1,799 | Leesa Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Layla | Back Pain | $1,099 | Layla Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Brooklyn Bedding Sedona | Pressure Relief | $2,399 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review! |
