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 is comprised of my opinions, reflecting my own preferences and biases, so use it as a starting point.
Just want to find out which mattresses I think are best for couples? Click here to jump on down to the full list of our top picks!
And make sure to check out our full mattress review series to find the best models for all types of sleepers.
TOP 10 MATTRESSES FOR COUPLES
Like any other top picks, these best mattress picks are reflective of my own preferences and biases – so just use them as a starting point! Now on my top 10 mattresses for couples:
Best Memory Foam Mattress | ||
Layla  | Layla A lot of couples have trouble deciding on firmness - particularly when shopping for their mattress online. Layla addresses this problem with a flippable mattress, where the two sides of the mattress are different firmnesses. This allows couples to try out multiple firmnesses in-home to see which one suits their preferences best. | |
Best Split Firmness Mattress | ||
Helix  | Helix Not only is the Helix mattress customizable, you can customize each side of the mattress. A wonderful option for couples that have different mattress preferences. | |
Best Innerspring Mattress | ||
Saatva  | Saatva When you are shopping as a couple for an innerspring mattress, you need to be particularly wary of motion transfer. Generally innerspring mattresses perform less well in this category compared to foam mattresses - but Saatva has done everything in their power to address the issue. Couples can have the supportive innerspring feel and still sleep relatively undisturbed with the Saatva. | |
Best Mattress for Heavy Couples | ||
WinkBed Plus  | WinkBed Plus If you're a pair where at least one of you is on the heavier side (think 250 lbs or more), you should definitely consider a mattress designed specifically for heavier sleeperss. WinkBeds Plus is not only designed for heavier sleepers to feel more comfortable, but also designed to be more durable and long-lasting. | |
Best Mattress for Sex | ||
Bear Hybrid  | Bear Hybrid Specifically designed for athletes, the coils in the Bear Hybrid allow sleepers to change position easily, without any stuck feeling. Enjoy 20% off your purchase with code SLEEPOPOLIS. | |
Best Mattress For Hot Sleepers | ||
Leesa Hybrid  | Leesa Hybrid Thick layers of foam and pocketed coils come together to offer sleepers the perfect hotel-bed feel! Enjoy 15% site wide at Leesa with our exclusive discount! | |
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers | ||
Layla Hybrid | Layla Hybrid The Layla Hybrid uses foam and coil layers for two firmness options so you can choose the right support level for your sleep style. Get $210 off your purchase along with 2 premium pillows by using code SLEEPOPOLIS! | |
Best Hybrid Mattress | ||
Casper Hybrid  | Casper Hybrid With zoned support for pressure relief where you need it most and pocketed coils for great bounce and support the Casper Hybrid is a great choice for the combo sleepers out there! Take $100 off your purchase with our exclusive discount by using the code SLEEPOPOLIS or clicking this link! | |
Best Mattress for Back Pain | ||
Ghostbed Flex  | Ghostbed Flex 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. Click this link to save 25% on your GhostBed purchase! | |
Best Temperature Neutral Mattress | ||
Purple  | Purple Designed with contouring hyper-elastic polymer, the Purple mattress is temperature neutral. This means that you get a pretty steady baseline of temperature whether you sleep hot or cool. This is a particularly good mattress option for couples that sleep at different temperatures! |
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.
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.
Best Memory Foam Mattress
Layla
The Layla Mattress is one of several on the market that comes with two firmness options in one mattress. By simply flipping the mattress, couples can choose between firm and soft sides, giving them multiple firmness options in one product. This is excellent if you’re not quite sure of your firmness preferences or anticipate wanting to change feels without purchasing an additional mattress. Layla’s copper-infused foam layers also help cool sleepers, which can help prevent overheating from sleeping next to a partner.
Read our full Layla Mattress review here.
A flippable design makes the Layla mattress a truly customizable bedroom accessory. Get $160 off your purchase using code SLEEPOPOLIS.
Best Split Firmness Mattress
Helix
The Helix mattress is perhaps best known for being fully customizable, and that allows for couples to split firmness. That’s especially useful for sleepers who share a bed with a partner, because Helix customers can order two different firmness levels and constructions for each side of the bed. So if you and your partner prefer different firmness levels and feels, Helix’s easy customization process is definitely something to pay attention to.
Helix also utilizes microcoils in its construction, which help isolate movement and allow the mattress to perform very well on motion transfer tests. These help reduce the impact that one sleeper’s movement will have on their partner.
Read our full Helix mattress review here.
Not only is the Helix mattress customizable, you can customize each side of the mattress. A wonderful option for couples that have different mattress preferences.
Best Innerspring Mattress
Saatva
The Saatva Mattress is a popular innerspring mattress that features individually wrapped coils on top of steel support coils, along several layers of support foam and a European-style pillow top. It’s a desirable option for sleepers and couples who want a somewhat “traditional” innerspring feel but with the added benefits of modern mattress construction, including better performance on motion transfer. The pillow top also appeals to a variety of sleepers, which can help ensure both you and your partner are getting a great night’s rest.
Read our full Saatva Mattress review here.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel. Save $100 with the Sleepopolis discount!
Best Mattress for Heavy Couples
WinkBed Plus
The WinkBeds Plus Mattress is a version of the WinkBeds model made specifically for individuals over 300 lbs, and that helps make it great for heavy couples. The Plus version of WinkBeds provides additional pressure relief and exceptional support for heavier individuals and couples. The WinkBeds Plus Mattress 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 the edge, allowing you and your partner to better utilize the full surface of the mattress.
Read our full WinkBeds and WinkBeds Plus mattress review here.
The WinkBeds Plus was designed to be bouncy, cooling, and particularly supportive for heavier sleepers! Save $200 on your order with our exclusive discount code SLEEPOPOLIS200!
Best Mattress for Sex
Bear Hybrid
With the Bear Hybrid’s great use of soft foams for pressure relief and coil support for a bit of bounce, sleepers of all kinds will find great comfort when lying in bed. Bear’s cooling gel foams all sleepers to sink in, which is a great advantage while lying on your side. But don’t worry about any stuck feeling in bed, the bounce from the coils allows you to roll around without fighting the foam layers.
Overall I’d say the Bear Hybrid has a medium firmness that is great for combo sleepers. I would also say that I was pretty impressed with its ability to isolate motion transfer, which is a nice benefit for the couples out there.
Click here to read my full Bear Hybrid review.
Specifically designed for athletes, the Bear Hybrid is a great supportive option for active sleepers. Enjoy 20% off your purchase with code SLEEPOPOLIS.
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! Enjoy 15% site wide at Leesa with our exclusive discount!
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Layla Hybrid
If you and your partner like to doze on your sides, I’d suggest checking out the Layla Hybrid. This flippable mattress is built with copper-infused memory foam and pocketed coils, creating a structure that’s supportive and gentle.
As far as couple-specific pros are concerned, the Layla Hybrid has a’plenty! First and foremost, the memory foam used in the top layer is great at isolating motion, ensuring that you won’t be too disturbed by your partner’s movements in the night. Secondly, this memory foam is also infused with cooling copper to turn down the temps while you snooze. And lastly, the sturdy pocketed coils create a balanced feel all the way from the center of the bed to the sides, maximizing the usable surface area.
Get more at my full Layla Hybrid mattress review!
The Layla Hybrid uses foam and coil layers for two firmness options so you can choose the right support level for your sleep style. Get $210 off your purchase along with 2 premium pillows by using code SLEEPOPOLIS!
Best Hybrid Mattress
Casper Hybrid
The Casper Hybrid is a bed in a box mattress that uses a mixture of foam and coil layers for a nice mix of comfort and support. The soft foams on the top of the mattress provide nice cushioning pressure relief, while the pocketed coils provide great bounce so you won’t feel stuck in the mattress. Another huge plus of the Casper Hybrid is that I think it is a great option for all of the couples out there thanks to its low motion transfer and impressive edge support.
Learn more in my full review of the Casper Hybrid.
With zoned support for pressure relief where you need it most and pocketed coils for great bounce and support the Casper Hybrid is a great choice for the combo sleepers out there! Customers in the US can use code SLEEPOPOLIS to save $100!
Best Mattress for Back Pain
Ghostbed Flex
If you or your partner suffer from back pain, you’ll need a supportive mattress that lifts the hips in line with the shoulders for proper spinal alignment. While there are many worthy candidates available online, my personal favorite is the GhostBed Flex. This bed features gentle memory foam over a tall system of pocketed coils for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support that truly can’t be beat.
To learn more about the GhostBed Flex, take a look at my full GhostBed Flex mattress review.
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. Click this link to save 25% on your GhostBed purchase!
Best Temperature Neutral Mattress
Purple
The Purple Mattress has a unique grid structure on top to keep users cool and supported. This grid creates air pockets under the sleeper, and along with the Purple’s notably breathable cover, works to protect against feeling encased by heat-trapping material. If you sleep next to your partner, heat transfer and protection against heat trapping are factors you definitely want to keep in mind for your mattress.
Together, these features help make Purple a great choice for couples looking for a temperature-neutral feel to protect against sleeping too hot.
Read our full Purple mattress review here.
The Purple has nice bounce as well as a medium mix of support and pressure relief that makes it a great pick for the combo sleepers out there.
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.
Summary: The Best Mattresses for Couples
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – Layla
- Best Split Firmness Mattress – Helix
- Best Innerspring Mattress – Saatva
- Best Mattress for Heavy Couples – WinkBed Plus
- Best Mattress for Sex – Bear Hybrid
- Best Mattress For Hot Sleepers – Leesa Hybrid
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Layla Hybrid
- Best Hybrid Mattress – Casper Hybrid
- Best Mattress for Back Pain – Ghostbed Flex
- Best Temperature Neutral Mattress – Purple
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