The Best Mattress for Couples: Expert Tested to Help You Reach Couples Goals

To land the top spot for our best mattresses for couples, a bed must perform exceptionally well in the most essential categories — and it also has to pack in a few extras to help it soar to the top. When all of our testing was complete, the versatile, medium-firm Nectar Premier beat some stiff competition, buoyed by a 4 or higher in cooling, edge support, and responsiveness. The Premier is the direct upgrade of the standard Nectar, and it’s the model many couples will want to opt for due to its superior cooling.

Nectar claims that its Premier model has 60 percent more cooling power than the standard Nectar memory foam mattress. Fortunately for hot sleepers, our mattress testers would likely agree with this statement. During testing, they found that the surface temperature of the Nectar Premier only increased by 6.6 degrees after lying on it for 5 minutes, which is very impressive for an all-foam model. Our mattress testers gave the Nectar Premier a solid 4 out of 5 in the cooling category.

“This is one of the smallest temperature increases I’ve seen so far,” said mattress tester Dan Caffrey. “As soon as you touch this mattress, you can feel how cool it is. I think this would be a great option for hot sleepers and couples.”

The Nectar’s responsiveness was another factor that helped it bounce straight to the top of this list. Despite its lack of coils, the Premier responds quickly when weight is applied, making it an excellent choice for sexually active couples. Dan was impressed by how easy it was to move between different sleeping positions on the Premier and gave it a 4 out of 5 for responsiveness.

“Aside from switching from my back onto my stomach, moving around on the Premier is incredibly easy,” Dan said. “I think couples might be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to maneuver on this mattress.”

Our testers were also surprised by the Nectar Premier’s impressive edge support. Many all-foam mattresses tend to have weaker perimeters because they lack the same consistent support that innerspring and hybrid models provide. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the Premier, which earned another 4 out of 5 in this category. Dan and his fellow mattress testers found that they could sit and lie along the side of the bed without feeling unsteady or rolling off.

However, beds with excellent responsiveness often lack great motion isolation, which was the case for the Nectar Premier. Nonetheless, the average scores in this category were not enough to knock it out of the top spot, but sleepers easily disturbed by their partner’s movements may want to check out other beds on this list, such as the Nolah.

To learn more, read our full Nectar Premier mattress review. If you’re looking for another option with better motion isolation, I recommend checking out the Saatva Contour5 mattress instead.

As a combination side and stomach sleeper, I marvel at people like my husband and daughter, who spend at least part of their time in bed on their backs. When selecting the best mattress for back sleepers, I make sure that the bed will support them and keep their spines neutral, and I also check for pressure-relieving contouring. The Helix Dusk Luxe was the best mattress for back-sleeping couples, earning a 4 out of 5 or higher in edge support and pressure relief.

Back-sleeping couples need a mattress that provides consistent support across its entire surface. The best mattresses for back sleepers have excellent edge support to keep these sleepers’ spines aligned, even as they move toward the perimeter of the bed. My fellow mattress tester Erin Chiles was impressed with the Dusk Luxe’s uniform support and awarded it a 4.6 out of 5 in the edge support category.

“I felt supported lying on my back on the edge of the Dusk Luxe,” Erin said. “Even at the very edge of the bed, I did not feel like I was going to roll off. I don’t feel any tilt while lying on my back or stomach, and it doesn’t feel like I’m on the edge.”

Pressure relief was another area where the Helix Dusk Luxe delivered a strong performance. I had the pleasure of performing our pressure map test on the Helix Dusk Luxe. For the pressure map test, I lay on a specialized mat placed over the mattress. This mat uses thermal imaging to show where pressure accumulates or is relieved across the body. 

During testing, I enjoyed how this mattress felt on my back. It provided an ideal balance of plush contouring and firm support, especially around my lower back and lumbar region. I felt both comfortable and well-supported on this mattress and believe it’s a strong long-term option for average-weight back sleepers. Ultimately I rated its pressure relief a solid 4 out of 5.

While I highly recommend this bed for back and stomach sleepers, side sleepers will probably want to look elsewhere. This mattress is a bit too firm to support this sleep style. These sleepers require more cushioning around their hips, shoulders, and other high-pressure areas to avoid future aches and pains.

I also wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a mattress to use with an adjustable base. While the Helix Dusk Luxe is technically compatible with them, we found that it doesn’t mold well to some settings due to its thickness.

Could the Dusk work for you and your partner? Head over to our full Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review to learn all you need to know about it before you buy. If you’re interested in the Helix line but would prefer a softer mattress for side sleeping, I recommend checking out the Helix Sunset instead.

There’s no reason to be coy — many couples want a mattress that enhances their sexual activities. Although we would be pulled into HR faster than we can say “cozy pillow top” if we tried any hands-on tests for this category, we do have some excellent ways to gauge how a mattress will perform during amorous activities. With perfect support, edge support, and responsiveness scores, the Saatva is our top pick for the best mattress for sex.

The sturdy steel coils provide an excellent response when weight is applied. When couples are engaged in sex, this bounce and responsiveness allows them to reposition smoothly. Nichole Mondshein, former lead reviewer, said, “The Saatva responded well to my movement, and I didn’t sink in too deep. I could turn over and switch from my back to my side to my stomach with ease. This tells me that it’s going to be one of the best mattresses for sex.” 

Sexually active couples will also benefit from the Saatva’s reinforced edge support, which should help them feel as secure on the edge of the bed as they do in the middle. This allows them to use the entire bed surface without fear of the edge collapsing under their weight. Another highlight for couples is that this bed is offered in three firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. The ability to select a firmness level may make the decision-making process more manageable. 

However, as is often the case with mattresses that offer exceptional responsiveness, the Saatva does not isolate motion well. If you sleep with a restless partner, you will likely feel movements from them getting in and out of bed and tossing and turning. If you want a bed with great motion isolation, check out the all-foam Nolah. Since foam mattresses typically prevent motion transfer, you can also look at our best memory foam mattresses for more options.

If you want more information on this mattress, read our full Saatva mattress review.   

Staying cool throughout the night is one of my biggest priorities when shopping for a mattress. Since I share a bed with another person, which increases the amount of body heat produced, a mattress with fantastic cooling capabilities is non-negotiable. The Leesa Sapira Chill checks all the boxes by keeping you as cool as walking into an air-conditioned store on a July day.  With a cool-to-the-touch cover designed to keep your skin at a pleasant 88 degrees and breathable pocket springs promoting airflow, it’s unsurprising that this mattress received a 4.5 out of 5 in cooling. It also received 4-or-higher scores in motion isolation, support, and edge support. The Sapira Chill is available in three firmness options — Plush, Medium-firm, and Firm — showcasing that it is versatile, as well as cool. 

We tested the Sapira Chill with a thermal gun, a device that uses color-coded imaging to measure the temperature of a bed. The Leesa’s temperature only increased 6.3 degrees after a tester was on it for five minutes. While this is an excellent quantitative indication that this mattress does a good job cooling, we also take into account the hands-on subjective evaluations. Bridget Chapman, former mattress tester, said, “I could feel the cooling effects of this mattress when I was on it. When I considered this, and its overall cooling construction, I felt it was an excellent cooling mattress for couples.” 

However, couples who want a lengthy trial period to be sure this mattress keeps them cool, likely won’t be thrilled with Leesa’s 100-night sleep trial. For a cooling mattress that gives you a year to decide, try out the DreamCloud. 

Check out the Leesa Sapira Chill mattress review for more information. 

When I lay down on my side on the Nolah Original, I immediately noticed how the plush foams wrapped me in a gentle hug. The slow-sinking contouring of this mattress provided cushioning and relieved pressure on my hips and shoulders. Once I started running it through performance tests, where it scored a perfect 5 out of 5 for pressure relief and a 4 or higher in motion isolation, support, and responsiveness, I quickly slid it into the spot for the best mattress for side-sleeping couples.  

My husband is restless, and while he’s able to sleep through his flips and flops, without a bed with stellar motion isolation, I can feel like I’m adrift on a choppy sea. The Nolah Original’s premier motion isolation is one of the reasons I picked it for couples. We tested the motion isolation using a seismometer to register the disturbances on one side of the bed when we dropped a 10-pound steel ball from 8 and 12 inches. The team was impressed with how quickly and resolutely the Nolah isolated motion, meaning that my husband and I would have smooth sailing on this bed.

Also, our pressure maps highlighted head-of-the-class pressure relief capabilities. These thermal images showed close to zero pressure on pressure points when a tester was on their side, indicating that side sleepers would have exemplary pressure relief around their hips and shoulders. The pressure map also showed that back sleepers should experience excellent pressure relief, making it a good choice for those with back pain.

Cooling is a performance area where the Nolah could improve. Although all-foam beds are known to trap heat more than their hybrid and innerspring counterparts, many manufacturers are now infusing their foam with cooling gel or using other technology to relieve hot sleepers. If you or your bedmate put off a lot of body heat, check out the Nolah Evolution (I own this bed and can attest to how cool it sleeps), and for more options, go through our picks for the best cooling mattresses. 

For more information, check out our full Nolah mattress review.

Quality mattresses can be found in almost every price range. However, if you and your significant other have disposable income, why not treat yourself to the WinkBed Plus, our pick for the best luxury mattress for couples? It earned perfect scores in support, edge support, and warranty.

Although it was designed with heavier sleepers in mind, the manufacturer’s eye for detail means that different groups of people can benefit from its luxurious touches. Our testing found that this luxury firm mattress, which incorporates an eco-friendly Tencel cover and a comforting quilted Euro pillow top made from cushioning, “anti-sag” gel-infused foam, can also be a solid fit for some light-weight and average-weight sleepers. Its above-average firmness also makes it an excellent choice for stomach sleepers who sometimes struggle to find a bed that elevates their midsection enough.  

The WinkBed Plus shines when it comes to support and edge support, both of which utilize high-end, individually wrapped pocketed coils. This means that sleepers should experience top-notch spinal alignment and be able to use the entire surface of the bed. “The WinkBed Plus achieves a stellar balance of firmness, support, and cushioning,” said Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor. “I appreciate the durable materials that will keep sleepers properly supported and allow the bed to last a long time.”

Since this is a luxury bed, it may not be fiscally responsible for some people to buy this bed right now. If you want an affordable bed with swanky bells and whistles, check out the Helix Midnight Luxe. Also, you can find our picks for the best cheap mattresses.

For additional information, read the full WinkBed Plus mattress review. 

Canadian manufacturer Silk & Snow shows you don’t have to max out your credit card to treat yourself to a high-quality mattress. I selected the Silk & Snow Hybrid as the best affordable mattress for couples because it had 4 and 4.5 in materials and value, respectively. In performance categories, it scored a 4 or higher in motion isolation, support, cooling, and responsiveness.

Couples won’t have to worry about busting their budget when they purchase this bed. They can add a queen, king or California king to their cart for under $1,000, and that’s before any discounts have been applied. If you’re wondering how Silk & Snow can offer a high-quality mattress at affordable prices, it manufactures its products in Canada using locally sourced products. The company also tries to keep its marketing costs low and prioritizes a fair profit margin.

When sharing the Silk & Snow Hybrid, couples can also rest assured that their nocturnal motions won’t disturb their partner. Our motion isolation test, where we dropped a 10-pound steel ball from various heights and recorded the disturbances on a seismometer, showed that this mattress absorbs motion very well. We were also impressed with how quickly this mattress regained its shape after we pushed down on it with our hands, indicating that sexually active couples will be able to reposition easily. “Budget-conscious shoppers will appreciate the affordable price tag, and couples will enjoy the outstanding features that benefit sleeping with a partner,”said Amelia Jerden, former product tester. “Some of my favorites were how well it does with cooling and motion isolation.”  However, couples should keep in mind that the Silk & Snow Hybrid only has a 10-year warranty.

Unfortunately, couples who like to spread out across the bed may also find the edge support lacking. This means they may not feel as secure along the perimeter as they do in the center of the bed. Those looking for good edge support may be interested in the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. 

For more information on our pick for the best affordable mattress for couples, read the full Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress review. 

Couples on the hunt for a plush mattress with excellent pressure-relieving capabilities will want to look at the soft, cushioning Brooklyn Bedding Sedona Elite. This bed received a perfect 5 out of 5 for pressure relief and cooling, while receiving a 4 or higher in motion isolation, responsiveness, and edge support.

We test the amount of pressure concentrated around sensitive areas of your body, like the back, shoulders, and hips, using a specialized mat placed on top of a mattress and plugged into a laptop. This produces a pressure map, which displays color-coded thermal images that highlight the amount of pressure created when lying on the bed. The pressure map for the Sedona Elite showed excellent results for back and side sleepers. Our tester’s back image showed almost all blue, indicating little to no pressure. Although we did see a little green, meaning there was slight pressure buildup, this is expected and completely acceptable for side sleepers. 

After reviewing his pressure maps, my fellow tester Logan Block said, “I’m happy to recommend this model to back sleepers looking for a soft feel to aid in pressure relief around their lumbar region. The foams cradle and support the body, but you aren’t likely to sink too far into the bed or feel like you’re stuck in quicksand. I think couples would like the Sedona Elite. It has low motion transfer, meaning you’re unlikely to feel your partner’s movements on your side of the bed.”

The Sedona Elite’s softness is one of the main reasons for its pressure-relieving prowess. However, the tradeoff is that it isn’t the most supportive mattress on our list. I wouldn’t recommend the Sedona Elite for heavyweight couples. These sleepers would benefit from a higher firmness level, like that of the Titan Plus. Larger-bodied sleepers can also check out our best mattresses for heavy people. 

Get more information on the Sedona Elite by reading our full mattress review.     

Hybrid mattresses combine features from all-foam and innerspring mattresses, making them a versatile and appealing choice for couples. We picked the Bear Star Hybrid, a bed designed initially for athletes struggling with back pain and other joint issues, as the best hybrid mattress for couples because of its balanced approach.

Hybrid mattresses are popular, and our very own Dr. Dasgupta is a fan, saying, “The best hybrid mattresses are well-balanced, making them a great pick for couples with different sleep preferences. I think of hybrids as the sleep comfort superhero, providing the best of both worlds for a better night’s rest.” The Bear Star Hybrid showed off its superpowers by getting a 4 or higher in every category we scored, including a 4.5 in cooling, pressure relief, responsiveness, and edge support.

I was impressed that this bed’s innerspring base created so much bounce. By being responsive when weight is applied, the Bear Star Hybrid makes it easy for sexually active couples to change positions. We tested this by pressing down on the mattress, removing our hand, and gauging how fast it returned to its original shape. It was evident that the coils quickly kicked in when pressure was applied, as we saw the Bear Star Hybrid almost immediately return to a flat surface. 

However, this bed beat out some tough competition in this category by having high responsiveness and motion isolation scores. These features are often trade-offs. But the bed showed solid performance during our motion isolation tests, which included dropping a 10-pound steel ball from heights of 4, 8, and 12 inches into the comfort layers and measuring the disturbances on our seismometer. Our pressure map (thermal images that indicate pressure points on the body) showed that the Bear Star Hybrid is an excellent choice for couples living with shoulder, hip, or back pain because little to no pressure was seen around these areas. 

Although the Bear Star Hybrid checks the boxes for the best hybrid for couples, most strict stomach sleepers will likely want a firmer mattress. When lying on their stomachs, some testers noticed that their hips were sinking too far into the layers, which can disrupt spinal alignment. If your partner or you sleep on your stomach, check out our roundup of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers. 

Check out the Bear Star Hybrid mattress review for more information. 

We recognize and understand that sleepers come in all shapes and sizes, and people of all shapes and sizes deserve a bed that works for their body type and helps them achieve a good night’s rest. We consider heavy sleepers to be those who weigh over 230 pounds. Since this group needs more support and typically sleeps best on a firm mattress, we pay close attention to beds that prevent them from sinking too far into the layers. 

Brooklyn Bedding designed its luxury hybrid Titan Plus mattress specifically for heavier sleepers and uses high-density foams and up to 900 pocketed coils. This bed was chosen as our pick for the best mattress for heavy couples because of its 5 out of 5 support score in combination with a 4 or higher in edge support, cooling, responsiveness, and pressure relief.

Our heavyweight tester, Paulie, a pro powerlifter who weighs over 230 pounds, reported that he sank through the comfort layers a little when on his back, but still felt plenty of support around his lower back and shoulders. He also enjoyed the cozy pressure relief due to the contouring around his lower back and shoulders.

Former mattress tester Nichole Mondshein’s test results highlight how a mattress feels differently based on body weight. As an average-weight sleeper, Nichole found that sleeping on the firm feel of this mattress wasn’t as comfortable for her as it was for Paulie because she wasn’t heavy enough to push into the foam layers and experience the gentle contouring that he did. She said, “I think the Titan Plus lives up to its name as a good mattress for heavier sleepers. It is a firmer bed that will offer them the deep compression support and durability they need. Since the Titan Plus excelled in edge support, slept cool, and had a nice balance of motion isolation and responsiveness, I think it should be a wonderfully comfortable mattress for couples overall.” The Titan Plus’s design also makes it a great option for couples with back pain. 

As you may have guessed, we don’t recommend this firm mattress for lightweight sleepers. It will be too firm for them and may cause pain around pressure points like the shoulders and hips. We recommend they try the Nectar Hybrid or any other beds on our best mattress for lightweight sleepers list.

The Titan Plus mattress review can provide more information on this bed.