Best Mattress for Platform Bed – Expert Tested & Reviewed

Written by Brooke Williams, Writer

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.
Learn more

In This Article

We’ve rounded up our top mattress picks for platform beds and included insight from the testers in our lab. 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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You’ve just purchased a platform bed and now you’re ready to get some rest. But wait… you’ll have to find the best mattress for your platform bed if you really want to get a good night’s sleep. So what do you look for when it comes to the best mattresses for platform beds?

Luckily, we’ve done all the work for you. We know how cumbersome and time-consuming it can be to test out every mattress on the market. So we put our experts to work to get you the best results. Here are our top finds for best mattresses for platform beds in 2024.

Our Top Pick for Platform Beds

Our top pick overall is the Nectar because it’s a pressure-relieving, but supportive bed. If you really like to sink deep into your mattress, then the Nectar mattress could be the right fit for you.

Best Mattresses for Platform Beds 2024 

• Nectar – Best Overall for Platform Beds
• DreamCloud – Best Luxury for Platform Beds
• Helix Midnight Luxe – Best for Back Pain for Platform Beds
• WinkBed – Best for Combination Sleepers for Platform Beds
• Saatva – Best for Seniors for Platform Beds
• Nolah Evolution – Best for Back Sleepers for Platform Beds
• Bear Star Hybrid – Best Hybrid for Platform Beds
• Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – Best Cooling for Platform Beds
• Titan Plus – Best for Heavy People for Platform Beds
• Plank Firm – Best Flippable for Platform Beds

Best Mattresses for Platform Beds Video Review

Compare the Best Mattresses for Platform Beds

Nectar – Best Overall for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The original Nectar mattress is a medium-soft foam mattress with a firmness level of 6 out 10. Since it’s a pressure-relieving mattress, it’s a solid choice for anyone looking for relief from joint or hip pain. The sinkage the Nectar mattress offers helps cradle your body to reduce general joint pain. The thick layers of memory foam can also alleviate pain from arthritis. We found the Nectar mattress to be an ideal choice for lightweight to average-weight back and side sleepers. 

What our tester says: “The Nectar has a great classic memory foam feel. If you love deep sinkage and contouring, this is the mattress for you.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the Nectar with a Platform Base?

The foam construction of the Nectar makes it a great option for platform bases, as it is sturdy enough to stay on a platform base comfortably and safely. Nectar has its own line of platform bed frames if you are looking for a new mattress and base.

Who the Nectar is Best For

• Budget shoppers: The Nectar mattress is a great option for anyone looking for a quality mattress at a budget-friendly price point. It’s often less than $1,000 for a queen size.
• Sleepers with pain: Our tester’s pressure map shows us that the Nectar mattress does a good job of relieving joint pressure.
• Couples: If you share a bed with someone and you’re looking for minimal disruption, the Nectar’s motion isolation will help you sleep soundly even when sharing the bed with a restless sleeper. 

Who Should Avoid the Nectar

• Heavy sleepers: We don’t think the Nectar is supportive enough for heavy sleepers weighing more than 250 pounds.
• Hot sleepers: While the Nectar does a better job cooling than traditional memory foam mattresses, it’s still not one of the best cooling mattresses on the market. 

If you feel the Nectar could be a good fit for you, then our overall top pick may be the best way to go. Check out our full Nectar review to confirm and click here to get the best deal. If you’re looking for something else, though, read on for a look at some of our other favorites.

DreamCloud – Best Luxury for Platform Beds

The DreamCloud mattress is one of the brand’s most popular models and it’s easy to see why. It’s a luxury hybrid bed that strikes the right balance between providing pressure relief and adequate support. It’s also made with high-quality materials, including a cashmere blend cover and innerspring coils. 

What our tester says: “I really like how luxurious this mattress feels and how it could work for a variety of sleepers. Along with that, I found that the breathable cashmere cover helps the DreamCloud sleep cool throughout the night.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the DreamCloud with a Platform Base?

DreamCloud is once again a hybrid mattress, meaning that a platform base is going to be a better option than a box spring for keeping the bed secure and even. However, this is a thicker mattress, meaning that the bed may feel extra tall depending on how tall your platform base is, which is worth considering.

Who the DreamCloud is Best For

• Hot sleepers: The breathable cashmere blend cover and individually wrapped coils will help you keep your cool throughout the night.
• Seniors: The DreamCloud provides both pressure relief and adequate support, making it a good choice for senior sleepers.
• Back sleepers with back pain: The DreamCloud can help relieve tension around the lower back, so it’s ideal for average weight back sleepers looking for a mattress that will alleviate back pain.

Who Should Avoid the DreamCloud

• Strict side sleepers: This mattress may be too firm for some strict side sleepers.
• Heavy stomach sleepers: Stomach sleepers weighing more than 250 pounds will likely find that the DreamCloud is too soft for them.

Think the DreamCloud mattress is the dream mattress for you? Read our full DreamCloud review to know for sure and click here for the best deal. If you want to check out other options, head over to our roundup of the best luxury mattresses. 

Helix Midnight Luxe – Best for Back Pain for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The Helix Midnight Luxe’s thick memory foam comfort layer provides pressure relief and body contouring, while its zoned coil layer provides lumbar support. We found this combination to  make it an excellent choice for those looking for some relief from back pain. The breathable cover also has a soft, luxurious feel and helps keep you cool during the night. 

What our tester says: “I love that the Helix Midnight Luxe offers solid edge support — you can use the whole bed! It also has great motion isolation, which makes it a nice option for couples.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the Helix Midnight Luxe with a Platform Base?

The Helix Midnight Luxe will fill well on a platform base, and it may help the bed feel supportive and secure, which many sleepers will likely enjoy. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a thicker mattress, so you may want to opt for a shorter platform base to avoid a bed that is too tall.

Who the Helix Midnight Luxe is Best For

• Sleeper with back pain: The zoned support in the Helix Midnight Luxe helps keep the spine properly aligned, which reduces and prevents back pain.
• Couples: The good motion isolation enables couples to share a bed without worrying about waking their partner if they get up or move around in the middle of the night. 
• Combination sleepers: The bounce of the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress will help combo sleepers switch positions with minimal effort. 

Who Should Avoid the Helix Midnight Luxe

• Stomach sleepers: Most stomach sleepers will likely find this mattress too soft for them.
• Heavy sleepers: Heavy sleepers may not get the amount of support they need from the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress. However, the Helix Plus mattress could be a good alternative.

Think you’ve met your ideal match with the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress? Read our full Helix Luxe line review for all the finer details on the Helix Midnight Luxe and other mattresses in the Helix Luxe line. Be sure to click here to get the best deal.

WinkBed – Best for Combination Sleepers for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The WinkBed is a hybrid mattress that comes in three firmness levels and a model specifically designed for heavyweight sleepers — so it’s suitable for most people. We found it works exceptionally well for combination sleepers. The mattress provides us some bounce that allows us to effortlessly switch positions during the night, while also offering some cushion at pressure points. It can also work well for couples because of its reinforced edge support.

What our tester says: “This is a high-quality mattress that should really stand the test of time. This is great news for any sleeper, but especially nice for heavy people and couples.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the WinkBed with a Platform Base?

The Winkbed is another hybrid mattress, meaning that a platform base that is sturdy and even is a better option than a box spring. The platform base will offer security and evenness to the feel of the bed, which will help you get a more comfortable nights sleep.

Who the WinkBed is Best For

• Combination sleepers: With its bouncy support, combo sleepers will find this bed easy to move around in so that they can effortlessly adjust sleeping positions throughout the night.
• Hot sleepers: The WinkBed has cooling capabilities that should help you feel comfortable even on the warmest of evenings.
• Seniors: The WinkBed has a traditional, supportive feel that many senior sleepers prefer. It’s also a good choice for those who suffer from back pain. 

Who Should Avoid the WinkBed

• Budget shoppers: The WinkBed’s durable construction means this mattress offers great value for its price point, but those shopping on a budget may want to select a thriftier option.
• Memory foam lovers: While the WinkBed comes in multiple firmness levels, it doesn’t offer the deep contouring that fans of memory foam may be looking for.

If you want to learn more about the WinkBed, be sure to check out our full WinkBed review and click here for the best deal. Not sure it’s the right fit? Rest easy. We still have plenty more options for you. 

Saatva – Best for Seniors for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The Saatva is an innerspring mattress made with gentle memory foam and a durable coil-on-coil system. The Saatva is a competitively-priced mattress that also provides a supportive sleeping experience, making it an excellent choice for senior sleepers. It features a zoned support system, meaning it’s firmer in some parts of the bed and softer in others. Since the Saatva provides strong support combined with a little pressure relief from its quilted top, we found it to be an excellent choice for sleepers who struggle to maintain a healthy spinal alignment. 

What our tester says: “The Saatva Classic is a bouncy, high-quality mattress with durability and great edge support. I appreciate how the Saatva Classic comes in three different firmness levels and two different heights, so sleepers can choose the model that works best for their needs.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the Saatva with a Platform Base?

The Saatva is an innerspring mattress, meaning that a platform base is a better option for it than a box spring base, which may make the bed overly bouncy and not as secure. A platform base, especially one with slats that are no larger than four inches apart, should be compatible and secure with the Saatva mattress.

Who the Saatva is Best For

• All sleeping positions: Since the Saatva comes in three different firmness levels, it can cater to all sleeping positions.
• Hot sleepers: If you’re prone to overheating when sleeping, the Saatva mattress can help you keep your cool thanks to its breathable organic cotton cover and airflow-promoting coils. 
• Sleepers with back pain: The Saatva mattress features a middle layer of memory foam that gives sleepers pressure relief at the hips and lower back, where many sleepers need it the most. 

Who Should Avoid the Saatva

• Some couples: The Saatva has high motion transfer, so if you’re a light sleeper with a bed partner, you may be disturbed more frequently with this mattress than one that has stronger motion isolation. 
• Memory foam lovers: The Saatva features a traditional innerspring feel, so it may not fit the bill for those after a classic memory foam feel with deep sinkage. 

If you think the Saatva could be the right choice for you, read our full Saatva review and click here for the best deal. Otherwise, take a look at some of your other options when it comes to finding the best mattresses for platform beds. 

Nolah Evolution – Best for Back Sleepers for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The Nolah Evolution is a hybrid mattress made with layers of comforting foam and HDMAX Eco Support Coils. This mattress comes in three firmness levels, so you can choose the model that feels best for you. For back sleepers, we typically recommend the Luxury Firm model because its medium-firm feel allows for a bit of sinkage while still providing lumbar support. The soft foam fills in the space in the lower back, and the supportive coils keep the spine lifted and properly aligned. This mattress is stellar at relieving pressure at the back, so back sleepers shouldn’t have to worry about waking up in pain.

What our tester says: “Back sleepers should love how the Evolution’s hybrid build provides both the support to realign the spine and the softness to sink in just enough. The coils provide enough support to keep the spine aligned and help alleviate back pain.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor

How Compatible is the Nolah Evolution with a Platform Base?

According to Nolah, this mattress is compatible with every type of base, including platform beds, box springs, slatted bases, and adjustable bases. If you opt for a platform base with slats, the slats should be placed no more than five inches apart.

Who the Nolah Evolution is Best For

• Back and side sleepers: This mattress is cushiony and supportive, which both side and back sleepers can appreciate.
• Joint pain: The soft pillow top on this mattress can help support sensitive joints, such as the hips and shoulders.
• Couples: With cooling abilities, low motion transfer, and good edge support, this mattress can be a good choice for couples.

Who Should Avoid the Nolah Evolution

• Stomach sleepers: This bed likely isn’t firm enough to support stomach sleepers’ hips and keep the spine in proper alignment.
• Budget shoppers: This mattress might be too expensive for some shoppers looking for an affordable mattress. However, Nolah often runs discounts.

Interested in the Nolah Evolution for your platform bed? Read our full Nolah Evolution review and click here for the best deal.

Bear Star Hybrid – Best Hybrid for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The Bear Star Hybrid is a hybrid mattress with foams and coils. We could tell in our testing that it’s made for support and breathability. The lift of the pocketed coil system left us feeling more on top of the mattress than in it. But the top layers of memory foam still provided us with plenty of pressure-relieving sinkage. The Bear Star Hybrid’s soft cooling-gel foam also increases airflow, helping you stay cool throughout the night.

What our tester says: “If you switch between multiple sleep positions, I found it easy to move around on and a great pick for combination sleepers. I also think it’s a great match for couples due to its great edge support, motion isolation, cooling abilities, and overall support.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the Bear Star Hybrid with a Platform Base?

Bear recommends using a platform with a sturdy and even construction to hold up this mattress, meaning that the Bear Star Hybrid is very compatible with a platform base. The even construction of a platform base will help the bed from being too bouncy, and should offer a very secure and comfortable feel.

Who the Bear Star Hybrid is Best For

• Athletes: Bear also offers an extra top layer for purchase that’s made with Celliant. Bear says the Celliant technology can help with muscle recovery, so the mattress is good for athletes and others with an active lifestyle.
• Sleepers with pain: Along with the optional Celliant cover reportedly helping with muscle recovery, the upper foam layers in the Bear Star can provide relief for those suffering from joint pain.
• Combination sleepers: The coils and foam make this mattress responsive and allow for easy movement. That makes it a nice choice for people who change sleeping positions throughout the night (particularly back and side sleepers).

Who Should Avoid the Bear Star Hybrid

• Some stomach sleepers: The Bear Star Hybrid is likely going to be too soft for stomach sleepers weighing more than 150 pounds, causing them to sink into the mattress.
• Heavy sleepers: Likewise, the Bear Star Hybrid may be too soft for some heavier sleepers who require firm support to avoid sinking through the structure.

Leaning towards the Bear Star Hybrid for your platform bed? Read our full Bear Hybrid review to confirm whether it’s the right choice for you and click here for the best deal.

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – Best Cooling for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

Hot sleepers know all too well how uncomfortable it can be to wake up in the middle of the night feeling warm. A bed with cooling capabilities can help hot sleepers avoid overheating. The Aurora Luxe features cooling technology in almost every layer, ensuring you keep your cool throughout the night. It also comes in three firmness levels, so you can choose the one that best suits your preferred sleeping position.

What our tester says: “If you’re looking for a cooling mattress, look no further than the Aurora Luxe. This bed is full of cooling tech; from a cooling cover, to specially formulated foams, to breathable pocketed coils, this mattress has everything you’ll need to stay cool throughout the night.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe with a Platform Base?

This mattress will be a great fit for a platform base because of its foam and coil construction. The platform base will be good at keeping the bed secure and stable and the foam base layer should sit nicely on a platform base.

Who the Aurora Luxe is Best For

• Hot sleepers: The mattress cover is made of Phase Change Material, making this mattress a top choice for hot sleepers. The fabric feels cool to the touch and dissipates body heat so hot sleepers can rest easy.
• Sleepers with back pain: The Aurora Luxe is good for back sleepers and most side sleepers who suffer from back pain. 
• Couples: Its cooling properties and responsiveness make the Aurora Luxe a nice choice, whether you’re sleeping solo or sharing a bed with your partner. 

Who Should Avoid the Aurora Luxe

• Heavyweight sleepers: this mattress may not offer enough support for heavier sleepers. 
• Light sleepers: While the Aurora Luxe offers some motion isolation, you will probably be able to feel heavier movement. So if you have a large dog that likes to jump on the bed in the middle of the night or a partner who gets up frequently, you may be able to feel it. 

Think the Aurora Luxe mattress sounds pretty cool? We do too, so check out our full Aurora Luxe review and click here for the best deal. Not so impressed with this one? We’ve got more options in our roundup of the best cooling mattresses. 

Titan Plus – Best for Heavy People for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

If you weigh more than 250 pounds, you’ll want to look for a mattress that is ultra-supportive and durable. Luckily, Brooklyn Bedding created the Titan Plus to cater to these sleepers. This mattress is extremely supportive due to its six inches of 961 heavy-duty coils and two inches of high density support foam. The Titan Plus also includes two inches of Titanflex foam, a material that acts like soft and bouncy latex. This mattress is quite firm, so it does a great job of keeping heavy sleepers lifted to promote proper spinal alignment in every sleeping position. The edge support on the Titan Plus is excellent, so you’ll be able to spread out and use the entire area of the mattress without feeling unstable near the edge.

What our tester says: ” This mattress was practically made for heavy sleepers. Its firm build should amply support their backs while its top foam layer provides some nice cushioning.”– Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer

How Compatible is the Titan Plus with a Platform Base?

This mattress can be used on any supportive foundation, including platform bases. If your base has slats, make sure they are placed no more than four inches apart.

Who the Titan Plus is Best For

• Couples: The low motion transfer on this mattress makes it a good choice for couples, especially if one or both partners sleep lightly.
• Stomach sleepers: This mattress is firm enough to keep stomach sleepers’ hips in line with their shoulders and place their spine in neutral alignment.
• Firm mattress lovers: This mattress definitely leans firm, which is great for anyone who enjoys that type of feel.

Who Should Avoid the Titan Plus

• Side sleepers: Strict side sleepers might not get enough cushioning and sinkage at the hips and shoulders.
• People wanting body contouring: This supportive mattress keeps the body lifted up, so you won’t find a ton of sinkage and body contouring.

Interested in the Titan Plus for your platform bed? Read our full Titan Plus review for more information and click here to get the best deal.

Plank Firm – Best Flippable Mattress for Platform Beds

One of the things that sets the Plank Firm mattress apart from many others is that it’s a flippable all-foam mattress with a firm side and extra-firm side. This makes it a good fit for both back and stomach sleepers. While we felt comfortable stomach sleeping on either side, we felt most comfortable back sleeping on the firm side of the mattress.

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.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

How Compatible is the Plank Firm with a Platform Base?

Plank recommends that this bed go on a sturdy and non-flexible base, so a platform base is a much better option than a box spring base. For this reason, the Plank Firm is a great option for a platform bed.

Who the Plank Firm is Best For

• Heavy sleepers: Heavy sleepers often need additional support and the Plank Firm mattress provides it. 
• Stomach sleepers: The Plank Firm is one of the best choices for stomach sleepers. It has two sides so they can choose the level of firmness that works best for them, but both sides will provide the support they need to keep their hips in line with their shoulders.
• Combo sleepers: The Plank Firm provides the right amount of bounce for combo sleepers who like to switch positions during the night.

Who Should Avoid the Plank Firm

• Side sleepers: Side sleepers will likely find both sides of the Plank Firm to be too firm for them.
• Sleepers with hip or shoulder pain: While the Plank Firm is a good choice for back pain sufferers, it likely isn’t the best choice for those suffering from hip or shoulder pain. A softer mattress that allows for more sinkage will provide better pressure relief for hip and shoulder pain sufferers. 

Want to learn more about the Plank Firm? Check out our Plank Firm review and be sure to click here to get the best deal. Want to see more options? Check out our top picks for the best flippable mattresses. 

What is a Platform Bed?

A platform bed features a sturdy base that is often made from wooden or metal slats that run horizontally across the length of the mattress. Some platform beds may also come with drawers for extra storage. Platform beds are a popular choice because of their affordability. The strong base also offers extra support, making a box spring unnecessary. Though platform beds are raised, they typically sit lower to the ground. They’re usually anywhere between 5 and 12 inches in height.

What to Look for In the Best Mattress for a Platform Bed

There’s a lot that goes into selecting the right mattress for your bed. For starters, you want to select a mattress suitable for your bed type. But that’s only the start of your search for the best mattress for a platform bed. You also have to take into account your personal preferences, such as firmness, aesthetics, and mattress size.

While a lot may go into it, you have some help by your side. We’re going to break down everything you need to know to select the best mattress for you and your bed frame.

Company Policies

Sleep Trial & Warranty

A good place to start is by checking the sleep trial and warranty for your mattress. In order for the warranty to remain in effect, you have to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. While most mattresses can be used with platform beds, you should always check the trial and warranty for any specifics on which mattress to select.

We recommend looking for mattresses that come with at least a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty.

Shipping

Depending on the brand, shipping is covered and offered for deliveries within the US. Some companies also offer white glove delivery service, which involves a full door-to-door delivery service. A mattress is delivered to your home and set up on your bed frame for you. Delivery people might also remove your old mattress, though that may require an extra fee depending on the company.

For Canadian shoppers, check out our specially selected Best Canadian Mattresses that can easily be shipped to your door.

Delivery and Returns

Mattresses can be large and heavy additions to your home. How they are delivered and the options for returning them are important considerations for you and your needs. If you’re able to easily move a mattress around your home or set it up by yourself or with a friend, then delivery and returns may be less of a concern. Bu, if you can’t move a mattress by yourself, you may want to opt for a company that will help you set it up and remove it if you’re making a return.

Price

Price is an important consideration for any mattress shopper. However, it’s especially important to consider when looking into a mattress for a platform base, as bases can already be a pricey investment. We recommend checking out our picks for the best cheap mattress and the best mattress under $1,000 if you’re looking to stay within a certain price range.

Bed Height and Thickness

Bed height is often a matter of personal preference. For instance, if you have trouble climbing into bed because of health issues, you may want to select a mattress with a lower height. On the other hand, you may prefer the aesthetic of a high bed. If so, a mattress with more height will give your bed an added boost. Just keep in mind that your mattress height will be added to the height of your platform bed, so take both heights into account when selecting the mattress size that suits your needs the best.

How Thick Should a Mattress on a Platform Bed Be?

We recommend mattresses that are 10 to 12 inches thick for platform bases. This is because platform beds are generally 5 to 12 inches tall, and any thicker mattress may make the bed too tall to be comfortable or usable. While come people like thick mattresses because they find them more luxurious, the platform base should make the bed feel more regal, meaning you don’t need as thick of a mattress.

Mattress Sizes

You’ll also have to select your mattress size, which will depend on personal preference and body type, as well as the size of your platform base. For instance, tall sleepers may want to opt for a California king-size mattress because it’s longer than a standard king mattress. On the other hand, sleepers who want to maximize bedroom space may opt for a smaller size, such as a full-size mattress.

We recommend measuring the size of your platform base, or considering what dimensions it has before purchasing a new mattress for it. You can read the different mattress size dimensions below.

Mattress Size	Dimensions (Width x Length)	Best For
Twin	38″ x 75″	Toddlers, Children, Single Adults
Twin XL	38″ x 80″	Children, Single Adults, College Students
Full (Double)	54″ x 75″	Children, Single Adults, Adults with Children and/or Pets
Queen	60″ x 80″	Single Adults, Couples, Single Adults with Children and/or Pets
King	76″ x 80″	Couples, Couples with Children and/or Pets
California King	72″ x 84″	Couples, Couples with Children and/or Pets

Mattress Material

Good news. Most mattresses are compatible with platform beds. In terms of what type is best, well… that all depends on your personal preferences and needs. We’ll take a closer look at popular platform bed mattress types so you can determine which one is likely to suit you best.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses are made from layers of memory foam combined with other types of foam layers. The foam is meant to contour to your body, soothe pain, and provide pressure relief. Memory foam mattresses are also great at isolating motion, so they work well for couples who share a bed.

Hybrid Mattresses

A hybrid mattress usually combines foam layers with coil support. The core of the mattress is generally made from pocketed springs. The coils give the mattress good bounce, which allows combination sleepers to switch positions more easily. Hybrid mattresses also help with temperature regulation and keeping hot sleepers cool.

Latex Mattresses

A latex mattress is made from either natural or synthetic latex layers. Latex mattresses have many benefits, including being hypoallergenic, cooling, responsive, and durable. Because of their responsiveness, they’re great for combination sleepers. Their cooling properties make them good choices for hot sleepers as well. However, because of the bounciness and high motion transfer of latex, the material may not be the ideal choice for some couples.

Innerspring Mattresses

An innerspring mattress consists of a metal coil support system. This type of mattress is bouncy, supportive, and firm. They’re good for people who like the traditional feel of a mattress and want to feel like they’re sleeping on top of the mattress, rather than in it. Since these mattresses tend to be firm without a lot of give, they usually work well for combo and stomach sleepers.

What Type of Mattress do You Use With a Platform Bed?

You can use any of these kinds of mattresses with a platform bed. The size and type of mattress you look for will depend on the size of your platform and your personal preferences, as well as some of the criteria below. We recommend starting with these considerations and learning the size of your platform base and then finding a mattress.

Firmness 

Different mattresses have different firmness levels, from extra-soft to extra-firm.  Firmness level may be a matter of personal preference, but there are some that work better for specific sleep positions.

Firmness and Body Weight

If you’re heavier in weight, a mattress will typically feel softer to you than for someone who’s lighter. Because of this, lightweight individuals usually prefer soft mattresses and heavyweight sleepers generally opt for firm mattresses that provide more support.

Support

When we say support, we mean the ability of the mattress to evenly distribute your body weight across the surface. If a mattress fails to evenly distribute your body weight, you may feel pressure on certain parts of your body. This could result in you waking up with an aching back or other pain. A mattress with proper support will keep your spine aligned properly and prevent your body from feeling achy in the morning. You’ll know that a mattress provides proper support if it prevents your body from sinking too deeply into its layers, while also offering the right amount of body contouring.

Sleeping Position

Sleeping position is important to consider for any mattress, as how you sleep affects your preferences for pressure relief, support, and firmness. Mattresses for platform beds are no different, and it’s important to ensure that your platform bed mattress is providing the support you need.

Stomach sleepers will generally need a firmer mattress that has pressure relief at the hips and support through the hips and lumbar region. Back sleepers will need something that is medium-firm, and provides support across the spine. Side sleepers may find a softer mattress more comfortable, and will need pressure relief at their hips and shoulders, and spinal alignment support.

Pressure Relief

Motion Isolation

Cooling

Edge Support and Durability

We test for edge support by applying pressure to the sides of the bed and measuring how far the bed sinks using a measuring tool such as a tape measure or yardstick. The farther the edges sink, the weaker the edge support.

FAQs

What type of mattress is best for a platform bed?

Most mattress types work well with platform beds. Checking your bed warranty is a good place to start to ensure that you’re meeting manufacturer specifications. Once you ensure you’re adhering to the warranty, selecting the best mattress for your platform bed will come down to your individual preferences and needs.

Do platform beds need special mattresses?

No, a special mattress is not required for a platform bed. Most platform beds eliminate the need for a box spring as well.

How thick should a mattress be for a platform bed?

Mattresses for platform beds are typically anywhere between 10 and 14 inches thick.

Can you put a thick mattress on a platform bed?

You can put a thick mattress on a platform bed, but you should check your bed warranty to ensure the slats are spaced closely enough to provide the proper support for your preferred mattress thickness.

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.

For our picks on this list, we made sure they were all compatible with a platform bed. We’ve also given special consideration to both comfort and support. 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 Mattresses for Platform Beds 2024

Mattress	Best For	Price (Queen)	Coupon	Review
Nectar	Overall	$1,049	Nectar Coupon	Read Our Review
DreamCloud	Luxury	$1,332	DreamCloud Coupon	Read Our Review
Helix Midnight Luxe	Back Pain	$2,373	Helix Coupon	Read Our Review
WinkBed	Combination Sleepers	$1,799	WinkBed Coupon	Read Our Review
Saatva	Seniors	$1,995	Saatva Coupon	Read Our Review
Nolah Evolution	Back Sleepers	$2,499	Nolah Coupon	Read Our Review
Bear Star	Best Hybrid	$1,732	Check Coupons	Read Our Review
Aurora Luxe	Cooling	$1,865	Brooklyn Bedding Coupon	Read Our Review
Titan Plus	Heavy Sleepers	$1,249	Brooklyn Bedding Coupon	Read Our Review
Plank Firm	Flippable Mattress	$1,332	Brooklyn Bedding Coupon	Read Our Review

Brooke Williams

Writer

About Author

Brooke Williams graduated with her Master’s from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. She enjoys writing on a range of topics from health and wellness to finance. She has a great relationship with sleep (except when her cat Oliver has other plans) and enjoys the occasional weekend nap. Brooke also graduated from Florida State University and spends her spare time watching Seminoles football.

Combination Sleeper