Best Mattress for Platform Bed

Written by Brooke Williams, Writer

Our Methodology

Our Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 220 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.

»

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 2023.

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 2023 

• Nectar – Best Overall for Platform Beds
• Saatva – Best for Seniors for Platform Beds
• Bear Star Hybrid – Best Hybrid for Platform Beds
• WinkBed – Best for Combination Sleepers for Platform Beds
• DreamCloud – Best Luxury for Platform Beds
• Helix Midnight Luxe – Best for Back Pain for Platform Beds
• Plank Firm – Best for Heavy Sleepers for Platform Beds
• Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – Best Cooling for Platform Beds
• Avocado Green – Best Organic for Platform Beds
• Layla Hybrid – 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

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.

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

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. 

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 Celliant cover and 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

Who the Bear Star Hybrid is Best For

• Athletes: The top layer of the mattress is 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 Celliant 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.

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

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. 

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

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

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.

Plank Firm – Best for Heavy Sleepers 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

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 full 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 mattresses for heavy people. 

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

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. 

Avocado Green – Best Organic for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The Avocado Green is an eco-friendly option for sleepers looking for a bed that’s good for both them and the environment. It’s made from organic cotton, natural latex, and pocketed coils. The mattress is durable and bouncy, making it ideal for combo sleepers. It comes in a standard model or a pillow top version.

What our tester says: “With only a single layer of latex standing between you and the thick section of pocketed coils, you’re likely to experience this bed as quite bouncy and firm. This makes the mattress good for back/stomach combination sleepers who will appreciate the excellent mobility.” – Logan Block, former Sleepopolis director of content and mattress tester

Who the Avocado Green Is Best For

• Hot sleepers: If you often feel hot during the night, the Avocado Green is a breathable mattress that promotes airflow and can help cool you down.
• Back sleepers: Regardless of whether you’re a lightweight, medium, or heavyweight back sleeper, the Avocado Green should provide you proper support. 
• Heavy sleepers: Avocado says its mattresses can support individual weights of up to 350 pounds, making it a good option for heavyweight sleepers.  

Who Should Avoid the Avocado Green

• Some couples: The Avocado Green offers minimal motion isolation so you’re likely to feel your bed partner’s movement. 
• Strict side sleepers: Strict side sleepers may find that the Avocado Green is slightly too firm a mattress for them.

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly mattress, then you may have found your perfect fit. Read our full Avocado Green review to confirm and click here to get the best deal. But if you don’t feel this mattress is well-suited for you, check out our roundup of the best organic mattresses.

Layla Hybrid – Best Flippable Mattress for Platform Beds

Expert Opinion

The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress that comes with two firmness options, soft and firm. It’s made with layers of copper-infused memory foam and springy pocketed coils. This mattress is designed to work for most sleepers and can help soothe your aches and pains while keeping you positioned squarely on top of the bed.

What our tester says: “Given the flippable nature of the mattress, it could work for a wide range of different sleep styles. Side sleepers will be most compatible with the plush feeling of the soft side, while back/stomach/combo sleepers will prefer the firmer one.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

Who the Layla Hybrid is Best For

• Couples: The Layla Hybrid provides great motion isolation so you’re unlikely to feel your partner in the middle of the night.
• Hot sleepers: The Layla Hybrid can help you keep your cool and avoid overheating thanks to its copper-infused foams and pocketed coils.
• Back and side sleepers- The two firmness options make the Layla Hybrid an excellent option for back and side sleepers of all sizes. 

Who Should Avoid the Layla Hybrid

• Stomach sleepers: The Layla Hybrid may work well for average weight stomach sleepers, but some stomach sleepers may find they need a firmer and more supportive option.
• Heavy sleepers: Just as with stomach sleepers, heavy sleepers may also find they need more support than the Layla Hybrid mattress is able to provide. 

Want to learn more about the Layla Hybrid? Check out our full Layla Hybrid review to determine if it’s the right mattress for you and click here to get the best deal. Want to check out other flippable options? Head over to our roundup of 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 bed. Some platform beds may also come with drawers for extra storage.

How Tall Are Platform Beds?

Though platform beds are raised, they typically sit lower to the ground. They are usually anywhere between five to 12 inches in height.

Platform beds are a popular choice because of their affordability. The strong base also offers extra support, making a box spring unnecessary.

What to Look for In A 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 to your search for the best mattress for a platform bed. You also have to take into account your personal preferences, such as firmness, aesthetic, 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.

Trial & Warranty 

A good place to start is by checking the 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.

Sleepopolis Tip

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

Support 

Find a mattress that offers the appropriate 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. On the other hand, a mattress with proper support will keep your spine aligned properly and prevent your body from feeling achy in the morning. 

You’ll know a mattress provides proper support if it prevents your body from sinking too deeply into the mattress, while also offering the right amount of body contouring.

Bed Height 

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.

What is the Best Type of Mattress for Platform Bed? 

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. They’re incredibly durable and long-lasting. While memory foam mattresses are firm to the touch, they use your body heat to mold to the shape of your body. 

Memory foam mattresses are great at isolating motion transfer so they work well for couples who share a bed. They also provide specialized spinal support and alignment, so they can be great for sleepers looking for relief from back pain.

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 cooling so hot sleepers tend to feel more comfortable.

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 motion transfer, latex mattresses 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 sleep 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.

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. For instance, side sleepers generally prefer soft to medium firmness whereas back and stomach sleepers generally prefer medium to firm mattresses.

Firmness & Body Weight

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

Mattress Sizes 

You’ll also have to select your mattress size, which will depend on personal preference and body type. 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. 

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 220 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 2023

Mattress	Best For	Price (Queen)	Coupon	Review
Nectar	Overall	$1,049	Nectar Coupon	Read Our Review!
Saatva	Seniors	$1,995	Saatva Coupon	Read Our Review!
Bear Star	Best Hybrid	$1,732	Bear Star Hybrid Coupon	Read Our Review!
WinkBed	Combination Sleepers	$1,799	WinkBed Coupon	Read Our Review!
DreamCloud	Luxury	$1,332	DreamCloud Coupon	Read Our Review!
Helix Midnight Luxe	Back Pain	$2,373	Helix Midnight Luxe Coupon	Read Our Review!
Plank Firm	Heavy Sleepers	$1,332	Plank Firm Coupon	Read Our Review!
Aurora Luxe	Cooling	$1,865	Aurora Luxe Coupon	Read Our Review!
Avocado Green	Organic	$1,999	Avocado Green Coupon	Read Our Review!
Layla Hybrid	Flippable	$1,699	Layla 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