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Nolah is on a mission to create “tomorrow’s mattress” today by moving away from memory foam and latex and creating a new material. Their solution? Nolah AirFoam, a material that mimics the body contouring principles of memory foam without overheating.
In this review, I’ll explore how this proprietary foam feels to see if it makes for a comfortable mattress. I’ll also test the bed for firmness, pressure relief, bounce, and motion transfer, so you’ll know without a doubt if it’s the mattress for you.
Keep reading below for my full review of the Nolah Original 10” mattress. Or skip to my review summary to save time.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Where the Nolah is Featured
Here at Sleepopolis, we use a series of hands-on tests to determine which mattress roundups a bed belongs to and who it might be good for. Here are some of our 2025 mattress roundups that include the Nolah:
Nolah Mattress Overview
The Nolah Original mattress is an all-foam mattress constructed with layers of foam that contour to your body. This is a true medium-firm mattress; sleepers should find some nice sinkage while still feeling supported. The Nolah differs from typical all-foam mattresses due to the introduction of a Nolah-exclusive material – AirFoam – which we’ll discuss further in the construction section of this review.
Like all of the best bed-in-a-box mattresses, the Nolah will need a few hours to off-gas and decompress. Any off-gassing smell should dissipate within 48 hours, and the bed should be ready to sleep on after a few hours.
Want to learn more about the Nolah brand and what makes them unique? Check out our interview with Nolah’s founder, Daniel Galle.
Nolah Mattress Review Video
Want a closer look at the Nolah mattress layers and the tests we performed on it? Check out my review video where I discuss Nolah’s performance in categories such as cooling, warranty, and materials, and see why we gave it an average rating of 3.9/5.
What Is the Nolah Mattress Made Of?
The Nolah is a mattress in a box built with three distinct foam layers. Each layer is CertiPUR-US certified, which means the Nolah’s foams are free from heavy metals and harmful chemicals. Below, I’ll break down each layer individually.
Cover – The Nolah is made with a Tencel cover. This cover is breathable, absorbent, and wrinkle-resistant. And Tencel is a fabric made from recycled materials, which is a nice perk for eco-friendly shoppers.
Comfort Layer – Next up is a top layer of Nolah’s proprietary AirFoam. This layer offers some nice body contouring and sinkage. AirFoam doesn’t trap body heat like traditional memory foam, so this mattress could be especially nice for hot sleepers who still want that memory foam feel. Nolah also promotes this foam as being especially well-suited to side sleepers, which could be a perk for these folks.
Transition Layer – Next is a layer of Nolah’s high-resilience foam. This foam is bouncy and durable, like latex. This layer eases the sleeper down onto the Nolah’s firm support layer.
Support Layer – The Nolah’s base layer is made of high-density foam. This is a common support foam in many bed-in-a-box mattresses and provides overall structure and stability to the mattress.
Nolah Mattress Firmness
The first thing I test in a mattress is its firmness, or feel. Firmness is one of the most important metrics in a mattress, but it is also quite subjective. A mattress will feel different depending on your body weight, shape, and preferred sleeping position. For reference, I’m 5’9”, about 125 pounds, and prefer to sleep on my side.
Below, you’ll see me rate the Nolah on the mattress firmness scale, which ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (firmest). For reference, the industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5 out of 10.
I rated the Nolah as a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning this is a true medium-firm mattress. I tend to find mattresses that feature memory-foam like materials a bit firmer than the average sleeper, so someone a little heavier than me might think the Nolah feels more medium soft. If you weigh 150 pounds or more, I’d keep that in mind when purchasing a Nolah. My height-weight ratio is a bit lighter than average, and that can affect how I experience a bed.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Sleeping Position and Body Weight
We recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes, and people of every size deserve a mattress that works for their body type. We use the weight categories light, average, and heavy to more easily categorize sleepers based on how mattresses will perform for their body type, as most mattresses are designed for the group we call “average” (130 to 250 pounds).
As a general rule, lighter sleepers don’t require as much support as average weight sleepers, and mattresses will tend to feel firmer to them. On the other hand, heavy sleepers tend to need more support than average weight sleepers and tend to sink into the mattress more.
As far as sleeping positions go, side sleepers tend to need a softer mattress while stomach sleepers usually need a firmer, more supportive one. Back sleepers are usually somewhere in the middle.
Is the Nolah a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?
- Light Back Sleepers – Lightweight back sleepers should feel comfortable on the Nolah. Its foams should do a nice job contouring to their lower backs to offer some pressure relief.
- Light Side Sleepers – Light side sleepers might actually find the Nolah a little too firm for their needs, since they won’t sink as deeply into its foam layers. I’d recommend they try one of our best soft mattresses instead.
- Light Stomach Sleepers – The Nolah is too soft for these sleepers. Their hips may sink into this mattress, throwing their spines out of alignment and leading to pain. I’d recommend checking out our list of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
Is the Nolah a Good Mattress for Average Weight Sleepers (130–250 pounds)?
- Average Weight Back Sleepers – Average weight back sleepers who enjoy a soft feel should like the Nolah, which will offer plush cushioning in this position.
- Average Weight Side Sleepers – These sleepers should like the Nolah best. It was designed to offer pressure relief and body-contouring to side sleepers with average body weights.
- Average Weight Stomach Sleepers – I’d recommend these sleepers check out one of our best firm mattresses instead. The Nolah could allow their hips to sink too far into its top layers, which can cause back pain over time.
Is the Nolah a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 250 pounds)?
- Heavy Back Sleepers – The all-foam Nolah is not supportive enough for heavy sleepers in any position. These folks need a mattress with steel coil support to prevent premature sagging and promote a healthy spinal alignment. I’d recommend one of our best mattresses for heavy sleepers instead.
- Heavy Side Sleepers – See above.
- Heavy Stomach Sleepers – See above.
Nolah Mattress Performance
Here at Sleepopolis, we run a series of tests on each mattress we review, which helps our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches get an objective view of what it would be like to sleep on them. These performance tests allow us to make very specific recommendations in addition to sleeping position and body type. Keep reading to see how the Nolah mattress performs in areas such as pain relief, motion transfer, and more.
Nolah Mattress Pain Relief Performance
When we use the term pressure relief, we simply mean how a bed will feel against various pressure points on your body. We cover three different areas: back pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain. We roll a specialized mat onto the mattress and lay on it in a few different sleeping positions. The mat transfers the results into a visual graphic that maps out the pressure using thermal imaging. Areas with low pressure are recorded in blues and greens, and areas with high pressure are recorded in yellows and reds.
Before checking out the Nolah’s pressure relief results, you’ll want to take your sleeping position into consideration. For example, we don’t recommend soft mattresses to stomach sleepers, as they can cause the hips to sink in too far and throw off optimal spinal alignment. In short, think about your sleeping position first, then look at the pressure map.
The Nolah does a decent job of relieving pressure in the back, but sleepers who already experience back pain may want a mattress that is slightly firmer for additional support in this area. I’d recommend taking a look at our best mattresses for back pain roundup. The Nolah does an alright job relieving pain in the shoulders, especially for combination sleepers who don’t spend all night side sleeping.
As you can see on the map, there is a bit of yellow around the hips, which indicates that the Nolah may not be the best fit for sleepers with hip pain.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is the amount of movement that travels from one side of the mattress to the other. If you share a bed with a partner, pet, or child, you could potentially be disturbed by any movement they make throughout the night, like tossing and turning or getting in and out of bed. We test motion transfer by using a seismometer test to give an objective view of how well the mattress isolates motion.
Seismometer Test
This test involves dropping a 10-pound steel ball from heights of four inches, eight inches and 12 inches, then measuring the disturbance it causes: the bigger the lines on the graph, the bigger the disturbance and the higher the motion transfer. The different heights represent how the mattress isolates motion when tossing and turning, getting in and out of bed, and jumping on the bed.
I was happy with these motion transfer results. The Nolah did a great job quickly isolating motion across the mattress. This is a great sign that you’re unlikely to be disturbed by a restless partner on this bed.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness refers to how quickly a mattress bounces back to its original shape after pressure is applied. As its name suggests, memory foam usually has a low response to pressure because it was designed to “remember” the pressure and contour to your body. Hybrid mattresses with coils tend to be more bouncy and have a high response to pressure. We consider responsive mattresses to be good for sex, since they’re easy to switch positions and move around on. These same qualities make them excellent choices for combination sleepers who switch between different sleeping positions throughout the night.
The Nolah does a great job at combining responsiveness with motion isolation, which tells me it should be a pretty good mattress for sex and for combination sleepers. It shouldn’t be too hard to move around on this bed, and while it does have some sinkage, you shouldn’t find yourself getting stuck in the bed.
Cooling
Several factors contribute to a mattress’s cooling ability. First and foremost, we consider its construction. Couples overheat more easily than solo sleepers, so cooling features are often important to them. The Nolah sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam mattresses, but isn’t the most cooling mattress I’ve ever tried. If you don’t sleep particularly hot, it could work for you and your partner.
The Nolah AirFoam doesn’t trap body heat like traditional memory foam, so memory foam lovers who sleep hot may enjoy this alternative. Further temperature regulation comes from the naturally cooling Tencel cover and the gel infusion in the foam.
Keep in mind that several outside factors can affect cooling, including the temperature of your bedroom, how close your bed is to an air vent or window, and your body’s own temperature, which can vary from person to person.
Edge Support
Edge support refers to a mattress’s ability to stay supportive and strong around the perimeter of the bed, not just in the middle. A mattress with good edge support is ideal for couples or for anyone who likes to spread out and use the entire surface of the mattress. Solid edge support also indicates that the mattress won’t be prone to premature sagging.
The Nolah had fairly average edge support for a foam mattress. I felt a bit unstable sleeping right on the edge of the Nolah, but I didn’t feel like I was about to fall off. Typically, hybrid mattresses have better edge support due to the coil construction. If you want a bed with especially strong edge support, I’d search for a mattress with reinforced foam or pocketed coils.
Nolah Mattress Performance For Couples
Overall, I think this mattress could be a good pick for couples. Looking at the motion transfer results, it’s a safe bet that you won’t be disturbed by your partner tossing and turning at night. The responsive nature also makes this bed good for sex. I think couples can appreciate the cooling abilities of this mattress, especially if one or both of them aren’t prone to overheating. I would suggest couples purchase a queen-size mattress or larger, since the edge support on this mattress is just okay and it may be more difficult to comfortably sleep on the full surface of the bed.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
My Final Thoughts about the Nolah Mattress
Before we wrap things up, I want to leave you with a quick overview of who I would recommend this mattress for and who may want to stay away.
Who I Recommend the Nolah Mattress For
- Back sleepers and side sleepers should especially enjoy this mattress.
- I think couples could enjoy this mattress, especially because the medium-firm feel should be comfortable for many different types of sleepers.
- I would recommend this mattress to hot sleepers, who should appreciate the layers of cooling foam, especially the AirFoam.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Nolah Mattress For
- I’ll also note that the Nolah is an all-foam mattress, so heavier sleepers especially might not find the Nolah as durable as an innerspring mattress or hybrid mattress. These people should consider checking out our Best Mattresses for Heavy People page.
- I think this mattress might be too soft for stomach sleepers, who will likely sleep better on a firmer mattress.
Nolah Pricing and Sizing
Price is an important consideration when choosing any new mattress. Take a look at the chart below to compare prices and sizes. And be sure to check out our Nolah discount code to get a good deal!
Price listed will be before discount or offer for each size.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38″ x 75″ x 15″ | $649 |
| Twin XL | 38″ x 80″ x 15″ | $799 |
| Full | 54″ x “75” x 15″ | $899 |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ x 15″ | $1,149 |
| King | 76″ x 80″ x 15″ | $1,249 |
| Cal King | 72″ x 84″ x 15″ | $1,249 |
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nolah Mattress Policies and FAQs
Does Nolah offer a warranty?
Yes, Nolah offers a lifetime warranty, which is a great perk.
How does the original Nolah mattress ship?
Shipping is free and your Nolah will be delivered compressed in a box.
Does Nolah offer a sleep trial?
Yes, Nolah offers a 120-night trial period. Nolah requests you try the mattress for at least 30 days before making a return so you can appropriately break it in.
Does the Nolah mattress need a box spring?
No, you don’t need a box spring with this bed, any hard flat surface will work to support it. You can also use a slatted bed frame.
Does the Nolah smell?
Like most online mattresses that arrive compressed in a box, the Nolah does have an off-gassing period. But any smell should dissipate a few hours after the mattress decompresses.
Can you flip the Nolah?
No, you can’t flip this bed. The Nolah Original is built from the top down.
Nolah Mattress Vs
In order for you to have a comprehensive idea of the Nolah mattress, we want to compare it with a few other popular mattress brands. Today, we’ll compare the Nolah Original mattress to the Nectar mattress and the Layla mattress.
Nolah vs Nectar
The Nectar, like the Nolah, is an all-foam mattress made to be pressure-relieving and supportive. It is slightly softer than the Nolah and is two inches taller.
- Price: The Nectar mattress is slightly cheaper than the Nolah.
- Sleeping position: Both mattresses are suitable for back and side sleepers, but I would direct stomach sleepers towards a firmer mattress.
- Cooling: Both mattresses sleep cool, especially for all-foam mattresses.
- Body weight: Neither mattress is likely to be supportive enough for heavy sleepers, regardless of their sleeping position. I would refer to one of our best mattresses for heavy people for more comfortable options.
Read more in our full Nectar mattress review.
Nectar Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nolah vs Layla
Both the Nolah and Layla are all-foam mattresses, but the Layla is a flippable mattress and has a soft side and a firm side.
- Price: The Layla is slightly more affordable than the Nolah
- Sleeping position: The firm side of the Layla mattress is the best pick for stomach sleepers, as the soft side of the Layla and the Nolah are too soft to provide proper spinal alignment.
- Cooling: Both mattresses sleep cool thanks to Nolah’s cooling AirFoam and Layla’s copper-gel memory foam.
- Body weight: I don’t think either mattress would be supportive enough for heavier sleepers.
Read more in our full Layla mattress review. Or check out the full Nolah vs Layla mattress comparison.
Layla Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Other Models from Nolah
Nolah offers a few additional models, including the Nolah Evolution Hybrid mattress and the Nolah Signature 12” mattress. Below, I’ll compare the models and provide some insight into which may be the best for you.
Nolah Original vs Nolah Evolution Hybrid
The Nolah Evolution is made with a combination of Nolah AirFoam and support coils. This model comes in three different firmness levels: Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. This comparison examines the Luxury Firm model, as it has the same firmness level as the Nolah Original.
- Price: The Nolah Evolution Hybrid is the more expensive option, which is typical for hybrid mattresses.
- Sleeping position: Both mattresses are solid choices for back and side sleepers, but I wouldn’t recommend either to stomach sleepers of any body type.
- Cooling: Both mattresses are cooling, but the coils in the Nolah Evolution Hybrid add additional airflow.
- Body weight: The Nolah Evolution should be comfortable for heavier sleepers, especially the Firm model. However, this mattress may not be supportive enough for heavy weight stomach sleepers.
Read more in our full Nolah Evolution Hybrid mattress review.
Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nolah Original vs Nolah Signature 12” Mattress
While both models are all-foam mattresses, Nolah Signature is softer than the Nolah Original.
- Price: Both mattresses cost the same.
- Sleeping position: Neither mattress is firm enough for stomach sleepers. Head over to our best mattress for stomach sleepers roundup for more options.
- Cooling: The Nolah AirFoam keeps both these mattresses relatively cool.
- Body weight: I wouldn’t recommend either mattress for heavier people, and would direct them towards one of the mattresses in our best mattress for heavy people round up.
Read more in our full Nolah Signature mattress review.
Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Our Review Process
At Sleepopolis, our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress. We start by unboxing the mattress to figure out how difficult (or easy) it is to get the mattress from the box to the bed. Then, we spend time laying on the bed in different positions, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. Next, we perform our Sleepopolis tests, using specialized tools to measure qualities like motion transfer, bounce, and pressure relief. Our last step is to open up the mattress and take a look at each layer. These steps allow us to give our final verdict on the mattress.