Sleep Number is known for their adjustable mattresses that help you find the exact level of firmness you need for a restful night’s sleep. Their mattresses are actually air beds that hook up to a hose and pump, so you can inflate or deflate the bed to your exact comfort level.
Sleep Number gets its name because each user gets their own “Sleep Number” —a number between 1 and 100 that indicates how soft or hard you like your bed. The hope is once you find your perfect sleep number, you know exactly how your mattress should feel to enjoy deep sleep.
While Sleep Number is definitely innovative, the technical aspects of it — along with the fact it is indeed an air mattress (though intended for permanent use) — means it comes with a set of common complaints. This article will dive into some of the most frequent customer criticisms, then provide an alternative mattress that might address the issue. Here are the issues and beds we’re including:
- The Mattress Sagging: Our Recommended Alternative – Saatva
- Being Uncomfortable: Our Recommended Alternative – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
- Breakdowns and Malfunctions: Our Recommended Alternative – Bear Elite Hybrid
- Bad Customer Service: Our Recommended Alternative – Nolah Evolution
- Price: Our Recommended Alternative – DreamCloud Original
The Five Most Common Sleep Number Problems
These are the issues we frequently encountered when researching if Sleep Number is right for you. They all come from reviews written by customers who purchased a Sleep Number bed.
#1 – Trench Effect
The most prominent complaint throughout all Sleep Numbers reviews was talk about the “trench effect,” which is when the mattress sags in the middle and one or both people on the bed slide into it. Because most Sleep Number beds come with two air chambers (so each person can adjust their side to their liking), if one side is significantly more firm or soft than the other, the bed is uneven and is susceptible to sag in the middle.
What one reviewer said: “I have had it less than a year and towards the middle of the bed I get a dip. I keep rolling into the middle because the outside of my side is higher than the middle side. I’ve run it to 100 and let it sit, but as soon as I set it back down to comfortable BOOM back in the middle.”
We think a good alternative solution to this problem would be the Saatva. An innerspring mattress with two layers of coils, the Saatva has a ton of support to keep the bed from sagging.
Our Favorite Mattress That Won’t Sag – Saatva
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It’s a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. The white glove delivery Saatva provides is an added perk and will save you the headache of getting rid of your old mattress (they take it away for free!). For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Saatva is a great option for back sleepers, as the Luxury Firm model provides enough cushioning for their lumbar region, but also lots of support to keep their spine in a neutral alignment.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Read more in our full Saatva mattress review, or click here for the best deal. You can also see our list of the best mattresses that won’t sag for other options.
#2 – Comfort
People have also complained about Sleep Number beds being uncomfortable. Some talk about the bed deflating too often and others say it simply feels like a glorified air mattress. Also, depending on the model you receive, some Sleep Numbers don’t come with a cushioned mattress pad, making the bed feel extra firm.
What one reviewer said: “Basically, you’re sleeping on a high-priced air mattress. Feels like camping.”
For anyone worried about comfort, we recommend the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid. Up top, there’s cushy memory foam for pressure relief at the shoulders, hips, and lumbar region. However, the coils at the bottom of the mattress ensure that there’s plenty of support for your spine to stay neutrally aligned. Even though it’s not an adjustable mattress, its winning combination of comfort and support should appeal to a wide range of folks.
Our Most Comfortable Mattress – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress combines a foam comfort layer and sturdy coils. This combination of materials makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. It comes in three firmness levels, and we recommend the Medium model for most back sleepers. It’s a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a new mattress on a budget. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“Given that the Signature Hybrid has some excellent bounce, I’d highly recommend this mattress for combination sleepers who often change positions multiple times throughout the night. I also think the Signature Hybrid could be a great fit for couples. You shouldn’t be overly disturbed by a restless partner on this bed, and it has nice, firm edge support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Read more in our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress review, or click here to get the best deal. You can also read about other options in our picks for the most comfortable mattress.
#3 – Breakdowns and Malfunctions
Because there’s a decent amount of setup and technology that comes with a Sleep Number — including a hose, pump, and remote to work the adjustable air chamber — the bed is naturally susceptible to breakdowns, especially air deflation. People also spoke about the mattress cover itself falling apart after a few years. While the site has a good support section with videos and content to help troubleshoot issues, many unhappy campers only spoke about how things would break down every few years.
What one reviewer said: “After a few years, the bed required $600+ in parts (new side and center foam, the mattress cover itself, stitching on the seams separated) and an air pump (the controller died, but you have to buy an ‘assembly’ that includes the pump and controllers)”.
If you’re looking for a mattress with lots of luxurious touches, but without the potential technical mishaps of Sleep Number, check out the Bear Elite Hybrid. As the luxury upgrade of the Bear Original, its bells and whistles include not one, but two layers of coils (one for general support and another for increased edge support), as well as an optional cover (available for a fee) made of both phase change material and Celliant. These materials are incredibly cooling and should help you keep a low temperature at night. Overall, the Elite Hybrid is supportive yet soft, coming in at a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale.
Our Favorite Durable Mattress – Bear Elite Hybrid
The Bear Elite Hybrid uses foam and coils for a mix of support, cushioning, and cooling. While designed for athletes prioritizing wellness and recovery, sleepers of all activity levels can enjoy the many luxurious features. Enjoy zoned support for targeted relief, an “on top of” feel allowing for ease of movement, and cooling features throughout. For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I’d recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid for most back and stomach sleepers.I think these sleepers will get the needed pressure relief and contouring around the lower back and hips. This mattress does a wonderful job at offering body contouring while still helping the sleeper stay elevated and lifted as well. The layers of foam should provide comfort while the coil system should offer lots of support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Click here for the best deal, or learn more in our full Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review. You can also see our best luxury mattresses page for more options.
#4 – Customer Service
Since Sleep Number is known for malfunctions, many reviewers also mentioned the lack of good customer service for when things did go awry. The first point, that came up a lot, was issues with their “100-night sleep trial.” Apparently, if you want to return your bed before the 100 nights is up, this guarantee only includes the mattress itself, not the bed frame or additional accessories (the website’s fine print verifies this).
What one reviewer said: “The bed sleeps fine, but I am so disappointed in product support by Sleep Number. I contacted my local store to see about a small replacement part, but they don’t carry parts. So, I contacted the main Customer Service department. All I needed was a small white female connector for a hose, and I was told that I had to purchase a new pump and hose system for $200 (under partial warranty). Absolutely ridiculous!”
If you’re looking for a mattress that offers comfort, support, and exceptional customer service, consider the Nolah Evolution. With a 120-night sleep trial period and a lifetime warranty, Nolah has you covered if something goes wrong.
Our Mattress with the Best Customer Service – Nolah Evolution
The Nolah Evolution’s hybrid construction offers the cushioning of memory foam with the responsiveness of coils. The Luxury Firm model is a good option for side and back sleepers due to its medium-firm feel, though there are Plush and Firm versions as well. Those who share a bed may also appreciate its low motion transfer, so you won’t be disturbed by a partner’s movements and its solid edge support to allow you to maximize surface area. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I laid down to rest on this mattress on my back — my primary sleep position. I felt comfortable, but also appreciated the cozy, plush top of the bed. After some time lying on my back, I switched over to my side. I didn’t find this position quite as comfortable, as I did feel some slight pressure buildup in my shoulder.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Click here for the best deal, or learn more in our full Nolah Evolution mattress review. You can also see our list of the best mattresses for the money for some good value options — many of which come with excellent customer service.
#5 – Price
Sleep Number prices are comparable to other foam or spring mattresses, with their queen coming in around $800 (depending on your model). This may seem pretty pricey, given that it’s an air bed. While it’s important to remember the adjustability and technological aspects of the bed probably hike up the price, it’s still at least 15 percent more expensive than the average permanent-use airbed.
It’s also important to remember that there are two sides to every story, and for every poor review, there was typically a great review of a Sleep Number product. Make sure to do thorough research before any big bedding purchase, and maybe find someone you know who owns a Sleep Number to get a personal opinion before getting your own.
That said, if you want to pay a similar price for a Sleep Number while getting something with a more permanent structure, you could opt for the DreamCloud Original mattress. Constructed with gel memory foam and breathable coils, this firmer hybrid mattress can usually be found for around or under $1,000 for a queen after discounts, especially around the holidays.
Our Favorite Value Mattress – DreamCloud Original Mattress
With soft foam and a sturdy layer of innerspring coils, the DreamCloud strikes a balance between comfort and support — a little bit of contouring up top and on-top-of-the-bed feel that comes from the bottom. It’s a fairly firm mattress that we think is most comfortable for back sleepers. It also has some luxury touches such as a cashmere-blend cover that are reminiscent of a high-end hotel. Learn more in our DreamCloud video review.
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. Thanks to its medium-firm to firm support, I think the DreamCloud is a durable mattress. It balances support with plenty of pressure relief for back sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former Sleepopolis senior product editor
Click here for the best deal, or learn more in our full DreamCloud Original mattress review. You can also check out even more economically viable options on our best cheap mattress page or our list of the best mattresses under $1,000.
If it’s time to move on from your Sleep Number, or you aren’t sure where to start your mattress search, take our mattress quiz to get a selection of mattresses that are right for your sleep preferences.