The Nectar and Layla are two of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattresses on the Internet. While both of these models are built with gentle foams for deep pressure relief and body-contouring, they actually have several notable differences. For example, the Layla is flippable and offers different levels of firmness, while the Nectar features a whopping five inches of memory foam that encourages deep sinkage into the mattress.
So when comparing the Nectar vs Layla mattresses, which is better for you? I’ll cover these mattresses’ similarities, differences, and unique features so you can find the best option for your sleep needs. Read on for all the deets or jump to the summary!
Nectar vs Layla
Product
Firmness
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Nectar vs Layla
Nectar vs Layla: Which Is Better for You?
When buying a new mattress, it’s important to remember that what might be the best match for one sleeper might not be the best match for someone else. Factors such as body type, sleeping position, and individual preferences all come into play.
With that in mind, let’s quickly talk about what types of folks might prefer each of these beds. And for more in-depth analysis, check out the full Nectar mattress review and the full Layla mattress review.
Who Should Buy Nectar
- Back sleepers. They should appreciate the Nectar’s mixture of comfort and support, although they might also be comfortable on the firm side of the Layla.
- Side sleepers. These folks may also be comfortable on the soft side of the Layla.
Who Should Buy Layla
- Stomach sleepers. They should feel plenty of support on the firm side of the Layla.
- Couples. The Layla has slightly better motion isolation, so they’re unlikely to wake each other up with their movements.
Nectar vs Layla: Similarities and Differences
Although both of these mattresses are all foam, the materials and feel of each bed vary pretty widely due to the Layla’s flippability. Let’s take a closer look at how they’re alike and how they’re different.
Main Similarities
- Because they’re both made entirely of foam, neither bed is going to be supportive enough for heavy people over 250 lbs.
- Despite the heavy amounts of memory foam in each bed, they both sleep fairly cool. The Nectar can attribute this to its breathable cover (more on that in a bit), while the Layla relies on its layer of copper-infused memory foam for its lower temperatures.
- Neither bed is especially bouncy.
Main Differences
- Let’s get the obvious one out of the way: the Layla has a flippable design with two sides, which means you can turn it over for two different firmness options. The Nectar is decidedly unflippable.
- The firm side of the Layla mattress gives an “on top” of the bed feel that should appeal to back sleepers. But flip it over to the soft side and you’ll find a mattress better suited for side sleepers and anyone seeking a high amount of pressure relief.
- The Nectar’s contouring memory foam gives it a more “in” the bed feel for anyone who prefers sinkage.
- Although both beds have low motion transfer, the Nectar spiked just a bit in our test before the movement quickly subsided. That means it’s likely a solid option for couples who sleep with pets and aren’t easily disturbed. But anyone who’s a light sleeper might want to opt for the Layla.
Nectar vs Layla
Product
Firmness
Score
Nectar vs Layla
Nectar vs Layla Mattress Feel Comparison
It’s time to go into greater depth about how each mattress feels. Keep in mind that people come in all shapes, sizes, and sleeping positions, so this is always going to be somewhat subjective. But I’ll do my best to touch on topics such as contouring and firmness level.
Nectar
The Nectar scored a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, placing it in the category of medium-soft to medium-firm. That being said, its gel memory foam provides an “in” the bed feel, with the layers below it preventing one from sinking too far into the mattress. That’s why it’s still a good fit for back sleepers or folks experiencing back pain. However, combination sleepers are likely to want a mattress with less sinkage, as it isn’t very easy to switch positions on the Nectar. In short, this mattress has a classic memory foam feel that should appeal to anyone after lots of sinkage and contouring.
For an all-foam mattress, the Nectar has considerable edge support, making it a decent option for couples or anyone who sleeps with a pet.
Layla
There’s a bit more to cover here for the Layla—twice as much, in fact, thanks to its two sides.
On the firmness scale, the soft side scored a 5.5 out of 10, placing it in the category of medium-soft. Its three-inch top layer of copper-infused memory foam works to contour the shoulder, hips, and lower back for a memory foam “hug” that provides pressure relief at the joints and should be comforting for side sleepers.
The firmer side of the mattress scored a 7.5 out of 10, placing it in the category of firm. Its top layer swaps out the three inches of copper-infused memory foam for one inch of the same material. This results in more support and far less contouring, which should be the better fit for back sleepers. In terms of body heat, the copper infusion allows both sides to sleep cool. They also each score high on edge support.
Comparing What it’s Like to Sleep on the Nectar and the Layla
Your experience with a particular mattress is likely going to depend on which position you sleep in. A back sleeper is going to experience a mattress differently than a side sleeper, who will experience it differently than a stomach sleeper, and so on.
Let’s break down how each of these sleeping positions might feel on the Nectar and the Layla.
Nectar
Back — Average-weight back sleepers should find a lot to love on the Nectar. They’ll feel adequately supported by the firmer foams toward the bottom of the bed, while still getting pressure relief from the softer foams above. They’ll likely sink a bit into the mattress, but not so much that they’ll feel swallowed up.
Side — Side sleepers should also be comfortable on this bed. They’ll most likely get the pressure relief and contouring they need at the shoulders and the hips.
Stomach — Once again, stomach sleepers probably won’t be comfortable on the Nectar. They’ll need something much firmer that will help prevent their hips from dipping into the bed.
Body Weight — The Nectar might feel slightly firmer to lightweight sleepers 130 lbs and under, but they should still be comfortable on it and experience some contouring. However, we don’t recommend the mattress for heavy sleepers 250 lbs and above. They’ll need extra support, and are probably better off with one of our best innerspring mattresses or best mattresses for heavy people.
Layla
Back — Back sleepers need a mattress that’s supportive enough to keep them lifted, which helps keep the spine in a neutral alignment. They should find this on the firm side of the Layla. But we should say that if you’re a back sleeper who prefers a medium-firm feel, you may want to look elsewhere. The Layla is going to be best for back sleepers who love a firm mattress.
Side — Conversely, side sleepers are going to be most comfortable on the soft side of the Layla, where the foams will gently hug them and contour their shoulders and hips.
Stomach — Stomach sleepers should get the firmness and support they need from the firm side of the Layla, but likely won’t be comfortable on the soft side.
Body Weight — As with the Nectar, the all-foam construction of the Layla isn’t going to be supportive enough for heavy sleepers over 250 lbs. Light sleepers under 130 lbs should be comfortable in all sleeping positions, as long as they’re okay with either a really firm or really soft mattress.
Comparing Nectar and Layla Prices
Pricing is important when purchasing any new mattress, especially when the cost varies as wildly as it does between these two foam beds. The Layla is significantly more expensive, but then again, it does have two completely different sides. And to the Nectar’s credit, it consistently makes our Best Mattresses Under $1,000 list.
Take a look at the pricing chart below to see which bed is the best fit for you, and be sure to use our Nectar coupon codes or Layla coupon codes to get the best bang for your buck.
Prices listed will be before discount or offer for each size.
Size | Layla | Nectar |
---|---|---|
Twin | $649 | $798 |
Twin XL | $749 | $968 |
Full | $949 | $1,198 |
Queen | $1,049 | $1,298 |
King | $1,149 | $1,598 |
California King | $1,149 | $1,598 |
Nectar vs Layla
Product
Firmness
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Nectar vs Layla
Comparing Nectar and Layla Mattress Materials
Let’s peel back the covers on both of these beds to see what they’re made of. This should be especially interesting, since, in many ways, we’re analyzing three beds instead of just two.
Nectar
The Nectar Original mattress is Nectar’s flagship bed—an all foam mattress that toggles between contouring and medium-firm support.
- Cover – First, you’ll encounter a quilted cover of polyester and nylon—a lightweight material conducive to airflow. This helps the mattress sleep cool.
- Comfort Layer – Next comes a thick layer of gel memory foam. Like the comfort layer of any good memory foam mattress, this envelops the sleeper in a cozy hug, but because of the thickness, there’s a slow response time that ensures you won’t sink too far into the mattress.
- Transition Layer – The anti-sinkage is aided by the next layer of soft conventional foam, which has an adaptive response and provides additional support.
- Base Layer – Finally, the base layer is made of high-density foam that establishes a foundational durability. This bottom support layer also has a mattress cover to prevent slippage on the bed frame.
Layla
The Layla mattress is a flippable bed with both a soft and a firm side. But no matter which side you use, the top and bottom layers are always going to consist of copper-infused memory foam surrounding interior sections of poly foam. We’ll go over both configurations in the bullet points below.
- Cover – The Layla cover has a cozy, plus feel to it that comes from a thick polyester blend.
- Comfort Layer – If you’re sleeping with the soft side flipped up, the comfort layer is made up of three inches of copper-infused memory foam. You’ll get a good deal of body-contouring and sinkage due to the foam’s slow response to pressure. Flip the mattress over to the firm side and you’ll find one inch of the same foam. Because there’s less of it, it results in less sinkage and contouring, with more of an on-top-of-the-bed feel.
- Transition Layer – For the soft side, the transition layer consists of poly foam. This further assists in curbing any deep sinkage, thus transitioning the sleeper to the firmer base materials beneath it. If you’re sleeping on the firm side of the mattress, the transition layer is a thicker layer of high-density poly foam, resulting in even sturdier support.
- Base Layer – Once again, both orientations conclude with a layer of copper-infused memory foam. On the soft side, this final layer is one inch thick and on the firm side, it’s three inches thick. It all depends on how much support you want at the bottom of the bed. Needless to say, you’ll get a lot more support from the firm side’s three inches than the soft side’s one inch.
Brand vs Brand: Best Qualities
We’ve gone over a lot today, so now the big question: which mattress should you buy?
Below are some features to help you decide which bed might be best for your specific needs.
Nectar Best Features
- The Nectar has more sinkage and contouring for anyone who wants some firmness while still getting that classic memory foam feel.
- This might sound small, but Nectar has a 365-day trial period that, when compared to Layla’s 120 days, might be a good fit for more cautious or hesitant buyers.
- The Nectar is by far the cheaper of the two mattresses, so it might be the better fit for anyone keeping budget front-of-mind.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. I dreaded paying for a new mattress but my old one was 15 years old…buying a Nectar was the best choice I could have made! It is so comfortable and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. I would absolutely recommend this mattress to anyone!
The original Nectar mattress is a pressure-relieving, yet supportive, bed. It’s made with a thick layer of therapeutic memory foam, which offers sleepers plenty of support and decent body contouring.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. I dreaded paying for a new mattress but my old one was 15 years old…buying a Nectar was the best choice I could have made! It is so comfortable and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. I would absolutely recommend this mattress to anyone!
The original Nectar mattress is a pressure-relieving, yet supportive, bed. It’s made with a thick layer of therapeutic memory foam, which offers sleepers plenty of support and decent body contouring.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. I dreaded paying for a new mattress but my old one was 15 years old…buying a Nectar was the best choice I could have made! It is so comfortable and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. I would absolutely recommend this mattress to anyone!
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Layla Best Features
- There’s no getting around it — Layla offers a more versatile sleeping experience, with its firm side catering to back sleepers and its soft side catering to side sleepers.
- Both mattresses have good motion isolation, but the Layla scores just a bit higher here and might be better for light sleepers who share the bed with a pet or partner.
- Anyone who likes their mattress just a little bit firmer might want to go with the Layla, as its firm side scored just a bit higher on the firmness scale than the Nectar.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Layla is an all-foam, flippable bed featuring both a “Soft” and “Firm” side. It’s also built with copper-infused memory foam, which brings some pleasant cooling power to this versatile slumber party.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Layla is an all-foam, flippable bed featuring both a “Soft” and “Firm” side. It’s also built with copper-infused memory foam, which brings some pleasant cooling power to this versatile slumber party.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Layla Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Layla Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Layla Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Comparing Company Policies
Nectar Policies
- Trial Period – 365-night trial
- Shipping – Free shipping
- Mattress Warranty – Lifetime warranty
Layla Policies
- Trial Period – 120-night trial
- Shipping – Free shipping
- Mattress Warranty – Lifetime warranty
Comparing Nectar and Layla Customer Service
Let’s take a moment to look at each brand’s customer service team. I’ll give them a score of Stellar, Great, Satisfactory, or Poor based on my interaction with each team.
Nectar Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating
- Stellar: Nectar has an informative and easily navigable customer service page, bolstered by a comprehensive list of FAQs. They also list out the various ways you can get in touch with them, including email, phone, and chat, as well as which hours of the week all of those methods are available. I contacted them via chat during business hours and was able to quickly resolve my issue.
Layla Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating
- Great: While Layla also clearly displayed their contact information (namely their phone number and email address), they didn’t have a true chat function. I was able to submit my question via Zendesk late at night and got a response early the next morning. So the response was still fast.
Comparing Other Models from Nectar and Layla
Nectar Premier
- A plus counterpart to the Original firm mattress, the Nectar Premier’s layers of memory foam comprise a mix of gel memory foam, Energex foam, and high-density poly foam.
- At a 6 on the firmness scale, the Nectar Premier has a great deal of contouring and pain relief for side sleepers.
- Intrigued? Check out the full Nectar Premier mattress review for more info.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. After looking for three years and trying three different types of mattresses, we found the one that is just right. Our Nectar mattress is just firm enough yet cozy and comfy too. I no longer wake up with my hips and lower back hurting and my husband’s neck pain is gone. If you’ve been searching for the perfect mattress, this is it!
The Nectar Premier mattress is a medium-soft memory foam mattress, making it a great fit for side sleepers or those who deal with shoulder or hip pain. It also sleeps very cool, an added bonus!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. After looking for three years and trying three different types of mattresses, we found the one that is just right. Our Nectar mattress is just firm enough yet cozy and comfy too. I no longer wake up with my hips and lower back hurting and my husband’s neck pain is gone. If you’ve been searching for the perfect mattress, this is it!
The Nectar Premier mattress is a medium-soft memory foam mattress, making it a great fit for side sleepers or those who deal with shoulder or hip pain. It also sleeps very cool, an added bonus!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. After looking for three years and trying three different types of mattresses, we found the one that is just right. Our Nectar mattress is just firm enough yet cozy and comfy too. I no longer wake up with my hips and lower back hurting and my husband’s neck pain is gone. If you’ve been searching for the perfect mattress, this is it!
Nectar Premier Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-soft: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Premier Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Premier Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-soft: 6/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Layla Hybrid
- Layla’s Hybrid mattress boasts a combination of the copper-infused memory foam and an innerspring network of pocketed coils. This makes for a bouncier and even more supported structure.
- Like the Layla Original, the Hybrid is flippable, with the firmer side geared more toward back sleepers and the soft side exceptionally suited for side sleepers with its deep sinkage and pressure relief.
- For more info, mosey on over to our full Layla Hybrid mattress review.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Built with layers of copper-infused memory foam and springy pocketed coils, the Layla Hybrid is designed to soothe aches and pains while keeping you positioned squarely on top of the bed. An added bonus, it's flippable!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Built with layers of copper-infused memory foam and springy pocketed coils, the Layla Hybrid is designed to soothe aches and pains while keeping you positioned squarely on top of the bed. An added bonus, it's flippable!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Layla Hybrid Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Layla Hybrid Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Layla Hybrid Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight, average weight, and heavyweight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options