Nectar vs Tuft & Needle Mattress Review

Nectar and Tuft & Needle are two of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattresses in the game. These mattresses are both constructed entirely of foam and have a medium-firm feel that leans a bit softer. With similar construction and feel, how do you pick which one is right for you?

In this comparison, I’ll break down these mattresses’ firmness, how it feels to sleep on them, and the type of sleeper they’re ideal for. I’ll also perform a series of tests to evaluate their cooling abilities, pressure relief, motion isolation, and more.

Short on time? Skip down to my review summary.

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle

	Nectar Mattress	Tuft & Needle Mattress
Rating	4.5	4.0
Firmness	Medium-firm: 6.5/10	Firm: 7/10
Material	Foam	Foam
Cooling	—	—
Best For	Back Sleepers, Back Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples	Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers
	Check Price	Check Price

Here’s a brief overview of the strong points of the Nectar and Tuft & Needle.

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle Comparison Video

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle: Top Similarities 

• Sleeping position: Both mattresses are great for back sleepers.
• Cooling: Both mattresses sleep quite cool and could be good choices for hot sleepers.
• Construction: The Nectar and Tuft & Needle are both all-foam mattresses.

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle: Top Differences 

• Edge support: The Tuft & Needle has stronger edge support than the Nectar.
• Motion transfer: The Nectar had better motion transfer results, so it’s better for anyone sharing the bed with their partner or pet.
• Layers: The Nectar is constructed with three layers of foam, and the Tuft & Needle is constructed with two layers of foam.

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle: Construction & Feel Differences 

Now that we’ve covered the main similarities and differences, let’s jump into how the Nectar and Tuft & Needle actually feel. To do this, our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches test these mattresses for different feel factors, such as firmness, pressure relief, bounce, and sinkage.

Before we start, it’s important to note that all of these factors are inherently subjective, and they can change a lot depending on one’s body size, shape, and weight.

What’s the Firmness Difference?

Every sleeper is going to experience firmness a little differently (depending on body shape, size, weight, and your preferred sleeping positions), so we always have multiple Certified Sleep Science Coaches test out each mattress. Once we’ve each given it a feel, we share our personal firmness ratings and then average the scores for a final firmness rating. We rate our mattresses on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Our industry standard rating for a true medium-firm mattress is 6.5 out of 10.

We gave the Nectar a score of 6 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale. As I mentioned earlier, a 6.5 classifies a medium-firm mattress, so the Nectar is just a touch softer. Coincidentally, the Tuft and Needle also lands at a 6 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale. Both mattresses are constructed entirely of foam, so they have that classic memory foam feel. Although they’re on the softer side, they’re still firm enough to be supportive.

What Does Each Mattress Feel Like?  

You now know where these mattresses fall on our firmness scale; both the Nectar and Tuft & Needle scored a 6 out of 10. But what do these numbers really mean? What do these mattresses feel like when lying down on them?

When laying down on the Nectar, I immediately felt some great sinkage from the top layers of foam. Since this mattress contains gel memory foam, it was able to adapt and contour to the curves of my body and sink under my weight. The bottom layer of high-density support foam prevented me from sinking in too far and gave the mattress an overall balanced feeling. I could see back sleepers or folk with back pain really appreciating the support from these foam layers, as they’re soft yet sturdy. I definitely felt more “in” the mattress than “on” the mattress, so combination sleepers might find it more difficult to move around and switch sleeping positions.

I thought the Tuft & Needle had a nice and plush feel when I initially laid down. The mattress’s design is quite simple, with just two layers of thick foam, so I was surprised by how supported I felt. I felt a lot of body contouring and sinkage around my hips, and the rest of my body felt quite lifted up. I really liked how the foam filled in the space near my lower back, and I could see people struggling with back pain finding a lot of relief here.

How Does The Construction Differ?

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle Per Body Type

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle Comparing Mattress Performance

Our team of Sleepopolis Certified Sleep Science Coaches put every mattress we review through a series of tests. These tests help give us an objective view of who these mattresses could be good for, as well as what it’s like to actually sleep on them. Below, I’ll discuss how the Nectar and Tuft & Needle performed on tests like cooling, motion transfer, edge support, and more.

Temperature

When it comes to cooling, memory foam mattresses are notorious for trapping heat and not having a ton of airflow. Since Nectar is an all-foam mattress, I was skeptical of its cooling abilities. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how cool the Nectar slept. The layer of gel-infused foam definitely puts in a lot of work to keep the mattress from overheating, and I think this mattress sleeps cooler than a traditional memory foam mattress. I also tested cooling using a thermal gun, which measures how much the mattress heats up after laying on it for 15 minutes. The Nectar only heated up 5.2 degrees, which indicates good cooling.

Like the Nectar, the Tuft & Needle is an all-foam mattress, so I had low expectations for its cooling. However, the cooling gel and graphite-infused layer helps a lot with cooling. I used the thermal gun on this mattress too, and found that the temperature only increased by 6 degrees after laying on it for 15 minutes. These are satisfactory results and indicate that the Tuft & Needle is a decent choice for hot sleepers. For more cooling mattresses, check out our best cooling mattress roundup.

Motion Isolation

If you share your bed with someone else, you may find yourself being woken up by their movement on the other side of the bed. A mattress with low motion transfer can isolate motion and prevent you from feeling it on your side. We determine motion isolation using a human test, a wine test, and a seismometer test.

I first tested motion isolation on the Nectar by laying down on it and having my colleague move around on the other side. I could barely feel any rippling, and the thick layers of foam did a great job absorbing motion. I also placed a full glass of wine on the mattress and then rolled around. The liquid inside the glass barely moved at all, which indicates low motion transfer. Finally, I dropped a 10-pound steel ball from three different heights and used a seismometer to measure the disturbance. On the graph, you can see small lines and not a ton of spiking. These are great motion transfer results, and I don’t think you’ll be disturbed by a partner’s motion while sleeping on the Nectar.

I performed the same human test on the Tuft & Needle. When my colleague first got onto the mattress, I could feel it. But when he was tossing and turning on the bed, I couldn’t feel much movement at all. The wine test was also very impressive — the wine had very minimal movement even though my colleague and I were moving around a lot on the other side of the bed. Based on these results, I thought the Tuft & Needle had really good motion isolation. I was surprised by the seismometer results, as the lines on the graph were larger and there were quite a lot of spikes. Overall, I think regular tossing and turning shouldn’t cause too much disturbance, but larger movements like getting in and out of bed might wake you up.

Edge Support

A mattress with great edge support will be just as sturdy along the perimeter as it is in the center. Having strong edge support can prevent a mattress from sagging prematurely. You can also spread out and sleep right near the edges, which can make the mattress feel bigger, which can be appealing to couples.

Pressure Relief

We test pressure relief by rolling a specialized mat onto the surface of the mattress and then laying on it in different sleep positions. The mat senses pressure buildup and translates the results into a graphic using thermal imaging. Areas showing blue to green indicate low pressure, and areas with yellow to red indicate high pressure.

As you can see on the graphic above, the Nectar has mostly blue and green, which indicates good pressure relief. The foam layers offer plenty of sinkage, which helps cradle sensitive joints and areas prone to pressure buildup (like the back, hips, and shoulders). A softer mattress like the Nectar is typically pretty good at relieving pressure in these areas, and I was happy with these results.

The Tuft & Needle pressure map is mostly blue and green, especially when back sleeping. I think back sleeping is the best position for pressure relief on this mattress, as the foam layers do a good job of filling in the lumbar region. There’s a bit of pressure buildup around the hips and shoulders, so side sleepers may need an even softer mattress to combat this.

Pain Relief

The pressure maps above can indicate how well these mattresses alleviate pain. When there’s low pressure buildup in a specific area, it’s a good indication that you won’t experience pain. 

I think the Nectar mattress can help relieve back pain, especially for back sleepers. The foam gently cradles the lumbar region and prevents pressure from building up. I also like the Nectar for any sleeper with shoulder pain, as it offers a ton of sinkage that can help with stiffness in this area. I think this mattress can also help prevent hip pain, but people with severe pre-existing hip pain may need an even plusher mattress that offers extra cushioning.

Like the Nectar, I think the Tuft & Needle is an excellent choice for preventing back pain. This mattress helps keep the spine in neutral alignment, especially when back sleeping. I think this bed feels a little bit firmer when side sleeping, so I suggest side sleepers opt for a softer mattress to avoid pain in the shoulder and hip region.

Durability

When we assess durability, we take a peek at the mattress’s construction and examine the quality of the materials. We also take edge support into consideration, as this can indicate whether the mattress is prone to sagging. Warranty can also help predict durability, as it shows how long the company expects the mattress to last. However this is a less important factor to consider.

As you’ve learned, the Nectar is constructed with three layers of foam. The bottom seven inches of high-density support foam is the foundation for this mattress’s durability. This layer helps keep the mattress strong and stable and prevents the mattress from collapsing over time. All Nectar foams are also CertiPUR-US certified, which adds credit to their durability. Nectar offers a lifetime warranty, so the company is confident in its ability to withstand the test of time.

However, the lack of edge support in this mattress is concerning, and I feel like premature sagging may be an issue. 

The Tuft & Needle has two layers of foam, with the base layer doing most of the work when it comes to durability. That layer of high-density poly foam establishes a strong foundation and helps keep the mattress sturdy. These foams are also all CertiPUR-US certified, so they should be made from durable and long-lasting materials that are free from toxins and other chemicals. The edge support on the Tuft & Needle is just okay, so it may sag over time. The mattress has a 10-year warranty, so it may not last for decades.

Company Policies

Nectar Policies

• Trial period – 365-night sleep trial
• Shipping – Free shipping
• Mattress Warranty – Lifetime warranty

Tuft & Needle Policies

• Trial period – 100-night sleep trial
• Shipping – Free shipping minus HI and AK
• Mattress Warranty – 10-year limited warranty

Nectar Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating

• Stellar: The Nectar website has a super-informative customer service page that’s easy to navigate and includes an extensive FAQ page. They have multiple ways to reach a consumer service representative, including phone, email, and chat features. The chat feature was also easy to use, and I was immediately able to talk to an informed agent. The agent was very kind and professional and seemed like a true Nectar expert. My questions were answered quickly and accurately, and my representative ensured that all my questions were answered before we disconnected.

Tuft & Needle Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating

• Stellar: Tuft & Needle has a variety of customer service options listed on their support page, including a FAQ, a contact form, and a phone number that’s open every day during business hours. I called the number and was able to get in touch with a representative straight away. The representative was friendly and helped answer all of my questions. The representative even offered to stay on the line and help me place an order.

Comparing Nectar vs Tuft & Needle Price

Pricing is important when purchasing any new mattress. With these two beds, there isn’t too much of a difference. In fact, they often appear on our Best Mattresses Under $1,000 list. Take a look at the pricing chart below to see which is the best fit for you. Be sure to use our Nectar coupon codes to get the best bang for your buck when selecting an online mattress.

Prices listed will be before discount or offer for each size.

Other Nectar and Tuft & Needle Mattress Comparisons

Nectar vs

• Nectar vs Casper
• Nectar vs Purple
• Nectar vs DreamCloud
• Nectar vs Ghostbed
• Nectar vs Layla
• Nectar vs Lull
• Nectar vs Puffy
• Nectar vs Leesa

Tuft & Needle vs

• Tuft & Needle vs Casper
• Tuft & Needle vs Purple 
• Tuft & Needle vs Puffy
• Tuft & Needle vs Tempur-Pedic
• Tuft & Needle vs Casper vs Leesa vs Saatva
• Tuft & Needle vs Yogabed
• Tuft & Needle vs eLuxurySupply

Comparing Other Mattress Models

Nectar vs Tuft & Needle Frequently Asked Questions

Our Final Take

Carley Prendergast

Carley is a former Staff Writer at Sleepopolis. She is a Certified Sleep Science Coach who wrote news, sleep health content, and managed our newsletter.