Saatva and Tempur-Pedic are two well-known mattress brands on the market today. Both brands offer various models, so it can be hard to choose which is best for you. To help narrow down your search, I’m going to compare the Saatva Classic mattress to the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud mattress. These beds embody what each brand does best, so they are great starting points in your mattress-buying journey.
Below, I’ll cover these mattresses’ constructions, how it feels to sleep on them, and how they performed on tests such as cooling, motion isolation, and pain relief. I’ll also highlight which sleepers may love these mattresses, and who might want to look elsewhere.
Short on time? Skip down to my review summary.
Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick overview of the strong points of the Saatva Classic and TEMPUR-Cloud, as well as which type of sleepers are best suited for them.
Saatva Classic vs TEMPUR-Cloud
Product
Firmness
Score
Saatva Classic vs TEMPUR-Cloud
| Saatva is best for… | TEMPUR-Cloud is best for… |
| Hot sleepers | Couples |
| Seniors | Back pain |
| Combination sleepers | Back sleepers |
Saatva vs TEMPUR-Cloud: Top Similarities
- Pressure relief: Both of these mattresses do an excellent job of relieving pressure and offering nice cushioning
- Sleeping position: Both mattresses are great for back sleepers.
- Quality: Both mattress brands are well-respected in the sleep space and create beds with high-quality materials
Saatva vs TEMPUR-Cloud: Top Differences
- Construction: The Saatva is a hybrid mattress that includes steel coils, and the TEMPUR-Cloud is an all-foam mattress.
- Policies: The Saatva comes with a longer sleep trial and warranty.
- Price: The TEMPUR-Cloud is a bit more expensive than the Saatva Classic.
Saatva vs TEMPUR-Cloud: Construction & Feel Differences
Now that you know the quick hits on each mattress, I’ll go in-depth into how these mattresses feel. I’ll note that the Saatva Classic is offered in three different firmness levels. For the purposes of this review, I’ll be discussing the Luxury Firm Saatva Classic. Keep in mind that feel is subjective, and a bed’s feel can vary depending on your body weight, type, and preferred sleeping position.
What’s the Firmness Difference?
Firmness can be tricky to describe because it really depends on the sleeper. What feels soft to a heavy sleeper may feel very firm to a lightweight sleeper. To provide the most accurate firmness score, we have multiple Sleepopolis Certified Sleep Science Coaches lay on the mattress and rate it from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Our industry standard for a medium-firm mattress falls at a 6.5 out of 10. We then calculate the average of everyone’s scores to create our final firmness score.
We rated the Luxury Firm model of the Saatva a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning it’s a true medium-firm mattress. The firm feel comes from the coil-on-coil construction, which offers quite a bit of support.
We gave the TEMPUR-Cloud a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, so this mattress leans a bit firmer than average. We can credit the TEMPUR-Cloud’s firmness to its base layer of high-density poly foam.
What Does Each Mattress Feel Like?
You now know where these mattresses fall on our firmness scale: the Saatva is a 6.5 out of 10 and the TEMPUR-Cloud is a 7 out of 10. But what do these numbers mean in terms of feel? What will you experience when you lay on these mattresses?
The Saatva’s feel largely comes from its coil-on-coil construction. The mattress has a plush pillow top, so you’ll find a bit of cushioning and comfort immediately upon laying down. The coils prevent you from sinking too far into the mattress, and you’ll feel more “on” the mattress than “in” the mattress. The layer of zoned support foam in between the coil layers should make the mattress firmer in certain areas and plusher in others for ultimate pressure relief in all the right places. The coils add buoyancy to the mattress, so you should be able to switch sleeping positions and move around easily.
The layers of foam in the TEMPUR-Cloud make for a firm yet contouring mattress. The plush memory foam helps the mattress live up to its “cloud” reputation and adds gentle pressure relief. The top layers of foam are quite soft, but this feel is rounded out by the firmer high-density poly foam below. The comfort layer feels and acts like memory foam and has a slow response to pressure, which allows for deep body contouring at the shoulders, hips, and lower back.
How Does The Construction Differ?
Saatva vs TEMPUR-Cloud Per Body Type
Saatva
| Body Weight | Side | Back | Stomach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (under 130lbs) |
unpleasant | good | good |
| Average (130-250lbs) |
good | excellent | good |
| Heavy (over 250lbs) |
unpleasant | excellent | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Light (under 130lbs) | |
|---|---|
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | good |
| Stomach Sleeper | good |
| Body Weight: Average (130-150lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | good |
| Back Sleeper | excellent |
| Stomach Sleeper | good |
| Body Weight: Heavy (over 250lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | excellent |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
TEMPUR-Cloud
| Body Weight | Side | Back | Stomach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (under 130lbs) |
excellent | excellent | unpleasant |
| Average (130-250lbs) |
excellent | excellent | unpleasant |
| Heavy (over 250lbs) |
unpleasant | unpleasant | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Light (under 130lbs) | |
|---|---|
| Side Sleeper | excellent |
| Back Sleeper | excellent |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Average (130-150lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | excellent |
| Back Sleeper | excellent |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Heavy (over 250lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
Saatva vs TEMPUR-Cloud Comparing Mattress Performance
Here at Sleepopolis, our team of 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 sleep on them every night. Below, I’ll discuss how the Saatva and TEMPUR-Cloud performed on tests like cooling, motion transfer, edge support, and more.
Temperature
I was super impressed with the cooling abilities of the Saatva mattress. The Saatva is an innerspring mattress with two layers of coils, so there is a lot of space for air to flow through the layers and prevent heat from getting trapped. This mattress felt quite cool when laying on it, and I would consider it one of the best cooling mattresses.
All-foam mattresses have a reputation for trapping heat, and the TEMPUR-Cloud is unfortunately no exception. This mattress didn’t feel as airy as the Saatva, and I wouldn’t recommend it to hot sleepers due to the likelihood of overheating.
Motion Isolation
If you share the bed with someone else, you may wake up at night due to their tossing and turning or getting in and out of bed. When a bed has low motion transfer, it’s able to absorb movement and prevent it from traveling to the other side of the bed. We test motion transfer by dropping a 10-pound steel ball onto the mattress from gradually increasing heights. A seismometer is used to measure the disturbance, and the results are displayed on a graph. The bigger the lines, the more motion you’re likely to feel.
When looking at the Saatva’s seismometer graph, we can see large spikes, which indicates poor motion isolation. An innerspring mattress like the Saatva tends to have a lot of bounce, so it’s not surprising that this bed isn’t great at hiding movement. These aren’t the worst results I’ve ever seen, but they’re certainly not the best. If you sleep with a partner or pet, you’re likely to feel their movement on the other side of the bed, especially if you’re a light sleeper.
As you can see on the TEMPUR-Cloud’s seismometer graph, the lines are quite small. These are excellent motion transfer results, and I’m impressed by how well the mattress absorbed movement. If you share the bed, you shouldn’t be too disturbed by any motion from the other side of the mattress. I think this mattress could be good for couples, especially if one or both partners sleep lightly.
Edge Support
Edge support refers to the support and stability around the perimeter of the mattress. A mattress with strong edge support will feel just as stable when laying near the edge as it does in the center. This element can correlate to the mattress’s durability and indicate whether it’s prone to premature sagging. A mattress with strong edge support is also appealing to couples, as it allows them to spread out and use the entire surface of the mattress, which can make the bed feel bigger.
I was happy with the edge support on the Saatva. This mattress uses a reinforced edge support system that combines coils and firm polyfoam. The mattress sank less than an inch when sitting on the edge, which indicates fantastic edge support. I was able to lay near the edges without feeling like I was about to fall off.
The edge support on the TEMPUR-Cloud was just okay. All-foam mattresses tend to have less sturdy borders than those with coils, so I wasn’t surprised by these results. The perimeter felt a bit unstable, and I could feel myself sinking a lot when sitting and lying on the edge. The mattress is definitely more supportive near the center.
Pressure Relief
We test pressure relief by rolling a specialized mat onto the mattress and laying on it in different sleeping positions. The mat is able to sense pressure and translate the results into a graphic using thermal imaging. Areas with blues and greens indicate low pressure build up, and areas with reds and yellows indicate high pressure build up.
As you can see, the Saatva’s pressure map is composed entirely of blue and green, which indicates great pressure relief. I especially like seeing all that blue in the back region. There’s a tiny bit of green at the hips and shoulders, but this pressure buildup isn’t too concerning.
I was really happy with how the TEMPUR-Cloud relieved pressure at the back and shoulders, especially when sleeping on my back and side. I also felt pressure relief in the hips when sleeping in these positions. Stomach sleeping was the only position where I didn’t feel pressure relief. These sleepers may need a firmer, sturdier mattress to lift the hips and lower back and prevent pressure from building.
Pain Relief
The pressure map results can help predict whether you’re likely to experience pain in specific areas. When there’s a lot of pressure building in one region, it’s a safe guess that you’ll start to feel pain there over time, especially if you’re already prone to pain in that area.
I think the Saatva does a great job of relieving pain at the back, and folk struggling with back pain should really like this mattress. There’s a small amount of pressure building at the hips and shoulders, but I don’t foresee this being a problem for most sleepers. However, if you struggle with tension in either of these areas, you may want to check out our best mattress for hip pain or best mattress for shoulder pain instead.
The TEMPUR-Cloud is a great choice for people with back joint pain or side sleepers with shoulder pain. This soft mattress is able to cradle those pressure points and prevent pressure from building. However, I don’t recommend this mattress to stomach sleepers with back or hip pain. I think the hips would sink too far into the foam, which would throw the spine out of proper alignment. I’d steer stomach sleepers towards one of our best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
Durability
We assess durability by evaluating the mattress’s construction and materials. If a mattress has solid construction and high-quality materials, it will likely last a long time. Edge support can also be a durability factor, as it can prevent premature sagging. Warranty can also be a good indicator, as it shows how confident the company is in the longevity of their product.
The Saatva is an extremely durable mattress. Not only does this mattress have coils, it has two layers of coils for extra support. We gave the Saatva 5 stars in the materials, support, and edge support categories, so we’re confident in this bed’s durability. It seems that Saatva is also confident in this mattress’s durability, as it comes with a lifetime warranty.
The TEMPUR-Cloud is made with high-quality foams, but I found it less durable than the Saatva. The lack of edge support is a bit concerning, and I could see this mattress sagging over time. This isn’t surprising, since all-foam mattresses don’t contain sturdy coils like innerspring and hybrid mattresses do. The TEMPUR-Cloud comes with a 10-year warranty, which is pretty good, but also indicates that it may not last a lifetime.
Company Policies
Saatva Policies
- Trial period – 365-night sleep trial
- Shipping – Free white glove delivery
- Mattress Warranty – Lifetime warranty
Tempur-Pedic Policies
- Trial period – 90-night sleep trial
- Shipping – Free shipping
- Mattress Warranty – 10-year warranty
Saatva Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating
- Satisfactory: I gave Saatva a Satisfactory rating. When I used their site’s chat function it took close to 15 minutes to connect with a representative and get an answer. Although the Saatva representative was very helpful, the wait was too long to earn a higher rating. I also considered several customer reviews that mentioned delayed delivery times and slow customer service responses. However, Saatva offers free white glove delivery, and many customers were pleased with this service and liked that they didn’t have to worry about setting up the mattress themselves.
Tempur-Pedic Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating
- Stellar: I gave Tempur-Pedic a Stellar rating because I was immediately connected to a helpful representative when using the site’s chat function. The website’s chat feature also clearly listed different phone numbers for various departments, and I appreciated that I could connect with whatever team I required assistance from. Tempur-Pedic even has a dedicated line of sleep experts to help you choose a mattress model.
Comparing Saatva vs TEMPUR-CloudPrice
Price is an important factor when deciding between two mattress companies. The TEMPUR-Cloud is a bit more expensive than the Saatva. Take a look at the chart below to compare prices and sizes, and be sure to check out our Saatva mattress coupon page or Tempur-Pedic mattress coupon page for deals.
Prices listed will be before discounts or offers for each size.
| Size | Saatva | TEMPUR-Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $887 | $1,699 |
| Twin XL | $1,087 | $1,699 |
| Full | $1,474 | $949 |
| Queen | $1,574 | $1,999 |
| King | $1,974 | $2,399 |
| California King | $2,174 | $2,399 |
Saatva Classic vs TEMPUR-Cloud
Product
Firmness
Score
Saatva Classic vs TEMPUR-Cloud
Other Saatva and Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparisons
Saatva vs
- Saatva vs Purple
- Saatva vs DreamCloud
- Saatva vs Aireloom
- Saatva vs Allswell
- Saatva vs Loom and Leaf
- Saatva vs. WinkBeds
- Saatva vs Casper
- Saatva vs Simmons Beautyrest Black
- Saatva vs Avocado
Tempur-Pedic vs
- Tempur-Pedic vs Purple
- Tempur-Pedic vs Tuft & Needle
- Tempur-Pedic vs Amerisleep
- Tempur-Pedic vs Leesa
- Tempur-Pedic vs Casper
- Tempur-Pedic vs Loom & Leaf
- Tempur-Pedic vs Aireloom
Comparing Other Mattress Models
Comparing Other Mattress Models
Product
Firmness
Score
Comparing Other Mattress Models
Product
Loom & Leaf MattressFirmness
Multiple firmness optionsScore
Product
Saatva Latex Hybrid MattressFirmness
Firm: 7.5/10Score
Saatva vs TEMPUR-Cloud Frequently Asked Questions
How do the Saatva and TEMPUR-Cloud ship?
Both mattresses ship for free. Saatva offers free white glove delivery. Tempur-Pedic offers white glove service, but the TEMPUR-Cloud does not qualify for their white glove delivery.
What are the return policies for the Saatva and TEMPUR-Cloud?
Tempur-Pedic allows returns after 30 days, but will not accept returns after the 90-night sleep trial ends. Saatva accepts returns within their 365-night trial period, but you’ll have to pay a $99 processing fee.
What is a sleep trial?
A sleep trial is the number of days a company allows you to try out a mattress before returning it. In this case, Saatva allows customers to sleep on their mattresses for up to 365 nights before becoming ineligible for returns. Tempur-Pedic has a shorter sleep trial of 90 nights.
Are the Saatva and TEMPUR-Cloud good for hot sleepers?
The Saatva is an excellent cooling mattress and can be a great choice for sleepers that tend to overheat at night. The TEMPUR-Cloud is less cooling, and we don’t recommend it to hot sleepers.
Is the TEMPUR-Cloud firmer than the Saatva?
Yes, the TEMPUR-Cloud is slightly firmer than the Saatva. The TEMPUR-Cloud falls at a 7 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest, meaning it leans firm. The Saatva falls at a 6.5 out of 10, so it’s a true medium-firm mattress.
Our Final Take
As we wrap up the review, I’d like to highlight my favorite things about the Saatva mattress, as well as some of my complaints.
As the review comes to an end, I’d like to leave you with some mattress highlights and a few shortcomings.
Our Review Process
Our Sleepopolis reviewers 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. Jump back to our mattress picks.
