Saatva Contour5 Mattress Review

Written by Kenny Timper, Staff Writer

Our Methodology

Our Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 300 mattresses in our lab, testing each one on its materials, comfort, cooling, support, and other categories.
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In This Review

I’ll be sharing my experience with the Saatva Contour5 memory foam mattress. This bed features gel-infused memory foam and breathable materials to help keep things cool at night while molding to your body. I think this bed could work for most back sleepers, combination sleepers, and couples.

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It’s not unusual to see mattress brands claim that their offerings are the best thing since sliced bread. In this case, Saatva boldly declares their Contour5 is “the world’s most luxurious memory foam mattress.” As someone who’s spent hours in the lab testing more memory foam beds than most people will touch in their lifetime, I couldn’t resist putting this claim to the test.

The Contour5 promises to mold to your body like a dream, all while keeping you cool and supported. But does it deliver on these promises, or is it just another marketing pitch?

In this review, I’ll peel back the layers (literally) of the Contour5, from its plush 5 lb memory foam to its innovative cooling tech, to uncover if this mattress truly lives up to the brand’s extravagant claims.

Read on to get all the details about the Saatva Contour5 and to see if this mattress is right for you.

Short on time? Skip down to my review summary!

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Overview

After putting the Saatva Contour5 through its paces, I found it holds up remarkably well against the brand’s bold claims. The Contour5 provides a classic memory foam feel and features gel-infused foam that offers excellent pressure relief and support. This mattress also incorporates cooling airflow channels and breathable materials to help regulate temperature throughout the night. The Contour5 is available in two different comfort levels: medium and firm. I tested the medium model.

During my testing, the Contour5 impressed with its solid performance across key areas. I gave it high marks for materials quality, support, cooling capabilities, and edge support. Overall, I think this mattress is a great choice for most average weight sleepers seeking a balance of comfort and support in a memory foam mattress. However, light sleepers and heavier sleepers may want to look elsewhere.

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Review Video

Want to see the Saatva Contour5 in action before digging into the full review? Check out Nichole’s video review to watch her perform specialized tests on the Contour5. In the video, she rates the bed in categories such as cooling, support, materials, and more to help buyers like you make an informed decision.

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What Is the Saatva Contour5 Mattress Made Of? 

The Contour5 is a luxurious, cooling all-foam mattress from Saatva designed to support your body with a classic memory foam feel. This mattress is available in two comfort levels: medium and firm, providing options for those who prefer a more supportive feel and those who enjoy a softer, more plush experience. Let’s take a closer look under the hood of the Contour5 below.

Cover – The Contour5’s cover is made with naturally breathable and hypoallergenic organic cotton to help cool things down at night. While I did not think the cover was cool to the touch, I found it super soft and comfortable when testing this mattress.

Comfort Layer – The Contour5’s comfort layer features 3 inches of gel-infused memory foam to provide body contouring, pressure relief, and support. The airflow channels in the memory foam also help with cooling. After thoroughly testing the Contour5, I can confidently say it won’t get as hot as other all-foam beds. However, extra toasty sleepers may still prefer an innerspring or hybrid mattress for a cooler night’s sleep.

Transition Layer – The transition layer is available in two firmness options: medium and firm. I had the pleasure of testing out the medium option. This 2” loft layer transitions pressure between the comfort layers and the denser support foam base at the bottom.

Support Layer – The Contour5’s 6” high-density foam support layer helps improve the bed’s overall edge support and overall stability and durability. At different points in the testing process, I found myself lying on the edge of the bed and never felt like I was going to fall off or that I needed more support.

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Firmness 

Before I dig into the firmness and feel of the Contour5, it’s important to note that firmness is subjective. A mattress will feel firmer or softer to different sleepers depending on their body weight, shape, and preferred sleeping position. 

To get a better understanding of how firm the Saatva Contour5 feels, I invited a colleague to try out the mattress and give it a firmness rating between 1 and 10. For reference, the industry standard is 6.5 out of 10, or medium-firm.

This mattress has a true medium-firm feel, which can be hard to find in a memory foam bed. When I tested the Saatva Contour5, my hips sank in a little more than the rest of my body. However, I still felt lifted and didn’t feel like I was sinking in too much. While I didn’t feel particularly cradled by this mattress, my colleague thought differently, noting that she felt the mattress contouring her body.

I gave this mattress a 6.5 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale, meaning it’s right at the industry average. The Contour5 is a solid choice for sleepers who want the memory foam feel without compromising support.

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 takeaway, 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 Saatva Contour5 a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?

• Light Back Sleepers –  I think this bed could work for most light back sleepers. These sleepers are likely going to think this bed is on the firmer side, meaning they should have plenty of support without sinking into the bed much.
• Light Side Sleepers – I would not recommend this mattress to light side sleepers. This bed will probably be too firm for these sleepers, especially those with sensitive joints. Light side sleepers should opt for a softer mattress with more body contouring. Check out some of our best mattresses for side sleepers to get a better idea of what might work for you.
• Light Stomach Sleepers – Light stomach sleepers should have no trouble at all sleeping on the Saatva Contour5. I think these sleepers will find plenty of support on this mattress.

Is the Saatva Contour5 a Good Mattress for Average Weight Sleepers (130–250 pounds)?

• Average Weight Back Sleepers – Most average weight back sleepers should have a great experience sleeping on the Saatva Contour5. My colleague, a back sleeper who experiences chronic back pain, noted that she felt fantastic pressure relief in her lower lumbar area while testing this mattress.
• Average Weight Side Sleepers – This mattress should work well for most side sleepers. While testing this mattress on my side, I felt it contour to my hips more than the rest of my body, so people with sensitive shoulders and elbows may still need a softer bed.
• Average Weight Stomach Sleepers – I think most average weight stomach sleepers shouldn’t have any trouble falling asleep on this mattress. As someone who falls into this category myself, I found that my body remained lifted and my spine stayed perfectly aligned while testing the Contour5.

Is the Saatva Contour5 a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 250 pounds)?

• Heavy Back Sleepers – I don’t think this bed is supportive enough for most heavy back sleepers. These sleepers will likely sink into the foams more and will not get the support they need through the night. However, heavy back sleepers who prefer to feel more “in” their bed than on top of it might enjoy the Contour 5.
• Heavy Side Sleepers – This mattress could work for heavy side sleepers. Since the Contour5 is on the firmer side of memory foam beds, these sleepers should feel cradled and cushioned around their joints in this mattress.
• Heavy Stomach Sleepers – I don’t think this bed is supportive enough for heavy stomach sleepers. Heavy stomach sleepers will need something firmer to keep their spines aligned and supported.

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Performance

Now that we’re done talking about the firmness and feel of the Contour5, it’s time to dive into some of the other tests I performed. I run numerous tests on every mattress we review to help readers get an objective view of what it’s like to sleep on them every night.

See how the Saatva Contour5 performs in areas such as motion transfer, cooling, and more below.

Motion Transfer

I test motion transfer to gauge how much movement you will likely detect from one side of the bed to the other. If you sleep with a wiggly pet or have a partner who tends to switch between sleeping positions throughout the night, you’ll want a bed that can effectively trap motion. Prioritizing low motion transfer, or what we also call good motion isolation, can help you sleep soundly, no matter who’s rolling around next to you.

Human Test

For the first motion isolation test, I lie on the mattress with a colleague, switch between different sleeping positions, and see how much they feel me roll around. We take turns moving around on the bed while the other lies still to estimate how much motion someone might detect while sleeping with a partner.

The Saatva Contour5 passed the first test. We could barely feel each other get in and out of bed, and while we could detect some of each other’s movements as we switched between sleeping positions, it wasn’t enough to cause a disturbance on the opposite side of the bed.

Water Test

Next, my colleague and I place a full glass of water on the mattress and see how much the liquid moves around with us. If the water has zero to little movement, it’s a safe bet that the mattress has low motion transfer, which is what you want to see. 

During this test, we didn’t see much movement in the glass when getting in and out of bed. However, my colleague noticed the liquid shake more as I switched between sleeping positions. Based on these observations, folks with restless partners might feel disturbed by them rolling around during the night.

Seismometer Test

Last but not least is our seismometer test. This test involves dropping a 10-pound steel ball from heights of 4 inches, 8 inches, and 12 inches, then measuring the disturbance it causes. In this case, the bigger the lines on the graph, the bigger the disturbance and the higher the motion transfer.

As you can see in the graphic above, we saw the most motion on impact, but it didn’t carry over too far.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness refers to how quickly a mattress reverts to its original shape after applying pressure. Memory foam usually has a low response to pressure, while hybrid mattresses with coils tend to have a high response to pressure.

Unfortunately, if you’re like me and enjoy jumping on your bed from time to time, you might be disappointed in the lack of bounce this mattress possesses. On the flip side, even though the Contour 5 isn’t a particularly bouncy bed, it’s still easy to switch between different sleeping positions because of how firm it is.

In other words, the Contour 5 mattress could be a good option for combination sleepers who prefer an all-foam bed. This bed could also be a solid choice for couples and individuals who sleep with a restless pet.

Cooling

Many factors go into how cool a mattress feels. The materials inside the mattress largely contribute to whether it traps heat or releases it. Although memory foam is known for trapping heat, the Saatva Contour5’s cooling system and phase change material help absorb body heat and regulate temperature.

I tested the Contour5 with a thermal gun, a device that uses color-coded imaging to measure how much and how quickly a mattress heats up when someone lies down on it.

If it heats more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit, I consider it to have poor cooling capabilities. 10 to 15 degrees indicates decent cooling, 5 to 10 degrees indicates good cooling, and less than 5 degrees indicates excellent cooling. After my colleague and I took turns laying on the Contour5 for a few minutes, I saw the temperature only go up about 7 degrees, meaning it should keep most sleepers cool at night.

If you sleep hot at night, you might prefer a hybrid mattress with better air circulation or one of our best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers.

Edge Support

I also tested the edge support on the Saatva Contour5. Edge support measures whether you can sleep all the way on the edge of the bed without feeling the side of the mattress collapsing under your weight. It can also help you determine a mattress’s durability and whether it may sag over time.

When sitting on the edge and the corners of the bed, I observed a fair amount of sinkage, but I still felt supported because of how thick the foam is. I also felt supported while resting on the edge of the bed. At one point, I was laying halfway off the mattress and didn’t feel like I was going to fall off.

When I measured the sinkage with a yardstick, the layers sank only 1 inch and a half when weight was applied to the edge.

This bed is a good option for couples who need to use the entire surface area of the bed. However, I still wouldn’t recommend this mattress for folks with mobility issues. These sleepers will want to find something with less sinkage so that when they bear down on the mattress to stand up, they can do so with ease.

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Performance For Couples

I think the Saatva Contour5 could be a decent option for couples, but some features may be less than ideal. The Contour5 is an all-foam bed, and while its additional cooling features should help turn down the heat, it still doesn’t quite match the cooling capabilities found in hybrid mattresses.

The Contour5 also might not be responsive enough for combination sleepers or couples who move around frequently at night. If these factors are important to you, I recommend going for an innerspring mattress or one of our best mattresses for sex.

Fortunately, the motion isolation on this bed is great for a memory foam mattress, meaning most couples won’t have to worry about being disturbed by a partner tossing and turning on their side of the bed.

My Final Thoughts about the Saatva Contour5 Mattress

Now that we’ve discussed everything from the Contour5’s construction to how it feels, it’s now time to answer the all-important question: is this the right mattress for you? Check out my final thoughts to help you decide!

Who I Recommend the Saatva Contour5 Mattress For

• Most average weight sleepers who prefer a memory foam mattress should keep the Contour5 on their shortlist. These sleepers should experience plenty of support, body contouring, and pressure relief – no matter what position they sleep in.
• Individuals with a restless partner or couples who enjoy using the entire surface of the mattress should have no problems getting a good night’s sleep on the Contour5. You can confidently right up to the edge without worrying about falling off.
• Sleepers who get a little hot at night but have to have a memory foam mattress might have a match made in sleep heaven in the Contour5. While the Saatva’s all-foam offering doesn’t keep things quite as cool as hybrid or innerspring mattresses in the same price range, its gel-infused memory foam and ventilated airflow channels do a lot to bring the temperature down.

Who I Don’t Recommend the Saatva Contour5 Mattress For

• While the Contour5 has excellent edge support for an all-foam mattress, I still wouldn’t recommend it to folks with mobility issues due to the fair amount of sinkage I saw when sitting on the edges and corners of the bed.
• I wouldn’t recommend the Contour5 to light side sleepers, especially those with joint pain. These sleepers would benefit from a softer mattress with better body contouring.

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Pricing and Sizing

Below you can check out up-to-date pricing information about the Contour5 mattress. To get a discount, check out our Saatva mattress coupon page. The price listed for each mattress size will be before discounts or other promotional offers.

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

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Policies and FAQs

What are Saatva’s shipping policies?

Saatva offers free white glove delivery, which means they’ll deliver the new mattress to your room of choice. They’ll even remove your old mattress for free.

What is the Saatva trial period?

Saatva offers a 365-night home sleep trial, allowing you to test it out for a whole year. If it isn’t the best fit for you, you can return it within that time period.

What is the Saatva Contour5 mattress warranty?

The Saatva Contour5 comes with a lifetime warranty.

Is the Saatva Contour5 mattress made in the USA?

Yes, every mattress is made to order in the United States.

Do I need a bed frame for the Saatva Contour5?

No. A box spring, foundation, platform bed, or adjustable base works just as well.

Can I flip the Saatva Contour5 mattress?

No, the Saatva Contour5 is not meant to be flipped. If you’re worried about wear and tear, you can rotate it 180 degrees every six months or so.

Saatva Contour5 Mattress Vs

It’s always a good idea to compare a mattress to some of its competition. A few popular memory mattress challengers of Saatva are the Nectar and the Emma. These are both well-known brands in the value mattress market with similar features. However, there are some differences you should know about to make a more informed buying decision.

Saatva Contour5 vs Nectar

The Nectar is an all-foam bed that offers deep sinkage feel and lots of pressure relief. Because of this, the Nectar is likely a better fit for side sleepers and those with sensitive joints. Meanwhile, the Contour5 is firmer and more supportive, making it a better fit for back and stomach sleepers.

• Price: The Nectar is less expensive than the Contour5. A queen sized Nectar mattress costs around $1,099, while a queen sized Contour5 mattress costs around $2,995.
• Sleeping position: The softer memory foams in the Nectar make it especially pressure relieving. Because of this, side sleepers shouldn’t feel as much pressure around their hips and shoulders on the Nectar. Stomach sleepers who prefer an all-foam bed should stick with the Contour5, as it should offer them enough support and ensure that their spines stay in a neutral alignment.
• Cooling: Both mattresses feature additional cooling features, like gel-infused memory foams, however the Nectar performed slightly better (less than 2 degrees) than the Contour5.
• Body weight: Neither the Nectar nor the Contour5 provides enough support for heavier sleepers. These sleepers will likely benefit most from an innerspring or hybrid mattress.

Read more in our full Nectar mattress review.

Saatva Contour5 vs Emma

Both the Contour5 and the Emma are all-foam mattresses. However, the Emma uses denser foams with zoned support, making it firmer than the Contour5. Because of this, the Contour5 has more pressure relieving capabilities, while the Emma mattress is more durable and should offer sleepers better support.

• Price: The Emma mattress is cheaper than the Contour5, with a queen sized Emma costing $1,159 and a queen sized Puffy Cloud costing $2,995.
• Sleeping position: The Contour5 is softer than the Emma mattress, making it a better fit for side sleepers who want a firmer memory foam experience. However, the firmness of the Emma makes it a better option for stomach, back, and combination sleepers.
• Cooling: Both the Contour5 and the Emma are all-foam beds with gel-infused memory foams, so they have similar cooling capabilities.
• Body weight: Neither the Contour5 or the Emma are firm enough to support heavier sleepers. Instead, these sleepers can check out our roundup of the best mattresses for heavy people.

Read more in our full Emma mattress review.

Other Models from Saatva

Saatva also has a few other models which have their own unique names. Though some might think that Loom & Leaf and Zenhaven are their own mattress companies, they are actually all under the Saatva umbrella.

Saatva Contour5 vs Loom & Leaf

Like the Contour5, the Loom & Leaf is an all-foam memory foam mattress that has no coils in its construction. It also comes in different firmness options: Relaxed Firm and Firm.

• Price: The Loom & Leaf is cheaper than the Contour5, with a queen sized Loom & Leaf costing $2,395 and a queen sized Contour5 costing $2,995.
• Sleeping position: The Loom & Leaf is softer than the Contour5, making it a better option for side sleepers. Back sleepers and stomach sleepers who want an all-foam mattress should opt for the Saatva.
• Cooling: Both the Contour5 and the Loom & Leaf feature gel-infused memory foams, so they have similar cooling capabilities. However, the Contour5 also features airflow channels throughout its foams, giving it a slight edge over the Loom & Leaf here.
• Body weight: While the Loom & Leaf uses lots of high-density foam for extra support in the Firm model, I would not recommend either mattress for heavier sleepers.

Read more in our full Loom & Leaf mattress review. 

Saatva Contour5 vs Zenhaven

The Zenhaven is a luxury mattress that’s made from all-natural Talalay latex. Unlike the Contour5, it is a flippable mattress with a Plush Soft side and a Gentle Firm side.

• Price: The Zenhaven is more expensive than the Saatva, likely due to its latex foam, which tends to be a pricy material. A queen sized Zenhaven will run you $3,295, while a queen sized Contour5 costs $2,995.
• Sleeping position: Because it has two sides, the Zenhaven is going to appeal to more sleeping positions. While I recommend the Medium model of the Contour5 to back sleepers and stomach sleepers, the Zenhaven is also a good fit for side sleepers, who should enjoy the Plush Soft side. 
• Cooling: The Zenhaven has the edge here for hot sleepers, as its latex is naturally cooling.
• Body weight: Neither the Contour5 or the Zenhaven are firm enough to support heavier sleepers.

Read more in our full Zenhaven mattress review.

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.

Kenny Timper

Staff Writer

About Author

Kenny is a Staff Writer at Sleepopolis. He tests the good, the bad, and the ugly of all things sleep, so you can skip the trial and error and jump straight into a good night’s rest. Kenny graduated from William Peace University with a degree in English and a minor in communication. Outside of testing and writing about mattresses, he enjoys hiking, biking, and avoiding the pit at your local heavy metal concert.

Stomach Sleeper