In this review, I’ll be checking out one of the most popular innerspring mattresses on the market: the Saatva Classic. Built with gentle memory foam and a sturdy coil-on-coil system, this bed was designed to offer folks a luxuriously supportive sleeping experience, without breaking the bank.
Hmm… this sounds fantastic, but is it too good to be true? I won’t know for sure until I hop on the bed and try it out for myself. So come along with me as I test the Saatva Classic to figure out if it might just be the bed of your dreams!
Don’t have time to read the whole review? No worries! Skip on over to my review summary. Otherwise, let’s get started!
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
Is the Saatva a Good Mattress for You?
Before we dive into this Saatva review, let’s try and answer the most important question of all: is this mattress right for you? Depending on your weight, height, and preferred sleeping position, this mattress may or may not work for you. While I can’t tell you if this mattress is exactly right for your needs, I’ll provide some recommendations that should help you get there on your own.
I’d like to note that the Saatva comes in three firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. In this review, I tested the Saatva in the Luxury Firm version.
Who I recommend the Saatva mattress for
- I think the Saatva is a great option for stomach sleepers, since it’s a firmer mattress that will offer them the support they need to keep their hips aligned with their shoulders.
- I think back and stomach combination sleepers would be happy on the Saatva, since its layers of coils make for a bouncy mattress that is easy to move around on.
- I would recommend the Saatva to heavier sleepers, since its sturdy construction means they’ll get the added support and durability they need.
Who I don’t recommend the Saatva mattress for
- I think the Saatva in the option Luxury Firm is too firm for side sleepers. I’d tell them to choose the Plush Soft firmness level.
- If you share a bed and are easily disturbed by your partner tossing and turning at night, you might want to choose a mattress with lower motion transfer, because you’re likely to feel movement on this mattress. However, if you and your partner prefer an innerspring feel and aren’t easily disturbed while sleeping, the Saatva could be right for you.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
How Firm is the Saatva Mattress?
The feel of a mattress comes down to a few things, but overall firmness just might be the most important. It’s important to note that firmness is subjective, so to give you the best idea possible, I polled a range of folks in the Sleepopolis office and we determined the firmness level together.
We rated the Saatva a 7 on the firmness scale, which ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (firmest). Compared to the industry standard for medium-firm of 6.5, the Saatva is on the firmer side.
The Saatva gets its firm feel from its coil-on-coil construction, which offers quite a bit of support. The Saatva might feel a bit softer in the center, since it has a zoned support system. It has a memory foam layer in the middle, which is meant to offer a bit of pressure relief in the center where sleepers need it.
Overall, I experienced the Saatva as a quite a firm mattress, and would recommend it particularly to stomach sleepers, since it will keep their hips in line with their shoulders, keeping their spine in a nice straight line. I also think back sleepers who like the feel of a firmer mattress could be happy on the Saatva.
Saatva Mattress Performance
Now that I’ve given you some of my personal thoughts on the Saatva’s feel, let’s discuss how it performed on some of our specialized tests. Below, you’ll find information on how the Saatva performs for different body weights, assists in pressure relief, its performance for couples, and more.
Testing the Saatva Mattress in Different Sleeping Positions
Depending on your body weight and preferred sleeping position, you’ll need a different amount of support. As a general takeaway, lighter sleepers do not require as much support as heavier sleepers. Take a look at the lists below to see who the Saatva mattress is most comfortable for.
Is the Saatva a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 lbs)?
- Light Back Sleepers – Light back sleepers should find that the Saatva offers plenty of firm support. If you enjoy a firm feel and lie mostly on your back, you should be happy on the Saatva.
- Light Side Sleepers – The Saatva is a little too firm for these sleepers, who need more pressure relief around the shoulders and hips. I’d recommend one of our best mattresses for side sleepers instead.
- Light Stomach Sleepers – These sleepers should feel great on the Saatva! It will do a great job keeping their hips lifted and in line with their shoulders.
Is the Saatva a Good Mattress for Average Weight Sleepers (130 – 250 lbs)?
- Average Weight Back Sleepers – These sleepers should enjoy the Saatva. It will keep their back in a healthy neutral position, which can help combat back pain.
- Average Weight Side Sleepers – Like light side sleepers, average weight side sleepers will find the Saatva a bit too firm for their needs. I’d recommend opting for the Soft model rather than the Luxury Firm model if you sleep on your side.
- Average Weight Stomach Sleepers – These folks should be happy on the Saatva. It’s firm enough to keep their hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for avoiding back pain.
Is the Saatva a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 250 lbs)?
- Heavy Back Sleepers – I’d highly recommend the Saatva to heavy back sleepers. It offers great support while lying on your back and is extremely durable.
- Heavy Side Sleepers – These sleepers might prefer something a little softer than the Saatva. I’d recommend they check out our best mattresses for heavy people for some other options with a gentler touch.
- Heavy Stomach Sleepers – These sleepers might need a little more support than the Saatva offers to keep their spine aligned. I’d recommend the Saatva HD to these folks.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
Saatva Mattress Pain Relief Performance
Pain relief is closely tied to pressure relief, which is a mattress’s ability to alleviate tension at pressure points at the hips, shoulders, and back. Pressure relief can be especially important for anyone who suffers from shoulder pain or hip pain, as they’ll want a gentler feel in these areas.
To test the Saatva’s pressure relieving abilities, I used a pressure map. I laid the pressure map down on the mattress, then lay on top of it on my side, back, and stomach. The map changes from blue and green for low pressure (with blue being the lowest pressure) to yellow and red for high pressure (with red being the highest pressure).
Back Pain – Based on these pressure map results, which show a lot of blue in the back area, I think the Saatva is a great option for sleepers with back pain! The Saatva’s strong support, paired with a little pressure relief from its quilted top, is a winning combination for sleepers who struggle to maintain a healthy spinal alignment. That’s why the Saatva mattress is featured in our best mattress for back pain 2021 roundup!
Shoulder Pain – Though there’s not much pressure around my shoulders here, I do think the Saatva is too firm to feel comfortable to sleepers with shoulder pain. I’d recommend one of our best mattresses for shoulder pain instead.
Hip Pain – As you can see from the red on the pressure map, the Saatva is not a good fit for sleepers with hip pain. They’ll need a lot more cushioning to relieve pain or stiffness in this area.
Saatva Mattress Performance for Couples
Couples need a mattress that offers strong edge support and a mix of motion isolation and responsiveness. Read on below to see how the Saatva performs in these areas (and to learn more about why they’re important).
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer refers to the movement detectable from one side of the bed on the other. If a mattress has low motion transfer, you’re unlikely to feel movement on the opposite side of the bed on your side. This is especially important for couples or anyone who sleeps with a pet, as they don’t want to be disturbed by movement in the night.
To demonstrate motion transfer, I dropped a 10 lb steel ball from three different heights and measured the movement on the other side of the bed using a seismometer. As you’ll see in the graphic below, each height is meant to mimic a different movement you might feel in bed.
These are pretty high motion transfer results. Quite a bit of movement traveled from one side of the bed to the other. If you sleep with a partner or pet, you may feel their movements at night if you’re not a sound sleeper.
Sex
Couples often look for a mattress that’s responsive enough to easily change positions on during sex. The Saatva is definitely bouncy and easy to move around on, which makes it great for sex. But, it might be a little too bouncy to sleep on undisturbed if you share a bed.
Cooling
Since two bodies heat up a mattress more quickly than one, couples often prefer cooling mattresses. Luckily, the Saatva’s tall pocketed coil section encourages plenty of airflow, which means this mattress sleeps nice and cool.
Edge Support
Edge support is how well a mattress holds up on the edges as compared to the middle. Strong edges make a mattress feel bigger, which is a perk for couples. The Saatva uses a reinforced edge support system that combines coils and firm polyfoam. The result is some fantastic edge support! I felt just as supported on the side of the bed as I did in the center.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
What is the Saatva Mattress Made Of?
The Saatva is an innerspring mattress with a zoned support system. It has a coil-on-coil construction and has a height of 11.5 inches.
Cover – The Saatva has an organic cotton cover that is breathable and soft to the touch. The cover also has an antimicrobial treatment.
Comfort Layer – The top layer is made from a 3-inch Euro pillowtop. This layer offers some nice cushioning and pressure relief.
Support Layer – A layer of individually wrapped pocketed coils contour to your body’s movement and add some nice bounce, airflow, and support.
Zoned Support Layer- There is a layer of memory foam in the center of the Saatva that offers some pressure relief in the middle of the mattress, where sleepers need it most at the hips and lower back.
Foundation Layer – The Saatva’s base layer is made from steel coils and foam edge support (wrapped around the coils to maximize the bed’s surface area). The coils here work to double down on the bounce of individually wrapped springs, producing an even more powerful lift.
My Final Thoughts about the Saatva Mattress
Before we finish up the review, I’d like to highlight what I like most about the Saatva, and point out some of my complaints.
My favorite things about the Saatva Mattress
The Saatva classic is a sturdy, high-quality mattress that has lots of bounce, as well as great edge support. I think it’s a nice option for stomach sleepers, since their hips will stay nice and propped up to be in line with their shoulders, giving them a neutral spinal alignment, which will prevent back pain. I also think the Saatva could be a good option for back sleepers who like a firm feel, or back and stomach combination sleepers. I also like the Saatva for heavier sleepers, though Saatva does have a mattress made for heavier sleepers: the Saatva HD. Read our full Saatva HD mattress review here.
My Saatva mattress complaints
I found the Saatva to have pretty high motion transfer, meaning you’re likely to feel a partner or pet’s movement from one side of the bed on the other. I also found the Saatva in the Luxury Firm version to be too firm for side sleepers, who won’t get the sinkage they need on this mattress, though they could with the Plush Soft firmness option. Additionally, I experienced a longer-than-average wait time while using the customer service chat function on the Saatva site, and some reviews state complaints about the brand’s customer service.
How Much Does the Saatva Cost?
Below you can check out up-to-date pricing information about the Saatva mattress. To get a discount, check out our Saatva mattress coupon page.
Price listed will be before discount or offer for each size.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38" x 75" x 11.5" | $887 |
| Twin XL | 38" x 80" x 11.5" | $1,087 |
| Full | 54" x 75" x 11.5" | $1,474 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" x 11.5" | $1,574 |
| King | 76" x 80" x 11.5" | $1,974 |
| California King | 72" x 84" x 11.5" | $2,174 |
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
Saatva Mattress Policies and FAQs
What are Saatva’s shipping policies?
Saatva offers free white glove delivery, which means they’ll deliver the mattress to your room of choice. They’ll even remove your old mattress for free.
What is the Saatva trial period?
Saatva offers a 180-night home trial.
What is the Saatva mattress warranty?
The Saatva has a 15-year warranty.
Is the Saatva 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?
No, you can use a box spring, foundation, platform beds, or adjustable bases.
Can I flip the Saatva mattress?
No, the Saatva 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.
Does the Saatva have an off-gassing period?
The Saatva only uses a bit of memory foam, so there should be little to no off-gassing.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
Saatva Mattress Vs.
It can be helpful to compare the Saatva to other similar online mattresses. Knowing more about how this mattress stacks up to its competitors can help you make a more informed buying decision.
Saatva vs Casper
- The Casper Original is an all-foam mattress that’s medium-firm, while the Saatva uses both foam and coils and is firm.
- The Casper is more affordable than the Saatva.
- The Casper is a bed-in-a-box mattress, while the Saatva comes uncompressed.
- Learn more in my full Casper mattress review. Or check out my full Casper vs Saatva mattress comparison.
Saatva vs WinkBed
- The WinkBed is a hybrid mattress that uses gel-infused foam, microcoils, and pocketed coils.
- The Saatva and WinkBed are both offered in multiple firmness options.
- Read more in my full WinkBeds mattress review. Or check out my full Saatva vs WinkBed mattress comparison.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
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 vs Loom & Leaf
- The Loom & Leaf is an all-foam memory foam mattress that has no coils in its construction.
- The Loom & Leaf is softer than the Saatva and is a better option for side sleepers.
- The Loom & Leaf has two firm options: Relaxed Firm and Firm.
- Read more in my full Loom & Leaf mattress review.
Saatva vs Zenhaven
- The Zenhaven is a luxury mattress that’s made from all-natural Talalay latex.
- The Zenhaven is a flippable mattress with a Plush Soft side and a Gentle Firm side.
- Learn more in my full Zenhaven mattress review.
Take a look at our mattress performance ratings for the Saatva mattress below.
The Saatva mattress combines a luxurious pillow-top layer with two sections of coils for that classic innerspring feel.
Saatva Mattress
- Materials
- Comfort
- Support
- Value
- Cooling
- Edge Support
- Trial
- Warranty
Summary
Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring mattress feel. The Saatva trends toward the bouncy side, which could make it a good option for combo sleepers, who roll around a bit at night, because you won’t feel “stuck” in the mattress. The Saatva comes in three different firmness levels so there is an option for you regardless of your preferred sleeping position.
