In the era of the tiny house and millennial minimalism, finding maximum value in a budget mattress is no simple feat! But the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress makes it look easy, with an affordable price tag and an array of interesting fabrications, including green tea-infused memory foam and an ActivCharcoal complex. So… what’s all this tech about? Well that’s what we’re here to find out.
Below, I’m going to analyze every aspect of this mattress, from how it’s built, to how it feels, to how it performs on my series of rigorous tests. By the end, you’ll know without a doubt if it’s the bed for you!
So, without further ado, let’s dive into my full Zinus Memory Foam mattress review. Short on time? Feel free to skip to my review summary.
Disclaimer: The Green Tea Memory Foam is a “pressure relief” product that comes in four different thickness levels: 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12”. This review will focus on the 12” model of the Green Tea, which is the thickest model Zinus sells.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Overview
The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress offers a budget-friendly solution for those seeking that traditional memory foam feel. This mattress is infused with green tea and moisture-absorbing charcoal and features a unique combination of three layers of CertiPUR-US® certified foam to cradle the body and alleviate pressure points.
While the Zinus mattress excels in providing plush comfort, especially for side sleepers who appreciate the classic memory foam feel, it may not be ideal for everyone. Its softer profile may lack the support required for stomach sleepers, and its minimal bounce could be a drawback for those who prefer a more responsive surface.
Zinus Green Tea Mattress Review
Want a quick look at the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress before reading the full review? Check out my review video for an in-depth look at its materials and the tests I performed on it. Overall, I rated this mattress a 3.71 out of 5.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Sleepopolis Score
Even though the Zinus performed well overall, support is the one area where I scored it a bit lower. If you’re looking for a mattress that is more supportive, check out our best mattresses for back pain.
What is the Zinus Mattress Made Of?
The 12 inch Zinus mattress is built with four layers of memory foam, poly foam, and high-density poly foam. This combination of materials is intended to create a gentle structure, full of deep sinkage and body-contouring. But is the bed as pressure-relieving as this design would have us believe it is? Let’s dive into the layers to find out!
Cover – The Zinus starts off with a relatively standard polyester cover. It’s very thin, so it should help with the overall breathability of the bed.
Comfort Layer – After the thin cover, the Zinus moves straight into 3 inches of memory foam. The material has a slow response to pressure, which allows for plenty of sinkage and body-contouring. Its slow response to pressure provides good pressure relief, but the thin cover doesn’t provide much of a barrier to stop memory foam’s tendency to sleep hot. To counter this, the Zinus infuses green tea and ActivCharcoal into the foam to absorb moisture and neutralize odor.
Transition Layer – After the soft memory foam, 2 inches of firmer poly foam helps to keep the sleeper from sinking right into the firm support base of the Zinus. This layer of poly foam is not as firm as the layers below, so it still allows some contouring (but not nearly as much as the comfort layer).
Support Layer – Underneath the transition layer, the first layer of 3.5 inch high-density poly foam begins to provide foundational support.
Base Layer – Finally, the second layer of high-density poly foam gives shape to the Zinus and supports the first layer. Using HD poly foam is a fairly standard thing for bed-in-a-box mattresses, and the Zinus seemingly takes the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude here.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Firmness
It’s important to understand that firmness isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario — your size, weight, shape, and other factors all determine your ideal level of firmness. So your preferences might not be the same as mine. To represent the variance that different people might feel, I test a bed with colleagues of different body shapes, types, and sizes. The number you see below is the average of our responses.
This mattress is super comfortable with slow sinking and moving foams that cradle your body. If you press down on the cover, it takes a long time for it to bounce back. In other words, the longer you lay on this bed, the more it will contour to your body. Overall, I gave the Zinus a firmness ranking of 5 out of 10, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. The industry standard is 6.5, which is medium-firm — making this bed softer than average.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
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 Zinus a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?
- Light Back Sleepers – I think this 12-inch model would be an exceptional option for these folks. Light back sleepers should feel plenty of comfort and pressure relief, but still get enough support to maintain a healthy spinal alignment.
- Light Side Sleepers – Light side sleepers should feel a release of pressure as the memory foam allows their body to sink, potentially even letting out a sigh of relief. This bed is designed to relieve pressure and that is exactly what it will do for these sleepers!
- Light Stomach Sleepers – This bed is not going to be a good option for light stomach sleepers. These sleepers will feel the mattress sink too much beneath their hips, causing them to form a “U shape” at their back — a big no no.
Is the Zinus a Good Mattress for Average Weight Sleepers (130 – 250 pounds)?
- Average Weight Back Sleepers – I think average weight back sleepers might want to look for something a tad firmer. When I lay on my back with my body weight evenly distributed, I could feel myself sinking into the mattress. Some back sleepers may prefer to feel more on top of the mattress than enveloped by it, which is why I would steer these folks to a firmer build.
- Average Weight Side Sleepers – Average weight side sleepers should experience great contouring and pressure relief on this bed, while still maintaining a healthy spinal alignment, making it a great choice for them.
- Average Weight Stomach Sleepers – I don’t necessarily recommend this mattress to stomach sleepers, who need a firmer mattress to prevent sinkage at the hips.
Is the Zinus a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 250 pounds)?
- Heavy Back Sleepers – Heavy sleepers might want to look into a firmer option with less foam — like one of our best innerspring mattresses. Typically an all foam mattress is not going to have enough support for heavier weights, and the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress is no exception.
- Heavy Side Sleepers – See above.
- Heavy Stomach Sleepers – See above.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Performance
Aside from a mattress’s firmness, there are a few more factors to consider when searching for a new mattress. To really determine whether a bed is a good fit for you, it’s important to consider how it performs in different sleeping positions, how it relieves pain and pressure, and how it might feel to couples sharing the bed. So let’s get to testing!
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Pain Relief Performance
A mattress with good pressure relief can help alleviate pain at the shoulders, hips, and lower back. To get an idea of how well the Zinus relieves pressure, I used my handy pressure map.
Putting the pressure map on top of the mattress and laying on top showed me where pressure was relieved and where it wasn’t. For reference, blue and green indicate areas of low pressure, while yellow and red indicate areas of high pressure.
Back Pain – The pressure map shows nearly all blue on the Zinus around my back when I’m on my back and side. Personally, I felt my lower back tension vanish as the Zinus’s memory foam conformed to my lumbar region. The opposite is true when I was lying on my stomach. The same sinkage occurred, but my hips felt enveloped by the bed — this tells me it would worsen back pain.
Shoulder Pain – You can say goodbye to shoulder pain on the Zinus Memory Foam mattress. Its soft layers relieve shoulder pressure, especially for side sleepers. These sleepers tend to put lots of weight into their shoulders when lying down, and the Zinus absorbs it all. I highly recommend sleepers with shoulder pain check out this mattress.
Hip Pain – My hips sank into the mattress quite substantially, so I have to conclude that the Zinus is likely not a good choice for strict stomach sleepers with hip pain. The sinkage at the hips creates unhealthy posture that can exacerbate pain. However, back and side sleepers with hip pain should find relief on the Zinus.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer refers to the amount of noticeable disturbance from one end of the mattress to the other. How well a mattress does with motion transfer can be really important for couples, especially if your bedmate is a restless sleeper.
Human Test
First, I lie down on the mattress with a colleague, switch between sleeping positions, and see how much of each other’s movement we feel. When conducting this test on the Zinus, my coworker and I could hardly detect each other’s movements, which was expected, given the memory foam construction of the bed.
Water Test
Next, we 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.
Even though I was rolling around quite a bit, the liquid in the glass barely moved, showing signs of low motion transfer. However, I saw more movement when initially jumping into bed.
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.
The Zinus has some really good motion isolation. The thick, soft memory foam comfort layer dulls a lot of the motion on the mattress. We can probably thank the foam’s naturally slow response to pressure for that. This is definitely a big win for anyone who sleeps with a restless partner or pet.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness refers to how quickly a mattress returns to its original shape after applying pressure. We test each bed’s responsiveness by pressing down on its top layer, removing our hand, and seeing how quickly the surface returns to its original shape. Memory foam usually has a low response to pressure, while hybrid mattresses with coils tend to have a high response to pressure.
The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress isn’t a bouncy or responsive bed, and you’ll likely feel more “in” the bed as you sink into the layers than “on top” of the bed. This bed might not be ideal for combination sleepers who switch between multiple positions at night. You may feel a bit trapped and have a hard time transitioning from one position to the next. This could also be problematic for couples, who may prefer an innerspring mattress or one of our best mattresses for sex.
Cooling
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat more than other builds. The bed does all that it can to create a classic memory foam feel without overheating the sleeper — but sometimes just putting in the effort doesn’t cut it. The ActivCharcoal and green tea extract help, but they don’t necessarily make the Zinus a “cool” mattress. I still felt warm lying on this bed and would not recommend it to extra hot sleepers.
I tested the Zinus 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.
In the case of the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress, the temperature went up 8 degrees, making it a good choice for most sleepers. However, extra hot sleepers might want to find something with better cooling properties.
Edge Support
I also tested the edge support on the Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress. 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. Edge support can also help you determine a mattress’s durability and whether it may sag over time.
When sitting on the corners, I observed significant sinkage, feeling unstable and nearly hitting the platform. However, sitting and laying on the edge provided a more stable experience and better support despite still seeing a decent amount of sinkage.
When I measured the sinkage with a yardstick, the layers sank approximately three inches of compression when weight was applied to the edge.
While not ideal for those needing strong edge support, such as individuals with mobility issues, the Zinus is a solid choice for couples who use the entire surface of the mattress.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Performance For Couples
This mattress could be a decent pick for couples, but some features may not be ideal. The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress is an all-foam bed, and while it has cooling features, it pales in comparison to the cooling abilities found in hybrid mattresses.
The Zinus’s responsiveness and edge support also left a lot to be desired. So, if these features are important to you, we recommend an innerspring mattress. However, the motion isolation on this bed is fantastic, which is ideal for many couples, especially if one or both partners sleep lightly. You won’t be disturbed by a partner tossing and turning on their side of the bed.
My Final Thoughts about the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
After learning about everything from construction to firmness, it’s now time to answer the all-important question: Is the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam the best mattress for you? To help you decide, check out my final thoughts!
Who I recommend the Zinus Memory Foam mattress for
- Shoppers on a budget should definitely consider the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress. The price point of the Zinus mattress is much more affordable than some of its competitors.
- The soft profile of the mattress could make it a good fit for strict side sleepers, who usually need to sink into a mattress to avoid creating pressure points at the hips and shoulders.
- Sleepers in need of pain/pressure relief might benefit from the soft memory foam structure, which offers lots of sinkage around pressure-filled joints.
Who I don’t recommend the Zinus Memory Foam mattress for
- Hot sleepers may want to head in a different direction. Memory foam has a tendency to trap body heat and the Zinus Green Tea is no exception.
- I don’t think this mattress is great for combination sleepers. There is hardly any bounce on this bed, leaving sleepers stuck in the mattress when swapping positions.
- Most stomach sleepers are going to need something firmer than this bed for support.
- Heavier folks are not going to be supported by this soft build and should take a look at one of our best mattresses for heavy people instead.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Pricing and Sizing
This bed may appeal to shoppers on a budget, as it is on the lower side of all-foam mattress prices. Check out the full pricing of the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam below, and don’t forget to click on one of the coupons in this article for the latest discount!
Prices listed below will be before discount or offer for each size.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 39” x 75” x 12” | $399 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 12” | $499 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 12” | $599 |
| King | 76” x 80” x 12” | $699 |
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Policies and FAQs
Does the Zinus come with a mattress warranty?
Yes! The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress comes with a worry-free 10 year limited warranty.
What is the Zinus Memory Foam mattress made of?
The Zinus memory foam mattress is built with four layers of memory foam, poly foam, and high-density poly foam. It also comes with a standard polyester cover.
Does the Zinus Memory Foam mattress come with a sleep trial?
The Zinus memory foam mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial. This gives consumers over three full months to try out the mattress.
Where can I buy the Zinus mattress?
Head over to everyone’s favorite website, Amazon, to purchase your brand new Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress. Twin, full, queen, king, and California king sizes are all available.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Vs
It’s always a good idea to compare a bed to some of its competition. A few all-foam budget mattresses challengers of Zinus are the Tuft & Needle and the Nectar. 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.
Zinus vs Tuft & Needle
- The Tuft & Needle is an all-foam bed-in-a-box, just like the Zinus.
- Instead of memory foam, the Tuft & Needle uses a proprietary alternative that sleeps cooler and has a quicker response to pressure.
- As a result, the Tuft & Needle has a firmer profile than the Zinus. Overall, I can recommend this bed for back sleepers.
- The Tuft & Needle is more expensive than the Zinus.
- Check out my full Tuft & Needle review here!
Tuft & Needle Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Zinus vs Nectar
- Like the Zinus, the Nectar is an all-foam mattress that features memory foam.
- Overall, the Nectar has a very similar build to the Zinus — 3 inches of memory foam, a transition layer, and 6 inches of high density poly foam.
- Like the Zinus, the Nectar allows the sleeper to sink deep into its comfort layer.
- The good motion isolation in the Nectar makes it an attractive choice for couples.
- The Nectar is going to be a bit more expensive than the Zinus.
- Check out my full Nectar mattress review here!
Nectar Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
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.
