These Are the Best Tester- and Reviewer-Beloved Mattresses That Are Worth the Investment
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Buying a new mattress is a big decision that can feel daunting if you’re starting from square one. There’s more choice than ever on the market in terms of brands, firmnesses, materials, and special features, yet very little clarity as to what all of it means for the quality of your sleep.
If your current sleep surface is upwards of 7 to 10 years old and is showing visible indentations where you normally sleep (and you rotated the mattress long ago), then it’s definitely time to start anew. Our curated guide to the best mattresses breaks down the exact feel of these products and explains who can benefit the most from their multilayered build.
The Best Mattresses
Best Overall: Layla Hybrid Mattress
Best Hybrid Mattress: Helix Midnight Hybrid Mattress
Best Innerspring Mattress: Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress
Best Memory-Foam Mattress: Casper Original Foam Mattress
Best Cooling Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Hybrid Mattress
Best Budget Mattress: Nectar Memory-Foam Mattress
Best for Motion Isolation: TEMPUR-ProAdapt Medium Hybrid Mattress
What to Consider
From start to finish, these are the most important things to keep in mind when you’re looking for the best mattress.
➥ Mattress Type
There are three main mattress types: memory foam, innerspring, and hybrid. These categories apply to the construction of the mattress and can give some indication of the feel. According to Lexie Sachs, the executive textiles director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, "Foam will give you a pressure-relieving, sinking-in feel, while innerspring mattresses have more of the bounce feel you expect from traditional mattresses." Hybrid mattresses are a combination of foam and innerspring, and they tend to be a comfortable middle ground for most people who love the bounce of springs but the contouring of foam.
Memory-foam and hybrid types are typically sold as bed-in-a-box mattresses, which come shipped to your door in a compressed vacuum-packed form. (But you may be able to purchase white-glove delivery and in-home installation for an extra fee.) As a benefit of this construction, they are usually also compatible with adjustable bed frames. Innerspring mattresses, on the other hand, are not shipped this way and will usually need to be delivered and installed in your bedroom by the brand you buy the mattress from.
➥ Firmness Level
It can be tricky to tell how firm or soft a mattress will be based on its type, but in general, innerspring mattresses are the firmest, as they typically comprise a pillowtop layer right above the springs. Memory-foam mattresses are usually the softest, as the material doesn’t push back as firmly as springs do, and hybrids are in the middle of the two. However, this varies to some extent between all types.
If you don’t know which type is best for you, you might find the answer based on how you sleep. Sachs says, “Side sleepers need something softer with pressure relief around their hips and shoulders, stomach sleepers should go for something firmer, and back sleepers (or people who move around) fall into the medium firmness range. Also, consider your body type; lightweight sleepers need softer, whereas heavier bodies need firmer.”
Also, if you’ve been suffering from a lot of aches and pains as a result of your old mattress, Lorenzo Turicchia, Ph.D., a sleep scientist at Bedgear, suggests honing in on the exact location in the body that you're experiencing the most discomfort. He says: "Those who suffer from hip and shoulder pain would be best-suited to look for soft, yet supportive mattresses that can help to elevate pressure buildup and support proper alignment while sleeping. Neck and shoulder pain, however, could be associated with one’s need for a more supportive pillow."
➥ Special Features
Many mattress brands now offer “luxe” or “premium” versions of their flagship product, which can offer anything from enhanced airflow, zoned construction for better shoulder and hip support, or phase-changing materials that make it a cooling mattress. While these features can be worth the splurge if you really want a specific type of feel, there are generally minimal shades of difference from the regular version to the upgraded one.
If you’re having a hard time deciding, Sachs says, “Don’t get hung up on marketing claims. We’ve noticed a lot of brands try to make their bed-in-a-box stand out with unique claims (e.g., designed for athlete recovery), but they’re usually very similar to others on the market ... I’ve typically found that the mid-range, around $1,000, is always a safe bet.”
➥ Trial Period
At the end of the day, we all just want a good night's sleep, and if your new mattress isn't providing that, you can decide to take advantage of the brand’s trial period and arrange a return within the designated timeframe. We’ve denoted each brand’s trial period, so you’ll know the time you have to decide if the mattress is yours for the long haul.
➥ Your Other Bedding
Finally, while your mattress is certainly the biggest (and most expensive) bedding element, keep in mind how your pillow, comforter, and sheets are making you feel each night. A pillow that either lacks support or is way too firm could also contribute to a night of tossing and turning.
Try switching to a side-sleeper pillow or a memory-foam neck pillow, depending on your main sleep position. And if sleeping too hot is your main issue, swapping in a lightweight comforter and breathable cotton sheets can really help in this area. Ultimately, all of these bedding products should work together to keep you supported, comforted, and cool throughout the night.
How We Tested
The majority of the mattresses in this guide were evaluated either by me (the senior home editor) or other site editors for an initial 3-week-long trial, although we've slept on our respective mattresses for much longer. Our criteria include general firmness, pressure-relief, cooling properties, and motion transfer, and we try to take into consideration how these qualities can affect different types of sleepers. We’ve also included a few other top-rated mattresses that are favored by reviewers for these very same reasons.
If you’re looking for the best mattress to buy, you’ve come to the right place. We've narrowed down the dizzying array of choices on the market to this curated list of the seven very best. Read on to learn more about our top picks.
Note: These mattresses are available in nearly all sizes, but we've denoted queen-size prices throughout this guide.
Best Overall
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king
Trial Period: 120 nights
While certain mattress brands offer either just one type of mattress or a couple of different firmness options, the Layla Hybrid Mattress combines these two offerings into one meticulously designed product. We think it's the best mattress choice you can buy because of its unique dual-sided construction — you can choose between sleeping on either its soft or firm side.
Reviewers really like having the choice between the two sides instead of committing to a mattress that offers one firmness and no variation. They also attest that both sides of the Layla Hybrid Mattress are very supportive — says one person, “We chose the “soft” side, but I’d really call it medium firm.” If one side doesn't work for you, you can try flipping it instead of going back to square one with your mattress search.
According to one reviewer, “We tried the ‘firm’ side for a week. My husband’s shoulder hurt when he woke up. We turned it over and LOVE it! I don’t get as warm as I used to, and, best part, we don’t wake each other up when getting out, or in, bed during the night.” Just keep in mind that flipping will be a two-person job, since the mattress weighs over 100 pounds, although there are handles built into the product just for this purpose.
This unique mattress comprises four layers of memory foam that are arranged specifically so that sleepers can reap the benefits of their chosen side, as well as a layer of pocketed coils sandwiched right in the middle. The 14-gauge center coils help with motion isolation, so you can flip over without disturbing your bed partner or pet, and the 16-gauge coils around the perimeter of the mattress give it enhanced edge support. The whole piece is covered by a smooth polyester/viscose/lycra cover.
Layla's mattress has something else that other mattresses don't: copper cells that are infused within its memory-foam core. Copper is naturally antimicrobial and antiviral, adept at killing bacteria caused by skin cells, sweat, and other environmental allergens, and this addition to the material is meant to help prevent the mattress from becoming a hotbed for germs.
This mattress has some temperature-regulating properties, too — its middle foam layers are channeled to offer enhanced airflow, its cover is breathable, and the copper gel is also meant to wick away body heat. However, if you’re looking for a cooling mattress specifically, we suggest checking out the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Hybrid Mattress further into this guide, as this Layla mattress doesn’t have the same cool-to-the-touch construction as that one.
Best Hybrid Mattress
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king
Trial Period: 100 nights
Helix’s Midnight Hybrid Mattress is the brand’s most popular model, offering medium firmness and a support level that’s constructed for side sleepers. I’ve lived with this mattress for 6 years, and it continues to be one of the most comfortable mattresses I’ve ever slept on. Even if its look all of these years later is a little different than the current style, the mattress's balanced hybrid construction is still the same. Compared to other models, this mattress may seem incredibly basic because there are no cool-to-the-touch materials, airflow features, or zoned lumbar support, and yet, it’s still an amazing mattress.
If a super-soft sleep surface is exactly what you want, but you know you also need that foundational level of support, this mattress delivers the right balance of both. Its top layer of proprietary memory foam is very cushy and responsive — it perfectly contours the body whether I'm sitting or lying on it. There’s also a second layer of support foam covering the rows of wrapped coils right underneath.
While the Helix Midnight Mattress is compatible with my side-sleeping preferences, reviewers of all other sleep types also find that it works for them, too. Says one person, “My partner is a side and stomach sleeper, I’m a side and back sleeper. We both really enjoy the mattress, took some weeks to break it in and get used to it but we love it.”
If you want a high-quality mattress and you don't need all of the pricey bells and whistles, the Helix Midnight Hybrid Mattress is an excellent choice.
Best Innerspring Mattress
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king, including split king and California king
Trial Period: 180 nights
A favorite mattress of the Good Housekeeping Institute, Wirecutter, and many other bedding reviewers, the Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress is a luxury-quality product that features pocketed coils, a thin layer of memory foam for enhanced lumbar support, and a dense foam perimeter, covered by a fluffy, 3-inch-tall, organic-cotton pillowtop. It may not be a bed-in-a-box, but the good news is, you won’t have to schlep it up to your bedroom to install — delivery is free and the brand will set it up on your bed frame for you.
You can get this mattress in either an 11.5- or 14.5-inch height, depending on how tall or short you — or your pets — prefer your sleep surface. There are even three different firmness options if you want to dial the support level up or down (their “luxury firm” option is the one right in the middle).
If you have a strong preference for a firm mattress or a classic, hotel-bed feel, this is the one to get. It’s not terribly expensive, and the materials and feel are premium. Says one reviewer, “I bought a King Luxury Firm 14.5-inch mattress a year ago for Black Friday and no regrets! My wife and I use the mattress on our platform bed and both sleep great every night! It helps stay cool through the night and has not aged at all.”
While this innerspring’s pillowtop is delightfully plush, the mattress itself still offers ample pushback, which could be an issue with side sleepers. The innerspring construction as well isn’t quite as good at motion isolation as memory foam is. Luckily, Saatva has a generous return policy and great customer service that reviewers also call out as being major plusses.
Best Memory-Foam Mattress
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king
Trial Period: 100 nights
Casper is one of the most recognizable bedding brands on the market, and what keeps it at the forefront is that it periodically updates its flagship product with new design features. The latest version of the reviewer-favorite Casper Original Mattress has three foam layers, and it’s also enhanced with perforated foam for better airflow and Zoned Support, which provides a firmer feel to the hip area and a softer, more cushioned texture to the shoulder area.
The Zoned Support may be embedded in the very middle of this mattress, but having tested it out myself, it’s definitely a noticeable feature. At the surface level, the mattress is pleasantly cushy, and its lack of pushback allows me to sleep on my side without my back or shoulders getting thrown out of alignment. The mattress's firmness is very balanced, and I found it to be quite soft while also very supportive.
Our editor Stefan Vazharov also owns this mattress, and in his review, he specifically touts its breathability. “By helping my body maintain optimal temperature, it put an end to tossing and turning. On a few occasions, I even found my cat sound asleep at my feet, no longer swatting at them as I try to get comfortable.” Just keep in mind that it isn’t a cool-to-the-touch mattress, so if you’re naturally a hot sleeper, you may find that it doesn’t wick away heat as effectively as others.
Best Cooling Mattress
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king, including split California king and RV-mattress sizes
Trial Period: 120 nights
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Hybrid Mattress has been a longtime favorite of ours for its balanced support, effective heat-absorbing cover, and the firmness level that you can choose for yourself (soft, medium, or firm). It offers a generous amount of features for a reasonable price — and the brand also runs frequent mattress sales, so you can always score a good deal.
The mattress comprises five layers: There are three layers of foam atop individually wrapped coils that sit above a foundational base layer. Depending on your chosen firmness level, your softness and support layers will vary in height.
Unlike the aforementioned Casper Original Mattress, Brooklyn Bedding’s Aurora Hybrid puts more of an emphasis on phase-changing technology. This means that the materials in the top cover and layer of foam are made to wick away heat from the body, making the mattress feel refreshingly cool on contact. Its zoned coils also help to facilitate airflow better than an all-foam product does. Our tester Erica Murphy particularly loves this feature, saying, “when I unboxed the mattress, it felt like cool air was seeping out of the box. Upon the first touch, the fabric felt cool against my skin, too.”
Keep in mind, though, that a cooling mattress alone isn’t a guaranteed cure for night sweats. In order for the mattress’s cooling materials to work effectively, it’s best if you keep your bedroom air-conditioned, lighten up your bedding layers, and have a fan blowing to circulate air.
Best Budget Mattress
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king, including split king
Trial Period: 365 nights
The Nectar Memory-Foam Mattress may be cheap, but it doesn’t feel that way. In my own experience in sleeping on this model for over 2 years, there is no unstable sinking or uncomfortable pushback when lying on its surface. This 12-inch-high mattress is on the firm side (particularly for side sleepers), but every element from its soft, quilted cover to its three memory-foam layers comfortably contour the body without any cratered feeling.
There is also very little motion transfer from one side of the bed to the other, making this mattress a great pick for couples, as well. I’ve also noticed in changing the sheets on this bed that the corners of the mattress are very light and easy to lift.
While you can buy upgraded models of this same mattress that are taller and offer more cooling features, if budget is of the utmost concern, the Nectar Memory-Foam Mattress is a cheap yet comfortable product that doesn’t cut corners.
Best for Motion Isolation
Key Specs
Available Sizes: Twin through California king, including split king and split California king
Trial Period: 90 nights
If you frequently feel disrupted by your bed partner or pet moving in the night, you definitely want a mattress that helps limit motion transfer. That’s why the TEMPUR-ProAdapt Medium Hybrid Mattress is the perfect match for you. It’s made to support nearly any sleep position. But even more importantly, the inclusion of TEMPUR-Pedic's proprietary memory foam, in addition to its foam-wrapped innersprings, enables it to isolate motion better than any other mattress model.
Our editor Brandon Carte found his ideal not-too-plush, not-too-hard firmness level in this mattress model. He says, “I think you get the best of both worlds with the ProAdapt Medium Hybrid ... If you’ve laid in a TEMPUR-Pedic before, you know that immediately upon laying on it, it seems firm, but after a brief moment, it gives you a comforting, gentle embrace.”
He notes that the mattress's construction also helps relieve pressure against the hips and shoulders and provides nice edge support. However, although the mattress is layered with a cool-to-the-touch cover, according to our editor, its cooling properties aren’t very noticeable.
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