Better Sleep Is Just A Few Amazon Clicks Away

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You probably need a new mattress. Most of us do. After all, as the saying goes, “You’ll spend a third of your life on it …” Right? Your back will thank you, your significant other will definitely thank you, and your coworkers might even thank you, too, when you show up to work (or your hourly Zoom meetings) a little less cranky. So why not treat yourself to the best mattress you can afford?

The problem is that affording a good mattress isn’t always easy. They can be insanely expensive, especially the fanciest models with sixteen layers, NASA-inspired cooling gel-infused memory foam, and pillow tops on top of pillow tops. How many of us can really afford to drop three grand on a mattress?

Thankfully, there’s Amazon. We found many of the best mattresses on Amazon on sale for under $1,000. We’re talking high-quality, pressure-relieving hybrid and memory foam models with cooling gels and all the latest features to help you sleep like a baby sloth. So, naturally, our team got to work testing them all, so you don’t have to. We looked at every feature and detail—from how easy they were to set up to whether they smelled funky out of the box (seriously, look up “off-gassing”) to how much they cost to how comfortable they actually were.

In the end, we decided on these seven models. These are our favorite mattresses on Amazon right now, from the best mattresses for side sleepers, to the best mattresses for back pain. Because, let’s be honest, it’s time to upgrade your bedroom. You’re worth it.

Nod Hybrid Mattress

Tuft & Needle proves over and again why its mattresses are among the best valued in the mattress world. The Nod is the brand’s exclusive hybrid mattress, available only on Amazon. It’s a great, affordable alternative to T&N’s original hybrid mattress, so you’re getting (most of) the same great quality at an even better price. An adaptive foam layer and a layer of six-inch coils combine to give this mattress a medium-firm construction that makes it a great option for couples (and anyone, really) who likes a “middle of the road” firmness—not too soft and not too firm.

After months of testing, our team universally loved this mattress. The blend of traditional pocket coils and a top layer of hybrid foam provides the best of both worlds. We found it slightly firmer than Tuft & Needle’s OG hybrid mattress. Still, our team loved the blended construction. It felt supportive, yet not too firm, and even our soft mattress-loving panelists agreed. Our only real gripe is that it lacks the cooling gel-infused layer found in the company’s Hybrid and Mint models.

For the price—less than $850 delivered for a queen—we’re hard-pressed to find a better mattress value on Amazon. There are more affordable models, and there are plenty that are more expensive. But this is our go-to favorite for those looking for a midrange mattress on a budget. Bonus: You still get Tuft & Needle's same rock-solid return policy, free 100-night sleep trial, and decade-long warranty, so this really is a risk-free buy.

Mattress

Nectar is another great mattress-in-a-box brand that gives Tuft & Needle a run for its money. While its lineup includes plenty of premium mattresses, we love the original 12-inch Nectar mattress. It features straightforward memory foam construction, including five layers of high-quality CertiPUR-US certified foam. They combine to provide a medium-firm feel that leans slightly toward the firmer side. This makes it a great option for back pain sufferers, but also for couples who want a “middle of the road” feel that they’ll both love.

Setup of the Nectar was a snap. We simply moved the box next to our existing bed, pulled out the mattress, and slid it into place. After sleeping on it for over a month, our team—and our panelists who suffer from chronic pain, in particular—found the firmness to be just right. We felt this mattress provided excellent support without feeling too rigid. The lower portion of the mattress (near the footboard) also offered support and a bit of give to contour around our spine. We found it perfectly comfortable and supportive, while the gel memory foam layer kept us cool, calm, and collected, even during a few 90-degree nights.

Our only gripe is that we wish this mattress was slightly more responsive. That minor quibble aside, our team loved this model. At just under $700 delivered, it’s an incredible value and one of the best mattresses on Amazon for back pain. Nectar’s Premier version of this mattress—with dual-action cooling and an extra inch of thickness—is available for $300 more, but our team was more than happy with this OG model, especially with the more wallet-friendly price tag.

Nova Hybrid Mattress

Of course, not every buyer wants an ultra-supportive mattress, even one that’s on the “medium” side of firm. If you like a softer (read “plush”) sleep surface, Casper’s Nova Hybrid is our pick for the best mattress on Amazon. It’s the softest in our roundup (and the softest in Casper’s entire line-up) with a hybrid construction that combines multiple plush memory foam layers with a base layer of encased traditional box springs for extra support. Plus, as with all Casper mattresses, the Nova Hybrid features layers of breathable, perforated foam to help move trapped air and keep you cool all night long.

Our plush mattress-loving panelists loved this mattress not only for its incredible softness, but also for its surprising support. “It’s even more comfortable than my insanely soft mattress at home, but I don’t feel like I’m sinking down into the floor with it. My back feels better when I wake up in the morning now,” said one of our testers. While our other testers—those who prefer a slightly firmer sleep surface—found it to be too soft, we all agreed that this mattress worked better than most at regulating our temperatures overnight. We found it comfortable and cool, even in the dead of summer.

As with any mattress that falls on the extreme end of the firmness scale—either very soft or very firm—this model isn’t for everyone. It’s too soft for stomach sleepers and only decent for back sleepers, but it’s ideal for side and some mixed sleepers (those who tend to switch positions throughout the night). Our only real gripe is the price. True to most Casper mattresses, the Nova Hybrid is a midrange model that’s pricier than every other on this list at more than $1,800 (delivered) for a queen.

Studio Mattress

As “Amazon’s Choice” for Leesa mattresses, the Studio 10-inch is worth a look. It’s one of the company’s best value “mattresses in a box,” so it’s designed to be affordable, easy to setup, and built with a medium-firm feel that satisfies most sleepers. That includes a top layer that’s comfortable and responsive, plus transitional and high-density base layers to provide support. That combination targets all styles of sleepers, including back, side, and stomach.

In our three-month test, our editors and writers gave this mattress mostly positive reviews. In general, we found it provided a good mix of comfort and support. The back pain sufferers in our group noted that it was plenty supportive without the ultra-rigid feel of a truly “firm” mattress. Others who prefer softer sleep surfaces noted that it was comfortable without feeling too firm, but they wished it was softer. All of which means this might be a good compromise mattress for couples, but we would recommend trying it before you fully commit. One point we all agreed on is that this mattress did an excellent job of keeping us cool. That’s due largely to the transitional middle layer that’s built with micro-air capsules to pull away body heat throughout the night.

One standout feature of the Leesa Studio is the price. At $749 (delivered) for a Queen, it’s hard to beat. Like most mattresses in a box, setup is a breeze, too. Just move the box into place next to your bed, position the mattress on the frame, unroll it into place, and … sleep. Surprising for a mattress in this price range are the 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty—both solid for a budget-friendly mattress.

Clarks Hill Elite Plush Pillow Top Mattress

For some sleepers, only a traditional pillow-top mattress will do. The name of the game with Serta’s Clarks Hill Elite Plush Pillow-Top mattress is soft. If you like your mattresses extra, buttery soft—the kind of softness that only a true pillow-top mattress can provide—this model is worth a look. At 15 inches, it’s the tallest in our roundup with a thick base layer of 800 individually wrapped coils, topped with multiple layers of breathable foam infused with cooling memory gel. Translation: It’s not only soft, but extremely cool, too, making this a great year-round mattress in any climate.

For our test panel, the deep, 15-inch height stood out immediately. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it design, with some of our shorter panelists complaining that it was almost difficult to get into. Once prone, though, we all agreed that it was extremely soft—one of the softest we tested this year. That garnered mixed reactions. It’s likely too soft for stomach sleepers and definitely too soft for anyone with back issues (we recommend going firmer if that’s you).

We did find the thick, innerspring base provided excellent structural support overall, though. This mattress offered better edge support and better cooling (again, thanks to the memory-gel-infused layers) than most we tested, especially when compared to pure memory foam mattresses.

For anyone who loves a plush, traditional pillow-top sleep surface, this is an incredible value. At around $800 (delivered) for a queen-sized version, it’s surprisingly well-priced, especially given the Serta brand name. Like most we tested, it’s backed with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty, which is pretty standard in the industry.

Mercer Hybrid 12-Inch Pillow Top Mattress

If the deciding factor for your mattress-buying process is price, we hear you. Classic Brands’ Mercer Mattress is about as cheap as you’ll find on Amazon. At less than $400 for a queen-sized version, this might be the year’s best mattress deal. What’s more surprising is that it’s not “just another” bargain-basement bed-in-a-box foam mattress. The Mercer features legit 12-inch hybrid construction that combines a high-density memory foam base and traditional innerspring coils with cooling gel memory foam for the best of both worlds.

Considering the price, our team was surprised at how tall and relatively luxurious this mattress felt. The memory foam and innerspring base layers do an excellent job of providing structural support, especially around the edges of the mattress. Sleeping on this model, we agreed that it provides a squarely “medium” firmness that should accommodate most sleepers, from back to side to stomach. That’s thanks largely to various foam layers that work in tandem with the coils so that it’s supportive yet comfortable.

This mattress didn’t cool as well as others in our roundup, though—it ranked firmly at the bottom of our tests. But that’s not surprising, given its budget nature. It lacks the premium foam and memory foam layers of more expensive, up-market models.

However, this budget-friendly mattress punches above its weight class with premium features, comfort, and construction that competes with mattresses at twice the price. It’s not the best mattress we tested, but it is among the most affordable. Our panel agreed, for the price, this is our pick for the best value mattress on Amazon in 2023.

Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress

Technically, this is the cheapest mattress worth buying on Amazon. But, we’re not including it in the same category as Classic Brands' Mercer above—it feels like comparing “apples and oranges,” really. This mattress offers many of the same features as the Mercer, including hybrid construction that combines traditional innerspring coils with memory and comfort foams for a medium firmness.

The cheapest model in this series measures just eight inches thick, and we don’t typically recommend anything less than 10 inches (12 is better) for a master bedroom. But this does make a great option for a guest room or a kid's room if you’re looking to save a bit of money.

Our team of testers was universally surprised at how much thinner an eight-inch mattress feels compared to a 10- or 12-inch model. It’s almost closer to a really thick mattress topper. We were equally surprised to find that sleeping on this budget model was fairly comfortable. The medium firmness appealed to both our plush- and firm-loving testers, who all gave it decent marks for comfort. Our back and stomach sleepers, however, wished that it was more supportive.

During our tests, we did find that the height was actually less than eight inches, which we found surprising. Linenspa does offer 10- and 12-inch models, however, if you’re looking for a taller option.

Still, the entry-level version in this series is worth a look, if only because of the wallet-friendly price tag and roughly 100,000 five-star Amazon reviews. The queen-sized version is available for just over $250 delivered. Because of its compact size and lightweight construction, it’s also incredibly easy to position into place and setup, even for one person. If you’re looking to furnish a secondary bedroom in your house, we highly recommend considering this mattress.

How we selected the best mattresses on Amazon

Our team of sleep-obsessed editors and writers spent the last six months personally testing dozens of great mattresses found on Amazon. We included models from unknown brands to mid-range “mattress-in-a-box” brands to premium brands with models that cost nearly $2,000. We paid careful attention to every detail, from the quality of the stitching to firmness to price to just how good of a night’s rest they provided our panelists. The list above includes our seven picks for the best mattresses on Amazon in 2023.

How to shop for the best mattress on Amazon

Shopping for the right mattress on Amazon is just like shopping for any other mattress. Here’s what to consider to find the best sleep surface for you:

Consider your body size and sleep position

Bottom line: A good mattress should support your body in whichever sleep position you’re most comfortable. That’s the only thing that matters when shopping for a new mattress. Neck and shoulder pain is typically an indication that you’re sleeping on the wrong pillow, but back pain (especially new back pain) could mean your mattress isn’t supporting you properly.

Back sleepers typically prefer medium to medium-firm mattresses. Side sleepers will likely want a mattress with more give, but that still offers pressure relief for shoulders and hips. Stomach sleepers will often need a mattress that’s firmer than any of the above. Ultimately, you want a mattress firmness that keeps your spine and body inline in your preferred position.

Test the mattress in-person

You’re almost guaranteed to find the best mattress prices on Amazon. But we recommend testing that mattress in-store, if possible. Some mattress brands are only sold directly to consumers with no option to “try before you buy.” Others are sold online and in stores. Visit the store nearest you, and test any mattresses you’re interested in for at least 15-20 minutes to get a good baseline for how comfortable it feels after lying on it for a while. This is typically long enough to know if it’s the right firmness, if it’s supportive enough (especially if you have back pain), and if it’s right for your body type.

Understand the sleep trial and warranty

Most midrange to premium mattresses are serious investments of $1,000 or more. Read the fine print on the sleep trial and warranty of any mattresses you’re shopping. All of the models we recommend (except Linenspa) offer at least a 90-day sleep trial. The best mattress brands offer 180 days or even up to a year, so buying their mattresses is truly risk-free. You want to know that you can return or at least exchange your new mattress if it doesn’t work out for you.

Price

Because mattresses can be expensive, your buying decision may ultimately come down to price. The good news is that you can get a good mattress—even one of the best mattresses—on Amazon for under $1,000. In fact, the Casper Nova Hybrid is the only mattress in our roundup over a grand. So, know that you don’t have to spend a fortune to find the right mattress for you.

What are the different types of mattresses on Amazon?

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different mattresses on Amazon and elsewhere. But, most fall into one of three categories: Traditional innerspring (or just “spring”), foam, and hybrid. Here’s the low-down on all three:

Innerspring mattresses

These are the “traditional” mattresses we all know. They include a thick base that consists of hundreds of individually-wrapped springs or coils to evenly distribute the weight of your body. Most modern innerspring mattresses feature additional middle and top layers with a mix of different foam types. Together, these layers provide varying levels of comfort, support, and usually cooling to regulate your body temperature.

Foam mattresses

Foam mattresses are made of one or multiple types of foam, including memory foam, latex foam, polyfoam, or some combination of several types of foam. They’re typically combined and made with different densities to change up the firmness of the overall mattress. Foam mattresses tend to run warmer than innerspring mattresses, but offer better support (great for back pain sufferers) and motion isolation (great for couples who tend to shift positions in the night).

Hybrid mattresses

These combine traditional innerspring construction with multiple foam layers to provide a “best of both worlds” design.

How we selected

Over the past year, Women’s Health editors, including our commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, have stayed up-to-date on thousands of Amazon customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best mattresses for a wide range of needs and preferences. For this story, our staff and freelance writer tested more than 15 mattresses to suit a variety of needs.

Read more about the best products for sleep

Best Mattresses For Back Pain | Best Cooling Sheets | Best Cooling Comforters | Best Mattresses for Sex | Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain | Best Amazon Sheets

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