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BEST HYBRID
WinkBeds EcoCloud Mattress
winkbeds.com
BEST FOR STOMACH SLEEPERS
Brooklyn Aurora
brooklynbedding.com
BEST VALUE
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
nectarsleep.com
Life is hectic. Between work, family, and social commitments, we're all going about our business at high speed. When it's time for bed, we're dog-tired. But if you plan to lie down on any old mattress at the end of the day and hope for a good night's sleep, you're doing it wrong.
"Sleeping on the right mattress can have a significant impact on how well you function during the day," says Dr. Luis Peña-Hernández, MD, FCCP at the Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Disorders Institute of South Florida (PCSI). "Choosing the right mattress for your needs can help address everything from back, shoulder, and neck pain to nighttime sweats, so you have a greater chance of waking up refreshed each morning."
Sleep is extraordinarily important for our safety and mental and physical well-being, according to a report by the National Institute of Health. So choosing the best mattress brand should be a priority. If you're in the market for a new mattress, you'll want to consider factors such as mattress type and materials, pressure relief, firmness, and sleep position.
To help, the Mattress Advisor review team carefully curated a list of the best, most innovative brands on the market today. It's worth noting that all of the mattress companies on this list offer generous sleep trial periods and return policies. You can "test drive" their products for anywhere from 100 days to a full year to thoroughly evaluate the mattress before committing.
Our mattress brand recommendations:
Most Luxurious: Saatva Classic
Best for Hot Sleepers: Helix Midnight
Best Hybrid: WinkBeds EcoCloud
Best for Back Pain: Casper Original All-Foam
Best for Combination Sleepers: Leesa Original
Best Latex: GhostBed Classic
Best for Couples: Bear Original
Best Memory Foam: Puffy
Best for Stomach Sleepers: Brooklyn Aurora
Best Value: Nectar
How to find the best mattress brand
If you're overwhelmed by the amount of choices out there, keep these three tips in mind to help narrow down your search.
Know where to shop
There are pros and cons to both in-store and online mattress shopping, but more and more people are turning to bed-in-a-box brands. The draw of these mattresses is easy to understand: They're shipped directly to you, making the entire process incredibly convenient, and they're often much less expensive than in-store options because online retailers cut out middleman costs.
Plus, online brands offer sleep trials (anywhere between 100 nights to a full year), giving you ample time to test out the mattress before you need to commit. If the bed isn't a fit, you can return it within the trial period at no extra cost.
Do your research
Mattress brands are constantly trying to outdo each other by introducing new and innovative materials to keep you comfortable. Always read previous buyers' reviews before you purchase a bed to ensure the company is reputable and delivers on its promises.
Read the fine print
A new mattress is a big investment—not only financially, but also physically considering the amount of time you'll spend sleeping on it. The best course of action is to pick a durable model that comes with a lengthy warranty. Most trusted mattress brands offer at least a 10-year warranty.
Before clicking the order button, make sure you know what's covered under the warranty. Is it prorated or non-prorated? Does it cover faulty craftsmanship? What about natural wear and tear? Bottom line: Read before you buy.
Choosing the best mattress for you
Now you know where to look for a new bed, but how do you determine what type of mattress best suits your needs? Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a mattress.
Mattress types and materials
Memory foam mattresses help distribute your weight evenly while keeping your spine aligned. Latex mattresses conform to your body quickly and reshape after you leave the mattress. They're also notoriously durable and can last for up to two decades.
Innerspring mattresses are what most people think of as the traditional mattress type. These beds are made from a base of coils topped with a thin layer of foam.
You'll also find a lot of hybrid mattresses on the market. These combine one or more layers of foam or latex with one or more layers of innersprings. These foam and coil mattresses generally have good ventilation, a blend of support and contouring, and minimal motion transfer.
Pressure relief
Pressure relief is an important feature to look for in your mattress brand, and your needs will primarily depend on your sleeping position. You'll want to find a mattress that offers sufficient support and eliminates pressure points while you sleep. Memory foam and latex are better at relieving pressure than other materials and provide cushioning at the hips and shoulders.
Sleep Position
Different kinds of sleepers have different needs when it comes to their mattresses. Side sleepers are more likely to sleep well on a thick memory foam mattress, for example, as this material contours to the body to provide extra support for shoulders and hips. Back sleepers will need a comfortable mattress that contours to their back, supports their midsection, and keeps their spine aligned. If you sleep on your stomach, a firmer bed will keep your hips propped up and your spine aligned. Combination sleepers, or those who change positions during the night, need a bouncy mattress (think something with springy coils, like a hybrid or innerspring bed) that responds to their frequent movements.
Firmness
Most mattress brands offer a range of models with different degrees of firmness, letting you pick and choose depending on your personal preference. Others sell flippable mattresses, offering a different level of firmness on each side so you can have the best of both worlds. And still others, like Saatva, go above and beyond and let you customize your firmness from among 50 different levels on the same bed. Mattress firmness is measured on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being super soft and 10 being the most firm. Take into account your preferred sleep position and whether you suffer from aches and pains before selecting a firmness level for your mattress.
The 10 best mattress brands
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Credit: Saatva
1Most Luxurious: Saatva
Health readers can take an extra $270 off luxurious Saatva mattresses between now and Labor Day. Saatva is a mattress company best known for its top-of-the-line models, reminiscent of those in five-star hotels. The Saatva Classic, a hybrid innerspring mattress, is nothing short of a work of art. The Saatva Classic boasts a range of attractive features from the inside out. The sleek exterior conceals more than 800 individually-wrapped comfort coils, which serve a dual purpose: minimizing motion transfer and contouring to your body. A special foam encasement creates a larger sleep surface and provides extra durability. Finally, the euro pillow top offers another layer of premium cushioning. Mattress Advisor testers, who awarded the Classic a 9.5 out of 10 for spine alignment, say these components help the sleeper maintain a healthy posture throughout the night.
Saatva doesn't just go the extra mile for its customers; it does the same for the environment. The supportive coils in this innerspring mattress are made from recycled steel. Additionally, Saatva uses natural thistle in their flame retardant and treats the organic cotton cover with botanical antimicrobial protection.
Mattress type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
Firmness: Soft (3/10), Medium-firm (6/10), and Firm (8/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 180 nights
Credit: Helix
2Best for Hot Sleepers: Helix Midnight
If you often wake up in a sweat, you're not alone. You'll simply need a mattress that transfers body heat away during the night to keep you nice and cool. The Helix Midnight is an outstanding option, especially because of its temperature-regulation features. This hybrid mattress comes with a breathable cover that's designed to increase airflow, and the individually wrapped coils up the cool factor even more.
Other noteworthy features of the Helix Midnight include the not-too-firm yet not-too-soft feel, the layers of pressure-relieving memory foam, the supportive high-grade polyfoam, and the bed's excellent motion isolation capabilities. Though the Helix Midnight is less expensive than its Helix Midnight Luxe counterpart, the bed is a bit pricier than other budget models.
Mattress type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
Mattress Advisor Score: 8.9/10
Firmness: Medium (5.5/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights
Credit: WinkBeds
3Best Hybrid: WinkBeds EcoCloud
Made with 100% natural materials, WinkBeds's EcoCloud mattress combines the benefits of the brand's other models and adds in latex to produce a comfortable and supportive sleep surface. Sustainably sourced Talalay latex provides cooling and pressure relief while the targeted pushback created by the pocketed coil base keeps your back elevated.
Hot sleepers will appreciate the EcoCloud's layer of New Zealand wool and breathable organic cotton cover, both of which are designed to wick away moisture. Though these natural materials mean the EcoCloud is situated at a higher price point than other bed-in-a-box mattresses, it does come with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.
Mattress type: Memory foam
Mattress Advisor Score: Coming Soon
Firmness: Medium (5/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 120 nights
Credit: Casper
4Best for Back Pain: Casper Original All-Foam
Casper has earned its reputation as one of the best bed-in-a-box brands on the market. Although it's come out with several upgraded models over the years, the Casper Original All-Foam is still one of the most popular—and one of the best mattresses for back pain.
This model's support layer consists of three zones designed to ensure spine alignment. This includes a softer foam around the shoulder areas and a firmer foam right under the hips, waist, and lower back, which is designed to provide relief to those areas of the body. Mattress Advisor testers tell Health that the Casper earned a near-perfect 9.5 out of 10 for spine alignment and a perfect 10 for responsiveness in sleep trials. As if that wasn't enough, Casper's Original Mattress includes a layer of breathable foam, which increases airflow and transfers heat away from the body, helping you sleep cool at night.
Mattress type: Memory foam
Mattress Advisor Score: 9/10
Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights
Credit: Leesa
5Best for Combination Sleepers: Leesa Original
Do you fall asleep on your side, wake up on your back, then roll over to your stomach? If you rotate through positions, then you're a combination sleeper—and you're going to want to invest in the Leesa Orignal Mattress, a memory foam fan-favorite.
The Leesa is made with three layers of exclusive foam. The first is breathable and responsive, offering both hug and bounce. Under that is a recovery layer, designed to relieve pressure on your hips, back, and shoulders while also contouring to your body. The foam base layer provides extra support, while the medium firmness makes this mattress perfect for sleepers in every position. Need more convincing? Mattress Advisor awarded the Leesa Original a 9.5 out of 10 for responsiveness and a 9 out of 10 for motion transfer.
Mattress type: Memory foam
Mattress Advisor Score: 9.3/10
Firmness: Medium firm (6/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 100 days
Credit: GhostBed
6Best Latex: GhostBed Classic
GhostBed's mattresses are designed by experienced sleep experts, making its Classic model well worth considering. This unique mattress is made from a winning combination of multiple layers of memory foam and aerated latex.
The bottommost layer is made up of high-density foam nearly eight inches thick, supporting proper spinal alignment without being too firm. On top of that, two inches of proprietary foam transfer heat away from your body while you're sleeping. The very top layer of latex foam serves a triple purpose: It absorbs pressure, regulates temperature, and provides a plush, springy feel to the mattress. Though most latex mattresses are pricey, GhostBed's Classic model comes in at under $1,300.
Mattress type: Memory foam and latex
Mattress Advisor Score: 8.6/10
Firmness: Medium-firm (7.5/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
Credit: Bear
7Best for Couples: Bear Original
Finding a mattress that suits your specific sleep needs is hard enough, but finding one that also fits the needs of your partner can seem impossible! Luckily, the Bear Original mattress checks all of the boxes with superior cooling, edge support, and pressure relief, so you and your partner can both get what you want without sacrificing a thing. Mattress Advisor experts were also impressed with the Bear's motion isolation—so much so that they awarded it a 8/10 during testing—so couples who toss and turn throughout the night won't disturb one another.
Sleeping with a partner can trap heat and lead to a restless night's sleep, but the Bear Original's open-cell foam and cooling cover make it the perfect choice for an airy night's rest. Couples will sleep soundlessly and wake up feeling refreshed.
Mattress type: Memory foam
Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
Firmness: Medium-firm (7.1/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights
Credit: Puffy
8Best Memory Foam: Puffy
Contouring and supporting the body all at the same time, the Puffy three-layer memory foam mattress goes above and beyond other memory foam mattresses on the market. Rather than sink in over time, this mattress scored extremely high on Mattress Advisor's responsiveness test, meaning this mattress—unlike many other memory foam mattresses—will change with your body's movements throughout the night. Despite memory foam's bad rap for trapping in heat, the Puffy mattress works to promote air flow and regulate temperature, ensuring a breezy night's rest. Plus, with a life-time warranty, you know this mattress is made to last.
Mattress type: Memory foam
Mattress Advisor Score: 9/10
Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
Credit: Brooklyn Bedding
9Best for Stomach Sleepers: Brooklyn Aurora
Because stomach sleeping comes with its own unique needs and specifications, it can be difficult to find a mattress that provides the proper amount of support and pressure relief. As one of the highest-scoring hybrid mattresses in the Mattress Advisor Lab, the Brooklyn Aurora balances comfort and durability with functionality, making it a great choice for stomach sleepers.
The Brooklyn Aurora's high-density gel memory foam supports the hips and midsection, preventing sagging and ensuring proper spine alignment. Customizable in three different firmness options—soft, medium, and firm—the medium or firm level is ideal for stomach sleepers. Working with the memory foam to increase support, the individually encased coils inside the mattress provide targeted pressure relief for an all-around comfortable sleep.
Mattress type: Hybrid
Mattress Advisor Score: 8.9/10
Firmness: Soft (3/10), medium (5/10), and firm (7/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 120 nights
Credit: Nectar
10Best Value: Nectar
Is there an option out there that offers all of the benefits of a high-end mattress at an affordable cost? There certainly is: Nectar is the mattress brand likely to tick all your boxes. This company expertly combines the very best firmness, comfort, breathability, and coolness features to give you an unparalleled sleep experience at a lower price point than many comparable beds.
The Nectar mattress has a quilted, airy foam mattress layer on top and a five-layer foam construction. Each of these layers is expertly engineered to have the perfect balance of support, softness, and firmness. Since the foam is adaptive, it ensures optimal spinal alignment while simultaneously relieving pressure on your hips, legs, and shoulders. You won't be sleeping hot either, as the Nectar mattress earned top-marks for cooling (8/10) and allows for nonstop airflow. It's also great for couples. If your partner tends to toss and turn frequently in their sleep or get up for a late night snack, you'll be happy to know this mattress minimizes motion transfer (awarded an 8.5/10 in this category). Unlike most bed-in-a-box mattresses, the Nectar comes with a full-year sleep trial and a lifetime warranty, which gives you ample time to decide if this is the right fit for you.
Mattress type: Memory foam
Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10)
Trial Period for Returns: 365 nights
Mattress Advisor's Review Process
Each mattress on this list was put to the test (literally) in Mattress Advisor's lab, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bedding experts spent over 1,200 hours evaluating and comparing mattresses using a 14-point testing methodology to find the best mattress brands you can shop online.
While some of the factors tested are tied directly to performance, like responsiveness, edge support, and pressure relief, others are based around brand operations, such as customer service, shipping policies, and trial period. The Mattress Advisor team combines this proprietary methodology with in-depth interviews and customer experience to arrive at a weighted score out of 10.
Samara Kamenecka is a former insomniac and freelance writer for Mattress Advisor.