Getting great sleep can set the tone for your day, and having a cozy bed can make all the difference. But how do you find the mattress of your dreams? “The best mattress balances comfort and support,” sleep medicine specialist Shelby Harris, PsyD, DBSM , and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Montefiore Medical Center tells SELF. “It should keep your spine aligned, be the right firmness for your sleeping position, and offer features like pressure relief and temperature control.
Essentially, it needs to fit your personal needs to help you sleep well without causing discomfort.” But after hours of scrolling through hundreds of mattress options, with terms like “coils,” “gel-infused foam,” and “zoned support” swirling in your mind, that advice can feel easier said than done. That’s where we come in: Our experienced mattress testers reviewed models from some of the biggest brands on the market, and with their insights, along with expert guidance, you’ll be set to meet the bed of your dreams in no time.
Top picks for the best mattresses Best Mattress Overall: Saatva Classic Best Mattress for Back Pain: WinkBed Best Memory Foam Mattress: DreamCloud Premier Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nectar Memory Foam Best Mattress for Back Sleepers: Helix Midnight Best Cooling Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Best Hybrid Mattress: Bear Elite Hybrid Best Firm Mattress: Emma Hybrid Comfort Best Mattress for Couples: Nolah Evolution Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: Titan Plus Best Affordable Mattress: Zinus Green Tea In this article Shop the best mattress What to consider when buying a mattress online Buying in-store versus online What is the best type of mattress? How we chose the best mattress of 2024 How we tested these mattresses FAQs Best Mattress Overall: Saatva Classic Saatva Hybrid construction makes it durable Lots of firmness options Made from breathable materials Free white-glove delivery is available Lacks marshmallow-y foam feel, which some sleepers love It’s bouncy, so you’ll likely feel a partner toss around The luxe Saatva Classic racked up high scores across our testing categories—frankly, our reviewers thought it was so comfortable, they didn’t want to didn’t want to go back to their own beds after testing wrapped. "I wish I had this mattress at home,” says one tester. “It's probably one of the most luxurious mattresses I've tried.
I really don't want to get off of it." The high-quality mattress is available in plush soft, luxury firm, and firm models so you can choose the one that will best fit your sleeping position and comfort level. But all firmness varieties have a supportive innerspring layer and a soft, memory foam pillow-top—a combo that our testers say adds up to excellent support: Our team gave the Saatva 5 out of 5 stars in the category.
People who suffer from back and body aches will be especially grateful for the high level of support: “[A mattress] should be firm enough to support your body without letting it sink too much, ensuring your spine stays aligned and reducing the risk of back pain,” Dr. Harris says. Receiving and setting up this mattress is also easy-breezy, thanks to free white-glove delivery.
Someone will bring you the mattress, place it where you want it, and get rid of your old bed. Since Saatva isn’t shipped in a box, it won’t need time to expand after setting it up, meaning you can snuggle in right away. Material : Innerspring | Firmness : Multiple options: plush soft, luxury firm, firm (our testers tried the luxury firm, a 7 out of 10) | Trial period : 365 nights | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping : Free shipping Best Mattress for Back Pain: WinkBed WinkBeds Multiple firmness options Bouncy coils make it easy to move around Sleeps cool, thanks to gel-infused foams Pressure-relieving pillow top Doesn’t have great motion isolation More expensive than other options There are a ton of potential causes behind an achy back—throbbing muscles after taking a new Pilates class, a bad office desk chair, and hours (upon hours) spent looking down at your phone.
No matter what’s behind your back pain, though, your mattress can either be part of the problem or the solution. The WinkBed is a hybrid bed that includes zoned support, meaning the bed is firmer in the middle for targeted pressure relief. This construction can help your spine stay aligned while you snooze, which is key for avoiding achy mornings.
According to Laura Purdy, MD, MBA , a board-certified family medicine physician, firm mattresses can also help with back pain. “If you are sleeping on a mattress that is too soft and you tend to find yourself with consistent back pain, then it's worth it to invest in a firm mattress that provides you with additional support to help give relief,” she tells SELF. According to one of our testers, the WinkBed felt springy and firm—a night and day difference from the all-foam bed she was used to.
Much like the Saatva, the WinkBed comes in multiple firmness levels: softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus, so even if you’re not a fan of super-sturdy beds, you have options. One of our side-sleeping testers who weighs 230 pounds felt especially comfortable and supported on the luxury firm model (which we named in our lists of the best mattresses for side sleepers and best mattresses for back pain ), calling it her match. But, she went on to caveat that “if you weigh more and shift around at all to your back or stomach, you’ll likely appreciate the extra firmness of the plus.
My hips felt a lot more supported on that one.” Material : Hybrid | Firmness : Multiple options: softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus (our testers spent the most time with the luxury firm, a 7 out of 10) | Trial period :120 nights | Warranty : Lifetime | Shipping : Free Best Memory Foam Mattress: DreamCloud Premier DreamCloud All-star cushioning for relieving pressure points Medium-firmness can support ache-free sleeping Good cooling capabilities can be helpful for couples Plush pillow top may not offer enough support for all sleepers Scored low in responsiveness, making repositioning tougher One main hallmark of a great memory foam mattress is that it isolates motion, which means your bedmate won’t feel you move—and we think the DreamCloud Premier is simply the best in this category. We score motion isolation by having a tester jump on one side of the bed while a glass of wine or water rests on the other side (cue: core memories of those commercials from the early aughts).
The DreamCloud Premier earned a perfect 5 out of 5 for this test, with barely any motion detected. The strong motion isolation makes it a great option for couples. And the cooling features—including a breathable cashmere fabric and gel-infused foam—can also be important if you’re cozying up with a partner.
Our testers also found the DreamCloud Premier to be pressure-relieving for both side and back sleepers. When you snooze on your side, pressure tends to build in your hips and shoulders, but our testers thought the DreamCloud Premier did a great job of soothing those pressure points in this position. This mattress also offers enough support to keep your hips aligned when resting on your back.
One tester also says it’s comfortable in the lower-back area. Material : Foam | Firmness : Medium-firm (7 out of 10) | Trial period : 365 nights | Warranty : Lifetime | Shipping : Free Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nectar Memory Foam Nectar Feels plush and soft Pressure-relieving and supportive Has great motion isolation (scored 4.5 out of 5) Might sleep too hot for some Lack of bounciness makes moving positions tougher Sleeping on your side can be a double-edged sword for your joints: Curling into the fetal position may be comfy, but it can put a ton of pressure on your hips and shoulders.
According to Dr. Harris, side sleepers often benefit from a softer mattress that “helps cushion the shoulders and hips while keeping the spine aligned” and should look for beds made with pressure-relieving foam. The Nectar fits the bill: Our testers say the all-foam bed is doughy and spongy, and helps keep pain at bay along the sides of the body.
Lying on it feels like “being gently hugged by a large teddy bear,” one tester previously said . The Nectar’s 12 inches of foam make for a motion-isolating bed that won’t rock or sway if you’re sleeping with a squirmy partner. One of our testers previously said, “I almost never felt my partner moving around, so sleeping through a little chaos shouldn’t be an issue.
” Material : Memory foam | Firmness :Medium-firm (6.5 out of10) | Trial period : 100-night trial | Warranty : 15-year warranty | Shipping : Free shipping Best Mattress for Back Sleepers: Helix Midnight Helix Medium firmness may help keep aches away Strong motion isolation Good edge support Doesn’t trap heat The springs can be squeaky May be too soft for some The medium-firm Helix Midnight is a dream for back sleepers thanks to its striations of dense memory foam and individually wrapped coils. According to Dr.
Purdy, it’s especially important for back sleepers to invest in a mattress that “supports your hips and shoulders without putting too much tension on them,” she says. “These body parts need to be able to relax and feel supported along with the rest of your body. A mattress that’s too soft will not provide you with enough support, and you may experience back pain.
” The Helix scored well for pressure relief, which measures how well a mattress distributes body weight across the surface of the bed. To score this category, testers lay a blanket-like device atop the mattress and then climb into bed; the pressure-map lights up in the areas on the body where pressure builds. While testing the Helix Midnight, the gadget indicated that back sleepers had slight pressure buildup in the hips, but none in the back, indicating it’s a good pick for folks who have back pain.
At a medium firmness, Midnight is plush enough to cushion the hips while still encouraging spinal alignment. This makes it a good option for back sleepers who may occasionally wake up on their side. As one tester previously said, “the Helix is soft enough for side sleeping but supportive and responsive enough to let me flop around easily, too.
” Material : Hybrid | Firmness :Medium firm (6.5 out of 10) | Trial period :100-night trial | Warranty : 10-year warranty | Shipping : Free shipping and returns Best Cooling Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Brooklyn Bedding Available in several firmness levels Super bouncy, so moving around is easy Great pressure relief Not many extra features compared to other mattresses Cooling cover is an additional fee Not into waking up in a pool of sweat? Great, neither are we. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is our pick for the best mattress to keep you cool all night; it’s made with a layer of coils, which give it plenty of airflow to prevent overheating.
And, if you’re willing to shell out a little more cash, you can get extra iciness by investing in the brand’s cool-to-the-touch cover.. Our team used a thermal gun—a tool that measures how quickly a mattress heats up when someone lies on it—to test whether this bed (sans cooling cover) would trap heat or stay cool.
The temperature rose nearly eight degrees Fahrenheit (anything from five to 10 degrees is a good score in our books), which means most sleepers won’t need to have their fans on full-blast. But, again, extra-hot sleepers should probably opt for the cooling cover. Better safe than sweaty, right? In addition to cooling wins, the Signature Hybrid offers a good amount of bounce, so combination sleepers will be supported as they switch positions.
That responsiveness, along with solid edge support and good motion isolation make it easy to sleep with a partner, because you don’t need to worry about them waking you up when they move (or vice versa) or falling off the mattress. Material : Hybrid | Firmness : Multiple options: soft, medium, firm (our testers spent the most time on the medium, a 6.5 out of 10) | Trial period :120 nights | Warranty : 10 years | Shipping : Free shipping Best Hybrid Mattress: Bear Elite Hybrid Bear Includes cooling materials Good motion isolation Strong edge support Comes in multiple firmness options The cooling cover costs extra With the mattress market flooded with hybrid models, we can stand to be picky.
We expect the best ones to have bells and whistles like cooling features, sturdy support, and top-notch pressure relief. The best hybrid options should also offer multiple firmness levels so you can customize your experience. The Bear Elite Hybrid ticks every single box.
This mattress’s contouring foam has that sinking-in-quicksand feel that memory foam is known for—but an inner layer of sturdy coils will keep you from getting swallowed alive. The Bear Elite Hybrid scored high on our pressure-relief test, with the results showing little pressure buildup in our tester’s back, shoulder, or hip areas in several sleeping positions. “The mattress felt buoyant yet still pressure-relieving,” one of our testers says.
“For me, a back-side combination sleeper, the Elite Hybrid seems like an excellent match.” Material :Hybrid | Firmness : Multiple options: soft, medium, firm (our testers spent the most time on the medium, a 6.5 out of 10) | Trial period : 120 nights | Warranty : Lifetime | Shipping : Free Best Firm Mattress: Emma Hybrid Comfort Emma Offers firm support to keep you buoyant Great motion isolation Sturdy edge support Not the best pressure relief Testers described it as oddly noisy when you lie on it The Emma Hybrid Comfort is our favorite firm mattress (we scored it a 7.
5 out of 10)—but firm doesn’t mean uncomfortable here. This hybrid bed blends the high level of support you’d expect from a firm mattress with foam that makes you feel like you’re lying on top of a foam pit (cue the childhood flashbacks). Not sure a firm mattress is for you? Andrew Michael Namen, MD, FCCP, FAASM , sleep medicine specialist and medical director of the Wake Forest Sleep Program, tells SELF that firm mattresses can “help maintain the natural curve of the spine and spinal support” for certain sleeping positions.
The Emma Hybrid’s zoned coil system supplies targeted pressure relief throughout the bed. But despite those bouncy springs, the bed’s motion-isolation abilities get a perfect 5 out of 5 score from us. We asked a member of our team to jump on the bed to test it, and their movement barely rippled across the surface.
So if you sleep next to a bustling bedmate who can’t seem to stay still, they probably won’t shake the bed enough to disturb your sleep. The edges of the bed are sturdy, too, so that wriggly partner of yours can move around all night with no fear of rolling off the bed. Material : Hybrid | Firmness : Firm (7.
5 out of 10) | Trial period : 365 nights | Warranty : 10 years | Shipping : Free shipping and returns Best Mattress for Couples: Nolah Evolution Nolah Three firmness options Traps less heat due to cooling memory foam and coils Good motion isolation Zoned support for spinal alignment May not be supportive enough for everyone More expensive than similar brands Having trouble finding the perfect match for a bed to share with your partner? Don’t give up just yet. According to our team of testers, the Nolah Evolution has all the right mattress features for couples: it’s cooling, responsive, and has great motion isolation. The Nolah’s top layer is made from a foam that’s designed to be more cooling than a traditional memory foam, which can retain heat.
Beneath that, a coil layer helps the mattress breathe, something that Dr. Harris says is key for keeping temps down while you get your beauty rest. “Features that allow air to flow through, such as cooling coils, help dissipate heat and keep you comfortable throughout the night.
” Thanks to the Evolution’s all-star responsiveness, you and your partner can easily move around during your late-night bedtime, ahem, activities. But even though the bed is bouncy enough to shift around on, it won’t transfer motion across the surface. Material : Hybrid | Firmness : Multiple options: plush, luxury firm, and firm (our testers spent the most time on the luxury firm, a 7 out of 10) | Trial period : 120 nights | Warranty : Lifetime | Shipping : Free Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: Titan Plus Titan Good edge support Supportive for people with back pain Firm, but still really bouncy Won’t offer amazing pressure relief The Titan Plus is a hybrid with sturdy coils, a firm support layer, responsive foam, and a pillow-top layer for comfort.
It was specifically designed to be extremely solid, which makes it a great choice for those who sleep in a supine position and need a firm bed to support their spine. Hard doesn’t mean uncomfortable, though. “The Titan isn’t super-firm, but it’s firm enough to let both me and my partner sink in just enough to stay supported,” one tester previously told SELF of their experience on the bed.
Our team also likes the Titan Plus’s responsiveness, with testers saying they were able to easily change positions on the bed without things feeling like a bounce house. Material : Hybrid | Firmness : Firm (7.5 out of 10) | Trial period : 120 nights | Warranty : 10 years | Shipping : Free Best Affordable Mattress: Zinus Green Tea Zinus Good pressure relief for side sleepers Isolates motion well Super soft surface Not as supportive as other mattresses A great mattress is a worthy investment; getting good sleep on the regular stands to improve your life.
But reaping those benefits doesn’t have to mean dropping thousands of dollars. Brands like Zinus make it possible to get a quality mattress for a price you won’t lose sleep over. While most budget-conscious shoppers should fare well on the Zinus, we particularly like it for side sleepers who are looking for a soft surface to offer some pressure relief or for couples who keep each other awake at night thanks to bedmate squirminess.
When we tested this mattress for motion isolation, we found the bed mostly absorbed any impact. Material : Foam | Firmness : Soft (5 out of 10) | Trial period : 100 nights | Warranty : 10 years | Shipping : Free What to consider when buying a mattress online Mattress shopping is advanced-level adulting: It involves spending a lot of money and making a decision that could impact your health. So, when you have a sea of options to pick from, where should you start? Here are the most important considerations to keep in mind when buying a new mattress.
Mattress materials impact the product’s comfort, temperature, and durability. The materials help determine how firm, supportive, and pressure-relieving a mattress will be, too. For instance, if you sleep hot, you might be interested in a gel foam; if you experience back pain, you might prioritize zoned coils.
Whatever your specific wants and needs of your bed may be, it’s best to look for an option with the right materials. According to Dr. Purdy, your mattress should feel supportive but still offer pressure relief—if not, you’re risking an achy back.
Dr. Harris agrees: “A mattress that’s too soft may let your spine sag, while one that’s too firm can create pressure points,” she says. “To fix this, choose a mattress with the right firmness for your sleeping position and consider adding a mattress topper for extra comfort.
” Many mattress brands offer different levels of firmness for every model, so you can pick the one that you like best. If you’re unsure how to choose the right comfort level, consider which firmness you need based on your sleeping style, personal preferences, and whether or not you share a bed with someone. Some of us do Vinyasa flows from one sleep pose to the next, while others stick to one position throughout the entire night.
Either way, your sleep style will likely play a huge role in the type of mattress that’s best for you to buy. Stomach sleepers tend to benefit from a mattress that offers lots of support, while back sleepers may appreciate something with zoned coils. And, according to Dr.
Purdy, a mattress with good lumbar support can be good for side sleepers, in particular. For most people, price will be one of the biggest considerations when it comes to buying a new mattress. When purchasing a mattress online, think about your budget and check to see if your favorite brands offer any discounts.
Many online mattress brands will offer sales and deals around holidays and big shopping days like Amazon Prime Day , Memorial Day Weekend , and Black Friday . Consider how temporary your living situation is, too; if you're planning to move soon and aren’t sure if your bed has a spot in your new spot, you may not want to break the bank just yet. Buying in-store versus online Either option totally works, but there are pros and cons to consider before sharing your credit card info.
By shopping online, you can skip sitting in traffic and waiting in line at a store—just browse, click, check out, and your new bed will be sent right to your doorstep. Many mattress brands offer white-glove delivery, where they’ll bring it in, set it up for you, and remove your old mattress, too. Shopping for a mattress online can be cheaper, too.
(It makes sense, since many direct-to-consumer brands cut out the middleman of a storefront, shipping straight from the factory to your doorstep.) And while you may not be able to physically test out different models firsthand if you buy online, comparing and contrasting their features is as easy as opening a new browser tab. Buying a mattress from a brick-and-mortar is less convenient than clicking add-to-cart, but it could end up giving you the peace of mind that comes from actually experiencing how the mattress feels when you lie on it.
However, know that getting your new mattress to your front door will depend on store policies. You may need to arrange delivery dates (if delivery is an option at all), otherwise, you’ll be responsible for lugging your new mattress home by yourself. What is the best type of mattress? There are several types of mattresses to choose from, and deciding which is best will depend largely on your personal preference.
Basically, we believe there’s no wrong choice regarding the type of mattress you pick—they’re simply different, not better or worse. Check out a breakdown of the different mattress types below to help you make your choice. Made up of coils (which come in a variety of types, sizes, heights, and quantities), this traditional mattress style is generally bouncier than other options.
These beds also tend to provide stronger edge support and stay at a cooler temperature because air can easily flow between the springs. These have gained popularity in recent years, along with the rise of mattress-in-a-box brands, since they’re easier to roll up and ship. They’re known for being soft and supportive, and for offering excellent motion isolation.
But, hot sleepers , take note: Foam tends to retain more heat than innerspring or hybrid constructions. (Some foam mattresses are infused with gel or other cooling agents, like copper, to keep things sweat-free.) Hybrid mattresses combine the comfort of foam or latex with coils; they’re known for being supportive, durable, and highly breathable, thanks to the airflow that can pass through the innerspring layers.
Latex beds are made from materials derived from rubber trees and plants. They tend to range from medium-firm to extremely firm, are responsive and contouring. How we chose the best mattress of 2024 Our testers have tried more than 500 mattresses to find the cream of the crop.
In addition to our in-house testing methods, we considered elements like trial and warranty, and customer reviews. We checked all biases at the door and evaluated each mattress based on the following criteria: It’s easy to order any old mattress online, but it’s not that simple to make sure it’s made of quality materials. We did in-depth tests of the materials in each mattress to evaluate their foam, coils, fabric, and density.
(You can read more about these tests here .) The price range for mattresses varies a ton. You can order a mattress from Amazon for a few hundred dollars or splurge on a luxury bed that costs more than $3,000.
We consider how much each mattress will run you and whether its performance and materials warrants its price tag. We take into account a brand’s trial period and warranty before recommending one of its mattresses. When you’re buying a mattress online, you’re waiving the ability to try it yourself before you buy, which is why extended trial periods are key.
A warranty is important, too, because if your mattress breaks, rips, or has an issue, you’re in the clear to get a free replacement or your money back. Every mattress has its unique capabilities, and we keep tabs on what each offers with regard to: cooling ability, motion isolation, edge support, and responsiveness. How we tested these mattresses A lot happens behind the scenes to make sure we’re bringing you the best mattress recs out there.
Our testers put each mattress to the test by jumping, rolling, tossing, turning, and resting; they left no pillow unturned. Here’s how they tested: Firmness: Firmness can feel different based on body type and sleep style, so we have a diverse range of testers try out every bed to see how it feels. Pressure relief: Our testers use a pressure-mapping mat to see exactly which parts of the body are pressing into the mattress during sleep.
Temperature: We use a thermal imaging camera while testing to see exactly how hot a mattress gets while someone is lying on it. Materials: We literally cut each mattress open to see what’s on the inside. Our team evaluates each layer to see what the materials are and if they’re the quality we’d expect.
Responsiveness: Our testers assess how bouncy the mattress is and how quickly it responds to movement by lying on the mattress and cycling through different sleeping positions to see how easy it is to move. The quicker the response, the higher we rank it. Edge support: Whether you roll around in your sleep or sit at the edge to put your socks on, a good edge support will make sure you don’t fall off.
If the mattress doesn’t feel stable on the edges, it gets a lower ranking. Motion transfer: It’s kind of a pain when you’re fast asleep, and your pet jumps in the bed, or your partner gets up to go to the bathroom. We put each mattress through a series of tests to see how easily you’d be disturbed by a disruption to the bed’s surface.
Still have questions about how we test? Check out our sleep products methodology page to learn the ins and outs of how we test for all the factors above. FAQs We answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the best mattresses: Not to sound like Yoda, but the best mattress to buy is the one that will suit you best. We recommend the Saatva Classic as the best overall, but when shopping for a mattress, consider what type of sleeper you are, any ailments or medical issues you have, the size of your room, and who, if anyone, you share a bed with.
It depends on your budget. The most cost-conscious option on our list is the Zinus , which retails for $599 for a queen (but is often on sale for much less). You can also spend upwards of $3,000 on a luxury option like the Saatva.
If you’re setting up your dorm room or not planning to stay in your current space too long, you may be better off with a cheaper mattress. But, if you already know what you like and you’re ready to make an investment, it might be time to prioritize quality. Holidays and major online shopping days are the best time to buy a mattress.
Keep an eye out for mattress deals around Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. SELF previously reported that it’s smart to get a new mattress every eight or so years, and the mattresses on this list should last that long. (If that weren’t the case, they wouldn’t have warranties that are 10 years or longer.
) The type of mattress, how many people use the bed, and body weight all come into play as well for durability. With reporting from Sara Coughlin and Malia Griggs Related: Looking for the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers? Rest Easy With Our Picks The 10 Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2024 The 10 Best Mattresses for Back Pain in 2024.
