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Choosing the right mattress is one of the most important steps to getting a restful night’s sleep. Ironman Leaf Spring
It’s also one of the most challenging, because a perfect match is highly individual.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing experts, trying beds at our testing site, and sleeping on them in our own homes, all in an effort to zero in on the mattresses that may be worth your money. This page provides a helpful roadmap to our extensive mattress coverage and to finding your best mattress—and your best sleep.
To shop successfully, you need to distinguish a mattress’s real benefits from all the marketing mumbo jumbo. In our guide to choosing a mattress, we show you how to determine whether a mattress will offer enough support and pressure relief for your body, what size mattress to choose, when to buy, and what to ask the salesperson (or live-chat attendant) to figure out if a mattress is durable.
Should you buy a trendy online-only foam mattress or a more-traditional innerspring? How about a so-called hybrid? What about latex? In this primer on mattress types, we unpack the pros and cons of what’s inside that shrouded rectangle so you can choose the bed that’s right for you.
Some models of the Novaform ComfortGrande, sold between January and June 2023, have been recalled.
If you like the feeling of sinking into your bed as opposed to resting on top of it, then a mattress made entirely or mostly of polyurethane foam (aka polyfoam) may suit you best. Mattresses made from memory foam tend to conform to your body and provide a “hugging” sensation as you settle in, but they can also make you feel stuck in place. Non-memory-foam mattresses are not as curve-contouring as memory-foam types, but they can be easier to move around on. Our guide to the best foam mattresses includes polyurethane foam options with or without memory foam. Foam mattresses come in a range of prices. Our lower-cost memory-foam mattress pick, the Novaform ComfortGrande, and our non-memory-foam pick, the Tuft & Needle New Original, are each well under $1,000. Our higher-end memory-foam favorite, the Loom & Leaf (Relaxed Firm), is more than double the price, but consists of longer-lasting materials.
Consider a foam mattress if:
Skip a foam mattress if:
This Costco favorite is a great value since it’s made from layers of foam that are as dense (and probably as durable) as the foam in mattresses that cost twice as much. Testers loved its cuddly yet supportive feel, but some found it to be too firm.
With a thick quilted top and some of the highest foam densities we’ve seen in an online mattress, this mattress feels more substantial (and will likely last longer) than mattresses that cost under $1,000. It arrives unboxed, so it’s also less likely to off-gas in your home.
This mattress isn’t made with memory foam, so it doesn’t hug every contour. It has a soft top but a firm underlayer, so you should feel supported but cushioned at the same time.
Latex mattresses typically feel springier and are more breathable than mattresses made from memory foam or polyfoam, but some models can feel stiff or overly elastic. They also tend to be more expensive than regular foam mattresses. Because latex is intrinsically more durable, latex mattresses can be a good choice if you weigh more than 200 pounds or want a bed that lasts longer than the typical 10-year-warranty for foam beds. We’ve tried three all-latex mattresses over the years, and we found the Zenhaven (shown here with a boxspring) to be more cushiony—and therefore more comfortable—than the others.
Consider an latex mattress if:
Skip a latex mattress if:
Decent latex mattresses are expensive, but we think this one is a good value, and should prove more durable and breathable (and thus feel cooler) than many foam mattresses.
There’s no “official” definition of a hybrid mattress. In our guide to the best hybrid mattresses, we include foam beds constructed with steel coils and sock coverings, as well as a popular innerspring mattress designed with copious amounts of foam. Two of our favorite hybrid mattresses, the Leesa Sapira Hybrid and the Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid), have consistently placed at or near the top of our foam-mattress tests for the past two years. The hybrid WinkBed (Luxury Firm), which has a quilted cover, polyfoam, and a layer of base coils, is a top pick in our guide to the best innerspring mattresses.
Consider a hybrid mattress if:
This hybrid combines the best elements of memory-foam and spring mattresses. It has better cooling and a thicker cover than the competition, all at a great price for a hybrid.
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With a luxurious slow-sinking foam and sturdy edge support, this memory-foam-and-coil hybrid feels leagues ahead of most mattresses we tried. But it also costs two to four times as much.
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Innerspring mattresses provide a buoyant sensation, thanks to steel coils that bolster layers of fiber and foam under a quilted top. If you feel too sunk in or hot on an all-foam mattress, an innerspring can offer more resilience, along with firmer edges, and intrinsically more airflow. But innersprings can be notoriously difficult to shop for, traditionally requiring a trip to a mattress store to navigate dozens of different models that have confusing names, specifications, and features. The WinkBed (Luxury Firm) and IKEA Hesstun (Medium Firm), along with the other picks in our innerspring mattress guide, performed best in our testing. A few, including the WinkBed, can be purchased online, often with generous trial and return policies.
Consider an innerspring mattress if:
Skip an innerspring mattress if:
A layer of base coils—including firm ones around the perimeter—gives this mattress some bounciness and robust edge support. The thick polyfoam pillow top loosely cradles without feeling sticky or sinky.
Far from flimsy, this inexpensive mattress has features such as curve-confirming microcoils and a plush Euro top, normally found in more expensive mattresses. But if you don’t like it, you’ll have to drive it back to IKEA for an exchange.
Cheap mattresses (under $500 for a queen) tend to be pretty basic. They’re generally all-foam (or foam-forward hybrid) mattresses that have fewer layers, are made of less-dense foams, and offer fewer bells and whistles (like free trial periods) compared with more expensive options. The Zinus Green Tea Cooling Swirl Memory Foam Hybrid and the Novilla Bliss Memory Foam are two medium-firm mattresses that rated well in our testing, and hit a sweet spot between comfort and affordability.
Consider a cheap mattress if:
Skip a cheap mattress if:
This medium-firm foam-and-coil mattress has a supportive and springy feel, good motion isolation, and decent edge support.
This medium-firm memory-foam mattress has a distinct body-conforming hug, along with excellent edge support and motion isolation.
Sometimes the best mattress for you really comes down to preference. For people who know they love an ultra plush, cushy feel, a good soft- to medium-soft mattress will contour the shoulders and hips comfortably while still offering solid underlying support. Side-sleepers will generally benefit from a soft mattress the most, as firmer options can create pressure on the shoulders and hips.
After comparing a dozen soft mattresses, including the softer versions of some of our picks, we have several to recommend. For a bouncier, classic innerspring that still offers a light cradle at the surface, try the Serta Perfect Renewed Night Plush. Our testers also loved the Winkbed in Softer, a plusher version of our pick in our innerspring mattress guide, for its deep, dense cushioning. The Stearns & Foster Estate (Pillow Top Soft), our upgrade innerspring pick, has a cushioned, quilted surface that relieves pressure while still offering substantial support.
People shift positions more than they realize throughout the night. But choosing a mattress based on how you start out when your head hits the pillow may enhance comfort and help you drift off more easily. It’s mostly about matching your sleep position to the firmness level of the mattress.
Side-sleepers generally feel most comfortable on medium-soft to medium mattresses. These are plush enough to cushion the shoulders and hips, but supportive enough to keep the spine aligned. The all-foam Loom & Leaf (Relaxed Firm) has a cradling, not-too-sinky feel, and the Leesa Sapira Hybrid is slightly firmer and more resilient. Our guide to the best mattresses for side-sleepers has more recommendations.
This mattress’s thick, quilted cover adds extra cushiness for a side-sleeper’s shoulders and hips, and its dense foam (among the densest we’ve tested) means the mattress feels more substantial than cheaper online options.
For side-sleepers who’d like a bit more firmness, this hybrid combines cradling memory foam with the resilience of 1,000 coils. It also has a sturdy, thick cover.
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Back-sleepers typically prefer medium-firm mattresses. These keep the spine from flexing while also cushioning the shoulders, lower back, and hips. Those who like a little plushness with their firm mattress might consider the Novaform ComfortGrande; those preferring pressure relief without the “fluff” might try the slow-sinking Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid). For a smoother, more supple feel, the slightly bouncier Charles P. Rogers Estate SE innerspring might appeal. Our guide to the best mattresses for back-sleepers has more recommendations.
Back-sleepers who prefer a pillowy surface with spine-aligning back support may like this Costco favorite. It’s made of layers of foam that are as dense (and probably as durable) as the foam in many mattresses that cost twice as much.
It’s hard to find true pressure relief without feeling like you’re missing out on support. But the slow-sinking memory foam in this mattress keeps your spine from arching while also hugging your shoulders, hips, and heels.
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This flippable, two-piece mattress is constructed with high-quality durable materials—such as latex and extra-sturdy coils—and one side is firmer than the other. But it’s heavy, and if you want help setting it up, you’ll likely have to pay extra.
Stomach-sleepers do best with mattresses that are medium-firm or slightly firmer. This keeps your back from arching while still cradling your belly. The Stearns & Foster Estate (Pillow Top Firm) does this with a classic-innerspring buoyant lift; the Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid) offers support along with contour-curving pressure relief; and the all-latex Zenhaven offers good back support (for most people, anyway) along with supple cushioning. For more recommendations, see our guide to the best mattresses for stomach-sleepers.
With the conventional feel of a supportive innerspring, this mattress keeps the spines of stomach-sleepers aligned while also cradling the ribs with pressure-relieving memory foam.
This mattress offers the slow-sinking pressure relief that Tempur-Pedic is known for, but it’s also supportive enough for stomach-sleepers, who need to keep their spines from arching.
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People who have back pain need to pay particular attention to keeping their spines aligned. Research suggests that back-pain sufferers who slept on medium-firm mattresses felt more comfortable than those who didn’t. The fluffier-topped Novaform ComfortGrande foam mattress is on the medium end of medium-firm, while the flat-topped Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid) is on the firmer side. For a more supple feel (and a choice of firmness levels), try the innerspring Charles P. Rogers Estate SE or the all-latex Zenhaven; both are two-sided, with one side being medium-firm and the other a bit firmer. Our guide to the best mattresses for back pain includes more recommendations.
This Costco favorite is made from layers of foam that are as dense (and probably as durable) as the foam in many online mattresses that cost twice as much. The result is a medium-firm feel that should suit back-pain sufferers who are searching for good support, along with a billowy feel on top.
This mattress’s dense foam provides the medium-firm support that back-pain sufferers need, but also curve-conforming pressure relief. The sink is slow and meticulously contouring—which feels like heaven for some but quicksand for others.
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Durable latex and made-in-house coils provide plenty of support for backache sufferers. But if you want even more, flip the top layer; this makes the bed firmer.
At Wirecutter, we’re always trying new mattresses and retesting our picks. Currently, we’re assessing a batch of all-foam mattresses, including:
Just because you might find raves on social media for a particular mattress brand doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a great mattress for you. What’s more, a brand’s most expensive model isn’t always its best offering, objectively speaking; sometimes you’ll get more for your money with an entry-level or mid-price design. In our mattress brand pages, we assess everything from the materials a company uses in its mattresses and the responsiveness of its customer service to online reviews and our own in-person testing—so you’re armed with the intel you need to make a smart decision.
Casper Generally speaking, Casper mattresses are decent, but tend to be too expensive for what you get, with “special” features that probably aren’t that beneficial. However we think that the Casper Original probably has the most widespread appeal.
Helix With mattresses for every firmness preference and sleep position, Helix offers more options than most online mattress companies.
Leesa Over the years, Leesa has expanded from selling a single under-$1,000 all-foam mattress to offering hybrid, budget, and luxe beds. The reasonably priced, just-springy-enough Leesa Sapira Hybrid has consistently won over our testers since we first started assessing it back in 2018.
Our pick: Leesa Sapira Hybrid
This hybrid combines the best parts of memory-foam and spring mattresses. It offers better cooling and has a thicker cover than the competition, all at a great price.
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Purple Purple’s unique line of mattresses is inspired by medical-grade cushions and designed with a proprietary gel foam. Most of our testers dismissed it as off-puttingly jiggly, but the two staffers and their spouses who’ve owned a Purple for at least a year say it has held up well. The Purple Mattress feels less jelly-like than the hybrid or the models above it.
The Saatva Company The Saatva Company offers a range of mattress types, from innerspring, foam, and latex to a “plus-size” hybrid, an adjustable air bed, and kids’ beds. We think the Loom & Leaf has some of the best-quality materials you’ll find in an online all-foam mattress.
Our pick: Loom & Leaf (Relaxed Firm)
With a thick quilted top and the highest foam density we’ve seen in an online mattress, this mattress feels more substantial (and will likely last longer) than many of its cheaper online competitors.
Tempur-Pedic You can sample and compare all of Tempur-Pedic’s offerings at its many stores or partner retailers—which is a good thing, since people either love or hate its distinctive ultra-contouring, pressure-relieving sink. Our testers happen to love it, and even the entry-level Tempur-Adapt line offers an adequate taste of the technology. Our pick: Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid)
With a luxurious slow-sinking foam and sturdy edge support, this memory-foam-and-coil mattress feels leagues ahead of most mattresses we tried. But it also costs two to four times as much.
Includes $300 Home Depot gift card (reflects in-cart), delayed shipping
free white glove delivery service
Tuft & Needle Memory-foam haters looking for a cushiony bed that doesn’t have that sinky feel may appreciate Tuft & Needle’s offerings, which now include regular and “cooling” versions of its all-foam bed, as well as a hybrid. So far we’ve tested only the Original, and even though some of our long-term testers say theirs have softened over the years, they all like the foamy feel and think it’s a decent bed for the price.
Our pick: Tuft & Needle New Original
This mattress isn’t made with memory foam, so it doesn’t hug every contour. It has a soft top but a firm underlayer, so you should feel supported yet cushioned at the same time.
Sleep Number Sleep Number’s “smart” beds allow couples to adjust their sides to their firmness-level liking, as well as to track their sleep. The more cushioning you’d like, the pricier the model. If you’re accustomed to a plush bed, along with good support, we think you’ll have to skip the entry- and mid-level offerings and spring for the i8.
Worth considering: 360 i8 Smart Bed
Nectar Nectar’s all-foam mattresses aren’t particularly distinctive, but their plusher feel, which is somewhat rare among memory-foam beds, may appeal to side-sleepers or those who prefer soft mattresses. We have concerns about durability, but Nectar’s beds come with a year-long trial and lifetime warranty. Of the three mattresses Nectar offers, the entry-level Nectar Original might be worth considering.
If you prefer to sleep on your back, you’ll probably want a medium-firm mattress to align your spine and keep your shoulders, hips, and lower back comfortable.
We like these six medium-firm mattresses best for stomach-sleepers because they’ll support and cushion your midsection while still aligning your spine.
If you’re considering a Tuft & Needle, here’s what you should know about its Original, Mint, and Hybrid mattresses.
Helix offers a large line of 14 mattresses. We think the Helix Plus is worth considering.
We take a real-world look at the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Sleep Number adjustable mattress, plus note our own experience sleeping on one.
Purple’s gridded, jiggly foam may feel weird to many people. We recommend trying the mattresses in person before you buy.
Saatva offers innerspring, memory-foam, hybrid, latex, adjustable air, and children’s mattresses. We recommend the Saatva Classic , Loom & Leaf , and Zenhaven .
There is no actual “best” mattress for back-pain sufferers, though one that feels medium-firm to you is likely to be the best choice. We have six to recommend.
If you regularly sleep on your side, you’ll likely want a cushy mattress that aligns your spine and offers good support. These are our favorites.
Shopping for mattresses can be a nightmare, and searching specifically for an innerspring model is its own special hell. Let us help.
Part coil, part foam, hybrid mattresses have a range of feels. Here are our favorites, plus what you need to know to find one that’s right for you.
We’ve slept on and group-tested dozens of mattresses, reported on their components, interviewed experts, and determined the best for every budget.
Casper now offers eight beds, which range in price, comfort, and construction. Here’s what you should know if you’re considering a Casper mattress.
Leesa offers four mattresses: the foam-on-coil Leesa Legend and Leesa Hybrid , and the all-foam Leesa and Leesa Studio . After testing, we like the Hybrid.
Considering a Tempur-Pedic mattress? Here’s everything you should know about the brand’s hybrid and memory-foam beds (and the one we think is worth the money).
Joanne Chen is a former senior staff writer reporting on sleep and other lifestyle topics. Previously, she covered health and wellness as a magazine editor. After an assignment forced her to sleep eight hours a day for a month, she realized that she is, in fact, a smarter, nicer person when she isn’t sleep-deprived.
Caira Blackwell is a staff writer at Wirecutter covering sleep and mattresses. Her work has previously been published in Okayplayer, The Knockturnal, and Nylon magazine, and her book A Lullaby for the End of the World is available on Amazon.
Isuzu Elf 450 Chasis 2009 Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).