Choosing a mattress to help you sleep better isn't easy, especially when you can't try it out for a few nights, first. But we've talked to experts and even tested several mattresses to learn exactly what to look for. Here is our list of the best mattresses including memory foam, spring, and hybrid designs along with tips on which is best for the type of sleeper you are.
Zinus green tea memory foam mattress
For all sleeper types
The Zinus memory foam mattress has five foam layers using three different types of materials that create firm support. The layers contour to your body to give comfort and support, regardless of which position you sleep in.
Pros:
- No springs
- Memory foam
- Very supportive
Cons:
- Strong smell after unpacking
The foam layers relieve pressure throughout your body and keep you cool throughout the night. While this mattress is very supportive, it isn’t too firm. This mattress is available in several sizes, including the more uncommon narrow twin.
The Zinus mattress comes rolled tightly in a box. Once it is unpackaged and set up on your bed base, it will take 24 hours to fluff up to its normal size and shape. Also, there will be a smell. This is common with mattresses that are delivered in tight packaging. It should go away in a day or two. It is infused with green tea and charcoal to keep the mattress smelling good once the initial odor recedes.
Linenspa hybrid mattress
The best of both worlds
This mattress uses both memory foam and coiled springs for medium-firm support that also contours to your body. It's a good choice for all sleeper types, including stomach and back sleepers.
Pros:
- Hybrid design
- Hypoallergenic
- Comfortable for all sleeper types
Cons:
- Not very thick
The foam contours to your body to cradle it in supportive softness. This also helps keep your back aligned as you sleep. Each of the spring coils is tempered and evenly positioned throughout the mattress to give the best support without causing sagging.
The Linenspa mattress is available in every size, including extra-long twin and California king. Both firm and plush options are also available, and the mattress should last up to ten years before needing to be replaced. The mattress isn't very thick, so we suggest a box spring to help the mattress stay supportive. Also, the company warns that there are specs on the mattress when it is first opened from the packaging. These shouldn't stick to your mattress.
Ashley Chime memory foam mattress
Compact and plush
The Ashley Chime mattress comes rolled up and in a smaller box, so it’s easy to carry into your home. It will puff up when opened. The mattress itself is made from high-quality memory foam, offering medium support to your whole body.
Pros:
- Memory foam
- Hypoallergenic
- Moisture wicking materials
Cons:
- Strong odor when first opened
The core foam used in this mattress reduced motion, so if you're sharing your sleeping space with someone, you won't feel them tossing and turning throughout the night. The matterials are also hypallergenic, and are deisnged to repell pet dander and other allergens, so you won't be bothered by allergies as you sleep.
When the mattress is first opened, there will be a strong odor. But this will go away as it airs out. The foam is infused with natural fibers to help draw wetness and odor away from you, promoting continued freshness.
Classic Brands cool gel mattress
Great for hot sleepers
The Classic Brands mattress is made from a cooling gel foam that helps reduce the heat it retains. This style also includes a layer of contouring memory foam that helps support your body for extra comfort.
Pros:
- Cooling gel materials
- Relieves pressure on joints
Cons:
- Doesn't work with all bed types
You can use this mattress with platform and adjustable bed bases. so long as there is enough support under it. The Classic Brands mattress is a bit too soft to use with a box spring, and some rail-type bed frames aren't firm enough.
This mattress is available in sizes like twin, full, queen, king, and California king, and in a variety of thicknesses. The mattress itself is described by users as extra firm, so it may not be plush enough for some sleepers.
Casper Sleep Element mattress
No saggy bottom
Casper mattresses are more firm than other models for those who need less plush and more support. This mattress combines springs that relieve pressure on your joints and back while providing comfort and support, especially for back sleepers.
Pros:
- Hybrid mattress
- Cooling layers
- Edge-to-edge support
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Weight limits
The edge-to-edge support is superb and a lot firmer than many rival hybrid beds meaning it’s a comfortable bed if you like to sleep on the edge or you struggle to get in and out of your bed. The mattress has small perforations that boost cool airflow and actively disperse heat so that you sleep cooler. Plus, it's designed to not sag over time, so you will always feel comfortable. Also, the cover can be removed and cleaned, which helps extend the life of the mattress.
The Casper Sleep Element is available in all sizes, from twin to California king. However, there is a weight limit of 230 pounds.
Purple mattress
Motion isolation
If you share space with a partner who rolls, fidgets, and moves a lot while sleeping, the Purple mattress is a good solution. This gel option absorbs and isolates movements, so you stay still and uninterrupted while your other half tosses and turns.
Pros:
- Comfortable and supportive
- Highly breathable
- Good for couples
Cons:
- Heavy and hard to move
- Unique feel not for everyone
It is made from unique materials that are hypoallergenic, cooling, and very supportive for any type of sleeper. It has 2800 open-air channels called Purple Grid technology. This grid adapts to your body to offer the comfort and support that you need and to help ease any aches and pains you may be experiencing.
This mattress comes packaged tight and will take a couple of days once opened to reach its full height. There is an unpleasant smell because of the materials used, but it goes away after a few days. Also, this mattress is really, really heavy. We recommend not opening it until it is on the platform first.
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The best mattress for most sleepers is the Zinus memory foam mattress. This mattress is designed to relieve pressure everywhere by contouring to your body no matter which way to move. It's infused with green tea and charcoal to help keep odors from becoming trapped inside, so there is always a fresh scent around you.
Another great option for all sleeper types is the Linenspa hybrid. This mattress combines supportive coils with the comfort of memory foam. It has medium-firm support and contours to your body shape, plus it should last a long time before needing to be replaced.
If you need to share the bed, check out The Purple mattress. It isolates movements so you can keep sleeping while your partner tosses and turns. This option also has a unique gel grid system, which also offers contoured support while you sleep.
How to choose the best mattress
According to the Sleep Council, sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress can rob you of up to an hour’s sleep per night. This adds up to a full night’s sleep over the course of a week.
We aren’t going to attempt to fool you by saying that comfort is universal. It’s not. Traditionally you'd walk into a furniture store and go and lay down on a few pocket-sprung mattresses until you find one you like. With mattresses purchased online, that’s not quite so easy, but the good news is that most online retailers realize this and offer a decent trial period and free returns should the mattress not be quite right for you.
So what should you be looking for? Do you tend to sleep on your side, stomach, or back? Do you share a bed with your partner? These factors should influence the type of mattress you buy.
This will come down to personal preference to a point, but a firm mattress is better suited to people who sleep on their front and back. Those who tend to sleep on their side will benefit from a softer mattress as this will mold to your body’s natural curve.
If you sleep with another person in bed, you’ll want something with minimum motion transfer. Spring mattresses can be pretty bad for motion transfer, while memory foam mattresses are great at limiting motion so one restless partner doesn’t keep the other awake at night.
The right type of mattress for you
I don't know about you, but I'm a side sleeper. That means I need a specific firmness of mattress to make sure I don't hurt myself. There are a lot of different firmness measures, but the main ones are;
Medium Soft: This is great for side sleepers (under 230 pounds) and smaller back sleepers. It helps cushion those points that extend past your body, like your hips and shoulders.
Medium-Firm: Medium-firm mattresses are great for back sleepers and bigger side sleepers like me. Having a firmer mattress when you sleep on your back keeps your spine from curving too much as you sleep.
Firm: Firm mattresses are great for stomach sleepers and back sleepers. You put a lot of pressure on your lower back when you sleep on your stomach, so a firm mattress helps reduce that pressure.
Mattress materials
Pocket sprung mattresses have been joined by foam and latex (and a combination of the two) in recent years.
When you lie down on a memory foam mattress, you’ll find that it hugs your body; when you move, it goes back to its original shape. The contouring provides pressure point relief, such as your hips or shoulders, which is valuable for side sleepers.
Latex mattresses on the other hand have more rigid qualities as opposed to memory foam, which is good for people who need more back support. You can also get organic latex foam that isn’t made from any unnatural processes. This is good for people who prioritize being environmentally conscious, as well as people looking for a hypoallergenic mattress.
Pocket sprung mattresses have been joined by foam and latex (and a combination of the two) in recent years.
When you lie down on a memory foam mattress, you’ll find that it hugs your body; when you move, it goes back to its original shape. The contouring provides pressure point relief, such as your hips or shoulders, which is valuable for side sleepers.
Latex mattresses on the other hand have more rigid qualities as opposed to memory foam, which is good for people who need more back support. You can also get organic latex foam that isn’t made from any unnatural processes. This is good for people who prioritize being environmentally conscious, as well as people looking for a hypoallergenic mattress.
How we tested mattresses
We were able to try out most of the mattresses in our guide. As they arrived at our lab, we opened them and allowed them to rest and fluff up to the correct size. In the lab we had several different sleepers try lying on the mattresses to get some initial feedback. We want to see how the mattresses supported people of different heights and weights. Each mattress was then moved to a tester's apartment where they slept on each one for a week and reported back on how they felt afterward. There was usually a one - or two-day adjustment period.
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