By Joanne Chen and Caira Blackwell
Choosing the right mattress is one of the most important steps to getting a restful night’s sleep.
It’s also one of the most challenging, because a perfect match is highly individual.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing experts, trying mattresses at our testing site, and sleeping on them in our own homes, all in an effort to zero in on the beds 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.
The research
- How to choose a mattress
- What to know about mattress types
- Best memory-foam mattresses
- Best latex mattress
- Best hybrid mattresses
- Best innerspring mattresses
- Best cheap mattresses
- Best soft mattresses
- Best mattress for your sleep position
- Best mattresses for back pain
- Popular mattress brands: Our honest assessments
- Mattresses we're testing
How to choose a mattress
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.
What to know about mattress types
Should you buy a trendy online-only foam mattress or a more-traditional innerspring? How about a so-called hybrid? How does latex foam differ from memory foam? 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.
Best memory-foam mattresses
If you like the feeling of sinking into your bed as opposed to resting on top of it, then a memory-foam 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.
Foam mattresses come in a range of prices. The memory-foam Leesa Original is a crowd-pleasing mattress that feels neither too sinky nor too firm. Our lower-cost memory-foam mattress pick, the Novaform ComfortGrande, is surprisingly comfortable for the price, and has the best return policy we’ve ever seen. Our higher-end memory-foam favorite, the Loom & Leaf (Relaxed Firm), is more than double the price of the Leesa Original, but consists of longer-lasting materials.
Consider a foam mattress if:
- You want a body-conforming feel. The direct, hugging cuddle of a foam mattress will hit you right where it hurts—in a good way. The supple-yet-supportive sensation will relieve your more finicky pressure points.
Skip a foam mattress if:
- You sleep hot. Memory foam tends to trap heat, which is likely to make you wake with a sweaty start.
Top pick
Combining the gentle cradle of a classic memory foam with an underlying firmness, this mattress hugs you without hampering any movement. At just over $1,000, it’s a great value, too.
Buying Options
(queen)
25% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER25
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.
Buying Options
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
Best latex mattress
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 Latex (shown here with a box spring) to be more cushiony—and therefore more comfortable—than the others.
Consider a latex mattress if:
- You want longevity. Latex is more durable than memory foam or polyfoam. If you weigh more than 200 pounds, spend a lot of time in bed, or simply don’t want to go through the effort of buying another mattress anytime soon, latex might be the right choice.
- You sleep hot. Latex is inherently more breathable than memory foam or polyfoam, and thus likely to sleep cooler.
Skip a latex mattress if:
- You’re on a tight budget. Unfortunately, cheaper latex mattresses are often excessively firm and can have an off-puttingly elastic feel. Splurging is not only necessary, but highly recommended when it comes to buying a latex mattress.
- You want a super soft, or deep-cradling mattress. Latex has a springy feel, and typically isn’t as soft or conforming as memory foam.
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
Best hybrid mattresses
Combining coils and foam, hybrid mattresses are a Goldilocks option, with a feel that’s not too springy and not too sinky, but just right. After testing over 100 mattresses with dozens of testers, we’ve found that hybrid mattresses have consistently been crowd-pleasers. If you’re searching for a mattress that balances the body-hugging feel of foam with the resilience and support of springs, a hybrid mattress might be for you.
We recommend the foam-forward, slightly springy Leesa Sapira Hybrid and the softer, bouncier, Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid Mattress. Our testers also loved the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, which has a plush pillow top and subtle bounciness. The WinkBed (Luxury Firm) is closer to an innerspring than to a hybrid. But the thick polyfoam pillow top gives it a foamy medium-firm feel that’s pleased our testers over multiple years.
Consider a hybrid mattress if:
- You and your sleeping partner need a compromise. Typically, a hybrid mattress neither sinks nor bounces too much; it provides a feel that’s somewhere between that of an all-foam mattress and a traditional innerspring.
Top pick
With its balance of cuddly, durable foam and just-springy-enough coils, this hybrid mattress has consistently pleased our testers since 2018.
Buying Options
(queen)
30% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER30
This hybrid mattress's quilted top loosely cradles your body, while over 3,000 pocketed coils keep you buoyant.
Buying Options
(queen)
30% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER30
This hybrid mattress is sturdy without being too firm. And its plush pillow top makes it comfortable, but it still supports your pressure points.
Buying Options
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.
Buying Options
Best innerspring mattresses
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) is a longtime favorite from our testing. Some innersprings, including the WinkBed, can be purchased online, often with generous trial and return policies.
Consider an innerspring mattress if:
- You want a bouncy, traditional feel. If all-foam mattresses leave you feeling hot and stuck in place, a more breathable, resilient innerspring could be right for you.
- You like options. Innerspring mattresses tend to offer a wider range of firmness choices than all-foam models do.
Skip an innerspring mattress if:
- You’re on a very tight budget. In our testing, we’ve found that the sub-$500 innersprings we tested had so little cushioning they felt spartan.
- You want a bed-in-a-box. While some decent innersprings ship rolled up in a box, most require in-home delivery and set up.
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
Best cheap mattresses
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 Cooling Comfort Support Hybrid Mattress, Novilla Bliss Memory Foam and the Siena Premier Hybrid Mattress are three medium-firm mattresses that rated well in our testing, and hit a sweet spot between comfort and affordability.
Consider a cheap mattress if:
- You don’t need a long-lasting bed. The typical sub-$500 mattress is made from less durable materials and has a shorter warranty than pricier beds.
Skip a cheap mattress if:
- You want options. Most cheap mattresses are medium-firm; it’s rare to find a very soft or truly firm cheap mattress. Most don’t offer multiple firmness choices like pricier mattresses do.
Top pick
This medium-firm foam-and-coil mattress has a supportive and springy feel, good motion isolation, and decent edge support.
Buying Options
This medium-firm memory-foam mattress has a distinct body-conforming hug, along with excellent edge support and motion isolation.
This medium-firm hybrid mattress won testers over with its substantial, supportive feel and excellent edge support. Siena also offers the longest home trial we’ve seen.
Best soft mattresses
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 a couple to recommend. Our testers 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.
Best mattress for your sleep position
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.
Best mattresses for side-sleepers
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.
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
30% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER30
Best mattresses for back-sleepers
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.
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
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.
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.
Buying Options
Best mattresses for stomach-sleepers
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.
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
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.
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
Best mattresses for back pain
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. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid)’s dense foam provides the medium-firm support that back-pain sufferers need, but with curve-conforming pressure relief.
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.
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
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.
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.
Buying Options
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
Popular mattress brands: Our honest assessments
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. (Casper recently replaced the Casper Original with the Casper One, which has a similar feel and foam densities as the Original. We haven’t tested the Casper One yet, and the Casper Original is still available on Amazon.)
Worth considering: Casper Original
Helix
With mattresses for every firmness preference and sleep position, Helix offers more options than most online mattress companies.
Worth considering: Helix Plus
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 picks: Leesa Original, Leesa Sapira Hybrid, and the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid Mattress
Top pick
Combining the gentle cradle of a classic memory foam with an underlying firmness, this mattress hugs you without hampering any movement. At just over $1,000, it’s a great value, too.
Buying Options
(queen)
25% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER25
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
30% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER30
This hybrid mattress's quilted top loosely cradles your body, while over 3,000 pocketed coils keep you buoyant.
Buying Options
(queen)
30% off MSRP all sizes w/WIRECUTTER30
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.
Worth considering: Purple Mattress
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 picks: Loom & Leaf (Relaxed Firm) and the Saatva Classic
Worth Considering: Saatva Contour5
Top pick
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.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
Worth considering
The 12.5-inch Saatva Contour5 is a memory-foam mattress that’s marketed as an upgraded version of the Loom & Leaf. We think it should appeal to sleepers that prefer a classic memory-foam sink feel.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
Top pick
Offering a classic innerspring bounce paired with a cushy top, this bed is for those who want to nestle in without being engulfed. But it doesn’t have the best motion isolation.
Buying Options
(queen)
20% off $1,000+
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. If you know you love that feel, we suggest considering the entry-level Tempur-Adapt line, which offers an adequate taste of the technology.
Worth considering: Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid)
Tuft & Needle
Memory-foam haters looking for a cushiony bed that doesn’t have that sinky feel may appreciate Tuft & Needle’s offerings, which include two all-foam models, as well as a hybrid. So far we’ve tested the Essential T&N Original and the T&N Mint, 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.
Worth considering: Essential T&N Original
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
Side-sleepers or those who prefer soft mattresses may like Nectar’s memory foam options, which have a plusher feel than most memory foam beds. The brand’s catalogue of memory foam and hybrid mattresses (we have yet to test the latter) come with a year-long trial and lifetime warranty. We think the entry-level Nectar Classic might be worth considering, but are otherwise apprehensive about the long-term durability of the brand’s memory foam mattresses.
Worth considering: Nectar Classic
Mattresses we're testing
We’re currently testing Saatva’s new memory-foam Contour5 Mattress, which will replace the Loom & Leaf. For now, we think it’s a memory-foam mattress worth considering.
We plan to try the Boring Mattress, a new hybrid. The Boring Mattress Company was founded by ex-employees of Tuft & Needle, with the aim of offering a single mattress with transparent materials and pricing.
We also plan to test the IKEA Vingelen, an affordable innerspring mattress.
This article was edited by Christina Colizza and Courtney Schley.
Meet your guides
I cover home items from candles and picture frames to coffee tables and sofas. I believe that great home decor is not just beautiful but also durable and functional, even if that function is simply bringing you joy day in and day out—making your house feel like home.
Caira Blackwell is a senior staff writer covering sleep, and co-host of our podcast, The Wirecutter Show. She has spent countless hours testing more than 50 mattresses and has slept on nearly a dozen at home. Her work has been published in Nylon magazine, Okayplayer, and Narratively. When she isn’t busy sleeping (for work), she’s busy trying new recipes in the kitchen or reading in the sun.
Further reading
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Review: An Honest Assessment
by Caira Blackwell
Tempur-Pedic mattresses are known for their signature deep memory-foam sink. Here’s everything you should know about its beds.
The Best Cheap Mattresses (Under $500)
by Caira Blackwell and Annie Chou
It takes some effort, but you can find a decent, comfortable mattress that won’t break the bank. Here are four we recommend.
How to Choose a Mattress
by Joanne Chen
We’ve collected all our big-picture mattress-buying advice to help you find a bed you’ll happily sleep on for years.
The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
by Caira Blackwell and Joanne Chen
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.
