Mattress Advisor, our trusted partner since 2020, helped us round up the most comfortable mattresses and mattress brands based on data from their sleep lab in Raleigh, N.C. Their sleep science expertise also helped us discern what beds are good for which sleepers, and why — and there are several key special needs to consider in the subjective world of rating mattress comfort. Here are our 10 top picks:
The 10 Most Comfortable Mattresses - Our Top Picks
Overall Most Comfortable Mattress - DreamCloud Original Most Comfortable Mattress for Back Pain - Saatva Classic Most Comfortable Mattress for Hot Sleepers - Helix Midnight Luxe Most Comfortable Innerspring Mattress - The WinkBed (WinkBeds) Most Comfortable Value Mattress - Nectar Original Most Comfortable Memory Foam Mattress - Layla Original Most Comfortable Mattress for Side Sleepers - Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Most Comfortable Hybrid Mattress - Casper Hybrid Most Comfortable Mattress for Pressure Relief - Purple Hybrid Most Comfortable Organic Mattress - Birch Original
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission.
Overall Most Comfortable Mattress - DreamCloud Original
Material: Hybrid (foam and coils) Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10) Customer Rating: 4.6/5 Delivery: Within 18-21 business days Trial Period: 365 nights Warranty: Lifetime Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
When it comes to the most comfortable mattress, the stuff of which dreams are made of will include cashmere, memory foam, and innerspring coils. That’s because our top pick is the DreamCloud Original mattress, a hybrid mattress with a base layer of springy coils (each of which is wrapped in a fabric pocket) and a luxuriously comfy foam and cashmere top layer. In the Mattress Advisor sleep lab, DreamCloud’s scores also soared. The bed notched 8.5 out of 10 or higher in every key comfort-related category, including cooling (8.5/10), pressure relief (9/10), spine alignment (9/10), and responsiveness (9/10). The bed’s perfect 10 out 10 score for edge support also makes it an excellent mattress for a bedroom tight on space since every inch of the DreamCloud feels structurally sound. You could even pair the mattress with a DIY queen-size storage bed frame for maximum space-saving impact. While we can’t guarantee how your project will turn out, DreamCloud will guarantee your bed’s longevity with its year-long sleep trial and lifetime warranty.
Most Comfortable Mattress for Back Pain - Saatva Classic
Material: Hybrid (foam and coils) Firmness: Soft (3/10), luxury-firm (6/10) and firm (8/10) Customer Rating: 4.9/5 Free white glove delivery Trial Period: 365 nights Warranty: Lifetime Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Getting comfortable in bed will be virtually impossible if your mattress is unable to address your back pain, or worse, exacerbates your aches. The Saatva Classic mattress is a heavyweight in the mattress world (including literally — a queen weighs an impressive 120 pounds), and Mattress Advisor testers said the hybrid bed boasts an impressive ability to tame back pain and rescue sleepers from restlessness. When assessing Saatva’s sleep lab metrics, it’s not hard to see why the bed is said to perform so well for back pain alleviation: Saatva received excellent rankings in edge support and spine alignment, and high marks for pressure relief (9/10), cooling (9/10), and responsiveness (8.5/10). Plus, the bed’s perfectly-rated 10 out of 10 durability is backed by the brand’s lifetime warranty, a perk Saatva introduced in 2022. Saatva furnishes its classic mattress in various firmness levels and heights: soft, luxury-firm, and firm; and height between 11.5 and 14.5 inches. Regardless of your choice, every Saatva Classic mattress will have two layers of coils and micro-coils, a memory foam layer, and a 3-inch Euro pillow top.
Most Comfortable Mattress for Hot Sleepers - Helix Midnight Luxe
Material: Hybrid (foam and coils) Firmness: Medium (5/10) Customer Rating: 4.6/5 Delivery: 3-7 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 15-year limited Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll need your new mattress to offer cold comfort (in a good way). In lieu of technology to mitigate or dissipate body heat, memory foam layers can quickly get quite stuffy. For that reason, hybrid beds like the Helix Midnight Luxe are one of the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers. Every layer of the mattress is built for cooling, with the most important components being the pocketed innerspring coils that promote airflow, a cooling gel-infused comfort foam layer, and a quilted pillow top that uses Tencel. Tencel is a fiber derived from the pulp of eucalyptus wood and is known for swiftly wicking away moisture. The Helix Midnight Luxe backs its build with an excellent panel of scores from the sleep lab, including well-received pressure relief (8.5/10), spine alignment (9/10), responsiveness (9/10), with its highest score, appropriately, in the cooling category (9.5/10).
Most Comfortable Innerspring Mattress - The WinkBed (WinkBeds)
Material: Hybrid Firmness: Soft (4.5/10), luxury-firm (6.5/10), firm (7.5/10), plus (8/10) Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: Within 7-14 business days Trial: 120 nights Warranty: Lifetime Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Comfort and support go hand-in-hand, as you won’t be able to achieve your best night’s sleep without both. For heavier sleepers, back sleepers, and sleepers with back pain, innerspring mattresses offer the support needed. A favorite bed with an innerspring layer from Mattress Advisor is The WinkBed, the flagship mattress of WinkBeds. In fact, The WinkBed has two coil layers: one micro-coil layer to reinforce the edge, helping the bed near-perfectly rated edge support (9.75/10), and a deeper layer of rows of fabric-encased springs as the main support layer. The bounce given by coils also lends sleepers ease of movement about the bed’s surface — testers gave the bed 9 out of 10 for responsiveness. You can select from four different firmness options when ordering The WinkBed. For maximum comfort, Mattress Advisor testers suggest the luxury-firm or firm model for back and stomach sleepers, and the soft or luxury-firm for side sleepers who prefer the mattress to contour to their body’s curves.
Most Comfortable Value Mattress - Nectar Original
Material: Gel memory foam Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10) Customer Rating: 4.8/5 Delivery: 2-5 business days Trial Period: 365 nights Warranty: Lifetime Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
The price tag of high-quality, luxury mattresses may make you feel uneasy. But fret not: The Nectar is a three-layer memory foam bed that fits firmly in the comfort zone of most budgets. Nectar’s affordability and 12-inch depth also makes it one of the best mattresses for an adjustable bed frame, which are often pricier than traditional bed platforms. Nectar retails at an appealing $799 sticker price, and sweeter deals are often lurking around every corner, depending on the time of year. For instance, at publication time, Nectar was including two free pillows, a sheet set, and a mattress protector with every queen-size mattress purchase. Most importantly, the bed performed well (scoring 8.5 out of 10 or higher) in four key comfort-related categories: motion transfer (8.5/10), edge support (9/10), pressure relief (8.5/10), and responsiveness (8.5/10). Another excellent value-add to Nectar’s affordability is its generous lifetime warranty and year-long sleep trial.
Most Comfortable Memory Foam Mattress - Layla Original
Material: Memory foam Firmness: Medium-soft (4/10) and medium-firm (7/10) Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: Ships free within 4-8 business days Trial Period: 365 nights Warranty: Lifetime Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
It can be hard to find the right mattress if you’re fickle about your bed’s preferred firmness. The Layla Original mattress offers the perfect solution for the mercurial sleeper – a flippable bed with a velvety soft side, and a supportive but cushioning firm side. You can quickly ID which side is which, thanks to a color-coded system that bisects the bed. Solo and side sleepers may prefer Layla’s soft side, which is more conforming and cradling to the pressure points (testers gave the bed 9 out of 10 for pressure relief), although the firm side is plenty accommodating for all sleep positions. The firm side also has better edge support (9/10), a nice perk if you share the mattress or use the bed’s edge for everyday tasks like putting on socks or tying shoelaces. Both sides of the Layla use copper-infused memory foam for heat dissipation, but like most memory foam beds, the Layla does sleep hotter. A good solution is to pair the bed with Layla’s cooling bamboo sheets.
Most Comfortable Mattress for Side Sleepers - Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Material: Hybrid Firmness: Medium-soft (4/10), medium-firm (6/10), firm (8/10) Customer Rating: 4.7/5 Delivery: Free shipping within 3 weeks Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: 10-year limited Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Brooklyn Bedding offers three models of its Signature Hybrid: a medium-soft, medium-firm, and firm mattress. Side sleepers and those with joint pain can experience stellar comfort from the bed, which earned a 9.5 out of 10 for pressure relief from testers. The bed’s bouncy coils also make position-switching between your sides seamless. Testers felt that the bed slept cool, reflected by its 8.5 out of 10 cooling score. However, you can add a cooling panel ($120 for a queen) if you want extra relief. The Signature Hybrid is also one of the most affordable hybrid mattresses that Mattress Advisor testers recommend. When ordered without the optional cooling cover, the bed was just under $1,000 at publication.
Most Comfortable Hybrid Mattress - Casper Original Hybrid
Material: Hybrid (foam and coils) Firmness: Medium (5/10) Customer Rating: 5/5 Delivery: Ships free within 2-7 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10-year limited Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Hybrid beds like the Casper Original Hybrid tend to be better ventilated than all-foam beds because the coil layer allows air to freely circulate, moving heat away from the body. Additionally, the Casper Original Hybrid uses an aerated “AirScape” foam to aid breathability near the surface, making it an exceptionally cooling mattress, according to testers. The Casper Original Hybrid has an additional foam layer that uses zoned support, meaning the foams toward the center are firmer to better support the hips and lumbar region. Given the Original Hybrid’s sophisticated build, it should not come as a shock that the bed scored well across the board in the Mattress Advisor sleep lab. Stand-out scores included responsiveness (9.5/10), spinal alignment (9/10), and edge support (9.5/10). Plus, if you don’t want to make waves across the surface of the bed, disturbing a partner, this Casper mattress has you covered with its superior motion isolation (9/10).
Most Comfortable Mattress for Pressure Relief - Purple Hybrid
Material: Hybrid (foam and coils) Firmness: Soft (4/10) Customer Rating: 4.3/5 Delivery: Ships 1-2 weeks, free white glove assembly Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
The Purple Hybrid might be the most unique mattress on this list, and it’s certainly not for everyone. However, if you find yourself struggling to get pressure relief atop more traditional memory foam, the Purple Hybrid is definitely worth careful consideration. What makes the Purple so unique is its use of the proprietary “GelFlex Grid,” which Purple says is cradling without allowing too much sinkage. The geometric polymer grid helped Purple Hybrid earn a perfect score for pressure relief — a rare feat to come out of the sleep lab. The bed also nabbed top scores in edge support (9/10), responsiveness (9/10), and spine alignment (8.5/10). Crucial for hot sleepers, cooling was another category where Purple scored in flying colors. The near-perfect 9.5 out of 10 score is reflective of the mattress’s use of cooling materials from top to bottom. The Purple is one of the pricier mattresses featured, but financing options are available.
Most Comfortable Organic Mattress - Birch Original
Material: Hybrid (latex and coils) Firmness: Firm (8/10) Customer Rating: 4.6/5 Delivery: 5-10 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 25 years Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
A latex hybrid mattress, the organically furnished Birch Original sleeps exceptionally cool and comfy. The organic materials pull double duty. For example, besides being good for sleepers with allergen sensitives, the bed’s breathable wool is also a natural fire barrier, and the natural latex layers are sustainably sourced and inherently bouncy. The bed’s durable, high-quality materials helped earn excellent scores in the sleep lab. Top-rated pressure relief (8.5/10), spine alignment (9/10), and responsiveness (9/10) ensure a comfortable mattress experience. Mattress testers especially like the Birch for stomach and back sleepers because of its high firmness. Side sleepers, however, may prefer to pair the Birch with a soft mattress topper. MA Score: The Mattress Advisor Score is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to the mattress’ performance, function, convenience and the brand’s social responsibility.
What Makes a Mattress Comfortable?
Like one’s preferred comfort food, the most comfortable mattress is a highly subjective taste. However, there are a few mattress factors that are virtually a necessity to achieve real comfort when sleeping. For starters, the very best mattresses will be more than a few inches thick — at least 6 inches — to lend real cradling comfort. That means when it comes to bedding in low clearance areas, like an RV mattress for example, you may have to sacrifice a bit of comfort. On the other hand, if you have plenty of space, tall, 5- to 6-layer hybrid mattresses offer some of the best combinations of comfort and support. Read on to learn more about each mattress type and the sleepers who they suit best, and the testing methodology Mattress Advisor uses to make their recommendations.
How To Pick The Most Comfortable Mattress
Type of Mattress
Memory foam: Pioneering bed-in-a-box mattresses used to exclusively sell all-foam, or memory foam mattresses, directly to consumers. The field has expanded to hybrid mattresses, however, memory foam mattresses have also stepped up their game. Most brands took it upon themselves to formulate proprietary foams that are designed to be more breathable and bouncy and less stuffy and smushy. A typical memory foam mattress has at least three types and densities of foam, to provide a combination of support and comfort. Innerspring: Innerspring beds are sometimes used interchangeably with hybrids, so be cautious to examine the materials closely in a so-called innerspring bed. If a bed is purely innerspring, then both the support and comfort layer is a system of coils, individually encased in fabric pockets to spring independently or woven horizontally across the frame. Most modern innersprings use the “pocketed” coil design, to isolate motion. Latex: Latex is one of the most durable materials and can consequently also be one of the priciest types of mattresses. A latex bed might be 100 percent latex foams or comprise some/all of a combination of latex foams, memory foams, and innerspring coils. Latex mattresses are an excellent option for sleepers with allergy sensitivities, especially natural versus synthetic latex. Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses merge the innerspring and memory foam mattress models. You essentially get a two-in-one, without having to buy a mattress topper or box spring since you’ll have both springy coils and memory foam layers in a hybrid. Because hybrids tend to be so well-rounded and supportive, they suit most sleep styles and body types.
Performance Factors We Tested For
Set-up: Mattress Advisor times each bed set up from start to finish and evaluates how difficult the mattress arranging would be to do solo. Beds that are heavier aren’t necessarily overly difficult to set up, though, and Mattress Advisor factors aspects like if the mattress includes handles or other ergonomic design features. Pressure relief: One of the most objectively measurable mattress aspects is its pressure relief since mattress testers lie down on a pressure mapping pad and then see the color-coded results on a computer screen. Beds with lots of red in their pressure map test indicates they do a poor job alleviating pressure versus beds with lots of green. Testers of different sizes try out various sleeping positions to get a solid overview of a bed’s pressure relief. Spine alignment: Spine alignment may not seem the important factor related to comfort — that is, until you experience back pain. When a bed keeps your spine in its natural S-curvature, you’ll be the least likely to wake up with back pain. If you have back pain but prefer a softer mattress, it’d be a good idea to look at hybrids, which tend to score well, thanks to their added support. Durability: Mattresses generally have a 7- to 10-year lifespan, although beds of the highest quality builds can last even longer. Make sure your new bed’s warranty covers its expected lifespan, as should be the case for all the mattresses we’ve rounded up here. Motion transfer: There are other options to limit motion transfer across the mattress surface caused by a partner. For instance, you can sleep on a split king frame. But if you’d rather avoid buying two twin XL mattresses for the sake of motion isolation, make sure the bed you buy has well-rated (at least 8.5 out of 10) motion transfer. Temperature regulation: Beds with cooling materials are highly sought after, since most people can’t get comfortable in bed where they’re overheating. Some folks also tend to sleep naturally hotter than others. If you’re one of those hot-blooded sleepers, a hybrid build is recommended for better airflow. Also, be sure you don’t add a smothering mattress protector that will defeat the purpose of your bed’s cooling build. For a little extra, you can often buy mattress protectors with cooling technology in them. Responsiveness: Mattress Advisor is testing both the bounce of the bed and how quickly the foams reform when they assess responsiveness. Combination sleepers, or sleepers who tend to assume many positions throughout the night, should especially pay attention to a bed’s responsiveness. On a poorly responsive bed, you may feel like you’re stuck in quicksand when you try to switch positions. Movement on a highly responsive bed will feel effortless. Edge support: Edge support refers to the structural integrity of the bed’s perimeter. Some beds tend to slump more on the edges — bad news if you share the bed or tend to drift to the sides. Most of the beds we’ve rounded up, fortunately, have solid edge support, a par-for-the-course feature among the most comfortable mattresses.
Additional Considerations to Make
Price: We’ve limited our roundup to beds that don’t enter the more outrageous price territory (think: the $200,000 horsehair Hästens bed), since you can find plenty of comfort in the 3- to 4-figure territory. The more expensive beds may be worth investing in if you want your bedroom to have a luxury hotel feel, and financing options are often available. Shipping and Delivery: There’s still an air of unpredictability around shipping and transit, but generally, most online beds ship free and arrive at your door within fewer than five business days. Some beds are made to order, however, so you may have to hold tight for a few weeks while they’re manufactured — something to keep in mind if you’re not in a position to wait around. Warranty: The most expensive beds do tend to have the best warranties and longest sleep trials, so you can feel more secure in your large purchase. However, even less expensive options, like the Nectar and Layla, offer the same robust coverage. Given that you should replace your mattress every 10 or so years, though, a lesser warranty of 10- to 15 years is nothing to worry about. What is the most comfortable mattress for back sleepers? Mattress Advisor testers, and physicians, tend to favor firmer mattresses for back sleepers. A medium-firm mattress, or at least a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, is a good rule of thumb to follow. That level of firmness ensures your hips and neck stay in alignment. If you’re a back sleeper who prefers a softer feel, a mattress with pocketed coils can offer the support needed to get your posture in check. What’s a good comfortable mattress for side sleepers? Side sleeping, the most popular sleep position by a wide margin, means your shoulders and hips dig into the mattress the most, thus, you can risk waking up with a sore or numb arm if the bed lacks pressure relief. Look for beds that score well in the category, and aren’t overly rigid. If you have a higher body weight, you may do best on a hybrid, which will still have layers of memory foam to cradle your side on the sleep surface. I’m a combination sleeper. What’s the most comfortable mattress for me? Sleep studies also indicate high levels of combination sleepers, or position swaps throughout the night. It’ll be harder to get comfortable if your mattress isn’t quick to reform and cradle your new position, so look for solid responsiveness. What’s a comfortable mattress that works for stomach sleepers? Stomach sleeping has a similar recommendation as back sleeping, i.e. firmer is better. Your body size will also determine how the mattress feels, especially for memory foam beds, so a firmer bed may be a better match if you like the all-foam feel.
Summary of Our Top Picks for the Most Comfortable Mattress
Overall Most Comfortable Mattress - DreamCloud Original Most Comfortable Mattress for Back Pain - Saatva Classic Most Comfortable Mattress for Hot Sleepers - Helix Midnight Luxe Most Comfortable Innerspring Mattress - The WinkBed (WinkBeds) Most Comfortable Value Mattress - Nectar Original Most Comfortable Memory Foam Mattress - Layla Original Most Comfortable Mattress for Side Sleepers - Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Most Comfortable Hybrid Mattress - Casper Original Hybrid Most Comfortable Mattress for Pressure Relief - Purple Hybrid Most Comfortable Organic Mattress - Birch Original