Best Mattress 2023: Our 14 Top Picks

Memory foam mattresses that are both high-quality and affordable are somewhat rare in today’s market, but the Nectar Mattress is a notable exception. One of its standout qualities is even support. Memory foam tends to sink beneath the body, sometimes to an uncomfortable extent. Our testers found the Nectar Mattress to be a true medium firm (6) that offers adequate support without sacrificing the deep cradling akin to sleeping “in” the mattress that many people enjoy about memory foam.

How Does It Feel?

The bed’s balanced design was most evident during our tests for pressure relief, where we use sensors to monitor pressure buildup in different areas of each tester’s body. The side sleepers on our team enjoyed the mattress across the board, which is typical for side sleepers on memory foam beds. Interestingly, the Nectar also rated well with our back and stomach sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. We’ve noticed that sleepers in these weight and position categories tend to sink too far on memory foam mattresses and feel pressure around the midsection as a result. The positive ratings for the Nectar from testers who sleep on their back and stomach are thanks to the sturdier-than-average construction of this mattress.

Why We Like It

Like other memory foam models, the Nectar excels at motion isolation. Our evaluations for this category showed little to no motion transfer when one of the testers moved on the mattress. The memory foam is infused with gel intended to keep the mattress cool, though our thermal-mapping tools picked up some heat buildup during temperature control tests. That said, surface airflow was decent – thanks in part to the relatively firm feel – and no one on the team felt too warm on the Nectar.

One major perk of ordering from Nectar is a long sleep trial for your new mattress. The company lets you test out the bed and return it up to 365 days after it’s delivered to your doorstep. Shipping is free if you live in the contiguous U.S. and all orders include a lifetime warranty.

Saatva is a luxury mattress brand that has been in business for more than a decade. The company’s flagship model – the Saatva Classic – has proven enduringly popular with different types of sleepers. The Classic is sold in three firmness levels and two profiles, all of which our team has personally tested. We’ve found each option for the mattress performs well for certain types of sleepers.

How Does It Feel?

The Saatva Classic has a Euro-top padded with two foam layers, followed by a transitional layer of pocketed microcoils and a support core of robust, low-gauge hourglass coils made from recycled steel. Thanks to this “coil-on-coil” design, most of our testers noticed a fair amount of bounce that prevented them from sinking or feeling stuck as they moved across the mattress. We also noticed very little roll-off when testing the bed for perimeter support by lying and sitting along the edges. This was especially true for the Classic’s firmest, tallest design.

Each firmness level feels distinct from the others. Our testers felt the closest contouring from the soft (3) model, gentler cushioning from the medium firm (6), and very little padding from the firm (8). There was also some variability between the 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch profiles, the latter of which has base coils that are 4 inches thicker than the former’s. The taller profile feels bouncier and sturdier, but most of our testers weighing up to 230 pounds still received adequate support from the 11.5-inch model.

Why We Like It

Thanks to its innovative coil-on-coil construction, the Saatva Classic is well suited to people looking for a bouncy, supportive mattress that won’t sink too much beneath their weight. Free White Glove delivery should also incentivize those who would rather not set up a new mattress on their own. Couriers drive the mattress directly to your residence, assemble it in a room of your choice, and remove your old mattress or box spring upon request. This type of delivery service usually starts at $150, so you may want to go this route if you live alone – the Saatva Classic is pretty heavy.

Saatva’s sleep trial lasts 365 nights, and the mattress is also backed by a lifetime warranty.

If you frequently wake up with soreness in the upper or lower back, your mattress might be a major factor. Excessive sinkage – especially around the torso and hips – can contribute to back pain. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a model from this company with multiple firmness options to suit sleepers with different needs.

How Does It Feel?

The mattress does not contain any memory foam, but instead features a comfort system with proprietary TitanFlex and VariFlex polyfoam layers. Our tests show these materials cushion the body without a deep “hug,” making the Signature Hybrid a good option for anyone who prefers a plush sleep surface but sinks too much on memory foam. Pocketed coils make up the support core. Extra reinforcement around the perimeter allowed most of us to lie near the edges of the mattress without feeling unstable, and get in and out of bed with relative ease.

The Signature Hybrid’s medium soft (4) feel was most popular among side sleepers up to 230 pounds and back sleepers under 130 pounds. This model contours closely to cradle your spine and reduce pressure. Back and stomach sleepers on our testing team who weigh 130 pounds or more received great support from the firm (8) model. When testing these mattresses, we noticed very little conforming and strong push-back from the coils. Lastly, the medium firm (6) feel earned its highest ratings from our testers in the range of 130 to 230 pounds.

Why We Like It

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a well-made, affordable mattress that earns high marks for pressure relief, cooling, and overall support. The specialized foams are more breathable than traditional foam, and our heat sensors showed minimal heat buildup on the surface. The price-point also falls well below that of the average hybrid model. Brooklyn Bedding sells the mattress in 14 different sizes, including a split California king for couples who use adjustable beds and a handful of RV-friendly options.

Brooklyn Bedding offers free shipping to customers in the contiguous U.S. You can test the Signature Hybrid for 120 nights and return it anytime after the 30-night break-in period for a full refund. After the trial, the mattress is backed by 10-year warranty.

Helix Sleep offers a wide array of hybrid models that cater to different types of sleepers. The Helix Midnight scored high marks with many of the back and side sleepers on our test team due to its strong cushioning and sturdy support. The optional GlacioTex Cooling Cover also earned it favorable ratings from hot sleepers on our team.

How Does It Feel?

Hybrids with a medium firm (6) feel tend to perform well with different sleeper types, and the Helix Midnight proved to be no exception with our product testers. Side sleepers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds reported comfortable cradling around the shoulders and hips, areas that typically receive pressure buildup for this sleep position, while back sleepers in the same weight group received strong cushioning for the spine. The sturdy coils ensured minimal sinkage around the midsection, which is not always the case for beds with strong pressure relief.

Ventilation through the coils allowed plenty of air to circulate through the bed’s interior. The GlacioTex Cooling Cover, which is available for an additional fee, is made with specialized cooling fibers designed to draw heat away from your body during sleep. Our testers recommend this option if you overheat easily.

Why We Like It

The Helix Midnight begins with a layer of memory foam that conforms closely, followed by a polyfoam layer that further promotes contouring but has a denser feel to prevent your body from sinking too deep. These foam layers excelled at absorbing movement, which may appeal to couples, while pushback from a coil support core ensured ease of movement across the surface. A reinforced perimeter helped stabilize the mattress for sleepers who frequently sit or sleep near the edges.

Helix ships free throughout all 50 states. You’ll receive a 100-night sleep trial with your mattress, and the bed is further backed by a 10-year warranty.

The best mattress for any given sleeper largely depends on which position they primarily use. If you’re a back sleeper, chances are you’ll feel most comfortable on a mattress with gentle cushioning layers and a stable base. We’ve found this type of construction ensures good pressure relief for sore spots along the spine and an even surface that won’t sink too much around the midsection. The DreamCloud Mattress offers all of these qualities to make it a great choice for back sleepers, as well as some additional perks for hot sleepers and couples.

How Does It Feel?

The DreamCloud is a hybrid model featuring a comfort system with several foam layers. A layer of polyfoam is quilted into the breathable cashmere-blend cover, giving the surface a plush feel. Underneath is gel-infused memory foam that contours to the body and alleviates pressure. Transitional polyfoam prevents your body from sinking too deeply into the mattress. We found that the combination of responsive polyfoam and adaptive memory foam results in noticeable cushioning without a lot of sinkage.

Individually pocketed coils make up the support core. These coils reinforce the bed well, especially beneath the torso and hips, but we didn’t notice too much motion transfer during our motion isolation tests.

Why We Like It

The DreamCloud provides a comfortable, balanced feel by integrating plush cushioning layers and a strong support system. Hot sleepers, couples, and people with back pain can all benefit from the luxury hybrid design. Since the mattress is medium firm (6), the highest ratings from back sleepers on our team came from those who weigh at least 130 pounds.

Temperature control is another area where the DreamCloud performs well. This can be attributed to steady air circulation through the coils, as well as a breathable cashmere-blend cover that helps the surface stay cool. Our temperature sensors also picked up very little heat buildup.

In terms of pricing, the DreamCloud is on par with other hybrid models, and shipping is free of charge for all customers in the contiguous U.S. The company’s 365-night sleep trial provides ample time for testing out the mattress and deciding whether to return, exchange, or keep it. Those who choose the latter also receive a lifetime warranty.

If you aren’t sure about your ideal firmness level – or if your comfort preferences fluctuate on a regular basis – then you’re a great candidate for a flippable mattress with a different sleep surface on each side. With a medium soft (4) feel on one surface and a firm (7) feel on the other, the Layla Hybrid should accommodate most side sleepers regardless of how much they weigh.

How Does It Feel?

Our evaluations for this mattress included testing both surfaces. We noticed close, even contouring on the medium soft side, which is constructed with a 2.5-inch memory foam layer over 2 inches of denser polyfoam. The side sleepers on our team weighing less than 130 pounds felt most comfortable on this surface.

Both layers on the firm side are thinner, so we noticed less contouring and more support. The polyfoam on both sides is also zoned to feel firmer around the midsection, but this was more noticeable on the firm surface. Side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds liked this side best, as did our back and stomach sleepers of 130 pounds or more.

The Layla Hybrid’s pocketed coil support core is located in the middle of the mattress between the foam layers. Zoned coils help the mattress feel sturdy along the edges, especially on the firm side. This side was also easier to move across, according to our testers who weigh at least 130 pounds. A breathable cover made from a blend of polyester, rayon, viscose, and poly-lycra encases the mattress.

Why We Like It

The Layla Hybrid’s flippable, dual firmness design makes it suitable for side sleepers across all weight categories, as well as most back and stomach sleepers. Zoned transitional layers and perimeter coil reinforcement make the mattress feel exceptionally supportive no matter which side you use. The mattress is particularly well suited to side sleepers because each side is cushioned with memory foam comfort layers. If you want to flip the Layla Hybrid to its other side, be aware: the mattress weighs more than 100 pounds in a queen size, so rotating it took at least two of our testers.

Ground shipping is free for all customers in the contiguous U.S., and each order includes a 120-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty.

As with side and back sleepers, stomach sleepers have needs that are unique to the way they sleep. People tend to carry most of their weight in the chest and stomach. Lying face-down on a mattress can make the whole body sink, which is why we find that firm and supportive mattresses are usually the best option for stomach sleepers. The Avocado Eco Organic Mattress was especially popular with the stomach sleepers on our testing crew. The latex comfort layer is firm and responsive compared to memory foam, so deep sinkage was not an issue, and zoned coils deliver some much-needed support around the midsection.

How Does It Feel?

In general, mattresses with latex layers are a good alternative for people who don’t like the deep cradling of memory foam. The Eco Organic Mattress is medium firm (6) and our testers noted gentle cushioning, robust support, and easy movement across the surface. Temperature control is another strong point. We detected very little heat buildup on the surface, and the mattress slept cooler than the majority of foam beds we’ve tested. The latex is ventilated and the coils promote steady airflow, so there is plenty of circulation to help the interior of the mattress stay cool. The organic cotton cover and wool fire barrier are both breathable as well, and the wool wicks moisture away from the body on humid nights.

Why We Like It

The Avocado Eco Organic Mattress should meet the needs of any stomach sleeper seeking a firm, supportive, and responsive sleep surface. Hot sleepers should enjoy the breathable components of this latex hybrid design. Avocado has also earned a reputation for sleep products made mostly or entirely from sustainable materials. The latex, cotton, and wool have all been certified as organic. The company also used offset projects to achieve carbon negative shipping. Even the wrapping paper in the mattress delivery box is produced through eco-friendly means.

While many latex hybrids – including most Avocado models – are on the expensive side, the Eco Organic Mattress is modestly priced for shoppers with tight budgets. Shipping is also free for customers in all 50 states. The sleep trial for this mattress lasts up to 100 nights, and those who keep it also receive a 10-year warranty.

The Sparrow Mattress from Nest Bedding is a foam hybrid model available in three different firmness options – soft (3), medium (5), and firm (7). Regardless of the firmness option you choose, you’ll receive excellent cushioning from the foam comfort system and ample support from the coils.

How Does It Feel?

The bed is designed with three layers of foam over a 6-inch coil system. A top memory foam layer closely cradles your body, followed by a polyfoam Energex layer with a responsive feel and another polyfoam layer with enhanced support. The Energex layer varies in firmness depending on the model you choose, but our testers found that all three models offer a well-cushioned surface.

Thanks to the thick foam comfort system, the mattress excelled at motion isolation tests in our sleep lab. This means you’ll feel very little motion transfer when your sleep partner shifts in the middle of the night. The bed also offers excellent pressure relief, especially in the soft and medium models. This appealed to testers who typically experience pressure buildup in the shoulders, hips, or spine.

Why We Like It

During tests, the firm model earned high marks from many of our testers, especially back and side sleepers over 130 pounds. Side sleepers up to 230 pounds and back sleepers up to 130 pounds enjoyed the medium model. The soft model earned good reviews from side sleepers up to 130 pounds, but side sleepers in heavier weight categories may prefer a firmer option.

Some heat buildup is to be expected for beds with foam comfort systems, but the Sparrow felt temperature-neutral for many of our testers – even those who normally sleep hot. Phase change material infused into the cover offsets heat retention. Meanwhile airflow through the coil system helps ventilate the mattress to keep it cool.

Nest Bedding offers a 365-night sleep trial, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide if the Sparrow is a good fit. In addition, the bed comes with a lifetime warranty. Customers residing in the contiguous U.S. receive free shipping.

People with hip pain, much like those with back pain, usually need a mattress that cushions the body while maintaining even support. Foam hybrids like the Bear Elite Hybrid are popular choices for people with hip pain since they balance adaptive comfort layers with supportive coil systems. The Bear Elite Hybrid also comes in three different firmness levels, so it should appeal to a wide array of sleeper types.

How Does It Feel?

The Elite Hybrid is available in medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8) options. All models begin with a top layer of memory foam that contours to the body to alleviate pressure while ensuring your weight is evenly distributed across the surface. This layer is also infused with copper meant to reduce heat buildup. Transitional polyfoam adds a bit of extra cushioning and prevents your body from sinking too deeply into the support core.

Pocketed coils make up the core, offering targeted support to prevent uncomfortable sinkage. A perimeter reinforcement helps the mattress bear your weight along the edges. The coils rest on a polyfoam base layer to prevent shifting. A breathable quilted cover encases the mattress, giving the surface a plush initial feel. The cover is made with Celliant and phase change material (PCM), both engineered to maintain a neutral temperature on the surface.

Why We Like It

Most of us agreed that the Bear Elite Hybrid’s foam hybrid design makes it a great choice for sleepers seeking a supportive mattress with even cushioning for pressure points. The medium option earned the highest ratings from back and side sleepers under 130 pounds since these sleepers need ample cushioning for the shoulders, hips, and spine. The medium firm option was best suited to side sleepers who weighed at least 130 pounds and back sleepers up to 230 pounds, while the firm performed best for side and back sleepers over 230 pounds and most stomach sleepers.

Cooling was one of the Elite Hybrid’s most notable strengths. The Celliant and PCM cover and steady airflow through the coils kept our hot sleepers comfortable throughout testing. Our sensors detected minimal heat buildup.

The Bear Elite Hybrid comes with a 120-night sleep trial, during which you can test the mattress and return it anytime after the 30-night break-in period. If you keep the mattress after the trial period, it is backed by a lifetime warranty. Customers in the contiguous U.S. also receive free ground shipping.

Organic mattresses have made waves in recent years as a more sustainable alternative to beds made with mostly synthetic materials. Along with their high-quality materials, many organic models carry steep price-points. The Birch Mattress not only uses organic cotton and wool, as well as natural latex, but is also accessible for most shopping budgets.

How Does It Feel?

The Birch’s eco-friendly design begins with a cover made of cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, a leading authority for ethically and sustainably sourced fabrics. A layer of organic wool quilted to the bottom of the cover acts as a natural fire barrier. We found the breathable cotton combined with moisture-wicking wool makes the Birch’s surface feel very cool. Another temperature-regulating component is the latex, which is ventilated to promote air circulation close to your body.

The support core consists of pocketed coils in a zoned formation with extra reinforcement along the edges. The natural responsiveness of latex coupled with the sturdy coil support allowed our testing team to move across the mattress easily and get out of bed without sinking too much. Latex is also much more durable that the foam or fibers used in other mattress layers. Using estimations based on design characteristics like material quality and layer thickness, we expect the Birch to perform for at least seven to eight years before the mattress needs to be replaced.

Why We Like It

The Birch Mattress uses natural and organic components to create a design that sleeps cool, resists wear and tear, and leaves a relatively small footprint. The latex hybrid design is ideal for people who don’t care for the deep hug of memory foam. The Birch’s price-point is also lower than many competing models, as latex hybrids tend to be expensive. So this is a good choice for shoppers who prefer eco-friendly mattresses but are on a budget.

Shipping is free to the 50 states, and each order comes with two free pillows. Your purchase includes a 100-night sleep trial, as well as a warranty that covers structural defects for up to 25 years.

The majority of mattresses sold today fall between medium soft and medium firm, or a 4 to 6 on the firmness scale. This aligns with our industry research, which has found that most people value “balance” as one of the most important mattress qualities. However, there are certainly outliers who prefer their mattresses either very soft or very firm. If you’re looking for a very firm bed, the flippable, all-foam Plank Firm should suit your needs.

How Does It Feel?

One side of the mattress is considered firm (7). We noticed some light contouring on this side, which comes from padding material quilted to the cover and a comfort layer of TitanFlex foam. TitanFlex has a responsive feel that makes it closer to latex than memory foam in terms of support and bounciness. The opposite side is extra firm (9), and only has the padding material.

Our testing shows certain types of sleepers feel more comfortable on exceptionally firm mattresses than others. For instance, people who weigh more than 230 pounds typically need a mattress that won’t sink too much around the midsection and interfere with even spinal alignment. Testers on our team who fall into this weight group rated both sides of the Plank Firm as either good or excellent. The same holds true for most back and stomach sleepers, who generally need less cushioning and more support than side sleepers.

Why We Like It

The flippable Plank Firm is ideal for anyone who has struggled to find a mattress that feels supportive enough. Both sides feel exceptionally firm, and a lightweight design allows for easy rotations. If you enjoy sleep surfaces that feel flat as a board, then the extra firm surface should do nicely. We’ve tested very few mattresses that match the even support of the Plank Firm’s extra firm side.

People who sleep hot on foam are also good matches for this mattress. A firmer feel means less sinkage and more surface airflow, as evidenced by our temperature sensor readings. If you’re someone who sleeps very hot, you can order a PCM cooling panel to be sewn onto both sides of the Plank Firm. We tested models with or without the panel and both sleep reasonably cool, but the PCM panel offers a noticeable boost.

A wide range of sizes makes the Plank Firm suitable for single sleepers, couples with or without adjustable beds, children, and RV owners. Shipping is free within the contiguous U.S., and each order comes with a 120-night trial and 10-year warranty.

If your mattress doesn’t provide the right combination of cushioning and support, you’re likely to wake up with soreness of pressure points in areas like the shoulders, back, and hips. The GravityLux from WinkBeds is a safe bet for alleviating pressure thanks in part to its firmness selection. This all-foam mattress is available in medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (7) designs. Each has a distinct feel from the other two, and each earned high ratings from different members of our testing team.

How Does It Feel?

The GravityLux’s top layer is an adaptive polyfoam material that contours to the body yet also feels slightly responsive. This is followed by a second comfort layer of high-density memory foam, which hugs the body and evenly distributes your weight without the sagging or loss of support people often notice with low- or medium-density foams. The top polyfoam layer adds to the balanced feel. The transitional and base layers are both composed of high-density polyfoam. The former is zoned for added reinforcement around the midsection where people tend to carry most of their weight.

Why We Like It

Our testers who weigh less than 130 pounds preferred the medium soft (4) GravityLux – especially side sleepers in this weight group. Deep cushioning coupled with sturdy support allowed them to lie comfortably, and our sensors detected little to no pressure buildup. The medium firm (6) version of the mattress earned its highest ratings from side and back sleepers on our team weighing up to 230 pounds, as well as stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. They enjoyed the light contouring and cushioning, and sinkage was minimal. The firm (7) GravityLux was most popular among our side and back sleepers over 230 pounds and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds. This mattress had a firmer, more supportive feel than the vast majority of memory foam mattresses we’ve tested in our lab.

As with the flagship WinkBed, the GravityLux is backed by a 120-night sleep trial that includes free exchanges for different firmness levels. If the GravityLux you initially select isn’t right for you, you can send the mattress back to the company and try out a softer or firmer model. Shipping is free for all orders in the contiguous U.S., and each mattress is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Body weight is one of the most important factors to consider when shopping for a new mattress. People who weigh more than 230 pounds typically need a mattress that resists deep compression and keeps their body on an even plane, rather than sinking or buckling beneath the torso and hips. The Titan Luxe Hybrid is specifically designed for people in this weight group, and it shows. All of our testers who weigh at least 230 pounds agreed the mattress provides excellent overall support, citing plenty of push-back with just enough cushioning on the surface to keep them comfortable.

How Does It Feel?

The Titan Luxe Hybrid’s Euro-top cover contains a quilted layer of memory foam, followed by two denser polyfoam layers. The mattress is medium firm (6) but we noticed more support and responsiveness compared to other models we’ve tested with the same firmness level. Thick pocketed coils delivered plenty of reinforcement to maintain an even surface, prevented deep sinkage when our testers moved across the mattress, and protected the edges when they got in and out of bed. The mattress was particularly popular with the side and back sleepers on our team.

Why We Like It

The Titan Luxe Hybrid is designed for light cushioning, exceptional support, and unrestricted movement for people who weigh more than 230 pounds. The mattress should appeal to anyone in this weight range who normally finds memory foam hybrids too soft. Like a lot of competing hybrids, the Titan Luxe Hybrid also generates air circulation through its coil layer to cool down the mattress during the night. Our sensors showed very little heat buildup during our temperature control tests. If you need an extra burst of cooling while you sleep, you should consider adding a PCM panel to the surface of your mattress. This increases the sticker price, but may be worth the extra money if you’re an exceptionally hot sleeper.

An approachable price-point – even with the cooling panel added – makes the Titan Luxe Hybrid a good option for shoppers on a budget. Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. A 120-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty are included with each order.