Few things feel as luxurious as relaxing on a plush mattress. Often described as a cloud-like feel, a soft mattress offers inviting cushioning that can be especially beneficial if you’re a side sleeper, weigh under 130 pounds, or just love the feel of a soft bed.
Best Soft Mattress Overall
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Soft
Our selection for the best overall soft mattress is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Soft. This hybrid mattress features several plush foam layers that cradle the body to create an inviting and supportive sleep surface.
If you’re looking for a plush mattress that’s well built with impressive all-around performance, our guide introduces our testing team’s picks for the best soft mattresses.
To explore other great options, check out our list of the best mattresses of 2024. If you want to hone in on one of the softest bed materials, take a look at our guide to the best memory foam mattresses.
The Best Soft Mattresses
Best Overall – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Soft
Best Value – Layla Memory Foam Mattress
Most Comfortable – Softer Winkbed
Best Pressure Relief – Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress
Best Luxury – Nolah Evolution 15
Best for Side Sleepers – Helix Sunset
Read on to see why the following six options made our top picks list of 2024’s best soft mattresses.
Sleep Doctor’s Picks
Best Overall Mattress
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Soft
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
Plush foam layers make the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Soft a perfect option for sleepers who gravitate toward soft beds. Our testers experienced superior contouring for pressure points, while the coils helped keep their bodies from feeling overwhelmed by the bed.
Buy From Brooklyn Bedding
Side Sleepers
Medium Soft (4)
Plush Surface
Great Value
Pros
- Thick foam comfort system offers exceptional cushioning for pressure points
- Foam layers effectively reduce motion transfer
- Optional cooling pillow-top enhances plushness
Cons
- Foam is prone to heat retention without the optional cooling pillow-top
- Customers must pay $99 for return shipping
Why We Like It
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid combines the cushioning of foam with the sturdiness of coils. It comes in three firmness options, but we found the medium soft (4) checks the most boxes for sleepers who prefer soft sleep surfaces. The plush foam conforms closely to your body for strong pressure relief, and it also absorbs motion to prevent too much movement from transferring across the surface.
Due to the exceptional softness, the bed is best suited for side sleepers up to 230 pounds and back sleepers under 130 pounds. These groups need strong contouring to ensure pressure doesn’t build up around the hips, shoulders, and spine. Those in heavier weight categories, as well as all stomach sleepers, may sink too deeply to feel properly supported.
How Does It Feel?
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Soft is quilted with 1.5 inches of plush polyfoam on the surface. This is followed by a layer of polyfoam that further promotes contouring but is also slightly responsive. Next is a thin layer of transitional polyfoam that enhances cradling while providing a touch of pushback to avoid uncomfortably deep sinkage. A thick coil system generates sturdy support through the entire mattress.
If you’re an exceptionally hot sleeper and enjoy extra plush surfaces, you can pay more money for a cooling pillow-top. This additional layer of cushioning is encased in a GlacioTex fabric, which is engineered to maintain temperature neutrality on the surface.
Best Value Mattress
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
A flippable design with two firmnesses in one makes the Layla Memory Foam Mattress an appealing option for value seekers. Our side-sleeping testers appreciated the softer side’s deep cradling, which helped relieve pressure buildup and keep the spine aligned. You also can’t beat the affordable price-point and lifetime warranty.
Buy From Layla
Couples
Soft, Firm Sides
Close-Conforming Foam
Great Value
Pros
- Adaptive memory foam layer contours closely to the body to ease pressure
- Zoned polyfoam layer creates targeted support
- Reversible construction offers two firmness levels
Cons
- Hot sleepers may find that the foam layers trap too much heat
- Lacks strong edge support, particularly on the softer of the two sides
Why We Like It
The competitively priced Layla Memory Foam Mattress features a reversible design with two firmness levels: medium soft (4) and firm (7). Sleepers can simply flip the mattress over to switch between firmness levels, which is great if you aren’t sure whether a soft mattress is right for you. It’s also a helpful feature for those who plan to use the bed in a guest room or Airbnb and want multiple options for their guests.
The soft, cushioning side of the bed was more popular among our side sleepers, cradling pressure points like the hips and shoulders to align the spine properly during sleep. Our back and stomach sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds also felt adequately supported by the mattress’ plusher side. Both sides absorbed most movement transfer and noise during our motion isolation tests, making the mattress a great choice for couples.
How Does It Feel?
The softer side of the mattress contains 3 inches of copper gel-infused memory foam and 2 inches of zoned polyfoam in its comfort system, which sinks softly beneath the sleeper and responds to the body at pressure points.
The firm side of the mattress features the layers in reverse, with a much thinner memory foam comfort layer and a thicker support core. The shared support core contains 4.5 inches of polyfoam combined with an additional 1 inch of memory foam to provide firmer support that prevents motion transfer while reducing springiness. A breathable cover made from a polyester, rayon, viscose, and poly-lycra blend encases the mattress.
Most Comfortable Mattress
Softer WinkBed Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The WinkBed’s balanced cushioning and support make it a highly comfortable option for many sleepers. The Softer WinkBed features one more foam layer than the firmer models, which gives it a luxuriously plush feel. Meanwhile, the robust coil system kept our bodies on an even plane.
Buy From WinkBeds
Combination Sleepers
Soft, Medium, Firm, Extra Firm Options
Bouncy, Supportive Surface
Good Value
Pros
- Effective pressure relief from a combination of polyfoam comfort layers
- Coil-based construction is sturdy but breathable
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Back and stomach sleepers who weigh over 130 pounds may sink too deeply into the mattress
- Somewhat limited bounce and ease of movement
Why We Like It
The WinkBed is a versatile luxury innerspring that performs like a hybrid mattress, with an adaptive comfort system over sturdy zoned coils. If you’re in the market for a mattress that conforms closely without sinking too much, the medium soft version of the WinkBed should be a good fit.
The medium soft version of the WinkBed worked particularly well for the side sleepers on our team weighing less than 230 pounds. The hugging foam and responsive coils relieved pressure in the hip and shoulder areas and helped maintain good posture for these sleepers. It also provided comfort and support to our back and stomach sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds. The bed’s durable, coil-based construction is temperature neutral, and we also noticed very little off-gassing after removing it from the box.
How Does It Feel?
Beneath the cover, the medium soft option’s comfort system features a quilted Euro-top containing gel-infused polyfoam, which is designed to divert heat away from the body and keep you cool. An additional 2 inches of polyfoam complete the comfort system, creating a thick, cushioning feel.
In the support core, pocketed coils are arranged into supportive zones. Designed to respond to movement and body weight in key spots, the zoned coils improve pressure relief and lumbar support while reducing motion transfer. The high-grade steel coils also reinforce the bed’s edges, so you can use the full surface of the mattress without experiencing sagging.
Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
All-foam models often excel in our pressure relief tests, and the Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress is no exception. The three adaptive memory foam layers closely hugged our testers’ bodies and effectively relieved undue pressure buildup in their hips, shoulders, and lower back
Buy From Cariloha
Back Sleepers
Medium
Close-Conforming Foam
Fair Value
Pros
- Memory foam layers contour to the body for plush pressure relief
- Comfort system prevents most motion transfer
- Bamboo-derived viscose cover is breathable and moisture-wicking
Cons
- The close hug of memory foam can contribute to heat retention
- Movement on the mattress surface may be restricted by the contouring materials
Why We Like It
The Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress is an all-foam bed that features multiple layers of memory foam. These foam layers hug your body closely to relieve pressure buildup around joints and other pressure-sensitive areas.
The bed earned excellent reviews from the side sleepers on our team, which is no surprise given that side sleepers usually enjoy memory foam for its deep cradling around the shoulders and hips. We also found the plush feel was a great fit for back sleepers, with ample cushioning along the spine. The Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress excels at absorbing motion, so if you share the bed with a restless sleeper you should feel barely any disturbance from their movements through the night. The foam layers also produce little to no noise, which is another advantage for anyone who shares the bed with a sleep partner.
How Does It Feel?
Two layers of adaptive memory foam in the comfort system cushions the surface. Underneath is a layer of transitional memory foam that prevents your body from sinking too deeply into the mattress. This layer also ensures your weight is evenly distributed. High-density polyfoam in the support core reinforces the sleep surface. A naturally breathable and moisture-wicking cover made from bamboo-derived viscose encases the mattress. The bed has a 12-inch profile with a medium (5) firmness level.
Best Luxury Mattress
Nolah Evolution 15 – Plush
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Nolah Evolution 15 is a high-end hybrid with a luxurious feel to match. Although the foam layers in the medium (5) model contour closely to the body to relieve pressure, the foam’s open-cell construction and steady airflow through the coil support core prevent too much heat buildup.
Buy From Nolah
Hot Sleepers
Soft, Medium, Firm Options
Plush, Supportive Surface
Fair Value
Pros
- Open-cell foams cushion the body while limiting heat retention
- Zoned coils are reinforced under the midsection and provide enhanced edge support
- Euro-top design delivers above-average pressure relief
Cons
- Back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds may find that their midsection sinks too deeply into the mattress
- Foam layers may produce some initial off-gassing odors
Why We Like It
We recommend the plush version of the Nolah Evolution 15 to anyone who needs close cushioning to sleep comfortably. The foam layers cradle and contour to the body, alleviating pressure along the spine, but the zoned coils provide plenty of support to areas where more weight is concentrated. During our tests, we found this mattress provided excellent pressure relief and even support for our side sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds, as well as back sleepers in the same weight range.
We found that the foam layers absorb movement well, so co-sleepers shouldn’t experience too many sleep disruptions when the other person changes positions or gets up during the night. Meanwhile, the coils give the mattress a responsive feel that many people may enjoy for sex. The breathable cover and coils also help the mattress regulate temperature well throughout the night, which appealed to our hot-sleeping testers.
How Does It Feel?
The Nolah Evolution 15 is a luxury Euro-top hybrid available in three firmness levels. These include a Plush version with a medium (5) feel that cradles the body, alleviates pressure, and isolates motion well — especially compared to other hybrid models.
The Evolution 15’s Euro-top comfort system consists of four foam layers, each with an open-cell composition to limit heat retention and keep the surface cool. Each layer is progressively denser from top to bottom, so you’ll sink slightly after getting into bed but the underlying layers should keep your body aloft.
The support core contains pocketed coils in a zoned arrangement to ensure even support for your entire body. Thicker coils rest beneath the torso and hips, which are two areas where people tend to carry a disproportionate amount of weight. Thinner coils in other sections create a gentler feel for lighter areas of the body, while the perimeter is reinforced to prevent deep sinkage when you sleep near the edges.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Helix Sunset
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Helix Sunset is an exceptionally soft hybrid that side sleepers on our team thoroughly enjoyed. The mattress’ adaptive foam layers hugged our side sleepers’ bodies closely to relieve common pressure buildup in the hips and shoulders. Meanwhile, the robust coil system helped them maintain healthy sleep postures.
Buy From Helix
Couples
Soft
Close-Conforming Foam
Good Value
Pros
- Adaptive memory foam cushions side sleepers’ hips and shoulders to relieve pressure
- Hybrid design delivers a blend of contouring and support
- Coils facilitate steady airflow to help the mattress sleep cool
Cons
- May feel too soft for sleepers weighing more than 130 pounds
- Closely conforming memory foam might restrict movement
Why We Like It
The soft (3) feel and cradling construction of the Helix Sunset works best for side sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds, who particularly benefit from cushioning in the hip and shoulder areas. If you have a different sleep style or body type, you may want to consider a firmer mattress with a less conforming feel. Stomach sleepers, for example, may sink too far into the surface of this soft bed, causing the spine to fall out of alignment.
The Sunset is also quiet for a hybrid mattress, making it great if you share the bed with a restless sleep partner. The motion-absorbing memory foam and individual coils emit little to no squeaking or creaking when sleepers change positions or get out of bed. The foam layers offer great pressure relief, while a breathable cover and coils help offset the foam’s heat-retaining properties.
How Does It Feel?
The Helix Sunset is an exceptionally soft and adaptive hybrid model. This mattress should be ideal for side sleepers seeking cushioning for their sore hips and shoulders but still want sturdy coil support.
The cover is made from breathable polyester. The comfort system starts with a layer of contouring memory foam that cushions your body, conforming gently to relieve pressure points. Underneath is a layer of transitional polyfoam that is slightly more responsive to prevent you from sinking too deeply into the coils.
In the support core, 8-inch pocketed coils stabilize the mattress while helping to reduce motion transfer across the surface. Additional polyfoam in the support core strengthens the Helix Sunset’s design, reinforcing the perimeter to improve edge support.
A soft mattress is ideal for sleepers who need strong contouring and pressure relief for areas like the shoulders, hips, or spine. If you enjoy soft surfaces but still need support for the lower back, consider a soft hybrid model. These offer cushioned surfaces without necessarily sacrificing support.
Who Is a Soft Mattress Best For?
A soft mattress is best for people who want contouring and cushioning under their body. Good candidates include sleepers who weigh under 130 pounds, people who sleep on their side, or those prone to sharp pressure points.
In contrast, people who weigh more than 230 pounds and most back and stomach sleepers often need firmer mattress support to avoid excess sinkage. Soft mattresses also restrict movement on the bed, so they may not work well for combination sleepers.
What to Consider When Buying a Soft Mattress
Knowing what to look for in a mattress can help you find the best one for your needs. Key considerations include mattress type, cushioning, support, and pressure relief — and how those factors relate to your sleeping position and body weight.
Mattress Type
While foam mattresses can have a firm feel, they are a common soft mattress option and can deliver notable pressure relief and motion isolation. Memory foam mattresses are particularly popular among people seeking a plush feel. Latex mattresses typically have more pushback than foam models, making them easier to move on, but they can be produced with a soft feel.
Hybrid mattresses are found in all firmness levels, but most soft models have top layers of foam that cradle the body, with the underlying coils providing stability and bounce. An airbed has adjustable air chambers so you can make it feel softer by removing air using a remote or app.
Watch our video below to learn more about the similarities and differences between some of the most common mattress types.
Sleeping Position and Body Type
Sleeping position and body type play important roles in determining a sleeper’s ideal mattress firmness. Soft mattresses are typically best for side sleepers who need cushioning to relieve pressure in the hips and shoulders, as well as people who weigh under 130 pounds and don’t sink as deeply into a bed’s surface.
On the other hand, back and stomach sleepers and people over 230 pounds will likely experience excessive sinkage when sleeping on a soft mattress, which can misalign the spine. These sleepers often benefit from firmer support.
Cushioning and Support
Cushioning is the ability to soften the impact between your body and the sleep surface, while support is the ability to keep your spine properly aligned throughout the night. If the mattress allows excessive sagging underneath heavier parts of the body, it can jeopardize spinal alignment.
Tips for Making a Mattress Feel Softer
There are a handful of practical tips that can help make your new or existing mattress feel softer.
- Break in your mattress: If your mattress is relatively new, keep in mind that it may take time for it to develop a broken-in feel that isn’t quite so firm.
- Add a plush topper: A quick and easy way to adjust the firmness of your mattress is to cover it with a soft mattress topper. A few extra inches of plush material can add significantly more cushioning to a mattress.
- Try a mattress pad: If you only need a touch of softness, consider using a thinner mattress pad, which also provides some protection against spills and stains.
- Rotate the mattress: Turning your mattress 180 degrees on a regular basis can help maintain a more consistent feel so you don’t have some sections that are firmer than others.
- Apply more heat: Some materials, like foam, get softer as they warm up. Depending on your mattress type, using a heated mattress pad may give your bed a softer feel.
- Replace it within your trial window: If your new mattress feels too firm, you may be eligible for a refund or exchange if it came with a sleep trial and you’re still within the return window. Check with the mattress company about your trial and options for making a return.
Discover More Mattress Solutions
If you’ve decided on the style of mattress you’d like to purchase but want more options, take a look at our other extensive buying guides broken down by mattress type.
How We Test
We rely on a team of industry veterans and a carefully vetted testing methodology to identify the highest-quality, best-performing mattresses on the market. To find the best soft mattresses, our diverse testing team evaluated dozens of models in our in-house testing lab, prioritizing contouring, pressure relief, temperature control, and overall feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
The biggest sign that your mattress is too soft is excessive sagging or sinking when you’re in bed. If you feel like you’re being swallowed up by your mattress, it’s a strong indication that your mattress is too plush. Another sign is if you regularly have aches and pains that feel worse when you wake up.
Whether a soft mattress is good for back pain depends on your sleep needs. If you’re a side sleeper or weigh under 130 pounds, a soft mattress may help alleviate back pain by cushioning your body so that your spine stays aligned. If you’re a stomach or back sleeper or weigh over 230 pounds, a soft mattress may not provide adequate support, which can exacerbate back pain.
A soft mattress may reduce the discomfort side sleepers commonly feel around the shoulders and hips while providing the contouring necessary to keep the spine in a neutral position. However, a soft mattress may not be good for side sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds. These sleepers may sink too far into the mattress, preventing proper spinal support.
The softest mattresses are made with materials that have plenty of cushioning and don’t strongly push back against your body when you lie down. Mattresses with top layers of memory foam are consistently popular among people seeking a plush sleep surface.
About The Author
Certified Sleep Science Coach, Director of Product Testing
David is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a lifelong passion for well-being and health optimization. His interest in sleep developed with the arrival of his son, when sleep suddenly became a precious commodity.
- POSITION: Side Sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Hot Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Lion
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