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The Best Mattress for Seniors
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall Mattress
WinkBed -
Best Value Mattress
Nectar Mattress -
Most Comfortable Mattress
DreamCloud Classic Hybrid -
Best Luxury Mattress
Saatva Classic -
Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
Layla Hybrid -
Best Firm Mattress
Plank Firm
Best Overall Mattress
We found the WinkBed’s four firmness options offered comfort for a wide range of body weights and sleep styles, meaning most sleepers should find a model that provides excellent support. The bed’s innerspring design is durable, quiet, and regulates temperature well, allowing sleepers to sleep comfortably with minimal disturbance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available in four firmness levels to better accommodate different body types and sleep positions
- Reinforced perimeter makes it easier for seniors to get into and out of bed
- Springy support simplifies position changes for those with limited mobility
Cons
- Mild motion transfer may disrupt light sleepers
- Moderate pressure relief may be insufficient for sleepers with sharp pressure points
Ratings
Our Take
Best Value Mattress
The Nectar is an enduringly popular foam mattress with high-quality construction and an approachable sticker price. A balanced medium firm feel makes the Nectar great match for seniors across a wide range of body types and sleep positions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Memory foam comfort layer contours closely to soothe sore spots and reduce pressure buildup
- Excellent motion isolation for co-sleepers
- All orders include a 365-night sleep trial
Cons
- Initial off-gassing odor can be overwhelming for the first few nights
- Back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds may not receive enough support
- Foam layers can trap heat and sleep excessively warm
Ratings
Our Take
Most Comfortable Mattress
The DreamCloud Mattress’ contouring design offers a blend of support and pressure relief to a wide range of sleeper types. Side and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds on our testing team found the bed particularly supportive.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Generous foam comfort system provides significant pressure relief for seniors with aches and pains
- Quiet design and strong motion isolation limit potential overnight disruptions
- Thicker coils stabilize the perimeter to support seniors sitting along the edge
Cons
- Stomach sleepers over 230 pounds may struggle to maintain good sleep posture
- Pressure relief is more limited for side sleepers under 130 pounds
Ratings
Our Take
Best Luxury Mattress
With three firmness options to choose from, many sleepers may find the Saatva Classic offers support and comfort. All of our sleep testers over 130 pounds found a model that relieved pressure points and kept their spine in alignment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Three firmness options and two heights meet varying needs and preferences
- Euro-top innerspring design balances pressure relief and ease of movement
- Free White Glove delivery eliminates the need to set up your own mattress
Cons
- Performance varies based on the firmness and height you select
- Limited motion isolation may contribute to sleep disruptions for sleep partners
Ratings
Our Take
Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
The dual-sided Layla Hybrid is a solid choice whether you prefer your mattresses plush and adaptive or firm and supportive. Memory foam comfort layers provide next level cushioning for pressure points and sore spots, while multi-zone coils prevent excessive sinkage beneath the heaviest areas of your body.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Zoned coils provide extra pushback beneath the torso and hips
- Zip-and-wash cover is easy to keep clean
Cons
- Zoned coils provide extra pushback beneath the torso and hips
- Zip-and-wash cover is easy to keep clean
Ratings
Our Take
Best Firm Mattress
With a flippable design, sleepers can choose between a firm (7) or extra firm (9) feel. The Plank Firm Luxe’s considerable support core provides additional support to the back and promotes spinal alignment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flippable with two firmness options for seniors with changing needs
- Responsive pocketed coil core and limited sinkage make the surface easy to move on
- Highly supportive perimeter allows seniors to sit securely before standing or lying down
Cons
- Too firm for most side sleepers
- Minimal conforming may not be ideal for seniors with pressure-induced discomfort
- Motion may spread when a sleep partner moves
Ratings
Our Take
Compare Our Top Picks
| Mattress | Mattress Type | Ideal For | Value | Sleep Trial |
| WinkBed | Innerspring | Side Sleepers | Good Value | 120 nights (30 night requirement) |
| Nectar Mattress | Foam | Side Sleepers | Great Value | 365 nights |
| DreamCloud Classic Hybrid | Hybrid | Combination Sleepers | Great Value | 365 nights (30-night requirement) |
| Saatva Classic | Innerspring | Back Sleepers | Fair Value | 365 Nights ($99 Return Fee) |
| Layla Hybrid | Hybrid | Side Sleepers Of Any Weight | Great Value | 120 nights |
| Plank Firm | Foam | Hot Sleepers | Great Value | 120 nights (30-night requirement) |
Is It Time to Replace Your Mattress?
If your mattress isn’t comfortable or you’re losing sleep, it might be time to replace it. Whether your existing mattress has worn out or it’s no longer ideal for your changing needs, there are several signs that might indicate you need a new sleep surface:
- Discomfort: Struggling to find a comfortable position or waking up with more aches and pains than you experience during the day may indicate that your mattress doesn’t meet your needs.
- Indentations: If your mattress has visible sagging or indentations, you might not get the support you need to relax fully, which can exacerbate age-related aches and pains.
- Respiratory symptoms: Overnight respiratory or allergy symptoms may occur when a mattress gets older and accumulates more dust.
- Change of situation: A new health condition or different position preferences can influence your mattress requirements.
- Mattress age: Mattresses typically last 7 to 10 years, so if your bed is in this age range or above, you might want to start looking for a new model.
What Should Seniors Look For in a Mattress?
Aging and sleep have a complex relationship that seniors should take into account when choosing a mattress. Since sleep quality and quantity may naturally decline as a person ages, it’s that much more important to find an optimal sleep surface.
Firmness
Finding the right mattress firmness that relieves pressure while supporting the spine can help seniors sleep more comfortably. What’s optimal for you depends on your body type, preferred sleeping position, and other personal factors.
Many sleepers find a medium (5) to medium firm (6) mattress comfortable. However, a slightly softer sleep surface may be a better fit for side sleepers and seniors under 130 pounds. Stomach sleepers and individuals over 230 pounds frequently benefit from a firmer surface.
Support
Support refers to how well a mattress keeps your spine aligned. When a sleeper’s spine has adequate support, they can relax their muscles more fully, which may reduce aches and pains. Since many older adults already report experiencing pain, ensuring adequate mattress support is often that much more important.
Two features may be especially well suited to seniors: zoned support and adjustable support. With zoning, the mattress provides targeted support and contouring designed to accommodate the natural curvature of the spine. Adjustable support, such as an airbed with inflatable chambers or an adjustable base, allows sleepers to change the feel or angle of the bed to better accommodate changing needs.
Mobility
Mobility is often an increasing concern as people age, making it harder to change positions during the night or get into and out of bed. Several mattress factors come into play:
- Ease of movement: Firmer, more responsive mattresses are usually the easiest to move on. In contrast, models that hug the sleeper closely and are slow to regain their shape may make it harder for seniors to change positions.
- Edge support: Seniors often benefit from strong edge support that allows them to sit securely on the mattress perimeter before getting into or out of bed.
- Mattress height: Many seniors benefit from a bed height that allows them to sit down comfortably without needing to crouch down or climb up. To determine the right mattress height for you, consider your height and how tall your bed frame is.
Pain Relief
The right mattress can help relieve body pain by balancing support and contouring. While support refers to how the mattress helps maintain the sleeper’s spinal alignment, contouring means how it molds to their body. Contouring helps redistribute pressure to reduce buildup around wider, heavier body parts, which can reduce discomfort and promote good posture for seniors.
Video: Is Your Mattress Causing Hip Pain?
Watch our video to learn more about whether your mattress is the cause for your morning aches and pains.
Best Mattress Types for Seniors
Several mattress types are popular with seniors. These options vary in their construction and materials, greatly impacting overall mattress performance.
Foam
Foam mattresses most often consist of a memory foam or polyfoam comfort system with a high-density polyfoam core. All-foam designs typically excel at pressure relief and motion isolation, which might be ideal for seniors with sharp pains and those who awaken easily. However, they also frequently have weaker edge support and inhibit movement, so they might not be a good match for sleepers with mobility issues.
Hybrid and Innerspring
Both hybrid and innerspring models get their support from a coil core, but a hybrid design also includes a more robust comfort system for pressure relief. Thanks to their use of springs, most hybrid and innerspring models are bouncy, easy to move on, and have sturdy edges, making them well suited to seniors with mobility issues. The breathable designs of hybrid and innerspring models also help regulate surface temperatures, and many seniors will be more familiar with their more traditional feel.
Latex
Latex models generally use natural latex derived from the sap of rubber trees, making them popular with eco-conscious shoppers. They typically offer responsive contouring that balances support, pressure relief, and breathability. While latex models might appeal to seniors with discomfort or mobility issues, they can be cost-prohibitive for those on a budget. Additionally, vibrations may travel across the buoyant material when a sleep partner moves, potentially waking light sleepers.
Airbed
An airbed traditionally consists of a foam or latex comfort system over an air chamber core. Sleepers can adjust how much air is in the chambers via a remote or an app, thereby changing the feel of the bed. Many airbeds also allow you to adjust the feel of each side of the bed separately so that partners can select different firmness levels.
For seniors with changing firmness needs, an airbed can be an easy way to adjust the feel of the bed as often as necessary. However, airbeds tend to be pricey, they make some noise, and they are more complex to use.
Adjustable
An adjustable mattress is a model designed to work with an adjustable base. It’s important to confirm that the model you buy is compatible with your specific adjustable base, and vice versa. Foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses are most commonly paired with adjustable bases.
Adjustable beds allow seniors to change the angle of the head of the bed, the foot of the bed, or both, giving them more options to find a comfortable position. This may be particularly beneficial for anyone with a condition improved by slight head or foot elevation, such as snoring, acid reflux, or swelling of the legs and feet.
Mattress Shopping Tips Seniors Should Consider
Regardless of age, the shopping experience and company policies may ultimately impact your buying decision. We’ll explain how these key considerations may affect seniors.
Shopping Online vs. In-Store
Mattresses are widely available both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. Either shopping option carries potential pros and cons for older adults.
| Pros | Cons | |
| Shopping Online |
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| Shopping in Stores |
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Sleep Trial and Mattress Warranty
Most online mattress retailers offer sleep trials, giving buyers an opportunity to try their new mattress at home and return it within the qualifying window if they aren’t satisfied. For seniors who are unsure of their needs and preferences, sleep trials provide valuable recourse should they discover the mattress isn’t as comfortable as they’d hoped.
Mattresses also frequently come with warranty policies that offer to repair or replace the product if qualifying defects arise, giving seniors peace of mind.
Shipping, Delivery, and Setup
Online mattress companies usually include free delivery to your front door, though some also offer White Glove delivery options.
Seniors receiving a mattress purchase delivered to their door will likely need the help of one or more people to move it into their home and set it up. White Glove delivery traditionally involves a team bringing in the new mattress, unpacking it, setting it up, and removing the old mattress. Some companies include this service for free, though most charge a fee.
Discover More Mattress Solutions
If you’d like to explore more mattress options, check out our testing team’s picks in a variety of specialty categories.
More Mattress Options
How We Test
The Sleep Doctor team is made up of sleep product experts and experienced reviewers. We also follow a clearly defined testing methodology to ensure a balanced and comprehensive overview of each product.
To choose the best mattresses for seniors, we paid special attention to the performance criteria that tend to matter most to older adults, including edge support, ease of movement, and pressure relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best type of mattress for seniors balances pressure relief and spinal support, though the ideal design depends largely on any issues the sleeper is experiencing. Sleepers with sharp aches and pains often favor a hybrid design with a thick comfort system, a foam model, or a latex mattress. Those with mobility issues generally benefit from the responsiveness and edge support of latex, innerspring, and hybrid models.
A firm or soft mattress, or anything in between, might be right for you depending on your sleep position, body type, and overall needs. A medium (5) to medium firm (6) model can accommodate most seniors, but sleepers under 130 pounds and side sleepers might benefit from a softer model, whereas those over 230 pounds and stomach sleepers typically need firmer support.
Memory foam mattresses are comfortable for many seniors. Since memory foam molds to the body and redistributes weight to limit pressure buildup, it often helps relieve aches and pains. However, the material’s close conforming and slow response can impede movement, which could be a problem for sleepers with mobility issues. All-foam designs also frequently lack strong edge support, potentially making it harder to get into and out of bed.
The best mattress for seniors with back pain combines cradling and support. It should shape to the body to relieve pressure while keeping the spine on an even plane. Hybrid models with zoned support are often ideal, combining the contouring of foam or latex with the support of coils.
