Our expert team has tested latex, memory foam, spring and hybrid models to help you find the best mattress. We’ve tried the following mattresses for ourselves, so we can not only recommend them but highlight which ones will suit who in each mini-review. While comfort is subjective, we’re sure to get deep into the construction and quality materials that take a mattress from average to the best of the best. We’re constantly trying out new sleep gear — such as the best mattress toppers — to help you find the products to improve your sleep.
January Mattress sales
The New Year brings lots of mattress discounts. Upcoming sale periods include the three-day weekends associated with MLK Day and Presidents’ Day, but we’re already seeing some savings.
Best mattresses of 2023
Why you should buy it: The most comfortable and supportive mattress on test, made-to-order and set up in your bedroom for free Why we love it: The Saatva Classic mattress is our pick for the best mattress on the market. I found that the built-in Euro-top adds immediate cushion and plushness for a luxury feel that had me drifting off to sleep very quickly. I slept most comfortably on my back and side, though a strict stomach sleeper will likely prefer something firmer. For support, the double layers of steel spring layer that add support for aching limbs by cradling pressure points, and contribute to better motion isolation as well. This hybrid combines traditional pocket spring coils with a memory foam layer for comfort and all-around sturdiness. It also has an organic cotton cover, recycled steel coils, and CertiPUR-US foam. The coil construction creates good airflow, perfect for those who get hot at night, and it also offers excellent edge support, some of the best of any mattresses we’ve reviewed, so the mattress doesn’t sag at the sides. It comes in three firmnesses – Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm – and two thicknesses. There’s no difference in feel between the 11" and 14" depths, so it’s just a matter of preference. Good to know: Most opt for the Luxury Firm, which is what we tried. It’s a medium-firm design that suits side, front and back sleepers alike, but if you like extremely soft mattresses, the Plush Soft might be a better option. While it features organic components, it’s not fully organic, so Saatva’s latex hybrid might be a better choice. We also don’t like the $99 return fee if you don’t like the mattress. My Saatva Classic Mattress review goes into more detail. Why you should buy it: Incredible value Why we love it: At a stately 14 inches, this sumptuous hybrid offers five layers of bliss. The cashmere-topped cover stays both cozy and cool, while the quilted memory foam offers just the right amount of comfort with a layer of gel foam just beneath for pressure relief and a cooling effect. The individually wrapped coils offer customized support as it yields to the shape of your body and promotes better airflow throughout the mattress. Our reviewer Camyrn found the mattress skewing more firm, with just a tinge of plush. She says that it ‘offers enough “give” to relieve pressure when sleeping on your side, but it’s also sufficiently supportive for back or stomach sleepers’. Camryn found that it was well-suited to both her and her husband, who have drastically different sleeping preferences. The best thing about this mattress is value for money. DreamCloud often have sales and this mattress is routinely under $800. DreamCloud also offers an entire year to trial whether the mattress is for you, and it’s backed by a lifetime warranty, so it’s a safe investment too. Good to know: Despite the depth, this isn’t the plushest mattress. If you still want good value but a plush mattress, you could try the DreamCloud Premier, which has extra pressure relief and a decadent pillowtop. The motion isolation could also be better, so while it’s well suited for couples, you might notice if your partner turns over in the night. Camryn’s DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Review goes into more detail. Why you should buy it: Top-notch eco-credentials Why we love it: Handmade in LA, the Avocado is the best organic mattress on the market. It’s made with a combination of GOTS-certified cotton and wool, as well as sustainably-sourced latex harvested through Avocado’s responsibly managed farms. This makes it a particularly good choice for those with allergies or sensitivities to certain chemicals, as its made without fire retardants and chemical adhesives. The use of wool acts as a natural fire-retardant, and a needle-tufting technique with wool thread to bind layers together replaces the need for glue. A vegan option without wool is also available and uses cotton batting instead. The top latex layer is gently yielding and sits on top of a layer of tempered steel coils, while five zones support different areas of the body to give overall comfort and prevent motion transfer. This mattress is on the firm side of medium. It’s a good option for back and front sleepers, though lighter-weight side sleepers may find it too firm. It offers great support to your back and stomach and when you flip to the side, the mattress molds to you without that sinking feeling that makes it hard to shift around. Good to know: If you’re a side sleeper and want a softer surface, you should consider adding the soft cotton pillow top. Our reviewer Antonia found that it’s great for sleeping cool and offers relief from aches and pains. She preferred it with the pillow top, but bear in mind that this is an extra cost. Antonia’s Avocado Green Mattress review has everything you need to know. Why you should buy it: The coolest mattress on test Why we love it: The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow features Casper’s most advanced cooling upgrade, with big claims that it’ll keep you cool for at least 12 hours. On test, I immediately noticed the cooling sensation, and it kept me cool throughout the night. Casper’s AirScape layers have tiny holes in the foam that let body heat and humidity flow out and away from the mattress. It was very welcome in a steamy Georgia summer. This Snow technology is an add-on to the Wave Hybrid Mattress, which offers the most support of any Casper mattress. There are 3 different zones to keep your spine aligned, with slightly softer foam toward the top to gently sink shoulders and a denser foam in the middle that cradles the waist and lower back. It also uses gel pods under your waist and lower back that add further support. To finish off the design, individually wrapped coils add the right amount of lift, airflow, and support for the ultimate in sleep. Good to know: Cooling and comfort aside, I’m really picky about my edge support, and I wish this mattress had a better foundation there. Our Casper Wave Hybrid Snow review goes into more detail. Why you should buy it: advanced pressure relief, superior contouring, and motion isolation. Why we love it: You can personalize this mattress with soft, medium, firm, and medium-hybrid designs. Our tester loved the hybrid benefits of contouring foam and extra support from the individually wrapped coils. These responsive coils add increased mobility to change positions in bed and get out of bed, as well as increased breathability. The ProAdapt is at its best with pressure points. There’s no pressure on your shoulders, hips, or knees, so you feel completely weightless. You might experience a slight sinking feeling as the foam adjusts to your body, but you’ll never feel stuck. This mattress is firm where you need it, and soft where you want it. The bed is well suited to all, and you’ll be comfortable on your back, on your sides, or on your stomach. It has good motion isolation, so you won’t be woken by your partner moving in the night, and if you tend to overheat in the night there’s a washable cooling cover. Good to know: Our only criticisms are the high price point and weight. Price is one thing, but this mattress is hard to move. In fairness, Tempur-Pedic offers an in-room setup, and the mattress doesn’t need to be rotated or flipped. Our Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Medium Hybrid mattress review goes into more detail. Why you should buy it: the best mattress for tackling back pain Why we love it Our tests found that this mattress gets more and more comfortable as you break it in, and it’s a highly-rated choice for those who suffer from back aches and pain. This is thanks to a responsive design that keeps you in a neutral position. The five-layer foam construction utilizes gel memory foam for comfort, pressure-relieving dynamic foam, and a seven-inch base layer for support— all wrapped below the outer cooling cover which is breathable and moisture-wicking ensuring that even the most feverish sleepers will stay cool all night. It also had no motion transfer, so it’s great for couples. It’s slightly on the firmer side of medium-firm – with the website ranking as a 6.5 on a firmness scale of 1-10, making it a top choice for front and back sleepers but probably not best for heavy side sleepers or those that prefer a mattress you can really sink into. Good to know As with some other memory foam mattresses, there was a faint, lingering odor. However, it wasn’t at all noticeable by day two and certainly didn’t trouble our sleep. It did however leave something to be desired when it comes to edge support, but not enough that it affected how we slept. Our Nectar Memory foam mattress review goes into more detail. Why you should buy it: customizable latex design and completely organic Why we love it: Naturally cooling and with a bouncy, responsive feel and excellent pressure relief, the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is one of the most customizable mattresses you can buy. You can choose, size, depth, and firmness to fit your bedframe exactly. The layers of this mattress are also interchangeable, so it can be made to fit all sleep styles and adapt for those unsure about which mattress firmness to choose. This organic mattress is hand-crafted with a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover, over 10 pounds of temperature-regulating GOTs-certified wool, and three layers of latex, including a Talalay latex layer for comfort, followed by two Dunlop latex layers for pressure support. The depth of each layer depends on the mattress thickness you choose, with the thickest 12" mattress also featuring an additional layer of latex. While the mattress is available in both medium and firm comfort levels, you can also unzip the cover to further customize the layers of latex. The Botanical Bliss offers a buoyant feeling that gently cradles the pressure points of your body for a responsive feel that won’t leave you feeling like you’re sinking. Our reviewer Alex said, ‘My body did not require any adjustment to the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex mattress. I fell into a deep, hard sleep and didn’t move much each night that I tested the mattress.’ Good to know: As the bed is latex, it’s heavy and can be a bit cumbersome to put the bed together. You might also experience some motion transfer. Our Plushbeds Botanical Bliss Mattress review goes into more details. Why you should buy it: A supportive memory foam design for those who like the sink-in feel Why we love it: Leesa’s Original Memory Foam mattress has a high ‘sink in’ factor, will contour around your body with lots of soft coziness, and offers lots of forgiving support beneath achy joints, as identified by our reviewer. For these reasons, we think it’s a top option for side sleepers. The top comfort foam provides extra airflow to keep you cool, the pressure-relieving memory foam contours gently to your body and the dense 6” core adds support and durability for joints. The super soft knitted top layer has a nice look that also sleeps cool and helps you enjoy the breathable benefits of the mattress. A big draw to the Leesa mattress is Leesa’s risk-free 100-night trial, free delivery, and their charitable contribution of donating one mattress per ten sold. So far, they’ve donated nearly 40,000 mattresses. Good to know: The mattress initially feels quite firm but becomes more giving as it warms to your body temperature. Some have even found it too soft, while others note the edge support and motion isolation leave something to be desired. Our Leesa Original Memory Foam Mattress review goes into more detail.
How we test and review our best mattresses
The Homes & Gardens’ mattress review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. Mattress testers sleep on each featured mattress for at least two weeks. Our reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home. The products are given to us free of charge. Often times we are able to keep our mattress, which gives us the opportunity to return to our reviews for updating, so you can keep up-to-date with how it’s fared over a period of time. All of the mattresses on this best list with rankings have been personally reviewed by members of our team, who take into account value for the money, construction, comfort, and support, with various tests in place to consider factors like edge support, and motion transfer, and spinal alignment. Now we understand that mattress firmness is subjective, so we also ask each reviewer to be transparent about their sleep habits, as well as invite others to lay on it and share their impressions. If the mattress is unranked, we’re still working to get our hands on a sample, or may even be in the midst of testing it out. For these instances, we’ve researched and, perused through hundreds of reviews, and deep-dived into their construction, special qualities, and who they may suit best. For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our how we test review guidelines. Our testing team includes:
How to choose the best mattress for you
You deserve the luxury of a fabulous night’s sleep, whether that be from one of the most popular mattresses on the market or a specialty model. Experts advise that the lifespan of a mattress is about seven to 10 years. Though adding one of the best mattress toppers can help customize a too-hard or too-soft bed without having to completely replace your existing mattress, if it’s nearing that threshold, or simply lumpy and unsupportive, the time to replace and upgrade your mattress is now.
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- Traditional innerspring mattresses use a steel coil support system with natural or man-made fillings and covers. The greater the number of coils, the more points of support and the better the bed can contour and support the sleeper, usually described as springy 2. Foam mattresses, including polyurethane, memory, or gel foam, usually contour to the body, isolate motion and offer different comfort, feel and heat dissipation features. 3. Latex Mattresses offer similar qualities to foam, but are usually described as bouncier and more breathable. All-natural latex is considered to be more environmentally friendly too. All natural designs should be designated as Talalay or Dunlop, which refers to their production methods 4. Hybrid mattresses are a combination of foam or latex with coils and offer the best of both qualities with the right amount of firmness and support, and a slight bounce. They’re typically described as responsive and can sleep cooler than standard memory foam. Hot sleepers tend to prefer traditional coil or hybrids while those with specific aches and pains appreciate the levels of support that zoned memory foam can provide. Light sleepers with restless partners will enjoy memory foam which is more efficient at combating motion transfer. While comfort level is subjective, an industry-wide scale between 1 and 10 is used to determine firmness level, with a 1 being extremely soft and a 10 being extremely firm. We’ve found that most mattresses tend to fall between a 4 and an 8 on the scale. As a general rule, stomach sleepers and those carrying more weight will find a better level of support with a mattress that errs on the side of the firm – around 7-7.5 on the scale. Side and back sleepers need some support but of a slightly softer kind, so should opt for a medium or medium-firm 5-7 out of 10. Sleep Advisor (opens in new tab) estimates that 80 percent of adults prefer mattresses categorized as medium. Lighter and some side sleepers will be best suited to something a little more cloud-like. However, there are very few mattresses out there with a 1-2 rating simply because they are so soft and don’t offer enough in the way of support. That said if you have particular issues with muscle aches and joint pains, a mattress that is zoned with varying levels of firmness to help different areas of the body may be the better choice. The good thing is that many brands recognize that sleep styles vary and so many offer 100-night plus trials with free returns to make sure you get the one for you and are often able to offer solutions to help you find your firmness sweet spot. Meanwhile, depending on your sleep preferences, a soft mattress can offer the same amount of support as a firmer one. For instance, side sleepers will want a softer mattress that can cradle and cushion their side, whereas back sleepers will seek out a mattress that wouldn’t sag as they sleep to keep their bodies in a neutral position that minimizes any tension. When you do need to clean your mattress, and from time to time you will, even with a protector you’ll want to spot clean any visible stains or odors and leave plenty of time for it to air dry. A good vacuuming with an upholstery attachment is also beneficial for pulling out inevitably embedded dust mites, dead skin, and other allergens. For the longevity of your mattress, it may be useful to flip the mattress but follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
