Best Mattresses 2024 | Tested By Our Sleep Experts

Type: Hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Medium to medium-firm (5 to 6) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 15 years

Buy if: You’re a side or combo sleeper seeking a premium pillow-top mattress.

Skip if: You prefer a firmer, more supportive feel (the Dawn Luxe may be a better option).

The medium feel of the Helix Midnight Luxe provides relief for the hips and shoulders for both side and back sleepers. It earns our top spot as the best mattress this year since it appeals to several different types of folks, including those who sleep hot and couples with different firmness preferences. The star of the show and a major differentiator between the Luxe and the flagship Midnight model is the Luxe’s light and airy pillow top. At 13.5 inches thick, the Helix Midnight Luxe also comes with a strong pocketed coil layer, which provides support under the hips to promote spinal alignment and around the edges for enhanced perimeter support. Its coil system also makes it easy to move around on for combination sleepers or those with mobility issues. Learn more about its standout features in our full Helix Midnight Luxe review.

What our testers say: Dillon writes, “The Midnight Luxe’s plush pillow top was the first thing that stood out to me when I tested the mattress. It gives the bed a soft feel that cradles the joints without being too cushy. Its comfort foams are made from a soft but responsive material that makes it easy for side sleepers to switch positions. If you’re against memory foam mattresses but want a more plush feel, I think the Helix Midnight Luxe will be especially appealing for you.” Chapman adds, “It also tested well for edge support, so you can sleep or sit near the edge of the bed without problem.”

Expert tip: If you’re a hot sleeper, the extra $249 splurge on the optional cooling cover is worth it. 

Pros:

• Targeted support specifically designed for side sleepers
• Cooling cover available (for an additional cost)
• Excellent motion isolation

Cons:

• 100-night trial period isn’t as long as some others

Type: Memory foam or hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Medium-firm (6.5) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Buy if: You’re a back or side sleeper and like a memory foam feel.

Skip if: You strictly sleep on your stomach. 

Nectar may be best known for its budget-friendly prices and impressive bundle deals, but its memory foam designs make the brand especially suited for side sleepers. The Nectar Premier Mattress is the best of the bunch in this regard, thanks to its soft memory foam feel. It’s similar to the original Nectar, but with better cooling, more sturdy support and superior pressure-relieving abilities. The Nectar Premier’s main bread and butter is its gel-infused memory foam, a marshmallowy material that relieves pressure around the shoulder and hip. It also contains polyethylene fibers and a special phase change material that absorbs your body heat and disperses it evenly throughout the mattress, rather than trapping it in the layers. Another perk? It’s often on sale for less than $1,000 for a queen.

What our testers say: “I found the Nectar Premier to be a little softer than advertised, and it tested really well for pressure relief—making it a great fit for side and back sleeping,” says Chapman. “The Premier also impressed me during motion isolation and edge support tests, so I think it’d be a good fit for a lot of couples.” Dillon adds, “I recommend the hybrid model since it accommodates a wider range of body types and gives the mattress a little more bounce.”

Expert tip: Choose the hybrid model if you tend to sleep extra hot.

Pros:

• Features a traditional memory foam feel at a competitive price
• Made with cooling materials
• Comes with generous trial and warranty periods

Cons:

• Not made in the U.S.
• The hybrid version is more expensive

Type: Memory foam or hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Medium-firm (6.5) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Buy if: You’re a back or side sleeper who likes a little more bounce in your mattress.

Skip if: You’re a heavier sleeper who primarily sleeps on your stomach.

There are plenty of benefits to a medium-firm mattress, including its ability to promote spinal alignment and provide ample back support. The DreamCloud Premier Rest features a strong layer of pocketed coils, gel-infused memory foam, an ultra-luxurious pillow top and a cover made from a soft cashmere blend. With its firmness profile, we think it’s best suited for back, side and combination sleepers. Surprisingly, even with its premium design, the Premier Rest is also easily one of the best value mattresses. Check out our DreamCloud Premier Rest Mattress review to see how it performed after several months of sleeping on it.

What our testers say: Chapman says, “I think the Premier Rest hits that sweet spot of not being too soft nor too firm. It has a very luxurious, plush feel that’s slightly softer than the other two DreamCloud models. It tested well for responsiveness, so it could be a good pick for combo sleepers or those with mobility issues.” Dillon adds, “Because memory foam is the primary comfort material, I expected a viscous and slow-responding feel. Instead, I felt the responsive pocketed coils and pillow-top layers helped to counterbalance the memory foam. But for back, stomach and heavy sleepers looking for a firmer feel, the flagship DreamCloud Mattress is a more accommodating (and more affordable) pick. ”

Expert tip: If you or your partner toss and turn during the night, the DreamCloud Premier Rest is great at limiting movement and preventing sleep disturbances caused by motion.  

Pros:

• Balances contouring softness and support
• Exceptional motion isolation
• Includes generous trial period and lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer much body contouring
• Edge support is somewhat lacking

Type: Hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Plush, medium-firm or firm | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Buy if: You’re looking for a cushiony mattress that can accommodate most sleep styles.

Skip if: You want a memory foam feel.

Leesa is among the early pioneers of bed-in-a-box mattresses and created the Sapira Chill Hybrid to be a more luxurious, cooling and supportive version of its bestseller Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress. The newer Sapira Chill is the brand’s most popular cooling option and comes in three different firmnesses, so sleepers can choose the right one for their needs. It features a soft breathable cover, four layers of foam for comfort and a supportive layer of zoned pocketed coils. Leesa says these materials can especially benefit hot sleepers and those with back or hip pain.

What our testers say: “I tested the medium-firm model of the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid and found it to be a truly balanced mattress,” says Chapman. “I felt comfortable back, side and stomach sleeping on it, and it was easy to move around on. It did a good job isolating motion and has impressive edge support, as well. I’ll note the medium-firm model did feel on the softer end, so I’d keep that in mind while picking your firmness.”

Expert tip: If you and your partner can’t decide on a firmness level, the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid Mattress is a good compromise that fits most positions. 

Pros:

• Cooling; four of its seven layers have cooling features, including cool-to-the-touch cover
• Suits most sleeping positions and body types with three firmness levels to choose from

Cons:

• Some customers complain it’s too bouncy
• Softer than advertised; not good if you want an ultra firm feel

Type: Foam | Brand firmness rating: Soft (4), medium (5.5) and firm (7) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Buy if: You like the body-contouring feel of a memory foam mattress, but you need a little more support.

Skip if: You weigh over 230 pounds and prefer a hybrid mattress. 

WinkBeds is known for its durable and supportive mattresses, as the brand says it puts each model through a simulation that mimics 20 years of wear and tear for quality assurance. The GravityLux mattress is the brand’s memory foam offering and is stacked with three layers of different foam materials. The top memory foam layer is made from WinkBeds’ AirCell foam, which the brand says is more breathable and durable than typical memory foam. Underneath is the layer dubbed Progression Foam, with a zoned design for targeted support and pressure relief where your body needs it most. 

The WinkBeds GravityLux has three firmness levels to pick from. We recommend the soft model for side sleepers, the medium for back and combination sleepers and the firm for stomach sleepers and folks with back pain. 

What our testers say: “I found the WinkBeds GravityLux offered a comfortable, balanced feel that didn’t make me feel like I was stuck in the mattress (which is one thing I dislike about traditional memory foam),” says Dillon. “It’s the best of both worlds: pressure relieving like memory foam but without the sinkage. My favorite is the medium model because I switch between my stomach and side, and I think this bed lands right in that sweet spot between firm and soft.”

Expert tip: It’s great at deadening movement, but its edge support isn’t as strong as other beds because of its all-foam construction. If you share a bed with a partner, consider a king size for more room so you don’t have to sleep near the edge.  

Pros:

• Specifically designed for an “on top” feel
• Great motion isolation
• Comes in three firmness levels

Cons:

• Its all-foam design may not be supportive enough for larger sleepers

Type: Flippable foam | Brand firmness rating: Firm (8) and extra firm (10) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Buy if: You’re a back or stomach sleeper who seeks maximum support.

Skip if: Side sleepers, or heavier people who need a hybrid bed. 

Mattresses like the Plank Firm aren’t for everyone, but firm mattresses do have their place in certain bedrooms. In fact, the Plank Firm mattress is one of a handful of beds endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Owned by Brooklyn Bedding, a reputable brand known for its quality beds at affordable price points, the Plank is a versatile firm mattress with a flippable design. 

This gives sleepers the opportunity to pick their most suitable firmness through trial and error, or switch between the two firmness levels as they please. The Plank Firm mattress is a little over 10 inches thick and has an all-foam construction. You can also buy a cooling cover for the mattress if you’re someone who tends to heat up during the night. 

What our testers say: “As one of the firmest beds I’ve tested, I think the Plank Firm mattress offers exceptional back support and promotes neutral spinal alignment,” says Chapman. “It has a very lifted ‘on top’ feel and doesn’t really offer any sinkage. I think the all-foam model is fine for sleepers under 230 pounds, but if you’re over that weight, I’d opt for the Plank Firm Luxe because it has a more supportive pocketed coil base layer. The Plank Firm tested great for isolating motion, so this is good news for people sharing the bed who don’t want to be bothered by each other’s movements.”

Expert tip: Beds naturally soften over time. If one side of the Plank Firm Mattress becomes too soft, flip it over for a new firmness profile and extend the life of your bed. 

Pros:

• Recommended by chiropractors 
• Two firmness levels in one mattress
• Optional cooling cover for an added cost

Cons:

• Not as supportive or long-lasting as a hybrid mattress

Type: Foam or hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Medium (6) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Buy if: You want a bed under $1,000 that accommodates back and stomach sleeping.

Skip if: You only sleep on your side.

Shopping for the best mattress with a limited budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. If you need a new mattress but aren’t looking to overspend, we recommend the Cocoon Chill by Sealy foam model: a 10-inch, four-layer mattress that features cooling materials reminiscent of more expensive beds. You can upgrade to a hybrid model that features more than 900 fabric-encased coils and a reinforced perimeter for more support and airflow. The best part? You can usually get a queen-size Cocoon Chill Mattress for under $700. 

Expert tip: Heavier sleepers around 230 pounds and over should consider the hybrid model, a competitively priced pick compared to other hybrid beds on our list.

What our testers say: “The Cocoon Chill provides all the features people love about memory foam, from its pressure-relieving feel to its motion isolating abilities, without retaining heat. Its cover is cool to the touch and helps draw body heat away for a more comfortable sleep,” says Dillon. She continues, “Because of its nestling memory foam feel and balanced firmness level, I think it’s best for most sleeping positions, with the exception of strict or petite side sleepers who want a truly soft mattress.”

Pros:

• Excellent value
• Pressure-relieving foams that also dampen movements
• Impressive cooling features, including phase change material

Cons:

• The hybrid version’s more expensive

Type: Hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Soft (3), medium (5) and firm (7) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Buy if: You sleep hot and want a customizable, luxury feel.

Skip if: You want heavy body contouring that you get from all-foam models.

The Aurora Luxe from Brooklyn Bedding leads the pack in terms of the best cooling mattresses we’ve tested. While the cover is cooling, it’s what lies underneath that really helps with temperature regulation. Packed with layers of gel-infused foam and a pocketed coil base, the Aurora Luxe is designed for breathability from top to bottom. The coils leave ample room for airflow, while the gel-infused foam helps break up some of the heat that can get trapped in traditional memory foam. 

The Aurora Luxe comes in three firmness levels (soft, medium and firm), so you can pick the model best suited for your sleeping position. We suggest back sleepers check out the medium or firm model, stomach sleepers go for the firm model and lightweight folks and side sleepers choose the soft model. 

What our testers say: “When I put my hand on the cover, it literally felt cool to the touch. The foams provided gentle contouring and pressure relief where I needed it without offering too much sinkage,” says Chapman. “I tested the medium model with the added pillow top. Although comfy for back and side sleeping, I recommend opting for the soft model if you prefer a plusher bed and sleep on your side. I will note after sleeping on the bed through the night (and having the addition of sheets on it), it doesn’t stay cool to the touch—but as someone who tends to sleep hot, it definitely helped me not overheat thanks to the materials inside. It also tested really well for motion isolation and edge support. Not only can you sprawl out and use the full surface of the bed, but if you do share the bed with a partner or a pet, you shouldn’t be disturbed by their movements in the night.” For more insights, read Chapman’s in-depth Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress review.

Expert tip: For those who like an extra-plush feel like me, you can add the Cloud Pillow Top.

Pros:

• Cooling; good for hot sleepers or people living in warmer climates
• Available in three firmness levels to suit all sleeping positions 
• Good edge support and responsiveness that couples should appreciate

Cons:

• Some customers complain the cover is too slick for their sheets

Type: Flippable foam | Brand firmness rating: Soft (4) and firm (7) | Shipping: Free (in a box) | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Buy if: You like the contouring feel of foam and want multiple firmness options.

Skip if: You prefer a bouncier and more structured innerspring or hybrid mattress.

The Layla mattress is a flippable memory foam bed with a soft side and a firm side. Its main comfort material is copper-infused memory foam; the copper helps absorb body heat and evenly disperse it throughout the mattress. Because it features different firmnesses, it’s suitable for most sleeping positions—especially side and combination sleepers. We think it might be a little too soft in the long run for some back or stomach sleepers who need extra support. For sleepers over 230 pounds, we recommend the Layla Hybrid Mattress; it has the same plush feel with a more supportive base layer. 

What our testers say: “I tested the Layla after experiencing the Nectar and Tempur-Pedic mattresses and expected the same feel—but it’s much lighter and airier. It feels like sleeping on a soft, fluffy pillow or marshmallow, but like typical memory foam, it still takes a few moments to bounce back to its normal full shape once weight is removed. I think the firm side of the Layla mattress lands around a medium on the scale, while the soft side is a true soft,” says Dillon. “I was super impressed with how well it tested for motion isolation; I don’t think you’d be disturbed by a pet or partner moving around on the other side of the bed,” adds Chapman.

Expert tip: Combination sleepers should consider the firm side for a balanced feel that accommodates all positions. 

Pros:

• Soft yet responsive feel
• Flippable; soft on one side, firm on the other 
• Affordable; priced under $1,000

Cons:

• Too soft for many heavyweight sleepers

Type: Hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Firm (7), medium (6) and plush (4) | Shipping: Free (in a box with optional white-glove delivery) | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: 25 years

Buy if: You want an eco-friendly mattress with optional firmness levels. 

Skip if: You’re looking for a budget-friendly price tag.

Mattresses don’t get much greener than the Avocado. With a host of certifications under its belt, the Avocado Green Mattress is the best latex mattress for environmentally friendly shoppers who value natural and organic materials. Organic latex foam is made from the sap of a rubber tree and is the main comfort material in the Avocado Green Mattress. It also features GOTS-certified cotton and wool, an organic certification backing its green construction and manufacturing process, and recycled steel pocketed coils. Shoppers can choose the standard Avocado Green Mattress model or upgrade to a pillow-top or box-top bed for more softness. One of our testers slept on the box-top model for almost two months and shared her experience in this Avocado Green Mattress review.

What our testers say: “When I first tested the Avocado, there were only two options: with or without a pillow top,” says Dillon. “I found the standard model to be a true firm mattress, which was a bit too rigid for me. With the pillow top, its firmness profile definitely becomes softer and plusher. I think the standard model is best for back and stomach sleepers. The pillow top model is also too firm for some side sleepers in my opinion, so I’d suggest going for the box-top option if you primarily sleep on your side.” Chapman adds, “It tested okay for motion isolation, but it really shined in its responsiveness—which means you can easily move around on the bed and not feel stuck. I also found it to have pretty good edge support in my testing.”

Expert tip: Most bed-in-a-box mattresses produce an off-gassing odor, but Avocado’s natural construction prevents that from happening.

Pros:

• Made with sustainably sourced organic materials
• Designed with ergonomic support zones
• Comes with a 1-year trial period

Cons:

• Pillow top costs $300 extra