Shopping

Best mattress: tested beds for better sleep

We tried and tested the best mattresses to see if they actually live up to the hype.

The best mattress, the Saatva Classic Mattress on a bed.
(Image credit: Saatva)
Best mattress 2024: Jump Menu

A Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Medium Firm Hybrid Mattress in a simple contemporary bedroom

(Image credit: Tempur-Pedic)

1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall: Saatva Classic
3. Best for back pain: Nectar
4. Best for side sleepers: Tempur ProAdapt
5. Best value: Dreamcloud Luxury Hybrid
6. Best box: Emma Original
7. Best for hot sleepers: Casper Wave Hybrid Snow
8. Best budget: Siena
9. Best firm: NaturePedic Chorus
10: Best soft: Nectar Premier Hybrid
11. Other options
12. How we test
13. How to choose
14. FAQs

A good mattress is the bedrock of a great night's sleep. But with so many mattress types, models, and choices, finding the bed of your dreams isn't as easy it seems. 

That's where we come in. Here at Homes & Gardens, we have a dedicated team of sleep experts who spend their nights testing some of the best mattresses on the market. We sleep on each mattress for months, if not years, to monitor their performance over time. 

We evaluate each mattress on the basis of comfort, cooling properties, and the all-important price. The best mattress will strike a balance between quality and cost. Everyone deserves to sleep well, and you shouldn't have to drop a few thousand dollars to rest easy. 

Below, you'll find a whole host of mattresses to suit every sleep style and size of budget. For our money, the world's best mattress is the Saatva Classic, which offers premium features for a reasonable price. If you're keen to upgrade your sleep, but you're on a budget, I'd recommend the Siena: it's the best you'll get for less than $500. 

The quick list

Best mattress 2024

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Below, you'll find the best mattresses – tried and tested – and a handy guide to help you navigate the mattress market. 

Best mattress overall

Best mattress on the market

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Depth: 11.5” or 14"
Type: Hybrid memory foam and steel springs
Comfort: Medium, medium-firm, firm
Sleep trial: 1 year
Warranty: Lifetime
RRP: $995-$2,710

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptionally comfortable
+
Available in three firmness levels
+
Organic cotton cover, CertiPUR-US foam
+
Stays cooler than an all-foam mattress
+
White-Glove Delivery

Reasons to avoid

-
Not for sleepers looking for a super soft surface
-
$99 Return fee
Buy it if

✅ You want the best bed you can get: after years of testing, we still think this is the best. 

✅ You want good service: with a range of firmnesses and heights, each mattress is made locally in the USA.  

✅ You want easy setup: there's 'White Glove Delivery'; free removal of your old mattress and setup of your new bed. 

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want something extremely soft: this is incredibly comfortable but if you want that sink-in feeling, look elsewhere.

❌ You're a very light sleeper: there's a tiny amount of motion transfer.

❌ You're on a (very) tight budget: It's far from the most expensive mattress I've seen, but it's usually above $1600 for a queen. There's also a $99 return fee.

The bottom line

🔎 Saatva Classic the best bed on the market. It suits almost every sleeper and comes at a fair price

Our tester Jaclyn trialled this bed for more than two years and it's still the most comfortable bed we've ever tested. In fact, she says she 'can't wait to climb into this bed at the end of the day'. It's a very supportive bed without without that mushy, sinking feeling, but the plush top is incredibly soft, so you always feel cozy. Even better, we tested this bed through a few steamy Georgia heatwaves and found that the coil construction creates good airflow, perfect for those who get hot at night. 

Made in the USA, 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, and recycled steel coils, so it's not only made of high-quality materials, but they're better for the planet, too. What's more, 'white glove delivery' means that Saatva will set your bed up for you, saving you from wrangling it onto your bedframe.

There are three firmness ratings available, but most opt for the luxury firm, which is what Jaclyn tried. Our only issues are that it has a tiny but noticeable amount of motion transfer. There is also a $99 return fee if you don't like the mattress, which costs more than other mattress companies. 

Our Saatva Classic Mattress review goes into more detail.

Best mattress for back pain

Best mattress for back pain

Specifications

Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, Split King
Depth: 12”
Type: Memory foam
Comfort: Medium-firm to firm
Sleep trial: 1 year
Warranty: Lifetime
RRP: $499-$1,338

Reasons to buy

+
Helps with back pain
+
A breathable outer layer keeps it cool
+
Great price point 

Reasons to avoid

-
Edge support could be better
-
May be too firm for some 
Buy it if

✅ You have back pain: it's anecdotal, but this bed helped out tester's back pain.

✅ You're on a budget: this bed usually costs between $600-$700. 

✅ You sleep hot: it's relatively cool. 

Don't buy it if:

❌ You worry about fibreglass: this mattress contains fibreglass. It's no risk, but if you're at all worried you may want to steer clear.

❌ You want a softer bed: this is on the firmer side of medium-firm

You want good edge support: This mattress gets mushy at the edges.

The bottom line

🔎 Nectar Memory Foam An excellent mattress for a very low price, and it's good for back pain. 

While it's totally anecdotal evidence and it's not a guarantee, this mattress was great for our tester Casey's back pain and fibromyalgia. Casey found that this mattress gets more and more comfortable as you break it in. 

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. This makes it a top choice for front and back sleepers but probably not best for those that prefer a mattress you can really sink into. The edge support could be a lot better, so you might find it a little uncomfortable to sit on the edge of the bed to put your socks on. However, it didn't affect how Casey slept.

Remember: A mattress can alleviate back pain, but it can't cure it. You should always discuss back pain with a doctor. 

Casey's Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review goes into more detail.

Best mattress for side sleepers

Best hybrid mattress

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King, Split Cal King
Depth: 12"
Type: Hybrid: Tempur Material and coils
Comfort: Medium
Sleep trial: 90 nights
Warranty: 10 years
RRP: $2,799-$5,598

Reasons to buy

+
Soft and supportive for the perfect balance 
+
Helps with pressure relief 
+
Decent edge support and excellent motion isolation
+
Breathable and sleeps cool 

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive
-
Shortest trial period on the list
Buy it if

✅ You sleep on your side: you feel weightless on this bed, so there's no numbness or sore joints from side-sleeping.

✅ You're a light sleeper: this bed has excellent motion isolation, so you won't notice if your partner moves in the night. 

 ✅ You want something easy to clean: the cover of this mattress zips off and can be washed. 

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on a budget: a queen ProAdapt tends to cost around $3300.

❌ You want a long trial period: the 90 day trial period is one of the shortest on test

❌ You want a firmer bed: it's very soft and sinks a lot, so not for those who like a firm bed.

The bottom line

🔎 Tempur ProAdapt an exceptionally good mattress, especially if you sleep on your side, but it's expensive.

In her review, our tester described sleeping on this mattress as completely weightless. The ProAdapt cushions your pressure points, taking pressure off your shoulders, hips, and knees. If you've ever woken up with sore hips or numbness in your upper arm where you're sleeping on your shoulder, this is the bed to fix that problem. It also has exceptionally good motion isolation, so you won't be woken by your partner moving in the night. 

Most hybrid options lose the softness that's best for pressure relief, this mattress from Tempur is just the right amount of plush. What's more, you can personalize your comfort levels 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 cover also has cooling properties that stood up to testing through a heatwave, but even if you sweat through the sheets, the cover is washable. 

Our only criticisms are the weight and cost. It's very heavy and tricky to move around if you need rerrange your bedroom. In fairness, Tempur-Pedic offers an in-room setup, and the mattress doesn't need to be rotated or flipped. More importantly, it's expensive. Outside of sales periods, it's $1000 more than the Saatva above, and more than $2500 more than the Nectar, too. 

Our Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Medium Hybrid mattress review goes into more detail.

Best value mattress

Best value for money mattress

Specifications

Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Depth: 14"
Type: Hybrid
Comfort: Medium (6.5)
Sleep Trial: 1 year
Warranty: Lifetime
RRP: $599-$1,299

Reasons to buy

+
Memory foam cradles the body
+
Coils provide support and airflow
+
Superior edge support

Reasons to avoid

-
Motion isolation could be better
-
Don't expect a super plush mattress, despite the depth
Buy it if

✅ You want the best value: This is a luxury mattress but you can usually buy it for under $1000.

✅ You want a good warranty: This mattress has a lifetime warranty. 

✅ You're a couple: this is a good compromise for different sleep styles.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're a light sleeper: the motion isolation isn't the best, so you might notice your partner moving in the night.

❌ You want a very soft mattress: this mattress isn't plush, so side sleepers might want something else.

❌ You want a low-profile bed: This mattress is more than a foot thick, so might look a little strange on some bedframes

The bottom line

🔎 DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid the best-value bed you can buy: a comfortable luxury mattress (usually) under $1000. 

For the relatively small price tag, this mattress has a lot to offer. At a stately 14 inches, this sumptuous hybrid offers five layers of bliss. The cashmere-topped cover stays 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 give customized support as it yields to the shape of your body and promotes better airflow throughout the mattress. 

Our reviewer Camyrn found the mattress firmer than described, with just a tinge of plush. She says 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 it was mostly well-suited to both her and her husband, who have drastically different sleeping preferences, though he would've preferred something a lot softer. 

The best thing about this mattress is its value for money. DreamCloud often has 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. 

Despite the depth, this isn't the plushest mattress. If you still want good value but a plusher 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 with different sleep styles, you might notice if your partner turns over the night. 

Camryn's DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Review goes into more detail.

Best mattress in a box

Best mattress in a box

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Depth: 10"
Type: Memory foam
Comfort: Medium-firm
Sleep Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
RRP: $699–$1,599

Reasons to buy

+
Comes in a convenient delivery box
+
Suitable for multiple sleep positions 
+
Soft and supportive to help with back pain

Reasons to avoid

-
Maybe a bit warm for hot sleepers 
-
Too soft for plus-size sleepers or those who prefer something firmer 
Buy it if

✅ You're on a budget: the Emma Original is often on sale for less than $600.

✅ You change position in the night: the soft memory foam on this bed suits most sleep positions

✅ You want fast delivery: if you need a bed ASAP, Emma often dispatch within a day. 

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a firm bed: this is very soft, so it won't suit people who need a firmer bed.

❌ You're a hot sleeper: as a memory foam bed, this sleeps very hot. 

You're a light sleeper: the motion isolation could be better, so you might notice your partner turning over in the night.

The bottom line

🔎 Emma Original a remarkable bed for the price with convenient delivery.

If convenience and comfort are your priorities, the Emma mattress is the best box mattress given its fair price. It 'instantly impressed' our tester Chiana Dickson, who found that even just sitting on this box bed was comfortable. 

A medium-firm bed, it gently cushions you without the sinking feeling of some memory foam mattresses. It's springy and responsive, bouncing back to form, and always feels stable and secure. It also helped to reduce Chiana's joint pain. 

She found the motion isolation and edge support fairly good, and though they could be better, it's a good performance at this price point. It retails at $1399 for a queen bed, but the Emma is often on sale between $500-$700. Combined with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty, it's excellent value. 

There's a chance that this mattress might not work for hot sleepers. Chiana has tested it for most of this year, and while she and her partner they weren't uncomfortable in the heatwaves, the bed is slightly warmer than their previous mattress. The motion isolation could be a lot better, and it sinks-in a lot, so it won't suit those who need a firmer mattress.

Chiana's full Emma Original Mattress review has all the detail. 

Best cooling mattress

Best mattress for hot sleepers

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Depth: 13"
Type: Hybrid: memory foam, latex and steel springs
Comfort: Medium
Sleep trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
RRP: $2,295-$3,995

Reasons to buy

+
Casper's Snow Technology help prevent overheating for 12+ hours and sleeps 6 degrees cooler
+
Zoned Support 
+
Gel pods align your spine 

Reasons to avoid

-
Edge support could be better
-
Expensive
Buy it if

✅ You sleep hot: this bed felt cold to the touch.

✅ You're a light sleeper: this bed has incredibly good motion isolation.

✅ You have sore joints: this bed has great pressure relief, easing joint pain. 

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on a budget: this mattress usually costs around $3400.

❌ You worry about falling out of bed: the edge support should be much better for the price. 

❌ You sleep alone: this bed needs two people to set it up.

The bottom line

🔎 Casper Wave Hybrid Snow the best cooling bed you can buy, but expensive. 

If you struggle with overheating at night, this is the best cooling mattress on test. 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. Jaclyn immediately noticed the cooling sensation, and it kept her 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. 

Cooling and comfort aside, Jaclyn's really rigorous when it comes to edge support, and this mattress should have much better edge support for the price. That $3395 price tag is also keeping this mattress out of the top spot, as many of us can't afford to drop that kind of cash in one go. 

Jaclyn's Casper Wave Hybrid Snow review goes into more detail.

Best budget mattress

Best budget mattress

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Depth: 10"
Type: Memory foam
Comfort: Medium firm
Sleep Trial: 180 nights
Warranty: 10 years
RRP: $799-$999

Reasons to buy

+
Budget-friendly price 
+
Great support for stomach sleepers 
+
Low motion transfer 

Reasons to avoid

-
Too firm for side sleepers  
-
Sleeps warmer 
-
Poor edge support
Buy it if

✅ Money is really tight: this bed is almost always under $500.

✅ You're a light sleeper: this mattress has surprisingly good motion isolation, so you're less likely to notice your partner turning over. 

✅ You want a firmer bed: it's a pretty firm mattress.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You prefer a soft bed: this is a pretty firm mattress. 

❌ You're a hot sleeper: the memory foam of this bed feels very warm.

❌ You need good edge support: the edges get very mushy, which can be tricky if you have mobility problems.

The bottom line

🔎 Siena a surprisingly good budget bed. You get what you pay for and more, but don't expect luxury.

You won't find a better bed than the Siena for the price. I'd go so far as to say this is the best bed under $500 on the market. It's almost always on sale for $399 for a queen and this is excellent value. While there are certainly better beds out there, there aren't any that can match this price. 

Our tester Tonya found surprisingly great motion isolation on this bed, so you're a lot less likely to notice your partner moving in the night. It's firm, too, so it's a good choice if you sleep on your back, but there's enough give for it to be mostly comfortable for side sleepers. 

However, this really is a budget bed. It's nowhere near as plush as the more expensive options on this list, so if you like a soft bed, this isn't the one for you. Like most cheap memory foam beds, this mattress sleeps very warm. What's more, the edge support isn't great, which is annoying if you sit on your bed to put your socks on, but can make it difficult to get out of bed if you have mobility problems.

Tonya's full Siena Memory Foam Mattress review has all the detail.

Best firm mattress

A Naturepedic mattress on a wooden bed

(Image credit: Naturepedic)
Best firm mattress

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Depth: 10"
Type: Innerspring
Comfort: Medium (but actually firm)
Sleep Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 25 years
RRP: $1399-$2799

Reasons to buy

+
Made without chemicals
+
No odor at all
+
Minimal motion transfer

Reasons to avoid

-
Firmer than expected, not a medium comfort level mattress
-
Poor edge support
-
Not cooling
Buy it if

✅ You know you want a firm mattress: this is our favorite firm mattress.

✅ You want an organic bed: an innerspring, all the other parts of this bed are organic, so there's no off-gassing or synthetic smells. 

✅ You're a light sleeper: innersprings are usually poor here, but this bed has great motion isolation, so you won't notice your partner moving. 

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want a soft bed: unsurprisingly, this is very firm.

❌ You're a hot sleeper: this bed sleeps warm.

You want good edge support: it's strange for a firm mattress to have such poor edge support. 

The bottom line

🔎 Naturepedic Chorus great if you want a firm mattress but it has some drawbacks to bear in mind. 

This is a bit of a strange one, but hear me out: a medium mattress is actually the best firm mattress you can get. Lots of reviewers have said that Naturepedic need to change their product labelling, because this is a very firm mattress. There's hardly any bounce to this bed at all, which is great if you sleep on your back or are prone to back pain. 

Outside of this firmness, the Naturepedic Chorus is made from organic materials, so it's a good choice if you want to avoid the synthetic materials used in memory foam. It also has amazing motion isolation, so if you're a light sleeper you won't notice your partner rolling over in the night. 

However, there are some drawbacks. Our tester Courtney found that this wool mattress sleeps very hot, and didn't keep her cool in the night. In addition, the edge support is surprisingly poor for such a firm mattress. Courtney weighs around 120lbs, and even she felt a big indentation sitting on the edge. 

Our full Naturepedic Chorus review has all the detail.

Best soft mattress

Best soft mattress

Specifications

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King
Depth: 13"
Type: Hybrid
Comfort: Medium
Sleep Trial: 365 night
Warranty: Lifetime
RRP: $849 - $1,898

Reasons to buy

+
Carbon neutral
+
Alleviates back pain
+
365-night sleep trial
+
Lifetime warranty
+
Excellent performance at the price point

Reasons to avoid

-
Too soft for front sleepers
-
Cover cannot be machine-washed
-
Cannot be flipped, only rotated
Buy it if:

You sleep on your back: since this mattress is on the softer side, it can cushion your upper back while lifting up your lumbar region to keep your hips and spine in line.

You sleep on your side: this mattress has a little give, and can cushion your hips and shoulders while keeping you from sinking in. 

You're an eco-conscious shopper: Nectar claim that their Premium Hybrid is carbon neutral.

Don't buy it if:

You struggle to lift heavy weights: the queen-sized Hybrid weighs a whopping 107lbs.

You're a light sleeper: if your partner tosses and turns, you might feel it.

You prioritize cleaning: the cover cannot be machine-washed.

The bottom line

🔎 Nectar Premier Hybrid combines the plush feel of memory foam with the support of an innerspring. That said, it's on the softer side, and less suitable for front sleepers.

A lot of people think they want a soft mattress. They imagine settling down and sinking into a long, deep sleep. However, soft mattresses aren't for everybody. In fact, if you sleep on your stomach, you should opt for a slighter firmer surface that lifts your hips and maintains the natural alignment of your spine. 

I'd recommend a softer mattress, such as this Nectar Premier Hybrid, to back and side sleepers. It's got just enough give to cushion your hips and shoulders, alleviating pressure from your joints, without swallowing you up. 

As a hybrid, the Nectar Premier strikes a careful balance between the plush feel of memory foam and the support of an innerspring. After a rocky start, our expert tester fell in love with this mattress and has continued to sleep on it since writing her review. 

With that said, she spotted a few design flaws. As mattresses go, the Nectar Premier Hybrid is pretty heavy: the queen size weighs a whopping 107lbs. Our expert lives alone, and she struggled to lift and flip her mattress without a helping hand. Next time, she'd unpack the mattress on her bed frame to save herself stumbling.

The edge support also leaves a lot to be desired. Our expert could barely sit on the side of the bed to tie her sneakers without sinking in. If you share a bed with a partner who tosses and turns on the edge of the mattress, or gets in and out of bed during the night, you'll likely feel their every move. That's why I wouldn't recommend the Nectar Premier Hybrid to particularly light sleepers. 

You can find more detail in our Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress review.

Other tested mattresses

We've tested plenty of other mattresses over the years. If you don't like the picks above, these are just some of the other options that didn't make it into the list of the very best.

How we test the best mattresses

Dreamcloud luxury mattress review

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau)

Our mattress reviews are based on the first-hand experience of using these products at home. Our reviews require at least a month's worth of tests, and most are tested for several months. We've tested some of these mattresses for more than two years. We will often return to our reviews months or years later to keep you up-to-date with how a mattress fares in the long term and as the seasons change.

The team take into account value for the money, construction, comfort, and support, with various tests to consider factors like edge support, and motion transfer, and spinal alignment. 

There's more detail in our explainer of how we test mattresses, and for more general insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our how we test review guidelines

You can meet our team of expert testers below: 

A headshot of eCommerce Editor Emilia Hitching
Emilia Hitching

Emilia is our dedicated sleep editor, testing out mattresses, mattress toppers, bed sheets, pillows, and other textile products like towels. She covers mattress reviews, news, and the latest product launches.

Before she joined Homes & Gardens, Emilia studied English at the University of Oxford, where she sharpened her critical writing skills. She also worked on the other side of the aisle writing press releases for regional newspapers and working in PR for Sky. 

Louise Oliphant in a white shirt, sitting in a restaurant
Louise Oliphant

Louise was our dedicated Sleep Editor, covering mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, bedding, and anything else you need for a good night's sleep. She has plenty of experience in the industry. She previously covered mattress reviews and news for Real Homes, as well as a stint on the other side of the aisle as a PR representative for a mattress company. 

Tested by
Jaclyn Turner photo
Tested by
Jaclyn Turner

Our former sleep ecommerce editor, Jaclyn frequently tests out and stays up to date on all things mattresses and bedding. She's not willing to sacrifice comfort or value and is after a mattress that makes it easy to sleep through the night. In addition to Homes & Gardens, you can find her work in Real Homes, Livingetc, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA. 

Tested by
Camryn Rabideau
Tested by
Camryn Rabideau

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her five years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.

Tested by
A headshot of Jamie Davis Smith
Tested by
Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie Davis Smith is a writer, attorney, and product reviewer with more than ten years of experience. She has tested hundreds of items first-hand, sometimes with the help of her four children. As a working mother of four, Jamie values a good night’s sleep above all else.

Her review of the Helix Midnight Mattress is based on her first-hand experience, as she and her partner slept on the mattress for just under a month before writing this review. 

Tested by
Antonia Santoro headshot
Tested by
Antonia Santoro

Antonia has worked in media and publishing for over a decade at brands like The New York Times, People, Entertainment Weekly, and Page Six. She now works on the Audience Development team here at Future.

alex temblador real homes contributor
Alex Temblador

Alex Temblador has covered home, design, architecture, and art in publications like Real Homes, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Artsy, Neighborhoods.com, and Culture Trip, among many others. In addition to her mattress reviewing duties, Alex puts a range of home and garden equip through their paces for Homes & Gardens.

Tested by
Chiana Dickson
Tested by
Chiana Dickson

Chiana is our Junior Writer, and spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website. She helps readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. She reviewed the Emma Original mattress for this guide.

Tested by
kaitlin madden interiors editor
Tested by
Kaitlin Madden

Kaitlin Madden is Executive Editor at Homes & Gardens. She is also the co-founder of the The Finish, an interior design start-up which offers home decorating services on demand.

Kaitlin reviewed the Birch Luxe, finding that this exceptional mattress 'makes you feel like you’re at a posh hotel'. 

Tested by
Alex Frost writer headshot
Tested by
Alex Frost

Alex is a mom, wife, and journalist in Cincinnati with four sons under 7, an old, achy, back, and a passion for product reviewing. She tested this product for more than a month as part of her test and still uses it to this day. 

How to choose a mattress

Saatva Memory Foam mattress on a bed against a beige wall.

(Image credit: Saatva)

You deserve a great night's sleep, and choosing the best mattress for you will guarantee comfier sleep. To navigate the mattress world, these are the things to consider: 

Mattress material

There are four main mattress types: innerspring, memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses. Traditional innerspring mattresses use a steel coil support system with natural or man-made fillings and covers. Foam mattresses contour to the body, isolate motion and offer different comfort, feel, and heat dissipation features. Latex mattresses offer similar qualities to foam but are usually described as bouncier and more breathable. All-natural latex is better for the environment, too. 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.

Sleep style + firmness rating:

To find the right level of comfort, you first need to consider your primary sleep position. As a general rule, stomach sleepers and those carrying more weight will find firmer mattresses better. Side and back sleepers need some support but of a slightly softer kind, so should opt for a medium or medium-firm. Lighter and some side sleepers will be best suited to something a little more cloud-like. 

Additional needs:

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. And if you suffer from overheating at night, you should opt for a hybrid mattress with cooling properties – memory foam mattresses tend to sleep hot.

Budget

Mattresses are expensive, so you need to keep a budget in mind. There are lots of affordable beds. Mattress-in-a-box beds are typically the cheapest, but there are plent of luxury options for those who can invest. 

Mattress FAQs

What's the difference between mattress firmness vs. support?

A mattress's firmness is referring to the immediate feeling you get when climbing into a bed, while support refers to a mattress's ability to offer an even surface and provide proper spinal alignment. A soft bed will feel soft to the touch and respond to your body as you move, while a firmer one will offer less give and feel harder.  

However, a soft 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. 

How do I care for my mattress?

You need a good mattress protector as added insurance against spills, stains, and dreaded dust mites, even if your mattress's cover is removable or washable. Most offer easy care instructions, and the best designs should not disrupt any special cooling features your mattress may have or even be noticeable. 

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 dust mites, dead skin, and other allergens. 


Experts advise that the lifespan of a mattress is about seven to 10 years. 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, it's always best to err on the side of caution and buy a new mattress. 

Emilia Hitching
eCommerce Editor

Before she joined Homes & Gardens, Emilia studied English at the University of Oxford, where she sharpened her critical writing skills. She also worked on the other side of the aisle writing press releases for regional newspapers and crafting copy for Sky. Emilia combines her business savvy with her creative flair as our eCommerce Editor, connecting you with the products you’ll love. When she’s not in the office, Emilia is happiest when entertaining friends al fresco or out in the country.

With contributions from