Saatva Classic mattress: a hotel-quality luxury bed

There's a lot of competition in the direct-to-consumer mattress market, but Saatva have carved out their own space. Where other manufacturers pick a lane and stick to it, Saatva have managed to combine luxury bedding, eco-friendly practices, and great value. All of these qualities are by its flagship mattress, the Saatva Classic.

I've spent more than two years sleeping with my Luxury Firm Saatva Classic. Long story short, it's an incredibly luxurious mattress. I can't wait to climb into this bed at the end of the day, and I expect this hand-made mattress to hold up for many years to come. 

The Saatva Classic should work for most sleepers, as it's available in three comfort levels: Soft Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. It's designed to cater to side, back and combo, and stomach sleepers, and it's also available in two depths, 11.5" and 14", so it's totally customisable. 

My experience with Saatva put it right at the very top of our ranking of the best mattresses. Here's why I was so impressed. 

Who will the Saatva Classic mattress suit?

• Those looking for a luxury mattress: A comfy Euro-top reminiscent of a luxury hotel stay, high-quality materials, and White Glove Delivery makes for a hassle-free experience
• All sleep types: With three comfort levels to choose from, the Luxury Firm is the ideal sleep surface to support front, back, side, and combo sleepers.
• Couples with different sleep styles: Those who sleep differently can settle on the happy medium of the Luxury Firm
• Hot sleepers: The dual-coil design and organic cotton cover promote breathability and airflow to help you sleep cooler. 
• Those avoiding chemical flame retardants: Saatva mattresses use a natural, plant-based flame retardant.
• Those looking for an ethically manufactured mattress: Saatva mattresses are made to order in the USA, and rarely travel more than 100 miles to reduce carbon emissions from factory to your home. They also use organic cotton and recycled steel. 

Overall comfort and firmness

The luxury firm is designed to suit every sleeper like a luxury hotel bed would. It's a true medium that gives you a touch of softness without that sink-in feeling. The built-in Euro-top adds immediate cushion and plushness for a luxury feel that has me quickly drifting off to sleep.

I typically fall asleep and wake up on my back, but I'll also spend time on my side and occasionally in some contorted 90-degree angle front position. I slept most comfortably on my back and side, though a strict stomach sleeper will likely prefer something firmer. Meanwhile, the mattress is not overtly plush, if you're looking for something with a cradled feel. 

Pressure relief and support

My expectations were high that this mattress would go easy on my pressure points. As my first experience with a hybrid and coming from an innerspring that was well past its prime, it took a while for my body to acclimate. I woke up the first few weeks with neck pain, as my body was effectively relearning what it meant for my body to have good alignment. I also had to reconfigure my use of pillows to a less is more approach. Eventually, the stiffness wore off and the time since has been sweet dreams.

Breathability and cooling

Hybrid designs tend to sleep cooler than all-foam mattresses. That's because air can flow through the mattress coils more freely than through foam.  The same is true with this Saatva Classic. Even with one of the best mattress protectors – a Saatva of course – it still sleeps very comfortably.  The bed feels its warmest right under my lower back if I haven't shifted in a long time, but that's being very picky. It's not exactly noticeable, and I can't say I've ever felt overheated. 

Motion transfer

Here's one of my very few, very small criticism of this bed. As a hybrid design with a heavy innerspring focus, some motion transfer is inevitable. It's hugely softened by layers of dense foam, but you might notice your partner shifting around or getting in and out of bed. I wouldn't exactly call it disruptive, but there's definitely some motion transfer.

Edge support

The edge support on this bed is really remarkable. It does not sink or dip like other mattresses I've tried. That's because there's high-density foam rails around the perimeter of the bed, so you never feel like you can fall out of bed. This makes it easy to get in and out, and even just sitting on the edge of the bed to put your socks on is surprisingly comfortable. 

Design and construction

A hybrid mattress, the Saatva Classic combines the supportive structure and breathable qualities of individually wrapped coils with the comfort and contouring of high-density foam across five layers. 

All of the main components for Saatva mattresses are sourced and handcrafted in the U.S.

The built-in 3" Euro pillow top uses pressure-relieving foam for extra comfort and is covered with a breathable GOTS-certified organic cotton outer cover that is treated with Guardin, an exclusive botanical antimicrobial treatment to fend off odors. Below the Euro top, a layer of durable, slow-response memory foam contours and offers support to the hips and spine. 

The dual-coil design uses an upper 14.5-gauge recycled steel system to respond and contour to your body's movements and minimize motion transfer. A memory foam layer with Saatva's Spinal Zone technology for enhanced back support and maximum pressure relief likes in between. In the center third of the mattress where the core of our bodies lay, active wire and a 1/2-inch layer of memory foam create lumbar support. Finally, the second layer of coils and base of the mattress uses individually wrapped tempered steel, 13-gauge support coils for maximum durability, a bouncy, responsive feel, and to prevent sagging over time.

The mattress is available in two depths, 11.5" and 14" which comes down to personal preference, with no difference in feel, quality, or price. In terms of construction, The 11.5” tall Saatva has a 4” support coil layer, while the 14.5” tall version includes a 7” support layer. The 14" side additionally, has built-in side handles, which make moving the mattress easier, but may require deep-pocketed sheets. Choosing among Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm is where you will notice a difference in feel, as differentiated by foam densities.

Ordering, delivery, and set up

The online ordering is pretty standard, and if you have any questions about which options to choose, you can choose from a live chat or phone support to answer any questions. At checkout, you'll also be presented with the option to add on pillows, a foundation, and a mattress pad. 

Each mattress is made-to-order, taking an average of 9-21 days from creation to delivery. Mine took eight. Saatva utilizes a network of 19 mattresses across the country and 150 delivery partners for its White Glove Delivery to reduce carbon emissions and overproduction. This strategy enables Saatva to be within 60 miles of 85 percent of households in the continental U.S. For instance, my mattress was made in Rome, Georgia, about 70 miles shy of its final destination: Atlanta. 

Once the mattress was ready, I was called to schedule a delivery date for free White Glove Delivery. This process was swift, COVID-friendly, and I didn't have to lift a finger. They clean up all the packaging and will even remove your old mattress for free, if you tick that option at checkout. As the mattress arrives in its fully expanded condition, there were also no off-gassing odors to even think about. It was one of my most easiest delivery mattress experiences to date. 

The mattress will work with most bed types. If you're using a traditional metal frame, Saatva suggests adding on their wood-slatted foundation, as box springs are not recommended, which is the option I chose. The mattress is also ideal for platform beds as long as the horizontal slats are spaced less than 4 inches apart and adjustable bases. Queen and larger sizes also need proper center support, otherwise, the warranty could be voided. 

Saatva warranty and trial period

Saatva offers a lifetime warranty on its mattresses in its warranty program dubbed "Friends for Life." The warranty covers body impressions over an inch, if within the first two years of ownership is deemed defective, Saatva replaces it free of charge. Between years three and the end of your individual ownership, Saatva will repair and recover your mattress for free, but you will be responsible for transportation costs of $149 each way. They also offer an option to get an entirely new mattress at a percentage of the original price you paid, varying from 40% to 80%, depending on how many years you've owned your mattress.

Saatva offers a year-long trial period, but if you do decide the mattress is not right for you, Saatva deducts a $99 return fee to cover the cost of picking up the mattress. Returned mattresses are donated to veterans' shelters or offered to employees and associates across their network of more than 150 delivery centers. 

How does the Saatva Classic rate online?

On Saatva's site',  the Classic mattress pulls in a near perfect 4.8 out of 5 stars across more than 3,000 reviews. The top reviews praise the quality materials for the value, customer service interactions, and of course, better sleep and chronic pain relief. The most critical complaints are that the soft is not soft enough while the firm was too firm, which can be subjective.  

While the mattresses are available exclusively through Saatva, on the third party consumer site Trust Pilot, the company holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating for its excellent customer service and product quality. The company also holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

How does the Saatva Classic compare to other mattresses?

Saatva offers a number of mattresses in its lineup, with a number of innerspring, latex, memory foam, and even adjustable models. 

Despite using eco-friendly materials, the Saatva Classic can not be considered an organic mattress because it incorporates memory foam, despite being a primarily innerspring design. 

The Saatva Latex Hybrid swaps memory foam for latex support, which offers a responsive, ultra-breathable feel. Like the Classic, it has a Euro Top, but it is cushioned with GOTS-certified, organic New Zealand wool, followed by a 3" layer of natural latex and pocketed coils. It's fully organic, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic. 

Meanwhile, in 2022, Saatva introduced the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid, the most affordable option among its hybrid mattresses. This version does not have a pillow-top design and incorporates additional memory foam into the design with comfort and support layers of AirCradle memory foam for a body-contouring feel & excellent pressure relief. It also has one layer of individually pocketed coils as opposed to the dual layer of the classic. It's recommended for side sleepers.

Both the Saatva Latex Hybrid and Saatva Memory Foam Hybrids are available in medium-firm and one-height options. 

Saatva also offers the Saatva HD, which combines memory foam, latex, and coils to offer superior support for heavier individuals over 300 lbs. 

For those looking for a purely latex or all memory foam design, Saatva offers those too in its Saatva Zenhaven and Saatva Loom & Leaf mattresses, respectively. 

Is the Saatva Classic mattress worth it?

There's a lot to love about the Saatva Classic. In addition to adding an element of luxury to your routine, the mattress is an incredible value with its focus on high-quality, made-to-order materials, customizable options, and of course, the perk of Free White Glove Delivery.  The Saatva Classic is that perfect blend of comfort and support, cozy and cooling, with enduring pressure relief. 

The year-long time is a generous amount of time to give the mattress a test run, and if you've found you've chosen a mattress that is too firm or soft for your needs, Saatva's customer service will work with you to help solve the solution. However, if you decide to return it, it's one of the only DTC internet brands to charge a fee for the pick-up (i.e. labor and gas). It's $99, which isn't the end of the world, especially since they handle all the logistics of removing it for you, but it's more than other companies.