Best memory foam mattress 2024 – 6 tried and tested options

The best memory foam mattress offers a careful balance of comfort and support for optimal pressure relief. I recommend a memory foam mattress for side sleepers, people who share a bed, and anyone who suffers from chronic pain. Still, with so many mattress makes and models, it can be difficult to know where to start shopping.

That's where I come in. As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best mattress. We've picked up the pros and cons of different mattress types for different sleepers. Together, we've tested 30 mattresses, eight of which are made from memory foam. I've narrowed it down to my top 6 that represent the best balance of comfort, cooling, and cost.

For the sake of a fair fight, we assess each mattress against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. We sleep on each mattress for eight hours a night, seven nights a week, for at least one month before we write our mattress reviews. That's hundreds of hours of testing. We also consider the practical side of buying a mattress, including sleep trials, warranties, delivery, and the all-important price. For solid support, our reigning champion is the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, but you might find that another mattress better meets your needs.

Best memory foam mattress 2024 – 6 options, tried and tested

Below, you'll find a bite-size summary of each mattress, including what it costs and the most important pros and cons. To learn more about a particular mattress, keep scrolling, or hit 'read more below' to shortcut to that section. There, I've listed all the need-to-know specs before diving into the details of our testing experience.

The best memory foam mattress overall

Image 1 of 2

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress features in multiple mattress buying guides. It's sitting pretty at #2 in our 'best mattress' buying guide as the best mattress for back pain, thanks to the pressure-relieving properties of memory foam. It's also the best affordable mattress for buyers on a budget and one of the best box mattresses for comfortable, convenient delivery.

So, it should come as no surprise that the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is the number-one best memory foam mattress on the market. Our expert tester, Casey Clark, gives her seal of approval: 'I live with fibromyalgia. For a few hours each night, the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress makes me forget about it. I appreciate how the mattress sank underneath my chest area to make some breathing room when I lay on my stomach. When on my back, I felt like my body was in perfect alignment.'

Your average memory foam mattress is made to absorb motion, which is why the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress exhibits excellent motion isolation. Casey would happily recommend this mattress for couples and light sleepers. On the other hand, the edge support was a little lacking. If you like to sit or sleep on the side of the bed, I suggest you shop for a mattress with stronger sides, such as the Saatva Contour5 Mattress.

Casey's big issue with the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is that it tends to trap a little heat. 'While this mattress was cooler than others I’ve had in the past, I still did wake up in sweaty on most nights. If I were to continue sleeping on the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, I'd want to pair it with one of the best cooling mattress toppers or pads.' Alternatively, you could shop for a specialist cooling mattress, such as the Zinus Cooling Green Tea Mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Casey Clark

Casey is a freelance writer, whose work features in publications such as Tom's Guide, Forbes, and Insider. As someone who suffers from chronic pain, Casey needs a mattress with excellent pressure relief. Read the full review: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

The best cooling memory foam mattress

Image 1 of 2

Forget everything you think you know about memory foam. The Zinus Cooling Gel Mattress is infused with green tea and charcoal extract to dissipate heat, wick moisture, and block odors for sweat-free sleep. I recommend this mattress for hot sleepers and summer nights.

The Zinus Cooling Gel Mattress is available in four different thicknesses, including 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-inch options. The thicker the mattress, the plusher the feel, though each iteration of the Zinus Cooling Gel Mattress comprises the same three layers: a high-density foam base for structure and support; a comfort foam middle section that lets you sink in; and a layer of cooling gel on top for thermoregulation. (Don't worry if you come across any terms you don't recognize: you can always cross-reference against our mattress jargon buster).

I'd recommend the Zinus Cooling Gel Mattress for back and side sleepers, in particular. It's got just enough give to cushion your neck and shoulders and maintain the natural alignment of your spine. If you sleep on your stomach, or you prefer a softer surface, you might want to pair this memory foam model with one of the best mattress toppers.

The big thing I don't like about the Zinus Cooling Green Tea Mattress is the limited size range. It only comes in Twin, Full, Queen, and King sizes, so you'll need to shop elsewhere for a Twin XL or California King mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Camryn Rabideau

Camryn is a freelance writer and product reviewer. She's tested two mattresses for H&G. As someone who shares a bed with her pet and her partner, Camryn needs a mattress with excellent motion isolation and solid edge support. Read the full review: Zinus Cooling Green Tea Mattress

The best affordable memory foam mattress

Image 1 of 2

'The Siena Memory Foam Mattress proves that you get what you pay for,' says expert tester Tonya Pendleton. '$399 for a Queen (sometimes less when you shop the mattress sales) will get you solid support and optimal motion isolation, but it's not enough to afford proper edge support.'

'As a back sleeper, I need a mattress to support my spine and stop my neck and shoulders from sinking too far into the bed,' says Tonya. 'Since my old mattress had started to sag, I immediately noticed a difference with the Siena Memory Foam Mattress. I could comfortably lie in bed to sleep and recline to watch TV or scroll through social media.'

'The Siena Memory Foam Mattress is actually a gel memory foam mattress, designed to dissipate heat and wick moisture. I tested this bed through the spring into the start of summer and found it kept my temperature regulated.' Still, if you're a super-hot sleeper, then you might like to pair your Siena mattress with a set of the best cooling sheets. Alternatively, you could shop the Zinus Cooling Green Tea Mattress, instead.

Tonya's main complaint regarding the Siena Memory Foam Mattress is its lack of edge support. 'When sitting on the edge of the bed to put on lotion, I always felt the need to scoot back in case I slid off,' she says. If you're looking for a memory foam mattress with solid edge support, I recommend the Saatva Contour5 Mattress, though it's much more expensive.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Tonya Pendleton

Tonya is a freelance writer and reviewer whose work features in the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Daily News, Essence, and more. Tonya is always on the hunt for budget-friendly buys. Read the full review: Siena Memory Foam Mattress

The best firm memory foam mattress

Image 1 of 2

Which mattress firmness feels best for you largely depends on your sleep positions. If you sleep on your back or stomach, then you need a firmer surface to stop your hips from sinking too far into the mattress and throwing your spine out of alignment. Out of all the memory foam mattresses we've tested, the Nolah Original Mattress is the best firm model.

'The Nolah Original Mattress gives you all the best bits of memory foam, without the indents, impressions, or heat retention,' says expert tester Jamie Davis Smith. 'It's suitable for all sleep positions and a far better alternative for hot sleepers and summer nights. I suffer from a bad back, so I need a mattress to ease my aches and pains. The Nolah Original Mattress ticks all my major boxes and here's the best bit − it's not even that expensive.'

'Before I started testing the Nolah Original Mattress, I was sleeping on the Helix Midnight Hybrid Mattress,' says Jamie. 'I love that bed for its soft support and the Nolah Original Mattress has a very similar feel: plush up top, with more solid foam down below. I felt I could sink through the first few inches of foam, really relaxing into the mattress, and still feel supported. Good news for side sleepers: the Nolah Original Mattress feels extra flexible around the shoulders, so you shouldn't wake up with a stiff neck.'

Jamie also rates the motion isolation on the Nolah Original Mattress: 'I was noticeably less disturbed by my husband getting into and out of bed and my young son wriggling away in the night.' The edge support on the Nolah Original Mattress is solid, but not as strong as something like the Saatva Contour5 Mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie has tested two mattresses and three toppers for H&G. As a combination sleeper who flips between her side and her stomach, Jamie needs a firm surface to keep her spine aligned. Read the full review: Nolah Original Mattress

Nolah Original Mattress | Was $1,449, now $942 at Nolah

View Deal

The best memory foam mattress for side sleepers

Image 1 of 2

This memory foam mattress splits opinion. Over the years, three of our expert testers (myself included) have sampled the Leesa Original Mattress. Alex Frost, a lifelong stomach sleeper, can't get comfortable on such a soft surface, but Lucy Searle loves the contouring comfort and pressure relief you get from memory foam.

'I need a plush mattress to cushion my joints and take some pressure off my hips and shoulders,' says Lucy. 'I have an old injury from horse-riding that flares up when I sleep on too firm a surface. I appreciated the medium firmness of the Leesa Original Mattress and found it kept my spine aligned when I slept on my side. In all my time testing the Leesa Original Mattress, I never once woke up with aches and pains.'

As far as thermoregulation goes, the Leesa Original Mattress is about average. Thick foam tends to trap heat, but Leesa strategically perforates theirs to dissipate heat and wick moisture. Even Lucy can acknowledge that the motion isolation leaves something to be desired, and the edge support is a little lacking.

Whether or not the Leesa Original Mattress is the right fit for you all depends on your sleep positions. If you, like Lucy, sleep on your side and feel you're in need of pressure relief, you might get great sleep on this memory foam mattress. Otherwise, you might prefer something more supportive, such as the Nolah Original Mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Lucy Searle

Lucy is our former Editor-in-Chief: now, she works as Content Director across a number of interiors titles. As a side sleeper, Lucy needs a mattress with plenty of give to cushion her joints. Read the full review: Leesa Original Mattress

The best luxury memory foam mattress

Image 1 of 2

As a general rule, memory foam is one of the more affordable mattress types: your average memory foam mattress is less expensive than a latex or hybrid model. The Saatva Contour5 is an exception to the rule. Retailing for $2,595 for a Queen, I'd put the Saatva Contour5 up there with the best luxury mattresses.

'The selling point of the Saatva Contour5 Mattress is the support you get from the high-density memory foam,' explains Alex. 'I've spent the summer testing, so I can confirm that support reaches right around the edges of the mattress. A breathable cotton cover helps to keep you cool and dry, while airflow channels do the hard work to carry hot air away from your body and out of the mattress.'

'The Saatva Contour5 boasts excellent motion isolation,' says Alex. 'If your partner tends to toss and turn in the night, then a memory foam mattress is a great option to prevent a sleep divorce – all that slow-moving foam is made to absorb motion. Some nights, one or two of my kids end up in my bed with a bad dream, and I have to make the most of every inch, so I appreciate edge support more than most. I found that the Saatva Contour5 Mattress has exceptional edge support, so I could sit comfortably without the sides of the mattress caving in.'

Even Alex has to acknowledge that the Saatva Contour5 Mattress is very expensive. 'Then again, you get what you pay for: the Saatva Contour5 Mattress far outpaces other memory foam models we've tested, especially when it comes to cooling and edge support. As a hot sleeper who shares a bed with my husband and often one, two, or all five of my young children, I'd say that the Saatva Contour5 Mattress is worth saving for.'

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Alex Frost

Alex is our most prolific mattress tester, with eight mattress reviews under her belt. As someone who shares a bed with her husband, and often one, some, or all of her five kids, Alex needs a mattress with excellent motion isolation and solid edge support. Read the full review: Saatva Contour5 Mattress

Best memory foam mattress 2024 – Side by side

Best memory foam mattress 2024 − Honorable mentions

Together, our expert team has tested 30 mattresses, eight of which are made from memory foam. I selected my top six on the balance of comfort, cooling, and cost, but I wanted to shout out one more mattress that might meet your needs.

• SweetNight Prime Memory Foam Mattress: 'This 4-in-1 flippable mattress would make a great guest bed,' says expert tester Alex Frost. 'The SweetNight Prime Memory Foam Mattress is flippable, with a soft side as well as a firmer surface. When you rotate the mattress, you switch between a softer and a firmer feel on either side of the bed. When my hip pain flared up, I slept on the softer quadrant to relieve some pressure. When my back started to ache, I moved to the firmer quadrant for more structured sleep. It's the perfect solution for people like me and my husband, who share a bed, but not a sleep style.' The reason why I hesitate to recommend the SweetNight Prime Memory Foam Mattress is the limited size range: it only comes in Twin, Full, Queen, and King.

How we test mattresses

I lead a team of expert testers across America in the search to find the world's best mattress. Together, we represent a wide range of body types, ages, and sleep styles. We sleep on each mattress for a minimum of 30 nights in our own homes before we write our initial review. This gives us enough time to get used to the feel of a new mattress and offers an accurate indication of long-term performance. To learn more about how we test mattresses, consult our expert guide.

We assess each mattress against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. To assess pressure relief, we lie down on the mattress and flip between our stomachs, backs, and sides, considering how comfortable the mattress feels in each position. To assess thermoregulation, we switch off our HVAC systems to sleep, taking note of any night we wake up in a sweat.

To assess motion isolation, we fill a glass with water and set it in the middle of the mattress. Then, we take a weight and move it across the mattress, getting incrementally closer to the glass. The more the glass moves, and the more water spills, the worse the motion isolation, and the less suitable the mattress for couples or light sleepers. To assess edge support, we sit on the side of the mattress and measure how far we fall. The further we fall, the worse the edge support, and the harder it might be to sit or sleep on the side of the bed.

We also consider the practical parts of buying a mattress, including delivery details, warranties and sleep trials. We like to compare our findings against verified reviews to pick up common customer concerns. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the mattress to help you assess value for money.

How to choose a memory foam mattress

Your sleep position

I talk a lot about sleep positions. Whether you tend to lie on your stomach, back, or side (or flip between the three) impacts your spinal alignment and informs which mattress you'll find most comfortable.

This is where mattress firmness enters the equation. Some manufacturers refer to a firmness scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is super-soft and 10 is ultra-firm. Others put their mattresses into categories, including soft, medium-soft, medium, medium-firm, and firm. How firm your memory foam mattress feels depends on the density of the foam: the higher the density, the firmer it feels.

Side sleepers tend to prefer a medium mattress to cushion their joints while supporting their waist to keep their spine straight. Back sleepers appreciate a medium-firm mattress to keep their hips from sinking too far into the surface. Stomach sleepers typically prefer a firm mattress to maintain natural spinal alignment.

Your body temperature

Early iterations of memory foam were no good for thermoregulation: all that dense foam leaves little room for air to flow. Fortunately, recent advances in mattress manufacture means that hot sleepers can get good rest on memory foam mattresses.

You could shop for a gel memory foam mattress, filled with thermoregulating beads that absorb excess body heat. You could also consider memory foam infused with conductive materials, such as copper or graphite, to carry excess thermal energy away from your body and out of your bed.

Your budget

I'm often asked, 'how much should you spend on a mattress?' My answer varies depending on the mattress type. As a general rule, memory foam is more affordable than hybrid and latex models, but less affordable than an old-fashioned innerspring. To get a decent memory foam mattress in a Queen size, I'd expect to spend somewhere between $400 and $1,000.

FAQs

How long does a memory foam mattress last?

I'm often asked, 'how long should a mattress last?' My answer depends on which mattress type we're talking about. Your average memory foam mattress should last somewhere between six and nine years, depending on the density of the foam. The denser the foam, the more resilient it is, the better to withstand your body weight. If you can see and feel obvious signs of aging, from creaking springs to sagging foam, then it might be time to replace your mattress.

Which memory foam mattress is best for back pain?

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is the best mattress for back pain. This high-density memory foam model gets the seal of approval from our expert tester Casey Clark, who suffers from fibromyalgia, as well as chiropractor Dr. Kevin Lees.

'The best mattress for back pain needs to hold the spine and pelvis in a neutral position without allowing any one part of the body to sink too far into the mattress,' says Dr. Kevin. Out of all the mattresses we've tested, the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress offers the best balance of sinkage and support.

You might have made it all the way to the end of this article and still not understand which material best meets your needs. To help you decide, we've laid out all the pros and cons of hybrid vs memory foam mattresses, as well as memory foam vs innerspring, so that you can compare and contrast.