The Best Mattress for a Good Night’s Sleep

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Narrowing down the best mattress for your sleep needs is a major undertaking, and you might not know where to even begin. Instead of searching all over the internet and comparing prices and features yourself, let us do all that for you.

The best mattress for you may not be the best one for someone else, so it’s important to consider which mattress features matter most to you. Do you sleep hot? Make sure you look for a breathable mattress with great airflow. On a tight budget? Check out mattresses that will give you the most bang for your buck. Want a mattress that’s good for your back and the environment? Let’s talk about organic latex mattresses.

Keep reading to see which of these top mattresses check all the boxes on your shopping list so that you can get a good night’s rest.

• Best Overall Mattress – Saatva Classic
• Best Luxury Mattress – DreamCloud Premier
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Helix Midnight
• Best Mattress for Recovery – Bear Hybrid
• Best for Overweight Sleepers – WinkBeds EcoCloud
• Best Value Mattress – Nectar
• Best Organic Mattress – Avocado Green
• Best Latex Mattress – Zenhaven
• Best Mattress for Pressure Relief – Nolah Signature

The Saatva Classic is the best overall mattress for getting a good night’s sleep. Mattress Advisor testers found that the Saatva Classic’s biggest strength is its spinal alignment. According to their tests, this hybrid mattress actually received a perfect score (10 out of 10) when it comes to keeping your back comfortably supported. We especially recommend the Saatva Classic for folks who don’t want the hassle of setting up the bed themselves. Every Saatva mattress comes with White Glove delivery, meaning someone will come to your house and handle the set up for you, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

The DreamCloud Premier mattress is aptly named, because it truly feels like sleeping on a cloud. But this mattress really stands out as a perfect fit for combination sleepers. These are folks who move frequently to change positions throughout the night. When we tested the DreamCloud Premier, we found that it has excellent responsiveness (9 out of 10), meaning it allows you to move freely instead of sucking you in and holding you in place. Plus it prevents the vast majority of motion transfer, so if you’re a combination sleeper with a partner the DreamCloud Premier is a great way to ensure that they won’t be disturbed by your tossing and turning (9 out of 10).

Helix is known for its wide variety of mattresses, each made for different types of sleepers. If you’re a side sleeper, then we highly recommend the Helix Midnight. Our Mattress Advisor testers found that the Helix Midnight performed incredibly well on both pressure relief (8.5 out of 10) and spinal alignment (8.75 out of 10), which are some of the most important factors for side sleepers. Pressure relief is one of the biggest factors side sleepers have to consider, because with the wrong mattress materials tension can easily build up in pressure points like the shoulders, neck and lower back. However the hybrid materials used in the Helix Midnight help dissipate the pressure buildup in these key areas, providing relief for side sleepers.

If working out is an essential part of your day, you know what a difference the right mattress can make in your body’s recovery. The Bear Hybrid mattress is designed specifically for athletes who need their rest to be truly restorative. It’s a medium-firm mattress that provides both support and cushioning, along with a special cooling cover that helps pull away body heat (8 out of 10). We also found that the Bear Hybrid offers excellent spinal alignment (9.5 out of 10), which helps relax the muscles and help them recover as well.

Plus-size sleepers have unique mattress needs in order to sleep comfortably, and the WinkBeds EcoCloud mattress fulfills all of these needs and more. First, it’s important for plus-size sleepers to have a firmer mattress that still allows for some cushioning to help dissipate pressure buildup. The WinkBeds EcoCloud is a latex-foam hybrid mattress that supports extra weight without being so firm that it’s uncomfortable. We also found that the WinkBeds EcoCloud is responsive thanks to its latex construction, scoring a 8.5 out of 10 in tests. This signals that even as you move about, the EcoCloud moves with you to keep you supported.

With some budget mattresses you get what you pay for –– but if you’re looking for a new mattress that gives you the most bang for your buck, we highly recommend Nectar. Its gel memory foam helps keep the mattress cool all night long. Our Mattress Advisor testers also found that the Nectar mattress offers excellent pressure relief (8.5 out of 10) and is highly responsive (8.5 out of 10). This means it cushions your pressure points without feeling like you’re sinking in and can’t move. A highly responsive mattress is essential for folks who would categorize themselves as combination sleepers that move around often while asleep.

Traditional mattress materials, while comfortable, aren’t always great for the environment. Oftentimes materials are difficult or impossible to recycle and aren’t durable enough to last, so mattresses end up in the landfill. If that just doesn’t sit right with you, then we recommend the Avocado Green mattress. It’s a hybrid organic latex and innerspring mattress that is highly responsive (8 out of 10), and gives you an eco-friendly sleep experience. Our testers also found that the Avocado Green mattress provides excellent spinal alignment, making it a great option for anyone dealing with back pain (9.5 out of 10).

Latex is an awesome choice if you’re leaning towards a hypoallergenic, eco-friendly mattress. There are no chemicals or artificial materials in the Zenhaven –– just Dunlop latex, organic cotton and New Zealand wool. It’s available in two firmness levels: luxury plush (medium-soft) and gentle firm (medium firm). Whichever firmness level you choose, you will find that every sleeping position is comfortable in this bed. Because of how latex contours the body, the Zenhaven can accommodate folks who sleep on their side, stomach, back, or a combination of all three (8 out of 10 for pressure relief). The Zenhaven also scored a 9 out of 10 for responsiveness, giving sleepers a springy feel as they move on the mattress surface. 

Sleeping is supposed to be restful and restorative, so there’s nothing worse than waking up aching and sore. If this is happening to you, it’s time for a new mattress –– specifically the Nolah Signature. Each layer of this all-foam mattress is made to serve a different purpose. The high-density base layer provides structure while the high-resilience middle layer prevents sinkage. The top layer of proprietary AirFoam cushions pressure points without sucking you into the mattress the way memory foam often does (9.25 out of 10 for pressure relief). 

Innerspring

One of the biggest benefits of an innerpsring mattress is its bounciness, which is great for both sex and for people who just don’t stay still while asleep. However, the price is still much higher for innerspring mattresses than it is for memory foam mattresses.

Latex

Latex mattresses are perfect for those who want an environmentally-friendly mattress. Organic latex is all-natural and doesn’t create a ton of toxic chemicals in the production process. Plus, latex mattresses are responsive like innerspring mattresses without the squeaking and sagging issues that often plague that type of bed. Latex mattresses do also tend to have a higher price tag, which may be a deterrent for some buyers.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are by far the most affordable option on this list, and they tend to offer the best cushioning, which is ideal for side sleepers. However if the memory foam is too soft, this cushioning might make some folks feel smothered by their mattress.  

Hybrid

If all of these options sound good in their own way, you should consider getting a hybrid mattress that combines aspects of the above materials. Hybrids can combine latex and foam, foam and pocketed coils, springs and latex or countless other combinations. They can get pricey, but they offer a very luxurious sleep experience.

How do I pick the best mattress for me?

Sleep position

• Side sleepers: If you primarily sleep on your side, you should look for a medium-firm mattress with excellent cushioning and pressure relief. The mattress needs to be firm enough to keep your spine straight to prevent lower back pain, but soft enough to cradle your shoulders.
• Back sleepers: This sleep position fares well on almost any mattress, though they may be most comfortable on a medium-soft mattress that offers plenty of comfort and support.
• Stomach sleepers: When you sleep on your stomach, your lower back naturally dips downward, which can cause lower back pain. To prevent this, stomach sleepers should look for a firmer mattress with excellent spinal alignment.
• Combination sleepers: If you tend to switch sleeping positions throughout the night, the most important factor to consider in a new mattress is how adaptive it is. You want a mattress that adapts to your movements quickly so that you don’t have to wake up fully every time you move in your sleep.

Body Type

Another important factor to consider when buying a mattress is body type. Lightweight folks tend to be more comfortable on a softer mattress, whereas plus-size folks tend to need additional support from a firmer mattress. Average-weight sleepers tend to be more comfortable on a mattress with medium firmness.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness is a measure of how quickly a mattress moves back into shape after body weight is applied and released. Responsiveness offers a nice bounce for sex and tends to make combination sleepers more comfortable.

Pressure Relief

If you’re an athlete or a side sleeper, pressure relief is essential for a good night’s sleep. Look for mattresses with gel memory foam, latex, or pillow top cushioning.

Durability

A mattress is an investment, meaning you want it to last long enough to be worth your money. A mattress that quickly starts sagging in the middle or starts crumpling on the edges is not a good investment.

Cooling

Hot sleepers know that there’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, covered in sweat. If you’re tired of getting your sleep disrupted by overheating, look for mattresses made with breathable materials that can help with temperature regulation.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation is absolutely key for combination sleepers with partners. A mattress with high motion transfer will result in waking your partner up every time you move. Hybrid and innerspring mattresses tend to have the best motion isolation, but some memory foam mattresses are catching on as well.

Back Pain

If you’re experiencing back pain with your current mattress, odds are that the firmness is wrong for your sleeping position and body type. A firmer mattress is a smart choice for keeping the lumbar region supported. 

What should I pay attention to while buying the best mattress online?

We recommend checking out several different mattress reviews before buying any mattress online, but we also recommend looking for mattresses with a long trial period, that way you can try it out yourself.

Shipping

Some mattresses come with free shipping, which is great, but you can also find some mattress companies that will not only deliver the mattress for free, but they’ll also set it up for you for free.

Trial Period

A trial period is the allotted amount of time where you are allowed to buy and try out a mattress. Trial periods help you get a refund if you aren’t satisfied by it within that window of time. 

Warranty

Unlike a trial period, a warranty doesn’t cover you simply not liking the mattress. Instead, it covers the mattress if there are any defects not caused by your use, but rather by the manufacturer. Every mattress warranty is different, so be sure to read it carefully.