Sink Into The Best Memory Foam Mattress of 2023

Memory foam mattresses aren’t like the old-school innerspring beds you grew up with ––  this mattress material has soared in popularity because of its affordability, pressure relief and cushy feel. Heat and pressure make this material imitate your body’s shape, making it highly absorptive, comfortable, and soft. There are various types of foam that fall under the “memory foam” umbrella, but which one is truly the best memory foam mattress? The answer is, it depends. While everyone’s sleeping needs are varied, memory foam mattresses accommodate nearly every sleeping position. Whether you’re a side or back sleeper, you can rest assured knowing that memory foam mattresses are supportive and pressure-relieving in just the right places. So whether you’re on a budget, suffering from joint pain, or searching for a mattress that hugs you back, our list has you covered.

The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed by the editorial team. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader.

• Best Overall – Saatva Modern Foam
• Best Value – Nectar
• Best Luxury – Nolah Signature
• Best for Back Pain – Casper Original
• Best for Recovery – Bear Original
• Best for Pressure Relief – WinkBeds GravityLux
• Best Flippable – Layla
• Best Hybrid – Helix Midnight
• Best Organic – Saatva Loom & Leaf

Hotel mattresses are unbeatable when it comes to comfort and support, which is why the Saatva brand is so popular –– you can bring the hotel experience home with their luxury beds, without that top-dollar price tag. The Saatva Modern Foam wins best overall mattress for its premium materials and collective high-scoring performance in mattress testing. The 10.5-inch Saatva Modern Foam is made up of five layers of high-density memory foam, breathable fibers, cooling gel foam, and a lower back support layer. This mattress scored best in responsiveness and spinal alignment, earning a 9 out of 10 in both categories. Additionally, couples and restless sleepers will enjoy this mattress because of its excellent ability to stifle motion (8 out of 10). Like all Saatva purchases, with the Modern Foam, you can sit back and relax while your mattress is hand-delivered and assembled right in your bedroom.

The Nectar Memory Foam mattress is the happy medium of high-quality elements and a reasonable price. Its 12 inches of premium foams along with a quilted cooling top cover will ensure that you sleep comfortably and cool all night long. It scored highly in Mattress Advisor’s testing in the responsiveness (8.5 out of 10), edge support (9 out of 10), and pressure relief (8.5 out of 10) categories. Nectar has a 97% retention rate with its shoppers, making it a clear fan favorite. Nectar offers one of the best warranty and sleep trial periods that we’ve seen. Not only do you get lifetime warranty, but you can test the mattress out for a full 365 days. An offer like that one is truly hard to pass up!

Memory foam may do a great job with cushioning, but doesn’t have that same reputation for cooling. For some this is not an issue, but for many, sleeping hot can hinder a restful and comfortable night’s sleep. Saatva Modern Foam has taken this into account and designed mattresses with advanced memory foam embedded in their product to better regulate your body temperature. The Saatva Modern Foam contains phase-change material on the mattress surface that regulates heat, while a cooling gel layer and breathable fibers initiate airflow to let heat escape faster. This cooling technology isn’t just for show –  Saatva Modern Foam scored a nearly perfect 9 out of 10 in cooling.

Looking for a memory foam mattress that gives you the luxurious, high-quality feel? The Nolah Signature could be just what you’re looking for. Not just any memory foam mattress, Nolah’s Airfoam was made to yield even better pressure relief than average foam. When testers gave it a trial run, the Signature did an impressive job of cradling around testers’ key pressure points (9.25 out of 10) and rapidly responding to movement (9.5 out of 10). There are five foam layers in the Signature, all contained within a soft organic cover. To help you get the most out of your mattress investment, the Signature also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Back pain isn’t just frustrating, but disruptive as it can prevent you from truly achieving a good night’s rest. If you suspect your current mattress is to blame, it’s time to part ways with it and move onto something built especially for spine alignment –– namely, the Casper Original. The medium–firm Casper Original was engineered with back pain in mind. The key focus of this mattress is lumbar support, with a firm zone built in the center to prevent your spine from sinking down (9.5 out of 10 for spine alignment). Its three foam layers are highly responsive (10 out of 10), and stay supportive even to the outer edge (9.5 out of 10).

Sleep is the most important tool for your body to recover, and it’s that much more important if you frequent the gym or live an active lifestyle. The Bear Original mattress aims to set you up with a supportive sleep space for your body to relax and recharge. The ideal mattress for recovery isn’t just supportive, but also relieves pressure and regulates body temperature to help you fall asleep faster. The Bear Original mattress has been named best for recovery because of its exceptional performance in these exact categories — it scored a 9 out of 10 in cooling with its gel memory foam build, and 8.5 out of 10 in spine alignment. It also scored a 9 out of 10 in responsiveness 8.5 out of 10 in edge support. A few added bonuses are that this mattress is American made and manufactured, and CertiPUR-US certified.

Aches and pains are never pleasant, and can also pose a serious hindrance to your sleep health. If you’re someone who struggles with joint or muscle pain on a regular basis, you need a mattress that will provide pressure relief so that you can sleep soundly and comfortably. The WinkBeds GravityLux achieved a nearly perfect 9 out of 10 in pressure relief, responsiveness, and spinal alignment categories. It’s able to perform in these categories thanks to three layers of specialized memory foam. A top layer assists with absorbing motion (9 out of 10) while the two layers below keep the spine boosted and body supported.

If you’re someone who wants to have options when it comes to picking out a mattress, the Layla memory foam flippable mattress has mastered the art of versatility. The perk of a flippable mattress is that you get two different sleeping experiences for the price of one. The Layla comes in all mattresses sizes and features two firmness levels: medium–soft and medium–firm. This mattress scored at a 9 out of 10 or higher in the responsiveness, edge support, and pressure relief categories in testing. It’s made of copper-infused gel and foam that ensures comfort and promotes sleep health, while keeping the mattress a germ-free zone.

Memory foam comes in a range of firmness levels, but sometimes sleepers just want a little extra “oomph” from their bed. The combination of foams and innerspring coils in a hybrid mattress give sleepers needed support, with just the right amount of comfort. The Helix Midnight relies on premium materials and a durable build to deliver outstanding edge support, motion transfer, and spine alignment (9 out of 10 in all three categories). While many memory foam mattresses feel overly warm, the Helix Midnight scores a high 8 out 10 in cooling. Its construction of individually wrapped innerspring coils allow for greater airflow to ensure a cool night’s rest. An added bonus to this mattress is that it is CertiPUR-US certified, uses all natural materials, and is made in the USA.

The Saatva Loom & Leaf  gel memory foam mattress only uses organic materials for an eco-friendly, supportive mattress. If you’re someone who aims to live green, sleeping green is probably a high priority for you. And sleeping green is sleeping well with Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress. Only using CertiPUR-US foams and an organic cotton cover, this mattress was developed to be hypoallergenic and green. This mattress’ most loved qualities are its responsiveness (8 out of 10), spinal alignment (9 out of 10), and durability (9 out of 10). With Saatva’s manufacturing plants covering the majority of the nation, mattresses are almost always delivered within 100 miles of where they are made, which also helps reduce the company’s ecological impact.

Traditional

Traditional memory foam is made of a plastic polymer called polyurethane. Oftentimes, traditional memory foam mattresses are quite comfortable and affordable, but they do not have as many added benefits as the more advanced, newer kinds of memory foam. A traditional memory foam mattress will likely sleep hot, as body heat is easily absorbed and trapped within the foam. These types of mattresses have also been known to not last as long as others, so consider the pros and cons of each mattress before purchasing.

Gel-Infused

Gel-infused memory foam contains the same basic materials as traditional, but it includes gel microbeads in the foam. This technology which is key to regulating both body and mattress temperature, absorbing an extra body heat it may come into contact with. This prevents the dreaded night sweats, as the beads continue to absorb and release heat as you rest to ensure that you sleep cool and comfortable all night long.

Plant-Based

With our increased attention toward eco-friendly behaviors, many mattress manufacturers have adapted to use plant-based materials in memory foam mattresses. Traditionally, petroleum-based chemicals are used to construct memory foam. In order to reduce their carbon footprint, mattress companies have turned toward substitutes like soy to manufacture their sleep products. A few bonuses to plant-based memory foam aside from its eco-friendliness is that they tend to sleep cooler and respond to pressure faster. It is important to know that while this adjustment is better for the environment, the term “plant-based” does not mean that the mattress is 100% green.

Mineral-Infused

Mineral-infused foam technology is amongst the newest and most innovative materials to use in mattress manufacturing. Like gel-infused and plant-based, mattress companies have turned toward this technique because it makes the mattress cooler, longer lasting, and promotes healthier sleep. Minerals like graphite are most commonly used in mineral-infused memory foam to help stimulate heat absorption.

What does Memory Foam Density and ILD Mean?

Memory foam density is measured in mass per unit of volume and indicates how much material covers a given amount of space. Generally, the denser the foam, the more durable and supportive the mattress. ILD stands for indentation load deflection and it represents the firmness of the foam. More specifically, the ILD indicates how many pounds it takes to compress the memory foam by one pound. The higher the ILD, the more durable and firm the mattress.

Memory Foam Mattresses Vs:

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses are made up of a combination of memory foam and innerspring coils, supplying both comfort and support to your sleep experience. If you have typically owned memory foam mattresses and are debating whether switching to a hybrid mattress is right for you, hybrids are typically cooler, more durable, better suited for a variety of sleeping positions, and prevent sinking. However, they do have their drawbacks — hybrid mattresses often do not absorb motion as well as memory foam, can be noisy, too bouncy for some, and are normally more expensive.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses are also foam mattresses but they differ from memory foam in terms of elasticity and responsiveness. Latex, which comes in three options of natural, synthetic, and blended, are often more bouncy and have a faster response time. While memory foam will contour your body, slowly allowing your body to sink into the mattress, a latex mattress will still provide a compression feeling but with less of that “hugging” experience that memory foam is known for. Latex mattresses also tend to trap less heat and provide a cooler night’s sleep compared to memory foam.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are the complete opposite of memory foam in terms of sleep experience. They are bouncy, firm, supportive, and durable as opposed to the sinking, soft, cushioning feeling of a memory foam mattress. The main differences between the two aside from material makeup are that memory foam are better for motion transfer, pressure relief along with high responsiveness while innerspring mattresses are cooler and more durable with less responsiveness. Innerspring mattresses also tend to be slightly more expensive but longer-lasting, so again, both mattress types have their pros and cons.

Who Memory Foam Mattresses are Best For:

Side Sleepers

If you’re a side sleeper, listen up, because memory foam mattresses may as well have been made for you. Side sleepers need a soft, cushioned material to cradle their shoulders and hips while they sleep to provide ultimate pressure relief.

Combination Sleepers

While memory foam mattresses are a particularly phenomenal choice for side sleepers, they are also an excellent option for combination sleepers. Combination sleepers often move around in their sleep, moving from back to side and even to their stomachs. Memory foam mattresses are some of the best on the market in absorbing motion because of the compressive nature of the foam. This means that combination sleepers will be able to move around at night without interruption from a noisy mattress.

Couples

Similarly to combination sleepers, memory foam mattresses can be great for couples because of their incredible ability to absorb motion. When sleeping on a memory foam mattress, you can be confident that you will not wake up if your partner tosses and turns. The one downside to memory foam mattresses for couples is that memory foam tends to sleep hot. If you and your partner decide to purchase a memory foam bed, it may be a good idea to get one that has cooling materials like gel-infused or mineral-infused memory foam.

Sleepers with Joint Pain

If you suffer from joint pain, you will greatly benefit from a memory foam mattress because of its soft and pressure relieving properties. Those with joint pain need a mattress that will cradle their pain points to make them as comfortable as possible. Memory foam mattresses are perfect for this because they allow you to sink into comfort while they kindly ease your joint pain. 

How long will a memory foam mattress last?

The average lifespan of a memory foam mattress depends on its materials, density and quality of user care. A traditional memory foam mattress will last about 10 years, with 8 being the minimum and almost 15 being the maximum. However, latex and gel-infused memory foam mattresses on average last about 15 years.

How to Pick the Best Memory Foam Mattress

There is no “one size fits all” for mattresses because each person’s sleep needs are different. However, this guide is aimed to help you establish your sleep priorities to make the most informed purchasing decision possible. Read below to determine which mattress is best for you based on your sleep position, body type and pain levels.

Sleep position

Side sleepers

Side sleepers do best with softer mattresses that will cradle and cushion their shoulders, hips, and knees. Sleeping on your side puts a lot of pressure (more specifically your entire bodyweight) on these joints, so side sleepers need a mattress that will protect these areas. According to consumer research, memory foam mattresses are the softest and most comfortable mattresses for side sleepers.

Back sleepers

One of the most important criteria for back sleepers is a mattress that has at least a medium-firm feel. Because the back is a strong and flat area of the body, it does not need high amounts of cushion like side sleepers do for their shoulders and hips. Back sleepers require stability and support and are often most comfortable in a bed that is medium-firm to firm.

Stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers require similar criteria as back sleepers as far as firmness levels and support. The main thing stomach sleepers aim to avoid is sinking into a mattress too much because this can result in poor spinal alignment and back pain. Stomach sleepers do best on mattresses that are medium-firm or firm, and while there are some memory foam mattresses that fit these criteria, many are on the softer side. If you are a stomach sleeper and you want a memory foam mattress, try to look for one that will prevent sinking as much as possible. 

Combination sleepers

A combination sleeper is anyone who sleeps in more than one sleeping position (back, side, or stomach). These types of sleepers need a versatile mattress that exceeds in motion transfer. Most combination sleepers prefer medium or firm mattresses, and they try to avoid mattresses that enable sinking because they need to be able to move around easily. If you’re a combination sleeper, a memory foam mattress could be a great option for you because they are amazing at absorbing motion. However, be sure to find one that is on the firmer side so that you can avoid sinking. 

Body Type

Body type is an important factor to consider when making a mattress decision. Lightweight sleepers often find softer and more cushioned beds like memory foam more comfortable, and heavyweight sleepers prefer firmer and sturdier mattresses. Plus-size sleepers need more support and durability than lightweight sleepers, so innerspring or hybrid mattresses may better suit their needs. However, there are memory foam mattresses that are great for heavier sleepers, so it’s all about personal preference. 

Responsiveness

A mattress’ responsiveness refers to how quickly it responds to motion or pressure. This means that the material morphs to your body rapidly, imitating a hug or cradling feeling. Innerspring and certain types of hybrid mattresses have a bouncier feeling and lower responsiveness, creating an entirely different sleep experience. Responsiveness is all about preference, there isn’t one type that is better than the next. 

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief is also a critical factor in determining the right mattress for you. Memory foam mattresses excel in pressure relief because their soft materials and molding technology provide the perfect amount of comfort to your body. Firmer mattresses like hybrids or innersprings can sometimes feel hard on your body, especially if you already suffer from joint pain.

Durability

Durability refers to the longevity of a mattress’ lifespan before they break down in structure or effectiveness. Memory foam mattresses tend to last about 10-15 years whereas hybrid and innerspring mattresses tend to last under 10 years. How frequently you purchase a mattress depends on personal preference, product quality, and overall consumer maintenance of the mattress.

Cooling

Temperature regulation is an extremely personal and important part of your sleep experience. Some mattresses are much better at regulating temperature than others, depending on the material used and whether they contain cooling technology. Historically, memory foam mattresses tend to sleep hot because the foam traps heat, while hybrid and innerspring mattresses are better at fostering heat escape and maintaining a cooler sleep experience. However, mattress companies have begun to innovate and use newer materials in their memory foam mattresses, such as latex and gels, which sleep cooler than traditional foam. 

Motion Isolation

One of the most attractive qualities of a memory foam mattress aside from pressure relief is its incredible ability to absorb motion. Memory foam beds consistently score highly in motion isolation in sleep labs. This makes them an appealing option for couples, combination sleepers, or those who move around frequently in their sleep because you won’t be awoken by bounciness or noise like other types of mattresses.

Back Pain

If you suffer from back pain, the best thing you can do for yourself is buy a mattress that will provide support, comfort, and healthy spinal alignment. While memory foam mattresses do not always provide the firmness that those with back pain need, they are excellent at providing pressure relief and reducing pain. All of the mattresses in this list have sleep trials of at least 100 nights, so you have plenty of time to make your final purchasing decision and figure out what is best for you. 

What to Pay Attention to While Buying the Best Memory Foam Mattress Online?

Online mattress shopping can be daunting and confusing at times because there are a lot of different factors to consider when purchasing a new mattress. Online shopping, including reading mattress reviews, can be helpful in narrowing down which mattresses excel in which categories. However, there’s nothing that will give you more clarity than testing out the mattress for yourself, so be sure to check into the product’s shipping, trial period, and warranty policies. 

Shipping

All of the mattresses on our list offer free shipping, and most offer free returns. Some companies, like Saatva, will even provide a free setup in your bedroom so that you can relax while your new bed gets settled. However, not all mattress brands will offer free delivery, so be sure to read the fine print before purchasing.

Trial Period

A mattress’ trial period is often an important factor in a buyer’s decision. Each of the mattresses on our list offer between 101 and 365 nights of sleep trial so that customers can be absolutely certain in their mattress selection. If you’re someone who values experiencing a product before making that long-term investment, check the sleep trial information on your mattress prior to purchasing.

Warranty

Warranty is critical to pay attention to in your mattress, as they can vary greatly from company to company. A mattress warranty is a promise to the buyer that their product will be replaced or repaired at no extra cost within a given time frame. The best warranties are lifelong and guarantee customer satisfaction 100% of the time, but these great promises are not made by every mattress brand.