A cozy bed is more than finding the softest sheets. Understanding the difference between the best types of mattresses—hybrid, memory foam, latex, and innerspring—is crucial for a comfortable sleep setup. As AD100 interior designer Monique Gibson says in her review of mattress brands, “I encourage my clients to honor the importance of sleep. We put so much thought and consideration into our designs that it seems almost sacrilegious not to honor the very place where we restore ourselves as well.”
AD's Top Picks
We, at Shop AD, are admittedly obsessed with all things rest—hence our annual Sleep Week spotlight on how to design a storybook-inspired bedroom. But navigating the mattress market can be as intimidating as learning a new language. “Many clients are using the description words for mattresses incorrectly,” says interior designer Tina Ramchandani. “They ask for something firm, but they really want something supportive. So being able to test out mattresses and understand the differences is very important.”
Identifying individual comforts comes with a few logistical considerations, she notes. Are you a back, stomach, or side sleeper? The answer can help determine the best support level for hip, shoulder, and spinal alignment—firm for stomach sleepers, soft for side sleepers, and medium firmness for back sleepers. Body weight also comes into play, as heavier people may not like the sinking feeling of a soft mattress.
The true marker of successful mattress selection is considering all the sleep preferences (including those of the person sharing the mattress with you). “If partners have different sleeping positions, we have to find a happy medium in the mattress type to support the spine positions,” says Ramchandani. She advises paying attention to temperature regulation, especially if you’re a hot sleeper, since a cooling cover and breathable materials adjust to body heat.
Instead of stopping by a showroom for a new mattress, scroll down for our top picks on the best types of mattresses for every body type and sleep style, according to experts like Neslihan Ozdemir, founder of Girl on the Mattress, and our editors’ firsthand mattress reviews.
When you think of a bed with coils in the interior, you’re thinking about an innerspring mattress—the most common type of mattress on the market. The coil system is usually made of steel pieces that create a grid to give your bed added bounce. Elite brands don’t just cover the coil system with a casing; they also include a plush pillow top for added comfort. When selecting an innerspring mattress, look for pocketed coils, which move independently to improve motion isolation. The design provides both the solid, responsive support and pressure relief from springs and a layer of cushioning to suit your chosen firmness levels. (Designs with contour-to-your-body memory foam or bouncy, breathable latex foam fall into hybrid mattress territory.) If you’re the type to sleep on the edge of the bed or are heavier in weight, an innerspring mattress is the ideal surface to keep you level, Ozdemir says. When shopping for an innerspring, look for the coil height. These should be at least eight inches, and the taller the coil, the better the body contouring. This means you need fewer foam layers at the top, resulting in better airflow. A must if you sleep hot.
Beautyrest Black, with its triple-stranded pocketed coils, is a recommended pick for couples who need motion separation. “I often fall asleep on my stomach and move to my side and even my back as the night progresses and I feel supported by this mattress in each position,” says Emma Tubbs, AD audience development manager. Tubbs’s husband loves a firm mattress, but she was concerned that an extra-firm mattress would feel rough on her hips, so she chose the medium option as middleground. “When the mattress came, and I lay on it the first time, it felt really firm compared to our previous mattress,” she says. “But after sleeping on it for almost six months, I can say confidently it is the perfect mix of soft enough not to hurt for side sleep but still very supportive.” Beautyrest’s cooling technology, with its CertiPUR-US certified gel-infused foam, will also appeal to anyone looking for temperature regulation. It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty and a 100-night trial.
Not all innerspring mattresses can fit in a box, but the Serta Five Star is an exception. Our mattress tester was pleased that the packaging was manageable to move up the stairs with the help of her roommate. “We unboxed this on my bed frame, and allowed it to decompress overnight along the slats,” says AD commerce writer, Julia Harrison. “The following day, I walked in to find it in great shape and with very little off-gassing.” The three-zone mattress is all about lumbar and hip support with ribbed cushioning. “I thought I liked a plush mattress—I’m big into down pillows—but I’ve found medium-firm is really my speed,” she adds. “I’m mostly a stomach sleeper, so the combination of medium-firm mattress and soft down pillows has me figured out.” Serta mattresses come with a 100-night trial and free shipping and returns. The 10-year limited warranty is another nice touch for this trusted brand.
The best memory foam mattress is known for its high-density and contouring properties in the comfort layer. On the firmness scale, these types of mattresses tend to lean on the softer side, making them a nice option for side sleepers and anyone with joint pain. A high-quality mattress with memory foam layers should also have motion isolation, which is important for couples (especially if one of you tends to toss and turn throughout the night). The heavier the weight, the denser the mattress. In the case of an all-foam mattress, a denser bed will last longer and won’t sink in too much. Although memory foams are beneficial for many reasons, they may lack sufficient edge support. One way to test this is to sit on the side of the bed and see how much give you see. In terms of responsiveness, the mattress should bounce quickly after you get off the bed.
As far as mattress types go, memory foam is great for combination sleepers, as proven by contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert, who is a side sleeper, and her husband is sometimes a back sleeper. “The memory foam has a knack for letting your body melt into the bed, but retains its medium-firm touch,” Alpert says of the pressure-relieving material. “This worked especially well when I was reading in bed because I never felt as if my bum was sinking into the mattress and putting unintended pressure on my lower back. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had neck or back pain in the eight years I’ve had this bed.”
Nectar’s signature layered system includes a cooling cover, memory foam, and sturdy foundation base to minimize motion transfer. “The comfort was highlighted after I was away for a few days sleeping on random, not-so-comfy beds,” she continues. “Honestly, climbing into my Nectar was one of the most pleasurable things upon coming home after a vacation. It just feels like home.”
Alpert was also incredibly impressed by how quickly the mattress decompressed after delivery. And there were no off-gassing aromas to speak of. “The Nectar memory foam difference is not to be understated,” Alpert adds. “ Like love at first sight, as soon as we slept on this bed, it just felt right, as if we were destined for its quilted topper.”
Tuft & Needle Original features three different types of foam. Flex, which adjusts to your body as you settle in; Release, for contouring and pressure relief; and Adaptive, to keep the bed from sagging. “I can say with certainty that I love it far more than any spring mattress I’ve slept on,” says contributor Elise Portale in her best mattress brands review. “After a certain amount of time, those spring mattresses start to get uneven as the springs wear down from sleeping in the same spot, but after nearly four years, my Tuft & Needle feels as springy and supportive as it did the first night.”
This style works for someone who likes a firmer mattress that doesn’t feel stiff. The Original blends a firm foam core and a softer foam outside. Portale also points out that the mattress doesn’t squeak or jiggle when her cat jumps on the bed in the middle of the night. No REM sleep cycle interruptions here.
The best hybrid mattress is a combination of an innerspring mattress and a memory foam mattress. It is designed to target pressure points with a makeup of encased steel pocketed coils and foam (or an organic material) layers. This combo ensures that your bed is springy but with body contouring properties that won’t result in a saggy mattress. A hybrid bed holds up over time because of the balance between the coil layer and the zoned support of foam. This bed is a solid choice if co-sleepers can’t decide between a soft or firm mattress. Here are a couple of high-quality options to choose from:
Our pick for the best overall hybrid mattress is the Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress. Our global editorial director and US editor in chief Amy Astley sleeps soundly on this medium-firm mattress night after night thanks to five ergonomic zones for support and layers of soft organic natural latex. She says the targeted support has improved her sleep quality, especially around the lumbar area, because it keeps her spine aligned: “My lower back pain disappeared soon after we started sleeping on it—that alone is mattress gold!” Astley also notes in her mattress review that this bed has premier temperature regulation and doesn’t trap body heat as she and her husband sleep. “We both sleep warm and appreciate the vented airflow channels, which allow for circulation and breathability,” she adds.
Contributor Gaby Ulloa has been a fan of this mattress since day one. She says that she usually experiences back pain when sleeping on a hotel bed or even a vetted bed at her mom’s house. “It provides the perfect ‘not too soft, not too firm’ situation and allows me to sink into a deep night’s sleep while still feeling completely supported,” she says. “I wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested each day.” Available on Amazon, this one has streamlined shipping. Ulloa says the bed-in-box was shipped and delivered right to her doorstep. Her pick is two inches thicker than the brand’s standard mattress size, which made it a little harder to move from the box to the bed frame. However, its grand size makes for a great centerpiece in a maximalist bedroom.
If you’re in the market for a latex mattress, it’s because you want something that holds up for a really, really long time, keeps super cool, and is supportive without sinking in like a memory foam might, Ozdemir notes. (Latex mattresses’ bouncy, responsive foam layers are best for jumping on the bed—just saying!) When shopping for one, though, the high-quality options will be made from 100% organic latex. Since this bed type is composed of natural materials, these organic mattresses are great for an eco-friendly element in your bedroom. Price will dictate the quality of the latex.
Latex mattresses tend to be shorter in height than memory foams; this one is 10 inches and very dense based on its weight. It employs three layers of 100% Talalay latex, which refers to the newer and more expensive method of turning natural tree rubber into latex. The cover is made from breathable, natural cotton and is followed by a layer of flame-retardant wool for optimal cooling properties. By nature, latex foam is very responsive (for comfort without sinking in), ventilates by not trapping heat, and, to top it off, is entirely hypoallergenic. Saatva offers free white-glove delivery and removal of your old mattress. While this is the more expensive product in our roundup, it is actually reasonable compared to other natural latex mattresses because it is sold direct-to-consumer.
California-based PlushBeds is gaining traction as a luxury mattress brand, emphasizing sustainable materials and manufacturing practices. The brand holds several certifications, including Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for cotton and wool, and GreenGuard Gold. Contributor Blake Bakkila received her king-size latex mattress in two boxes: one with the cover and core, and another with the three comfort layers. The materials were rolled up, compressed, and wrapped in plastic. (Smaller mattresses ship fully assembled in one box.)
As for mattress testing, Bakkila emphasizes that the balance of plushness and support is exceptional. “I never feel like it’s swallowing me or too plush,” she says. “It offers solid motion retention, so I’ve rarely woken up when my husband gets up for work or goes downstairs to get our toddler out of his crib. The sides also have good edge support, so while it feels plush where I’m lying, I’ve never felt any sagging or sinking while sitting on the edge of the mattress.”
How to Choose the Right Mattress for You
Remember, you can’t learn everything about a mattress just from lying on it for a few minutes. Before testing one out, come prepared with your top priorities: level of firmness, sleeping position, edge support, motion transfer, cooling level, bounciness, delivery method, and warranty. Before you settle on the best type of mattress for you, let’s debunk some mattress myths prior to shopping.
Myth 1: You can judge a mattress just by its looks. Let’s be real. Most mattresses look the same, but it’s what’s inside that counts. Before you buy, look at how the bed is constructed and the materials, including the mattress topper.
Myth 2: Firmness reflects quality. The firmness options are very personal. In no way does it dictate how the bed is made. A soft foam bed can be incredibly comfortable, and even come with a lifetime warranty.
Myth 3: A high-quality mattress is very expensive. It makes sense that a mattress that uses organic cotton or other premium materials is pricier, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend more than $1,000 to get a good night’s sleep. Today’s market offers more mattress options than ever. To find the best mattress for you, take a closer look at what the bed offers. You don’t have to pay extra for cooling technology if you never break a sweat.
Once you start comparing different types of mattresses, look at the label. Mattress manufacturers are required by law to disclose the materials used in their products, which often dictates quality and price. Most companies share the construction of the mattress, which helps us analyze the three most important factors when choosing a mattress:
Weight: Heavier mattresses are denser, making them more durable and supportive. If there is a large weight difference between two mattresses (like 30-plus pounds), the heavier one will be of better quality.
Layers: Different brands and mattress types range in the number of layers that are included. Some beds can have up to five layers of foam that focus on pressure relief and temperature regulation.
Cover: While you don’t sleep directly on the cover, its material and construction play into the coolness and immediate feel of the mattress.
FAQs
How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?
It’s best to replace your mattress every eight years to make sure you have the support you need, recommends Michael Breus, PhD, a clinical psychologist, clinical sleep specialist, and the author of The Power of When. However, if you want to extend the life cycle of your mattress and give your bed a boost of comfort, you can always add a mattress topper for another cozy layer.
What Mattress Type Is the Most Durable?
Latex is known as one of the most durable mattresses because it has solid support no matter your body weight or body type. And although the mattress feels soft to the touch, it can offer firm support depending on the model. Sleep expert Justin Redman recommends flipping and rotating your latex bed regularly (once every six months to a year) to keep it from sagging.
What Type of Mattress Is the Most Comfortable?
We consider hybrid mattresses to be the most comfortable since they offer a balance between support and a plush sleeping surface. Mattress materials can vary, but since these beds include encased coils as well as layers of foam, you can often find soft mattresses or some with a purely firm feel under this category.
But this answer depends on your personal preference. Some people want a soft, cozy mattress to sink into at night, but may opt for one with medium firmness for a guest room. A person who is a back sleeper may appreciate a firm mattress way more than anything with extra padding that, to them, might feel like sleeping in quicksand.