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Forbes Vetted
ByMcKenzie Dillon, Mattress & Sleep Editor
I'm a certified sleep science coach who has tested over 50 mattresses.
Reviewed byEmmy Favilla, Managing Editor
You may not realize how restful your sleep can be until you spend your nights on a truly comfortable mattress. Ideally, your bed should properly accommodate your sleeping position, body type and other specific needs–otherwise, you may wake up feeling groggy, achy and unrested. The most comfortable mattresses have a supportive profile, provide pillowy-soft relief and include added features that address certain pain points, like temperature and back issues. We think the most comfortable mattress overall is the Helix Midnight Luxe, which combines all of the characteristics noted above and checks a lot of boxes for a range of sleepers.
Every body is different, and what feels comfortable to some may be unpleasant to others, so we’ve included a range of mattresses in this list intended to appeal to a variety of needs. For instance, if you experience regular back pain, the Saatva Classic might be an ideal fit for you; if you sleep hot and are looking for a cooling mattress, we recommend the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling. Many of our editor-approved picks below have also been personally tested by our team.
Most Comfortable Mattress Overall: Helix Midnight Luxe (Queen)
Most Comfortable Mattress For Combination Sleepers: Bear Star Hybrid (Queen)
Most Affordable Comfortable Mattress: Cocoon Chill (Queen)
Most Comfortable Memory Foam Mattress: Nectar Premier (Queen)
Most Comfortable Mattress For Couples: The WinkBed (Queen)
Most Comfortable Cooling Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling (Queen)
Most Comfortable Mattress For Back Pain: Saatva Classic (Queen)
Most Comfortable Mattress For Stomach Sleepers: Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm (Queen)
Most Comfortable Mattress Overall
A Well-Balanced Hybrid You Can Tailor To Your Needs
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 15 years
Pros:
- Balanced for side and back sleeping
- Targeted lumbar and edge support
- Upgrades for cooling and pain relief
Cons:
- Not for strict stomach sleepers
- Motion isolation could be better
The Helix Midnight Luxe is one of those beds that appeals to 9 out of 10 people who try it because it’s so objectively comfortable; who doesn’t love a pillowy, plush sleeping surface? With a medium firmness level, it accommodates back, side and combination sleepers best, according to our team of testers who tried the Helix Midnight Luxe and compared it against 28 other beds. “It's cushiony and plush, with what I'd consider a medium firmness,” says one tester. “There’s not a ton of sinkage but it’s also not overly firm.” Another says, “This bed offers a great mix of comfort and support for the whole body.”
Near the base of the mattress sits a thick pocketed coil layer with zoned support and edge support reinforcements. The coils are more dense under the lumbar area, where you need more lift, with more give under the shoulders and hips to provide relief to these parts of your body. Plus, it feels sturdy from edge to edge, a plus for people who share a bed. The blend of cozy foam layers and a plush Euro top give the mattress a cushioned feel that balances out the supportive coils below.
Hot sleepers have the choice to upgrade to a cool-to-the-touch GlacioTex cover for greater cooling relief, while those who live with back pain can opt for the ErgoAlign layer for noticeably stronger spinal support. See our detailed Helix Midnight Luxe review for the full scoop on our findings from testing.
Most Comfortable Mattress For Combination Sleepers
An Optimal Feel For Those Who Switch Sleep Positions
Bear Star Hybrid (Queen)
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium-firm | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
- Responsive, balanced sleep surface
- Low level of motion transfer
- Cooling upgrade available
Cons:
- Strict side sleepers may want a softer feel
The Bear Star Hybrid is a sleep haven for back and stomach sleepers who need a supportive sleep surface that doesn’t compromise on cushy comfort. With its marriage of pocketed coils and responsive foams, combination sleepers who switch between sleep positions during the night won’t feel stuck inside the bed’s layers. We had seven people test the Bear Star Hybrid and they scored it an 8 out of 10 for ease of movement. At the same time, it’s not so bouncy that you and your partner can feel each other’s every movement. When one tester placed a glass of water near the edge of the bed and made movements near it to see how much it wobbled, he says, “The water barely moves when I get into the bed and it moves even less when I switch positions. It has very good [motion] isolation.”
The bed comes with a moisture-wicking cover but sleepers can choose to upgrade to the Celliant cover, which the brand says is designed to help promote better sleep quality through muscle recovery and circulation. I tried the Bear Star for over a month myself, and I am a big fan of the mattress. Now I keep it in my guest bedroom—and I’ve had more than a few guests compliment its comfort. For more insight on our thoughts about this mattress, see our Bear Star Hybrid Mattress review.
Most Affordable Comfortable Mattress
Cooling Relief With An Affordable Price Tag
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium to medium-firm | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years
Pros:
- Excellent value for a cooling bed
- Very good motion isolation
- Includes free sheets and pillows
Cons:
- Doesn’t accommodate those over 250 pounds (opt for the hybrid)
- Very hot sleepers may still need a cooler bed
Cocoon is the wallet-friendly bed-in-a-box offering from Sealy, a veteran mattress and bedding brand that has been around for decades. The Cocoon Chill offers extra cooling technology, like a phase-change cover that draws body heat away from the body and gel-infused foam—without a marked-up price. It’s one of the best memory foam mattresses that you can get for such an affordable price, and its medium to medium-firm profile makes it accommodating for a wide variety of sleeping positions, including back, side and combination.
It boasts a memory foam feel, but it’s not so viscous that your body leaves a lasting imprint on the mattress. It’s also great at isolating motion: We had six testers try the Cocoon Chill and they rated it an 8.5 for its ability to deaden movement across a mattress, with one noting that its “motion isolation is stellar.” After testing, I concluded that motion isolation is one of the Cocoon Chill’s strongest points, alongside its budget-friendly price and temperature regulation capabilities.
Most Comfortable Memory Foam Mattress
An All-Foam Mattress That's Soft, Supportive And Cool
Type: Memory foam (also available as a hybrid) | Firmness: Medium-firm | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
- Soft yet supportive for side and back sleepers
- Has an upgraded cooling cover
- Generous trial period and warranty
Cons:
- Too soft for strict stomach sleeping
- Not for sleepers over 250 pounds (choose the hybrid instead)
The Nectar Premier falls in the middle tier of Nectar’s mattress catalog, and it provides that “marshmallowy” feel you expect from memory foam—without making you feel stuck within the bed’s layers. It feels similar to competing top-tier memory foam beds, and at the same time, it’s much more affordable. “I would say that this feels like a high quality mattress,” says one tester. Another adds, “I would describe this mattress as luxury—it feels like a premier mattress model” (pun intended).
Although Nectar describes this mattress as medium-firm, we think the Nectar Premier falls more so around a medium feed, as each model gets softer as you go further up the brand’s mattress tiers. It’s ideal for back, side and combination sleepers or petite stomach sleepers around or under 150 pounds. Hot sleepers can also appreciate the subtly cool feel you get when you touch the cover. One tester notes that “it almost seems cool and is silky to the touch.” See our fullNectar Premier Mattress review on the hybrid model, a similar mattress with pocketed coils in the base layer for added support.
Most Comfortable Mattress For Couples
A Luxurious Option With Excellent Motion Isolation
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Softer, luxury firm, firmer or plus | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
- Comes in four firmness levels
- Minimal motion transfer
- Exceptional edge support
Cons:
- The WinkBed Plus costs extra
- It’s heavy, so enlist help when setting it up
The WinkBed is found in many of our Forbes Vetted roundups, including the best hotel mattresses, because of its incredibly comfortable and accommodating design. “The WinkBed reminds me of a traditional innerspring bed that’s super durable while offering just enough cushioning with its Euro pillow top,” says Forbes Vetted senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman. “I especially like it for couples and hot sleepers since it tested well with motion isolation, edge support and cooling.” Our team tried the luxury firm model, which scored an 8 out of 10 for motion isolation and a 9 for edge support—meaning you are likely to hardly feel your partner’s (or your pet’s) movements in the middle of the night and you won’t feel like you’re going to roll off if they’re being a mattress hog. The medium-firm model also tested well across all sleeping positions, including back, side and stomach, meaning it’s a good option for couples who sleep in different postures.
The WinkBed is made with a zoned pocketed coil layer that has edge support reinforcements, a blend of foam layers and a plush pillow top that makes the supportive feel more cushy and soft. It reminds us of a bed you’d sleep on in a high-end hotel or expensive Airbnb. Even the Plus model tested well among our team, as heavyweight testers over 250 pounds and lightweight sleepers under 150 pounds both found it comfortable.
Most Comfortable Cooling Mattress
A Soothing Hybrid That Keeps Hot Sleepers Cool
Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Plush, medium or firm | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Limited lifetime
Pros:
- Three firmness levels
- Loaded with specialty cooling materials
- Zoned coils along the edges and lumbar support
Cons:
- Returns cost $99
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling offers comfortable cushion, versatility and cooling relief at a reasonable price, especially considering all of the bed’s upgrades. It’s made with a fluffy pillow top and a GlacioTex cover, which is something you typically pay extra for on other mattresses. It also includes copper-infused foam that absorbs body heat and disperses it away from your body as well as zoned pocketed coils that are more supportive under the lumbar region and around the perimeter for enhanced edge support.
Chapman slept on the mattress for over a month with her husband, who called it the coolest bed he ever tested. “I was extremely impressed by this high-quality mattress,” adds Chapman. “It checks off all my personal boxes—it’s cooling, offers gentle pressure relief, is supportive and easy to move around on. I found the medium model to have a slightly softer feel that worked for both side and back sleeping.” See our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Cooling Luxe Mattress review for more details.
Most Comfortable Mattress For Back Pain
An Innerspring With Customizable Height And Comfort
Type: Innerspring hybrid | Firmness: Plush soft, luxury firm or firm | Delivery: Free white-glove delivery (arrives flat) | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
- Customizable firmness and height
- Enhanced lumbar support
- Edges are sturdy to sit on
Cons:
- Prone to motion transfer
- Costs $99 to return
Not many mattresses are fit with as many spinal reinforcements to target back pain as the Saatva Classic. It’s ergonomically designed from top to bottom to promote better alignment, starting with a zoned quilted pillow top that’s denser under the lumbar region for added lift. Under the hood sits a memory foam lumbar crown and a micro-coil layer that makes the mattress even more supportive. It also has a patented “Lumbar Spinal Wire” layer and an innerspring system with 13-gauge steel coils (in other words, they’re strong and dense). Each mattress is made to order in the United States and is delivered via white-glove delivery, including a free removal of your old mattress if you’d like.
“I think the Saatva Classic has one of the best values in the online mattress world,” says Chapman. “It has stellar edge support, breathable and cooling materials, and feels like a high-end bed from the cover to the base. I do think the plush soft and luxury firm models offer a slightly firmer feel than advertised, though.” For those who live with back pain, the luxury firm or firm profile are the most accommodating picks. Read more in our Saatva Classic Mattress review.
Most Comfortable Mattress For Stomach Sleepers
A Flippable Mattress For Fans Of Firm Beds
Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Firm to extra-firm (flippable) | Delivery: Free shipping | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: 10 years
Pros:
- Flippable design to suit fluid sleep preferences
- Available in nontraditional sizes
- Cooling cover upgrade available
Cons:
- Not a good match for most side sleepers
If you’re accustomed to a firm mattress or know it can be helpful for your spinal support, don’t be intimidated by a mattress with a name like “Plank”: This one from Brooklyn Bedding is our go-to firm mattress recommendation. It’s ideal for back and stomach sleepers or those over 250 pounds who need more support than your average medium-firm mattress provides. “I would rate this mattress a 9 [out of 10] for back sleeping,” said one of our testers. “I felt lifted and supported. What was really nice was that I could feel bits of my lower spine decompress, which was especially nice since I struggle with regularly lower back pain.” And with a dual-sided design—meaning there is a different firmness level on each side—you can determine which feel of the two feels is ideal for you.
"The Plank Firm truly lives up to its name and is one of the firmest beds I’ve ever tested,” says Chapman. “It tested great for motion isolation and I found it easy to move around on, so it’s a good option for couples after a super-firm feel.”
RECOMMENDED BYFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Our team of writers and editors have years of testing and research experience, and have curated a robust library of mattress and sleep guides. This includes not only recommendations for products, like the best mattresses under $1,000, the best mattresses for back pain and the best pillows, but also advice on things like how to dispose of a mattress.
- The author of this article, McKenzie Dillon, is a mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted who has been testing sleep and bedding products for six years, including many of the mattresses that appear in this story. She is also a certified sleep science coach and stress management coach.
- Bridget Chapman is Forbes Vetted’s senior mattress and sleep editor and oversees the category alongside Dillon. She and Dillon have collectively tested over 150 mattresses, and Chapman also has earned her sleep science coach certification.
- This story was edited by Emmy Favilla, Forbes Vetted’s managing editor, a 20-year industry veteran who has been covering commerce content for over eight years and has tested several of these mattresses firsthand as well.
How We Chose The Most Comfortable Mattresses
To select the eight most comfortable mattresses on the market, we relied on firsthand testing, our own expertise, expert insight and consumer reviews.
- We focused on mattresses that either fell within the medium to medium-firm range or ones that offered multiple firmness level options in order to accommodate a wide range of sleeping positions and body types.
- Each mattress on our list was tested by Chapman, Dillon and/or other seasoned editors on the Forbes Vetted team.
- We tested each mattress for different features and performance factors including firmness, feel, motion isolation, ease of movement, edge support and more.
- Every mattress on our list comes with a trial period of at least 100 nights, ensuring you have plenty of time to break it in. Many also offer lifetime warranties.
- We only included options that have been well-received by consumers, with each mattress averaging at least a 4-star (out of 5) rating.
What To Consider When Shopping For The Most Comfortable Mattress
When it comes to mattresses, comfort is subjective and can depend on a variety of factors including your body type, sleeping position(s), particular health conditions and more. Keep these considerations in mind when you’re trying to identify the most comfortable mattress for your needs.
Mattress Material
Mattresses generally come in either all-foam or hybrid constructions and are made with a blend of different materials. These are the most common:
- Memory foam: This is a slow-responding and pressure-relieving material that leaves an impression in the mattress when you apply pressure. It offers a comforting and hugging feel, but is known for retaining heat if it doesn’t have any cooling abilities.
- Latex foam: Latex foam is either synthetic or natural and organic. Natural and organic latex is made from the sap of a rubber tree and has antimicrobial benefits, in addition to being breathable, durable and supportive. Note that latex foam is more expensive than other materials.
- Poly foam: This is a neutral foam that’s commonly found in seat cushions. It’s more responsive and breathable than memory foam, but it’s also a cheaper material.
- Innersprings: Innersprings are a more traditional mattress material, made up of one system of steel coils that provide the bulk of a bed’s support.
- Pocketed coils: These are a modern twist on innersprings; each steel coil is covered in fabric and works independently. That way, coils only spring up and down where pressure is applied as opposed to movement of whole system.
Firmness
Medium-firm mattresses tend to hit that sweet spot for universal comfort across all types of sleepers. Most hotel mattresses are medium-firm to accommodate a broad range of guests. However, comfort in relation to firmness is subjective. What may feel right to you could be unbearable to someone else, and vice versa.
Sleeping Position
Each sleeping position requires a certain firmness level to ensure that you maintain a proper spinal alignment while you rest. Otherwise, a misaligned spine can lead to back, neck or hip pain come morning. As a general rule of thumb:
- Side sleepers should consider a medium to soft mattress that contours to the curves of their hips and shoulders.
- Back and stomach sleepers should consider a medium-firm to firm mattress that properly lifts the spine and prevents sagging.
- Combination sleepers should cater to their dominant sleeping position or consider a medium to medium-firm mattress that balances support and pressure relief.
Body Type
Your body weight impacts how firm a mattress feels as well, and the heavier you are, the softer a mattress tends to feel. Keep this in mind when you’re selecting the best firmness for your sleeping position and body type. We also recommend hybrid mattresses to those who weigh over 250 pounds because they offer more support, durability and longevity than all-foam mattresses provide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Type Of Mattress Is Most Comfortable?
The most comfortable mattress for you depends on your sleeping position, body type and health conditions like back or hip pain. Side sleepers are typically most comfortable on a medium to soft mattress while back and stomach sleepers need a medium-firm to firm mattress that promotes good spinal alignment.
What Firmness Of Mattress Do Most Hotels Use?
Many hotels furnish their rooms with a medium-firm mattress because it hits that perfect sweet spot for most sleepers between soft and firm. It offers good enough support to keep the spine from sagging, but it’s soft enough to cushion the hips and shoulders.
Which Type Of Mattress Is Most Comfortable For Sleep?
Memory foam mattresses are ideal if you like a doughy and hugging feel, including side sleepers or those with joint pain. They’re also great at isolating motion when you sleep with a restless partner. Latex foam and hybrid mattresses, however, are best if you want something more supportive, breathable and responsive.
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