Quick look at the best foam mattresses
- Best cooling foam mattress: Casper Original Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best quilted foam mattress: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best luxury foam mattress: Saatva Loom & Leaf | Skip to Review
- Best affordable foam mattress: Nolah Original Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best hybrid foam mattress: Purple Hybrid Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best organic hybrid foam mattress: Avocado Green Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best foam mattress for tossing and turning: WinkBeds GravityLux Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best foam mattress for heavier body weights: The Big Fig | Skip to Review
- Best foam mattress for combination sleepers: Puffy Lux Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best foam mattress for side sleepers: Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress | Skip to Review
- Best foam mattress for back sleepers: Helix Dusk | Skip to Review
Pricing guide
- $ = under $1,000
- $$ = $1,000–$1,500
- $$$ = over $1,500
Comparison table
Mattress and price | trial period | warranty |
---|---|---|
Casper Original Mattress $$ | 100 nights | 10 years |
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress $$ | 365 nights | lifetime |
Saatva Loom & Leaf $$$ | 365 nights | lifetime |
Nolah Original Mattress $$ | 120 nights | lifetime |
Purple Hybrid Mattress $$$ | 100 nights | 10 years |
Avocado Green Mattress $$$ | 365 nights | 25 years |
WinkBeds GravityLux Mattress $$$ | 120 nights | lifetime |
The Big Fig $$$ | 120 nights | 20 years |
Puffy Lux Mattress $$$ | 101 nights | lifetime |
Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress $$$ | 100 nights | 10 years |
Helix Dusk $$ | 100 nights | 10 years |
Mattresses have come a long way since the traditional innerspring mattress.
You now have lots of options, which is a great thing. According to older research, the right mattress can go a long way to help reduce pain when you’re sleeping.
But with so many options, it can be tough to narrow things down before you make the leap into a big purchase. If you’re interested in a foam mattress but don’t know where to start, look no further.
Here’s a glimpse of the best foam mattresses and how to choose one.
Healthline’s picks for the best foam mattresses
Best cooling foam mattress
Casper Original Mattress
- Price: $$
- Mattress type: memory foam
- Height: 11 inches
- Best for: combination sleepers
The Casper Original Mattress is made of three layers of breathable foam that’s CertiPUR-US certified. The top layer has thousands of perforations to give body heat and humidity an escape hatch to help you stay cooler all night long.
The foam mattress is divided into three zones to offer more supportive foam under your hips and softer foam under your shoulders.
Reviewers rave about their improved sleep quality, and many attribute it to cooler sleep and great targeted support. They also note the foam is firm without being too hard, although some mention it does have a lengthy break-in time. In short, it’s a people pleaser if you like the feel of a breathable foam mattress.
Still, it’s best to try before you buy, which Casper lets you do. You can test out the mattress for 100 nights with no commitment. It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Pros
- zoned support for proper spinal alignment
- perforated foam for cooler sleep
Cons
- mattress may be very firm right out of the box to some, and it takes a while to soften
Best quilted foam mattress
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Price: $$
- Mattress type: memory foam and gel foam
- Height: 12 inches
- Best for: side and combination sleepers
The Nectar mattress is made up of four foam layers, starting with a stabilizing layer at the bottom. The other layers include:
- a layer designed to keep you from sinking into the mattress
- a gel foam layer that keeps you cool
- a quilted cooling cover that’s soft to the touch
There’s also a shift-resistant bottom cover to keep everything in place.
This foam mattress comes with a 1-year trial and a “forever warranty” that guarantees Nectar will replace or repair the mattress if it’s defective.
Reviewers mostly say that Nectar’s customer service is great and the mattress provides excellent support for sleeping. It’s rated medium-firm, so if you like to sleep on a harder surface, this pick may feel a little soft.
Pros
- medium-firm rating accommodates a wide range of sleepers
- generous home trial period and warranty
Cons
- may feel a little too soft for people who prefer really firm mattresses
Best luxury foam mattress
Saatva Loom & Leaf
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: memory foam and gel foam
- Height: 12 inches
- Best for: all sleep positions
The Loom & Leaf is Saatva’s premium memory foam mattress. Each one is made to order with CertiPUR-US certified memory foam and high density foam layers to deliver superior pressure relief and stability. Gel-infused foam adds more pressure-relieving benefits and helps keep the mattress cool.
The mattress is available in two comfort levels. Relaxed firm is the most popular option and suitable for any sleeping position. Firm is a good choice for stomach and back sleepers, or anyone who prefers a firmer sleep surface.
You can test out the Saatva Loom & Leaf memory foam mattress at home during a 365-night home trial. Plus, your mattress comes with free in-room delivery and setup.
Pros
- choice of comfort levels
- premium, eco-friendly materials
- white-glove delivery
Cons
- high price point
Best affordable foam mattress
Nolah Original
- Price: $$
- Mattress type: polyurethane foam
- Height: 10 inches
- Best for: side, combination sleepers
The Nolah Original is a bestseller. This foam mattress is made entirely with Nolah AirFoam, a patented, high resilience polyurethane foam. According to the brand, that means all the benefits of memory foam without the heat retention or sinking sensation. Plus, they say it has a more responsive feel.
The Nolah Original has a middle-of-the-road feel that’s intended to balance comfort and support. A medium firmness level accommodates all sleeping positions.
Nolah offers a 120-night home trial and free shipping. All mattresses have a lifetime warranty. Keep an eye out for frequent sales that drop the price for a queen under $1,000.
Pros
- good price point
- lifetime warranty
Cons
- only one firmness option
Best hybrid foam mattress
Purple Hybrid Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: hybrid (Purple Grid, coils ,and foam)
- Height: 11 inches
- Best for: side, combination sleepers
If you sleep with a partner and want something with great motion isolation, then you’ll love this hybrid mattress.
The gridded layer flexes under the pressure of your body so your shoulders, hips, and back are supported. There are also air channels throughout the mattress to neutralize body heat. The polyurethane foam is CertiPUR-US certified.
Reviews say their sleep-related pain and stiffness are gone after sleeping on the Purple mattress.
Pros
- great motion isolation
- cooling and supportive
Cons
- high price point
Best organic hybrid foam mattress
Avocado Green Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: hybrid (latex and coils)
- Height: 11 or 13 inches
- Best for: back and stomach sleepers
If you’re a shopper who’s trying to buy green, then the Avocado Green Mattress is for you.
This hybrid mattress is certified organic and made with GOLS-certified latex and GOTS-certified wool and cotton. It also includes support coils to provide comfort through the night. The uppermost layer is an optional pillow top that adds more comfort for pressure relief and a high quality feel.
Online reviewers say:
- this mattress has an appropriate amount of firmness
- the pillow top adds cushion for sore muscles
- that Avocado’s customer service is great because they’ll walk you through all your questions
One thing to note is that some customers say this mattress is best for back sleepers. Side sleepers should consider the pillow-top upgrade.
The Avocado Green Mattress comes with a 1-year trial and 10-year prorated warranty.
Pros
- certified organic
- hypoallergenic
Cons
- high price point
- pillow top is a costly upgrade
Best foam mattress for tossing and turning
WinkBeds GravityLux Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: hybrid (memory foam and coils)
- Height: 11 inches
- Best for: combination sleepers
The GravityLux foam hybrid mattress from WinkBeds is for sleepers who toss and turn and thus want contouring and no heat retention. Additionally, if you want motion isolation, responsiveness, and a mattress that’s good for all sleeping styles, then you might want to check out this mattress.
It’s made of three layers of memory foam with a gel-infused Tencel cover. You can choose the firmness level that works for you:
- soft
- luxury firm
- firm
- plus
Customers receive a 120-night risk-free trial and a lifetime warranty. Reviews of this mattress say it helps them sleep pain-free, but it’s a little pricey. Look for discounts that bring the price tag down below $1,500.
Pros
- accommodates all sleeping positions
- choice of comfort levels
- lifetime warranty
Cons
- high price point
- may be too warm for hot sleepers
Best foam mattress for heavier body weights
The Big Fig
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: hybrid (foam and coils)
- Height: 13 inches
- Best for: all sleeping positions
The Big Fig was specifically designed to address some of the common problems people with heavier body weights tend to have on standard foam mattresses.
On this mattress, that means:
- high density foams to help prevent mattress sagging
- high quality materials to prevent softening
- individually wrapped coils for more back support
- cooling features to keep you more comfortable
The mattress also uses a firmer edge foam, so you can make the most of the entire sleeping surface.
The Big Fig mattress can support up to 550 pounds per sleeper. It comes with a 20-year warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.
Pros
- accommodates up to 1,100 pounds of body weight total
- cooling and supportive
Cons
- higher price point
Best foam mattress for combination sleepers
Puffy Lux Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: memory foam
- Height: 12 inches
- Best for: combination sleepers
If you’re someone who cycles through all sleep positions at night, this memory foam mattress may work great for you. It’s comfortable whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach.
The Puffy Lux Mattress includes a breathable top layer to keep you cool. It’s also designed to align your spine with four layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam.
A hypoallergenic choice, it comes with a stain-resistant OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified cover. It’s designed to work with multiple types of bases, including:
- adjustable
- box springs
- slats
The mattress comes with a 101-night trial and a lifetime warranty. Reviewers say it’s like sleeping on a cloud.
Pros
- hypoallergenic
- designed for all sleeping positions
Cons
- higher price point
Best foam mattress for side sleepers
Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: memory foam and gel foam
- Height: 12 inches
- Best for: side sleepers
The Mint Mattress from Tuft & Needle has three layers of foam with reinforced edge support. The company recommends it for side sleepers, and side-sleeping reviewers give it rave reviews. It’s also a good choice for people who share their bed with a partner.
The mattress is made with breathable foam, including cool gel foam, and has a medium firmness. It’s been awarded Intertek’s Clean Air Certification, meaning it passes volatile organic compound (VOC) emission tests. According to the EPA, VOCs can have a negative effect on health.
Tuft & Needle offers a 100-night trial and a 10-year limited warranty.
Pros
- superior pressure relief is ideal for side sleepers
- minimizes motion transfer
Cons
- only available in a single firmness option
Best foam mattress for back sleepers
Helix Dusk
- Price: $$
- Mattress type: hybrid (foam and coils)
- Height: 12 inches
- Best for: back sleepers
The Helix Dusk is a hybrid mattress made to support sleepers who prefer stomach or back sleeping positions. It has a medium feel. Layers of reactive and supportive foams and coils offer even support, and help ensure proper spinal alignment.
Helix uses CertiPUR-US certified foams and a hypoallergenic cover. The mattress has a 100-night home trial and ships free.
Reviewers note that the Dusk mattress strikes the ideal balance of comfort and support.
Pros
- designed to specifically support stomach or back sleep positions
- medium feel is universally comfortable
Cons
- may be too firm for side sleepers
Healthline Reviews: Best Foam Mattresses
Pros and cons of sleeping on a foam mattress
Foam mattresses can offer a lot of advantages:
- They’re soft and conforming. Many people enjoy the soft, contouring feel of foam mattresses, which hug your body and regain their shape as you move.
- They’re widely available. Foam mattresses are often available from bed-in-a-box retailers, so they’re easy to find from lots of different brands.
- They’re a good choice for couples. Foam mattresses absorb movement really well, so they’re a good choice if you share your bed.
- They come in a lot of options. Foam mattresses can be made with different kinds of foam, which makes it easier to find one that’s best suited to your sleeping habits.
On the downside, durability and support can be drawbacks to some foam mattresses. That’s because quality can vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of foam used. It’s important to find a reputable brand that uses quality materials.
Some foam is associated with off-gassing. That means it emits a strong chemical odor, and it can linger. People who are sensitive to scent may want to consider nontoxic mattress materials, like natural latex.
Safety certifications, including those from CertiPUR-US, are also a good way to steer clear of any potentially dangerous chemicals.
If you opt for a hybrid mattress, you can avoid some of the durability and support disadvantages of some all-foam mattresses. Hybrids pair comfort layers made of different materials, including foams, with a layer of supportive coils. These coils are designed to support your body weight, so you don’t have a sinking sensation.
Types of foam mattresses
Foam mattress options can seem overwhelming. But once you learn the vocab, it’s easier to know what to look for when you’re shopping.
Memory foam
Mattresses made from memory foam, or polyurethane foam, conform to your body when you lay on them. They come in a few different densities to cradle you as you sleep.
However, some people may find that memory foam gives them a feeling of “sinking in” to the bed.
Gel foam
Gel foam mattresses are designed to help distribute heat across the bed to cool you down and reduce sweating. Many mattresses incorporate both gel and memory foam.
Hybrid
These mattresses include both a foam layer and an innerspring layer for support and longevity. Sometimes they include a pillow top layer as well.
Since these mattresses have coils, they’re not a true foam mattress, but they can be a good choice for someone who wants the best of both worlds.
Latex foam
Latex foam can be either natural (made from rubber trees) or synthetic. Proponents of latex foam say it’s springier than memory foam and it sleeps cool. As a bonus, natural latex is eco-friendly.
How we chose the best foam mattresses
To choose these mattresses, we focused on indicators of quality, including:
- Compliance with federal flammability standards. All mattresses on our list comply with Federal Flammability Standard, 16 CFR part 1633, and 16 CFR part 1632.
- Third-party safety certifications. We looked for mattresses with material certifications like Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), CertiPUR-US, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
- In-home trial periods. We only included mattresses that let you try them out in your home.
- Warranties. All our picks come with warranties, though these vary.
We chose mattresses made from various materials and at several price points. All reviews are based on the queen-sized mattress from each brand.
What to look for in a foam mattress
When you’re getting ready to buy a foam mattress, there are a few things you’ll want to consider:
- Reviews. Lots of mattresses are now sold online, and lots of customers post their reviews online too. Look at what buyers say about the mattress, especially if they have a similar sleeping style or similar concerns as you do.
- Budget. Foam mattresses can vary a lot in price — from under to well over $1,000.
- Sleeping style. Some mattresses say they’re specially designed for certain sleeping styles. You may want to take this into consideration, though it’s best to keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for everyone.
- At-home trials. Especially if you’re buying online, look for a mattress that comes with a free in-home trial. That way, if you don’t like the mattress, you won’t be stuck with it.
- Warranties. Read any warranty information before you buy, and be sure you understand the limitations of each particular product’s warranty.
- Firmness. Firmness comes down to preference. But in general, if you sleep on your side, you might do better with a softer mattress, while back and stomach sleepers may prefer something firmer. Also, if you like a mattress with a little more support, you might want to go with a hybrid foam mattress rather than all-foam.
- Cooling. If you sleep hot, you might want to avoid memory foam, or you can look for a mattress that includes cooling features like perforations or gel foam.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no single best mattress in any material. Comfort is super subjective, and preferences will dictate what someone considers the “best.”
It’s wise to shop for a mattress made with:
- high-quality materials
- certifications that indicate safety
- lots of positive reviews from verified customers
When it comes right down to it, the best mattress for you is the one that feels most comfortable.
However, if you’re dealing with pain, some evidence suggests memory foam mattresses may be helpful. According to an older 2015 study, people who slept on medium-firm memory foam mattresses saw better sleep efficiency and a decrease in pain.
Keep in mind this is just one study. The best way to figure out if you like a mattress is to try it and see if it works for you.
Foam mattresses can be a healthy, supportive sleep surface. Make sure to look for an option that will keep your spine aligned in your preferred sleeping position, and keep an eye out for CertiPUR-US certifications too.
Foam mattresses can vary wildly in quality, so it’s important to do your homework.
Some kinds of foam, like memory foam, can emit chemicals in a process known as off-gassing. Foam mattresses as a group are also associated with greater heat retention.
Plus, not everyone enjoys the deep contouring effect of some kinds of foam.
It comes down to preference. A foam mattress may be a better option if you want to minimize motion transfer or you’re predominantly a side sleeper looking for pressure relief.
A spring mattress may be a good choice if you’re looking for stronger spinal support, you tend to sleep hot, or you prefer the sensation of sleeping “on” a mattress and not “in” it.
The standard thickness for a memory foam mattress is 10 to 12 inches, which should be sufficient for the average adult sleeper. Thicknesses can range from eight inches in budget mattresses to 14 inches or more in luxury brands.
Thicker memory foam mattresses tend to offer more support, so you’ll want to look for a taller mattress if you have a heavier, bigger body type, you sleep on your side, share your mattress with a partner, or you have issues with back pain.
There are several types of foam used in mattresses today, and the best type comes down to personal needs and preferences. Memory foam is supportive and pressure relieving, but it has a tendency to trap heat and has a close contour that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Some research suggests that memory foam mattresses are associated with better sleep outcomes.
Polyurethane foam is inexpensive and supportive, but the material can be prone to developing impressions over time and lacks durability. Off-gassing can also be a concern, especially when the mattress is new.
Latex foam is made from rubber tree sap, and there are also synthetic versions available. It offers similar pressure-relieving properties as memory foam without the heat retention. It’s also incredibly durable and natural latex is an eco-friendly choice, but it can be expensive.
Takeaway
Buying a foam mattress is a great choice as long as you make sure you choose the right one for your needs.
While no one foam mattress is magic, a good one can help you sleep easy. Consider third-party material certifications, and pay attention to online reviews.