We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Was this helpful?

It’s not easy to name the best mattresses, because there are so many variables at play.

There’s your preferred sleeping position, whether you share your bed with a partner, child, or pet, and your personal definition of what’s comfortable.

To cast a wide net and find something for everyone, we looked high and low for the best mattresses in a range of categories.

Read on for our top picks for all types of sleepers.

To compile this list, we started by identifying some of the most common mattress considerations. Think cooling features, materials, firmness, and sleeping positions. Then, we looked for mattresses to meet a variety of needs in each of these categories.

All the mattresses on our list meet federal safety standards. We prioritized those made with materials that are certified safe and sustainable, as well as mattresses that offer different firmness levels.

We considered reviews from real customers for a better idea of how these mattresses perform night after night. We also checked for realistic trial periods and reasonable warranties.

Pricing guide

This roundup includes a variety of mattress types and features. We compared prices for standard queen mattresses.

Keep in mind that costs vary depending on mattress size, upgrades, and other options.

  • $ = under $1,000
  • $$ = $1,000–$1,600
  • $$$ = over $1,600

Best mattress for back sleepers

Saatva Classic Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king

The Saatva Classic is the brand’s flagship hybrid innerspring mattress, with a base layer of traditional support coils, a layer of individually pocketed coils, layers of CertiPUR-US certified high density memory foam, and a 3-inch Euro pillow top.

It’s offered in two height options and three firmness levels at no additional charge. While the luxury firm option is the bestseller and suitable for all sleeping styles,the firm Saatva Classic is made with firmer foams to better accommodate those who sleep on their back or stomach. Few mattress companies offer specific models or firmnesses for sleep positions, making this one stand out.

The mattress comes with Saatva’s free white-glove delivery and a 365-night sleep trial. It also has a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • It’s available in two heights and three firmness options at no extra charge.
  • The “firm” firmness option is designed to accommodate both stomach and back sleepers.
  • The mattress comes with white-glove delivery and a 365-night home trial.

Cons

  • Some reviewers mention issues with the mattress’s durability.
  • The mattress has a higher price than many of the other options on our list.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Saatva Classic Mattress online.

Best memory foam mattress

Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: memory foam
  • Height: 12 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king

The Loom & Leaf Mattress is Saatva’s memory foam mattress, and it’s praised by hundreds of happy customers.

The mattress is well made, with breathable, gel-infused memory foam and high-density foam layers that are designed for cooling and contouring support.

The mattress cover is made with Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton and treated with an antimicrobial finish. The mattress foams meet CertiPUR-US standards.

This mattress is available in two comfort levels. The relaxed firm option is the most popular and is suitable for all sleeping styles.

The firm mattress is an 8 on a 10-point scale and works best for stomach sleepers or those who prefer a very firm mattress. According to Saatva, it offers a feeling of floating on top of the mattress instead of sinking into it (which is common with memory foam).

Saatva’s Loom & Leaf Mattress has a 365-night sleep trial and free white-glove delivery. It also has a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • It’s available in two heights and three firmness options at no extra charge.
  • Saatva produces this mattress with eco-friendly materials, and the foam is CertiPUR-US certified.
  • The mattress comes with white-glove delivery and a 365-night home trial.

Cons

  • The mattress has a high price point.
  • At 93 pounds, the queen mattress is on the heavy side, which could make it challenging to move.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress online.

Best mattress for combination sleepers

The DreamCloud

  • Price: $
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 14 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

Sleepers who move from one position to another throughout the night will benefit from a responsive mattress that has support and pressure point relief. It will help them sleep all night long, no matter what position they’re in.

That’s where the DreamCloud comes in. This luxury hybrid mattress mixes individually wrapped coils for support in any position with pressure-relieving, CertiPUR-US certified gel memory foam.

Rated 6.5 on a 10-point firmness scale, The DreamCloud is said to have a “luxury firm” feel that’s a good balance between soft and supportive.

This mattress has a 365-night sleep trial, free shipping and returns, and a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • It has a luxury-firm feel that should appeal to many sleepers.
  • The materials used are CertiPUR-US certified.
  • It’s designed to work with all types of bed frames.

Cons

  • The company doesn’t offer white-glove delivery.
  • The mattress comes in only one firmness.
Was this helpful?

Buy The DreamCloud online.

Best mattress for back pain

Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 13 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

If you’re waking up with back pain, trying a new mattress that provides more support is one place to start after seeking professional care.

The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress is the brand’s most supportive mattress. It’s designed with zoned support for ergonomic spinal alignment to reduce back pain.

The brand’s gel pods are intended to cradle your hips to prevent sinking. Resilient springs add lift, minimal bounce, and airflow, while a cooling gel layer is intended to keep you comfy all night long.

The mattress is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, and it’s made with foams that are CertiPUR-US certified.

The Casper Wave has a 100-night sleep trial, free no-contact delivery, and a 10-year limited warranty.

Pros

  • The mattress has strategically placed gel pods that aim to help you maintain spinal alignment and reduce back pain.
  • A cooling gel layer and perforations in other layers help keep sleepers cool all night long.
  • The mattress ships with free, no-contact delivery to your door.

Cons

  • The mattress has a very high price.
  • There’s no option for white-glove delivery, and at 111 pounds, a queen-size Casper Wave is heavy.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress online.

Best mattress for side sleepers

Helix Midnight Luxe

  • Price: $$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 14 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The Helix Midnight Luxe is specifically designed for people who snooze on their side. It features zoned lumbar-support coils for a soft feel beneath the shoulders and a firmer area under the hips to provide additional support.

Helix says the mattress design helps maintain spinal alignment and offers cradling support with its blend of CertiPUR-US certified and hypoallergenic materials.

You can try the Helix Midnight Luxe at home for 100 nights. It also comes with free shipping and a 15-year warranty.

Pros

  • The mattress is designed for pressure point relief to accommodate side sleepers.
  • Its materials are CertiPUR-US certified.
  • The mattress comes with white-glove delivery and a 365-night home trial.

Cons

  • There’s only one option for firmness.
  • At 14 inches tall, it might be too tall for some sleepers.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Helix Midnight Luxe online.

Best mattress for higher body weights

Helix Plus

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 13 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The Helix Plus is a mattress designed for taller people and people with more weight. It has an extra layer of high-density foam and a strong wrapped coil system to offer pressure-relieving support, durability, and comfort.

The foam in this mattress is CertiPUR-US certified. It has a medium feel, so you can snooze peacefully all night long. Plus, a reinforced perimeter creates support all the way to the edges of the mattress.

Helix offers a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping in the United States, and a 15-year limited warranty.

Pros

  • The mattress addresses some of the durability, comfort, and performance issues that people with higher body weights may experience with other mattresses.
  • The foam in this mattress is CertiPUR-US certified.
  • It has a medium feel, which should suit a range of sleepers.

Cons

  • There’s only one option for firmness.
  • Some reviewers note it’s not supportive enough for stomach sleepers.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Helix Plus online.

Best cooling mattress

Casper Wave Hybrid Snow

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 13 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The Wave Hybrid Snow mattress builds on the Wave Hybrid with advanced cooling features. According to Casper, these features help prevent overheating for 12+ hours.

The mattress is made with a cooling cover and gel layer that offer a refreshing, cool-to-the-touch feel. Three layers of perforated foam help minimize overheating, while cooling bands help vent excess body heat.

The mattress features the same gel pod placement as the Casper Wave Hybrid, which helps keep your spine aligned and supported in any sleep position.

Casper ships its mattress free and gives you 100 nights to test it out.

Pros

  • It’s designed with advanced cooling features to prevent overheating for cooler, more comfortable sleep.
  • The mattress features gel placement that’s just like that of the Casper Wave Hybrid to help keep your spine aligned, regardless of the sleeping position you prefer.
  • The mattress ships with free, no-contact delivery and arrives at your doorstep.

Cons

  • This bed is expensive.
  • There’s only one option for firmness.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Casper Wave Hybrid Snow online.

Best mattress for couples

Saatva Solaire Adjustable Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 13.5 inches
  • Sizes available: twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king

One of the biggest mattress challenges for couples is finding a firmness that suits both people. An adjustable mattress, like the Saatva Solaire, can be a good solution.

With dual air chambers and 50 different firmness settings, this mattress lets you and your partner tinker until you find your ideal level of support and comfort.

The mattress is made with GOTS certified cotton, CertiPUR-US certified foams, and OEKO-TEX certified Talalay latex.

Keep in mind that adjustable air mattresses come at premium prices. You may want to consider an adjustable base as well, which is an additional, and considerable, cost.

The Solaire comes with Saatva’s standard free white-glove delivery service, a 365-night sleep trial, and a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • With 50 firmness combinations in queen-size mattresses and larger, this is a great choice for couples who have different preferences.
  • It’s designed to have little motion transfer, another perk for couples.
  • The mattress has a generous 365-night home trial and lifetime warranty.

Cons

  • The mattress is on the expensive side.
  • The adjustability, and corresponding components, could spell a greater risk of breaking or other issues.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Saatva Solaire Adjustable Mattress online.

Best gel mattress

Purple Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Type: gel
  • Height: 9.25 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king

Purple named itself, and made a name for itself, based on the company’s proprietary gel grid, a breathable elastic system that flexes to support your body and springs back as you move. There are over 31,000 reviews of the Purple mattress to date, and the overwhelming majority give the bed full marks, or five stars.

Purple describes its mattress as temperature-neutral, with more than 1,800 air channels to keep you cool and comfortable. The company also notes that the dual-layer comfort foam base adds additional support and reduces pressure on the hips and shoulders for comfort all night long.

The Purple Mattress has a 100-night trial, a 10-year warranty, and free shipping and returns.

Pros

  • This mattress is incredibly well reviewed.
  • The proprietary GelFlex Grid material is hypoallergenic, breathable, and pressure relieving.
  • The mattress ships free and will arrive right at your door.

Cons

  • There are no options for firmness or height.
  • At just over 9 inches tall, it may not be thick enough to fill every bed frame or tall enough for some people’s preferences.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Purple Mattress online.

Best mattress for pressure point pain

Amerisleep AS3

  • Price: $$
  • Type: memory foam
  • Height: 12 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king

Waking up with aches and pains is often a sign that your mattress lacks support in the right spots.

Amerisleep’s AS3 is designed for alignment, with a transitional layer that the brand says provides extra support beneath your head, back, and legs. There’s also extra cushioning for the shoulders and hips, which helps relieve pressure point pain and how much pressure you actually put on highly-impact areas, like the shoulders and hips.

The mattress is made with Bio-Pur foam, which Amerisleep says is an eco-friendly and cooling memory foam that’s breathable, responsive, and CertiPUR-US certified.

Amerisleep’s AS3 comes with a 100-night trial, free shipping and returns, and a 20-year warranty.

Pros

  • The bed has a special comfort layer that’s designed to contour to the body for pressure point relief.
  • According to the company, its Bio-Pur foam is cooler and more eco-friendly than traditional memory foam.
  • The mattress is really well reviewed.

Cons

  • There are no options to change the firmness or height when you buy it.
  • Some reviewers found it too firm.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Amerisleep AS3 online.

Best organic mattress

Avocado Green Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 11 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The organic mattress space is growing steadily, but Avocado is probably still the best-known brand.

The Avocado Green Mattress is a very well-reviewed hybrid mattress made with Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certified latex, GOTS certified wool and cotton, and a pocketed coil support system.

This nontoxic mattress is also Greenguard Gold certified.

Avocado rates its mattress as medium firm, offering balanced comfort, support, and firmness. According to Avocado, it’s particularly well suited for back and stomach sleepers.

Upgrading to the optional pillow top takes the firmness down to 6 on a 10-point scale, making it a better fit for side sleepers, combination sleepers, or anyone looking for pressure point relief.

The mattress comes with a 1-year trial, free shipping, and a 25-year warranty.

Pros

  • The mattress is made with certified organic materials and meets GOLS, GOTS, and Greenguard Gold standards.
  • It’s very well reviewed.
  • It comes with a 1-year trial.

Cons

  • The pillow top option is a pricey upgrade. You can likely find a softer mattress that’s cheaper if you’re thinking of getting this add-on.
  • With a queen size weighing 114 pounds, it’s a heavy mattress to move.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Avocado Green Mattress online.

Best hybrid mattress

PlushBeds The Luxury Bliss

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 12 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king

The Luxury Bliss mattress from PlushBeds is a latex hybrid combining layers of GOLS certified latex with a pocketed coil core. The brand says this results in buoyant support and cooling comfort.

According to PlushBeds, the fabric-encased coils respond individually to various points on your body, creating minimal motion transfer. Reviewers seem to agree. Hundreds of reviewers have praised the bed for its balance of softness and support.

It’s also a breathable pick. Organic latex is naturally breathable, while the open arrangement of each coil allows for increased airflow and cooler sleep.

PlushBeds has a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping and returns, and a 25-year warranty.

Pros

  • It combines sturdy coils with buoyant latex for a combination of support and comfort.
  • You have a choice of two firmness options.
  • It uses certified organic materials.

Cons

  • It’s one of the more expensive mattresses on our list.
Was this helpful?

Buy the PlushBeds Luxury Bliss online.

Best latex mattress

Avocado Eco Organic Mattress

  • Price: $
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 10 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The Eco Organic Mattress from Avocado is one of the more affordable organic mattress on the market. It uses GOLS certified organic latex from the company’s sustainable farms in India and Guatemala to provide a buoyant but gentle firmness to help support any sleeping position.

Latex makes for a heavier mattress — a queen-size mattress weighs 94 pounds — but the bed has reinforced handles to make it easier to move. It’s also entirely organic, from the GOTS certified cotton cover to the wool layers. The company even makes its own innersprings from recycled steel.

Avocado offers a 100-night trial for the Eco Organic, free shipping and returns, and a 10-year warranty.

Pros

  • The mattress has a reasonable price point, especially given its quality materials.
  • It’s made with certified organic materials.
  • Organic latex is naturally cooling and should also provide minimal motion transfer.

Cons

  • With a queen-size mattress coming in at 94 pounds, this option is on the heavier side and could be difficult to move.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Avocado Eco Organic Mattress online.

Best for recovery

Molecule Hybrid

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 13 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The Molecule Hybrid mattress is the company’s premium offering. The mattress’s design aims to provide superior support and cooler sleep, according to Molecule. The company says its proprietary foam is made to offer five times the airflow of traditional memory foam. Plus, it’s CertiPUR-US certified.

The mattress has individually wrapped coils to offer greater edge support and pressure relief. This means you can use the whole surface of the bed, which is handy if you share your bed with a partner or pet but both like your space.

This mattress is a newer addition to the Molecule lineup, so reviews are still limited. But to date, customers have raved about the better sleep they’ve gotten on the Molecule Hybrid.

You can try it at home with the company’s 365-night trial. The mattress ships free, and returns are free, too.

Pros

  • The mattress is designed with “adaptive response coils” that aim to make your night’s sleep even better.
  • The bed’s edge support maximizes its sleeping surface, making it a good option for couples.
  • It has a generous 365-night home trial.

Cons

  • It’s on the pricey side.
  • There’s only one firmness level option.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Molecule Hybrid online.

Best for kids

Nolah Nurture 10″

  • Price: $$ (full size)
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 10 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full

The Nolah Nurture 10″ is an organic mattress made just for kids. It combines Talalay latex with recycled steel coils, which can improve the mattress’s life span and performance, according to the company. But the highlight of this bed is its flippable design.

One side of the mattress has a plush feel, while the other is firm. That means your child can choose what’s comfortable today and change it in the future, as needed, while they grow.

Your child can try out the Nolah Nurture at home for 120 nights. It ships for free and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • The mattress has a flippable design that allows it to grow with your child.
  • It’s made with eco-friendly materials, including Talalay latex, organic wool, organic cotton, and recycled steel coils.
  • The hypoallergenic cotton cover is good for children with allergies.

Cons

  • Sizes are limited to twin, twin XL, and full.
  • The price is on the higher side.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Nolah Nurture 10″ online.

Best value

Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Type: memory foam
  • Height: 13 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king

The Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress is an all-in-one offering. The company says it has enhanced cooling, comfort, and support features so you can get really great sleep.

It has CertiPUR-US certified memory foam that adjusts to keep you cool, while a denser foam layer is made to cradle your body and minimize motion transfer.

For all its great features, the Premier is on the lower end of comparable mattresses pricing-wise. Plus the accessories that are included with your purchase make it stand out. The company throws in cooling pillows, a sheet set, and a mattress protector.

The mattress has more than 40,000 reviews to date. Many customers praise its quality and value. It comes with a generous 365-night home trial and a lifetime warranty, as well as free shipping and returns.

Pros

  • It has a reasonable price and comes with useful accessories included free of charge.
  • The mattress is well reviewed and largely adored by customers.
  • It comes with a generous 365-night home trial and lifetime warranty.

Cons

  • At 97 pounds for a queen size, it’s on the heavier side, which will make it challenging to move.
  • There are no options for changing its firmness.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Nectar Premier online.

Best hypoallergenic option

Clean Design Home Rainey Street Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Type: hybrid
  • Height: 14.5 inches
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

The Rainey Street Mattress from Clean Design Home is made in the United States. Each made-to-order mattress is designed to be allergen-free, so it’s a great choice if you need a hypoallergenic sleep surface.

The bed is made with eco-friendly materials, including GOTS-certified cotton and wool, natural latex, and nontoxic, CertiPUR-US certified foam.

Mattresses are new to the Clean Design Home lineup, so reviews are limited right now. Still, the feedback that is available is really positive.

Shoppers have a choice of three firmness options: plush, medium, or firm. There aren’t enough reviews to say how different or accurate the firmness levels are yet, though.

Pros

  • It’s made with safe, nontoxic materials for an allergen-free environment.
  • It’s available with a choice of three firmness options.
  • Each mattress is made to order.

Cons

  • It’s one of the most expensive mattresses on our list.
  • Reviews are limited.
  • There is no trial period.
Was this helpful?

Buy the Clean Design Home Rainey mattress online.

MattressPriceMaterialFirmnessHeight (in inches)
Saatva Classic Mattress$$$hybridplush soft, luxury firm, firm11.5 or 14.5
Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress$$$memory foamrelaxed firm, firm12
The DreamCloud$hybirdluxury firm14
Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress$$$hybridmedium13
Helix Midnight Luxe$$hybridmedium14
Helix Plus$$$hybridmedium firm13
Casper Wave Hybrid Snow$$$hybridmedium13
Saatva Solaire Adjustable Mattress$$$hybrid50 firmness settings13.5
Purple Mattress$$gelmedium firm9.25
Amerisleep AS3$$memory foammedium12
Avocado Green Mattress$$$hybridmedium firm11
PlushBeds The Luxury Bliss$$$hybridmedium, medium firm12
Avocado Eco Organic Mattress$hybridmedium firm10
Molecule Hybrid$$$hybridmedium13
Nolah Nurture 10″$$hybridplush, firm10
Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress$$memory foammedium firm13
Clean Design Home Rainey Street Mattress$$hybridplush, medium, firm14.5

A mattress is a big purchase, so it’s important to consider a few factors before buying.

Specifics about mattress type and features, your preferred sleeping position, and a company’s trial period and warranty can all help you narrow down your options.

Mattress type and materials

Mattresses are generally categorized as innerspring, hybrid, or foam.

True innerspring mattresses were popular years ago. But today’s versions usually fall in the hybrid category, meaning they’re a mix of innerspring coils and top comfort layers. Foam mattresses can include both memory and latex foams for support and comfort.

The materials in a mattress are also an important consideration. If you have a latex allergy, for example, you’ll want to steer clear of any mattresses made with latex foam.

If you tend to sleep warm, materials designed to regulate body temperature, like cooling gel infusions and open-cell foam, are good choices.

Organic materials can be another selling point. But, if organic materials are important to you, it’s always a good idea to look for mattresses that are made with certified ingredients.

Certifications like CertiPUR-US and Greenguard are signs that a mattress is made without harsh chemicals and meet strict standards for emissions.

Dominant sleeping position

Whether you’re a back sleeper, side sleeper, stomach sleeper, or some combination of all three, your sleeping position plays a role in choosing the right mattress. Without the right level of support, you’re setting yourself up for poor sleep and pain.

Back sleepers tend to need a firmer surface to provide proper spinal alignment.

People who sleep on their sides will benefit from a mattress that offers pressure point relief. This means a cushioning surface that will cradle the body.

If you tend to sleep on your stomach, be aware that it can be hard on your spine, and it may lead to back and neck issues. Look for a mattress that offers firm support to keep you aligned through the night.

People who move from one position to another throughout the night are known as combination sleepers. In most cases, a medium-firm mattress will offer the right amount of comfort and support for this active style of sleeping. A mattress that responds well to movement, like latex or a hybrid, is a good choice.

Firmness

Mattress firmness is a common descriptor when you’re mattress shopping. It’s a reference to how the mattress feels when you’re lying on it.

Firmness is usually rated on a scale from 1 to 10. Medium-firm mattresses — between 5 and 7 — are the most popular. This range offers a nice balance of support and comfort.

Still, comfort is subjective, and what’s firm to you might be too soft to someone else. Plus, there’s no universal firmness scale, and mattress brands use their own definitions for firmness. That means there’s quite a bit of variation from one brand to the next.

Trial period and warranty

Shopping online for a mattress can be convenient, but a mattress is often a big investment. What happens if a mattress just doesn’t work out?

In that case, you’ll want a generous trial period and return policy. These should both play into your decision before making a purchase.

Most reputable mattress companies offer trial periods ranging from a couple of months to well over a year. This is so you can really test out a mattress for the long term. It can take time for your body to adjust to a new sleep surface.

Most return policies require buyers to give a new mattress at least 30 days before moving forward with a return or exchange.

Look carefully at return policies. Will you be responsible for shipping or restocking fees? Do you need to make arrangements for the return yourself?

Before buying a mattress, be clear on what goes into the return if you aren’t happy with your purchase.

Most mattresses come with some kind of warranty, but they may not cover everything. Check the fine print in the event of an issue down the road.

Looking for a specific type or size of mattress, or have a particular concern you want to address? Check out our in-depth guides below.

By type

By size

By concern

By sleep style

By feel

By price

By brand

Other mattress-buying help

What should you consider when buying a new mattress?

There are lots of factors that go into buying a mattress. You’ll probably want to think about:

  • your budget
  • your typical sleeping position
  • whether you usually experience any aches and pains at night
  • how much room you have for a mattress
  • whether you sleep with a partner, kids, or pets in the bed

Check out our comprehensive guide for choosing a mattress here.

How often should you replace your mattress?

A mattress will usually last about 8 years. However, depending on the type, it may last for a longer or shorter amount of time.

You’ll know it’s time to replace your mattress when it’s showing signs of wear and tear, when it no longer feels comfortable, or when you’re regularly waking up with aches and pains.

What’s a good price for a mattress?

Mattress prices vary based on the style, materials, and size. You should be able to find a decent queen-size mattress for about $800 to $1,200.

However, there are also good budget picks that cost less than this, especially if you’re opting for a mattress-in-a-box. You can also find luxury mattresses with extra bells and whistles.

Should you try a mattress before buying it?

If possible, try a mattress in a store or by taking advantage of an in-home trial period. Many brands will let you try the mattress for around 100 nights before you make a decision.

What’s the best type of mattress?

There’s no one best type of mattress that works for everyone. If you’re not sure what you might like best, here are a few tips:

  • Choose a memory foam mattress if you like to feel like your bed is cradling you, or if you prioritize good motion isolation.
  • Choose a latex mattress if you like the softness of memory foam but want a little more bounce.
  • Choose an innerspring or hybrid mattress if you like some additional support.

What’s the best size of mattress?

This largely depends on the amount of space you have, and your circumstances. If you sleep with a squirrelly partner, then a larger bed might be better. But if you sleep solo, or like to cuddle all night, a full-size mattress may work just fine.

Queen-size mattresses are the most common size.

Shopping for the best mattress often means doing a lot of homework.

Spend some time thinking about the needs your mattress has to meet. That may mean all organic materials, a highly responsive surface, motion isolation, a certain price point, or other considerations.

Once you’re clear on your preferences and deal breakers, you can start narrowing your search to the mattresses that satisfy your needs.

Keep in mind that the best test of a mattress is sleeping on it for at least a few weeks, so look for a company that offers a generous sleep trial and reasonable return and exchange policies.

Jessica Timmons has been working as a freelance writer since 2007, covering everything from pregnancy and parenting to cannabis, chiropractic, stand-up paddling, fitness, martial arts, home decor, and much more. Her work has appeared in mindbodygreen, Pregnancy & Newborn, Modern Parents Messy Kids, and Coffee + Crumbs. See what she’s up to now at jessicatimmons.com.