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Buying a mattress has never been easier. With just a few clicks, you can get a comfy mattress delivered right to your door. There are a lot of options to sort through, though.

Picking your next plush sleep surface can take some time if you’re not sure what to consider. Below, we provide tips on how to shop for an online mattress and outline our top picks.

We looked for a combination of outstanding company policies, customer satisfaction, and company reputation.

  • Company policies: An in-home sleep trial is an absolute must-have, since most online mattress retailers don’t have brick and mortar locations. We only feature companies with a lengthy trial period. All the mattress companies listed here also provide at least a 10-year warranty and have an easy returns process.
  • Company reputation and transparency: We focus on brands with a solid reputation, who are known for creating high-quality products. We also look for companies with transparent business practices. Companies with socially or environmentally responsible standards are also featured prominently.
  • Customer reviews: Finally, we prioritize mattresses with overwhelmingly positive reviews. If there’s a pattern of reviews written by unhappy customers, we consider that a red flag.
  • Hands-on testing: Five of the mattresses on our list come highly rated from Healthline editors who have tested them.

A note on price

All prices below are based on queen-size mattresses. Note that pricing will vary for other sizes.

Not sure what to pay attention to when shopping for a mattress? Here’s what you need to be concerned about:

Company policies

If you’re buying a mattress online, you’ll want a long in-home trial period, a solid warranty, and an easy returns process.

If you can’t try it out before buying, it’s imperative that you have time to test it in your home. You should be able to return it without any fuss or difficulties. Steer clear of companies with customer reviews that complain about returns.

Look for companies that will remove your old mattress — usually for an additional fee. If you want to hang onto your old mattress for a while, just in case, look into your local garbage service. They may provide free mattress disposal.

Mattress type

What’s the best type of mattress? It depends on your needs.

Innerspring and hybrid contain foam elements in addition to coils. All-foam mattresses tend to have more options at different prices. Foam is also superior when it comes to isolating movement. All foam models are ideally suited for people with less weight.

If motion transfer is something you’re concerned about, but you don’t love the feel of foam, opt for a hybrid mattress with pocketed coils.

Materials

Take a close look at mattress materials. If you’re opting for an all-foam mattress, verify if the foam is high density, which will outlast flimsier types of foam.

If natural materials, like organic cotton and wool, are important to you, look for mattresses with fibers that are GOLS-, GOTS-, Greenguard Gold-, or OEKO-TEK Standard 100-certified.

Additionally, if you’re someone who tends to sleep hot, look for materials with cooling properties and double-check what customers say about a mattress’s cooling abilities. Keep in mind that foam tends to insulate or trap heat, so cooling materials are added to keep the mattress temperature neutral.

Mattress performance

The goal of most mattresses is to deliver support for your body while you sleep.

Some models, though, score low when it comes to edge support. If your partner regularly starfishes during the night, pushing you to the edge of the bed, you might regret settling on a mattress with poor edge support.

Firmness

Ideal firmness depends on the individual. It’s more of a personal preference than anything else. What feels firm to you may feel soft to someone else.

Your body weight plays a part. For example, a person with less weight may find a medium-firm mattress too hard. That said, there is some research that suggests a medium-firm mattress — sometimes called luxury firm — can help with back pain.

Size

Generally, the larger the mattress, the bigger the price tag. But there are some benefits to choosing a sizable sleep surface.

If you’re sleeping with a partner, opting for a king over a queen can give you extra breathing room. A bigger bed is also useful for people or people with partners who toss and turn.

Before exploring the wide world of online mattresses, think about your must-haves and wants. What do you need in a mattress, and what would be great to have?

When you’ve thought about your sleeping preferences and ideal mattress features, it’s time to set out on your online shopping adventure. If you’re not in a hurry, take your time and hunt for sales — many online mattress retailers have sales or offer discount codes throughout the year.

Always read the fine print. Make sure that you can return your mattress for a full refund if you’re not happy and that there’s a warranty that, at the very least, covers manufacturer defects.

Finally, when you get your mattress, give the mattress and yourself time to adjust. Get comfy, and sleep well!

Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When she’s not click-clacking away on her keyboard, she’s probably nose-deep in a good book.