Are you part of the 31.6 percent of American adults that aren’t getting enough quality sleep? If subpar snoozing has you in the market for a new mattress, we’re here to help.
Memory foam has become one of the most popular mattress materials since it was developed for NASA (for shock absorption) in the 1960s.
Because memory foam is basically the popular kid in the mattress world, you’ve got a lot of options — which rocks. But having so many options can also make it hard to make up your mind. That’s why we put together this list of the best memory foam mattresses to fit every budget and sleeping style.
9 best memory foam mattresses
Ready to make some new memories with a memory foam mattress? These top picks are all great options.
- Best overall: Leesa Original Mattress
- Best luxury: Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress
- Best rated: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Best for back pain: Casper Original Mattress
- Best for cooling: Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam Mattress
- Best flippable: Layla Memory Foam Mattress
- Best for pressure relief: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt
- Best on a budget: Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam by Brooklyn Bedding
- Best firm mattress: Simmons Firm Memory Foam Mattress
How we chose the best mattresses
A lot of factors play into picking the ideal mattress. And when we put together this list, here’s what we considered:
- Price. We’re well aware that money doesn’t grow on trees. But we want to make sure you get a bang for your buck, so we focused on products that deliver on affordability and quality. We also made sure to sprinkle in some options at a variety of price points, so you can find something to fit your budget.
- Customer reviews. What are people actually saying? We dug through reviews to suss out the duds and find mattresses that people really love.
- Brand rep. We have a thorough vetting process that involves nixing brands that have a bad-to-the-bone reputation. And we only include companies that haven’t been found guilty in a lawsuit related to business practices in the last 3 years. Each company also needs to have better than a D rating with the Better Business Bureau and comply with federal flammability standards.
- Warranty. A good mattress should last at least 10 years. So we made sure to choose brands that offer a solid warranty.
- Trial period. We’re not kidding when we say it’s KEY to try before you buy. Mattress shopping is mega personal. Even if a model gets rave reviews, you might end up hating it. All the mattresses we chose come with a lengthy trial period — hopefully enough time for you to fall in <3.
The 9 best memory foam mattresses
There are tons of memory foam mattresses to choose from. To help you sort through the foamy sea, we narrowed it down to the very best.
Pricing guide
Prices are based on the retail price of a queen size mattress.
- $ = under $700
- $$ = $700–$1200
- $$$ = over $1200
Best memory foam mattress overall
Leesa Original Mattress
- Price: $$
- Firmness: medium-firm
- Height: 10 inches (in.)
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
- Trial period: 100 nights
The Leesa Original memory foam mattress is an all-around favorite. Its medium-firm density helps provide comfort and support whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach. It also has a breathable top layer to help you stay chill while you’re chillin’ in bed.
Reviewers like that the mattress is supportive AF and say it feels like sleeping in luxury — but in an affordable package.
Bonus: Leesa mattresses are made in the USA and they give you 100 nights to try the mattress in your home or return it.
Best luxury memory foam mattress
Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Firmness: firm or relaxed firm
- Height: 12 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king
- Trial period: 180 nights
Move over Meghan and Kate! This mattress fit for royalty gets rave reviews from customers who call it “extraordinary” and “unbelievable.” Reviewers also give top marks to Saatva’s customer service.
It’s a bit of a splurge, but you get 180 nights to try it at home or return if it doesn’t transport you to Dreamland. Loom & Leaf is different from most memory foam mattresses in that it isn’t compressed and shipped in a small box. You get *free* white glove delivery and set up with this one.
Bonus: This mattress comes with a 15-year warranty.
Best rated memory foam mattress
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Price: $$
- Firmness: medium-firm
- Height: 12 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
- Trial period: 365 nights (!!!)
If you like your mattress built like a layer cake of engineered comfort, the Nectar might fit your taste.
It’s made of five layers: a quilted cooling cover, cooling gel memory foam (for comfort and pressure relief), a transition layer (for support), a dense base layer of foam, and a sturdy bottom base to prevent slipping. This medium-firm mattress is good for back, side, and stomach sleepers.
Over 35,000 (!!!) people have reviewed this mattress on Nectar’s site to give it a whopping 4.8 out of 5 stars. Reviewers say the mattress is comfy and seems made to last, but a handful of people complain that the mattress takes a longggggg time to decompress once it comes out of the box.
Bonus: It comes with a cooling pillow, sheet set, and a mattress protector. Plus you’ll get a 365-night home trial.
Best memory foam mattress for back pain
Casper Original Mattress
- Price: $$
- Firmness: medium
- Height: 11 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
- Trial period: 100 nights
One potential cause for a crappy night’s sleep is back pain. Casper’s solution? Give the people the support they need. The company’s Original mattress has softer foam under your shoulders and firmer foam under your hips and lower back to help keep your spine aligned. It has a cooling top layer, too, which is pretty chill.
You can also opt to get the hybrid version of this mattress for $200 more, which has the same top layers of comfy foam but a base of coil springs for even more support.
What do customers with back pain have to say? Several swear that the mattress helps get rid of back pain and allows them to snooze allll through the night. But some reviewers say it’s too hard and retains a lot of heat.
Best cooling memory foam mattress
Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam Mattress
- Price: $$
- Firmness: medium-firm
- Height: 10 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
- Trial period: 100 nights
What’s so great about a mattress that keeps you cool? Your body temp lowers when you’re ready to drift into dreamland. One study suggests that higher temperature is linked to insufficient sleep.
The Chill Memory Foam Mattress has a cooling cover wrapped around three layers of foam for support and comfort. Sealy is a trusted US-based mattress brand that’s been around for over a century.
Reviewers agree that the mattress helps keep them cool but reviews aren’t so chill when it comes to mattress firmness — side sleepers complain that the surface is just too firm.
Best flippable memory foam mattress
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
- Price: $$
- Firmness: plush (one side) and firm (other side)
- Height: 10 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
- Trial period: 120 nights
Don’t know if you prefer a soft or firm mattress? Layla is one of the few memory foam mattresses designed to be flipped for more comfort options.
Infused with copper, it’s cooling and antimicrobial and comes with two free pillows. This could be a great option for a guest room because you can just flip to your visitor’s preferred side. Plus, flippable mattresses tend to last longer.
Overall, reviews for the flippable mattress are ultra-positive with a few people commenting that the firm side could be a slight bit firmer.
Best memory foam mattress for pressure relief
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt
- Price: $$$
- Firmness: medium
- Height: 11 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king
- Trial period: 90 nights
Memory foam technology has come a long way — but Tempur-Pedic is basically the OG of the material. Tempur-Pedic‘s foam was developed by NASA and is now famous for its ability to relieve pressure points and give sleepers a dreamy AF snooze.
The TEMPUR-Adapt mattress line was specifically designed to relieve pressure points. The brand says this mattress will help stop tossing and turning — and even if you (or your partner) do end up flipping around at night, the mattress is supposed to stop motion in its tracks so you won’t wake each other up.
It’s def a splurge, but reviewers say it’s worth the price. They say they wake up rested and pain free and even wish they had bought it much sooner than they did.
Best budget memory foam mattress
Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam by Brooklyn Bedding
- Price: $
- Firmness: depends on mattress thickness; varies from soft-medium to firm
- Height: 6 to 14 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, short full, full XL, queen, short queen, Olympic queen, king, short king, California king, split California king, and several RV compatible sizes
- Trial period: 120 nights
This super-affordable memory foam bed is available in multiple sizes with varying firmness levels. Not bad for a bed that won’t break the bank! Even the triple-layer 14-inch model comes in at under $1,000.
It’s also gel-infused for temperature regulation and ventilated for breathability. Prett-y cool.
Reviewers like the feel of the mattress and say it’s a quality one for the price. A few people complain that it lacks edge support, though.
Best firm memory foam mattress
Simmons Firm Memory Foam Mattress
- Price: $
- Firmness: firm
- Height: 8 in.
- Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king
- Trial period: 100 nights
Do you sleep on your stomach or back? A firmer mattress like this one could be great for you.
The Simmons mattress has a low profile of only 8 inches including a gel top layer, a memory foam layer, and a base layer. Check out the hybrid version if you like the comfort of foam and the supportive bounce of coils in one mattress.
While some reviewers note that the bed is a little on the thin side most people call it super comfy and like that it’s firm but not hard.
How to pick the right mattress for you
There’s evidence that replacing your old bed can help you sleep better. And if you’re looking for comfort and pressure relief, memory foam might be your ticket to snooze city.
Ready to shop? Here’s what to consider when shopping for a memory foam mattress:
- Find out your budget and what’s at the top of your mattress wish list. Do you sleep hot and want a mattress with cooling features? Narrow it down to 2 to 3 criteria you care about most, figure out your budget, and try to find a model that’s both in your budget and meets your list of wants. Thankfully, memory foam mattresses tend to cost less than hybrid models. So you’re already a step ahead!
- Sleeping position and firmness level. Memory foam is great for side sleepers because it offers plenty of pressure relief — which is needed when you’re putting so much pressure on your hips and shoulders all night long. If you’re a stomach or back sleeper, make sure to go with a firmer bed. Combo sleepers beware. Memory foam’s body-contouring abilities might not be ideal for your multi-faceted sleep style since it makes it kinda hard to flip around at night.
- Indentation load-deflection (ILD). Say that three times fast. While firmness measurements are pretty subjective, ILD is an actual firmness standard for memory foam mattresses. A lower number translates to a lower firmness level, with 16 being on the very firm side.
- Materials. Sure, memory foam is comfy, but not all foam is made equal. Look for mattresses with certified materials that are guaranteed low-VOC to prevent nasty chemical off-gassing smells as your mattress decompresses. If sleeping cool is on your wishlist, look for mattresses containing gel or copper-infused foam that can dampen the heat-trapping effects of memory foam.
- Edge support. A supportive edge will keep you from feeling like you’ll roll off your mattress. It’s tough to tell if a mattress will provide plenty of support in this area just by looking at it, so look through reviews to see what others have to say.
Is a memory foam mattress right for you?
Memory foam might be your perfect match if:
- You have allergies. Foam tends to be more hypoallergenic than traditional materials.
- You have pain or sleep on your side. Memory foam is good at relieving pressure points that lead to morning aches and pains.
- You sleep with a squirmy partner. Memory foam absorbs motion so their midnight alligator wrestling doesn’t interrupt your dreams.
This mattress type might not be your best bet if:
- You care about natural materials. Latex is a natural alternative to foam and may be even better for reducing pressure points than memory foam.
- You’re a firecracker in bed. Memory foam mattresses have a rep for making people hot. Cooling features may eliminate the problem, but for hot people in hot climates, they may not be enough.
Frequently asked Qs
What does it feel like to sleep on memory foam?
Memory foam is kinda “love it or hate it.” Some people love the snuggly, melty feeling of hopping into a memory foam bed. Others say it feels a lot like falling into quicksand.
If you’re claustrophobic and don’t like feeling trapped, memory foam might not be the dreamy option you’re looking for.
Memory foam offers a lot of benefits, though. It’s great for pressure relief and motion isolation, for example.
If you’re not a huge fan of memory foam but like the price point of foam mattresses on the market, consider latex foam, which has less of a sinking-in feeling. And it’s a lot more breathable than plain old memory foam — which tends to trap heat.
How durable are memory foam mattresses?
Expect a memory foam mattress to last up to 10 years on average. Typically, the thinner the mattress, the less durable it is.
If you’re worried about durability, look for a mattress from a company with a solid warranty (a good one should cover you for 10 years) and rave reviews for holding up without sagging.
What’s the difference between a memory foam mattress and a hybrid mattress?
It might sound confusing, but it’s possible to buy a memory foam mattress that is an all-foam or a hybrid mattress.
All-foam mattresses contain ONLY foam, while hybrid mattresses have a few layers of comfort materials (like memory foam) and a base of spring coils to give you more support and extra bounce.
You can find memory foam mattresses of either type — which you choose is based on preference. In general though, hybrids tend to be more supportive, allow for better airflow, and more durable. BUT they’re also more expensive.
Are memory foam mattresses expensive?
It depends. If you get an all-foam memory foam mattress, you can prob find one for pretty cheap. If you opt for a hybrid, they can get pretty pricey.
There are other factors that can up the cost too — like increased thickness and density and manufacturing location. Special certifications and the inclusion of organic materials can also cost $$$$.
Is memory foam a good choice if I have back pain?
Some people say that memory foam helps reduce back pain. That’s thanks to the body-contouring and pressure-relieving qualities of the material. But firmness plays a part too.
A side sleeper that chooses a too-firm memory foam mattress might experience uncomfortable pressure points that make back pain even worse, for example. Back and stomach sleepers that go for something too soft can end up with the same problem.
Why do memory foam mattresses smell like that?
That stink is called off-gassing and it’s caused by chemicals used during the manufacturing process. Some memory foam mattresses produce less stink, though. To minimize these toxic fumes, look for models that are low-VOC and certified by independent bodies like Greenguard or CertiPUR-US.
What kind of pillow should I use with a memory foam mattress?
This depends on how you like to sleep. Stomach sleepers will probably feel most comfortable with an almost flat pillow. Back and side sleepers need a bit more loft to support the neck.
The bottom line
You need your beauty sleep, and a new mattress is a great way to get it.
Memory foam mattresses are popular in the mattress market because they’re super comfy and they can shrink down to ship easily. They can get a little too toasty, though, so if you’re a hot sleeper you may want to opt for a different mattress type.
0 Commentaires