Best Mattress

What is the Best Mattress to Buy? Mattress Shopping 101

Fewer things are as important to your health as a good night of sleep. In fact, research suggests that getting enough sleep—about seven to eight hours a night for adults—can reduce your risk for serious health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Getting sufficient sleep can also help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, improve your mood, and help you think more clearly, which can increase productivity.

And yet, according to The Sleep Foundation, a third of adults in the U.S. report getting, on average, fewer than seven hours of sleep per night.

If you’re one of them, and you’re tired of being tired, there’s good news: Several studies have established a correlation between mattresses and sleep quality, which means it’s highly likely that all that’s standing between you and sounder slumbers is your mattress.

That’s right: Some studies suggest that sleeping on an old or ill-suited mattress can contribute to “sleep disruptors” like back pain and joint pressure. Other research has established a connection between a mattress’ ability to regulate temperature and an individual’s sleep quality.

This means that by investing in a good, quality mattress, you might finally be able to drift off to dreamland—and stay there.

So you know you need a new mattress. But do you know what type of mattress is best for you? One Google search, and chances are good your head is spinning. From the design to the fabric, there are so many options available, it’s really no surprise that so many people end up sleeping (or not sleeping) on the wrong mattress.

But you can skip the headache of hunting for the best option because we’ve already done the research for you. We compiled our list of the best mattresses based on how each product stacked up against the most important criteria. And here, we’re providing more detail to help you feel even more confident making your purchase decision.

Here’s how we chose the top mattresses:

Firmness

Although firmness is somewhat subjective, most mattress manufacturers utilize either a 1 to 10 scale to indicate how firm a mattress is, or descriptive terms that correlate with this scale. Generally speaking, a firmness of 1 indicates “extra soft,” 10 indicates “extra firm,” and 5 or 6 means “medium firm.”

If you’re planning on purchasing a mattress online and aren’t sure what your firmness preference is, consider the two primary factors that tend to matter most in this decision: Your weight and your primary sleeping position.

Of course, preference is personal, but generally speaking most mattress manufacturers recommend consumers follow this guidance:

When compiling our list of the best mattresses, we considered how many firmness options each brand offers, as well as how satisfied customers report being with the firmness of the respective mattresses.

Size

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer since you’ll want the size of your new mattress to match the size of your bed. But if your bed frame is not a standard size, you’ll want to
check the mattress sizes available. Some companies only offer standard sizes while others offer specialty options like Split King or Twin XL.

Materials & Design

There are three primary types of mattresses on the market: Foam, Innerspring and Hybrid.

Foam mattresses are described by many manufacturers as feeling like a giant hug. That’s because foam tends to cradle and conform to the body, allowing sleepers to feel like they’re sleeping in the mattress rather than on it. Foam mattresses also tend to isolate movement, so if you sleep with a partner, you’re less likely to feel them tossing and turning or getting in and out of bed than you would if your mattress was constructed of coils alone.

The downside of foam mattresses is that due to their density, they tend to trap more heat than mattresses constructed with coils, which are typically more ventilated. So, if you find that you often wake up sweating or you tend to run warm, you’ll want to inquire about temperature regulation features or cooling add-ons.

Innerspring mattresses are constructed of steel coils that compress as weight is placed on them. The quantity, shape and size of the coils can vary. Generally speaking, more coils mean more support and better quality. When constructed well, these mattresses provide good spinal support. They’re also a great choice for those who tend to run hot since the space between the coils allows for more ventilation than dense foam options.

If you opt for an innerspring mattress, you’ll want to do some research (or save yourself some time and check out our top picks) to make sure you’re selecting a well constructed version made with premium materials because when constructed poorly, these mattresses have the potential to do more harm than good on pressure points. Another consideration is that coils tend to be less effective at motion isolation, which means if you’re a light sleeper and you’re sleeping with a partner, you’re likely to feel them move throughout the night. And don’t forget about the potential for the squeaky noise the springs can make after so much wear and tear.

As their name implies, hybrid mattresses contain both foam and coils. This design enables them to address the heat issues associated with many all-foam mattresses, and the support and motion transfer issues that tend to occur with coil-only options.

The primary downside to these models is typically their price. All that comfort and engineering often comes at a premium cost.

Trial Period, Warranty & Shipping

If you’re purchasing a mattress online, you’ll miss out on the opportunity to test it out. But many companies now allow for generous trial periods—which means they’ll send you the mattress, and you can try it out in the comfort of your own home for several weeks or months. If you decide you don’t like the mattress and it’s within the specified trial period, you can return the mattress—often free of charge.

Warranties are also extremely important, since they enable you to return or replace your mattress if an issue like a tear arises within the specified time span.

Shipping costs are also an important consideration. If you’re going to purchase a mattress online, make sure you know if the company offers free delivery and returns. It’s also important to find out if the company offers free removal of your old mattress.