Picking the right mattress will make you stronger, healthier, and happier. Choosing the wrong one can result in multiple problems, in particular, bad mood, low energy, and back pain. No wonder people pay this much attention to mattresses — they are indeed one of the keys to the good life.
It is not easy to choose the most comfortable mattress among thousands of options, but we have 10 fantastic solutions for you. We also reveal some secrets about the crucial characteristics, so keep reading to learn how you can analyze the market and make your bed absolutely perfect yourself.
Top 10 most comfortable mattresses
What are the most comfortable mattresses on the market? Here are our top 10 picks! Please note that we provide two prices for each brand: the lower price is the cost of a Twin mattress, and the highest price is the price of California King.
1. Layla Hybrid
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (memory foam & pocketed coils)
- Best For: Soft side for side sleepers, firmer side for back and combo sleepers
- Main Advantage: Motion isolation, perfect for couples
- Price: $1199 — $1799
2. The Winkbed
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (gel-infused foam and wrapped coil support system)
- Best For: Softer Winkbed for side sleepers, firmer model for back and stomach sleepers
- Main Advantage: Lifetime warranty
- Price: $1,049 — $1,849
3. Avocado Green
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (latex layer & steel coils)
- Best For: People of all body types, back, stomach and combo sleepers
- Main Advantage: Great support and durability
- Price: $899 — $2,399
4. Helix Luxe
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (gel memory foam, poly foam, pocketed coils)
- Best For: Back, side, combo sleepers, seniors, couples
- Main Advantage: Motion isolation, works for hot sleepers
- Price: $895 — $1,945
5. Leesa Hybrid
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (polyfoam and innerspring coils)
- Best For: Back, stomach, and combo sleepers
- Main Advantage: Supportive & very comfortable
- Price: $849 — $1,599
6. Nectar
- Mattress Type: Memory foam mattress
- Best For: Back and stomach sleepers, people who weigh 130+ pounds
- Main Advantage: Absorbs motion, supportive & comfortable
- Price: $898 — $1,398 ($499 — $999 with a discount)
7. Saatva
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (memory foam, polyfoam & wrapped coils)
- Best For: All types of sleepers — it comes in 3 firmness levels
- Main Advantage: There are variations for sleepers of any size, height, sleeping position
- Price: $799 — $1,799
8. Purple
- Mattress Type: Foam
- Best For: Light & hot sleepers, couples
- Main Advantage: Good value for the money
- Price: $649 — $1,299
9. Casper Hybrid
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (memory foam & innerspring coil)
- Best For: Back & side sleepers, couples
- Main Advantage: Great pressure relief and contouring
- Price: $1,495 — $2,995
10. Brooklyn Aurora
- Mattress Type: Hybrid (memory foam & innerspring coils)
- Best For: Hot sleepers, couples
- Main Advantage: Great cooling properties
- Price: $999 — $ 2,124
How to find the most comfortable mattress in the world
Below, we describe the most important things a buyer should consider when looking for an ideal mattress. They are:
- Mattress size
- Type of mattress
- Firmness of a mattress
- Sleeping position(s)
- Weight of sleeper(s)
- Comfort features (Motion isolation, temperature control, durability, etc.)
Yes, there are many of them, so the first thing you should do after you read the information about all of them and to define a few priority criteria and focus on them.
Let us imagine a family of 4. Parents are tall and weigh more than 200+ lbs. Both children sometimes sleep with them or come to see mom & dad in the morning. All of them are combo sleepers.
Considering all these facts, parents will need to focus on the following criteria first:
- Mattress size — they will need at least a California King or even a bigger mattress.
- Weight & firmness — if an adult weighs 200+ lbs, a family will need a firmer mattress, and combo sleepers need at least a medium-firm mattress, too.
- Motion isolation — a comfort feature that is extremely important for most couples, especially for those who are combo & light sleepers.
As you can see, we focused on the things that are the most important for this imaginary family. They would need at least a California King mattress (yes, there are even bigger sizes, but they are pretty rare) that should be at least medium-firm. There is a big chance that this family would choose a hybrid that performs all the above-mentioned functions. Other criteria are important, too, but in this case, these three things matter most.
That is why we encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the biggest problem when it comes to sleeping for me/us?
- What distinguishes me/us from most other sleepers (back pain, number of sleepers, weight, high body temperature, etc.)?
- What can improve your sleep significantly?
- What can worsen it?
- What do you like about the mattresses you had most?
- What do you hate about your current and previous mattresses?
Think about your answers and try to define 3-4 things that are extremely important for you. Already did it? Let us move to all the criteria of choosing a mattress — consider all of them but focus on the most significant ones more.
Criterion #1 — Mattress size or number of sleepers
A lot of other things, in particular, a material, price, and firmness will depend on who will sleep on a mattress. Are you looking for a bed for a single sleeper, for a couple, or for a couple with kids?
As you can see, there are 7 most common sizes, at least, when it comes to adults. Size Width & length Good for Twin 38 in by 75 in A single sleeper Twin XL (TXL) 38 in by 80 in A single sleeper Full 54 in by 75 in A single sleeper or a couple who likes hugs Full XL 54 in by 80 in A single sleeper or a couple who likes hugs Queen 60 in by 80 in Couple King 76 in by 80 in Couple with kids or looking for some extra room California King 72 in by 84 in Couples with kids, works for tall people well enough
If you are looking for a mattress that would be great for a couple, think about your preferences. Do you need some extra room or can’t sleep without hugging a partner? Do you wake up when they are tossing? Make a choice after you find the right answers. If you have any doubts, look for more details on mattress sizes.
Criterion #2 — Type of mattress
Each type of mattress has its benefits and shortcomings. Let us take a look at the most important of them. Type Pros Cons Airbed No sagging, low price, portability, motion isolation. Good for people with back issues. Punctures, noise, and low durability. Innerspring Relatively low price, great support, and breathability. Might be noisy, not too durable, and have not that great movement isolation. Futons They are super thin, easy to roll up, compact, and quite cheap Sagging, and have a pretty low comfort level. Gel-infused foam Cool, resilient, and supportive. Pretty pricey and synthetic. Latex Some of the most comfortable mattresses that also promote pain relief, are pretty lasting and environmentally friendly. Not so good for those who are looking for some cooling and real softness. Pillow-top Non-chemical, relatively cheap and very plush. Not so durable, sagging is a common problem, and not the best option for heavier people. Waterbed Comfortable, relaxing, and heatable. Not as good when it comes to support, leaks and odor. Hybrids Great airflow, good support, motion control, pressure point relief, and versatility. Sag pretty fast, and are quite pricey and heavy.
We all are looking for the best mattress in the world, and as you can see, we have options to choose from. If you want to learn more about a particular type or all of them, check out this guide.
Criterion #3 — Mattress firmness
Firmness is not the same thing as support. It is the characteristic that defines how deep you sink into a mattress. The best synonym for “firmness” is “level of softness or hardness”. There is the so-called firmness scale that can also help understand what exactly this term means.
Generally speaking, there are 5 main levels of firmness:
- Super Soft (1-2 level) — great for skinny people, side sleepers
- Medium Soft (3-4 level) — great for light & side sleepers, combo sleepers, and couples
- Medium (5-6 level) — great for back & combo sleepers, couples
- Medium Firm (7-8 level) — great for back & combo sleepers, those who suffer from back pain, couples
- Super Firm (9-10 level) — great for heavy, back & stomach sleepers, those who suffer from back pain
As you can see, firmness matters a lot. This is a basic scale, so if you want to learn more check out our much more detailed guide on firmness.
Criterion #4 — Sleeping positions
This criterion is connected with all previous characteristics, and that is why everyone should consider it before ordering a mattress in a store. Let’s take a look at what different types of sleepers really need.
- Side. Memory foam mattresses and hybrids (a lot of which can be found on our ranking) work perfectly for side sleepers who are looking for real softness but don’t want to sink all the way down to bottom layers. Medium-soft or medium firmness is great for people who sleep on their side, too.
- Back. Unlike side sleepers, people who sleep on their back need a pretty supportive and, at the same time, soft mattress. Foam, hybrid, latex, & adjustable air medium-firm to firm options are the best for them.
- Stomach. These sleepers need memory foam, latex or hybrid, and quite firm items — they can relieve stress from pressure points and support a body well enough.
- Combo. People known as combination sleepers need to find a mattress that would allow them to shift easily, would fit all sleepers, and provide enough support. Latex, polyurethane, hybrid medium-firm or a bit firmer mattresses work pretty well.
Criterion #5 — Weight
Another thing you need to consider is weight. This is another thing that helps determine the right level of mattress firmness.
- 130 lbs and more. Lighter people can sleep on softer beds because they don’t sink all the way down to the bottom layers. As side/back/combo/stomach sleepers, they can choose softer options than those that are considered perfect for their type.
- 130-200 lbs. If you weigh 130-200 lbs, you can choose among the widest range of versatile options and focus more on special comfort features (they are listed and described in the section below.)
- 200 lbs and more. Obviously, heavier people need a bit firmer mattress.
Please don’t ignore this aspect. It is one of the most important things to take into account.
Criteria #6 — Comfort features
We mentioned most of these features before, and each of them might be more or less important for a particular customer.
- Motion isolation that is important for partners, especially if at least one of them is a light sleeper.
- Temperature control that is important for hot sleepers and couples.
- Ease of movement that combo sleepers should consider.
- Pressure relief — an essential characteristic, but parts of the body that need it depend on what type of sleeper you are.
- Edge support — another thing that is important for everyone.
- Durability and value for the money.
So, which of these characteristics are the most important for you? ***
Choosing the most comfortable bed mattress — Final thoughts
Yes, there are a lot of things to take into account. Frankly, everyone who is going to make the first purchase may be overwhelmed by the number of various nuances. However, you should not panic. Generally speaking, the whole process can be divided into three main stages:
- Defining your own priorities.
- Defining preferable characteristics based on the info about the most common criteria like size, firmness, type, etc.
- Choosing a mattress that meets all the most important criteria and many secondary preferences.
All the things we mentioned above are interconnected. The only way to make the right decision is to define the priorities. Just choose thoughtfully, learn new information step by step, analyze it, and you will not go wrong.
FAQ
There is no right answer to this question, because it depends on plenty of factors, in particular, on what type of sleeper are you. For example, if you are a side sleeper, you need a memory foam mattress and in this case, Layla is the best. If you weigh more than an average sleeper, you need a firmer mattress, and Saatva is one of the most comfortable firm mattresses. Check our article about the types of mattresses to learn more.
The softer the better, so a lot of people who sleep on their side choose the soft-medium or medium mattresses. We recommend paying attention to Layla Hybrid (sleep on the soft side), Casper Hybrid, and Helix Luxe.
Unlike people who sleep on their side, back sleepers should not buy too soft mattresses. Their bed should be supportive as well as comfortable, so no wonder they usually choose medium-firm — this level of firmness allows keeping your body on the bed surface, no sinking, no lack of support. We recommend Casper, Purple, and Saatva for singles and couples who sleep on their back.
How much should a good mattress cost?
If you weigh more than 130+ and if you are a back or stomach sleeper looking for some extra support, Nectar might be the best option — the price starts from $499 (this is a price with a discount.) If you are a light and hot sleeper, Purple Mattress (costs from $649) may be great. Both options work for couples well enough.
There is no the most comfortable brand or the best brand of the mattress because people have different expectations, preferences, sleep in different positions, etc. It is highly subjective. However, all the brands in our top are considered the best brands on the market. They just have a bit different target audiences.
Foam, latex, pillow-top mattresses, as well as hybrids, are some of the best when it comes to materials. However, it is a generalization — all materials have their pros & cons and the trick is to choose the one that will be perfect for you.
It depends on the policy of the brand store or a retailer. In most cases, you can return a mattress. However, there is an even better option for those who want to avoid such a problem. Most of the mattresses we listed before can be delivered to your doorstep for free, tested during a trial period (usually, 120-100 days) for free, and then purchased (if you like it) or returned to a seller for free.
