Beautyrest Black C-Class 16-inch Plush Pillow Top Mattress
Best overall innerspring mattress
Stearns & Foster Estate Rockwell Mattress
Best traditional innerspring mattress
Sealy Posturepedic Silver Pine 15-inch Medium Euro Top Mattress
Best innerspring mattress for combination sleepers
Not everyone likes the feel of memory foam. Many people prefer the classic feel and support of an innerspring mattress. Traditionally, mattresses with coils are known for having a bit more bounce, but thanks to advanced technology, the best innerspring mattresses can isolate motion almost as well as memory foam — or at least a lot better than the old spring mattress in the spare bedroom of your grandparents’ house.
I’ve personally tested more than three dozen mattresses and can attest to the fact that there’s nothing quite like a really great innerspring mattress for a good night’s sleep, but it does take some work to separate the good from the way-too-bouncy. That’s why I did it for you. Here are my favorites.
What’s the best innerspring mattress?
There are plenty of good innerspring mattresses available from top-notch brands. However, the bed that stands out from the rest is the BeautyRest Black C-Class Pillow Top Mattress. Beautyrest is known for making luxury mattresses with high-quality materials.
The BeautyRest Black C-Class is the best overall innerspring mattress because it’s a hybrid bed available in three different models. Beds always get extra points if they have customization, because it allows you to pick the firmness that best suits your needs. But that’s not the only thing that sets it apart. Besides being extremely comfortable, each of the coils in the mattress has three types of steel. BeautyRest Black isn’t what I would consider a budget mattress, but it’s worth the money if you’re looking for a bed that will last.
Best innerspring mattresses of 2023
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 6 or Medium to Medium-FirmTrial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price $$$
Like
- This premium mattress is made with an extra inch of luxury materials like silk and cashmere fibers
- It’s available in firm, plush, medium pillow top and plush pillow top
Don’t like
- The Beautyrest Black mattress is not a budget mattress.
The Beautyrest Black is a fan-favorite and the best innerspring mattress overall. There are different models, but with its plush pillow top, 16-inch profile and advanced cooling technology, the C-Class is one of the most luxurious. Technically a hybrid, it’s made with a couple layers of pressure-relieving cooling and gel memory foams. This pocketed coil mattress has a base layer with an 850 pocket coil count.
The coils are constructed with a proprietary technique, called T3 Pocketed Coil Technology, that’s found only in the Beautyrest Black models — which is a fancy way of saying that each coil has three strands of steel that are wound into one. This solves some of the typical problems associated with innerspring mattresses by reducing motion transfer, absorbing bounce and the innerspring coils provide extra support so the mattress doesn’t sag over time. This mattress has five comfort levels and is compatible with an adjustable bed.
Beautyrest Black C-Class 16-inch Plush Pillow Top Mattress
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 3 firmness levels | Plush Soft: Medium or 5 | Luxury Firm: Medium-firm or 7 | Firm: 9/10 or firmTrial 365 nightsWarranty Lifetime warranty Price $$
Like
- The Saatva mattress has a dual-layer of coil that provides extra support
- It’s a great pick for people who want more support and multiple firmness options
Don’t like
- This innerspring mattress may be a little too firm for petite sleepers
The Saatva Classic hybrid mattress is where the traditional innerspring mattress meets the modern need for increased comfort. It has two layers of springs. The first is a dual coil base layer that provides advanced support, prevents sagging, allows for increased airflow so the mattress doesn’t trap heat, and is recommended for hot sleepers.
The middle layer consists of individually wrapped coils made from durable coil gauge that relieve pressure points and quickly respond to your body’s movement to prevent motion transfer. On top of those steel coils sits high-density memory foam and a 3-inch Euro pillow top that really gives it some extra oomph, if that’s what you’re looking for.
It comes in two mattress heights, 11.5 and 14.5 inches, and three comfort levels, Plush Soft, Luxury Firm and Firm. The Plush Soft is ideal for all types of sleepers, but the Luxury Firm is most popular (what 82% of customers ultimately end up choosing, according to Saatva). Firm is best for spinal alignment and back support, especially if you’re a heavier sleeper. This Saatva mattress is compatible with an adjustable base. Read more in our Saatva mattress review.
Saatva Classic
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness Plush: Medium or 5 | Firm: Firm or 9/10Trial 90 nightsWarranty 10-year warrantyPrice $$$ Price $$$
Like
- If Luxury Firm doesn’t work for you, the mattress also comes in a Luxury Plush model
- It has a similar construction, but with the addition of extra pressure-relieving memory foam
- Stearns & Foster is good for any body type or sleeping position
Don’t like
- This innerspring mattress is out of range for budget shoppers.
Stearns & Foster mattresses are on the pricier side, but they’re still a great value, especially when you consider the quality. The Estate Rockwell 15-inch Luxury Firm Pillow Top Mattress, which was designed by scientists from Tempur-Pedic, is made with an exclusive type of coil system called IntelliCoil. This memory-foam mattress has an individually wrapped pocket and has two coils — one that rests inside the other — for added durability, advanced contouring and even weight distribution.
A layer of memory foam sits on top of the coils to help relieve pressure and optimize comfort. This specific model is classified as a Luxury Firm, which means it offers that initial plush feel when you first climb onto it, but with an under layer of firm support, no matter your sleeping position. Read more in our Stearns & Foster mattress review.
Stearns & Foster Estate Rockwell Mattress
Type Organic latex hybrid mattressFirmness 2 firmness levels | Standard: medium or 5 | Plush: medium-soft or 3Trial 365 nightsWarranty 25-year warranty Price $$$
Like
- Avocado is one of the most popular mattresses for organic materials like natural latex and wool
- It’s a comfortable firm mattress with great edge support
Don’t like
- This mattress requires deep pocket sheets even without the pillow top
- The pillow top is an expensive add on
The Luxury Plush Mattress is the newest model in Avocado’s already impressive line. This extra deep mattress has a total of 21 layers of premium materials like natural latex, wool, silk and cotton (all organic and/or natural) combined with 3,136 individually pocketed coils. Everything is strategically arranged into five ergonomic comfort zones that relieve pressure where you need it and provide extra support where you don’t.
There are two models, standard or one with a pillow top. The pillow top comes at an additional cost of $800 to $1,200 depending on the size of the mattress, but it adds 3 inches of plushness, extra contouring and advanced motion isolation.
Avocado Organic Luxury Plush Mattress
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 5 or MediumWarranty 10-year warrantyPrice scale $$$ Price $$$
Like
- Sealy makes high-quality mattresses with heavy-duty coils that promise durability
- Most people will appreciate the extra padding that the Sealy mattress offers
- This innerspring mattress is one of the most affordable on the list
Don’t like
- This mattress may be too soft for heavier people.
Sealy may be one of the most recognizable names in the world of innerspring mattresses. Over the past 65 years, the company has been working on perfecting its mattresses and the Posturepedic Silver Pine 15-inch Medium Euro Top Mattress is one of the most recent, and high-quality, models. It has heavy-duty coils that are designed to reduce movement and provide extra reinforcement to the mattress’ edges, so there’s no sinking or sagging no matter where you’re positioned on the mattress.
A couple layers of memory foam and a Euro plush pillow top sit on top of the coils, adding some extra softness that contours your body while also providing adequate support. It’s classified as a “Cushion Firm,” which means it has a bit more give than typical firm mattresses, but with a little extra padding in areas you need it most, like your hips and shoulders.
Sealy Posturepedic Silver Pine 15-inch Medium Euro Top Mattress
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 4 or Medium to Medium-SoftTrial 100 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warrantyPrice scale $$ Price $$
Like
- This innerspring mattress is a great choice for budget shoppers
- You can choose from different firmness options
Don’t like
- This innerspring mattress is a medium to medium-soft firmness
- It’s not the best choice for someone who wants a firm bed.
Another model from Beautyrest, the Silver 12-inch Plush Innerspring Mattress is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t skimp on comfort. Its base layer is made with what the brand calls “Plush Pocketed Coils” — a specialized system of individually pocketed springs that move independently to adapt to your body shape while also eliminating motion transfer.
Gel memory foam, which offers advanced lumbar support and breathability to keep you cool, sits on top of the innersprings, while a thin layer of memory foam underneath the coils provides extra support for your body and the mattress. This under-layer of memory foam adds a little bit in terms of comfort, but it mostly prevents the springs from sagging in one spot and eliminates the need to have to regularly flip the mattress — a common complaint with older innerspring models.
Beautyrest Silver 12-inch Plush Innerspring Mattress
Factors to consider when choosing an innerspring mattress
Shopping for a mattress is an extremely subjective process. What works for one person may not suit your preferences and needs. There are key factors that you should keep in mind when comparing innerspring mattresses. They include your sleeping position, body type, health conditions and budget.
Sleeping position
Your sleeping position is one of the most important factors in deciding what mattress will be best for you. It will determine how firm or soft your mattress needs to be to keep you comfortable at night.
- Side sleepers need a softer mattress to ensure they don’t develop pressure points on their shoulders, hips and knees.
- Strict back sleepers should get a medium firm or firm mattress so their spine is in a neutral alignment all night. This level of firmness will prevent back pain.
- Combination sleepers have the most flexibility in choosing their firmness level. You have two options, choose a bed based on the position you spend the most time in or opt for a medium firmness that works for any sleeper type.
Body type
Your body type will determine how much pressure you put on the mattress and which mattress you should choose. People who weigh over 230 pounds should generally choose hybrid mattresses for their support and durability.
Your weight also influences the firmness level of a bed. The more you weigh, the more pressure you put on your mattress, meaning it will feel softer. Petite body types will experience mattresses firmer because they put less pressure on the bed.
Health conditions
When shopping for mattresses, your health conditions also affect your decision-making process. For example, if you have joint pain, you would want to choose a soft mattress with plenty of pressure relief. If you have back pain, stick with a firmer mattress to keep your spine aligned.
Budget
Mattresses are big investments; there’s no way around that. Thankfully, there are mattresses at every budget level. Hotel luxury mattresses are going to be more expensive than the average mattress. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a nice mattress for a fair price. Most brands run big sales around holidays and events. If you time it right, you can get a couple hundred dollars off the price tag.
How we test the best innerspring mattresses
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. We tested each of the mattresses on this best innerspring mattress list. Our team has tested over 100 mattresses to establish a baseline for firmness, feel and performance.
Firmness and feel
When we start mattress testing, we first determine the firmness and feel of the mattress. Think about firmness as how hard or soft a mattress is. We rate each mattress on a ten-point scale for firmness.
The feel of the mattress describes how the mattress reacts. Is it slow responding like traditional memory foam? Or does it snap back like latex foam? This will translate to how it will feel rolling around on the bed at night.
Durability
The durability, or how long a mattress will last, is based on what it’s made from. Mattresses with pocketed coils as the base are more durable than all-foam options. They also tend to be more expensive.
Mattress performance
The key performance criteria we assess for mattresses include motion isolation, edge support and temperature.
We test how the mattresses isolate movement by placing a glass of water on the edge of the bed and rolling around to see how much it moves. Motion isolation is a big deal if you have a partner who rolls around and wakes you up.
Edge support is how strong the perimeter of the bed is. The test for this is simple, we sit and lay on the edge to see if it gives way under the pressure. When assessing temperature, we examine the materials and construction of the mattress. Materials like latex and gel memory foam can keep a mattress from retaining body heat.
Read more on how we test mattresses.
Other innerspring mattresses we’ve tested
Our CNET Sleep editors collectively write our best mattress lists based on their experience with over 100 different mattresses. The beds listed above are all top picks, but with so many to choose from, there are a few great beds that deserve an honorable mention.
Leesa Legend mattress
The Leesa Legend mattress is a thick, premium bed with two layers of coils. One layer is made with pocketed coils, while a microcoil layer in the top layers offers a ton of back support. As far as comfort goes, it has a medium firmness level and a fluffy, soft foam feel that is more responsive than traditional memory foam.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress
Value shoppers should keep Brooklyn Bedding Signature on their list of ideal options. It’s a premium hybrid mattress that costs the same price as popular foam mattresses like Casper or Purple. It also is available in three different firmness levels so that any sleeping position can find a comfortable option.
Innerspring mattress FAQs
Yes and no. People don’t buy the traditional type of innerspring mattresses your mom or grandma had as a kid. However, modern mattresses do utilize coils or innersprings to provide ample support and durability. However, there are usually layers of foam materials, cotton or wool for added comfort.
The best innerspring mattresses have 1,000 springs or more. However, smaller mattresses like twin or twin XL beds may have slightly less because they aren’t as large and require less springs in their constructions.
“Innersprings” and “coils” are terms that can almost be used interchangeably, and they often offer the same benefits of support and durability. However, pocketed coils are all individually cased in fabric, and move independently from one another. This makes it better at isolating motion than traditional innerspring systems which all moved as one cohesive unit. Most innerspring beds these days are made with “pocketed coils” rather than regular innersprings.
