Best Mattresses of 2024: Tested & Reviewed by Sleep Experts

Type Hybrid mattressFirmness Medium-firmTrial 100 nightsWarranty 15-year limited warranty Price $$

Like

• Ultra supportive
• Great for bigger bodies
• Cooling cover upgrade available
• Neutral foam feel

Don’t like

• Not a budget option
• Overkill for people under 150 pounds
• Too firm for some side sleepers

Why we chose the Helix Plus mattress: Plus-size sleepers need a bed that provides extra durability without compromising comfort. The Helix Plus mattress is an extra-thick bed that does just that. 

How it sleeps: The Helix Plus mattress has a neutral foam feel, which we’ve found is the sweet spot for most sleepers. You still get foam’s comfort and pressure relief without having the dense, slow-moving sensation of true memory foam. You can easily switch positions without resistance. 

It’s a medium-firm or 7 out of 10 firmness level that supports the spine and back through the night. Because of its firmness, the Helix Plus mattress is best suited for stomach, back or combination sleepers. If you spend a lot of time on your side or are a strict side sleeper, it might be a little firmer than you want. 

What’s under the cover: This 13-inch thick mattress is more supportive and durable than the average bed because it has extra-large pocketed coils. The multiple foam layers and breathable Tencel cover finish off this mattress, making it the best option for plus-size sleepers. While it’s not a budget bed, I expected the price tag to match the hefty construction, and it doesn’t at only $1,499 for a queen. 

For you if: You’re a plus-size stomach, back or combination sleeper who wants an extremely durable bed. 

Not for you if: You’re under 150 pounds and won’t benefit from the extra-large coils or a side sleeper. 

Find out more about this bed in our Helix Plus review.

Read our Helix Mattresses review.

Helix Plus

* Pricing based on Queen model

Type Hybrid MattressFirmness 6 or medium to medium-firmTrial 100 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price $

Like

• Budget pick
• Great quality for the price
• Recommended for back, stomach or combo sleepers
• Good for heavier body types

Don’t like

• Too firm for some side sleepers
• Lacks additional features that other options have

Why we chose the Allswell mattress: If you need a new bed and have a tight budget, you’ll be happy to know that the Allswell mattress is affordable and long-lasting. 

“I’m not sure if there’s a better value online for a hybrid mattress of this quality. It’s quite nice for the price, and if you’re a heavier person on a tight budget, I couldn’t see you going wrong with this option,” says JD Christison, CNET senior video producer.

How it sleeps: Budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. The Allswell mattress from Walmart is the perfect example of that. Despite being what we would consider “ultra-budget friendly,” it’s a supportive and bouncy hybrid mattress. It has a soft, neutral foam feel instead of a dense or syrupy memory foam feel that can be polarizing. At a medium-firm or 7, the Allswell mattress is perfect for back and stomach sleepers. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to strict side sleepers, especially petite body types. 

What’s under the cover: Because the Allswell is a budget hybrid bed, the construction is pretty straightforward. You won’t see advanced additions like zoned support or cooling covers, but that doesn’t detract from the comfort or quality. The Allswell mattress has a three-layer construction with pocketed coils sandwiched between layers of polyfoam. It’s finished with a soft, quilted cover. 

For you if: You need a long-lasting, supportive bed on a budget. It might lack all the extra bells and whistles, but Allswell is a high-quality hybrid bed at a fraction of the cost. 

Not for you if: You’re a strict side sleeper, as the medium-firm profile might cause pressure points at the shoulders, hips and knees. 

Find out more about this bed in our Allswell review.

Allswell

Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 3 firmness levels | Soft: 3 or Medium-soft | Medium: 5 or Medium | Firm: Medium-firm or 7Trial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price $$$

Like

• Physically cool
• Multiple firmness options
• Soft, neutral foam feel
• Additional pillow top available

Don’t like

• A little expensive for some
• Overkill for anyone except hot sleepers
• No true firm option

Why we choose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: When it comes to cooling mattresses, no other brand does it as well as the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. It’s one of the most physically cool mattresses we’ve tested. 

“As a hot sleeper, I love how I instantly can feel the cooling sensation when I lie on this mattress. If you combine this bed with light or cooling bedding, you are in good shape to decrease night sweating,” says CNET editor Caroline Igo.

How it sleeps: The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is a premium hybrid mattress that actually sleeps cool at night. But this bed is more than just a cooling solution. It’s also extremely comfortable, with a neutral foam feel. You can add a pillow top to your Aurora Luxe at checkout for more of a soft, airy pillow top feel. 

Another point in this bed’s favor is that it’s available in three firmness options: Soft (medium-soft or three), Medium (medium or five) and Firm (medium-firm or seven). The firmest option of this Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe isn’t all that firm, so if you’re looking for a truly firm bed, look elsewhere. 

What’s under the cover: This premium mattress is five layers thick and features a mix of foam and pocketed coils. All the cooling power comes from a layer of CopperFlex foam on top and the Titan Cool cover. If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll be hard-pressed to do better than the comfort, durability and cooling tech of the Aurora Luxe. 

For you if: You want a high-quality mattress that backs up the cooling claims. 

Not for you if: You’re on a tight budget. I suggest the Cocoon Chill, our best budget cooling mattress selection. 

Find out more about this bed in our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe review. 

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe

Type Hybrid mattressFirmness MediumTrial 365 nightsWarranty Lifetime warrantyPrice $$$

Like

• Zoned support design with multiple layers of coils
• Unique construction
• Accommodating feel

Don’t like

• Might be too soft for some stomach and back sleepers
• One firmness option available
• Pretty expensive

Why we picked the Saatva Rx mattress: Saatva is a brand known for making premium mattresses that are exceptionally durable and supportive. The Rx mattress was designed to alleviate back pain from conditions like scoliosis and sciatica. 

How it sleeps: When we tested the Saatva Rx mattress, we found it on the softer side of medium on our firmness scale or a 4 or 5 out of 10. That firmness level will make it suitable for any sleeping position, though it might be too soft for some back and stomach sleepers. The Saatva Classic mattress is a firmer alternative that will give people with back pain all the support they need. 

What’s under the cover: The Saatva Rx mattress has seven layers of gel memory foam, high-density foam, and durable coils. This bed’s base layer of coils includes a unique feature of what Saatva calls the “Rx foam module,” which is a foam tip on each coil. If that wasn’t enough, there is an additional layer of micro coils wrapped in high-density foam. 

For you if: You like softer mattresses that have the construction to alleviate back pain. 

Not for your if: You’re a stomach or back sleeper who prefers a truly firm mattress. 

For more on this bed, read our full Saatva Rx mattress review.

Saatva Rx Mattress

Type Flippable hybrid mattressFirmness Firm: 5 or medium | Soft: 3 or medium-softTrial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price $$

Like

• Two firmness levels in one
• Great for side sleepers
• Cooper-infused memory foam
• Airy memory foam feel

Don’t like

• Not a budget choice
• Too soft for some back and stomach sleepers

Why we chose the Layla Hybrid mattress: Why choose one firmness when you can have two in one bed? The Layla Hybrid mattress is a flippable bed that provides both comfort and versatility to side sleepers. 

“My parents sleep on this mattress! Our team prefers the Layla Hybrid since it is a flippable bed that offers two firmness options that provide the proper support and pressure relief for side sleepers,” says Dillon Payne, CNET director of production. 

How it sleeps: Side sleepers need as much pressure relief as possible to ensure no pressure points develop and cause joint pain the next day. The Layla Hybrid mattress does just that. The soft side of the Layla hybrid is around medium-soft, and the firmer side is a tad above medium. Neither side is truly firm, though you will get plenty of support and comfort with the firmer side. 

The Layla Hybrid mattress has a responsive, almost airy memory foam feel that contours your body. Not to mention, the trademark honeycomb pattern cover is super soft. 

What’s under the cover: The Layla hybrid mattress is uniquely constructed because it’s flippable. The coils are in the center of the bed, and the foam layers are stacked around it. Among the foam on either side are layers of copper-gel memory foam as the main comfort layer. It’s supposed to also help temperature regulation and keep the foam from trapping heat. 

For you if: You’re a side sleeper interested in a light, airy memory foam mattress that gives you two options for firmness. 

Not for you if: You don’t care about the flippable design or want a firm mattress. 

Learn more about this bed in our Layla Hybrid review. 

Read our Layla Hybrid review.

Layla Hybrid

* Pricing based on Queen model

Type Hyper-Elastic Polymer HybridFirmness 7 or Medium firmTrial 100 nightsWarranty 10 yearsPrice $$$

Like

• Two firmness options available
• Unique feel
• Ultra breathable construction
• Supportive hybrid design

Don’t like

• The feeling can be polarizing
• It’s expensive

Why we chose the Purple Restore: The gel-like grid of the Purple Restore hybrid mattress gives it a unique, squishy feeling that people either love or hate.  

“I slept on an older version of this mattress for about five years, and while it eventually came time for a change, I enjoyed an exceptional level of comfort and restful sleep on Purple thanks to its GelFlex Grid material. It also helped me to sleep without night sweats through hot summers thanks to its breathability,” says Owen Poole, CNET senior video producer. 

How it sleeps: No other mattress compares to the feel of the squishy, Hyper-Elastic Polymer that makes up the Purple Grid. When you lie on it, you feel almost buoyant in it. Not only does that give it a leg up in pressure relief, but it also regulates temperature well. 

The Purple Restore mattress is available in a soft and firm profile. We tested the Firm model and rated it as medium-firm on our scale, making it great for back, stomach and combination sleepers. Side sleepers will want to go with the softer option. 

What’s under the cover: The Purple Restore mattress has a pocketed coil primary support layer for added responsiveness and durability, a transition layer and then is topped with a Purple GelFlex Grid layer. You can’t get the feel or construction of the Purple Restore mattress from anywhere else, which is partly why this bed is more expensive than other beds. 

For you if: You’re an adventurous sleeper who wants a widely accommodating hybrid mattress that will stand the test of time. 

Not for you if: You don’t like the feeling of the Purple Grid. 

Read our Purple Hybrid mattress review.

Purple Restore Mattress

Other mattresses we have tested

We’ve tested many other beds outside of what was included in this best mattress list. And while many of them are great, they didn’t quite cut earning that “best” title. That said, mattresses are subjective, and there’s a chance that one of these beds might work better for you.

Tempur Pro-Adapt: If you live and die by memory foam in its truest form, you already know Tempur-Pedic. The Tempur ProAdapt was a close second for the best overall memory foam mattress, though the cost is more than what many people will want to pay. Still, if you want a dense, memory foam mattress that cradles your every curve and are willing to pay for it, you’ll like this bed. 

WinkBed mattress: I’ve said it twice and will say it a third time: I’m a pillow top gal. So when I tell you that the WinkBed mattress has one of the comfiest pillow tops, you should trust me. It’s available in three firmness levels, meaning anyone can sleep on this bed. 

Tuft & Needle: This simple, two-layer mattress has a neutral foam feel that budget shoppers will love. You can get a Tuft & Needle mattress for under $1,000. While it’s not as cheap as the Allswell, it’s another budget bed to watch.

How we test mattresses

Our team of sleep experts has spent years researching, testing and deconstructing over 200 mattresses. Most of our testing happens in our 6,000-square-foot mattress warehouse in Reno, Nevada. In addition to the office space where our team tirelessly complies mattress data, there are also two mock bedrooms we use to test and film reviews in. A back room also serves as an overflow for the hundreds of mattresses the team has tested. 

When I say the room is stacked with mattresses (within the limits of fire safety standards, I promise), I mean it. There are about 14 stacks of five beds, totaling 68 beds in one room. Of course, that doesn’t account for the other stacks tucked into nearly every nook and cranny. Last time we counted, there were about 120 beds. 

Testing mattresses is a very hands-on process that involves analyzing the construction, feeling and rolling around on the beds from multiple points of view. Our team has a variety of genders, body types and sleeper positions, which allows us to give each bed a well-rounded view that we can compile into recommendations for the average person. 

How we rate mattresses

I’ve told you where our team works, and now I’ll tell you what we’re assessing each bed for. Over our years of testing, we’ve established a methodology that helps us evaluate and score each bed we test. We use that data to help us recommend the best mattresses for every type of person. 

Firmness and feel: Firmness and feel are some of the most subjective factors when testing mattresses. How firm a mattress feels will depend on how much pressure you put on the mattress, aka your body weight. To get the best picture of a mattress’s true firmness and feel, we have multiple team members test and rate each bed. 

Durability and construction: We can’t sleep on every mattress we test for years to test the durability (though we have done it for some). While we note the construction of a bed, we use it to inform how durable and supportive a bed will be over time. Saatva, for example, received a 10 support score during testing because of the hefty construction and dual-coil system. 

Motion isolation: When I say motion isolation, I’m referring to how well a bed can dampen movement across the surface. We test this by having multiple teammates move around and measure how much motion they can feel. Memory foam tends to perform best in this area. For example, the Nectar Premier mattress scored higher in motion isolation because the memory foam layers are superior at dampening movement compared with innerspring mattresses.

Edge support: This one might not seem like a big deal, but edge support is important if you sleep on the edge of the bed. Think about it like how strong the bed’s perimeter is. If it caves in when we sit or lay on it, it doesn’t have good edge support and receives a score corresponding to where it falls in the data. 

Temperature: Many brands claim their mattresses are cooling, though very few actually are. While adding cooling technology or gel-infused foams can help regulate temperature, it doesn’t mean they are physically cool to the touch. We carefully assess each of the cooling features but differentiate between being temperature-neutral and actually cooling. For instance, Purple is a naturally breathable bed because of the grid construction, but we don’t consider it an actively cooling bed. 

Read more on how we test mattresses.

How to find the best mattress for you

It’s easy to get lost in the industry terminology like Hyper-Elastic Polymer or zoned support and not know which bed is right for you. These things sound appealing, but not everyone will like or need every feature. The best mattress for you will suit your needs. So before you do anything, you need to consider three main points: your sleeping position, body type and budget. 

Sleeping position

How you sleep will help you narrow down your mattress pool by firmness. Side sleepers will need softer mattresses to ensure they get enough cushion for their joints. Stomach and back sleepers want a firmer mattress to ensure their spine stays neutral to avoid back pain. Combo sleepers have more flexibility, though they should make the call based on the position in which they spend the most time. 

Your body type

Your body type also will help you determine which mattress you should choose. We always recommend that heavier folks go with hybrid beds for longevity. 

How much pressure you put on a mattress will also influence how firm it feels. Heavy people who put the most pressure on mattresses will find mattresses to be softer. The inverse is true for petite body types who will find things feel firmer. We base our firmness rating of 1 through 10 from the perspective of someone weighing 150 to 230 pounds.

Women also have to consider breast comfort when shopping for their mattresses. Stomach sleepers need firm mattresses for spinal support, though many women find extremely firm beds painful across the chest. That’s not to say women can’t sleep on firm mattresses, though it may influence how firm of a bed you choose. Pillow tops, memory foam or padded covers can provide extra cushion to firm mattresses. 

Your budget 

Once you know what you need from your mattress, you must establish your budget. The reality is that beds are a big investment. The average online mattress costs around $1,200, though options under $500 for people on a budget. And don’t worry, just because they’re cheaper doesn’t mean they’re poor quality. 

Here’s another thing about mattresses: they’re almost always on sale. I’m serious; you should never buy a mattress for full price. From Memorial Day to Black Friday to every season in between, you’ll almost have access to some sort of discount. 

What are the different kinds of mattresses

If you’re new to online mattress shopping, one easy way to narrow down the best mattress for you is by choosing a type of bed.  

Foam mattresses are made entirely of layers of foam, whether it be polyfoam or gel foam. Each foam layer has a different density because it serves a distinct purpose in the bed. The foams with the highest density will be on the bottom because it’s the bed’s structure. 

Latex foam mattresses are divided into two types: natural and synthetic. Natural and organic latex foam is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and environmentally friendly. Synthetic latex foam is artificially made but cheaper than organic material. Either way, latex foam is durable, breathable and very bouncy. However, latex beds are almost always very heavy, so having two people to move them is best. 

Memory foam mattresses are one of the most popular types because they are comfortable and excellent at isolating motion and offering pressure relief to the joints. Memory foam is often slower to respond, making it difficult to switch positions at night.

Hybrid mattresses use both foam and metal coils. They’re closest in design to the innerspring mattress most of us grew up with, but the added layers of foam do wonders for pressure relief. We recommend hybrid mattresses for people who weigh over 230 pounds. 

Pillow-top mattresses have a padded layer on the top of the bed that’s often tufted to provide extra cushioning. They’re often made of wool, organic cotton or other light and airy materials.