The Best Memory Foam Mattress

A good night’s sleep is important to your health and wellbeing. Not only does good rest enhance your quality of life, it also protects your physical and mental health. You’ll want to be sure you made the right choice because a mattress is in investment that, if chosen thoughtfully, should last years.

The 6 Best Memory Foam Mattresses

But, there’s a lot to consider when looking for the best mattress for your needs—quality, comfort, price, and convenience. Advances in memory foam technology have made these mattresses better able to meet the needs of a variety of consumers.

The expert review team at Mattress Advisor evaluated more than 150 mattresses using an 8-point evaluation and 6-point testing method. The team also broke down characteristics such as motion isolation, responsiveness, pressure relief, edge support, spine alignment, and cooling, to identify the best memory foam mattresses for your particular needs.

From our rigorous testing, we created this comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you find the perfect memory foam mattress for your sleep needs. Plus, all of the mattresses on our list are available online, so finding your new, perfect bed is just a few clicks away.

6 Best Memory Foam Mattresses – Our Top Picks

Helix Midnight Luxe – Best Cooling Mattress

Helix

If you’re prone to sleeping hot, our top recommendation for the best cooling memory foam mattress is the Helix Midnight Luxe. This high-quality hybrid bed combines memory foam layers with innerspring and tops them with an ultra-cool premium pillow top. This cooling surface is made with a phase change material that absorbs excess body heat and helps regulate body temperature. The Helix Midnight Luxe earned top marks in cooling, as well as spine alignment, making it a great choice for hot sleepers who also suffer from back pain. This mattress also features zoned lumbar support, which provides extra support at the hips while keeping your body weight evenly distributed, making it one of the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Loom & Leaf – Best Luxury Mattress

Saatva

The Loom & Leaf memory foam mattress by Saatva is one of Mattress Advisor’s top picks for a reason. It offers the same luxurious feel as more expensive brands (like Tempur-Pedic, which rings in at upwards of $4,000-$5,000) at a fraction of the cost (a queen size Loom & Leaf costs less than $2,000). Because of the mattress’s high density foam base layer, the Loom & Leaf is a durable mattress that can handle more weight, making it a great choice for couples as well as heavier sleepers.

Layla – Best Firm Mattress

Layla

The Layla mattress is full of surprises. For starters, the mattress is flippable. On one side, it’s a firm memory foam mattress that sleepers of all styles enjoy. On the other side, it’s a soft mattress. In addition to being one of the best firm mattresses available online today, the Layla is also infused with copper, a mineral that is known to reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints, making the Layla ideal for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The entire bed is also surrounded by a thermo-gel cooling cover, which helps counter body heat.

Casper Wave Hybrid – Best Mattress for Couples

Casper

The Casper Wave Hybrid mattress is a notch above Casper’s original mattress, offering the contouring, responsiveness, and pressure point relief of memory foam, with the support and durability of pocket coils. But what makes the Casper Wave a good option for couples is its superior scores on motion isolation. In other words, you won’t be rattled awake when your partner changes position or gets in or out of bed. The Casper Wave is one of the pricier options on our list, but you definitely get what you pay for. Our team found that this mattress ranked high in pressure relief, spine alignment, and responsiveness.

Nectar – Best Value Mattress

Nectar

The Nectar mattress offers a lot of bang for your buck, making it ideal for shoppers on a budget. But that doesn’t mean the Nectar isn’t a high-quality mattress; in fact, it offers many of the same benefits as much pricier options, earning our vote for the best value mattress on this list. The Nectar responds well to your changing positions, keeps the spine aligned, and isolates your movements. Plus, the company sweetens the deal with an impressive 365-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and a return policy that doesn’t cost you a penny if you decide the Nectar mattress isn’t right for you.

Tuft & Needle Mint – Best Mattress for Back Pain

Tuft & Needle

According to our testing, the Tuft & Needle Mint is one of the best mattresses for back pain sufferers because it excels in both spine alignment and responsiveness. This bed is also a good option for hot sleepers because its adaptive foam layer is made with 30% more heat-wicking graphite than the Tuft & Needle original mattress.

Up to 31 million Americans suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives. It’s the single leading cause of disability, preventing many people from working or even enjoying everyday activities. An old or sagging mattress can cause new pain or worsen existing pain. Conversely, a good quality mattress can be a game changer for those with aches and pains. If this sounds like you, then we highly recommend the Tuft & Needle Mint.

What is a Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory foam was one of the wonderous products that came out of the Space Age, along with freeze-dried foods and the orange-flavored powdered drink mix, Tang. Developed in 1966, memory foam was designed to provide extra cushioning to aircraft seats in order to, in part, diffuse the effects of G forces during takeoff and landing. But it was also designed to mold to each astronaut’s individual body shape and return to its relaxed state when not in use.

In the 1990s, manufacturers began using memory foam in mattresses, but it took awhile for the idea to catch on. The first memory foam mattresses were faulted for being too soft, too hot, and difficult to move around on. Advances in technology helped mattress companies improve on memory foam’s responsiveness by making the mattresses better at bouncing back after holding the body’s indention. Open-cell construction also helps keep the mattress cooler by allowing body heat to escape.

I’m Shopping for a New Memory Foam Mattress: What Should I Look For?

The Different Types of Memory Foam

There are four types of memory foam:

• Traditional memory foam: Also called viscoelastic, this foam is made from polyurethane foam (or polyfoam), and is the most commonly used foam in mattresses.
• Plant-based foam: Beds made with plants, such as coconut or soy, are more breathable, bouncy, and eco-friendly.
• Gel-infused foam: Some mattress companies infuse the top layer of memory foam with cooling gel for added comfort.
• Copper-infused foam: Some companies also infuse their mattresses with copper, a mineral known to help ease painful joints, especially for those who suffer from arthritis.

Performance Factors of Memory Foam

Several factors help determine how well a memory foam performs in testing.

Support and responsiveness: What people love about memory foam is how the mattress hugs around their bodies. But too much of a good thing is not necessarily great. The best memory foam mattresses balance this effect with support and responsiveness, ensuring the materials react quickly to your movements and don’t leave you stuck in the bed.

Density: The foam’s density defines how well it responds to movements and also provides pressure relief. A high-density foam will contour the body better and provide more support to pressure points like the shoulders and hips, but it won’t respond as well to your movements, giving you that sinking feeling. A low-density foam will respond faster to your movements, but won’t provide the same pressure point relief as higher density foams.

Indentation Load-Deflection (ILD): This technical-sounding term essentially refers to how firm a mattress is. A low ILD will be more contouring but too sinking. A high ILD will be too firm and lack the cushioning comfort you’d expect from memory foam. The sweet spot is somewhere right in the middle.

Pressure relief: Sleeping on a too soft or too firm mattress can result in pressure point discomfort, such as at the shoulders or hips. The best memory foam mattress can help evenly distribute your body weight, depending on your sleep position and the firmness level of your mattress.

Spine alignment: The best memory foam mattress allows your shoulders and hips to sink deeper into the mattress while holding up your middle section so that your spine stays aligned. This helps prevent or relieve back pain, and ensures a better night’s sleep.

Motion transfer: No one wants to be rattled awake during a restful slumber. But if you sleep with a partner, a child, or a pet, you know how easily your sleep can be disrupted when they switch positions or get out of bed for a bathroom break. Memory foam mattresses that can isolate a sleeper’s movements are especially great for light sleepers.

Temperature regulation: Traditional memory foam got a bad rap for trapping body heat. Newer versions use open-cell technology to improve airflow and offer a cooler night’s sleep. Some foams are infused with gel or copper to enhance the mattress’s cooling properties.

Edge support: Why is edge support important? If you tend to sleep toward one side of the bed, or sit on the edge of the bed to put on your shoes, you may notice sagging at the edge. Beds with higher edge support mean you can hang out at the edge of the bed without feeling like you might slide off.

Thickness: Most memory foam mattresses range in thickness from 6 inches to 14 inches, though some are thinner or thicker. Note that thinner mattresses may not provide adequate support. Thicker mattresses, especially ones that exceed 14 inches, tend to be more expensive. If you plan to invest in a thicker mattress, make sure your sheets are deep-pocketed so that they can accommodate for the added girth.

Durability: For the most part, memory foam mattresses are durable, lasting on average about 7-10 years. High density foam is more durable and longer lasting. You can extend the life of your memory foam mattress by flipping it (if it’s flippable) or rotating it. Mattress accessories like mattress protectors and mattress toppers can also extend the life of your bed.

Off-gassing and odors: Don’t be surprised if you open the box to your brand new memory foam mattress and smell a slight odor. That’s the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds. These chemicals at low levels are not harmful and typically dissipate within a couple hours to a few days after the mattress is unpackaged.

Price of Memory Foam

Expect to pay between $500 to $1,500 for a quality memory foam mattress. The price is generally dictated by the quality and density of the foam. The higher the density, the higher quality and, thus, the higher the price. Some luxury mattresses can cost even more. But beware of cheap memory foam mattresses that cost a few hundred dollars. They may not provide long term support or durability.

Shipping and Delivery

One of the best advantages of memory foam is that you can purchase a mattress entirely online without ever setting foot in a retail store. Most memory foam mattresses can be compressed and packaged in a box that is delivered to your doorstep. Some mattress companies also offer to set up and unpackage your new mattress as well as haul away your old one.

Sleep Trial and Warranty

If you’re worried about ordering a bed online without first testing it out, you can rest assured knowing that many mattress companies offer a sleep trial period — typically at least 100 nights — and some offer free returns if you’re not completely satisfied with your mattress purchase. Plus, most mattresses come with a warranty that ranges from 10-15 years. However, some offer lifetime warranties.

Mattress Foundations

Another great feature of memory foam mattresses is that they work well with most bed frames and foundations. Innerspring mattresses require box springs, but memory foam does not. You can put your memory foam on a box spring, if you wish. But placing them directly on a slatted foundation helps with airflow and keeps the mattress cooler at night. Platform foundations should be firm enough to allow the mattress to keep the spine in alignment. Some memory foam mattresses are also comparable with adjustable bases.

FAQs About the Best Memory Foam Mattresses

How much do memory foam mattresses cost?

The average cost of a memory foam mattress ranges from $500 to $1,500. Some luxury brands can cost several thousands of dollars more while budget brands may offer less expensive models. If you’re looking to save money, consider that memory foam mattresses less than $500 may not provide the support or durability to last long-term.

Do memory foam mattresses sleep hot?

When first introduced, traditional memory foam mattresses got a bad rap for trapping body heat and sleeping hot. But advances in technology have improved on the airflow and breathability of memory foam. Plus, some mattress companies infuse their mattresses with cooling gel to make the beds more comfortable and even cool to the touch.

How long do memory foam mattresses last?

On average, a memory foam mattress should last 7-10 years. Lower density memory foam mattresses may not last as long. But some high-density mattresses can last up to 15 years. You can extend the life of your memory foam mattress by flipping it (if it is two-sided), or rotating it.

Our Top Picks for the Best Memory Foam Mattress