How To Buy A Mattress: 6 Expert-Backed Tips
There used to be one straightforward way to approach how to buy a mattress: visit a store, awkwardly roll around on the different options and pick the one you liked most from your short visit. However, modern-day mattress shopping entails quite a different journey. There are hundreds of different models—with varying materials and feels—that you can shop online or in person. In fact, it can almost be too much.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our top pick for mattresses, but this guide can help determine if a ... More different choice is best for you.
The Forbes Vetted mattress team has tested over 150 mattresses and maintains strong relationships with the most reputable brands and manufacturers. In other words: We've shopped for and worked with a lot of mattresses, and know the major players in the space very well. In this guide, we lay out the best steps to take to start your mattress shopping journey. Whether you're a side sleeper who overheats or a back sleeper who shares the bed with a restless partner, follow our tips to find the right fit—and feel good about your purchase.
Before diving into specifics of materials and beyond, it's important to figure out the mattress size you need and set an overall budget. Size and price are often directly proportional: Mattresses can range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands, with the bigger sizes costing more.
The most common mattress sizes are:
A look at the most common mattress sizes and how they can accommodate one or more sleepers.
Queen-size mattresses are the most popular, so using them as the example, here's a breakdown of the general price tiers of different mattress types, and what kinds of features you can expect at each level.
We consider anything less than $1,000 in a queen size to be an affordable mattress. These beds are often made with less expensive materials and feature fewer comfort layers. That said, some are still excellent options—such as the Nectar Classic—so it's important to read about the build and check out reviews.
Nectar
Most brand-name mattress models you'll see will be between the $1,000 and $2,000 mark. The majority of the selections featured on our best mattresses list fit this category, including our best overall pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe. These mattresses are typically the best match for the majority of sleepers, especially if two people are sharing the bed. They feature high-quality materials and have thoughtful touches like cooling additions or cushy pillow tops.
Helix
Luxury mattresses start around $2,000, but can cost thousands more than that depending on the advancements they feature. These beds are built with the most premium materials on the market, like organic latex or layers of microcoils, and tend to have thicker profiles. For example, the Stearns & Foster Reserve—our pick for the best luxury mattress—has a bevy of added features, like three kinds of coils, air vents, contouring memory foam designed by Tempur-Pedic and much more. It's also handcrafted and comes with free in-home delivery.
Stearns & Foster
A higher price and advanced features doesn't always mean that a mattress is going to be better for you. This is why the next step of mattress shopping involves understanding your sleeping style and preferences to zero in on the correct firmness level to support you.
One of the biggest indicators of the right mattress for you is your sleeping position(s). Do you sleep on your side, back, stomach or a combination of them?
Your body weight and frame play a role in the firmness level you choose, as well.
Once you know your sleep preferences and the right firmness level for your needs, you can then think about the materials and style of the mattress based on what type of feel you're going for when you sleep. Mattresses contain one or more layers made from different components, and depending on those layers, they're put into the following categories: memory foam, hybrid, innerspring, latex and smart bed. All types come in various firmness and support levels.
Memory mattresses feature all-foam layers. Depending on the density and quality of the foams in them, they can fall into any of the different price ranges covered above. For example, a mattress that uses more affordable polyfoams costs less than, say, a Tempur-Pedic mattress, which heavily features specially designed, proprietary memory foams. Memory foam mattresses are great for anyone who likes a contouring, hugging feel, while they sleep; some are more responsive and bouncy than others for those who don't want to totally sink into the bed.
Tempur-Pedic
Hybrid mattresses have become extremely popular as they mix both foams and coils in their layers. This allows them to offer the pressure relief of a memory foam bed with the support and ease of movement of an innerspring mattress. They can accommodate a wide variety of sleepers and are a good pick for two people with different tastes sharing a bed. Our top choice, the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid, is a nice option for people who want a cushy feel but like to be kept lifted and supported.
Leesa
Old-school innerspring mattresses primarily featured coils with a thin comfort layer on top, but modern-day innerspring mattresses lean more like hybrids—incorporating pocketed coils and more comfort materials. The Saatva Classic is considered an innerspring hybrid: It has two layers of coils (one of which is pocketed) and a plush Euro pillow top along with a thin layer of memory foam in the center third of the bed.
Saatva
Latex is a type of foam derived from rubber trees, making it more natural than synthetic foams. There is synthetic latex as well, though, so you typically want to see if a brand uses Dunlop or Talalay latex to know it's more eco-friendly. Latex is naturally more breathable, durable and bouncy than memory foam. It also offers a gentler contouring feel in comparison. There are mattresses entirely made of the material, but most latex mattresses also have coils or sometimes other foam types in their construction. Our favorite latex mattress, the Avocado Green, uses organic Dunlop latex along with organic cotton and wool and recycled steel coils.
Avocado
As the name suggests, smart beds rely on high-tech features which are often controlled by a smartphone or remote. Think: adjusting the firmness or temperature of your mattress with the touch of a button. The Sleep Number Climate360 is one that does just that. Many of these types of beds also come with an adjustable bed frame that allows to lift or tilt the head and foot of the bed and use other features like massaging and under-bed lighting. Because of these advanced details, smart beds are in the upper end of luxury pricing.
Sleep Number
Now that you hopefully know the general size, style and materials of the bed you'd like, it's good to think of extra factors that matter for your sleep needs. From sleeping hot to sharing the bed with a restless partner, here are some top ones to consider.
Many are familiar with the struggle of waking up hot throughout the night and needing to kick off the sheets. Your mattress shouldn't cause or exacerbate this problem. There are cooling mattresses that are packed with materials meant to dissipate heat and promote airflow, like the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, along with smart beds with active cooling technology, like the Sleep Number ClimateCool.
If you want a true cooling mattress, a smart bed is the best bet. However, other options can still do a stellar job with temperature regulation. But keep in mind that just because a mattress is advertised as being cooling, doesn't mean it necessarily is. Our recommendation is to look for some or all of the following materials if you sleep hot:
If you share the bed with a partner or pet, motion isolation refers to how well the mattress absorbs their movements—so every toss and turn isn't disrupting your slumber, especially if you're on a smaller bed. Motion isolation is a main attribute in the best mattresses for couples and is usually promoted by thick foams or pocketed coils. The Bear Elite Hybrid, our top recommendation, features both.
A sturdy mattress perimeter makes the bed feel larger and also easier to get in and out of if you have mobility issues. If you like to sit or sleep near the side of the bed, then look out for strong edge support. The Saatva Classic Mattress has some of the best edge support we've ever tested.
If you move around a lot—whether from switching sleep positions or during times of intimacy—or find it challenging to move freely, then ease of movement is something to prioritize. This refers to how responsive a mattress is. For instance, a bed with slow-moving foams makes movement more difficult than one with bouncy coils. The WinkBed Mattress, available in three firmness levels, is an excellent choice for ease of movement.
If ethical or sustainable practices are important to you, then keep an eye out for third-party certifications when mattress shopping. These certifications range in what they reveal, from proving materials are organic to showing the company donates profits to environmental causes. Some brands use terms like 'natural,' 'organic,' 'eco-friendly' or 'green' in their product descriptions, but they don't have the credentials to back them up. Avocado, however, stands out with its vast amount of certifications that demonstrate its commitment to sustainability.
Whether you get a mattress in store or online—or perhaps look in store and then buy online—is at your discretion. Whichever choice, it's still best to do your due diligence before making a purchase.
Just like many other major products in our lives—couches, TVs, laptops—it's pretty common these days for people to buy a mattress online. There are so many options you can easily shop, and a ton of reviews to either endorse them or shoot up red flags. Some perks of buying online? For one, you don't need to have the uncomfortable in-store experience where a salesperson is watching you fake sleep. But more importantly, online mattresses are often more competitively priced, as the brands operate with lower overhead costs. They also tend to provide stronger trial periods and warranties—giving customers greater peace of mind (more on this below).
When bed-in-a-box mattresses first emerged, people were understandably hesitant to take the leap due to quality concerns. However, it's now such a competitive space for brands that I've personally noticed the quality and motivated pricing escalate in recent years. Quite simply, if you make poor-quality products, it's not going to stay a secret online.
Some people simply prefer to see and feel a mattress in person, and that's okay too. If you're shopping in store, just make sure you do some research first to get an idea of what you want. And don't feel pressured to make a decision right away—it is a big one, after all. Some brands, like Saatva, Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic, have both online and in-store shopping available, so you can test them out in person and buy online later if that makes you more comfortable.
The Saatva showroom in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Regardless of whether you shop online or in store, you'll want to take a look at the company's policies and prices. This can not only give you confidence in your purchasing decision but also ensure you have a safety net. Here's some of the fine print we pay attention to:
Most online mattresses come with free shipping. Many arrive at your door compressed in a box and you then set it up yourself at home. Others (usually more expensive ones) come with free white glove delivery, which means the mattress is never compressed in a box and a crew brings it to your bedroom, sets it up and often takes your old mattress away for free if you'd like. Some brands also offer the option to pay for white glove service if it isn't included.
A trial period is the amount of time you can test a mattress out at home before you can no longer exchange or return it. Reputable brands offer at least 90 nights, but some go as far as a whole year. It takes about 30 nights for your body to adjust to a new bed, so it's essential to have a trial period of at least this long, if not considerably more. Although the trial periods mostly come no-strings attached, some brands do charge a restocking or shipping fee if you decide it's not the right mattress for you after the period ends.
A mattress warranty is how long your product's covered by the company if manufacturing defects pop up. So if there's premature sagging, for instance, you can file a claim under the warranty to get a replacement mattress or have it repaired. Reputable brands offer at least a 10-year warranty, with many now offering lifetime ones. Just keep in mind lifetime warranties often include fine print that shows there are limits to how long your bed is fully covered. It's also important to read what may void the warranty, such as using the wrong bed frame or removing the mattress cover.
It's no secret in the mattress industry that most brands always run promotions, but the discount levels do change depending on the time of year. The best time to buy a mattress is around the following holidays and sales events: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Christmas and New Year's Day. Brands frequently squeeze some seasonal sales in there too (but they're usually not as strong as the others). So if you miss a big holiday, don't panic—there will be another one soon.
Forbes Vetted is dedicated to researching and testing the best mattresses and sleep products on the market while also staying up to date on the latest industry trends and launches. We've curated an expansive library of sleep shopping guides and advice, where you can find everything from tested roundups of the best mattresses to advice on how to clean your mattress.
Along with your budget and mattress size, it's important to know the right mattress firmness for your sleeping position and any other extra features you may want, like cooling or motion isolation. Side sleepers tend to do best with a soft to medium-firm mattress, while back and stomach sleepers are better off with medium-firm to firmer mattresses.
Depending on your budget and preferences, you can spend a couple hundred dollars to ten grand on a mattress. We think most people should expect to spend around $1,000 to $1,800 for a high-quality, comfortable and supportive mattress (in a queen size).
The right mattress for you has the correct firmness and support level for your sleeping position and body type, along with any performance features that are important to keep you comfortable while you sleep. It's always a good idea to read the reviews and do your research before making a purchase.
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