The Best Mattress for a Better Night's Sleep Buying a new mattress? Here are tips for finding the right mattress for you. You spend about a third of every day in bed. Whether that time is spent blissfully slumbering -- or tossing and turning -- depends a lot on your mattress. "A mattress can impact a person's sleep," says Michael Decker, PhD, RN, associate professor at Georgia State University and spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. One way that your mattress affects your sleep has to do with the network of fine blood vessels, called capillaries, that runs underneath your skin. "When you lie on any part of your body for an extended period of time, the weight of it reduces the flow of blood through those blood vessels, which deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients," Decker says. This causes nerve cells and pain sensors in your skin to send a message to your brain for you to roll over. Rolling over restores blood flow to the area, but it also briefly interrupts your sleep.
Ideally, a mattress that reduces the pressure points on your body should give you a better night's sleep, Decker says. Yet the ideal mattress is different for each person. Which Mattress Is Right for You? Finding the right mattress isn't about searching out the highest-tech brand or spending the most money. "A much more expensive mattress doesn't necessarily mean it's better," Decker says. A high price tag is a product of both the materials that go into the mattress, and the marketing that helps sell it. Instead of focusing on price and brand name, think about what you want in a mattress. "Selecting a mattress is very personal," Decker says. Some people prefer a firmer mattress; others favor a softer style. Although there isn't a lot of scientific evidence to prove that one type of mattress will help you sleep better than another, people with certain medical conditions do seem to rest easier on a particular mattress style. Anyone with back or neck pain should take a Goldilocks approach to mattress buying: not too hard, and not too soft.
"If you're on too soft [of] a mattress, you'll start to sink down to the bottom. But on too hard of a mattress you have too much pressure on the sacrum, and on the shoulders, and on the back of the head," says Howard Levy, MD, an Emory University assistant professor of orthopaedics, physical medicine, and rehabilitation. A medium-firm mattress, or a firm mattress with a softer pillow top, will give your spine that "just-right" balance of support and cushioning. An adjustable bed can be a good buy if you need to sleep with your head raised. Doctors sometimes recommend elevating the head to help people with COPD breathe easier, or to prevent nighttime heartburn from GERD. These beds can also allow you to adjust your knees and hips to a 90-degree angle, relieving some of the pressure on sore joints, Levy says. If you have allergies or asthma, you might have considered buying a bed labeled "hypoallergenic." "There are a lot of claims made by mattress manufacturers that their mattresses are hypoallergenic or don't support the growth of dust mites, but I don't know of scientific evidence to support these claims," says Paul V. Williams, MD, a pediatrics professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and an allergist at Northwest Allergy and Asthma Center in Washington state.
Williams says dust mites will live anywhere there's food -- and that food is your dead skin cells. Instead of investing in an allergy-free mattress, slip on a washable mattress encasing. It will form a barrier that prevents dust mites from getting to you. A mattress encasing cuts allergen growth by robbing dust mites of their food supply, Williams says. And what about those space-age memory foam mattresses, which can cost thousands of dollars? There is some evidence they can help with back problems and improve sleep, but their advantage over a regular coil mattress is only slight. Where memory foam mattresses can really help you sleep is if you have an active bed partner who is keeping you awake, Decker says. Foam mattresses reduce motion transfer, letting you lie still while your partner tosses and turns. Test Drive a Mattress Before You Buy "You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it," Decker says. So why would you invest hundreds -- or even thousands of dollars in a mattress without trying it out first?
Take any new mattress you're considering for a test nap. "People should not be embarrassed to go into a store and lay on a mattress for 20 minutes," Decker says. For a more realistic test, sleep in the beds at different hotel chains when you travel. If you get an especially good night's sleep on one of them, ask the desk clerk what brand it is. When you test out a mattress, make sure it feels comfortable in every position, especially the side you favor for sleeping. The mattress should be supportive where you need it, without putting too much pressure on your body, Levy says. Time for a New Mattress If you've been having trouble sleeping, the problem might not be your mattress type, but its age. "It's really important for people to realize that mattresses have a certain lifespan," Decker says. Keep your mattress too long, and the foam and other materials inside it will start to break down, compromising its ability to support your body. Decker recommends keeping your mattress for no more than 10 years.
After that, it's time to go mattress shopping again.A top choice for its highly durable memory foam, which offers plenty of therapeutic support and comfort. Praised for its unique coils, which work independently to provide the best possible weight distribution. Generates much enthusiasm for its universal comfort level, which ensures proper support and body weight distribution. An ideal choice for virtually any type of sleeper thanks to its firm support, which helps to relieve pressure points. Distances itself from competitors due to the fact that it ensures an odor-free mattress by using plant oil for freshness. Has a firmer construction, so if you're looking for something super soft, we recommend going with another one. Comes bundled up in a duffel bag for added convenience. However, you need to give it at least 24 hours to expand once it's removed from the bag. A handful of consumers wish that the sides of the mattress offered a bit more support, as they tend to be a bit harder than the rest of the product.
Several owners caution that this mattress is better sized for a trundle than it is for a traditional twin bed frame. This mattress is a bit firmer than most, which tends to be most noticeable among side sleepers. Anyone who's in the market for a high-quality mattress with ample support will really appreciate this mattress. Hands down the best mattress on the market. If you don't mind waiting an extra day or two to use your mattress once it arrives, this product is an excellent choice for the price. Definitely the best overall bang for your buck. You'll pay a bit more up front for this mattress, but satisfied owners agree that the added expense is well worth the comfort and support, not to mention durability over time. If you're looking for a reliable second mattress or want to get a mattress for a younger child, this product is a great choice. While it's a great choice if you need a firmer mattress, those seeking a softer mattress should consider other products.
Best of the Best Best Bang for the Buck We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers. Is your mattress conducive to a good night’s sleep, or do you toss and turn every night? Finding a mattress that’s comfortable, durable, and affordable can be somewhat of a balancing act. What’s more, mattress manufacturers routinely introduce new technologies to lure customers away from the competition. It can be tough to separate the hype from reality. Before you jump into a new investment, let our handy shopping guide help you answer your most pressing questions about buying a new mattress. Mattresses don’t last forever. If yours is over 10 years old, consider buying a new one. Mattresses collect dust, human skin cells, and body fluids over time. Some people try to revive their old mattress with a professional deep cleaning or a new mattress topper. These temporary solutions are stop-gap measures at best.
Here are some situations in which it’s definitely time to replace a mattress: The top is so worn that the inner springs are exposed. As mentioned above, a topper only masks this problem. Exposed springs threaten your comfort and support, and they’re definitely a safety hazard. The mattress has developed structural problems. Older mattresses may sag in the middle or collapse on the sides. Some people try to adapt to these inconveniences, but the fact is, an unsupported mattress puts unnatural stress on the body. Other warning signs that you may need to consider a new mattress include the following: You’re experiencing chronic stiffness or back pain, especially in the morning. You’re not sleeping well at night. You’re experiencing increased nighttime allergy symptoms. You notice that you get better rest in other places, such as a couch, chair, hotel, or friend’s guest room. Hundreds of internal metal coils support the sleeper on an innerspring mattress.
The ideal innerspring perfectly aligns the spine and fully supports the extremities. But since different parts of the body exert different amounts of pressure on the springs, this type of mattress may or may not provide adequate support. Your comfort depends heavily on the total number of coils your mattress has. A cheap mattress with 400 coils might not feel very comfortable, whereas a pricier model with 900 coils might feel so fantastic that you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. That said, the total number of coils is not always an indicator of mattress quality. A mattress with 800 coils might use an inferior grade of metal, whereas a 500-coil mattress might incorporate coils of top-quality steel. Memory foam mattresses are made of dense foam with heavy viscosity. These models incorporate a solid foam support system rather than a failure-prone set of internal coils. Memory foam conforms to your body contours, creating the appropriate highs and lows for ideal comfort and support.
For many people, the urge to assume to new sleep positions throughout the night is greatly reduced with a memory foam mattress. However, there are some drawbacks to this type of bedding. Memory foam mattresses are expensive, and they’re typically available only in specialized bedding stores and online. Furthermore, because the thick foam provides little ventilation, they tend to retain heat. Some memory foam mattresses include a gel layer that adds a bit of cooling comfort, but the gel is often buried too deeply within the mattress to be of much use. A recent development in mattress technology is the adjustable air/memory gel hybrid. With this type of mattress, you dial in your desired level of support, and air bladders inside the mattress inflate or deflate to match your command. (Note: the pumps that control each air bladder can be noisy, so middle-of-the-night adjustments are not advisable!) The obvious benefit is that two sleepers with different firmness preferences can share a bed comfortably.
These mattresses tend to be quite pricey, but satisfied users say the cost is worth it. A bit of advice about sleep number beds: while firmness level plays a role in your overall comfort, it’s wise to avoid extremely high or low settings. A too-soft mattress could cause problems over time because it doesn’t support the spine enough; an ultra-firm mattress that holds the body in rigid suspension all night could also cause problems. When it comes to mattresses, size matters. The smallest size available for adult sleepers is the twin, although it is barely large enough to support one average adult. Twin beds work best in a child’s room or a spare guest room. Two adults would likely not feel comfortable sharing a twin bed for long! The next size up is the full mattress. It’s the smallest size that can reasonably accommodate two average adults. Because of its relatively narrow width, there can be a lot of transferred motion if one sleeper leaves the bed or climbs back in.
Full mattress are available in an extended length for tall sleepers. Sheets, blankets, and pillow cases for the full-size bed are easy to find. Many people find contentment with the next largest size, the queen. Two adults can sleep comfortably on a queen-size bed without making incidental contact. If you prefer a few inches of separation between you and your partner, this could be the size for you. Transfer of motion is also less of an issue with this size than it is with a full. The ultimate mattress size is the spacious king. Size variations exist among king-size mattresses, such as the California King and the Split King. It’s a popular size in the hotel industry, because sleepers can maintain a comfortable distance if necessary. People who prefer a lot of independence while sleeping enjoy the benefits of a king. Notably, a king-size bed’s sheets, blankets, and pillowcases are larger and tend to cost more. If you’re considering a king-size mattress, be aware of this additional investment.
Before buying, it’s also wise to make sure your room’s dimensions will accommodate this larger bed. Innerspring mattresses with decent coil counts, independent spring designs, and thick padding should not cost more than about $1000. Pricier innerspring models do exist, but the difference in quality is often negligible. Memory foam/gel mattresses are generally promoted as high-end models, so customers should expect to see price tags of $1500 or more. Manufacturer financing is sometimes available, but the interest rates can be considerably higher than average. Adjustable air mattresses with memory foam or gel can also cost a lot. A price tag of $2000 to $2500 is not unusual for such a bed. People with health issues related to poor sleep may want to make the leap to an adjustable sleep number mattress, but others may conclude that the adjustable nature of this mattress doesn’t outweigh the initial investment. If you’re currently experiencing aches, pains, stiffness, or difficulty sleeping, a new mattress may help.