Best Mattresses of 2016 Take your pick of adjustable air, innerspring and memory foam mattresses Our readers have told us that buying a new mattress can be a headache because they're difficult to compare from store to store and model names change frequently. To help, Consumer Reports tweaked its tests and mattress ratings this year making it easier to tell how firm a mattress really is on a scale of 1 to 10 and how much support it provides to people who sleep on their backs or their sides. In fact, now you can match your sleeping style and your stature to your mattress by scanning the six columns in our ratings that call out the best mattresses for petite, average, and large/tall side sleepers and petite, average, and large/tall back sleepers. Here are two top picks from each of the three types of mattresses we test. At $3,000, this Sleep Number bed is especially pricey, but there’s a lot to like if you sleep primarily on your back. As with other memory-foam, adjustable-air beds from Sleep Number, you and your partner can adjust the firmness of independent halves of the bed to your preference.
In addition to its superb back support, the mattress was impressive at keeping the spine horizontal for side sleepers. The mattress measures 12 inches high, so you’ll get by without deep-pocket fitted sheets. You don’t have to pay thousands for an adjustable-air mattress to get impressive side support and even better back support. The pricier Sleep Number i8 bed edged this one out in overall performance, but you’ll pay $2,200 less without a noticeable difference in support. Trying the bed out before buying will tell you if this mattress’s thinner top foam layer is less comfortable. The mattress measures just 8 inches high, so you’ll get by without deep-pocket fitted sheets. Back sleepers have a lot to like about this $1,500 innerspring from Charles P. Rogers, but you might be less satisfied when you roll over. With a latex-foam topping, the mattress was among the best at supporting the curve of the spine and very good at keeping side sleepers' spines horizontal. The mattress came out fine after eight years of simulated use, and it was top-notch at muting vibrations, meaning little bouncing from across the bed.
It measures 14 inches high, so you'll probably need deep-pocket fitted sheets. Mattresses can cost much more than this Sealy innerspring mattress, $1,275, but this one was very good overall however mixed its performance in our support tests. It's a good bet for a petite person who sleeps on her side but not so great for a large/tal sleeper who prefers sleeping on his back. And the mattress is much softer than claimed. On the plus side, it came out great after eight years of simulated use and was fine at muting vibrations, meaning little bouncing from across the bed. It was also fairly breathable. The Sealy is 12 inches high, so you shouldn't need deep-pocket fitted sheets. From a relatively new brand, Casper has a winner in this memory- and latex-foam mattress, which scored impressively across the board. Few mattresses in our ratings score equally well for both back and side support, and at $850, Casper has achieved it without a thousand-dollar price. It showed only minor changes after eight years of simulated use and transmitted little vibration from one side of the bed to the other, so changing positions is fairly easy.
Another plus: Since the mattress measures only 10 inches high, you won't need deep-pocket fitted sheets. This Novaform memory-foam mattress from Costco is infused with gel beads and was impressive both at supporting the spinal curve while you're on your back and supporting you while you're lying on your side. It also came out great after eight years of simulated use. The mattress comes folded in a box, but there's free pickup and return for an unspecified period if you’re not satisfied. Getting it back into the box is not required. Our tested model measures a bit more than 14 inches high, so you might get by without deep-pocket fitted sheets. What's behind our mattress Ratings? and provide valuable feedback to other members and our testers. You should think about buying a new mattress if you wake up tired or achy, you tend to sleep better at hotels than at home, your mattress looks saggy or lumpy, you're over 40, or your mattress is at least five to seven years old.
Use this mattress guide to help with your purchase. CO & smoke alarmsConsidering that most people spend about one-third of their lives in bed, it's hardly surprising that a mattress can have a big impact on your overall health. There are several types of mattresses, each with a particular set of advantages and disadvantages. Traditional innerspring models remain the most popular type, but newer alternatives -- including memory foam, latex foam, air mattresses with adjustable firmness "zones" (as exemplified by the Sleep Number brand) and organic mattresses made of various materials -- have gained favor with owners. One of the big issues with buying a new mattress is that it generally requires a fairly significant cash outlay -- in most cases about $500 for a twin; $1000 or more for a queen or king. Some cost two or three times as much, depending upon features. And that often does not include the box spring or other foundation. However, with as much time as you spend in bed, and the average length of time you'll own the mattress, it pays to buy the best one you can afford.
Figuring out exactly how much a mattress costs can also be difficult. Most mattress companies have a specific line (or several) of a mattress (Posturepedic by Sealy and Beautyrest by Simmons are good examples of this), and then, within that line, have dozens of different models that are not detailed on the manufacturer's website. So, while several retailers may carry the same line, there is little consistency from retailer to retailer. In addition, the same model may be sold under different names at different retailers. Because of that, for the purposes of this report, we don't rate specific mattresses; rather, we rate mattress lines that get the best reviews across the board. As for price, we have quoted the manufacturer's suggested retail price, which are usually much higher than the actual prices you'll find in stores. We discuss price in more detail -- as well as how to get the best deal -- on our buying guide page. Also, if a mattress is just one of several bedroom purchases you're planning, check out our related reports on bed sheets, pillows and mattress toppers.
Innerspring mattresses have been the most popular type for decades, and countless styles, features and options are available. Models vary greatly in cost, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Price differences may depend on the number and size of the coils, the amount and type of padding, and details such as fabric and stitching. Compared with other types, innerspring mattresses tend to retain less body heat and come in a wider range of firmness levels. They do tend to transfer more motion, which can be a concern if you share your bed with a partner, but can be a plus during sex. They're also less durable and more prone to sagging than other types of mattresses. Most experts say innerspring mattresses should be replaced after 10 years at most. Memory foam mattresses are made from visco-elastic foam, a type of foam that molds itself to the body. While the best-known manufacturer is Tempur-Pedic, quite a few companies offer less expensive versions. Many owners love sleeping on memory foam because of how well it conforms to the curves and lines of the body.
Memory foam is also a good choice if you have a restless partner as it minimizes movement transfer. Going from innerspring to memory foam can take some getting used to, but most who give it time say making the switch was well worth it. Some people find that memory foam traps heat -- a complaint that makers have addressed with the development of gel-infused memory foam, which is designed to create a cooler sleeping surface. Latex foam mattresses, which are made from natural or synthetic rubber, are springier than memory foam mattresses and don't retain as much body heat. They are also resistant to mold and dust mites. In addition, mattresses made of natural latex are eco-friendly, since natural latex is a renewable resource. Many latex mattresses go for several thousand dollars for a queen set, although some lower-end brands that incorporate synthetic latex and a less expensive processing method can run as low as $3000 (for twin). Some mattresses may help to ease back pain. Experts say that adjustable, permanent-use air mattresses may be the best choice for back pain sufferers.
Don't confuse them with inflatable, temporary air mattresses, though, which we cover in a separate report; those aren't considered suitable for long-term use. Permanent air mattresses, such as those sold under the Sleep Number Bed label, have air chambers that can be adjusted to provide customized support, and are topped with padding. Some even allow each side of the mattress to be adjusted independently. Permanent air mattresses can be expensive, running at least $1,000 for a queen set. They tend to be quite durable though, because, while they rely on mechanical parts that can fail, those parts are replaceable. Although it would seem as if the experiences of mattress owners would be the most crucial aspect of finding the best mattress; in fact, owners reviews are fairly hard to come by for specific mattresses. This may be because, as noted earlier, there is little consistency between mattress models. -- which has compiled more data about mattress satisfaction than any other site.