#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Sleep Like The Dead has so far spent 6,000 hours gathering 25,500 mattress reviews from 900+ sources. Here is a brief summary of our unbiased research findings. – 12 Key Mattress Research Findings 3. Buying a mattress online 5. Longevity / lifespan 9. Mattresses and sex 10. Mattresses for large, small people 12. Returning a mattress – How Best To Use This Site – About Our Mattress Research – Why Trust Us Do not assume that you will be satisfied with a top-rated mattress type or brand. Learn about a bed's characteristics, pros & cons before buying to ensure that it is right for you personally. Select a mattress type for detailed analysis and ratings. MORE INFO: See the mattress types compared in 20 additional ways. The chart below includes many of the more popular and / or widely available brands (in alphabetical order). Select a brand for detailed ratings.
COMPARE THE ABOVE MATTRESSES AND MANY MORE in our side-by-side mattress comparison. DON'T SEE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? Search our mattress ratings using box below. Mattresses of various price points have some important differences. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at our mattress price comparison. Buying a mattress online has important similarities and differences to buying in a store. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at buying a mattress online: what to know as well as the mattress manufacturer / brand comparison. The following shows the firmness level that tends to be suitable for average-sized people depending on their body type; your own personal preference may differ. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS as well as firmness suggestions for people of above- and below-average size at our mattress firmness guide. Mattress longevity or lifespan can vary especially by mattress type. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at the mattress longevity comparison.
About 8% of people report that their mattress retains heat and sleeps hot to an extent that undermines sleep quantity / quality. Some mattress types have more of a problem on this issue than others. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at mattress heat retention. A mattress with good motion isolation localizes or absorbs a person's movement, such as their getting in / out of bed and their changing of positions. A mattress with poor motion isolation sends a person's movement across the bed to possible disturb another person. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at the mattress motion isolation comparison. Off gassing is an odor that a mattress may release when unpackaged due to its chemical composition. Some mattress types are more likely than others to have a problem. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at mattress off gassing odor. The different mattress types have various pros and cons in regard to suitability on this issue. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at mattresses and sex.
Among several other factors, mattress thickness is a key attribute that small and especially large people should consider. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at the mattress guide for large & small people. The life of a mattress tends to be a fraction of its warranty length. GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at mattress warranties: what to know. The top reason people seek to return their mattress is that it has a firmness level unsuitable for one's personal preference, body type, or sleep position. Less common reasons include sleeping hot, persistent off gassing odor, and unsuitability for sex. Chart: Main reasons for seeking a mattress return GET THE FULL STORY AND ANALYSIS at returning a mattress: what to know. Adjustable bed bases / foundations often provide a variety of health and comfort benefits. Available are value-priced models ($600-$1100), middle-priced models ($1101-$1500) and luxury-level models ($1501-$3500+). GET THE FULL STORY, RATINGS, AND ANALYSIS at adjustable bed reviews.
Do you really need a new mattress? Oftentimes, a mattress topper can effectively soften an overly firm mattress or revitalize an aging mattress. GET THE FULL STORY, RATINGS, AND ANALYSIS at mattress topper reviews. The best place to start your research is the page you are on right now or the mattress comparisons page – specifically the mattress type comparison. Once you have chosen a type, then choose a brand and model of that type. Then, if necessary, choose a seller of the mattress from the retailer comparison. Our mattress reviews and ratings are based on 25,600+ consumer experiences collected from over 890 credible sources. See research sources & methodology for details. Our mission is to help people make smart sleep-product buying decisions – and to sleep like the dead as a result. This can only be achieved by providing unbiased, truthful information.Replacing your mattress can be an exhausting proposition. Not only are there hundreds of models to choose from, but a big part of what makes a good one is very personal: One person's luxury is another person's backache waiting to happen.
Further, there's the matter of cost; mattresses can go for literally thousands of dollars. , an independent mattress review website."For something that you're going to sleep on every day for 10 years, you want materials that are durable and high quality," he says. "And most likely, you won't find good materials that can withstand daily uses for under $1,000." That said, you should never pay full price for a mattress — always shop the sales, and don't be afraid to negotiate with the salesperson either for a discount or for extras (a bed frame, pillows, sheets) to be thrown in.Here's the savvy way to navigate a showroom full of mattresses with confidence:START WITH SUPPORT The first decision you have to make has to do with a mattress's core, which provides the support. There are four common types: innerspring, foam, latex, and air-filled.If you like a bed with bounce... Innerspring mattresses have that familiar bouncy feel. Still, you can choose how springy you want it to be.
The metal coils are typically gauged anywhere from 12 (the thickest and firmest) to 18 (the thinnest and most compressible). Heavier folks tend to prefer a thicker gauge's support. Coils that are interconnected are extra-durable, but individual "pocketed" coils, each covered with fabric, reduce the ripple effect that happens when someone on one side of the bed moves.Innerspring mattresses typically have either a fiberfill or foam outer layer, covered in quilted ticking. But even if you want an uber-plush feel, don't be swayed by a thick-looking pillowtop."A really puffy layer might feel great in the store, but in a few months, you'll see it compressing and not coming back," says Magnuson. It's often best to choose a firmer, well-quilted mattress, and then cover it with a replaceable mattress pad or feather bed.If you prefer an extra-firm base... Memory foam mattresses (which have a polyurethane core) have much less spring. "You sit on it, and it doesn't really sink or budge beyond the topmost layer," Magnuson says.
To determine their quality, ask for the specs on a) how thick the layer of foam is, and b) the foam's density. Thickness can vary from 2 to 6 inches, which will determine how deep you'll sink. In terms of density, 5 pounds per cubic foot is considered very high quality, while down to 3 pounds per cubic foot is less so.If you like a little buoyancy... Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam models in terms of firmness, but have a bit more spring-back. Natural latex (some mattresses are synthetic) is also antimicrobial, resistant to mold and dust mites. These mattresses can be pricey, but claim to last up to 20 years or more.There are two types of latex: Dunlop latex is more dense and heavier than the lighter Talalay latex, which has a softer feel.If you like customization... Consider an an air-filled vinyl or rubber chamber mattress, which has a remote that lets you to control how much air is inside. Many have two side-by-side chambers, which allow the mattress firmness to be customized separately for you and your partner.
The top surface is similar to an innersprings: quilted fiberfill or foam. Beyond the four types of mattresses, there are other factors in their construction that you'll need to think about. From sleep style to body type, to negotiating with a bedfellow, your lifestyle can help you make the best choice:If you tend to sleep on your side... You'll want a surface with a lot of "pressure relief" or the ability to disperse while supporting your body weight, and conforming to your shape."Imagine you're lying on a hard floor and there's a heat map showing the points at which your body is producing the most pressure," Magnuson says.Cushy memory foam or a mattress with a fluffy topper will have the most pressure relief, while a very firm mattress will offer the least. Innersprings may have more pressure relief than a foam or latex mattress. Test out mattresses lying down to get a real feel.If you tend to sleep on your stomach... Following that heat-map analogy, the last thing a stomach-sleeper probably wants is an enveloping memory foam — it would feel smothering!
Instead, a firm top surface will provide the best support. Consider a dense innerspring, air-filled, or latex mattress.If you tend to sleep on your back... Here, you'll want something in the middle — a surface that supports, but has some give so your spine is kept in a healthy alignment. You'll find happiness with any of the mattress types, but you should do your best princess-and-the-pea impression to see what feels best to you.If your partner tosses and turns all night... Consider an innerspring mattress with pocketed coils, or memory foam, latex, or a dual-chamber air-filled mattress. These will all have good "motion isolation." But remember, these models could actually be less comfortable on the body of a restless sleeper, as there's little forgiveness against one's movements.If you and your partner's preferences don't match... The air-filled mattresses with dual chambers are made just for you. If you find that the top surface isn't comfy enough, you can add a separate topper.
If you tend to sleep hot... Mattresses topped with foam or latex can hold in body heat, especially if they're very soft and a lot of your body sinks in. For this reason, you may prefer a fiberfill-topped innerspring mattress. Or — even better — use a removable fiberfill or feather mattress topper that can be removed and washed.If you have allergies... Foam and latex are both inherently antimicrobial and resistant to dust mites and mold. If you opt for innerspring or air topped with fiberfill, be sure to encase it in an allergen-resistant cover to keep irritants at bay.If you can't pinpoint what matters most ... Some savvy manufacturers make a hybrid style mattress that combines the buoyancy of an innerspring core with the motion isolation of memory foam. It's a best-of-both-worlds option that can satisfy many partner disputes and sleeping styles, though it comes at a cost — these luxury models can be pricey. A NOTE ON LIFESPAN AND WARRANTIES You may think that a longer warranty shows a confidence in the product, or a promise of a certain lifespan.