Consumer Reports has updated our mattress Ratings, and the best we’ve tested provide plenty of support, resist bounciness, allow easy movement, and should last for many years before you need to replace it. You won’t find scores for comfort in our Ratings; that’s an individual judgment. But here’s a look at some mattresses that did especially well in back and side support. If you sleep on your back Our tests for back support graph the spine’s natural curves for a range of adults, and then we record how consistently mattresses maintain that curve. Charles P. Rogers Powercore Estate 5000, $1,500 This innerspring isn’t the best choice if you occasionally roll over to your side, but it delivered better back support than any other innerspring—or foam bed—in our tests. We tested its firmness as medium. Spring Air Back Supporter Natalie, $1,200 Sold at Costco, this memory foam bed also wasn’t notably good for side sleepers, but for the back, it was impressive.
The manufacturer claims the mattress is “ultra firm,” but we judged it as medium. Sleep Number i8 Bed, $3,000 Our testers judged this adjustable-air mattress, topped by foam, as soft. But this and its lower-price sibling were among the very best at back support. With these, you can adjust firmness one half of the bed at a time—helpful if two sleep partners like a different feel. Sleep Number c2 Bed, $700 This adjustable-air mattress fared almost as well but for more than $2,000 less. One primary difference is this bed’s firm feel, likely because of the considerably thinner foam topping. Roll over now and then? Both these Sleep Number beds were impressive for side sleepers as well. If you sleep on your side For our side-sleeping test, we check how well a mattress keeps the spine relatively horizontal when someone is lying on his or her side. All three of our top picks for side sleepers also fared above-average at back support. No mattress, however, received our top score in this test.
Serta Perfect Day iSeries Applause, $1,075 This innerspring has gotten a bit difficult to find, but it’s a winner if you can locate it. We judged it as medium, which apparently didn’t hurt in our tests; it’s the top-Rated innerspring. Beautyrest ReCharge Hybrid Jeffrey’s Bay, $1,800 While pricey, this Beautyrest was among our top innersprings, and we judged it as medium. One caveat: Couples might find it a bit bouncy if one partner gets up during the night. Casper The Casper 10”, $850 This online company produced a winner in this memory-foam bed, which we judged as medium. You might wish you could try it out—and if you're shopping in New York City you can—but we found its return policies to be very generous. Need a new mattress? Our online mattress Ratings now include almost 40 models, along with companion, survey-based Ratings of mattress stores and brands. Be sure to see our mattress buying guide before narrowing your choices.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.