Edit ArticleHow to Buy a Mattress Two Methods:Researching Before PurchasingPurchasing Your MattressCommunity Q&A Buying a mattress is one of the most major purchases you can make for your home. You will likely spend more time on your mattress than any other piece of furniture that you own. For this reason, take a few steps to make sure that you buy the best mattress for your lifestyle. Visit mattress websites to see what’s offered. If you haven’t purchased a mattress in a while, it’s good to see what options are available before going to a store. Check prices online to see what you feel is reasonable based on what is being offered. Mattress brands are often coming out with new styles of mattresses including ones that offer adjustable firmness levels and temperatures. Decide how high-tech you want your mattress to be, as some of these may only be available at specialty stores or online. Look up what special features may be offered by each mattress brand including a trial period or money-back guarantee.
If desired, you can print this information to bring to the store with you. Decide on a level of firmness. Although this is difficult to determine without first testing mattresses, a few physical factors can help direct your decision. If you have back problems, consider a medium-firm to firm mattress choice. These are best for supporting your lower back and reducing back pain. Pillow-top mattresses are best for people who aren’t too light, as they won’t have enough weight to suppress the top and the springs to a point that it makes a difference in comfort. Larger people typically find pillow-top mattresses more comfortable for this reason. Ignore the spring count that is given as proof for a mattress’ supposed quality and firmness or softness. Studies have shown that the number of springs doesn’t actually affect how comfortable the mattress is. Measure the space you plan to put the bed. Nothing is worse than finding and purchasing your perfect mattress, just to realize you can’t fit it in your house.
Check your space availability in your bedroom, and then decide on a size of mattress to fit. Twin mattresses are the smallest size, and measure on average 39”/75”. The next largest size after a twin mattress is a full or double mattress, which measures at 54”/75”. The queen sized mattress is the most commonly purchased by couples for its size and relative price. It measures at 60”/80”. King size bed is the largest standard sized mattress available. Some mattress brands and stores offer an extra large bed called the California king, which measures at 72”/84”. Be sure the mattress size you intend to purchase not only fits inside your bedroom, but also through all doors used to enter the room. Find a store(s) to shop at.In order for you to know how well you like a mattress, you must test it out in the store. Search around looking for mattresses that meet your criteria, and then lay on each to see how you like them. Lay on each mattress for at least 2-3 minutes, and up to 15.
The floor models are out specifically for this reason, so don’t be hesitant to lay in the store for a bit. Ignore descriptors on tags such as “ultra plush,” “super soft,” or “extra firm.” These aren’t regulated terms and are used freely within each mattress brand without consistency between them. Instead, just lay on the mattress to get a feel for how soft or firm it is. Try a firm, a plush, and a pillow-top mattress to get a feel for which type you prefer. Compare these types all within the same mattress brand to get the most accurate idea of which you like best. Ask to see a cutaway of the mattress if it’s available, so you can see exactly what it is you may be sleeping on. Ask about a comfort guarantee. A comfort guarantee varies between brands, but is a certain period of time after you’ve purchased your mattress in which you can return or exchange it for free. Always do this before you purchase and verify at purchase to make sure you are getting the correct information.
Find out how long the comfort guarantee lasts for, as this can be different depending on each brand. Learn if you must pay for shipping to/from your home if the mattress doesn’t work out for you. This way you won’t be surprised by extra costs later. Take it for a trial run. Purchase the necessary mattress add-ons. Although buying just a mattress is all that seems necessary, you must also purchase a minimum of a box spring to support it as well. Always buy a new box spring with your new mattress, as old box springs wear out over time and lose the desired support and firmness. Purchase a waterproof mattress protector to cover your new mattress. This not only makes cleanup easier should something spill on it, but will keep the warranty intact. Many warranties void out if the mattress is stained or spilled on.The prices of mattresses can often be lowered with a little bartering done with a sales associate or store manager. Use the numbers you found online earlier to determine if you are getting a good deal.
Include the cost of old mattress pick-up and the delivery and setup of the new mattress in the total cost.many stores will throw in free services if they are simply asked. Some stores will allow you to take a mattress home for a trial run. Sometimes there will be a small fee for this, or even a credit check. Ask around for a good retailer or brand. Word of mouth is often the most reliable tool you have when researching a new brand or model. Make sure the mattress is comfortable in the store before purchasing. Feel free to lay on it if the display allows. Do not allow the sales persons' pitch to alter your choice. You've invested a fair amount on your own, and the salesperson will most likely not be familiar with any brands or models outside their own store and inventory.Sleepopolis is supported by readers. Product links on Sleepopolis are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something Sleepopolis makes a little bit of money. See how it all works here.
Amazon is well known for its low prices, speedy delivery, and wide array of products. Jumping into the mix of these products are a large number of mattress companies, all hoping to catch your eye and reel you in. Well with so many mattresses available on Amazon, how do you know which one is truly best? The following guide will examine the most popular mattresses available on Amazon. We’ll look at the major design, quality, performance, materials, service, and other criteria to help you make the most informed decision you can. So with all that said, let’s dive in! Click here to skip to the complete comparison matrix. Sister company of Brooklyn Bedding, Dreamfoam has been creating great value mattresses for years. The Arctic Dreams mattress is a 10″ cooling gel mattress made in the USA. It strikes a medium feel at a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The mattress is built with a 0.75″ quilted top layer, 3″ of Energex foam, and a 6.25″ support foam base. In terms of material quality, the Arctic Dreams is extremely impressive.
Energex is a high quality foam and has many qualities similar to latex (but with better push back and support). The Arctic Dreams is a bit softer and allows for more pressure relief and sinkage than many mattresses. However, the increased sinkage can be a little too much, especially if you’re a heavier sleeper. The Arctic Dreams mattress, along with all Dreamfoam mattresses, are manufactured alongside Brooklyn Bedding at their factory in Phoenix, Arizona. The eLuxurySupply mattress is one of the top rated mattresses on Amazon today. While this may not mean it’s the right mattress for every sleeper, a vast majority of consumers have rated this mattress highly and would recommend it to others. Built from 2 layers, the eLuxury mattress combines a 3″ top layer of gel memory foam with a 7″ bottom layer of high density support foam for a total height of 10″. The combination of these two layers makes for a supportive and well balanced mattress. On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm, the eLuxury mattress comes in at a 6-6.5 out of 10.
As a medium to medium firm mattress, eLuxury’s goal was to meet the needs of a wide array of sleepers and strike a “universal comfort”. There is a moderate level of sinkage with good pressure relief and body contouring. Additionally, eLuxurySupply donates 1 mattress for every 45 they sell. Tuft & Needle also plays a large role in the online mattress industry. As one of the top selling mattresses online today, they are widely searched on Amazon as well. Designed with 2 layers of foam, the Tuft & Needle is a 10″ mattress also designed to fit into the “universal comfort” category. With a firmness level of 6-6.5 out of 10 (10 being the most firm) Tuft & Needle is a medium to slightly firm feel. Over time Tuft and Needle has gradually changed their mattress design and foam formulation. Originally the Tuft and Needle was very firm, however, today it’s much closer to a medium. Tuft & Needle uses a polyurethane foam of their own design. The foam doesn’t feel quite like latex nor memory foam, it’s a bit of an in-between.
The Brentwood Home gel mattress is constructed from 3 unique layers. These layers consist of gel memory foam, ventilated foam, and support base foam. Brentwood actually manufactures their own mattresses in Las Angeles, CA, separating them from a majority of the other mattresses sold on Amazon. By producing their own mattress, they remove any sort of middle-man, allowing them to set a lower price point. Brentwood has several thicknesses and firmness levels available in this mattress as well. Each mattress gets softer the thicker it is and Brentwood offers the gel mattress in 9″, 11″, and 13″ thicknesses. The Brentwood Home gel 13″ mattress has the classic, deep sinkage and hug feel. The memory foam top layer allows you to sink in, while the mattress contours to your body and provides a good level of support. If you prefer less sinkage / more firmness you can go with one of the thinner versions. Zinus is no stranger to the low price, value mattress. They have created 3 mattresses, ranging from 8″-12″ in height.
Built from layers of memory foam, this mattress is designed to contour to your body directly, creating a feel similar to the traditional memory foam mattresses. Once again, the varying levels of thickness result in unique firmness levels for each mattress. The thinner 8″ mattress is considered their firm model, 10″ is medium, and the 12″ Zinus mattress is their softer mattress. With that said, each of these mattresses are built with quality materials and contain a well balanced mesh of sinkage, hug, and overall support. The Sleepopolis Innovations Shiloh mattress has been in the game for about 3 years now and has quickly made a name for itself. Sitting at 12″ thick, the Shiloh is designed with 2 layers of foam. The top layer is 2.5″ of memory foam and sits on top of a 9.5″ layer of support foam. This combination allows for a softer top layer with a supportive bottom layer. Heavier sleepers may also find this mattress comfortable, as the Shiloh provides a suitable level of deep compression support.
Great pressure relief, contour, and a medium feel make this mattress one of the most popular mattresses sold on Amazon today. The Signature Sleep mattress is one of the few hybrid mattresses available on Amazon. Signature Sleep actually sells quite a few different mattresses on Amazon, however, their Contour 8 inch is one of the most popular by far with over 6,000 reviews. At a price point of $199 for a Queen it’s easy to see why. The Signature Sleep Contour 8 inch combines both encased coils with foam and quilted layers on top. The combination helps to preserve the classic feel of a quilted padded cover and coils, but minimizes the feel of the coils by placing the foam layer between. The mattress is also flippable, which will allow you to get some extra life out of the mattress over time. The best mattress on Amazon is the one that meets your needs, desires, and budget. But with so many options, how to decide? The following comparison table breaks down each of the above mattresses in a side-by-side comparison.
MattressPriceTrialAmazon ScoreTotal ReviewsWarranty (Years)DesignHeightShop $180-$370NA4.6 / 51,03110Energex foam10"Buy $400-$700120 Days4.7 / 526810Memory foam10"Buy $350-$75030 Days4.4 / 54,12910Poly foam10"Buy $359-$736NA4.4 / 51,16125Memory foam9-13"Buy $356-$660NA4.4 / 53,40320Memory foam12"Buy $139-$289NA4.5 / 56,0131Foam + Coils8"Buy The big question…which of these Amazon mattresses is truly the best for you? Ask yourself the following questions to help you decide. What firmness do you want? – for this examination I focused only on medium firmness mattress feels in the 5-6.5 range, this range is ideal for 70-80% of sleepers. If you find yourself in need of a mattress that’s very soft or very firm you may want to consider other options. Many of these companies also make softer or firmer choices if you prefer that type of a feel. Not sure what firmness you need? Read our mattress firmness guide.– of course, budget is always going to be a consideration.
Don’t buy the cheapest mattress just because it’s the least expensive. If the mattress doesn’t meet your other needs you may end up with a feel that doesn’t work for you. Try to find a balance of the feel, materials, and service that meets all of your needs, desires, and budget. Want more information on what makes the best mattress values? Read our best mattress for the money guide. Is a trial period important to you? – most online mattresses now come with a trial period, usually in the 100 days range. However, most Amazon mattresses do not. Trial period allows you to purchase risk free and then make a decision based on how the mattress works (or doesn’t) for you. Opting for a mattress with a trial period on Amazon (eLuxury or Tuft & Needle) can be a good idea if you’re not 100% certain of what you need. Alternatively, you may choose to purchase direct from the mattress company’s website, which generally offers better trial periods. Below is a quick break down of the trial periods available from each of these mattresses if you buy on their direct website:
– most mattresses are going to naturally sag and indent over time, this is just the nature of most beds. This can result in sagging or a permanent indentation in the mattress where you sleep. If mattress sagging and indentations prevent you from sleeping well you’ll want to ensure you avoid those mattresses. The warranty terms are a good indication of the level of sagging and indentation you can expect from each of these mattresses. See below for a quick warranty comparison and the indentation level required before a warranty could be claimed. I have already personally tested 4 of the 7 mattresses listed here and have plans to test the remaining 3 within the next few months. Based on my sleep tests, reader feedback, price, material build quality, and other factors my favorite Amazon mattresses are eLuxurySupply, Brentwood Home’s Gel Bamboo, and the Arctic Dreams by DreamFoam Bedding. Still not sure what to buy or have other questions? Please drop me a note via my contact form here.