Best Memory Foam Mattress Of 2023 This Old House

The best memory foam mattresses have played a huge part in the mattress in a box boom, proving to shoppers that affordable, pressure-relieving mattresses can be purchased online. But, there’s a lot to think about when researching the best mattress for your needs—quality, comfort, price, and convenience. This Old House Reviews team worked with the expert review team at Mattress Advisor to evaluate the top memory foam mattresses, breaking down characteristics such as motion isolation, responsiveness, pressure relief, edge support, spine alignment, and cooling, to identify the best memory foam mattresses for your particular needs.

9 Best Memory Foam Mattresses - Our Top Picks

Best Overall - Loom & Leaf Best for Pressure Relief - Nolah Signature Best for Couples - WinkBeds GravityLux Best Value - Nectar Best Hybrid Memory Foam - Helix Midnight Best Luxury - Saatva Modern Foam Best Flippable - Layla Best for Combination Sleepers - Bear Best for Back Pain - Casper

Best Overall - Loom & Leaf

Those who seek a high-quality bed that delivers exceptional comfort and durability will love the Loom & Leaf by Saatva. Not only does this luxury mattress come with complimentary white glove delivery and removal of your old mattress, but it’s been compared to beds such as the Tempur-Pedic and iComfort. The Loom & Leaf scored a 9 out of 10 in spine alignment, ensuring your posture is natural and relaxed as you sleep, which can help eliminate back pain. Two firmness levels allow you to choose how soft you’d like your mattress to be: The firm is an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, which is best for back and stomach sleepers. The relaxed firm option is closer to a 6, which provides the cradling and pressure point relief that side sleepers need.

Firmness: Relaxed Firm, Firm Customer Rating: 4.8/5 Delivery: 10-15 business days Trial Period: 180 Nights Warranty: 15 years

Best for Pressure Relief - Nolah Signature

Deal with hip pain regularly? Are you a side sleeper wanting to wake up without your pressure points aching? Try a pressure-relieving mattress. The Nolah Signature is a standout for sleepers wanting the cushiony support memory foam yields, with a nearly perfect score in pressure relief (9.25 out of 10), delivering that sought-after relaxation and weightless feeling. Plus, the Signature’s foam layers sleep cool and without the heat retention that foam usually gets a bad rap for. Its AirFoam construction is breathable, made to regulate temperature while conforming to your body. The mattress’s top layer works to softly cushion underneath pressure points, keeping weight off and staying supportive. Testers noted that the Nolah Signature responds quickly to movement, working well for combination sleepers who shift positions frequently (9.5 out of 10).

Firmness: Medium-Soft Customer Rating: 4.8/5 Delivery: 2-8 business days Trial Period: 120 Nights Lifetime Warranty

Best for Couples - WinkBeds GravityLux

Whether you and your partner are seeking a cooling mattress, or in need of some serious pressure relief, the WinkBeds GravityLux aims to go above and beyond in providing the ideal bed that caters to all kinds of sleepers. WinkBeds GravityLux uses three types of foam that specialize in cooling, pressure relief, and overall durability. The top-most foam layer contains air capsules that have a “shock-absorbing” effect, keeping any weight and strain off sensitive areas and isolating motion, so you won’t wake up if your partner gets up in the middle of the night. A secondary layer maintains firm support below the lower back and softer support around the hips and shoulders. The final layer assists with long-term durability and overall support for the mattress’s structure. It’s all wrapped in a breathable, cooling cover with gel memory foam for extra heat dissipation. WinkBeds is known as one of the leading affordable luxury mattress brands, letting you customize your preferred firmness (GravityLux included), plus a lifetime warranty.

Firmness: Soft, Medium, Firm Customer Rating: 4.8/5 Delivery: 7-10 business days Trial Period: 120 Nights Lifetime Warranty

Best Value - Nectar

The Nectar mattress offers a lot of bang for your buck, making it ideal for shoppers on a budget. But that doesn’t mean the Nectar isn’t a high-quality memory foam mattress; in fact, it offers many of the same benefits as much pricier options, earning our vote for the best value mattress on this list. The Nectar responds well to your changing positions, keeps the spine aligned, and isolates your movements. Plus, the company sweetens the deal with an impressive 365-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and a return policy that doesn’t cost you a penny if you decide the Nectar mattress isn’t right for you.

Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.8/5 Delivery: 2-5 business days Trial Period: 1 year Lifetime Warranty

Best Hybrid Memory Foam - Helix Midnight

Want both firm support of coils and the plush contouring of foam in your mattress? You’ll love the hybrid construction of the Helix Midnight. This mattress combines the best of both mattress types for a just-right sleep experience. The coils provide great spine alignment (8.75 out of 10), and the cushioning foam layers give sensitive areas like your hips and shoulders the pressure relief they need (8.5 out of 10). The foam layers allow for superb motion isolation (8.75 out of 10), making this a great option for couples. The Midnight’s perfect edge support score helps with its longevity, overall performance, and keeps you from tumbling off the side of the bed if you sleep on the outer edges.

Firmness: Medium Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: 3-7 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 15-year

Best Luxury - Saatva Modern Foam

The Saatva Modern Foam relies on top-shelf, luxury mattress materials to create a space you look forward to retreating to night after night. Crafted with an organic cotton cover, latex, and layers of special foam by Saatva, these components provide more support capabilities than traditional memory foam. Combination sleepers can switch back and forth between positions with ease, thanks to the great responsiveness of this bed (9 out of 10). Sleepers that grapple with back pain each night will appreciate the Modern Foam’s high spine alignment score, which ensures your lumbar stays supported no matter what. Plus, to take one more item off of your busy schedule, Saatva will take care of delivery, set-up, and haul away your old mattress as part of your purchase.

Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: Coming soon! Delivery: 9-21 business days Trial Period: 180 nights Warranty: 12 years

Best Flippable - Layla

The Layla mattress is full of surprises. For starters, the mattress is flippable. On one side, it’s a firm memory foam mattress that sleepers of all styles enjoy. This firm side contains 1” of firm foam that lies directly on top of a 4.5” foam core. Together, these firm foam layers assist spinal support (9 out of 10 in spine alignment) and pressure relief. Even though this is a thinner foam layer, there’s just enough “sink” to keep pressure points padded. On the other side, it’s a soft mattress. The entire bed is also surrounded by a soft cooling cover, which helps counter body heat. No matter which side you choose, Layla’s dual-foam layers are highly responsive (9.5 out of 10) and adapt to your movements. The Layla also excelled in pressure relief (9 out of 10), perfect for side sleepers and those looking to alleviate joint pain.

Firmness: Medium-soft & Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: 3-7 business days Trial Period: 120 nights Lifetime Warranty

Best for Combination Sleepers - Bear

The Bear memory foam mattress has a lot of features that make it especially appealing to combination sleepers, like high test scores in spine alignment (8.5 out of 10) and responsiveness (9 out of 10). Spine alignment, or maintaining a healthy posture as you sleep, is essential for every sleeper as you want your back to maintain a natural position no matter how you sleep. If the lower back isn’t adequately supported, the hips can sink into the mattress and cause needless back pain. With the Bear, three durable support layers keep the spine elevated and comfortable, and a comfort layer of bouncy foam makes it easy to adjust in bed. Another perk of the Bear is that it incorporates a cooling cover and adaptive top layer to keep you from feeling like you’re sizzling when you’re supposed to be sleeping, it scored a 9 out of 10 in cooling.

Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.7/5 Delivery: 4-7 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10-year

Best for Back Pain - Casper Original

The search for a supportive memory foam mattress to relieve back pain is over––meet the Casper Original. To prevent the spine from dipping down into the bed and out of alignment, a firm support zone is placed in the center of the mattress. In testing, the Casper Original proved to excel in this regard, getting a nearly-perfect 9.5 out of 10 for spine alignment. Using a “zoned support” design that has alternating firmness levels, this all-foam mattress keeps key pressure points, like the hips and shoulders, softly supported, earning it an 8.5 out of 10 in pressure relief. Changing positions is easy as pie, the Casper scored a perfect 10 in responsiveness, so you can quickly adjust and get back to sleep.

Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: 14 business days Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10-year

MA Score: The Mattress Advisor Score is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to the mattress’ performance, function, convenience and the brand’s social responsibility.

Who Should Get A Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory foam is a stand-out mattress type for side sleepers, sleepers with joint pain, and couples in particular. Thanks to years of development and engineering, this material now can help maintain healthy lumbar support and keep weight off areas of the body dealing with pressure, such as the hips and shoulders. However, plus-size sleepers, stomach sleepers, and sleepers who run on the warmer side may need a more supportive, cooling bed such as a hybrid mattress.

I’m Shopping for a New Memory Foam Mattress: What Should I Look For?

Types of Memory Foam

Memory foam falls into one of these three categories:

Traditional memory foam: Also called viscoelastic, this type of memory foam is derived from polyurethane foam (or polyfoam), and is the most commonly used foam in mattresses. Plant-based foam: Beds made with plants, such as coconut or soy, are more breathable, bouncy, and eco-friendly. Gel-infused foam: Memory foam can be infused with cooling gels to help with temperature regulation.

Memory Foam Vs Other Mattress Types

Memory Foam Vs Innerspring: These two mattress types typically fall on different ends of the firmness spectrum, with foam being a softer material and innerspring coils having a firm feel. Where memory foam may not feel supportive enough for plus-size sleepers, innerspring can provide extra support. Memory Foam Vs Hybrid: Both of these mattress types are some of the most sought-after on the market, but many sleepers can prefer one over the other. Hybrids contain innerspring coils, which can be more helpful for cooling and keeping the spine supported. Memory foam is softer, offering more pressure relief. Memory Foam Vs Latex: While both mattress types perform when it comes to pressure relief and responsiveness, it ultimately boils down to cooling and price. Latex is a material that is cooling by nature, but because of sourcing rings in for a far higher price than most memory foams.

Memory Foam Factors

Indentation Load-Deflection (ILD): This technical-sounding term essentially refers to how firm a mattress is. A low ILD will be more contouring but too sinking. A high ILD will be too firm and lack the cushioning comfort you’d expect from memory foam. The sweet spot is somewhere right in the middle. Density: The foam’s density defines how well it responds to movements and also provides pressure relief. High-density foam will adapt to your body and provide great pressure relief, but may not be responsive enough to movement. Sinking is more likely to occur with this type of foam. With low-density foam, it remains highly responsive and can bounce back into shape quickly but will not parlay the same level of pressure relief as a foam with a higher density. Thickness: Most memory foam mattresses vary in thickness, available from 6 inches to 14 inches, though some are thinner or thicker. Note that thinner mattresses may not provide adequate support. Thicker mattresses, especially ones that exceed 14 inches, can be more expensive. If you plan to invest in a thicker mattress, make sure your sheets are deep-pocketed so that they can accommodate for the added girth.

Memory Foam Mattress Performance Factors

Responsiveness: What people love about memory foam is how the mattress hugs around their bodies. But too much of a good thing is not necessarily great. The best memory foam mattresses balance this effect with support and responsiveness, ensuring the materials react quickly to your movements and don’t leave you stuck in the bed.
Pressure relief: Sleeping on a too soft or too firm mattress can result in pressure point discomfort, such as at the shoulders or hips. The best memory foam mattress can help evenly distribute your body weight, depending on your sleep position and the firmness level of your mattress.
Spine alignment: The best memory foam mattress allows your shoulders and hips to sink deeper into the mattress while holding up your middle section so that your spine stays aligned. This helps prevent or relieve back pain and ensures a better night’s sleep. Motion transfer: No one wants to be rattled awake during a restful slumber. But if you sleep with a partner or even a pet, you know how easily your sleep can be disrupted when they switch positions or get out of bed for a bathroom break. Memory foam mattresses that can isolate a sleeper’s movements are especially great for light sleepers. Temperature regulation: Traditional memory foam is known for its tendency to trap body heat. Newer versions use open-cell technology, or foam with air bubbles built in, to improve airflow and offer a cooler night’s sleep. Edge support: Why is edge support important? If you tend to sleep toward one side of the bed or sit on the edge of the bed to put on your shoes, you may notice sagging at the edge. Beds with higher edge support mean you can hang out at the outer edges feeling just as supported as you would in the middle of the bed. Durability: For the most part, memory foam mattresses are durable, lasting on average about 7-10 years. High-density foam is more durable and longer-lasting. Flipping or rotating your memory foam mattress also helps ensure maximum performance and long-term use. Mattress accessories like mattress protectors and mattress toppers can also extend the life of your bed. Off-gassing and odors: Don’t be surprised if you open the box to your brand new memory foam mattress and smell a slight odor. That’s the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds. These chemicals at low levels are not harmful and typically dissipate within a couple hours to a few days after the mattress is unpackaged. Price: Expect to pay between $500 to $2,000 for a quality memory foam mattress. The price is generally dictated by the quality and density of the foam. The higher the density, the higher quality and, thus, the higher the price. Some luxury mattresses can cost even more. But beware of cheap memory foam mattresses that cost a few hundred dollars. They may not provide long term support or durability.

Shipping and Delivery

One of the best advantages of memory foam is that you can purchase a mattress entirely online without ever setting foot in a retail store. Most memory foam mattresses can be compressed, and a bed-in-a-box will be delivered to your doorstep. Some mattress companies also offer to set up and unpackage your new mattress as well as haul away your old one.

Sleep Trial and Warranty

If you’re worried about ordering a bed online without first testing it out, you can rest assured knowing that many mattress companies offer a sleep trial period. Many offer at least 100 nights—and some offer free returns if you’re not completely satisfied with your mattress purchase. Plus, most mattresses come with a warranty that ranges from 10 to 15 years. However, some offer lifetime warranties. How firm should my memory foam mattress be? Memory foam mattresses usually range between soft, medium-firm, firm, and extra-firm. A medium-firmness will work best for sleepers with back pain, as it’s a good balance of being soft yet supportive. Side sleepers should steer towards a softer to medium-firm mattress, while back and stomach sleepers should go from medium-firm to firm to maintain spinal support. Do memory foam mattresses last a long time? Nowadays, memory foam mattresses are manufactured to stay durable and stand the test of time. Look for the use of high-quality foams that come with certifications such CertiPUR-US. The thickness of the foam used in a mattress can also help determine its longevity.
What kind of foundation will work with my memory foam mattress? Another great feature of memory foam mattresses is that they work well with most bed frames and foundations. Innerspring mattresses require box springs, but memory foam does not. You can put your memory foam on a box spring if you wish. But placing them directly on a slatted foundation helps with airflow and keeps the mattress cooler at night. Platform foundations should be firm enough to allow the mattress to keep the spine in alignment. Some memory foam mattresses are also comparable with adjustable bases. Can I get a memory foam mattress for under $1,000? Yes, many of the top mattress in a box retailers will regularly run deals that bring the price below $1,000. Many brands like Nectar, Cocoon, and Bear will also give you free mattress accessories to go with your new bed purchase. During holiday sales, the price tag can drop even more.

Summary of the 9 Best Memory Foam Mattresses

Best Overall - Loom & Leaf Best for Pressure Relief - Nolah Signature Best for Couples - WinkBeds GravityLux Best Value - Nectar Best Hybrid Memory Foam - Helix Midnight Best Luxury - Saatva Modern Foam Best Flippable - Layla Best for Combination Sleepers - Bear Best for Back Pain - Casper