Updated June 14, 2023
The Best Mattress to Buy should be supportive and comfortable. It should last a decade, so it’s important to choose one that can handle a lot of wear and tear.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best mattress for you. Some manufacturers use high-quality foam, while others use cheaper foam, which can degrade over time. It’s important to research the materials and construction of a mattress before buying it.
The Best Mattress to Buy
The best mattresses are comfortable, supportive and durable – and they’ll help you get a quality night’s sleep. That’s important: sleep is crucial to our well-being, and having the right mattress is a key factor in getting enough restorative sleep to set you up for the day ahead.
In our best mattress guide, we’ve selected the top memory foam, organic and hybrid mattresses you can buy online, at all budgets. We’ve ranked them based on price and performance – both how they behaved in our tests, and taking into consideration thousands of user reviews. In-depth reviews for each will appear on the site over the coming weeks.
We think the best mattress you can buy is the Saatva Classic luxury hybrid innerspring. It’s comfortable and supportive – we loved sleeping on it – and it’s competitively priced in the premium space, starting from $887 at Saatva.
But we have a range of mattresses and prices in our guide, and the right one for you depends on your personal preferences. Memory foam is a great option if you like to sink into your mattress and be cushioned while you sleep. It’s also good if you need extra pressure relief or have a restless partner. If you prefer a little bounce, or tend to overheat at night, an innerspring or hybrid is a better choice.
Buying a mattress online is often cheaper than in physical stores because online companies have lower overheads. We recommend choosing a retailer that offers free shipping and returns, and a risk-free trial of at least 100 nights. It can take up to three weeks to adjust to a new mattress, so don’t assume one isn’t right if you initially wake up feeling achy. If you still don’t like it after three weeks though, contact the company. You’ll get a refund and they’ll collect the mattress. Now is a good time to buy too, with the upcoming Presidents’ Day mattress sales.
The best mattress to buy in 2023 – chosen by our experts
(Image credit: Saatva)
1. Saatva Classic mattress
The best mattress overall: superb comfort, support and durability for less than its luxury rivals
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: traditional
Material: hybrid innerspring
Firmness: soft (3), luxury firm (5.5), firm (8)
Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches
Trial length: 180 nights
Shipping: free
Returns: $99
Warranty: 15-year limited
Price range: $887 – $2,196
Best for: all sleepers, hot sleepers, back pain
REASONS TO BUY
+Excellent back support+Customizable firmness and height+Superb temperature regulation+Free white glove delivery
REASONS TO AVOID
–$99 fee to refund or exchange
The Saatva Classic is the flagship mattress from premium sleep brand Saatva, and we think it’s the best mattress you can buy. This luxury hybrid innerspring combines the superior support of traditional springs with the comfort and advanced features of the latest mattresses. It’s the best of both worlds: you get excellent pressure relief in all sleeping positions, while staying cool and well-supported at night. It’s competitively priced for a luxury hybrid too, starting from under $900 for a twin.
The mattress comes in three different comfort levels (plush soft, luxury firm and firm) and two different heights (11.5 or 14.5 inches), so you can customize it to your preferences. Whichever version you choose, you’ll benefit from Saatva’s patented spinal zone technology. This has been approved by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations, and makes the Saatva Classic a particularly good choice for anyone with a bad back or achy joints.
It’s also a great option for hot sleepers. Our reviewers found it to be one of the most cooling mattresses they’ve tried, partially due to the breathable pillow top and dual layer of coils, which boost airflow. But also because you sleep on top of the Saatva Classic, rather than sinking into it, which gives you less skin contact than an all-foam mattress. Edge support is very good as well – you can sleep right up the sides without them sagging. This makes the Saatva Classic feel wider, which may be a bonus for some couples.
Be aware that if you prefer the full ‘hug’ of memory foam while you sleep, you may find the Saatva Classic too buoyant – try the Nectar Memory Foam at number two instead. There’s a $99 return fee, too. Still, the Saatva Classic is great value for a luxury mattress: it uses high-quality materials, comes with free white glove delivery, and is extremely durable – so it should last longer than your average mattress. If you’re looking for hotel-quality luxury without the premium price tag, we think the Saatva Classic is the best mattress you can buy.
Saatva Classic Mattress: Up to $250 off at Saatva
The new Saatva mattress sale saves you up to $250 on the Saatva Classic, depending on the size. The twin size doesn’t qualify for this saving, but all other sizes do, with a queen reduced to $1,495 (was $1,695). We’ve seen this offer before and it’s a good chance to save on a handcrafted luxury mattress that suits all sleepers and body types.
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(Image credit: Nectar)
2. Nectar Memory Foam mattress
The best-value mattress with $399 of free gifts and a year-long trial
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: mattress in a box
Material: foam
Firmness: medium firm (6.5)
Height: 12 inches
Trial length: 365 nights
Shipping: free
Returns: free
Warranty: forever
Price range: $798 – $1,598
Best for: all sleepers, couples, tight budgets
REASONS TO BUY
+Great motion isolation+Good pressure relief+365-night sleep trial +Forever warranty
REASONS TO AVOID
– Some find it too warm
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The Nectar Memory Foam is a mid-range, all-foam mattress and one of the best in our guide for anyone on a tight budget. It’s the most popular and affordable option in Nectar’s range, offering strong performance in key areas including support, pressure relief and motion isolation, while significantly undercutting many of its competitors on price.
This mattress is exceptional value for money. Officially priced within the mid-range bracket, all sizes are sold with a permanent $400 discount. That makes a queen-size almost $400 cheaper than close rival the Casper Original, and $200 less than the Tuft & Needle. Plus, the Nectar Memory Foam mattress also comes with $399-worth of free gifts (pillows, sheets and a mattress protector), a generous year-long risk-free trial and a forever warranty. You get a lot for your money here.
So what’s it like to sleep on? This is a mattress you sink into while you sleep. There are five layers, including a new cooling cover made from polyethylene, a three-inch gel memory foam comfort layer and deep support layers at the base. These result in a hugging sensation as the mattress contours to your body, relieving tension at pressure points.
Motion isolation is better than the Saatva Classic, as you might expect from an all-foam mattress. This makes the Nectar a great choice for anyone with a restless partner – you won’t be disturbed by them tossing and turning, or getting in and out of bed. However, the slow-moving memory foam can make changing position a little harder. If you’re heavier, or prefer a more responsive mattress, you’ll do better with a spring-based option like the Saatva.
Also, while our reviewers found it cool to sleep on, some users have reported finding it warm at night. We’d recommend the Saatva, Helix Midnight or DreamCloud options in our best mattress guide instead to anyone who tends to overheat while they sleep. If you love the cushioning feel of memory foam, though, and want superb value for money, the Nectar Memory Foam mattress is an excellent choice.
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress: save $100 + $399 of free gifts at Nectar
From $499 – Nectar’s mattress sale cuts up to $400 off the price of the company’s flagship memory foam mattress, and adds up to $399 worth of free gifts to your order – you get two cooling pillows, a sheet set and mattress protector. These are the lowest prices of the year and this deal is excellent value for money.
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(Image credit: Helix)
3. Helix Midnight mattress
A supportive hybrid mattress for side, back and restless sleepers
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: mattress in a box
Material: hybrid pocket coils
Firmness: medium firm (5.5)
Height: 12 inches
Trial length: 100 nights
Shipping: free
Returns: free
Warranty: 10-15 years
Price range: $699 – $1,449
Best for: side sleepers, couples
REASONS TO BUY
+Good pressure relief +Sleeps cool+Great edge support
REASONS TO AVOID
–Front sleepers may need more support
The Helix Midnight is a popular medium hybrid mattress. It’s well-suited to all sleeping styles, but works particularly well for side and back sleepers, and people who toss and turn at night, thanks to its balanced combination of coils and memory foam.
On top, a memory foam layer relieves pressure at your hips and shoulders, while under this a supportive polyfoam layer helps prevent you from sinking in too deeply. The foam layers are followed by hundreds of eight-inch steel pocket coils, which provide extra support and improved airflow, as well as a little bounce, making the Helix Midnight easier to move around on than all-foam options like the Nectar Memory Foam.
As a result, the Helix Midnight doesn’t feel completely like a memory foam mattress or like a traditional innerspring – it falls somewhere in between, making it a good option for couples with different comfort preferences. However, if you sleep predominantly on your front, there may not be enough support (try the Helix Dusk instead, which still has a medium feel but uses a latex-foam to better support your spine; or go to the Saatva Classic). We wouldn’t recommend it for heavier sleepers over 250lbs either – the firm Saatva Classic will provide better support.
Price-wise, the Helix Midnight is competitive, with a queen at just over $1,000. That’s a few hundred dollars cheaper than its closest hybrid rivals, and a great price for a solidly performing mattress that should suit most people.
Helix Midnight mattress: from $699 $599 at Helix Sleep
Save up to $150 + two free pillows – In the current Helix mattress sale, you’ll save $100 and get two free Dream pillows with the Helix Midnight mattress in sizes twin to queen, or $150 off and two free pillows on sizes king and up. That drops the price of a queen-size to $999, and with two free premium pillows thrown in, it’s a great offer.
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(Image credit: DreamCloud)
4. The DreamCloud mattress
An affordable luxury hybrid that also comes with $399 of free gifts
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: mattress in a box
Material: hybrid innerspring
Firmness: medium firm (6.5)
Height: 14 inches
Trial length: 365 nights
Shipping: free
Returns: free
Warranty: lifetime
Price range: $1,198 – $1,798
Best for: all sleepers, hot sleepers
REASONS TO BUY
+Great comfort and support +Sleeps cool+Excellent value
REASONS TO AVOID
–Too deep for some sheets
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The DreamCloud mattress is an excellent choice for anyone who likes the sound of the Nectar Memory Foam mattress – and wants the $399-worth of free gifts – but prefers a cooler, more responsive mattress. We haven’t slept on this one yet, but it has an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from over 5,000 user reviews on the DreamCloud website, and given its high-quality materials and competitive price, we think it’s worth considering.
Billed as a luxury hybrid, The DreamCloud has five layers, including gel-infused memory foam and a breathable innerspring layer that’s designed to aid airflow and keep you cool at night. There’s also a quilted foam and cashmere top layer, which some users have reported helps to wick away moisture.
The coils make it more responsive than the Nectar Memory Foam mattress, so it’s a good choice if you like a little bounce. The DreamCloud should also be better at isolating motion than the other hybrids in this guide (the Saatva Classic and Helix Midnight) thanks to its thicker foam layers. Just be aware that it’s 14 inches deep, and while that’s a benefit – giving you more luxury cushioning and supportive contouring than thinner mattresses – you may need deeper sheets.
Luckily, it comes with a free luxury sheet set as part of the deal. It also comes with a free mattress protector to prolong the life of your investment and two cooling pillows. Plus, like the Nectar, you get a whole year to decide whether you like it, and there’s a forever warranty too. If you like the sound of it, we think it’s worth a try.
DreamCloud mattress: from $1,198 $699 at DreamCloud
Save up to $599 – This is a great offer on an already affordable luxury hybrid mattress designed to offer ample pressure relief and back support. You’ll save $200 off the DreamCloud mattress itself and get up to $399 of free bedding. That includes cooling pillows, a sheets set and mattress protector. A queen size now costs $999, which is very competitive for a mattress of this quality.
(Image credit: GhostBed)
5. GhostBed Luxe mattress
The best cooling mattress for hot sleepers
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: mattress in a box
Material: memory foam, Ghost Bounce
Firmness: 5.5 (out of 10)
Height: 13 inches
Trial length: 101 nights
Shipping: free
Returns: free
Warranty: 25 years
Price range: MSRP $1,895-$4,090
Best for: hot sleepers; all sleeping positions
REASONS TO BUY
+Patent-pending cooling tech+Cool-touch quilted cover+Memory foam with a spring-like feel
REASONS TO AVOID
–Perhaps too soft for heavier bodies
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‘Hot sleepers’ is used to describe anyone who regularly wakes up in the night because they are just too warm to continue snoozing. Night after night spent kicking off the sheets to find some cooling relief isn’t fun, so if overheating is the biggest sleep issue you’re facing, consider switching to a proper cooling mattress. The GhostBed Luxe is roundly known as one of the very best cooling mattresses in America, and it’s reasonably priced compared to other premium mattresses too, especially when it’s on sale – you can normally get a queen-size for around $1,677.
The GhostBed Luxe has earned its cooling credentials via a range of patent pending technologies unique to the brand. These start at the very top of the mattress in the form of a 0.5” layer of Ghost Ice Fabric. This cover is made with phase change material that reacts to your body heat to regulate temperature and to ensure the mattress always feels cool to the touch. The other big cooling feature is the Ghost Ice Layer, there to transfer away heat to keep the core cool.
There’s more to the GhostBed Luxe than cooling power though – it’s comfortable and supportive for most sleeping positions, but especially side and combination sleepers. That’s because it has a plush feel rated at 5.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, so it’s softer and more contouring around pressure points such as the shoulders, back, hips and knees. While heavier bodies may sink in a little too much, lighter to average bodies should experience plenty of sleep comfort.
That all comes via a 1” layer of contouring gel memory foam for a body-hugging feel, with an xtra 2” layer of the same foam further down in the mattress to boost pressure relief. These are complimented by a 2” layer of Ghost Bounce, a material that delivers a spring-like feel for a little bounce. At the bottom sits a thick and durable 7.5” high density support to provide a stable base.
GhostBed Luxe mattress: from $1,895 $1,327 at GhostBed
Save up to $1,417 – There are some huge savings on the GhostBed Luxe cooling mattress, depending on the size. The brand’s Presidents’ day mattress sale has reduced the price of a queen to $1,677 (was $2,395) and is bundling in free GhostPillows and a free Weighted Blanket worth $289. This is an excellent offer on a highly rated bed.
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(Image credit: Purple)
6. Purple Plus mattress
The best mattress for deep pressure relief during sleep
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: mattress in a box
Material: GelFlex, foam, knit fabric (29% Viscose, 67% Polyester, 4% Lycra)
Firmness: Medium
Height: 11 inches
Trial length: 100 nights
Shipping: free
Returns: free
Warranty: 10-year<