A great mattress helps you to feel comfy and supported while you sleep, so you wake up feeling refreshed and rested. There are four main types to choose from, and our team has rigorously tested all the latest models to bring you our guide to the best mattresses available to buy today.
We love some of them so much that we’re still sleeping on them now – years after first testing them. So what is the best mattress of 2024? For us it’s the Saatva Classic, a luxury hotel-style innerspring hybrid that delivers excellent back support and pressure relief.
Our team of sleep experts have over 30 years of combined product review experience, and to crown the Saatva as our number one choice we spent thousands of hours researching, sleeping on and testing a huge range of memory foam, hybrid, innerspring, and latex mattresses. We invited a test panel to try them out too, and analyzed a broad range of user reviews.
We’re constantly researching and testing new models, and only the very best mattresses make it into this guide. There are options for every body type, sleep position and budget here. We predict that this year’s Black Friday mattress deals will usher in the cheapest prices of the year, making it the best time to buy. But if you need a new mattress urgently, several top-rated sleep brands are running mattress sales today with up to 50% off.
1. The best mattress of 2024
Quick summary
The Saatva Classic is a luxury innerspring hybrid mattress, and our top recommendation for most people because it delivers effective full-body pressure relief, eases lower back pain, and doesn't retain heat. It comes in three firmness levels and two heights, so you can tailor it to your sleep position and body weight. The only other mattress in our top nine that offers a choice of firmness is the WinkBed at number eight: it isn't as luxurious as the Classic, but it's a better choice for anyone who weighs over 250lbs, thanks to the 'Plus' option.
The Saatva Classic isn't cheap: a queen size typically costs around $1,800. Still, that's less than many other luxury mattresses (close rival the Tempur Adapt is $2,199) and the quality is outstanding, with handcrafted detailing, and some natural and certified organic materials. You also get free white glove delivery and setup in the room of your choice. If your budget doesn't stretch that far, try the mid-range DreamCloud at number two instead – this hybrid innerspring isn't as luxe, but it's over $1,000 cheaper for a queen.
Read what we liked, didn't like, test scores, and how to buy it ▼
But for ultimate comfort, support and quality, the Saatva Classic beats them all to retain our award for best mattress in 2024.
Our review: in more detail
The Saatva Classic is handmade in the US at Saatva-owned factories. We class it as a direct competitor to both the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt (see our Also Tested section below) – which costs more, but offers better contouring pressure relief than the Classic – and the similarly priced WinkBed, at number eight, which has a better weight capacity (up to 900lbs versus Saatva's 600lbs). However, neither offers the near-complete package of the Classic.
The Saatva Classic is ideal for most sleepers who want a comfy, breathable and supportive mattress with a luxury hotel finish
We reviewed a queen size, luxury firm Saatva Classic for over a year and awarded it a test score of 4.5/5, rating it highly for pressure relief, temperature control and back support.
We criticised it for minor transfer of motion from one side of the mattress to the other, but unless you or a partner are particularly restless sleepers, this level of transfer isn't a dealbreaker – you shouldn't be disturbed. When we analysed the Saatva's user reviewers, the two most consistent complaints were the $99 fee to return or exchange it, and many felt the Classic was firmer than expected to begin with. This tallied with our experience. Our mattress did become a little less firm over time, but remained supportive.
Ultimately, the Saatva Classic is an ideal choice for most people seeking a comfy, breathable and supportive mattress with a luxury hotel finish.
What we like about it...
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✅ Great back support: One of our reviewers with mild scoliosis felt a big reduction in back pain when sleeping on the Saatva Classic. That's down to a high-density Lumbar Crown and Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire – two features that support the lower back and the keep spine correctly aligned during sleep.
✅ Doesn't retain heat: We have a number of hot sleepers on our wider review panel and each of them awarded the Saatva Classic a 4.5/5 score for temperature control. Air flows freely around the innersprings, and Saatva doubles down on dissipating heat with a breathable organic cotton cover.
✅ Uses non-toxic materials: The Saatva Classic isn't an all-organic mattress but it is fiberglass-free and made with some natural and certified organic materials, including a plant-based flame retardant made from thistle pulp. For a fully organic alternative, we recommend the Avocado Green Mattress instead.
What we don't like about it...
❌ Average weight capacity: The Saatva Classic weight capacity is 300lbs per sleeper, which is on the lower end compared to other mattresses in this guide. The Nectar (#5) is only fractionally better with a 650lb capacity, while the DreamCloud (#2) and Helix Midnight Luxe (#4) support up to 1,000lbs.
❌ Returns aren't free: Saatva charges a $99 fee if you want to return or exchange your mattress. It isn't alone in this either – Avocado also charges a $99 fee, Tempur-Pedic charges $175 for returns, and Naturepedic charges 10% of the mattress cost. Thankfully most other online mattress companies offer free returns.
| Features | In brief | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Support and comfort | Great for most body sizes, weights and sleeping styles, but not suitable for co-sleepers who weigh over 300lbs each. | ★★★★★ |
| Pressure relief | The best mattress we've tested for relieving pressure points all down the body. | ★★★★★ |
| Temperature control | Very good. None of our reviewers overheated while sleeping on the Saatva Classic. | ★★★★½ |
| Motion isolation | Some slight motion transfer from one side to the other, but our sleep wasn’t disturbed. | ★★★★ |
| Edge support | Stays firm when you get in and out of bed. | ★★★★★ |
| Build quality | Handcrafted and finished to a high standard – the best quality mattress we've tested. | ★★★★★ |
When, where and how to buy
Saatva mattresses are sold by Saatva itself, though we do sometimes see refurbished and past-season models popping up on mattress liquidator sites. There are 12 Saatva Viewing Rooms located across America, where you can lie on every Saatva mattress – and test out the brand's sleep accessories too (these are now also being sold via Saatva's Amazon store). While Saatva consultants are on hand to answer your questions, orders still need to be placed via the website.
Saatva Classic mattress prices fluctuate throughout the year, with the MSRP of a queen size normally settling around $2,095. You'll never pay full price though as there's a monthly Saatva mattress sale offering 10-15% discounts.
Based on our analysis of previous sales, the best time to buy the Saatva Classic is during the Labor Day sales in September. Last year it dropped to $1,595 (two years before that it cost $1,395 over Labor Day). During other major holiday sales you can expect to buy a queen Saatva Classic for $1,695.
The most expensive time to buy a Saatva Classic is during the summer months when there isn't a major holiday sale. That's the price we're seeing now, with a queen Classic priced $1,695 at Saatva. That's the best discount we'll get before Black Friday, so now is a great time to buy – and we doubt it will be any cheaper in the Black Friday sales anyway so no reason to delay buying.
The Saatva Classic is an excellent choice for most sleepers – as long as you can afford the premium price tag. It sleeps cool, delivers effective full-body pressure relief, and eases lower back pain (for chronic back pain, I recommend the Saatva RX instead). The build quality and handcrafted finish is also the best my team has tested. If you're shopping for a mattress that delivers luxury hotel vibes at home, this is the one.
Read more: Saatva Classic mattress review
2. The best mattress in a box
Quick summary
We highly recommend the DreamCloud for anyone who loves the sound of the Saatva Classic at number one, but wants a cheaper alternative. This mid-range, hybrid innerspring mattress performed very well in our tests, delivering excellent back support and pressure relief for hundreds of dollars less than its higher-end hybrid rivals (we're looking at you: Saatva Classic, Helix Midnight Luxe and Winkbed). And while it doesn't have the premium features of those mattresses, we were impressed by its quality look and feel.
Yes, the DreamCloud isn't as luxurious as the Saatva Classic. And you don't get free white glove delivery and set-up: this mattress-in-a-box is delivered to your door, unless you pay extra. It's also one of the firmer mattresses we've tested (with no options to customize it, unlike the Saatva or Winkbed). But all our reviewers agreed it was very comfortable and supportive once they had adjusted to it – and we found that it was better at absorbing the motion of a restless partner than the Saatva, too.
Read what we liked, didn't like, test scores, and how to buy it ▼
When it comes to value for money, the DreamCloud is easily one of the best mattresses out there.
Our review: in more detail
The DreamCloud is the entry-level and most affordable model in the DreamCloud range of mattresses. At 12 inches tall, this eight-layer mattress-in-a-box is made from a mixture of memory foam, foam and steel coils, and it received an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars from our reviewers after testing.
Our lead reviewer and a panel of volunteers slept on a DreamCloud mattress for three weeks. They found it to be at the firmer end of medium-firm, with great support for side, back and front sleeping. It took our petite and average-sized testers a little while to adjust to the firmness, but once they had, our lead reviewer called it one of the "coziest mattresses" she'd slept on yet. Our heavier tester, meanwhile, felt well-supported immediately.
We scored the DreamCloud very highly for temperature regulation. Even our warmest sleepers didn't break a sweat overnight.
It's a particularly good choice if you have back pain, but don't have the budget for the high-end Saatva RX further down in our guide. Our back sleeper praised the DreamCloud for alleviating pressure in his achy lower lumbar.
We also scored the DreamCloud very highly for temperature regulation. It isn't a dedicated cooling mattress like the Cocoon Chill at number seven – which is worth considering if you seriously struggle with overheating – but even our warmest sleepers didn't break a sweat overnight. However, edge support was lacking on our review model, particularly for our larger testers.
What we liked...
✅ Great for back and hip pain: The DreamCloud quickly adapted to our reviewers' bodies and provided support where they most needed it. It's a great choice for anyone struggling with back pain as it ensures your hips don't drop too low and your spine remains properly aligned.
✅ Absorbs motion well: The DreamCloud did a better job of isolating motion in our tests than the more expensive Saatva Classic: we scored it 4.5 out of 5. That makes it a good option if you share a bed with a restless sleeper, or go to bed at a different time to your partner – you're less likely to be disturbed.
✅ Suitable for heavier bodies: The DreamCloud has a heavier weight capacity than the Saatva: it can support up to 1,000lbs, with a maximum of 500lbs on each side. The firmer feel also means that heavier people are more likely to find it comfortable than very light-weight sleepers.
What we didn't like...
❌ Edge support could be better: We only gave the DreamCloud 3.5 out of 5 for edge support. It's fine for smaller bodies, but our taller and heavier sleepers found the edges too weak when getting out of bed. This is likely to be an issue for anyone with mobility issues, so if you need excellent edge support we'd recommend the Saatva or Winkbed instead.
❌ Some will find it too firm: DreamCloud rates the mattress as a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, but our panel assessed it as closer to 8. Light-weight people are more likely to find it too firm, especially if they sleep on their sides. If that's you, try the Helix Midnight Luxe at number four instead: it's designed specifically for side sleepers.
| Features | In brief | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Support and comfort | Suits back and stomach sleepers most, though it is quite firm to begin with. | ★★★★½ |
| Pressure relief | Great for relieving pressure on the hips, shoulders and lower back; eased our tester's lower back pain. | ★★★★½ |
| Temperature control | Moisture-wicking cover is breathable and stays cool to the touch; individually-wrapped coils boost airflow through the mattress. | ★★★★½ |
| Motion isolation | Performed well in our drop tests, stopping most motion transferring from one side to the other. | ★★★★ |
| Edge support | Our heavier build reviewers didn't feel supported when getting in / out of bed, or when sleeping up to the edge | ★★★½ |
| Build quality | Good build quality and finish for the price. Customers who have owned it for three years or more say it’s still comfy and supportive. | ★★★★½ |
Where, when and how to buy
The DreamCloud is an online-only mattress and is officially priced between $839 for a twin and $2,178 for a split king, but it's permanently sold with a 40-50% discount (it's been half price all year so far). Prices don't tend to fluctuate by much. Here's what the DreamCloud usually costs:
- Twin: $449 (MSRP $839)
- Twin XL: $545 (MSRP $1,089)
- Full: $599 (MSRP $1,199)
- Queen: $665 (MSRP $1,232)
- King: $835 (MSRP $1,669)
- Cal king: $835 (MSRP $1,669)
- Split king: $1,090 (MSRP $2,178)
Don't expect the DreamCloud to become cheaper on Black Friday. Last year, it actually cost more in November than it did in October, at $799 for a queen. We didn't see a cheaper price on Memorial Day this year, either: the brand just continued its existing prices.
Our advice is: if you see the prices above, it's as good a time as any to buy the DreamCloud. You're not getting a rare deal, but you're almost certainly paying the lowest price possible.
The DreamCloud packs a real punch in the value-for-money stakes. The only reason it didn't take the number one spot here is that, side by side, the Saatva Classic is a better mattress: it's more luxurious, more supportive and more customizable for a wider range of people. But it also has a much higher price tag. If you're looking for a more affordable mattress but still want a quality feel and excellent support, I wholeheartedly recommend giving the DreamCloud a go. It comes with a one-year trial so you can make sure it's right.
Read more: DreamCloud mattress review
3. The best affordable mattress
Quick summary
The Siena Memory Foam is the highest-scoring budget mattress we've tested. It sits at the top of our affordable mattress rankings, delivering a better balance of comfort and support than the other budget option in our guide, the Linenspa at number nine (which is even cheaper, but not as good quality).
It isn't the best memory foam mattress out there: that award goes to the Nectar Memory Foam at number five. And we found it to be much firmer (rating it a 9 out of 10 on the firmness scale) than the medium-firm rating Siena gives, making it a great fit for the front-sleepers on our testing panel, but some side and back sleepers may need better pressure relief. Overall, though, it performs well for the price, with excellent edge support and surprisingly good temperature regulation for an all-foam bed – most people should sleep comfortably cool all night on the Siena.
Read what we liked, didn't like, test scores, and how to buy it ▼
If you want the 'hug' of memory foam, you'll need to upgrade to the Nectar at number five. Otherwise, the Siena is a great option for anyone on a tight budget.
Our review: in more detail
The Siena Memory Foam sits within the budget mattress market, going up against rival brands including Linenspa, Allswell Home, Zinus, and Lucid. While the Siena is our top recommendation because it's the better all-rounder, choose the Zinus if you want a more contouring, body-hug feel (and don't want to spend more on the mid-range Nectar). And if you're looking for a bouncier budget mattress, we recommend the Allswell Hybrid (10 inch) instead.
We slept on the Siena Memory Foam for four weeks and awarded it a total score of 4.5/5 after testing. Our reviewers enjoyed sleeping on the Siena mattress but only when stomach and back sleeping.
If you love a firm foam mattress and mostly sleep on your stomach or back, the Siena is hard to beat at this price
Our lead tester and wider review panel didn't find it comfortable for side sleeping to begin with, and only after a longer break-in period (around week four) did it begin to soften for better pressure relief along the shoulders, knees and hips during side sleeping.
While there's plenty to like about the Siena Memory Foam Mattress for the budget cost, we take issue with the medium-firm rating Siena Sleep uses. To us, it felt much firmer than a medium-firm (normally rated as a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale). We actually rate it as a 9/10, softening to an 8/10 after a few weeks of sleeping on it.
So if you want a budget memory foam mattress, try the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress instead (from $249 at Zinus). But if you love a firm foam mattress and mostly sleep on your stomach or back, the Siena is hard to beat at this price.
What we like about it...
✅ Great value for money: There are plenty of affordable mattresses online, but very few perform well in all areas. The Siena is an exception, outperforming its price tag in most areas. It isn't the best mattress ever, but it does offer a good mix of support and cooling comfort for a budget price.
✅ Isolates motion well: We know from testing a large range of memory foam mattresses that they're generally the best option for stopping motion from being transferred from one side of a mattress to the other. The Siena performed well in our motion isolation tests, making it a good choice for restless sleepers.
✅ Strong edge support: Again, cheaper mattresses normally fall down on edge support, but we were impressed with the Siena's take during testing. Our reviewer could sleep right up to the edges and still feel supported, and found it easy to get in and out of the mattress.
What we don't like about it...
❌ Firmer than advertised: Both our lead reviewer and our wider testing panel felt the Siena was much firmer than the advertised medium-firm. We initially rated it as a 9 out of 10, which softened to an 8 over time. It'll feel softer to people weighing over 250lbs, so is worth considering by heavier-bodied sleepers.
❌ No memory foam 'hug': That high firmness level means that this memory foam mattress doesn't hug the body. Some of our testing panel were disappointed by this, but the advantage of not sinking into your mattress is that you're less likely to overheat – so hot sleepers, this could work in your favor.
| Features | In brief | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Support and comfort | Suits back and stomach sleepers most, though it is quite firm to begin with (needs a longer breaking in period). | ★★★★ |
| Pressure relief | Decent for back and stomach sleepers, but lightweight side sleepers will need a more contouring mattress to relieve pressure points. | ★★★½ |
| Temperature control | Good for an-all memory foam mattress – the hot sleepers on our testing panel slept comfortably during summer testing periods. | ★★★★ |
| Motion isolation | Better than the Saatva and DreamCloud, making it perfect for bed-sharing heavier people who switch sleep positions during the night. | ★★★★½ |
| Edge support | Strong for all body weights along all perimeters of the mattress. Easy to get in and out of. | ★★★★ |
| Build quality | Surprisingly good for an affordable memory foam mattress - our testers expect it to last up to eight years). | ★★★★ |
When, where and how to buy
The Siena Memory Foam Mattress is sold online at Siena Sleep and Amazon. It's never been sold at full price – it's had up to a 50 per cent discount since the day it was launched. Typically you can buy a twin for $199, a queen for $399 and $499 for a king, but a really good deal will reduce the price of a queen from the standard sale price of $399 to $379.
Because there's hardly any difference in the sale price of the Siena Memory Foam Mattress month to month, even during major holiday sales, you don't need to rush to buy it. Prices are pretty static.
Shipping is free, with the mattress delivered in a box by FedEX within two to five business days of your order being processed. If you change your mind you can cancel your order before it's fully processed, but otherwise Siena Sleep won't accept returns before 30 days (that's to give your body enough time to adjust to it). Be aware that if you leave the mattress unopened in its box for more than 90 days, you'll void the returns policy and your warranty.
Siena Sleep offers a longer trial and warranty compared to many budget mattresses, with a 180-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty. All benefits are available when you shop the Siena at Amazon, but we'd recommend buying directly from Siena Sleep because occasionally we see refund claims becoming more complicated when mattresses have been bought via Amazon.
The Siena Memory Foam Mattress performs well for the lower price, achieving high test scores for edge support, temperature regulation and for how it reduces motion transferring from one side to the other. I rarely see affordable mattresses testing well in all of these key areas, so I recommend the Siena to people wanting a firmer mattress without paying over $500 for a king size. Skip it if you're a side sleeper though – for my team, it's too firm and doesn't have enough contouring for that position. There I'd recommend the Helix Midnight Luxe instead.
Read more: Siena Memory Foam Mattress review
4. The best mattress for side sleepers
Quick summary
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress designed especially for side sleepers, though we found it comfortable for back sleeping too. After testing it for over seven weeks, we now rate it as our top mattress for side sleepers because it delivers excellent pressure relief around the shoulders, hips and knees – all major impact points when lying on your side. The Midnight Luxe is 13.5" tall and comes in a medium feel, which we rate as a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The thick pillow top adds an immediate hit of softness, but you won't dip down into any subsequent layers as you would on a memory foam mattress.
At $1,780 for a queen on sale the Helix Midnight Luxe is one of the more expensive options among our top nine mattresses, but as with the Saatva Classic the build quality and durability are superb. The Midnight Luxe is 13.5" tall and comes in a medium feel (we rate it as a 6/10). It's a big upgrade on the original 11.5" Midnight, our previous best choice for side sleepers, with a taller build, extra comfort layer and pillow top. The midnight Luxe is also more expensive at $1,780 for a queen compared to $999 for a queen Midnight when both are on sale.
Read what we liked, didn't like, test scores, and how to buy it ▼
Despite the price, no other mattress comes close to the Helix Midnight Luxe for comfy side sleeping. That said, if you're shopping for a soft mattress for side sleepers, then take a look at the Amerisleep AS3 in our Also Tested section.
Our review: in more detail
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a premium hybrid mattress made of six layers, starting with a breathable Tencel cover that can be upgraded to Helix's GlacioTex Cooling Cover for an additional $187. If you sleep hot, this is worth the investment. If you don't overheat in bed, it's an unnecessary expense.
Our lead reviewer for the Helix Midnight Luxe regularly experienced hip pain during sleep prior to testing this mattress. That stopped during her first night of sleeping on the Helix, and her lower back pain eased too. This is down to the enhanced lumbar support, with our reviewer stating that, “Edge support is pretty good and motion isolation is excellent, but pressure relief during side sleeping is where the Helix Midnight Luxe excels.”
If you're shopping for a super-comfy side sleeper mattress with great lumbar support, the Helix Midnight Luxe is our pick
The Helix Midnight Luxe is made with premium memory foam layers that cradle the hips and shoulders, adding pressure relief without you sinking too far into the mattress and out of alignment (which would cause back pain). That zoned lumbar support we mentioned above prevents sagging of your hips during sleep, again to keep your spine correctly aligned.
The temperature regulation is also excellent, and during a seven-week stint of sleeping on the standard Tencel cover our lead reviewer didn’t overheat. However, she did test the Helix Midnight Luxe during winter and she isn't a self-confessed hot sleeper. Hybrid mattresses are also better at dissipating heat than all-foam beds.
While we rate the Midnight Luxe as a medium feel, some customer reviews criticise the mattress for being much firmer than expected. But the user reviews we analysed didn't provide any information about body weights – a key factor in how supportive and contouring a mattress will feel for you.
Our main criticism of the Midnight Luxe is that Helix has designed it without any handles for easy moving, which is frustrating considering how heavy this mattress is (120lbs for a queen). Mattresses need to be rotated regularly to spread out wear and tear, so having to do this without handles is an inconvenience.
A lack of handles for moving is a minor niggle though, as on the whole the Helix Midnight Luxe is an excellent quality mattress. If you're shopping for a super-comfy side sleeper mattress with great lumbar support, the Helix Midnight Luxe is our top pick.
What we like about it...
✅ Superb pressure relief: The premium quilted pillow top provides fantastic pressure relief across the shoulders, hips and knees – so exactly where it's needed when side sleeping. Our lead reviewer is prone to hip pain and numb hips when sleeping on her side, but it disappeared when sleeping on the Midnight Luxe.
✅ Enhanced lumbar support: Zoned lumbar support combined with premium memory foam and Copper Gel memory foam means that the Luxe is supportive and comfortable for back sleepers, too. This additional support is why we also recommend this bed for side sleepers with back pain.
✅ Great motion isolation: The combination of responsive foams, including a DuraFoam base layer, underpins the overall stability of the Helix Midnight Luxe and isolates motion very well. So your partner is tossing and turning in bed next to you, you're unlikely to know about it.
What we don't like about it...
❌ GlacioTex cover is slippery: We reviewed the Helix Midnight Luxe with the Tencel cover that comes as standard, but verified consumer reviews suggest that while upgrading to the GlacioTex cover provides better cooling, it does make the surface of the mattress slightly more slippery.
❌ Lacks handles for moving: At 13.5" tall and weighing 120lbs for a queen, the Helix Midnight Luxe is a tall and heavy hybrid mattress. The lack of handles makes lifting or moving it incredibly difficult. In comparison, the 14.5" Saatva Classic has inbuilt handles to make manoeuvring the mattress much easier.
| Features | In brief | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Support and comfort | Medium firm feel is super-comfy for side sleeping, with a plush pillow top delivering sink-in softness. | ★★★★ |
| Pressure relief | Excellent. The best mattress we've tested for relieving pressure on hips, shoulders and knees when side sleeping. | ★★★★½ |
| Temperature control | Doesn't retain heat, and the Tencel cover has a cool-touch feel. Very hot sleepers should upgrade to the GlacioTex cooling cover. | ★★★★ |
| Motion isolation | Superb, performing well in all our drop weight tests. An excellent choice for restless side sleepers. | ★★★★½ |
| Edge support | Full perimeter edge support for better overall stability. Easy to get in and out of, and we slept supported right up to the edges. | ★★★★ |
| Build quality | Made to a high standard using premium materials. A close rival to the Saatva Classic for build quality. | ★★★★½ |
When, where and how to buy
Historically, the best time to buy the Helix Midnight Luxe has been during the Black Friday mattress deals and sales in late November each year. After Black Friday there are four further major sales: Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Cyber Monday. Last Black Friday, the Helix Midnight Luxe was reduced by 25% and came with a free bedding bundle worth up to $330.
The new Helix mattress sale is offering 27% off with a queen size Midnight Luxe now costing $1,780 (was $2,373) with a free luxury bedding bundle in the Labor Day sales. The bedding bundle is better than the two free pillows we see most months, but the cash discount is a little smaller compared to the best discount of 30% spotted a few months ago.
In between sales, you can expect a fairly decent 20% off the Helix Midnight Luxe and you'll get two free Helix Dream pillows. With that saving a twin costs $1,099 (was $1,373), a queen costs $1,899 (was $2,373) and a king costs $2,299 (was $2,873.80).
Helix makes some of the best speciality mattresses in America – I rate the brand's Dusk Luxe for stomach sleepers, and the Midnight Luxe is my top pick for side sleepers. The Helix Midnight Luxe replaces the original Midnight (perfect if you want something more affordable – $999 for a queen at Helix), offering deeper pressure relief, extra comfort layers and a cooler feel. My lead tester's main criticism was purely cosmetic – no handles for moving, which does seem like a strange omission considering how heavy this hybrid is. If you sleep on your side and want the best for your position regardless of price, here it is.
Read more: Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review
The best memory foam mattress
Quick summary
The Nectar Memory Foam is the highest-scoring foam-based mattress in our rankings, offering a better balance of comfort and support for the price than its nearest rivals, the Cocoon Chill (#7) and Siena (#3). You sink into this mattress slightly while you sleep: it contours to your body to provide cushioning support, giving you more of the classic memory foam 'hug' than the firmer Siena. (If you prefer a more traditional mattress feel, try a spring-based hybrid instead, like the DreamCloud.)
Our reviewers felt well-supported in all sleeping positions – it's particularly good for side and back sleepers. We also found the Nectar to be cooler than most other memory foam mattresses we've tested. However, if you're a hot sleeper on a budget, consider the Cocoon Chill (if you like to sink into your mattress) or the DreamCloud (if you prefer to sleep on top of it).
Read what we liked, didn't like, test scores, and how to buy it ▼
It isn't the most luxe mattress here, but it's a great all-rounder, and if you like the feel of memory foam it's well worth choosing over the Siena.
Our review: in more detail
The Nectar Memory Foam mattress is the most affordable in Nectar Sleep's range of mattresses. Its closest competitors on price are the Cocoon Chill – a foam-based mattress with dedicated cooling properties that costs around $50 more – and the hybrid DeamCloud, which costs around $50 less.
This lower mid-range mattress has five layers, including a breathable cooling cover and a two-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam. Our reviewers felt the mattress did an excellent job of keeping them cool while they slept (even if the cover of our review model wasn't 'cool to touch', as Nectar advertises).
Overall, our reviewers slept well on it. They liked how it shaped gently to their bodies while they slept, providing tailored pressure relief around their shoulders, hips and back, while keeping their spines aligned. We especially recommend it for side and front sleeping.
However, our 5ft 4in, 150lb lead tester noticed her lower back dipping slightly more than she'd have wished when lying on her back, so we think some back sleepers may prefer a firmer mattress, like the DreamCloud. And of course, if you don't like to sink into your mattress while you sleep, a memory foam mattress just won't be right for you, period. (You'll need a hybrid.)
What we liked...
✅ Impressive cooling for a foam mattress
We were thoroughly impressed with how comfortable the Nectar mattress kept our lead reviewer, who's prone to sleeping warm: we gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars for temperature regulation. Still, if you're a chronic overheater, consider the Cocoon Chill mattress, which has a more effective cooling cover.
✅ Good relief for sore joints
This mattress is slightly firmer than other memory foam options we've tested (we rated it 7 out of 10, rather than 6.5 as Nectar does), but we found it contoured comfortably to cushion our joints. Yes, more expensive mattresses like the Saatva RX (#6) will do a better job, but the Nectar does well for the money.
✅ Absorbs motion well
The Nectar excels when it comes to isolating motion: we gave it 4.5 out of 5 in our tests. This makes it a very good choice if you share a mattress with a partner who fidgets or goes to bed at a different time to you – you're much less likely to disturb each other.
What we didn't like
❌ Some people will need more support
Heavier bodies, front sleepers and some back sleepers will need a firmer mattress than the Nectar Memory Foam to keep their spines properly aligned. Saatva's Loom & Leaf mattress is a more expensive but better memory foam option, and comes in three different firmness levels.
❌ The edges could be sturdier
The cheaper Siena mattress beat the Nectar on edge support in our tests: we awarded the former a full five stars, whereas the Nectar only received 3.5 out of 5. Our reviewers had no issue getting up or sitting down, but did feel the edge could be firmer. If you have mobility issues, try the Saatva Classic instead.
❌ Not enough bounce for some
The flip side of scoring highly for motion isolation is that the Nectar Memory Foam doesn't have any bounce. That's only an issue if you prefer your mattress to have some bounce – you'll want a spring-based hybrid mattress if so, such as the Saatva Classic or DreamCloud.
| Features | In brief | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Support and comfort | Not as contouring as softer memory foam mattresses and our testers preferred that; excellent support for side and back sleeping. | ★★★★½ |
| Pressure relief | Ample cushioning for the shoulders and hips. Tested well for relieving pressure in all back and side sleeping positions in particular. | ★★★★ |
| Temperature control | Sleeps cooler than many all-foam rivals, but chronic overheaters on a budget should choose the Cocoon by Sealy Chill. | ★★★★ |
| Motion isolation | One of its strongest features. Our reviewer was impressed with how little it transferred motion from one side of the mattress to the other. | ★★★★½ |
| Edge support | Yes our tester could sit on the edge without slipping down, but the edge support isn't as strong as with others in this guide. | ★★★½ |
| Build quality | Finished to a decent standard for an affordable memory foam mattress. The quality of materials should help the Nectar last several years at least. | ★★★★ |
When, when and how to buy
The Nectar Memory Foam mattress is never sold at list price. There's always a 40-50% discount, keeping it at the bottom of the mid-range tier and making it very good value for money. Here's what you can usually expect to pay:
- Twin: $349 (MSRP: $699)
- Twin XL: $549 (MSRP: $899)
- Full: $599 (MSRP: $949)
- Queen: $649 (MSRP: $1,099)
- King: $849 (MSRP: $1,399)
- Cal King: $849 (MSRP: $1,399)
- Split king: $1,098 (MSRP: $1,798)
Nectar occasionally has a flash sale. These are usually the cheapest time to buy the mattress – we've seen a queen drop as low as $629 in the last 12 months. These sales are unpredictable, but it isn't unusual to see one around a month before Black Friday, and they've happened earlier in the year, too.
We track all the Nectar mattress sales and our best advice is: if you're seeing a price similar to those above, you're getting the normal discount. Anything higher, it's worth waiting for prices to drop again (they likely will soon) – and anything lower is a (rare) very good deal indeed.
I highly recommend the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress if you love the sink-in, contouring support of memory foam, but don't have thousands of dollars to spend. The Nectar isn't in the same league as pricer mattresses like the Saatva Classic, but you do get a good level of comfort and support for the money, and because it's medium firm it shouldn't take too long to adjust to after sleeping on a regular box spring. My team found it most comfortable for back sleeping, but I'm a side sleeper and I was comfortable on the Nectar Memory Foam too. Read more: Nectar Memory Foam mattress review
6. The best mattress for back pain
Quick summary
The Saatva RX is a specialist hybrid innerspring mattress for back and joint pain, and we recommend it as the best option for people who need robust back support and pressure relief to ease pain that would otherwise disturb their sleep. While there are other mattresses here that reduce general aches and pains - such as the Saatva Classic and DreamCloud at number one and two - the Saatva RX is the only one with specific features designed with chronic pain in mind.
These center around Saatva's new Therapeutic Support Core, which enables the RX to adjust to your body when you move. In turn this reduces pressure points and boosts circulation – two crucial factors for reducing the amount of back and joint pain you feel when lying down. We found the Saatva RX doesn't retain much heat either. That's good, because heat build-up in a mattress can lead to restless sleep for some people, and tossing and turning in bed when you already have back or joint issues will make your pain worse.
Read what we liked, didn't like, test scores, and how to buy it▼
The Saatva RX is expensive at $2,895 for a queen, so for smaller budgets - or general pain - we recommend the mid-range WinkBed (#9) instead.
Our review: In more detail
The Saatva RX innerspring hybrid is designed for people with chronic lower and upper back pain, as well as joint conditions such as arthritis, herniated discs, scoliosis and sciatica. It's the first mattress of its kind in the US to tackle these types of pain and we spent over four weeks reviewing it to see if it actually works.
Our lead tester for the Saatva RX has mild scoliosis and long-term lower back pain following an injury, and she slept comfortably on the RX from the first night, scoring it 4.5/5 overall for comfort and pressure relief versus support. This is down to Saatva's Therapeutic Support Core technology – it ensures the RX responds to your movements in bed, placing varying levels of support at different points of your body depending on the position you sleep in. To us, it has a similar feel to the GelFlex Grid technology in Purple mattresses.
If back and joint pain keep you awake at night, the Saatva RX is well worth the investment for comfier, deeper sleep
In our review, we rated the Saatva RX for temperature regulation, pressure relief and full back support, and found it most comfortable for back and stomach sleeping. We think it's too firm for side side sleepers and would instead recommend The Helix Midnight Luxe (number four) if you want a breathable hybrid mattress for side sleeping with back and hip pain. The Helix is cheaper, too, at $1,780 for a queen when on sale, versus $2,895 for a queen RX.
The Saatva RX does transfer some motion from one side of the mattress to the other, which is common with innerspring hybrids. The benefit of slight motion transfer for people with back and joint pain is that it will help you move more easily into a new sleeping position so you aren't struggling to move. The downside is that if you share your mattress with a heavier person who also tosses and turns all night, their movements could aggravate your pain. However, after sleeping on and testing the Saatva RX, we feel the pressure relief and responsive support it delivers outweighs the small motion transfer.
Overall we rate the RX for reducing painful pressure points, adding support where it's needed, and preventing heat from building up. If back and joint pain keep you awake at night, the Saatva RX mattress is well worth the investment for more comfortable, deeper sleep.
What we like about it...
✅ Full back support: The Saatva RX focuses on upper and lower back pain by adding varying levels of support and comfort to different parts of your back depending on the position you're sleeping in. Gel-infused foam doubles down on easing pain by keeping your spine in healthy alignment during sleep.
✅ Contouring pressure relief: The Saatva RX has a gentle cradling feel, reducing major pressure points along the body so you feel less pain along when sleeping. It won't suck you down into the mattress like a memory foam bed would, but it will lightly hug your curves all while adding a little bounce to the mattress.
✅ Free installation: You don't want to wrestle with a heavy hybrid mattress if you have back and joint pain, so Saatva's free white glove delivery is a benefit. This includes free unpacking and installation of the Saatva RX in your bedroom, plus removal of shipping materials and your old mattress and bed frame.
What we don't like about it...
❌ Average max weight capacity: The Saatva RX supports a maximum weight of 300lbs per sleeper, but we know from