Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX: At a glance
Type: Hybrid innerspring
Brand-rated firmness: Soft, Medium, Firm
Height: 11.5" or 14.5"
Sizes: 8
Sleep trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: from $1,399 at Saatva
Shipping: Free white glove delivery
Type: Hybrid innerspring
Brand-rated firmness: Supportive Plush
Height: 15"
Sizes: 7
Sleep trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: From $1,999 at Saatva
Shipping: Free white glove delivery
Saatva produces handmade luxury mattresses designed for sleepers who struggle with aches and pains. Those include the flagship Saatva Classic, which is heralded for its superb pressure relief and signature lumbar zone quilting, and the premium Saatva RX, with its specialized components that are designed to soothe those with chronic and serious back and joint aliments.
So is one better for pain relief than the other? That depends on your needs (as well as your budget). We rate the Saatva Classic as the best mattress of 2025 for all sleepers, thanks to its near-perfect performance during our thorough testing process. Meanwhile, the Saatva RX tops our guide to the best mattresses for back pain, as it gave our lead tester the right balance of support and comfort to manage her lower back pain and mild scoliosis.
Perhaps the most glaring difference between these two mattresses is price. The Saatva Classic is at the lower end of the premium price bracket, whereas the Saatva RX is firmly planted at the high end. Fortunately, you'll be able to save on either one during this year's Saatva Black Friday sale.
But before you shop, read our Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX showdown to help decide which is the best Saatva mattress for your joint and back pain.
Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX mattress: Price, trial, warranties
- Queen MSRPs for the Classic and RX are $2,139 and $3,399, respectively
- Saatva regularly offers tired money-off or percent-off savings
- Both come with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty
Both Saatva mattresses sit in the premium price bracket, although the Saatva Classic is at the lower end. Saatva mattress sales are regular, with the most common discount a tiered savings; the more you pay, the more you'll save.
Even with these discounts, the Classic and RX are still in the premium bracket, Peak holidays and shopping events (such as Black Friday) typically yield the biggest discounts. That said, MSRPs have been trending upward year over year, and mattress tariffs could impact future increases, as well.
Right now, a queen-size Saatva Classic retails for $2,139, an increase from $2,099 just months ago. The largest discount we've seen for it is the current $400 off Black Friday deal, which drops the price to $1,739 today.
Meanwhile, the Saatva RX still retails for $3,399 in a queen size, which is reduced by $400 right now, bringing that price down to $2,999. However, the deal to look for here is a 15% off flash sale, which takes a larger chunk off RX's final price than Saatva's dollar-off discounts.
Both mattresses come with Saatva's best-in-class amenities: a 365-night mattress trial, a lifetime mattress warranty, and free white glove delivery with optional removal of your pre-existing mattress and foundation.
Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX mattress: Materials & design
- Both mattresses are luxury hybrid innersprings
- The Saatva Classic has three firmness options and two heights
- The Saatva RX comes in one firmness option and one height
Saatva handcrafts all of its mattresses in the United States, with quality materials and remarkable precision to foster a comfortable night's sleep. The Saatva Classic and the Saatva RX share some qualities, but there are plenty of differences between then beneath the sheets.
The Saatva Classic starts with a 3" Euro pillow top made from organic cotton, with zoned quilting in the middle for extra lumbar support. That's complemented by a CertiPUR-US certified gel-infused memory foam strip to help relieve pressure in the lower back.
Next up, a layer of individually wrapped 14.5-gauge recycled steel coils sits on top of a support base made up of 13-gauge tempered steel support coils. This is all wrapped up in a foam encasement around the perimeter to stabilize the whole mattress.
The Saatva Classic comes in two different heights (11.5” and 14.5”) and three different firmness options (Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm) so you can tailor it to your comfort and space.
Like the Classic, the opulent Saatva Rx has an organic cotton cover with a lumbar zone quilting and gel memory foam strip across the middle. Otherwise, the construction is remarkably different. (For starters, the RX uses a lot more foam.)
The RX's comfort layer consist of 1" microcoils, placed between a couple layers of high-density foam. Following that is what Saatva calls its Therapeutic Support Core, which consists of a waved foam layer with five ergonomic zones plus a bed of individually wrapped 8” coils. These components are meant to adapt to your movements, preventing pressure buildup in your joints.
The waved foam is infused with graphite and phase-change material for increased temperature regulation. Meanwhile, firmer spring coils line the sides of the RX for extra edge support.
The Saatva Rx comes in only one firmness level, deemed Supportive Plush (or a 3-4/10 firmness) and a single height of 15".
Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX mattress: Comfort & support
- The Saatva Classic has three firmness levels — Luxury Firm suits most
- The Saatva RX comes in 'Supportive Plush' but we found it more firm
- Saatva beds have a more traditional ‘lying on top’ feel so you won’t sink in
The Saatva Classic is available in three firmness options and two heights; the only difference here is the height of the springs.
We tested the Luxury Firm in our Saatva Classic Mattress review, which is the brand’s most popular comfort level. It's designed to suit all positions and most body types. We found it pairs excellent pressure relief with a fairly traditional innerspring feel. You'll sleep on top of this mattress rather than inside of it. There's also plenty of bounce, but the mattress absorbs most movements effectively.
The Plush Soft Saatva Classic is one of the best mattresses for side sleepers who need extra cushioning for their hips and shoulders. It's also more accommodating for lightweight sleepers than the Luxury Firm, which could feel unyielding by comparison.
At the other end of the scale, the Firm Saatva Classic is one of our top-rated firm mattresses. It's ideally suited to back sleepers who enjoy a firm mattress, people who sleep on their fronts, and are of a heavier build. (However, note that the Saatva Classic only has a max capacity of 600lbs.)
Saatva calls its RX mattress ‘Supportive Plush’, or a 3-4/10 on its firmness scale. During our Saatva RX mattress review, however, our panel found it skewed medium-firm, or around 7.5/10.
Even though it was firmer than advertised we thought it provided an ideal combo of relief and support for back sleeping, with one of our testers likening it to lying on a pool float ('cushy but without the fear of sinking').
Reactions were mixed among our side sleepers, as one of our lighter testers felt too much pressure buildup in her hips. On the flip side, our average-sized lead tester found much relief from her lower back pain when sleeping on her side, while another one of our average-sized side-sleeping panelists with arthritis in her knees felt comfortable.
Keep in mind that we tested the previous version of the Saatva RX; there's a possibility that the recent design changes, which now includes a layer of waved foam, will impact the overall bed feel.
Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX mattress: Temperature control
- Both mattresses offer great temperature regulation
- Coils and breathable covers on both mattresses promote airflow
- Graphite and PCM-infused foams help the RX sleep cooler
Our testers never felt hot sleeping on either mattress, thanks to the well-spaced coils that promote airflow and breathable organic cotton covers to help wick away sweat and moisture.
There’s also only a small amount of foam in the Saatva Classic: the memory foam lumbar strip and the dense foam rail. Combined with a dual layer of coils, this design helps prevent heat from getting trapped in the mattress.
The Saatva RX has more foam in its build, but it notably has a layer of graphite and PCM-infused foam to adapt to your body temperature so you're not too warm or cold. It also has a layer of support coils plus a bed of microcoils, which help with airflow.
Although both mattresses do a good job of maintaining a reasonable temperature, consider one of our best cooling mattresses recommendations if your hot flashes and night sweats are extreme.
Saatva Classic vs Saatva RX mattress: Which should you buy?
Buy the Saatva Classic if…
✅ You suffer from general (non-serious) aches and pains: The Saatva Classic does an excellent job of keeping the spine perfectly aligned while alleviating pressure buildup. It'll be enough for most people with occasional and minor discomfort.
✅ You want to customize your mattress: With three different firmness ratings and two heights, the Saatva Classic allows sleepers to choose the mattress that’s right for their specific sleeping style.
✅ You’re on a smaller budget: The Saatva Classic is still a luxury option, but it’s far cheaper than the Saatva RX. So, if you’ve got money to spend but can’t stretch to the higher price of the RX, the Classic is the option to go with.
Buy the Saatva RX if…
✅ You suffer from severe and chronic back and joint conditions: The Saatva RX is specifically designed for chronic conditions such as sciatica and arthritis and is designed to give you maximum support and relief.
✅ You want a slightly plusher top: Although you won’t sink into either mattress, the top of the RX feels slightly cushier than that of the Classic, with a little more give around the hips and shoulders.
✅ You've got a bigger budget: If money is no option and you suffer from serious back issues, the Saatva RX is worth the extra for its very specifically designed support.
Avoid either one if...
❌ You and your partner need a plus-size-friendly bed: The Saatva Classic the and Saatva RX both support up to 600lbs, which is only slightly above average. Take a look at our guide to the best mattresses for heavy people if you and your partner need ample support for sleepers over 250lbs.
❌ You like the hug of memory foam: While the Saatva RX has more foam layers than the Saatva Classic, neither one will contour your body quite like the best memory foam mattresses. A Tempur-Pedic may be a viable alternative in this case — or even the Saatva Contour5.
❌ You're on a tight budget: These are both premium beds, and we predict that their retail prices will only continue to rise. For a similar level of luxurious comfort on a smaller scale, try the DreamCloud Classic, which we rate as the best mattress-in-a-box for overall value and pain relief.
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