I tested DreamCloud’s most luxurious mattress and it’s ridiculously comfortable for side and back sleepers — there’s just one small thing I wish I could change

I’ve helped test some of the best mattresses on the market and the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid mattress is one of the softest and most luxurious mattresses I’ve ever slept on. As a side and occasional back sleeper with recurrent back pain, I thought I’d hate it. But despite its sink-in feel (it initially feels like you’re slowly being swallowed by it — and not necessarily in a bad way), it packs plenty of support into its seven-layer construction.

This means that even though you experience an initial sink as the memory foam euro top gently contours around you, you don’t dip too far — and that’s crucial for spine health and keeping back pain at bay (it comes approved by the American Chiropractic Association).

Its 15” height could be seen as a pro or a con, depending on your preference. At 5’10” I’m relatively tall, so I could still plant my feet squarely on the ground when sitting on the side of the bed (although my elderly cat had a little trouble jumping onto it). Unless you’re able to lower your bed foundation, someone shorter or with less mobility might find it too tall to comfortably climb in and out of. But its tall loft undoubtedly gives it a 5-star luxury hotel look and feel.

From keeping temperatures regulated to isolating movement across the surface of the mattress, the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid does everything it needs to very well, which I’ll dig into in more detail below.

However, where I feel it falls short is its cover. For a luxury mattress of this caliber and price ($1,999 for a queen after discounts), it feels a little slippery and cheap. That could be due to the (unspecified) "cooling fibers" that are stitched into the surface, but I would have expected something that feels more high-end and durable. Cover and price aside, this is a mattress that elevates your sleep and makes bedtime an opulent experience.

Price

• Usually costs $1,999 for a queen after discounts
• Includes a full year's trial and forever warranty
• The Ultra is the most luxurious mattress in the DreamCloud lineup

If you have a healthy budget to play with and are in the market for a comfortable and luxurious hybrid mattress, the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid is a solid option. It costs £1,999 for a queen after regular DreamCloud mattress sales and comes with a 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty.

DreamCloud sales tend to hold steady throughout the year, so there’s no real need to wait for a major holiday – like the upcoming Memorial Day mattress sales – before buying. However, timing your purchase right could mean bagging up to $599 worth of free bedding, which we last saw during Black Friday 2025.

Here’s how much you can generally expect to pay for the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid:

• Twin: total value $2,407 (usually sold at $1,299)
• Twin XL: total value $2,899 (usually sold at $1,599)
• Full: total value $2,990 (usually sold at $1,599)
• Queen: total value $3,416 (usually sold at $1,999)
• King: total value $4,053 (usually sold at $2,199)
• Cal king: total value $4,053 (usually sold at $2,199)
• Split king: total value $5,798 (usually sold at $3,198)

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It costs considerably more than the mid-range DreamCloud Classic, which we rate as one of the best hybrid mattresses you can buy. The Classic usually costs $699 for a queen, which is unbelievable value for money. However, sitting on the opposite end of their lineup, the Ultra is taller and, according to Dreamcloud, four times cooler than the Classic and packs in more pressure relief (see below to find out if the Ultra manages to live up to these lofty claims).

That said, the Ultra still costs more than other comparable luxury hybrid mattresses with higher specs, like the Saatva Classic, which is the best luxury mattress on the market. The Saatva Classic is handcrafted in the USA, boasts premium (and largely organic) materials and earned an unprecedented perfect score in our Saatva Classic mattress review.

For context, the Classic currently costs $1,779 (was $2,179) for Memorial Day and comes with a 365 night sleep trial and free White Glove Delivery. In addition to superior craftsmanship and benefits, the Saatva Classic comes in $220 cheaper than the Ultra.

The Ultra also comes in higher than the Helix Midnight Luxe, which we rate as the best mattress for side sleepers you can buy. The Helix is another luxury mattress with plenty of sink-in support, thanks to a cloud-like pillow top cover. A queen Helix Midnight Luxe drops to $1,751 for a queen in the Helix mattress sales, down from $2,399.

Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Design

• A sumptuous 15" tall and 6-layer design
• Topped with a 4" memory foam euro top for sink-in support
• Designed to offer 4x the cooling and pressure relief of the Classic

The Ultra Hybrid is, according to DreamCloud, the most indulgent bed in its luxury lineup. Its 15" tall loft packs in six luxurious layers, all designed to provide top tier cooling, pressure relief and support.

Starting from the cover down, the Ultra boasts a plush Euro top, which consists of a sumptuous 4" memory foam layer wrapped in a CloudQuilt+ cover, which is DreamCloud's proprietary cooling fabric. Next, there a Phase Change Material (PCM) layer, which is a specialist textile found in some of the best cooling mattresses on the market.

Below that is yet another memory foam layer, designed to contour to your body while you sleep. Then, another layer of foam with different densities at different point across the surface, which work to gently lift and support the lumbar and provide pressure relief where it's needed — across the shoulders, hips and knees.

These comfort foams are bolstered by a support system of a layer of 8" individually wrapped coils. This layer helps stabilize the mattress, reducing motion transfer across the surface and providing support around the bed's perimeter. This sits on a thin layer of foam for stability and protection.

Comfort: What it's like to sleep on

• The Ultra provides a true body-hugging sink-in sleep feel
• 8" individually wrapped coils hold your body in healthy alignment and prevent too much sink
• Foams can feel restrictive, which makes changing positions hard

From the moment you climb onto its 15" frame, sleeping on the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid mattress feels truly indulgent. The 4" Euro top cover draws you in, providing an unparalleled sink-in sensation. I felt like I was slowly being swallowed by the bed... and I didn't hate it.

Crucially, while sleeping on the Ultra does feel like lying on a squishy cloud, there is still ample support. Those sturdy support layers stop you from sinking too deeply, which means your spine is held in healthy alignment. I'm prone to recurrent back pain and woke up pain-free every morning while sleeping on the Ultra. (It is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, after all).

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I'm not someone who often switches position in my sleep. However, restless and combination sleepers who like to move around in their sleep will likely find those squishy foams restrictive. One member of our testing panel referred to attempting to shift around on the Ultra as "fighting the foam". (If it's a marginally more responsive sleep surface you're after, I recommend the Helix Midnight Luxe.)

Surprisingly, I slept just as well on my back as I did on my side — and so did my back sleeping husband. Yes, it's plush. But it has substance. I suspect it's a mattress you'll either love or hate. For me, I slept soundly all night and woke up pain free — what more could you ask for?

Temperature control: 3.5 out of 5

Whether you're someone prone to night sweats or someone who hails from warmer climes, how well a mattress handles and regulates temperatures is a key area of its performance. After all, waking up hot directly impacts our overall sleep quality.

In terms of specialist cooling tech, the DreamCloud Ultra is topped with the brand's proprietary CloudQuilt+ cover, which is made from unspecified "cooling fibers." Beneath that, there's a layer of Phase Change Material, which is designed to absorb and then release heat. Next, the 8" coils enhance airflow within the bed, helping to increase overall breathability and keep temperatures comfortable.

As well as my real-world experience of sleeping on it, our team conducted a further test in our studio using a thermal imaging camera to track how well the Ultra absorbed and dissipated heat over a 30 minute period. This involved a member of our testing panel lying on the Ultra for the first 15 minutes.

Our thermal imaging camera showed a maximum temperature increase (MTI) of 9.6°F, which is the second highest rate out of all the mattresses we've tested in our studio lab. While a high MTI can indicate hot and stuffy sleep, what really counts as how well the mattress then dissipates that heat.

Our lab scores show a Cooling Rate (CR) of 1.2, which indicates that it sheds heat at a similar capacity to our overall top mattress, the Saatva Classic. It also (marginally) out-performs the DreamCloud Classic at dissipating heat. That shows that the PCM layer is doing its job; it's drawing in heat and then pushing it away.

Overall, we scored the DreamCloud Ultra 3.5 out of 5 for its temperature regulation. That's a good score and indicates a decent level of temperature control. I slept on it for three weeks and didn't wake up hot once, but it's worth pointing out that I'm not a particularly hot sleeper.

For those who are hot sleepers or struggle with night sweats, I would advise on opting for the Bear Elite Hybrid, which, with a score of 5 out of 5 for temperature control, tops our best cooling mattress guide. Like the Ultra, the Bear initially absorbs a significant amount of heat (the most out of any mattresses we've lab tested) before dispersing it across the surface of the mattress, thanks to a Celliant cover.

Pressure relief: 3.5 out of 5

A mattress with ample pressure relief provides cushioning and contouring along the touch points of the bed. That's important for all sleep positions but especially for those who sleep on their side, who are prone to achy shoulders and hips.

After testing it, we awarded the DreamCloud Ultra 3.5 out of 5, which is a decent score. This score was the accumulation of two objective lab tests, as well as subjective scores from our testing panel. To test its pressure relief in our lab, we placed a 25kg weight (which is roughly one third of the weight of the average American) on both the shoulder and hip area of the mattress.

We recorded a sink level of 4.35" and 4.5" respectively, which is in the ideal range of pressure relief. It shows that the Ultra provides a deep, conforming cradle that perfectly captures the shoulders and hips. However, we also recorded a slow recovery time, which is the time it takes for the mattress to return to its original shape. This was particularly apparent at the hip, which took 23 seconds to reset.

This slow recovery time can result in a slightly 'stuck' sleep sensation, making it difficult to shift positions. If you're someone who tends to sleep in the same position all night, you'll likely love the level of contouring support the Ultra provides. But if you're a combination sleeper who likes to move around, you'll appreciate something more responsive like the Saatva Classic, which immediately recovered during our pressure relief weight tests.

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During our human pressure relief tests, which consisted of lying on the mattress on the stomach, back and side for ten minutes stints, we positioned a laser level along the spine in order to track its alignment. It was during these tests that you could really see the level of cradling it provides — the shoulders and hips practically disappeared when side sleeping.

However, this sink appeared to impact the spinal alignment, with our laser level appearing to show the back dip out of alignment with the rest of the body. While healthy spinal alignment is important for keeping back pain at bay, I – a mattress tester with recurrent back pain – found the Ultra incredibly supportive for my spine. I didn't wake up in pain at all during the three week testing period (which is unusual for me).

Reassuringly, the laser level did display healthy spinal alignment when back sleeping. That means that, even though it's on the softer end of a medium for firmness, your back won't dip or sink in this position.

Firmness

With body types and sleep positions directly impacting mattress firmness, it's an incredibly subjective metric that is tricky to pinpoint. DreamCloud gives the Ultra a firmness rating of 5/10 for firmness, which our testing panel agreed with. That places it in the medium-soft category.

That plush rating is largely down to the sumptuous 4" Euro top cover, which provides blissful cushioning that cradles the body. But that doesn't mean that it's unsupportive — its individually wrapped 8" coils and denser foam layers bolster the bed's overall support system, ensuring its excellent support.

Our tester Ruth, a devout stomach sleeper, said she was so comfortable during testing that she could have nodded off. "I felt comfortable in all sleep positions during the testing period but I would primarily recommend this mattress to back or side sleepers," she says.

Although we found it to be comfortable in both side and back sleeping positions, combination sleepers who like to shift positions while they sleep should proceed with caution — our testers all reported that it was difficult to move around on the Ultra, thanks to its unresponsive foams. (If that's you, we'd recommend the Saatva Classic or Helix Midnight Luxe instead, both of which are comfortable for side and back sleeping and are easier to move around on.)

Motion isolation: 3 out of 5

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Motion isolation is a term to describe how well a mattress controls movement across its surface. It's a particularly important feature for anyone who shares a bed. Have you ever been jostled awake when your partner gets in or out of bed — or simply rolls over? That's a hallmark of poor motion isolation. On the flip side, strong motion isolation allows you to sleep peacefully through every toss and turn.

To measure a mattress's level of motion isolation, we conduct one key objective lab test. First, we drop a 5kg slam ball at a point on the mattress where a person would sleep. We then measure both the force and duration of the impact. We do this via an accelerometer app on a smartphone, which is strapped to the opposite side of the bed at a point where a secondary sleeper would be. We repeat this drop test 10 times and take an average.

The DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid had an average initial impact absorption (IIA) of 9.914. That's the highest of any mattress we've ever lab tested. In real life terms, the higher the IIA means the more movement you'll likely feel.

However, the IIA rate only tells half the story. We also measure the decay rate, which is how quickly the mattress is able to minimize any movement. We measured a decay rate of 2.263 seconds for the Ultra, which is an impressive score for a hybrid mattress; hybrids are generally bouncier than memory foam beds (in this area it's beaten only by the Saatva Classic).

This shows that although it struggles to absorb the initial force of movement, the mattress dampens vibrations quickly. It’s still a suitable mattress for most couples, but very light sleepers who are highly sensitive to a partner getting in or out of bed may want to consider a mattress with a more ‘deadened’ feel.

Combining those scores – along with subjective data from our test panel who perform a series of movements on the mattress to gain an idea of how it feels – gives the overall score of 3 out of 5 for motion isolation.

Edge support: 3.5 out of 5

Edge support is a term to describe how sturdy the perimeter of a mattress is. It's an important feature for everyone, but especially co-sleepers who need to sleep right up to the bed's edge or anyone who needs to sit before standing. As the Ultra is 15" tall, the ability to securely plant both feet on the ground, without feeling the bed dip or collapse beneath you, is crucial.

To objectively test edge support, we perform two objective lab tests. For the first, we place a 25kg weight at both the foot and side of the bed. This is where you're likely to sleep right up to or sit before standing.

We recorded a compression measurement of 3.125" at the foot of the bed. That's the lowest compression measurement out of any mattress we've lab tested. (The lower the compression rate, the sturdier the support.) However, there was a little more sink at the side, with a compression measurement of 5.25". But that's still indicative of stable edges.

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We also conducted a roll-off test, where we measure the exact point that a person falls off of the mattress. Our tests showed a roll off distance (ROD) of 1". That indicates that you might feel a bit of sink at the absolute outer perimeter, but it is generally secure and supportive across the whole surface.

Combining those two tests, we gave the Ultra a score of 3.5 out of 5, which indicates a very good level of support. However, if absolute rock solid edges are important to you – for example, you have mobility issues – we recommend the Saatva Classic. Our lead tester described it as having "edges you could park a truck on."

Customer reviews

• No customer reviews on DreamCloud's site
• Average rating of 4.3/5 on Amazon from 315 reviews
• Customers praise its comfort, ease of setup and value for money

Good luck finding DreamCloud Ultra reviews on the actual DreamCloud site. Unlike with other DreamCloud mattresses there's no topline rating on the Ultra's page, and searching the reviews on the DreamCloud site reveals the most recent match for 'Ultra' is from 2023, two years before the Ultra was launched.

To Amazon, then, where you can buy the DreamCloud Ultra for exactly the same price as at DreamCloud, and where there are 315 reviews to look through. 67% of the reviews award the Ultra five stars, while 8% give it a one-star review, totaling up to an average score of 4.3 out of 5.

Amazon customers generally agree that the Ultra is comfortable and that it's particularly suited to side sleepers, and plenty of customers praise the delivery service and ease of setup. Price is also mentioned, with customers believing it to be worth the money.

Some customers report that the DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid helped with back pain, reflecting my own findings, but the Ultra's edge support comes in for some criticism, which doesn't quite tally with what we found in our lab tests.

As you'd expect from a collection of customer reviews, there are also a lot of mixed messages: some say the Ultra is either too soft or too firm, some praise its cooling features while others complain that it sleeps hot, and while there are reviews stating that it sags in the middle, there are others stating that it doesn't sag at all.

DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid mattress review: Should you buy it?

Buy it if...

• ✅ You love a sink-in sleep feel but still want plenty of back support. The DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid hugs your body but it's there for your spine and lumbar region, and it's approved by the American Chiropractic Association.
• ✅ You need sturdy edges on your bed. The DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid delivers good support around the perimeter, especially at the foot of the bed, making it easy to sleep right up the sides and sit comfortably on the edges.
• ✅ You're looking for 5-star levels of luxury. The DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid is a decadently tall, sumptuously soft mattress that feels as luxurious as it looks.

Don't buy it if...

• ❌ You're a combination sleeper. While the DreamCloud Ultra's soft foams make it ultra-comfortable, they make it pretty hard to move around and change position. If that matters to you, try the more responsive Saatva Classic instead.
• ❌ You're a light sleeper. The Ultra deadens movement well, but there's still an initial bounce that could disturb light sleepers who share a bed. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt is an alternative with outstanding motion isolation.
• ❌ You have mobility issues. While the Ultra's edge support is generally good, its 15" height makes this a very tall mattress you may struggle with if you have mobility problems. The cheaper 12" DreamCloud Classic may be a better bet.

DreamCloud Ultra Hybrid mattress review: Alternatives

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