Tom's Guide Verdict
The CopperFlex Essential is Brooklyn Bedding's most affordable adult mattress, with a 10" model regularly priced under $600 for a queen. I found its pressure relief excellent for side sleeping, with no pressure whatsoever mounting in my shoulders and hips. Stomach sleepers will need something firmer for more back support, and hot sleepers should look elsewhere for effective cooling. However, couples will detect minimal motion transfer from a restless co-sleeper, and strong edges mean you'll sleep securely. Sure, there are much cheaper mattresses out there that offer better value for money, but the CopperFlex Essential is still worth considering if you're a side sleeper looking for a super-comfortable mid-market bed.
Reasons to buy
- +
Ideal for side sleepers
- +
Supportive right to the edges
- +
Dampens partner's movements
Reasons to avoid
- -
Can retain body heat
- -
Too soft for stomach sleepers
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Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review results
CopperFlex Essential Overall Score: 3.6
| Product | Pressure relief (Score) | Temperature control (Score) | Motion isolation (Score) | Edge support (Score) | Value for money (Score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CopperFlex Essential | 3.76 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.2 |
We conduct seven robust tests in our lab to capture objective data on the four areas of a mattress that most affect your sleep comfort: pressure relief, temperature regulation, motion isolation and edge support. We also sleep on a mattress for at least three weeks before subjectively rating it. This data is fed into a scoring system, along with feedback captured by our testing panel, to create an overall score. Read our full mattress methodology.
When Brooklyn Bedding's most affordable mattress, the Dreamfoam Essential, was discontinued, it was swiftly replaced by the CopperFlex Essential Mattress. While both models sport a navy-and-grey appearance, come in multiple height options, and are marketed as entry-level, affordable beds, there is one key difference: the addition of copper-infused gel.
With the addition of copper-infused memory foam, the CopperFlex Essential dovetails into Brooklyn Bedding's CopperFlex collection, a cooling line-up of beds that includes the CopperFlex Pro Hybrid Mattress (which rivals some of the year's best mattresses thanks to its luxurious comfort). The CopperFlex Essential is also a mid-range bed, but at the lower end of the spectrum, usually sold for under $600 in a queen.
But while the CopperFlex Essential, like the Dreamfoam, is billed as a budget-friendly, no-frills alternative to the brand's more premium beds, its price still isn't low enough to fit into the budget tier.
So, when compared with the best cheap mattresses out there, including the Siena Signature Mattress and the SweetNight CoolNest Mattress, does the CopperFlex Essential offer good value for money? And does its addition of cooling copper gel mean it's the right fit for hot sleepers?
To find out, we vigorously tested a full-sized 10" CopperFlex Essential Mattress in our sleep lab and slept on it at home for three weeks. Here are our honest thoughts...
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review 2026: Price
- A queen typically costs $524.25 thanks to a regular 25% discount
- Shipping is free, but there is a $99 returns fee
- Comes with a lifetime warranty and a 365-night sleep trial
It's easy to tell when you're getting a good deal at Brooklyn Bedding, as the Brooklyn Bedding mattress sales are split into two discounts: a regular 25% discount and a holiday-related 30% off sale. If you see a 25% discount on the CopperFlex Essential, then you're looking at the standard price (it's never sold at MSRP).
If there's a 30% off sale, however, then that means you're getting a fantastic discount. This 30% discount typically coincides with the biggest holidays and sale events, including the Black Friday mattress sales, the Cyber Monday mattress sales, and the Presidents' Day mattress sales. This is brand's biggest price drop, and the only time it's ever been topped was a 32% discount during the Labor Day mattress sales in fall 2025.
So, how much is the CopperFlex Essential when these discounts are applied? The price of the CopperFlex Essential varies depending on the height you choose. For the 10" model (which is the model I tested for this review), a queen size is $699 at MSRP and $524.25 with the regular 25% off deal. During 30% off sale, a queen-sized 10" CopperFlex Essential drops down to $489.30.
We define a "budget" or "cheap" mattress as one that's regularly under $400 in a queen, which means that the CopperFlex Essential isn't in the budget price tier (despite being marketed as a budget-friendly option). Instead, it sits in the lower mid-range price tier, along with mattresses such as the Nectar Classic and Bear Original.
The CopperFlex Essential is also a cheaper alternative to mattresses found at the more expensive end of the mid-range tier, such as the Nectar Premier and the Leesa Original (both typically $999 for a queen).
That said, there are plenty of mattresses out there with a similar, if not better, construction. The top-rated 10" Siena Signature Memory Foam Mattress, now $329 in a queen at Siena Sleep is a prime example, as is the cooling 12" CoolNest Memory Foam Mattress, which is regularly $399.99 in a queen at SweetNight.
However, one department where the CopperFlex Essential stands out is its generous benefits, including a free shipping, a 365-night sleep trial, and a lifetime warranty. The only downside is that returns come with a fee of $99.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review 2026: Design
- Comes in 5 heights; the thickest models feature 4 layers
- The 10" model features 3 layers, all made from foam
- All models have a stain-resistant cover and a copper-infused foam layer
The design of the CopperFlex Essential varies (but not hugely) depending on the height option you choose, with the shortest height (6") containing only two layers with the thicker models (12" and 14") contain four layers.
While the 6" and 8" models are the cheapest, they are not thick enough for most adult sleepers and should only be used as a temporary bed (such as for guests, RVs, and growing children). That's why I opted to test the 10" model, as mattress thickness should be at least 10" to support most adults and sleep styles.
However, all height options have a fiberglass-free all-foam build that features a "Nano Stain Terminator Protector" cover (which safeguards against stains and spills) and a top layer of memory foam infused with antimicrobial copper.
The 10" model I tested features a 1" comfort layer of copper-infused memory foam on top and a durable 5" base layer for stabilizing support at the bottom. In between the comfort and base layer, a 4" transition layer acts as a buffer between the softer and firmer materials for balanced support.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review 2026: Sleep comfort
For full context, I'm a side and back sleeper weighing under 130lbs, so I need a mattress that's supportive but has enough softness to soothe my side-sleeper pressure points (namely, my hips and shoulders).
The CopperFlex Essential is not the first all-foam mattress I've tested, as I've also written full reviews for the EGOHOME Black 12" Memory Foam Mattress and the SweetNight CoolNest Memory Foam Mattress. Both impressed me with their body-contouring comfort and support, but the former did trap some body heat (which is far from atypical for all-foam beds).
So, on the one hand, I was looking forward to testing a memory foam bed, as I know they can make the best mattresses for side sleepers, but I also didn't want to put up with any heat build-up (the testing period coincided with an unseasonably warm fall).
While the CopperFlex Essential didn't deliver the cooling prowess of the SweetNight CoolNest or the universal support of the EGOHOME Black, it still kept this side sleeper comfortable.
Let's see why I recommend the CopperFlex Essential to side sleepers and how it scored in other areas...
Temperature control: 3.5 out of 5
Temperature regulation refers to how well a mattress maintains a comfortable sleep temperature and prevents body heat retention. It's a key testing area, as a mattress that doesn't regulate temperature well can lead to night sweats and 3 a.m. wake ups.
While the best cooling mattresses feature top-of-line cooling tech to regulate temperature, most conventional mattresses today feature some degree of thermal regulation.
The CopperFlex Essential is definitely not a dedicated cooling model (and it isn't marketed as one), and the only form of temperature regulation it has is the addition of heat-dispersing copper. That being said, the Siena Signature features very little cooling materials (just a breathable cover) and it performed incredibly well in our temperature tests.
To test how well the CopperFlex Essential regulates temperature, we used a thermal imaging camera to measure how much of my body heat the mattress absorbs and dissipates. To do this I laid on the CopperFlex mattress for 15 minutes while the temperature of the bed was recorded every minute using a thermal imaging camera.
At its hottest point, we observed a maximum temperature increase (MTI) of 11.1°F — that means it was over 11.1°F warmer than before I laid down on the mattress. We generally rate an MTI over 9°F as "poor" and a 1 out of 5. This result was unsurprising, as the CopperFlex Essential isn't a cooling mattress.
That said, the all-foam Siena Signature had an MTI of 9.8°F, despite possessing no specialist cooling materials. Meanwhile, the mid-range all-foam Nectar Premier had an MTI of 8.1 9°F.
I also know from testing the SweetNight CoolNest (which is a dedicated cooling model) that MTI isn't always the best indicator of cooling ability. Despite being a cooling mattress, the CoolNest actually had a much higher MTI of 15.2°F, but redeemed itself through an ultra-fast cooling rate (CR)
The CR refers to how well a mattress dissipates heat during the first five minutes after the MTI. In the CopperFlex's case, the bed shed my body heat at a rate of 1.32°F per minute, a rapid cooling rate considered to "best in class".
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress: Temperature Regulation tests
The lower the maximum temperature increase (MTI) and the faster the cooling rate, the cooler you'll sleep.
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| CopperFlex Essential | 11.1 |
| SweetNight CoolNest | 15.2 |
| Nectar Premier | 8.1 |
| Siena Signature | 9.8 |
| Leesa Original | 11.3 |
It wasn't the fastest cooling rate displayed by a memory foam mattress (that distinction goes to the SweetNight CoolNest and the Siena Signature, which had a rapid cooling rate of 1.52°F per minute), but it's still relatively fast when you consider that the Nectar Premier dissipated heat at 0.9°F per minute.
15 minutes after I left the mattress, the CopperFlex Essential still hadn't returned to its baseline temperature. However, I should point out that none of its all-foam rivals did either.
In fact, when comparing the way the CopperFlex regulates heat versus its rivals, I was struck by how similarly it performed to the Leesa Original Mattress (usually between $999 and $1,100 for a queen). Both had an MTI of just over 11°F and had an identical rapid cooling rate 1.32°F per minute, which was surprising as Leesa refers to the Original as a "cooling memory foam mattress".
Based on the thermal imaging camera tests alone, we awarded the CopperFlex Essential an objective temperature control score of 3.8 out of 5.
How the CopperFlex Essential Mattress regulates heat versus its rivals
How effectively the CopperFlex Essential absorbed, managed and dissipated heat compared to its closest rivals
| Timestamp (minutes) | CopperFlex Essential (°F) | Nectar Premier (°F) | SweetNight CoolNest (°F) | Siena Memory Foam (°F) | Leesa Original (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 9.6 | 8 | 11.6 | 8.1 | 10.6 |
| 2 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 10 | 8 | 9.8 |
| 3 | 7.9 | 6.76 | 12.6 | 8.6 | 9.9 |
| 4 | 8.8 | 5.6 | 14.5 | 8.4 | 10.1 |
| 5 | 9.1 | 5.7 | 12.1 | 8.1 | 11.1 |
| 6 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 13.2 | 8.6 | 9.3 |
| 7 | 8.4 | 5 | 14 | 9.2 | 11.3 |
| 8 | 9.1 | 6.2 | 12.2 | 8 | 10.8 |
| 9 | 9.9 | 7.4 | 14.1 | 8.4 | 9.5 |
| 10 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 15.2 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| 11 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 15.1 | 8.3 | 10.7 |
| 12 | 10.6 | 5.9 | 13.9 | 8.2 | 11.3 |
| 13 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 14.6 | 9 | 10.5 |
| 14 | 10.1 | 6.3 | 14.2 | 9 | 8.9 |
| 15 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 13.1 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| 16 | 5.6 | 3.9 | 10.6 | 3.6 | 5.7 |
| 17 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 6.1 | 3.4 | 4.7 |
| 18 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 3.1 | 4.2 |
| 19 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 5 | 2.2 | 4.2 |
| 20 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 3.7 |
| 21 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| 22 | 4.4 | 2 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 2.8 |
| 23 | 4 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 2.9 |
| 24 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 | 1.4 |
| 25 | 4.5 | 2.4 | 3 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
| 26 | 4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| 27 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| 28 | 3.3 | 1 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 29 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| 30 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
In addition to the objective thermal imaging camera tests, we also conduct subjective tests to see how I (and the wider testing panel) perceive the mattress's sleep temperature.
Our subjective feedback was slightly lower than the objective results, with our testing panel awarding a score of 3 out of 5. This score means the mattress offers generally good thermal comfort, but felt mostly neutral with some heat build-up.
I slept on the CopperFlex Essential for three weeks during an unseasonably warm fall in a bedroom with no AC, and while I wouldn't say I overheated or experienced night sweats, I did feel some patches of heat build-up every now and again. I never experienced this while testing the SweetNight CoolNest during the sweltering summer months.
Pressure relief: 3.76 out of 5
When you're sleeping on a mattress, certain body parts will come into contact with its surface, creating pressure. These body parts are known as pressure points (for example, pressure points when side sleeping include the hips and shoulders), and the way a mattress cushions and supports these pressure points is known as pressure relief.
While each height option comes with a different feel — mattress thickness as a big impact on firmness — Brooklyn Bedding recommends the 10" version I tested to combination back, side, and stomach sleepers.
During our subjective tests, my fellow testers and I agreed that the CopperFlex suits side sleeping the most, as it cushions the hips and shoulders. We also think it could suit some back sleepers, too, even if it doesn't offer the best lumbar support.
I felt I was the ideal candidate to test the mattress, as I'm a combo side and back sleeper. From the first night, I felt ample cushioning when sleeping on my side, especially in the shoulder region. In fact, I found the CopperFlex to be one of the softest mattresses I've ever tested — and I've tested the ultra-plush Helix Sunset Luxe.
Do I think it's one of the best mattresses for back sleepers? No, but I still felt supported when sleeping on my back, and I didn't wake up with lower back pain. Overall, if you're a side sleeper, or predominantly a side sleeper who also sleeps on your back from time to time, then I recommend the CopperFlex Essential.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress: pressure relief test results
The deeper the indentation and faster the response time, the better the ability of a mattress to relieve pressure
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| CopperFlex Essential | 3.75 |
| SweetNight CoolNest | 4 |
| Nectar Premier | 4.25 |
| Siena Signature | 3.25 |
| Leesa Original | 4.125 |
A mentioned above, Brooklyn Bedding also recommends the CopperFlex Essential to stomach sleepers. For stomach-sleeping tester Ruth Jones, the CopperFlex Essential did cause some lower back strain when lying on her front, and she warned that back sleepers could feel some lower back pressure.
"When back sleeping, I could feel strain on my core," Jones told me.
However, she agreed that its gentle contouring makes the CopperFlex Essential a top pick for side sleepers.
"Side sleeping was far and away the most comfortable position to lie in," she said. "I wasn’t expecting this as the mattress didn’t initially appear to have much contouring but it was soft at the shoulders and hips which meant no pressure build up."
Thanks to its comfort for side sleepers, we awarded the CopperFlex a subjective pressure relief score of 4 out of 5 ("Very Good").
We also performed objective pressure relief tests using a 25kg weight. We placed the weight at the hip and shoulder areas of the mattress, and then measured how deep the weight sank and how quickly the mattress bounced back when the weight was removed.
The CopperFlex had an average Indentation Depth (ID) of 3.6" and Recovery Time (RT), of 2.25 seconds, achieving an objective pressure relief score of 3.4 out of 5, which is a "Good" objective final rating. The weight test results indicate that the CopperFlex is a responsive bed (I agree, as I found it easy to move around on) but I was surprised that the weights didn't sink further on what I perceive as a cushioning bed.
Even more surprising is that Siena Memory Foam had a higher ID of 3.63", despite being a firm bed that is recommended to anyone but side sleepers. The CopperFlex's RT, on the other hand, was one of the quickest. A quick RT is especially important in a memory foam mattress, as they can be notorious for their "quicksand" sinkage.
Combining subjective and objective feedback, we awarded the CopperFlex Essential's pressure relief a score of 3.76 out of 5, indicating a "Strong Performance".
Firmness
We rate a mattress's firmness on a standardized scale of one to 10, with 10 being the firmest and 1 being the softest. We don't use any objective tests to measure firmness, as this key area is highly subjective and is dependent on body weight, sleep position, and personal preference.
To get a good idea of the CopperFlex's firmness level, I asked each member of our diverse testing panel to rank the firmness of the CoolNest on a scale of one to 10. I then created a collective rating based on everyone's feedback.
The Brooklyn Bedding calls the firmness of the CopperFlex Essential "medium-firm", which indicates a score of 6-7 out of 10 on the standardized scale. As a team, we mostly agreed with the brand's rating, and awarded the CopperFlex Essential a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Motion isolation: 3.5 out of 5
Motion isolation refers to a mattress's ability to prevent a co-sleeper's movements from traveling to your side of the bed and waking you up. Its especially important for couples, co-sleeping families, and anyone who shares a bed with their pets.
Memory foam mattresses tend to be better at absorbing motion than other mattress types, such as innerspring and hybrid mattresses, as they contain dense, slow-moving foams and no springs or coils.
To see how well the CopperFlex Essential isolates motion, we conducted an objective slam ball test and a subjective co-sleeper test.
In our subjective tests, my fellow testers and I evaluated the impact of each other's movements by manually performing motions classed as low, moderate and high force to replicate real-life co-sleeping scenarios.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress: motion isolation test results
The faster the decay rate, the better the mattress is at reducing motion transfer (which means you'll be disturbed less by a restless co-sleeper)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| CopperFlex Essential | 14.569 |
| SweetNight CoolNest | 17.162 |
| Nectar Premier | 7.961 |
| Siena Signature | 5.527 |
| Leesa Original | 17.856 |
During the subjective tests, I felt the high-force movements of my fellow tester, but I would not say the high-force movements were as disruptive as they've been on other mattresses I’ve tested.
My fellow testers were also impressed with the perceived motion isolation, with one panelist saying they could hardly feel the low-force movements. "There was some small motion transfer when the tester moved but I would have slept right through it and it wouldn’t have bothered me as I was falling asleep," they said.
Overall, the CopperFlex Essential earned a subjective score of 3.75 out of 5 for motion isolation.
For for our objective lab-based tests, we dropped a 5kg slam ball on one side of the CopperFlex Essential and measured its impact absorption via an accelerometer on the other. The initial impact average (IIA) was 14.569, which is relatively high when compared to Siena's IIA of 5.527 m/s2 and the Nectar Premier's IIA of 7.961.
However, the CopperFlex Essential redeemed itself with a short decay rate (MDS). So, while the IIA was sizeable, its motion transfer only lasted for 1.72 seconds on average. While not as quick as the Leesa Original's 1.116 second MDS, it still shows that the CopperFlex is adept at deadening the slam ball's motion.
Overall, we rate the CopperFlex's motion isolation as "Strong", with an overall motion isolation score of 3.5. This means that, while you'll feel more moderate and high-force movements, they won't last long enough to cause too much disruption.
Edge support: 4 out of 5
Edge support refers to how sturdy the edges of your mattress are, with strong edge support indicating that the sides and foot of the bed will make you feel supported when sitting, sleeping, or getting in and out of bed.
To test the CopperFlex's edge support, we placed a 25kg weight 3" away from the edge of the mattress and measured how far it sank.
After five minutes, the average indentation of the weight was 5.25", which we rate as "strong." The sinkage at the foot of the bed was a little deeper than at the sides of the bed, but we should point out that the edge support at the foot of the bed will only affect sitting rather than sleeping.
To measure the available sleep space, we also performed a roll-off test. For this, our reviewer lies near the edge of the bed and another tester records how close they get to the edge before they feel unstable and are going to roll off. The CopperFlex Essential has a roll-off distance (ROD) of 0.5", a measurement which gets a score of 5 out of 5 as it indicates that most of the mattress can be used for sleeping.
Combing the weight and roll-off test scores, the overall edge support score of the CopperFlex Essential is 4 out of 5, which we rate as "Very Good".
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress: edge support test results
Less compression means better support for sleeping close to the edge or climbing in and out of bed
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| CopperFlex Essential | 5 |
| SweetNight CoolNest | 4.625 |
| Nectar Premier | 4.625 |
| Siena Signature | 3.06 |
| Leesa Original | 3.75 |
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review 2026: User reviews
- Rated 4.6/5 stars from over 800 Brooklyn Bedding customers
- The brand has an "Excellent" rating on TrustPilot
- Users praise its comfort and resoanble price
On the brand's website, the CopperFlex Essential has an overall user score of 4.6 out of 5 from over 800 reviews, which is a pretty glowing score.
Five-star reviews praise how comfortable the mattress is, which many customers buying it for their RVs (it's one of the rare mattress that come in a range of RV sizes). As for negative reviews (which are in the minority) customers criticize the mattress for not being as firm as they expected.
In terms of Brooklyn Bedding's trustworthiness, you can look on review platform TrustPilot website for customer feedback. At the time of writing, the brand has an overall "Excellent" rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from a total of 210 reviews.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review 2026: Should you buy it?
Let me start by saying that there are cheaper memory foam mattress out there that offer better value for money than the CopperFlex Essential. That being said, I would definitely recommend this body-contouring mattress to a certain group: side sleepers.
The CopperFlex Essential's pressure relief, is a standout feature that makes this all-foam bed a top pick for anyone who sleeps on their side.
I tend to perceive mattresses as being firmer than my fellow testers do, and I often require good mattress break-in period to feel comfortable. However, I felt well-cushioned from night one on the CopperFlex Essential, and felt zero pressure build up in my shoulders.
Edge support is good, too, and I always felt secure even when sleeping close to the edge. For couples, motion transfer from a restless partner shouldn't be an issue, and the sleep temperature should remain neutral enough for the average person.
That said, hot sleepers will need to look at a model with more cooling ability, such as the SweetNight CoolNest or the Siena Siena Signature, which are both cheaper than the lower mid-range CopperFlex Essential. I wouldn't recommend this soft mattress to stomach sleepers wither, as the lack of firmness won't keep their hips and lower back supported.
However, I do think this is a mid-range mattress worth considering if you're a side sleeper looking for a mid-market bed for your home, guest room, or even your RV.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Essential Mattress review 2026: Alternatives to consider
Like the CopperFlex Essential, the EGOHOME Black 12" Memory Foam Mattress is a conventional all-foam bed designed for medium-firm comfort. However, I found it to be much more supportive than the CopperFlex Essential, and I slept comfortably on it in all sleep positions. Plus, it's always under $400 for a queen.
If you're looking for an affordable memory foam bed, but the CoolNest seems a little too soft for your sleep position, check out the Siena Memory Foam Mattress as a firmer (and cheaper) alternative. It also regulates temperature surprisingly well, but side sleepers will find it way too hard.
If you want something that sleeps cooler than the CopperFlex, check out this cooling model from SweetNight. The SweetNight CoolNest is one of those rare budget mattresses (always under $400 for a queen) equipped with specialist cooling tech.
