For a full rundown of our mattress testing process (and to discover how much we nerd out on sleep technology), check out our full sleep product testing methodology.
What You Should Look for in a Comfortable Mattress
When choosing a mattress, it’s important to consider what’s comfortable for you. While there’s no golden rule on what to look for, think about pressure relief, back support, temperature regulation, and motion isolation—among other factors.
Pressure Relief
For a mattress to be comfortable, it has to offer some sort of pressure relief. It should have a layer or two of comfort foams and a strong enough support system that helps distribute your weight evenly. Your perception of comfort also depends on your body type, since gravity causes more sinking with more weight. If you weigh more than 250 pounds, you might want to opt for a hybrid mattress, which have coils that can keep you properly supported so your body doesn’t sag, causing spinal misalignment.
Back Support
Proper back support is also crucial, as a misaligned spine can contribute to pain over time and make you really uncomfortable in the short term. If you need extra back support, look for dense foams, coil support systems, and/or zoned support layers. Zoned layers are typically firmer in the middle to keep your hips from sagging and softer near the shoulders to reduce pressure buildup. You may also need a firmer mattress in general depending on your sleep position. Back sleepers should opt for medium-firm to firm mattresses for proper spinal alignment while stomach sleepers need a firm mattress that won’t feel like plopping your face into cement but also prevent neck and shoulder aches. Side sleepers do better with medium or softer models that ease pressure around your limbs.
Temperature Regulation
Unless you’re constantly cold, a hot mattress is the worst. Mattresses without cooling technology can heat up in as little as 10 minutes of lying on them, making for a really uncomfortable sleep. Look for cooling materials like gel-infused foams, ventilated foams, cooling covers, gussets, and springs. Hybrid mattresses tend to sleep cooler than memory foam mattresses, so if you’re a really hot sleeper, a hybrid is probably the right move. Also keep an eye out for cooling upgrades. Some mattress brands give you the option to add cooling layers or cooling covers for an extra cost.
Edge Support
Edge support prevents sagging and helps a mattress maintain its structure, which can make it more comfortable and supportive. It also allows you to spread out onto the entire surface of the mattress (which can be helpful for couples) and makes it easier to get into and out of the bed. If you want better edge support, look for reinforced edges either via sturdier coils around the perimeter or dense foams. Hybrids tend to have better edge support than all-foam mattresses, and firmer mattresses usually have better edge support than soft ones.
Motion Control
If you sleep with a partner (or a dog), motion control will make a big difference in how comfortable you feel during the night and how often you wake up. Foams dampen movement better than springs, so memory foam mattresses excel in this area. If you need more support, opt for a hybrid with motion-isolating layers like individually wrapped coils and softer foams.
Responsiveness
If you’re a combination sleeper or have mobility issues that make it harder for you to adjust your position, look for a bed with a decent amount of responsiveness, or bounce. You may have to give up some motion control—typically beds that are more responsive also transfer more motion—but it could be worth it to you, especially if you sleep alone. Latex and hybrid beds are typically more responsive than memory foam mattresses. Firmer beds also tend to have more bounce than softer ones that you sink into. There’s some trade-off here, but decide what’s most important to you and choose a mattress based on those factors.
Which Mattress Types Are Most Comfortable?
As we mentioned, comfort is subjective, but the mattress types below are generally considered more comfortable than others.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is unique because it contours to your specific body shape, which can help relieve pressure where you need it most. More pressure relief often translates to increased comfort.
