Honorable Mentions
There are a few products we’ve tested that we liked but didn’t love that are still worth mentioning, in case you’re considering them.
The Boring Hybrid Mattress for $799: Boring Mattress is a new company founded by two alums from Tuft & Needle. Simplicity is the company’s selling point. There is just one option: the Boring Hybrid Mattress. (You are allowed to pick a size.) This 10-inch hybrid has four layers of both foam and springs. I’m very sensitive to joint pain, and certain beds tend to make it worse, which is why pressure relief is super important for me. Having slept on a variety of different mattresses throughout the years, I was doubtful that this one would work. But I’ve slept on the hybrid mattress for months now and have yet to feel any pain at all. It strikes an excellent balance between firmness and support that my very particular self hasn’t been able to find with other options on the market. It’s worth noting, however, that its layers come equipped with an open-cell design that’s designed to move heat from your body while sleeping. I’m usually cold, so this feature isn’t that important to me. But on nights when I’ve cranked the heat up in my room and woken up sweating a bit, I can’t say it worked all that well for me. This isn’t a deal breaker, but I wouldn’t buy it solely for that. —Brenda Stolyar
The Airweave Advanced for $4,500: The unique Airweave Advanced (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great pick for anyone who wants something they can easily move and wash and who likes a firm mattress. Designed by a Japanese engineer and inspired by a tangled fishing line, the Airweave is filled with blocks made from a unique ultra-fine woven polyethylene. My king-sized tester came with three slabs of filler to be combined inside the cover, each weighing less than 40 pounds. I am a large-bodied side sleeper and prefer a slightly softer bed, but I slept very well on the Airweave during my week of testing. Note that Airweaves are very spendy, with a queen going for $4,500.
Casper The One for $599: Casper was a leader in the first wave of bed-in-a-box makers in 2014. The company has changed ownership and design a few times over the past decade but last year’s launch of The One finds the company keeping pace with competitors. This is an all-foam mattress that stands 11 inches tall. Because it’s all foam, it’s on the light side, with a queen weighing an easily movable 66 pounds. One of the main issues with all-foam beds is that they get too hot, but Casper’s The One uses an open-cell foam layer called Breathe Flex Foam on the top, which makes it both pleasantly squishy and breathable. Two more layers of foam add up to a medium-firm feel, with the middle layer designed to cradle your hips, and the base layer designed to provide support.
Nolah Evolution 15 for $1,624:: The Nolah Evolution 15 is a big, sturdy, and firm bed that is made with quality materials and that sleeps more like a traditional innerspring mattress than most hybrids. It felt like an overstuffed balloon out of the box and took two full weeks to break in. It has seven layers, including a full inch of high-density foam and a layer of heavy-duty 13.75-gauge pocketed coils.
The Winkbed for $1,499: Reviewer Julian Chokkattu slept on the luxury firm version of the WinkBed for almost two years and he was quite happy in that time. His favorite perk? The edge support is fantastic, so his partner never wakes when he slips into bed late at night. The plush pillowtop also adds a luxe, hotel-like feel to a relatively firm bed.
Nest Bedding Quail for $1,039: When it comes to all-foam mattresses from classic bed-in-a-box brands, I prefer the Casper above but the Quail by Nest is a nice option if you want an all-foam bed that’s a little firmer and you’re willing to pay a little more. My biggest issue with the Nest was that despite its claimed cooling system—the foam is infused with minerals and designed with an airflow layer—I did sleep a little hot on it during my week of testing.
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Photograph: Wired
Helix Sunset Elite for $2,999: Our top pick, Helix, also has an Elite collection that consists of seven mattresses along a spectrum of softness. At 16 inches high, this is “the tallest mattress on the internet,” and comes shipped in two separate boxes, each heavy enough to max out FedEx requirements. The firmness is dictated by the foam density of the upper layer, which zips into a larger support system. This makes the mattress adjustable if you end up regretting your order. The bottom section has two separate layers of microcoils. I spent a month sleeping on the softest model from the Elite line, dubbed the Sunset, and appreciated the deep cradling effect. Helix offers a 100-day trial period on all of its mattresses.
Linenspa 10-Inch Hybrid Mattress for $300: You will spend a third of your life on your mattress and if you have more than $300 to spend, you should. If you don’t—or if you need a cheap temporary bed for some reason—the 10-inch Linenspa is about as cheap as hybrids get and was perfectly serviceable in my weeks of testing. You may notice some minor manufacturing flaws in this bed, which is made in Macedonia. If you dig into the 100,000-plus Amazon reviews you’ll also see some complaints about its durability.
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Wayfair Sleep 14-Inch Plush Cooling Gel Hybrid Mattress for $405: This plush mattress has a top layer of cooling gel that conforms to your body for comfort and has classic pocket coils below for structure and support, with layers of memory foams with varying thickness surrounding the coils for extra support (the coils and memory foam mixture helps with low motion transfer, too). The top knit cover and sides help with breathability and the overall cooling effect. The mattress is also compatible with an adjustable bed base, has solid edge support, is CertiPUR-US and Oeko-Tex Certified (ensuring no harmful toxins), and has a 10-year warranty. This bed is super comfy if you like a more plush mattress.
Mattresses to Avoid
There are some models you should avoid. Many of these beds are extremely affordable, and if you aren’t picky, they may feel fine. In other cases, the mattress is decent but the price is not.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt for $2,199: Tempur-Pedic is one of the country’s best-known and loved mattress brands, but two separate WIRED reviewers (Martin Cizmar and Nena Farrell) have both disliked different mattresses from the company over the past two years. Nena found the Tempur-Adapt totally lacking in support, and felt like she was sinking into a void when she laid on it. Her spine and muscles both ached after sleeping on it so she gave it to her sister who also hated it, describing it as like sleeping on a leaky air mattress,
Magniflex Magnistretch 12 for $3,079: This mattress is Italian-made and advertises itself as stretching the spine. It’s endorsed by retired Italian soccer player Giorgio Chiellini and current pro basketballer Stefano Tonut, who plays for the Italian equivalent of the Boston Celtics. Well, the Magniflex definitely does something to the spine, though I found it very unwelcome. (It’s worth noting that I am not the same Martin Cizmar who played a little pro soccer in Slovakia.) I lasted only two nights on the Magnistretch before crying uncle and limping over to my next tester. The morning-after sensation was as if I’d slept on a hammock made of chainlink fence, and my lower back was left feeling weak and creaky—very possibly it was stretched, and if so, it turns out I don’t like having my back stretched.
Sleep Number Climate360 Smart Bed for $7,999: This bed (5/10, WIRED Review) can be temperature-controlled, which is amazing. The adjustable base means you can be comfortable when watching TV, reading, or sleeping. Unfortunately, the price tag has too many digits, and sleep experts recommend avoiding electronic usage before bed—advice the Sleep IQ app defies. Did we mention it costs as much as a used Buick and the weight is not far behind?
Amazon Basics mattress for $408: This one is made of cheap foam that isn’t dense enough, causing too much sinkage.
Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress for $2,400: This mattress just doesn’t live up to its extravagant price. The model we tested didn’t have enough proper padding above its coils.
How Firm or Soft Should Your Mattress Be?
The biggest decision in every mattress purchase is how firm to go. Generally, heavier people and back sleepers or stomach sleepers will do better with firmer beds, while lighter people and side sleepers enjoy softer. Temperature is also an issue: Softer mattresses sleep warmer since your body is sinking into a layer of fabric and foam. Keep in mind that all mattresses have a break-in period, and the way the mattress feels on your first night won’t be how it feels after a week or two. It’s also worth considering that if you buy a firmer mattress and want to soften it up, a mattress topper is a great option—we’ve got a full guide to the best—but it’s much harder to make a soft mattress firmer.
What Size Mattress Should You Buy?
The prices in our guide are based on the queen size, which is the most popular size in the US. But everything we’ve included comes in various standard sizes, usually standard twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king. You’ll want to buy based on the size of your bed frame.
Can You Set Up a Bed-in-a-Box by Yourself?
Take it from someone who has dealt with dozens over the past year: Bed-in-a-box mattresses delivered by FedEx are relatively easy to deal with. Most of these mattresses are delivered vacuum-sealed and rolled up. Some are pretty heavy—up to 150 pounds—and if you’re ordering one of those, be sure someone is there to help you. After you unroll your bed-in-a-box mattress and cut the vacuum bag open, it’ll immediately begin to inflate, so unbox it on your bed frame or near it. We have a helpful guide on how to set up the mattress you bought online with more tips. The mattresses are usually ready to go in a few hours, but most manufacturers recommend giving them two days to reach their normal state.
What if You Don’t Like the Mattress You Bought Online?
Most of the picks we’ve tested and recommend have at least a 100-night testing period and a 10-year warranty. Before you buy, be sure to look at the company’s policy as you may be on the hook for a nominal return fee. Set yourself a reminder a few days before the return deadline to make a final assessment.
Should You Buy a Hybrid or an All-Foam?
Old school mattresses were made of springs with thin layers of foam and cloth and usually sat on a box spring. Bed-in-a-box mattresses, on the other hand, are either foam or hybrids that layer foam with built-in springs. (I have never tested one that required a box spring.) We tend to recommend hybrids because they are more stable and supportive, and they usually stay cooler because the springs leave room for airflow. Hybrids are often slightly pricier. Foam mattresses tend to be softer, lighter, and cheaper.
Are Online Mattresses Safe?
