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Do you fall asleep in one position and wake up throughout the night or the next morning in a different position? If you do, it probably means you’re a combination sleeper who switches between at least two positions throughout the night. You might even favor one position in particular but shift into other positions for short periods of time while sleeping. Either way, it’s important to choose the best mattress to accommodate your movement and all the sleep positions you use.
“Different sleeping positions require different amounts of stability, and combination sleepers may have a harder time finding a mattress that’s comfortable and accommodating,” said Matthew Cavanaugh, DC, a chiropractor at Cavanaugh Chiropractic in Lafayette, Louisiana. He added that another reason it’s hard to find the right mattress is because combination sleepers have to “find the right mix of plush and firmness.”
Choosing the right mattress for your sleep preferences is just one way you can improve the quality of your sleep. We curated this list of the best mattresses for combination sleepers to help you find the right choice to support your preferred sleep position.
We found several important factors when testing mattresses specifically for combination sleepers, including the following.
Combination sleepers will need a mattress that responds well to movement and has good bounce so they can change positions without too much effort.
It’s important for combination sleepers to find a mattress designed to relieve pressure when their body and joints are pressed against the surface material. This is especially important for combination sleepers who may sleep on their side.
Combination sleepers will want a mattress that supports a neutral spine in every position they choose.
A mattress trial with the industry-standard 100 nights or more provides three full months to test it out and return if it isn’t a good fit.
We tested the model’s luxury firm option and gave it a seven out of 10 for firmness, which our tests consider to be a firm mattress. This firmness, combined with the zoned support coils, should make it a great choice for combination sleepers who sleep mostly on their sides and backs. Overall, we gave the Saatva Classic a five out of five for support and four out of five for pressure relief.
A mattress for combination sleepers must provide good bounce to help sleepers push off and transfer weight to a new position. We gave the Saatva Classic a four out of five score for bounce. But like many mattresses that use innersprings, the Saatva Classic doesn’t excel at motion isolation ⓘ The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side (we gave it a two out of five). The bounce this mattress gives may disturb a partner who sleeps on the opposite side of the mattress.
We love that the Saatva Classic has reinforced coils around the perimeter, which helped it earn an edge support score of five out of five. Edge support is important for anyone who moves a lot or rolls around while sleeping because it can help prevent them from falling over the edge of the mattress.
If stomach sleeping is the position you use most often, you might consider choosing the firm option since the extra support could help prevent your back from becoming misaligned while sleeping. Or, if you sleep primarily on your side, consider the plush soft option since it will likely provide more pressure relief on the shoulders and hips.
Saatva offers free white-glove delivery, which includes setting up your new mattress and removing your old one. This service is a big plus for those who don’t want to/cannot haul a heavy mattress. Since Saatva doesn’t compress or box its mattresses, the Saatva Classic will arrive ready to use the same day without the need to be aired out.
“I think this mattress is really responsive to movement, which makes it easy for me to switch positions.”
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Who may want to avoid it
The Saatva Classic mattress has 4.8 stars out of five on the brand’s website, with more than 3,488 reviews. Many reviewers noted how comfortable this mattress is and how much support it offers. Others shared the delivery process was slow.
“What can I say that has not already been said? This mattress/foundation is amazing; I have never had a mattress this comfortable in my life. If you like high, go for the thicker mattress and foundation; it’s like sleeping on air. Luxury Firm is amazing … just the right comfort for sleeping on the back, side, or stomach. Can’t say enough about the delivery process either; they send multiple text messages to you within 20 minutes of arrival, remove your old mattress if desired, and replace it with the Satvaa in 10 minutes. Would buy again and again.”
— JPJM, verified buyer on 8/9/2023
“I toss and turn all night, keeping my wife awake, so we decided to give a split king a try. Paired with a Knickerbocker EmBrace bed frame and 4.75″ foundation, there is essentially zero motion transfer. We have separate sheets and comforters to eliminate pulling of covers, etc., with no real issues with a gap in the center being too noticeable. We have 2″ memory foam toppers and pillow top mattress pads on each mattress, which is probably overkill, but we like a soft bed as we are both side sleepers; the comfort is perfect. I can now toss and turn all I want and never disturb my wife. Saatva customer service is fantastic. I asked many questions and actually modified my order a few times with no issues at all. Well done Saatva!”
— ML, verified buyer on 1/03/2023
The Saatva Classic has a score of 4.4 out of five on Google with 4,328 reviews. Many reviewers praise the excellent customer service, while some complain about the firmness of the mattress not being as advertised.
Read more in our Saatva mattress review.
The Helix Midnight Luxe has a plush pillow top for cradling, medium-feel memory foam layers to contour the body, and a pocket coil core with varying levels of pressure to support the lower back and offer relief to shoulders and hips. This construction is why we chose the Midnight Luxe as the best mattress for back pain in the combination sleeper category.
A medium-feel mattress is anywhere between five and 6.5 out of 10, and our testers gave this mattress a 5.5 out of 10 score for firmness. If you’re a combination sleeper who has back pain and you tend to sleep a lot of the night on your side, this mattress may be a good choice. That’s because softer mattresses tend to cause less pressure on the shoulder and hip areas when sleeping on your side. But good support is also critical, which this mattress has, earning a four out of five in overall support.
The zoned coil support provides targeted pressure relief in traditionally high-pressure areas, like the lower back, shoulders, and hips. This can reduce back pain throughout the night and help keep your spine aligned. Our testers gave this mattress 4.75 out of five for pressure relief.
When your Helix mattress is delivered, it will be compressed and rolled inside a box. It will need roughly 30–45 minutes to reach its full height after unpacking. You can visit this page for detailed instructions on unboxing and setting up your mattress. Just select your mattress from the list. Helix has partnered with LoadUp to offer in-home setup and mattress removal. You can choose just one or both options during checkout. Availability and cost of service vary based on your location.
“This mattress has a very soft pillow top and a responsive surface underneath. I thought this was great for stomach sleeping due to the responsive surface below the pillow top. The pillow top also offers a great amount of pressure relief for back and side sleepers.”
Who may love it
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The Helix Midnight Luxe mattress has 4.4 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 6,268 reviews. Many reviewers noted sleeping through the night and feeling refreshed upon waking. Others complained about the off-gassing smell once unboxed.
“Instantly started getting better, deeper, and longer sleep.”
— Robin W., verified buyer on 8/04/2024
“Best decision ever!! We went back and forth and researched a lot since this was our first king bed together and wanted it to suit both of our needs, and it exceeds. We have never felt better (M40 / F40). Both of us are very active and had very different mattress styles before, but we both love our Helix Midnight Luxe.”
— Kylie R., verified buyer on 7/27/2024
“I wish I would’ve invested in a quality mattress sooner. My sleep has improved so much and I finally feel rested when I wake up. Before I just couldn’t get comfortable, tossing and turning, I fall asleep so fast now.”
— Tony V., verified buyer on 5/31/2024
For more information, see our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review.
The WinkBed is a hybrid mattress made from foam and pocketed coils. It comes in four different firmness options: soft, luxury firm, firm, and plus. Our experts tested the luxury firm version of this mattress rating it a 6.5 out of 10 for firmness.
While bounce is important to help combination sleepers change positions easily throughout the night, it usually comes at the cost of a mattress’s motion isolation. Good motion isolation is ideal for combination sleepers who want to change positions throughout the night but don’t want to disturb their partner. It’s difficult to construct a mattress that has bounce while isolating that bounce to one area of the bed. We think The WinkBed was the best at balancing motion isolation and bounce out of all the models we tested. We scored it 3.5 out of five for bounce and four out of five for motion isolation, giving sleepers the best of both worlds.
The WinkBed also incorporates moisture- and heat-wicking material and design elements to help keep sleepers cool. This is a great feature for couples who tend to get hot while sleeping. Our testers gave the WinkBed 4.5 out of five for cooling.
The WinkBed mattress will arrive compressed in a box. After unpacking, you’ll need to let it off-gas before you can sleep on it. Currently, WinkBeds doesn’t offer white-glove delivery or removal of your old mattress.
For more of our recommendations for hot sleepers, see our Reviews Team’s picks for the best cooling mattresses.
“It’s easy to switch positions, and it’s not too difficult to roll. You feel a gentle cradle, but you’re met with firmness as you sink in slightly.”
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The WinkBed mattress has 4.8 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 8,774 reviews. Many reviewers mentioned experiencing relief from back pain.
“This bed is incredible and far better than we thought any ‘bed in a box’ could be! WinkBeds support for delivery was fantastic, as FedEx said the shipment was lost… but thankfully it wasn’t! I felt like they were there to support me and were incredibly kind. The bed isn’t quite ‘itself’ for probably three nights, as it’s still finding its equilibrium. (The box springs and foam were vacuumed packed and rolled up. So, while it begins to decompress immediately, it still takes a bit to be fully ‘rested.’ I think of letting a wine breathe.) For us, that meant it slept hot those first nights. However, it was comfortable from the get-go. I would definitely get WinkBeds again.”
— Lindsey P., verified buyer on 7/02/2024
“I struggled with chronic lower back pain when I got up each morning. I knew I needed a firmer mattress, so I set out to do my research. I landed on Wink beds as the one for me. This mattress put an end to my back pain! It was just … gone. It took about a week of sleeping on it to get used to the firmness, but once I did, there was no looking back. I can’t recommend this mattress highly enough.”
— Jennifer H., verified buyer on 7/02/2024
Read more about this brand in our WinkBed review.
The Birch Natural is a hybrid mattress made with eco-friendly, natural, and organic materials. The mattress consists of a layer of innerspring coils underneath layers of latex, organic cotton, and organic wool.
Latex is naturally more responsive than other types of foam, so combination sleepers should be happy with the Birch Natural. The innerspring and natural latex work together to provide a lot of bounce.
After thorough testing, we felt the Birch Natural would be ideal for combination sleepers since it was springy, and all of the materials responded well to movement, seamlessly guiding sleepers to switch positions. Sleepers of almost all weights should feel a good mix of support and pressure relief while on their back, stomach, or side. But we think higher-weight stomach sleepers may want to explore firmer options that offer more support in the hip area to keep their spine neutral.
Adults suffering from allergies will also be happy to know that the Birch Natural is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial due to the use of natural latex, which is less susceptible to the accumulation of mold and microbes. Organic wool also acts as a flame retardant, replacing synthetic materials typically used in other mattresses. Check out our complete list of the best organic mattresses.
“It takes very little effort to roll over. It’s very responsive since it’s so springy.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Birch Natural mattress has 4.6 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 2,002 reviews. Many reviewers noted the quality and comfort of the materials, saying the mattress is both comfortable and supportive. Others shared concerns about the mattress dipping.
“This is the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on. It’s the perfect firmness, not too firm, not too soft. I love the materials—no gross fiberglass, and latex is incredibly comfy. There’s no comparison. I look forward to bedtime every day.”
— Kaitlyn A., verified buyer on 10/09/2023
“The bed is great and comfortable! Takes a little while to get used to, but isn’t that everything? The amazing part is that this mattress spent about a year in a very moldy apartment, and after I moved, I ended up doing mold tests on it, and it was COMPLETELY free of any mold. I guess that’s [one of the] the wonders of all-natural materials. I was afraid I’d have to throw away this expensive mattress, but it’s 100% worth it to go all natural for reasons I didn’t even think of. I don’t think a bed made of synthetic materials would have passed the test.”
— Rachel, verified buyer on 4/11/2024
Read more about the Birch Natural.
The Nolah Evolution 15″ is a hybrid mattress with foam and coil layers. While it comes in three different firmness levels (plush, luxury firm, and firm), our experts tested the luxury firm option. Nolah gives the luxury firm style seven out of 10 for firmness, but we felt it was closer to 7.5 out of 10.
Edge support is an important mattress feature for combination sleepers, especially those who roll around when changing positions at night. Mattresses with weak edge support could compress under the sleeper’s weight as they approach the edge, allowing the sleeper to potentially roll off. Our testers gave the Nolah Evolution 15″ an edge support score of 4.5 out of five.
A potential safety consideration for the Evolution is that it’s 15 inches tall. A bed base plus a Nolah Evolution 15″ with a combined height of more than 23″ might not be considered safe for everyone, so it’s usually best to pair this mattress with a relatively low bed base.
Your Nolah mattress will arrive compressed in a box. Since the mattress box can be heavy and awkward to carry, we recommend having at least two people unbox and set it up. Nolah partners with LoadUp to provide three white-glove delivery options: mattress removal only, mattress setup only, or a combined removal and setup package. Pricing for this service starts at $150.
“It didn’t take effort to roll over. It was easy to push up and move, and I don’t feel like I’m fighting the material.”
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The Nolah Evolution 15″ mattress has 4.9 out of five stars on the brand’s website. Many reviewers mentioned waking up feeling well-rested, saying they’re having a much better night’s sleep on this mattress. Others shared that the mattress was too soft for their taste, and some experienced dipping.
“Side and back sleeper here. 260 pounds, middle-aged. I have arthritis in my back and have had a herniated disc surgery, so finding a comfortable mattress hasn’t been easy. I originally tried the 12″ by Nolah, which didn’t work great for me, but the 15″ has been amazing! I highly recommend this one!”
— Michael, C., verified buyer on 9/22/2023
“Sorry, the quality and craftsmanship are excellent, but the Luxury Firm is not firm enough for my back. I should have gone with the firmer model. Would love to exchange it for the firmer model, but I’m not sure how to even go about it….”
— William V., verified buyer on 9/24/2023
“We’ve had the Nolah Evolution 15 King Luxury Firm for over six months now. So far, we are very happy and sleeping comfortably. No visible signs of body dips nor do we feel any when we’re on the mattress. Time will tell how it holds up, but so far, this has become our favorite mattress.”
— Dannette S., verified buyer on 10/01/2023
Learn more about Nolah mattresses.
Designed to support up to 1,000 pounds, we found the Titan Plus is the best mattress for higher-weight sleepers because its hybrid design combines contouring foams with reinforced steel coils for support and durability.
The hybrid construction of the Titan Plus makes it a good option for higher-weight sleepers because there’s enough cushion in the top layers to comfort and contour the body, but there isn’t so much foam that the sleeper sinks into the mattress. The sleeper is met with supportive coils that give the mattress a favorable bounce to help them move through positions while sleeping. We scored this mattress a four out of five for both support and bounce.
Brooklyn Bedding rates the firmness of the Titan Plus as nine out of 10, but based on our testing, it was a little less firm at eight out of 10. Firm mattresses are a good choice for combination sleepers who spend a lot of the night on their back and stomach but might be uncomfortable for sleepers who spend a lot of the night on their side. When lying on the Titan Plus, our testers found that they had little to no pressure on their lower back and their spine remained neutral, which earned the Titan Plus a pressure relief score of 4.5 out of five.
Your Titan Plus mattress will arrive compressed and rolled inside a box. Before you can use it, you’ll need to give it some time to decompress, expand, and off-gas. The Titan Plus does not come with white-glove delivery or mattress removal services.
“The coils respond quickly, making it especially easy to change from my stomach to my back. Lighter-weight or average-weight people might find it harder to switch positions due to the quilted top.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Titan Plus mattress has 4.7 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 2,622 reviews. Many reviewers noted how it’s firm but supportive. Others shared that the edge support was lacking and the mattress was difficult to move.
“I got the Titan Plus about a month ago and I’m still shocked at how firm it is! It’s not an uncomfortable firm; it’s a supportive firm. It is exactly the mattress I’ve been searching for. The only thing that bothers me a little is that the edges aren’t as firm as the whole mattress. I would imagine that’s because it’s a mattress in a box. So happy with my purchase!”
— Kristina R., verified buyer on 9/09/2023
“At 100 pounds, this mattress is difficult to move. That being said, I toss and turn a lot and find that the mattress shifts/moves during the night. It is so heavy I can’t move it back into [its] regular position. The sides of the mattress are thin and I can feel the springs by just placing my hand there. There is no edge support, so as big as I am, I just slide right off. As a result, I can’t sit on the side of the bed to complete my nightly routine. The mattress is comfortable, although a little stiff at first, but it is softening up. I am worried sinking might occur with continued use, but that remains to be determined.”
— Tonya M., verified buyer on 2/12/2024
“I have had the mattress for a few weeks now and am very very happy. I took a chance on buying a [bed-in-a-box mattress online]. Well, to say all of my concerns were taken care of is an understatement. I’m sleeping very well. My only issue is I wish the mattress edges were a little more supportive. Plus the cooling top and cooling cover make for a very comfortable night’s rest. The big reason I tried Brooklyn Bedding is I weigh 350 pounds, and this bed supports me well. Thank you, BB.”
— Gary G., verified buyer on 8/29/20
Read more about the Titan Plus in our brand review.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is made of foam and individually encased pocket coils for a contouring but supportive sleep experience. While it comes in three firmness options (soft, medium, and firm), we tested the medium version of this mattress.
One major factor when looking at a mattress for combination sleepers is the responsiveness of the top layers, which means how quickly the material recovers after pressure is applied to it. This is the opposite of sinkage, which means the pressure causes the materials to sink into the mattress and create a divot that’s hard to get out of. The Elite Hybrid has two layers of foam that contour the curves of the body but quickly decompress when you move. Our testers found it was easy to change positions on this mattress.
Based on our testing, the Elite Hybrid has a firmness of 6.5 out of 10. Our testers noted that this mattress was excellent for relieving pressure on their lower backs in the back-sleeping position. It also provided high pressure relief while in the side-sleeping position, which is why we gave it a five out of five for overall pressure relief.
Unless you choose the white-glove delivery option, which costs an extra $175, your Bear mattress will arrive compressed in a box. You should give the mattress a couple of hours to off-gas and up to 24 hours to decompress to its full size.
“It’s very easy to switch positions and the cover is doing a good job of pushing upward. I like it because the internal mattress is firm, but the cushy layer provides some added comfort. I’m not fighting the material to move. Because of how responsive it is, it’s helping to provide movement and wants to help me change positions.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Bear Elite Hybrid mattress has 4.6 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 3,834 reviews. Many reviewers mentioned that the bed is a perfect mix of soft and firm. Others shared that the mattress sagged in the middle over time.
“LOVE! Perfect combination of softness and firmness for my husband and I. I am about 120 pounds, and he is about 210 pounds, and I feel like this is the perfect compromise. We got a discounted bedding bundle, and I absolutely love the premium mattress pad, pillows, and sheets. It would be nice to be able to choose the color of the sheets but not a big deal. We struggled finding a nice pillow, and we both love these pillows as well. We are both side sleepers.”
— Kennedy S., verified buyer on 4/10/2022
“I love this mattress. I was torn between which brand to buy and I’m glad I picked the Bear Hybrid. This is my first hybrid or foam mattress. It is hard to describe the firmness level. I feel supported when I’m sleeping but there’s also this feeling of sinking into the bed. It’s like the bed is hugging you while you sleep. I also picked up two of the cloud pillows. I highly recommend. The combination is SO comfy! Once I lay down its curtains within 15 minutes every night. Also, I haven’t been sore from a workout since I bought this mattress. Even after workouts that usually leave me sore, I wake up feeling great!”
— Jason W., verified buyer on 7/05/2020
For more information, see our Bear mattress review.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is constructed of five layers of material that balance softness and support to make it a comfortable choice for multiple sleep positions. It comes in three firmness options (soft, medium, or firm), but our experts tested the medium version of this mattress. The brand gave it a five out of 10 in firmness, but our testers thought it was closer to six out of 10.
Our testers gave the Signature Hybrid a bounce score of four out of five and found that the top layers of foam responded well to changes in pressure. This means it should be easy to move around and change positions on this mattress. The encased coils help contour and take pressure off the lower back, so combination sleepers who favor their side or back should enjoy great pressure relief and comfort.
Combination sleepers who spend most of the night on their stomachs might find the firm version of this mattress is a good fit since it has an extra inch of foam between the sleeper and the coils for extra support. This should prevent the hips from sinking too far into the mattress and putting the spine out of alignment. Also, if you spend a lot of the night on your side, you can opt for the soft version of this mattress, or add the Cloud Pillow Top to your order to bring extra cushioning to your hip and shoulder points.
Brooklyn Bedding does not offer white-glove delivery service or mattress removal. You’ll receive your mattress via FedEx Ground. It will arrive compressed and rolled inside a box. It will need time to off-gas before you can sleep on it.
“This mattress seems to have a great balance between support and pressure relief—which is why they both scored average. It’s hard to have one because you tend to lose the other, but this seems to have found a balance.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress has 4.7 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 10,237 reviews. Many reviewers mentioned less tossing and turning throughout the night on this mattress. Others shared they felt it slept a little hot.
“Medium (NO comfort top)–I have been on this mattress for about a month. It is firmer than I would have thought. But, you can sleep in any position (stomach, back, or side) with ease. NO sinking in a hole and very supportive. There is one issue: I am having pressure areas at my hip and shoulder. If you also have these issues, I would maybe add the comfort top to the mattress.”
— Tammie C., verified buyer on 3/18/2024
“As someone who suffers from fibromyalgia, I have found it difficult to find just the right balance of firmness and support in a mattress. I chose the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid soft firmness. It seems I have found exactly what I need. No more sore hips or backache upon waking in the morning. Also less tossing and turning during the night, making for a better night’s sleep.”
— Elaine M., verified buyer on 6/19/2021
“We bought this mattress to replace our Serta hybrid innerspring/gel mattress that was WAY too firm. We have been sleeping on our new Brooklyn bedding mattress for a few weeks and I definitely get some pressure points sleeping on my side. It seems to be softening up a bit as we sleep on it more. Much more spring than our previous mattress. The side collapses under pressure, so if this is important to you, [it may not be] the best fit. All in all not bad. We will get a topper to relieve some of the hot spots.”
— Susan D., verified buyer on 3/03/2023
Read more about Brooklyn Bedding mattresses.
The Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding is a four-layer, all-foam, double-sided mattress with two different firmness options (firm and extra-firm), but for the purpose of this review we tested the firm side. While the brand rated its firm side an eight out of 10, we think it’s a bit firmer and gave it a nine out of 10. It has a soft quilted cover that’s about 0.75 inches thick to give some pressure relief and contouring to the body before it’s met with the first layer of firm, high-density supportive foam.
Many mattresses put a supportive layer of foam beneath additional contouring layers, but since this mattress was designed to be firm, this layer is much closer to the top and gives the sleeper firm support very quickly after lying down.
Combination sleepers who rotate between their back and stomach will likely find this mattress comfortable. Stomach sleepers may especially find great support, as it helps keep the shoulders and hips from sinking into the mattress while keeping the back aligned.
Another perk of a firm mattress is the additional edge support it provides. Perimeter support is especially important for sleepers who move around a lot while sleeping since it can help keep you from rolling off the side of the mattress. It’s also an important feature for adults with mobility issues who need an extra stable edge for getting in and out of bed. Our testers gave the Plank Firm five out of five for edge support.
All Brooklyn Bedding mattresses, including the Plank Firm, are compressed inside a box and shipped through FedEx Ground. Brooklyn Bedding does not offer white-glove delivery services, mattress setup, or removal.
See our Reviews Team’s picks for the best firm mattresses for more recommendations.
“The quilted top is responding to my movement, but not the memory foam … I’m not sinking into the foam in a way that would make it hard to move around.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Plank Firm mattress has 4.7 stars out of five on the brand’s website, with more than 3,234 reviews. Many reviewers mentioned feeling relieved after finding a mattress that was firm enough for their needs. Others complained about the mattress either being too soft and sagging or being too firm.
“After looking at every mattress available locally, and searching the internet for the perfect (to my 17-year-old daughter) mattress, I stumbled upon Plank. She had been looking for a very firm mattress. All the ‘extra firm’ mattresses we tested locally were ‘not firm enough’ to her. I was about to give up and tell her she was stuck with what she had, like it or not. Then I found Plank and the video claimed it was very firm, and there was a return policy, so I decided to take the plunge and try it out. I am so glad I did! It is extremely firm, and my daughter absolutely loves it. Ordering was easy, setup was easy, and now she sleeps like a baby and no longer complains about her mattress. I am thinking about replacing my mattress with a Plank, so we can stop complaining and wake up refreshed rather than stiff! I will definitely be buying another!”
— Sharon C., verified buyer on 7/05/2024
“Bed tends to form a concave pattern due to body weight. Although bed returns to normal during non-use, it does get a bit annoying to change positions at night, as the body will tend to roll back into the concave depression. Other than this slight annoyance, the firmness is great and would’ve given a great review.”
— Nora I., verified buyer on 5/23/24
For more information, see our Plank mattress review.
Our Reviews Team has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to researching the mattress industry, consulting at least 10 health care professionals, and testing roughly 40 brands and 130 unique mattress models for quality and comfort. We’ve also interviewed seven older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 2,700 recent mattress customers to understand their experiences shopping for a new bed.
Each mattress undergoes a rigorous 36-page testing procedure to score its different characteristics, including firmness, support, and other aspects most shoppers consider. We choose the best mattresses for couples based on the scores of the relevant criteria.
Using these criteria, we rate the mattresses and determine what makes a great mattress option for combination sleepers:
Like most mattress brands in the industry, we use a one-to-10 scoring method when testing firmness, with 6.5 being the true medium firm. Our testers rate this by lying on the surface and comparing the feel to other mattresses we’ve tested. Material density and coil strength influence firmness the most. The mattresses in this review range from soft to extra-firm in firmness. The best level of firmness will largely depend on which sleeping position you find yourself in most often. For example, side and back sleepers will fare best on a medium mattress, while stomach and back sleepers may prefer a firmer option.
Our team scores bounce on a scale between one and five, with five being the bounciest. We test this by dropping a 10-pound weighted ball on the mattress surface, recording how many times it bounces, and analyzing the sound of its landing. The ball will bounce multiple times on bouncier mattresses before cradling into the surface, while others thud onto the material, indicating low bounce. Bounce is important for combination sleepers because it determines how easily they’ll be able to change positions on a mattress without feeling “stuck.” The more bounce a mattress has, the easier and more comfortable it will be for combination sleepers to move around on.
We rate pressure relief on a scale of one to five, with five being the most pressure-relieving. We consider how it feels and use a pressure mapⓘ A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lies across it with sensors to visualize pressure points around the body accurately. Blue and green pressure map results show great pressure relief, while yellows, oranges, and reds indicate pressure buildup. Pressure relief, which can also be referred to as contouring, is important for combination sleepers who find themselves frequently sleeping on their back and side. Side sleepers, in particular, need contouring in the shoulder and hip areas, which helps reduce pressure buildup and prevents pain.
Our team developed this unique score to understand how well a mattress accommodates mobility issues, like difficulty moving around or getting up from the bed. We combined firmness (30%), support (30%), bounce (10%), and edge support (30%) to create a score between one and five, with five being the most helpful for movement in bed.
Combination sleepers need a high level of functional support to ensure they can move around on the surface of their bed without feeling stuck. This score factors in bounce, which makes that movement easier, as well as overall support and edge support, which ensures the mattress doesn’t dip or sag as you move.
To learn more about our testing, review our sleep methodology.
We continuously test new mattresses each month and make sure we give you the most up-to-date information possible. Each mattress goes through a rigorous testing process, and we evaluate them in terms of firmness, support, pressure relief, and other categories important to shoppers. We then choose our top picks based on our scores and share them with our readers.
The below is a list of mattresses currently undergoing testing:
The type of mattress that’s best for a combination sleeper will vary depending on what combination of positions you tend to sleep in. Combination sleepers come in a few varieties: back and side, back and stomach, side and stomach, or all three (back, side, and stomach). Some mattresses will be great for back and side combination sleepers but not the best choice for a stomach and side sleeper.
When shopping for a new mattress, be mindful of several key features. You want to look for a mattress that’s universally firm, responsive, and pressure-relieving, with bounce to help with changing positions and a supportive edge so you don’t fall off while moving around.
You want to choose a mattress that has the appropriate firmness based on your common sleeping positions. Side sleepers need a certain amount of softness and sinkage to keep their shoulders and hips aligned and to prevent a buildup of pressure. Back sleepers typically need a level of firmness to prevent heavier body parts from sinking too far into the mattress and causing spinal misalignment. Stomach sleepers usually need a firm mattress that supports the hips and prevents the lower back and stomach from dipping below the other parts of the body.
A supportive mattress fills the gaps between your body and the surface, providing reinforcement. Combination sleepers should look for a mattress with zoned support, especially if you sleep on your side and back throughout the night. Zoned-support mattresses relieve pressure in high-pressure areas, like the hips and shoulders, when sleeping on your side but still support the lower back when you switch to the back sleeping position.
“A mattress with zoned support can reduce pain and improve your quality of sleep. It does this by having different levels of firmness in different areas of the mattress. This will reduce irritation to painful pressure points and provide support to areas that need it, which will allow you to change positions without being disturbed by pain.”
Matthew Cavanaugh, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cavanaugh Chiropractic in Lafayette, Louisiana
Combination sleepers change positions throughout the night. To keep you from waking up every time you change positions, you want a mattress that supports easy movement in bed. This is done through bounce and fast responsiveness. These are common features of hybrid mattresses. When you push down to move, the mattress pushes back to keep you from getting stuck in the material. Feeling stuck in a mattress is a common complaint with traditional memory foam mattresses that tend to offer little bounce and slow responsiveness.
If you roll around while changing positions, having strong edge support is an important thing to look for. Mattresses that have a reinforced perimeter can prevent you from rolling off the edge of the bed while changing positions. It can also help support you as you get into and out of bed.
You can choose from a few types of mattresses when you’re looking for a new sleep setup. You don’t have to stick to strict rules that say combination sleepers should choose only one type of mattress, but some mattress designs incorporate the features in the section above better than others.
Innerspring mattresses are great options for combination sleepers because they have springs in their core that help sleepers move easily between positions. Many innerspring mattresses also have a pillow top layer to give comfort to sleepers in any position. If side sleeping is your main position, you’ll need to choose an innerspring mattress that has a soft top layer to keep your shoulders and hips from becoming misaligned.
For more information, read our roundup of the best spring mattresses.
Hybrid mattresses are a great option for combination sleepers because they’re made with responsive top layers of foam and innerspring core layers that help sleepers move easily between positions. Similar to innerspring mattresses, adults who often sleep on their sides will need to choose a hybrid that has a soft top layer to prevent discomfort and misalignment in shoulders and hips.
For more information, read our roundup of the best hybrid mattresses.
Whether a memory foam mattress is best for a combination sleeper will depend on how soft it is. While a softer memory foam mattress can offer excellent pressure relief, according to Cavanaugh, it “may also be associated with a cradling effect called sinkage. This may spell trouble for some older adult combination sleepers as too much sinkage can increase pain from a lack of support or make it difficult to change positions and thereby decrease the quality of sleep.”
Sinkage is how deep the sleeper moves into the mattress, and many times, sleepers gravitate to foam mattresses because of the comfort associated with sinkage. While good contouring sinkage can give sleepers the feeling of being “hugged” by their mattress, too much sinkage can result in misalignment of the spine, especially for stomach and back sleepers.
Those who rotate between their sides and backs would probably be fine with a medium-firm memory foam mattress, so long as there was enough pressure relief on the sleeper’s shoulders and hips. If the stomach position is one of the positions you sleep in, you’ll likely need a firmer memory foam mattress.
For more information about our top picks in this category, read our roundup of the best memory foam mattresses.
Latex mattresses can be great for any variety of combination sleepers. This is mostly because latex is a naturally bouncy material that ensures the sleeper can move through positions with ease. Unlike some memory foam beds, latex mattresses provide sinkage as well as responsiveness.
For more information, read our roundup of the best latex mattresses.
| Price for a queen-size | $2,095 | $2,374 | $1,874 | $2,499 | $1,249 | $1,799 | $1,249 | $1,332 | $1,332 |
| Mattress type | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam |
| Our firmness rating | Firm | Medium | Medium | Firm | Firm | Medium | Medium | Medium | Firm |
| Cooling score | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Warranty (years) | Lifetime | 15 | 25 | Lifetime | 10 | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 | 10 |
When it comes to choosing the best mattress for combination sleepers, you should choose a mattress that best fits your preferences and has the right firmness, pressure relief, and bounce based on your most common sleep positions. We think the Saatva Classic has the most to offer combination sleepers because its innerspring layers should make it easy to switch positions during sleep.
For those with specific sleep needs, like pressure relief for back pain, the Helix Midnight Luxe uses a zoned support design to take pressure off the lower back and help ease pain. Our experts researched and tested every mattress in this list to help you make the best decision about your combination sleeping needs.
A combination sleeper is someone who sleeps in more than one position throughout the night. Combinations are back and side, side and stomach, back and stomach, or back, side, and stomach. Combination sleepers may also favor one or two positions more than the others throughout the night.
A mattress that’s medium-firm will likely be the best choice for combination sleepers. This firmness will be good for most of the positions a person will rotate between. If you tend to spend most of the night on your side and no time on your stomach, you could probably choose a soft to medium mattress. Alternatively, if you spend most of your night on your stomach and sometimes on your back, a firmer mattress would probably be best.
Side sleeping can help keep your airway open to reduce the effects of snoring and sleep apnea. Back sleeping can be good for sleepers with shoulder or hip pain, so long as the mattress has good lower back support. Stomach sleeping can cause your spine to curve unnaturally and can lead to discomfort in your lower back.
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