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While it’s common knowledge that sleep is important for everyone, many may not realize that lack of sleep can contribute to the onset of diseasesⓘ Carroll JE and Prather AA. Sleep and Biological Aging: A Short Review. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research. June 2021. Found on the internet at , like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia. If you aren’t sleeping well, one way you can try to improve your sleep is by choosing a mattress that provides the support and pressure relief you need.
While mattresses are made with a variety of materials, memory foam often provides a soft, cushioning cradle that can relieve pressure. Memory foam uses body heat to conform to your shape, often offering a more custom, contoured experience than innerspring or hybrid ⓘ Hybrid mattresses combine the features of both innerspring and foam mattresses, with springs surrounded by a thick comfort layer of foam or latex. mattresses. But it’s important to remember that everyone’s sleeping needs, preferences, and budgets are unique, so the best mattress for some sleepers may not be right for you.
“Every individual is looking for something unique when it comes to a mattress,” said Ashley Reed, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and clinical director at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Naples, Florida. “A mattress is not one-size-fits-all, as some people do much better with a softer mattress and others enjoy a firmer mattress. Typically, I encourage patients to look for something more supportive when it comes to chronic pain in the back or the hips. In general, a mattress that falls on the firmer side will offer more support, and it will keep the spine in a better-aligned position while sleeping.”
Our Reviews Team researched, tested, and reviewed mattresses to bring you our top memory foam selections, so you can find the right one for you.
When testing memory foam mattresses, we found there are several important factors to consider, including:
A memory foam mattress should offer enough sinkage to contour the body and give comfort, but not so much that you feel stuck or have trouble moving around.
A trial period ensures a risk-free way to decide whether the mattress is a good fit for you, and an extended warranty ensures you have a remedy for any defects.
Your mattress’s memory foam layers should relieve pressure on your body and joints when lying against the surface material.
Good edge support provides a secure perimeter when you’re sleeping, and better support when you sit on the bed’s edge to stand up or put on your shoes.
The Nolah brand claims AirFoam™ not only supports side sleepers and relieves pressure but is also designed to stay cooler than traditional memory foam mattresses due to its open-cell structure allowing greater airflow. Our Reviews Team likes the thoughtful design, and our testers found the Nolah Signature stayed cool when tested. Remember that every sleeper’s experience is different, and cooling depends on various factors, including bed sheets.
During testing we found the Nolah Signature offered a good balance of cushion and supportive foam. Our testers felt like the mattress hugged them without the typical sag of some memory foam mattresses. While we think the Nolah Signature is the best memory foam mattress for side sleepers, you’re not limited to one position. Our testers felt supported in their hips and shoulders while lying on their back. The mattress hugged their spine and supported its natural curve, keeping it in alignment.
According to a Reviews Team survey of 600 respondents, side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position. Almost half of our respondents (49%) said they mainly sleep on their side.
Multiple testers agreed that the Nolah Signature had great motion isolation. This means they couldn’t feel their testing partner’s movements in the bed because the mattress material absorbed them. Even with good motion isolation, the mattress still had a slight bounce. This small bounce can make a big difference in mobility, allowing you to move around without feeling stuck in the mattress.
We also found that this mattress offered good
edge supportⓘ
This refers to the bed’s stability along the edges.
. Our testers noted that they felt stable and supported when lying near or sitting on the edge of the mattress.
The Nolah Signature mattress comes compressed and rolled in a box. We like that white-glove delivery is available, even though it costs extra.
You can choose from the following three delivery options:
The mattress takes about 24 hours to expand to its full size. Nolah requires you to try out the mattress for at least 30 nights before being able to return it. Check out available locations to try out a Nolah mattress in person.
“The foam in the Nolah Signature responds well to pressure. I found it was easy to move and roll around on. The foam only takes a couple of seconds to settle into a new position.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Nolah Signature received a 4.8-star rating out of five, with more than 450 reviews on the brand’s website. Many reviewers highlighted the comfort and pressure-relieving quality of this mattress. Some other reviewers mentioned that this mattress is firmer than the brand advertises. For reference, our testers found this mattress felt more like a 7.5 out of 10 for firmness, while the brand states it feels like a five or six out of 10.
“I love my new mattress! It’s so comfortable and I sleep so much better. I fall asleep faster and wake up less during the night to roll over. I’ve also been having much less back and hip pain. This was my first experience with buying a bed in a box/ordering a mattress online and it was great! Ordering and set-up was very easy!”
— Megan P., verified buyer on 9/25/2023
“At first I loved it but now I think it’s a little too hard and not as soft as I was hoping it would be.”
— Anna G., verified buyer on 2/7/2023
The mattress has 4.8 stars out of five and more than 370 reviews on Google. While most of the reviews are positive and praise the bed for its comfort and customer service, a few people found it just wasn’t the right mattress for them.
Read our full review for more information about the Signature and other models Nolah offers.
The Nectar Memory Foam is a classic, soft memory foam mattress. This model’s plush layers are designed to cradle and support you, but the sinkage may be too deep for some sleepers, especially stomach or higher-weight sleepers (those weighing more than 250 pounds). Side sleepers should enjoy pressure relief in their shoulders and hips, but the softer memory foam may make it harder to switch sleeping positions.
The Nectar Memory Foam mattress has three layers of memory foam. The upper layer of gel memory foam gives the mattress a plush, sinking feeling. The middle layer adds a little bounce and helps transition to the dense, supportive bottom layer.
Our testers felt like they were sinking “in” the mattress rather than lying “on” it. Some sleepers may prefer this sunken-in feeling and experience pressure relief when lying on their side or back, but we don’t recommend the Nectar Memory Foam for stomach sleepers. When testing this sleeping position, our testers’ hips sunk into the mattress. Over time, this misalignment could cause back pain.
This mattress absorbs most movements but doesn’t provide any bounce. Our testers noted it has excellent motion isolation, which is a plus if you sleep with a partner or pet. The mattress’s lack of bounce may make it harder for people who sleep in more than one position during the night to switch sleeping positions. Getting out of bed may also be more difficult, especially for those with mobility issues.
The Nectar Memory Foam is delivered compressed and rolled in a box to your home. It may require at least two people to remove your old mattress and place your new mattress on the bed frame to expand to its full shape. The brand claims it takes a few days for the mattress to off-gas. You can also pay for the white-glove delivery and have it delivered and your old mattress removed.
“When laying on my back on the Nectar Memory Foam mattress I can feel my whole body sinking into the materials. I can even feel my heels sinking into the mattress which tells you how much sinkage there is. This can be good for light-weight sleepers and those who love the feeling of being hugged deeply by the mattress, but could be uncomfortable for those who move around a lot or who sleep on their stomach.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Nectar Memory Foam mattress gets 4.7 stars out of five on its website with more than 51,500 reviews. Many reviewers highlight how wonderful the mattress is, especially considering its price and how nice the yearlong trial period is. Others shared that the cooling technology isn’t as effective as they would like.
“I love my Nectar mattress! It was so comfortable the first night I slept on it! And I have a whole year to decide if I want to keep it. I have pretty much already decided. It will not go back. Awesome mattress for the price!”
— Melanie B., verified buyer on 6/13/2024
“I LOVE Nectar mattresses in terms of comfort, and have had one before. I moved and purchased a new one after selling my old one. This time, I thought I’d get the NectarCool technology… I don’t feel like it does anything for me. I have woken up sweating so many times and the bed feels warm, my partner says the same thing. I would not pay the extra $99 to get the cooling technology as I am highly doubtful about its effectiveness.”
— Genna B., verified buyer on 4/22/2024
Nectar also makes adjustable base beds that can enhance the comfort of your mattress and help you get better sleep overall. For more information about the Nectar adjustable bed, read our full Nectar review.
The DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress is a five-layer all-foam mattress with a breathable cover made with a soft cashmere blend. While memory foam mattresses tend to sleep on the warmer side, our testers found that the DreamCloud was cool to the touch, and it performed well when testing its cooling capability with a temperature gunⓘ A device that measures temperatures through the thermal radiation left behind on a surface .
Each layer is constructed to support the sleeper and prevent pressure from building up and causing back pain. The gel-infused foam layer helps contour the body and provides adaptive support to relieve pressure on joints and the lower back. In contrast, the stability base layer provides firm support that keeps the sleeper from sinking into the mattress and prevents sagging. This combination helped the DreamCloud mattress achieve a combined pressure relief score (back and side) of 4.5 out of five, and the back-specific pressure relief score is five out of five.
The adaptive pressure relief makes the DreamCloud Memory Foam a good choice for side and back sleepers. And its responsiveⓘ Responsiveness describes how much surface bounce a mattress has and how it responds to pressure or the sleeper’s movements, making it easier to move around and change sleeping positions. top layer makes it a good choice for combination sleepers or those who change positions frequently throughout the night. It’s easy to move around on and adjusts well to movements on the surface.
Our testing also shows that it allows movement while causing minimal disturbance to the other side of the mattress, which is particularly beneficial for couples.
“When laying on my back on the DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress, I felt little to no pressure. This was confirmed by the pressure map, which showed all blue, indicating no part of my back was creating enough pressure for the map to pick up.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress gets 4.6 stars out of five on the brand’s website, with more than 8,900 reviews. Many reviewers highlighted how this mattress relieved their pain when sleeping. Some negative reviews mentioned that the mattress had lost shape or become too soft over time.
“I love my new dream cloud mat[t]ress. Since I’ve had it, I wake up with no stiffness, aches or pains. I wake up in the morning refreshed because I’m not tossing and turning all night!!! Best mattress I have ever purchased”
— Jessica F., verified buyer on 5/18/2024
“We are about 430 [pounds], combined, and this was way too soft. The sides sink when we sit on them and the middle feels like it’s sagging when we lay on it, causing back pain. It is nice on the shoulders from the pillowy top, but just way too soft for usually medium firm people. We have had it for a little over a month and will be returning it. Could be a great mattress for lighter ppl or those who like a softer bed, though. It’s also very heavy and hard to move.”
— Lauren M., verified buyer on 7/8/2023
For more information about DreamCloud mattresses read our full review.
The Plank Firm mattress is flippable with a different firmness level on each side. We gave the firm side a 7.5 out of 10, and the extra-firm side we gave nine out of 10. Foam tends to compress more than other materials, so finding an all-foam mattress that’s extra firm is sometimes challenging. A firm or extra-firm style mattress may be more durable over time than a softer style since the foam layers are designed to reduce sinkageⓘ Good contouring sinkage can give sleepers the feeling of being “hugged” by their mattress, but too much sink can result in misalignment of the spine, especially for stomach and back sleepers. and keep the sleeper on top of the materials.
This mattress contains two foam layers to support the sleeper but offers enough comfort to pressure point areas. One layer is a 6-inch high-density support foam, while the other is a 2-inch contouring foam.
Since the mattress is designed to be flipped, the order of the foam layers changes to give different levels of comfort and firmness. On the extra-firm side, the high-density support foam is closest to the sleeper, giving a light cushioning sensation that’s met with high support. When the mattress is flipped, the contouring foam layer is closest to the sleeper to give additional cushioning before being met with the high-support foam layer.
Firm-style mattresses, like the Plank Firm, can be a great choice for sleepers with back pain, those who mostly sleep on their backs, or higher-weight sleepers. We especially liked that the firmness and support in the Plank Firm extends to the perimeter of the mattress. When our experts sat upright on the edge of the mattress and tested the edge support, they felt balanced and little sinkage.
“When lying on the Plank Firm I can feel the mattress giving a very gentle hug. As an average-size sleeper, I notice my lower-back doesn’t fully make contact with the mattress, but higher-weight sleepers would likely be able to compress the mattress material better. ”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Plank Firm mattress has 4.7 stars out of five on its website, with more than 3,100 reviews. Positive reviewers reported being happy with the firmness, stating it’s just as firm as advertised. Some reviewers complained that the mattress gets too warm for their comfort.
“Love it! Super firm, really comfortable.”
— Oliver R., verified buyer on 6/18/2024
“The mattress is very firm and comfortable. I am pleased with my purchase. It is very firm and is just what I was looking for.”
— Duane Q., verified buyer on 6/11/2024
“I really wanted to like this but unfortunately it just sleeps too hot. I found the FIRM side very firm and the not so firm side just right. It’s 50 degrees upstairs in the winter but I feel too hot even without too many covers, I’m worried how hot it will get in the spring and summer.”
— Dave P., verified buyer on 1/19/2024
Read more about the Plank Firm mattress and other firm-style mattresses on our review of the Best Firm Mattresses.
The Bear Original is a firm mattress with a denser, more responsive surface than softer memory foam mattresses. This extra support is good for higher-weight sleepers who want an all-foam mattress that doesn’t sink in too deeply. Finding the right memory foam mattress with a soft, cradled hug and enough reinforced support can be difficult for higher-weight sleepers, but we think the Bear Original is one of the best memory foam options available.
Our testers noted the mattress’s responsiveness when switching between different sleeping positions—they never felt sunken in or stuck. When lying on their back, one of our average-weight testers noted the mattress didn’t meet their lower back area. Over time, this would cause their back to sink in to meet the mattress, putting their spine out of alignment and possibly causing back pain.
Higher-weight sleepers will sink more deeply into the mattress, allowing it to contour to their lower back and offer the correct, reinforced support to keep their spine in alignment.
The Bear Original has three foam layers. The upper layer is gel memory foam designed to keep sleepers cool, while the lower two layers are high-density foam with a firm, more supportive feel to help relieve pressure.
The mattress is delivered compressed and sealed in a box, and you can choose setup services for an additional fee. The mattress takes about 24 hours to reach its full size and off-gas lingering chemical smells.
“I’m an average-weight sleeper, so the curvature of my lower back wasn’t completely meeting the mattress. A higher-weight sleeper should sink further into the material and feel a comfortable contour from the top layers of the Bear Original.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Bear Original mattress has 4.7 stars out of five on its website, with more than 10,600 reviews. Many reviewers liked the firmness after switching from a soft-style mattress, while others who gave it negative feedback said the mattress was too firm. This shows preference plays a large role in choosing the best mattress for you.
“I love this mattress – I agree with many of the other comments – it seems firm at first but it’s been absolutely perfect and exactly what I was looking for.”
— Barbara C., verified buyer on 4/6/2024
“Initially we thought the mattress was great because it was better than the last one we had, BUT it[‘s] way too hard and it is difficult to get really comfortable. We are disappointed in our experience. It was not supposed to be so firm.”
— Lucy P., verified buyer on 11/15/2023
To learn more about Bear mattresses, read our full Bear 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 16 older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 3,200 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 memory foam mattresses based on the scores of the relevant criteria. See how we tested the most important considerations for this review below.
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. With memory foam mattresses, the density of the foam and the thickness and strength of the layers influence firmness most.
We score support on a scale of one to five, with five being the most supportive. Mattresses with strong support contour and push into the curves of your body, particularly the lower back or midsection. Not only do we feel support during testing, but we can also visualize it through pressure map results. Maps with primarily white space at the lower back show how the mattress isn’t making contact with the area, which means the mattress isn’t supportive. With all-foam mattresses, we also test whether the mattress allows the tester’s body to sink too far into the materials. Some sinkageⓘ Good contouring sinkage can give sleepers the feeling of being “hugged” by their mattress, but too much sink can result in misalignment of the spine, especially for stomach and back sleepers. is good, especially for side sleepers, but too much can cause back or neck pain.
We rate pressure relief on a scale of one to five, with five being the most pressure-relieving. We use a pressure map 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 build-up. For memory foam mattresses, our testers lie on their side and back and document how the mattress feels on their high-pressure points (hips, shoulders, upper back, lower back, and knees) and whether it gives balanced relief in each position.
We score edge support on a scale of one to five, with five being the strongest. Our team tests this by sitting and lying on the edge to determine how safe it feels and measure how far it sinks. For example, if a short 11-inch mattress’s edge sinks about 2 inches, it may feel weak because it collapses under body weight. To visualize the edge support for all-foam mattresses, we remove the cover and investigate whether it has higher-density supportive foams around the perimeter of the mattress for additional support.
To learn more about our testing, review our sleep methodology.
Our research and testing are ongoing, so our reviews evolve over time. We test new mattresses monthly to give you the most up-to-date information possible. Check back regularly for updates.
Choosing a mattress is a personal decision—you will ultimately decide what the best memory foam mattress is for you based on many factors, including your sleeping position, preferred firmness level, and budget.
Different mattress types are better suited for different types of sleepers. Depending on your preferred sleeping position, the right mattress can provide the necessary support and comfort. Here’s what you need to know about each sleep position:
Body weight can determine the comfort and support you can expect from memory foam. Lightweight sleepers may find memory foam more comfortable, as it allows them to sink in just enough to feel cradled. Average-weight individuals often like memory foam for its pressure-relieving qualities, especially in medium and medium-firm models.
Heavier sleepers should look for high-density memory foam mattresses, which offer greater durability and prevent excessive sinking. Some heavier sleepers may prefer a hybrid mattress with memory foam and supportive coils.
While brands rate their mattresses on a firmness scale of one to 10, what is considered “soft,” “medium,” or “firm” may be different for each sleeper. Although the mattress firmness scale helps give us a measurement, firmness is mostly subjective and depends on height, weight, and personal preferences.
Most memory foam mattresses in this review fall between five and 6.5 on the firmness scale and are considered “medium” to “medium-firm.” Studies have shown mattresses labeled “medium-firm” may promote the best sleep quality and comfort.
We also suggested a firmer memory foam mattress (seven out of 10 or higher) for higher-weight and stomach sleepers.
Cooling capabilities are important in memory foam mattresses, as memory foam’s dense structure traps body heat very easily, which can lead to overheating. To counteract this, most modern memory foam mattresses incorporate cooling technologies, such as gel infusions or breathable covers. These help reduce heat buildup and promote airflow.
Memory foam mattresses generally cost less than hybrid or latex mattresses. In our best mattress review, which includes hybrid mattresses, the lowest-priced queen-size mattress is $1,199, while the lowest-priced queen-size memory foam mattress is $998.
All featured memory foam mattresses are considered “bed in a box” mattresses that can be ordered online. These mattresses are shipped to your home rolled, compressed, and tightly sealed in a box. This helps cut the overall cost, but it may be more difficult to set up the mattress on your own. If available, we recommend adding white-glove delivery services to your order.
Many online mattress brands offer sales and promotions throughout the year, especially around major holidays and retail events, like Labor Day, Black Friday, Presidents Day, and July Fourth.
Here’s a cost comparison of the mattresses featured on this list:
| Mattress | Twin* | Full* | Queen* | King* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nolah Signature | $1,299 | $1,649 | $1,799 | $2,049 |
| Nectar Memory Foam | $699 | $949 | $1,099 | $1,399 |
| WinkBeds GravityLux | $1,199 | $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 |
| Bear Original | $786 | $911 | $998 | $1,304 |
| Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud | $1,699 | $1,899 | $1,999 | $2,399 |
Since memory foam mattresses can be easily compressed and rolled into a box, it’s common to find most brands available online. You aren’t limited to the variety of mattresses your local store has in stock when you’re shopping.
Even though online shopping can be convenient, it can also be overwhelming since so many brands and models are available. Use our guide to narrow down the best memory foam mattress based on your preferences, needs, and budget.
Some brands offer physical showrooms that allow you to try out a mattress before buying it, but these showrooms may not be available in your area. Fortunately, our top picks have trial periods ranging from 90 nights (almost three months) to a full 365 nights. So you can try out your new mattress, and if you decide it isn’t a good fit, you can return it for a refund. Most showrooms don’t offer trial periods.
| Brand rating | 9.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.4/10 |
| Cost of a queen before discounts | $1,799 | $1,099 | $1,532 | $1,332 | $998 |
| Firmness level | 5/10 | 6.5/10 | Medium | Firm | 7/10 |
| White-glove delivery option | Yes ($150–$300) | Yes ($199) | Yes ($199) | No | Yes ($175) |
We chose the Nolah Signature as the best memory foam mattress based on our testing, custom foam material designed for side sleepers, and customer-friendly policies. If you’re shopping on a budget, consider the Nectar Memory Foam. The Plank Firm mattress is significantly firmer than many other memory foam mattresses and double-sided. The Bear Original is our pick as best for higher-weight sleepers since it’s firm and dense yet allows sleepers to sink in and get that hugging support.
While we always recommend consulting your doctor before choosing a mattress for chronic pain or a medical condition, the DreamCloud Memory Foam may be a good option if you have back pain because it offers cushioned yet targeted support in the lumbar region.
Ultimately, the best mattress for you depends on your sleeping position, budget, height and weight, and personal preferences.
Sleeping position, firmness level, and budget are the most important considerations when shopping for a memory foam mattress.
Nolah Signature is our top recommendation for side sleepers, while the DreamCloud Memory Foam is excellent for back sleepers. We recommend a firmer memory foam mattress for stomach sleepers, like the Bear Original or the Plank Firm. These recommendations will help jump start your research, but each sleeper’s best mattress will vary. Consider your body weight, height, mobility level, and personal preference when shopping for the right memory foam mattress for you.
Everyone’s budget is different, but you should expect to pay at least $700 for a quality memory foam mattress. Fortunately, many top memory foam mattress brands offer frequent sales and promotions throughout the year.
Generally, high-density, thick memory foam won’t sag as quickly as low-density, soft memory foam. If longevity is your top priority in a mattress, we recommend a memory foam mattress with multiple layers of dense foam. The right thickness of memory foam depends on your weight, height, mobility needs, and other preferences. Memory foam mattresses typically consist of multiple layers, each with different thicknesses and materials that serve specific functions, such as pressure relief, support, and cooling.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
