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If you’re looking to replace your old mattress, you’ve probably come across Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number during your research. Or maybe a friend or family member sleeps on one and they can’t stop recommending it.
Both brands offer something unique to sleepers: Sleep Number mattresses have air chambers that adjust the mattress firmness in real-time, while Tempur-Pedic mattresses have foam designed for deep pressure relief and contouring, developed by NASA and exclusive to Tempur-Pedic.
Unlike most of our best mattress picks, Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number mattresses are delivered to your home ready to sleep on—they’re not compressed and rolled in a box like many online mattresses. You can buy these two brands online or at your local showroom.
Both brands offer multiple mattress series and models, but to keep things simple, we’ve chosen two popular mattresses to compare: the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt, and the Sleep Number i8 smart bed.
See what our Reviews Team thought about firmness, support, and the sleeping positions each mattress is best suited for. We also compare cost, trial period, features, warranty, and sleep tracking features.
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We tested the Tempur-Adapt medium all-foam mattress, which is also available as a hybrid mattressⓘ Hybrid mattresses combine the features of both innerspring and foam mattresses, with springs surrounded by a thick comfort layer of foam or latex. . The mattress consists of four foam layers topped with a soft, cooling cover.
Each foam layer is a different thickness to support sleepers. The first layer is made of TEMPUR-ES material—or “extra soft” foam—followed by a firmer layer for reinforced support. The bottom two layers are high-density foam.
The Tempur-Adapt is a mattress you can slowly sink into after a long day. The foam contoured to our tester’s lower back as they sunk into the mattress surface, but they didn’t sink too far due to the support from the thick foundational layers. We like that the mattress offers a cushioning and contouring hug without testers getting “stuck” or creating a divot in the mattress.
The Tempur-Adapt is excellent for back sleepers. We think lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) sleepers will experience soothing pressure relief when sleeping on their backs. Our tester was impressed with their pressure mapⓘ A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lays across it. results in this position. There wasn’t any pressure buildup in the shoulders, hips, or lower back, meaning the mattress properly supported their body and wasn’t too firm or soft.
When our testers lay on their side, there was a little pressure buildup in their hips, but they were comfortable. If you primarily sleep on your side, remember that the best mattresses for side sleepers cushion and support the pressure pointsⓘ The parts of the sleeper’s body that are in direct contact with the mattress, such as the backside, shoulder, hips, and ribcage. in the shoulder and hip areas.
“I felt supported when lying on my back and side, which is sometimes difficult on the same mattress. The mattress contoured nicely to my lower back. When I switched to my side, the surface softly cushioned my shoulder and hip.” – Tester quote
We don’t think the Tempur-Adapt mattress is firm enough to support higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) sleepers. The Tempur-ProAdapt and Tempur-LuxeAdapt models have a firm option, which may be more supportive.
Edge supportⓘ This refers to the bed’s stability along the edges. and motion isolationⓘ The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side. : The mattress edge sank quickly when our testers sat on it. While they didn’t feel stable sitting on the edge, lying close to the edge was better. If you like to spread out on your mattress, you shouldn’t feel like you’re going to fall off the Tempur-Adapt.
We were impressed—but not surprised—that this all-foam mattress absorbed movement so well. Our testers hardly felt their testing partner change positions and get on and off the bed when sharing the mattress.
Sleep metrics: You can track your sleep quality, REM sleep, heart rate, breathing rate, and more with the Tempur-Pedic Sleeptracker-AI app. The app offers lifestyle and sleep routine recommendations to help improve your sleep quality. But sleep tracking is only available with certain Tempur-Pedic adjustable bed bases.
Our survey revealed that more than 15% of respondents purchased a Tempur-Pedic mattress online, the highest percentage of any mattress brands in our survey.
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You can reach Tempur-Pedic customer service by:
Tempur-Pedic accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards. It also has a financing option, called Tempur-Pedic Financing, which you have to apply for.
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Before we explore each layer of the i8 smart bed, let’s decode the name. The “i” stands for “innovation,” a Sleep Number mattress series that includes temperature-regulating technology. The “8” indicates the inches of foam layers in the mattress. The mattress pillow top has 2 inches of soft, quilted foam, followed by 6 inches of comfort foam.
The 8 inches of foam layers rest on built-in air chambers that inflate or deflate to change the mattress’s firmness. Sleepers control their mattress firmness by choosing one of the 20 Sleep Number settings, ranging from one to 100. One is the softest setting, while 100 is the firmest.
Our testers immediately noticed the soft, cradling feel of the cushioning foam layers in the i8 smart bed. When a tester lay on their back, they felt the mattress contour to their hips and lower back. The comfortable, supportive surface offered immediate pressure relief for our tester.
“The i8 smart bed was my favorite Sleep Number mattress I tested. The foam layer contoured comfortably to my body, and I didn’t feel sunken in. I have chronic back pain, and firmer Sleep Number settings between 60 and 80 were the most comfortable and supportive.” – Tester quote
We rated the i8 a medium-firm mattress since the cushioning layers are comfortable yet supportive. Keep in mind you can adjust the overall firmness by choosing a higher or lower Sleep Number setting. Our Reviews Team thinks customizing the mattress firmness sets Sleep Number apart from Tempur-Pedic.
We think the i8 mattress is best for back sleepers but may also suit some side sleepers, similar to the Tempur-Adapt mattress. When switching to their sides, our tester’s shoulders and hips were properly cushioned and aligned with their spine.
The surface may not be supportive enough for stomach sleepers or higher-weight sleepers, but adjusting the mattress to a firmer Sleep Number setting may help.
Your Sleep Number is based on height and weight, so it’s customized to best support your body type. The same Sleep Number setting will feel slightly different for each sleeper.
The i8 mattress automatically adjusts its firmness level based on your movement and sleeping positions throughout the night, offering an even more custom experience. For example, when you switch from sleeping on your back to your side, the mattress will adjust to a softer setting to better accommodate this position. You can turn on the Responsive Air feature in the Sleep Number app, which we discuss below.
Edge support and motion isolation: While the mattress’s plush surface is great for cushioning and absorbing movement, our testers didn’t feel stable sitting on the edge. We think the i8 mattress has poor edge support, and people may not feel stable sitting on or lying near the edge.
The mattress performed much better during our motion isolation tests. Our testers hardly felt their testing partner adjust positions or move around on the bed.
Sleep metrics: You can track your heart rate, breathing rate, snoring patterns, sleep quality, and more in the Sleep Number app. Sleep Number offers built-in sensors in the mattress to track your sleeping data, unlike Tempur-Pedic, which only has sensors in certain adjustable bed bases. We like that the app reports on your sleep quality, quantity, and timing to help you improve your sleep habits.
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Who should probably avoid it
You can reach Sleep Number customer service by:
Credit card payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Sleep Number financing is available using the Sleep Number credit card or through Synchrony Pay. You can apply for the Sleep Number credit card through the website, at checkout, or by calling 877-309-9320.
| Price for Queen | $2,499 | $3,999 |
| Firmness options | Medium, medium-hybrid | Adjustable |
| Mattress height (inches) | 11 | 12 |
| Mattress materials | N/A | Air chambers and foam |
| Available sizes | Twin, twin long, full, queen, king, California king, split king, split California king | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split skin, FlexTop king, California King, split California king, FlexTop California king |
| Delivery | Free white-glove delivery | $249 for delivery and installation |
| Trial period | 90 nights | 100 nights |
| Customer service options | Phone, email, chat, and in-store | Phone, email, chat, and in-store |
| Trustpilot review score | 1.2/5 | 4.4/5 |
Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number are well-known brands that offer high-quality, supportive mattresses. We like that both companies offer in-person showrooms and online shopping.
Our Reviews Team tested and compared the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt and Sleep Number i8 smart bed. Both are popular medium-firm mattresses designed for contouring support and pressure relief.
Our biggest Tempur-Pedic takeaways include:
Our biggest Sleep Number takeaways include:
Every sleeper is different. What’s best for one sleeper, including our testers, may not be best for you. While shopping for your next mattress, keep in mind that the right mattress depends on your weight, sleeping position, personal preferences, and budget.
Both Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic mattresses have features that may help sleepers with back pain. Sleepers living with back pain can adjust their Sleep Number mattress for more support in the lower back area. Tempur-Pedic mattresses are designed to mold to your body. The contouring surface of the Tempur-Pedic foam relieves pressure, which may ease back pain.
The right mattress for you depends on your weight, sleeping position, gender assigned at birth, and personal preferences. Always consult your doctor if you’re shopping for a mattress to help alleviate pain.
The main differences between Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number mattresses are the materials. Tempur-Pedic mattresses contain proprietary foam designed to conform to sleepers using their body heat. The brand also has hybrid mattresses with foam and innerspring coils for more bounce and support.
Sleep Number offers adjustable air mattresses with a comfort foam layer on top. Sleepers can adjust the firmness of a Sleep Number mattress in real time; the air chambers will inflate or deflate to make the mattress firmer or softer.
All Sleep Number mattresses contain sensors that track sleeper insights in the Sleep Number app. Sleep insights for Tempur-Pedic beds are only available with certain Tempur-Pedic adjustable bed bases.
Tempur-Pedic mattresses have a 10-year warranty, which covers manufacturing defects and damage from normal wear and tear. Full coverage for repair or replacement lasts the entire 10 years. Sleep Number claims its mattresses should last 15 years or more. The brand offers a 15-year warranty, but the full cost for replacement and repairs is only covered within the first year. After the first year, costs are prorated.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
NCOA Advisor Mattress Survey. 600 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched January 2024.
