Best Online Mattress 2024
By Sarah Anderson, Certified Sleep Science Coach 
Trust Zoma for expert insights on sleep wellness. Our dedicated team, including sleep science coaches, engineers, and product evaluators, meticulously investigates mattresses using our athlete-informed product methodology. We provide precise and trustworthy articles, continually updating content with the latest scientific breakthroughs. Count on us for top-rated, personally reviewed mattresses that prioritize comfort and performance, elevating your rest to its highest potential.
Buying Guide For Best Online Mattress
You can buy almost anything online nowadays, including a new mattress. It used to be you would have to do your mattress shopping in a store or even visit multiple stores, going from bed to bed in a search for one that was just right. But now you can do your shopping from home or out and about on your phone.
There’s a lot of freedom in online shopping and a quick web search can pull up all kinds of mattresses. But so many choices can be overwhelming and that is why we have put together this guide to help you find the best online mattress for you.
In this guide, we discuss some of the pros and cons when it comes to shopping for a mattress online and in a store, the research you can do to verify if a mattress you see is one you can trust, and how you can determine if a mattress is the right one for you.
Best Mattress Overall
1. Zoma Boost
- Price Range: $1749 - $2748
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal. King, Split King
- Athletes or those with active lifestyles.
- People who experience back pain.
- Hot sleepers
- Memory foam and pocketed coils for balanced support
- Triangulex™ technology for targeted pressure relief.
- Cooling cover to prevent overheating
- Excellent motion isolation
Our testers were thoroughly impressed with the Zoma Boost, praising its exceptional blend of comfort and support. Designed with athletes in mind, the Zoma Boost features tri-zone support that ensures proper spinal alignment and alleviates pressure points. The gel-infused memory foam was notably effective in maintaining a cool sleep environment, keeping sleepers comfortable throughout the night. The Reactiv™ layer provides a responsive feel, facilitating easy movement, which is crucial for active individuals.
Moreover, the Zoma Boost stands out for its durable construction, promising long-term performance. Its hypoallergenic materials cater to those with sensitivities, promoting a healthier sleep environment. Additionally, the mattress’s robust edge support prevents sagging and increases usable sleep space, making it a reliable and versatile choice for any sleeper.
Advanced Cooling Technology: The Zoma Boost features cutting-edge cooling technology, ensuring a comfortable sleep environment throughout the night.
Pressure Relief: This mattress is designed to provide optimal pressure relief, particularly beneficial for athletes or those with an active lifestyle.
Durability: Made with high-quality materials, the Zoma Boost is built to last, offering long-term comfort and support.
Top Layer: Cooling gel memory foam helps regulate temperature and provide a cool sleeping surface.
Support Layer: Reactiv™ foam is responsive and adds a bit of bounce, making it easier to move around on the mattress.
Base Layer: Support+ foam provides a stable foundation and ensures long-lasting durability and support.
The Zoma Boost offers a balanced combination of support and plush comfort, making it ideal for various sleeping positions.
The top layers of the mattress provide a gentle cradle to relieve pressure points, while the supportive base ensures proper spinal alignment. This mattress is designed to keep sleepers cool and comfortable throughout the night with its breathable materials and cooling gel infusion.
One of our reviewers shared: “The Zoma Boost has completely transformed my sleep. It’s incredibly comfortable and supportive. I no longer wake up with back pain!”
Best Mattress for Couples
2. Amerisleep AS3
- Price Range: $1499 - $2648
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
- Couples with different sleep preferences
- Combination sleepers
- Those seeking a balance between support and comfort
- Medium firmness to suit a variety of sleep positions
- Bio-Pur® memory foam for cooler sleep
- Motion isolation to minimize partner disturbance
- Durable and long-lasting construction
After extensive research and testing, our team concluded that the Amerisleep AS3 is ideal for couples. The medium-firm feel, combined with advanced motion isolation, ensures undisturbed sleep even if your partner tosses and turns. Our testers appreciated the Bio-Pur® memory foam, which adapts to body contours while keeping you cool. The HIVE® technology provides zoned support, making it perfect for different sleeping positions.
“It’s perfect for couples with different sleeping preferences,” one tester remarked, highlighting its versatility and comfort.
Motion Isolation: The Amerisleep AS3 excels at minimizing motion transfer, making it ideal for couples with different sleep patterns.
Versatile Comfort: This mattress strikes a perfect balance between softness and support, catering to a wide range of sleep preferences.
Breathability: Designed with breathable materials, the AS3 helps maintain a cool sleep environment, enhancing overall comfort.
Top Layer: Bio-Pur® memory foam is designed to be breathable and responsive, adapting to your body shape for personalized comfort.
Transition Layer: Affinity with HIVE® technology offers targeted support and pressure relief, reducing pressure points.
Base Layer: Bio-Core® support foam ensures the mattress maintains its shape and provides the necessary support.
The Amerisleep AS3 is tailored for couples, providing a medium feel that suits a range of sleep preferences. Its advanced motion isolation technology ensures minimal disturbance from your partner’s movements. The responsive foam adapts to your body, providing both support and pressure relief, making it perfect for couples with different sleeping styles.
One user shared: “My partner and I love the Amerisleep AS3. We both sleep soundly through the night, even if one of us gets up. It’s the perfect compromise for our different sleep needs.”
Best Budget Mattress
3. Vaya Mattress
- Price Range: $849 - $1598
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal. King, Split King
- Budget-conscious shoppers
- Students or young professionals.
- Guest rooms or temporary setups
- Affordable without compromising on quality
- Two layers of foam for a balance of comfort and support
- Breathable foam to keep you cool
- Lightweight and easy to move
For budget-conscious shoppers, the Vaya Mattress emerges as a top contender. Our in-depth analysis revealed its robust construction and exceptional comfort. The all-foam design provides a balanced feel that accommodates different sleeping positions. Additionally, the breathable foam promotes airflow, preventing overheating and ensuring a cool sleep experience.
The Vaya Mattress also excels in motion isolation, making it ideal for couples. Its hypoallergenic materials are perfect for allergy sufferers, offering a cleaner sleep environment. Moreover, the mattress’s edge support ensures durability and maximizes usable sleep space.
Affordable Quality: The Vaya Mattress offers exceptional comfort and support at a budget-friendly price point.
Adaptive Foam: Its adaptive foam construction provides excellent pressure relief and conforms to the body’s contours.
Breathable Design: The mattress is designed to promote airflow, helping to regulate temperature for a cooler sleep experience.
Top Layer: Vaya Comfort Foam is designed to be breathable and contour to your body, providing a comfortable sleep surface.
Base Layer: Vaya Support Foam offers durable support and stability, ensuring the mattress retains its shape over time.
The Vaya Mattress delivers exceptional comfort at an affordable price. It has a medium firmness that works well for most sleepers, providing a balance of softness and support. The open-cell foam construction enhances airflow, keeping you cool and comfortable. Despite its lower price point, the Vaya doesn’t compromise on quality or durability.
“I was skeptical because of the price, but the Vaya Mattress exceeded my expectations. It’s comfortable, and supportive, and I sleep better than ever!” one tester remarked, highlighting its versatility and comfort.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
4. Zoma Hybrid
- Price Range: $749 - $1698
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
- Budget-conscious shoppers
- Students or young professionals.
- Guest rooms or temporary setups
- Zoned support for targeted pressure relief on shoulders and hips
- Combination of foam and coils for a balanced feel
- Cooling cover to prevent heat buildup
- Reinforced edges for better durability
Our team found the Zoma Hybrid to be outstanding for side sleepers. Its blend of responsive coils and contouring memory foam delivers precise support and pressure relief. The pocketed coils not only enhance airflow but also minimize motion transfer, ensuring an undisturbed night’s sleep.
Testers appreciated how well the mattress maintained spinal alignment, which helped reduce hip and shoulder discomfort. Additionally, the breathable cover aids in temperature regulation for a cooler sleep experience. The mattress’s robust construction promises longevity.
With a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty, the Zoma Hybrid is a reliable choice for side sleepers seeking comfort and support.
Targeted Support: The Zoma Hybrid provides targeted support and pressure relief, making it ideal for side sleepers.
Hybrid Construction: Combining foam and pocketed coils, this mattress offers a blend of comfort and support.
Cooling Features: The hybrid design includes cooling features that help maintain a comfortable sleeping temperature.
Top Layer: Zoned Triangulex™ memory foam offers targeted support and pressure relief, particularly beneficial for side sleepers.
Support Layer: Reactiv™ foam adds responsiveness and helps with motion isolation.
Base Layer: Pocketed coils provide enhanced support, promote airflow, and reduce motion transfer.
The Zoma Hybrid is specially designed for side sleepers, offering a plush yet supportive feel. Its zoned support system targets areas like the shoulders and hips, providing enhanced pressure relief where side sleepers need it most. The hybrid design combines the contouring benefits of foam with the supportive feel of coils, ensuring a restful night’s sleep.
“As a side sleeper, the Zoma Hybrid has been a game-changer. I wake up without shoulder pain and feel well-rested every morning.” reported one side-sleeping tester, emphasizing its tailored support for side sleepers.
Best Innerspring Mattress
5. Saatva Classic
- Price Range: $1395 - $2595
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King
- Those seeking a high-end, hotel-like feel.
- Traditional mattress enthusiasts
- People who need extra lumbar support
- Luxury innerspring design with Euro pillow top
- Multiple firmness options to suit different preferences
- Excellent edge support and durability
- Lumbar support enhancement for better spinal alignment
The Saatva Classic stood out in our tests for its luxurious innerspring construction and customizable firmness levels. Our reviewers praised its robust support and plush Euro pillow top, which caters to a wide range of sleepers. The dual-coil system enhances durability and promotes proper spinal alignment.
One team member commented, “The Saatva Classic delivers the perfect blend of comfort and support, making it an outstanding choice for those who prefer a traditional innerspring feel.”
Responsive Support: The Saatva Classic’s innerspring system provides responsive support, ideal for those who prefer a traditional mattress feel.
Multiple Firmness Options: This mattress is available in multiple firmness levels, catering to different comfort preferences.
High-Quality Materials: Constructed with premium materials, the Saatva Classic is designed for durability and long-lasting comfort.
Top Layer: Euro pillow top adds a plush, luxurious feel with additional padding.
Comfort Layer: Individually wrapped comfort coils conform to your body and reduce motion transfer.
Support Layer: The steel coil base support system ensures long-lasting durability and robust support.
The Saatva Classic provides a luxurious innerspring feel with its combination of comfort layers and robust coil support. It offers a choice of firmness levels, allowing sleepers to customize their comfort.
The mattress has a responsive, bouncy feel, making it easy to move around and get in and out of bed, while still providing excellent support and pressure relief. One user shared: “The Saatva Classic is the best mattress I’ve ever owned. It’s comfortable, supportive, and has significantly improved my sleep quality.”
Best Luxury Mattress
6. Purple RestorePlus
- Price Range: $1,795 - $2,995
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Luxury shoppers looking for a unique sleep experience
- Hot sleepers who need excellent temperature regulation
- Those with pressure point issues
- Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid for unmatched pressure relief
- Excellent airflow to keep you cool
- Durable construction with a luxury feel
- Available in different comfort levels
The Purple RestorePlus impressed our team with its innovative Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid, a high-tech material that offers unparalleled pressure relief and temperature regulation. This responsive support adapts to your body’s unique shape, delivering a customized sleep experience. Testers found the mattress both supportive and comfortable, praising its unique feel. Additionally, the durable construction ensures long-term performance. The breathable design promotes airflow, keeping you cool throughout the night.
With a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty, the Purple RestorePlus provides peace of mind and a risk-free investment in quality sleep.
Innovative Gel Grid: The Purple RestorePlus features Purple’s proprietary GelFlex Grid, offering unique pressure relief and support.
Luxurious Comfort: This mattress provides a luxurious sleep experience with its high-end materials and advanced design.
Temperature Regulation: The GelFlex Grid promotes airflow, helping to regulate temperature and keep you cool throughout the night.
Top Layer: GelFlex Grid offers unique pressure relief and temperature regulation, adapting to your body for personalized comfort.
Transition Layer: Comfort foam provides additional cushioning and support.
Base Layer: Support foam ensures the mattress maintains its shape and provides a solid foundation.
The Purple RestorePlus offers a unique sleep experience with its innovative GelFlex Grid. It provides a responsive, adaptive feel that conforms to your body while maintaining excellent support. The mattress stays cool throughout the night and provides pressure relief, making it a luxurious choice for a rejuvenating sleep.
One reviewer highlighted, “The Purple RestorePlus feels like no other mattress I’ve tried. It’s incredibly comfortable and keeps me cool all night. Worth every penny!”
Best Natural Mattress
7. Avocado Green
- Price Range: $1,399 - $2,599
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Eco-conscious consumers
- Those with allergies to synthetic materials
- People who prefer a firmer, supportive mattress
- Made with organic and natural materials
- Certified organic latex, cotton, and wool
- Eco-friendly and sustainably produced
- Hybrid design with innerspring support and latex comfort
Our research and testing revealed the Avocado Green as the best natural mattress, thanks to its eco-friendly materials and exceptional support. Made with organic latex, wool, and cotton, this mattress is both sustainable and comfortable.
The latex offers a responsive feel, while the wool enhances breathability. Testers appreciated its firm support and natural feel. “The Avocado Green is a dream for eco-conscious sleepers,” noted one reviewer, praising its commitment to sustainability without compromising on comfort.
Organic Materials: The Avocado Green mattress is made from organic materials, including certified organic latex, wool, and cotton.
Eco-Friendly Construction: This mattress is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring eco-friendly and non-toxic materials.
Supportive and Comfortable: The Avocado Green offers a balance of support and comfort, making it suitable for a variety of sleep positions.
Top Layer: Organic latex is naturally hypoallergenic, breathable, and provides responsive support.
Middle Layer: Organic wool adds comfort and helps with temperature regulation.
Base Layer: Individually wrapped support coils offer targeted support and reduce motion transfer.
Cover: Organic cotton cover is soft, breathable, and eco-friendly.
The Avocado Green mattress combines eco-friendly materials with superior comfort and support. It has a medium-firm feel, ideal for back and stomach sleepers, while still providing enough cushioning for side sleepers. The organic latex and wool materials offer a naturally cool and breathable sleep surface.
“I love that the Avocado Green mattress is made with natural materials. It’s incredibly comfortable and I feel good knowing it’s eco-friendly.” noted one reviewer, praising its commitment to sustainability without compromising on comfort.
Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers
8. Big Fig
- Price Range: $1,499 – $2,699
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: No
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, and Split King
- Heavy sleepers needing extra support
- Couples with a combined higher body weight
- Those seeking a durable and long-lasting mattress
- Specifically designed to support heavier weights
- Hybrid construction with high-density foam and strong coils
- Cooling technology to prevent overheating
The Big Fig mattress emerged as the top choice for heavier individuals in our tests. Engineered to support up to 1,100 pounds, it combines high-density foam with robust coils to prevent sagging. The reinforced edge support ensures stability and maximizes the usable sleeping surface.
Additionally, its thermoregulating cover helps maintain a cool sleep environment. The mattress also boasts excellent motion isolation, ideal for couples. With a 20-year warranty, the Big Fig guarantees long-lasting durability and performance.
Enhanced Durability: The Big Fig mattress is specifically designed to support heavier weight, ensuring long-lasting durability.
Strong Support: With extra firm support, this mattress prevents sagging and provides a stable sleep surface.
Cooling Technology: It includes cooling features to prevent overheating, ensuring a comfortable sleep for heavy sleepers.
Top Layer: Gel-infused latex provides cooling comfort and responsive support.
Comfort Layer: Three layers of high-density poly foam ensure durability, support, and comfort for heavier individuals.
Support Layer: Pocketed coils provide robust support and help with motion isolation.
The Big Fig mattress is designed specifically for heavier sleepers, offering extra support and durability. It has a firmer feel to provide the necessary support without sacrificing comfort. The high-density foam and strong coil system prevent sagging and ensure the mattress remains supportive over time.
Our team praised its durability and support, with one tester saying, “The Big Fig mattress is perfect for my needs. It’s supportive and comfortable, and I don’t have to worry about it wearing out quickly.”
Best Two-In-One Mattress
9. Layla Mattress
- Price Range: $699 - $1,249
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: No
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Indecisive sleepers who want to try different firmness levels
- Couples with a combined higher body weight
- Hot sleepers needing cooling properties
- Flippable design with two firmness options (soft and firm)
- People who anticipate changing firmness preferences over time
- Excellent motion isolation and support
Our testers highly praised the Layla Mattress for its innovative flippable design, which offers both a soft and a firm side. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for those who prefer adjustable comfort levels. Additionally, the copper-infused memory foam provides cooling benefits and antimicrobial properties, enhancing the overall sleep experience.
The zoned support layers ensure targeted pressure relief, making the Layla Mattress a top choice for many. With its high-quality materials and thoughtful design, this mattress offers excellent durability. Furthermore, its breathable cover helps maintain a cool and comfortable sleeping surface.
Flippable Design: The Layla Mattress features a flippable design with a soft side and a firm side, allowing you to choose your preferred firmness.
Copper-Infused Foam: The copper-infused foam offers antimicrobial properties and enhanced cooling, promoting a healthier sleep environment.
Versatile Comfort: This mattress caters to a wide range of sleep preferences due to its dual firmness options.
Top Layer: Copper-infused memory foam (soft side) offers pressure relief and cooling benefits.
Transition Layer: Max Airflow support foam enhances breathability and provides additional support.
Base Layer: Support core foam ensures the mattress maintains its shape and provides overall support.
Reverse Side: Copper-infused memory foam (firm side) offers a firmer feel for those who prefer more support.
The Layla Mattress offers a unique dual-sided design with both a soft and a firm side, allowing sleepers to choose their preferred level of comfort. The soft side provides a plush, contouring feel, while the firm side offers more support. The copper-infused foam promotes cooling and antimicrobial properties, enhancing the sleep experience.
One reviewer mentioned, “The Layla Mattress is fantastic because I can switch between soft and firm. It’s like having two mattresses in one, and both sides are incredibly comfortable.”
Best Firm Mattress
10. Plank Firm Luxe
- Price Range: $1,249 - $2,099
- Made in USA: Yes
- Motion Isolation: Yes
- Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Those who prefer a very firm sleeping surface
- Back and stomach sleepers
- People with back pain needing extra support
- Ultra-firm design for maximum support
- Flippable with two firmness levels (firm and extra firm)
- Enhanced cooling features to prevent heat retention
- High-quality, durable construction
For those who prefer a firm sleeping surface, the Plank Firm Luxe stood out in our testing. Its ultra-firm design offers excellent support and promotes spinal alignment. The dual firmness options allow sleepers to choose between firm and extra-firm, catering to specific preferences.
The optional cooling panel enhances temperature regulation. Our team found it particularly beneficial for stomach sleepers. “The Plank Firm Luxe is the firmest mattress we’ve tested, and it delivers outstanding support,” said one tester, emphasizing its robust support for a variety of sleepers.
Ultra-Firm Support: The Plank Firm Luxe is designed for those who prefer an ultra-firm sleep surface, offering exceptional support.
Dual-Sided Firmness: This mattress features two firmness options, allowing you to choose between firm and extra-firm.
Cooling Features: Incorporating advanced cooling technology, the Plank Firm Luxe helps regulate temperature for a comfortable sleep experience.
Top Layer: The quilted top layer with TitanFlex™ foam provides a firm yet comfortable sleeping surface.
Support Layer: High-density support foam ensures long-lasting durability and robust support.
Base Layer: Quilted bottom layer with TitanFlex™ foam (flip side for extra firmness) offers an even firmer feel, ideal for those who prefer a very firm mattress.
The Plank Firm Luxe is one of the firmest mattresses available, perfect for those who need robust support. It offers a flippable design with two firmness options: firm and ultra-firm. This mattress promotes proper spinal alignment and is ideal for back and stomach sleepers who require extra support.
One user highlighted: “If you like a firm mattress, the Plank Firm Luxe is the way to go. It’s incredibly supportive and has helped alleviate my back pain.”
Online Mattresses vs. In-Store Mattresses
So what are some of the pros and cons of buying a mattress online compared to the traditional method of buying at a mattress or furniture store? Both can offer different forms of convenience, such as the face-to-face customer service of a mattress store or the ease with which you can look up different mattresses and customer reviews online.
Finding Cheaper Prices
One big advantage shopping online has over a physical storefront is price. As an online store typically doesn’t have the additional costs of renting, staffing, and maintaining a store location, an online company can offer a high-quality mattress for a lower price than a mattress store could.
However, an in-store mattress may come with an opportunity to haggle down the price, or a chance to price match another store’s deal. This isn’t necessarily an advantage for in-store mattresses since online mattresses still have cheaper prices, but it is something to keep in mind.
Shipping costs are often cheaper online as well. Free shipping is commonly offered by many online mattress companies, while mattress stores are less likely to offer free delivery to your house.
Trying Before and After You Buy
You might be thinking a physical store has the advantage of letting you try out a mattress on the floor before you buy it. While true, this isn’t as much of a pro as you might think it is. Spending 10 to 20 minutes on a showroom model doesn’t always give the full picture of what it will be like to sleep on that mattress for seven to nine hours, night after night, according to a 2011 study.
Instead of trying out a mattress in a store, you might be better off with the security offered by a sleep trial. Most online mattress brands come with an attached sleep trial and some in-store mattresses do as well. Under a sleep trial, you have a set amount of days (often between 90 to 120) to decide if a mattress is the one for you.
An online mattress company may offer a more extensive return policy and clearer terms of warranty than a furniture store or a mattress store. Some physical storefronts will only let you return a mattress unopened, within the first 72 hours, and sometimes only if it arrives damaged.
When you’re shopping online, it’s pretty simple to look up the details of a mattress’s company sleep trial, warranty, and return policy right on the company website. If you can’t easily find more about these three policies, take it as a warning sign and move on to another brand.
Reading Reviews
It’s fairly easy to look up what customers say about a mattress when you’re shopping online. The company website should have a section where people can leave reviews, and it’s a good idea to take a look at the lower-rated ones and read through any common complaints. If you can’t find lower-rated reviews or any reviews at all on the company website, it’s a red flag the company isn’t eager to take on feedback.
While you often can look up reviews for an in-store mattress and the company behind it, it’s not as convenient as reading comments and reviews left on a company website.
Getting Answers to Questions
A physical storefront does have the advantage of having staff immediately on hand to answer any questions you may have. While shopping online does let you avoid the pressure of a salesperson urging you to buy, it also takes out the ease with which you can have a question answered. However, many online mattress companies do offer a phone number, email, or live chat option where you can speak with a customer service representative.
Our Advice
Here’s our recommendation when it comes to purchasing a new mattress, regardless of whether you buy it online or in a store— buy a mattress with a sleep trial, a warranty covering at least 10 years, and a return policy, and know the terms and specifics of all three before you buy. Take the time to research the mattress, the company’s reputation, and what people who bought that same mattress have to say.
Company Transparency: How You Can Trust A Mattress
A big concern with online shopping is how much you can trust the product you’re buying if you can’t see it, and by extension how much you can trust the company behind it. Reading customer feedback and mattress reviews on independent blogs can give you an idea of what a mattress is like in person, but what more can you do?
A simple method to determine a company’s trustworthiness is to see how much information you can find on it. It’s reasonable to want to know the details behind the making of your mattress and the policies attached to a mattress purchase.
As you’re researching a brand, look for this info on their website:
- Where and how the company’s mattresses are made
- The length and details of the sleep trial, warranty, and return policy
- When the company first opened for business
- Any certifications the company has
If you still have questions after reading the company’s About and FAQs pages, reach out to customer service.
It’s smart to take the time to investigate and verify a company’s claims and certifications. For certifications, it can be as easy as checking the certifier’s website, such as this list of companies certified by CertiPUR-US®. Any certification should include the registered trademark symbol (®).
Finally, you may want to search the company on Better Business Bureau. It’s not the most updated place to learn more about a company, but it might alert you to any red flags.
What Is a Bed in a Box Mattress?
Not all online mattresses are bed in a box mattresses, but there is a significant overlap between the two. A bed in a box mattress is compressed, rolled up, and packaged in a box to save space in a delivery vehicle. This method also allows for convenient and easy delivery to your front door.
Most bed in a box mattresses are memory foam or latex. Hybrids and innerspring mattresses are not usually compressed for delivery out of concern that compression might damage the coils.
Can Compression Damage a Mattress?
If a mattress is left compressed in its box for an extended period of time, such as five to six months, it may show signs of damage when the box is finally opened. A foam mattress compressed for too long may not fully expand once it’s been unboxed and unrolled. The mattress can lose its structure and responsiveness.
Take a moment to unbox your mattress shortly after receiving it, rather than waiting days or weeks to do so, to further minimize compression time. A mattress warranty can be void if you leave it in the box for two or more weeks, so it’s smart to open up the box as quickly as you can. Give your mattress 24 to 48 hours to expand after it’s been opened.
Trying to recompress your mattress at home, without the tools that a mattress company has at its disposal, can also damage your mattress.
Setting A Budget
What is a fair price to pay for a mattress? It’s a common question and an understandable one, as mattresses can range from $100 to $3,000.
As a general rule, we recommend a budget of $1,000 to $1,500 for a queen-size mattress, although you can still find a quality mattress for under $1000.
When setting a budget, it’s good to ask yourself what you’re looking for in a mattress. Do you want a bed for regular use or a guest room? Do you want a mattress made with organic materials? Is there a health condition such as back pain or restless legs syndrome that a new mattress can address?
The price of a bed is often higher if the mattress uses certified materials that require a certain manufacturing process, if it’s a thicker mattress made with more materials, or if it’s made to fit a certain need such as chronic back pain. Included services such as white glove delivery can also drive up the price of a mattress.
What Is White Glove Delivery?
White glove delivery is a service mattress companies offer where your new mattress is not only delivered to your house, but the delivery people will carry the mattress to your bedroom, set it up, and haul away your old mattress.
Sometimes white glove delivery is built into the price of the mattress, and other times it is available as an add-on service for an additional fee. Often, white glove delivery is included in the price if you buy a mattress too big, too heavy, or otherwise unsuited for compression.
Mattress Types You Can Find Online
You can find all different kinds of mattresses online, some more suitable for you than others. There are four main types of mattresses to consider as you browse— memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid mattresses.
Memory Foam
One of the more common mattress types found online is a memory foam mattress, since it’s easy to compress for shipping. It’s also popular thanks to its pressure and pain relief properties.
Memory foam is manufactured by taking polyurethane foam and processing it for more elasticity and viscosity— this creates a material responsive to pressure that will revert to its original shape when the pressure is removed.
The responsiveness of memory foam takes the pressure off of sensitive areas such as your back, shoulders, hips, and spine. Those who suffer from chronic pain often find a memory foam mattress helps them achieve a better night of sleep.
Memory foam also prevents motion transfer better than any other kind of mattress, which can make it the ideal choice for anyone who is sharing a bed.
The term “memory foam mattress” can be misleading as typically only the top layers contain memory foam. A mattress made completely of memory foam would lack support, so the bottom layers are usually made of firmer foam that is not viscoelastic.
Traditional memory foam can have a problem with overheating, but many mattress manufacturers are aware of this and add features to address it. A common solution is to add cooling gels to the mixture, creating gel memory foam to absorb body heat. Other manufacturers may add copper or graphite, which wick away unwanted heat.
Latex
A latex mattress can be made from natural or synthetic processes. Natural latex is made from rubber tree sap while synthetic latex is made with styrene and butadiene, which are two organic compounds. The manufacturing process behind natural latex makes it one of the more eco-friendly mattress options.
Latex is a body-contouring material like memory foam, but there are a few key differences between the two. Latex can be more breathable than traditional memory foam, making it more naturally suited to keep you cool. Latex also has a bouncy lift whereas memory foam provides more of a cradle that lets the sleeper sink in.
Latex can make for an inherently firm bed. Some customers are surprised by the firm feel of latex, and as a solution, some companies offer an optional pillow top for extra cushioning.
Natural latex can be one of the more expensive mattress options on the market because of the manufacturing process and the material’s durability. Synthetic latex has a shorter expected lifespan than natural latex, which can last for 15 years.
Innerspring
You may have slept on an innerspring mattress growing up since it’s been around longer than any other mattress (since the 1800s). Innersprings used to be the only mattress available, and while they still remain popular, other mattress types are beginning to catch up.
The structure and support of an innerspring mattress comes from its coil system. This coil setup is sandwiched between a piece of fabric, sometimes wool, and a comfort layer made from materials such as memory foam, poly-foam, cotton, or down. An innerspring mattress is bouncy, though this means it doesn’t prevent motion transfer as well as other mattress types.
An innerspring mattress is one of the more breathable kinds of mattresses thanks to its coil setup that lets air easily pass through. An innerspring mattress can be a good choice if you sleep hot.
If you’re a sleeper with chronic pain issues, you might want to pass on an innerspring mattress. Innerspring mattresses can’t contour to the body as well as memory foam, latex, or hybrids, and they lack pressure relief.
Hybrid
A hybrid mattress has a coil support system and at least 3 inches of foam. Often the coils are wrapped in fabric or foam to better isolate motion.
A hybrid mattress can offer more lift and bounce than a memory foam or a latex mattress. Sleepers who like to feel on top of the mattress might prefer a hybrid bed.
However, a hybrid mattress can’t contour to the body as fully as a foam bed can, which can mean less effective pressure and pain relief.
Hybrid mattresses can be some of the more expensive beds on the market as they blend different high-quality materials together. The price tag might not be worth it if you’re looking for a long-lasting mattress, as hybrids have a shorter expected lifespan than a quality memory foam or latex mattress.
Read More: Best Hybrid Mattress Guide
Sleep Styles
Knowing your sleep style is important because it will influence the best mattress firmness for you. Side sleepers generally need a soft mattress they can sink into for pressure relief, while back and stomach sleepers are better off with a firmer mattress to keep the spine aligned. To find your sleep style, take note of the position you tend to fall asleep and wake up in.
Side Sleeping
Sleeping on your side is associated with quite a few health benefits. By sleeping on your side, you help your brain clear out waste proteins more effectively, which may prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. And sleeping on your right side can promote a healthier heart by reducing pressure on it.
Side sleepers are at risk of waking up sore because of the focused pressure on their hips and shoulders, rather than having pressure more evenly distributed across the body.
Side sleepers do well on a plush mattress, with room to sink in enough to alleviate pressure points in the hips and shoulders. Consider a soft to medium mattress if you’re a side sleeper, and we recommend sleeping with a pillow between your legs to further ease pressure and keep the hips aligned.
Read More: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Back Sleeping
If you sleep on your back, you’re in a good position for your spine’s health. Back sleeping helps keep the spine aligned by evenly distributing your weight, so you’re less likely to wake up with aches from too much pressure on a few areas of your body.
Medium-firm to firm mattress help provide the support a back sleeper needs. The mattress should be responsive enough to meet all four curves of your spine. While lying on your back, try to keep your posture what it would be if you were standing straight.
Stomach Sleeping
If you sleep on your stomach we advise making the switch to back or side sleeping. Stomach sleeping over a long period of time can lead to health complications such as back pain and neck pain.
When you sleep on your stomach your center of gravity moves to your torso area. This gravity shift can cause your hips and stomach to sink too deeply into the mattress, which creates an unhealthy arch in your spine that can aggravate lower back pain. And stomach sleeping can strain the neck from needing to twist your head to the side to breathe.
If you choose to keep sleeping on your stomach, we recommend a firm mattress to better keep your spine healthy. Sleep on a thin head pillow or skip the head pillow altogether, and keep another pillow under your lower abdomen.
Mattress Firmness
It’s all relative when it comes to firmness levels and there is no one true best firmness. However, you can narrow down your optimal firmness by understanding how your preferred sleeping position and body type impacts your sleep comfort.
We’ve discussed how sleeping position influences what mattress firmness is best for you, but body weight factors into your ideal firmness as well.
A comfortable mattress for a heavy sleeper is typically firmer to offer needed support. On the other hand, a lightweight sleeper will feel most comfortable on a softer mattress. When it comes to mattress weight capacity, we consider anyone weighing more than 230 pounds to be heavyweight, anyone lighter than 130 pounds to be lightweight, and anyone in between to be average.
The firmness scale is a common way to rank a mattress’s firmness. The scale runs from 1 to 10, with 1 as the softest a mattress can be and 10 as the firmest. A drawback to the firmness scale is that it can be subjective, with each mattress company having their own scale to classify firmness.
The ILD rating of a mattress is a measurement of how much weight a mattress can take before it indents to 25 percent of its original thickness and is used as an unbiased measure of a mattress’s firmness. The higher the ILD rating, the firmer the mattress. You often won’t find the ILD rating on the company website, and if you’re curious you may need to ask a customer service representative. Instead, rely on the firmness scale to get a better idea of how firm a mattress is.
Sleep Trial, Warranty, and Return Policy
The sleep trial, warranty, and return policy all factor into a mattress’s price, so it can be worth your while to familiarize yourself with the details of each before you buy. We strongly recommend against buying a mattress without an attached sleep trial and warranty.
Sleep Trial
A sleep trial is the period of time you have to test out a mattress after buying. Most sleep trials last 90 to 120 nights, although a few mattresses come with sleep trials as short as 60 days or as long as a full year. Typically, it takes about a month to completely adjust to sleeping on a new mattress.
Warranty
A warranty is a sign the company has faith in its product and serves as a failsafe for the customer against any defective product.
The industry standard for a mattress warranty is 10 years. Some mattress companies offer prorated coverage after the initial 10 years, which means you will pay a portion of the replacement costs.
It’s a good idea to read through the mattress warranty, as some actions can void the warranty. Common actions that void a warranty include:
- Removing the law tag
- Staining the mattress
- Not using the proper support/foundation for your mattress
- Not unpacking the mattress within a few weeks of arrival
- Not rotating the mattress often enough
- Selling or giving your mattress to someone else
You will likely need to have a proof of purchase to make a warranty claim, so be sure to file the receipt away in a safe place.
Return Policy
A mattress’s return policy details how to initiate a return, when you can return your mattress, and under what circumstances you can return your mattress. It’s smart to know the return policy before you commit to a mattress purchase, rather than having to look it up later.
Things to know about the return policy include:
- How to start the return process. Do you have to speak with a customer service representative on the phone, or is an email or live chat sufficient?
- When a return can be made. Some mattress companies set a minimum wait time after purchase.
- Are there hidden return fees, such as a shipping fee or a restocking fee?
- Can you receive a full refund if the mattress is not right for you?
Ask customer service if you need anything about the return policy clarified.
When shopping for a new mattress, we recommend finding a company that will pick up your unwanted mattress at your home, rather than require you to ship it back yourself.
Reviews
Reading customer reviews is a great way to find out more about a mattress. You should be able to find them on the company website, and it’s a bad sign if you don’t see any. Some websites will let you filter reviews by relevant keywords, such as “sleeping hot” or “chronic back pain.”
Take a moment to skim lower-rated reviews for any recurring customer complaints. Did the mattress arrive late or in poor condition? Was the mattress firmer or softer than expected? Was the reviewer unhappy with customer service?
If the website uses a star ranking system, take a glance at the number of reviews behind a mattress’s ranking. A four-and-a-half star mattress is more of an accomplishment if the ranking was averaged from 30,000 reviews instead of from three.
Don’t just look for reviews on a company’s website. Read what people are saying on third party websites, and if you have the time to spare, skim through the company’s social media pages for any customer comments. We recommend shopping for a bed between 10 to 14 inches tall. Anything thinner than 10 inches is unlikely to provide you with needed support and durability. If you’re a heavier sleeper, we recommend a mattress between 12 to 14 inches to better take on your weight. There is no one best mattress for everyone, online or otherwise. The best mattress for you will be a mattress that keeps your spine in a healthy alignment, prevents sleep disturbances, and leaves you feeling better than when you fell asleep. You should always purchase an online mattress with a sleep trial, so you have a chance to try out your new bed after buying it.Frequently Asked Questions
How thick should my mattress be?
What is the best online mattress to buy?
Did We Help?
Online shopping can feel like guesswork if you’re unsure what is the right mattress for you. But by doing the research, you should feel better prepared to find the best mattress online for you. Remember to consider not just the price but the mattress’s materials, firmness, sleep trial, warranty, and return policy, along with customer reviews and the company’s reputation.
Don’t hesitate to take a night to sleep on a decision before you buy a mattress. There will always be more mattress sales and it’s best to be confident the mattress you choose is right for you.
This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.
Sarah Anderson, Certified Sleep Science Coach
Sarah Anderson is a sleep, health, and wellness writer and product reviewer. She has written articles on changing and improving your sleep schedule, choosing the right mattress for chronic pain conditions, and finding the best pillow for you. Sarah Anderson has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University in Journalism and Mass Communications. Prior to working for Zoma, she wrote for a variety of news publications. Sarah's work has been featured on Bustle, PureWow, and other publications.
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