updated July 2023

Bear vs Tuft & Needle Mattress Comparison
In this comparison, we break down the differences between the Bear and Tuft & Needle memory foam mattresses.
Bear and Tuft & Needle are both bed-in–a-box mattress companies with popular memory foam mattresses. Bear designs their beds with athletes and those with active lifestyles in mind. Tuft & Needle prioritizes affordability without compromising customer satisfaction. In fact, 95% of their customers keep their Tuft & Needle mattress.
In this review, we’ll explore even more differences between these all-foam mattresses in this side-by-side comparison.
Bear vs Tuft & Needle Rundown
Customer Rating
MA Score
Summary
Firmness
Type
Trial Period
Warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.6/10
Summary
Known to help relieve pressure points and aid in muscle recovery
Firmness
Medium firm: 6.5/10
Type
Memory foam with graphite gel
Trial Period
120 days
Warranty
Lifetime limited warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.7/10
Summary
Budget-friendly mattress for the average sleeper
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Type
Foam blend
Trial Period
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty


Bear
Tuft & Needle
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.6/10
8.7/10
Summary
Known to help relieve pressure points and aid in muscle recovery
Budget-friendly mattress for the average sleeper
Firmness
Medium firm: 6.5/10
Medium-firm: 6/10
Type
Memory foam with graphite gel
Foam blend
Trial Period
120 days
100 days
Warranty
Lifetime limited warranty
10-year limited warranty
Key Similarities:
- Both the Bear and Tuft & Needle mattresses are made up of all-foam layers, including memory foam comfort layers. Because of their similar construction, they share a medium-firm feel or 6.5/10 on the firmness scale.
- Each of these mattresses incorporates graphite into their comfort layers. Graphite is high in thermal conductivity, making it excellent at temperature regulation. In other words, you’ll stay cool in both of these beds.
- The Bear and Tuft & Needle mattresses received the same high score for spinal alignment in our lab evaluation. They both keep your back straight from neck to tailbone.
Key Differences:
- These beds incorporate unique technologies. The Bear mattress utilizes Celliant yarn in its fabric, which boosts circulation by relaxing your blood vessels. The Tuft & Needle features a special Adaptive Foam that is infused with ceramic beads that create a cool-to-the-touch feel.
- The Tuft & Needle mattress outperformed the Bear in our pressure relief assessment. It does a better job of cushioning curves in your body, especially for side sleepers.
- Traditional memory foam mattresses tend to run hot. In our cooling evaluation, the Bear mattress performed significantly better than the Tuft & Needle with a near-perfect score.
- While neither of these models is particularly expensive, the Tuft & Needle mattress is less expensive. It’s actually one of the most budget-friendly that we’ve reviewed on Mattress Advisor.
- Tuft & Needle offers a 10-year limited warranty and 100-night sleep trial, Bear provides customers with a lifetime limited warranty and 120-night sleep trial.

Bear Mattress Review Highlights
- Mattress Advisor considers the Bear mattress to be one of the best for athletes. The Celliant technology reduces inflammation, as well as the time it takes for muscles to recover.
- Graphite is used in mattresses to keep the temperature down. It’s naturally high in thermal conductivity, which keeps heat moving through the foam instead of pooling under your body.
- With a score of 9/10, you can rest assured that your sleep won’t be disrupted by changes in position while sleeping on the Bear. Unlike some memory foams, Bear’s foams quickly respond to your movements.
- Posture while sleeping is just as important as posture while standing or sitting. The Bear mattress keeps your spine straight while sleeping, which reduces back pain and promotes overall wellness.
- Bear also offers the Bear Hybrid mattress and the Bear Pro mattress.

Tuft & Needle Mattress Review Highlights
- Tuft & Needle is one of Mattress Advisor’s top-rated budget mattresses. Even a Queen size won’t set you back more than $600.
- One of the most important features of a mattress is low stress on pressure points. The T&N scored 8.5/10 in this category during our lab evaluation, so we’re confident it will keep your shoulders and hips well-supported.
- Consistent spinal alignment helps to prevent or reduce back pain by improving your posture while sleeping. If your spine is aligned, you also probably have great pressure point relief, too.
- The T&N mattress is 6/10 on the firmness scale, which is the most preferred firmness by consumers. It’s not too soft, not too firm, and just right for the average sleeper.
- You can also pick from the Tuft & Needle Mint mattress and Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress.
Compare Mattress Dimensions
The Bear and Tuft & Needle mattresses have the exact same dimensions for all of their sizes. See for yourself in this dimension comparison chart.
Bear | Tuft & Needle | |
Thickness | 10” | 10” |
Twin | 39″ x 75″ | 39” x 75” |
Twin XL | 39″ x 80″ | 39” x 80” |
Full | 54″ x 75″ | 54” x 75” |
Queen | 60″ x 80″ | 60” x 80” |
King | 76″ x 80″ | 76” x 80” |
Cal King | 72″ x 84″ | 72” x 84” |
Split King | 76″ x 80″ | N/A |
Learn more about mattress sizes.
Side-by-Side Prices
Take a look at the price differences between the different models and sizes.
Bear | Tuft & Needle | |
Twin | $748 | $745 |
Twin XL | $811 | $795 |
Full | $873 | $895 |
Queen | $998 | $995 |
King | $1,248 | $1,395 |
Cal King | $1,248 | $1,395 |
Split King | $1,622 | N/A |

Inside the Bear Mattress
- Celliant Yarn Cover: Bear’s cover features cooling and calming Celliant yarn that doesn’t lose its effectiveness, even after years of washing and use.
- 2″ Graphite-Infused Foam: This layer of open-cell foam is breathable, so it keeps heat moving through the mattress layers, rather than pooling under your body.
- 2″ Transition Foam: A cozy transition layer of foam adds a little extra responsiveness. Bear calls it their “hybrid foam,” since it pairs cushion with a touch of bounce.
- 6″ High Density Support Foam: This thick layer of foam is firmer than the others, which keeps your body from sinking deep into the bed. It’s also durable, which helps to prevent sagging and other defects.

Inside the Tuft & Needle Mattress
- Cover: The comfort layer and base are encased in a soft, breathable fabric that keeps you comfy and cool.
- Top Layer: Tuft & Needle partnered with chemists to design their proprietary Adaptive Foam. This foam includes graphite and ceramic gel beads, which both absorb body heat. It’s also responsive, meaning it quickly adapts to changes in your position on the mattress surface.
- Base Layer: The support system for Tuft & Needle’s mattress is made with open-cell foam that improves airflow through both layers. It also provides a durable foundation that prevents premature sagging.
Compare Testing Scores
Check out how the Bear and Tuft & Needle mattresses compare across 14 key mattress features.
Bear | Tuft & Needle | |
Shipping | 10 | 10 |
Trial Period | 9 | 9 |
Return Policy | 10 | 10 |
Warranty | 9 | 9 |
Set-Up Test | 7 | 7 |
Motion Transfer Test | 7.75 | 7.5 |
Edge Support Test | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Pressure Relief Test | 7 | 8.5 |
Spinal Alignment Test | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Responsiveness Test | 9 | 8 |
Cooling Evaluation | 9 | 7 |
Durability Evaluation | 8 | 8 |
Customer Service Score | 9 | 10 |
Social Impact Score | 6 | 8 |
TOTAL SCORE | 8.6/10 | 8.7/10 |
Summary: Which Is the Best Mattress?
If you are still unsure whether the Bear or Tuft & Needle mattress is right for you, consider your sleeping position, budget, sleep environment, and preferred buying experience.
- Sleeping Position: The Tuft & Needle mattress provides better pressure relief for side sleepers.
- Budget: Tuft & Needle’s bed is more budget-friendly.
- Sleep Environment: The Bear mattress will keep you cooler, and both mattresses do an average job at motion isolation.
- Buying Experience: Bear and Tuft & Needle share free shipping and returns but have slightly different durations for warranties and sleep trials.
Sleeping Position
Your sleeping position plays a big role in what kind of mattress provides you the most comfort. The Bear and Tuft & Needle mattresses are both medium-firm, or 6.5/10 on the firmness scale. This is considered a universal firmness level because it’s soft enough for side sleepers and supportive enough for back and stomach sleepers.
Side sleepers should keep in mind that the Tuft & Needle mattress provided better pressure relief in our lab evaluation. That means it did a better job of cushioning our tester’s shoulders and hips. Stomach and back sleepers will appreciate that both mattresses scored high for spinal alignment since posture plays a big role in preventing back pain for these positions.
Combination sleepers switch from one position to another during the night. These kinds of sleepers need a mattress that can keep up. Both the Bear and Tuft & Needle beds scored well for responsiveness, meaning they quickly adjusted to changes in position. The Bear scored marginally higher than the Tuft & Needle in this category, so it’s the slightly better pick for combo sleepers.
Budget
Neither of these mattress models have super high price points, but the Tuft & Needle beds are really budget-friendly. You’ll save $150-$200 when you buy a Tuft & Needle mattress instead of the Bear. Plus, both companies offer financing, so you can make monthly payments regardless of which mattress you choose.
Sleep Environment
A question most consumers ask when buying a memory foam mattress is whether or not it traps heat. The Bear mattress does an exceptionally good job of keeping you cool. It scored 9/10 on our cooling evaluation, due to the temperature-regulating Celliant fiber and graphite included in the top layers. The Tuft & Needle mattress earned an average score for cooling, so hot sleepers will rest more comfortably on the Bear.
Another common question from mattress shoppers is how much motion transfer they’ll experience from their partner’s side of the bed. Both mattresses earned average scores for motion transfer, and the Bear outperformed the T&N by a small fraction. They’ll do a decent job isolation motion from one side of the bed to another, but that’s not their strongest characteristic.
Buying Experience
Finally, consider what kind of buying experience you’d like with your mattress purchase. Tuft & Needle also covers these mattresses with a 10-year limited warranty. It’s worth noting that Tuft & Needle offers to repair or replace your mattress when it has a 0.75” body impression, while Bear only covers impressions greater than 1”. However those hoping to keep their mattress for a little longer may want to invest in a Bear mattress, which is good for a lifetime. Both mattresses give a full refund, minus the original shipping costs to Alaska and Hawaii.
When you return your mattress under trial or warranty, Bear and Tuft & Needle will arrange for the used mattress to be picked up and donated to a local charity or recycling center. You only get one return per household per year and make sure you hold onto your original receipt of purchase from either company.
Tuft & Needle customers should be aware that Tuft & Needle mattresses are also sold through Amazon and Lowe’s. The trial period, warranty coverage, and return policy summarized in this review are for mattresses bought directly from Tuft & Needle’s website. Mattresses from Amazon or Lowe’s may have different sleep trials, warranties, and return or shipping policies.
With either the Bear and Tuft & Needle mattresses, you’ll experience high-quality materials and a restful night’s sleep – all for a bargain price.
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