Best Hybrid Mattresses of 2023

By Barry Bridges

Sep 18th, 2023

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Hybrid mattresses aim to give sleepers the best of both worlds by combining different types of materials in strategically arranged layers so that you can reap the benefits of each one. For example, memory foam provides excellent contouring and pressure relief, but an all-foam mattress can trap too much heat. The hybrid mattress solution is a design that incorporates top layers of memory foam with airflow-friendly coils or naturally breathable latex underneath.

We’ve reviewed over 50 hybrid beds of various styles and designs. In this guide, we’ll share our picks for best hybrid mattress and show you what to look for when shopping in our buyer’s guide. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, be sure to check out our top picks for the best mattress of 2023.

Best Hybrid Mattress: Our Top Picks

Why You Can Trust Mattress Advisor

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When we compare hybrid mattresses, we expand our review process to put additional focus on:

  • Quality of materials. Hybrids are generally thicker and heavier, so the materials in the lower layers have to bear more weight. The best hybrids use high-density foam and latex and sturdy innerspring systems with high coil counts to resist sagging.
  • Integrated design. Are the layers just stacked on top of each other or are they arranged to work in unison? The best-designed hybrids have layers strategically placed so that each one can serve its specific purpose and enhance the overall quality.

Helix Midnight Luxe

Helix luxe product shot 1
Helix Midnight Luxe

Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers

Best for:

  • Sleepers who get overheated
  • Side sleepers
  • Spine alignment
customer rating

4.5/5

our score

8.7/10

firmness

Medium firm: 6/10

trial period

100 days

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Hot Sleepers: The Helix Midnight Luxe is an ultra-cooling hybrid mattress that can help you say goodbye to night sweats. It earns a near-perfect 9.5/10 cooling score, making it one of the best mattresses for hot sleepers we’ve tested yet. You can turn down the temperature even further by adding a GlacioTex Cooling Cover, although it costs between $149 and $249 extra depending on mattress size.

Pros

  • The key cooling features include a layer of gel-infused memory foam and an airflow-friendly innerspring layer.
  • With 5/10 firmness and an 8.5/10 pressure relief score, the Midnight Luxe is a good fit for side sleepers of average weight and lighter.

Cons

  • Regular price for a queen-size is nearly $2,400, so the Midnight Luxe may not be the mattress for you if you’re on a tight budget.
  • Its 7.5/10 motion transfer score is less than ideal for couples.

Read our full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review. You can see other cooling beds in our roundup of best mattresses for hot sleepers.


Nectar Classic Hybrid

Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress
Nectar Classic Hybrid

Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers

Best for:

  • Sleepers who change positions
  • Budget-minded shoppers
  • Couples and co-sleepers
customer rating

4.8/5

our score

9/10

firmness

Medium firm

trial period

365 days

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Combination Sleepers: If you shift positions throughout the night, you need a bed with good responsiveness that supports multiple sleep positions comfortably. The Nectar Classic Hybrid has a medium-firm feel that works for most back, side, and stomach sleepers, and a bouncy hybrid construction that makes it easy to reposition throughout the night.

Pros

  • Couples and co-sleepers will also benefit from the Classic Hybrid’s good motion isolation, which means the effects of all that tossing and turning won’t ripple out to the other side of the bed.
  • Couples will also get good edge support from this mattress, so everyone can spread out without fearing they’ll slide off a sagging edge.

Cons

  • Our testers give the Nectar Classic Hybrid a 7.5/10 for durability—not a bad score but not a great one, either.
  • Some customer reviews say the mattress feels too firm, particularly for side sleepers.

Read our full Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for combination sleepers.


DreamCloud Premier

DreamCloud Premier
DreamCloud Premier

Editor's Pick

Best for:

  • All sleep positions
  • Restless sleepers
  • Seniors
customer rating

4.7/5

our score

8.9/10

firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

trial period

365 days

Why It’s Our Editor’s Pick for Best Hybrid Mattress: Even among other top-rated hybrid mattresses, the DreamCloud Premier is simply an outstanding all-around product. It scores a 9/10 or better in eight of our 14 review categories, including 9/10 scores for pressure relief, responsiveness, and durability.

Pros

  • The combination of sturdy coils and soft foam gives it a 6.5/10 medium-firm feel that matches up well with just about any sleeping position and body type.
  • Don’t forget the 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty, plus the fact that the Premier is priced more affordably than many comparable luxury mattresses.

Cons

  • You might notice some off-gassing (“new mattress smell”) after unpacking your DreamCloud Premier, although it should dissipate in a few hours.
  • If 100% American-made products are a must-have, keep in mind that materials for the Premier are sourced from around the world and then assembled in the United States.

Read our full DreamCloud Premier mattress review. To see more top-rated beds, see our roundup of best mattresses of 2023.


The WinkBed

winkbed lux firm mattress 1
WinkBeds Luxury Firm

Best Firm Mattress

Best for:

  • Back sleepers
  • Stomach sleepers
  • Near-perfect edge support

 

customer rating

4.5/5

our score

8.6/10

firmness

Medium firm: 6/10

trial period

120 days

What Makes It a Great Firm Hybrid Mattress: The WinkBed is available in four firmness options, including a firm and an extra-firm. People looking for a firm hybrid mattress should choose Firmer (7.5/10) or Plus (8/10 and specifically designed for those who weigh 250 lbs or more). The WinkBed has not one but two innerspring layers, so you should feel well-supported.

Pros

  • High-density support foam around the perimeter bolsters the WinkBed’s edge support. In fact, our testing process gives it a 9.75/10 edge support score.
  • Other testing highlights include an 8.75/10 score for spine alignment and a 9/10 for responsiveness.

Cons

  • This mattress might not be the best match for couples and people who share the mattress with their children or pets since its motion isolation capabilities are mediocre (6.4/10 score).
  • People with neck pain should take note of the 7.75/10 score for pressure relief.

Read our full WinkBed mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best firm mattresses.


Titan Plus

Titan
Titan Plus

Best Mattress for Heavy People

Best for:

  • Sleepers 230 lbs and above
  • Sleepers who want extra firmness
  • Back and stomach sleepers
customer rating

4.5/5

our score

9.2/10

firmness

Firm: 7/10

trial period

120 days

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Heavy People: An extra-firm feel and sturdy design help make the Titan Plus one of the best hybrid mattresses for heavy people on the market. It’s designed with heavier sleepers in mind and can support up to 1,000 lbs (or 500 lbs per side for two people sharing a queen or king).

Pros

  • This memory foam/polyfoam/innerspring hybrid from Brooklyn Bedding has an 8/10 feel on the mattress firmness scale, which translates to plenty of support for people with larger frames.
  • Since heavier people are more prone to overheating, this hybrid’s 8.5/10 cooling score is another promising sign.

Cons

  • The results of our pressure relief test (7/10 score) probably mean that heavy side sleepers will feel quite a bit of pressure in their shoulders and hips.
  • The 7.5/10 edge support score is a letdown for a mattress designed for plus-size sleepers.

Read our full Titan Plus mattress review. You can check out similar beds in our roundup of the best mattresses for heavy people.


Bear Star Hybrid

Bear Star Hybrid
Bear Star Hybrid

Best Mattress for Athletes

Best for:

  • Athletes/active lifestyles
  • Stomach sleepers
  • Back sleepers
customer rating

4.7/5

our score

9/10

firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

trial period

120 days

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Athletes: The best mattresses for athletes will offer a restful night’s sleep and adjust to your body as you move. The Bear Star Hybrid shows good responsiveness (8.75/10 testing score) thanks to its individually wrapped coil system. The Celliant cover uses Infrared Yarn Technology to promote recovery overnight, another intriguing feature for athletes.

Pros

  • A near-perfect 9.5/10 spine alignment score indicates a mattress that excels at promoting healthy sleep posture.
  • With an 8.75/10 score for responsiveness, the Star Hybrid should match up well with combination sleepers.

Cons

  • We gave the Bear Star Hybrid a score of only 6.25/10 in motion transfer. If you share your mattress with a partner, your kids, or your pets, it might not be the ideal choice.
  • Based on our pressure relief test (7.5/10 score), side sleepers might not get enough cushioning under their hips and shoulders.

Read our full Bear Star Hybrid mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for athletes.


Saatva Classic

Saatva Classic Mattress
Saatva Classic

Best Mattress for Back Pain

Best for:

  • People with back pain
  • Back and side sleepers
  • Hot sleepers
customer rating

4.8/5

our score

9/10

firmness

Customizable

trial period

365 days

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain: When it comes to addressing back pain, can a mattress be both luxurious and functional? The Saatva Classic has features that suggest the answer is yes. Its hybrid design includes a layer that combines Saatva’s Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire with pressure-relieving memory foam.

Pros

  • We give the Saatva Classic a perfect 10/10 score in spine alignment testing, along with a 9/10 score for pressure relief—a good sign that the mattress will promote a healthy, neutral alignment while gently cushioning your lower back and hips.
  • Saatva’s Lumbar Zone technology has a seal of approval from the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations.

Cons

  • You’ll enjoy a luxury feel with this product, but you’ll pay a luxury price as well (starting at around $2,000 for a queen-size).
  • Because each Saatva mattress is made to order, delivery could take up to 21 days.

Read our full Saatva Classic mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for back pain.


Nolah Natural 11″

MA CustomImagery NolahNatural
Nolah Natural

Best Latex Hybrid Mattress

Best for:

  • Eco-conscious people
  • Those who sleep hot
  • People with joint or back pain
customer rating

4.9/5

our score

8.7/10

firmness

Meidum-Firm: 5.5/10

trial period

120 days

What Makes It a Great Latex Hybrid Mattress: This hybrid from Nolah has a multi-layer design that includes Talalay latex and support coils to provide a cushioning and supportive feel. It features two latex layers: a 2″ comfort layer and a 1″ transition layer. It also uses natural materials to create a hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly product.

Pros

  • The Nolah Natural 11″ earns a 9/10 Mattress Advisor cooling score, making it a very good mattress for hot sleepers.
  • The 5.5/10 firmness and 9/10 pressure relief score make the Nolah Natural a very good fit for average-sized side sleepers.

Cons

  • Couples should note that the Nolah Natural 11″ doesn’t do a great job of isolating motion to one part of the mattress (7/10 motion transfer score).
  • The Nolah Natural’s performance in edge support (7/10 score) could pose a problem for people who sleep near the edge of the mattress.

Read our full Nolah Natural mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best latex mattresses.


Brooklyn Aurora Luxe

brooklyn aurora hybrid
Brooklyn Aurora Luxe

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

Best for:

  • Side sleepers
  • Combination sleepers
  • Couples who sleep hot
customer rating

4.6/5

our score

8.8/10

firmness

Available in soft (3/10), medium (5/10) or firm (7/10)

trial period

120 days

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers: The Aurora Luxe by Brooklyn Bedding is a top-rated luxury hybrid mattress that matches up well with many side sleepers. Although you have three firmness options to choose from, we recommend Soft (3/10) for lightweight side sleepers and Medium 5/10) for average-weight side sleepers.

Pros

  • With a 9.5/10 cooling score, the Aurora Luxe is among the coolest mattresses we’ve ever reviewed and an excellent choice for hot sleepers.
  • People of average size (under 230 lbs) will see the most benefits from the Aurora Luxe’s CopperFlex foam.

Cons

  • Although the Aurora Luxe has multiple foam layers, Brooklyn Bedding’s take on memory foam (the hyper-elastic CopperFlex) might not deliver the same hugging sensation as the traditional material.
  • At nearly $1,900 regular price for a queen-size, this mattress is also a bit more expensive than some comparable beds.

Read our full Brooklyn Aurora Luxe mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for side sleepers.


Puffy Lux Hybrid

puffy lux hybrid lifestyle
Puffy Lux Hybrid

Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Best for:

  • Stomach and back sleepers
  • Hot sleepers
  • People with back pain
customer rating

4.8/5

our score

8.3/10

firmness

Medium-Firm - 6/10

trial period

101 nights

What Makes It a Great Hybrid Mattress for Stomach Sleepers: Neither too soft nor too firm, the Puffy Lux Hybrid works well for stomach sleepers due to the combined powers of its memory foam and innersprings. When lying on your stomach, the mattress’s contouring foam comfort layer feels good against your core, while the dense coil support layer helps prevent your hips from sinking out of alignment with your shoulders. The mattress scores highly for both spine alignment and cooling, suggesting that it will not only help safeguard you from back pain when resting on your back or stomach, but it will also help you sleep cooler in any position.

Pros

  • The mattress’s medium-firm firmness tends to work well for both back and stomach sleepers of all sizes.
  • A high score for spine alignment indicates that the mattress does a good job of helping maintain a neutral spine and supporting those with lower back pain.
  • Hot sleepers should appreciate the mattress’s innerspring layer, which maintains good airflow, and gel-infused foam layer, which wicks away moisture and heat.

Cons

  • The Lux Hybrid earns a below-average score for responsiveness, which suggests that restless sleepers might not have the easiest time changing positions throughout the night.
  • Side sleepers will likely find that the mattress doesn’t provide enough forgiving cushion to relieve pressure in their shoulders and hips.

Read our full Puffy Lux Hybrid mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for stomach sleepers.


How to Choose the Best Hybrid Mattress

Shopping for a mattress can be a bit of a challenge. Even once you’ve narrowed your options down to the category of hybrid mattresses, you have a ton of options and many factors to consider before you find the right one for you.

This buyer’s guide can serve as a checklist as you determine if a particular hybrid mattress is a good fit for you. In this guide, we’ll cover:

What Is a Hybrid Mattress?

A hybrid mattress matches up with the dictionary definition of hybrid—one thing composed of different elements. A bed made with two or more materials arranged in layers can be classified as a hybrid. Common building blocks of hybrid mattresses include:

  • Memory foam
  • Specialty polyurethane foam (also known as polyfoam)
  • Latex foam
  • Metal coils
  • Organic fibers such cotton and wool
  • Elastic polymer

A typical hybrid mattress design a comfort layer, one or more transition layers, a coil layer, and a foam base layer. The image below shows a typical hybrid design:

Hybrid Mattress Layers

1-Comfort layer

 

2-Transition layer

 

3-Coil layer

 

4-Foam base layer

 

5-Bottom cover

How are Hybrids Different from Other Mattresses?

  • Hybrid vs Coil: Coil mattresses have a core layer of metal springs cushioned on either side by foam. Some can be flipped once one side of foam starts to lose its cushioning. Hybrid mattresses have a more intentional layer construction and often can’t be flipped because of the specific layering.
  • Hybrid vs Memory Foam: Memory foam beds use different layers of foam varying in density (higher density on the lower layers, softer foam at the top). Memory foam is best known for the body-hugging, contouring properties that provide excellent pressure relief.
  • Hybrid vs. Latex: All-latex mattresses use specially processed foam derived from rubber-producing plants such as rubber trees. Similar to memory foam beds, these mattresses use layers of foam with varying densities. Adding coil layers to the mix accentuates the bouncy responsiveness of latex.

How Do the Hybrid Layers Work?

The main idea behind any hybrid design, including mattresses, is to make something greater than the sum of its parts. Any type of mattress material has certain pros and cons, but combining different materials in layers can accentuate each element’s strengths while compensating for its weaknesses.

For example, traditional memory foam tends to trap heat and coil springs don’t provide the best level of pressure relief. A foam/coil hybrid means you can get the pressure relief of memory foam and the breathability of a coil system in the same package.

To illustrate how layering can be used to fill in these gaps, the following chart shows the strengths and weaknesses of different mattress materials.

MATERIAL PROS (+) AND CONS (-)
Memory Foam + Contouring “hug” effect
+ Great pressure relief
– Retains heat
Specialty Polyfoam + Some contouring
+ OK pressure relief
– Some heat retention
Latex + Contouring, pressure relief
+ Naturally breathable
– Can feel too bouncy
Coil Springs + Consistent firmness
+ Good airflow
– Short on pressure relief
Elastic Polymer + Soft but responsive
+ Pressure-relieving
– Sometimes too stretchy

Also, the order of the layering has a purpose. Using memory foam or latex in the upper layers provides pressure relief and responsiveness, while a core layer of springs helps ensure even distribution of body weight and improved durability. The best hybrid mattresses have designs that arrange the layers with this type of idea in mind.

Pros and Cons of Hybrid Mattresses

Let’s take a look at some benefits and disadvantages of sleeping on a hybrid mattress.

Pros

  • Balance of comfort and support: Hybrid mattresses combine the support of coils with the comfort of foam or other soft materials. You get a mattress that contours your body at the surface, but offers the right pushback to keep your body properly supported.
  • Ease of movement: If a memory foam mattress gives you more sinking in than you prefer, a hybrid can balance it out. You’ll sleep on the mattress instead of in it, making it easier to shift positions in the night.
  • Cooling and breathability: The inclusion of airflow-friendly coil layers makes hybrids more breathable than a typical all-foam mattress.
  • Durability: Like any material, foam or latex degrades over time. By adding an innerspring layer, a hybrid design ensures that durable steel coils help shoulder the load.

Cons

  • Cost: Due to their layered designs and mix of materials, hybrid mattresses are some of the most expensive beds on the market.
  • Height and weight: If you’re looking for a low-profile mattress, you probably won’t find that in a hybrid. Many are very tall, even ranging up to 20” thick, so you may have to invest in deep-pocket sheets. Hybrids can also be on the bulky side, making them less portable than lighter mattresses.
  • Limited firmness range: Hybrids aim to provide the best of both worlds, often resulting in a medium to medium-firm feel. If you’re looking for a super soft mattress or a super firm mattress, you might not find it in a hybrid.

What to Look for in a Hybrid Mattress

Here are the key factors to consider when you’re shopping for a new hybrid bed:

Quality Materials

  • Coils. For hybrids with innerspring layers, tempered steel is considered the best material for mattress coils because of its durability. With a queen size hybrid, look for a coil count (the number of coils) of at least 400.
  • Memory foam. Medium-density foam (about 4 lbs per cubic foot) usually strikes the best balance between durability and the pressure relief and contouring memory foam is known for. Gel-infused foam usually sleeps cooler than regular foam.
  • Latex. Natural latex foam has a springier, more natural feel than synthetic latex. With blended latex, aim for the highest ratio of natural material to synthetic material (70% natural to 30% synthetic, for example).
  • Natural fibers. Some organic hybrid mattresses use wool or cotton in the comfort layers, and wool is sometimes used as a natural, non-toxic fire retardant. Look for materials that meet certification standards for purity, such as EKO-TEX Standard 100.

Temperature Regulation

The typical hybrid benefits from a design that promotes cooling and breathability, particularly innerspring hybrids since the empty space between the coils promotes airflow.

Starting from there, latex also performs better in cooling than most types of memory foam. If you have your eye on a memory foam hybrid, remember that gel-infused foam typically sleeps cooler. Ideally, an innerspring-latex combination or innerspring with gel memory foam should provide the best cooling performance.

Each mattress we review includes a cooling score ranging from 1-10. You can see each mattress’s cooling score on its review page.

Sleeping Position

As a whole, hybrid mattresses cover a lot of ground in terms of sleeping positions. Just remember that materials and firmness levels can make a huge difference. General guidelines include:

Position Upper Layers Core Layer* Firmness
Side Foam or latex High-gauge coils Soft to medium-firm
Back Foam or latex Low-gauge coils Medium-firm to firm
Stomach Latex or foam Low-gauge coils Firm to extra-firm
Combination Foam or latex  High-gauge coils Medium to medium-firm

*What Does Coil Gauge Mean? Gauge is a measurement of coil thickness. Low-gauge coils are thicker and firmer, and high-gauge coils are thinner and less firm. If you’re a side sleeper or combination sleeper, you need high-gauge (less firm). Back and stomach sleepers need low-gauge (firmer).

  • Firmer: Coil gauge of 13 or lower
  • Softer: Coil gauge of 14 or higher

Pricing

Hybrid mattresses tend to be a bit more expensive than those that use one type of material, as in all-foam or all-latex. The average regular price for the hybrid mattresses featured on this page is about $1,850, a few hundred dollars more than you’d expect to pay for a typical bed.

On the other hand, the typical hybrid offers more for the money: additional layers and complex designs that aim to combine the best qualities of the materials into one package. Also keep in mind that exclusive deals and holiday sales could knock a few hundred dollars off the regular price of a hybrid.


Recap: Our Picks for Best Hybrid Mattress

Here’s another look at our list of best hybrid mattresses:

Mattress Award Mattress Advisor Score
Helix Midnight Luxe Best Hybrid for Hot Sleepers 8.7/10
Nectar Classic Hybrid Best for Combination Sleepers 9.0/10
DreamCloud Premier Editor’s Pick 8.9/10
The WinkBed Best Firm Hybrid Mattress 8.6/10
Titan Plus Best Hybrid for Heavy People 9.2/10
Bear Star Hybrid Best Hybrid Mattress for Athletes 9.0/10
Saatva Classic Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain 9.0/10
Nolah Natural 11″ Best Latex Hybrid Mattress 8.7/10
Brooklyn Aurora Luxe Best Hybrid for Side Sleepers 8.8/10
Puffy Lux Hybrid Best Hybrid Mattress for Stomach Sleepers 8.3/10

FAQs

Many of the mattresses profiled on this page have a legitimate claim to being the best. Although no single mattress will fit everyone’s preferences, the best hybrids tend to share certain qualities from top to bottom, such as:

  • A memory foam comfort layer on top to provide cushioning and contouring
  • A foam transition layer in the middle that offers support for different areas of the body
  • An innerspring layer with individually wrapped pocket coils for motion isolation and responsiveness

The best hybrids also use an intentional design that aims to have the different layers work together, with each material balancing the other’s shortfalls, as opposed to just stacking layers on top of each other and calling the result a hybrid.

Yes, many hybrids are sold as bed-in-a-box mattresses—compressed, rolled up and shipped in a large, cylinder-shaped box. One notable exception is Saatva. On its website, the company says that making a mattress compressible requires using lower-quality foam and thinner coils (a position that makers of bed-in-a-box hybrids would of course dispute).

You do not need a box spring for a hybrid mattress. If it’s a hybrid that includes an innerspring layer, box springs are OK but not necessarily required. If it’s a hybrid without any springs, like a latex or memory foam option, box springs are not recommended. When in doubt, check the manufacturer’s recommendation for what type of foundation or frame to use.

The main reason many of the best hybrid mattresses cost more is the design. Engineering a multi-layer mattress with different types of materials is typically more complex than making, for example, an all-foam or all-spring mattress. On the other hand, some of the best mattresses for the money are hybrids that provide solid value for your investment.

The lifespan of a mattress varies greatly by type, but a well-made hybrid bed should last six to 10 years on average. One potential issue is that some layers could outlast others. For example, the coils in a hybrid with an innerspring layer could start losing their tension long before the foam or latex layers begin to degrade, or vice versa. In general, though, a hybrid made with quality materials in each layer could stay comfortable for several years, if not longer.