If you’ve been in a relationship for more than a week, you’ve surely discovered that compromise is the key to coupling bliss. Where to go for dinner, what movie to watch, where to take a vacation this year — these are all decisions that may require each of you to give a little to ensure that you’ll both be sleeping in the same bed tonight.
But your mattress? Do you really want to compromise on something you’ll spend about one-third of your life in? Of course not. (And if you answered yes, it’s time to be a little more selfish.)
Your mattress is one selection where compromise will actually deteriorate your health, decrease your productivity, and could ultimately damage your relationship. And since you’ve made all those other compromises to remain amorous bedfellows, you need to find a mattress that will satisfy the both of you.
Before you begin shopping for a mattress, each of you should decide what you’re looking for in a mattress. What level of comfort do you prefer? Do you like your mattress to be firm without a lot of give? Maybe you like to feel a little hug from your mattress. Do either of you sleep hot? Make note of what’s a deal breaker versus what’s just “nice to have” for each of you.
It’s likely that you and your sleeping partner differ in size, body type, and/or preferred sleep positions. So, finding a mattress that will satisfy both of you might seem like a major challenge, especially with the hundreds of options available, but it’s not impossible. In fact, we’ve made the process a bit easier by narrowing down those hundreds of options to five of our favorite mattresses for couples.
Whatever your preferences, there are certain features that couples should look for in a mattress. We broke those down for you here.
The most important feature of any mattress is the support it provides. No matter your size or the way you like to sleep, the mattress that is best for you will keep your spine properly aligned. Research shows that proper alignment of the spine is the most important factor determining the quality of your sleep. A sagging mattress or one that does not provide enough support for your weight and preferred sleep position will not provide you with the restorative sleep you need to wake up to the best version of yourself.
But what is proper alignment?
You really won’t know if a mattress is going to offer you the right support until you sleep on it…for at least a few weeks. So while you can research things like support and spinal alignment, you and your sleeping partner might respond differently to different types of mattresses. If you’re unsure, our best recommendation is to choose a mattress that has a generous trial period and hassle-free returns.
You love your partner dearly, but night after night they toss and turn and sleep right through it. You? You wake up feeling every move all… night… long. That’s probably because your current mattress doesn’t absorb movements; it merely transfers the motion from the other side of the bed to your side, disturbing your sleep. The best mattresses for couples are designed to minimize motion transfer so each of you can sleep soundly regardless of how much activity there is on the other side of the bed. Foam mattresses and mattresses filled with individually wrapped coils are the best bets for motion isolation.
A mattress for two people is going to wear more than one with a single sleeper. As a couple, you may find you spend more time in bed, which means there’s more weight for the mattress to support and more activity to sustain. A mattress that may be durable for one person may not be the best for couples. Couples need mattresses that are able to withstand the additional wear and tear that comes from couples’ activities and sleep habits. A good mattress will retain its original shape and support over its lifetime – about 7 to 10 years.
Sagging in the center will draw both of you into the middle of the mattress and make it difficult to get out of the swale. Poor support will result in back pain, headaches, and stiff necks for both of you. And that’s a good recipe for relationship rifts.
Yeah, we went there. For most couples, sleeping is not the only activity that happens on your mattress. (And we’re not talking about pillow fights.) So, when you’re shopping for a mattress, you’ll want to consider all the ways you plan to use your mattress. Here are some of the features you should look for when considering the best mattress for sex:
Remember, you’re not sleeping alone anymore. A full-size mattress is simply not big enough for a couple. In fact, sharing a full-size mattress gives each of you about as much space as sleeping in a crib would. Your mattress needs to be big enough for both of you. Right now, you feel certain that you will snuggle and spoon every night, but after 23 years of marriage, I’m here to tell you that you will not. Fact of life. Sorry kids.
When buying online, you’ll want the assurance of a generous return policy — after all, you’re making a big investment without ever having touched the item you will be entrusting with your sleep. Industry experts claim it takes your body about 30 days to adjust fully to a new mattress, so a 30-day trial period is a minimum requirement. Many companies offer 100 days or more, which is even better.
Shopping for a mattress can be overwhelming, especially when you need to accommodate two people who may not have the same sleeping preferences. Here at Mattress Advisor, we feel your pain, but we’re obsessed with sleep. We’ve done the research for you and have compiled a list of our five favorite mattresses for couples. For more information on each of these mattresses and why we think it’s great for couples, read on below.
The support is perfect for the both of us.
Ian
Customizable: Varies based on selection
100 days
Helix takes a different approach to meeting customer needs: Rather than trying to guess what most people want, Helix simply asks. You and your partner can answer a few questions about body types, preferences, and sleeping styles. Then they go to work to build a made-to-order mattress that is perfect for each of you. They also offer a “blended” solution for couples whose preferences can be averaged out to a happy medium that suits both of you.
The Helix mattress uses a combination of two different types of foams and hundreds of small, individually wrapped coils that absorb energy and reduce motion transfer. Their Helix Dynamic Foam incorporates the best features of memory foam and latex without the drawbacks (like allergies and sleeping hot). The magic comes in the layer of polyfoam that can be customized to every sleeper’s preferred firmness, ensuring that you and your other half gets the best sleep possible.
Helix offers a 100-night risk-free trial period, free shipping, and free returns.
We finally found the perfect mattress we were looking for.
Guy B.
Medium firm: 6/10
100 days
We love the Leesa mattress for couples because it is specifically designed to suit most sleepers with its Universal Adaptive feel™. The cushiony top layer of LSA200™ Foam allows for maximum airflow and breathability to keep you cool and dry throughout the night. No more sleeping hot and waking up sweaty in damp sheets.
This top layer also provides enough spring to make it easy to move around and change positions. The middle layer of memory foam relieves pressure points while the dense inner core provides the right amount of support for all sleepers no matter how big or small. Whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, you and your partner will find just the right combination of softness and firmness. The totally foam construction minimizes motion transfer to near zero ensuring that you and your partner don’t disturb each other… unless you want to.
Leesa offers a 100-night risk-free trial period, free shipping, and free returns.
Most comfortable mattress we’ve ever slept on.
Google Reviewer
Available in plush soft: 3/10; luxury firm: 5.5-6.5/10; and firm: 8/10
120 days
This mattress offers couples the spring and support of coil-on-coil construction without the motion transfer of lower quality coil mattresses. Individually wrapped coils minimize motion transfer so that your movements don’t bother your partner, ensuring that both of you get a great night’s sleep. A memory foam layer on top of the coils offers superior lumbar support for back sleepers, keeping the spine naturally curved. The plush euro pillow top adds comfort by relieving pressure points and cradling shoulders and hips. Edge support keeps you from rolling off the bed and prevents the edge from collapsing when you both snuggle close to the sides.
Saatva makes it easy to love their mattress by offering three levels of comfort. Couples can choose from Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm mattresses. Designed to last 10 -15 years, Saatva offers premium quality affordably priced.
Saatva offers a 120-night trial period and comes with free set-up and mattress removal. If you decide to return this mattress, there is a $99 handling fee that you will not get back.
My husband and I cannot get over how comfortable and cool we are at night.
Cynthia
Medium firm-firm: 6.5/10
100 days
The Purple® Bed is great couples because it offers enough firm support to keep your back aligned and cradles your hips and shoulders to relieve pressure points. Purple offers the best of both worlds so that most couples will find a pleasing combination of softness and firmness.
Their innovative Hyper-Elastic Polymer™ top layer features a honeycomb design that encourages airflow, allowing you to sleep cool and dry. It is also allergen resistant and non-toxic, so there’s no chemical smell right out of the box. And it offers enough cushion to provide excellent motion isolation, making it an excellent choice for couples, especially if there’s a lot of nocturnal tossing and turning.
Purple offers a offers a 100-night risk-free trial period, free shipping, and free returns.
We're sleeping better with less tossing and turning.
Anna S.
Choose between soft, medium or firm
100 days
The Amore Hybrid mattress is a great option for couples who prefer different firmness. You can choose between three different firmness levels, and you can even select different levels for each side of the bed. (Note that split firmness will cost you an additional $100.) You also have the option to add a copper-ion infused fabric (for an extra $50) which provides many health and performance benefits, like skin health, healing, anti-microbial properties and odor elimination.
Buying a mattress for the two of you is a big decision. The quality of your sleep affects every aspect of your life, so it’s worth taking the time to talk with your partner about their sleep preferences and finding a mattress that’s going to meet both of your needs, without breaking the bank.
Drop us a line in the comments below if you still have questions about the best mattresses for couples, or let us know about a mattress that you and your sleeping partner find particularly dreamy.
Is new purple 2/3 good for couples with different sleeping preference on back and side? My wife is a side sleeper and I am a back sleeper.
Hi Karan! Yes, the new Purple models (including the 2, 3 and 4) are ideal for both back and side sleepers. They differ in the thickness of the top layer, which is more of a personal preference. We’ve heard from both back and side sleepers who have slept on the new Purple and have great things to say, particularly around the pain relief and pressure relieving properties. Let us know if you have any other questions!
Super curious about the Helix for couples. Seems very customizable.
Hey Jerry! We think the Helix is a great option for couples. If you and your sleeping partner are looking for different things in a mattress, you have the ability to customize each side of the bed or build a blended option. If you’d like to learn more, we checked in with a couple who bought the Helix mattress after one night, one week, and one month of sleeping on it. You can see what they had to say here: https://www.mattressadvisor.com/helix-mattress-review-real-life/ Hope that helps!
Comments (4)