Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2022

Memory foam mattresses are known for support, pressure relief, and body-hugging comfort, but which one will help you get your best night’s sleep? We’ve tested some of the best memory foam mattresses on the market and selected our top 10 list—best for side sleepers, hot sleepers, sleepers with lower back pain, and more.

Find out how the contenders for best memory foam mattress performed in our 14-point testing process, pick up some tips in our buyer’s guide, and get one step closer to enjoying your best rest every night.

Our Picks for Best Memory Foam Mattress

• Best Firm Mattress – WinkBeds GravityLux
• Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers – GhostBed Luxe
• Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Helix Midnight
• Best Organic Mattress – Loom & Leaf
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Casper
• Best Mattress for Softness – Puffy Lux Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain – Dreamfoam Chill
• Best Mattress for Lifetime Warranty – Nectar
• Best Mattress for Couples – Cocoon Chill
• Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers – Layla

Why You Can Trust Mattress Advisor

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in our product reviews and other content by incorporating real customer feedback, empirical testing and objective evaluations. Our results and recommendations are never influenced by the commission we may receive from brands, and products we receive are never guaranteed a positive review.

WinkBeds GravityLux

Coming in three firmness levels, we found the GravityLux’s firmer option to be particularly friendly to the stomach sleepers who tend to prefer that level. However, this mattress performs well for all sleeping positions, including side and back, as well as combination sleepers.

Pros

The GravityLux’s edge support is unbeaten, scoring 10 out of 10 in our mattress testing lab for that category. This makes it perfect for the senior in need of a boost out of bed or the sleeper of any age who likes to commandeer all the mattress’s surface. This product is also top-notch for the couple (or pet owner or parent) that shares a bed due to its superior motion transfer.

Cons

It’s hard to find something not to love about this mattress, but the price might give you pause, starting at over $1,000 for a twin size mattress. Also, there have been complaints about noisiness on this mattress, particularly when getting in and out of bed.

See our full WinkBeds GravityLux mattress review.

---

GhostBed Luxe

The GhostBed has three layers designed specifically for cooling to help ensure you don’t overheat at night. The cover is made from cool-to-the-touch fabric, while the foam layers are optimized for airflow to prevent body heat from building up and getting trapped.

Related: Best Mattresses for Hot Sleepers

Pros

This mattress scored very well for spine alignment and (9.25/10) and pressure relief (8.5/10), making it a strong candidate for the sleeper with back pain, the side sleeper, and the back sleeper.

Cons

This mattress is just OK at edge support (7.8/10), which means you may not love it if you sleep on the edge or you need support when putting your shoes on in the morning. Also, stomach sleepers might find this product to be too soft for their needs.

See our full GhostBed Luxe mattress review.

Helix Midnight

Back sleepers (and even some stomach sleepers) will appreciate the medium firmness of this foam/innerspring hybrid, along with the pressure relief provided by the memory foam Comfort Layer.

Pros

The Helix Midnight is built to relieve pressure at the pain points, and its medium firmness provides a balanced feel around the hips and shoulders. For those who suffer from back pain or sleep on their sides, the upper foam layers will cradle the body and fill in the lower back.

Cons

Despite the innerspring coil layer, the Midnight doesn’t have a particularly great score for cooling (8/10). Its 100-night sleep trial and 10-year limited warranty don’t surpass the industry standard.

See our full Helix Midnight mattress review.

---

Loom & Leaf

Each foam comfort layer used in the construction of the Loom & Leaf mattress is CertiPUR-US® certified, and the cover around the bed is made with quilted organic cotton. The Loom & Leaf mattresses also use natural thistle as a flame retardant.

Related: Best Natural Organic Mattresses

Pros

The Loom & Leaf offers outstanding spine alignment (9/10 Mattress Advisor score), a good sign for back and stomach sleepers who choose the Firm option. It also comes with free white glove delivery and mattress removal, so you don’t have to lift a finger when it comes to setup.

Cons

The Loom & Leaf’s 7/10 Mattress Advisor score for pressure relief could be a red flag for side sleepers. Also, the Loom & Leaf is quite a bit more expensive than the typical memory foam mattress.

See our full Loom & Leaf mattress review.

Casper

The original Casper scores well in two categories essential for side sleepers: 9.5/10 for spine alignment and 8.5/10 for pressure relief. Those numbers point to a memory foam bed that helps you maintain a comfortable alignment as it cradles pressure-sensitive areas.

Pros

The Casper’s Zoned Support layer is the key to its alignment performance. It’s designed to provide targeted support in different areas called ergonomic zones: softer for the shoulders and firmer for the lower back, waist and hips.

Cons

While the Casper is designed to sleep cool, it still faces challenges as a memory foam mattress. We gave it a 7/10 score for cooling. Also, the 100-night sleep trial is easily beaten by its competitors.

See our full Casper mattress review.

Puffy Lux Hybrid

If you read Puffy Lux Hybrid reviews, you’ll probably notice the word “soft” showing up a lot. This hybrid model features multiple memory foam layers and a coil base that are both designed to contour and adapt to your shape.

Pros

With three memory foam layers topping a Contour-Adapt Coil Base, this mattress offers a balance of softness and support. The Lux Hybrid also uses memory foam that promotes cooling and breathability. A lifetime warranty, 101-night sleep trial, and free shipping and returns provide a solid foundation for customer satisfaction.

Cons

Side sleepers and combination sleepers might not find the pressure relief they need to get their most comfortable night’s sleep. Since the hybrid design isn’t entirely foam, it doesn’t have the same overall feel as an all-memory foam mattress. The price of the Puffy Lux Hybrid could be a turn-off for budget shoppers.

See our full Puffy Lux Hybrid mattress review.

---

Dreamfoam Chill

Lower back pain can make it difficult to sleep, especially if your mattress doesn’t support you in the proper ways. The Dreamfoam Chill scored very highly (9.5/10) on our spine alignment test, meaning when you sleep on it your spine will rest in its natural curve, resulting in less strain and less pain.

Pros

In addition to great spinal alignment, the Dreamfoam Chill can make sleeping with a partner a much more comfortable experience. Because of its high score in motion isolation (8.5/10) you’re less likely to be disturbed by your partner’s movements, no matter how much they toss and turn. Plus, the Dreamfoam Chill’s pressure-relieving qualities should reduce aches in your shoulders and hips.

Cons

Despite its name, the Dreamfoam Chill doesn’t perform all that well for hot sleepers. Another thing to be aware of is the thickness options: 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 inches. Although the thinner options are less expensive, average-weight sleepers might not get adequate support with anything below 10 inches thick.

See our full Dreamfoam Chill mattress review.

Nectar

The main things that set the Nectar mattress apart from many of its competitors are affordable pricing and the Forever Warranty, which lasts as long as you own the mattress. Not only does Nectar stand behind its mattresses, users stand behind the company with a 97% customer satisfaction rating.

Related: Best Cheap Mattresses for Your Budget

Pros

Nectar’s gel memory foam surface provides solid pressure relief and responsiveness. It also does a good job of limiting motion transfer, which is great for the sleeper who shares the bed with a partner, pets, or kids. Nectar’s proprietary cover is specifically designed to promote additional airflow and, as a bonus, it also keeps out dust mites.

Cons

The Nectar’s testing score in spine alignment (7.5/10) makes it less than ideal for sleepers with back pain, shoulder pain, or hip pain. People who sleep hot should also take note of its 7.5/10 score in cooling, which keeps Nectar out of the top ranks of cooling mattresses.

See our full Nectar mattress review.

Cocoon Chill

The definition of “chill” that best fits this mattress might not be the one about temperature but the one that means peaceful or tranquil. Its outstanding motion transfer qualities make it a particularly good choice for anyone who shares a bed with a partner, or has kids or pets who occasionally hop in on chilly nights.

Pros

The Cocoon Chill mattress received a nearly perfect score on motion transfer (9/10) in our testing, which means that couples are less likely to be disturbed by their partner’s movements during the night. An identical 9/10 score for responsiveness is good news for restless sleepers and combination sleepers.

Related: Best Mattresses for Couples

Cons

Despite the briskness implied by the name, the Cocoon Chill scores 7.5/10 for cooling—not low, but not exactly knocking it out of the park. Because it’s a memory foam mattress, a mild chemical smell after unboxing will take a few days or so to fade away.

See our full Cocoon Chill mattress review.

Layla

If you’re a stomach sleeper, you may find more comfort on the flippable Layla’s firm side to help reduce stress on the spine and lower back. If you think you may like a firm mattress but don’t want to go too firm, a flippable mattress like the Layla that offers multiple options is a great choice.

Pros

Layla’s copper properties are also great for pressure and pain relief—making your sleeping hours even more restful and restorative. We also love that Layla offers a lifetime warranty for as long as you own the mattress.

Cons

This mattress receives only a 7.5/10 for its cooling capabilities. If you have a tendency to sleep super hot, the Layla mattress may not be the best choice. You might want to turn to an innerspring mattress instead, or perhaps the Cocoon Chill.

See our full Layla mattress review.

---

Buyer’s Guide to Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam has been used to make mattresses since the 1990s. While traditional innerspring mattresses remain the most popular type, memory foam mattresses (and hybrid designs that mix memory foam layers with innerspring and latex layers) have their own devoted fans.

In this guide, we’ll shed some light on the qualities that make memory foam such a popular building block for modern mattresses. We’ll also look at the pros and cons and share some advice on picking a top-rated memory foam mattress that best fits your sleep profile.

• The Basics of Memory Foam
• Is a Memory Foam Mattress Right for My Sleeping Position?
• Memory Foam vs Spring, Latex, and Hybrid
• How to Choose the Best Memory Foam Mattress for You

The Basics of Memory Foam

First things first: What is memory foam? It dates back to the 1960s when NASA scientists developed a shock-absorbing material for aircraft cushions to alleviate the intense pressure of high-speed acceleration and deceleration. The name memory foam refers to the properties that help the material contour to the outlines of your body and gradually revert to its original shape after you get up.

What’s Memory Foam Made of?

As in the early days of NASA, the most commonly used material in today’s memory foam mattresses is polyurethane. On the other hand, some brands have developed mattresses with organic memory foam made from plant-based materials such as soy.

What Does It Feel Like?

Memory foam mattresses are known for creating the sensation of softly sinking into the bed, and early models had a reputation for being too soft. Today’s advanced memory foam is able to spring back to its original shape more quickly, allowing you to easily move around and get comfortable in any position. Open-cell construction and gel infusion have helped address another longstanding issue, that memory foam has a tendency to trap body heat and “sleep hot.”

How Much Does a Memory Foam Mattress Cost?

Despite the material’s high-tech origins, memory foam mattresses are often the most affordable options. The price range for the mattresses highlighted on this page is $524 to $2,395 (regular price for queen size, not counting sales, discounts, or promotions). The average comes out to around $1,475, which is well within the normal range for a high-quality, top-rated memory foam mattress. You can see more memory foam and memory foam-hybrid mattresses in our roundup of most affordable mattresses.

Pros and Cons of Memory Foam

Pros

• Contouring: It contours to the shape of your body, providing a comfortable “hug and cradle” sensation.
• Pressure Relief and Spine Alignment: Memory foam does an excellent job at evenly distributing your body weight on the surface to provide pressure relief in sensitive areas (including the hips and shoulders) and promote healthy spine alignment.
• Price: Generally, memory foam mattresses are priced lower than innersprings, hybrids, and latex mattresses.
• Motion Transfer: Because memory foam reduces motion transfer, you won’t feel your partner’s movements from the other side of the bed as much as you would with other materials.

Cons

• Heat: Compared with other materials, memory foam tends to sleep hot. Advanced models infused with gel or copper, or a hybrid bed that combines memory foam with innerspring coils for better airflow, will be more ideal for hot sleepers.
• Sinking In: Many people prefer the way memory foam hugs the body, but some may find the softness and sinking sensation unpleasant.
• Off-Gassing: You’ll notice a slightly unpleasant odor when you open a memory foam mattress (known as off-gassing). With proper airing, it typically goes away within a few hours.
• Support: Stomach sleepers and back sleepers may find that memory foam doesn’t offer adequate support. The same could apply to heavier people.

What Does ILD Mean?

ILD stands for Indentation Load-Deflection, an advanced method of measuring the firmness of a memory foam mattress. Most memory foam mattresses score between 8 and 20 for ILD, with 8 being the softest and 20 the firmest. A score in the 11-15 range is generally seen as the sweet spot for most sleepers—below a 10 and you’ll sink into the foam, but above 15 the mattress won’t have enough contouring effect to feel comfortable.

What does ILD mean to you as a consumer? Not all mattresses advertise their ILD ratings, so don’t feel shortchanged if you don’t see it listed in the specifications. You can always just look at the firmness rating to get a general idea.

Is a Memory Foam Mattress Right for My Sleeping Position?

Generally speaking, a high-quality memory foam mattress can provide a good fit for any sleeping position. However, some individual sleepers might get better results than others. Here’s a general overview:

• Side Sleepers—Yes. Memory foam’s pressure-relieving qualities match up very well with the side sleeping position, which puts pressure on sensitive areas like the shoulder, hips and lower back.
• Combination Sleepers—Yes. The responsiveness of memory foam makes it a good fit for many combination sleepers. They need a mattress that feels like it’s moving with them rather than pushing against them as they alternate sleeping positions during the night.
• Back Sleepers—Probably. A memory foam mattress can accommodate many back sleepers, but be aware that you’ll probably need one that rates as medium-firm (6/10) or firmer on the mattress firmness scale.
• Stomach Sleepers—Probably Not. An all-memory foam mattress might not provide the kind of firm support stomach sleepers need. The best option could be a “best of both worlds” foam-innerspring hybrid or foam-latex hybrid.

Related: What Does Responsiveness Mean in a Mattress?

Memory Foam vs Spring, Latex, and Hybrid

Wondering how memory foam beds stack up against other options? We’ve compared memory foam to innerspring, latex, and hybrid mattresses in seven key categories. In the chart below, we note which type we consider the best for each category (“Tie” means they’re roughly equal).

	Memory Foam vs Spring	Memory Foam vs Latex	Memory Foam vs Hybrid
Cost	Memory Foam	Memory Foam	Memory Foam
Body contouring	Memory Foam	Memory Foam	Tie
Support	Spring	Tie	Hybrid
Spine Alignment	Memory Foam	Memory Foam	Memory Foam
Pressure Relief	Memory Foam	Memory Foam	Memory Foam
Coolness	Spring	Latex	Hybrid
Motion Transfer	Memory Foam	Memory Foam	Memory Foam

This comparison is a general overview of how these types of mattresses usually differ. Keep in mind that different brands and models may focus on enhancing specific factors. For example, latex mattresses that use wool insulation might not perform as well for cooling, and hybrid mattresses that use memory foam instead of latex foam could provide better motion isolation.

Related: Memory Foam vs Innerspring and Memory Foam vs Latex

How to Choose the Best Memory Foam Mattress for You

When you’re shopping for a memory foam mattress, keep four things in mind: material, density (or firmness), cooling, and thickness. Here’s how each one factors into making the best decision on which mattress to buy.

1. Material

The type of foam used in the mattress can affect everything from feel to temperature to smell.

• Traditional (or viscoelastic): Made from viscoelastic polyurethane foam (also known as polyfoam), this is the most commonly used material in mattress memory foam.
• Gel-infused: Some manufacturers add gel to memory foam to enhance temperature regulation and keep you cool. This material is great for hot sleepers, while retaining the benefits of regular memory foam.
• Copper-infused: Some manufacturers infuse memory foam with copper to promote coolness. Copper has antimicrobial properties and is also believed to help relieve joint pain and inflammation.
• Plant-based: Some memory foam is made from plants like coconut and soy. These beds are more breathable and bouncy and lack the “new mattress smell” associated with chemical foam.

2. Density (Firmness)

The density of foam in your mattress determines how well it will support you and how quickly it can revert to its original shape.

Densities for Memory Foam
Low-Density	Under 3 lbs per cubic foot
Medium-Density	3-4.5 lbs per cubic foot
High-Density	4.5-5.3 lbs per cubic foot

A high-quality memory foam mattress typically ranges in density between 4 to 6 pounds per cubic foot. Lower-density foams will quickly return to their original shape, but they won’t offer the same quality pressure relief and contouring that high-density foams do. High-density foams give great contouring comfort, but since they don’t respond to your movements as quickly, you may feel that “sinking” or trapped feeling.

3. Cooling

Memory foam’s original design has a reputation for trapping heat, but newer models with temperature-regulating materials and open-cell structure provide better airflow. If you’re a hot sleeper but you want the contouring comfort of memory foam, look for models that are infused with gel or copper as these materials are known to help enhance cooling properties.

Related: How to Make a Memory Foam Mattress Cooler

4. Thickness

Most memory foam mattresses range from a thickness (or height) of 6 to 14 inches. Those on the thinner end may not offer adequate support. Those on the higher end of this range will be more expensive since they use more material, and you may need to invest in special deep-pocketed sheets to fully encase your mattress.

Other Shopping Considerations

Durability and Lifespan

While the typical lifespan of a mattress is 5-10 years, memory foam mattresses can last anywhere between 5-15 years. However, a lot depends on the density of the foam.

Low-density foam beds tend to last 5-7 years, even with proper care. High-density foam beds typically last up to 10-15 years. To extend the life of your memory foam mattress, keep up with proper care by flipping your mattress (if it’s a flippable model) or rotating your mattress 180 degrees. Use accessories like mattress protectors, toppers, and pads for a longer lifespan as well.

Accessories

Adding a memory foam mattress topper can enhance the pressure-relieving and contouring properties your mattress already has. It can also provide an extra jolt of cooling if the topper uses gel-infused foam. Other options include natural-fiber sheets for your memory foam mattress or a cooling pillow.

Compatible Mattress Foundations

Memory foam mattresses work well with nearly any foundation or bed frame. Traditional box springs work the best on innerspring mattresses, but they are compatible with memory foam beds. Slatted foundations work well because they allow for airflow beneath the bed, but make sure the slats are not too far apart. Platform foundations should be firm enough to provide proper alignment.

Cost and Your Budget

A good quality mattress typically costs anywhere from $750-$1,800. There are budget options that are cheaper, and luxury mattresses that are far more expensive. Memory foam mattresses are priced according to the quality and density of the foams. The higher the density, the higher the cost.

Generally, a mattress that costs as little as a few hundred dollars will not be durable or supportive for the long term.

Trial Period and Warranty

Make sure the company offers a generous sleep trial so you have a chance to test out the mattress. Bed-in–a-box mattress brands often offer trial periods that are usually at least 90 days, and some companies even offer a full year-long trial period with a full refund in their return policy should you decide it’s not right for you.

Most brands offer a range of 10- to 15-year mattress warranties that cover many manufacturing issues. Some even provide lifetime warranties for as long as you own the bed. If a mattress company doesn’t offer a warranty, or offers a very short one, it’s worth considering whether the company really stands behind its products.

A Closer Look at Our Selection Process

In choosing our best memory foam mattresses, we emphasize three testing categories that are especially important for this type of bed: spine alignment, pressure relief, and motion transfer. Here’s a look at how our picks performed in the Mattress Advisor Sleep Lab:

	AVERAGE SCORE (OUT OF 10) FOR SPINE ALIGNMENT, PRESSURE RELIEF, AND MOTION TRANSFER
WinkBeds GravityLux	9
GhostBed Luxe	8.6
Helix Midnight	8.7
Loom & Leaf	7
Casper	8.7
Puffy Lux Hybrid	7.3
Dreamfoam Chill	8.9
Nectar	8.2
Cocoon Chill	8.8
Layla	8.5

Note: The testing categories we focus on in this chart don’t reflect overall performance. In the key category of spine alignment, for example, the Loom & Leaf scores a 9/10 and the Puffy Lux Hybrid scores an 8/10. Depending on your needs and preferences, you might put more or less value on particular qualities.