Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2020: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Looking for a high quality memory foam mattress? We’ve reviewed over 50 memory foam mattresses and found the best ones you can buy online. 

In this guide, we’ll share our 11 top-rated memory foam mattress reviews and then help you learn everything you should know in our comprehensive buyer’s guide for memory foam mattresses. 

Best Memory Foam Mattresses 

Below you can see a listing of our favorite memory foam mattresses, then in the next section we’ll take a closer look at each mattress.

In our next section, you can see more about each of these mattresses. You’ll learn about how they performed in our testing, why we like them, and all the important product and purchasing details.

To get an even more in-depth look at any mattress, you can click through to our individual mattress review.

1. Nectar

Why we love Nectar

There are a few things that make Nectar one of the best memory foam mattresses: It has one of the longest trial periods in the industry (a full year!), its warranty is valid for as long as you own the mattress, and it’s very budget-friendly.

Nectar’s gel memory foam surface provides great pressure relief and motion isolation. It will give you more of a “hugging” feel, which is ideal for people who don’t tend to move around a ton throughout the night. As an added bonus, Nectar’s proprietary cover is specifically designed to promote additional airflow and it keeps out dust mites!

The standard price for a queen Nectar mattress is $699, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Nectar mattress review.

2. Leesa

Leesa Highlights

If you’re a side sleeper, it’s important to look for a mattress that will evenly distribute your body weight and support your pressure points – particularly in areas of high pressure like your hips, shoulders and knees. The Leesa mattress is our top pick for side sleepers because of its excellent contouring properties that help relieve this type of pressure.

The Leesa also scored very well in our spine alignment test – meaning this mattress will help keep your spine in a straight line while sleeping on your side. These factors are great for keeping you comfortable through the night and helping you wake up feeling refreshed instead of achy, groggy, or in pain.

Another area this mattress scored highly in during our in-house testing is responsiveness. This means that no matter what position you sleep in, Leesa will provide the support you need for a good night’s rest. Since side sleepers tend to change positions throughout the night more than other positions, this is a favorable trait when looking for the best mattress for side sleepers.

The standard price for a queen Leesa mattress is $995, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Leesa mattress review.

3. Puffy Lux

Puffy Lux Highlights

The Puffy Lux mattress has a plush, soft top layer, but is firm enough to provide superior spine alignment and pressure relief for better sleep. This foam mattress is designed with four comfort layers to help you sleep cooler and more comfortably. Its gel-infused memory foam uses convection and conduction technology to disperse your body heat, increasing airflow eight times more than traditional foam mattresses.

Even deeper in the comfort layers of the Puffy Lux lies the proprietary ClimateComfort memory foam layer. Unlike standard foams that expand in the heat and contract in cooler temperatures, this foam layer is resistant to temperature changes. The variability in standard memory foam can impact how well it relieves pain in the pressure points, but since the ClimateComfort foam can withstand changes in temperature without changing shape, it has your back all night (and year) long.

The standard price for a queen Puffy Lux mattress is $1,795, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Puffy Lux mattress review.

4. GhostBed

GhostBed Highlights

Many people worry that with a memory foam mattress they’ll sink into the foam and overheat at night. With today’s advanced models, this isn’t something you have to worry about as much, especially with the GhostBed. The GhostBed mattress is known for its superior cooling properties.

The interior structure of latex and gel memory foam allow the GhostBed to be so breathable and cooling it’s scary! This combination of materials also creates a super comfortable feel. Memory foam offers a contouring comfort, while latex makes your bed responsive so it move with your movements and you aren’t stuck sinking into your bed.

The best part? Even with all of these great qualities, the GhostBed is affordable!

See our full GhostBed mattress review.

5. Level Sleep

Level Sleep Highlights

The Level Sleep TriSupport mattress is our top choice for mattresses that help with back pain. This foam mattress was designed to provide different levels of support in the places that need it most. This level of customized support helps to keep your body weight evenly distributed and your spine appropriately aligned. These factors play a big role in helping to alleviate back pain while you’re sleeping and during the day.

We also appreciate and admire Level Sleep’s dedication to offering restorative, healthy sleep. The company has been active in sleep research for more than 15 years and has even conducted its own Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved sleep study which found that subjects who slept on the Level Sleep mattress experienced a 54% reduction in morning stiffness and a 56% reduction of pain. The Level Sleep also comes highly recommended by doctors and chiropractors.

The standard price for a queen Level Sleep mattress is $1,599, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Level Sleep mattress review.

6. Tuft & Needle Mint

Mint Highlights

Tuft & Needle created the Mint mattress after listening to feedback from their customers. The Mint was designed as a slightly taller and softer mattress than the original Tuft & Needle. It provides better pressure relief, particularly for side sleepers, and enhanced spine support.

The Mint received a nearly perfect score on spine alignment in our testing, which isn’t easy to do. For a mattress to offer good spine alignment, it has to be supportive and contouring in all the right zones. Keeping your spine aligned while sleeping is just as important as keeping proper posture in your waking hours!

Sleeping on a mattress that evenly supports your body weight to keep your spine in its natural alignment helps ensure a restful and restorative night’s sleep. If your mattress doesn’t perform well in this area, your body will rest in an unnatural angle, adding pressure to your back and preventing your muscles from recharging at night.

Even with all the added benefits, the Tuft & Needle Mint is still very fairly priced and boasts glowing customer reviews.

See full Mint mattress review.

7. Layla

Layla Highlights

The Layla mattress has a lot to offer. For starters, you can actually sleep on both sides of the mattress! One side is softer and one side is a bit firmer. If you sleep on your stomach, you may find more comfort on the firmer side – this will 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.

Layla’s copper properties are also great for pressure and pain relief – making your sleeping hours even more restful and restorative. Plus, all sides of the Layla are covered with a thermo-gel cooling cover so you don’t have to worry about heating up while you sleep.We also love that Layla offers a lifetime warranty for as long as you own the mattress!

The standard price for a queen Layla mattress is $999, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Layla mattress review.

8. Alexander Signature Series

Alexander Signature Series Highlights

If you’ll be sharing your bed with a sleeping partner or even a pet, the last thing you want is to feel their every movement waking you. The memory foam layers in the Alexander Signature Series mattress help to minimize that movement so each of you can get deep, uninterrupted sleep making this our top-rated memory foam bed for couples.

The Signature Series also does a great job in responding to movement and different sleeping positions – so if you or your sleeping partner tend to shift around throughout the night, this could be a great bed for you to share.

The standard price for a queen Signature Series mattress is $1,199, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Alexander Signature Series mattress review.

9. Nolah Signature

Nolah Signature Highlights

The Nolah’s highest performance score in our testing was for responsiveness, meaning it does a great job of adjusting to your movements during the night. The Nolah Signature 12” mattress has all the qualities to support combination sleepers who tend to move around or change positions throughout the night – superior responsiveness, optimal pressure relief, and great motion isolation.

If you consider yourself a restless sleeper, you may benefit from the adaptiveness of the Nolah – it’s soft enough for side sleepers and supportive enough for back/stomach sleepers. It’s also a dual-sided mattress, so you can choose if the soft or firmer side is better suited for your sleeping needs. Right in the middle of these layers is 8.5” of high-density foam that will last for years.

The standard price for a queen Nolah Signature mattress is $1,499, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Nolah Signature mattress review.

10. Loom & Leaf

Loom & Leaf Highlights

If you’re looking for an organic mattress that can provide a great night’s rest, then Loom & Leaf might be the perfect bed for you!

Each of the foam comfort layers in the Loom & Leaf mattresses are CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning they meet some of the most rigorous standards for emissions, content, performance, and durability. Additionally, they use natural thistle as a flame retardant, and the mattress is wrapped in an organic cotton cover.

Since the cover is made with organic materials, it may come with natural markings. They are a result of the organic cleansing process and do not impact the quality of the material. Speaking of quality, the Loom & Leaf mattress will not disappoint in with its cooling spinal gel and eco-friendly premium foam that keeps you cool and comfortable all night.

See our full Loom & Leaf mattress review.

11. Casper Wave

Casper Wave Highlights

The Wave is Casper’s most advanced mattress, designed using over three years of customer data to create a sleeping surface that is a step ahead. The technology used in The Wave provides custom support to the areas that need it most.

The Wave has 5 unique layers that work together to support body parts that require different levels of pressure relief and support. Because of this targeted support structure, it’s a great option for heavier people who often need additional pressure point relief while sleeping.

The standard price for a queen Casper Wave mattress is $1,850, but you can click the link below to get an exclusive Mattress Advisor discount.

See our full Casper Wave mattress review.

Memory Foam Mattress Buyer’s Guide

We select our recommendations based on the knowledge we’ve accumulated after testing over 120 mattresses and spending countless hours learning about what makes a memory foam mattress great. 

So you can be an educated shopper, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about memory foam beds including: 

• The history of memory foam
• The pros
• The cons
• Memory foam vs. innerspring
• Memory foam vs. latex
• Who memory foam is good (and not good) for
• What memory foam is like 

The History of Memory Foam: A Space Story

Memory foam’s story begins in 1966, when NASA developed the material we now know as memory foam today for the cushions on their aircrafts. The open-cell solid structure was designed to match pressure against it and increase safety and support for astronauts during take-off and landing. 

Once commercialized, memory foam started popping up in medical equipment like X-ray table pads and then made its way into the sports industry as protective lining in football helmets. Memory foam wasn’t introduced to mattresses until the 1990s, when manufacturers decided to try it out in beds for extra comfort while sleeping. 

Early models were far less advanced than what we see on the market today. Memory foam mattresses built up a bad reputation for being too soft, too hot, and too difficult to move in. The beds we see today are built with advanced technology to overcome all these issues and provide us with the responsive, breathable, and comfortable memory foam mattresses we know today.

What is Memory Foam? 

Memory foam is a soft material constructed with a mix of polyurethane and additional chemicals that enhance density and viscosity. Its namesake represents the impression the material takes as it contours around your body. 

Advanced memory foam is able to quickly bounce back to its original shape, allowing you to easily move around and get comfortable in any position.

Memory foam is designed with an open-cell construction that creates a matrix of cells or bubbles to allow air to circulate through. The advancement of this design ensures that your bed won’t trap your body heat.

Pros

• Comfortable feel: The soft, contouring material is much more comfortable than a firm, stiff surface.
• Good for you: Memory foam does an excellent job at evenly distributing your body weight on the surface to provide pressure relief and keep your spine in a neutral, healthy alignment.
• Quiet: You avoid the squeaky noise of innerspring beds.
• Cheaper: Generally, memory foam mattresses are priced lower than innersprings, hybrids, and latex mattresses.
• Isolates motion: 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 trapping: Although advanced technology works to make memory foam more breathable, its material is naturally more heat-trapping and you may sleep hot.
• Sinking in: Many people prefer the way memory foam hugs the body, but some may find the softness and sinking in unpleasant.
• Less durable: The lifespan of a memory foam mattress is typically shorter than innerspring and hybrid mattresses, especially if it’s designed with low-density foam.
• Off-Gassing: You’ll notice a slightly unpleasant odor when you open a memory foam mattress from the release of VOCs. With proper airing, this typically goes away within a few hours.

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattresses

Many people have spent most of their lives sleeping on a traditional innerspring mattress, so the move to memory foam may seem overwhelming or unnecessary. We’ll compare memory foam vs. spring mattresses side-by-side so you can see the pros and cons to each material.

Keep in mind that different brands and models may focus on enhancing specific factors. This comparison is a general overview of how these types of mattresses usually differ in quality.

Memory Foam vs. Latex Mattresses

Latex foam was first developed in the 1920s by a rubber manufacturer and was later introduced to mattresses. We’ll compare memory foam vs. latex mattresses side-by-side so you can see the pros and cons to each material.

Remember, this comparison is a general overview of how these types of mattresses usually differ in quality. Latex can be constructed with various materials which can affect how the bed performs. Memory foam mattresses can be infused with other materials like copper and gel which affect how it performs.

Who is Memory Foam Good For? 

Memory foam is especially well-suited for:

• Side Sleepers: Memory foam evenly distributes your body weight and provides the contouring needed to keep you comfortable and well-aligned.
• Budget Shoppers: Memory foam mattresses fall on the cheaper side of the price range for new mattresses.
• People with Pain: Memory foam offers exceptional pressure relief.
• Petite People: Petite people typically sleep more comfortably on a soft mattress like memory foam.

Who is memory foam not good for? 

Memory foam is a popular material that appeals to many people, though there are a few types of sleepers who may not prefer a bed made of memory foam. Stomach sleepers and back sleepers need extra support to maintain proper alignment, and because of memory foam’s soft, contouring feel, it may not be firm enough to give these types of sleepers the support they need.

Hot sleepers may also want to stay away from 100% memory foam beds. Advanced models infused with gel or cooper, or a hybrid bed that combines memory foam with innerspring coils for better airflow will be more ideal for hot sleepers.

Heavier people may also find that memory foam lacks the firm support they need. Hybrid or innerspring mattresses are typically better suited for heavy or plus-size sleepers.

What are Memory Foam Beds Like? 

Now we’ll take a closer look into memory foam mattresses and dig into the details.

Types of Memory Foam 

There are four types of memory foam: traditional (or viscoelastic), plant-based, gel-infused, and copper-infused. The type that’s best for you depends on your specific preferences.

• Traditional (or viscoelastic): Made from viscoelastic polyurethane foam, this is the most common used material.
• Plant-based: Some memory foam is made from plants like coconut and soy. These beds are more breathable and bouncy.
• Gel-infused: Some manufacturers add gel to memory foam to enhance temperature regulation and keep you cool. This material is great for hot sleepers.
• Copper-infused: Some manufacturers infuse memory foam with copper. This also helps with the mattress’s cooling properties, and it’s great for sleepers with pain since copper is known to help relieve joint pain.

The Feel 

Memory foam mattresses are known for their soft, contouring feel. When you lie on a memory foam bed, you’ll feel a sinking, “hug” feeling. Though most manufacturers balance this with support and responsiveness, so the materials will quickly adjust to your movements and you won’t be stuck in the bed.

Some memory foam beds may trap your body heat, but advanced models should be designed for enhanced airflow and breathability.

If you sleep with a partner, you’ll be pleased to know that memory foam offers exceptional motion isolation. This means you won’t feel your partner’s movements as much at night.

Density 

The density of foam in your mattress can inform you about how well it will support you and how quickly it can bounce back to its original shape.

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.

Indentation Load-Deflection (ILD)

The lower the ILD score, the softer the mattress. The higher the ILD, the more firm the mattress will be.

Most memory foam mattresses on the market range from an 8-20, but many people prefer an ILD between 11-15.

Generally, if the ILD is below a 10, you will sink in too far. The higher ranges above a 15 may be too firm and lack the contouring comfort you’re looking for.

Heat Trapping

Memory foam’s original design is infamous for trapping heat, but newer models with advanced technology and an open-cell structure are more suited for better airflow so you don’t sweat through your sheets.

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.

Thickness

Most memory foam mattresses range from a thickness (or height) of 6 to 14 inches, though there are models that extend past each end of this range.

Those on the smaller end of this range may be too thin to offer support and comfort for your body weight overnight for long periods of time. 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.

Off-Gassing and Odors

When you first open a memory foam mattress, you’ll notice a slight odor. That’s due to the off-gassing of VOCs. These aren’t harmful, and the smell typically dissipates within a few hours to a few days depending on the mattress.

Durability and Lifespan

Most mattresses last 7-10 years. Memory foam mattresses in particular can last anywhere between 5-15 years.

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 and using accessories like mattress protectors, toppers, and pads.

Cost 

A good quality mattress can cost anywhere from $500-$1,500. There are budget options that are cheaper, and luxury models 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

When shopping for a memory foam mattress, be sure the company offers a generous trial period so you have a chance to test out the mattress. Trial periods usually are at least 90 days, and some companies even offer a full year-long trial period with a full refund should you decide it’s not right for you.

Most mattress warranties are 10-15 year limited warranties to cover any manufacturing issues. If a mattress company doesn’t offer a warranty, or offers a very short one, take caution knowing there may be a reason.

Conclusion

Memory foam has been around for a long time and undergone many advancements to make the high-quality beds we know today. Many types of sleepers can find comfort on these types of beds, and there are a ton on the market to choose from.

When making a decision, remember to look out for factors like breathability, density, and thickness to be sure you’re investing in a high-quality model. If you ever have any doubts, remember you can refer to our top-rated picks that we selected after testing more than 50 foam mattresses.

See All Foam Mattress Reviews