updated May 2023
Dreamfoam Essential vs Lucid Mattress Comparison
Need help deciding if the Dreamfoam Essential or Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam Mattress is right for you? Learn everything you need to know to make the right decision in our Dreamfoam vs Lucid mattress comparison.
Are you on the hunt for an affordable memory foam mattress? The Dreamfoam Essential and the Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam Mattress are two of the most budget-friendly memory foam mattresses you’ll find.
Read on to learn more about these two beds and see whether one is right for you.
Dreamfoam and Lucid Overview
Customer Rating
MA Score
Summary
Firmness
Type
Trial Period
Warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.5/10
Summary
A mattress comes in multiple firmness options and is an affordable choice for mitigating back pain
Firmness
Medium-Soft to Firm
Type
Memory Foam
Trial Period
120 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.1/10
Summary
Budget-friendly memory foam mattress for the average sleeper
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Type
Gel Memory Foam
Trial Period
30 days
Warranty
10-year warranty
Dreamfoam Essential
Lucid 10" Gel Memory Foam
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.5/10
8.1/10
Summary
A mattress comes in multiple firmness options and is an affordable choice for mitigating back pain
Budget-friendly memory foam mattress for the average sleeper
Firmness
Medium-Soft to Firm
Medium-firm: 6/10
Type
Memory Foam
Gel Memory Foam
Trial Period
120 days
30 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
10-year warranty
Dreamfoam Essential vs Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam: Top Similarities
- Feel: Both the Dreamfoam Essential and the Lucid Gel Memory Foam mattress have that classic memory foam feel, so expect a slight hugging sensation as you sink into the top layer of these beds.
- Not for Hot Sleepers: As with most memory foam mattresses, neither bed provides exceptional cooling.
- Suitable for Back-Pain Sufferers: If you suffer from back pain, you need a bed that both supports you and conforms to the curves of your body. The Dreamfoam Essential and the Lucid both deliver in these areas and are great for back-pain sufferers.
- Multiple Firmness Options: The Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam mattress is available in firm, medium, and plush. We reviewed the medium, which feels closer to a medium-firm. Dreamfoam offers five different firmness levels, ranging from medium-soft to firm.
Dreamfoam Essential vs Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam: Top Differences
- Trial Period: Dreamfoam provides a 120-night trial period, which is pretty standard for bed-in-a-box brands. Lucid only gives you 30 days to try out your mattress. Since most people take a while to adjust to a new bed, this might be too short for some sleepers.
- Price: While both beds are excellent options for budget shoppers, the Dreamfoam costs significantly more than the Lucid for a queen-size mattress.
- Thickness: The Lucid Gel Memory Foam mattress is a 10” bed, which is fairly standard. The Dreamfoam ranges from 6”–14”, with increasing softness as the bed gets thicker. Most adults should stick with mattresses that are 10” or thicker.
- Durability: Lucid’s customer reviews indicate that durability is a problem with this mattress, while the Dreamfoam scored well in our durability test. However, thinner Dreamfoam models are unlikely to be more durable than the Lucid mattress.
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Review Highlights
- Great Value: At only $524–$949 for a queen, the Dreamfoam Essential is a fantastic value. Dreamfoam’s parent company Brooklyn Bedding is known for eliminating middle-man costs and passing these savings along to you.
- Available in Various Firmness Levels: From firm to medium-soft, Dreamfoam offers its all-foam mattress in five comfort levels. The price increases as you move from firm to soft, as does the thickness of the mattress.
- Suitable for Arthritis Sufferers: With outstanding spine alignment and pressure relief scores, the Dreamfoam Essential delivers the right balance of cradling and support to help keep pain at bay.
- Available in RV and Short Sizes: If you’re looking for a memory foam bed for a small or oddly shaped room, Dreamfoam has all the sizes you could dream of, including RV and short sizes.
Other Options: In addition to the Dreamfoam Essential, the company offers the Dreamfoam Copper, Dreamfoam Latex, and Dreamfoam Hybrid.
Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam Mattress Review Highlights
- Motion Isolation: If you wake up easily when your partner, kids, or pets climb in and out of bed, you need a mattress with great motion isolation. The Lucid is a good choice here, with cushy memory foam absorbing movements rather than passing them along to you.
- Hard-to-Beat Price: Lucid offers one of the best gel-infused memory foam mattress prices out there. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more affordable price than $340 for a queen.
- Great for Back Sleepers: The Lucid mattress performed well on our pressure relief and spine alignment tests, providing excellent support for back sleepers of almost all sizes.
- Easy to Move: The Lucid mattress arrives at your door tightly compressed and weighing just over 50 pounds for a queen. This makes it easy to move around and navigate tricky spaces like doorways and stairwells.
- Other Options: Lucid offers a wide array of hybrid, latex, and gel-infused memory foam mattresses both on the brand’s website and Amazon.
Essential vs Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam Dimensions
The Dreamfoam Essential comes in standard and unusual sizes, such as RV sizes, the short full, and the short queen. The Lucid mattress is available in standard mattress sizes, the short queen, and the full XL.
Learn more about mattress sizes.
| Dreamfoam Essential Mattress | Lucid | |
| Thickness | 6”–14” | 10” |
| Twin | 38” x 75” | 39” x 75” |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” | 39” x 80” |
| RV Bunk | 28” x 75”
30” x 75” 30” x 80” 32” x 74” 34” x 75” |
N/A |
| Short Full | 48” x 74” | N/A |
| Full | 53” x 75” | 54” x 75” |
| Full XL | 53” x 80” | 54” x 80” |
| Short Queen | 60” x 74” | 60” x 75” |
| Queen | 60” x 80” | 60” x 80” |
| Olympic Queen | 66” x 80” | N/A |
| RV King | 70” x 74”
70” x 80” 72” x 80” |
N/A |
| Short King | 72” x 75” | N/A |
| King | 76” x 80” | 76” x 80” |
| Split King | N/A | 39” x 80” (X2) |
| California King | 72” x 84” | 72” x 84” |
| Split California King | 36″ x 84″ (X2) | N/A |
Dreamfoam Essential vs Lucid Memory Foam Pricing
Both Lucid and Dreamfoam offer gel-infused memory foam mattresses at incredible prices. The Dreamfoam Essential varies in price depending on the mattress thickness, with the 6” bed costing the least, and the 14” option costing the most.
Keep in mind, the prices listed below do not include any promotions, discounts, or exclusive Mattress Advisor deals. Check out our mattress deals page for further information on available discounts.
| Dreamfoam Essential Prices | Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam Prices | |
| Twin | $274–$599 | $220 |
| Twin XL | $349–$649 | $240 |
| Full | $449–$749 | $300 |
| Queen | $524–$949 | $340 |
| King | $699–$1,149 | $440 |
| California King | $699–$1,149 | $470 |
Compare the Inside of the Mattresses
The Dreamfoam Essential and the Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam mattress are both affordable memory foam mattresses and share quite a bit in common in their construction. Below, we take a look at the insides of both beds.
Inside the Dreamfoam Mattress
The Dreamfoam Essential comes in depths of 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14”. Both price and plushness increase with increasing thickness. The 6” depth corresponds with a firm comfort level, while the 14” is medium-soft.
A stain-resistant mattress panel protects the top comfort layer. This layer of gel-infused memory foam varies between 2” and 3”, depending on the overall mattress thickness. The thicker the memory foam, the more marshmallowy the mattress feels.
A polyfoam transition layer follows in the 12” and 14” models, providing additional contouring and support. Finally, 4” to 8” of high-density polyfoam makes up the support layer of the Dreamfoam Essential.
Because the 6” and 8” beds have thin comfort layers, they are not great for side sleepers or heavier sleepers (over 230 pounds).
- Mattress Cover: A stain-resistant top mattress panel guards against stains from accidental spills or accidents.
- Gel-Infused Memory Foam Comfort Layer: This 2” to 3” comfort layer delivers a traditional memory foam feel and draws heat away from your body.
- Transition Layer (12” and 14” models): VariFlex transition foam enhances the Dreamfoam Essential’s contouring support in the 12” and 14” models.
- High-Density Support Layer: A base layer of high-density polyfoam provides durable support to the Dreamfoam Essential. This layer varies between 4” and 8”, with thicker support layers offering superior durability.
Inside the Lucid Mattress
The Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam mattress is a three-layer all-foam bed with a traditional cushy memory foam feel and great pressure relief. This bed is available in plush, medium, and firm–the following breakdown is for the medium comfort level.
A breathable mattress cover made from wood cellulose promotes airflow and a neutral temperature. This cover can be removed, and machine washed and dried.
Next, 3” of cooling gel-infused memory foam offers a soft, cradling feel while relieving pressure on hips and shoulders. After a 1.5” transition layer, bamboo charcoal-infused foam makes up the 5.5” support layer.
While the Lucid’s soft memory foam gives you the deep body hug typical of memory foam, it’s important to note that side sleepers under 130 pounds may find the foam too firm to get its full pressure-relieving benefits.
- Breathable Mattress Cover: Eco-friendly mattress cover promotes airflow and pulls heat away from your body.
- Memory Foam Comfort Layer (3”): This soft gel-infused memory foam contours to your body’s curves and joints while keeping you less warm than traditional memory foam.
- Transition Layer (1.5”): A layer of transition foam provides extra support and cushioning between the comfort and support layers.
- Support Layer (5.5”): Dense bamboo charcoal-infused foam delivers support and neutralizes odors.
Compare Testing Scores
Buying a mattress is a big decision, and we know how hard it can be without trying it out in person. That’s why we personally test each mattress we review across 14 different categories so that you can make the most informed decision possible.
Keep in mind that our Mattress Advisor lab scores are for the 14” version of the Dreamfoam Essential, so categories like pressure relief and durability may vary in the 6” to 10” beds in particular. We tested the medium version of the Lucid Gel Memory Foam mattress.
Want to know more about our Mattress Advisor lab testing and rating process? Read more about our review process here.
| Dreamfoam Essential | Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam | |
| Shipping | 10 | 9.5 |
| Trial Period | 10 | 6 |
| Return Policy | 9 | 10 |
| Warranty | 9 | 9 |
| Set-Up Test | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Motion Transfer Test | 8.5 | 9 |
| Edge Support Test | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Pressure Relief Test | 8.75 | 9 |
| Spine Alignment Test | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Responsiveness Test | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Cooling Evaluation | 7.25 | 7 |
| Durability Evaluation | 8 | 7 |
| Customer Service Score | 9 | 8 |
| Social Impact Score | 3 | 5 |
| Total Score | 8.5/10 | 8.1/10 |
Pressure Relief
Side sleepers and combination sleepers need a mattress that cradles and cushions joints, which is important so that you don’t wake up achy. Those who also suffer from arthritis, back pain, or joint pain particularly need a bed that conforms to the body’s curves instead of pushing on pressure points.
Memory foam mattresses often provide fantastic pressure relief. The Dreamfoam Essential and the Lucid mattress both did very well on our Mattress Advisor lab pressure relief test, scoring 8.75/10 and 9/10, respectively. One quick caveat is that we do not recommend the Lucid mattress for lightweight side sleepers (under 130 pounds) because they might find the top layer of the bed too firm.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness refers to how quickly a mattress springs back or adjusts as you change sleep positions throughout the night. A mattress with a low responsiveness score can be more challenging to move around on, sometimes causing a feeling of being stuck in the bed.
Neither the Dreamfoam Essential nor the Lucid mattress performed well in this category. However, the Dreamfoam Essential performed the best out of the two. At 6.5/10, the Lucid mattress is not great for combination sleepers or people who hate feeling like they’re sinking into their bed.
Trial Period
When you buy a mattress online, no matter how much research you do, you don’t know how the mattress feels to your body. That’s why trial periods are crucial for bed-in-a-box companies, most of which offer a 100-night trial or longer.
Lucid falls way below this norm with a trial period of only 30 nights. So, if you choose Lucid, you’ll want to keep that end date in mind and ensure you don’t miss the return window if it’s not the right mattress for you.
Dreamfoam offers a much better trial period of 120 nights.
Bottom Line: Which Is the Best Mattress?
When shopping for a super-affordable gel-infused memory foam mattress, either the Dreamfoam Essential or the Lucid 10” Gel Memory Foam mattress could be a solid choice for many sleepers.
We recommend the Dreamfoam Essential for lightweight sleepers, shoppers seeking unusual mattress sizes, and anyone who wants a more extended trial period.
The Lucid mattress is our pick for shoppers on tight budgets, sleepers with back pain, and anyone who needs to lug their new mattress up a bunch of stairs without help.
More Lucid Comparisons
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