Helix vs Tuft & Needle Mattress Comparison

Helix Sleep and Tuft & Needle have designed some seriously comfortable mattresses, but that fact doesn’t make your decision much easier. That’s why we did a lot of digging to provide you with this detailed comparison that puts 8 different mattresses side-by-side.

In short, Helix mattresses are durable and diverse. They target a wide array of sleep needs. Tuft & Needle mattresses are comparable to memory foam mattresses like the Casper or Nectar mattress, but are more affordable. Wondering which one is for you? Keep reading.

Helix vs Tuft & Needle Quick Points

Key Similarities

• Bed-In-A-Box Delivery: Helix and Tuft & Needle mattresses are delivered to your home, compressed and rolled in a box, and ready to inflate on your bed frame.
• Certipur-US Certified: Helix and Tuft & Needle use Certipur-US certified foams that have very little off-gassing.
• Made in the USA: Both Helix and T&N mattresses are assembled in the United States.

Key Differences

• Pricing: Tuft & Needle mattresses are much more budget-friendly than Helix mattresses.
• Pressure Relief: With the exception of the Tuft & Needle Hybrid, Helix mattresses offer better pressure relief than T&N mattresses.
• Warranty: All Tuft & Needle mattresses have a 10-year limited warranty, while Helix mattress warranties are 10-25 years long.

Helix Midnight vs Nod by Tuft & Needle

Helix Midnight Review Highlights

• Most Popular: The Helix Midnight is a customer favorite because its medium firmness appeals to a broad range of sleepers. It’s supportive enough for back and stomach sleepers, and soft enough to cushion side sleepers’ pressure points.
• Edge Support: We gave the Midnight a high score for edge support because our review testers felt stable when sitting and lying near the edge of the bed.
• Cooling: The Midnight is a hybrid mattress with a coil system, so there is lots of space for warm air to move away from your body. Additionally, the mattress cover is breathable, so the warm air not only moves away from you, but also travels out of the mattress.
• Motion Transfer: The Midnight scored exceptionally high for motion transfer, making it a top pick for couples and light sleepers. During our review process, our blindfolded testers had a difficult time detecting when another tester got on and off the mattress.

Nod by T&N Review Highlights

• Responsive: The Nod mattress is constructed with responsive polyurethane foam that doesn’t “trap” you in the top layers. It’s a great choice for combo sleepers or anyone who wants an all-foam mattress without compromising bounce.
• Cooling: Tuft & Needle covers the Nod mattress with a breathable knit fabric. They also utilize open-cell foams that are infused with temperature regulating gel and graphite. The result is a relatively cool sleeping experience for an all-foam mattress.
• Pressure Relief: The Nod foam layers do a great job of cushioning sensitive pressure points, such as hips and shoulders.
• Affordable Price: The Nod mattress is sold exclusively on Amazon, so you get free Prime shipping, free returns, and a remarkable budget-friendly price. In fact, the Nod is the least expensive mattress in this comparison.

Compare Construction

The Helix Midnight and Nod mattresses are quite different. The Midnight is a hybrid mattress with memory foam layers and a supportive coil system. The Nod has a simple, 2-layer foam construction. Both have a medium firmness level, but they are strong in different areas. The Nod is more responsive and pressure relieving, while the Midnight is cooler and more supportive.

Specifically, the Helix Midnight has 2 foam layers – the first is plush Memory Plus Foam and the second is high grade polyfoam. The support layer is comprised of hundreds of encased pocket coils, as well as a layer of durable support foam. The whole mattress is covered with a soft, breathable fabric.

The Nod mattress is also covered with a soft, breathable knit fabric, but the comfort layer is made with Tuft & Needle’s proprietary Adaptive foam, and the support layer is high density polyfoam. The top layer of foam is open-cell, so it’s more breathable than traditional memory foam. It’s also designed to be both buoyant and contouring. The base layer is supportive and durable.

Compare Prices

The Nod mattress was designed by Tuft & Needle exclusively for Amazon, so all Nod purchases and returns are processed through Amazon. You can finance your Nod mattress with an Amazon Credit Card, whereas Helix financing is offered through Klarna and Katapult on orders $499-$2,400 through. You’ll notice that the Nod is distinctly more budget-friendly, costing around $330-$850  less than the Midnight.

Helix Plus (Nightfall) vs Tuft & Needle Original

Helix Plus (Nightfall) Review Highlights

• Cooling: The Helix Plus mattress is constructed with breathable foam layers and a coil system that improves airflow – that way, you don’t overheat or wake up covered in sweat.
• Durability: The Plus was made for those with heavier builds, and can comfortably support up to 1,000lbs. How? It’s made with high density foams and extra large coils that provide stability, support, and durability.
• Pressure Relief: Plus-sized sleepers note that mattresses feel softer to them than they do to the average sleeper. Fortunately, the firm foams used in the Plus feel soft and pressure relieving to those with larger body types.
• Spine Alignment: The Helix Plus received a high score in the category of spinal alignment, which is important for keeping back pain away. Regardless of your sleeping position, you’ll wake up free from pain and stiffness when you sleep on the Plus.

T&N Original Mattress Review Highlights

• Motion Transfer: We gave the Tuft & Needle Original all-foam mattress a high score for motion transfer. The foam layers keep movement isolated near their place of origin, so you aren’t disrupted by movement on the other side of the mattress. 
• Spine Alignment: The Tuft & Needle cradles your spine so it stays in a neutral position while you sleep. The result is reduced back pain, less stiffness, and better whole body health.
• Responsiveness: Tuft & Needle’s proprietary Adaptive Foam has more bounce than traditional memory foams. It adapts to your changes in position in real time, making it a great choice for combo sleepers.
• Universal Firmness: The Tuft & Needle Original mattress has a medium firm feel that appeals to every kind of sleeper. It provides a comfy blend of cushion and support.

Compare Construction

The Helix Plus and Tuft & Needle Original couldn’t be more different. The Plus is a hybrid mattress with durable steel coils at its base and a firm feel, while the Tuft & Needle Original is an all-foam mattress with a medium firm feel. The Plus is designed for heavyweight sleepers, so it will feel extra firm to the average sleeper. In contrast, the Tuft & Needle Original will feel comfy to the average sleeper, but far too plush for most plus-sized sleepers.

Here’s how these mattresses look on the inside.

The Helix Plus is constructed with high density memory foam layers and extra tall steel pocket coils. The whole mattress is supported by DuraDense support foam. These layers are designed to provide pressure relief and comfort while holding extra weight.

The Tuft & Needle Original mattress has a basic 2-layer construction encased in a light fabric cover. The top layer is Tuft & Needle’s Adaptive foam, which is both responsive and body contouring. It’s also infused with temperature regulating graphite and gel. The base layer of support foam adds durability and structure to the whole mattress.

Compare Prices

The Tuft & Needle Original mattress is priced competitively, so it costs $475-$1,250 less than the Helix Plus. Considering the vastly different construction of these beds, we’re guessing that average sleepers will go with the Tuft & Needle (financing through Affirm), and plus-sized sleepers will invest in the higher cost – but extra supportive – Helix Plus.

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress vs Tuft & Needle Hybrid Mattress

Helix Midnight Luxe Review Highlights

• Cooling: The Helix Midnight Luxe earned a near-perfect score for cooling, making it a top choice for hot sleepers. The phase change material in the cover makes the mattress surface cool-to-touch, and the coil system keeps warm air moving out of the mattress. 
• Spinal Alignment: We gave the Midnight Luxe top marks for spinal alignment, meaning that it keeps your spine in a healthy neutral position, which minimizes back pain and muscle stiffness.
• Responsiveness: The foam and coil layers in the Luxe do an excellent job of keeping up with your changes in sleeping position. Our testers never felt “trapped” by the mattress surface, particularly when moving from their backs to their sides.
• Pressure Relief: You’ll experience excellent pressure relief on the Helix Midnight Luxe, due in part to the gel-infused memory foam layers. This layer cushions pressure points like shoulders and hips and evenly distributes your weight across the mattress surface.

Tuft & Needle Hybrid Review Highlights

• Pressure Relief: The Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress earned a near perfect score for pressure relief. A quilted pillow top, plus 2 layers of Adaptive foam, ensure that your shoulders and hips are adequately cushioned.
• Spine Alignment: The Hybrid keeps your spine in a neutral position, which eliminates pain and stiffness caused by your mattress.
• Responsiveness: During our review process, our testers felt that the Tuft & Needle Hybrid quickly adapted to their changes in position. They had an easy time getting comfortable, which is a huge bonus for combo sleepers.
• Broad Appeal: Tuft & Needle’s Hybrid mattress has a medium firmness that works well for most sleepers. Back and stomach sleepers feel supported, while side sleepers feel cushioned.

Compare Construction

Helix and Tuft & Needle both take their luxury hybrid mattresses to the next level with regard to comfort. The Tuft & Needle Hybrid is slightly softer than the Midnight Luxe, so it provides better pressure relief. On the flip side, the more supportive Midnight Luxe does a better job at keeping your spine aligned and sleeps noticeably cooler. 

Let’s take a look at how these mattresses are constructed.

The Helix Midnight Luxe has a temperature regulating material and quilted pillow top that are cool-to-touch. The comfort layers are contouring and cooling – the first is Helix’s Memory Plus Foam and the second is gel-infused memory foam. A polyfoam transition layer gently eases your frame into the supportive coil support layer. The whole mattress rests on durable support foam.

The Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress also sports a quilted pillow top, but instead of phase change material, T&N uses breathable open-cell foam, carbon fiber, and graphite. The comfort and transition layers are both made with Tuft & Needle Adaptive foam. The top layer is more plush and pressure relieving than the supportive second layer. The base is durable, motion isolating wrapped coils and high density base foam.

Compare Prices

Both of these mattresses are higher end, but only the Midnight Luxe is considered a luxury mattress. It costs $100-$500 more than the Tuft & Needle Hybrid, with closer pricing for smaller mattress sizes.

Birch Mattress vs Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress

Birch Review Highlights

• Spinal Alignment: A healthy posture while sleeping can improve a wide range of health issues, including nerve pain, poor digestion, and fatigue. The Birch mattress does a great job of keeping your spine aligned and your body weight evenly distributed.
• Durability: Birch mattresses are made by hand with high quality materials. They are so long lasting that they are protected against defects by a 25-year warranty – over 2x the average length of mattress warranties.
• All-Natural: The Birch mattress is an all-natural mattress model by Helix, made from primarily all-natural materials. For example, the foams are all non-toxic and GREENGUARD Gold Certified, the organic wool is sourced from New Zealand.
• Motion Isolation: We gave the Birch mattress a near perfect score for isolating motion. Whether you sleep with a partner, kids, or pets, their movement won’t be a disruption to you, meaning everyone on the mattress gets better sleep quality.

Tuft & Needle Mint Review Highlights

• Pressure Relief: The Tuft & Needle Mint mattress evenly distributes your body weight, which also ensures ample pressure relief. Hips, shoulders, and any other curvy bits get the cushion they need to guarantee a pain-free morning.
• Responsiveness: We measure a mattress’s responsiveness by asking our testers to repeatedly change position. We found that the Mint responded to the testers’ movements remarkably fast, which is why we gave it a high score in this category.
• Cooling: Tuft & Needle uses breathable, open-cell foam and cooling gel beads that make the Mint the coolest Tuft & Needle mattress.
• Spine Alignment: This is one of the most important features for a restful night’s sleep, and the Mint earned a near perfect score. With such good sleeping posture, you’ll undoubtedly wake up with minimal back pain or stiffness.

Compare Construction

The Birch and Tuft & Needle Mint mattresses have very different feels and constructions. The Birch is made with wool batting, latex, and steel coils, and has a medium firm feel. The Mint has a medium firmness level, and is constructed with 3 foam layers. Tuft & Needle’s Adaptive foam is more responsive and cooling than the Birch wool and latex layers, but the Birch is made with all-natural, eco-friendly materials.

Birch uses GOTS certified organic cotton for its cover and a wool-rayon blend fire retardant. The comfort layer is made with soft wool batting that keeps its shape over years of use. The transition layer is OEKO-TEX certified Talalay latex, which is responsive and cooling. Steel coils and a final layer of wool batting anchor the Birch mattress, giving it extra support and durability.

The Tuft & Needle Mint mattress is a bit softer than the Birch. The Adaptive foam comfort layer has a medium feel that is extra pressure relieving. Next, the transition layer is infused with cooling ceramic gel beads. Finally, the base layer is made with high density support foam. The whole mattress is covered with stretchy, breathable grey fabric.

Compare Prices

The Tuft & Needle Mint mattress is nearly half the price of the Birch mattress. Specifically, the two mattress prices differ between $450-$650. If you are keen on getting an all-natural mattress, the Birch is relatively affordable, but the Mint is definitely the more budget-friendly choice.

Compare Helix vs Tuft & Needle Sizes

Helix and T&N mattresses have almost identical dimensions, except T&N Twin and Twin XL mattresses are 1” wider than Helix mattresses (except the Birch). However, T&N beds also have a shorter frame than Helix beds (see thickness).

Learn more about mattress sizes.

Trial Period

Helix and Tuft & Needle both give you a 100-night sleep trial to test out your new bed. They also share generous return policies that include free returns. Plus, Helix will send you a mattress topper during the trial period if you want a softer or firmer feel.

Warranty

All Tuft & Needle mattresses are eligible for a 10-year warranty, while Helix mattress warranties differ based on the model. The Helix Midnight has a 10 year warranty, the Midnight Luxe and Plus have 15 year warranties, and the Birch has a 25 year warranty. 

Conclusion: Which Is the Best Mattress Brand?

Helix mattresses are generally more pressure relieving and cooling, while Tuft & Needle mattresses are more affordable and provide excellent spinal alignment. The Helix Midnight Luxe and Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattresses offer the best combination of pressure relief, responsiveness, support, and cooling. The T&N Original is the best value.

Here are our Helix and Tuft & Needle recommendations for different kinds of sleepers.

• Best for side sleepers: The Tuft & Needle Hybrid mattress received a near perfect score for pressure relief, plus a high score for spine alignment – both of which are vital to side sleepers.
• Best for stomach sleepers: The Helix Midnight Luxe provides a strong combination of pressure relief and lumbar support necessary to keep stomach sleepers pain free.
• Best for plus-sized sleepers: The Helix Plus is the obvious choice for plus-sized sleepers, thanks to its extra durable materials and construction.
• Best for budget shoppers: The Nod by Tuft & Needle is easily the most budget-friendly mattress in this comparison, followed closely by the Tuft & Needle Original mattress.
• Best for couples: The Helix Midnight and Birch mattresses both do a great job of isolating motion, which promotes a more restful night’s sleep for couples.
• Best for combo sleepers: The Tuft & Needle Mint and Helix Midnight mattresses do the best job of adjusting to your changes in position.
• Best for hot sleepers: The Helix Midnight Luxe and Tuft & Needle Mint mattresses earned the highest scores for cooling.