updated May 2023

Nolah Original vs Saatva Classic Mattress Comparison
Need help deciding if the Nolah Original or Saatva Classic mattress is right for you? Learn everything you need to know to make the right decision in our Layla vs Saatva mattress comparison.
Trying to decide between the all-foam Nolah mattress and hybrid Saatva Classic? We’ve got you covered! Below, we break down the key features of the Saatva Classic and Original Nolah. Both of these brands offer several other models, so if you don’t think either bed is the perfect fit, check them out on our mattress reviews page.
In the meantime, read on to learn how each brand’s classic model compares.
Nolah vs Saatva at a Glance
Customer Rating
MA Score
Summary
Firmness
Type
Trial Period
Warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.9/10
Summary
Temperature neutral AirFoam mattress known for offering great pressure relief
Firmness
Medium firm: 5 - 6 /10
Type
All-foam mattress
Trial Period
120 days
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
9/10
Summary
Customizable luxury hybrid mattress
Firmness
Customizable
Type
Hybrid: coil on coil and memory foam with Euro pillow-top
Trial Period
365 days
Warranty
Lifetime warranty


Nolah
Saatva Classic
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.9/10
9/10
Summary
Temperature neutral AirFoam mattress known for offering great pressure relief
Customizable luxury hybrid mattress
Firmness
Medium firm: 5 - 6 /10
Customizable
Type
All-foam mattress
Hybrid: coil on coil and memory foam with Euro pillow-top
Trial Period
120 days
365 days
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Lifetime warranty
Key Similarities
- Responsiveness: Both beds are easy to move around on at night, which means combination sleepers will be happy on either the Nolah or Saatva mattress.
- Back Support: Both mattresses do a great job helping you keep your spine in a neutral alignment overnight. This means people with back pain will like both of these beds.
- Side Sleepers: Side sleepers will get enough pressure relief on the original Nolah or plush soft Saatva model. If this is your preferred sleeping position, both of these beds could be a good fit for your needs.
Key Differences
- Durability: The Saatva’s hybrid build makes it more durable than the all-foam Nolah, so heavier people might prefer it.
- Firmness: The Saatva Classic comes in three different firmness levels. The luxury firm and firm Saatva models both feel softer than the original Nolah mattress. The plush soft Saatva feels softer than the original Nolah.
- Couples: The Nolah isolates motion better than the Saatva, which makes it a better pick for people who share a bed. You won’t be disturbed by your partner tossing and turning on the other side of the Nolah.

Nolah Mattress Highlights
- Cooling: The Nolah is built with the brand’s proprietary AirFoam, which promotes airflow and is more cooling than traditional memory foam or polyfoam. This makes it a good pick for hot sleepers who want a foam mattress.
- Motion Isolation: The Nolah does a great job minimizing motion transfer, so it is a solid pick for anyone who shares a bed.
- Pressure Relief: The Nolah’s top layer offers cushioning around pressure points at the shoulders and hips. This makes it a good choice for side sleepers.
- Spine Alignment: The Nolah offers great lumbar support. This is good news for people with back pain—and back sleepers with back pain, in particular.
- More Options: Nolah also offers a hybrid mattress, a thicker all-foam mattress, a natural latex mattress, and a kids’ mattress. So if you like the brand but want a little extra body contouring, prefer natural materials, or are shopping for a child, check out the brand’s model lineup.

Saatva Mattress Highlights
- Firmness Options: The Saatva Classic is available in three different firmness options. This makes it a good pick for any sleeping position.
- Stomach Sleepers: The firm Saatva Classic offers great support for stomach sleepers— it’s firm and supportive enough to prevent their hips and lower backs from sinking out of alignment with their shoulders, which is key to preventing back pain.
- White Glove Delivery: The Saatva is not a bed-in-a-box. You can still purchase the Saatva online, but the bed does not come to your home compressed. Instead, Saatva’s team delivers it to your door and sets it up for free in a room of your choice. If you’re concerned about off-gassing (chemical release) or setting up your new mattress, you can avoid both issues with a Saatva.
- Durability: The Saatva is a high-quality luxury mattress, and constructed to last a very long time. It’s built like an innerspring mattress, which is one of the most long-lasting mattress options on the market.
- More Options: Saatva offers latex, adjustable, and memory foam mattress options. It also offers a kids’ mattress. So if you like the brand but prefer different materials, check out their other models.
Compare Dimensions / Sizes
Take a look at the chart below to compare the dimensions of each mattress:
Nolah | Saatva | |
Thickness | 10” | 11.5” or 14.5” |
Twin | 38” x 74.5” | 38” x 75” |
Twin XL | 38” x 80” | 38” x 80” |
Full | 54” x 74.5” | 54” x 75” |
Queen | 60” x 80” | 60” x 80” |
King | 76” x 80” | 76” x 80” |
Split King | 38″ x 80″ (X2) | 38″ x 80″ (X2) |
Cal King | 72” x 84” | 72” x 84” |
Split Cal King | N/A | 38″ x 84″ (X2) |
Learn more about mattress sizes.
Compare Prices
Take a look at the chart below to compare the prices of the Nolah and Saatva. The Nolah is more affordable than the Saatva, but it is also less durable. So, you’ll need to decide if the tradeoff is worth it.
Visit our best mattress deals page before buying either bed to check for coupons and sales.
Nolah | Saatva | |
Twin | $699 | $995 |
Twin XL | $899 | $1,355 |
Full | $999 | $1,895 |
Queen | $1,149 | $1,995 |
King | $1,349 | $2,445 |
Split King | $1,798 | $2,710 |
Cal King | $1,349 | $2,445 |
Split Cal King | N/A | $2,710 |
Compare the Construction
Below, we’ll take a deep dive into the construction of each of these mattresses. The two brands use very different materials, which is why their beds feel so distinct.

Inside the Nolah Mattress
The Nolah is made with a blend of proprietary foams that give the mattress a responsive-yet-cushioning feel. That makes this bed a great pick for combination sleepers and side sleepers.
The mattress features a naturally cooling Tencel cover and three layers of foam. An AirFoam comfort layer provides plenty of cushioning but doesn’t suck you in, so you won’t feel “stuck” in bed the way you would on a memory foam mattress. Below that, a high-resilience foam transition layer eases you down onto a standard high-density polyfoam base. The result is a plush-yet-supportive feel that’s great for all types of sleepers.
- Tencel Cover: Tencel is a soft, natural material. It’s also naturally cooling, which helps prevent the Nolah original mattress from trapping heat.
- Nolah AirFoam Comfort Layer: Nolah’s proprietary polyfoam blend cushions pressure points. This layer was designed to prevent trapping heat, which means the Nolah should be temperature neutral. This makes it stand out from traditional memory foam beds, which can trap heat and warm up overnight.
- Supportive High-Resilience Foam: A transition layer of high-resilience foam keeps you lifted up and out of the mattress to prevent sinkage.
- Base Layer: A high-density foam base provides support to the rest of the mattress. If you prefer coil support, consider the Hybrid Nolah Evolution mattress.

Inside the Saatva Classic Mattress
The Saatva is constructed with layers of pocketed coils and a pillow top to create a springy, supportive feel. That makes this bed a great choice for those who like the feel of an innerspring mattress. Saatva beds are all handcrafted in the USA with CertiPUR-US Certified materials, making the brand a great choice for those looking for high-quality domestic products.
The Saatva features an organic cotton cover and plush Euro pillow top. A transition layer of memory foam eases you from this layer to a pocketed coil support layer designed to keep your spine neutrally aligned throughout the night. Beneath those layers is a steel coil base that provides ultra-durable support. The entire mattress is surrounded by higher-density foam rails to ensure you can really spread out over the entire sleeping surface.
- Quilted Euro Pillow Top: Under an organic cotton cover is a foam-quilted pillow top that offers pressure relief and cushioning. This layer is softer or firmer depending on which firmness option you choose.
- High-Density Memory Foam: A thin layer of memory foam provides body-contouring and pressure relief.
- Pocketed Coils: A layer of pocketed coils offers zoned support that is softer at the shoulders and firmer at the hips to keep your spine neutrally aligned. They also cool down the mattress and prevent it from trapping body heat.
- Edge Support: Foam rails surround the entire bed, providing extra sturdy edge support. You can really spread out on this bed without feeling like you’ll slip off the edge.
- Steel Coil Base: Thick, sturdy steel coils provide firm base support and promote additional airflow.
Compare the Scores
Still not sure which mattress to choose? We rated each bed’s key features in our lab to help you decide. Look at their scores on the chart below.
Nolah | Saatva | |
Shipping | 10 | 7.5 |
Trial Period | 10 | 10 |
Return Policy | 10 | 7 |
Warranty | 10 | 10 |
Set-Up Test | 9 | 10 |
Motion Transfer Test | 9 | 7.5 |
Edge Support Test | 8.5 | 10 |
Pressure Relief Test | 7.25 | 9 |
Spine Alignment Test | 9.5 | 10 |
Responsiveness Test | 9.25 | 8.5 |
Cooling Evaluation | 8 | 9 |
Durability Evaluation | 7 | 10 |
Customer Service Score | 9 | 9 |
Social Impact Score | 6 | 8 |
Total Score | 8.9/10 | 9/10 |
Spine Alignment
These beds both performed very well on our spine alignment test. This means either bed is a good mattress for people with back pain. The Saatva performed just a little better because its zoned coil support structure is a bit more durable than the Nolah’s all-foam build. So, stomach sleepers might prefer the Saatva. But back and side sleepers should be well-supported on either mattress.
Pressure Relief
The Saatva relieves more pressure on the shoulders and hips than the Nolah does. Its luxury pillow top layer offers more soft cushioning. If you struggle with stiff joints, opt for the plush soft model of the Saatva Classic. But if you’re on a budget, the Nolah should still offer plenty of pressure relief.
Edge Support
The Saatva also offers better edge support than the Nolah. While both beds have firm edges, the Saatva’s reinforced edges stand up better to testing. We weren’t surprised by this score because all-foam mattresses normally have weaker edges than hybrid or innerspring beds.
Which Is the Best Mattress for You?
If you’re looking for a bouncy, firm mattress that will last for years, go with the Saatva. This bed has a traditional innerspring feel and is well-suited to stomach and combination sleepers. Seniors also tend to like the Saatva because of its classic feel. You should also stick with the Saatva if you don’t want to deal with setting up a mattress-in-a-box.
If you’d prefer a responsive but gentle foam feel, the Nolah is the bed for you. You won’t feel trapped in its layers, but it offers the softer foam feel some sleepers prefer. The Nolah is also the better option for couples, because you won’t feel disturbed by a partner rolling around on the other side of this mattress. Finally, budget shoppers should stick with the Nolah, which is more affordable than the Saatva.
More Nolah Comparisons
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- Nolah vs Ghostbed Mattress
- Nolah vs Layla Mattress
- Nolah vs Purple Mattress
More Saatva Comparisons


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