Nolah and Layla are two bed-in-a-box mattress brands known for their high-quality foam beds. In this mattress comparison, we’re going to compare the Nolah Original mattress with the flagship Layla bed so you can find out which all-foam mattress was designed with your needs in mind.
Nolah vs Layla Breakdown
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
8.8/10
Summary
Flippable memory foam mattress known to help people with back and joint pain
Firmness
Soft side: 4-5/10; Firm side: 7/10
Type
Copper-infused memory foam; flippable
Trial Period
120 days
Warranty
Lifetime limited warranty
Nolah
Layla
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.9/10
8.8/10
Summary
Temperature neutral AirFoam mattress known for offering great pressure relief
Flippable memory foam mattress known to help people with back and joint pain
Firmness
Medium firm: 5 - 6 /10
Soft side: 4-5/10; Firm side: 7/10
Type
All-foam mattress
Copper-infused memory foam; flippable
Trial Period
120 days
120 days
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Lifetime limited warranty
Key Similarities
- Pricing: The Nolah and Layla mattresses have nearly identical price points, around average for all-foam bed-in-a-box mattresses.
- Sleep Trials and Lifetime Warranties: Both mattress companies offer risk-free 120-night sleep trials and generous lifetime warranties.
- Sleep Positions: Both beds work well for side, back, and stomach sleepers.
Key Differences
- Firmness: The Layla is a flippable mattress with a medium-soft side and a firm side. The Nolah is a one-sided mattress with a medium-firm feel that falls in between the firmness levels of the Layla.
- Pressure Relief: The Layla earned a higher score in our pressure relief test, so it’s better for side sleepers who require extra cushion at pressure points.
- Spinal Alignment: The Nolah outperformed the Layla in our spine alignment evaluation. People with back pain tend to sleep best and wake up feeling more refreshed on beds that support a healthy spine.
- Type of Foam: Only Layla has deeply contouring memory foam layers. Nolah utilizes proprietary AirFoam for an almost floating sensation.
Nolah Mattress Review Highlights
- Impeccable Spinal Alignment: The Nolah scored a 9.5/10 in our spine alignment evaluation. A healthy spine can minimize neck and back pain during the day.
- Breathable Design: Microscopic air pockets found in the AirFoam comfort layer promote airflow, helping hot sleepers stay cool.
- Responsive Feel: Nolah’s proprietary foams react immediately to movements so you can toss and turn with ease.
- Good for Couples: The Nolah mattress minimizes motion transfer, helping couples sleep more soundly. Additionally, the edges are sturdy so you won’t need to huddle in the middle to feel secure.
- Other Options: Consider the Nolah Signature for a more luxurious all-foam mattress or the Nolah Evolution for innerspring support.
Layla Mattress Review Highlights
- Flippable Design: The Layla is one of few flippable mattresses. The softer side of the mattress has a medium-soft firmness and the firmer side a firm feel. This makes the Layla work well for people who love softer and firmer mattresses.
- Cushions Pressure Points: Layla’s memory foam top layer cradles pressure points, delivering excellent pressure relief.
- A Superb Couple’s Mattress: The Layla earned high marks in the two tests that we look at most closely for couples: edge support and motion isolation. Couples can sleep better during the night by spreading out and not feeling one another’s movements.
- Very Responsive: Layla’s foam responds quickly to movements, so you won’t feel stuck as you can in some memory foam mattresses. Combo sleepers usually sleep better on a responsive bed.
- Other Options: Check out the Layla Hybrid for extra support.
Mattress Specs
The flagship Nolah and Layla mattresses have identical dimensions and come in the same sizes.
| Nolah | Layla | |
| Thickness | 10” | 10” |
| Twin | 38” x 75” | 38” x 75” |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” | 38” x 80” |
| Full | 54” x 75” | 54” x 75” |
| Queen | 60” x 80” | 60” x 80” |
| King | 76” x 80” | 76” x 80” |
| California King | 72” x 84” | 72” x 84” |
Learn more about mattress sizes.
Mattress Prices
Both of these beds have an average cost for an all-foam mattress. As such, a difference in cost is unlikely to be a major factor when deciding between the Layla and Nolah.
| Nolah | Layla | |
| Twin | $649 | $649 |
| Twin XL | $799 | $749 |
| Full | $899 | $949 |
| Queen | $1,049 | $1,049 |
| King | $1,149 | $1,140 |
| California King | $1,149 | $1,149 |
A Look at Construction
Even though the Nolah Original and Layla mattresses are all-foam beds that measure 10 inches thick, their construction and feel are quite different. The Layla is a flippable memory foam mattress with a soft side and a firm side. The Nolah is a foam mattress made without memory foam for a balanced feel and ample airflow. It’s one-sided with a medium-firm feel.
Inside the Nolah Mattress
Nolah is a medium-firm all-foam mattress. It’s made from three layers of foam designed to create a cool and comfortable sleeping experience.
- Tencel Mattress Cover: A soft, breathable cover made from sustainable Tencel fabric.
- Nolah AirFoam Top Layer: A proprietary polyfoam with microscopic air pockets that cushion pressure points and minimize heat retention.
- High-Resilience Foam Layer: A firmer foam designed to quickly respond to movements. It helps keep the body from sagging and makes it easy to change sleeping positions.
- Support Foam: A thick layer of high-density foam brings stability, support, and longevity.
Inside the Layla Mattress
The Layla is a flippable all-foam mattress with a softer and firmer side. Below we break down the composition from the soft side down.
- Cooling Mattress Cover: A stretchy cover made from viscose, polyester, and lycra incorporates Thermo-Gel for a cool-to-the-touch feel. The light grey side is the soft side and the dark grey the firm side.
- Copper-Gel Memory Foam: An ultra-plush memory foam makes up the top layer of Layla’s soft side for a distinct memory foam feel. Copper and gel are utilized for their cooling properties.
- Max Airflow Transition Layer: A firmer foam minimizes sinkage. Channels promote a cool night’s sleep.
- Support Layer: A high-density polyfoam core limits motion transfer and offers support to both sides of the mattress.
- Copper-Gel Memory Foam: A thin layer of memory foam makes up the comfort layer on the firm side. The minimal thickness means just a touch of pressure relief, keeping this side firm and supportive with very little give.
Mattress Testing Scores
Take a look at the side-by-side comparison below to see how these mattresses performed in our in-house lab testing. Pay close attention to the tests that matter most to you—for instance, check out the pressure relief test if you’re a side sleeper or the spinal alignment score if you have back pain.
Find out more about our review and scoring process.
| Nolah | Layla | |
| Shipping | 10 | 10 |
| Trial Period | 10 | 10 |
| Return Policy | 10 | 10 |
| Warranty | 10 | 10 |
| Set-Up Test | 9 | 9 |
| Motion Transfer Test | 9 | 8.5 |
| Edge Support Test | 8.5 | 9 |
| Pressure Relief Test | 7.25 | 9 |
| Spinal Alignment Test | 9.5 | 8 |
| Responsiveness Test | 9.25 | 9.5 |
| Cooling Evaluation | 8 | 7.5 |
| Durability Evaluation | 7 | 8 |
| Customer Service Score | 9 | 9 |
| Social Impact Score | 6 | 3 |
| TOTAL SCORE | 8.9/10 | 8.8/10 |
Pressure Relief
If you’re a side sleeper or someone who struggles with joint pain, you understand the importance of pressure relief. A mattress’s surface must be able to cushion pressure points and evenly distribute body weight to minimize pain at the shoulders, hips, or other sensitive areas.
We use a pressure mapping film to see how well a mattress minimizes excess pressure. The Layla earned much higher marks than the Nolah in this test, so we recommend the Layla to side sleepers and those with hip or shoulder pain.
Spine Alignment
Did you realize that posture matters not only when you’re awake, but also when you’re asleep? The thing is, it’s your mattress, not your muscles, that influence your sleeping posture. That’s why we test mattresses for how well they support healthy spine alignment.
Both the Layla and Nolah mattresses earned high marks for spine alignment, but the Nolah did outperform the Layla in this evaluation. If you’re someone who tends to wake up with neck or back pain, the Nolah is an excellent option.
Durability
A durable mattress is one that lasts longer before forming indentations or other issues that influence sleep quality. All-foam mattresses tend to be less durable than beds with innerspring coils because there isn’t the same level of resilient support. However, that doesn’t mean a foam bed can’t last you 10 plus years.
Because the Layla mattress is two-sided, it’s likely to last longer than the one-sided Nolah mattress. Two sleeping surfaces mean twice the surface area. If you use both sides, you’re likely to have a mattress that outlasts most one-sided beds. If you’re planning to keep your new bed for over 10 years, Layla may be the better choice.
In Short: Which Is the Better Mattress?
The Layla’s superior pressure relief and dual-sided firmness make it the superior mattress for most side sleepers and people who prefer a soft or firm feel. The Nolah Original surpasses the Layla in its ability to support healthy spine alignment, making it a great bed for people with back pain.
Both of these all-foam beds supply the sturdy edges and motion isolation properties needed by couples and those who share their bed with kids or pets. They’re responsive, so you won’t feel stuck as you might with some other foam mattresses. Both beds are backed by generous 120-night sleep trials and lifetime warranties.
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