Our Review Process

At Mattress Advisor, we’re relentless in our pursuit of providing the most comprehensive, to-the-point, and unbiased reviews of the best mattresses and bedding accessories on the market.

We know how important a good mattress is to getting great sleep but not every mattress is as good as it claims to be. Our expert review team has spent a collective 1,200+ hours personally testing, evaluating and comparing mattresses to recommend only the best products for our readers.

Our review methodology is complex, scientific and comprehensive, but at the end of the day, we ask ourselves a very simple question before giving a product our stamp of approval: “Would we recommend this mattress to someone we love?”

How We Test Mattresses

We use a combination of customer reviews, in-depth interviews, and a proprietary testing methodology to conduct our reviews. Each mattress we test gets a Mattress Advisor Score, which is a calculation of human performance tests, material evaluation, ease of purchase/return, customer service and brand integrity. Our testing methodology and scoring system is the most comprehensive in the industry.

Each mattress we get in hand will go through a thorough 6-point testing procedure and 8-point evaluation in our Mattress Lab. The same precise methodology is applied to all mattresses we test.

After we conclude our testing for each mattress (which we film and publish), we generate our Mattress Advisor Score. This is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to performance, function, convenience and the brand’s social responsibility including:

What We Test	What it Means
Pressure Relief	How well the mattress relieves pressure, (particularly on the hips, shoulders and thighs) and provides even body weight distribution.
Spinal Alignment	How well the mattress keeps your spine in its natural alignment.
Edge Support	How much edge support the mattress provides, accounting for functional use of the end of the mattress and how comfortable it is to sleep on the edge of the bed.
Responsiveness/ Ease of Movement	How well the mattress responds to your movement and adjusts to your body position. This is especially important for combination sleepers or those who change positions throughout the night.
Motion Transfer	How well the mattress isolates movement and absorbs motion. Motion transfer is important for couples who don’t want to be disturbed by their partner moving around or getting up in the middle of the night.
Durability/ Lifespan	Quality and durability of materials, structural support, and expected lifespan of the mattress.
Cooling Properties	How well the mattress promotes airflow and breathability, factoring in heat retention and any substantive cooling properties/features.
Ease of Setup	How easy the set-up process is, including factors like weight, mobility, the time it takes to unbox and set up, and how many people are needed.
Trial Period	Length of time offered to decide whether or not you like the mattress.
Return Policy	Ease of return process including refund policy and how the mattress is removed from your home.
Warranty	Length of warranty and what is covered.
Shipping	Time and cost (if any) for shipping the mattress to your home.
Customer Service	Response time, level of detail provided to answer questions, how helpful the support team is.
Social Impact	Evaluates social missions, charitable causes, sustainability efforts – including the quality of the mattress materials used where they are made. This matters for two main reasons: Companies who care about social mission and actively give back are not only more financially stable, but also care about their communities and the world around them. Some customers prefer to buy from companies that are making a difference. Companies who make their mattresses using quality, sustainable materials made in the US care about the durability and safety of their mattresses. The US also has the highest standards for safety and quality in the world.

The Mattress Advisor Score

Each of these factors is rated on a scale from 1-10 and then weighted based on importance to generate the Mattress Advisor Score. The score will be a quick and easy way for you to compare different mattresses that have been through our rigorous testing, and take a closer look at how it performs on the factors that are most important to you.

You can find the total score as well as a breakdown of how a mattress scored on each test on all of our review pages. Here’s an example of what it looks like:

You can also take a look at our YouTube channel, where we demonstrate our testing methodology for each mattress that is being reviewed.

We take the guesswork out of the buying process by thoroughly researching and testing hundreds of different mattress and bedding products so you don’t have to. We know that this process can be overwhelming, and we thought it was about time someone made it simple, and maybe even a little fun.

If you have questions about our content or would like to suggest a mattress brand for our team to test, please email questions@mattressadvisor.com.

How We Test Sleep Accessories

In addition to testing mattresses, we review sleep accessories in five major categories:

Pillows
Sheets/blankets
Mattress toppers/pads
Mattress protectors/covers
Mattress foundations

For each type of sleep accessory, we grade them in five key areas based on what makes them perform the function they are designed to do. Here, we give them a score ranging from 1-10, depending on how well they perform.

Once we conclude our testing for each item, we come up with an overall Mattress Advisor score. This involves adding up the scores in each category and finding the average. Below are some of the factors we consider when reviewing each type of sleep accessory with an explanation of what we are looking for in our evaluations.

Our Pillow Review Process

From down pillows to wedge pillows, we review a variety of head cushions to help you determine which one best fits your sleeping style and other preferences.

What We Test	What it Means
Temperature Regulation	Whether a pillow maintains the cold feeling or needs to be flipped continually.
Support	How well a pillow holds the head and neck area to provide pressure relief.
Responsiveness	How well the pillow molds to someone’s neck and whether it works well when changing positions.
Durability	Quality in the types of materials used to make the pillow and estimates of how long it will last.
Construction	Considers whether the materials in the pillow are free of toxins and are hypoallergenic.

Our Sheets/Blanket Review Process

Another common sleep category Mattress Advisor looks at is sheets and blankets. This includes fitted sheet sets, comforters, duvets, and weighted blankets.

What We Test	What it Means
Temperature Regulation	Considers factors, such as the thickness and type of material, to determine if it insulates users well.
Softness	Looks at the texture and whether it feels pleasant to touch.
Washing Capabilities	How easily a blanket or related item can be put in the washing machine or be cleaned when accidents occur.
Durability	Considers whether it will snag easily or get caught on sharp objects (ex. nails) and how it’s constructed to determine if it will hold up over time.
Breathability	How well the fabric it uses can absorb moisture and keep users from overheating.

Our Mattress Topper/Pad Review Process

Here at Mattress Advisor, we look at mattress toppers and pads, which are used to provide a softer surface.

What We Test	What it Means
Responsiveness	How well a mattress topper or pad adjusts and responds to changes in sleeping positions.
Support	Considers a mattress topper’s or pad’s thickness, pressure relief, and spinal alignment to tell if it can effectively hold a sleeper’s weight.
Motion Transfer	Looks at whether a sleeper can move on a mattress topper or pad without disturbing their partner.
Durability	How well a mattress topper or pad can last over time and whether the waterproofing continues to exist after several washes.
Breathability	Considers whether a mattress topper or pad has airflow and does a good job of keeping sleepers cool at night.

Our Mattress Protector/Cover Review Process

Similar to mattress toppers, we also review mattress protectors and covers. These are used to protect your mattress to promote cleanliness and enhance the longevity of your bed.

What We Test	What it Means
Protection	How effective a mattress protector or cover is at shielding a mattress from mites, stains, pet dander, sweat, and odor.
Responsiveness	How easily someone can move around a mattress with a particular protector or cover and looks at factors like static and squeaky noises from movement.
Washing Capabilities	How easy it is to wash or whether it can be placed in a washing machine.
Durability	How long a mattress protector or cover will last based on how it’s made.
Fit	Whether a mattress protector or cover is available in a variety of sizes and how easy it is to place and keep on a mattress.

Our Mattress Foundations

Mattress Advisor also looks at mattress foundations, such as platform bases and bed frames.

What We Test	What it Means
Assembly	Considers the mattress foundation’s set-up process and how easy it is for the average user to construct.
Support	How stable a mattress foundation is, including whether it wobbles or moves around a lot.
Compatability	Looks at whether a particular mattress foundation is suitable with different types of mattresses.
Durability	Evaluates the materials used to make the mattress foundation to determine how likely it is to last long term or whether it will need to be replaced frequently.
Weight Limit	How many pounds the foundation can support.