updated July 2023
Tuft & Needle vs Purple Mattress Comparison
Read our comparison of the Tuft & Needle and Purple mattresses and use this guide as you shop for your next memory foam bed.
Are you on the hunt for a new bed-in-a-box mattress option? Well, we invite you to relax and read on. Know that both the Tuft & Needle and the Purple mattresses are premier choices for many types of sleep positions; however, we also are aware that a new mattress is an investment for most people, so it’s necessary to do your research when mattress shopping and learn all the facts.
In this article, we have created an in-depth comparison of Tuft & Needle and the Purple mattress. This guide will help you learn about both mattresses, so you can better decide which one is the best mattress for your sleeping style, what sleep trial is offered with each as well as the price points for both mattress brands.
Tuft & Needle vs Purple at a Glance
Customer Rating
MA Score
Summary
Firmness
Type
Trial Period
Warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.7/10
Summary
Budget-friendly mattress for the average sleeper
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Type
Foam blend
Trial Period
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.4/10
Summary
Proven pressure relief for people with back pain; good for back and side sleepers
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Type
Hybrid: hyper-elastic polymer and foam
Trial Period
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Tuft & Needle
Purple
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.7/10
8.4/10
Summary
Budget-friendly mattress for the average sleeper
Proven pressure relief for people with back pain; good for back and side sleepers
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Type
Foam blend
Hybrid: hyper-elastic polymer and foam
Trial Period
100 days
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
10-year limited warranty
Key Similarities
- Both mattresses offer free returns, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty.
- Both mattresses are great for side sleepers, back sleepers, and combination sleepers.
- Tuft & Needle and Purple both manufacture their products in the United States.
Key Differences
- The original Tuft & Needle mattress is more affordable than the Purple mattress.
- The Tuft & Needle bed is great for stomach sleepers, while the Purple mattress is not.
- The Purple mattress does a significantly better job of keeping sleepers cool.
Tuft & Needle Mattress Review Highlights
- The Tuft & Needle mattress is recognized for being a great pick for the “average sleeper” meaning that it’s known as a quality mattress and universal pick for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and side sleepers.
- This is a budget-friendly mattress with a reasonable price point.
- This foam mattress has an Adaptive Foam layer, which offers pressure relief and support.
- It also incorporates the springiness of latex alongside great breathability.
- The Tuft & Needle mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
- Tuft & Needle offers a mattress for every type of sleeper. Check out our reviews of the Mint, Hybrid, and Nod!
Purple Mattress Review Highlights
- The Purple mattress is famous for its ability to help sleepers who suffer from back and neck pain, offering sound pressure relief.
- The original Purple is one of the top-rated and best hybrid mattresses that we have tested and evaluated.
- This mattress helps keep you cool at night and offers fantastic spinal alignment.
- The Purple also is great for motion isolation, meaning that you won’t be disturbed if you sleep with a partner who moves a lot and vice versa.
- Athletes, in particular, have given the Purple mattress high marks in customer satisfaction.
- The Purple mattress also offers a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial.
- Depending on your sleep preferences, one of Purple’s three other mattresses may be right for you. Check out our reviews of the Purple Kids, Purple Hybrid, and Purple Hybrid Premier.
Compare Mattress Sizes
Tuft & Needle and Purple mattresses have some subtle differences in the overall sizes of their twin, twin XL, and full mattress options—other mattress sizes, including queen size, are comparable. Plus, the Tuft & Needle is a quarter of an inch thicker than the Purple mattress.
| Tuft & Needle | Purple | |
| Thickness | 9.5” | 9.25” |
| Twin | 39” x 75” | 38” x 75” |
| Twin XL | 39” 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” |
| Split King | N/A | 76″ x 80″ |
Learn more about mattress sizes.
Compare Mattress Prices
When it comes to the price point of Tuft & Needle and Purple mattresses, there are some major differences. The Tuft & Needle shows it is a great high-quality pick for budget conscious shoppers. On the other side of the coin, the original Purple has a slightly higher price point.
| Tuft & Needle | Purple | |
| Twin | $745 | $799 |
| Twin XL | $795 | $999 |
| Full | $895 | $1,199 |
| Queen | $995 | $1,399 |
| King | $1,395 | $1,799 |
| California King | $1,395 | $1,799 |
| Split King | N/A | $1,998 |
Inside the Tuft & Needle Mattress
The Tuft & Needle mattress consists of two foam layers and a mattress cover. It measures 9.5” thick and comes in at 6-6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale.
The bottom layer offers the firmness and support that help provide sleepers with spine alignment and edge support, and the ultra-soft top layer cushions pressure points and respond well to movement. The softness of the top layer makes this mattress a great choice for side sleepers. The combination of support and cushioning will appeal to back sleepers, and it is firm enough to keep stomach sleepers’ hips from sinking into the bed.
- Top Layer: Composed of Tuft & Needle’s Adaptive® foam, this is the proprietary foam material that we mentioned previously. It moves heat away from your body and also adapts to your body as you move during the night.
- Base Layer: Made of foundation foam. This also is designed to offer structure and be a support layer to your body.
- Mattress Cover: Promotes breathability and is made from light, airy, comfortable fabric.
Inside the Purple Mattress
The Purple mattress is high quality and made of multiple layers of foam. The inside layers of the mattress were designed in such a way that your sleeping position is fully supported, keeping side sleepers’ spines straight and carefully cradling pressure points. Additionally, the inside layers of a Purple mattress were crafted for the long haul and take into account your needs when you share a bed with a partner.
The hybrid build of the Purple mattress, which stacks a Smart Comfort Grid on top of two layers of foam, allows for better airflow and breathability, both of which will help to keep you cooler throughout the night. Coming in at a 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, most sleepers will find the Purple mattress to have a nice blend of cushion and support, though stomach sleepers might prefer something softer.
- Responsive Knit Cover: This is a soft and stretchy knit cover. This layer was created to help you sleep cool and promotes breathability. It maximizes upon the GelFlex Grid Grid’s flexing properties.
- GelFlex Grid Grid: This grid design cushions your shoulders and hips when you are sleeping and is a pressure-relieving layer.
- Plush Comfort Foam: Also known as polyfoam, follows in the next layer. This high-density polyurethane foam is soft and was created to be a comfort layer in the mattress. It aids in the GelFlex Grid’s overall feel and responsiveness.
- Support Foam: The base layer is medium-firm on the firmness scale and also made from high-density polyurethane foam. It is the Purple mattress’s support layer.
Compare Mattress Advisor Scores
What follows is some insight into how the Tuft & Needle mattress and Purple mattress measured up when we did our evaluations and comprehensive testing.
| Tuft & Needle | Purple | |
| Shipping | 10 | 7 |
| Trial Period | 9 | 9 |
| Return Policy | 10 | 10 |
| Warranty | 9 | 9 |
| Set-Up Test | 7 | 6 |
| Motion Transfer Test | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Edge Support Test | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Pressure Relief Test | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Spinal Alignment Test | 8.5 | 9.5 |
| Responsiveness Test | 8 | 7 |
| Cooling Evaluation | 7 | 8 |
| Durability Evaluation | 8 | 9 |
| Customer Service Score | 10 | 9 |
| Social Impact Score | 8 | 5 |
| TOTAL SCORE | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 |
Shipping
Both companies offer free shipping to those living in the contiguous U.S. Tuft & Needle beds typically take 1 – 5 business days to arrive at your home, whereas a Purple mattress can take 1 – 2 weeks to ship and another 4 – 7 days to be delivered. That said, Purple mattresses are still more affordable than many other mattress brands out there, and the quality of product and service they provide is certainly worth the price you pay.
Edge Support
The edge support score is based on how well the mattress responds to someone sleeping or sitting on the edge of the bed. The Purple’s medium-firm design did a great job of keeping the edges from sinking when one of us got too close to the sides. This also indicates that the bed is ideal for those who are sensitive to the movements of their sleep partner.
The Tuft & Needle mattress did sink a bit when we sat on the edge of the bed, but held up well when we were lying down. Overall, the Purple had noticeably sturdier edge support than the Tuft & Needle mattress.
Cooling
While the breathable, graphite mattress cover does help to wick away heat and promote breathability in the Tuft & Needle mattress, the smart comfort grid in the Purple mattress really keeps the air flowing.
The Tuft & Needle didn’t score terribly on the cooling test, but as is the case with most foam blend mattresses it does not perform as well as hybrid mattresses like the Purple.
Summary
Tuft & Needle and Purple are both very highly rated, with T&N coming in at an 8.7 and Purple receiving an 8.4. However, you should consider where each brand excels before making your purchase.
If you are shopping on a budget and prefer to sleep on your stomach, then Tuft & Needle might be the way to go. If you tend to sleep hot and enjoy a slightly firmer bed, then Purple is probably right for you. Regardless of what you choose, both brands offer a 100-night trial, so you’ll have plenty of time to sleep on your decision!
More Tuft & Needle and Purple Mattress Comparisons
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