Tuft & Needle and Zinus are two mattress brands known for their affordable prices. Budget shoppers looking for a high-quality bed-in-a-box mattress often end up deciding between these two companies.
In our Zinus vs Tuft & Needle review, we’re going to compare the flagship Tuft & Needle mattress with the Zinus Green Tea memory foam bed to highlight their differences. By the end, you’ll know which all-foam mattress is right for you.
Overview: Tuft & Needle vs Zinus
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
7.8/10
Summary
Budget-friendly memory foam mattress
Firmness
Medium-Soft: 4.5/10
Type
Memory foam
Trial Period
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Tuft & Needle
Zinus Green Tea
Customer Rating
MA Score
8.7/10
7.8/10
Summary
Budget-friendly mattress for the average sleeper
Budget-friendly memory foam mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Medium-Soft: 4.5/10
Type
Foam blend
Memory foam
Trial Period
100 days
100 days
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
10-year limited warranty
Key Similarities
- Both are budget-friendly mattresses.
- Both are all-foam beds.
- Both offer exceptional spine alignment and pressure relief, ideal for sleepers with aches and pains.
Key Differences
- The T&N mattress is firmer, making it a better choice for most stomach and back sleepers.
- Zinus contains plush memory foam while T&N does not.
- T&N offers greater edge support.
- Zinus delivers superior motion isolation.
- T&N is more durable and is likely to last longer than the Zinus mattress.
Tuft & Needle Mattress Review Highlights
- The Tuft and Needle Original mattress is a polyfoam bed that balances contouring pressure relief with support and responsiveness for a unique feel.
- The Tuft & Needle Adaptive foam is easy to move around on. Combination sleepers and those who toss and turn will enjoy the ease-of-movement.
- T&N’s medium-firm firmness level works for all sleeping positions.
- With high scores in our tests for spine alignment and pressure relief, the flagship T&N bed is excellent for sleepers with aches and pains.
- The T&N mattress is made using CertiPUR-US certified foams.
- In Tuft & Needle’s return policy, you have 100 nights to try the T&N mattress, risk-free.
- Check out our reviews for the Tuft & Needle Hybrid and Tuft & Needle Mint for a more luxurious feel.
Zinus Mattress Review Highlights
- The Zinus Green Tea mattress is one of the most affordable memory foam mattresses made using CertiPUR-US certified foams. This means the bed is free from common harmful chemicals such as heavy metals and VOCs.
- Green tea extract and purified charcoal eliminate excess moisture and odors, keeping the mattress fresh and clean.
- The Zinus memory foam comfort layer cushions pressure points, evenly distributing weight across the mattress surface. The plush feel is ideal for lightweight side sleepers.
- Thanks to excellent motion isolation properties and a responsive feel, the Zinus is a good option for couples. You won’t wake up in the middle of the night when your partner repositions!
- The Zinus scored a 9/10 in our spine alignment test. By supporting healthy spine alignment, the Zinus minimizes back pain and supports deep, restful sleep.
- The Zinus bed comes with the industry-standard 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
- For another cooling foam option, check out our review of the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress
Compare Each Size
The Zinus comes in more sizes than the Tuft & Needle mattress with various thickness options. The thicker Zinus mattresses are softer and better for adults, while the thinner mattresses are firmer and work best for children or teens.
| Tuft & Needle | Zinus | |
| Thickness | 10” | 6”, 8”, 10”, 12” |
| Twin | 39” x 75” | 39” x 75” |
| Twin XL | 39” x 80” | N/A |
| Full | 54” x 75” | 54” x 75” |
| Queen | 60” x 80” | 60” x 80” |
| Short Queen | N/A | 60″ x 74″ |
| King | 76” x 80” | 76” x 80” |
| Cal King | 72” x 84” | 72″ x 84″ |
Learn more about mattress sizes.
Compare Each Price
Tuft & Needle and Zinus are two of the most affordable bed-in-a-box mattress brands. Of the two, Zinus is the least expensive, costing between $468-$316 less for a queen-size mattress.
| Tuft & Needle | Zinus | |
| Twin | $645 | $177-$329 |
| Twin XL | $695 | N/A |
| Full | $795 | $240-$446 |
| Queen | $895 | $272-$520 |
| Short Queen | N/A | $261-$447 |
| King | $1,095 | $345-$634 |
| Cal King | $1,095 | $644 |
Compare Layers and Feel
Let’s take a look at what makes up each mattress and how this influences the sleeping experience.
Inside the Tuft & Needle Mattress
The Original Tuft & Needle mattress is a 2-layer all-foam mattress. The top layer of the T&N is made using their Adaptive foam, a polyfoam that’s breathable and responsive. It’s this layer that gives the T&N mattress a unique feel that’s at once pressure-relieving, cool, and supportive. This type of foam doesn’t have the deep hugging sensation of memory foam that you’ll find with the Zinus mattress.
The T&N is a medium-firm mattress, registering at a 6-6.5 on the 1-10 firmness scale. Most sleepers prefer a medium-firm mattress, with back and stomach sleepers particularly well-suited by the balance between support and cushion. And thanks to a soft polyfoam, the T&N is great for side sleepers who weigh more than 130 lbs.
- Mattress cover: A grey knit fabric that’s soft and breathable wraps around the Tuft & Needle mattress.
- Adaptive foam comfort layer: Open-cell foam promotes breathability. The responsive feel makes it easy to move around, so you won’t feel stuck.
- Support foam: High-density foam adds edge support and durability.
Inside the Zinus Mattress
The Zinus Green Tea mattress is a 3-layer memory foam bed. The top layer is made from ultra-plush memory foam that cradles the body, achieving excellent pressure relief. It’s this memory foam layer that’s to thank for the soft feel of the Zinus mattress, which rates as a plush 4-5 on the 1-10 firmness scale.
Separating the cushy top layer from the support foam base layer is a thin layer of comfort foam. This polyfoam keeps the body from sinking in too low. The resultant feel is best for light and average weight sleepers, particularly side sleepers. Heavy sleepers are better-suited by a more supportive bed, such as an innerspring or hybrid mattress.
The combination of Zinus memory foam and polyfoam excels at motion isolation and has a surprisingly responsive feel. These attributes make the Zinus a great choice for couples.
The Zinus Green Tea mattress comes in 4 thicknesses. The thinner the mattress, the firmer the feel, although every option falls on the softer side.
- Mattress cover: A white cover that’s soft and stretchy.
- Memory foam comfort layer: Plush memory foam hugs the body for a distinct memory foam feel.
- Comfort foam transition layer: A thin layer protects sleepers from the firm base foam layer.
- Support layer: A high-density base support foam adds stability and boosts longevity.
Compare Our Test Scores
Let’s compare how the Zinus and Tuft & Needle mattresses performed at the Mattress Advisor lab.
| Tuft & Needle | Zinus | |
| Shipping | 10 | 8 |
| Trial Period | 9 | 9 |
| Return Policy | 10 | 7.5 |
| Warranty | 9 | 9 |
| Set-Up Test | 7 | 7.75 |
| Motion Transfer Test | 7.5 | 9 |
| Edge Support Test | 8.5 | 6 |
| Pressure Relief Test | 8.5 | 8 |
| Spinal Alignment Test | 8.5 | 9 |
| Responsiveness Test | 8 | 8 |
| Cooling Evaluation | 7 | 7 |
| Durability Evaluation | 8 | 6.5 |
| Customer Service Score | 10 | 8 |
| Social Impact Score | 8 | 2 |
| TOTAL SCORE | 8.7/10 |
7.8/10 |
Motion Transfer
All-foam mattresses tend to absorb motion better than beds with innerspring coils. By limiting motion transfer across the mattress surface, foam mattresses help couples sleep together peacefully.
While both the Zinus and T&N mattresses do a good job isolating movement, the Zinus outperformed the T&N in our in-house tests for motion transfer. If you share your bed with someone who moves around a lot, the Zinus may be a better option.
Edge Support
For those who sleep along the edges or use the edges to get in and out of bed, it’s important to have a mattress with sturdy and comfortable edges. The Tuft & Needle mattress has better edge support, ideal for couples who like to spread out.
Durability
One downfall of budget mattresses is that they tend to break down faster than more expensive models. The Tuft & Needle is one of few affordable mattresses that’s incredibly durable, likely to last for 5-10 years of regular use. While the Zinus has good longevity considering its price point, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t last a full decade.
Final Impression: Which Is the Best Mattress?
The Zinus is one of the best memory foam mattresses for shoppers on a budget. Its soft feel is great for lightweight side sleepers and those who prefer a plush mattress. But if you need a bed that balances support with pressure relief, the medium-firm Tuft & Needle is a better option.
Both mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial, so you can try out whichever one you’re leaning towards with zero financial risk.
More T&N Comparisons:
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