The 7 Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Whether you want to improve the quality of your sleep or find some relief for your aching back, a memory foam mattress may help. We’ve tested over a dozen memory foam mattresses in our own homes, inviting pets, partners, and even our kids to sleep on them. We looked into how each aided or disrupted our sleep, trying these mattresses in a variety of sleeping positions and putting them through plenty of tossing and turning. Of course, we assessed each one for comfort, support, and value, too.

How can you determine if a memory foam mattress might help you sleep more soundly and comfortably at night? According to board-certified sleep medicine specialist Dr. Chester Wu, MD, medical reviewer for Rise Science, any aches and pains you feel in the morning may suggest it’s time for a different mattress—one with the right thickness, density, and firmness to properly support your body.

 “If you wake up with discomfort or pain in your back, neck, or joints, it could be a sign that you’re not getting enough support from your mattress, which may indicate you need something firmer,” Dr. Wu advises. “You want a mattress that helps keep your spine aligned and provides pressure point relief.”

Dr. Wu also tells us that sleeping positions play an important role in finding the best memory foam mattress. “If you’re a side sleeper, for example, you may benefit from a medium-soft mattress to give your hips and shoulders enough support,” says Dr. Wu. “Back sleepers, meanwhile, might prefer a firmer mattress that’ll keep their spine in alignment.”

With that in mind, we evaluated months of testing insights from our in-home tests to identify the best memory foam mattresses for every type of sleeper.

The Bear Original seriously impressed us with a nearly ideal combination of support and comfort. One layer of foam provides a solid base, another molds to the body to provide a personalized level of support, and a third gel layer helps draw away body heat to assist in temperature regulation.

We spent four weeks with this mattress, but we felt the effects almost immediately—reduced aches and pains, less waking up in the middle of the night, and a better quality of sleep. We love the way it conforms to the body like a hug, and instantly responds to any change in sleep position. We didn’t feel a lot of motion transfer either, and we never woke up due to excessive jostling.

This mattress works well for both back and side sleeping, with enough firmness to avoid putting pressure on the spine when back sleeping, and enough cushion to relieve joint pressure when side sleeping. We were able to sleep on our back without any neck pain, and on our side without any joint pain. When a bit of chilly weather hit, we were reluctant to get out of bed at all—it’s just that comfortable.

Bear wraps this mattress in a breathable quilted cover that we expected to take some damage from our furry friends jumping on the bed, but we were surprised to find that it was incredibly resilient. We never noticed any fraying of the cover or damage to the mattress itself, which is always a concern if you don’t have a robust mattress cover in place.

This is hands down our favorite memory foam mattress, but it’s also a great value. It retails for about half the price of the Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick), and it costs hundreds less than the Nectar (our recommendation for combo sleepers) or the Casper Original (our best for side sleepers pick) when comparing mattresses of the same size.

This mattress is a bit on the thin side, at just 10 inches. That didn’t impact our comfort at all, but it’s important to note because some people do prefer a thicker mattress. If that’s the case, we still recommend this mattress, just with a taller platform bed to make up the difference. Bear offers a generous 120 night in-home trial period, so you can check it out yourself if you aren’t sure.

_{Material Type: Gel memory foam, Bear dynamic foam, high-density support foam | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium firm | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King}

If you value the quality of your sleep more than money, the Helix Midnight Luxe is right there waiting for you. Think about the most comfortable bed you’ve slept in at a high end resort or hotel, and you’re on the right track. Our first impression of this mattress was that it’s so plush—the perfect balance of firm and soft to support every sleeping style for both solo sleepers and couples.

Our experience with this bed was unrelentingly positive, sinking into sleep each night and waking feeling rested and relatively pain-free. Changing sleeping positions in the night was effortless, and we never had trouble getting right back to sleep. The medium-firm support provided excellent pressure relief when side sleeping, and plenty of support when back sleeping, without ever feeling misaligned in the morning.

This mattress came with two pillows that unfortunately smelled very strongly of plastic initially (the mattress itself was odorless, which is another mark in its favor.) The smell lingered for about a week and half before we were finally able to use the pillows, but we were pleasantly surprised when we did. The pillows offered excellent neck support to match our experience with the mattress.

The only downside of this mattress is that it’s perhaps too plush. The plush top is so soft and comfortable that it makes the edges feel a little weak. We were careful to sleep toward the middle of the bed and didn’t have any problems, but it’s easy to imagine someone with mobility issues having trouble getting in and out of bed.

_{Material Type: Tencel, Memory foam | Thickness: 13.5 inches | Firmness: Medium | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Short Queen, RV King}

Combination sleepers can have trouble finding the right memory foam mattress, because each sleeping position requires different forms of support. Nectar is our favorite for those who can’t settle on one sleeping position because the medium-firm feel strikes a nearly perfect balance between providing firm support for stomach and back sleeping, with enough cushion for side sleeping.

We found this mattress to provide excellent support regardless of sleeping position and even noticed some reduction in shoulder and lower back pain. It accommodates different sleeping styles easily, but we weren’t totally satisfied with the motion isolation. That isn’t a big deal if you sleep alone, but two combo sleepers in this bed will constantly wake each other up when switching sleeping positions.

This mattress includes a cooling layer, but we didn’t feel any temperature regulating effects. It seemed to retain heat, which could be uncomfortable if you sleep hot. We found it to be comfortable overall, even with the heat retention, but you may want to try something like the Bear Original (our best overall) if you’re a combo sleeper who also sleeps hot. Nectar offers a much longer than average trial period though (a full year!), so you can try it yourself if you’re concerned about heat retention.

_{Material Type: Gel memory foam | Thickness: 12 inches | Firmness: Medium Firm | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King}

Side sleepers require a softer mattress to avoid spine misalignment, but joint support is also a huge deal. That’s why we recommend the Casper Original to side sleepers, since it has enough give to avoid pushing your body into an unnatural position, but retains enough support to avoid joint pain in the morning.

We found that this mattress provides a dense yet forgiving feel that’s perfect for side sleeping. There isn’t much sink, but there’s enough to conform to your body and avoid pushing it out of alignment. After about four weeks, we noticed  a reduction in back pain and an overall improvement to our quality of sleep.

This mattress doesn’t have enough support for stomach sleeping, so stomach and combo sleepers may want to stay away. It doesn’t provide the structured support of the Purple Mattress (our best for back sleepers pick) either, so it really is the best option for exclusive side sleepers.

Two side effects of the plush comfort offered by this mattress are poor edge support and a lot of heat retention. We didn’t like how this mattress feels when sitting on the edge, and it may be uncomfortable if you sleep hot. Motion isolation is excellent thanks to the cushiony surface though, so it’s great for couples as long as you’re both side sleepers.

_{Material Type: Polyurethane foam, Memory foam | Thickness: 11 inches | Firmness: Medium | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King}

This mattress from Sweenight is our favorite budget recommendation because it provides a lot of the same characteristics you’d expect from a high end mattress without the accompanying price tag. It’s comfortable, supportive, and priced much lower than other options. It also provides very little motion transfer and sinkage thanks to a multi-layer construction.

We came to this mattress from a traditional spring mattress, and it did take some getting used to. This mattress doesn’t have much bounce at all, and we didn’t like the edge support either (you sink down so far that it’s easy to slip off when sitting on the edge.) Despite those initial misgivings, sleeping on this mattress totally turned our opinion around.

This mattress really molded around our body in a very comfortable way, providing excellent support without excessive sinkage. It doesn’t pull everything in like a black hole, and it springs right back to normal after getting up too, with no valley-like body impressions even after sleeping in the same place night after night.

Motion transfer is minimal as well. Not quite as good as the Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick), but this one is about $1,500 less so it still seems like a good deal.

Sweetnight says that this mattress has temperature regulating qualities, but we felt like it retains heat more than anything else. We didn’t find it uncomfortably warm, but the one caveat we would make with this mattress is that it’s not the best option if you sleep hot.

_{Material Type: Gel memory foam | Thickness: 12 inches | Firmness: Medium Firm | Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King}

Memory foam is good at motion isolation, but it’s difficult to strike a balance between soft enough to really absorb movement and firm enough to provide adequate support. The Saatva Loom & Leaf is the leader in this area for us because it provides excellent back and joint support while also minimizing the impact when your partner gets up in the middle of the night, or a pet jumps up on the bed.

This mattress is so good at motion isolation because it’s made of five layers of foam, all of varying thicknesses and densities, to provide both support and comfort. After spending a few nights on this mattress, we were struck by how few sleep disturbances we had compared to our old mattress compared to an older spring mattress.

We love the luxurious feel of this mattress—it’s like something you’d expect to enjoy at a high end hotel. We found it to provide excellent support in a variety of sleeping positions—primarily back and side—and felt some relief from aches and pains that unfortunately came right back when we had to sleep on a different mattress at one point. Even with that support, it still feels plush and comfortable.

One side effect of this mattress providing excellent motion isolation is that it doesn’t have much bounce at all. We also had to air it out for several days due to a lot of off-gassing. That’s on the long side, but not completely out of the norm for memory foam mattresses, and there weren’t any unpleasant odors afterward.

Saatva offers a long 120-night trial period, so there’s plenty of time to make sure this mattress works for you even if you do need to let it air out for a few days first. 

_{Material Type: Foam, Cotton | Thickness: 12 inches | Firmness: Relaxed Firm  | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full Queen, King, Split King, California King, Split California King}

Back sleepers require extra support for spinal alignment, which is tough to find even in a firm memory foam mattress. We like the medium-firm Purple Mattress for back sleepers because of the way the unique grid design conforms to the body while also reducing pressure points. After an initial period of adjusting to the strange feel of the mattress, we found that it helped a lot with our back and hip pain.

Purple mattresses are different from other memory foam mattresses in that they use a rigid foam grid instead of solid slabs of foam. One of the consequences of that design is that the mattress feels odd, and it took us some time to get used to. We highly recommend taking advantage of Purple’s 100 night trial period to see if the texture bothers you or not.

While we didn’t like the texture of this mattress at first, that initial discomfort faded away as we came to really appreciate the extra joint support provided by the grid design. It provides plenty of support for both back and side sleeping, although that support is somewhat lacking for stomach sleepers, which can lead to lower back pain. Heavier sleepers also tend to sink too deep into the grid for it to provide adequate support.

Initial setup of this mattress was easy, but the width and height of the package is a little tough for one person to handle (we recommend an extra set of hands if possible.) Offgassing was minimal though, and the very faint odor faded enough after two hours that we were able to put the bedding on.

_{Material Type: GelFlex Grid | Thickness: 9.5 inches | Firmness: Medium Firm | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King}

How We Tested the Memory Foam Mattresses

Prior to testing, we researched memory foam mattresses from all the top manufacturers, including Saatva, Purple, Casper, Bear, and more, for factors like comfort, support, cooling properties, value, and customer satisfaction. We then identified the top contenders and tested them in our own homes for several weeks.

When each mattress arrived, we started by noting how bulky the package was, how difficult it was to maneuver into place, and how long the mattresses took to expand to full size. We also noted instances of off gassing, and how long it took any unpleasant smells to dissipate.

We then used each mattress for a period of at least four weeks, evaluating each for comfort, support, and overall value. We also kept records of any changes to sleep quality, and any increase or decrease in aches and pains. For mattresses with special features, like cooling properties, we noted how well those features worked.

With all of that information in hand, we analyzed all of our testing scores and insights to identify the best memory foam mattresses for every situation.

What to Look for in a Memory Foam Mattress

Support and Comfort

When you start looking for a new memory foam mattress, start by considering support and comfort. A mattress that lacks adequate support for your sleeping style can result in aches or pain, and a mattress needs to feel comfortable if you want to enjoy restful sleep.

“The benefit of a memory foam mattress generally is that it can be more responsive to your body type than other mattress materials due to the viscoelastic properties of the foam (a fancy word for the material’s response to body heat and pressure to mold itself into a comfortable shape and then return to its original form once the pressure is removed),” says Dr. Chester Wu, MD, medical reviewer for Rise Science.

That allows a memory foam mattress to provide highly customized levels of support and comfort, but different mattresses have very different properties. “Assuming it’s got the right density of foam for the right firmness, the advantage of a memory foam mattress is that it can help maintain proper spinal alignment and evenly distribute your body weight to alleviate pressure points,” says Dr. Wu. “This can make it a good choice for those with back and joint pain.”

To identify a memory foam mattress that will provide the ideal level of comfort and support, you need to look at both the density and thickness of the foam. You may also want to take advantage of an in-home trial period to see what you find comfortable, like the Bear Original (our best overall) that offers a 120 night sleep trial, but we’ll touch on that more later.

Memory Foam Density

Density refers to how much material is packed into each cubic foot of memory foam, which impacts support and firmness. “Higher density memory foam provides better support and durability, which is beneficial for back support, while a softer, less dense foam may offer better pressure relief but less support, making it more suitable for lighter individuals or those with less severe support needs,” Dr. Wu advises.

Memory foam mattresses are typically referred to as plush, medium, and firm, with intermediate designations like medium-firm as well. These terms refer to the density of the mattress, so you can tell a lot about how comfortable and supportive a mattress will be from the type of foam. Memory foam mattresses often combine layers of foam of different density levels to achieve specific levels of comfort and support.

For example, the Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick) is available in relaxed firm and firm versions, both of which are made up of five layers of foam with different density levels and other properties (like gel-infused foam for thermal management).

Here’s a quick breakdown of memory foam density levels:

• Soft (1 – 3 pounds per cubic foot): These low-density mattresses are very soft, and the sleeper will tend to sink into the material. They can be good for side sleepers because they offer pressure relief, but the lack of support may cause back pain and other issues. Sinking too deep into a mattress can also result in discomfort, especially for combo sleepers who may struggle to change positions.
• Medium (4 – 5 pounds per cubic foot): These medium-density mattresses provide a balance between support and pressure relief for different types of sleepers. “Medium-firm mattresses often work well for people in the average weight range (130 to 230 lbs or so),” says Dr. Wu.
• Firm (5+ pounds per cubic foot): These high-density mattresses provide a lot of support, so they’re good for back and stomach sleepers, and for heavier individuals who tend to sink too deep into less dense mattresses. Some sleepers find these mattresses to be uncomfortable, but it’s a worthwhile trade if you’re suffering from back pain.

Mattress Thickness

Memory foam mattress thickness impacts comfort and support just like density, and it also plays a role in the number of layers the mattress can have—thicker mattresses can use many levels of foam to provide additional joint pressure relief, comfort without sinkage, edge support, and other qualities.

Dr. Wu advises that “a thicker memory foam mattress generally offers more pressure relief compared to a thinner one because it allows for more depth of cushioning and better distribution of body weight.”

The minimum memory foam mattress thickness we recommend for adults is 10 inches, because anything thinner will tend to lack adequate support and comfort. The Bear Original (our best overall recommendation) is a 10 inch mattress that hits the Goldilocks zone between support and comfort, with three layers of foam.

For additional support, especially for heavier sleepers and anyone suffering from back pain, we recommend a mattress in the 10 to 12 inch range. Thickness isn’t tied to price—the Sweetnight Breeze (our best budget pick) is a 12-inch mattress—but more expensive mattresses will typically have more layers. For example, the Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick) has five foam layers, while the Sweetnight Breeze has three.

Cooling Features

According to Dr. Wu, one of the disadvantages of memory foam is that it tends to retain heat, which he says can be uncomfortable for hot sleepers. This is just a natural property of memory foam, and all memory foam mattresses absorb and retain heat to one degree or another.

“To mitigate the heat trapping problem, look for a mattress with features for temperature regulation, such as cooling gels or ventilated layers,” Dr. Wu advises. “This can help individuals maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the night.”

It’s important to stress that memory foam mattresses don’t have active cooling systems and can’t actually cool you down, but certain types of foam and other substances and designs can provide a temperature regulating effect by improving airflow or changing the way the foam holds onto and releases heat.

Here are some memory foam mattress cooling features to look for:

• Infused foam: Some mattresses use a gel-infused foam layer that’s designed to draw heat away from the body. The Bear Original (our best overall pick) has a cooling gel-infused layer.
• Phase change materials: These materials are engineered to react to your body temperature. As your body warms up, the phase change materials absorb some of the heat and provide a cooler sleeping surface. The Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick) incorporates phase change materials into its lumbar pad to help with heat buildup in the lower back area.
• Ventilation: This method involves channels or holes in the foam, which allows air to flow freely and carry away excess heat. The cells in the GelFlex grid used by the Purple Mattress (our best for back sleepers pick) are designed to reduce heat retention.
• Breathable covers: Breathable cotton and more advanced materials like Tencel and Celliant can help with heat discomfort and also wick away moisture to provide a more comfortable sleeping environment. If you sleep hot we recommend the Bear Original (our best overall pick) with the optional Celliant infused cover.

Trial Period and Warranty

Buying a mattress represents a significant investment, in terms of both finances and your health, which is why we recommend checking into the trial period and warranty of a mattress before you make a purchase.

The trial period is an in-home sleep trial that lets you try out the mattress, and the warranty period is the amount of time during which the manufacturer will replace the mattress due to defects.

Every mattress we recommend offers a 100 night sleep trial at a bare minimum, which is usually enough to decide whether a mattress is going to work for you. Some manufacturers offer a significantly longer trial period, which is useful if you have specific concerns. For example, if you sleep hot, you may want to try a mattress during the heat of the summer even though you’re ready to buy during the cooler months.

The Bear Original (our best overall pick) comes with a longer than usual 120-night sleep trial, but some have even longer trials. If you want to see how a mattress feels during each part of the year, the Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick) and Nectar (our best for combo sleepers pick) both offer 365-night trials.

We recommend checking the warranty and trial details if you buy through an online mattress retailer like Amazon, as you sometimes need to buy directly from the manufacturer or go through a specific registration process to take advantage of free trial periods and extended warranties.

Every mattress we recommend has at least a 10 year warranty, and some offer lifetime warranties. For example, the Bear Original (our best overall recommendation) comes with a lifetime warranty, as does the Helix Midnight Luxe (our best splurge pick) and the Nectar (our pick for best budget.)

Certifications

Memory foam can potentially contain harmful substances like volatile organic compounds that may irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system. If you’ve ever smelled a memory foam mattress immediately after unpacking and thought it smelled bad, that was volatile organic chemicals off-gassing from the foam.

While it’s normal for a memory foam mattress to release some volatile organic chemicals when it’s newly unboxed, you want to be sure that the mattress isn’t continuously releasing these chemicals (or contaminated with other substances). The best way to do that is to check the mattresses’ certifications.

The two most important certifications are OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and Certipur US. OEKO-TEX Standard 200 is a general textile standard that guarantees the subject is free of a variety of harmful substances, including volatile organic compounds and heavy metals. CertiPUR-US is specifically focused on volatile organic compounds.

All of our memory foam mattresses are Certipur-certified, but not all of them have the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. The Saatva Loom & Leaf (our best motion isolation pick) and Helix Midnight Luxe (our best splurge pick) are both OEKO-TEX Standard-100 certified, so they’re good options if you’re concerned about skin or respiratory system irritation.

Why Trust The Spruce

Jeremy Laukkonen is an updates writer for The Spruce with over a decade of experience writing about home goods, appliances, and mattresses. He is a side sleeper and prefers a firm mattress. For this article, he analyzed testing insights collected from our in-home mattress tests, performed additional research on our selections, and consulted with a sleep specialist.

Our Experts: 

• Dr. Chester Wu, MD, medical reviewer for Rise Science