AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattress Review

• Review
• Specs
• Comments

Over the past several years, we’ve watched as one mattress after another has hit the market. There are a variety of reasons the Internet business model is working so well. For starters, it’s always nice to avoid pushy salesmen and long drives in between retailers. Best of all, you can take a look at hundreds of options without ever leaving the house.

Amazon has had a front row seat to watch as the bed-in-a-box industry recently reached the 15 billion dollar mark in the U.S. market, and they recently introduced a mattress under their own brand. The Amazon Basics Memory Foam Mattress just hit the market about three weeks ago on September 28th, adding to their private-label Basics brand. While the brand has been selling furniture and bed frames for quite awhile, this is the first mattress being sold directly from Amazon. If you’ve had any time to look at the information available, you probably know the price is pretty attractive, so let’s take a look at what they came up with!

Video Review

Don’t want to read the full review? Watch our video review instead.

Amazon Basics Memory Foam Mattress Specs

 Offgassing: Took about two days to clear off

 Firmness Level (Scale of 1-10): 8.0

 Trial Period: 30 nights

 Warranty: 1 year

Discreet Delivery

I appreciated that the mattress comes in a plain box that doesn’t reveal what’s inside. As with any other bed-in-a-box I’ve received, it’ll get there when it gets there. You may not be home, and they will leave it outside, so you don’t really want to advertise what you’ve got sitting on your porch.

You might be interested: AmazonBasics Unboxing And Initial Thoughts

The AmazonBasics Queen Mattress Layers

We always like to get an idea of the mattress composition before we go into details so you can get an idea of how it works to offer comfort and support. The AmazonBasics is an all-foam hybrid. This means it’s made of different materials, so let’s take a look.

Let’s start by taking a close look at the cover:

The outer, bottom, and border of the cover are 100% polyester.

The inner cover is 64.7% percent viscose and 35.3% glass fiber.

Glass reinforced plastic and viscose are both inexpensive, and this certainly contributes to the low cost of this product. On the other hand, both materials have durability concerns. Glass fiber is brittle, and viscose is prone to stretching that doesn’t recover.

It’s a little rough to the touch, so if you don’t want a mild exfoliation while you sleep, I’d definitely recommend using a fitted sheet. I don’t think that’s a huge concern since most people don’t sleep directly on their mattress without the use of sheets and mattress protectors. On the plus side, the materials used in the cover are OEKO-TEX® certified.

Amazon’s description notes that the removable cover makes it easy for washing. However, you’ll see on the tag at the bottom of the mattress that you can’t wash, bleach, tumble dry, dry clean, or iron your cover. It’s spot clean only, so if that’s a big sell point for you when you visit the website, this is good to know.

This particular mattress is broken up into four foam layers. Keep in mind the layers we’re discussing here are for the 12” model. If you buy the eight or 10” option, the thicknesses of the layers are going be different. However, they all have the same material lineup, so let’s take a look.

Comfort Layers

On top we find a 3” layer of plush memory foam. It serves a threefold purpose in that its designed to:

    provide contour and comfort

    keep the spine aligned

    minimize pressure points

It’s followed by a 2” layer of Amazon’s Soft Foam. For you hot sleepers out there, this layer makes considerations to promote proper air flow using small air holes as well as provides extra cushioning as it transitions into the support base.

Base Layers

The base is made of two 3 ½” slabs of Amazon’s Hard Foam. It works to provide proper support and air flow. You can see how the wavy side of each layer sits atop one another, and this allows for natural breathability. I like that multiple efforts are in place to keep it sleeping cool since memory foam is known to sleep hot, and we’ll take a look at how it performed in our thermal testing here in a few minutes.

AmazonBasics Queen Mattress Performance

Lying on the mattress, I can tell you the memory foam does a great job at providing contour to areas like the hips and shoulders. This can be super accommodating for side sleepers since pressure points can lead to tossing and turning.

As I mentioned, the cover is kind of rough, so I used a fitted sheet for the majority of my reviewing process. However, I think Amazon did a pretty good job in their layer lineup in coming up with a comfort/support ratio capable of accommodating people who are of average weight.

If you’re overweight, I think you may find it’s a little lacking in overall support, and I also fear you may experience the development of sagging early on. However, if you’re considering this for your guest bedroom, I think this is a great option that won’t break the bank.

The overall feel is definitely comparable to some of the more expensive brands I’ve tried out of similar layer construction, so I am pretty impressed. We’ll take a look at durability expectations here in a bit to give you a better idea of overall value.

Firmness Not Listed: Is it Plush, Firm, or Medium?

Firmness is one of the main things you want to know before you buy a mattress online, so I was surprised there was no mention of this on Amazon’s sales page.

One of the first things I noticed when I started using this product is that if feels pretty plush, and this can be great news for side sleepers and those who suffer with medical issues like arthritis or scoliosis.

The indentation load deflections of the various layers aren’t listed, but, to compare it to the firmness of other products I’ve tried, let’s take a look at the sinkage that results when I stand in the middle. Medium firmness usually sinks about 6 ½” under my 130 pounds, and you can see here that I sink in about nine inches. This indicates the mattress is pretty plush.

I think the fact that a quarter of the mattress consists of the soft memory foam contributes to the sinkage I experienced, and I’d expect you’ll love the engagement you get with the layers if you don’t carry much weight. Conversely, if you carry a lot of weight, you may experience excessive sinkage and become too enveloped in the mattress.

Motion Isolation

While the thick memory foam in layer one could be a contributor to the slightly higher than average cool down time, it is excellent in terms of motion isolation. If you have a sleep partner, I think you’re going to be happy with this product’s ability to keep the energy of your motion isolated to your side of the mattress.

If you watch our video above, you can see the minimal impact one 20-pound medicine ball has on another of equal weight when I drop it from eye level onto the surface.

Despite this, I was surprised at how easily I was able to move around and get in and out of bed, so I think the two layers of hard foams that make up the base of the 12” model do a great job at keeping you well supported as well as providing the bounce back that’s so critical when relying on plusher foams in the comfort zone.

Heat Transfer Performance

We’ve touched on the efforts Amazon has made to ensure the Basics Memory Foam mattress doesn’t sleep hot. Traditional memory foam was notorious for hot sleeping, and this spurred manufacturers to explore ways to improve air flow.

To put this product to the test, I lied on it for a half hour in a controlled temperature and then monitored the cooldown process with a thermal imaging camera to see how it compares to other products I’ve tried out. On average, it takes about 10 minutes for cooldown under our controlled conditions to complete. It took the Amazon Basics mattress 13. While this is a little longer than average, we’ve seen times as long as 17 minutes.

Considering the use of memory foam and the very low cost of this product, I think it did pretty well. If cool sleeping is very important for you and you think this slightly longer than average cooldown time may be a problem, take a moment to check out the review we recently did on the cooling mattress pad by eLuxury. This is a great way to cool down any mattress on a budget.

Edge Support

Products made entirely of foam aren’t exactly known for edge support, but they typically do an adequate job keeping you supported when you lie on the edge of your mattress. If you find yourself sitting on the edge often, I’d definitely recommend you consider getting the 12” option.

The AmazonBasics Memory Foam mattress performs about average in terms of edge support. You can see it does a pretty good job keeping me supported in different sitting positions, but it does bottom out on the corner.

I would suspect the 8” model would cause you to bottom out in other areas for people of average weight, so I’d recommend that option only for people who carry little weight or for young kids. However, the 12” model I’m using performs just as well as higher-priced options of similar layer construction I’ve tried out.

Durability Expectations

There really isn’t much information to glean online in terms of the details on this product. Furthermore, since its’ so new to the market, it’s impossible to get first-hand feedback in regards to durability.

Normally, we’d take a look at the density of the three materials to get an idea of what to expect, but they’re not listed, and the Amazon representative I spoke with was unable to provide these details.

I really wanted to get you guys a good idea of what to expect, though, so I performed a surgical foam-ectomy on my mattress to extract square inch segments of the three material types.

I took these samples to a local university and gathered data using an analytical balance that measures to the nearest tenth of a milligram for the best accuracy. Using the formula for foam density, I was able to calculate the following data:

    Memory Foam

• 0.0015558022 lbs / 5.78703 ft3 = 2.70 pcf

    Soft Foam

• 0.0010042056 lbs. / 5.78703 ft3 = 1.74 pcf

    Hard Foam

• 0.0011951259 lbs./ 5.78703 ft3 = 2.07 pcf

For memory foam, you really want a density of 3.5 pounds per cubic foot, and the other two layers of polyfoam last the longest when the density is at least 1.8 pcf.

Due to the nature of foam, it can be difficult to cut. These numbers could be slightly higher or lower than reflected.

What This Means

Based on this data, I’m very impressed with the support zone. The density in the Hard Foam in the base is above what you need for good durability, and this layer comprises 58% of your mattress. Since the support base is durable and should be capable of prolonged support, I’m mainly concerned about the possibility of sagging in the comfort layers since this is where most wear and tear happens.

Sleep Judge Tip – add a mattress topper to absorb some of the direct impact to improve durability. It can even help you modify firmness.

Overall, I think the densities I uncovered were very reasonable for the price, and I honestly wasn’t expecting such a high density in the support zone. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone looking for a mattress that’ll last many years. It’s also likely it’ll wear quickly under prolonged heavy pressure.

If you’re on a budget looking for something to offer great contour and consistent support for the next few years, though, I think this is a great option.

Maintenance, Protection, Care and Warranty

The layer construction of the Amazon Basics memory foam mattress is one that does a great job at reducing pressure points, and I think it can provide a great sleeping solution for families on a budget. I would recommend going for the 10 or 12” models, especially if you carry more weight. However, if you’re shopping for a younger child, the eight inch model could prove efficient. If you think this could be the mattress for your needs, the following information is important to know:

Cost

I like that the foams used are CertiPUR-US certified, and the product is backed by AmazonBasic’s one year limited warranty. While I didn’t see anything mentioned about a sleep trial, Amazon’s Basic line is covered by a standard 30 day return policy for a full refund.

While this isn’t what you’d expect with some of the other companies out there, you’re not spending several hundred or even thousands of dollars, so I think this is pretty reasonable. Here’s what you can expect to pay for the various sizes and thicknesses:

AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattress Reviews and Feedback

Amazon has succeeded in providing a sleep product that:

1. Appeals to people on a budget

2. Accommodates people who don’t carry a lot of weight

3. Reduces pressure points

4. Balances traditional memory foam feel with heat transfer capabilities

I like that the foams are designed to features low VOC emissions for indoor air quality at less than 0.5 parts per million. While there’s not a lot out there in terms of reviews since the product is so new, here’s what I was able to find in terms of what other customers had to say about their experience with the AmazonBasics queen mattress:

Cons

• Some complaints on low edge support
• Some complaints of mattress lacking support
• Reasons to believe durability may be low
• Warranty is only one year
• Sleep trial is only 30 days
• Made in China
• Firmness not accommodating for stomach sleepers and those who carry a lot of weight

Who We Recommend the AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattress For

I liked that Amazon made more than one consideration in circulating air flow with the breathable holes in the second layer and the wavy design of the base. Although it did take a little longer than average to cool down, it also features more of a traditional memory foam feel.

If you’re a fan of the added contour, I think it’s a pretty good compromise, and I never woke up due to hot sleeping during the night. At the end of the day, if you’re a side sleeper or someone who doesn’t carry much weight AND you’re on a budget, definitely keep this product on your list of possibilities. I think it’s also a good fit for:

Our Final Verdict

My overall thoughts on the Amazon Basics Memory Foam mattress… I think this can be an excellent product for anyone on a budget. Many considerations were made to keep costs low. It can also be a great option while renovating your guest room since it won’t be used that often. Young kids who don’t weigh much should reasonably expect to enjoy good support for several years.

 

Amazon Basics Memory Foam Mattress Specs

Material	Thickness	ILD	Density
Memory Foam	3 inches	n/a	3 pcf
Soft Foam	2 inches	n/a	1.8 pcf
Hard Foam	3 ½ inches	n/a	2 pcf
Hard Foam	3 ½ inches	n/a	2 pcf