Buying a mattress has never been an easy task. In fact, for decades, the process of shopping for the right mattress has involved going to a store – or even a variety of stores – and trying out floor models. This can be exhausting, and you may find that you still can’t quite make up your mind after hours or even days of searching. On top of that, quality came at a hefty price. While there were affordable mattresses available, most of those lacked the quality of the more luxurious models, and those could definitely be cost prohibitive.
Of course, the manufacturing of mattresses has come a long way, and new technology has improved the overall performance of most mattresses on the market. Perhaps the biggest innovation, however, is the ‘bed in a box’, or the easily ordered and shipped product that you can read about online and decide if this is the right product for you. While traditional mattresses also have online reviews, you still have to contend with ordering from a store, paying shipping or delivery, and the expense of those traditional name brands. However, the only mattress community offers incredible quality at a much lower price, passing on the savings of not needing a brick and mortar store (as well as other ways in which they save) to their customers.
Take a look below at some of the best mattresses available in the online mattress industry and determine exactly what your needs are as you check out the different features, levels of quality, firmness, and overall value and pricing of the various options.
Leesa
A favorite among online shoppers, the Leesa mattress is a foam bed with lots of extra features that make it incredibly comfortable while remaining affordable. It offers uniform pressure relief for aches and pains, targeting all joints and muscles, making it the most proactive comfort mattress available. And it accomplishes this no matter what sleep position you prefer.
Leesa actually helped pioneer the ‘bed in a box’ industry, so their long experience has a backing of experience and care. This 10-inch thick medium-firm mattress offers great edge support and reasonable reduction of motion transfer. It has high breathability, meaning you won’t sleep hot at night, based on the latex foam top design. The balanced construction gives you that cozy sensation of pressure relief while offering just enough bounce to have a more traditional feel.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free
- Weight – 71 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $995 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75 x 10″)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″ x 10″)
- Full (54” x 75” x 10”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 10”)
- King (76” x 80” x 10”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 10”)
Tuft & Needle
The Tuft & Needle mattress is proprietary, with the foam manufactured in-house. This not only gives the company the opportunity to create something different as well as to cut out a lot of overhead through the use of other manufacturing and shipping facilities. That cost savings is passed onto the customer. Using memory foam and latex, the idea behind the design is for this mattress to provide the proper support to anyone, regardless of size or sleep position, by adjusting naturally to their needs.
The cover of the Tuft & Needle bed in a box mattress is a blend of polyester and Tactel that is thin and offers excellent breathability for temperature regulation. The Tactel, which is a cotton substitute, dries faster than cotton, so if you have night sweats due to a health condition, you won’t have to worry about it compromising your sleep environment. Overall, the Tuft & Needle ranks about a 6.5 on the firmness scale, which is a solid medium-firm, a great compromise for couples who have varying opinions on how a mattress should feel. It also works for all sleep positions.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free (United States)
- Weight – 72 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $575 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75 x 10″)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″ x 10″)
- Full (54” x 75” x 10”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 10”)
- King (76” x 80” x 10”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 10”)
4Sleep
A relatively new company to the mattress market, 4Sleep was designed with foam and an idea that there should be a little ‘bounce’ to the product, unlike most foam mattresses. The cover has a ‘cooling on demand’ feature, created from the inclusion of polyester, Viscose, and Lycra, making it breathable and thin in a way that breeds airflow and allows you to still experience the feel of the memory foam beneath. Four layers of foam create a firm feel that rates about a 6 on the scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is a brick wall.
The pressure relief offered by the 4Sleep mattress is essential to those with aching joints and injuries, but the main thing to keep in mind is that it’s great for partner sleeping, with incredible damping of motion transfer. There is incredible resistance to shrinkage, meaning you get extreme support while still having the coziness of the mattress snuggling around you. In addition, the edge support on this all foam mattress is perhaps better than even some of the more traditional spring mattresses.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free
- Weight – 81 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $899 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75 x 11″)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″ x 11″)
- Full (54” x 75” x 11”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 11”)
- King (76” x 80” x 11”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 11”)
Casper
The Casper mattress is perhaps the best example on the market of “zoned support” layers. This means that one or two sections of the mattress include multiple types of foam with different firmness levels, allowing the bed to target specific areas of the body differently to maximize the right support and pressure relief for ultimate comfort. This mattress includes a transitional layer with two types of poly foam – a softer one at the ends of the bed for pressure relief on the neck and feet, with a firmer one in the center for lumbar support.
Overall, the Casper mattress rates a 7 out of 10 on the scale of firmness, meaning it’s very supportive for back sleepers but still has enough give to work for sleepers of all styles. This bed in a box also deserves a nod for edge support that is far better than the norm and on a sinkage test, outperforming most foam mattresses.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free (U.S., Canada)
- Weight – 71 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $995 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75 x 10″)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″ x 10″)
- Full (54” x 75” x 10”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 10”)
- King (76” x 80” x 10”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 10”)
Bear
The Bear mattress has graphite-infused memory foam, which is excellent for temperature control, and it’s ideal for those with bad backs, especially from sports and injuries. It’s a firmer mattress, with testers rating it a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10, and this makes it a perfect option for those who prefer to sleep on their backs.
In addition to the four foam layers – including 2 middle response layers – the Bear mattress has a cover made with Celliant, which is a material found in some sporting equipment and apparel and actually turns body heat into infrared waves that help with healing and recovery. While that may sound like something that would be uncomfortable, the truth is this cover is soft, light, and very breathable, making it an essential part of the Bear mattress’s overall comfortable design. This mattress also rates well for even pressure relief, motion transfer, and edge support.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free (U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico only)
- Weight – 70 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $850 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75 x 10″)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″ x 10″)
- Full (54” x 75” x 10”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 10”)
- King (76” x 80” x 10”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 10”)
Amerisleep
The thing about Amerisleep you don’t find with a number of online mattress providers is that you have a range of firmness levels to choose from. The line offers 5 models that go from super firm to pillow softness, and essentially, they are all the same in terms of material. You get layers of comfort memory foam, affinity responsive foam, and high-density base poly foam, with the model number indicating how much memory foam is used (for example, the AS3, which is the medium firm model, has 3 inches of memory foam).
Overall, the Amerisleep mattresses relieve pressure and offer great comfort, regardless of the firmness level you desire. The cover is the same for all models, made of a blend of polyester, Celliant, and spandex (which helps keep the cover firmly in place) that gives you a cool, soft surface. All models provide ease of motion transfer so that partners don’t disturb each other with restlessness or getting up during the night.
Features
- Warranty – 20 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free (contiguous U.S.)
- Weight – 88 lbs (Queen)
- Price $1,199 (Queen, AS3 – Medium-Firm)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75 x 12″)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″ x 12″)
- Full (54” x 75” x 12”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 12”)
- King (76” x 80” x 12”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 12”)
- Split King (38” x 80” x 12” – x2)
Cocoon
The Cocoon mattress is the product of two years of research by parent traditional mattress manufacturer Sealy, which is renowned for its quality products. They have over 130 years of experience in the business and have constructed an incredible bed in a box product that caters to people who enjoy a variety of firmness levels when they sleep. With a soft, cool polyester cover, it’s highly breathable for cool comfort, and it utilizes memory foam and a denser base foam for a good blend of comfort and support. It rates high when tested for motion transfer and pressure relief, and especially on the firm model, has excellent edge support and controlled sinkage.
What you might like best about the Cocoon mattress is that it is quite basic with no frills, giving you the peace of mind of solid, peaceful sleep without adding a bunch of unnecessary detail. The former option is great for a stomach sleeper who doesn’t want hips and or face sinking into the mattress, and the soft Cocoon is excellent at supporting the alignment of the spine for side sleepers.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free (Continental U.S.)
- Weight – 64.4 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $799 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (38” x 74.5” x 10″)
- Twin XL (38″ x 79.5″ x 10″)
- Full (53” x 74.5” x 10”)
- Queen (60” x 79.5” x 10”)
- King (76” x 79.5” x 10”)
- California King (72” x 83.5” x 10”)
Purple
One of the fastest growing companies in the mattress industry, Purple is the brainchild of the same brothers who created Floam, often used as cushions in medical equipment. The Purple mattress incorporates a highly elastic polymer in a grid structure that leads to passing the ‘raw egg test’ that made this company so popular. The cover is polyester, Viscose, and Lycra, so it’s stretchy for a good fit and thin for breathability. All three layers of the mattress are various densities of poly foam, with the comfort layer on top including the exclusive elastic polymer.
The firmness of the Purple mattress rates about a 6 (or a 6.5), making it a solid medium-firm mattress that can please most sleepers, regardless of favored sleep position. While it isn’t as good at inhibiting motion transfer, the Purple mattress does rate highly for pressure relief and distribution, as well as sinkage and edge support. If you’re a side sleeper or like a little bounce to your mattress, you’ll find the Purple bed to be extremely pleasant.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 100 nights
- Shipping – Free (contiguous U.S.)
- Weight – 110 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $999 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin XL (37.5″ x 79.5″ x 10″)
- Queen (59.5” x 79.5” x 10”)
- King (75.5” x 79.5” x 10”)
- California King (71.5” x 83.5” x 10”)
Layla
Perhaps the one thing lacking in availability from so many of the online mattress manufacturers is the ability to have adjustable firmness in the bed. With the Layla mattress, this is resolved, since you can choose one of two sides, each with a comfort layer that offers two different sleep surfaces. One is just a little softer than medium-firm at about a 5.5 out of 10, and the other ranks about a 6.5, which is a perfect medium-firm.
The cover that comes with the Layla mattress is a polyester blend with gel infusion that helps control temperature and aid in keeping you cool through the night. Both sides of the mattress offer great pressure relief and almost entirely negate motion transfer, making this mattress a great option for couples.
Features
- Warranty – Lifetime
- Sleep Trial – 120 nights
- Shipping – Free (Continental U.S.)
- Weight – 80 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $899 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (38” x 74” x 10″)
- Twin XL (38″ x 80″ x 10″)
- Full (54” x 74” x 10”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 10”)
- King (76” x 80” x 10”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 10”)
Brooklyn Bedding
The Brooklyn Signature mattress is a hybrid design, including both foam and pocketed coil layers that add up to ultimate comfort. The foam used is proprietary, developed in house, so the overall technique in the construction adds up to a blend of bounce and cooling technology. The polyester/cotton blend cover is quilted with foam that offers instant pressure relief, which is continued through the top comfort layer and the transitional layer, atop a firm, supportive base layer. Overall, the bed seems to be softer than many of its competitors, rating a 5.5 on the scale of 1 to 10, labeling it medium.
While it does have greater sinkage than some of its contemporaries, this is expected with a softer mattress and is ideal for side sleepers. It also does well with reducing motion transfer and sleeps quite cool based on the infusion of special foam into the cover. The breathable surface keeps air flowing so your body heat doesn’t get trapped and wake you from discomfort through the night. You may also like the thickness of the mattress, which is just slightly fuller than the typical bed in a box.
Features
- Warranty – 10 years
- Sleep Trial – 120 nights
- Shipping – Free (Continental U.S.)
- Weight – 115 lbs (Queen)
- Price – $949 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (38” x 75” x 11.5″)
- Twin XL (38″ x 80″ x 11.5″)
- Full (53” x 75” x 11.5”)
- Queen (60” x 80” x 11.5”)
- King (76” x 80” x 11.5”)
- California King (72” x 84” x 11.5”)
Saatva
Unlike most innerspring mattresses, the Saatva has an innovative coil-on-coil design that actually offers targeted pressure relief to the lumbar region, filling in the gap between your back and the mattress easily. The bounce of this somewhat traditional mattress is rewarding, and you’ll float above the mattress without uncomfortable levels of sinkage. The mattress was specifically designed with alleviating back pain in mind, and it includes a zoned lumbar area for extra support. Choose either the 11.5” or 14.5” model.
The Saatva includes a soft, breathable cover of 100% cotton and includes tighter quilting in the lumbar region that corresponds with the added strip of memory foam that is in the mattress for additional lumbar support. As a true back support mattress, you’ll find that the Saatva is just this side of firm, with a rating of 7 out of 10, and it offers incredible edge support
Features
- Warranty – 15 years
- Sleep Trial – 120 nights
- Shipping – Free (with white glove delivery and mattress removal)
- Weight –120 lbs (Queen, 14.5”)
- Price – $849 (Queen)
- Available sizes:
- Twin (39” x 75”)
- Twin XL (39″ x 80″)
- Full (54” x 75”)
- Queen (60” x 80”)
- King (76” x 80”)
- California King (72” x 84”)
You may want to read: Double-Sided Mattress Manufacturers and Dealers
The Big Picture
If you’re looking for a solid mattress with a reasonable price that is versatile for a number of sleepers, the Leesa mattress is a clear winner. It’s less expensive than the vast majority of similar options from traditional in-store manufacturers while offering great quality and design, and it’s got a great warranty with high recommendations from users. Its medium-firm feel and uniform pressure relief mean that you’ll feel relief from head to toe, your muscles and bones resting easily with your spine aligned for an excellent sleep, regardless of your favorite sleep position.
However, if you’re looking for a bargain, consider the Tuft & Needle, which is highly rated, especially for the use of a proprietary foam that saves money while still providing excellent quality and the use of Tencel to replace cotton in the cover, thereby keeping you cooler and drier through the night. With a lower price point but the similar warranty, weight, and overall design, the Tuft & Needle might work better for you financially.
You have a broad range of options available in terms of mattresses you could choose for your bedroom, and with the range of sizes and firmness types offered, there is certain to be one that’s right for you. Consider the possibilities, and look at the fine details. What type of sleeper are you? How much support do you need for aching joints and muscles? Do you sleep with a partner and need excellent motion control through the night so you don’t disturb each other? What about the environment you’re in? Do you sleep cool enough, or do you need to disburse body heat to stay cool and comfortable?
All of these questions weigh into your decision when you purchase a mattress, and the ones listed above are the finest available to order with ease, never having to worry about the level of investment with money or time in your shopping endeavors.