How to Choose a Mattress

Choosing a mattress should be a thoughtful process — not guesswork or hype. At NapLab, we objectively test mattresses using over 17,000 data points from 400+ real mattress tests to understand how different mattresses actually perform across important performance factors, including cooling, pressure relief, support, motion transfer, company policies, and more.

In this guide, we’ll unpack the key considerations that matter most when buying a mattress: how your sleep position and body weight influence ideal firmness, why mattress type, size, and thickness affect comfort and support, and how to balance budget with features you actually care about.

You’ll also learn how trial periods, warranty lengths, and carefully considering where you buy can protect your purchase.

With that in mind, let’s dive in.

In This Guide | Sleep Position | Mattress Type | Mattress Size | Mattress Thickness | Firmness | Important Features | Price | Company Policies | Online vs. In-Store

Sleep Position

Sleep position can play a big role in what type of mattress you choose and is one of the first things to consider when deciding on a mattress.

Sleeping position impacts the firmness level you’ll typically need, desirable sinkage levels, and ultimately, the ideal mattress type for your preferences.

Sleeping Position	Recommended Firmness	Recommended Sinkage Levels
Side	4-6 out of 10 (Soft to Medium-Firm)	Deeper Sinkage (More than 2.3″)
Back	5-7 out of 10 (Medium to Slightly Firm)	Less Sinkage (Less than 2.3″)
Stomach	5-7 out of 10 (Medium to Slightly Firm)	Less Sinkage (Less than 2.3″)

According to a NapLab survey of 105,000 sleepers, 85% of people sleep on their side, 42% sleep on their back, and 26% are stomach sleepers.

With side sleepers leading the charge, it’s no surprise that medium-firm mattresses with moderate to deep sinkage are the most popular among NapLab readers (you can see a full list of those mattress types here).

Mattress Type

Most mattresses fall into one of three major mattress type categories:

• All Foam (foam comfort layer on top + support foam base)
• Hybrid (thick foam comfort layer on top + support coil base)
• Coil / Innerspring (thinner foam comfort layer on top + support coil base)

Mattress Type	Best For	Average Price	Average Performance
Foam	Sleepers on a budget, thinner profiles	$1,106	8.43
Memory Foam	Deeper contour and low motion transfer	$1,079	8.11
Latex Foam	Natural materials, higher bounce levels	$1,647	8.62
Hybrid	Better support, balanced, even, non-polarizing feel	$1,512	8.60
Memory Foam Hybrid	Contour of memory foam + fast response from the coil base	$1,670	8.76
Latex Hybrid	Natural materials, excellent cooling, fast response time	$1,979	8.80
Coil	Generally lower price, good cooling, traditional feel	$964	7.88
Plus-Sized	Best for sleepers over 250 lbs.	$1,899	9.02
Adjustable	Adjustable firmness, great for couple with split preferences	$3,116	8.83

How To Choose A Mattress Type?

You know your budget, and you know how you sleep, but how do you know what mattress type is right for you? Consider the questions below:

What should most people get?

Hybrid or a memory foam hybrid are two of the most popular mattress types. Hybrids tend to have a more balanced feel that suits the needs of a variety of sleepers. Memory foam hybrids provide deeper contour and excellent pressure relief.

What should you get if you need to save money?

Foam mattresses are the 2nd lowest-priced mattress type, but they offer reasonably good performance. For the ultimate savings, you can also opt for coil (which is the lowest priced type), but coil mattresses tend to come with lower performance and are often a worse value.

In addition to foam, there are a handful of value hybrids that come in under $1K, while using a combination of foam and pocketed coils. These mattresses offer the benefits of hybrid construction (often with better performance) without breaking the bank.

What if you want the lowest motion transfer?

Memory foam mattresses are a great option if you want the lowest motion transfer. The viscoelasticity of memory foam has a way of deadening motion and preventing energy transfer across the mattress.

What if you prioritize healthier and/or natural materials?

Organic latex or latex hybrid mattresses are great options if you want more natural, organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly materials. Latex mattresses are derived from rubber trees, where latex is harvested and then turned into a perforated, natural foam.

What if you want a more traditional feel?

Coil mattresses have a more traditional feel with higher levels of bounce, good edge support, and cooling. That said, coil mattresses may struggle with higher levels of motion transfer.

What if you weigh more?

Plus-sized mattresses, also called HD mattresses, are a more supportive pick for sleepers who weigh over 300 lbs. While most mattresses can support up to 300 lbs. per side, an HD mattress can oftentimes support up to 450-500+ lbs. per side.

What if you and your partner disagree on firmness?

Adjustable mattresses are the best option for partners who have very different preferences. These mattresses allow each sleeper to choose their own firmness for each side of the mattress. Adjustments to the firmness are typically made via remote control or smartphone app.

What if you’re a side sleeper?

For side sleepers, consider mattresses with deeper sinkage for the best pressure relief and contour. Mattresses with a pillow top cover are also good options for pressure relief. Hybrid and memory foam mattresses are arguably the best choices for most side sleepers.

What if you’re a back or stomach sleeper?

For back sleepers or stomach sleepers, mattresses with less sinkage are typically the best choice. This comfort dynamic helps to keep the spine in alignment and reduces pressure points.

What if you want the best overall performance?

Latex tops the list as one of the highest-performing materials among all mattress types tested to date. But the price is also higher, given the nature of more natural materials. Beyond that, latex has a more polarizing feel. While some people love the feel of latex, others will simply hate it.

Hybrids are a close second in performance. Hybrids are the most popular mattress type we test, making up 38% of the mattresses tested to date. If we include latex hybrids and memory foam hybrids, that number extends up to 55% of all mattresses tested.

In my view, hybrids are the best choices for the vast majority of sleepers. They represent the ideal combination of excellent performance, strong value, and a balanced feel that most sleepers will find comfortable.

Mattress Size

Getting the right mattress size is another critically important step. Mattress size can be determined by the number of people sleeping as well as the room size.

• Twin and Twin XL are usually a good choice for children and single young adults as they allow for more usable floor space in the room, but still have enough room in the bed for one person.
• Full mattresses are a good choice for single adults who like to spread out more. These can also work for some couples, depending on sleeper preferences and body sizes.
• Queen is the right pick for couples and/or those who sleep with pets. Co-sleeping with kids is also possible with a Queen, but is certainly more difficult compared to co-sleeping in a King.
• King and California King are the premier picks for sleepers with large rooms, a partner, pets, co-sleeping with kids, etc. If your room and budget can accommodate a King, it’s typically the preferred choice, as the extra room allows for more uninterrupted sleep between partners and lower motion transfer compared to smaller sizes.
• Split King mattresses are ideal for partners who want to use their own adjustable foundation and/or those who have varying preferences. A Split King is merely 2 Twin XL mattresses side-by-side. Having 2 separate mattresses means each partner can choose their own mattress brand / model according to their specific preferences.

Mattress Size	Dimensions	Best For
Twin	38″ x 75″	Kids + Single Adults
Twin XL	38″ x 80″	Kids + Single Adults
Full	54″ x 75″	Single Adults + Pets or Co-Sleeping Children
Queen	60″ x 80″	Couples
King	76″ x 80″	Couples + Pets or Co-Sleeping Children (6″ wider than Queen)
Cal. King	72″ x 84″	Couples + Pets or Co-Sleeping Children (4″ longer than standard King, but also 4″ narrower)
Split King	38″ x 80″ (x2)	Couples

Mattress Thickness

The table below shows the thickness of all mattresses tested to date (over 400+ mattresses tested). For reference, the average thickness is 12.2″ across all mattresses tested.

Based on our data, mattresses less than 10″ thick typically have notably worse performance. As mattress thickness increases, we typically see performance also increasing.

A thicker overall profile allows for more comfort material and a thicker support layer, ultimately improving pressure relief and longevity.

Mattress Thickness	Percent of Mattresses	Average Performance
6.0 – 8.9″	3.4% of Mattresses Tested	7.87
9.0 – 11.9″	32.1% of Mattresses Tested	8.28
12.0 – 13.9″	41.5% of Mattresses Tested	8.57
14.0″ or More	22.9% of Mattresses Tested	8.73

If you want the best performance, I would aim for a mattress that is at least 12″ thick. That’s not to say that some thinner models can’t still have great performance. They can and certainly do. But as a general rule, 12″ mattresses allow for at least an 8″ support layer and a 4″ comfort layer (give or take some). This design configuration simply creates better support and pressure relief.

For heavier weighted bodies, I would shoot for something even thicker, 14″ thick or more would be ideal if you want the best performance. These thicker mattresses are designed to support heavier weights and can provide a thicker comfort layer than a thinner mattress can.

Firmness 

Firmness is another factor that plays a key role in knowing which mattress to choose. For most, your ideal firmness will be a combination of your preferred sleeping position and your body weight.

That being said, there will be overlap and wiggle room to accommodate for personal preferences. The vast majority of sleepers do best with a medium-firm feel (6 out of 10 on our firmness scale). This is appropriate for all sleeping positions and body types.

Heavier sleepers typically benefit from a medium-firm to slightly firm feel.

Lighter-weighted sleepers typically benefit from a soft to medium-firm feel.

Moderate-weighted sleepers typically benefit from a medium to medium-firm feel.

Important Features

Important features and special concerns can also play a big role in deciding on your next mattress. These concerns tend to be highly personal and may need a more specialized approach to find the right mattress.

We’ve broken down the four most popular features and concerns below:

1. Cooling
2. Back Pain
3. Motion Transfer
4. Durability

#1. Cooling

Cooling is critically important, and many sleepers are highly disrupted by mattresses with high levels of heat retention. For the best cooling, I would recommend sticking with hybrids or seeking out mattresses with a cooling cover. A cooling cover can do a fantastic job of combating heat retention and pulling heat away from the surface of the mattress.

We’ve tested numerous mattress models with and without cooling covers. In our testing, we’ve consistently seen high-performance cooling covers make a notable impact on cooling performance. Mattress covers that use high-quality phase change materials and/or cooling fibers deliver a significant cooling improvement compared to those mattresses that do not.

#2. Back Pain

If you struggle with back pain, I would recommend a mattress with moderate sinkage and a medium-firm or slightly firm feel. One of the most common causes of back pain is spinal misalignment and/or lack of support.

When the spine doesn’t get the support it needs, your muscles work extra hard to compensate. But ultimately, that leaves your muscles feeling tired and your back aching from not being able to rest in a truly neutral position.

A high-quality mattress with a medium-firm or slightly firm feel ensures the back is fully supported and the body doesn’t sink too deeply into the mattress, which helps create a neutral spinal alignment and alleviate pressure points.

#3. Motion Transfer

This category will be more critical for couples, especially couples that have an active partner who moves around a lot in their sleep, couples with different schedules, and/or sleepers who are easily awoken by movement.

Mattresses that cannot absorb these movements can mean nightly disruptions for partners, as even small movements reverberate across the surface of the mattress.

This would also apply to sleepers who share a bed with pets or co-sleep with young children.

Among all mattresses that earn a 10/10 for low motion transfer, here is how the types break down:

Mattress Type	Mattress Count	Percent of All Mattresses
Memory Foam	16	28.0%
Hybrid	14	24.5%
Foam	10	17.5%
Memory Foam Hybrid	5	8.8%
Specialty	4	7.0%
Latex Hybrid	3	5.3%
Latex Foam	2	3.5%
Plus-Sized	2	3.5%
Coil	1	1.7%

Memory foam mattresses are generally among the best for low motion transfer, but high-quality hybrids can have great scores in this area as well.

Coil mattresses struggle the most due to their more limited use of foam and taller, springier coil units. The coils can carry motion across the surface of the mattress and tend to have a harder time reducing the energy.

#4. Durability

Mattresses with the best durability tend to be thicker, use higher-density foams, and weigh more than other mattresses.

Hybrids, specifically, perform great in this category because of their coil base that helps provide better support than all-foam models.

Denser foams help a mattress resist sagging and forming body impressions, and in general simply last longer. The Helix Midnight Elite, for example, has higher-density foams, including a 7.0 PCF foam layer (which is the most dense foam layer I’ve ever tested).

Price

When deciding what mattress to choose, budget is most certainly a huge factor. Mattress prices range from a couple of hundred bucks up to $5,000 or more.

While “bells and whistles” can quickly drive up cost, it’s important to make sure that you’re getting what you pay for, and not paying extra for marketing “features” that don’t truly improve overall performance.

Among 400+ mattresses tested to date, the “sweet spot” of how much to pay for a mattress is $1500 – $2000. These mattresses will give you excellent performance and quality, without overpaying.

You can see the relationship between price and performance in the table below:

Price Range	Mattress Count	Percent of All Mattresses	Average Performance
Under $1000	140	40.5%	8.14
$1000 – $1499	76	22.3%	8.70
$1500 – $1,999	63	18.0%	8.87
$2,000 – $2,999	49	14.5%	8.83
$3,000 – $3,999	10	2.9%	8.72
$4,000 – $4,999	5	1.5%	8.86
$5,000 or Higher	1	0.3%	9.01

Excluding adjustable mattresses, it rarely makes sense to spend over $3,000 for mattress. That being said, I would recommend that you spend at least $1,000.

Mattresses under $1,000 have the lowest average performance (8.14) and also tend to be less durable, using notably lower quality materials. Sleepers who go this route may be surprised when they need to replace the mattress more quickly, as cheaper materials break down faster.

Company Policies

Next up, let’s talk about company policies. A company that won’t honor refunds, returns, trial period, or warranty can leave you stuck with a mattress you hate and out thousands of dollars.

Returns, trial period, warranty, and shipping are four of the most important issues that impact a company’s score. See the table below for more details:

Company Terms	Average (Across All Mattresses Tested)
Returns	77.5% – free returns 19.2% – $99 – $250 returns 3.3% – no / very limited returns
Trial Period	4.5% – no trial period 4.2% – <100 nights trial 32.7% – 101-120 night trial 25.6% – 365 night trial
Warranty	41% – lifetime warranties average of other 59% of mattresses is 13 years
Shipping	98.5% of all mattresses tested have free shipping

#1. Trial Period

Most online mattresses come with a generous trial period that allows you to try the mattress in your home for a couple of months and decide if it’s the right pick for you.

Among 400+ mattresses to date, the average trial period is 176 nights. The most popular trial range is between 101 – 120 nights, and only 1 out of 4 mattresses offers a 365-night trial period.

Be sure to watch out for fine print with any trial period.

Does the company allow free returns? If not, the benefit of a long trial period may begin to sour if they hit you with a fee to send it back.

Another one to watch for is a “comfort exchange”. This type of program usually lets you exchange the mattress for a similar one of a different firmness or something else from their collection entirely. With a “comfort exchange,” you typically cannot get a cash back refund. Comfort exchanges are most common with brick-and-mortar retailers.

#2. Returns

Moving on, let’s talk about returns. Among the mattresses we’ve tested, 77.5% have free returns. But that leaves 22.5% of mattresses that don’t have such an easy process.

Of the remaining mattresses, 19.2% have return fees that range from $99 – $250 and 3.3% of mattresses do not allow returns at all (or have very limited returns).

Another point to consider is the conditions under which a mattress can be returned. Many brands require a 30-night break-in period, allowing your body to get used to the mattress. If you still don’t like it after that time has passed, the returns are quick and easy.

Some companies may offer a comfort topper or an exchange for a different firmness. Others may request a photo of the mattress’s condition or proof that you’re using a suitable foundation.

There may be some hoops to jump through, but at the end of the day, most good companies should honor their return policies hassle-free.

#3. Warranties

Mattress warranties vary in two major ways—length and terms.

Among all mattresses tested to date, 41% have lifetime warranties and the other 59% have an average of 13 years. 38% of mattresses we’ve tested have a 10-year warranty.

That being said, not all warranties are created equal. Make sure that you understand who is covered, what is covered, what is NOT covered, standard requests they may make, and the standard solutions they may offer.

• Who is Covered: Typically, the warranty only applies to the original buyer. If you purchase the mattress used from a third party, the warranty is typically void.
• What is Covered: Deep sinkage and manufacturer defects are two of the most popular protections that a warranty covers. But different brands will cover sinkage at different depths. For a good warranty, we want to see full replacement coverage for any sagging at 1.5″ or deeper. That said, less is even better.
• What is NOT Covered: Most mattress companies will not honor warranties for mattresses that have been misused or damaged (according to their definitions and assessments). This oftentimes includes burns, cuts, tears, liquid damage, stains, or other accidents. In some cases, failing to use a mattress protector, using the mattress on a floor, or using an improper mattress foundation can all be grounds to void the warranty.
• Standard Requests: Before you see any refund hit your account, you may be asked a few questions. Standard requests may include photos of the foundation you’re using with the mattress, photos of the mattress itself, and also proof of purchase.
• Standard Solutions: The best solution for warranty claims is a full replacement. Full replacement is typical for 10-year warranties. For longer warranties, especially lifetime warranties, the mattress will often be protected by a prorated replacement schedule. This will allow you to get a new mattress, but usually at a partial cost to you (ex. lifetime warranty in year 15 might ask you to pay 50% of the cost of a new mattress).

#4. Shipping

Shipping is a pretty easy one to get right, as 98.5% of mattresses offer free shipping. But some brands also offer other perks. Two of the most popular choices are White-Glove Delivery (aka full service delivery) and Haul Away services.

• White-Glove Delivery: This delivers your mattress to the room of your choice and the delivery crew sets up the mattress for you and disposes of all packaging material. For example, Saatva offers this feature for free and other brands like Leesa offer it as an add-on at an extra cost. Many other brands do not offer it at all.
• Haul-Away: This bonus will allow the delivery crew to also haul away one mattress when they’re setting up the new mattress. Typically, companies that offer white-glove / full-service delivery will also take your old mattress away, if you desire.

For mattress brands that do not offer white-glove delivery service, you’ll instead get the mattress delivered to your front door, but it’ll be up to you to bring it inside, set it up, and dispose of your old mattress.

Online vs. In-Store

Once you decide what mattress to buy, the next big question is where to buy—online or in a physical store.

While most of the brands we test are online brands, many have physical stores or partner showrooms across the country. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.

What Happens If I Buy In A Store?

If you buy your mattress from a physical store, you get the benefit of feeling the mattress in person. Sitting or lying on a mattress can give you a better idea of firmness, sinkage levels, and how your body initially responds to a mattress.

But in-person shopping can also be stressful. Typically, you’ll have to contend with an aggressive salesperson who may be inclined to push you into certain models, certain brands, or certain price points. In addition, salespeople aren’t always completely honest with customers. Over the years, I’ve heard numerous stories from NapLab readers recounting their experiences with salespeople who outright lied and misled them.

Mattresses purchased in-store often have more limited returns, refunds, and trial periods. Of course, this isn’t a universal rule, as policies vary by brand and individual retailer. Nevertheless, it’s important to make sure you 100% understand the policies around returns, refunds, and trial periods to make sure you don’t get stuck with a mattress you hate.

Lastly, when purchasing in a physical store, you can expect to pay more. Physical stores have more overhead, including the cost of the store, cost of labor, utilities, insurance, commissions to the salespeople, and often higher margins and markups.

What Happens If I Buy Online?

If you buy your mattress online, chances are high that you’ll pay less than what you’d pay in-store for a mattress of similar quality. You can shop at your own pace, wait for sales, and read mattress reviews to confirm the models that are best for you.

Most online brands also offer flexible trial periods, many extending as long as a full year. If at any point, you decide that you don’t love the mattress, you can get a refund and try a different mattress. Most online mattress brands offer more generous, free, and straightforward return / refund policies compared to many in-store options.

The long trial periods and easy returns / refunds are well warranted as there is more risk that comes with buying something online that you’ve never sat or lied on. Our reviews aim at being as objective and comprehensive as possible, but at the end of the day, sleeping on a mattress for 30 days is the best way to know if it’s the right pick for you.

Closing Thoughts

Choosing a mattress doesn’t have to be complicated when you know what to look for. By understanding how factors like sleep position, mattress type, firmness, and company policies impact comfort and performance, you can narrow your options quickly and confidently.

Use the sections above as a practical checklist, focus on what matters most for your body and sleep preferences, and don’t be afraid to lean on data over marketing claims.

A well-chosen mattress is an investment in better sleep — and with the right approach, it’s one you can feel good about for years to come.