Beautyrest Black Hybrid Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and feel of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	Beautyrest Black Hybrid	Average
Overall Score	8.51	8.55
Price (Queen)	$3,499	$1,389 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	8.0	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.00″	2.16″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.1	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	9.17 m/s²	8.74 m/s²
Response Time – Score	7.2	8.9
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.5 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	2.1 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	5.65″	9.34″
Bounce – Feel	Very Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	9.4	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	3.25″	4.05″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	7.2	8.4
Pressure Relief – Score	10	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.5″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	14.5″	12.1″
Off-Gassing – Score	9.2	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	3 days	6 days
Company – Score	8.5	8.6
Trial	100 nights	176 nights
Warranty	10 years	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Beautyrest Black Hybrid Different?

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid is a 14.5″ hybrid mattress with an overall performance level that is slightly lower than average and a price that is significantly higher than average—$3,499 for a queen, which is 2.5X more than the average hybrid mattress.

Advantages

Advantages of the Black Hybrid include better edge support than average as well as exceptional pressure relief. This mattress has a comfort layer that is 4.5″ thick, which is slightly thicker than average.

As an added bonus, the Black Hybrid also off-gasses faster than average as well (within 3 days compared to the 6-day average).

Neutral Factors

This mattress has moderate levels of sinkage and very low levels of bounce. These factors create a sleeping surface that is fairly restrained.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of the Beautyrest Black Hybrid include warmer cooling performance, slightly higher levels of motion transfer than average, and a slow material response time.

The low bounce does negatively contribute to the sex performance as well.

Lastly, Beautyrest mattresses only offer a 100-night trial period and a limited 10-year warranty, both shorter than average.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has good cooling. During our tests, cooling was good overall, but it certainly doesn’t rise to the excellent or outstanding level of cooling performance.

During testing, I could feel a slight, but notable level of heat retention. The mattress has a cover with a cool-to-the-touch feel. However, that cooling sensation is only temporary.

By the end of our cooling test the cover had lost virtually all of its cooling feel and no longer felt cooler. Beyond the cooling cover, we have pocketed coils and a microcoil layer that help bring airflow into the mattress.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Even so, these are both positioned below 4.5” of foam, which includes 1.5” of memory foam. The combination of thick foam comfort layer and memory foam seem to be resulting in an increased heat retention.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 91.8° F. This is 2.1° more than the average of 89.7° F, based on all of our tests to date.

Notably, the Beautyrest Black Hybrid was notably warmer compared to the Beautyrest Black (see that review here). The non-hybrid seemed to do a better job when it came to breathability.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

When we consider the combination of objective data, my subjective experiences, and an analysis of the materials, I’m confident in my view that cooling is good.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has moderate sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.00″. This is 0.16″ less sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.16″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress creates a dramatic body contouring hug with a significant memory foam feel due to the 1.5” memory foam layer.

The foams within the mattress contour and hug to the exact shape of your body. Certainly, having a non-quilted cover allows the body more direct contact with the foam layers, which intensifies the feeling of body-contouring hug. 

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has a low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 9.17 m/s². This is 5% more motion transfer than the average of 8.74 m/s².

While the level of motion is slightly more than average, it’s nothing I’m alarmed by. The mattress utilizes a 4.5” foam comfort layer, which includes 1.5” of memory foam. The memory foam in particular is doing a great job at reducing bounce and motion transfer.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.14. Motion drops off notably thereafter, but it’s not until 1.22 seconds that we return to near-zero levels of energy.

While I was generally pleased with the level of motion intensity, I’m not thrilled that it takes 1.22 seconds to fully dissipate energy and motion. This motion duration time is considerably worse than average. 

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid is a mixed bag for material responsiveness, with a fast mostly recovered response time and a very slow fully recovered response time. In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.5 seconds, which is 0.08 seconds slower than the average of 0.42 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 2.1 seconds, which is 1.13 seconds slower than the average of 0.97 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The Black Hybrid uses vastly different materials in terms of response time.

The poly foam, latex, microcoils, and pocketed coils are all able to return to their original shapes quickly after being compressed. However, the 1.5” memory foam layer is a different story.

These memory foam layers have a more traditional memory foam formulation, which is great when it comes to motion transfer and body contour, but it also means they are quite slow to recover back to their original shape.

While I was pleased with the mostly recovered response time, the fully recovered response time of 2.1 seconds is quite slow and for many sleepers will cause the mattress to be more difficult to move around on.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has a very low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 5.65″. This is 3.69″ less bounce than the average of 9.34″, based on all of our tests to date.

As was the case with motion transfer and material responsiveness, the 1.5” memory foam layer is having the greatest impact on bounce. This type of memory foam has a more traditional formulation.

As a result, it’s slower to respond, doesn’t react quickly when touched or compressed, and is fairly hard when you first lie on it.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

It’s these properties that greatly reduce the level of bounce. While the latex, poly foam, and coils are helping to increase bounce, they simply aren’t thick enough or close enough to the top of the mattress to have a significant impact on bounce.

The lower bounce is helping to reduce motion transfer, but it’s also going to make it more difficult to move around on the mattress and negatively impact bounce.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has excellent sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.25″. This is 0.80″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 4.05″, based on all of our tests to date.

Even with my full weight sitting on a single spot there is no material collapse and the mattress remains fully supportive. Edge support while lying was a similar story.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was excellent in all sleeping positions. The Beautyrest Black uses a support foam that runs along the entire perimeter of the mattress.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

This foam is 8” tall and 4” wide. Perimeter edge support foams are fantastic for helping to reinforce and create robust edge support. Overall, I’m pleased with the level of edge support and don’t expect it will be an issue for most sleepers.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has fair sex performance. On the positive side, noise is minimal, press relief is outstanding, cooling is good enough, and edge support is excellent.

In our edge support tests, we measured just 3.25” of sitting sinkage compression, which is notably better than average. The robust edge support extends the sexable surface area of the mattress.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	6.0	Low
Edge Support	20%	9.7	Excellent
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	10	Outstanding
Cooling	5%	8.0	Good

On the negative side, we have bounce at just 5.65”. This is considerably lower than the average level of bounce, which is 9.34”.

A lower bounce is almost always worse for sex as it simply makes amorous activities more strenuous, tiring, and difficult. While the mattress is comfortable, the lack of bounce is a significant negative when it comes to sex performance.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has an outstanding level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no pressure points anywhere on my body. The mattress is incredibly comfortable. The combination of quilted cover, memory foam layers, latex, and poly foam work together to great effect.

These layers create a moderate sinkage depth that allows lighter parts of the body to be comforted, while still creating sufficient support for the heavier portions of your body. The mattress is equipped with 4.5″ of comfort material, including a 1.0” quilted cover, 1.5” memory foam, 1.5” latex foam, and 0.5” poly foam.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has 0.31″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.19″, based on all of our tests to date.

I am really impressed with the quality of each of the foam layers. Every foam layer looks and feels like a high quality. They feel good in hand and on the body.

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 1.18. A PSI of 2.0 is a high pressure point and the Black Hybrid didn’t approach anywhere near those levels.

When I consider our objective pressure mapping tests, material thickness, material quality, and my subjective experience on the mattress, I’m confident most sleepers will find the pressure relief to be outstanding.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.18	0.95

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.10	0.62

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.11	1.18

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid had a strong smell upon the initial arrival. The mattress smelled for 3 days. This is 3.3 days less than the average of 6.3 days.

Beautyrest mattresses come with a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Shipping and returns are both free.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	8.0	100 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	10	$0
Trust	50%	8.0	Good
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 83+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 176 nights, 76 nights more than Beautyrest offers. The average warranty is also longer, 13 years on average, and that’s if we exclude 25% of mattresses that offer lifetime warranties.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid is a high-profile mattress that is available in a number of different “Series” types and firmness levels. Let’s break it down.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid has four Series types:

• Series One: Up to 13″ thick, basic hybrid design, lowest price (starts at $1,549)
• Series Two: Up to 14.5″ thick, thicker comfort foam layer and better pressure relief than Series One, mid-range price (starts at $2,549)
• Series Three: Up to 15″ thick, high-end price (starts at $2,949)
• Series Four: Up to 16″ thick, comfort layer with microcoils, highest price (starts at $4,349)

For reference, we tested a Beautyrest Black Hybrid in Series Three.

The Series Three Hybrid is available in the following firmness levels:

• Plush (estimated to be 4 out of 10)
• Medium (6 out of 10)
• Firm (estimated to be 8 out of 10)

We tested the Medium version which we found to have a medium-firm feel and a firmness of 6 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm.

Support on the Beautyrest Black Hybrid is outstanding. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with a 10.0″ support layer. This is 2.12″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.88″, based on all of our tests to date.

In addition, the Black Hybrid has a thicker-than-average comfort layer consisting of high-performance poly foam, memory foam, and latex foam. For a mattress to create proper support it needs to allow sleepers to remain comfortable while lying in the same position.

The Black Hybrid does that by providing incredible pressure relief and a body-contouring hug. That 4.5” comfort layer is supported by the thicker-than-average 10.0” support layer.

Both the comfort materials and support materials look and feel high quality. Everything about this mattress is impressive when it comes to the materials and layers.

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid is available in 4 different series and multiple firmness options. Having all of these choices is ideal, as it helps to ensure every sleeper can find a firmness and support dynamic that works well for your body.

Based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences, I’m confident most sleepers will find support on the Beautyrest Black Hybrid is outstanding.

Plush Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe
150-250 lbs.	No	Yes	No
250-300 lbs.	No	Yes	No

Medium Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Firm Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Maybe	No	Maybe
150-250 lbs.	Yes	No	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Maybe	Yes

Design

The Beautyrest Black Hybrid is a 14.5″ hybrid mattress that comes in a range of firmness options—Plush, Medium, or Firm. It also has four different Series types, which allow for a range of mattress thicknesses, performance, and price tiers (ranging from $2,499 – $4,499 for a queen mattress)

Materials

The Black Hybrid is 14.5″ thick and contains a blend of foam, microcoils, and a pocketed coil base. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

• 1.0” quilted cover
• 0.5” memory foam
• 0.5” memory foam
• 0.5” memory foam
• 1.5” latex foam
• 0.5” poly foam
• 0.5” microcoils
• 8.5” pocketed coils
• 1.5” support foam

The Cover

The Beautyrest Black has a 1.0″ thick cover. There is memory foam (blue) stitched into the cover with a diamond pattern and encased in a layer of polyfoam (white).

The Comfort Layer

While the comfort layer is only 4.5″ thick, it is made up of 6 individual layers. On top, we have three 0.5″ memory foam layers immediately followed by a 1.5” latex foam. The latex foam encourages faster material response time and breathability, given the natural properties of latex (white foam).

Below the white foam is a 0.5” poly foam (gray).

Last but not least, we have a 0.5” microcoils layer. The microcoils are beneficial for pressure relief and serving as an air gap.

The Support Layer

The support layer is made of 8.5” pocketed coils followed by a 1.5” support foam at the base.

The perimeter of the mattress is wrapped with a 4” reinforced perimeter foam. This foam is designed to improve edge support and limit noise and motion transfer.

Product Evolution

Beautyrest has been around since 1925. They began selling the earliest versions of the Beautyrest Black in 2006. Over the years, the Black mattress has gradually evolved with incremental changes, new sub-models, new variants, and new firmness options.

They are a well-established company with one of the longest-standing company history. Beautyrest is owned by the parent company, Simmons.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Beautyrest Black Hybrid is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses for high-performing alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Beautyrest Black Hybrid mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.