Brooklyn Bedding Custom Review

2024 Update – The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has been discontinued. See our mattress reviews for mattresses that are available.

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 value 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	Brooklyn Bedding Custom – Discontinued	Average
Overall Score	8.07	8.57
Price (Queen)	$1,386	$1,329 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.7
Sinkage – Depth	2.19″	2.15″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	4.6	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	16.97 m/s²	8.79 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.9	9.0
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.4 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	10.86″	9.53″
Bounce – Feel	High	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.1	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	3.75″	4.04″
Edge Support – Lying	Fair	Good
Sex – Score	9.1	8.4
Pressure Relief – Score	8.0	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.0″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	13″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	7.5	8.1
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	9 days	7 days
Company – Score	8.9	8.6
Trial	120 nights	178 nights
Warranty	10 years	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Brooklyn Bedding Different?

The Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress has an overall performance score that falls short of the average mattress, based on 270 mattresses tested to date (8.07 versus 8.57). But it’s fair to say that most individual performance categories did well, and the lower score is do to some outlier categories.

However, its price is right about average for what sleepers can expect to pay for a hybrid. The mattress starts at $1,386 and there are options to add things like enhanced cooling covers, for example, that increase the price. The average hybrid price is $1,329, as of September of 2024.

Advantages

The “build your own” approach to mattress shopping can be an attractive approach, especially for sleepers who are looking for something very specific. The online quiz makes it easy to select different options in order to prioritize the features and feel that is most important to you.

In the King or California King mattress you can opt for two different firmness levels on each side of the mattress. You can even select entirely different comfort layers.

For example, firm memory foam on one side and soft latex foam on the other. This custom approach can be beneficial for partners who don’t have matching preferences when it comes to mattresses.

While most mattress companies offer free returns, it feels especially important to note that this custom mattress is no different. Since custom usually means “final sale” when it comes to other things, it feels worth mentioning here.

Neutral Factors

As for preferential factors like sinkage and bounce, our tests showed that the Custom measured more in both categories. For sinkage, the average measured sinkage depth we’ve seen from 270 mattresses tested to date is 2.15, and the Custom was 1.8% more at 2.19.

Bounce was also a bit higher than average, but this is a good thing for sex performance and overall ease of movement.

Disadvantages

The two biggest drawbacks to the Custom option from Brookyln Bedding is its motion transfer performance and its long off-gassing period. Many mattresses struggle with motion from one side of the bed being felt from other side. However, this particular model was extremely high, nearly double the average.

For off-gassing, our tests showed it took over a week for the synthetic foam smell to fully dissipate.

Ordering Notes

It’s important to note a few testing differences on the Brooklyn Bedding Custom. First of all, this is a customizable mattress.

Prior to ordering, the website will guide you through a series of questions about the preferred mattress size, firmness, cover, and comfort layer. Based on how you answer these questions, the prompts will generate a different mattress for purchase. We’ll explain more about that below.

For our mattress to test, we went with the following options.

• Firmness: Medium
• Cover: Organic Cotton
• Comfort layer: TitanFlex

Here is a list of all the options that this mattress offers.

Certainly, the other types would create a different feel compared to what we experienced here. We aren’t going to conjecture on the feel of every type, but suffice to say, each different configuration will create different pros, cons, and overall performance.

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has excellent cooling. During our tests, I felt no significant level of heat retention around my body.

The hybrid design creates ample airflow that helps keep the surface cooler. Our version of the Custom mattress came with the organic cotton cover on top. This fabric is good, but most likely doesn’t sleep as cool as the luxury cooling or recovery covers that are available.

• 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

Looking at our objective data, we measured a maximum surface level temperature of 87.5°. This is 2.0° cooler than the average max temp based on all of our tests to date.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

The heat dissipation curve wasn’t as impressive as many other mattresses we’ve tested, only dropping 3.1° from 0 to 1 minute.

However, given the fact that the max temperature was 2.0° cooler than average, that is to be expected.

When we consider my subjective experience, objective data, and material layers, I am confident that most sleepers will find the Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress to sleep cool.

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has a moderate level of pressure point sinkage.

In our tests, we measured 2.19” of sinkage, which is 0.04” less sinkage than the average (based on all of our tests to date).

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress has a very generalized hugging contour around the body. It’s quite similar to the feel of latex.

In addition, it has more of a feeling of lying “on top” of the mattress as opposed to “in it”, especially when lying on your stomach or back.

Heavier weight sleepers are more likely to experience a more typical contouring hug and sleeping deeper “in” the mattress.

However, lighter and moderate-weight bodies will lie more “on top” of the mattress with a restrained contouring hug.

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has an extremely high level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured 16.97 m/s² of acceleration range. This is nearly double the average motion transfer of 8.79 m/s².

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has the 3rd highest motion transfer of any mattress we’ve tested to date.

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

Looking at our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we see the highest motion periods from 0.00 to 0.22 seconds.

Motion drops after 0.22 seconds, but is still relatively high through 0.64 seconds. By 1.07 seconds it returns to near zero levels.

Both the motion peaks and motion duration are exceedingly high. It’s likely that the memory foam version of the mattress would have a far lower level of motion transfer.

That said, if you are considering the TitanFlex or latex comfort layers you should carefully consider the motion transfer.

If you sleep alone it’s probably a non-issue. However, for those who sleep with a partner this level of motion will very likely lead to sleep disturbances during the night.

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has a very fast response time. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.4 seconds.

This is nearly tied with the very fastest responding mattresses we have tested to date. The fastest responding mattresses mostly recover in 0.2 seconds and fully recover in 0.3 seconds.

Comparing the Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress to the average it is significantly better. Based on all of our tests to date, we have measured an average mostly recovered response time of 0.50 seconds and an average fully recovered response time of 0.95 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

Suffice to say, response is basically instant on this mattress. The TitanFlex poly foam has a similar feel, resilience, and response to natural latex.

The materials rebound to shape without any hesitation, even when under a heightened level of pressure. This helps to prevent any type of “stuck” feel as the mattress quickly adapts to changes in your movements.

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has a very high level of bounce. In our tests, we measured 10.86” of total bounce height. This is 1.33” more bounce than the average of 9.53” (based on all of our tests to date).

As a general rule, I like to see 8-12” of bounce. The Custom mattress is right in the middle of my ideal bounce range.

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

The level of bounce makes it easy to move around on and improves sex. However, this level of bounce and high response certainly has a negative impact on the motion transfer (in addition to the coil layer).

Edge support on the Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress is excellent when it comes to sitting. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured 3.75” of sinkage compression. This is 0.29” less sinkage compression than the average of 4.04”.

Overall, I felt well supported when sitting directly on the edge of the mattress. Between the TitanFlex and pocketed coils there is a high degree of pushback and material resiliency, creating great support.

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

While that pushback doesn’t do it any favors for pressure relief (which we discuss below), it is a great benefit for sitting edge support.

Lying edge support leaves something to be desired. I felt a good level of edge support while lying, but certainly not great.

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

I just don’t feel tremendously well supported when lying directly on the edge. Near the edge the mattress has a significant downward angle away from the center of the mattress, creating the feeling that the mattress wants to roll you out of bed.

I expect most sleepers would need to sleep at least a few inches away from the absolute edge of the mattress to feel well supported.

The Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress had excellent sex performance.

We use the following scores, plugged into our sex formula, to derive a sex score for each mattress.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	9.3	Very High
Edge Support	20%	9.1	Excellent
Noise	5%	8.0	Moderate
Pressure Relief	5%	8.0	Good
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

This mattress has higher bounce than average, which is certainly advantageous for good sex. In addition, it also has reasonably good edge support and is comfortable.

It isn’t exactly a silent mattress, so noise could be a factor for some sleepers. Lastly, pressure relief is good, but not great.

All things considered, it’s a very good mattress for sex, but not the best we’ve seen in this category.

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has a good level of pressure relief, but not amazing. Even on the medium version of the mattress, I feel a high degree of pushback.

It’s still a medium-firm feel, but you don’t experience much sinkage, hug, or contour around the body. This causes the body to sleep more on “top of” the mattress, as opposed to “in it”.

The TitanFlex poly foam feel has excellent support and resiliency, but loses something in terms of pressure relief as a consequence.

I would expect the memory foam version of the Custom mattress to offer better pressure relief.

Even so, on the version we tested with TitanFlex, I wasn’t blown away with the pressure relief.

Right out of the box, the Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress had a strong smell. It took 9 days for the smell to fully dissipate, though over the course of that time, the smell undoubtedly got less strong with each passing day.

This time period is about 2 days longer than the average mattress, which takes just under 7 days to fully dissipate.

If you’re sensitive to strong smells, consider off-gassing the mattress with lots of ventilation (open the window if you can, add an air purifier, or a fan on high). Also, remember to leave off any bedding, which also helps aid this process.

Brooklyn Bedding has been creating mattresses since 2009.

They offer a 120-night trial period with a 10-year limited warranty. Shipping is free and returns are paired with a $99 return fee if you need the mattress picked up.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	8.0	120 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	7.0	$99
Trust	50%	10	Outstanding
Country of Origin	0%		USA

The mattress comes with a 30-night break-in period. In that time period, you cannot initiate a return for the mattress. But any time between 30-120 nights, you can request a refund.

Firmness on the Brooklyn Bedding ranges, depending on how you answer the firmness question in the quiz.

They offer soft, medium, or firm.

For this review, we tested the medium firmness, a 6 out of 10, which would be an appropriate firmness for the widest range of sleepers.

Generally, lighter sleepers often prefer a softer feel and heavier sleepers prefer a firmer, more supportive feel.

Soft Firmness

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleeper	Side Sleeper	Back Sleeper
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-225 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe
225-300 lbs.	No	Maybe	No

Medium Firmness

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 Firmness

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

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress has excellent support. Throughout our tests and in all sleeping positions I felt well supported by the mattress.

As discussed above, the TitanFlex foam has a heightened level of support and pushback.

While this does create more of a floating “on top” of the mattress feel, at least with respect to support, it is beneficial. The mattress has ample support for most body types.

When we consider the overall design of the mattress, I am confident it will be supportive for most sleepers regardless of the custom configuration. Overall, I found support to be excellent.

Design

The exact design of the Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress varies depending on the exact preferences you select when building the mattress. At its core, it’s a hybrid mattress with a foam comfort layer and pocketed coil support base.

The design of this mattress also allows for split designs on each side of the mattress, if you opt for the King or California King mattress.

For example, you could get latex on one side and memory foam on the other side. You can also choose different firmnesses for each comfort layer.

Materials

Being a custom mattress, the exact layers of each Brooklyn Bedding Custom mattress vary depending on which options are selected.

In this review, we tested the organic cotton cover and TitanFlex comfort layer, so all data below will be reflective of this choice.

From top to bottom, here are the layers on the custom mattress we tested:

• 1.0″ quilted organic cotton cover
• 3.0″ poly foam (TitanFlex)
• 8.0″ pocketed coils
• 1.0″ support foam

The Cover

There are three options for the cover on this mattress. You can select from the following:

1. Organic cotton cover
2. Luxury cooling cover (+$100)
3. Active recovery cover (+$100)

For our tests, we went with the organic cotton cover. This cover comes standard on the mattress and offers a soft, breathable finish.

For a $100 upcharge, you could select one of their more advanced covers—the cooling cover or the recovery cover.

• Luxury cooling cover: The cooling cover is made of a phase change material, designed to moderate skin temperature and prevent heat build-up. Cooling gel beads liquefy at higher temperatures to deliver cooling relief; those same beads solidify at lower temperatures to ensure an ideal sleep environment.
• Active recovery cover: The recovery cover is made with far infrared rays (FIR) technology and these fibers are woven into the cover fabric. Activated by your body’s heat, this fabric produces waves of energy design to provide better blood flow, which also speeds up muscle recovery.

The Comfort Layer

There are also three options for the comfort layer. You can choose from the following three materials:

1. TitanFlex
2. Natural latex
3. Luxe memory foam

For our tests, we selected the TitanFlex foam, which is a type of poly foam. This foam has a fast response time and is a good option if you want a balanced feel.

With natural latex, you can expect a fast response, high bounce, and good cooling as well. This layer may also have less off-gassing compared to the others since it is derived from natural materials.

With memory foam, you’ll likely get a deeper hug, more contour, and a slower response time. While memory foam has a tendency to struggle with cooling, this particular luxe foam is embedded with cooling gel, so I’d expect cooling to be better than traditional memory foam.

The Support Layer

All versions of the Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress have the same pocketed coil base. This is an 8.0″ layer of coils that are individually encased in a thin fabric.

Pocketed coils are great for pressure relief and limiting motion transfer (compared to traditional innerspring or continuous coil systems).

Beneath the coils is a thin 1.0″ layer of high-density support foam, which supports the layers above and helps the mattress keep its shape.

Product Evolution

The Brooklyn Bedding Custom was launched in 2020. Being that it’s a custom mattress with quite a bit of flexibility, there have been no major changes to this mattress since it was first released.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure that the Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress is right for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses below for good alternative picks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Brooklyn Bedding custom mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.