Molecule CopperWell 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 those tests and compare them to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

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

Factor	Molecule CopperWell	Average
Overall Score	7.77	8.51
Price (Queen)	$999	$1,032 (Memory Foam only)
Cooling – Score	7.0	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.33″	2.25″
Sinkage – Feel	Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	7.5	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	10.62 m/s²	8.80 m/s²
Response Time – Score	5.1	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	1.3 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	1.9 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	5.49″	8.70″
Bounce – Feel	Very Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.9	8.7
Edge Support – Sitting	3.25″	3.87″
Edge Support – Lying	Good	Good
Sex – Score	7.1	8.2
Pressure Relief – Score	9.0	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.00″	4.32″
Mattress Thickness	12.00″	12.23″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.6	8.0
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	5 days	7 days
Company – Score	9.0	8.8
Trial	100 nights	192 nights
Warranty	15 years	40% have lifetime warranties, average of other 60% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Molecule CopperWell Different?

The Molecule CopperWell is a 12.00″ memory foam mattress with an overall performance level that is significantly below average and a price that is just slightly below average.

Advantages

Specific advantages of the Molecule CopperWell include better edge support, better pressure relief, and faster off-gassing.

The mattress is also backed by a strong company score, which offers a 15-year warranty (longer than the 13-year average). Note: This excludes the 40% of mattress brands that offer lifetime warranties.

Neutral Factors

The CopperWell has deep sinkage and very low levels of bounce. Sinkage and bounce are largely considered “neutral factors” since different sleepers will have different preferences on what is “good” or “bad” in these areas.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages include below-average cooling performance, higher levels of motion transfer, and a very slow material response time. In our tests, the materials took 1.9 seconds to fully recover, nearly double the length of the average response time.

The Molecule Copperwell has fair cooling. During our tests, I felt a notable level of heat retention on my body.

This is an all-foam mattress that’s equipped with a 2.0” memory foam layer on top. All-foam mattresses typically struggle more with airflow and breathability, and that’s exactly what we see here.

In addition, the memory foam layer on top is also problematic. Memory foam typically retains more heat compared to other foam types, and that was certainly our experience with this foam.

• 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

Lastly, according to the product page, the top cover has “cool touch fiber woven into the fabric”. While the cover did create a slight cooling feel initially when lying down, it did not maintain the cool feel for very long.

By the end of our cooling tests, it had no cooling feel, and I felt significant warming of the mattress layers that made contact with my body.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 92.6° F. This is 2.4° warmer than the average of 90.2° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 6.0 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 1.2 degrees cooler than the average 0 to 1 minute decline of 4.8 degrees.

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 fair.

The Molecule Copperwell has deep sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.33″. This is 0.08″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.25″, 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. The Copperwell has a classic memory foam feel, which means lots of hug, lots of contour, and a slower material recovery speed. Fortunately, it also has a more restrained sinkage depth, only breaking into the “deep” sinkage tier by 0.03”.

Ultimately, this is a memory foam mattress and one that creates a more classic memory foam feel. To be comfortable on this mattress, you’ll need to prefer the feel of classic memory foam, which means lots of hug, contour, and slower material responsiveness.

This feel isn’t good or bad, but it is a specific feel, one you’ll want to love in order to enjoy the Molecule.

The Molecule Copperwell has a moderate level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 10.62 m/s². This is 20% more motion transfer than the average of 8.81 m/s².

Typically, memory foam mattresses have less motion transfer than average, but that’s not what we measured here. The extra motion seems to be coming from the taut cover. When sleepers (or in our case, a 12 pound medicine ball) move around on the mattress the taut cover can abruptly tug from side-to-side.

That tugging motion can be felt across the mattress as part of the larger motion transfer picture. Fortunately, it’s a very quick motion sensation and the all foam design with memory foam on top does a nice job of mitigating any additional motion.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.15 seconds. Motion drops off dramatically immediately thereafter.

By 0.75 seconds, we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy, which is 0.14 seconds shorter than the average motion duration of 0.89 seconds. Overall, motion transfer performance is fair.

The Molecule Copperwell has a very slow material response.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 1.3 seconds, which is 0.88 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 1.9 seconds, which is 0.88 seconds slower than the average of 1.02 seconds.

This is an all-foam mattress that utilizes a 2.0” memory foam layer on top. All-foam designs typically have a slower material recovery speed than many other mattress types.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The same is doubly true when those foams are memory foam. The slower material recovery speed makes this mattress harder to move around on and harder to change positions.

For some sleepers, it can also create a sense of feeling “stuck” in the mattress, due to the dramatic body contouring hug of memory foam in combination with the slower material recovery speed.

The Molecule Copperwell has a very low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 5.49″. This is 3.22″ less bounce than the average of 8.71″, based on all of our tests to date.

The Copperwell design is all-foam, no coils, and uses memory foam on top. Foam simply doesn’t return as much energy, which means less bounce, and this is doubly true when it comes to memory foam. Memory foam greatly absorbs and dissipates energy, which means there is simply less energy available for bounce.

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

The lower bounce is a notable reason that motion transfer levels were kept to a more reasonable level (though to be fair, motion transfer was far from great). However, that lower bounce also means that sex performance is negatively impacted.

The Molecule Copperwell has excellent sitting edge support and good lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.25″. This is 0.62″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 3.87″, based on all of our tests to date.

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 good in all sleeping positions.

Notably, this mattress does not utilize any type of reinforced edge support foam. Given the all-foam design and price point, that’s to be expected. While sitting, edge support was solid, lying edge support didn’t quite rise to the same level. Memory foam, by its nature, creates a higher degree of body contouring hug.

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

While in the middle of the mattress, that contouring hug is excellent. However, while lying near the edge, that contouring sensation causes a weakening of the support. This is simply because there isn’t enough material to fully contour and support the body at the edge.

To be fair, this isn’t a problem with Molecule specifically, but rather most memory foam mattresses we’ve tested. Lying edge support simply isn’t amazing for memory foam.

The Molecule Copperwell has fair sex performance. On the positive side, noise is minimal, pressure relief is excellent, and sitting edge support is solid.

Sitting edge support measured in at 3.25” of sitting edge sinkage. This creates a robust enough edge to extend the usable surface area of the mattress for amorous activities.

All that said, where the mattress isn’t so great is cooling and bounce. Bounce, in particular, really leaves something to be desired. In our bounce tests, we measured a total bounce height of 5.49”. This is considerably less bounce than the average. When it comes to sex, more bounce is almost always better.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	5.9	Very Low
Edge Support	20%	9.7	Excellent
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.0	Excellent
Cooling	5%	7.0	Fair

The lower level of bounce makes it more strenuous and tiring to have sex on this mattress, as the foam layers simply absorb much of your amorous energies. Overall, the sex performance simply isn’t good.

The Molecule Copperwell has an excellent level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant pressure points on my body. Overall, I found the Molecule to be a comfortable mattress.

The mattress is equipped with 4.0″ of comfort material, which is 0.31″ less comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.31″, based on all of our tests to date.

In all mattress tests, we make it a point to cut the mattress open to look at the material quality. Overall, I’m pleased with the quality of the foam layers. Foams look and feel reasonably good quality, both on the body and in-hand. To be fair, they are far from the best we’ve seen, but relative to the price point, they look and feel fine.

This mattress is equipped with a thin, non-quilted cover. This cover allows for more immediate and pronounced body contouring and engagement with the memory foam comfort layer.

While sinkage is more balanced, the traditional memory foam feel creates a high degree of contouring hug. This isn’t good or bad, but it is a more specific feel. To enjoy the comfort and pressure relief of this mattress, you’ll need to strongly prefer the feel of memory foam.

Lastly, in our objective pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.48, which is well within the 1.0 PSI threshold we ideally want to see.

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.09	0.48

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.08	0.35

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.06	0.37

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 excellent.

The Molecule Copperwell had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 5 days. This is 2.3 days shorter than the average smell duration of 7.3 days.

Molecule mattresses come with a 100-night trial period and a 15-year warranty. Shipping and returns are both free.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Returns	40%	10	$0
Trial Period	30%	8.0	100 nights
Warranty	20%	8.0	15 years
Shipping	10%	10	$0
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 113+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 192 nights, 92 nights more than Molecule offers.

The average warranty is 13 years, which is 2 years less than that of this mattress. I will note that this excludes the 40% of mattresses that offer lifetime warranties.

The Molecule CopperWell comes in a single firmness option—Medium-Firm, which we rate at a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

This firmness and feel are generally suitable for a wide range of sleepers and preferences.

Support on the Molecule Copperwell is excellent. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with an 8.0″ support layer.

This is 0.09″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.91″, based on all of our tests to date.

This mattress is available in a single firmness, which we rated a medium-firm feel, 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale, where 10 is the most firm. Medium-firm is ideal for most sleepers and all sleeping positions. It creates the right balance of comfort and support to help create appropriate support and spinal alignment for the body.

Support Factor	Data
Comfort Layer	4.00″
Support Layer	8.00″
Firmness	Medium-Firm
Body Contour	Dramatic
Zoned Support	Yes
Reinforced Edge	No

In our assessment of the foams, I found their quality to be good. Certainly, the foam quality is far from perfect, and I do wish we had a slightly thicker comfort layer. Even so, given the price point, the foam quality and quantity are what can be reasonably expected.

According to the product page, Molecule states that “Our precision contoured 3D geometric surface provides anatomically zoned channels, self-adjusting support for different parts of the body.”

While this is technically a type of zoned support, in my view, it is the least effective version of zoned support.

Zoned coil units and/or larger dedicated zoned foam layers have performed better compared to this type of zoned support (which is typically created through a specialized machine that cuts the zonal patterns) based on my years of testing, data, and broader experience.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

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

Lastly, we should talk about the memory foam feel. This is fundamentally a memory foam mattress that creates a classic memory foam feel with lots of hug, contour, and a slower material recovery speed.

This is a more polarizing type of feel, with some sleepers loving it and some hating it. You’ll need to carefully consider whether you like a pronounced memory foam feel.

Those who like the memory foam feel will feel well supported by this support dynamic, while those who do not will likely find it too polarizing to feel comfortable and supportive. This isn’t a problem for Molecule specifically, but rather a problem with memory foam mattresses in general.

It’s simply a more polarizing material that not all people love. Based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences, I’m confident that most sleepers will find support on the Molecule Copperwell is excellent.

The Molecule CopperWell is a 12.00″ memory foam mattress that comes in a single firmness option—Medium-Firm. It has a simple design with a 3-layer foam construction and a thin cover. It is relatively light (under 70 lbs. for a queen mattress), and there are no carrying handles on the sides of the mattress.

Design Factor	Data
Type	Memory Foam
Thickness	12.00″
Cover Type	Thin
Weight	69 lbs.
Has Handles	No
Fiberglass-Free	Yes
Ships in a Box	Yes

There are four available collections from Molecule—Core, CopperWell, Reflex, and Engage, ranging from basic to high-end.

The Core is the most basic collection and the CopperWell is one tier above the Core. You can see our full review of the Molecule Core here.

The Molecule CopperWell is 12.00″ thick and contains a combination of different foam types. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

Layer Type	Thickness	Layer Specs
Memory Foam	2.00″	N/A
Poly Foam	2.00″	N/A
Support Foam	8.00″	N/A

The Molecule CopperWell has a thin cover that is soft and stretchy. Molecule says their cover uses a “Cool to the touch fabric…”

While the cover is thin (which helps with breathability), the overall cooling performance wasn’t great. This mattress scores below-average in our cooling tests.

I have tested a wide variety of mattresses, both with and without cooling covers. With a cooling score of 7/10, the Molecule scores among the bottom 12% for cooling performance.

The comfort layer is 4.00″ thick and made of two layers of foam. Directly below the cover is a 2.0″ memory foam (pale yellow foam) followed by a 2.0″ poly foam (blue foam).

These layers work together to provide comfort and transitional support into the support layer below.

The support layer is 8.00″ thick and made of an 8.0″ support foam (white foam). This is pretty typical for a standard all-foam mattress and is basically what I would expect from this layer.

Product Evolution

Molecule launched in April 2018.

The CopperWell collection appears to have launched around 2021 and there don’t seem to been any major design changes made to the mattress since its release.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Molecule CopperWell is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated memory foam mattresses for alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

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