Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus 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	Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus	Average
Overall Score	7.38	8.52
Price (Queen)	$550	$1,125 (Foam only)
Cooling – Score	7.0	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	1.60″	2.24″
Sinkage – Feel	Very Minimal	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	6.6	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	12.58 m/s²	8.77 m/s²
Response Time – Score	10	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.3 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	7.60″	8.74″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	9.1	8.7
Edge Support – Sitting	3.75″	3.92″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	7.7	8.2
Pressure Relief – Score	6.0	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	3.00″	4.29″
Mattress Thickness	12.50″	12.21″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.9	8.0
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	4 days	7 days
Company – Score	6.6	8.7
Trial	0 nights	176 nights
Warranty	20 years	41% have lifetime warranties, average of other 59% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus Different?

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus is a 12.50″ foam mattress with an overall performance level that is significantly below the average level, but also a price tag that is significantly below the average level—a savings of 52% compared to the average foam mattress.

Advantages

Aside from the low price, other advantages to the Novaform is a fast material response time, better edge support than average, and a faster off-gassing duration.

In our tests, the mattress fully off-gasses within 4 days, whereas 7 days is the average.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has very minimal sinkage levels and low levels of bounce. Both of these are considered neutral factors since different sleepers will have different opinions in these categories.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages to this mattress include worse cooling performance, higher levels of motion transfer, and a below-average sex score as well.

The extra firm feel, limited sinkage, and low bounce all contribute to its disappointing performance for sex.

In addition, the Novaform also has a poor pressure relief score. The mattress has only a 3.0″ comfort layer, 1.29″ thinner than the average comfort layer.

This mattress is only available at Costco, which can be a disadvantage for sleepers who do not have a membership. Memberships start at $60/year.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has fair cooling. During our tests, I felt a moderate level of heat retention around my body.

This mattress uses a simple all-foam design. It lacks any type of coil layer that could facilitate more breathability. In addition, the foam quality just isn’t great. The foam layers seem to struggle with heat due to the lack of airflow and inherent heat-retentive properties of poly foam.

This mattress lacks any type of design or material elements that could improve cooling (ex. Phase change materials, cooling cover, gel, etc.). As a result of these design choices, we see cooling performance leaves something to be desired.

• 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

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 91.8° F. This is 1.8° warmer than the average of 90.0° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 4.3 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 0.5 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 Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has very minimal sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 1.60″. This is 0.64″ less sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.24″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress creates only a slight level of body contouring hug. The Novaform is extremely firm and has a high degree of pushback. Furthermore, there is very little body contour and very little hug around the body.

Instead, the body floats more “on” the mattress as opposed to sinking down “in” the mattress. To be fair, this mattress is designed for back support. And for sleepers who really need lots of pushback and minimal sinking into the mattress, then this feel could be great.

That said, this feeling isn’t ideal for all sleepers and isn’t a miracle worker to fix all back support issues. Lastly, according to the product page, this mattress includes memory foam.

However, in our tests, none of the foams felt like memory foam. Instead, they feel like pretty typical poly foam layers.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has a high level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 12.58 m/s². This is 44% more motion transfer than the average of 8.75 m/s².

Higher motion transfer is typical of firmer mattresses and that’s exactly what we measured here. Despite the all-foam design, this mattress has very little sinkage.

As a result, there is an increased level of resiliency and rigidity to the mattress, which naturally returns more energy and motion transfer through the mattress.

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 0.2 seconds. Motion drops off notably thereafter, but we do still see a modest secondary energy spike from 0.4 to 0.6 seconds.

By 0.72 seconds, we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy, which is 0.16 seconds shorter than the average motion duration of 0.88 seconds.

While I was pleased to see a shorter-than-average motion duration, it’s not enough to overcome the significantly higher-than-average level of motion intensity. Overall, motion transfer just isn’t great on this mattress.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has an extremely fast material response. In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.21 seconds faster than the average of 0.41 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.3 seconds, which is 0.72 seconds faster than the average of 1.02 seconds. This is effectively an instant material recovery speed.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

This mattress benefits from the all poly foam construction, non-quilted cover, extremely firm feel, and very minimal sinkage.

This combination means that the foams simply don’t compress too deeply, which helps them to more quickly return to their original shape.

The faster material recovery speed ensures the mattress is easy to move around and you’ll never feel stuck in the foam layers.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has a low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 7.60″. This is 1.14″ less bounce than the average of 8.74″, based on all of our tests to date.

All foam mattresses typically create less bounce and that’s also what we measured here with the Novaform.

That said, this mattress is able to create a reasonable amount of bounce due to the inherent rigidity and resiliency of the foams resulting from the extra firm feel and minimal sinkage.

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

Typically, lower bounce has a positive impact on motion transfer. However, in this case, the extra firm feel and minimal sinkage simply outweigh the benefits of the lower bounce and all-foam design, resulting in more motion transfer than average.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has excellent sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support. In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.75″. This is 0.17″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 3.92″, 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 excellent in all sleeping positions. Notably, this mattress does not include any type of reinforced edge support foam. That said, it doesn’t seem to need it.

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

The extra firm feel and minimal sinkage are able to deliver robust support, both in the middle of the mattress and out at the edge. The supportive edge enables sitting and sleeping closer to the edge and extends the usable surface area of the mattress.

Overall, I’m pleased with this level of edge support and don’t expect it to be a major problem for most sleepers.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has fair sex performance. On the positive side, noise is minimal and edge support is excellent. We measured just 3.75” of sitting edge sinkage, which is better than average and helps to create a robust and usable edge of the mattress.

Unfortunately, strong edge support and minimal noise is where the good times end. Cooling earned a fair score, while pressure relief was mediocre.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	7.2	Moderate
Edge Support	20%	9.1	Excellent
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	6.0	Mediocre
Cooling	5%	7.0	Fair

In general, I did not find this to be a comfortable mattress to lie on. Last but not least, we have a bounce, which we measured at 7.60”.

This below average level of bounce simply makes it more strenuous and tiring to have sex on this mattress. Overall, the Novaform’s sex performance leaves much to be desired.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has a mediocre level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt notable pressure points on my body and in general, found the mattress to be uncomfortable.

The mattress is equipped with 3.0″ of comfort material, which is 1.29″ less comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.29″, based on all of our tests to date.

In all of our mattress tests, we make it a point to cut the mattress open to examine the material quality. Overall, I’m just not impressed with what I see.

These foams feel fairly basic and don’t feel good on the body or in-hand. This mattress is designed to improve support for the back and does so by creating an extra firm feel with minimal sinkage.

While that design intent can indeed create appropriate support for some with back pain, in my view, it is not ideal for all sleepers.

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.09	0.37

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.07	0.52

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.07	0.35

This mattress is simply incredibly firm and has very little give. It’s this feeling that creates a significant lack of pressure relief and comfort. The mattress has more of a floating “on” the mattress feel as opposed to sinking down “in” the mattress.

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 mediocre.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 4 days. This is 3.3 days shorter than the average smell duration of 7.3 days.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus does not come with any trial period; however, it is backed by a 20-year warranty. Shipping and returns are both free.

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

Costco mattresses are backed by a “100% Satisfaction Guarantee,” meaning you can return the mattress after any amount of time and for any reason. The only caveat is that the mattresses must be clean and free of any bed bugs. Dirty mattresses will not be accepted for return.

All that said, this is not the same as a trial period. Novaform does not provide a trial period separate from Costco, and in our chats with Costco customer service, they made it clear that Costco does not provide any trial period for their mattresses.

Additionally, 42% of mattresses offer lifetime warranties, a notable jump over the Novaform.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus is available in a single firmness, 9 out of 10, giving the mattress an extra firm feel.

Looking at all the mattresses that I’ve tested to date, this mattress is among the firmest models and will not be right for all sleepers.

Support on the Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus is good. During our tests, I felt well supported, but I also felt uncomfortable.

To create ideal support, a mattress must support the body, keeping the spine in a neutral position, while also creating sufficient pressure relief and comfort.

While the Novaform does provide sufficient support, its lack of comfort makes it hard to stay in the same sleeping position for an extended period of time.

Support Factor	Data
Comfort Layer	3.00″
Support Layer	9.50″
Firmness	Firm
Body Contour	Slight
Zoned Support	No
Reinforced Edge	No

The mattress is equipped with a 9.5″ support layer. This is 1.58″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.92″, based on all of our tests to date.

This mattress is available in a single firmness, which we rate at a 9 out of 10 on our firmness scale, giving the mattress an extra firm feel. This is among the firmest mattresses we’ve ever tested.

All of that extra firmness makes this a more polarizing mattress. Some sleepers may like it, but I fear that many will find it too firm.

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	No	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	No	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	No	Yes

To feel comfortable and supported by this mattress, you’ll need to absolutely love the extra firm feel and a very minimal sinkage depth. Lastly, this mattress uses zoned support via an extra firm layer of foam in the core of the mattress.

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 Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus to be good.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus is a 12.50″ foam mattress that comes in a single firmness option—Firm. The mattress has a basic foam design with a thin cover and no fancy bells and whistles.

Design Factor	Data
Type	Foam
Thickness	12.50″
Cover Type	Thin
Weight	73.7 lbs.
Has Handles	Yes
Fiberglass-Free	Yes
Ships in a Box	Yes

There are handles on the side for rotating the mattress and it also uses a reinforced fabric at the bottom half for durability.

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus is 12.50″ 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
Poly Foam	2.00″	Not Available
Poly Foam	1.00″	Not Available
Support Foam	9.50″	Not Available

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus has a thin cover, made from a blend of polyester and spandex. It is soft and stretchy, with a diagonal pattern stitched on the top, and a contrasting design.

The comfort layer is 3.00″ thick and made of two layers of foam. On top, there is a 2.0″ poly foam followed by a 1.0″ transitional poly foam. Together, this provides a 3.0″ comfort layer, which is thinner than average.

For reference, the average comfort layer is 4.29″ thick, 30% thicker than the Novaform comfort layer. Material thickness does not always align with better performance, but it usually helps.

The support layer is 9.50″ thick and made of a single piece of support foam. This layer is the foundational support of the mattress and gives the mattress its high degree of pushback.

Product Evolution

The Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus was launched in early 2025, and since its release, there have been no major changes made to the design of the mattress.

The addition of the Advanced Back Support Plus to the Costco lineup gives Novaform 9 unique collections available exclusively at Costco.

Below is a list of the full lineup:

• Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus (this review)
• Novaform ComfortGrande
• Novaform ComfortGrande Plus
• Novaform ComfortLuxe
• Novaform DreamAway
• Novaform Legacy Premier
• Novaform Serafina
• Novaform SoFresh Plus
• Novaform Platinum Luxury Hybrid

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated firm mattresses under $1000 for alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Novaform Advanced Back Support Plus mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.