Saatva Classic Mattress 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	Saatva Classic	Average
Overall Score	9.48	8.51
Price (Queen)	$1,853	$910 (Coil only)
Cooling – Score	10	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.03″	2.25″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	7.4	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	10.68 m/s²	8.79 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.9	8.7
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.4 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	12.53″	8.71″
Bounce – Feel	Very High	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	10	8.7
Edge Support – Sitting	2.25″	3.85″
Edge Support – Lying	Outstanding	Good
Sex – Score	10	8.2
Pressure Relief – Score	10	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	7.00″	4.30″
Mattress Thickness	11.50″	12.27″
Off-Gassing – Score	10	8.0
Off-Gassing – Smell	None	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	0 days	7 days
Company – Score	8.8	8.8
Trial	365 nights	190 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	40% have lifetime warranties, average of other 60% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Saatva Classic Different?

The Saatva Classic is an 11.50″ coil mattress with an overall performance level that is significantly better than the average, with a price tag that is higher than average as well. The result is a high-performing mattress with a higher price.

Advantages

Specific advantages of the Saatva Classic include better cooling performance, faster material responsiveness, exceptional edge support, and fantastic pressure relief. Sex performance and off-gassing also earn a score of 10/10 and perform well above average.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has moderate sinkage and very high levels of bounce. Both bounce and sinkage are considered neutral factors since different sleepers can and will have different preferences in these areas.

The company score is also neutral, performing right at the average level (8.8). The trial and warranty are both longer than average, but Saatva charges a $99 return fee, which can be a disadvantage if you’re concerned about having to make a return.

Disadvantages

The biggest disadvantage of the Saatva Classic is higher levels of motion transfer, which can be an issue for some couples with one or more sensitive sleepers.

Saatva Plush Soft vs. Luxury Firm vs. Firm

We’ve tested all 3 firmness versions of Saatva Classic. You can see how the 3 versions perform relative to each other below:

Factor	Plush Soft	Luxury Firm	Firm
Firmness	4 out of 10	6 out of 10	8 out of 10
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	10.24 m/s²	10.68 m/s²	9.64 m/s²
Motion Transfer – Duration	1.15 sec.	1.76 sec.	1.76 sec.
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.3 sec.	0.2 sec.	0.2 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.8 sec.	0.4 sec.	0.3 sec.
Sinkage – Depth	2.36″	2.03″	1.57″
Bounce – Height	11.28″	12.53″	11.68″
Edge Support – Sitting	2.75”	2.25″	2.50″

The Saatva Classic has outstanding cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body.

This mattress is a more traditionally designed coil-on-coil mattress. As such, it uses very little foam, and the foams it does use are highly breathable.

The more limited use of foam is a significant reason as to how the mattress sleeps cool, breathes well, and doesn’t retain heat.

• 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

Having a comfort coil layer and a support coil layer means there just aren’t as many layers in which heat can be easily retained. Lastly, the mattress is equipped with an organic cotton cover, which further helps promote airflow and breathability through the cover.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 89.5° F. This is 0.7° cooler than the average of 90.2° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 3.5 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 1.3 degrees less cool 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 outstanding.

The Saatva Classic has moderate sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.03″. This is 0.22″ less sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.25″, based on all of our tests to date.

The mattress creates a balanced body contouring hug and a more relaxed feel in general. Saatva Classic is a coil-on-coil mattress, having a more traditional design and a classic mattress feel.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress uses two tall coil layers stacked atop each other. These coils provide both comfort and support for the body.

It also uses very little foam. The more limited foam layer, in combination with the coil units, creates less body contouring and a more relaxed, even feel on the mattress.

This is in contrast to memory foam and other types of foam, which will create a more dramatic and exacting hug around the body. Both of these feels are neither good nor bad, but they are a more specific feel. To feel comfortable on the Saatva Classic, you’ll want to prefer a more classic and traditional coil mattress feel.

The Saatva Classic has a moderate level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 10.68 m/s². This is 21% more motion transfer than the average of 8.80 m/s².

This mattress has a more traditional coil-on-coil design and less foam. The more limited use of foam means there is simply more bounce and more motion transfer.

Fortunately, the coil-on-coil design and high-performance coil units do a nice job at mitigating much of the motion transfer. Even so, the fundamental coil mattress type means this mattress creates more motion transfer than average.

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 0.25 seconds.

Motion declines notably thereafter, but we do still see a notable secondary energy spike from 0.6 to 0.8 seconds. By 1.76 seconds, we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy, which is 0.87 seconds longer than the average motion duration of 0.89 seconds.

While motion intensity was kept to a reasonable level, motion duration was considerably more than average. The longer motion duration is a product of the coil mattress design.

Unfortunately, longer motion duration simply comes hand-in-hand with coil mattresses. This isn’t a problem with Saatva specifically, but rather most coil mattresses.

The Saatva Classic has an extremely fast mostly recovered response time and a very fast fully recovered response time.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.22 seconds faster 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 0.4 seconds, which is 0.62 seconds faster than the average of 1.02 seconds.

This is nearly as fast as it gets, with the fastest mattresses we’ve tested mostly recovering in 0.2 seconds and fully recovering in 0.3 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The fast material recovery speed ensures the mattress is easy to move around on and you’ll never feel “stuck” in layers of slow recovery foam.

The Saatva Classic has a very high level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 12.53″. This is 3.84″ more bounce than the average of 8.69″, based on all of our tests to date.

This mattress has significantly more bounce than average. That higher level of bounce is a product of the coil mattress type, coil-on-coil design, and more limited use of foam.

Having more coils simply means we have a mattress with more resiliency. In addition, having less foam means we have less material getting in the way and suppressing that springy resiliency.

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

The higher bounce helps make this mattress incredibly easy to move around on, gives it a more traditional mattress feel, and greatly improves sex performance.

That said, the higher bounce is also a notable reason that motion transfer is worse than average. As such, there are pros and cons to consider.

The Saatva Classic has outstanding sitting edge support and outstanding lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 2.25″. This is 1.61″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 3.86″, 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 outstanding in all sleeping positions.

This mattress is equipped with a reinforced support foam that runs along the entire perimeter of the mattress. This reinforcing foam, in combination with the high-quality materials throughout the mattress, has a significant positive impact on overall edge support performance.

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

Even while lying on the absolute edge of the mattress, I felt fully supported. The mattress maintains its shape, and the side does not collapse or buckle under the weight of the body.

Overall, I’m pleased with this level of edge support and expect it will be more than sufficient for most sleepers.

The Saatva Classic has outstanding sex performance. Normally, we discuss both pros and cons in this section; however, the Saatva Classic has no cons when it comes to sex. This mattress is the benchmark for truly exceptional sex performance.

First up, we have minimal noise with outstanding pressure relief and cooling. It’s both a comfortable and quiet mattress.

In addition, edge support is incredibly robust with just 2.25” of sitting edge sinkage. A more robust edge extends the usable surface area of the mattress, which is beneficial for amorous activities.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	10	Extremely High
Edge Support	20%	10	Outstanding
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	10	Outstanding
Cooling	5%	10	Outstanding

Last but not least, we have a bounce, which we measured at 12.53”. This is considerably more bounce than average. When it comes to sex, more bounce is almost always better.

The higher bounce makes sex easier, less tiring, less strenuous, and more fun. Overall, sex performance is simply fantastic.

The Saatva Classic has an outstanding level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant pressure points on my body.

The mattress does a fantastic job at evenly distributing body weight and creating ample comfort for sleepers.

The mattress is equipped with 7.0″ of comfort material, which is 2.68″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.32″, based on all of our tests to date.

The comfort material is a mix of pillow top, poly foam, and contouring coils. This mattress uses a more traditional coil-on-coil design. One layer of coils is dedicated to support, while the other coil unit provides comfort and creates a gentle and relaxed contouring for the body.

In my view, this comfort dynamic is ideal for sleepers who prefer a more traditional coil mattress design and don’t like the way more modern mattresses dramatically hug the body.

In our objective pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.56. This is well within the 1.0 PSI threshold that I ideally want to see.

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.10	0.39

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.07	0.56

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.07	0.27

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.

The Saatva Classic had no smell upon initial arrival. The mattress smelled for 0 days. This is 7.3 days shorter than the average smell duration of 7.3 days. The Saatva Classic ships uncompressed via full-service delivery.

Mattresses that ship uncompressed usually have less off-gassing / smell, as the mattress has ample time to get rid of any manufacturing odors by the time it arrives at your home.

Saatva mattresses come with a 365-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. Shipping is free. Returns are $99.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Returns	40%	7.0	$99
Trial Period	30%	10	365 nights
Warranty	20%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	10%	10	$0
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 114+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 183 nights. With this data, we can see that Saatva offers an additional 182 nights more than average. If you’re not sure if you will like the mattress, this extended trial period can be an attractive perk.

But the other side of the coin is the $99 return fee. If the mattress ends up not being the right fit, this can be a sour point for many sleepers.

The Saatva Classic is available in 3 different firmness options—Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. It is also available in two different height options (11.5″ and 14.5″), with the extra height being added to the base coil unit and not the comfort layer.

Plush Soft Version

In our tests of the Plush Soft version I found it to have a firmness of 4 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm. This gives it a notably soft feel.

Luxury Firm Version

The Luxury Firm version is the primary firmness version we used for our complete set of mattress tests (along with the 11.5” height). It has a medium-firm feel that comes in at a 6 out of 10.

Firm Version

Lastly, we also tested the Firm version, and found it has a firm feel, 8 out of 10 on our firmness scale.

Support on the Saatva Classic is outstanding. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions.

The mattress is equipped with a 4.5″ support layer. This is 3.42″ thinner than the average support layer thickness of 7.92″, based on all of our tests to date. While the support is thinner, it’s in part helped by another layer of coils in the middle of the mattress.

That coil unit in the core of the mattress provides comfort, contour, and transitional support.

Support Factor	Data
Comfort Layer	7.00″
Support Layer	4.50″
Firmness	Soft, Medium-Firm, and Firm
Body Contour	Balanced
Zoned Support	Yes
Reinforced Edge	Yes

All that to say, these coil units are able to work together to deliver outstanding support.

In all mattress tests, we make a point to cut the mattress open to examine the material quality. In doing so, I’m pleased with what we saw and measured. The foams and coils feel high quality, both on the body and in-hand.

The foam densities and coil gauges that Saatva provided to us matched or were reasonably close to the measurements we recorded with our digital caliper and foam densimeter.

Moving on, this mattress is available in 3 firmness levels—plush soft, luxury firm, and firm. We have personally tested all three firmness levels available. In our tests of the luxury firm version, this mattress has a firmness of 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale, where 10 is the most firm.

This luxury firm version is ideal for all sleeping positions and the vast majority of sleepers. If you’re lighter weight, an exclusive side sleeper, and / or just love an extra plush feel, then the plush soft could work.

If you’re heavier-weighted, an exclusive back or stomach sleeper, and / or just love a firm feel, the firm version could work. That said, most sleepers will be best served by the luxury firm version.

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

Plush Soft Version

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

Luxury Firm Version

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

Firm Version

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

In addition, this mattress is equipped with zoned support via an extra supportive foam in the lumbar region just beneath the pillow top. Zoned support helps provide better support and reduce sagging where you sleep.

Notably, the coils are not zoned. Ideally, I prefer to see zoned coil units; that said, it’s better to see a dedicated zoned foam layer than no zoned support at all. There are 884 coils in the top coil unit and 416 in the bottom coil unit.

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 Saatva Classic to be outstanding.

The Saatva Classic is an 11.50″ coil mattress that comes in three firmness options—Plush Soft, Luxury Firm (Medium-Firm), and Firm.

With such a high overall performance level, the Saatva Classic packs a strong value for sleepers looking for a more traditional feel.

Design Factor	Data
Type	Coil
Thickness	11.50″
Cover Type	Pillow Top
Weight	96 lbs.
Has Handles	No
Fiberglass-Free	Yes
Ships in a Box	No

It comes in two thickness options—11.5″ or 14.5″ thick. We tested the 11.5″ version, which is a bit more low profile, but does not lack support or comfort material.

Both versions come with a pillow top cover and are fiberglass-free. There are no carrying handles, but the mattress is relatively light (under 100 lbs for a queen, lighter than most foam or hybrid models), and is set up by their full-service delivery team (they set up the mattress in any room and remove the old mattress).

The Saatva Classic is 11.50″ thick and contains mostly coils with a small amount of foam. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

Layer Type	Thickness	Manufacturer’s Specs	Tested Specs
Pillow Top	2.00″	2.5 PCF (Center), 1.5-1.8 PCF (Head/Foot)	1.72 PCF
Poly Foam	1.00″	Not Available	1.58 PCF
Pocketed Coils	4.00″	14.5 Gauge	15 Gauge
Coil Unit	3.75″	13 Gauge	13 Gauge
Support Foam	0.75″	Not Available	1.52 PCF

The Saatva Classic has a 2.0″ pillow top cover. It is soft to the touch and the exterior fabric is organic cotton. The exterior fabric is treated with an antimicrobial treatment to help resist bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Inside, it contains quilted foam which is 2.5 PCF at the center of the mattress and 1.5-1.8 PCF at the head / foot of the mattress.

Saatva states that the mattress is fiberglass-free and instead uses a natural, plant-based thistle pulp as the flame barrier.

The comfort layer is 7.00″ thick and made of a 1.0″ poly foam followed by a layer of pocketed coils.

Directly below the foam is a 4.0″ pocketed coil layer. This layer is made up of 14.5-gauge coils that are each individually encased in a thin fabric, which allows each coil to move independently of the surrounding coils.

The queen-size mattress uses 884 coils for more even support and pressure relief across the entire mattress.

The support layer is 4.50″ thick and includes both coils and support foam.

Directly below the pocketed coils, there is a 3.5″ coil stack, made up of 13-gauge steel coils, that provides a stable foundation for deep pressure relief and support.

On the queen-size mattress, there are only 416 of these coils. Not only do these coils use thicker steel than the pocketed coils, but they’re also about double the diameter.

At the base of the mattress, below the coils, there is a 0.75″ support foam, which is the final support layer in this mattress.

Reinforced Edges

The edges are wrapped in a high-density foam that helps to firm up the sides and provide improved edge support. This is the same foam regardless of which firmness level you select.

Reinforced edges also help to provide support when getting in or out of bed as well.

Product Evolution

Since the Saatva Classic was first launched in 2010, there have been minimal changes made to the design.

Between 2015 – 2017, Saatva increased language around the organic cotton cover, a feature that likely did not exist prior to this date.

In 2016, Saatva updated the cover. However, these were merely aesthetic changes. Design, materials, and overall functional performance have remained unchanged.

Between 2018 – 2020, small updates were made to the lumbar zone support system described as lumbar wire and memory foam support (not included in the original design).

Between 2020 and 2021, Saatva increased promotion around its natural flame retardant, recycled steel coils, CertiPUR foam, and organic cotton, framing the mattress in a more natural light.

Between 2024 – 2025, there is third-party evidence of a few minor internal coil revisions, possibly marking a shift in supplier or minor construction variation.

Other Mattresses to Consider

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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