Saatva Solaire 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.

This mattress is adjustable meaning that it covers a wide range of firmnesses. For the sake of consistency, all tests were done at a firmness of 30, which is a medium-firm feel, 6 out of 10.

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

Factor	Saatva Solaire	Average
Overall Score	9.32	8.53
Price (Queen)	$4,099	$2,480 (Adjustable only)
Cooling – Score	10	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.93″	2.16″
Sinkage – Feel	Extremely Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.9	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	7.36 m/s²	8.74 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.0	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.3 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	1.0 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	5.23″	9.26″
Bounce – Feel	Very Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	9.5	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	3.00″	4.04″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	7.2	8.3
Pressure Relief – Score	10	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	6.5″	4.2″
Mattress Thickness	13″	12.1″
Off-Gassing – Score	9.4	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	2 days	6 days
Company – Score	9.4	8.6
Trial	365 nights	178 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Saatva Solaire Different?

The Saatva Solaire is an adjustable mattress with an overall performance that is significantly above average and a price tag that is also above average. The result is a high-performing, luxury adjustable mattress.

Advantages

Specific advantages of this mattress include adjustable firmness (via remote control), exceptional cooling performance, lower levels of motion transfer, and faster material response time. The Solaire also has great edge support when sitting or lying.

Pressure relief is impressive as well, with a 6.5″ comfort layer, 2.3″ thicker than the average comfort layer. Overall, the Solaire is a luxurious adjustable mattress with impressive scores across the board.

Neutral Factors

When set to a medium-firm feel (6 out of 10), firmness of 30, the Solaire has extremely deep sinkage and very low levels of bounce. Increasing the firmness can help limit some of the sinkage, but it still has deeper sinkage levels, even at the firmest rating.

Disadvantages

The Solaire has a sex score that isn’t great, largely due to the low levels of bounce. Bounce is critical for active sex performance so without that, couples may be disappointed in this area.

The only other real disadvantage may be the price. This mattress costs $4,099 for a queen, which is 65% more expensive than the average adjustable mattress we’ve tested.

It has a 365-night trial period, but if the mattress ends up not working out, Saatva will charge a $99 return fee. This is only 2.4% of the total purchase price (excluding tax), but could be annoying to some sleepers.

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

To the contrary, the mattress remained cool throughout our testing. The mattress uses an impressive 6.5” of comfort foam, being a blend of poly foam, latex foam, and memory foam.

The topmost 4.0” is the quilted euro top cover and a 1.0” latex layer. These foam types do a great job when it comes to resisting heat retention, especially when compared to the denser memory foam, which is positioned further into the core of 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

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 88.8° F. This is 1.0° less than the average of 89.8° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress the temperature declined by 5.2° from minutes 0 to 1, which is 0.4° cooler than the average of 4.8°.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

While this isn’t substantially better than the average, when we consider the starting point for the max temperature was also a full degree cooler, it becomes a seriously impressive cooling metric in context.

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 Solaire has extremely deep sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.93″. This is 0.77″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.16″, based on all of our tests to date.

As a reminder, this test was conducted at a firmness level of 30 (the Solaire goes from 0 to 50). The mattress creates a balanced body contouring hug. While the mattress does use a 2.0” memory foam layer within the core, the topmost layer is a 3.0” euro top followed by a 1.0” latex.

The level of sinkage is documented in the images below. In our sinnkage test, we tested at multiple firmness ratings.

The combination of Euro top and latex restrained the hug so sleepers don’t feel overly enveloped, hugged, or entrapped by the mattress. Overall, the mattress creates an incredibly balanced and even feel.

Even at higher firmness levels, there is still a notable hug and outstanding pressure relief.

The Saatva Solaire has a low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 7.36 m/s². This is 16% less motion transfer than the average of 8.74 m/s².

The Solaire benefits from two major material design choices. First, it’s equipped with a thick 6.5” foam comfort layer. All of this foam greatly helps to reduce bounce, while also reducing motion transfer across the mattress.

Second, the support layer on each side is a separate inflatable air bladder. Having a physical separation between each side of the mattress ensures motion can’t easily migrate from side to side.

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 0.21 seconds. Motion drops notably thereafter and by 0.50 seconds we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy.

Both the motion duration and motion intensity are kept to below-average levels. In my view, I expect most sleepers will find motion transfer at these levels to be low and a non-issue.

The Saatva Solaire is a mixed bag for material responsiveness, with a very fast mostly recovered response time and a moderate fully recovered response time.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.3 seconds, which is 0.13 seconds faster than the average of 0.43 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 1.0 seconds, which is 0.02 seconds slower than the average of 0.98 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The top 4.0 inches of comfort material on the mattress are made from poly from and latex. Those material types are able to rebound back to their original shape quickly.

However, the extremely deep sinkage, combined with the memory foam layer in the core of the mattress, means that a full material recovery takes a moment or two more to fully return to its original shape.

Even so, at 1.0 seconds for a full material recovery isn’t excessively long by any stretch. While the responsiveness could be faster, it’s not bad and I don’t expect this will be an issue for most sleepers.

The Saatva Solaire has a very low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 5.23″. This is 4.03″ less bounce than the average of 9.26″, based on all of our tests to date.

The substantial 6.5” comfort foam layer absorbs much of the bounce. In addition, the mattress has an extremely deep level of sinkage. This extra sinkage greatly reduces bounce by dispersing energy.

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

The lower bounce is a significant reason for the lower motion transfer. However, it’s also the reason sex performance is quite disappointing.

The lower bounce, combined with the extremely deep level of sinkage, will also make it more difficult to move around on this mattress.

The Saatva Solaire has outstanding sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.00″. This is 1.04″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 4.04″, based on all of our tests to date.

Even while sitting directly on the edge of the mattress I felt fully supported and there was no collapse of materials.

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

Lying edge support was equally as impressive. While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was excellent in all sleeping positions.

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

The Solaire is equipped with a substantial edge support foam. The edge support foam wraps the entire perimeter of the mattress, in part serving to contain and provide support for the adjustable air bladder.

However, it also serves to provide ample support for both lying and sitting edge support.

The combination of quality adjustable support, 6.5” thick comfort layer, and robust edge support encasement foam creates the right material conditions to deliver excellent edge support.

The Saatva Solaire has a fair sex performance. The Solaire is a bit unique in its performance breakdown. On the positive side, noise is minimal, and edge support, pressure relief, and cooling all earned perfect 10 out of 10 scores.

This is an exceedingly rare accomplishment in our performance tests.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	5.7	Very Low
Edge Support	20%	10	Outstanding
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	10	Outstanding
Cooling	5%	10	Outstanding

That said, the Solaire also has a very low level of bounce. At just 5.23”, it’s well below the average of 9.26” of bounce.

That lower level of bounce is a significant detractor for sex performance and will absolutely make amorous activities more strenuous, tiring, and difficult compared to mattresses that have more bounce.

The Saatva Solaire has an outstanding level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt zero pressure points during our tests.

On the contrary, the mattress is exceedingly comfortable in all sleeping positions.

The adjustable firmness allows you to get the precise level of pushback, sinkage, and firmness that works best for your body, which enables outstanding pressure relief.

The mattress is equipped with 6.5″ of comfort material, including poly foam, latex foam, and memory foam.

The Saatva Solaire has 2.34″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.16″, based on all of our tests to date. That extra thick comfort layer, much like the adjustable firmness, has a significant positive impact on the total pressure relief performance.

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.75. A PSI of 2.0 is a high pressure point and the Solaire was nowhere near that. The average PSI on all sleeping positions was considerably better than the average average PSI.

When I consider our objective pressure maps, 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	0.15	0.73

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.08	0.44

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.09	0.75

The Saatva Solaire had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 2 days.

This is 4.3 days less than the average smell duration of 6.3 days. 

Saatva offers a 365-night trial period, which is over 2X the length of the average trial (179-night average). It also has a lifetime warranty, which helps to provide support for all the nights that own the mattress. For reference, only 1 in 4 mattresses offer lifetime warranties. Outside of this group, the average warranty is only 13 years.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	10	365 nights
Warranty	10%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	7.0	$99
Trust	50%	10	Outstanding
Country of Origin	0%		USA

The one disadvantage of Saatva company terms is their return policy. If at any point during the 365-night trial, you decide that the mattress is not the right pick for you, you will have to pay a $99 return fee.

Now because of the nature of Saatva mattresses, this is a pretty small percentage of the total purchase price (only 2%, without tax), but still may be a deal-breaker for some sleepers. The return fee will be subtracted from the refund given.

The Saatva Solaire has an adjustable firmness that allows sleepers to change the feel of the mattress with the touch of a button. All settings are controlled via remote control, which makes the adjustability quick and easy.

Using the remote, sleepers can adjust the firmness of the entire mattress or a single side (left or right).

When you click a button to change the firmness, an air bladder in the core of the mattress expands or contracts. When air is added to the mattress, it creates a firmer feel. As air is removed from the mattress, it creates a softer feel.

There are five levels of firmness, rating from 0 to 50. A 0 is the softest feel that the Solaire provides and it rates at a 4 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm. At its maximum, the Solaire can go up to 50. At this level, the mattress has a firm feel, rating 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

Saatva Firmness	Mattress Feel
0	Soft (4 out of 10)
5	Soft (4.5 out of 10)
10	Medium (4.5 – 5 out of 10)
15	Medium (5 out of 10)
20	Medium (5.5 out of 10)
25	Medium (5.5 – 6 out of 10)
30	Medium-Firm (6 out of 10)
35	Medium-Firm (6 out of 10)
40	Slightly Firm (7 out of 10)
45	Slightly Firm (7.5 out of 10)
50	Firm (8 out of 10)

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

The mattress is equipped with a 6.5″ support layer. This is 1.37″ thinner than the average support layer thickness of 7.87″, based on all of our tests to date. While the support layer is thicker, it is of course a more specialized support material, being an adjustable air bladder.

As a result, it doesn’t need to be as thick a coil or foam support layer to provide sufficient support. The adjustability of the air support layer is what allows the Solaire to provide such impressive support by quickly creating the right pushback, sinkage, and firmness levels that each sleeper needs.

Equally importantly, the mattress also has a 6.5″ comfort layer. That thicker-than-average comfort layer ensures there is both sufficient pressure relief alongside outstanding support.

Mattresses that provide both great pressure relief and great support allow sleepers to find more consistent restorative rest.

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 Saatva Solaire is outstanding.

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

Design

The Saatva Solaire is a 13″ adjustable mattress that ranges in firmness from soft to firm and every interval in between. It’s a luxury option that has a price tag 65% more than the average adjustable mattress. But you’re also getting incredible performance.

Materials

The 13″ mattress thickness includes a wide variety of materials including comfort foams, support foams, and an inflatable air pad. From top to bottom, the layers include:

• 3.0” euro pillow top cover
• 1.0” latex
• 2.0” gel memory foam
• 0.5” poly foam / moisture barrier
• 5.0” air pad
• 1.5” support foam

The Cover

The cover of the Saatva Solaire is made of organic cotton and is quilted with an organic wave pattern. It includes an antimicrobial treatment that helps to prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Being a Euro cover, the Solaire’s cover thickness is an ultra-thick 3.0″ design.

The Comfort Layer

Beneath the cover is a 1.0″ latex foam followed by a 2.0″ gel memory foam (blue foam shown below). These two foams have characteristically different feels, but combining the two gives the mattress a balanced and even feel.

Below the memory foam and latex foam, we see a 0.5″ poly foam layer with a waterproof moisture-barrier backing. This helps provide the right material for the support layer below.

The Support Layer

The support later is a 5.0″ thick air pad that inflates / deflates, allowing the firmness to be quickly adjusted to a user’s preference.

Below the air pad is a 1.5″ high-density support foam. The job of this foam is to provide a supportive base for the Solaire.

A perimeter foam also wraps around the entire perimeter of the mattress. This foam falls in line with the air pad and improved edge support for sitting or lying.

Product Evolution

The Saatva Solaire was originally launched in 2020 as the brand’s first adjustable mattress. Since its release, there have been no major design or material changes made to the mattress.

When it was first released, the mattress was available in two styles—Standard or Upper-Flex. These two options are consistent with Saatva’s present-day offerings. The Standard option is available in Twin Xl, Full, Queen, King, and Cal. King.

Or you can opt for the Upper-Flex style, which offers a split top and dual air pads. This allows each side of the mattress to adjust firmness independently, instead of having to adjust the entire mattress. This type is available in Queen or King.

For a split down the entire length of the mattress, you can opt for a Split King, or Split Cal. King.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Saatva Solaire is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated 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 Saatva Solaire mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.