Stearns & Foster Lux Estate 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	Stearns & Foster Lux Estate	Average
Overall Score	8.31	8.52
Price (Queen)	$2,999	$1,413.29 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.29″	2.17″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.9	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	7.45 m/s²	8.73 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.2	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	1.2 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	7.26″	9.23″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	9.2	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	3.50″	4.03″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	7.8	8.3
Pressure Relief – Score	8.0	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	6.0″	4.2″
Mattress Thickness	14.5″	12.1″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.6	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	5 days	7 days
Company – Score	5.2	8.6
Trial	90 nights	177 nights
Warranty	10 years	38% have lifetime warranties, average of other 62% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Stearns & Foster Lux Estate Different?

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is a 14.5″ hybrid mattress with an overall performance level that is slightly below average and a price tag that is significantly above average—over twice as much as the average hybrid mattress.

Advantages

Advantages to the Lux Estate include better cooling performance, lower levels of motion transfer, and faster material response time. Edge support is also better than average both for sitting and lying at or near the edge of the mattress.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has a moderate level of sinkage and a low level of bounce, with 21% less bounce than average.

Disadvantages

The sex score struggles a bit on this mattress, largely due to the lower bounce levels. Pressure relief was also worse than average despite having a 6.0″ comfort layer, 1.8″ thicker than the average.

Lastly, the company score takes a big hit for a shorter-than-average trial period (only 90 nights), a $175 return fee, and a shorter-than-average warranty (only 10 years). For a company with such a long history, I would have really liked to see more updated consumer-friendly policies in place.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has excellent cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body.

The mattress did a good job of releasing heat and keeping the surface of the mattress cooler. The mattress uses a mix of foam types, including poly foam, latex, and memory foam. However, the memory foam is limited to just 0.75” and is placed below the quilted cover.

• 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

On the not-so-good side, the mattress is also equipped with an unusually thick and rough-feeling cover. I expected this cover was going to have a more notable impact on cooling and breathability, however, it seemed to do better than expected.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 90.0° F. This is 0.2° more than the average of 89.8° F, based on all of our tests to date.

Memory foam tends to absorb more heat than other foam types, so limiting its use is certainly helping. In addition, the pocketed coil base is greatly beneficial, as it helps bring needed airflow into the mattress.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

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 excellent.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has moderate sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.29″. This is 0.12″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.17″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

While our pressure point test showed only a moderate sinkage depth, during our other tests I felt that my butt and midsection sank notably deeper into the mattress.

Despite the deeper sinkage, the mattress creates a balanced and even hug. The mattress uses a thick quilted cover with a deeper tufted design.

This particular design helps give the mattress a more traditional, coil-type feel, despite the fact that it uses memory foam, latex foam, and a fairly thick foam comfort layer. Even so, I would classify this as a hybrid mattress.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has a low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 7.45 m/s². This is 15% less motion transfer than the average of 8.74 m/s².

The Lux Estate uses a significantly thicker than average 6.0” comfort layer consisting of memory foam, poly foam, and latex. These material choices, and their thickness, in combination with the euro top cover, creates a below-average level of bounce.

That lower bounce is the greatest single factor helping to keep motion transfer held to a minimum. In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.15 seconds.

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

Motion declines to lower levels thereafter, but it’s not until 0.94 seconds that we return to near-zero levels of energy.

While I was pleased by the relatively low motion intensity, the motion duration is far from ideal. Mattresses with the lowest motion are able to disperse all energy within 0.3 to 0.5 seconds.

Suffice to say, taking nearly 1 second to reduce motion to zero isn’t great. Nevertheless, it’s hard to complain too much. The motion intensity was below average and I don’t expect motion will be a major issue for most sleepers.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is a mixed bag for material responsiveness, with an extremely fast mostly recovered response time and a moderate fully recovered response time.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.23 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 1.2 seconds, which is 0.22 seconds slower than the average of 0.98 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The mixed responsiveness for the Lux Estate is a reflection of the mix of foam types. The quilted cover, poly foam, latex foam, and spring unit all rebound and return to their original shapes effectively instantly.

However, the 0.75” memory foam layer takes several moments to fully recover to its shape. The Lux Estate uses a more traditional memory foam and more traditional memory foam simply has a slower material responsiveness.

When we consider the combination of material choices, it makes sense why we see a mostly recovered responsiveness at 0.2 seconds, but a full responsiveness taking 1.2 seconds.

At these speeds, it’s fast enough that it shouldn’t be problematic for most sleepers, but those who are sensitive to the feel and slower responsiveness of memory foam could find it less than ideal.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has a low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 7.26″. This is 1.98″ less bounce than the average of 9.24″, based on all of our tests to date.

The lower bounce is primarily attributed to the thicker-than-average comfort layer. At 6.0” thick, the Lux Estate has a considerable quantity of foam. In general, the thicker a foam comfort layer, the lower the bounce is going to be, and that’s exactly what we measured with the Lux Estate.

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

That lower bounce is greatly beneficial for helping to reduce motion transfer. However, it also has a negative impact on ease of movement and a significant negative impact on sex performance.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has excellent sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.50″. This is 0.53″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 4.03″, based on all of our tests to date. The mattress created ample support even with all of my weight sitting on a single spot.

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

Lying edge support was equally as good. 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 Lux Estate uses 2 rows of reinforced coils that run along the entire perimeter of the mattress. These coils, in combination with a thicker-than-average total height and medium-firm feel, create the right conditions to deliver excellent support for both sitting and lying.

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

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has fair sex performance. On the positive side, noise is minimal and both cooling and edge support are excellent.

With just 3.50” of sitting edge sinkage, the Stearns & Foster creates an incredibly robust edge which will extend the sexable surface area of the mattress.

In the middle we have pressure relief, which earned a good score, but also one that didn’t rise to the excellent level. Nevertheless, it should be good enough for most couples.

Finally, we have bounce, which had a disappointing showing with just 7.26” of total bounce height.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	7.0	Moderate
Edge Support	20%	9.4	Excellent
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	8.0	Good
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

This is considerably less bounce than average. Lower bounce makes sex more strenuous and difficult.

When we look at the complete picture of sex performance factors, we end up with a score that is notably worse than average. Suffice to say, sex on the Lux Estate leaves something to be desired.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has a good level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant pressure points on my body. Overall, I found the mattress comfortable.

The mattress is equipped with 6.0″ of comfort material, which is 1.82″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.18″, based on all of our tests to date.

On the positive side, I’m pleased with the total comfort layer thickness. At 6.0” of comfort material, the Lux Estate is considerably thicker than average. That said, I am not impressed with the quality of these foams.

The poly foam quilted with the cover looks and feels incredibly basic and low quality. The memory foam, poly foam within the core, and latex foam all feel notably better, but even so, none of these look like the foams in a $3,000 mattress.

Beyond foam quality, the mattress uses a more polarizing quilted cover design with a tufting pattern that’s quite deep.

This tufting pattern is more common on more traditional coil mattresses. This is neither good nor bad, but it is a more specific feel that some will really love and others really won’t.

All that said, while I am generally pleased with the pressure relief and comfort dynamic, I am also concerned about longevity. In my view, these foams just don’t look or feel like they are going to stand the test of time.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.13	0.60

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.08	0.58

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.09	0.72

While the mattress was comfortable on day one, I fear that it could develop sagging, body impressions, and comfort issues fairly quickly as those foams degrade with normal use.

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 good.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate had a strong smell upon the initial arrival. The mattress smelled for 5 days.

This is 1.5 days shorter than the average smell duration of 6.5 days.

Stearns & Foster mattresses come with a 90-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Shipping is free and returns are $175. Any return fee is not something we like to see, but especially one this high.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	6.0	90 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	5.0	$175
Trust	50%	4.0	Terrible
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 98+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 178 nights, 88 nights more than Stearns & Foster offers.

The average warranty is 13 years (3 years longer than this mattress). And this average excludes 38% of mattresses that offer lifetime warranties. So both the trial and warranty fall short of the average level. But by far, the most concerning part of these terms is the return fee.

At $175, this is the highest return fee we’ve seen (tied with Tempurpedic and Sealy mattresses.)

Comparing 311 mattresses tested to date, 82.6% of those mattresses offer free returns. Of the 54 cited mattresses that charge for returns, 46 mattresses had return fees of under $100.

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is available in four firmness options—Soft pillow top, medium pillow top, standard medium, and firm pillow top. We tested the Medium version and found the firmness to be 6 out of 10.

Based on the material properties and layer composition, I would estimate the following firmnesses for the other versions.

• Soft pillow top = 4 out of 10
• Medium pillow top = 6 out of 10
• Firm pillow top = 7 out of 10

Support on the Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is good. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with an 8.5″ support layer.

This is 0.6″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.9″, based on all of our tests to date.

The Lux Estate is available in multiple firmness options, which helps ensure there is a firmness and support dynamic that meets well with your specific needs and preferences. While I was generally pleased with the support performance, I’m not overly impressed with the pressure relief or material quality.

Mattresses that create the best support need to be both highly supportive, creating a neutral spinal alignment, but also highly comfortable. If the mattress isn’t comfortable you’re more likely to experience pressure points and other discomfort issues.

My fear with this mattress is one of durability and longevity. When I cut open the mattress to look at the specific foam layers I’m concerned by what I see. These foam layers just don’t look or feel tremendously high quality and they certainly don’t look like what I expect from a $3,000 mattress.

I’m concerned that these foams could break down relatively quickly, leading to comfort issues, which will then lead to support issues.

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

All that said, based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences I found the support performance to be good. Even so, it’s clear the performance doesn’t rise to the excellent or outstanding level.

Design

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is a 14.5″ hybrid mattress that comes in three firmness options—Soft, Medium-Firm, Slightly Firm.

Each of these versions are made in a pillowtop style, but there is also a fourth configuration, the standard medium that skips the pillowtop cover. As a reminder, this is the version that we tested.

Regardless of the firmness, the Lux Estate is 14.5″ thick and has a hybrid design, combining comfort foam and support coils.

Materials

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is 14.5″ thick and contains a combination of foam and coils. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

• 2.75” quilted cover
• 0.75 memory foam layer
• 2.0” poly foam
• 1”.0 latex foam
• 7.5″ coil unit
• 1.0” support foam

The Cover

The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate has a 2.75″ quilted cooling cover. This cover is designed for a luxurious, plush feel, without the feeling of heat retention or build-up.

The sides of the mattress are made with a reinforced fabric and there are handles at the foot for rotating or transporting the mattress.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is 6.0″ thick and made of memory foam, poly foam, and latex foam. The top 0.75″ memory foam layer gives the mattress a good degree of contour and pressure relief.

The 2” poly foam is the “meat” of the comfort layer and makes up the largest percentage of material. On the bottom, we see a 1” latex foam layer that provides transitional comfort and support before reaching the coil layer.

The Support Layer

The support layer is 8.5″ thick and made of a 7.5″ coil layer with individually-encased pocketed coils. Beneath the coils, there is a 1.0″ support foam base.

All things considered, this is a pretty typical material breakdown for the support layer of a high-profile hybrid mattress.

Product Evolution

Stearns & Foster has one of the longest histories of any brand we’ve tested, with origins that date back over 175 years. In 1933, Sealy merged with Stearns & Foster.

In 2009, the brand reworked their signature look to the mattress company we know today.

In 2016, the Lux Estate Hybrid was launched at the 2016 Las Vegas Furniture Market, along with the standard Estate, Lux Estate Hybrid Collections, and their Reserve Collection.

Since 2016, there have been no major changes to the product design.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Stearns & Foster Lux Estate mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.