Best Memory Foam Mattresses for 2024
Memory foam beds offer a mix of support and contouring pressure relief. Check out our top choices of memory foam mattresses to find the right one for you.
Our Experts
What to consider
Firmness
Sleeping position
Feel
Construction
Body type
Performance
Company policies
Our Picks
The materials in your mattress matter, especially foam, since it's responsible for the feel of your bed. Memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular with their denser, viscous feel. Various types and densities of memory foam are used in mattresses today, and the beds can come in all-foam and hybrid versions with coils. Whether you like the sinking, slow-responding sensation or prefer a slightly airier and lighter memory foam feel, it's out there, and we've tested it for you.
At CNET, our sleep experts have tested and reviewed hundreds of mattresses. Our list of the best memory foam mattresses includes a variety of categories, including the best for side sleepers, back or stomach sleepers, budget shoppers and more. Read on to find a top-rated mattress that meets your particular needs and sleeping preferences.
What's the best memory foam mattress overall?
A look at the Nectar Premier in our testing facility.
Though all the mattresses on this list are great options, the Nectar Premier mattress wins the title of best overall memory foam mattress. It's a comfortable memory foam mattress that feels similar to the popular Tempur-Pedic mattress but is much more affordable. It has a slow-rising feel that hugs your curves and joints and helps regulate temperature better than your typical memory foam bed.
On this list, you'll find the memory foam mattresses that stood out to me as the most comfortable, supportive, accommodating or affordable. Here are my picks for the best memory foam mattress options that you can purchase online.
Video: Best memory foam mattress of 2024
Watch CNET senior video producer and certified sleep science coach Owen Poole review the best memory foam mattresses.
Best memory foam mattresses of 2024
Nectar Premier
Best memory foam mattress overall
SCORE
- Affordable, especially compared to competitors
- Doesn't sleep extra hot like old memory foam beds
- Thicker than many all-foam mattresses
- Available in a hybrid model
- Not ideal for side sleepers who want a plush mattress
- The foam may not be supportive enough for people over 230 pounds
The Nectar Premier is 13 inches tall, has multiple foam layers and features what the brand calls an ActiveSupport stability base layer, which is 8 inches of sturdy and supportive foam. It also has a breathable cooling cover for extra heat prevention. I wouldn't say it sleeps cold because of these features, but they do make the Nectar Premier a more temperature-neutral memory foam bed.
This Nectar Premier memory foam mattress is available in sizes twin to Cal king, and retail prices range from $1,480 to $2,842 (although they are frequently on sale for significantly less). Read our full Nectar Premier mattress review for more.
Editor's note: In April 2022, the US Product Safety Commission issued a recall for Nectar Premier king- and queen-sized mattresses manufactured on Sept. 24 and 27, 2021, because they posed a fire hazard. To find out if your mattress has been recalled, look at the commission's recall notice and this page on the Nectar website.
Layla
Best flippable memory foam mattress
SCORE
- Two firmness options in one mattress
- Accommodates all sleeping positions
- Heavier sleepers may want to consider the Layla Hybrid for more support
Unlike the Nectar memory foam bed, the Layla mattress feels light and airy. It's a soft memory foam that doesn't provide resistance when you try to switch positions. It's slightly more bouncy than other memory foams, which slowly morph back to shape after a few seconds. It's one of those mattresses that might even appeal to avid memory foam haters because it doesn't give you that "stuck" feel that some people dislike.
The Layla memory foam mattress is available in sizes twin to Cal king, and retail prices range from $749 to $1,249 at full price. Read our full Layla mattress review for more.
Bear Original
Best affordable memory foam mattress
SCORE
- Option to add a special Celliant-infused cover
- Great for most sleeping positions, except petite side sleepers
- A good value
- Not ideal for people over 230 pounds
It's 10 inches thick and made with three different foam layers: cooling gel memory foam, Bear Dynamic foam and high-density support foam. Its slow-responding feel will appeal to memory foam lovers far and wide. You also have the option to top it with a pretty unusual cover. It's Celliant-infused, a unique fabric that absorbs and returns your body heat as infrared energy. You can't see it or feel the material, but it's supposed to improve blood circulation, which promotes muscle recovery and boosts energy levels.
Bear mattresses are available in sizes twin to split king, and retail prices range from $699 to $1,690. Read more in our Bear Original mattress review.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt
Best memory foam mattress for back or stomach sleepers
SCORE
- Dense memory foam feel
- Hybrid option
- Reputable brand
- Not everyone enjoys memory foam
- Only one firmness option
- Not as many features as other Tempur-Pedic beds
When I tested out the Tempur-Adapt, the bed felt very firm at first. Then, my body slowly started to sink into the mattress. While the foam did conform to my body, it was still very dense and supportive. I'd say it has a dense feel similar to the Nectar but a bit more responsive. Beds with firm mattress profiles tend to be a sleep haven for back and stomach sleepers because they keep the spine from sinking into the mattress.
The Tempur-Adapt is available in an all-foam and a hybrid version, and the prices range from $1,299 for a twin to $2,248 for a split king. Read our full Tempur-Adapt mattress review for more.
Saatva Loom & Leaf
Best luxury memory foam mattress
SCORE
- Has a special cooling feature to regulate your temperature
- Available in multiple firmness levels
- Accommodates all body types
- Too firm for side sleepers
- Luxury mattress pricing
The Loom & Leaf mattress has a dense memory foam feel with an extra fluff component thanks to the bed's Euro mattress topper. I tried the "Relaxed Firm" model, which is still on the medium-firm end of the scale, so I imagine the "Firm" model is a true firm mattress. The memory foam and plush Euro top do make the mattress pressure-relieving, but not enough that it's a good mattress for side sleepers. It was just a little too firm when I slept on my side.
Another highlight of the Loom & Leaf mattress is its special cooling tech. The top gel foam layer features a cooling gel mattress pad to help regulate temperature. It's supposedly made from the same material doctors use to treat burn victims in hospitals, so I think it's pretty legitimate.
The Loom & Leaf memory foam mattress is available in sizes twin to split Cal king, and its retail prices range from $1,595 to $3,390. Read more in our full Loom & Leaf mattress review.
Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid
Best memory foam mattress for hot sleepers
SCORE
- Unique micro-coil construction for extra support
- Comfortable cover that’s cool to the touch
- Great motion isolation
- Only available in one firmness level
- On the more expensive side
With the Lessa Legend Chill, you get the comfort of foam and increased airflow due to its structure and materials. We find this mattress to be around a medium or a five on the firmness scale. This firmness is ideal for combination and side sleepers. Back and stomach sleepers who don't need extra support should also find this mattress comfortable. Heavier sleepers may want to look into the Plus Hybrid mattress.
The price of the Leesa Legend Chill mattress ranges from $1,574 for a twin to $3,299 for a California King.
Nectar Luxe
Best memory foam mattress for side sleepers
SCORE
- All-foam design is ideal for supporting average to petite builds
- Great for those who prefer a classic, dense memory foam feel
- Zoned Support feature helps with proper spinal alignment
- Softer profile mainly works for side and combination sleepers
- Not for those who prefer neutral foam beds
- Not the best option for back and stomach sleeping
A majority of the beds on this best memory foam mattress list feel dense, and while the Nectar Luxe mattress is still in the same dense category, it is a little more airy than the Nectar Classic. Additionally, the Luxe is geared toward side sleepers, so it is softer, thanks to its top layer of therapeutic memory foam. The second layer is made of support foam, and the bottom layer is a thick, stable foam base. We found this bed to be around a medium-soft or around 3-4 on a scale of 10.
The Nectar Luxe might seem pricey, but like many other brands on this list, Nectar often runs promotions to cut the price in half.
DreamCloud Hybrid
Best hybrid memory foam mattress
SCORE
- Suitable for all body types
- Made with luxurious materials, like cashmere
- Good value
- Not soft enough for side sleepers
It's made with gel memory foam, but it doesn't have an overwhelming memory foam feel. This is something I appreciate because it's easier to switch positions on the mattress than it is with dense, slow-responding memory foam beds. The cover is also a bit unique, as it is made with a blend of cashmere that's ultrasoft and luxurious. I don't even own a cashmere sweater, let alone have it in my bed.
I know a few people who sleep on a DreamCloud, and they only have positive things to say about the bed and their sleep quality. It's a generally nice mattress at a surprisingly great price. A queen size retails for around $1,300, but the brand often has deals and sometimes throws in a few free accessories.
Other memory foam mattresses we've tested
There are hundreds of mattresses to choose from, but luckily, our CNET sleep editors have been around the bedding block. They have collectively tested over 100 beds, from the most popular to lesser-known models, and have the knowledge to help you pick the best fit for you. The mattresses above are great options, but there are a few more beds we've tested that could have easily made this list.
Lucid 10-Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress: Budget shoppers can look into the Lucid Gel Memory Foam mattress, a bed sold through Amazon with thousands of positive ratings from users. It's one of the most affordable bed-in-a-box beds I've ever tested, and it's still comfy enough to give you a good night's sleep. You have three firmness options to choose from and six heights.
Tempur-Cloud mattress: You've likely heard about this brand before, as Tempur-Pedic made its name in the mattress industry long before beds ever came to the internet. They offer several mattresses, from entry-level to luxury. They also have many cooling memory foam options. They're expensive beds, but you're paying for the trusted brand name and traditional memory foam feel that the brand is known for.
How we test memory foam mattresses
CNET editors choose the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Our team of bed experts tests each mattress that comes into our mattress warehouse and sleep lab. We test all sleeping positions: side, back, stomach and combination on each bed. We also test for motion isolation, edge support, temperature, comfort and more. As for firmness, our team has two ways of testing how firm a bed feels. First, we rate the perceived firmness and feel, converse with other teammates and compare the bed’s firmness to the other 300 we have tested. Then, we objectively measure a bed’s firmness with a proprietary machine dubbed the Mattress Smasher 9000. This device and corresponding software were developed in-house by our lab technicians. It presses into the middle of the mattress and scores each bed on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest and 1 being the softest.
Here's the data we learned testing the best memory foam mattresses with our Mattress Smasher 9000. Sorted from the softest beds to the firmest, here's how the mattresses scored on our firmness scale.
When testing, we sleep on beds, trying out all three different sleeping positions: side, back, stomach and combination. We also test for motion isolation, edge support, temperature, comfort and more. We have even cut open a few mattresses to see what the construction is like on the inside.
The best memory foam mattresses are comfortable to switch positions in, offer a pressure-relieving feel, isolate motion and are very accommodating for different sleeping positions. We also take durability into account, considering whether it will be long-lasting for every body type.
Find out more on how we test mattresses.
How to choose the best memory foam mattress
- Firmness: This should be a main consideration, regardless of the kind of mattress you're buying. Different firmness levels accommodate different sleeping positions. If you're a side sleeper, the best memory foam mattress will feel soft and plush. For stomach and back sleepers, the best memory foam bed is a more firm memory foam mattress.
- Feel: As I mentioned earlier in this roundup, not every memory foam mattress is built alike. Some memory foam beds feel light and airy, while others feel dense and slow to respond. If you're a combination sleeper, I recommend you go with a light memory foam so it's easy to switch positions. If you like to get really nestled and cozy while you sleep, you may like a dense memory foam mattress better.
- Temperature regulation: One complaint against memory foam is that it retains heat, making sleepers feel hot and uncomfortable while they sleep. Part of it is because of memory foam's dense cell structure and warm air getting trapped inside, as well as the fact that you sleep within the memory foam rather than on top. Look for memory foam with different temperature regulating techniques, such as infused gel, gel beads, infused copper, infused graphite, phase change materials and proprietary technology.
- Price: Memory foam ranges in price, from very cheap (there are cheap memory foam mattress options out there that cost as little as $200) to premium and top-tier (Tempur-Pedic mattresses can cost more than $2,000). That means almost anyone can find a memory foam mattress within their budget.
Types of memory foam
Not all memory foam materials are alike. Some are more airy while others are very dense. Some are infused with gel or copper for temperature regulation while others are more traditional.
Traditional: Traditional memory foam is found in older beds like the OG Tempur-Pedic mattresses from the 90s or very cheap memory foam. While it's great and provides pressure relief, it also gets hot because the dense foam traps your body heat inside. If you're a hot sleeper, this is something to consider.
Gel-infused: Don't worry, it's not literal gel you're sleeping on. Gel-infused memory foam often has little blue or green dots infiltrated throughout the foam to help regulate temperature. The gel draws heat away from you and more evenly disperses it throughout the bed for a cooling memory foam feel.
Copper-infused: Beds like the Layla mattress are infused with copper gel to work the same way regular gel-infused mattresses do. Copper is a conductor that can absorb heat from your body and distribute it away from your body.
Plant-based: There aren't many plant-based memory foam mattresses on the market. People like Amerisleep use plant-based materials as a substitute for petroleum and manufacture it using a zero-emissions process. This way, the memory foam is more environmentally friendly than most other memory or poly foams.
Proprietary: You will find a ton of different brands using a specific name for their memory foam, such as Puffy's Cloud-Air foam for example. This means the brand put a specific twist on the memory foam to make it more comfortable or more accommodating. The most common types of proprietary memory foams are open-celled for more airflow or gel-infused for cooling abilities.
Learn about why the type of foam in your mattress matters.
Who should buy a memory foam mattress?
The best qualities of memory foam are that it's pressure-relieving, stops movement across a mattress and offers a comforting hugging feel. People who will like memory foam beds the most include those who suffer from joint pain, back, side and combination sleepers, couples who share a bed and people who generally like a nestling mattress feel. Side sleepers may also love soft memory foam because of how well it cradles the shoulder and hip joints.
Who shouldn't buy a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam mattresses can sometimes turn people off for several reasons. You shouldn't get a memory foam mattress if you change positions often as the foam can provide some resistance as it's slow to bounce back to shape. It's also not ideal for hot sleepers. Memory foam is a dense material that traps heat more than other foam beds. Gel memory foam and other tech help it sleep cooler, but people who sleep warm may want to consider a latex foam mattress because they're so breathable.
Memory foam mattress FAQs
What is the best memory foam mattress?
There are many different memory foam mattresses on the market, but some of the best include Layla, Puffy, Loom & Leaf, Bear, Amerisleep, DreamCloud and Nectar.
How long do memory foam mattresses last?
If your memory foam mattress is only made out of foam, it will probably last you around seven years. If it's made with inner springs or coils in the bottom layer, it will last you around 10 years or more. Just make sure you're taking proper care of your mattress, such as rotating it every six months and keeping your bedding clean.
What is the best thickness for a memory foam mattress?
Nine to 10 inches is an ideal thickness for a memory foam mattress that offers ample support, but you can also go even thicker if you're looking for maximum durability and support. Thin memory foam mattresses are OK for the short-term, but may not last as long as you would hope. They tend to be more susceptible to wear and tear, sags and imprints.
Are memory foam mattresses good?
Memory foam mattresses are great at providing pressure relief to your joints because the material gently hugs your curves, but some memory foam beds can give you a sinking feeling that causes resistance when you try to switch positions. If you're a combination sleeper in the market for a memory foam bed, try to find one that's more light and airy so it responds to pressure more quickly.
What are the disadvantages of memory foam mattresses?
Memory foam mattresses trap heat, making hot sleepers even hotter. They also sometimes provide resistance to combination sleepers when they switch positions.