The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab analysts start by reviewing the bed’s materials, specifications, added features and any noteworthy claims. We also vet the brands to check for common complaints and make sure they’re trustworthy. Sometimes mattress brands do a great job of marketing to get on your radar, but we’ve eliminated ones that have red flags for quality or customer service.
Next, product experts and consumer testers get hands-on with the mattresses for setting up and sleep testing. We ask for feedback after several weeks, then again after extended periods to see how the mattresses hold up over time. We also survey Good Housekeeping readers for additional feedback on the mattresses they own. In the past few years, we’ve surveyed more than 10,000 mattress owners and reviewed responses to more than 170,000 questions. Between expert evaluations, consumer testing and survey responses, here’s how we evaluate the mattresses:
Ordering & delivery: Users tell us whether the mattress was easy to order and if it arrived quickly. They also have the opportunity to share any potential problems that came up in this process and how those issues were resolved.
Set up: Whether DIY or delivery service, survey respondents let us know their opinion on the process and whether the mattress took proper shape in a reasonable amount of time.
Firmness level: Testers give the mattress a firmness rating. This is important because sometimes the brand’s claimed rating doesn’t match what users feel in real use.
Edge support: Reviewers sit on the edge of the bed and note whether it sinks under their weight or holds up to pressure.
Comfort and support: Our testers rate the mattresses for comfort and support, as well as how well they liked sleeping on it initially then over an extended period.
Temperature regulation: Regardless of cooling claims, we ask reviewers to rate how comfortable their body temperature remained while sleeping on the mattress.
Sleep quality: Final scores check whether the mattress affect sleep quality and whether or not users wake up feeling sore. Our respondents also give the mattress an overall satisfaction score and can compare the mattress to previous beds they’ve slept on.
Additional feedback: Reviewers let us know any specific likes, dislikes and additional comments they have about their experiences with the mattresses.
We continue to update this page as we receive new insights and new mattresses are introduced to the market and tested.
Which mattress material is best?
Memory foam and innerspring mattresses are the two most common types of mattresses on the market, but it’s really a matter of personal preference. You can find mattresses at every firmness level and price for either material.
Memory foam mattresses adapt to your body shape so it feels like your pressure points are being cradled.
Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam, but latex is made from rubber trees and may be used in organic mattresses.
Innerspring mattresses are usually firmer and have more bounce.
Hybrid mattresses use a combination of memory foam or latex and innersprings so you don’t have to pick just one.
How do I pick the best mattress?
Choosing your best mattress is a personal decision – i.e. there isn’t one model that’s best for everyone.
Sleep position: The goal is to keep your spine in neutral alignment, so factoring how you sleep can help narrow down your search.
Stomach sleepers need a firm mattress.
Side sleepers should opt for a softer surface to avoid stress on the pressure points like your shoulders, hips and knees.
Back sleepers and anyone who changes positions would fall somewhere in between at a medium firmness.
- Body type: Heavy people need a firmer bed for support, while lightweight frames are better suited with a softer mattress. Take into account both your weight and sleep position when deciding on the right firmness level.
- Back pain: If you suffer from lower or upper back pain, look for a pressure-relieving mattress with all foam or a hybrid of foam and coils. Medical experts also advise to look for medium firmness for a balance of cushioning and support.
- Temperature: Hot sleepers or anyone dealing with night sweats would benefit from a mattress with cooling properties. Memory foam tends to sleep hot, so look for a mattress with coils for airflow or cooling technology like copper particles, gel or phase change technology that’s added to the foam.
- Trial period: It’s difficult to know whether a mattress is a good fit without actually sleeping on it. Fortunately, most mattress companies offer an any-reason return period for at least 100 nights. Before you buy, check whether there are any hidden return fees and how you go about making the return to avoid any headaches later on.
- Certifications: It’s important to know the difference between the various emblems you see when you shop since they often get mistaken for meaning the mattress is natural or organic. Here’s a breakdown of the most common certifications:
CertiPUR-US: This certifies whether any foam in the mattress is made without certain harmful chemicals and has been tested for low VOC emissions.
OEKO-TEX: The Standard 100 by Oeko-TEX shows whether any fabric (like the outer cover) has been tested to ensure there are no unsafe levels of known harmful chemicals.
GOTS: The Global Organic Textile Standard shows that the mattress follows strict standards throughout the entire production process. This is the gold standard when it comes to picking out an organic mattress made of natural materials. Just be aware that this certification is commonly misused by brands who use just one organic component (e.g., an organic cotton outer cover), so you can always check the GOTS public database to be sure.
GOLS: The Global Organic Latex Standard is similar to GOTS, but it shows that any latex is certified organic. You’ll often see these two organic certifications used together.
How much should a good mattress cost?
Our evaluations show that a good mattress typically costs between $1,000-$2,000 for Queen-size (which is the most popular mattress size on the market). Unfortunately, we’ve seen mattress prices increase across brands due to supply chain issues in recent years. That being said, you can still find a good mattress for under $1,000 (and some even under $500), and there are plenty of picks over $2,000 that are certainly worth the splurge.
When is the best time to buy a mattress?
You’ll save the most money on your mattress purchase if you wait for a holiday weekend. Besides Labor Day includes President’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th or Thanksgiving (i.e. Black Friday and Cyber Monday). While individual mattress sites offer discount codes and coupons throughout the year, these specific holidays and events are when you’ll see the most competitive offers across brands.
How long should a mattress last?
While there’s no set expiration date on your bed, you should expect a good mattress to last at least 8-10 years. But instead of following a timeline, focus on warning signs that it’s time to replace your mattress — like lumps or indents — and whether your mattress is causing difficulty sleeping or pain upon waking.
If you need a quick fix or want to change the feel of your bed, a mattress topper is the easiest way to add a layer of comfort and support. It’s also more affordable than buying an entirely new mattress.
Also keep in mind: The better you take care of your mattress, the longer it’ll last. Make sure to use a mattress protector to protect it from things like allergens, dust, spills and wear and tear. And it’s a good idea to clean your mattress every few months to keep it fresh.
What does a mattress warranty cover?
Warranties are essentially guarantees against defective mattresses. The idea behind the mattress warranty is that if something is wrong due to the manufacturer — not the consumer — then you should be covered. That being said, it may be difficult to prove that damages like sagging, idents and other signs of wear are a defect. Rather than focus on warranties for the individual mattresses in this article, we highlight the trial periods so that you know whether you are covered by an any-reason return policy.
