Top-Rated Memory Foam Mattresses: Expert Picks for Gel, Organic, and Cooling Varieties
Updated: May 31, 2024
We called in the experts and even tested some of the best memory foam mattresses on the market. Our picks include a perfect fit for every sleep style and budget—and they all ship right to your door.
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Choosing the best mattresses for your sleep style and budget doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In fact, it’s easier than ever thanks to direct shipping. The best memory foam mattresses can cradle and frame your spine better than other types of mattresses and are offered by reputable bed-in-a-box retailers; some brands even help with setup and provide nontoxic options. There are also a plethora of memory foam mattress options available, from organic mattresses to hybrid mattresses. If you’re looking for a complete upgrade, these are our favorite Amazon bedding picks.
“The best memory foam mattresses mold to the shape of your body for ultimate support,” explains Lauri Leadley, president and clinical sleep educator of Valley Sleep Center. “The best memory foam mattress options are especially great for those who have physical ailments. They are also best for those who prefer a firm mattress.” Memory foam can make the best side-sleeper mattress or back pain-relieving mattress.
Determining just the right level of firmness for your body is one of the biggest considerations when you’re figuring out how to buy a mattress you’ll love for years to come. You’ll also want to consider budget, thickness and materials. Not all memory foam mattresses are created equal—some boast extraordinarily hard-to-source foam ingredients and covers made of organic fibers.
And to make sure your sleep is better than ever in all ways, check out our lists of the best twin mattresses, best mattress toppers, pillows, down comforters, weighted blankets and electric blankets.
Best overall memory foam mattress
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress
Pros:
- Lifetime warranty
- 365-night sleep trial
- Free white glove delivery service
- Modern design touches
- Layered foam that draws heat away from the body
- Ideal for both side and back sleepers
- One of the broadest size selections, including hard-to-find sizes like twin XL and California king
- Congress of Chiropractic State Association Seal of Approval
Cons:
- Pricier than some other models on the market
We chose the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress as our overall best pick because it offers the ideal balance of high-end luxury touches and affordability. For starters, we love that it comes with an impressive lifetime warranty, a major commitment to ensuring the quality of your sleep for years to come. It also offers a 365-night in-home sleep trial, so it’s relatively risk-free to see if it’s the best memory foam mattress for you.
Saatva mattresses’ supportive foam layers offer body contouring and ease of movement. Triple-cooling technology draws away and disperses body heat to keep you comfortable without tossing or turning. The medium-firm density was designed with side sleepers in mind, but this memory foam mattress also works nicely for combination and back sleepers, as well as couples who tend to sleep differently.
Saatva also offers a white glove delivery service that includes hauling away your old mattress. Saving all that hassle alone is nearly priceless, and makes this modestly-priced memory foam piece feel like a world above other comparable models. Speaking of saving all that hassle, this mattress lifter is a must-have.
Best value memory foam mattress
Brooklyn Bedding Dreamfoam
Pros:
- 10-year warranty
- 120-night in-home sleep trial
- Available in 6-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-inch models
- Breathable open-cell foam technology
- Stain-resistant casing
- Thousands of positive customer reviews
Cons:
- The thicker mattresses lose firmness, and are closer to medium-firm support
- 10-inch and thinner models offer firm support
- No in-home setup or old mattress removal option
Dollar for dollar, the Brooklyn Dreamfoam Mattress is one of the best values on the market. It offers many perks of more expensive mattresses, like an extended in-home sleep trial and free shipping and returns. The fan-favorite Dreamfoam also boasts an environmentally-friendly Nano Stain Terminator finish that guards against splashes, spills and stains.
This mattress uses varying memory foam layers and a swirl-style foam design for responsive cushioning. Cooling technology that works with your body’s own weight and sleep style, so you’ll always get a comfortable night’s rest. The foam’s open-cell technology also provides increased airflow and breathability.
This best memory foam mattress is available in 6-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-inch widths to suit every budget and style. That means you can find the perfect mattress for a child’s twin-size character bedding or a luxurious master suite to encase with your best organic cotton sheets. This mattress also comes with a 10-year warranty and is delivered in a clever box that allows for easy transportation from your door to your bedroom.
Best cooling memory foam mattress
Nectar Premium Copper Memory Foam Mattress
Pros:
- Forever warranty
- 365-night sleep trial
- Free delivery
- Thousands of positive reviews
- Works with a variety of bed frames and bases
- 100 percent carbon-neutral manufacturing
Cons:
- Considerably more expensive than budget models
- Taller height requires extra deep-pocket sheets
If you love cooling pillows, the Nectar Premium Copper Memory Foam Mattress will excite you! Not only did our editor love this mattress, but thousands of reviewers love it, too. The cooling mattress is beloved for its uncanny ability to wick heat away from the body and make every sleep ultra-comfortable.
The mattress’s heat-conductive copper fibers keep you cool all night, while an extra inch of comfort layer foam encourages deep, restful sleep without cutting any corners. This hard-to-beat model also offers two inches more base support than other mattresses to keep your back and muscles pain-free.
The brand’s forever warranty is one of the best on the market, and the free contactless delivery is a hit with customers as well. The best part? The quilted cool-touch cover looks and feels like something you’d more likely find in a five-star resort than in your own home.
Best gel memory foam mattress
Wayfair Sleep Firm Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Pros:
- 10-year limited warranty
- Among the most affordable on this list
- Cooling foam
- Cushioned support for pressure points
- Excellent for most types of sleepers
Cons:
- No in-home sleep trials offered
- 10-inch height makes it slightly lower than more luxurious models
This budget-friendly mattress is an excellent choice for yourself and your guest bedroom thanks to its incredibly affordable price tag and comfy cushioned feel. The size range is more limited than other brands, but if you’re looking for a queen– or king-sized mattress, the cooling support of this bed is definitely a winner.
Above a supportive base foam and soft transition foam layer, the thick top layer of contouring memory foam molds to the spine and body’s natural curves. It’s a breathable wonder at a shockingly good price. This best memory foam mattress accommodates all sleep types thanks to pressure point cushioning and increased airflow.
“This mattress is perfect,” writes Wayfair verified purchaser Tracy. “It’s just as advertised in that it is firm and cools. You have to let it breathe for 48 hours before you use it. Other than that, it’s good to go! It is very affordable and is meant to be used without box springs.
Best organic memory foam mattress
Essentia Stratami Memory Foam Mattress
Pros:
- 20-year warranty
- 120-night sleep trial
- Vegan and sustainable construction
- GOTS-certified, Global Organic Latex Standard-certified, and Beyond Organic-certified
- Low VOCs
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- More limited size range than some mattresses
This non-toxic organic latex foam Essentia mattress reduces VOC exposure thanks to eco-friendlier components and allergy-safe, GOLS- and GOTS-certified materials—the most important organic certifications for latex and cotton. You can reliably trust the standards the company advertises.
It comes with a 20-year warranty, 120-night sleep trial and boasts a fully vegan body that comes from sustainable and ethical farming practices. If you’re wondering why all mattresses aren’t considered vegan, it’s because other covers are often made from wool and other animal-based fiber blends.
The organic cover to this firm-feel mattress also features a full zip so it’s easy to remove and wash. The three-inch dome-shaped natural latex foam core also adds responsive cushioning and extra support.
Best memory foam mattress on Amazon
Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Pros:
- 10-year warranty
- Extremely affordable
- Over 50,000 customer reviews with a nearly-perfect 4.7-star rating
- Queen and king size can handle up to 500 pounds of weight
- Several thickness options
- CertiPUR-certified
- Easy Amazon Prime shopping and shipping
Cons:
- No sleep trial
- Limited size options compared to other brands
Don’t let the price fool you—this inexpensive Zinus mattress is definitely one of the best memory foam picks on Amazon or off. Our Zinus Green Tea Mattress review uncovered that this bed had very little odor, which is a rare feat for budget-friendly memory foam mattresses. The 12-inch height helps it stack up against far more expensive models. Easy, fast shipping help secure its spot on this list of the best memory foam beds.
Though the size selection is limited to twin, full, queen, short queen and king, you can choose from a variety of height options. This helps keep costs even lower, and accommodates guest sleeping options like trundles or Murphy beds that require thinner mattresses.
The gel and green tea-infused memory foam is encased in a soft jacquard cover that helps cool and wick body heat away. This top layer is perched atop an extremely supportive high-density base layer foam. Plus, it’s CertiPUR-US certified for durability and performance. It’s also an Amazon’s Choice product thanks to over 66,000 mostly-glowing Amazon reviews, holding a near-perfect 4.7-star rating.
Memory foam mattress with the best shopper reviews
Casper Original Mattress
Pros:
- 10-year limited warranty
- 100-night sleep trial
- CertiPUR-certified
- Available in both all-foam and hybrid styles
- Low VOCs
- Over 21,000 enthusiastic customer reviews
- Cooling cover and technology
Cons:
- Some reviewers report the edges of the mattress feel a bit softer than other mattress brands, which takes a bit of getting used to.
The buttery-soft Casper Original Mattress has a stadium’s worth of fans raving about its “amazing” and “life-changing” status. Choose from either an entirely memory foam option or a hybrid-style mattress with coils. Either way, you’ll enjoy breathable foam that’s divided into three ergonomic zones to help keep your spine aligned.
Thousands of perforations in the also-breathable encasement help keep you cool all night. The foams Casper uses are all CertiPur-certified and made without ozone-depleting chemicals or phthalates. They also have been tested for low VOC emissions to ensure high indoor air quality. Shipping is free, and these beds come with a 10-year limited warranty.
“From the start, I was a little skeptical, but a very good friend recommended Casper,” writes David Lopshire, a verified Casper Original purchaser. “So my wife and I talked and decided to give it a chance. Night one it was comfortable, firm, cool to the touch and felt like a hug. The Casper changed my body alignment in the bed, and I am glad it did. After a week we both agreed it was a good mattress. After a month we decided to keep it and discarded our original mattress. It has been over a year now and I would not trade the Casper for anything.”
Types of memory foam mattresses
Memory foam mattresses come in three main types, each catering to different budgets and lifestyles:
- Traditional: Traditional memory foam mattresses are made from petroleum-based products. While they are recognized for their overall comfort, eco-conscious shoppers and environmentalists are less enthusiastic about their environmental impact.
- Plant-based: These newer options use materials like coconut, soy and bamboo-based foam, which have a lighter environmental impact and enhanced sustainability. They also tend to spring back a bit quicker, and there are options available at every price point.
- Memory gel: Gel-based memory foam mattresses are popular among hot sleepers because they are designed to wick moisture and heat away from the body, providing a cooler sleeping experience.
What to look for when buying a memory foam mattress
When choosing the best memory foam mattress, Leadley advises against solely focusing on price. “Investing in a good mattress is crucial for optimal sleep and the health of your neck and back,” she says. “An underperforming mattress could negatively impact your mood, productivity and overall well-being.” To ensure you make the right choice, we tested several models for extended periods of time (see our Zinus mattress review and our Nectar mattress review).
Leadley recommends looking for memory foam mattresses that offer:
- Ample support for adult bodies
- A robust manufacturer warranty
- Models designed for specific sleeping postures
- Breathable materials
- Meaningful certifications like CertiPUR-US, GOLS, GOTS or GreenGuard-certified
Why you should trust us
You can trust my recommendations in this article because they are backed by more than a decade of experience as an e-commerce expert. As a parent of five young children living in New York’s Hudson Valley, I understand the importance of a good night’s sleep, especially with the right memory foam mattress. My work has been featured in numerous women’s lifestyle and parenting outlets, showcasing my ability to provide practical and trustworthy advice. With a focus on shopping and gifting, I have personally tested and written about hundreds of products, including many bedding items like this handy mattress lifter, Quince bedding and viral bamboo sheets.
For this article, we also consulted sleep expert Lauri Leadley, president and clinical sleep educator at Valley Sleep Center. With her company’s focus on providing comprehensive sleep health management, including sleep studies, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, Leadley brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Her expertise in sleep science equips her to identify the key factors that make a memory foam mattress stand out, ensuring that our recommendations are backed by professional insight.
How we found the best memory foam mattresses
When selecting the best memory foam mattresses, we began by researching a wide range of options available on the market, considering factors such as material, design and price point. We also looked for memory foam mattresses that catered to specific customers, including organic, gel and cooling options. Finally, to narrow down our choices, we consulted a sleep expert, then analyzed customer reviews to understand the real-world performance and durability of each mattress.
FAQ
Are memory foam mattresses good?
Yes, memory foam mattresses are good and may improve sleep quality. Memory foam evenly distributes weight, a quality that makes these some of the best mattresses for back pain and other ailments. Foam mattresses are also relatively affordable and easy to care for.
Do memory foam mattresses need a box spring?
Typically, no. Most memory foam mattresses are perfectly fine on platform-style bed frames. If you prefer an especially high-off-the-ground sleep, you can always add a box spring as an additional point of elevation.
Are memory foam mattresses hot?
While older generations of memory foam beds were known for trapping heat and required cooling mattress pads, more recent advancements have improved airflow and heat-trapping technology. Between these modern advancements and the bevy of cooling gel foam mattresses on the market, memory foam is no longer hot to sleep on.
How long do memory foam mattresses last?
Choosing a high-quality mattress is crucial, and, like innerspring and coil-based models, good memory foam mattresses should last at least 10 years if properly cared for. Signs that it may be time to replace your mattress include sinking spots, significant rips or tears,or noticeable loss of firmness over time.
In such cases, contacting the manufacturer to discuss your warranty or considering a replacement is advisable. Many of the brands featured in this article offer warranties that extend far beyond a decade, reflecting their confidence in the durability and quality of their products.
How to care for a memory foam mattress?
To keep your mattress in top condition for years to come, it’s essential to select a mattress protector that suits your lifestyle. Make sure to cover this additional layer with high-quality sheets and bedding. Whether you prefer cozy flannel sheets or another variety, this practice reduces the need for frequent washing and spot-treating of the outermost layer of your mattress.
