Mattress Review: Best Mattresses

Best mattress for most

*Est. $300 and up Compare Prices

Innerspring mattresses are by far the most popular type of bed, with dozens of styles, features and options available. Although prices start at about $300 for no-frills models, most experts agree that you should expect to… pay a minimum of $800 for a quality queen-size set. Reviewers say a mattress with a pillow top is usually more comfortable, but some owners report that pillow tops go flat long before the mattress is worn out. Compared to other types of bedding, innerspring mattresses tend to retain less body heat and come in a wider range of firmnesses, but they also transfer more motion, which may be a concern if you sleep lightly and share your bed with a partner. They're also less durable and more prone to sagging than foam mattresses and airbeds. Experts say innerspring mattresses should be replaced every eight to 10 years -- more often if premature sagging occurs.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org doesn't rate individual mattresses, but they do have a lengthy and detailed buyer's guide that includes ...

Which? magazine: Though not quite as detailed as ConsumerReports.org's mattress buying guide, this article from the U.K.'s Which? magazine does ...

Choice magazine: Like ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, Choice doesn't rate specific mattresses but it does provide a detailed and helpful ...

WebMD.com: Charlene Laino interviews several sleep experts, including orthopedic physicians and a physical therapist, about their mattress ...

The New York Times: Mary Duenwald debunks the myth that a more expensive mattress is necessarily more comfortable -- at least above a certain price ...

SleepLikeTheDead.com: Editors at SleepLikeTheDead.com compile information from owners posting reviews, comments, and blog and forum posts from across ...

What's the Best Mattress: Buyer's guides -- including numerous tips for negotiating a better price on a mattress -- abound on this website, as do user ...

Good Morning America: While no specific brands are mentioned or tested, this article on the ABC website stresses the importance of shopping for a ...

SpineUniverse.com: Alan Hedge, a professor of ergonomics at Cornell University, offers advice on choosing a mattress based on ergonomic principles ...

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Memory foam has some drawbacks

Memory foam Mattress

*Est. $800 and up Compare Prices

Memory foam mattresses consist of a layer of 1 to 6 inches of viscoelastic foam glued to a thick polyurethane base. Tempur-Pedic is the best-known manufacturer of memory foam mattresses, but several other companies offer… less expensive versions that receive similarly favorable reviews from owners. Owners of memory foam mattresses are more likely to report satisfaction with their bedding than owners of innerspring mattresses, but a significant number (about 20 percent) of owners say they dislike memory foam because it is too firm, too hot, or too hard to move on. Memory foam mattresses are more durable than innerspring mattresses, but they're also very heavy and may produce an unpleasant odor when new. Prices range from about $800 to more than $2,000 for a queen-size bed.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org's mattress buyer's guide focuses on traditional innersprings, but most of the advice on shopping for a ...

SleepLikeTheDead.com: According to this article -- which editors say is based on data from more than 1,500 owners -- about 81 percent of owners find ...

Which? magazine: Though not quite as detailed as ConsumerReports.org's mattress buying guide, this article from the U.K.'s Which? magazine does ...

Choice magazine: Like ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, Choice doesn't rate specific mattresses but it does provide a detailed and helpful ...

What's the Best Mattress: Buyer's guides -- including numerous tips for negotiating a better price on a mattress -- abound on this website, as do user ...

MyFoamMattress.net: Daniel Burrows and Liz Hoffman have compiled several pages of information on memory foam mattresses here, along with a ...

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Overstock.c- om

for $597.59

UnbeatableS- ale, Inc.

for $2,086.70

Amazon

for $259.99

Latex mattresses are durable but expensive

Latex Foam Mattress

*Est. $900 and up Compare Prices

Latex foam mattresses have long been popular in Europe, but they're relatively new to the American market. Reviewers say that latex foam is springier than memory foam and doesn't retain as much body heat, so it can be… more comfortable in the summer. Like memory foam, it repels dust mites and is more durable than an innerspring mattress. It's also the most eco-friendly mattress type: natural latex is a renewable resource and most latex foam is biodegradable. However, latex is more expensive than other mattress types and it's not appropriate for people with latex allergies. It also requires a slatted (rather than solid) foundation to prevent mold growth on the underside of the mattress. Basic models start at about $900, but a queen-size latex mattress commonly costs $2,000 or more.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org's mattress buyer's guide focuses on traditional innersprings, but most of the advice on shopping for a ...

SleepLikeTheDead.com: According to this article -- which editors say is based on data from more than 270 owners -- about 87 percent of owners find ...

Which? magazine: Though not quite as detailed as ConsumerReports.org's mattress buying guide, this article from the U.K.'s Which? magazine does ...

Choice magazine: Like ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, Choice doesn't rate specific mattresses but it does provide a detailed and helpful ...

What's the Best Mattress: Buyer's guides -- including numerous tips for negotiating a better price on a mattress -- abound on this website, as do user ...

MyFoamMattress.net: Daniel Burrows and Liz Hoffman have compiled several pages of information on latex mattresses here, along with a side-by-side ...

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Mattress for couples who prefer differing firmness levels

Air Mattress

*Est. $800 and up Compare Prices

Rather than springs or foam, air mattresses use adjustable air cushions to provide tailored support. Some air mattresses, like the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed, allow each side to be adjusted independently to provide… different levels of firmness. While the reviews we read for this kind of mattress were very positive overall, some owners say it is uncomfortable and others complain that it's not really possible to sit on the edge of the mattress. Others report that there is a noticeable "trench" between the air chambers that can make the bed feel lumpy and interfere with sleep. Still, dual-chambered air beds are one of the few options available -- other than sleeping separately -- for partners who strongly prefer different mattress firmnesses.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org's mattress buyer's guide focuses on traditional innersprings, but most of the advice on shopping for a ...

SleepLikeTheDead.com: According to this article -- which editors say is based on data from more than 1,250 owners -- about 80 percent of owners find ...

Which? magazine: Though not quite as detailed as ConsumerReports.org's mattress buying guide, this article from the U.K.'s Which? magazine does ...

Choice magazine: Like ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, Choice doesn't rate specific mattresses but it does provide a detailed and helpful ...

What's the Best Mattress: Buyer's guides -- including numerous tips for negotiating a better price on a mattress -- abound on this website, as do user ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Mattresses: Reviews

Best mattress for most

Memory foam has some drawbacks

Latex mattresses are durable but expensive

Mattress for couples who prefer differing firmness levels

Mattresses by Price Range