2024’s Best Memory Foam Mattresses (Expert Guide & Reviews)

Get the Best Night's Sleep on a Cushiony Support

January 12, 2022

When looking for the best memory foam mattresses, you can easily get overwhelmed with a wide choice of different models. That’s why our team of experts tested 32 memory foam mattresses and selected the top 13.

For each reviewed mattress, they paid close attention to the following:

  • Comfort level
  • Cooling properties
  • Quality
  • Trial period and return policy
  • Warranty
  • Price

Plus, you can check out our buyer’s guide, which covers everything you need to know about memory foam mattresses.

The Top 13 Best Memory Foam Mattresses in 2022

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Company
Features
Overall Score
Best Memory Foam Mattress - Puffy
Editor's Pick
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    Excellent motion isolation

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    Good temperature regulation

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    Great spinal support

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Amerisleep
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers
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    Targeted pressure relief

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    Cooler than traditional foam

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    Eco-friendly

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Nectar
Best Value Memory Foam Mattress
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    Great level of body contouring

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    Excellent motion isolation

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    Good temperature regulation

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Winkbeds
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Pain
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    Sleeps cool thanks to patented AircellTM foam

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    Excellent pressure relief & contouring

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    Zoned support promotes natural spinal alignment

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Casper
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Spinal Alignment
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    Zoned support system

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    Good temperature regulation

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    Great pressure relief

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Nuvanna
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Couples
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    Great temperature regulation

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    Excellent motion isolation

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    High level of pressure relief

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Live and Sleep
Best Affordable Memory Foam Mattress
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    Good spinal support for stomach sleepers

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    Great motion isolation

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    Luxury design

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Layla
Best Flippable Memory Foam Mattress
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    Flippable mattress with two firmness options

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    Great temperature regulation

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    Good motion isolation

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Loom and Leaf logo
Best Eco-Friendly Memory Foam Mattress
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    Excellent motion isolation

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    Luxury design

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    Two firmness options

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Bear
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Active People
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    Good temperature regulation

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    Great motion isolation

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    Excellent spinal support

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Dreamfoam
Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress
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    Excellent motion isolation

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    Great pressure relief

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    A high level of body contouring

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Leesa
Best Luxury Memory Foam Mattress
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    A nice level of bounce

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    Good temperature regulation

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    Great spinal support

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Zinus
Best Cheap Memory Foam Mattress
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    Great pressure relief

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    Good temperature regulation

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    Excellent motion isolation

The Top 13 Memory Foam Mattress Reviews

We aim to make choosing a mattress as easy as possible. These short yet informative reviews will tell you everything you need to know about these memory foam mattresses.

Puffy Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Puffy
  • Editor's Pick

  • Free shipping

  • 101-night trial

  • Lifetime warranty

  • Price: $899–$1,449

PROS :
  • Excellent motion isolation

  • Good temperature regulation

  • Great spinal support

CONS :
  • Weak edge support

Puffy Mattress offers a medium-firm feel, which is suitable for most sleepers. It’s constructed of three foam layers, which work together to provide you with great support and pressure relief. Regardless of your preferred sleeping position, this mattress will keep your spine in perfect alignment.

Compared to other foam mattresses, the Puffy regulates temperature quite well. Thanks to its Cloud Gel layer, the mattress doesn’t retain body heat. In addition, its stain-resistant cover is very breathable. So this mattress is a good pick for hot sleepers.

The Puffy is also one of the best rated foam mattresses for couples. If you easily wake up at every sound or movement, this mattress will help you enjoy undisturbed slumber even if you sleep with a partner. The foam layers dampen motion transfer, so you won’t feel any movements coming from the other side of the bed.

Amerisleep AS3 Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Amerisleep AS3
  • Best for Side Sleepers

  • Free shipping

  • 100-night trial

  • 20-year warranty

  • Price: $1,149–$2,398

Rating 9.6

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Targeted pressure relief

  • Cooler than traditional foam

  • Eco-friendly

CONS :
  • A bit pricier

Amerisleep offers some of the best memory foam mattresses for the money. According to many reviews, AS3 is one of the best options since it provides a good balance of support and pressure relief. Plus, its medium-firm feel suits most sleepers. However, if you need a softer or firmer bed, you can check other Amerisleep models.

AS3 consists of three layers, which are designed to help you have restful sleep. The base is made of high-density Bio-Core foam to provide ample support and prevent you from sinking in too deep.

Next, the transition layer uses targeted support technology—one of the greatest advantages of Amerisleep mattresses. Also, this is one of the important reasons we listed it among the best foam mattresses in our review. This way, your spine will be naturally aligned thanks to extra support below your back while there will be no added pressure for your hips and shoulders.

The top layer is constructed with Bio-Pur foam, which conforms to a sleeper’s curves. However, this open-cell foam is more breathable than typical memory foam, so it doesn’t retain body heat. Also, it provides a higher level of bounce, which prevents you from sinking deep into the mattress.

Finally, the mattress’s cover is very soft and breathable. If you’d like to protect it from stains, you can look for a mattress protector. For example, Amerisleep offers a waterproof protector.

Nectar Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Nectar
  • Best Value

  • Free shipping

  • 365-night trial

  • Forever warranty

  • Price: $898–$1,498

Rating 9.7

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Great level of body contouring

  • Excellent motion isolation

  • Good temperature regulation

CONS :
  • Too soft for most stomach sleepers

Nectar offers one of the best foam mattresses for all sleepers who enjoy a typical memory foam feel. It offers excellent pressure relief and lots of cushioning. Since it features three layers of memory foam, it’s no wonder that it provides exceptional body contouring.

Below a quilted gel memory foam cover, there’s an additional layer of gel memory foam and a layer of adaptive hi-core memory foam. The mattress is medium-firm, so it will suit most sleepers. However, it might be the best memory foam mattress for side sleepers specifically, since they won’t wake up with aches and pains in their shoulders and hips.

Even though the mattress features three layers of memory foam, it doesn’t really sleep hot. Thanks to its gel infusion, it regulates temperature quite well. What’s more, like most foam mattresses, the Nectar is great at isolating motion. Therefore, it’s often recommended for couples.

Besides selling a quality mattress at an affordable price, this mattress brand offers amazing buyers’ perks. It comes with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, which places Nectar among the best memory foam mattress brands.

The GravityLux by WinkBeds Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - MemoryLux by Winkbeds
  • Best for Back Pain

  • Free shipping

  • 120-night trial

  • Lifetime warranty

  • Price: $1,099-$1,799

Rating 9.7

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Sleeps cool thanks to patented Aircell™ foam

  • Excellent pressure relief & contouring

  • Zoned support promotes natural spinal alignment

CONS :
  • A bit pricier

The MemoryLux by WinkBeds is one of the best priced memory foam mattresses considering what it offers. Even though its price tag isn’t on the lower end, you can hardly get this level of luxury at such an affordable price. The mattress is designed to help your muscles relax and to allow you to enjoy a restful sleep.

It features patented AircellTM foam, which perfectly contours to a sleeper’s body. Therefore, it allows for excellent pressure relief, which is especially important for side sleepers. In fact, they often claim it’s one of the best foam mattresses in many reviews.

Below the comfort level, there are seven support layers that offer targeted support. In other words, the mattress will keep your spine in perfect alignment without causing any pressure to your hips or shoulders.

What’s more, the MemoryLux mattress will keep you cool throughout the night. Besides having a Tencel cover, its proprietary foam is also very breathable.

Another advantage is that you can choose from three firmness levels. Also, the mattress comes in six standard sizes, from twin to California king.

Casper Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Casper
  • Best for Spinal Alignment

  • Free shipping

  • 100-night trial

  • 10-year warranty

  • Price: $595–$1,195

Rating 9.5

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Zoned support system

  • Good temperature regulation

  • Great pressure relief

CONS :
  • Not supportive enough for stomach sleepers

The Casper mattress is often reviewed as the top rated memory foam mattress since it offers exceptional comfort to most sleepers. The original model by this well-known mattress-in-a-box brand consists of four foam layers that perfectly work together to provide both spinal support and pressure relief.

Thanks to its zoned support system, it keeps a sleeper’s spine in natural alignment without adding pressure to sensitive points. Instead, it’s more forgiving in the shoulder and hips area. Plus, it’s medium-firm, so most people will find it very comfy, especially side and back sleepers. However, it’s not the best rated memory foam mattress for stomach sleepers or heavier individuals, all of whom might need a firmer mattress.

The Casper Original mattress is also a good option for hot sleepers since it has better temperature regulation than most memory foam beds. This is because the memory foam layer is not at the top. Instead, there’s a layer of open-cell foam that improves the mattress’s air circulation. In addition, its cover is quite breathable, allowing sleepers to enjoy a cool night’s sleep. Hot sleepers can also look for the best gel memory foam mattress since gel infusion often improves the cooling properties of a mattress.

Nuvanna Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Nuvanna
  • Best for Couples

  • Free shipping

  • 100-night trial

  • 10-year warranty

  • Price: $550–$950

Rating 9.7

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Great temperature regulation

  • Excellent motion isolation

  • High level of pressure relief

CONS :
  • Only one firmness level

Are you looking for the best gel foam mattress? The Nuvanna mattress might be a great choice. It consists of three foam layers that are designed to provide exceptional support and pressure relief. If you opt for it, you’ll feel amazing body contouring, and the high-density support foam won’t let you sink in too much.

This model comes in only one firmness level. However, since it’s medium-firm, most sleepers will find it very comfortable. That’s why we also included it in our best mattress list.

For an all-foam mattress, this model has solid temperature regulation, which is also mentioned in many foam mattresses’ reviews. First, it has a Tencel cover, which is very soft and breathable. Then, the top foam layer is infused with phase-changing gel particles. This innovative technology helps the mattress draw any excess body heat out. Finally, the mattress features open-cell construction, which promotes natural airflow.

The foam layers are also great at isolating motion. That’s why this model is often recommended for couples, especially if one of the partners is a light sleeper.

Live and Sleep Elite Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Live and Sleep
  • Best Affordable Mattress

  • Free shipping

  • 75-night trial

  • 20-year warranty

  • Price: $499–$849

Rating 9.8

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Good spinal support for stomach sleepers

  • Great motion isolation

  • Luxury design

CONS :
  • Too firm for side sleepers

The Elite mattress by Live and Sleep is designed to keep your spine naturally aligned since its memory foam layers contour nicely to your body shape. Plus, it offers pleasant pressure relief. However, since it’s on a firmer side, most side sleepers will probably need more cushioning for their sensitive points. They may want to look for a mattress topper made out of memory foam, which will make the mattress a bit softer. 

When it comes to temperature regulation, the mattress features gel-infused memory foam. As you can see in many gel memory foam mattress reviews, this layer improves its cooling properties. We’d say that it performs rather average in this department, so unless you’re an extremely hot sleeper, you’ll have a great night’s sleep.

Thanks to two layers of memory foam, the mattress dampens motion transfer perfectly. Therefore, it’s a great pick for couples—you don’t have to worry that your partner will wake you up even if they have a restless night. This is mentioned in more than one memory foam mattress review.

The mattress is covered by a 20-year warranty. What’s more, you can sleep on it for over two months before you decide if it meets your expectations. In case you don’t like it, simply return it and you’ll get your money back.

Layla Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Layla
  • Best Flippable Mattress

  • Free shipping

  • 120-night trial

  • Lifetime warranty

  • Price: $699–$1,249

Rating 9.7

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Flippable mattress with two firmness options

  • Great temperature regulation

  • Good motion isolation

CONS :
  • Poor edge support

Looking for the best affordable memory foam mattress but can’t decide what feel is right for you? The Layla mattress is a unique memory foam bed since it’s flippable. This means one side of the mattress is soft and the other is firm. So you can choose one of these two sides depending on your sleep preferences. Side sleepers usually enjoy a soft sleep surface, while stomach sleepers typically need a firmer bed that won’t let their hips sink.

It’s nice that the Layla mattress is made of memory foam infused with copper. Thanks to this infusion, the mattress doesn’t retain body heat, so it might be a solid pick for hot sleepers looking for the best cooling memory foam mattress. Plus, the Layla features a cooling cover, which contributes to its great temperature regulation.

In addition, the Layla mattress has impressive motion isolation. Therefore, couples can enjoy a restful sleep without any disturbances. To learn more about this mattress’s features, check out our detailed Layla mattress review.

Loom and Leaf Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Loom and Leaf mattress
  • Best Eco-Friendly Mattress

  • Free shipping

  • 120-night trial

  • 15-year warranty

  • Price: $899–$2,476

Rating 9.9

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Excellent motion isolation

  • Luxury design

  • Two firmness options

CONS :
  • Not bouncy

The Loom and Leaf by Saatva is an amazing luxury memory foam mattress, so no wonder it’s described as the best memory foam mattress in more than one review. It’s made of premium materials and it offers exceptional comfort at a reasonable price.

Its quilted organic cotton cover doesn’t only look luxurious, but it’s also very breathable and soft to touch. Since memory foam mattresses typically sleep cool, the first layer of the Loom and Leaf is made of foam infused with cooling gel. This way, the manufacturer has easily overcome the problem of inadequate temperature regulation. In addition, this layer provides excellent lumbar support, which is just one of the reasons this is the top-rated memory foam mattress in many reviews.

In general, side sleepers benefit the most from memory foam beds. However, this model is also an excellent pick for back and stomach sleepers. It comes in two firmness options: relaxed firm (medium-firm) and firm. The latter is especially good for people who tend to sleep on their stomachs. It also provides enough support for heavier individuals, which isn’t that common among memory foam mattresses.

Bear Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Bear
  • Best for Active People

  • Free shipping

  • 100-night trial

  • 10-year warranty

  • Price: $695–$1,095

Rating 9.7

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Good temperature regulation

  • Great motion isolation

  • Excellent spinal support

CONS :
  • Too firm for side sleepers

The original model by Bear is a great option for sleepers who enjoy the memory foam feel but need a firmer bed. This mattress consists of three foam layers that will keep your spine in perfect alignment in all sleeping positions. However, since it’s a bit firmer than most, side sleepers should probably look for a mattress offering more pressure relief. On the other hand, the Bear mattress might be the best foam mattress for most stomach sleepers.

Even though this is an all-foam mattress, it doesn’t sleep hot. Thanks to the open-cell construction and Celliant cover, it’s very breathable. Plus, the memory foam is infused with graphite gel, which helps draw away your body heat.

The Bear mattress is also recommended for couples. If one of you is a light sleeper and the other tends to toss and turn all night, you should know that this foam bed absorbs motion perfectly. You can read about it in a number of foam mattress reviews.

Dreamfoam Copper Dreams Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Dreamfoam Mattress
  • Best Cooling Mattress

  • Free shipping

  • 120-night trial

  • 10-year warranty

  • Price: $549–$1,049

Rating 9.5

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Excellent motion isolation

  • Great pressure relief

  • A high level of body contouring

CONS :
  • Average cooling properties

Dreamfoam offers a high-quality memory foam mattress at a very affordable price. No wonder the Copper Dreams Mattress is one of its most popular models. The mattress is medium-firm, so it’ll suit most sleepers. Anyone looking for the best cheap memory foam mattress with a typical memory foam feel should check out this Dreamfoam model because it offers a high level of body contouring and cushioning.

Thanks to two layers of memory foam, a sleeper will feel great pressure relief, which is particularly important for side sleepers. However, some stomach sleepers might find it too soft, and they probably won’t enjoy a great level of sinkage.

Like most foam mattresses, the Copper Dreams mattress can boast excellent motion isolation. According to more than one foam mattress review, you can be sure that you won’t feel if your partner is tossing and turning at the other side of the bed.

On the other hand, its temperature regulation is not so ideal. Even though its top layer is made of memory foam infused with copper and graphite, hot sleepers will probably need a cooler sleeping surface. However, if you don’t sleep hot, you can have a great night’s sleep on this bed.

Leesa Original Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Leesa
  • Best Luxury Mattress

  • Free shipping

  • 100-night trial

  • 10-year warranty

  • Price: $799–$1,299

Rating 9.9

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • A nice level of bounce

  • Good temperature regulation

  • Great spinal support

CONS :
  • Average motion isolation

The Leesa Original mattress is another great memory foam mattress that’s suitable for most sleepers. It has a medium-firm to slightly firm feel, and its three foam layers work nicely together to provide you with both pressure relief and solid support.

Like the Casper mattress, which is one of the top-rated memory foam mattresses, memory foam is not in the top layer. Instead, it’s made of cooling foam, which improves the mattress’s temperature regulation. Therefore, the bed sleeps pretty cool, and it’s often recommended for hot sleepers.

Furthermore, this foam is more responsive than memory foam, so some side sleepers, who need more cushioning, might find it too firm. Also, since it’s bouncier than most memory foam mattresses, the Leesa mattress doesn’t have ideal motion isolation.

Just like the other best-rated memory foam mattress brands, Leesa offers a trial period. So you can try this mattress for 100 nights before you decide if you like it or not. It’s also covered by a 10-year warranty.

Zinus Green Tea Mattress Review

Best Memory Foam Mattress - Zinus
  • Best Cheap Mattress

  • Free shipping

  • 100-night trial

  • 10-year warranty

  • Price: $157–$506

Rating 9.6

Get the Best Deal
PROS :
  • Great pressure relief

  • Good temperature regulation

  • Excellent motion isolation

CONS :
  • Not supportive enough for stomach sleepers

Do you need one of the best cheap memory foam mattresses? Zinus offers a wide choice of mattress models at very budget-friendly prices. The Zinus Green Tea mattress comes in standard bed sizes, plus you can choose one of four thickness options. Its price will depend on your size and thickness choice, but they’re all at a lower price point.

The mattress is constructed of three foam layers. On the top, there’s gel memory foam, which nicely contours to a sleeper’s body. Thanks to this, the mattress also has good temperature regulation, which is confirmed in many of Zinus’s memory foam mattresses’ reviews.

Since foam layers absorb motion pretty well, this Zinus model is a good pick for couples. If you tend to toss and turn, you won’t have to worry that you’ll wake your partner up. 

You should know that Zinus mattresses are made in China, but they are CertiPUR-US certified. Plus, this model uses green tea to neutralize any unpleasant odor.

How We Chose the Best Memory Foam Mattresses

Our Ranking Methodology

To help you make a well-informed decision, our team of experts has compiled this list of the top 13 choices. They followed a strict ranking methodology in order to be as objective as possible. Here you can take a look at the most important criteria they used.

Comfort Level

Comfort should be the most important factor regardless of the mattress type. However, one’s choice of firmness level is highly subjective since it mostly depends on your preferred sleep position and body weight. For example, the best foam mattress for side sleepers will be softer than the one for stomach sleepers. That’s why we focused on testing the amount of support. It’s vital that a mattress keeps your spine in proper alignment—otherwise you may wake up with aches and pains.

Cooling Properties

Most complaints regarding memory foam are about its temperature regulation. Since this material closely conforms to your body and allows you to sink into the mattress, it tends to keep you warm during the night. A hot sleeping surface may be unpleasant, especially to hot sleepers. That’s why they often have a hard time finding the best memory foam mattress, according to their reviews.

Considering this, most mattress manufacturers will implement various cooling technologies to improve the cooling properties of memory foam. We tested each mattress to see how it performs in terms of temperature regulation and tried to review only those that help sleepers stay cool throughout the night.

Quality

When shopping for a new mattress, we recommend looking for high-quality materials. Even though there are a number of inexpensive options, getting a cheap mattress made of poor-quality material can only mean that you’ll have to buy a new one sooner than you planned. So this choice won’t pay off in the long run. Instead, the best memory foam mattress in a box should be constructed of quality foam that won’t quickly sag.

With this in mind, we analyzed all the materials used in a mattress’s different layers. Plus, we went through hundreds of customers’ reviews to find out as much as possible about the longevity of memory foam mattresses.

Besides using durable, high-quality materials, it’s vital that your mattress is made of safe materials. That’s why we looked for brands that use CertiPUR-US certified foams. This means that they don’t contain any harmful substances such as heavy metals, ozone depleters, phthalates, and formaldehyde. Also, the best rated memory foam mattresses should have low VOC emissions.

Trial Period and Return Policy

Since you can’t know if the mattress is right for your sleep needs unless you try it, we reviewed only those models that come with a trial period. One of the greatest advantages of online mattress brands is exactly the opportunity to test the mattress in your own bedroom.

As you will see, the lengths of these mattresses’ trial periods vary greatly, from a couple of months to the entire year. However, you should always check out the return policy as well.

Warranty

Most reputable mattress brands offer a warranty for their products. We believe that even the best budget memory foam mattress should be covered by a warranty—after all, for a great night’s sleep, you need to have peace of mind. Therefore, we decided to choose only those mattresses that come with one.

All the models on our top list are covered by at least a 10-year warranty, while some even offer a lifetime warranty. Besides its duration, we recommend always checking the terms and conditions of your warranty.

Price

It’s difficult to say what the best price for a memory foam mattress is since the prices of this mattress type widely vary, from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars. On average, a memory foam mattress in a queen size costs about $1,000.

Since our budget usually has a strong impact on our choice, we decided to review mattresses with different price tags. Regardless of their price, we looked for quality mattresses that offer great comfort. If you’re on a tight budget, you can also check out our top list of cheap mattresses.

How to Pick the Best Memory Foam Mattress for Your Needs

Buyer’s Guide

There are a few things you need to consider when looking for a memory foam bed. Before we get into details about the characteristics of this material, its pros and cons, and its types, let’s see what makes it so special. 

To start, it’s relatively affordable, which is why you can still find one of the best memory foam mattress options for under $500.

Second, memory foam was developed by NASA scientists. So lots of research has been put into it, and thanks to the reduction in production costs, it has become available for everyday products, such as mattresses. 

Third, memory foam has the ability to conform to body pressure and get back to its original shape when you get out of bed. This is what makes it different from other foam types.

Now, let’s delve into the characteristics of this soft and comfy material.

Characteristics of Memory Foam

  • Memory foam conforms to a sleeper’s body. The best rated foam mattress should contour to the body’s curves and adapt to a sleeper’s body, thus offering a great level of pressure relief while keeping the spine in natural alignment.
  • Memory foam typically has a high level of sinkage. Since it’s usually softer than other materials, it allows a sleeper to sink more into the mattress. While some sleepers enjoy this amount of sinkage, heavier people should probably look for mattresses that are more supportive.
  • Memory foam isolates motion very well. If you’re sleeping with a partner who’s tossing and turning, start looking for the best online memory foam mattress. Since memory foam dampens motion and doesn’t transfer it from side to side, you shouldn’t feel any disturbances on your side of the bed.
  • Memory foam is almost silent. Compared to hybrid and innerspring mattresses, it produces minimal noise.

Who Should Get a Memory Foam Mattress?

  • Side sleepers tend to have sensitive pressure points, especially in their shoulders and hips. Therefore, the cushioning and contouring properties of memory foam can help them alleviate pain and have a great night’s rest. The best memory foam mattresses for side sleepers usually have a thick, soft comfort layer.
  • Couples can greatly benefit from memory foam mattresses, especially if one of the partners is a light sleeper. As mentioned above, this soft foam tends to absorb motion very well. So your partner won’t wake you up when changing positions or getting out of bed.
  • People with chronic pain in their shoulders or backs might find memory foam particularly comfortable. Since it molds to a sleeper’s body, it fills all the gaps between your and the sleeping surface while, at the same time, relieving pressure. The best memory foam mattress for back pain should allow for some pleasant sinkage, but at the same time, it should provide exceptional spinal support. If you suffer from this common ailment, you can check out our list of the top 10 mattresses for back pain.

Density

When shopping for a memory foam mattress, you need to consider its density because it affects the amount of support you’ll get. The measure for density is pound per cubic foot (PCF). Memory foam is usually classified into three categories: low (2.5–3.9 PCF), medium (4–5.5 PCF), and high-grade foam (over 5.5 PCF).

In general, higher grade foam should be used for the best memory foam mattresses, as many reviews note. It’s considered better because it offers a greater amount of support. It also tends to go back to its original shape slowly, so it closely conforms to a sleeper’s body. However, this also means that it retains more body heat. In addition, memory foam with a higher density is usually better at isolating motion and more durable.

On the other hand, lower grade memory foam gets back to the original shape more quickly and it’s more suitable for hot sleepers. However, don’t expect to find the best firm foam mattress made of this type of foam.

Taking all this into account, you need to decide what’s a priority for you. Also, keep in mind that most mattresses consist of several layers, which are made of different types of foam. Thus, the performance of a mattress depends on more than one factor.

ILD

ILD, or indentation load-deflection, is another factor you need to consider. It indicates the amount of pressure needed to indent a mattress by four inches. Put simply, it shows how firm the bed is. The lower the ILD, the softer the mattress. So when shopping for the best firm memory foam mattress, look for a higher ILD value.

Typically, the memory foam used in a comfort layer has an ILD value between 8 and 20. Basically, memory foams with lower ILD values are quite soft and sink easily, while a higher ILD should mean better support but less pressure relief.

How to Pick the Right Firmness Level

It’s vital to find the firmness level that provides you with enough support without causing unpleasant pressure on your body. Your choice of the best online foam mattress should mainly depend on your sleep position and body weight.

  • Sleepers of below-average weight usually need a softer sleeping surface because they need more pressure relief. They may even want to add on a foam topper to make their bed more comfortable.
  • People of above-average weight typically need a firmer bed, which will provide ample support and won’t sink too much.
  • People of average weight generally enjoy a middle-firm feel the most.

However, one’s sleep position also plays a big role in choosing the right firmness level (whether you’re sleeping on the best twin or king memory foam mattress).

  • Back sleepers generally like to sleep on a medium-firm to firm mattress.
  • Side sleepers tend to need softer mattresses, which offer lots of cushioning for their sensitive points, especially the hips and shoulders. An extra mattress topper can also provide side sleepers with much-needed pressure relief.
  • Stomach sleepers find firmer mattresses to be the most comfortable since these mattresses won’t let their hips sink deeply into the mattress, but they will keep their spine aligned.

Types

Even though they’re called memory foam mattresses, they aren’t entirely made of this material. Memory foam is too soft to provide adequate support. That’s why it’s typically used in the comfort layer, while the base layer is constructed of high-density polyfoam. Therefore, the best memory foam mattress in 2022 needs to have multiple layers. 

Most mattresses on the market use one of the following types of memory foam:

  • The most common type is traditional memory foam (also known as viscoelastic memory foam), which is a type of polyfoam. It’s also often used for some of the most popular mattress toppers on the market. It contours to a sleeper’s body, and it gets back to its original shape when a sleeper gets out of bed while also cooling down. Any best foam mattress review will tell you which type of memory foam is used. 
  • Open-cell memory foam has a very similar feel to traditional memory foam, but it’s more breathable thanks to small air pockets. 
  • Gel-infused memory foam is also designed to improve the cooling properties of memory foam. Besides creating a cooler sleeping surface, it’s very similar to traditional memory foam. That’s why hot sleepers are often advised to look for the top rated gel memory foam mattress.
  • Copper-infused memory foam features copper components in order to keep the mattress cool. In addition, copper can improve blood circulation, so this type of memory foam is often recommended to people with joint pain.
  • Plant-based memory foam contains natural ingredients, such as tea, Aloe Vera, bamboo, or soy. This type of material is more eco-friendly, and it has better temperature regulation.

Advantages

  • Mattresses constructed with memory foam offer a high level of pressure relief.
  • Memory foam contours to a sleeper’s body, keeping their spine in natural alignment, which is crucial in even the best affordable memory foam mattresses.
  • This material reduces motion transfer to the bare minimum.
  • Memory foam is virtually silent.

Disadvantages

  • Memory foam doesn’t provide adequate support to heavier people due to a high amount of sinkage.
  • Mattresses made of memory foam may sleep too hot for some sleepers.
  • Off-gassing is a common problem with foam beds, but unpleasant odors should disappear after a few days.
  • Memory foam isn’t recommended for amorous activities since it’s not very responsive.

Wrapping Up

Shopping for the best memory foam mattress for your unique needs shouldn’t be stressful. That’s why we decided to make things easier for you. Hopefully, our top 13 list and our detailed guide will help you make a well-informed decision, and you’ll have a new bed in no time. Sweet dreams!

FAQs

Which is the best memory foam mattress to buy?

It’s difficult to answer this question since there’s no one mattress that will meet the needs of all sleepers. However, regardless of your sleep preferences, it’s important to get a mattress that offers great support and keeps your spine in perfect alignment. Plus, it should be CertiPUR-US certified. You can check out our list of the top memory foam mattresses that meet these criteria.

What is the best inexpensive memory foam mattress?

Since online brands eliminate the middleman, there are a number of inexpensive options in the bed-in-a-box market. Some of our top picks include Zinus, Bear, and Live and Sleep mattresses.

How good are the memory foam mattresses on the market?

Quality memory foam mattresses provide great spinal support, while offering a high level of pressure relief. They are especially good for side and back sleepers since they alleviate aches and pains.

Which is better, a foam or memory foam mattress?

Memory foam mattresses offer greater pressure relief than foam mattresses. They contour to a sleeper’s body nicely and fill all the gaps between their back and the sleep surface. However, they aren’t very bouncy, so some couples complain that they’re not so great for sex.

How do I choose a memory foam mattress?

There are several factors you need to consider when choosing a memory foam mattress, some of the most important being ILD and foam density, since they affect the mattress’s durability, firmness, and support. Softer mattresses offer better pressure relief, but firmer mattresses sink less and offer a greater amount of support. Therefore, you need to consider your sleep preferences, so you can find the best option that will meet your needs.

Do you need a box spring with a memory foam mattress?

You don’t need a box spring for a memory foam mattress, but you have to place it on a flat and supportive foundation, such as a platform bed. Most memory foam mattresses can also be used on adjustable beds. However, always check the terms and conditions of the warranty because some manufacturers require a specific bed frame, and if you place a mattress on a different type of foundation, the warranty might be void.

How many years does a memory foam mattress last?

The longevity of a memory foam mattress will depend on its quality. In general, if you properly take care of your memory foam mattress, it can last 8–10 years. There are also other factors that can affect the mattress’s durability, such as your body weight and whether you sleep alone or with a partner.

Do memory foam mattresses need to be rotated?

Generally, it’s recommended to rotate your mattress every three months. This way, you will prolong its durability since this will allow for even wear and tear.

Do memory foam mattresses sag?

Memory foam mattresses may sag over time. That’s why it’s better to opt for high-grade foam, which is more supportive and more durable. A high-quality memory foam mattress shouldn’t sag after only a couple of years of use, but it should offer great comfort for at least 7–8 years.

How do I know if my memory foam mattress is worn out?

There are several clear signs that your old memory foam mattress is worn out and you should get a new one:

  • You notice that it has begun to sag, or it has lumps.
  • It has become uncomfortable.
  • You wake up with aches and pains.
  • Your allergy symptoms have worsened due to dirt and dust mites accumulating in your old mattress.

Which memory foam mattress is the coolest?

Memory foam mattresses tend to retain body heat, especially if they are very soft and offer a deep hug. However, thanks to innovative technologies, there are a number of models that can even be suitable for hot sleepers. For example, the Bear mattress is one of the best memory foam mattresses since it’s very breathable. Plus, its memory foam is infused with graphite gel, which improves its cooling properties.