The 7 best memory foam mattresses for any budget and sleep style, tested and reviewed

How we tested memory foam mattresses

We use a laser thermometer to test heat dissipation for each mattress.

James Brains/Insider

I slept on all of the mattresses in this guide for at least 14 nights and put them all through a series of objective tests. All models were queen-size.

I’m a 6-foot-tall, 205-pound side sleeper, but I also spend time on my back and stomach. I experience occasional lower back pain flare-ups and overheating at night.

I also talked to Marilyn Li, MD, an allergist at the University of Southern California; Tamara Huff, MD, a Georgia-based board-certified orthopedic surgeon and health disparities advocate; Mark Goetting, MD, a board-certified sleep medicine specialist at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine; and Derek Hales, founder of the mattress review site NapLab.

The most important factors to consider when shopping for a memory foam mattress are comfort, motion transfer, and return policy.

Test results for the main attributes we tested:

Attribute

Tempur-Cloud

Zinus Green Tea

Bear Original

Nectar

GhostBed Luxe

Airweave

Casper Original

Firmness (1 softest to 10 firmest)

6

5.5

7

6

6

10 (9 with insert)

6

Motion isolation (1 awful to 10 best)

7

6

2

8

8

7

7

Edge support (1 awful to 10 best)

3

6

6

7

9

10

3

Heat dissipation (1 traps heat to 10 stays cool)

9

7

6

7

5

7

8

Trial period

90 nights

100 nights

365 nights

365 nights

101 nights

100 nights

100 nights

Warranty

10 years

10 years

Lifetime

Lifetime

25 years

10 years

10 years

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Comfort: Each morning, I note how comfortable I was on the mattress the night before, what sleep position I gravitated toward, and if and where I felt any pain in my body. I also used the Garmin Forerunner 945 watch to track how much REM, deep, and overall sleep I had. 

Motion transfer: Also called motion isolation, motion transfer is measured using the bowling ball test. I drop a 15-pound bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress so that it lands 12 inches from a soda can. If the can falls over, the motion isolation is poor. If it stays upright, the bed does a good job of dampening motion. I also take a vibration meter reading from the opposite side of the bed from the bowling ball drop. Lastly, I note my subjective experience as others move around on the mattress while I’m lying on it.

Trial and warranty: All of the top mattresses in this guide have a trial period of at least 90 nights. That should be long enough for you to tell if a bed is right for you. I read the fine print of the return policy to see if there are any fees associated with returning the bed. I also note the length of the warranty. All of our picks have warranties of at least 10 years, about how long you should expect your mattress to last.

Heat dissipation: The first thing I do each morning is use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the mattress. The second thing I do is measure the surface temp again two minutes later. The first measurement tells me how cool the mattress stays. When I compare it to the second measurement, I see how well the heat dissipates. 

Edge support: Good edge support is helpful whether you are lying or sitting on the side of your bed. You want to feel supported. To test edge support, I lie on the edge of the bed and slowly roll off. I note the approximate angle of my body at the moment I fall. The closer I get to perpendicular, the better the edge support. I also sit on the side of the bed and measure how much the edge sinks. On average, mattresses sink about 3.5 inches. 

Setup: I set up all of the mattresses myself (unless there’s free white-glove delivery). I note how long it takes me, any unusual steps, if there’s an initial odor and if it dissipates by bedtime, and whether or not the mattress comes with directions or tools. Most mattresses take 5 to 10 minutes to set up. I strongly recommend getting help setting up your mattress. For white-glove delivery, I give the costs and details for that service in my reviews.

Portability: I have to move the mattresses around more than the average person as I switch them out in my testing area. Portability is important if you move a lot or just want to regularly rotate your bed, an important step to prolong the life of your mattress. When moving the mattresses, I note how heavy they feel, if they flop around, and if there are handles.