The Best King-Size Mattress, Rated And Reviewed By Sleep Experts

Type: Hybrid or foam | Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5) | Trial period: One year | Warranty: “Forever” warranty

Pros: 

• Available in memory foam and hybrid versions
• Balanced feel benefits a variety of sleepers
• Great motion isolation 

Cons: 

• Leans softer than advertised
• Hybrid version is more expensive

The Nectar Luxe is a great mattress, through and through. As the successor to the popular Nectar Premier Cooper, the latest addition to Nectar’s lineup impressed us off the bat with its quality construction and feel. The Luxe is 14 inches tall and is made with dense layers of pressure-relieving and supportive memory foam, which gives it a similarly balanced feel to the Helix Midnight. Nectar ranks the mattress medium-firm with a 6.5 out of 10 firmness rating. That said, we find that it leans more medium-soft, making it a solid option for back and side sleepers. It also stands out for its cooling abilities and excellent motion isolation, so hot sleepers and couples can find something to love in the Nectar Luxe as well. 

As with Nectar’s other mattresses, the Luxe is available in a hybrid or all-foam configuration, so you can choose based on your preferences. Plus, with a long trial and great warranty, it’s easy to return or fix issues with the mattress should they arise.

What our experts say: “The Nectar Luxe Mattress is one of the brand’s softest in the lineup, with a doughy and pressure-relieving feel that’s perfect for side and combo sleepers,” says sleep editor McKenzie Dillon. “Although it’s more plush, it offers less sinkage than the previous Nectar models, making it easier to switch positions. It also has superior motion isolation—you can barely feel your partner on the bed when they move.”

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium (5 to 6) | Height: 12 inches | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Pros: 

• Great pressure relief for side and back sleepers
• Little motion transfer; good for couples
• Coils provide ample airflow

Cons: 

• Not supportive enough for most stomach and heavyweight sleepers

The Helix Midnight is touted as the side sleeper’s mattress. Helix’s proprietary Memory Plus Foam layer relieves pressure from the hips and shoulders, areas where side sleepers need the most cushioned support. At the base are hundreds of individually wrapped coils that gently cradle your body and limit motion transfer—which also makes it a good choice if you share a bed with a restless partner. The Helix Midnight is capped by a topper with a medium feel so you feel like you’re floating rather than sinking.

All of Helix’s mattresses are built to order in the U.S. so you recieve a quality bed made just for you at a price that’s among the most affordable we’ve seen for a mid-range king size mattress. For side sleepers seeking salvation from nights of tossing and turning, the Helix Midnight mattress offers the best value for your buck.

What our experts say: Forbes Vetted mattress and sleep editor, McKenzie Dillon, said: “The Helix Midnight mattress is hard not to like as it’s a comfortable, quality and affordable mattress. It doesn’t have a quicksand feel like memory foam. Instead, it’s more like the foam in your favorite plush couch; soft, yet supportive at the same time.” And according to another Forbes Vetted editor, Karen Tietjen, “Helix mattresses offer great quality and value across the board. I have a king size Dusk Luxe, and we got the Helix Kids mattress for my son’s first ‘big boy’ bed. All in all, I’d recommend the brand to anyone, no matter what model or size they choose.”

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Luxury firm (6.5) | Height: 12 inches | Trial period: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Pros: 

• Balances contouring comfort with lumbar support
• Superb motion isolation for couples
• Good for hot sleepers

Cons: 

• Not a good fit for side sleepers who want a soft mattress

For sleepers who deal with back pain, the Dreamcloud Hybrid is like your dreamtime oasis. This luxury firm mattress features multiple foam layers that work in tandem to contour to your curves and keep everything properly aligned, especially along the lower lumbar area. A base layer of individually wrapped innersprings adapts to the shape of your body while the plush cashmere-blend top cover keeps you comfortably cool.

Dreamcloud understands the reticence of shoppers who are unsure of purchasing a mattress online, sight unseen. That’s why it offers a generous 365-night trial period. You are able to test it throughout each season and other sleep-related situations that may arise—with free returns if you’re not satisfied. And if you decide to keep the Dreamcloud Hybrid Mattress, you are covered for life thanks to a Forever Warranty.

What our experts say: “If you want a true hotel-like sleep experience, the Dreamcloud Hybrid won’t disappoint,” says senior strategy editor Katie Simpson. “It offers just enough softness to cradle your body, but the coil base underneath gives a nice propped-up feel so you won’t feel like you’re sinking. The supportive feel coupled with the roominess of a king size makes the Dreamcloud the ultimate hotel bed.” For more, read our Dreamcloud hybrid review.

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Plush soft (3), luxury firm (5 to 7) or firm (8)| Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches | Trial period: 180 nights | Warranty: 15 years

Pros: 

• Dual-coil construction makes the mattress ultra supportive
• Organic cotton cover
• Available in three firmness levels 

Cons: 

• Costs $99 to return if it isn’t the right fit for you

The Saatva Classic is a top-rated hybrid mattress that’s designed to recreate the lush comfort you’d experience at a 5-star hotel. It’s constructed of five layers—including dual-layer innersprings, memory foam and polyfoam support layers—and a 3-inch Euro pillow top with a breathable organic cotton cover. Beyond its base construction, you can customize the Saatva Classic’s firmness and height to suit your sleep preferences.

The most popular firmness level among Saatva shoppers is the luxury firm, which provides a keen balance of comfort and support for all types of sleepers. However, you can opt for a plush soft or firm feel if you like a softer or harder bed. And if the standard 11.5-inch height is too low for your liking, you can bump it up to 14.5 inches. Further, this bed is also available in split king—ideal for co-sleepers who can’t agree on a firmness level. Every Saatva mattress is made to order and arrives fully expanded with free in-room delivery and setup.

What our experts say: According to Dillon, “The Saatva Classic is what I call ‘affordable luxury’. It’s more expensive than your average online mattress, but it offers a good bang-for-your-buck for how nice it is. Its strong dual-coil construction, multiple zoned layers for targeted lumbar support and fluffy pillow top make it one of the best mattresses for back pain. I think the Luxury firm model falls around a seven on the firmness scale, making it the most optimal pick for proper support and ample pressure relief.” Read our Saatva Classic review for more advice.

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Soft, luxury firm, firmer and plus | Height: 13.5 inches | Trial period: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Pros:

• Available in several firmness levels
• Superior motion isolation
• Great edge support

Cons:

• Reviews note that it’s heavy

What’s unique about the WinkBed is that it comes in four firmness levels, including “plus,” which the brand describes as an 8 out of 10. If you’re looking at a king-size bed because you’re a heavy or tall person who needs the additional space and support, the extra firmness could be ideal for your needs. However, it’s also available in soft, luxury firm and firmer, so it can suit just about any sleeper who loves the support and plushness that WinkBed provides. 

As a hybrid model, this mattress is designed with both springs and a pillow top quilted with gel-infused foam. The pocket coils work by flexing independently to respond to pressure points while also providing support, and extra dense coils around the perimeter help to enhance perimeter support. The foam reduces motion transfer and provides targeted support through the middle of your body, where you need it most. It compares to high-end mattresses you’d find in a five-star hotel.

What our experts say: Senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman says, “The Winkbed reminds me of a traditional innerspring bed that’s super durable while offering just enough cushioning with its Euro pillow top. I especially like it for couples and hot sleepers since it tested well with motion isolation, ease of movement and cooling.” For more insights from our editors, read our WinkBed mattress review.

Type: Memory foam (also available as a hybrid) | Firmness: Soft, medium or firm | Height: 11-13 inches | Trial period: 90 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Pros: 

• Foam offers superb pressure relief
• Good motion isolation
• Available in multiple firmness levels

Cons:

• Trial period and warranty are short for the price

If you’ve settled on a king size mattress, it might be because your partner tends to thrash at night and disrupt your sleep. If that’s the case, you can take things a step further than just getting a bigger bed, and opt for memory foam—a material that’s renowned for its ability to isolate motion. (You’ve probably seen the commercials with the person jumping beside a precariously balanced wine glass on a mattress.) There’s no one who does memory foam better than Tempur-Pedic. The brand’s Tempur-Adapt line has three different mattresses, the Adapt, ProAdapt and LuxeAdapt. Each one offers a different amount of Tempur’s memory foam for various levels of pressure relief, according to the company. The mattresses also come in different firmness levels, soft, medium and firm—and you can get a medium hybrid if you prefer mattresses with a coil base. The mattress comes in a standard king, but is also available in a split California king—a hard-to-find option.

What our experts say: Dillon says, “The Adapt line offers a lot of versatility when it comes to firmness level, pricing and construction. The Adapt mattress, my favorite one, is the base model, but you get the classic dense memory foam feel that Tempur-Pedic is known for at a more affordable price. Its also available in a hybrid option, making it ideal for all body types. I think a Tempur-Pedic medium feels more like a medium-firm, which is best for back, stomach and combination sleepers.” For more, check out our Tempur-Adapt review.