To find the best mattress of 2024, we spent thousands of hours testing 240 top-rated mattresses. After evaluating the performance of each, we named the Helix Midnight Luxe the best mattress overall. It earned high marks during testing, plus it’s a personal favorite among several of our team members who sleep on it every night. While it’s especially great for side sleepers, the Midnight Luxe’s medium feel, plush pillow top and breathable construction make it suitable for most sleep styles—meaning we think just about anyone could be happy with this bed in their home.
The DreamCloud Premier Rest Hybrid won us over as the best mattress for pressure relief.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
For more specific sleep needs, we have tailored suggestions for hot sleepers, couples and those who struggle with health concerns such as back pain. All of our picks are vetted against a rigorous testing criteria, which is based on our mattress and sleep team’s combined eight years of mattress-testing experience. To round out our selection, we did extensive research on the best mattress brands, which you can read more about below. Our recommendations are also either bed-in-a-box mattresses or include complimentary white glove delivery so you don’t have to wrestle with a heavy mattress yourself.
Targeted Support Accommodates Side And Combo Sleepers
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Helix Midnight Luxe (Queen)
Forbes Vetted readers get 27% off sitewide and two free Dream Pillows with a mattress purchase or free bedding bundle (two Dream Pillows, sheet set and mattress protector) with a Luxe or Elite mattress purchase using code FORBES27 (live through September 30th).
Type: Hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Medium to medium-firm (5 to 6) |Height: 13.5 inches |Shipping: Free (in a box) |Trial: 100 nights |Warranty: 15 years
Pros:
Targeted support specifically designed for side sleepers and combo sleepers
Cooling cover available (for an additional cost)
Excellent motion isolation
Cons:
100-night trial period isn’t as long as others
Not firm enough for most stomach sleepers (if that’s you, check out the Dawn Luxe)
We chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as the best mattress overall because it tested well across several key categories like pressure relief, responsiveness and edge support. It also has a medium to medium-firm feel and several cooling layers, which appeal to a variety of preferences and sleep positions including side, back and combination sleeping, as well as couples. We could’ve chosen it for several of the superlatives on this list, which shows how versatile it is.
At 13.5 inches thick, the Helix Midnight Luxe is a couple of inches taller than the average bed-in-a-box, plus it comes with a strong pocketed coil layer underneath the pillow top and foam comfort layers. We found that this base layer provides great support under the hips and around the perimeter of the mattress, which is important for maintaining spinal alignment. The coil layer also makes this mattress easy to move around on—an essential feature for combination sleepers and folks with mobility concerns.
One of our testers measuring the Helix Midnight Luxe.
ALEXANDRA GARRETT FOR FORBES
On top of all that support, the plush pillow top is a major differentiator between the Luxe and the flagship Midnight model. This was the first thing that stood out to us during testing, and gives the bed a soft feel that cradles the joints without being too cushy. You can read a deeper analysis of this mattress in our Helix Midnight Luxe review.
Other mattresses we considered for the best overall title were the Saatva Classic and the DreamCloud Premier Rest. The Saatva Classic comes in three different firmnesses, is extremely supportive and well built. We found it doesn’t offer as much pressure relief and motion isolation as the Midnight Luxe, but we still recommend it for an array of sleepers in our Saatva Classic Mattress review. The Premier Rest is also a high-quality option that’s accommodating for a range of sleepers, but we found it to be less cooling and supportive along the perimeter than the Midnight Luxe. Since it shined with pressure relief in testing, we decided to name it the best for that instead.
Expert tip: If you’re a hot sleeper, the extra $249 splurge on the optional cooling cover for the Midnight Luxe is worth it.
Best Memory Foam Mattress
Thick Foams Relieve Pressure Around The Shoulder And Hips
Nectar
Nectar Premier (Queen)
Type: Memory foam or hybrid |Brand firmness rating: Medium-firm (6.5) | Height: 13 inches | Shipping: Free (in a box) |Trial: 365 nights |Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
More responsive than average memory foam beds
Comfortable for back and side sleepers
Moisture-wicking cover helps dissipate heat
Comes with generous trial and warranty periods
Cons:
Not made in the U.S.
Likely too soft for most stomach sleepers
Nectar recently revamped its entire mattress lineup and the new Nectar Premier earned the top spot for memory foam mattresses because it provides stellar pressure relief. Similar to its predecessor, the Nectar Premier hugs your shoulders and hips for deep contouring. However, the new Premier is a bit more responsive to movement, making it easier to change positions. Its dense foam layers also balance pressure relief with support to promote a healthy spine alignment—good news for back and side sleepers. That said, you’ll still feel a bit more “in” the mattress than “on” it compared to hybrid mattresses, like the Helix Midnight Luxe, which may be a good thing for sleepers who prefer a traditional memory foam feel.
Nectar says both the foam and hybrid models are medium-firm mattresses, but we found that the memory foam option leans more medium-soft. It’s softer than the new Nectar Classic, which launched alongside the Premier and provides more sinkage. If you prefer a more lifted feel, we recommend choosing the hybrid version of the Premier, which provides a bit more support.
Expert tip: Expect the Nectar Premier to get softer after the first month of sleeping on it.
Best Mattress For Pressure Relief
A Feel We Found Comfortable For All Sleep Positions
Offers pressure relief for back, side and combo sleepers
Exceptional motion isolation
Includes generous trial period and lifetime warranty
Cons:
Doesn’t offer much sinkage (though you can choose the memory foam model for deeper contouring)
Edge support is somewhat lacking
The DreamCloud Premier Rest Hybrid Mattress offers a medium-firm feel (not too soft nor too firm) with an extra touch of plushness thanks to its pillow top. Our testing found the Premier Rest to relieve pressure for back, side and stomach sleeping (although we’d recommend most strict stomach sleepers choose a firmer option like the Plank Firm in order to ensure spinal alignment). The Premier Rest’s combination of responsive pocketed coils and cushy pillow top layers give it a lifted feel, which made it really easy to move around on during testing. This makes it a good option for combination sleepers or anyone with mobility issues.
The DreamCloud Premier Rest felt comfortable in multiple sleep positions.
forbes
Another reason it topped the list out of all the pressure-relieving options on the market is its high-quality, durable build. The Premier Rest’s cashmere-blend cover, contouring gel-infused memory foam and sturdy innerspring steel coils work together to give a luxury feel. It also tested well for motion isolation, cooling and overall support—though the edge support is just okay. If edge support is important to you, we recommend the Saatva Classic since its perimeter barely budges when you sit on it. Read more about how the Premier Rest performed after nearly a year of testing in our full DreamCloud Premier Rest Mattress review.
Type: Hybrid |Brand firmness rating: Plush, medium-firm or firm |Height: 14 inches |Shipping: Free (in a box) |Trial: 100 nights |Warranty: 10 years
Pros:
Cooling; four of its seven layers have cooling features, including cool-to-the-touch cover
Suits most sleeping positions and body types with three firmness levels to choose from
Good motion isolation and edge support
Cons:
May be too bouncy for some
A little softer than advertised; not good if you want an extra-firm feel
Hybrid mattresses have grown in popularity due to their ability to offer pressure relief from foam layers and strong support from coils. The Leesa Sapira Chi
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