Saatva Vs. Beautyrest: Which Luxury Mattress Reigns Supreme?
The rise of online mattress shopping has made the luxury mattress much more accessible. Brands like Saatva and Beautyrest bring the hallmarks of luxury mattresses—features like plush pillow tops, premium materials and a certain wow factor—to the average shopper, but there are still important considerations to determine the best mattress for individual needs. The Saatva versus Beautyrest showdown in particular pits a relative newcomer against a legacy brand. Here, we compare the Saatva Classic and the Beautyrest Black to see if innovation or experience prevails.
We cover everything from motion isolation to pressure relief in this Saatva vs. Beautyrest … [+]
Both mattresses come in multiple firmness and height levels, include free in-room delivery and feature the support of innersprings. We relied on feedback from our expert testers and everyday shoppers to compare all aspects of the Saatva Classic and Beautyrest Black—from comfort and durability to temperature regulation and motion isolation—to help you find the mattress that fulfills your dreams of luxurious sleep.
Saatva Vs. Beautyrest: Similarities And Differences
Similarities
- Multiple firmness levels to suit a broad range of sleepers
- Doesn’t sink as much as a memory foam mattress (particularly the Saatva)
- Free white glove delivery with in-room setup and removal of old mattress
Differences
- The Beautyrest comes in four firmness levels; the Saatva has three
- Saatva offers much longer trial and warranty periods than Beautyrest
- Some firmness options affect the price of the Beautyrest
Firmness And Feel
Firmness
The Saatva Classic comes in three firmness options. Plush soft is designed for side sleepers and lightweight sleepers, luxury firm is meant to be balanced for all sleep positions and firm is recommended for stomach and back sleepers, as well as larger body types. All models have a 3-inch Euro pillow top. Per feedback from our testers and Saatva customers, all levels of the Saatva Classic tend to skew firmer than advertised.
Simmons offers its Beautyrest Black mattress in plush, medium, firm and extra-firm. These firmness levels generally align with Saatva’s, with extra-firm catering to sleepers seeking maximum support. The plush, medium and firm options also feature an optional pillow top upgrade to boost height and contouring. Shoppers claim the Beautyrest Black feels firmer than expected, although the pillow top does add a touch of softness.
Feel
According to reviews, even the plush soft Saatva Classic has that floating-on-top sensation, which works for sleepers who don’t like the sinkage of memory foam. This is an innerspring mattress with minimal foam comfort layers, save for a strip of high-density memory foam paired with firmer coils in the middle to prevent your lower back and hips from sinking.
The Beautyrest Black comes in a variety of constructions and firmness levels. Higher-end models in the lineup include top layers of high-density foam, latex and nanocoils for support and relief, while the pillow top adds plush contouring. Like the Saatva, the surface of a Beautyrest doesn’t sink quite like an all-foam bed does.
Sleep Position And Body Type
Sleep Position
Since the Saatva Classic and Beautyrest Black are available in multiple firmness levels, either can be tailored to suit your preferences. However, the Beautyrest offers more firmness options with a choice of pillow top, so it’s slightly more versatile than the Saatva.
Body Type
The Saatva Classic supports up to 300 pounds per side (600 pounds total). Beautyrest doesn’t disclose a weight limit for the Beautyrest Black, although the taller and firmer models may offer sufficient support for larger sleepers. That said, neither one is considered a mattress for heavy people.
Since both mattresses tend to skew firmer than advertised, sleepers under 150 pounds should opt for the softest comfort levels. Adding a pillow top to the Beautyrest Black can help smaller sleepers sink slightly lower into the surface for more comfort and contouring.
Construction
Saatva Construction
- Cover: The cover is made from organic cotton and treated with an antimicrobial solution to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.
- Euro pillow top: This 3-inch layer affects the overall firmness of the mattress; specialty quilting in the center adds lumbar support.
- Lumbar layer: A strip of high-density gel memory foam paired with Saatva’s Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire helps maintain proper alignment.
- Pocket coils: Wrapped 14.5-gauge recycled steel coils are in place to isolate motion and contour around your body. Firmer coils in the center add support for your midsection.
- Base: A dual-coil design of 13-gauge tempered steel coils provides the Saatva’s main support, with high-density foam rails along the perimeter for sturdy edges.
Beautyrest Construction
- Cover: Series One and Series Two come with a quilted cover. Series Three and Series Four feature a specialized cooling cover.
- Pillow top: Most models include an optional pillow top; Series Four has an extra-tall Summit Pillow Top, which can boost the height to 17.25 inches.
- Comfort layers: Depending on the model, the mattress features six to nine comfort layers. Series One and Two use high-density memory foam. Series Three and Four add latex and nanocoils. Diamond-infused cooling foam is included from Series Two onward.
- Pocket Coils: Every Beautyrest Black model has the brand’s Triple-Stranded Pocketed Coil Technology, designed to minimize motion transfer while providing targeted support and relief.
If you’re shopping for a mattress without fiberglass, both of these are good options. Instead of fiberglass, Saatva uses a natural flame retardant made of wood pulp bonded with polyester and Beautyrest uses a fire sock that’s treated with a food-grade salt, according to both brands.
Performance
Edge Support
- Saatva Classic: Forbes Vetted contributor Lindsey Vickers praises the Saatva Classic’s superb edge support, claiming it “outpaces” nearly every other mattress she’s tested. She felt secure whether sitting on the side or sleeping against the edge. This is particularly beneficial for sleepers with mobility issues who need to take their time getting in and out of bed, as well as couples looking to maximize their sleep surface. One Saatva customer with lower back and hip pain says, “The edge does not sink down when you sit on the side of the bed. [It’s] easy to get in and out.”
- Beautyrest Black: Edge support appears to be lacking for the Beautyrest Black, particularly in the pillow top models. Forbes Vetted contributor Alexandra Frost says, “My one complaint is that it has terrible edge support, and you literally have to scoot into the bed away from the edges or you might sort of slide out.” Several customers also report feeling like they might slide off when sitting or lying near the edge. One reviewer calls it a design flaw, saying, “[My] one complaint is the way the pillow top is designed. Instead of being the same thickness [as] the edge of the mattress, it gently slopes down to mattress height. Both my partner and I have felt like we were falling off the bed because of this.” Notably, the Beautyrest doesn’t have reinforced edges.
Motion Isolation
- Saatva Classic: If you’re a light sleeper or share a bed with a restless partner, the Saatva may not do enough to limit movement from one side of the bed to the other. Vickers notes that she could feel her partner shifting positions, though his subtle movements were less noticeable. Saatva shoppers have mixed opinions, with some reporting they could barely feel their partner’s movements, while others noticed the disturbance. Consider the split king if you want to sleep apart from your partner but not in separate beds.
- Beautyrest Black: Thanks to its foam top layers, the Beautyrest Black is better equipped to absorb movement than the Saatva. Several customers speak highly of the Beautyrest’s motion isolation, with one saying, “[I] barely notice the movements of my spouse or the dogs and that means I’m enjoying a deeper sleep overall.” Another reviewer says, “It has great motion isolation; my husband tosses and turns a lot in his sleep but I don’t feel him moving when he does.”
Cooling
- Saatva Classic: A dual layer of springs, minimal foam and an organic cotton cover allow air to pass through the Saatva. “It’s remarkably cool and very breathable so heat doesn’t build up,” says Forbes Vetted contributor Jamie Ueda, who also tested a Saatva Classic. Vickers agrees—she slept on a Saatva during a mid-summer heatwave but says she “did not once wake up feeling too hot.” Plenty of 5-star reviews mention how cool the Saatva sleeps, too.
- Beautyrest Black: The Series 3 and Series 4 Beautyrest Black models are designed for very hot sleepers, with a layer of micro diamond-infused foam, latex and a cooling cover. Even without these cooling components, many Beautyrest shoppers say they sleep comfortably—although the taller pillow top models may retain some heat, regardless of the cooling cover. Still, one Beautyrest customer claims, “Neither of us has had a sweaty night since we got it despite the 100 [degree] temperatures we’re having right now.”
Pressure Relief
- Saatva Classic: “If you associate pressure relief with sinking into the mattress, the Saatva Classic might not be for you,” says Vickers, who adds that her luxury firm model didn’t trigger any pressure points. Ueda—who tested the plush soft version—agrees, saying it “gives good pressure relief without the sinking feeling.” Many Saatva customers credit the Saatva Classic’s pressure relief for reducing their aches. One side sleeper says, “The luxury firm version offers just the right amount of softness, while still providing excellent support. I no longer wake up with shoulder or hip pain.”
- Beautyrest Black: For maximum pressure relief, go for the Series 4 Beautyrest Black, which features an extra-tall pillow top with layers of memory foam, latex and nanocoils. The firmest options provide less contouring, and in most cases there isn’t too much sinkage. According to one Beautyrest customer, “This is the perfect combo of comfortable pressure relief and support—definitely more of an ‘on top’ of the mattress feel versus some of the foam mattresses you sink into.”
Overall Support
- Saatva Classic: Many long-time Saatva customers with various body types and sleep styles are satisfied with how well their mattresses have performed over time. One reviewer, who bought a Saatva Classic over four years ago, says, “It’s held up beautifully—there’s no sag, no visible wear and tear [and it’s] just as supportive and comfortable as it was on day one.” In rare cases of sagging, customers commend Saatva’s customer service for making repairs and replacements a seamless process.
- Beautyrest Black: The Beautyrest Black has a sleek appearance but several customers are critical of its build quality—particularly for the pillow top, which is prone to sagging. One reviewer simply says, “Only had the mattress for about a month and it’s already dipping in the middle.” Meanwhile, sleepers over 200 pounds may want to consider the taller and firmer Beautyrest models. A customer with a 14.25-inch Series 1 Medium Beautyrest Black notes, “It is great for me (46 female under 150 pounds); however, my partner (46 male over 200 pounds) finds it a bit too squishy and that it doesn’t provide him enough support throughout the night.”
Prices And Policies
Saatva Prices And Policies
- List price (queen): $2,095
- Shipping: Free white glove delivery with in-room setup and optional mattress and foundation
- Trial: 365 nights
- Warranty: Lifetime
Beautyrest Prices And Policies
- List price (queen): $2,299 (Series One), $2,799 (Series Two), $3,599 (Series Three), $4,999 (Series Four)
- Shipping: Free white glove delivery with in-room setup and optional mattress and foundation
- Trial: 100 nights
- Warranty: 10 years
Saatva Vs. Beautyrest: Our Final Verdict
We’re crowning the Saatva Classic as the overall winner for its excellent value and well-rounded performance. It’s a beautifully handcrafted mattress that’s comfortable and durable, no matter where and how you lay on it. Its sturdy edges and focus on lumbar support make it one of the best mattresses for back pain—and with three firmness levels and two height profiles to choose from, it’s easy to tailor the mattress to your needs. Saatva’s 365-night trial and lifetime warranty offer greater peace of mind, and it’s more affordable than the Beautyrest Black, too.
That said, we recommend the Beautyrest Black for sleepers who want more control over the look and feel of their mattress, as it comes in a broader range of firmness levels and pillow tops. The taller, firmer versions of the Beautyrest Black may be better suited for larger sleepers than the Saatva Classic, while couples may appreciate the high level of motion cancellation from its multiple foam top layers. Neither mattress has the deep sink of a memory foam bed, but the plush pillow top of the Beautyrest Black could offer enough contouring to satisfy sleepers who want that “hug” from their mattress.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Browse our library of mattress and sleep stories to find hands-on product reviews from our seasoned team of product testers and advice from top medical and sleep experts on the ways we can achieve our best rest.
- The author of this story, Alison Barretta, is a regular Forbes Vetted contributor. She’s tested an array of mattresses, pillows and wearables, and even tried a $10,000 immersive sound therapy pod to see how it could improve her sleep.
- We also relied on insights from Forbes Vetted contributors Lindsey Vickers and Jamie Ueda, who have both tested the Saatva Classic, and Alexandra Frost, who is currently testing the Beautyrest Black for Forbes Vetted. Vickers is the author of our Saatva Classic Mattress Review.
- Overseeing this story are Forbes Vetted mattress and sleep editors Bridget Chapman and McKenzie Dillon. Both are certified sleep science coaches who have collectively tested over 100 mattresses.