Our rigorous tests cut through the hype and zero in on the top innerspring, foam, and adjustable air beds
Over the years, CR has tested hundreds of mattresses, including those from popular brands like (from top) Casper, Essentia, and Sleep Number.
By Tanya A. Christian
A mattress company may claim to have the “best” or “most comfortable” bed on the market, but the key to finding the right mattress for your specific needs is focusing on what works best for your sleep position and body type.
That’s because comfort differs greatly from individual to individual. Instead of getting bogged down in marketing-speak during your mattress search, allow our lab testing and surveys of actual mattress owners to show you the way.
We evaluate the three most common types of mattresses—innerspring (including hybrid mattresses, which combine foam with coils), all-foam, and adjustable air—for features and specifications so that you have the information you need to choose the right one.
Whether they’re from established brands like Beautyrest or popular mattress-in-a-box companies like Casper and Tuft & Needle, we rigorously test each mattress.
Of the 20 mattresses we recently evaluated, 16 scored high enough to earn CR’s recommendation. The batch included models from popular brands like Serta and Sealy Posturepedic, as well as the newest offerings from Essentia. We also retested two of Avocado’s top sellers, the Avocado Green and the Avocado Green pillowtop.
After seven years at the top of CR’s ratings, the Avocado Green has fallen from its top spot. While it’s still a recommended model, our latest assessment of the redesigned mattress found it to be softer than the original (now a 5 on our firmness scale vs. a 7). Chris Regan, lead tester for mattresses, says side sleepers will see the biggest difference in support. Back sleeper support has also decreased, but not to the same degree as side support. On a positive note, the new version is less bouncy, resulting in a better stabilization score.
For detailed results of the other mattresses we tested, consult our comprehensive mattress ratings featuring more than 250 models. To learn more about how to shop for a mattress, check out our mattress buying guide and mattress selector.
Best Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses are composed of steel coils topped with layers of cushioning made with fiber-filled padding, foam, or both. They’re typically better than foam mattresses if you prefer a bit of bounce.
Casper Snow
The Casper Snow had been one of the best mattresses in CR’s tests, but it took a brief hiatus from that list after Casper completely revamped its lineup in early 2024. Now it’s back with a whole new look and equally impressive test results. The Snow is one of the least heat-retaining mattresses we’ve tested, making it great for those who sleep hot. It’s also an all-around high-performing pick. Combining pocketed coils with layers of foam, this hybrid mattress is particularly supportive of back sleepers of all sizes and is also well-suited for petite to large side sleepers. With a firmness rating of 4 out of 10, the Casper Snow is on the softer side. Its excellent stability rating (an improvement from its previous iteration) means you shouldn’t feel vibrations from your partner’s movements. CR members are quite impressed with Casper innerspring mattresses, giving them high marks for comfort and owner satisfaction.
Casper Dream
If you’re looking for a soft mattress, the Casper Dream is a solid pick. This top performer—a relative newcomer to CR’s ratings—receives a 3 out of 10 on our firmness scale, meaning it can provide pressure relief and comfort to those who need it. In our lab evaluation, we found the model to be a standout for petite back sleepers, and it serves all other sizes and positions very well. Like nearly all of the mattresses in this roundup, the Dream receives a perfect score for durability, which means you can expect to get sound sleep on it for 8 to 10 years. It does quite well when it comes to stabilization, so if you sleep with a partner, you should feel very little vibration from their movement. CR members give Casper mattresses high marks for comfort and owner satisfaction.
Casper Dream Max
Petite sleepers looking for a very soft mattress should find quality rest with the Casper Dream Max. It’s one of several models recently revamped by the popular mattress-in-a-box company. While those on the smaller side will find exceptional support, the Dream Max still offers solid support for side and back sleepers of all sizes. Testers also found it to be durable and adequate at isolating motion. With a firmness rating of 2 out of 10, expect a very plush feel. Casper innerspring mattresses earn very good comfort and owner satisfaction ratings in our member surveys.
Best Foam Mattresses
Foam mattresses consist entirely of foam layers. Latex foam mattresses have a somewhat springy feel to them; synthetic foam mattresses (memory foam in particular) tend to lack resilience. You’ll feel as if you’re sleeping “in” the mattress as opposed to on top of it.
Casper The One
Casper The One mattress wowed testers, earning top marks for its support of average and petite back sleepers. It also provided strong support for large and tall back sleepers and side sleepers of all sizes. This highly durable mattress receives a 6 on our 10-point firmness scale, so you can expect a medium-soft feel. You can also anticipate a pretty sound sleep regardless of your partner’s movements because it receives a very good score for stabilization. Casper foam mattresses tend to please their owners in terms of both comfort and owner satisfaction in our member surveys.
Essentia Grateful Eight Organic
Back sleepers of all sizes will appreciate that the Essentia Grateful Eight Organic mattress offers excellent support. Side sleepers will also find that it offers solid support. This newly released latex foam model from Essentia has excellent stability. But it weighs a hefty 111 pounds and has no grips, so you’ll need someone to help you move it. In our member surveys, Essentia’s foam models receive the highest possible rating for comfort and are just a tad shy of a top-tier mark for owner satisfaction. With a firmness level of 6 out of 10, the model is medium to medium-firm in feel. It’s among the eco-friendliest foam offerings in our ratings.
Earthfoam Organic Medium
The latex Earthfoam Organic Medium is a back sleeper’s dream. The mattress-in-a-box offers the best support you can find for this position, no matter your size. Side-sleeper support isn’t shabby, either. If you like the sinking feeling of foam but still appreciate a stiffer feel, this mattress offers both. It gets a 7 for firmness on our scale of 1 to 10, making it one of the firmer options in our ratings. It’s also one of the most stable.
Best Adjustable Air Mattresses
Adjustable air mattresses can be inflated to your desired firmness level using a remote control or a smartphone app. In some cases, you can opt for separate chambers on each side. So if you’re sleeping with a partner, each of you can select a preferred firmness. Just note that these nice-to-haves often come with an inflated price.
Sleep Number p6 smart bed
Durable and adjustable, the newly revamped Sleep Number p6 Smart Bed offers excellent support for petite and average back sleepers and very good support for all other sleepers. Very little vibration is felt throughout the mattress when there’s movement. CR members give Sleep Number beds a stellar comfort rating and a respectable owner satisfaction score.
Sleep Number c2 Smart Bed Classic Series
The Sleep Number C2 earns a stellar rating for petite and average back-sleeper support and scores very well in our support tests for all other sleepers. Those sleeping with a partner will appreciate that this bed is quite stable, so movement throughout the night remains mostly isolated. CR members who own a Sleep Number mattress are very happy with their purchase, and the brand earns a top-tier comfort rating.
Saatva Solaire
The Solaire mattress by Saatva is made with certified organic materials and is an all-around crowd-pleaser, with above-average results in just about every area, including nice support for all sleep positions and sizes as well as good stabilization. It also excels when it comes to durability. As a brand, Saatva keeps its users quite content in terms of both comfort and owner satisfaction.
How CR Tests Mattresses
There are more than 250 mattresses in our ratings, each with an Overall Score that’s determined, in large part, by the model’s performance on a range of tests: sleeper support, firmness level, stabilization level, and durability.
To test stability (also known as motion isolation), we drop a 38.5-pound weight onto the mattress and measure the vibrations at the point of impact and across the mattress. This tells us how easily sleepers should be able to shift their weight without disturbing a partner. We also test how well the mattress keeps its shape over time by using a machine that moves a 300-plus-pound wood roller across the surface 30,000 times.
The ratings for mattress comfort and owner satisfaction included in the Overall Score are based on data from survey results on almost 67,000 mattresses. To learn more about how we test and rate mattresses, and how to choose the right one for you, check our mattress buying guide.
We also recently started examining a mattress’s impact on the environment and health, taking into account a range of factors, including materials and construction, durability, owner satisfaction, and shipping footprint. Our Green Choice recommendations are designated with a green leaf icon in our comprehensive mattress ratings.
How CR Picks the Best Mattresses
It can be difficult to find the best mattress for a particular person because comfort and feel are so subjective. For the best outcome, we recommend that you lie on a mattress before committing. That said, CR’s engineers and survey teams assess every mattress that comes into CR’s labs for several objective criteria that can define a high-quality mattress.
Support: A great mattress should help keep your spine aligned throughout the night. For this roundup, we chose mattresses that performed well all-around for both side sleepers and back sleepers. But keep in mind that a mattress with a low score for, say, back-sleeper support may be a good choice for side sleepers. That’s why it’s important to explore our comprehensive mattress ratings and filter specifically for your needs.
Durability: Mattresses shouldn’t sag, soften, or provide less support after just a few years, so we highlight those that score well in our durability test, which simulates eight to 10 years of use.
Stability: We look for mattresses with high stability scores, meaning they isolate motion well, so your partner’s movement on one side of the mattress won’t jostle you awake on the opposite side.
Feedback on CR’s member surveys: Our member survey ratings cover thousands of mattresses purchased in the past decade, allowing us to collect the data needed to determine comfort and owner satisfaction scores according to brand.
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