The 14 Best Mattresses of 2026, Tested by Our Editors

Tuft & Needle's Original Mattress hits all our best marks for a Goldilocks sleeper. The mattress has a medium-firm feel with a memory foam top layer and a supportive foam stability layer. Our favorite detail is the cooling knit top of the mattress, which helps make the memory foam mattress layer feel 10x more comfortable. But best of all about this sleeper is its price point: Tuft & Needle has found the perfect sweet spot for providing a whole lot of value for under $1,000.

Thanks to a supportive design, the mattress caters to both back sleepers and stomach sleepers exceptionally well. It's also worth mentioning that buying mattresses for stomach sleepers can be difficult, so it's nice to see the T&N Original provide enough support to keep most sleepers' hips from sinking down too far into the bed. (Allowing the hips to sink too far when sleeping on your stomach can result in some nasty back pain.)

One of our testers said, “I like the responsiveness of the foam—it's firm, but you sink in just enough. You do not sink in too much, but it is still very supportive and comfortable.” They did, however, state, “It could honestly be slightly less responsive, but if someone didn't want that, they might not want to try a memory foam mattress.” Overall, they noted, “My sleep has been better, objectively. When I sleep on my girlfriend's older mattress, I can tell the difference right away—my back feels great, and it's a very comfortable sleeping experience.”

The only qualm about the T&N Original is that some side sleepers may want to opt for something a tad more plush. The good news is the 100-night sleep trial gives plenty of time for personal testing. The 10-year limited warranty is a solid bonus, as is the free delivery and free returns.

When you think of an adjustable bed, it’s hard to get more robust than the excellent TEMPUR-Adapt from Tempur-Pedic. When paired with the brand's Smart Base, the mattress can be adjusted to several positions, including a more upright one for reading or watching TV. If you or your partner tends to be a snorer, a gentle incline of the head can help ease it up and give you both a good night’s rest.

The mattress is also enhanced with advanced motion-absorbing properties. So you and your significant other can sleep comfortably and undisturbed through each other's shifting, thus ensuring you wake up feeling fully rested and refreshed.

“I love the mattress, though I should note there is no such thing as too firm of a mattress in my opinion, and this thing is FIRM. I sink into it just enough that it’s comfortable but still keeps my back/body straight. I’ve also sat on things with a full coffee, glass of water, and can of beer placed on it next to me, I moved around and shifted my body, and they’ve never split or even shaken (though I admit I am tempting fate here),” exclaimed our tester. How have they slept on it? “Incredible, I've been sleeping possibly too well on it. I'm not someone who traditionally sleeps in or even relies heavily on an alarm, and I've found myself knocking out for 9+ hours on this thing pretty regularly to the point I've had to recommit to the alarm lifestyle. Also, not to sound 100 years old, but my back has felt amazing since sleeping on it.”

This mattress, as with all Tempur-Pedic mattresses, is pricey at more than $3,000 (for a queen). You'll want to invest in a premium (and probably pricey) frame, too, to protect and get the most out of your new mattress. But, if only the best will do and you don't mind splurging, this is easily one of this year's best mattresses for men.

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Shopping for the right cooling mattress (with the perfect firmness and the right cooling materials, all at the right price) is hard enough. But finding the best cooling mattress when you’re a couple is enough to test any relationship.

The DreamCloud is designed to be all things to all sleepers. The hybrid construction blends wrapped coils (to maximize airflow) and proprietary gel memory foam (for the perfect balance of comfort and support) with a cooling cashmere-blend (yes, really!) cover. Our sleep-loving testers found this a winning combination that wicks away heat like a champ. After months of testing, one of our "hottest" sleepers noted, “This is the first mattress in a long time where I didn’t wake up every few hours drenched in sweat. I’m keeping this one.”

What’s more: By combining individually wrapped coils with a moisture-absorbent foam layer, this mattress almost completely eliminates motion transfer. For couples who tend to flip and flop in the night, it’s a godsend.

“I really like how it's both soft and supportive—I don't sink into it like I would a foam mattress (i.e., the kind that feels nice for a second but is murder on your back and makes getting up/moving around a hassle), but I also don't feel any springs pushing up against me and making it feel too bouncy,” said another tester. “It's a really nice mix of foam and innerspring mattress, and it cradles my body while still letting me move around. (As a note: I'm a restless sleeper, tossing and turning, but the mattress seems to absorb a lot of that motion so the bed doesn't feel quite so reactive to my movements.)"

They also noted that it’s not for everyone. “My wife has a bad back and tends to need a little more support than I do, so for those who need that kind of spring support (especially for your back), it's not ideal.”

The best part? It’s also one of the most affordable cooling mattresses we tested in the past year. A queen is available from $799 delivered. Plus, you’ll get free returns, a 365-night in-home trial, and a lifetime warranty.

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The Snow is Casper’s premier sleep surface for the hottest of sleepers. It’s built with a long list of high-tech features to absorb and dissipate heat no matter how toasty you get. If you're looking for the best cooling mattress with maximum pain- and pressure-relieving back support, then you'll want to take a look at this mattress. With its conforming memory foam, you get one comfortable mattress for enhanced support and a cooling touch. With its thermal bands, it helps to regulate heat for 12+ hours, while the phase change materials help pull heat away from your body, and the cool touch cover gives it a “brisk” feeling.

Our panelists unanimously agreed that the combination of flex coils, multiple layers of foam (each with its own unique comfort and cooling characteristics), and the snow cover is a winner. This is a solid cooling mattress option for couples.

“It’s very firm, and it does not transfer motion, when you turn over, your partner barely notices,” explained our tester. ”Even when a 70-pound Bernadoodle jumps up on the bed, there's not too much movement.” This is definitely the pick for those who prefer something a little firmer than most. “The wife says it's a little too firm, but I like it. and it's heavy when you make it and have to lift it to tuck in the sheets.”

At more than $2,000 for a queen, this mattress is a bit of an investment but relatively affordable for all the built-in cooling tech. The free shipping and free returns are included, along with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Plus, Casper is a regular favorite among our sleep-savvy panelists, so we confidently recommend the Snow Cooling Hybrid to anyone looking for a cooling mattress that’s great for back pain, too.

Purple’s proprietary GelFlex Grid might be our favorite mattress innovation since the adjustable frame. It’s not just a marketing gimmick. We can confirm it’s the real deal—it’s soft yet adaptive, so it works with your body size, weight, and preferred sleep position to deliver serious pressure relief. That makes it very, very comfortable. Not surprisingly, it’s been a consistent favorite among our mattress test panel for years. But because it relies on hundreds of open channels, it’s also amazing at shedding body heat and keeping hot sleepers cool.

The Rejuvenate line from Purple just recently got an overhaul, and this Premier has not disappointed. As our tester who has an old back injury notes (and has had excellent sleep on this), "It's got the perfect amount of bounce and give, to the point where I don't even think about whether or not I'm feeling supported. It's very accommodating. I can sleep in any position and feel fully supported."

Keep in mind that this is a luxury mattress with a luxury price tag to match. Expect to pay north of $6,000, even when it’s on sale. But Purple does offer a 10-year warranty and a 100-night in-home trial. So there’s that.

Unlike most hybrid mattresses, which are a combination of memory foam and innerspring coils, Avocado's Green Mattress contains over 1,400 pocketed support coils arranged in five zones for more calculated comfort. The materials used consist of 100 percent GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified organic latex, 100 percent GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic wool, and 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton. These certifications ensure you're sleeping on the highest premium quality materials—no polyester, polyurethane foams, or toxic fire retardants. It's another great option for buyers who are extra conscientious about the products they bring into their homes, even their mattresses.

Personally, I love my Avocado mattress. Having owned one for the past two years, I can safely say that it has drastically improved my overall sleep. Not only has my sleep improved from a quality standpoint, but I have gotten to the point where I actually look forward to crawling into bed. I find a firmer mattress to be ideal, and the beauty of Avocado is that it comes in firm, medium (with a pillow topper), and plush (with a box topper).

And if you like a more plush-feeling mattress, you can upgrade to an attached European-style pillow-top filled with an additional two-inch layer of GOLS organic certified latex rubber foam. Ideal for all side and combination sleepers, it provides superior pressure relief and a luxurious feel. With a starting price of $2,000 (closer to $3,000 for the plush version), it ain't cheap. But Avocado does throw in free shipping and a 25-year warranty to protect your investment.

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Side sleepers ideally need a medium-firm consistency, as you want something that's soft in order to support the positioning of your shoulders and hips but not be too stiff. Basically, side sleepers should feel like they’re slipping into a plush and supportive cloud when they fall asleep—and The WinkBed (in luxury firm) makes it happen.

On top of the mattress, there’s a soft cover derived from Tencel, a natural, eucalyptus-based performance fabric that's cool to the touch. The next layer is a pressure-relieving, quilted Euro-pillow top that ensures your back, hips, and shoulders receive superior cushioning and support. And lastly, there’s a layer of individually wrapped pocketed coils, and an extraEDGE support system provides a more sleepable area through enhanced edge support. You get a high level of cushioned comfort and breathability at a not-too-crazy cost. Sounds pretty nice, right?

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Back support is key, even if you don't have a sore back. That's because looking after your lumbar region improves posture, prevents injury, and can lead to better sleep. This mattress is a spine's best friend, with steel coils that really offer the lift you need and a foam layer that really cradles the body. We opted for the upgrade, which includes an added layer of ErgoAlign firm foam beneath your hips, bottom and lower back to reduce stress points and help give extra support to the lumbar zone. Those among us with a history of back issues loved the feel of this mattress, no matter what the position (back, side, stomach).

Hot sleepers will appreciate the cool touch of this mattress. It's also quite tall, giving it a chic look at elevating your bedroom to resort-level status. The firmness is a perfect medium, enough to feel carried while also soft enough to absorb more angular body parts like hips and shoulders. The pillowy cover gives it cloud-like comfort and the fact that it's often on sale is a big perk.

Be advised as we have heard chatter of varying firmness levels even within the same mattress. While we're fans of this one, we do suggest trying one out beforehand if possible.

Are you an antsy sleeper? Is your partner? There's a mattress for that. This one not only feels great but welcomes movement as that activity is virtually locked in place, so as not to disturb your other half. Moreover, this mattress entices with an inviting medium-to-medium-firm feel. The cover is exceptionally breathable and we found the temperature regulation to be just about ideal, no matter what the season.

The dual foam layers truly eat up any motion while offering support in droves. And it doesn't hurt that the mattress comes with more than 1,000 individual springs, allowing for support all the way to the edges and encouraging sleepers to utilize every inch of the surface. Our team really enjoyed stretching out on this one, sleeping like starfish to take full advantage of the evenness at play. Some mattresses have weak points in terms of support, even if small, but we couldn't find one here.

We found that those in our camp nursing injuries really liked this mattress as well. Many thought their sleep improved, compared to their old mattress. It doesn't hurt that the signature cover offers lovely texture and some tasteful stripes.

One small gripe: The mattress could use some handles on the side to make setup a bit easier as it is on the heavy side.

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Your life isn’t static and your mattress doesn’t need to be either, especially when it comes to its firmness. As life goes, your weight may change, as well as your favorite sleep positions, your bad back may act up on any given week, and who you decide to share your bed with all will likely ebb and flow. The solution is picking up a hybrid mattress like this one from Layla which helps alleviate those headaches the old-fashioned way: Simply flip your mattress over and you’ve got an entirely new sleeping surface. One side is plush, with a medium-soft build made perfect for side sleepers who like a little hug at the hips and shoulders. The other gives you a medium-firm support with slightly better bounce and airflow, better suited for stomach and back sleepers who need more firmness.

Note: For those who may not know, it’s good protocol to rotate your mattress at least once or twice per year (at a minimum), rotating head-to-foot. This helps to ensure that the mattress doesn’t wear out unevenly over time, creating sagging by consistent sleep positions. Flipping the Layla is a different move altogether though, as you’re getting a completely different sleep surface and firmness, instead of just extending the life.

Both sides use a copper-based, gel-infused memory foam layered over a pocketed coil system, giving you a true hybrid construction with solid cooling abilities and just enough motion isolation. Plus, the cover is easily removable and machine washable for easy upkeep.

While other systems like a Sleep Number bed may be super convenient, what’s not is its price tag, which is why this mattress is so appealing. Plus, those air chambers that adjust support can wear down over time and begin to leak, and the pump or motor can fail too (massive, potential long-term additional investments). With this one, flip it and forget it.

While the Avocado took our top spot for best organic mattress, this category is deep enough among natural mattresses to have a second entry, especially considering Bear Natural made our 2025 Sleep Awards. Here's what we said back then about it, which still rings true.

More and more brands are going au naturel, and we’re here for it. The Bear Natural ditches sketchy foams for organic cotton and latex, so there’s no funky “new mattress” smell when you unbox it. Add in coils that comfortably hold up your back and a breathable build that keeps you from overheating, and you’ve got an eco-conscious bed that’s sturdy, supportive, and comfortable.

Perfectly pairing a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover with a layer of sustainably sourced Talalay latex, this setup is sitting on a zoned coil system that feels ideally firm right under your hips as well as providing real spinal support, especially for the lower back. Continuing the “healthy” build, it is also fiberglass-free and is GreenGuard Gold certified. Similar to the Avocado, the latex gives you a more responsive feel with just enough bounce, which is great for adult activities with your partner; however, this can be less ideal for light sleepers when partners toss and turn.

If you’ve got the funds to really deck out your sleep zone, the Reserve is worth it. The cover has moisture-wicking fibers to keep sweat off your skin, while its cushioning molds to your body way better than standard memory foam so your shoulders and hips don’t ache. Underneath, high-density coils add airflow and keep the mattress from sagging at the sides, giving you cooler, more consistent comfort every night.

The result is a mattress that is genuinely hand-built, and its craftsmanship shows. While the Reserve sits at the top of Stearns & Foster's lineup, the details make it worth its high cost, as you get a hand-tufted cover, Tempur-indulge foam (from Tempur-Pedic), and a coil system that adapts to your weight and movements throughout the night. The standard mattress comes with a medium firmness, but for a bit more, you can have it crafted with a pillow topper in either firm or soft builds. While it is not affordable and the trial is only 90 days, this is one piece of bedroom furniture that truly is worth the investment.

Still the king of bed cooling systems, Eight Sleep takes the crown for top overall cooling system. Point blank: Eight Sleep's systems have changed the way our staff sleeps, including our Deputy Editor Christian Gollayan (and myself)—in the best way possible. "I'm a very hot sleeper, and Eight Sleep's high-tech cover has stopped my night sweats even on the hottest evenings," Gollayan says. The secret sauce to Eight Sleep's Pod Cover is its Smart Hub that pumps water through the cover and on top of your mattress, which can either cool it down to 55 degrees or heat it up to 110 (perfect for wintertime). The system runs on its software known as Autopilot and is required for the first 12 months. The Pod 5 has auto-temperature tech, which changes throughout the night based on your sleep pattern, and tracks your sleep throughout the night (including heart rate, HRV, respiratory rate, and snoring) and gives you a sleep score the following day, which is pretty similar to the Oura Ring's interface.

After three months of testing, Gollayan says his sleep has improved tremendously. "The Pod 5 Cover has helped me sleep through incredibly hot summer evenings, and the sleep tracking feature helps me stay on top of my recover," he says. Our editors also love that Sleep Eight allows you to create custom temperatures for two sides of the bed, which is great for couples. Though one thing to note, it's quite expensive, but if you can afford it, Eight Sleep's next-gen features are worth the hefty price tag.

If you’re looking for a solid system that doesn’t require a subscription on day one, Orion’s sleep setup is the best value on the market. For starters, it utilizes a dual-zone water cooled cover that fits over any mattress (same as the Pod), but this one gets colder and hotter than Eight Sleep, ranging from 50 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. What you get is a system that offers temperature scheduling, auto on/off, dual-zone control, and a 2-year hardware warranty. If you want all the sleep metrics possible, you can upgrade to the Orion Intelligence AI pan ($250 a year) and you get all the insights: nightly sleep score, HRV trends, respiratory patterns, and the AI even recommends temp settings based on your data over time.

Setup is super fast at under 10 minutes (better than Eight Sleep’s listing of 30 to 60 minutes), it runs much quieter (around 24 decibels) and it cools nearly equally as fast as Eight Sleeps Pod. If you’re looking for the smarter investment, just get this one.

Most cooling systems miss one key detail: What if your partner isn’t a fan of using the system (or you just want a solo temp control)? That’s where the Chilipad 2.0 stands out from the rest. This system still delivers elite chill for way less (for half bed models) and is perfect if you have a partner who doesn’t want one—but they’re not bad to use two in tandem, though each needs its own dock. The system uses channels to flow the water through its machine-washable cover to heat or cool from 55 to 115 degrees. It can be adjusted via its app, or if you’re anti phones in the bedroom at night (like a diehard biohacker), you can adjust it via the new nightstand remote.

This one is also HSA/FSA eligible, which means you can put your pre-tax dollars toward buying it, too. If you do want full bed coverage, you can grab it for two sleepers as well, although the price tag matches Eight Sleep’s Pod. The smart play is to start with the half, single zone, and then you can grab the Companion extension unit later on if needed (from $1,199 to $1,599), which is still cheaper than buying a second unit. The best part though is no subscription is required to get all the features.