Best Mattresses Based on In-Depth Reviews

Beds come in a variety of sizes. If you’re looking for something to fit in your tiny dorm room, a twin XL works wonders. If you live with your partner and three dogs that sleep in the bed, a California King should do the trick. Once you’ve measured the space and the use for your new bed, you should then consider, “what do I want to sleep on?”

As we mentioned above, most mattresses are made from latex, innerspring, memory foam, and a hybrid of the latter two. Innerspring is the most common type of mattress material, but the rise of memory foam has seen a marriage of the two, resulting in the hybrid model, which blends the best of both worlds: the sturdiness and balance provided by the innerspring combined with the comforting and body contouring effects of memory foam. When high-density foam is paired with an innerspring, the product lasts longer, and sagging is minimized. Check out this article for more insight into which mattress is best for your needs.

To ensure that a  mattress is up to par in testing standards, look for these common labels and certifications: 

• CertiPUR-US: managed by a non-profit that ensures products are manufactured without flammable and toxic materials such as mercury, lead, metals, and formaldehyde, among others. 

• GOLS Standard: Short for “Global Organic Latex Standard” which sets a new standard for organic and non-organic latex manufacturing. To achieve GOLS certification, products must contain over 95 percent organic raw material, and comply with the limits for harmful substances, emission test requirements, and polymer and fiber percentages.

• GOTS Standard: Short for “Global Organic Textile Standard”, this is the leading calibrator of organic textile manufacturing. 

• Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX: This certification is for independent testing of textile products and accessory materials. It takes into account requirements from the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, among other criteria. 

• TB 117-2013 Label: This is a new regulation standard that aims to improve fire safety without the use of flame-retardant chemicals.

• UL Greenguard: This certification promotes the creation of products and materials with low chemical emissions.

We favored companies that keep the manufacturing within the States and follow eco-friendly practices regarding materials and disposal methods. We also took into account socially responsible practices such as giving back to the community and donating proceeds to different causes.

Let’s face it, we all want to get the best bang for our buck without compromising quality. And a quality mattress is an important purchase. You’ll be sleeping on it for approximately eight hours a day for at least ten years, for an approximate total of 29,200 hours of sleep. 

Regarding the best time to go mattress shopping, you should know that prices usually go down during the Christmas Shopping Season, Black Friday, and also during overstock sales. 

Return policies and warranty options are the top of our priority list when reviewing companies. We only included consumer-driven, direct-to-shopper companies with the best customer service practices, including lenient return policies and generous warranties in case of defects.  

Warranties usually range from 10-25 years and will let you replace mattresses due to manufacturing defects but not misuse. Return policies, on the other hand, are determined by the seller. Sixty-night sleep trials are fairly standard, although some companies will have trials ranging from 120 days up to a year (see Nectar).  Breaking in a new mattress can take between 8-10 weeks, so this trial period is crucial. Fees to watch out for include delivery, pick-up, installation, and replacement.

Mattress purchases are generally large, and the investment into an item that should hopefully last at least a decade is therefore important. When this doesn't turn out as expected, and the $1,000+ you've spent result in a mattress that can quite literally cause you pain to sleep on, the importance of good customer support becomes invaluable. It's also an undeniable fact that mattresses deteriorate over time. Since mattresses are an item that receives continuous use, often after a cursory trial at a showroom, unexpected issues are bound to arise (the number-one complaint is overly rapid deterioration, which is only noticeable after time). It is therefore doubly important to fully understand your warranty and return policy. Savvy consumers will also want to look into trial periods, delivery options, and the company's customer service standards to ensure they are purchasing a mattress from a customer-driven company that will allow them to return the product if needed.

Warranty

In the United States, manufacturer's warranties are typically between 10 to 20 years, though some can extend up to 25 years. Generally, mattresses are either replaced for a nominal fee within a specific time period, if defects are due to manufacturing or faster-than-expected-deterioration, and not misuse. Subsequently, mattresses are usually subject to repair or can be replaced for a percentage of the sales price. Warranty specifics will always vary according to each specific manufacturer or company, but are generally only valid if certain measures are taken, such as the use of continuous support bedframes, with a certain number of legs, and cross-slats, for instance. 

Return Policy

Return policies are determined by either the seller or the manufacturer, which in some cases may be the same. 60-night sleep trials are fairly standard, although some companies will grant a trial period of up to 120 days. Breaking in a new mattress can take approximately 8-10 weeks, so this trial period is important. Some companies require the customer to sleep on the new mattress for a minimum of thirty days, after which the second thirty-day period is available for replacing the mattress of equal or greater value. Fees to look out for include re-stocking, delivery, pick-up, installation or replacement.

A company's reputation is important because it gives the consumer another good measure by which to determine its legitimacy. Many mattress manufacturers are well-established, but it can be difficult to obtain information on newer companies that are online-only. Companies that are committed to maintaining and fostering positive relationships with their customers will receive better online customer reviews. Beware, however, of businesses with an unusually high number of positive reviews and very few negative ones, as some companies have been known to pay for good feedback. It's always best to check independent review sites such as the Better Business Bureau and trustpilot.com, rather than rely solely on reviews posted on the company's page.