The Best Mattress for Couples

Living life as a couple requires compromise and attention to your partner’s needs, and finding the best mattress for two is no exception. Sleep preferences are as unique as individuals themselves, which is why finding a mattress that works for a couple can be so tricky. 

We’ve compiled our favorite mattresses for couples to help you narrow your search. By picking through the models that performed best on our partner tests, we filled our list with beds that are supportive for many types of sleepers. We took extra care to include beds that have the features many couples want, including edge support, motion isolation, and temperature control. If you’re looking for more information, our guide to the best mattress of 2024 includes a full list of top contenders and a detailed breakdown of our selection process.

Test Lab Video: Best Mattresses for Couples

Watch the video below to learn more about our lab’s top mattress picks for couples.

Below, you’ll find product profiles for all of our top selections. Each mattress has earned a unique accolade based on one of its major strengths. Scroll down further to find our buying guide, where we’ll outline all of the important concerns for couples in the market for a new mattress. This guide includes an overview of mattress types and their average price-points, key considerations for couples, and information about shipping options, sleep trials, and warranty coverage.

How to Shop for a Mattress as a Couple

When shopping with a partner, you’ll need to keep both of your preferences in mind when choosing between mattress models. 

Consider Your Individual Needs, But Be Willing to Compromise 

Sharing anything with a partner requires compromise, and that extends to the bedroom. Before shopping, you should each consider your wants and your needs. Needs typically revolve around support and comfort, while wants could be points you’d like to have but could live without, like motion isolation or temperature control. 

Consider what you’d each like in your ideal mattress, and identify what you each really need to get a restful night’s sleep and what you could compromise on. It may be tough to find a mattress that’s perfect for two people, especially for couples with very different wants and needs. Narrowing your focus to what you actually need and building out from there can be a helpful way to ensure both partners get a mattress that works for them.

Sleeping Position, Body Weight, and Firmness

When shopping for a mattress, the first step is to identify what kind of support level and firmness option is best for each of your body types and sleeping positions. Side, back, and stomach sleepers require slightly different support and firmness levels to maintain spinal alignment. Your weight also affects how much support you need and which firmness you’ll probably enjoy most.  

We measure mattress firmness on a 10-point scale with 1 as the softest mattress and 10 as the firmest. Your body weight affects how deeply you sink into a bed and how firm it feels to you personally. Generally speaking, the more you weigh, the firmer the mattress you need. There’s a good amount of wiggle room here, but partners with very different body types may need to shop around a bit to find a bed that works for both of them.

Your sleeping position also plays a part in what firmness feels right. Side sleepers typically prefer softer models, stomach sleepers usually enjoy firm mattresses, and back sleepers often like something in between. Couples with separate firmness preferences may want to split the difference between their ideal firmness levels and choose one that’s between the two numbers. 

We’ve put together a quick reference of our recommendations for firmness ranges using our 10-point scale.

Weight	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers	Stomach Sleepers
Less than 130 lbs.	Soft (3) to Medium (5)	Soft (3) to Medium (5)	Medium Soft (4) to Medium Firm (6)
130 to 230 lbs.	Medium Soft (4) to Medium (5)	Medium (5) to Firm (7)	Medium (5) to Firm (7)
More than 230 lbs.	Medium Firm (6) to Firm (7)	Firm (7-8) to Extra Firm (9)	Firm (7-8) to Extra Firm (9)

Back, Hip, or Shoulder Pain 

Many sleepers complain of back, hip, or shoulder pain while sleeping. If you or your partner experience sleep-related pain, it’s important to look for a mattress with a blend of support and cushioning. 

Mattress-related pain often stems from one of two factors: inadequate support for the spine, or a lack of cushioning that puts pressure on the body. Features like zoned support and a contouring comfort system can help keep your spinal posture healthy while ensuring that pressure doesn’t build up beneath your hips, shoulders, or lower back. The right mattress can help with pain, while one without enough support or cushioning can increase it. 

What to Consider in a Mattress for Couples 

Along with firmness and support levels, you’ll want to keep a few factors in mind when shopping for a mattress with your partner, including, but not limited to, mattress type, price, and performance. 

Mattress Type

When narrowing down your mattress search, it’s helpful to first decide on a type of mattress. Popular mattress types include foam, latex, hybrid, and airbed — each of which has its own strengths and drawbacks.

• Foam: A foam mattress can have comfort layers made from polyfoam, memory foam, or both. They’re typically great at absorbing movement, which is a benefit for couples who wake easily when their partner moves. Foam mattresses are also known for providing excellent pressure relief and they’re often affordably priced, but they tend to trap heat. 
• Latex: Couples who want a responsive mattress that relieves pressure without the “hugging” feeling of foam may want to go for a latex mattress. They’re especially worthwhile for people over 230 pounds and anyone who wants a durable, sustainable mattress. However, latex beds can be expensive and they are heavy and tough to move. 
• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses are one of the most versatile mattress types. They usually have a pocketed coil support core and a comfort system made from materials like foam, latex, wool, or a combination of materials. They tend to control temperature well and you can find them with a range of different features. 
• Airbed: Instead of foam, latex, or coils, airbeds have a support core that’s made from rubber air chambers that inflate and deflate to provide customized firmness levels. These beds allow you to switch support settings using a remote or a smartphone app. They’re excellent for couples who can’t agree on a firmness level, but they carry a high price-point and can be noisy. 

Flippable, Adjustable, and Split-Firmness Mattresses

For some couples, like those with large differences in weight, it can be especially tough to find a mattress with a firmness level that works for both partners. Flippable, adjustable, and split-firmness mattresses give these couples extra options that can make sharing a bed more comfortable.

• Flippable: Flippable mattresses have a unique build. Each side of the mattress has a different firmness level, so you can swap between firmer or softer sides by turning the mattress over. They’re best for couples who are comfortable compromising with their partner to get their favorite feel part of the time. 
• Adjustable: Most adjustable mattresses are airbeds that provide a range of firmness levels that you can change using a remote or app. Each partner can choose their own firmness level for their side of the bed. Some adjustable models are latex or hybrid mattresses with swappable layers. They’re generally more affordable than airbeds, but it takes a bit of work to adjust the feel. 
• Split-Firmness: Some manufacturers offer the option to purchase a mattress with two firmness levels, one for each half of the bed. They’re usually sold in two pieces as split kings, though you can sometimes find split queens as well as mattresses that are one piece with two firmnesses. 

Price and Size

You’ll want to consider the size of your bedroom here, as well as how much space each of you needs to sleep comfortably. Queen beds are pretty standard and typically have plenty of room for two, but some couples prefer full, king, or California king mattresses.

Full size beds fit better in smaller spaces, but couples may feel cramped sharing one. King beds are much wider compared with a queen size, so there’s more room to spread out. California kings are slightly narrower than a standard king but provide additional length for taller sleepers.

Mattress prices can vary depending on what they’re made from as well as their size. Larger models require more materials, as do thicker mattresses, so expect to pay a bit more for bigger beds. Though the cost of a mattress ranges from $200 at the low end to $4,000 or more on the high end, there is an average price-point for each type of mattress.

Mattress Type	Average Price (Queen)
Foam	$1,050
Latex	$2,000
Hybrid	$2,050
Airbed	$2,200

Motion Isolation and Noise

If you wake easily when your partner moves on their side of the bed, you’ll want to look for a bed with strong motion isolation. Materials like polyfoam and memory foam absorb movements and prevent them from traveling across a mattress’ surface. Models that isolate motion well are also usually quiet because foam doesn’t creak or squeak like traditional springs.

Edge Support and Responsiveness

If you’ve ever felt like you can’t spread out and use the whole surface of your bed, you’ll want to consider edge support. A mattress without enough edge support can cause you to roll toward the middle of the bed, limiting how much actual space there is for two people to sleep on. Beds made with reinforced edges provide serious edge support and ensure that you can use the entire mattress. Edge support can also be important for sex, since it allows couples to make use of a mattress’ whole surface area. 

If you’ve felt too “stuck” in the bed, whether you’re turning at night or trying to get out of bed, then responsiveness or bounce should be on your radar. A mattress with some bounce is easier for couples to move around on than one that compresses deeply and limits movement. 

Temperature Regulation 

If you or your partner sleep hot at night and wake up in a sweat, then temperature regulation is important for you. The body heat coming from one person can heat up a bed significantly, and that can double with two people sharing a bed. Mattresses with plenty of airflow and cooling technology can help prevent you from overheating. Hybrid, latex, and airbed models tend to be the most temperature neutral, though some foam mattresses use gel or copper infusions to help fight overheating.

Sleep Trials and Mattress Warranties

It’s important to consider mattress manufacturer policies before committing to a purchase. Many manufacturers offer sleep trials that let you test out a mattress during a specific window to see if you like it. Most range between 100 and 365 nights, but it’s important to read the fine print as well as customer reviews. Some companies charge for returns and others require a break-in period before you can start a return (usually around 30 days). 

You should also look at the terms of the mattress’ warranty before purchasing. Some are prorated while others extend over the mattress’ entire lifespan. Most only protect against manufacturer defects and require that you use an appropriate bed base to qualify for coverage.

Tips for Sharing a Bed Comfortably With a Partner

We’ve put together a few extra tips that you can try for a better night’s sleep with your partner. 

Consider Buying a Split Mattress

If you and your partner need very different things from a mattress, a split mattress might help. You can share a bed while having a firmness and support level that’s different from your partner’s if you buy a split-firmness mattress. Split kings, for example, are actually two twin XL mattresses placed together on the same frame. They’re excellent options for adjustable bed frames and allow you to sleep with your partner without having to compromise on comfort. 

Try the Scandinavian Method

If you fight over blankets, or one of you sleeps hot while the other is cold, you may want to try the Scandinavian sleep method. It boils down to using two single-sized duvets or comforters instead of sharing one. This allows each partner to use bedding that’s compatible with their own personal preferences.  

Invest in Comfy Bedroom Accessories

Making your sleep environment as comfortable as possible can go a long way in ensuring a happy night’s sleep. Partners can make their side of the bed their own by choosing specific pillows and using a mattress topper or pad on their half of the bed. Earplugs, noise machines, and anti-snoring mouthguards are also worth considering for couples with a partner who snores.

Dive Deeper — In-Depth Mattress Guides

If you and your partner have narrowed down your mattress needs and would like more options tailored to specific types of sleepers, we have you covered.