Best Mattress for Seniors

We all understand the importance of a good night’s sleep. But as we age, natural changes in our sleep cycle and the increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions can make getting a restful night of sleep more difficult.

Your mattress matters. The right bed—one that suits the unique needs of seniors—can mean the difference between a full 8 to 9 hours of sleep or a restless night of uncomfortable tossing and turning.

We’ve picked our top best mattresses for seniors and outlined what makes these beds the best choice for adults over the age of 65. We also highlight the challenges seniors face when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep and take a look at the most important mattress purchase considerations for seniors.

Product Details

The WinkBed is an innerspring mattress with an impressive array of features and options. The mattress is available in four firmness options, including the Luxury Firm WinkBed that offers a balanced medium firm (6) feel for seniors who enjoy cushioning for their body but also need a fair amount of support.

The mattress is made with a thick comfort system that consists of multiple foam layers that contour evenly without sinking too much. This level of conforming promotes spinal alignment, and offers moderate pressure point relief and excellent lumbar support for seniors. For this reason, we  consider the Luxury Firm WinkBed a worthwhile option for seniors with back pain. The mattress is also a good option for couples because of its ability to minimize motion transfer.

The coil-based support system provides a slight bounce, while keeping sleepers cool due to superior airflow through the mattress. As a result, the Luxury Firm WinkBed has excellent temperature regulation. The coils are also zoned to reinforce the midsection and reduce perimeter sinkage.

WinkBeds ship for free anywhere in the contiguous United States. The Luxury Firm WinkBed is also protected with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.

The Brooklyn Bedding Essential is a foam hybrid mattress that caters to sleepers who need moderate contouring but don’t enjoy the deep “hug” of some foam beds. The hybrid design strikes a nice balance between support and contouring, and the price-point is reasonable for a hybrid of this quality.

The mattress has a relatively thin comfort system compared to other hybrids we’ve tested. That said, we found the foam layers offered just enough cradling to ease pressure off joints that are prone to pressure buildup, while the coil base generated enough pushback to keep the spine aligned. Back and side sleepers under 130 pounds benefited the most from this design, since these sleepers need some cushioning for the shoulders, hips, and spine, but also require support in the lower back.

The Essential starts with a cotton and polyester cover over two polyfoam layers. The polyfoam compresses under your weight but is firmer than memory foam, giving the bed an overall medium firm (6) feel. The support core contains a thick layer of pocketed coils that generate sturdy support. The bed has a rather low profile for a hybrid, which may appeal to sleepers who struggle to get in and out of tall beds.

The mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Brooklyn Bedding offers free shipping to customers residing in the contiguous U.S.

The Nolah Evolution 15 is sold in three firmness options: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8). This selection makes the mattress a good option for most people regardless of their weight or sleep position. All three models feature thick comfort systems that significantly reduced pressure buildup during our tests.

Multiple foam layers contour evenly to distribute weight and eliminate pressure along the spine. The mattress uses proprietary foams engineered to dissipate – rather than absorb – heat, so people shouldn’t feel excessively warm on the Evolution 15. The support core contains pocketed coils that are zoned to reinforce the midsection and prevent excessive perimeter sinkage.

The Evolution 15 offers excellent temperature neutrality thanks to its heat-resistant foams, breathable cover, and consistent internal airflow. Sturdy edge support also eases the process of getting in and out of bed for people with mobility limitations.

Ground shipping is free for all orders in the contiguous U.S. The Evolution 15 is backed by a 120-night sleep trial that customers can opt out of to lower their up-front costs. All mattress purchases include a lifetime warranty against structural defects.

Your primary sleep position greatly influences which mattresses feel most comfortable. If you normally sleep on your side, you’ll most likely need a mattress that cushions areas of pressure buildup while maintaining even support for the rest of your body. The Helix Midnight is specifically designed with side sleepers in mind. Two foam layers contour evenly to take pressure off your downward-facing shoulder and hip, but a robust support system minimizes sinkage and keeps you on an even plane.

The topmost layer is composed of memory foam, and this is followed by dense transitional polyfoam. Pocketed coils and high-density base foam make up the support core. The coils are doubled up along the perimeter to create strong pushback when you lie near the edges or get in and out of bed. As a result, you shouldn’t experience feelings of “roll-off” that can occur on mattresses with weak edge support. Standard Midnight models are encased in polyester covers. You can upgrade to a cover made of GlacioTex phase change material, which is engineered to capture heat and release it from the surface.

A medium firm (6) mattress, our tests have shown the Midnight is best suited to side sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds. The back sleepers on our team weighing less than 130 pounds also found the mattress especially comfortable, but ratings were generally favorable among all of our side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds. Minimal heat buildup during our temperature control tests indicates the mattress sleeps fairly cool, though people who consider themselves exceptionally hot sleepers should consider the GlacioTex upgrade for maximum breathability and thermoregulation.

The Midnight’s sticker price falls well below average for a hybrid model and shipping is free for customers in all 50 states. Your purchase also includes two down alternative pillows at no extra cost. Helix’s sleep trial runs 100 nights in length. If you decide to keep the mattress, you’ll also receive a 10-year warranty against structural and material defects.

Many seniors benefit from sleeping on a mattress with an adjustable base support system. The ability to elevate and lower the head and feet of the bed can alleviate soreness, reduce snoring, and leave you feeling more refreshed in the morning. While a new mattress and adjustable base can amount to a hefty price tag, the Nectar Adjustable Bundle allows you to save a lot of money on both purchases and you’ll receive a slew of sleep accessories as well.

All in all, the bundle consists of the Nectar Adjustable Base, an all-foam or hybrid Nectar model of your choice, a sheet set made of bamboo-derived fabric, two pillows, and a mattress protector. A package like this would normally cost thousands of dollars, so this bundle’s total sticker price makes it a great investment for budget-conscious shoppers and those with limited funds.

You can choose from six mattresses, including the popular flagship Nectar Mattress and five of the brand’s subsequent releases. All models are constructed with thick memory foam comfort layers. Memory foam adapts evenly to distribute your weight, improve alignment, and minimize pressure buildup along the spine. Nectar’s all-foam models excel at motion isolation for couples, while the company’s hybrids provide more cooling and edge support.

The base allows you to program multiple memory presets, so the bed automatically adjusts to your favorite positions with the tap of a button. Other features include a dual-zone head and foot massage and USB ports on each side of the bed for charging your electronics at night. Sturdy steel legs provide excellent overall support. There’s also plenty of clearance beneath the bed for storing your belongings.

In addition to the approachable pricing, Nectar offers free shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Each item in the Adjustable Bundle is backed by a generous 365-night sleep trial, allowing you to test the various components for up to a year before deciding whether to return them. If you decide to keep the bundle, you’ll also receive a lifetime warranty.

Many seniors live with chronic or frequent back pain, and the wrong mattress can exacerbate stiffness, soreness, and pressure points along the spine. The Bear Elite Hybrid pairs thick foam layers with a sturdy coil system to create a sleep surface that cushions and cradles your body without sacrificing support. By conforming to your unique curves and distributing your weight, the mattress should provide the pain relief you need night after night. 

That said, choosing the right firmness for your Elite Hybrid is key. Seniors who need deep contouring, such as those who weigh less than 130 pounds or sleep on their sides, should consider the medium (5) model. Those weighing more than 230 pounds — back and stomach sleepers in particular — should receive adequate pain relief from the firm (8) model. If you’re looking for a balanced feel, we recommend the medium firm (6) Bear Hybrid. 

If you and your partner use an adjustable king size bed, but have differing firmness preferences, Bear allows you to choose a split king with a different feel on each side. Reach out to the company if you’d like to pursue this option. 

All versions of the mattress feature a top layer of adaptive memory foam that cradles the body and evenly distributes your weight. The second layer is a denser polyfoam divided into five zones, resulting in extra reinforcement for your midsection and gentler cradling for the head and legs. In the support core, thick coils line the perimeter to push back against your weight and stabilize the edges when you get in and out of bed. A cover made of Celliant fabric encases the mattress. Celliant dissipates heat on contact and the coils promote steady air circulation, so the mattress should sleep cool throughout the year.

The Elite Hybrid is competitively priced, and Bear routinely offers generous discounts on mattress models. You’ll also receive two free pillows with your purchase. Standard ground delivery is free of charge for customers in the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a 120-night trial period, and you’ll receive a lifetime warranty against structural defects if you choose to keep the mattress. An optional accident protection plan covers stains and other types of physical damage.

The Saatva Classic is a luxury hybrid mattress, but an affordable price-point and additional perks for buyers make this model appealing to shoppers with limited budgets. The Classic features a Euro-top cushioned with foam and fiber fill, followed by transitional minicoils and an hourglass coil support core. This coil-on-coil design ensures strong support and consistent airflow to keep you cool.

Customers can choose from three firmness levels. During our hands-on tests, the soft (3) feel was most popular with side sleepers up to 230 pounds, and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. This model contours closely to cushion the spine and alleviate pressure in the shoulders, lower back, and hips. Those seeking a more balanced feel should opt for the medium firm (6) feel, which received favorable ratings from our side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds. Lastly, the firm (8) feel is most supportive and well suited to back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds.

You can also choose between 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch profiles. The latter has a thicker hourglass coil system, and ideal for people who need extra support while they sleep. Another notable feature of the Classic is a strip of memory foam located beneath the lower back. This component is intended to reduce pressure in the lumbar region and hips. A cover made of breathable organic cotton encases the entire mattress.

In addition to the accessible price-point, Saatva Classic buyers residing in the contiguous U.S. receive free White Glove delivery with their purchase. This service includes a scheduled delivery date and time, full assembly in a room of their choice, and removal of their old mattress and box spring upon request. Saatva’s sleep trial spans an entire year, and those who keep their classic also receive a lifetime warranty against structural defects.

The Birch Luxe is a high-quality latex hybrid constructed with premium, long-lasting materials, but its sticker price is fairly approachable compared to other luxury mattresses on the market today. The Luxe begins with a Euro-top filled with organic wool, cashmere, and cotton batting. These materials provide plush cushioning to create a cloud-like surface. A comfort layer of proprietary Pulse latex contours gently while pushing back against your weight, resulting in a bouncy feel for the mattress.

Pocketed coils over a wool and rayon base layer make up the Luxe’s support core. The coils are thicker along the midsection to provide extra reinforcement for your lumbar region without making the mattress feel too firm or stiff. Coils along the perimeter are also stronger to minimize sinkage when you get in and out of bed. Steady airflow through the coil system and breathable comfort layer materials make the Luxe particularly well suited to hot sleepers. The cover is composed of organic cotton for added cooling and temperature control.

The mattress earned positive ratings across the board during our hands-on tests. Side sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds were especially impressed with the Luxe, as were our back and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds. We also recommend the mattress to couples due to its sturdy perimeter and consistent responsiveness for sex.

Birch is one of the few online mattress brands to offer free ground shipping for customers in all 50 states. You’ll also receive two complimentary pillows with your order. Each Birch Luxe purchase includes a sleep trial that runs for 100 nights in length. If you decide to keep your mattress, it’s also backed by a standard manufacturer’s warranty covering structural defects for up to 25 years. You may purchase an additional 10-year accident protection plan against stains and other types of physical damage.

If you share your sleep surface with a partner, both of your needs and preferences should be taken into account before you purchase a new mattress. The Layla Hybrid offers more versatility than most competitors due to its flippable design. With a medium soft (4) feel on one side and a firm (7) feel on the other, both surfaces offer distinct levels of body contouring and support. This allows you to switch between firmness levels with a simple flip of your mattress — though we recommend lifting with at least one other person, as the Layla Hybrid is somewhat heavy.

The medium soft side features a 2.5-inch memory foam comfort layer, followed by 2 inches of zoned transitional polyfoam. These materials provide deep cushioning to create a floating feel many of our testers have described as “cloud-like.” The firmer side features thinner layers of the same materials, resulting in some conforming but stronger overall support. Cooling copper gel is infused into the memory foam to offset heat retention and help you sleep cool.

The shared pocketed coil support core is located between the comfort systems. Thicker coils resting beneath your midsection push back against extra weight in the chest, stomach, and hips, while thinner coils cradle lighter areas of the body. The perimeter is also reinforced to reduce sinkage when you sleep near the edges or get on and off the mattress. By promoting airflow throughout the interior, the coils also play a role in the Layla Hybrid’s excellent temperature control.

The mattress is competitively priced and ground shipping is free for all customers in the contiguous U.S. Layla’s sleep trial allows you to test the hybrid for up to 120 nights before making a decision. If you choose to keep the mattress, you’ll also receive a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Tempur-Pedic is known for its high-quality memory foam mattress, and the TEMPUR-Cloud is no exception. This mattress comes at a lower price-point than many of the brand’s other models, but it delivers substantial cushioning to improve spinal alignment and relieve pressure points related to conditions like arthritis.

A TEMPUR memory foam top layer adapts to the body to alleviate pressure buildup. Underneath is a denser layer of TEMPUR foam that further enhances cushioning but also prevents your body from sinking too deeply into the mattress. The support core features high-density polyfoam that protects heavier areas of the body from uncomfortable sagging. A stretchy cover engineered to wick away moisture encases the mattress.

Our testing found the TEMPUR-Cloud’s medium (5) feel and foam construction best suited to side sleepers, particularly those weighing up to 230 pounds. Sleepers who frequently use this position should find generous cushioning for pressure points, while the denser foam layers help keep the body properly aligned. Many back and stomach sleepers on our team needed extra support and recommended upgrading to the hybrid model. Like other all-foam models, the TEMPUR-Cloud excelled in our motion isolation tests. The foam layers effectively absorb most movement transfer and noise, making it an excellent choice if you share the bed with a restless sleep partner.

Shipping is free to the contiguous U.S., and Tempur-Pedic offers a 90-night sleep trial to test the mattress. You must try the mattress for at least 30 nights before initiating a return. A 10-year warranty against structural defects backs the mattress.

Other Mattress Guides

If you’d like a little more help determining which type of mattress best suit your needs, you can review our collection of mattress guides categorized by sleep preferences.

How to Choose a Mattress for Seniors

With so many mattresses on the market, finding the one that best suits the needs of older adults can seem like a challenge. We’ll clearly outline the most important factors to consider as a senior on the market for a new mattress including price, materials, and key comfort features.

What to Look for in a Mattress

Buying a new mattress represents a significant purchase for most adults. This is especially true for seniors who are more likely to experience recurring aches and pains in their backs and joints. The right mattress can make getting into and out of bed easier, promote spinal alignment, and relieve painful pressure points in sensitive areas.

Unfortunately, mattress companies often use confusing industry jargon in their marketing materials. This can make finding the right mattress harder than it needs to be. Let’s take a look at what really matters when choosing a mattress.

• Price: As with any large purchase, price is an important consideration, especially for seniors who are often living on fixed incomes.
• Quality Materials: The quality of the materials used to make your mattress will determine both its comfort and longevity. A mattress made with high-quality materials will offer superior durability and provide better performance.
• Firmness Level: When choosing a mattress one of the most important considerations is the firmness level. The firmness level tells you how hard or soft a bed will feel. We score firmness on a scale from 1 to 10. Your preferred firmness level will depend on your weight as well as your sleep position. Generally, a medium to medium firm mattress will provide an optimal level of support for the majority of seniors.
• Pressure Relief: This refers to the ability of a mattress to reduce tension and impact when bearing weight. A mattress with significant pressure relief can cushion and accommodate pressure points and promote proper spinal alignment. Seniors, in particular, often require a mattress with excellent pressure relief to help reduce pressure points in key areas like the hips and shoulders and help alleviate back and joint pain.
• Edge Support: This is an important yet often overlooked feature. A mattress with excellent edge support will be able to hold your body weight even at its perimeter as opposed to sinking at the edges. Edge support increases the usable area of the mattress and also makes getting up from your bed easier for aging adults who may have reduced mobility.
  Contouring: This refers to the ability of a mattress to mold or contour to your form when under the weight of your body. Contouring contributes to overall comfort as well as pressure relief.
• Temperature Regulation: Different types of mattress materials will absorb and retain your body heat to varying degrees. Poor temperature regulation can cause uncomfortable overheating during the night. Several mattress attributes including materials, thickness, and airflow can affect temperature regulation. Seniors tend to prefer mattresses that absorb less body heat and sleep relatively cool.
• Ease of Movement: This refers to how easy it is to move around on a mattress. Mattresses with more resilience or bounce provide greater ease of movement which can be advantageous for seniors with limited mobility. However, bouncy mattresses will also transfer more motion and may be disruptive to couples sleeping together.
• Mattress Type: Mattresses are placed into different categories corresponding to their materials and construction. Most mattresses on the market fit into one of five types: hybrid, innerspring, latex, airbed, and foam. Each mattress type has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. We’ll discuss the different types of mattresses in more detail in the next section.

What Type of Mattress is Best for Seniors?

Each mattress type—defined by its internal construction and materials—has its own advantages and disadvantages. While some mattress types may overall offer features that are better for seniors, there can be variation within each category depending on the brand and specific model. Some types also have a greater range of diversity than others. That’s why it’s important to understand the characteristics of each type of mattress and carefully consider which will best suit your needs.

Hybrid

Definition: Hybrid mattresses contain an innerspring support core made with pocketed coils and a substantial comfort system made with another material such as foam or latex.
Best of Both Worlds: Hybrids aim to combine mattress materials to capture the benefits of foam/latex as well as traditional metal coils while minimizing each material’s potential disadvantages. That means hybrid mattresses offer a great combination of features for seniors—they’re responsive with excellent airflow while providing a quiet sleep experience and contouring that relieves pressure points.

Innerspring

Definition: Innerspring mattresses represent the oldest type in the mattress industry. They are composed of a core of metal coils and an outer covering layer. While the outer layer may be made of foam, latex, cotton, or polyester, it usually does little to change the feel of the mattress. Innerspring mattresses tend to be highly resilient or bouncy.
Low Price Point: As innerspring mattresses have waned in popularity, they tend to represent the most inexpensive, entry-level model offered by mattress retailers. Unfortunately, since the completely coiled construction makes innersprings difficult to compress and ship cheaply, most online retailers do not offer traditional innerspring mattress models.

Latex

Definition: Latex mattresses are constructed entirely with latex. Most online retailers use natural latex made from rubber trees. However, you may also come across mattresses made with synthetic or blended latex.
Cool, Responsive, and Contouring: Latex mattresses provide moderate contouring—they conform to the shape of your body and alleviate painful pressure points without letting you sink too deeply into the mattress surface. Unlike foam mattresses, latex tends to sleep cool and provide greater durability. All of these features make latex a great choice for seniors.

Airbed

Definition: Airbeds, not to be confused with temporary air mattresses, are constructed with a support core that contains an air-filled chamber. The sleeper can add or remove air with a remote or smartphone app to adjust the firmness level. The comfort and transitional layers of an airbed mattress can be made from different materials including memory foam and latex.
Customizable Sleep Experience: The main advantage of an airbed is its level of adjustability. This is particularly beneficial for seniors who may need to adjust their bed’s firmness as joint aches come and go. Most airbeds come with two air chambers on each side so that couples can adjust each side of the bed separately. Additional chambers along the length of the bed in some models allow you to adjust the firmness for different parts of the body.

Foam

Definition: Foam mattresses are constructed entirely out of foam. Different types of foam are typically layered to create an upper comfort layer and a more dense, lower support core. Memory foam is one of the most common materials used in foam mattresses. Polyurethane foam (polyfoam) is another popular material. Latex is sometimes used among the layers, but foam mattresses will not contain coils.
Superior Contouring: All-foam mattresses are the best choice when it comes to contouring, the ability to hug the shape of your body. This is an especially important feature for seniors as it promotes pressure relief in major joint regions such as the hips and shoulders. However, all-foam mattresses tend to have less than ideal temperature regulation.

How Does Age Affect Sleep?

When choosing the best mattress for seniors, it’s important to consider how age affects sleep. A common belief is that our sleep needs decline as we age. While it’s true that the amount of time we need to sleep each night declines from infancy onwards, this trend levels off once we reach adulthood.

That means seniors still need around eight hours of sleep for optimal health. However, the process of aging introduces some unique challenges that can make it more difficult to get the right amount of sleep each night. So how exactly does age affect sleep?

While the amount of sleep we need stays the same during adulthood, our sleep patterns change as we age. Age-related changes in sleep patterns include:

• Advanced sleep timing: older adults tend to experience an advance of sleep schedule to earlier hours, meaning they feel tired earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning.
• Increased number of nightly awakenings: As we age, we tend to wake up more frequently and have a more difficult time falling back asleep, causing an increase in time spent awake during the night.
• Shortened nightly sleep duration: As a result of more time spent awake during the night, older adults tend to sleep less each night.
• Decreased slow wave sleep: More time spent awake during the night also causes older adults to spend less time in the phases of deep, slow wave sleep.
• Increased frequency of daytime naps: To catch up on lost sleep during the night, older adults increase the time they spend napping during the day. But, unfortunately, napping late in the day can also disrupt your sleep schedule and reduce your ability to sleep through the night.

In addition to the natural changes in sleep patterns, seniors are also more likely to suffer from health conditions that disturb restful sleep.

• Arthritis: This chronic condition can cause stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints.
• Sleep apnea: Older adults are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts throughout the night and affects the quality of sleep.
• Neurological and cognitive conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of dementia have been linked to higher rates of insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders.
• Diabetes and prostate problems: These and other conditions that seniors commonly experience can lead to frequent nighttime urination, thereby interrupting regular sleep.

Seniors face more hurdles when it comes to getting a full night of restful sleep. But good sleep habits can help balance the disturbances that come with age. This includes the mattress you choose.

The right mattress can make a difference. By carefully choosing a mattress that meets the unique needs of aging adults, you can create a better sleep environment that helps you get the rest you need each night.

Last Things to Consider with a Mattress for Seniors

Now let’s take a look at a few final items that are also important to consider as a senior buying a new mattress. Here we’ll cover how firmness, budget, and warranties should inform your mattress purchase.

Which Mattress Firmness is Best for Seniors?

As is typically the case, the best level of mattress firmness will depend on the sleeper’s weight, sleep position, as well as personal preferences. However, seniors are more likely to experience chronic aches and pains in the back, hips, and major joints. As a result, older adults may want to stay away from overly firm mattresses which can create painful pressure points for already tender joints. Medium soft, medium, and medium firm mattresses that offer moderate contouring are likely to be the best choices for seniors.

How Can I Get Relief On a Budget?

Seniors are often on a fixed income and the potential price tag of a new, high-quality mattress can seem daunting. Fortunately, with increased competition from online mattress retailers, it’s become much easier to find a mattress that fits the unique needs of seniors and their budgets. Online mattresses are often less expensive, since the manufacturer isn’t paying for showrooms and additional staff. These “mattress in a box” models are comparable to those sold in brick-and-mortar stores in terms of construction and performance. All of the mattresses we’ve reviewed for seniors can be purchased online and we included several budget-friendly models.

How Much of an Investment Do I Need to Make?

Although mattress prices are rather straightforward these days, buying a new mattress is still a significant purchase. The mattresses on our list of best mattresses for seniors range from $1199 to $4099 for a queen mattress.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that mattresses are a long term purchase, typically lasting a minimum of 6 years. Moreover, sleep is an integral component of a healthy lifestyle. Weighing how closely a mattress does or does not meet your specific needs as a sleeper should be as important of a consideration in buying a mattress as its price.

Mattress Warranty and Other Policies

One way to protect your investment is to make sure your mattress purchase is covered with a sleep trial and a warranty. Sleep trials give you time to test out a new mattress first hand for a variable period of typically 90 days or more. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, you can return the mattress within the trial period for a full refund.

Warranties protect you from manufacturing defects. While you still need to take care of your mattress, a warranty may allow you to receive a partial refund or receive a replacement mattress if yours begins to fall apart prematurely. All of the mattresses on our list of best mattresses for seniors come equipped with a sleep trial and warranty coverage.