The Best Memory Foam Mattresses: Reviewed By The Experts

Memory foam was first developed by NASA engineers and has become a popular choice for mattresses because it provides cushioning comfort, takes pressure off of sensitive areas and pain points, and stays quiet at night while absorbing movements. It molds closely to your body when exposed to body heat and returns to its original shape as it cools.

Our testing team evaluated several memory foam mattresses and selected models based on their performance for specific types of sleepers, such as side sleepers and those who tend to run hot in bed. To learn more about our testing process, check out our guide to the best mattresses of 2024. If you’re shopping for memory foam beds on a budget, you can also check out our guide to the best cheap memory foam mattresses.

Best Memory Foam Mattress Video

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

How We Test: Rigor, Data, and Sleeper Feedback

Every sleeper is unique when it comes to mattress needs and preferences. Our objective rating system takes a holistic approach to each mattress, analyzing different aspects of the overall design to pinpoint each model’s strengths and weaknesses.

We understand there’s a fundamental connection between the mattress you choose and how well you sleep. Our team of product experts evaluates each mattress in our Seattle-based Test Lab using the same four-part system. Guidelines for our testing process are detailed below.

Expert Tested. Sleeper Approved.

Over the past eight years, our Seattle-based Test Lab has performed hands-on tests on more than 4,000 sleep products — and nearly 2,000 of them are mattresses. 

As product experts, we stay up to date on the latest news in sleep science and product trends. We use this knowledge to fuel our data-backed recommendations. Many of our testers have worked directly with mattress manufacturers and visited actual mattress factories. On occasion, a sleep health expert might stop by to tweak a firmness rating.

When we test a mattress, we collect data across six major performance categories and combine these results with real-world feedback. We use tools and tech to monitor features like heat retention, motion isolation, and pressure mapping. In order to ensure our findings are inclusive of all sleepers, our team consists of people with varying body types and sleep positions.

Mattresses aren’t one-size-fits-all. The perfect bed for you is going to depend on general points like your body weight and sleeping position, as well as unique points like if you have back pain, if you sleep hot at night, or if you just like the feel of latex over memory foam. Our goal at the Test Lab is to help take the guesswork out of your mattress-buying process.

Who Should Buy a Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory foam mattresses are great for people who want a cushy, close hugging feeling from their mattress. The foam’s adaptive feel and even contouring are often comforting for people with aches, pains, and pressure points in their shoulders, lower back, or hips. Side sleepers get plenty of cushioning for their shoulders and hips, two areas where pressure usually builds. Lastly, couples sleep better together thanks to memory foam’s superior motion-isolating properties.

Who Are Memory Foam Beds Best For?

Sleepers With Sensitive Joints

• Memory foam conforms closely to your body and distributes your weight evenly across the surface. This helps ease pressure off areas like the spine and shoulders to avoid discomfort.
• People with medical conditions like arthritis and sciatica can benefit from memory foam’s pain-relieving capabilities, but choosing the right mattress firmness based on your sleep position and weight is the key to comfortable sleep.

Side Sleepers

• Side sleepers put extra pressure on their shoulders and hips while they sleep, which makes these areas prone to painful pressure buildup. Memory foam deeply cradles the body to relieve pressure in a side sleeper’s pressure-prone areas.

Couples

• Memory foam absorbs movement, so if you share your bed with a partner, a memory foam mattress can reduce movement across the surface when one of you changes positions or gets up during the night. Many couples like memory foam beds because it’s harder to accidentally wake each other up at night.
• Foam is also very quiet, so you’re less likely to wake up than you would in a bed with coils.

Who Are Memory Foam Beds Worst For?

People Who Sleep Very Hot

• Foam is known for trapping heat, so hot sleepers may find foam beds less comfortable than more breathable mattress types like latex or hybrid models.
• That said, many foam beds are made with cooling agents like phase change material or gel to offset heat retention.

Stomach Sleepers Seeking Extra Support

• Stomach sleepers often need enhanced support to keep their midsection from sinking too deep. Many foam beds are too soft for stomach sleepers, especially those in heavier weight categories.
• If you’re a stomach sleeper who really enjoys foam beds, you can look for foam models with extra firm support. You can also check out foam hybrids, which pair foam on the surface with sturdy coils on the bottom.

Sleepers Who Enjoy Bouncy Beds

• Foam beds hug your body closely and offer minimal to zero bounce. If you enjoy bouncy, responsive beds and want to feel like you’re sleeping on top of your bed rather than in it, we recommend hybrid or latex models instead of all-foam.

What to Consider When Shopping For a Memory Foam Mattress

When choosing a memory foam mattress, there are a few considerations to make. The most important factors include the following.

Sleep Position and Body Weight

Side sleepers tend to feel comfortable on softer memory foam mattresses that conform closely to the body. The side position often requires plush cushioning to prevent pressure buildup in the shoulders and hips. Most back and stomach sleepers need a firmer memory foam mattress to minimize sinkage around the midsection and prevent neck and lower back strain. Weight is another important factor — you should look for a softer memory foam mattress if you weigh less than 130 pounds, and a firmer model if you weigh more.

We use a 10-point scale to evaluate a bed’s firmness, with 1 being the softest possible and 10 being the firmest. We’ve put together a quick reference of firmness recommendations based on your sleeping position and body type here:

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

Contouring and Pressure Relief

A mattress that contours closely can alleviate pressure for people who weigh less than 130 pounds, especially if they sleep on their side. Back and stomach sleepers, as well as those who weigh 130 pounds or more, should consider a memory foam mattress with light to moderate contouring. The right amount of contouring helps ensure minimal sinkage and less pressure buildup in the shoulders, lower back, and hips.

Motion Isolation and Noise

A mattress isolates motion by absorbing movement and preventing it from transferring to other areas of the sleep surface. Memory foam is considered one of the best mattress materials for motion isolation, so co-sleepers often get the rest they need on these models. Most foam mattresses are also completely silent when bearing weight and won’t produce the creaking sounds associated with innerspring and hybrid models.

Temperature Regulation

Memory foam tends to trap heat, so most foam mattresses don’t offer the same level of temperature control as more breathable mattress types such as latex, innerspring, and hybrid models. Cooling gel, copper, graphite, and other cooling materials can be infused into memory foam to reduce heat retention and maintain a comfortable surface temperature. Covers made from breathable fabrics and heat-dispersing phase change material can also improve temperature regulation for memory foam mattresses.

Edge Support and Ease of Movement

Memory foam responds slowly to movement and sinks beneath your weight, making it harder to move across the bed’s surface without feeling stuck. Edge support is another performance area where many memory foam mattresses struggle, making it hard to sit on or lay close to the edge of the bed. You should consider an innerspring, hybrid, or latex mattress if ease of movement and edge support are your top priorities.

Pricing, Trials, and Warranties

The average queen size memory foam mattress costs $700 to $1,200. Mattresses from luxury brands and models with thicker layers may cost more. Most memory foam mattresses sold online come with sleep trials spanning at least 90 nights. You can test the mattress in your bedroom and — in most cases — return it for a full refund if you aren’t satisfied. After the trial ends, your mattress should be covered under a warranty for at least 10 years. Warranties guarantee a replacement or repairs if your mattress has a manufacturing defect.

Online Ordering and Delivery

The majority of today’s memory foam mattresses are sold online, making them more convenient to buy than those sold in stores. Online mattresses also tend to be more affordable than buying one in-store. 
Most online mattress brands offer free ground delivery, where the mattress is vacuum-sealed in a box and shipped directly to your doorstep. Foam beds tend to be the lightest, but in our experience it’s best to have at least one other person or moving equipment to help you move the box.

Once it’s inside, you’ll need to unbox and unwrap the mattress, then allow it to fully expand — this may take up to 24 hours. Your memory foam mattress may give off a “foamy” odor for the first few days after unboxing, but the smells eventually dissipate. If you’re sensitive to smells, adding airflow with windows and fans can usually help the smell dissipate faster. Some brands offer White Glove delivery for an extra fee, which includes full setup and removal of your old mattress.

What Does a Memory Foam Mattress Feel Like?

Memory foam softens when it comes into contact with body heat and forms a cradle around your body’s curves. Since memory foam responds slowly to movement, you may notice the comfort layers sinking beneath your weight as your body settles. The cradling sensation of memory foam is usually described as “relaxing” “cloud-like” and “cushy” by many.

Some people find memory foam mattresses uncomfortable because they tend to sleep hotter and the “hugging” feeling leaves some people feeling like they’re “stuck” in the bed compared to latex, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses.

Dive Deeper: In-Depth Mattress Guides

Our team tests mattresses to determine the best options for different types of sleepers. To see how we’ve ranked mattresses in other performance categories, check out the product guides below.