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Queen size mattresses are popular for a few reasons. They’re spacious enough for two people to lie comfortably, yet compact enough for solo sleepers and people with small bedrooms. They can also accommodate nighttime visits from young kids, and they’ll give you some extra wiggle room if your dog or cat tends to hog the bed. Although some variations exist, standard queen sizes measure 60 inches wide by 80 inches long.
Virtually all mattresses made today are available in queen sizes. To compile our list of the best queen mattresses sold today, the Sleep Foundation testing team took several factors into account when evaluating each bed. These considerations include durability and quality of materials, overall support, temperature neutrality, motion isolation, and odor potential. Our team is made up of individuals with differing body types and primary sleep positions to ensure fair, well-rounded ratings for all performance categories.
Below, you’ll find detailed descriptions for each of our best queen mattress picks. Scroll down further to check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, which covers average costs for different types of queen mattresses, how queens compare to other mattress sizes, and people who should consider this size.
Best Overall
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Memory foam mattresses are a good investment for anyone seeking relief from aches, pains, and pressure points – though some models perform decidedly better than others. We consider the Nectar Premier a standout mattress due to its construction, which includes a 3-inch comfort layer of soft, adaptive memory foam. The material contours closely to alleviate discomfort and evenly distribute your weight. The foam is infused with cooling gel and phase-change material, so it shouldn’t trap too much heat or sleep uncomfortably warm.
Due to its medium firm (6) feel, the mattress is best suited to side and back sleepers, many of whom experience added pressure to uneven spinal alignment caused by their sleep position. Side sleepers receive ample cushioning for the shoulders and hips to improve alignment and reduce pressure points, while back sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds should also be able to rest comfortably without sinking too much beneath the surface.
Support layers of high-density polyfoam reinforce the mattress and prevent you from sinking too deeply. The Nectar Premier is also an excellent choice for couples. The foam layers absorb movement and prevent this motion from transferring across the surface – a common source of sleep disturbances. The mattress is also completely silent and won’t produce any disruptive squeaks or creaks.
Although the Premier’s sticker price is a bit on the expensive side, Nectar provides a few perks for shoppers. These include free ground shipping on all orders within the contiguous U.S., a 365-night sleep trial for testing out the mattress, and a lifetime warranty against structural defects to give you extra peace of mind.
Best Value
Shoppers looking for a queen mattress with solid long-term value need not look further than the Tuft & Needle Original. While the design of this mattress is fairly straightforward, its premium materials and strong performance make it a high-quality option at an excellent price.
The Tuft & Needle Original is 10 inches thick and begins with a 3-inch comfort layer made from T&N’s proprietary Adaptive Foam. This polyfoam provides gentle cradling of the body and solid motion isolation. Beneath is a 7-inch support core made of high-density polyfoam. Along with the Adaptive Foam, the support core keeps the body from sinking too far into the bed and facilitates easier movement across the mattress surface.
With a firmness level of medium firm (6), this is a suitable bed for many different types of sleepers. People who weigh under 230 pounds, especially back and stomach sleepers, will benefit from the balance of softness and support. For sleepers who enjoy the feel of foam but do not enjoy its heat-trapping properties, the comfort layer in the Tuft & Needle is infused with a cooling gel intended to promote cooling on the surface. For an extra fee, customers can opt for a HeiQ treatment that gives the mattress antimicrobial protection.
Tuft & Needle ships free within the contiguous U.S. The mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
Best for Heavy Sleepers
The WinkBed PLUS is specifically geared to sleepers who weigh more than 300 pounds. The mattress has a durable build and a firm feel that’s designed to support heavier frames. It’s also suitable for back and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, which makes it a good option for couples with different body types.
High-density foams with additional lumbar support, a latex layer with 7 zones, and a zoned pocketed coil support system in the WinkBed PLUS form a supportive cradle that ensures proper spinal alignment. Made from recycled steel, the coils are tempered three times and banded together for better durability. The latex and coils are both highly responsive, enabling sleepers to easily switch sleeping positions.
The mattress measures 13.5 inches thick. Along with the reinforced edges, this taller-than-average profile may make it easier to get in and out of bed. For hot sleepers, the breathable Tencel cover, open-cell latex, and innerspring support core help with temperature regulation.
The WinkBed PLUS is CertiPUR-US certified and uses a non-chemical fire barrier. The mattress comes with free shipping, a standard 120-night sleep trial, and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing and workmanship defects.
Most Comfortable
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Helix specializes in making mattresses adapted for different body types and sleeping positions. The 14-inch hybrid Helix Midnight Luxe is the most versatile, with a medium firm feel that’s suited to side, back, and stomach sleepers of most body types.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is from the Luxe line of Helix mattresses, with thicker comfort layers that absorb most motion before it can reach a sleeping partner. The mattress has a quilted pillow top and gel-infused memory foam layers that are designed to cushion the hips and shoulders for side sleepers.
The pocketed coil support core features zoned lumbar support and reinforced edges, always important for people who share the bed. As with most hybrid mattresses, the Helix Midnight Luxe has a responsive surface that facilitates movement on top of the mattress. Airflow through the coils and a moisture-wicking Tencel cover help the Midnight Luxe sleep cool.
Helix provides a 100-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty for the Midnight Luxe mattress. The mattress also holds CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certifications.
Best for Back Pain
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The Layla Hybrid is a flippable hybrid mattress with a different firmness on each side. Sleepers can choose between a medium soft side that cushions pressure points in side sleepers, or a firm side that provides more support for back, side, and stomach sleepers. The bed has a removable cover with convenient handles to make flipping less of a hassle.
Both sides incorporate copper-infused memory foam, designed to transfer heat away from the sleeper and provide enhanced pressure relief. Each side also has a transitional layer with surface modification technology (SMT), made with cut-out channels that boost airflow and provide extra support where needed.
In the mattress core, pocketed coils with higher-gauge coils around the perimeter ensure strong edge support and breathability. Both sides are fairly responsive, although combination sleepers and couples will find that the firm side provides a little extra bounce that’s desirable for sex.
The Layla Hybrid is CertiPUR-US certified and comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Layla offers free shipping in the continental U.S. Orders in Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada incur an extra fee.
Best Pressure Relief
The Saatva Latex Hybrid is a mattress that offers excellent relief to people who experience painful pressure points during sleep. While the latex is responsive with a medium firm (6) feel, it also provides substantial contouring, especially when coupled with a wool comfort layer.
Measuring 12 inches thick, the Saatva Latex Hybrid has a top layer of organic wool batting to cushion the bed’s surface. Due to the breathable nature of wool, this layer also helps cool the mattress. Beneath is a 3-inch comfort layer of Talalay latex that gives the bed a bouncy but also gently conforming quality. The ventilated construction further promotes cooling. The support core is made up of zoned pocketed coils that provide targeted support for the body. The bed’s perimeter is reinforced with thicker coils to prevent excessive sinkage along the edges.
Like all latex-based beds, this model is a good option for anyone who is looking for alternatives to foam mattresses. The latex layer allows the body to rest on top of the bed rather than sink into it. This enables better ease of movement and also allows the body to run cooler at night.
The Saatva Latex Hybrid is especially well suited to good for stomach and back sleepers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. The bed provides just the right balance of support and cushion to maintain healthy sleep posture for these sleep positions. Side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds may find that the bed is too stiff to provide sufficient pressure relief to shoulders and hips.
Saatva offers a 180-night trial period and full refunds for beds returned within this timeframe, minus a $99 transportation fee to cover return shipping. The company also offers a non-prorated 15-year warranty. Free White Glove delivery is included with mattress purchases, which includes full in-home assembly and old mattress and box spring removal.
Best for Side Sleepers
Amerisleep’s mattress line includes foam and hybrid models that cater to different people based on body type, sleep position, and firmness preferences. The all-foam AS3 is a standout in the collection due to its medium feel, which achieves a balance of even body-contouring and sturdy support. The comfort layer is composed of Bio-Pur, a proprietary memory foam with a dense composition that resists sagging, impressions, and other types of wear and tear that often plague all-foam beds.
The AS3 also contains a polyfoam transitional layer divided into different firmness zones. Your torso and hips receive more reinforcement while softer foam cradles lighter areas of your body, so you should remain on an even plane and not sink too much. A thick support core of high-density polyfoam adds extra stability without making the mattress feel excessively stiff.
The foam layers absorb motion quite well when you change sleep positions or get in and out of bed. This is helpful for couples because they won’t feel ripples of transfer across the surface when their partner moves – a common source of sleep disturbances. The AS3 is also completely silent, so both of you can sleep soundly without any disruptive squeaks and creaks during the night.
An approachable price-point and free ground shipping throughout the lower 48 states should sweeten the deal for customers, and each purchase includes a sleep trial that spans 100 nights. Those who keep their mattress also receive a 20-year warranty.
Best Organic
The 11-inch Birch hybrid mattress is crafted with sustainable materials, including a natural cotton cover, wool comfort layers, and Talalay latex. Wool is known for its exceptional moisture-wicking abilities, and the organic wool layers in the Birch mattress help regulate temperature while providing a soft yet elastic cradle.
Below the wool, Rainforest Alliance-certified Talalay latex adds a springy, cushioning feel. Together, these layers form a responsive medium firm surface that’s ideal for combination sleepers or sex.
The support core consists of individually wrapped coils with reinforced edges, resting on a final layer of wool batting for added stability. The coils provide adequate support for sleepers of any body type or sleeping position, especially side sleepers.
The Birch mattress is certified to be free of harsh chemicals by GREENGUARD Gold, and the cover is certified organic according to the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS). Given its all-natural construction, the Birch mattress releases little to no off-gassing odors and should be a solid choice for most allergy sufferers. The mattress is backed by a 100-night sleep trial, and Birch offers a 25-year warranty. Mattresses ship free and are available for purchase in all 50 states.
Our testing team at Sleep Foundation has years of experience evaluating mattresses of all types and sizes. Since every sleeper has different needs and preferences, our team includes back, side, stomach, and combination sleepers, as well as various body types, in order to reflect as wide a range of sleepers as possible.
We’ve tried out hundreds of queen mattresses with a hands-on testing process that entails physically moving around bed surfaces to assess features such as firmness and edge support. We use temperature sensors to evaluate a bed’s temperature neutrality and body-mapping tools to gauge pressure relief. Our top picks reflect the beds that performed best against competing models.
With so many beds on the market, the mattress industry is full of obscure, misleading, and confusing marketing terms. However, arming yourself with a little basic knowledge about how a mattress works can help you sift through most of this language and find the mattress that best meets your needs. The following are some of the most important elements to consider when choosing a mattress.
Price
Price is the first thing most shoppers look at, and it’s an easy way to narrow down the field of choices. The good news is that comfortable mattresses come in virtually every price-point, so no matter your budget, you should be able to find a mattress that adapts to your sleeping style. Since queen size mattresses are considered the standard, it’s easy to compare and contrast prices to make sure you’re getting the best queen mattress for your money.
Sleeping Position
Side sleepers can experience pressure build-up at the hips and shoulders, while stomach sleepers and back sleepers can suffer from back pain if a mattress isn’t supportive enough. Thus, choosing a softer mattress for side sleepers and a firmer mattress for back and stomach sleepers will usually lead to a more comfortable sleep. If your sleeping partner tends to adopt a different sleeping position, you may agree to compromise on a more neutral feel.
Mattress Type
Almost all mattresses on the market today fall into one of five categories: all-foam, latex, hybrid, innerspring, or airbed. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and the best mattress type for you will depend on your specific needs.
Contouring
Close-contouring mattresses alleviate pressure points and can contribute to proper spinal alignment, especially in side sleepers. However, mattresses with deep contouring and a slow response to pressure may also restrict movement and lead to the feeling of being trapped in the bed.
Quality Materials
The foams, latex, springs, and other components used to make a mattress vary greatly in quality. Better-quality materials often cost more, but they provide superior support and comfort relief. They also tend to last longer than inferior materials before they start to sag or develop permanent body indentations.
Firmness Level
Mattress firmness is typically rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest. The majority of sleepers prefer a mattress that falls between a 5 and a 7, as this offers the best balance of support and pressure relief. As a general rule, side sleepers and lighter individuals prefer plusher mattresses with more pressure relief. Stomach sleepers and heavier individuals prefer firmer mattresses that prevent the hips from sinking, while back sleepers and those between 130 and 230 pounds prefer something in between.
Pressure Relief
No matter how supportive, a mattress with zero cushioning likely won’t provide the comfortable surface you need to drift off to sleep. That’s why most mattresses feature softer materials such as memory foam, latex, or wool in the top layers. Pressure relief is particularly important for side sleepers, where the sensitive hips and shoulders take the brunt of the weight.
Edge Support
Many mattresses lack support around the perimeter, which can be a problem for those who regularly sleep near the edge of the bed. If you plan to share your queen size mattress with a sleeping partner, buying a mattress with strong edge support will make it possible to use your entire half of the bed instead of forcing you and your partner to crowd toward the middle.
Temperature Regulation
Certain mattress materials are known to trap heat, leading to an uncomfortably warm sleep surface. If you or your partner sleep hot, look for mattresses made with breathable materials that allow room for airflow. Hybrid, innerspring, and latex mattresses tend to perform best at temperature regulation. If you prefer all-foam mattresses, look for models that feature cooling technology such as gel beads or phase-change material.
Noise
Whether sleeping alone or with a partner, sensitive sleepers appreciate mattresses that don’t make noise when bearing weight. If you find yourself waking up to every squeak and creak on your old innerspring, it might be time to try a quieter all-foam or latex mattress.
Queen mattresses have been standard in the mattress industry ever since the 1950s. At 60 by 80 inches, a queen mattress is roomier than a full size mattress (54 by 74 inches), but it doesn’t take up as much space as a king size mattress (76 by 80 inches). A queen size mattress is ideal for one or two sleepers, or for taller people who find a full size mattress too short.
Though rare, you may also come across alternate queen sizes such as Olympic (66 by 80 inches) or split queen (two beds, each one 30 by 80 inches).
Single Adults: Many of us outgrow our twin size beds as we reach adulthood, and for some, a full size mattress may feel a little cramped. A queen size mattress allows ample room to sleep comfortably. While we recommend avoiding non-sleep activities in bed, many people also find that their roomy queen mattress is the ideal spot to carry out activities like reading, watching television, or just hanging out.
Couples: A queen size mattress is the perfect compromise for couples who like sharing a bed and who value cuddling and sex, but who also need their own space to fall asleep. Couples may want to choose a mattress that’s quiet and able to absorb motion to reduce nighttime disturbances. Strong edges are also a plus, as they allow each partner to spread out without fears of falling off the bed.
Teenagers: Teenagers may need more room than a twin size mattress can provide. If you’re buying a mattress for a teen that’s still growing, a flippable model with different firmness levels may be better able to accommodate changes in body weight. Invest in a good queen size mattress, and your teen may be able to take it with them when they move out.
A king size mattress is considerably wider than a queen. Measuring 76 by 80 inches, it’s equivalent to two twin XL mattresses placed together. An alternative to the king is the California king mattress (72 by 84 inches), which is slightly longer and not as wide. Some couples also opt for a split king, in which each side of the bed can be customized with a different feel and separate bedding.
King size mattresses are more expensive than queen size mattresses, and they may take up excessive floor space in smaller rooms. For these reasons, it’s rare for a single sleeper to choose a king mattress. However, this size is steadily gaining in popularity with co-sleepers who want more room to themselves.
Queen and king mattresses are both very common. It shouldn’t be difficult to find appropriate bedding and bed frames, whether online or in brick-and-mortar stores.
The pros and cons of queen size mattresses really depend on your individual priorities. A size that’s perfect for some shoppers may be too big or small for others. Likewise, some may find that queen size mattresses are relatively affordable, while those who are upgrading from a twin or full mattress may find the price tag a bit steep.
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Virtually every mattress on the market can be categorized as one of the types listed below. Mattresses of a given type tend to share some characteristics, but they also vary dramatically depending on the particular design and materials used. Nonetheless, knowing what features you value the most in a mattress may help guide you to a specific type.
Definition: Hybrid mattresses have a thick comfort section coupled with an innerspring support core. The comfort layers can be made of polyfoam, memory foam, latex, micro-coils, or other pressure-relieving materials. The support core is usually made with pocketed coils in order to reduce motion transfer and provide targeted support.
Highlight: A Fair Compromise. Hybrid mattresses offer a balanced feel for couples with differing comfort preferences. Additionally, due to the coil layer, they tend to have strong edge support that enables full use of the bed’s surface area.
Definition:Innerspring mattresses feature a support core made of innerspring coils. Some innerspring mattresses may also have a thin comfort layer.
Highlight: Budget-Friendly Option. Innerspring mattresses are an economical choice, and they make a good starting point for people who wish to customize the feel of their mattress. It’s also possible for each sleeper to personalize their side of the bed with a custom mattress topper.
Definition:Popular with eco-conscious shoppers, natural latex is made from the milky-white liquid of the rubber tree. All-latex mattresses generally feature firmer latex in the support layers and pressure-relieving latex in the comfort layers. Latex can be processed in one of two ways, Talalay or Dunlop, with Talalay usually offering a fluffier, more consistent feel.
Highlight: Ease of Movement. In general, latex offers moderate conforming that helps relieve pressure and absorb motion transfer without overly restricting movement. Latex is also naturally breathable, which helps reduce heat build-up when sharing the bed with a partner.
Definition: The core of an airbed mattress consists of an air chamber controlled by a remote control or a smartphone app. Inflating the air chamber makes the bed feel firmer, while deflating it makes it feel plusher. Most airbeds also have one or more comfort layers to provide extra cushioning.
Highlight: Customized Firmness. The primary benefit of airbeds is the ability to set a precise firmness level and adjust it according to your immediate needs. Most queen airbed mattresses have the option to set a different firmness level for each side of the bed.
Definition: All-foam mattresses are typically made with a high-density polyfoam support core and one or more memory foam, polyfoam, or latex comfort layers.
Highlight: Motion Isolation. Couples often opt for all-foam mattresses because they’re quiet and they excel at absorbing motion. This minimizes the chances of waking up every time a sleeping partner shifts positions or gets in and out of bed. All-foam mattresses also tend to provide above-average pressure relief, making them well-suited to side sleepers.
As with any big purchase, there are some additional considerations to keep in mind before buying your queen mattress.
Usually, shoppers pick mattresses that are suited to their personal sleeping style and comfort preference. If the queen mattress is destined to be shared by more than one sleeper, it needs to be comfortable for both parties. A mattress for a lighter individual or a growing teen may need to be plusher, while a mattress for a heavier individual or stomach sleeper may need to be firmer. For mattresses that will see a variety of sleepers, such as in a guest bedroom, aim for a more neutral feel.
Those who regularly co-sleep with kids or pets should consider their needs as well when purchasing a queen size mattress. In this case, motion isolation, noise, and edge support become doubly important in order to reduce nighttime awakenings and make room for everybody.
The standard bed-in-a-box mattress tends to be shipped for free within the continental U.S., although some companies offer White Glove delivery with in-home setup and old mattress removal for an extra charge.
Additionally, most mattresses sold online come with a sleep trial. This is a set period of time during which you can sleep on the mattress in your own home and return it within a given window if you decide it’s not for you. Sleep trials can be anywhere between 90 nights and 365 nights, and they’re an invaluable way to ensure a successful purchase.
After the sleep trial ends, the mattress should be backed by a warranty of 10 years or longer that protects the consumer against manufacturing and workmanship defects. Be sure to read the fine print before buying your mattress to ensure you’re getting fair sleep trial and warranty terms, and no hidden shipping charges.
A standard queen size mattress measures 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Customers should keep in mind these dimensions aren’t always exact, and there may be a one-inch margin of error for either the width or length.
In addition to the standard queen, there are a few variations on this size. The Olympic queen is also 80 inches long, but measures up to 66 inches wide. The short queen – sometimes referred to as the RV queen – is typically 60 inches wide by 75 inches long.
While mattresses generally become heavier as you progress from twin to king sizes, the weight of a queen mattress depends more on its material composition and thickness than its width and length. All-foam mattresses are usually the lightest queen size models, weighing in around 60-80 pounds. Innersprings with profiles of less than 10 inches also tend to be fairly lightweight.
Foam hybrids have middle-of-the-road weights, typically in the range of 90-100 pounds for queen sizes. The heaviest mattress types are all-latex and latex hybrid models, which usually weigh at least 100-120 pounds but sometimes as much as 150 pounds or more.
Even at 60-80 pounds, a queen size mattress can be fairly heavy and unwieldy for one person. We recommend enlisting in a lifting partner whenever you need to rotate or move your mattress.
As the name suggests, a split queen mattress is actually two mattresses divided lengthwise down the middle. Each individual mattress measures approximately 30 inches wide by 80 inches long.
Split queen mattresses are primarily intended for couples who use adjustable beds. The split allows each person to independently elevate or lower their side of the bed without affecting their partner’s side. Split queen mattresses are compatible with sheets designed for a standard queen.
One thing to keep in mind: though the dimensions are identical, split queen sizes for a given mattress usually cost more than standard queens.
No, queen mattresses should only be used with queen size frames or foundations. Every non-adjustable bed frame is designed to accommodate mattresses of a certain size. Using a frame that’s too small for your queen size means the mattress won’t fit within the frame’s edges. This can make the mattress sink in the middle and feel very uncomfortable, and may also cause damage to both the mattress and the frame.
Some bed frames have adjustable width and length settings, so these models could potentially accommodate both a full and queen size mattress. However, these are fairly rare. The best rule-of-thumb is to buy a bed frame that corresponds to your mattress size.
As with weight, the cost of a mattress will gradually increase as you go up in size. However, the cost of a queen size mattress depends on a number of factors.
Material composition plays a major role in pricing. The list below represents the average queen size cost for each mattress type:
Other factors include the thickness of the mattress, which brand you choose, and whether you buy the mattress online or in a brick-and-mortar store. Many mattress brands host annual holiday sales and offer ongoing discounts to save you some money on your purchase.
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