Tuft & Needle vs. Helix Mattress Comparison

Tuft & Needle and Helix are two of the most successful companies in the online sleep industry, selling bed frames, bedding, and other sleep accessories in addition to their popular mattress lines.

Tuft & Needle was one of the first mattress companies to kickstart the mattress-in-a-box movement, and continues to be one of the leading players today. Currently, Tuft & Needle offers three mattresses: the all-foam Original and Mint models, and the Tuft & Needle Hybrid.

Helix has designed its mattress lineup with a different model for every type of sleeper. Customers can take a quick sleep quiz on the website to find out which mattress is best for them. In total, Helix sells six hybrid mattresses: the Sunset, Moonlight, Midnight, Dusk, Twilight, and Dawn. All of these are also available in a Luxe version with extra features.

Our guide to the Tuft & Needle vs. Helix mattresses covers specs, sleeper ratings, and other practical details to help you narrow down your search.

Quick Look

We’ve worked hard to show you which mattresses are the best fit for you. Check out our full mattress guides listed below!

Sizing and Weight Options

Buying a new mattress offers a rare chance to make a significant change to your bedroom setup. This may signal an opportunity to splurge on a bigger bed, or it may be a time for maximizing space in your bedroom by downsizing your bed. Whatever the case, it’s wise to give careful thought not only to the mattress’s size, but also its height and weight.

A heavy mattress is harder to set up, harder to rotate, and harder to move. If you have trouble lifting heavy objects, or if you anticipate moving your mattress from room to room, you may want to limit your search to mattresses that are easier to handle.

As for the height of the mattress, this is often most important for people who have trouble getting in and out of bed. Don’t forget to factor in the height of the foundation when measuring how far the mattress will sit off the ground. If you’re buying an extra-tall mattress, you may need to invest in deep-pocket fitted sheets.

When buying a mattress for an existing bed frame or foundation, be sure to pay careful attention to the exact measurements. Some mattresses vary by a few inches in length or width, which can leave unsightly gaps between the mattress and the foundation.

Tuft & Needle offers just three mattress options, but these encompass a wide range of preferences, with a basic all-foam mattress, a fancier all-foam model, and a hybrid mattress. The Tuft & Needle mattresses are all offered in the six standard mattress sizes, with average to slightly-above-average height profiles. As expected, the hybrid mattress weighs more than the other two due to its innerspring support core.

Although Helix has twelve mattresses counting the Luxe models, the choices are more limited in terms of height and weight. All the mattresses are hybrid models that weigh more than the average all-foam model. The mattress profiles are also taller than average, with the Luxe mattresses measuring in at 14 inches. As with Tuft & Needle, every Helix mattress is sold in the six standard mattress sizes.

Construction and Materials Comparison

While you won’t get the true feel of a mattress without sleeping on it for a few nights, you can get an idea of how it will perform by assessing its materials and design. Most mattresses use a basic design consisting of a comfort section over a support core.

The sleeper interacts directly with the comfort layers, so these are usually made of cushioning or conforming materials such as memory foam, latex, polyfoam, or even micro-coils. In turn, the support core provides a stable surface that helps promote proper spinal alignment. Accordingly, this section usually features sturdier materials like innerspring coils, firmer latex, or high-density polyfoam.

Mattresses with a similar overall design tend to share certain characteristics. For example, all-foam mattresses are known for their strong motion isolation and pressure relief, while hybrid mattresses are known for offering a balanced feel thanks to their combination of a thick comfort layer section over an innerspring base. However, beyond these major differences, each mattress has particular quirks due to its unique design.

Tuft & Needle

Tuft & Needle makes three mattresses: The Original, The Mint, and The Hybrid. All three mattresses feature at least one layer of the company’s proprietary Adaptive Foam, which offers moderate pressure relief with a quick response to pressure. Each mattress has a breathable cover made of a micro polyamide and polyester blend.

Tuft & Needle mattresses hold CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certifications for being free of harmful chemicals.

The Original

The Tuft & Needle Original is an all-foam mattress made with 3 inches of proprietary Adaptive Foam over a 7-inch high-density polyfoam support core. Graphite and gel infusions in the Adaptive Foam help conduct heat away from the sleeper, and the open-cell foam in the base layer allows room for heat to dissipate.

The Original mattress has a medium firm feel that appeals to a large majority of sleepers. Most people should find that the mattress provides an even balance of support and pressure relief.

The Mint

The Mint is a step up from the Tuft & Needle Original, with an extra 2-inch layer of transitional polyfoam as well as extra graphite and ceramic gel beads for enhanced temperature regulation and pressure relief. The Mint also has an improved cover featuring antimicrobial protection. A 4-inch perimeter of extra-firm foam in the support core helps prevent sagging along the edges.

Thanks to its thicker comfort layer section, the Mint is the optimal choice for side sleepers and anyone seeking additional pressure relief. The Mint’s cover also has some features not found in other T&N mattresses. An antimicrobial protectant embedded in the fabric is intended to stave off harmful bacteria, and the top half of the cover can be removed and machine washed.

The Hybrid

The Tuft & Needle Hybrid Mattress has a 1-inch polyfoam pillow top infused with graphite and carbon fiber, followed by 2 inches of graphite and ceramic gel-infused Adaptive Foam. As with the other Tuft & Needle mattresses, these comfort layers wick away heat from the sleeper and provide light contouring with a quick response to pressure.

Beneath the pillow top, the Hybrid has a coil-on-coil construction with a 1-inch layer of micro-coils and a 6-inch pocketed coil base, separated by an inch of Adaptive Foam. This design boosts airflow and provides a bouncy surface perfect for sex or for combination sleepers. The pocketed coils move independently of one another, allowing the mattress to isolate motion transfer better than most innerspring models.

The mattress also has reinforced coils around the perimeter of the bed, which may be an advantage for couples who like to spread out and use the full space. An inch of high-density polyfoam forms a sturdy base for the mattress.

Helix

Helix’s current mattress lineup includes six hybrid mattresses, each one designed with a specific sleeper category in mind. For each mattress, the company uses a combination of proprietary foams, including:

• Memory Foam Plus: Used in the comfort layers of the Helix mattresses, Memory Foam Plus is designed to hug the body for cushioning pressure relief. This foam is created with different firmness levels from mattress to mattress.
• Helix Dynamic Foam: Helix Dynamic Foam was conceived as an alternative to latex and boasts a quick response to pressure, unlike traditional polyfoam or memory foam. Helix includes this foam in the first and second layers of its mattresses to provide springiness. Like Memory Foam Plus, Helix Dynamic Foam is used in different firmness levels according to the mattress model.
• High-Grade Polyfoam: This foam is firmer and is designed to act as a transition to the support core.

Every mattress has a breathable polyester cover and an 8-inch pocketed coil support core. As with most hybrids, the coils provide bounce and allow room for airflow to help maintain a neutral temperature throughout the night. The perimeter of the mattress has two rows of reinforced coils to prevent sagging along the edges, and the coils rest on a high-density polyfoam base.

In addition to its standard mattress line, Helix also offers each model as a Luxe mattress with added benefits. These have a quilted pillow top with a Tencel cover which raises the total height of the mattress by 2 inches. Tencel is known for its moisture-wicking capabilities, which help keep the surface of the mattress cool. Luxe mattresses also provide more targeted support, with zoned coils that are firmer in the lumbar area and around the edges of the bed.

The Luxe mattresses are a good choice for people who prioritize motion isolation and pressure relief. However, due to their thicker comfort layers, they may retain a bit more heat, and combination sleepers may find some of the softer Luxe models slightly restrictive.

Helix mattresses are certified to be free of harmful substances by CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

The Helix mattress lineup may appear complex at first, but it’s actually quite straightforward. Of the six mattresses, one is soft, one is medium soft, two are medium, and two are firm. Within each firmness level, one mattress uses a memory foam top layer that is optimized for side sleepers, and the other has a firmer Helix Dynamic Foam layer that is optimized for stomach and back sleepers.

Soft:

Helix Sunset (side sleepers)

• Memory foam (Memory Plus Foam)
• Latex-like polyfoam (Helix Dynamic Foam)
• Pocketed coils
• Polyfoam

Medium Soft:

Helix Moonlight (back sleepers)

• Latex-like polyfoam (Helix Dynamic Foam)
• Latex-like polyfoam (Helix Dynamic Foam)
• Pocketed coils
• Polyfoam

Medium Firm:

Helix Midnight (side and back sleepers)

• Memory foam (Memory Plus Foam)
• Transition polyfoam (High-Grade Polyfoam)
• Pocketed coils
• Polyfoam

Helix Dusk (side sleepers)

• Latex-like polyfoam (Helix Dynamic Foam)
• Pocketed coils
• Polyfoam

Firm:

Helix Twilight (back and stomach sleepers)

• Memory foam (Memory Plus Foam)
• Transition polyfoam (High-Grade Polyfoam)
• Pocketed coils
• Polyfoam

Helix Dawn (back and stomach sleepers)

• Latex-like polyfoam (Helix Dynamic Foam)
• Transition polyfoam (High-Grade Polyfoam)
• Pocketed coils
• Polyfoam

In-Depth Ratings

Every mattress has certain strong points that appeal to some sleepers, and weak points that make it a dealbreaker for others. For example, a close-conforming mattress may excel at pressure relief and motion isolation, but perform less well on temperature neutrality because it traps heat around the body. By understanding how the following factors influence the feel of the mattress, you can start to zero in on the mattresses that are best-suited to your sleeping style.

Durability
The durability of a mattress is influenced primarily by the materials used to make it. Poor-quality materials will break down sooner, causing a loss of pressure relief and support that eventually calls for a new mattress. It shouldn’t be necessary to break the bank, but it may be worth paying a little more to ensure your mattress continues to perform well for the average 6-to-8-year lifespan.

Motion Isolation
If you wake easily when your sleeping partner shifts positions or makes a midnight bathroom visit, then you’ll want to find a mattress with strong motion isolation. Most sensitive sleepers find that closer-conforming materials such as memory foam do the best job of preventing nighttime disruptions. This is because they react locally to pressure instead of transferring it across the bed, as with a traditional innerspring mattress.

Sex
A mattress should perform well not only for sleeping, but also for sex. Preferences vary when it comes to intimate activity, although most people find that the best mattress for sex is one that has some bounce to it, such as a hybrid or latex model. Strong edge support and temperature neutrality are also important for many couples. Finally, people with thin walls may enjoy more privacy with a mattress that doesn’t squeak and creak.

Temperature Neutrality
Overheating at night is no fun, as any hot sleeper will tell you. If you have trouble getting quality sleep due to heat retention from your mattress, there are plenty of options on the market. These include hybrid or innerspring mattresses with breathable coil layers, as well as temperature-neutral latex mattresses and even all-foam mattresses with cooling gels and other technology. Breathable cover materials and a surface that doesn’t hug the body too closely can also help with temperature regulation.

Pressure Relief
One of the most important tasks of any mattress is to provide pressure relief. This includes common pressure points like the hips and shoulders, but it also extends to areas like the lower back, which can often suffer extra strain due to a lack of support. To achieve top-notch pressure relief, a mattress must be just firm enough to contour the appropriate amount for the sleeper’s body type and sleeping position. Some mattresses include “zones” of alternating firmness and softness in order to better target the different parts of the body.

Off-gassing
It’s common for new mattresses to emit a faint odor when they are first unboxed. The smell is referred to as off-gassing, and is the result of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being released into the air. Letting the mattress air out for a few days usually gets rid of the smell completely. If you’re particularly sensitive to smell, you may feel more comfortable with an all-natural mattress that doesn’t contain synthetic polyfoam or memory foam.

Ease of Movement
While many sleepers love the typical “hug” feeling of an all-foam mattress, this can be restrictive when it comes time to switch sleeping positions. Combination sleepers usually prefer mattresses that contain latex or innerspring coils, as these provide a springier feel that facilitates movement. Active sleepers who are intent on purchasing an all-foam mattress will do best with a firmer model that keeps them “on” instead of “in” the bed.

Edge Support
Many mattresses are prone to sagging around the edges, a problem that often gets worse over time. If you like sitting on the edge of the bed, one option is to choose a mattress with a reinforced perimeter. This imparts a feeling of security not only while sleeping, but also while getting in and out of bed. Many hybrid mattresses feature reinforced perimeters in the form of stronger coils or a polyfoam encasement.

Tuft & Needle

Helix

Prices and Sizing

There are a number of factors that influence the price of a mattress, and not all of them are obvious at first glance. The design, the quality of the materials, the inclusion of special features, extra certifications, and the place of manufacture all play a role in setting the price.

While quality and price are often correlated, this is not always the case, so you should avoid prizing one mattress over another just because it’s more expensive. A better method is to make a list of the features that are important to you, and then try to find mattresses within your budget that tick all the boxes.

One last thing to note is that it’s rare to pay full price when buying a mattress, especially if you’re buying online. Many companies offer frequent discounts that can knock as much as a few hundred dollars off the final price. These discounts often extend almost from one major holiday to the next, so it’s typically worth waiting to make a purchase until you can take advantage of the latest promotion.

Tuft & Needle

Helix

The Tuft & Needle flagship mattress is priced well below average for an all-foam mattress of its quality. Even the Mint mattress is reasonably priced, on a par with competing all-foam mattresses. The Mint has a long expected lifespan, making this mattress very good value for money. The Hybrid is slightly more expensive, but its price-point is still in line with the average hybrid model.

The standard Helix mattresses are also very affordable compared to other hybrid mattresses, and offer an attractive option for shoppers on a budget. For those who are willing to splurge, the Helix Luxe mattresses offer a higher-end feel at a price that’s still very competitive for its class.

Trials, Warranty, and Delivery

Shipping

The norm when buying a mattress online is for it to be shipped as a mattress-in-a-box, which entails shrink-wrapping it, compressing it, and sending it via ground shipping in a cardboard box. Once it arrives at the customer’s home, all that’s left to do is place it on the foundation and cut open the plastic to let the mattress expand.

Mattress-in-a-box shipping is usually offered free of charge in the continental U.S., and mattresses ship within anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. Where available, orders to Hawaii, Alaska, and international destinations may incur an extra charge and take longer to arrive.

Some companies also offer optional White Glove delivery, where a third-party provider will come and set up the mattress in the room of your choice and clear away the packing materials. This almost always comes at an extra charge, and may not be an option for orders outside the continental U.S. White Glove customers can usually opt to have their old mattress removed for an additional fee.

Helix offers free shipping in all 50 states, and also ships to the Canadian provinces for a charge of $250 plus customs fees. White Glove delivery is available for a fee in the contiguous U.S., and old mattress removal can be added for an additional fee.

Tuft & Needle ships for free in the contiguous U.S. via FedEx Ground. Same-day shipping is available for an extra charge in select locations for the Original and Mint mattresses. Orders to Hawaii and Alaska shall incur an extra shipping charge. Tuft & Needle does not ship to Canada, but the Original mattress is available on Amazon.ca. White Glove delivery and old mattress removal are available at an extra charge of $150 in the contiguous U.S.

Returns

It’s the industry standard to offer a sleep trial of at least 90 nights for mattresses bought online. Customers who decide they don’t like the feel of the mattress can return it for a full refund during this time. Shipping charges, White Glove delivery fees, and other additional costs are usually non-refundable.

In the event that a mattress is returned, a company will usually arrange for pickup of the mattress and ensure it is responsibly donated or recycled.

Tuft & Needle mattresses purchased directly from the Tuft & Needle website come with a 100-night sleep trial. Tuft & Needle will work with customers to donate the mattress locally or have it recycled, and the company will provide a full refund. Mattresses purchased through third-party distributors may be subject to different terms.

Helix also offers a 100-night sleep trial, but imposes a mandatory 30-night break-in period. Customers who return the mattress between the 30th and 100th nights will receive a full refund. Those who wish to try a different firmness level can request to receive a free comfort layer instead of returning the mattress.

Warranties

Mattress warranties protect consumers against manufacturing and workmanship defects such as premature sagging, splitting or cracking of the foams, and flaws in the cover. They are usually contingent on the mattress having been used with a properly supportive foundation, and they won’t cover damage that is the result of improper use or abuse.

The warranty should be included in the price of the mattress, and is typically at least 10 years long. Some warranties are prorated, requiring customers to foot part of the repair or replacement bill after a certain amount of time has elapsed.

Tuft & Needle provides a 10-year limited, non-prorated warranty against defects including permanent indentations of at least 3/4 inch. The company will replace or repair defective mattresses, or customers can elect to upgrade to a more expensive model by paying the difference.

Standard Helix mattresses come with a 10-year limited warranty, and Luxe mattresses a 15-year warranty, against defects including permanent indentations of at least 1 inch. Customers may be responsible for shipping charges. As with Tuft & Needle, customers have the choice to upgrade to a better model by paying the difference instead of receiving an identical replacement.