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Nectar Mattress Review: Our Unbiased Review
Sleep Foundation
Why Trust Us
Our mission to create a healthier, more well-rested world demands that our product reviews be best-in-class. You won’t find more expertise on mattresses and sleep products anywhere else.
The Sleep Foundation product testing team uses an industry-leading evaluation process paired with real world consumer feedback to come up with objective recommendations so that you can feel confident in your product decisions.
Ranked #1 on our Best Mattresses Under $1000 list
With a budget-friendly sticker price, the Nectar Mattress is a great value for what it offers. It combines pressure relief with firmness, comfort, and support and actually performs as well as many pricier all-foam beds.
- Absorbs motion well, making it ideal for couples
- Comfortable for side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds
- Solid value and backed by a 365-day sleep trial and warranty
- May be too soft for sleepers over 230 pounds
- Might feel too firm for lightweight sleepers
- May trap too much heat for those who sleep hot
As Nectar tells it, they set out in 2017 to create the most comfortable mattress ever. While it may be hard to say whether they’ve achieved that lofty goal, they have racked up over 5.5 million customers, which puts them on solid footing amid an ever-growing slate of mattress-in-a-box companies.
In this review, we’ll be focusing on their flagship bed: the Nectar Mattress, an affordable, medium-firm foam mattress that’s a great choice for anyone who’s a fan of memory foam’s signature “body-hug.”
While Nectar makes other options, including their Premier and hybrid mattresses, the Nectar is their most in-demand bed, and the product that we’ve named among our best mattresses of the year and best mattresses in a box.
We’ll provide you with an honest assessment of the Nectar that’s based on our testing team’s personal experience and important details like construction, sizing, and pricing. We’ll cover where it excels, where it falls short, and which types of sleepers it’s best for.
SMART MATCHING
Is the Nectar Right for You?
Use the filters below to to see how well the Nectar lines up with your unique needs. We'll also give you a couple other recommendations based on your answers.
TEST LAB RATINGS
How the Nectar Scored
Motion Isolation8.5/10
Our team measured the Nectar’s motion isolation using a vibrometer and found that it performed better than the average foam mattress. As a result, if you share your bed, you’ll experience few — if any — disruptions from your sleep partner’s movements.
Logan Foley, Executive Product Director: Memory foam beds typically excel at motion isolation compared to other mattress types, and the Nectar Mattress is no exception. My partner’s easily disturbed by my movements on the other side of the bed, and we had no issues with the Nectar.
Pressure Relief8.5/10
For testers under 230 pounds, the Nectar Mattress provided a satisfying level of pressure relief, whether they were side, back, or stomach sleepers. Our back and stomach sleepers noted that the transitional and support layers helped to maintain a flat, even surface. Those over 230 pounds, however, might feel like they’re sinking into the mattress at their midsection, which can add pressure to already sensitive areas.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: As a side sleeper, the memory foam conformed evenly to cushion my shoulders and hips, align my spine, and reduce pressure.
Temperature Control6.5/10
We conduct our body heat test by measuring how long the surface temperature of a mattress takes to dissipate after placing a heating element on top of the bed. After our tester got off the mattress, we found that the Nectar’s surface temperature dropped faster than the average foam mattress, which indicates that it retains less heat. If you currently sleep on foam without any problems, you’ll do fine on the Nectar.
Logan Foley, Executive Product Director: Two of our three testers experienced some mild overheating during their week with the Nectar, me being one of them. Given the all-foam makeup of the bed, this is expected, but you might want to watch out if you tend to run hot at night.
Edge Support7.0/10
Our team sat alongside the perimeter of the mattress at various angles and measured how deeply the material compressed. While the edges did sink, the mattresses’ medium-firm feel provided slightly more support than the average memory foam mattress. This makes the Nectar an acceptable option for those who enjoy sitting at the end of the bed in the morning, or who otherwise struggle with getting in and out of an all-foam bed.
Brad Nehring, Product Testing Manager: I noticed some sinkage while sleeping near the edge of the bed, but the team’s consensus was that it was still significantly less noticeable than some of the softer alternatives on the market.
Ease of Movement5.5/10
While the Nectar’s rated as medium firm, those of us who toss and turn will probably sleep better with material that’s more supportive than memory foam. Lighter sleepers might find it easier to move around, but restless sleepers who weigh more will likely struggle with the material’s slow response to movement. This is a common issue with all-foam beds. While the Nectar didn’t overperform, our team still gave the mattress an average rating for the category.
Brad Nehring, Product Testing Manager: I change positions a few times each night, and while I never felt completely stuck with the Nectar, my ability to move was fair at best.
Durability6.5/10
Like most all-foam mattresses, the Nectar likely won’t last much longer than the average lifespan of seven years or so. This is because memory foam is among the least durable mattress materials and tends to develop impressions and unevenness over the course of several years. That being said, the foam is fairly dense, and the Nectar durability is about average for its type.
HANDS-ON TESTING
Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Nectar Mattress, we had three people on our testing team each take the bed home with them for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Brad Nehring
Product Testing Manager · Back sleeper · 215 lbs
Back sleeper · 215 lbs
When I first brought the Nectar home, I was pleasantly surprised by how firm and supportive it felt. Despite the memory foam feel, I still found it relatively easy to move around and didn’t get the ‘stuck feeling’ I often get with beds of this type. I did wake up feeling a bit hot one of the nights, but this isn’t abnormal during the summer, when I tested it.
Logan Foley
Executive Product Director · Side sleeper · 140 lbs
Side sleeper · 140 lbs
I generally agree with Brad’s points, but for me the mattress was a bit too firm. I felt a bit too much pressure around my hips and shoulders, especially when changing positions. I also felt a bit hot at times throughout the week.
Jeremy Klein
Product Testing Manager · Side Sleeper · 210 lbs
Side Sleeper · 210 lbs
I enjoyed the Nectar. I felt well supported and my shoulders and hips were nicely cushioned as I laid on my side. There was a really nice coziness to it. On the other hand, I did sleep hotter than in my usual bed. I was kicking the covers off throughout the night.
Who it Fits
Fit by Sleep Position and Body Weight
Our tests show the Nectar’s medium firm, all-foam design is a good match for side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. These sleepers receive the close cushioning they need for even alignment and less pressure along the spine, but without sinking too deeply. The Nectar may not provide enough support for people who weigh more than 230 pounds — these sleepers should seek out a firmer, more robust mattress.
Sizes, dimensions and weights
Construction
Inside the Nectar
Cover
Polyester, Nylon, and Polyethylene
1″ Comfort Layer
Memory Foam
3″ Transition Layer
Lower-Density Polyfoam
8″ Support Core
High-Density Polyfoam
Other Nectar Beds You Might Like
Nectar Classic Hybrid
8.6/108.6/10 · $499 – $1,498
Hybrid · Firm (7)
Nectar Premier
8.8/108.8/10 · $549 – $1,638
Foam · Medium Firm (6)
Nectar Premier Hybrid
8.7/108.7/10 · $799 – $1,998
Hybrid · Firm (7)
Nectar Luxe
8.9/108.9/10 · $999 – $2,198
Foam · Medium Firm (6)
Nectar Luxe Hybrid
9.0/109.0/10 · $1,099 – $2,598
Hybrid · Firm (7)
Buying It
Trial, Warranty, and Delivery
365 Night
Sleep Trial (30 night break in)
Lifetime
Warranty (Free replacement 10 yr)
Free
Ground shipping (contiguous US)
$149
White glove delivery (optional)
Where to Buy Nectar Mattress
The Nectar Mattress is available on the Nectar Sleep website and through online retailers and marketplaces like Amazon.com. The mattress is also sold in more than 1,000 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States.
Shipping and Delivery
Nectar Sleep ships to all 50 states. Customers in the contiguous U.S. qualify for free ground shipping, Alaska and Hawaii residents must pay an additional delivery charge of $150 per item. Deliveries are not available for U.S. territories or outside the U.S.
For ground deliveries, the mattress is compressed, wrapped in plastic, and shipped in a box to your doorstep. After the mattress is delivered, bring it to the room where you plan to use it, open the box, and carefully cut away the plastic using a knife. The mattress will immediately begin to expand. Full shape recovery may take up to 72 hours.
Additional Services
In addition to standard ground shipping, Nectar offers White Glove delivery for a flat fee of $149. This service includes full assembly in a room of your choice and removal of your old mattress. You’ll pay $49 for each additional item you’d like to have removed, such as a box spring. Additional charges apply to customers in California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island due to recycling laws in those states.
The company offers mattress financing options through Affirm. More information can be found on Nectar’s website.
Sleep Trial
Nectar Sleep offers a 365-night sleep trial – much longer than the trial periods for most competing brands. You need to test out the mattress for at least 30 nights in order to break it in properly. After that, you may return the mattress for a full refund. Return shipping is always free for customers in the contiguous U.S.
Nectar Sleep also allows exchanges during the trial period. To initiate an exchange, first complete the return process for the original mattress and then purchase the replacement model.
Warranty
Nectar offers a lifetime warranty for the mattress. During the first 10 years, Nectar Sleep will replace any defective mattress at no extra cost to the owner. After 10 years, the company will either replace or repair and re-cover any mattress for a charge of $100 (to cover round-trip transportation expenses). This $100 fee will be waived if the mattress is considered defective. Under this warranty, sagging or body impressions measuring at least 1.5 inches beneath the surface are considered defects.
Additional covered defects include physical flaws that cause the foam layers to prematurely deteriorate, and defects associated with the cover assembly. Other issues – such as physical damage or normal wear and tear – are not covered and will not warrant repairs or replacements from Nectar Sleep.
The warranty is non-transferable, so only original owners who buy their mattress from Nectar Sleep or an authorized retailer are eligible for coverage.
FAQs
What are the downsides of a Nectar mattress?
The potential downsides of the Nectar mattress mostly relate to its all-foam construction. Despite gel-infused memory foam and a breathable cover, the mattress may still sleep warm for hot sleepers or in warmer climates. Foam is also generally less responsive than hybrid or latex beds, so sleepers may experience restricted movement when changing positions or getting in and out of bed.
Beyond these aspects, the downsides of any given mattress can depend on how well the bed suits the sleeper’s body type and sleep position, so consider your personal needs before purchasing.
Is the Nectar mattress any good?
The Nectar mattress offers an excellent balance of pressure relief, comfort, and support at a lower price point than many all-foam mattresses. That said, there is no one-size-fits-all mattress, and it’s important to research the Nectar in relation to your body type, sleep position, and personal preferences.
Why does my back hurt after sleeping on Nectar?
There are a few possible explanations as to why you may experience back pain after sleeping on a Nectar mattress. First, the mattress may not suit your specific body type, sleeping position, or preferences. For example, sleepers over 230 pounds may experience uncomfortable sinkage, while those under 130 pounds may find it too firm. Both situations can cause poor spinal alignment and lead to back pain.
Additionally, ensure your mattress has proper foundation support. Keep in mind that it can take 30 to 60 days for your body to adjust to a foam mattress and for the foam to finish breaking in.
Is Casper or Nectar better?
While we liked both Casper and Nectar’s baseline mattresses, they differ in a few areas. The Casper mattress scored slightly higher for temperature control and ease of movement, making it a better pick for hot sleepers or those who toss and turn at night. That said, the Nectar offers more value and comparable pressure relief, and its motion isolation also made it a top-tier choice for couples.
Brad is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Western Washington University. As someone who has lived with sleep problems throughout his adult life, Brad is passionate about helping others get the rest they need. He’s professionally tested and reviewed sleep products for nearly a decade.