It used to be that to get a new mattress, you had to go to your local mattress store and fend off upselling from the salesman. Then, you had to figure out how to get the mattress back from the store to your home. But by buying a mattress online, you can skip the salesman and the hassle and save money along the way.
We had a lot to think about when picking the best mail order bed. We first looked at whether each mattress is constructed from foam or with innersprings, or a hybrid of the two. We also looked at the overall thickness and structure of different layers to assess comfort for different types of sleeper. Price, warranty, and the length of the sleep trial were all important considerations as well. In order to help you find the best mail order mattress, we looked at 34 different beds you can buy online. From our top 10 picks, the Layla Sleep Memory Foam Mattress took our Editor’s Choice. However, competition in the deliver mattress space is fierce, and you can find reviews of nine runners-up below.
More features: two-sided mattress with adjustable firmness
This mattress from Layla Sleep is a top contender for our Editor’s Choice pick. To start, it’s relatively unique in that you have options as to how firm you want your mattress to be. One side of the mattress is very soft and caters to side sleepers, while the other side of the mattress is medium-firm to cater to back and stomach sleepers. If you’re not happy with the firmness of this bed, just flip it over.
The construction of the bed is a little unique because of this design. Both the top and the bottom have layers of copper-infused memory foam, while the middle of the bed has the higher-density foam layers that normally form the base of a foam mattress. If you sleep on the softer side of the bed, you’ll also have a layer of convoluted foam beneath you to add support and cushioning.
The copper-infused memory foam is a nice touch on this bed because it goes a long way towards providing cooling. Unlike gel memory foam, copper-infused foam won’t break down or form indentations after a few years of sleeping on the bed. The thermogel-infused cover also helps with breathability, and the convoluted foam layer has deep indentations that help to maximize airflow through the mattress.
What’s more, Layla Sleep backs this mattress with a lifetime warranty. That’s matched only by Nectar’s lifetime warranty among the beds we looked at. The only thing we wished for was a longer sleep trial so you could try out both sides of the bed for a few months each.
More features: soft touch design, individually wrapped coils
The Helix Midnight mattress is the only hybrid mattress to make our list of the top 10 mail order mattresses. It’s impressively affordable for a hybrid mattress, while offering comfort for a relatively wide range of sleepers.
The mattress is rated as medium firm (5.5 out of 10), which users on the whole thought was an accurate description. It’s right in the perfect range for a lot of back sleepers, and many stomach sleepers appreciate the support provided by the innersprings as well.
The secret to this bed is that it places a layer of memory foam over the pocketed coil base, along with a layer of transitional medium-density foam. The foam allows your body to softly sink onto the base, while the coils provide far more support than the high-density polyfoam used in most foam mattresses. Helix individually wraps the coils, which helps prolong the life of the bed as well as ensures that there are no pressure points.
The hybrid design gives this bed a few major advantages over all-foam competitors. The edge support simply can’t be matched by any foam mattress, which is a big plus when you want to sit on the bed just to tie your shoes in the morning. On top of that, users had almost no complaints whatsoever about temperature regulation during the night while sleeping on the Helix Midnight bed.
Even better, Helix matches the 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty that you’ll find on competing foam mattresses.
More features: advanced cooling technology; 1,032 individually encased coils
One of the best things about Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid is the thickness of 13 inches which provides a comfortable sleeping surface. The next best thing is that it is a hybrid model which incorporates different materials to optimize support and comfort for maximum sleeping benefits. These materials include one inch of base support foam, and 8 inches of Ascension X™ 1,032 coils encased in individual pockets to enhance motion isolation and limit sleep interruptions when a partner moves. The coils’ spacing also makes the mattress breathable and promotes efficient distribution of heat. There is also a one-inch layer of visco-elastic memory foam, a 2-inch hyper-elastic TitanFlex foam layer that keeps skin temperature at 88 degrees to avoid sleeping hot, and a top layer made of 1.5 inches of copper-infused CopperFlex foam with antimicrobial properties and responsive contouring.
The cover is made from special phase change material of quilted polyfoam and cotton.
Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid is available in medium, firm, and soft options, so anyone can choose the firmness to their liking and sleeping position. The thick profile and durable coils offer sufficient core support for heavy individuals and alleviate pain from pressure points by evenly distributing the body weight.
It is relatively pricy but also one of the best cooling mattresses in the market. Buyers also enjoy risk-free purchase with 120 nights of sleep trial and a limited warranty of 10 years.
More features: soft base layer with 4 reinforced handles; even weight distribution due to zoned coils
Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress is notable for the sleep trial period of 365 nights. That’s about a year of risk-free testing before making your decision, and once you purchase it, you will be covered by a lifetime limited warranty.
This is a medium-firm hybrid mattress that combines a 9-inch layer of zoned multi-gauge pocketed coils and a 4-inch layer of Dunlop latex that is thicker than the 2-inch layer of regular hybrid mattresses. The 2-layered mattress makes total thickness of 13 inches. Buyers benefit from the temperature control and responsiveness of latex as well as fortified support, improved air circulation and even weight distribution provided by the zoned inner coils. The individually-wrapped coils also contour to the body to optimize spinal support and pressure relief.
The soft base layer includes four reinforced handles for convenient transport, and the cozy cover is made from New Zealand wool quilted in organic cotton.
The natural latex from rubber trees is hypoallergenic and resistant to odor, dust mites and mold. It does not have harmful phthalates or formaldehydes. The mattress also uses water-based adhesives and a natural, silica-based fire retardant.
Buyers can choose their Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress in Queen, Twin, Twin XL, Full, King and California King sizes.
The only downside is that it takes a while, approximately 30 days, for the mattress to break in.
More features: 1,000 smart support coils; natural fire-resistant barrier; flippable mattress
Idle Hybrid is a queen size mattress that comes with two standard memory foam pillows as a bonus, sleep trial of 18 months and an impressive limited lifetime warranty that also covers sagging and body impressions. The 14-inch thick model consists of four layers that blend foam and coils for support and pressure relief and a cover made from Thermocool fabric that prevents the body from overheating.
The base features 6-inch layer of 1,000 smart support coils wrapped individually to provide edge support, minimize motion transfer and make the mattress bouncy, and 1 inch of polyfoam transitional layer that serves as a buffer against the coils underneath. This is followed by a layer of 2 inches of aerated polyfoam that improves air flow and evens heat distribution. Lastly, you have a 1-inch top layer of quilted polyfoam for a soft and comfortable sleeping surface.
Since the mattress utilizes CertiPUR-US certified foam without chemicals that may heat up, it has superior cooling mechanisms and pressure relief. The foam is also devoid of TDCPP, lead, PBDE, mercury and other ozone depleters, making it an ideal choice for sleepers with allergies. It also boasts of natural fire-resistant barrier for additional safety.
Users like the buoyancy and the option to choose the side with their preferred firmness level. The mattress is also compatible with an adjustable base.
Idle Hybrid is a versatile mattress for different types of sleeping positions because you can opt for two sides of the mattress featuring two different levels of firmness: medium and luxury firm. Flip it after every 6 months to prevent uneven wear, restore or retain the shape of the mattress and extend its lifespan.
Unfortunately, a couple of customers experienced soreness because the mattress was too firm for them.
More features: 8″ sturdy wood orthopedic foundation replaces box spring; adjustable bed compatible
PlushBeds Ocean Mist consists of two all-foam layers made of 6 inches of HD 2.5-pound support foam and 3 inches of patented gel memory foam that is designed to improve air circulation by dissipating heat and moisture to keep you dry and comfortable for rejuvenating sleep. It is three times more effective in achieving this compared to standard memory foam mattresses. The affordable mattress also has outstanding recovery response and pressure absorption to ease pressure points.
The layers are encased in a cover made from poly-cotton stretch fabric that is easy to clean. It is supported by 8-inch sturdy wood orthopedic foundation that is sturdier than box spring.
The 9-inch thick mattress is available in medium-soft firmness which provides necessary softness and support for side sleepers.
The mattress has been tested rigorously for off-gassing and chemical emissions that may worsen allergies.
PlushBeds Ocean Mist comes with a trial period of 100 nights and limited warranty of 25 years. This gives buyers sufficient time to test the mattress before committing themselves and protection in case of manufacturing defects. Since the mattress is made in USA, you can quickly receive your purchase and access customer support for any enquiries.
Some owners add a gel top because they find it much firmer than expected.
More features: cooling gel foam layer; stain-resistant cover; works with any frame or surface
This medium-firm mattress is entirely made from blended foam in three layers enclosed in a stain-resistant polyester cover. You can simply wipe off stains and spillage or easily remove the zippered cover for seasonal deep cleaning to avoid buildup of germs and dirt.
The top layer consists of 2 inches of infused PCF gel memory foam. Memory foam is considered the best material for motion isolation, body contouring and shape retention. However, it tends to retain heat which is why manufacturers combine it with activated charcoal or cooling gel. Base support is provided by 6 inches of 1.5 PCF HD polyfoam followed by a middle core support layer of 2 inches of temperature-resistant polyfoam.
With thickness of 10 inches, this mattress is thinner than some of the other models we reviewed, but its medium firmness accommodates different types of sleepers. The mattress also works with any surface or frame including adjustable frames, flat frames, slats and box springs.
We like the cooling layer that optimizes breathability and temperature control, the hypoallergenic cover that protects owners against dust mites and allergens. The surface feels like sleeping on clouds and the mattress contours to your body curves, although it takes time for your body to adjust. Additionally, buyers are protected by a lifetime limited warranty and sleep trial period of 101 nights. Since it is made in USA, it only takes 1 to 3 business days for buyers to receive their mattress.
More features: Celliant cover converts body heat into infrared energy to help you recover
Perhaps the best thing in the Original Bear mattress is that it comes with a cover made from polyester and Celliant fabric blend that converts body heat into infrared energy and then reflects it back to regulate your temperature and help your body to recover by improving cell oxygenation and blood circulation. Woven Celliant fibers can also be laundered without washing out or wearing out over time.
The mattress is built from three all-foam layers: 6 inches of HD polyfoam at the base for foundational support, 2 inches of transitional polyfoam for core support, responsiveness, easing pressure off your shoulder, back and hips, and providing structure for the mattress. The next layer is the top 2 inches of gel-infused graphite memory foam that makes this model one of the best cooling mattresses for people who sleep hot. Graphite wicks moisture and gel infusions prevent heat retention for a cool touch.
Buyers benefit from 10-year limited warranty and sleep trial of 100 nights. They also appreciate the open-cell construction that improves air flow and heat dispersion. The medium firmness provides a balance for all types of sleepers, especially back and stomach sleepers and the multi-layered design gives adequate support without excessive sinkage.
For safety assurance, Original Bear uses water-based bonding solutions and CertiPUR-US certified foam that is environmentally-friendly and mostly odorless. Any initial smell will dissipate in a couple of days.
More features: cooling effect and springy feel thanks to the aerated latex foam
If you love the bounce and edge support of a latex mattress, you’ll love this latex-foam hybrid from GhostBed. The bed is topped with 1.5 inches of aerated latex, which is far more cooling than any type of infused foam will ever be. Plus, it’s supportive and comfortable at the same time. The GhostBed mattress has a two-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam beneath that – it achieves much of the same purpose as the latex layer, but it’s a lot cheaper than having 3.5 inches of premium aerated latex.
These two layers are relatively high-density, so this bed is on the firm side. Stomach sleepers raved about it, and many back sleepers also liked the way it felt. However, since it doesn’t conform to your body quite as much as a plusher memory foam bed, it’s not great if you have a history of back pain.
The aerated latex and gel-infused memory foam also work together to ensure that you’ll never wake up sweating in this bed. Users found that if anything, it sleeps too cool – a welcome difference from the leagues of overly hot memory foam mattresses. A polyester cover adds breathability, although a material like Tencel lyocell would have really helped this mattress stand out.
GhostBed backs up their mattress with a 20-year warranty, although it remains to be seen if the bed can last that long. Latex is very durable, so it’s possible that this will turn out to be one of the best-value online mattresses you can get.
More features: quilted gel memory foam mattress cover; regulated body temperature
The Nectar Foam mattress stole the show and won our Best Trial award thanks to an impeccable construction and industry-leading 365-night sleep trial. You can actually sleep on this bed for an entire year before committing to it, as opposed to just three months for all of the other beds we reviewed.
This bed is made to please everyone, with medium-firm support that’s rated 5.5 out of 10. Depending on who you ask, it’s too firm or too soft – but for the most part, customers of all sleeping styles were very happy with this bed. The key is the two-part memory foam construction, which allows the density of the foam to increase as you sink deeper into the bed so you get more support without increasing pressure. The memory foam is underlain by a thick cut of high-density polyfoam, which gives this bed plenty of support even if you place it directly on the floor.
Nectar clearly put effort into keeping your body temperature from rising throughout the night. The secondary memory foam layer is gel-infused, which allows heat to escape away from your body and circulate through the bed. On top of that, Nectar covered the bed with a cooling, premium Tencel lyocell and cotton cover. Do note, though, that the cover isn’t removable for easy washing.
Now that you’ve learned more about our ten favorite mail order mattresses, how do you decide which one is best for you? Getting the right mattress can make or break the quality of your sleep, so this is a big decision. In our buying guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about buying a mattress online and what to look for in your perfect bed.
People everywhere used to dread the process of buying a new mattress. First, you had to budget out time to visit several different mattress stores – some stores didn’t carry every brand, and some had better deals than others. When you got there, before you could even try out a mattress, you had to deal with a salesperson and fend off their attempts to sell you a more expensive mattress than what you wanted. If you were lucky enough to find a bed that you were happy with, you still had to figure out how to get it back to your home, which typically meant strapping it to the roof of your car and hoping for the best.
When you buy a mattress online, you can skip all of that. To start, you have a huge selection of mattresses at your fingertips. We reviewed a mattress for every type of sleeper, and there are hundreds more good options available online these days.
On top of that, you don’t have to deal with a salesperson. You can get honest information from reviews like ours or straight from the mouths of customers. That means that you can walk away with a bed that’s right for you and in your price range.
Speaking of price range, buying a bed online is often far cheaper than buying one at the mattress store. Online retailers don’t have to pay for a physical building or salespeople, and they can pass that savings on to you.
One thing they don’t skimp on, though – customer support. Online mattress sellers stand behind their sleep trials and almost all will pick up the phone when you call to help solve any problems that you have with a new mattress.
Finally, buying a mattress online is convenient. After you pick the bed you want, it shows up at your door a few days later. While manufacturers typically recommend letting a foam bed in a box inflate for one to two days, you can almost always sleep on it the same night you get it.
If you want to get the best night’s sleep from your new mattress, it’s important to think about the features you need and what you’re getting. Here, we’ll highlight the things you need to consider when picking out your perfect mattress online.
Mattresses typically come in three different types: foam, innerspring, or a hybrid of the two. A significant number of the mattresses available online are foam, in part because it’s easier to compress a foam mattress into a box than it is a bed with metal springs. In fact, all but one of our top 10 mail order mattresses are made of foam.
Not all foam mattresses are made equally, though. You still need to decide whether you want traditional foam, which cushions and supports your body as a uniform material, or memory foam. Memory foam conforms to your body to relieve pressure points, so you somewhat sink into the bed as it compresses. Many of the mattresses we reviewed, including the Nectar, Layla Sleep, and Tempur-Pedic beds, have a layer of memory foam on top of a higher-density layer of traditional foam to provide support.
Some people love memory foam, while others don’t like the feeling of being sucked into the bed. If you haven’t tried memory foam in the past, make sure you order a bed with a lengthy sleep trial so you can decide if it’s right for your or not.
The one hybrid mattress we reviewed, the Helix Midnight mattress, has a layer of foam on top of pocketed coils. These beds combine the cushioning of foam with the support of a traditional innerspring mattress. The only downside to watch out for is that hybrid mattresses can be more expensive than their foam counterparts.
Firmness is one of the hardest aspects of a mattress to quantify, but it’s so important for comfort. One person may thing a mattress is extremely soft, while another may call the same bed medium-firm. So, it’s important to take a look at customer reviews when choosing a mattress based on firmness. Again, having a lengthy sleep trial is helpful if you discover a mattress is more or less firm than you like after it arrives.
In general, what firmness is right for you will depend on what type of sleeper you are. Side sleepers often prefer softer mattresses because they reduce pressure from building up on your sides and shoulders. Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, often benefit from very firm mattresses because they allow you to float on top of the bed and keep your back relatively straight. Back sleepers often prefer a medium-firm bed, but back sleepers also cover a wider range of firmness preferences than other types of sleepers.
The mail order mattresses we looked at span the full range of firmness. The Tempur-Pedic, Layla Sleep, and Leesa mattresses are on the soft end of the spectrum, while the GhostBed, Purple, and Casper mattresses are each relatively firm.
Thickness is another thing to consider when choosing a mattress. In general, a thicker mattress is better – it means you get more support between your body and the hard base, whether that’s a box spring or a floor. But, thicker mattresses also tend to be slightly more expensive because they require more material. They’re also heavier, which can be a problem if you need to get the bed to an upstairs bedroom.
With the exception of the Purple mattress, which is 9.5” thick, all of the mattresses that we reviewed are between 10” and 12” thick – plenty for comfort for most sleepers.
Many mail order mattresses aren’t made of a single layer, but rather multiple layers of different materials stacked on top of one another. This allows every bed to have a custom recipe for keeping you comfortable. For example, a memory foam layer can relieve pressure while a firmer layer underneath provides support and cushioning.
It’s not that more layers are necessarily better. Instead, look carefully at what the layers are, what they’re made of, and how they’ll contribute to you getting the best possible night’s sleep.
When you buy a mattress online, you don’t have a chance to try it before committing to it. Sleep trials solve that problem by allowing you to return your mattress if it doesn’t work for you. While you’ll probably have a good idea of whether a bed works for you or not within a month or two, a longer sleep trial is generally better. All of the mattresses we looked at offer a sleep trial of at least three months, and the Nectar mattress comes with a whopping one-year sleep trial.
A long warranty is also important, since you can get your mattress replaced if there’s a defect with the foam that causes it to lose structure after a few years.
Note that most warranties won’t replace the full value of your bed – check the warranty details for how much your bed will be worth after a certain number of years.
Prices for mail order mattresses vary widely, but for the most part it’s very easy to find a high-quality bed for under $1,000. Most of the mail order mattresses we reviewed cost between $800 and $900, and our Budget Pick from Zinus costs just over $250. Of course, it is possible to pay more for traditional mattress brand names – a queen-sized version of the Tempur-Pedic mattress costs more than $2,000.
If you want your mattress to last for a decade of sleep or more, it’s important to take good care of it. Thankfully, this is relatively easy and doesn’t require a lot of work.
The most important thing you can do for your mattress is to rotate it from head to toe every two weeks for the first four months of use. After that, rotate it every three months. If you use a box spring, don’t forget to rotate that either (every six months is okay for the box spring).
Your mattress will also last longer if you don’t put pressure in the same spot all the time. If possible, try to sleep on the whole mattress rather than on the same side every night. When you sit on the edge of the bed to put clothes on or tie your shoes, change up which part of the edge you sit on.
Finally, your mattress will last longer if you keep it clean. Some beds come with a removable cover that can be machine washed. Others shouldn’t have the cover removed because it’s filled with fiberglass particles. In that case, you can rub the bed down with a sponge and use baking soda to get rid of smells and stains.
Our three overall favorite mattresses that you can order online are the Layla Sleep Mattress, the Helix Midnight Mattress, and the Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid Mattress. The Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid is the hybrid mattress available in three firmness options and featuring excellent cooling properties. Its thick profile and durable coils offer sufficient core support for heavy individuals and alleviate pain from pressure points by evenly distributing the body weight. The Helix Midnight was a close contender for our top pick. It is a hybrid mattres that offers medium firmness and soft touch design catering to most people. Still, we feel the Layla Sleep is the overall best mail order mattress. It features copper-infused memory foam for thermal regulation. Better yet, you can flip it over to get a more firm or more plush sleeping surface.
