With its entry in the online eCommerce industry, the prices of the mattress have dropped considerably, making luxury affordable. Nectar and Tuft & Needle are two of the most popular brands as their mattresses are known for their universality, versatility, and superior comfort. As the best bed-in-a-box mattresses in the market, we decided it would be best to compare Tuft & Needle vs. Nectar.
Both brands suit a wide range of sleepers and sleeping position preferences. We chose one highest-rated mattress from each brand for the comparison. Hunting for the right mattress can be a nightmare because it needs to match your position while regulating temperature and maintaining comfort at the same time.
To make sure that it is a fair competition, we chose the mattresses in such a way that they some common grounds. Some of the similarities between Tuft & Needle and Nectar include all-foam construction, cooling relief, and affordability. Both mattresses are made up of different layers of eco-friendly foam including Tencel (in Nectar) and Tactel (in Tuft & Needle) along with gel memory foam that changes temperature as seasons change.
We used a number of points of difference to compare Tuft & Needle vs. Nectar, which include firmness, warranty, durability, motion transfer, bounce, and responsiveness. All these factors together make up for an undisturbed and relaxing sleep throughout the night. While firmness avoids extra sinkage, durability ensures you can use the mattress for a very long time. Bounce determines how easily it can absorb shock and responsiveness notes how well the mattress takes your body shape and supports spinal alignment. Let’s get started with the comparison!
| Tuft & Needle | Nectar |
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| VIEW ON AMAZON | VIEW ON NECTARSLEEP |
| Tuft & Needle | Nectar | |
| Type | Foam | Foam |
| Firmness | Medium firm (6.5) | Medium firm (6.5) |
| Thickness | 10″ | 12″ |
| Weight | 71 lbs | 74 lbs |
| Sleep trial | 100 nights | 365 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | Lifetime |
| Price | $595 (Queen) | $800 (Queen) |
| Certification | Greenguard Gold
Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX Certi-PUR-US |
CertiPUR-US |
| Tuft & Needle | Nectar | |
| Support core | 7″ 1.8 PCF HD polyfoam | 6″ HD Polyfoam |
| Comfort layers | 3″ 2.8 PCF polyfoam | 1″ Quilted Gel Memory Foam
1″ 4 PCF Gel Memory Foam 3″ 3.5 PCF Memory Foam |
| Cover | Micro polyamide and polyester | Cotton and Tencel® Lyocell |
Let’s break up the mattress construction to check different layers and what makes them special:
The Tuft and Needle mattress has three layers in total, including a cover constructed of a blend of polyester and Tactel. While the polyester makes the fabric smooth and wrinkle-free, Tactel makes the surface breathable. T&N Adaptive foam makes 3” of the second layer. It is a combination of memory foam and natural latex, which makes the mattress firm and comfortable but responsive at the same time.
The remaining 7” of the mattress is made up of HD polyfoam, which stabilizes even when you are sleeping in an awkward position. All three layers absorb heat from your body and transfer them into the surrounding air, so you stay cool and comfy under the cozy sheets.
Nectar mattress has four layers of construction along with a Tencel fabric cover made using a high-quality pulp of eucalyptus leaves. It adds a number of features including softness, absorbency, and breathability to the mattress.
The first foam layer is constructed of 1” of quilted gel memory foam and has received a 14 ILD rating. It adds stability to the mattress and pulls out excess heat from your body, so the surface temperature remains optimal. A 3” gel memory foam makes up the second layer of the mattress and has a 15 ILD rating. It is also called Lush Foam, which is considered to be the best quality foam in the market. The softness of the first layer combined with the firmness of the second makes the mattress comfortable but doesn’t let your body sink into it.
Coming to the third layer, which is made up of a 1” thick special hi-core memory foam. Don’t let its thinness fool you because it is nothing less than magic. It has a high 45 ILD rating, which supports your joints and takes away any type of pain. The last layer 5.5” thick and constructed of 55 ILD rating polyurethane foam. It provides spinal alignment throughout the night and also absorbs the heat from the top three layers.
Comfort-wise, we have to agree that the Nectar mattress is better compared to Tuft & Needle. It intelligently monitors your movements and adjusts the firmness accordingly.
Imagine coming home to a rock-hard bed after a long day at work. Don’t want to imagine, right, neither do I. All of us love to come to a super soft mattress with a sturdy firm, so you can change your position while sleeping and not wake up because of the discomfort. When it comes to comfort, there are a lot of factors you need to consider.
If you will be sharing the mattress with your partner, you should buy at least a queen mattress. Anything smaller will make you feel locked, something very similar to a baby’s crib. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page and discuss all these factors before committing to a mattress. Let’s take a look at them:
Any mattress you buy should support your spine alignment and not put too much pressure on any specific part of your body.
On the other hand, it should ideally relieve pressure point pains that are usually felt in the hips, knees, and other joints. The firmer the mattress, the more support and pressure point relief it offers. The Nectar mattress is firmer compared to the Tuft & Needle, making it a perfect choice for stomach sleepers.
While Nectar offers a special separate support layer, Tuft & Needle offers a combined base and support layer, which focuses on body contouring and sinkage. If you are someone who changes positions multiple times throughout the night, we recommend you purchase the Nectar mattress because it has a transition layer that supports a quick position change.
You want the mattress to be breathable so that there’s proper airflow that regulates your body temperature. By temperature control, we also mean that it should not let you go cold during the winter. You don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night with cold toes and fingers. During the cold season, it should add heat to your body and increase the temperature.
Both mattresses use a special kind of cover fabric that regulates temperature and keep your body cool. In Nectar mattress, the cover is made of Tencel, which is an eco-friendly fiber that transfers excess body temperature to the fourth layer and then, the surrounding air. It has two layers of gel memory foam that boost mattress breathability while keeping it soft and comfy.
Tuft and Needle uses a cover, which is a mix of polyester and moisture-wicking cotton substitute called Tactel. It not only regulates temperature and soaks your sweat and transfers it to the surrounding atmosphere. The mattress also has a heat-wicking graphite and gel infusion comfort layer, which promotes air regulation.
No one likes to be cramped up in their own bed, but no one likes to be woken up in the middle of the night either. Mattresses that don’t absorb movement tend to wake up your partner or pet sleeping with you. It not only disturbs their sleep but also increases physiological stress that can lead to mood disorders and a bad temper.
The motion isolation feature is an essential factor to consider, especially if you move a lot during your sleep. It limits motion transfer, so your partner or pet sleeping with you enjoy uninterrupted sleep throughout the night.
Nectar is better at motion isolation because it has a layer of high-density, gel-infused foam that restricts your movement from affecting your partner’s sleep.
Responsiveness measures how fast or slow the mattress adjusts to your body movement. Tuft & Needle is better at responsiveness, thanks to its 3” Adaptive comfort foam. It is a mix of gel and graphite. This feature makes the surface stable and prevents any sinking sensation. Nectar is a firm mattress so that you won’t have any problem with the responsiveness, but we found Tuft & Needle the winner in this category.
If a mattress doesn’t have bounce, it will interfere with a person’s rhythm and sexual satisfaction. Many couples reported that bounce is important while having intercourse. This feature is opposite to the motion isolation feature because it restricts movement so that you won’t enjoy enough bounce. Tuft & Needle is better at bounce and resiliency only because it scores low on motion isolation.
Mattresses are designed to avoid excessive sinking at the four corners when you are sleeping or sitting at the end of the bed. Nectar offers better edge support, which is a feature that comes from the mattress’s high ILD ratings of the lower two layers. Tuft & Needle sinks a bit when you sit at the edge, which can get uncomfortable when you plan to sit like that for a long time.
Since both the mattresses come in a box, there are a few concerns every buyer has. The three most common ones are how many days it takes to regain its original size, does it has any smell, or will it leave any harmful chemicals. The Tuft & Needle mattress is the fastest to inflate and takes only two hours. Make sure to remove all the plastic for it to expand fully. It does have a slight chemical smell, but it goes away instantly in a few hours.
On the other hand, Nectar takes longer to inflate. You will have to wait for at least 24 to 72 hours for it to regain its original size. It takes more time because it has five total layers of construction, while Tuft & Needle only has three. The Nectar mattress does have a strong smell, which lasts for two to three days. Keep the windows open for fresh air to come in and make the smell bearable.
| SLEEP POSITION | Light sleepers(less than 130 lbs) | Average sleepers(130 lbs to 230 lbs) | Heavy sleepers(greater than 230 lbs) |
| Tuft & Needle | |||
| Side | fair | very good | good |
| Back | very good | good | very good |
| Stomach | fair | good | good |
| Nectar | |||
| Side | good | good | good |
| Back | very good | good | very good |
| Stomach | fair | good | good |
Both mattresses score fairly well sleep position ratings but if you are a light sleeper, you should go for Nectar because it is better at motion isolation. It is a very personal and subjective decision depending on your sleeping position. While testing Nectar, we found that it has the firmness of memory foam, but you won’t enjoy that comfortable sinking feeling. It contours the shape of your body and reduces pressure in your hips, knees, shoulders, and back. It has an overall warm feeling, which is just the perfect temperature for an undisturbed sleep throughout the night.
Combing to Tuft & Needle, which is a medium-firm mattress. It is most suitable for average sleepers weighing between 130 to 230 lbs. Other than that, all its characteristics are similar to Nectar.
| SIZE | Tuft & Needle | Nectar |
| Twin | $350 | $500 |
| Twin XL | $395 | $550 |
| Full | $495 | $700 |
| Queen | $595 | $800 |
| King | $750 | $800 |
| California King | $750 | $900 |
| Sleep trial | Warranty and refund | Delivery | |
| Tuft & Needle | 100 nights | 10-year warranty
full refund |
Within the U.S. |
| Nectar | 365 days | Lifetime warranty
full refund |
Within the U.S. |
Eight of 10 people who bought a mattress from Tuft & Needle were happy with the brand’s customer service. It comes with a 10-year warranty with a full refund and a 100-night sleep trial. Tuft & Needle delivers only in the United States. we feel it is sufficient time to adjust to a mattress and know whether it is the right fit for you or not. The shipping is absolutely free, and it takes around seven business days for the product to be delivered. Tuft & Needle is good with returns. However, some buyers complained that they turn unresponsive once you call or email for returning the mattress.
On the other hand, Nectar has an overall better customer service policy, including 365 nights sleep trial and a lifetime warranty with a full refund. The brand delivers only within the United States, but it is completely free of charge. Less than three percent of Nectar customers return their product, and that’s because the brands invest in a three times longer risk-free trial to ensure every type of sleeper is comfortable with the mattress.
Nectar also offers financing through Affirm, which allows you to enjoy luxury without making a big hole in your pocket. They have a very simple returns policy, and very few customers complained of the unresponsiveness of the Nectar Customer Care representative team.
To test both the mattresses, we used methods along with the factors that we mentioned above.
One of the first tests we performed was sleeping on both mattresses in different positions for two to three minutes each. The reason behind doing it was to get a good idea about the mattress support and firmness and whether it fulfilled the claims the package made. we found Nectar to perform better overall because it has more layers of foam, which makes the transition easy.
Since it is impossible to check for mite and dust resistance in a few days, we checked customer reviews online for some feedback. It informs the durability of the mattress and how well it can handle changing weather and humidity. We couldn’t find any reviews that were the manufacturer’s fault for both the mattresses, which is something very positive.
As a mattress owner, you need to take care of your mattress properly. Don’t let anything spill on it and make your bed every day to avoid any mites from entering your mattress.
Two scores tell you the firmness of the mattress – Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) and Coil Gauge, which is measured for spring mattresses. On the other hand, ILD measures the force that you require to press down the mattress. More the force needed, more the ILD score of the mattress. It should create a visible dent in the mattress.
Since both are memory foam mattresses, they score between 12 – 20. Nectar mattress scores better than Tuft & Needle. Nectar mattress has received two ILD ratings. 1” of quilted gel memory foam has a 14 ILD rating, while the 3” gel memory foam has a 15 ILD rating. It makes sleeping comfortable for a variety of sleepers.
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Without a doubt, we can say that Nectar is a better mattress compared to Tuft & Needle, mainly because it suits a number of sleepers and sleeping positions. The return and warranty policy are much better when compared to Tuft & Needle. It comes with a 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty. However, since it isn’t recommended to use a mattress for more than eight years, we don’t think the warranty will matter as much.
We like how it has four different layers of foam under the mattress cover that relieve pain and offer maximum comfort. If you are looking for comfort and luxury, Nectar is the best for you. It is only 11” in thickness, but you can increase the height using a 2” mattress liner. The price might be a problem for some people, but since Nectar offers EMI options, it becomes easy to afford.
Coming to Tuft & Needle, which is a fairly good model for those who are on a budget. Its 10-year warranty with no conditions is a good enough policy. It costs only $595, which is a more affordable option. The mattress has three years in total, and the support and comfort layers are combined together, which reduces the edge support but adds more bounce to it.
We would recommend you to purchase the Nectar mattress because it is an all-round model and has a better firmness, which makes it ideal for therapeutic purposes too.
