Zinus vs Signature Sleep: Detailed Mattress Comparison

Can't decide between Zinus and Signature Sleep? We compared them for you.
By
Romeo Vitelli
Romeo Vitelli
Expert Writer
Received his doctorate in Psychology in 1987, spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre. In 2003 went into full-time private practice. read more
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Reviewed By
Medical Advisory Team
Medical Advisory Team
Includes well-known professionals, who together provide decades of sleep medicine experience that enables Talk About Sleep to fulfill its mission of creating access to high- read more
Last updated: August 15, 2023
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Can't decide between Zinus and Signature Sleep? We compared them for you.
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If you’re looking to get a better night’s sleep from your mattress, you’ve probably come across the Zinus and Signature Sleep mattresses. These two foam beds both promise excellent sleep with no waking up or rolling around in the middle of the night. But, which bed is better for you? We’ll compare the Zinus vs. Signature Sleep mattresses head-to-head to help you figure out which one is right for your sleeping style. Overall, the Zinus is best for side and back sleepers, while the Signature Sleep is best for stomach sleepers who prefer a firm surface during the night.

Quick Comparison

The Zinus and Signature Sleep mattress stand out from the wealth of mattresses on the market because of their affordable pricing. Both of these beds are hundreds of dollars cheaper than many other, comparable foam mattresses, which takes a lot of the stress out of the decision of choosing a new mattress.

Still, you want to make sure you’re getting the better of these two beds for your sleeping style. Both the Zinus and Signature Sleep mattresses are made entirely from foam. But, the types and layers of foam differ quite a bit. The Zinus mattress comes with both memory foam, which conforms to your body, and comfort foam that offers support without losing its shape. It’s also worth noting that the memory foam in the Zinus mattress is infused with gel, which helps keep you cooler throughout the night. The Signature Sleep mattress, on the other hand, only has a layer of standard memory foam.

This difference in construction plays an important role in determining how the beds feel. The Signature Sleep mattress is relatively firm, so it tends to be preferred by stomach sleepers and some back sleepers. The Zinus mattress is a bit softer (although still firm relative to many other foam mattresses), so it’s favored by back sleepers and heavier side sleepers who can sink into the foam.

Another important thing to note about these two mattresses is that the Zinus comes with a 100-night sleep trial. That means you can try it out for 100 nights and then return it if you don’t love it. The Signature Sleep mattress, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a return period in case you don’t end up loving the bed. Both mattresses come with 10-year warranties to protect against any defects or sagging in the foam over time.

Zinus Signature Sleep
  • Gel-infused memory foam
  • Comfort foam layer for more support
  • Best for back and heavy side sleepers
  • 100-night sleep trial
  • Relatively thin memory foam layer on top of support foam
  • Best for stomach sleepers
  • Can be delivered to Canada
VIEW ON AMAZON VIEW ON AMAZON

Mattress specifications

Zinus Signature Sleep
Type Foam Foam
Firmness Medium firm Firm
Thickness 10″ 10″
Weight (Queen) 51.5 lbs 53.5 lbs
Sleep trial 100 nights N/A
Warranty 10 years 10 years
Price (Queen) $201.64 $222.99
Certification CertiPUR-US CertiPUR-US

Construction

Zinus Signature Sleep
Support core 5.5″ high-density foam 8″ high-density foam
Comfort layers 2.5″ comfort foam2″ gel-infused memory foam 2″ memory foam
Cover Knitted Jacuard Knitted polyester

 

At first glance, the construction of the Zinus and Signature Sleep mattresses looks very similar. Both of the beds are 10 inches tall, and both are made entirely of foam. On top of that, both mattresses have a two-inch layer of memory foam on top of the bed.

But look more closely, and you’ll see that these two mattresses actually take very different approaches to providing you with a good night’s rest. The memory foam layer on the Zinus mattress sits on top of another 2.5-inch layer of comfort foam, which won’t give like memory foam but is much softer than the high-density foam used in the mattress base. That essentially offers a transitional layer of foam that eases the firmness of the bed. The presence of this foam layer is a big reason why the Zinus mattress is rated medium firm rather than firm.

The Signature Sleep mattress, on the other hand, has just an eight-inch layer of high-density foam beneath the top memory foam layer. That means that your body is very likely to come into contact with this dense foam as you sink into the bed. This may be fine for back and stomach sleepers who prefer a hard feel, but it can also create uncomfortable pressure points for many side sleepers.

The two mattresses come with knitted covers. Both are made from synthetic materials that are cool to the touch, but are not infused with anything to aid in your sleep.

Comfort

Zinus vs Signature Sleep: Detailed Mattress Comparison

Ultimately, the biggest question you face in choosing between the Zinus vs. Signature Sleep mattress is which one will be more comfortable for you. To help answer that question, we’ll compare these two beds head-to-head in a number of categories that affect the quality of your sleep.

Firmness and support

As we noted above, the difference in foam layers between these two mattresses leads to very different firmness and support levels.

The Zinus is described as medium firm thanks to the presence of the comfort foam layer. You can expect to sink a few inches into the bed on the memory foam, but then be cushioned and supported before you sink all the way to the high-density foam base. That’s an advantage for back and side sleepers in particular, since it prevents the formation of pressure points while still allowing for the natural contour of your body. Heavyset back sleepers and all stomach sleepers, however, might find that this mattress feels too soft for comfort.

The Signature Sleep mattress is much more firm since you immediately sink through the thin memory foam layer and onto the high-density foam base of the mattress. Because of this construction, don’t expect the mattress to fill in around the natural curvature of your neck and back the way you might with a more plushly padded bed. The Signature Sleep mattress is generally favored by stomach sleepers and heavier back sleepers, who will sink in more than lighter sleepers. Side sleepers should avoid the Signature Sleep mattress entirely, since it’s very likely to cause pressure points.

Temperature control

Zinus vs Signature Sleep: Detailed Mattress ComparisonThe Zinus and Signature Sleep mattresses also differ notably in how they regulate your temperature throughout the night. That’s because the memory foams that the two beds use are different.

Zinus’ memory foam top is infused with green tea extract and cooling gel. The gel can diminish the lifespan of the mattress by reducing the longevity of the foam, but this isn’t a big deal since the bed comes with a 10-year warranty. More important, it prevents you from overheating and rolling around in the middle of the night by encouraging the dissipation of heat away from your body.

The Signature Sleep bed, on the other hand, uses traditional memory foam. This type of memory foam is infamous for trapping heat. Many people who sleep warm can find themselves waking up in a sweat in the middle of the night. So, the Signature Sleep may not be the best option if you live in a hot climate.

Motion transfer

Since both of these mattresses are made entirely from foam, they each do a very good job limiting motion transfer across the bed. The Zinus mattress is slightly better in this respect thanks to the dampening offered by the comfort foam layer. However, it’s unlikely you’ll notice a partner moving around during the night on either of these mattresses.

Responsiveness

When it comes to responsiveness, the firmer Signature Sleep mattress has a clear edge. The key is that traditional memory foam tends to bounce back to its original shape much faster than gel-infused memory foam. It also lasts longer before developing permanent indentations and sags. So, you should see the foam snap back after laying down or moving around in the mattress much faster on the Signature Sleep bed compared to the Zinus bed.

Resilience and bounce

The Signature Sleep mattress also offers better bounce than the Zinus mattress. It should be noted that neither bed stands out in this category, in part thanks to the all-foam construction. If you jump into either the Zinus or Signature Sleep mattresses, you’re more likely to stick and sink slightly than to bounce back.

That said, in the Signature Sleep mattress, the high-density foam layer is nearer the surface of the bed. You can use this as a layer to press against to lift yourself out of the bed or to bounce around. In the Zinus mattress, you can become somewhat mired down in all the foam when trying to lift yourself out of the bed because of the action of the comfort foam layer.

Edge support

The edge support on the Signature Sleep and Zinus mattresses is pretty comparable. Both mattresses can hold your weight while sitting without sagging too much. For heavier users, the Signature Sleep mattress may offer slightly better edge support, since you’ll be weighting the high-density foam layer rather than the comfort foam layer as on the Zinus bed.

Inflation time, off-gassing and smell

All foam mattresses need to inflate before they’re ready to be slept on. Both Zinus and Signature Sleep recommend waiting 48 hours for your bed to fully inflate. But, customers have noted that each of these beds is ready almost immediately after you take them out of their respective boxes. Inflation time is essentially just a few minutes, and there is no detectable chemical smell unless you have a very sensitive nose.

Sleep position ratings

SLEEP POSITION Light sleepers(less than 130 lbs) Average sleepers(130 lbs to 230 lbs) Heavy sleepers(greater than 230 lbs)
Zinus
Side good good very good
Back very good very good good
Stomach good good fair
Signature Sleep
Side fair fair fair
Back good good good
Stomach good fair fair

 

The Zinus mattress is described as medium firm and contours closely to the shape of your body thanks to the comfort foam layer. As a result, it is generally preferred by back sleepers who need support around the curvature of their spine. At the same time, heavyset side sleepers might feel that the mattress is soft enough that they don’t develop pressure points. Light and average-weight stomach sleepers will feel like the mattress is more firm, and so they may also like the feel of the Zinus bed.

The Signature Sleep mattress is much more firm, so it’s mostly limited to use by back and stomach sleepers. Side sleepers are very likely to notice pressure points with this bed. Even then, heavier stomach sleepers may think that the bed is not firm enough because of the memory foam – that can feel a bit suffocating when you’re lying face-down in the mattress.

Sizes and pricing

SIZE Zinus Signature Sleep
Twin $390 $165
Full $260 $215
Queen $201 $223
King $279 $315

Customer service

Sleep trial Warranty and refund Delivery
Zinus 100 days 10-year limited warrantyFull refund Within the U.S.
Signature Sleep N/A 10-year limited warrantyFull refund within 2 years Within the U.S. and Canada

 

One of the major differences between the Zinus and Signature Sleep beds is that Zinus offers a 100-night sleep trial. That gives you peace of mind that you can try out the mattress risk-free for 100 nights. With the Signature Sleep mattress, you’re truly committing to the bed when you purchase it.

The warranties also differ. Both offer 10-year coverage against defects in the foam or unwarranted sagging. But, Signature Sleep’s refund is prorated after the first two years, meaning that you won’t get back the full price you paid for the mattress. Zinus, on the other hand, will give you a full refund if there are problems with your bed at any point during the 10-year warranty period.

Finally, it’s important to consider where Zinus and Signature Sleep deliver. Both companies will send mattresses anywhere in the continental US, but only Signature Sleep sends mattresses to Canada as well.

So which should you buy?

Zinus

VIEW ON AMAZON

Pros

  • Gel-infused memory foam promotes cooling
  • Relatively inexpensive for Queen or King sizes
  • 100-night sleep trial
  • Soft enough for heavier side sleepers

Cons

  • Not very responsive
  • Relatively poor bounce
  • Gel-infused memory foam can form indentations over time

Signature Sleep

VIEW ON AMAZON

Pros

  • Fairly inexpensive
  • Firm feel is excellent for heavyset sleepers
  • Good edge support for foam mattress
  • Can be delivered to Canada

Cons

  • No sleep trial
  • May be too firm for any lightweight sleepers
  • No gel or other temperature control in memory foam

In conclusion

Ultimately, which mattress is better for you comes down to your sleeping style. The Zinus mattress is better for back sleepers who prefer medium firmness and heavyset side sleepers. The Signature Sleep mattress is better suited for back sleepers who prefer a very firm bed without transitional foam layers.

If you’re comparing the Signature Sleep vs. Zinus beds on features alone, rather than sleeping style, it’s hard not to prefer the Zinus bed. The gel-infused memory foam offers better temperature regulation throughout the night compared to traditional memory foam. It also comes with a full 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial. Finally, the Zinus bed is cheaper than the Signature Sleep mattress for queen- and king-sized beds.

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