Mattress Ratings > Latex Mattress Reviews
Latex Mattresses → Reviews, Ratings & Complaints Based on 596 Actual Owner Experiences
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last updated January 20, 2011
What You Need To Know
Owner Satisfaction: Latex mattresses overall have 78% owner satisfaction.
Pros: Above average pain relief; often soft but supportive; fairly easy to move on; can be more natural than other bed types.
Cons: Can be pricey; some reports of sagging / body impression development, heat retention and initial odor; heavy; limited track record compared to most other mattress types.
Price: $550-$3700 depending on brand and model.
Learn more about latex bed advantages and disadvantages.
Competition: See how latex mattresses compare to other bed types in the detailed mattress comparison.
Where buy?: They are often widely available, however, several latex mattress brands are available only online. See buying a mattress online: what you should know.
Latex Mattress Ratings: As a Group
The ratings below discuss how the mattresses overall as a group are evaluated by owners. For information on specific brands, see the section following this one. The ratings below are based on nearly 600 actual latex mattress owner reviews and experiences that were collected using an unbiased, accurate methodology.
| Owner satisfaction | good | Latex mattresses as a group have 78% owner satisfaction which is similar to memory foam, air and water beds. All-natural latex beds rate about 15-20% higher in overall satisfaction than blended (natural / synthetic combination) varieties. |
| Durability / longevity | fair | Significant premature sagging (sagging of the bed that occurs within three years) is reported in at least 10% of owner reviews. It should be noted that even with significant sagging, some owners still find their latex bed to be generally comfortable. Limited long-term owner data suggests that latex mattresses overall have somewhat less of a lifespan than airbeds and memory foam beds (especially higher density), but a longer lifespan than innerspring mattresses. |
| Price | Fair | Prices vary from $550 to $3700 (for a queen) mainly due to the amount of latex used and whether the latex is all-natural or blended. Owner satisfaction levels are often similar across the price range. Base latex mattress models are often more pricey than the base models of other mattress types. |
| Less pain | good | The mattresses will somewhat conform to one's body which helps to relieve pain and minimize pressure points. At least 15% of owners report pain relief since sleeping on their latex mattress, especially back pain relief. About 3% of owners complain that their mattress causes pain, usually because of sagging or excessive firmness. (See mattresses and pain relief for more analysis.) |
| Firmness variety | fair | Different latex firmnesses are often available, but owner reviews suggest that the mattresses tend to have medium to firm firmness. About 15% of owners say that their mattress has too much firmness, while less than 4% complain of excessive softness. Dunlop-processed latex tends to be firmer than talalay processed. It is not uncommon for latex mattress owners to use a topper on their bed to soften the mattress somewhat. |
| Motion isolation | good | The independent cell construction of latex often provides good motion isolation. In other words, movement you make on the bed will be significantly absorbed so that your partner does not feel it. |
| No initial odor / off gassing | fair | A significant number of owner reviews report a lingering smell of some kind, usually rubber in nature. Technically, the odor should probably not be considered off gassing or a potential health threat. |
| No sleeping hot | Fair | 4-8% of consumers report that their latex mattress acts as a trap for their body heat. This is above average compared to mattresses in general, but somewhat lower than memory foam. |
| Easy to move on | good | Latex beds with few exceptions are easy to move on as they tend to be more firm than soft. Ease of movement on a latex bed tends to only be a problem when the mattress has sagged and an indentation(s) has formed; rolling over or on the higher parts of this indentation(s) can be difficult. |
| Good for sex | good | There is not a significant number of complaints by owners regarding this issue. |
| No noise | good | Latex mattresses are quiet unlike innerspring beds that can squeak / creak and airbeds that can make noise when the pump is in operation. |
| Dust mite resistant | fair | Dust mites can live inside the beds, but probably in fewer numbers than is the case for innerspring beds. See mattresses and dust mites for more analysis. |
| No rotating / flipping | fair | Rotating and flipping helps longevity, say owners. But many models are "no-flip." Heavy weight makes both tasks difficult; two people are often needed. |
| Lightweight | poor | After waterbeds, latex mattresses, especially those that are Dunlop processed, are likely the heaviest type of bed. This, of course, can make moving the bed, changing linens, etc. difficult. Less expensive models, i.e., those that use a fairly small amount of latex, are less heavy and easier to handle. |
| Warranties | good | A 20-year warranty with 10 years non-prorated is common which is similar or better than what is offered by other mattress types. (See mattress warranties: what you should know.) |
| Return policies | good | Varies by retailer. Online latex mattress retailers tend to offer more generous terms. (See returning a mattress: what you should know.) |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings | Good | Most latex mattress sellers have an "A" rating with the BBB, but several have no rating. A good rating often means that the business sells a quality product, uses ethical business practices and will back their warranty. |
Latex Mattress Ratings / Comparison: By Brand
Individual latex mattress brands do not have as much owner experience data / reviews available that many non-latex mattress brands have. This is because latex beds do not, at least currently, sell in the volume of most other mattress types. As a result, our research involves many individual brands with small, mostly insignificant sample sizes. In addition, many owners included in our research were unaware of their latex mattress brand.
The following chart is not a complete list of latex mattresses available, but includes those beds for which we could find some owner experience data or other relevant information. Click on a brand (where available) for more detailed findings based on actual owner data.
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| Owner Satis-faction | Sample size | Price (queen, no foundation) | BBB Rating | Type | Return Policy | Comments | ||
| Arizona Premium Mattress Co. | NA | NA | $1200 | A- | Blended talalay, natural talalay, dunlop | 90-day exchange | Since 1992 | |
| E.C.O. | 85% | 106 | $650 | NA | Natural talalay | No returns | Only 2" of latex. No warranty. Retailer: Overstock.com | |
| Englander latex | 61% | 44 | $1000-$2600 | A+ | Natural dunlop | Depends on retailer; usually 90-day exchange | ||
| Essentia | 81% | 16 | $1780- $4790 |
No rating | Proprietary latex, Natural dunlop | 60-day exchange or refund | Since 2006 | |
| Flobeds | 83% | 12 | $2000-$3000 | A+ | Natural and blended talalay | 100-day exchange or refund | Individualized firmness, and different firmness for each bed side. Since 1979. | |
| Foam Source | NA | NA | $1200-$2200 | A+ | Natural talalay, natural dunlop | 60-day exchange or refund. | Since 1985. | |
| Foam Sweet Foam | 91% | 12 | $1400-$2400 | A+ | Natural talalay | 30-day exchange (1 layer), 60-day refund | 30-yr non-prorated warranty. Since 1982. | |
| Green Mattress Factory | NA | NA | $1200-$3400 | No rating | Natural talalay, natural dunlop | 90-day exchange or refund. | Emphasis on organic. | |
| Habitat Furnishings | 90% | 10 | $1600-$2300 | A+ | Natural talalay, natural dunlop | 180-day exchange/refund | Since 1994 | |
| Ikea latex | 84% | 38 | $350-$900 | A+ | Blended dunlop | 90-day exchange | Reversible | |
| Jamison | 71% | 7 | $1500+ | A+ | Blended talalay | Depends on retailer; usually 90-day exchange | Since 1883 | |
| King Koil Natural Response | 33% | 6 | $1000-$1500 | A+ | NA | Depends on retailer | ||
| Natural Bed Store | 100% | 2 | NA | B+ | NA | 90-day exchange or refund. | Emphasis on organic. Custom made. Since 1971. | |
| Natures Rest | 53% | 37 | $1300-$3600 | No rating | Blended dunlop | Depends on retailer; usually 90-day exchange | Since 1996. | |
| Plush Beds | 100% | 7 | $1300-$1800 | A- | Natural talalay, natural dunlop | 100-day exchange or refund. | Over 30 years in business | |
| Royal Pedic | 75% | 4 | $2000-$6000 | F | Natural talalay | Depends on retailer | Since 1946 | |
| Savvy Rest | 78% | 14 | $1800-$3400 | A | Natural dunlop / talalay | 90-day exchange | Emphasis on organic. Since 2003. | |
| Sealy Comfort Series | 100% | 6 | $700-$900 | A+ | Blended dunlop | Depends on retailer | Non-latex foam core. | |
| Sealy Embody | 82% | 12 | $1800- $3000 |
A+ | Blended dunlop | Depends on retailer | Non-latex Foam core | |
| Serta Vera Wang latex | 30% | 10 | $1400-$3200 | B- | Blended talalay | Depends on retailer | ||
| Sleep EZ | 100% | 3 | $1100-$2000 | A+ | Natural dunlop / blended talalay | 90-day exchange or refund. | Since 1974. | |
| Stearns & Foster latex | 60% | 10 | NA | A | Blended talalay | Depends on retailer | ||
Natural Vs Synthetic (Blended) Latex
Latex can be natural or synthetic. Natural latex comes from the sap-like extract of rubber trees. Synthetic latex is made by polymerizing a monomer that has been emulsified with surfactants. Synthetic latex has, however, the same basic properties of natural latex. All latex is either a natural / synthetic blend or 100% natural latex.
Based on our collected owner data, 100% natural latex mattresses rate about 15-20% higher in overall satisfaction than blended (natural / synthetic combination) latex mattresses. All-natural latex, however, is usually somewhat more expensive than the blended variety.
Based on limited owner data, all-natural latex appears to perform somewhat better than the blended variety in regard to longevity and resistance to sagging / developing body impressions.
Be aware that some manufacturers / retailers may say that their mattresses are “natural” latex — even if in fact the product has only, say, 50% natural latex with the rest being synthetic.
Latex Processing: Talalay Vs Dunlop
Dunlop and Talalay are types of latex processing (not types of latex). The Dunlop process has been around for many decades, while Talalay is newer. 100% natural latex and blended varieties can be made using either process.
Based on our collected owner data, talalay and dunlop latex mattresses overall rate virtually the same in regard to comfort and durability / longevity.
Talalay is more airy, less dense / firm and lighter than Dunlop, although still heavy in general.
Another difference is that the Dunlop method produces one piece of latex while the Talalay method produces latex in sections which then must be glued together. Some owners complain that lying on the glued seams is uncomfortable.