No commission • No endorsements • Based on owner experiences • Since 2008 • More
Does a choice of two distinct mattress models from an established online and (West Elm) store brand sound good? Then Leesa might be for you.
But if you seek firmness other than medium to medium-firm and durability / longevity that's better than fair, then you may want to look elsewhere.
All things considered, Sleep Like The Dead rates Leesa a B-.
Learn how Leesa compares to main competitors at the memory foam mattress review summary and the mattress comparison.
The ratings – based on 240 consumer reviews gathered using an unbiased, accurate methodology – show how Leesa models rate compared to the average mattress.
The LEESA | THE SAPIRA | ||
Owner satisfaction | B- | C+* | Learn more. |
Affordable | B | C | $445 to $1570 depending on model and size, not including a foundation. More. |
Durability / longevity | C- | C* | Durability / longevity is not a strength of the Leesa model. The top layer has been recently revised, and this may help improve durability / longevity going forward. More. |
Support | C+ | B* | Support tends to be at least fair for most owners, but some large people and couples may find the Leesa model to be inadequate (especially in the middle). More. |
Pressure relief | B | B-* | The Leesa model especially tends conform effectively to a sleeper's body, often resulting in above-average distributed support and pressure-point relief. More. |
Less (back) pain | C+ | B* | Their support and conforming ability results in somewhat above-average potential for back pain relief. (See mattresses and pain relief for general analysis.) |
Easy to move on | C | B- | Neither tends to envelop the sleeper or conform to a degree which makes moving on the bed difficult. About 5% of owners (1 in 20) report difficulty of movement. |
Motion isolation | B | B | Both mostly prevent a person's movement from disturbing another person on the bed, but they do not eliminate such disturbance. More. |
Edge support | C | B+ | The Sapira is clearly superior to the Leesa for sleeping or sitting near the mattress edge. More. |
No initial odor | C- | C* | At least 8% of owners (1 in 13) report an enduring and unpleasant initial off gassing odor. More. |
No sleeping hot | C+ | B-* | Heat retention occurring to an uncomfortable extent is reported by at least 6% of owners (1 in 17). More. |
Avg-sized person friendly | B- | B- | The mattresses tend to be best suited for people 130-230 lbs. More. |
Heavy person friendly | C | B* | The Sapira tends to be better suited for people over 230 lbs. More. |
Light person friendly | B- | C | The Sapira especially may be too firm for people under 130 lbs. More. |
Tall person friendly | C- | C+ | Neither model is especially thick / tall which can make getting on / off the bed somewhat difficult for a taller person. More. |
Short person friendly | B+ | C | The Leesa with its below-average thickness / tallness makes it easier for shorter people to get on / off the bed. More. |
Sex friendly | C+ | B* | The Sapira is likely superior on this issue. More. |
No noise | A | B | The Sapira with its spring system may lack total silence. |
No topper needed | B | C- | The softer comfort level of the Leesa helps it to perform better on this issue. More. |
Easy to lift, handle, move | B- | D | The Sapira is 63% heavier than the Leesa. Neither model has handles. More. |
OVERALL RATING | C+ | C+ | Rating determined by averaging the above performance ratings. |
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The Leesa model is best categorized as a memory foam mattress. The Sapira qualifies as a hybrid given that it uses both springs and memory foam. Both are made in the USA. The ratings – based on owner experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how the materials and construction of the Leesa and the Sapira compare to those of the average mattress.
The LEESA | THE SAPIRA | ||
Cover | C | C | Leesa: polyester with 2% (estimate) lycra / spandex. Sapira: polyester with 2% (estimate) lycra / spandex. |
Top layer | C+ | B- | Leesa: 2" 3 lb/ft foam. Sapira: 1.5" 3.6 lb/ft foam. |
Middle layer | B- | B | Leesa: 2" 3 lb/ft memory foam. Sapira: 1.5" 4 lb/ft memory foam. |
Base layer | C+ | B+ | Leesa: 6" 1.8 lb/ft foam. Sapira: 1" 2 lb/ft foam; 6" pocket coils (count: 1041; gauge: 14.5); 1" 2 lb/ft base foam. |
OVERALL RATING | C+ | B- | Rating determined by averaging the above specification ratings. |
The ratings below – based on consumer experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how Leesa compares to the average mattress manufacturer.
Warranty coverage | C+ | 10-year non-prorated warranty which is very similar to main competitors. The company appears to honor all legitimate warranty claims. (See mattress warranties: what to know.) |
Return policy | B+ | 100-day, no-fee, full-money-back trial. No preparation for return shipment is necessary, and a courier (if available in your area) removes the bed from your home to be recycled or donated. There is no minimum amount of time the mattress must be kept before being eligible for return. Few customers report difficult returns. |
Customer service | B | Customer service is overall regarded by consumers to be above average but not necessarily perfect. |
Marketing accuracy | C- | Leesa says that its line of mattresses "adapts to all body types & sleeping styles"; about 20% of owners would likely disagree. The company claims that its Leesa model "stands the test of time"; at least 15% of owners would likely disagree. Also, Leesa refers to several mattress review websites as seemingly unbiased, expert sources of praise, but it does not disclose that it has a financial / commission relationship with these sites. |
Access to customer reviews | A- | At the Leesa website, reviews are easily accessible and separated for the two models. In addition, Leesa sells its mattresses on Amazon where reviews are easily accessible. |
Integrity of customer reviews | B- | Customer ratings in total on Leesa's website are about 10% higher than customer ratings in total at independent sources – a smaller difference than main competitors. |
Specs disclosed | B+ | The disclosing of specifications allows consumers to know what they are paying for and helps them to comparison shop. Specs are disclosed at leesa.com except for cover material. |
Time in business | B- | Leesa began in 2014 which is fairly recent but nevertheless earlier than the start date of several competitors. |
Number of BBB complaints | B | Seven complaints have been filed to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) against Leesa in the past three years which is low for a mattress company of its size. |
OVERALL RATING | B | Rating determined by averaging the above company ratings. |
SLTD RATING | B- | SLTD (Sleep Like The Dead) rating is determined by averaging the performance, specification, and company ratings. This rating shows how Leesa and its mattresses perform against all other mattress companies and their mattresses. |
In the charts below, "all beds" refers to all mattresses on the market, "all foam beds" refers to the Leesa's main competitors, and "all hybrids" refers to Sapira's main competitors. Compare the Leesa and the Sapira to competitors in the side-by-side mattress comparison.
Both models have about 78% owner satisfaction. (Learn how owner satisfaction is determined.)
* partial estimate.
The Leesa is significantly less expensive than the average mattress and is similar priced to main competitors. The Sapira is similar priced to the average mattress but less expensive than main competitors overall.
The Leesa mattress has worse durability / longevity than most of its competitors. Reports of sagging, loss of support / excessive softening, and the development of body impressions are reported by at least 15% of owners. It should be noted, however, the top layer of the Leesa which appeared to be a cause of the problems was recently replaced, and this may help to improve durability / longevity going forward.
For the Sapira, long-term owner experience data is not available due to it being a fairly new model. But available owner experience data as well as data from similar mattresses suggest it likely performs about average.
* partial estimate.
The Sapira appears to offer at least somewhat better support than the Leesa.
* partial estimate.
The Leesa appears to provide somewhat better pressure relief than the Sapira especially for side sleepers and smaller-sized people.
* partial estimate.
Both models perform above average in regard to minimizing disturbance.
As is often true for foam-based mattresses, support near the far edges of the Leesa may be inadequate for sleeping or sitting, especially for larger people. The Sapira, like most hybrids in general, offers above-average edge support.
Both the Leesa and the Sapira have at best average thickness / tallness which makes getting on and off the mattress somewhat difficult for taller people.
The Leesa's below-average thickness can make getting on and off the mattress somewhat easier for shorter people.
At least 8% of Leesa mattress owners report an enduring unpleasant initial odor. Based on limited owner experience data, the Sapira appears to perform better. (General analysis: mattress off gassing.)
* partial estimate.
At least 7% of Leesa owners overall report bothersome heat retention. The recent change from convoluted foam in the Leesa model to sheet foam may undermine airflow somewhat. (General analysis: mattresses and sleeping hot.)
* partial estimate.
About 7% of Leesa mattress owners overall – especially side sleepers – need to add a topper to the mattress to lessen firmness. The Sapira appears to have at a higher rate.
* partial estimate.
The Leesa has below-average thickness, while the Sapira is average. Thicker mattresses tend to have a more impressive appearance than thinner mattresses. Thickness can also affect how easy a mattress is to get on and off.
Both the Leesa and the Sapira are similar in weight to most main competitors on average. But the Leesa is significantly lighter than the average mattress overall, while the Sapira is significantly heavier than the average mattress overall. A lighter mattress such as the Leesa may have the disadvantage of not staying firmly in place on its base but the advantage of being relatively easy to move, lift and handle; vice versa for a heavier mattress like the Sapira.
The table below evaluates the Leesa models on several factors important to sex. (See mattresses and sex for general analysis.)
THE LEESA | THE SAPIRA* | ||
Easy to move on | B- | B- | Sex can be performed without great effort as the beds provide at least fair support and do not conform to a restrictive degree. |
Bouncy | C | B- | Both have some but limited bounce – less bounce than a non-pocket coil mattress. |
Comfortable | B | B- | Both tend to minimize pressure put on knees, elbows, hands, buttocks. |
No bottoming out | C | B | For the Leesa, thickness may be inadequate for large couples for some positions. |
Allows discretion | C+ | A- | Both are silent, but the Leesa may lack the weight to stay firmly planted during sex. |
Durable | C- | B- | Both may show some wear with repeated passionate use. |
Whole bed suitable | C- | B+ | The far edges of the Leesa may not offer adequate support especially for larger people. |
Allows fast climax | B- | B- | The mattresses conform enough to allow for efficiency of movement. |
Fluid, stain cleanup | C | C | Spot cleaning is recommended instead of removing the cover for washing. |
OVERALL SEX FRIENDLINESS RATING | C+ | B | This rating is determined by averaging the above ratings. |
* partial estimate.
Regular delivery and white glove delivery are available – each with pros and cons.
Regular Delivery | White Glove Delivery | |
---|---|---|
Delivery method | often UPS, FEDEX | local contractors |
Free delivery | usually yes | no ($100) |
Must be home for delivery | no | yes |
Potential for reschedules / delays / damage | low to medium | medium to high* |
Delivery crew handles and sets up mattress | no | yes (free) |
Old mattress removal available | no | yes ($50) |
* Estimate based on the record of other online mattress companies providing white glove delivery. Local delivery contractor quality can vary greatly. On average about 25% of customers of other mattress companies who have had their mattress delivered via white glove report a problem with delivery / set up including delays, poor communication from delivery company, and bed damage / dirtying.
Owner experience data suggests that the Leesa mattress is medium (after break-in) on average. In other words, on a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, Leesa is on average regarded to be about a 5.5 to 6 (after break-in).
Beyond break-in about 6% of owners find it too firm and about 6% find it too soft. About an additional 12% find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.
Limited owner experience data suggests that the Sapira is medium-firm to firm (after break in) on average. In other words, on a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, the Sapira is on average regarded to be about a 7 or 7.5.
Beyond break-in about 15% of owners find it too firm and about 3% find it too soft. About an additional 12% find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.
The table below evaluates the Leesa models for person size and sleep position. It shows what tends to be true for Leesa owners; your own personal evaluation may differ. See the mattress firmness guide for details based on your body type. And people of below- and above-average weight, see the mattress guide for large and small people.
The Leesa | The Sapira | |
Average-Sized People (130-230 lbs) |
C+ | B |
While the Leesa performs acceptably for average-sized back sleepers, the Sapira is generally better suited due mainly to is higher firmness level. | ||
Large People (230+ lbs) |
C | B |
While the Leesa performs acceptably for large-sized back sleepers, the Sapira is generally better suited due mainly to is higher firmness level and somewhat better support. Also, the Sapira's thickness is sufficient to prevent "bottoming out" when sitting (up). | ||
Small People (under 130 lbs) |
B | C+ |
While the Sapira performs acceptably for small-sized back sleepers, the Leesa is generally better suited due mainly to is somewhat softer firmness level. |
The Leesa | The Sapira | |
Average-Sized People (130-230 lbs) |
B- | C+ |
The Leesa appears generally well suited for average-sized side sleepers. Nevertheless, beyond break-in about 8% of average-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness while about 6% report excessive softness. For the Sapira, at least 11% of average-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness. For the Sapira, people with a body mass index of 21 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness. | ||
Large People (230+ lbs) |
C+ | B- |
For both models, comfort layer thickness / density tends to to be great enough to prevent one's hip and shoulders from reaching the support layer underneath. For the Sapira, at least 9% of large-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness. | ||
Small People (under 130 lbs) |
B | D+ |
The Sapira tends to be at least somewhat too firm for small-sized side sleepers. The Leesa tends to perform better but not ideal as about 11% of Leesa owners under 130 pounds report excessive firmness. |
The Leesa | The Sapira | |
Average-Sized People (130-230 lbs) |
C+ | B- |
The higher firmness level of the Sapira tends to make it somewhat better than the Leesa for stomach sleep for average-sized people. | ||
Large People (230+ lbs) |
C | C+ |
The somewhat higher firmness of the Sapira makes it slightly better than the Leesa for stomach sleep for large-sized people. | ||
Small People (under 130 lbs) |
B- | C |
The Leesa is likely better suited for stomach sleep for small-sized people due to its somewhat softer firmness level. |
Ratings are based on 240 consumer reviews. Learn more about our research methodology and why you can trust our mattress reviews.