• Mattress Reviews - Summary
• Mattress Selector
• Mattress Comparisons
• Four Ways Mattress Companies Deceive You
• Innerspring Mattress Reviews
• Memory Foam Mattress Reviews
• Hybrid Reviews
• Airbed Reviews
• Latex Mattress Reviews
• Adjustable Bed Base Reviews
• Mattress Retailer Comparisons
• Buying a Mattress Online: What To Know
• Mattresses and Sex Comparison
• Mattress Warranties: What To Know
• Returning a Mattress: What To Know
• Mattress Buyer's Guide For Heavy, Light People
• Mattresses and (Back) Pain Research

The Mattress Type Comparisons You Can Actually Trust

No commission • No endorsements • Based on owner experiences • Since 2008 • More

The comparisons below evaluate each mattress type overall; the performance and specifications of individual brands / models may differ somewhat.

Pros and Cons Comparison

Select a mattress type for details and brand ratings.

	PROS	CONS
Inner spring	Widely available Many models affordable Many firmness options Often sex friendly due to bounce Consumer familiarity	Below-average owner satisfaction Below-average durability / lifespan Below-average conforming ability Poor motion isolation possible Noise possible
Memory Foam	Good variety Widely available Conforming ability Motion isolation Several models affordable No noise	Initial odor / off gassing possible Heat retention possible Little or no bounce Questionable edge support Below-average ease of body movement
Hybrid	Conforming / support combo Many firmness options Motion isolation	Durability / lifespan questionable Somewhat pricey Heat retention possible Often heavy
Air	Adjustable support / firmness Each half of bed has own adjustment Above-average pain-relief potential Above-average longevity potential	Difficulty of (initial) use Above-average cost esp long term Breakdown / malfunction possible Some noise Assembly often required
Latex	Customizable in some cases Many firmness / price options Often appeals to "green" buyers No noise	Heat retention possible Initial odor possible All-latex varieties heavy Limited availability
Futon	Often inexpensive Dual-use potential (sofa and bed) Variety of styles / colors	Below-average longevity Too thin / firm for some Initial odor possible

Detailed 22-Point Comparison

Select a mattress attribute or mattress type for details.

	Inner Spring	Memory Foam	Hybrid	Air	Latex
Owner satisfaction	D+	B	c	b-	b
Consumer familiarity	A	B	C-	C	D
Many Models affordable	a-	B	d+	c-	D+
Longevity potential	D+	B-	c	A	b
support potential	B	c+	B-	a-	C+
Conforming / Adaptive	C-	A-	B	b-	C+
(Back) pain relief	C-	b-	C+	b+	b-
No Initial odor	C+	d+	D+	C+	c
Motion isolation	c	A-	B	C+	b-
No noise	c-	A	B-	d+	a
No sleeping Hot	B-	C-	d+	c+	c-
Easy to move on	B-	C-	C-	b	c+
Short break in	C+	C-	D+	b-	c
Sex Friendly	B-	c	b-	c	b-
Adjustable firmness	d-	d	d-	a	B-
Easy to lift, move	c	c-	d	b	D+
Easy to maintain	c+	C+	C-	d	c
Custom- izable	d	d	d	d	B
No assembly	a	a	a	d	C+
In-store Availability	a	a-	b	D+	d
Return policy	C	B-	C+	C-	B-

Construction Comparison

Select a mattress type for details and brand ratings.

	COMFORT MATERIAL	SUPPORT / BASE MATERIAL
Inner spring	Regular foam Less than 1.5" of memory foam (select models)	Innerspring coils
Memory Foam	Memory foam Regular foam (some models)	Regular foam
Hybrid	1.5" or more of memory foam Regular foam (most models)	Innerspring coils
Air	Regular foam (most models) Memory foam (select models)	Air chamber(s) Regular foam (select models)
Latex	Latex Memory foam (select models)	Latex Regular foam (select models) Innerspring coils (select models)