No commission • No endorsements • Based on owner experiences • Since 2008 • More
Does a choice of two solid-performing under-$1000 mattress models from a leading and well established online brand sound good? Then Tuft & Needle might be for you.
But if you seek firmness other than medium-firm, a mattress that is not all foam, or you are turned off by marketing hype, then you may want to look elsewhere.
All things considered, Sleep Like The Dead rates Tuft & Needle a B-.
Learn how Tuft & Needle compares to main competitors (such as Casper and Leesa) in the mattress comparison.
The ratings below – based on 280 consumer reviews gathered using an unbiased, accurate methodology – show how Tuft & Needle's two models, the Tuft & Needle and the Mint, compare to the average mattress.
THE T&N | THE MINT | ||
Owner satisfaction | B | B | The Tuft & Needle model has 80% owner satisfaction, while the Mint appears to perform slightly better. More. |
Affordable | B+ | B | $325-$1050, not including a foundation. The Mint is about 36% more expensive than the Tuft & Needle. More. |
Durability / longevity | C | C+ | Long-term owner experience data suggests that Tuft & Needle on average has about fair longevity (6-year lifespan). More. |
Support | B- | B- | Support may deteriorate with age / use especially for large people & couples. Support tends to be similar to that of main competitors and somewhat better compared to that of the average mattress. |
Less (back) pain | C | B- | Back pain prevention / relief is not a clear strength or weakness of the T&N. The Mint appears to perform better. |
Minimizes pressure | B- | B | The Mint appears to perform somewhat better on this issue. |
Easy to move on | B- | C+ | The mattresses tend to not envelop the sleeper or conform to a degree that makes moving / changing positions difficult. |
Edge support | D+ | B+ | For the Tuft & Needle, support near the edges is often inadequate for comfortably sleeping or sitting – especially for larger people. More. |
Motion isolation | B | B | Both models to a significant extent prevent movement from disturbing another person on the bed, but they do not eliminate such disturbance. |
No initial odor | B- | C+ | No more than 5% of owners (1 in 20) report a significant, enduring and bothersome initial off gassing odor. |
No sleeping hot | B | B- | Significant and bothersome heat retention is reported by about 5% of owners (1 in 20). More. |
Avg-sized person friendly | C+ | B | The mattresses have characteristics often suited for people of average height / weight. More. |
Heavy person friendly | C+ | B | The Mint is better suited for people 230+ lbs. More. |
Light person friendly | C+ | B- | The Mint with its slightly softer comfort level appears better suited for people under 130 lbs. More. |
Tall person friendly | C- | B- | The Mint's above-average thickness (12") can make it easier for a taller person to get on and off the mattress. More. |
Short person friendly | B+ | C- | The T&N's below-average thickness (10") can make it easier for a shorter person to get on and off the mattress. More. |
Sex friendly | C+ | B- | Learn more. |
No noise | A | A | Like other foam-based mattresses, both models are silent. |
No topper needed | C- | C+ | About 10% of owners need to add a topper to the mattress to improve softness and comfort. More. |
Easy to lift, handle, move | B | B- | The mattresses weigh about 47 to 96 lbs depending on size which is at least 20% lighter than the average mattress. More. |
Easy to maintain | C- | C+ | Their relatively low weight means they will be more likely to move on their base, thereby requiring occasional adjustment. They are no flip, but rotation (head to foot) 2-3 times a year may be needed to prevent sagging / wear. |
OVERALL RATING | C+ | B- | This rating is determined by averaging the above performance ratings. |
TIRED OF MATTRESS RESEARCH? Use our mattress selector to find a mattress that's suited for you in as fast as one minute.
The Tuft & Needle and the Mint are foam-based made-in-USA mattresses. The ratings – based on owner experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how their materials and construction compare to those of the average mattress.
THE T&N | THE MINT* | ||
Cover | C+ | C+ | Micro polyamide and polyester. (Micro polyamide likely helps in water absorbency, softness, and durability.) |
Top layer | C+ | B- | T&N: 3" gel- / graphite-infused foam with 2.8 lb/ft density. Mint: 3" ceramic gel- / graphite-infused foam with 3.5 lb/ft density. (Has 30% more graphite than T&N's layer.) |
Middle layer | D | C+ | T&N: no middle layer; this can result in less than ideal cushioning and abrupt transition between top and base layer. Mint: 2" gel-infused foam (3 lb/ft density). |
Base layer | B- | B- | 7" foam with 1.8 lb/ft density. Thickness is above average. |
OVERALL RATING | C | B- | This rating is determined by averaging the above specification ratings. |
The ratings below – based on consumer experiences and the evaluation of Sleep Like The Dead – show how Tuft & Needle compares to the average mattress manufacturer.
Warranty | C+ | 10 years non-prorated which is essentially the same as main competitors and is about average overall. The company appears to honor all legitimate warranty claims. (See mattress warranties: what to know.) |
Return policy | B+ | Tuftandneedle.com provides a 100-day no-fee money-back trial. No preparation for return shipment is usually necessary, and a courier takes the bed from your home to be donated. There is no minimum amount of time the bed must be kept before being returned. |
Customer service | A- | Customer service is regarded almost universally by consumers to be excellent. |
Marketing accuracy | D+ | Marketing accuracy is the biggest weakness of Tuft & Needle as Sleep Like The Dead has identified several questionable claims. |
Access to customer reviews | B- | At Tuft & Needle's website, reviews are searchable but not easily sortable by rating or model. Reviews are also available at Amazon. |
Integrity of customer reviews | C- | Customer ratings in total on Tuft & Needle's website are about 12% higher than customer ratings that have been located at independent sources. |
Specs disclosed | B+ | Disclosing specifications allows shoppers to know what they are paying for and helps them to comparison shop. With the exception of layer thickness, specifications tend to be well disclosed on tuftandneedle.com. |
Time in business | B | Tuft & Needle began selling in 2013 which is earlier than the start date of its main competition. |
Number of BBB complaints | A | Two complaints have been filed to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) against Tuft & Needle in the past three years which is very low for a mattress company of its size. |
OVERALL RATING | B- | 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 Tuft & Needle and its mattresses perform against all other mattress companies and their mattresses. |
Sleep Like The Dead has identified several questionable Tuft & Needle marketing claims. The following is not necessarily an exhaustive list.
1. The company states in a main headline that their mattress has "More 5-star Reviews Than Any Other Mattress." The claim comes with an asterisk: "Based on Amazon.com reviews for mattresses $500+." In the opinion of Sleep Like The Dead, this qualification is important and should not be made with an asterisk – especially considering that a Tuft & Needle queen is $595, just $95 higher than the category of mattress excluded from the claim.
2. Tuft & Needle claims there are 130,000+ customer reviews coming from four sources – Amazon, Google Trusted Store, Tuftandneedle.com, and Yelp. The total number of reviews from these sources as calculated by Sleep Like The Dead is currently about 88,000, not 130,000.
3. The graphics that are used for the Amazon, Google Trusted Store, Tuftandneedle.com, and Yelp reviews strongly imply that Tuft & Needle receives five-star totals from each source – the highest possible score. The star total from each source is discussed below.
4. The company says, "We could charge $3500, but we choose not to." This is gross hyperbole in the opinion of Sleep Like The Dead. Consumers should not take Tuft & Needle's claim to mean that the mattress is actually somehow worth $3500 or anything close to it.
5. The company states: "We can’t guarantee you’ll love it, but we can bet with 95% certainty you will. 95 out of 100 people keep their Tuft & Needle." This is misleading in the opinion of Sleep Like The Dead as a significant percentage of people who dislike their new mattress (Tuft & Needle or otherwise) keep it regardless.
6. The company says, "Our foam is ideal for sleepers of any size or weight." As many as 20% of owners would likely disagree.
7. The company describes their Mint mattress as having "unbeatable support." While its support is likely above average, "unbeatable" is an exaggeration in the opinion of Sleep Like The Dead.
8. The company describes their comfort layer foam as "very high-density." Sleep Like The Dead would describe their foam (2.5 lb/ft and 3.5 lb/ft density) as having moderate density at best.
In the charts below, "all beds" refers to all mattresses on the market, and "all foam beds" refers to Tuft & Needle's main and closest competitors – those mattresses that consist mostly or entirely of foam. Compare Tuft & Needle models to competitors in the side-by-side mattress comparison.
Both models have about 80% owner satisfaction. This is slightly higher than main competitors overall, and significantly above average compared to all mattresses overall.
* Learn how owner satisfaction is determined.
** Partial estimate.
Both models are significantly less expensive than both the average mattress and its main competitors.
The Tuft & Needle has fewer (and or less advanced) layers than most of its main competition. Its comfort layer is also thinner than most competitors while its base layer is thicker. These reasons explain why Tuft & Needle tends to be significantly less expensive than main competitors.
The Mint is more sophisticated than the Tuft & Needle and is perhaps the better value despite its higher price.
About 9% of Tuft & Needle owners report sagging and or loss of support. The durability / longevity of the top layer may be somewhat questionable. Reports by Tuft & Needle owners that this top layer within months loses its firmness, resiliency and shape are not uncommon. Most main competitors do not have as high a number of reports for this problem due possibly to the use of more durable material.
Based on this information and on the performance of mattresses with similar specifications, Tuft & Needle's lifespan is estimated to be about fair – that is, about six years on average with regular use.
* partial estimate
As is often true for foam-based mattresses, support near the far edges may be inadequate for sleeping or sitting, especially for larger people. The Mint has a firmer base layer than the Tuft & Needle which appears to provide it with better edge support.
* partial estimate
The Mint with its greater thickness / height and better edge support helps it to perform better on this issue compared to the Tuft & Needle and the average foam mattress. Consumers seeking a high degree of bounce will likely be disappointed. (See mattresses and sex for general analysis).
* partial estimate
About 9% of owners – most often women or those who weigh under 130 pounds – add a topper (priced $35-$500) to soften the bed. Some of these owners report that Tuft & Needle sent a topper free of charge or partially compensated them for a topper purchase.
* partial estimate
About 5% of owners report heat retention occurring to a degree that undermines sleep quality or quantity.
About an additional 10% of owners report that the mattress sleeps warm but not to an extent that noticeably undermines sleep quality/quantity. Owners who add a topper are more likely to report sleeping hot than those who do not. (General analysis: mattresses & sleeping hot.)
* partial estimate
The Tuft & Needle is about one inch thinner than the average mattress, while the Mint is about one inch thicker than the average mattress. Due to its greater thickness, the Mint has a more impressive presence than the Tuft & Needle and is somewhat easier to get on and off for people of average or greater height.
Both models are lighter than both the average mattress and the average foam mattress. There are no handles / grips. A light mattress 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.
On a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, Tuft & Needle owners on average regard the firmness level to be medium-firm or about 6.5 to 7.
About 13% of owners find it too firm (beyond break in) and about 5% find it too soft. About an additional 14% find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.
On a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being very soft and 10 being very firm, the Mint – based on limited owner experience data – appears to on average be regarded as about a 6 to 6.5.
Beyond break in about 10% of owners seem to find it too firm and about 5% too soft. About an additional 15% seem to find the firmness to be acceptable but not ideal.
* Partial estimate due to model newness.
The table below evaluates the Tuft & Needle mattresses for person size and sleep position. It shows what tends to be true for owners; your 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 T&N | The Mint | |
Average-Sized People (130-230 lbs) |
B- | B |
T&N: General support and firmness level tend to be suited for most average-sized back sleepers. But T&N's lack of transition / middle layer may result in a lack of contouring support for some, possibly resulting in back discomfort. Mint: The Mint's construction and firmness make it well suited for most average-sized back sleepers. |
||
Large People (230+ lbs) |
C+ | B |
T&N: While general support and firmness are often adequate, overall mattress thickness and a lack of transition / middle layer may cause the T&N to be less than ideally suited for large-sized back sleepers. Mint: The Mint's construction and firmness are likely adequate or better for most large-sized back sleepers. |
||
Small People (under 130 lbs) |
C+ | B- |
T&N: Firmness may be excessive for some small-sized back sleepers, especially those with a body mass index of 20 or lower. Mint: The Mint's somewhat reduced firmness make it at least slightly better suited for most small-sized back sleepers, but some may still find it to be too firm. |
The T&N | The Mint | |
Average-Sized People (130-230 lbs) |
B- | B |
T&N: About 10% of average-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness (beyond break-in) often resulting in hip and or shoulder pain. Those with a body mass index of 20 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness. Mint: About 7% of average-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness (beyond break-in) often resulting in hip and or shoulder pain. Those with a body mass index of 20 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness. |
||
Large People (230+ lbs) |
C+ | B |
T&N: While general support and firmness are often adequate, a lack of transition / middle layer may cause one's shoulder or hip to reach the firmer and less comfortable support layer underneath. Mint: The Mint's construction and firmness are likely adequate or better for most large-sized side sleepers. |
||
Small People (under 130 lbs) |
C+ | B- |
T&N: About 18% of small-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness likely due to not weighing enough to exert the pressure needed for the bed to conform to their bodies. Those with a body mass index of 20 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness. Mint: About 12% of small-sized side sleepers report excessive firmness likely due to not weighing enough to exert the pressure needed for the bed to conform to their bodies. Those with a body mass index of 20 or lower appear most likely to report excessive firmness. |
The T&N | The Mint | |
Average-Sized People (130-230 lbs) |
B- | B |
For both models, support and firmness are often adequate for stomach sleepers. | ||
Large People (230+ lbs) |
C+ | B- |
For both models, support is likely adequate but firmness may be somewhat excessive for large-sized stomach sleepers who are wide around their middle. | ||
Small People (under 130 lbs) |
C+ | B- |
For both models, firmness may be somewhat excessive for small-sized stomach sleepers. |
Ratings are based on 260+ consumer reviews. Learn more about our research methodology and why you can trust our mattress reviews.