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If foam mattresses leave you feeling hot and bothered or simply stuck, a traditional innerspring mattress—inherently more breathable and resilient—may be your dream bed.
Today’s innerspring options are worlds beyond the austere, creaky, or overly springy kind you likely slept on growing up. The key is to know what you’re getting. That’s why we’ve tested some two dozen innerspring mattresses in our office and at home. Here’s what we recommend.
We did the reporting to track down dense foams and adequate coil counts.
We looked for beds with sturdy sides, since no one likes falling off when sitting or sleeping on the edge.
Testers of different sizes reclined on the mattresses (labels hidden) and shared their impressions.
We slept on each mattress for at least a week, to assess how the foam and springs feel overnight.
A quilted cover, pocketed coils, and foamy top give this bed a pleasingly hefty hybrid feel. But there are no handles, so you’ll need help moving it up any stairs.
The 13½-inch-thick WinkBed has been a consistent crowd-pleaser since we started testing it, in 2019. It’s a sturdy-feeling mattress for those who like a solid construction and muted springiness.
The Luxury Firm model has a squarely medium-firm feel; the Softer model is notably plusher, with less springiness and more of a cushy cuddle.
Coils around the perimeter provide decent edge support, and they should keep the edges from slumping over time, so you’ll be less likely to deal with sagging years from now. And because those coils are individually wrapped, you’ll have good motion isolation.
The WinkBed is heavy, and it doesn’t have handles—so make sure you have someone on hand to help you move it. You have 120 nights to try it out.
Offering a classic innerspring bounce paired with a cushy top, this bed is for those who want to nestle in without being engulfed. But it doesn’t have the best motion isolation.
The Saatva Classic is the most affordable innerspring mattress we’ve found that still looks and feels luxurious. The Luxury Firm version’s 3-inch Euro top (a layer of padding sewn under the fabric cover) feels more plush than pillowy, so you feel nestled in.
Smaller pocketed coils make for a supportive, resilient top. But thanks to this bed’s memory-foam and cotton-blend padding, it relieves pressure just as well. For even more pressure relief, particularly if you’re a side-sleeper, consider the more-pillowy Plush Soft.
The Saatva Classic has fewer support coils and transfers a bit more motion compared with the WinkBed. The Saatva comes in thicknesses of 11½ and 14½ inches, and you have 365 nights to try it.
This flippable two-piece mattress is made with high-quality, durable materials—such as latex and extra-sturdy coils—that are rare at this price. But it’s heavy, and if you want help setting it up you’ll likely have to pay extra.
The 13-inch-thick Charles P. Rogers Estate SE combines high-quality materials, such as extra-strong coils and durable, breathable latex, in an unusual two-piece design. This mattress should last a long time, even for those who weigh more than 200 pounds.
The top comfort piece, made from supple, breathable Talalay latex and other fibers, cushions and conforms to your body with a slight springiness that doesn’t feel sinky or poufy. The bottom piece has a coil count similar to that of more expensive mattresses, as well as firmer latex, which makes the mattress particularly supportive. It’s flippable, so you can choose between medium-firm or slightly firmer support.
The mattress ships in two boxes, but it’s heavy, and setup is likely to be a two-person job (the company offers white-glove delivery for an extra $200). The company offers a 100-night trial, within which time you can return the mattress for a refund (but you’ll pay a $200 “recycling fee” and in-home delivery fee, if you chose that in lieu of free FedEx shipping).
Far from flimsy, this inexpensive mattress has features—such as curve-conforming microcoils and a plush Euro top—that are normally found in more expensive mattresses. But if you don’t like it, you have to drive it back to IKEA for an exchange.
It’s hard to find a decent cheap innerspring, but the IKEA Hesstun in Medium Firm wowed our testers with its combination of comfort and affordability. At just under 13 inches, it looks and feels more substantial than the price tag suggests.
Microcoils and quilted foams in its Euro top create a plush, pressure-relieving surface, and coils in the lower layers provide medium-firm support. Due to its relatively firm support, it’s best for back- and stomach-sleepers.
The white cotton-rayon cover isn’t fancy, but it feels sturdy and looks sleek. We also love that the Hesstun is available to try out at IKEA locations. You have 90 days to exchange the mattress (you may have to haul it back to the store yourself). There’s also a delivery fee.
This lofty, upscale-looking bed updates the strong support you might expect from a classic innerspring with a memory-foam cushioning. Its prominent quilting style isn’t for everyone, though.
The lofty Stearns & Foster Estate is the most supportive-feeling mattress we’ve tested. The extra thickness and quilted, pressure-relieving surface evoke that of a five-star hotel bed (thanks to memory foam created by Tempur-Pedic).
The 14.5-inch Pillow Top Firm version’s overall medium-firm feel will serve back- and stomach-sleepers best. For side-sleepers, we recommend the 15-inch Pillow Top Soft, which feels just as supportive (some might describe it as firm) but offers slightly more cradling and give.
Some of our testers didn’t care for the “bumpy” texture created by the deep quilting on the surface, however. Return policies depend on where you purchase it.
A quilted cover, pocketed coils, and foamy top give this bed a pleasingly hefty hybrid feel. But there are no handles, so you’ll need help moving it up any stairs.
Offering a classic innerspring bounce paired with a cushy top, this bed is for those who want to nestle in without being engulfed. But it doesn’t have the best motion isolation.
This flippable two-piece mattress is made with high-quality, durable materials—such as latex and extra-sturdy coils—that are rare at this price. But it’s heavy, and if you want help setting it up you’ll likely have to pay extra.
Far from flimsy, this inexpensive mattress has features—such as curve-conforming microcoils and a plush Euro top—that are normally found in more expensive mattresses. But if you don’t like it, you have to drive it back to IKEA for an exchange.
This lofty, upscale-looking bed updates the strong support you might expect from a classic innerspring with a memory-foam cushioning. Its prominent quilting style isn’t for everyone, though.
We’ve been testing mattresses since 2016. Over the years:
Shopping for mattresses can be a nightmare, but searching specifically for an innerspring model is its own special hell. There are hundreds of options, as well as often half a dozen more versions within each option. Plus, many brands offer essentially the same mattress under different names at different stores. Add pushy salespeople, and it’s no wonder online foam bed-in-a-box models are such a draw.
Nevertheless, if you like strong edge support and hate feeling sunk and hugged, it’s worth thinking outside that box. People often consider innersprings to be “traditional” mattresses, consisting mostly of bouncy coils with very little cuddle. But that’s not always the case anymore. The metal coils that traditionally act as the bones of an innerspring mattress now come in a lot more shapes, sizes (including tiny microcoils), and constructions. And they can be individually wrapped (pocketed) or not, to make the entire bed feel more or less jiggly.
In addition, mattress makers are combining coils with more layers and varieties of foams, including judicious amounts of memory foam or latex. That said, the line between a hybrid (a mattress made of foam and coils) and an innerspring with foam is murky; for the purposes of our guides, we designate a mattress as an innerspring model if it has a quilted cover (instead of a sock one, which is stitched or zipped over the entire mattress) and less foam than its other components. Those listed here with a more prominently foamy feel can also be found in our guide to the best hybrid mattresses.
Some innerspring mattresses also offer the option of a pillow top (an extra layer of padding on top of the cover) or a Euro top (a denser filling, under the cover). These features typically make the mattress both cushier and more expensive.
For more details, see our guide to mattress types.
Although all these options and varieties can be overwhelming, with an innerspring mattress you do have a better chance of finding something that feels just right.
Before you buy an innerspring mattress, keep the following points in mind:
As we explain in our guide to the best foam and hybrid mattresses, it’s impossible to find a mattress that’s perfect for everyone. Any given mattress can provide one person a refreshing night’s sleep but give another a sore back. Your size, shape, sleeping position, musculoskeletal health, and personal preference all play into which mattress is just right for you. And when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, your pillow choice matters as well. For more information on how to choose the best mattress, check out our mattress buying guide.
If a manufacturer’s offering sounds good to you but the firmness level doesn’t, check for a firmer or softer version within that line.
A quilted cover, pocketed coils, and foamy top give this bed a pleasingly hefty hybrid feel. But there are no handles, so you’ll need help moving it up any stairs.
Who it’s for: The WinkBed in Luxury Firm should work for back- and stomach-sleepers as well as side-sleepers who rotate positions frequently or those who simply prefer a firmer mattress. The WinkBed also comes in a Softer version (designed especially for side-sleepers), a Firmer model (for stomach- and back-sleepers), and a Plus version (for those over 300 pounds).
How it feels: The Luxury Firm is medium-firm, with the top layer feeling more cushioned than fluffy. Some side-sleepers wished it were softer. If that sounds like you, we suggest the Softer, which offers more pressure relief and a more cuddly feel.
Why it’s great: We’ve group-tested the WinkBed in both the Luxury Firm (WinkBed’s medium-firm option) and Softer (its plushest offering), and each dominated the competition in popularity. Offering notable cushioning with only a muted springiness, the WinkBed feels more similar to a hybrid than a traditional innerspring, and our testers appreciated that. A crowd-pleaser when we compared it against 11 other innerspring mattresses, the Luxury Firm won votes for its billowy yet substantial feel. The Softer model also garnered similar praise when tested against other soft mattresses. “Cushy” on top but “supportive” at the bottom was a common refrain.
The Luxury Firm is topped with a 1-inch layer of quilted polyfoam, which is 1½ pounds per cubic foot, and covered with sweat-wicking Tencel. The Luxury Firm has a 2-inch non-memory-foam polyfoam layer, which is just under the quilting; the foam is a dense 2½ pounds per cubic foot, and it sits atop a support layer of 1,054 pocketed coils. The coils are a thick, supportive 14½-gauge, with a heavier 13 gauge along the rim, to provide adequate edge support.
During our sleep tests, the top layer of the Luxury Firm, while cushiony, felt stiff initially. But the mattress broke in noticeably after a week and a half, and it settled into a squarely medium-firm feel, with more give for the heavier parts of the body, such as the hips and shoulders, while still supporting the lower back.
The Softer version of the WinkBed features an additional inch of foam in its quilted pillow top and a softer foam in the 2-inch polyfoam layer below it. It offered a deeper cushioning, in contrast to the more-shallow cuddle of the Luxury Firm. If you’re a side-sleeper, this model is likely the better choice; the additional cushioning allows you to nestle right in, and more deeply, too. And with the same coil strength as the Luxury Firm, the Softer should still be supportive for stomach-sleepers.
When we tested the Softer against 11 other soft mattresses in early 2022, six of 10 testers liked it best in its price category (which included the Casper Nova Hybrid and Saatva Classic in Plush Soft). Overall, the WinkBed Softer felt more densely cushiony, while the similarly priced Saatva Plush Soft felt more pillowy and springy. (The more expensive Casper Nova Hybrid—which came in a distant second in its price category of the soft mattresses we tested—had a looser-feeling softness, with less edge support.)
The WinkBed’s top layer is made from less-dense foam (1½ pounds per cubic foot) and therefore may be prone to body impressions over time (like most pillow-top mattresses). This may be more pronounced with the Softer because of its extra inch of pillow top and softer foam in the support layer. For this reason, we don’t recommend it for people who weigh more than 200 pounds. (If you’re closer to 300 pounds or above, you might consider the WinkBed Plus, which we haven’t tried yet.)
The company says the WinkBed’s pillow top consists of a special “SupportCell” polyfoam, designed to feel springy and cool. However, we didn’t find the foam to be more resilient than that of other pillow tops we’ve tested, and I didn’t sleep particularly cool or hot. WinkBed also touts zoned support, but we think the effect is subtle, depending on your size and how you choose to sprawl out on the mattress.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Given that the perimeter of the mattress is reinforced by coils instead of a foam encasement (as is the case with the Saatva), we expected good edge support, and indeed the mattress held our tester up when they slept on the edge. Surprisingly, though, sitting on the edge of both the Luxury Firm and the Softer caused a bit of sloping. The motion transfer is much subtler than that of the springier Saatva Classic, but it was still detectable for two people sleeping in a full-size bed. (Another staffer who owns this bed observed that the motion transfer was less noticeable in a King.)
WinkBed doesn’t have a showroom, and its mattresses are not available at national retailers, so you can’t easily try the mattress before buying (you can find a handful of online-mattress tryout locations that feature the WinkBed). This is especially vexing since it comes in multiple firmness levels, and the exchange process isn’t totally free (see details below).
The three-star reviews on the WinkBeds site suggest that more people think the Luxury Firm is too firm as opposed to too soft: Between February 2021 and December 2021, 17 of those reviewers, many who identified themselves as side-sleepers, said they found the Luxury Firm too firm, and only three found it too soft.
Like all mattresses with thick pillow tops, the WinkBed will be prone to body indentations over time (and, generally speaking, the softer the surface, the more vulnerable it is). (Under the warranty, WinkBeds will replace the mattress if it develops indentations, but only if they’re more than 1½ inches deep; by contrast, Saatva requires only 1-inch-deep indentations for an exchange.) The company advises rotating the mattress every two weeks for the first three months, then every two months thereafter. This is a lot of rotating for a heavy mattress without handles.
Trial, shipping, and returns: WinkBeds offers a 120-night trial period, during which you can return or exchange the mattress for a different firmness level (you have to pay a $50 fee, though). If you decide you want a different firmness level after those 120 nights have elapsed (or even years later, if your preferences change), WinkBeds will let you exchange the mattress for half the cost (with shipping and haul-away charges).
The WinkBed is shipped rolled up in a box, and the package is heavy (as staffers, who’ve ordered this mattress for personal use, have mentioned). Basic delivery is free but doesn’t include any setup, or the removal of your old mattress.
Key specs Materials: polyfoam, pocketed coils; Tencel cover Thickness: 13½ inches Firmness options: Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer, Plus (for those over 300 pounds) Return or exchange within: 120 nights Warranty: lifetime
Offering a classic innerspring bounce paired with a cushy top, this bed is for those who want to nestle in without being engulfed. But it doesn’t have the best motion isolation.
Who it’s for: The Saatva Classic has a resilience that is likely to appeal to sleepers who rotate positions a lot as they fall asleep. But if you’re mainly a back- or stomach-sleeper, we think the Luxury Firm will prove plenty supportive for most people under 200 pounds (there is also a Firm, which we haven’t tried yet). Those who sleep mainly on their side will probably feel more comfortable with the Plush Soft, though many of our testers found it to be too bouncy.
How it feels: The Saatva Classic in Luxury Firm feels medium-firm. It has some bounce, along with an almost down-pillow-like, 3-inch-thick Euro top (a topper that’s sewn underneath the mattress’ cover). In our tests, fans of the Saatva Classic repeatedly noted that it had the “right” amount of bounce. They also liked the softness at the surface, describing it as cushiony, not “lumpy.” The Plush Soft has a more pillowy, springier feel than the Luxury Firm.
Why it’s great: The Saatva Classic delivers a little bounce along with a cushy Euro top, stylish design, and responsive customer service.
This classic innerspring has broad appeal. When we tested the Saatva Classic in Luxury Firm, it captured the second-highest number of top-pick votes (after the WinkBed) from our testers (nine out of 39) in the moderately priced category, which also included the Avocado and Parachute mattresses. Five of those nine testers liked the Saatva Classic in Luxury Firm better than any of the other mattresses in the test group that day, including those that cost twice as much; two of the nine chose it as their second-favorite model overall.
Whereas the similarly priced WinkBed looks and feels plumped up, the Saatva has a sleeker silhouette yet more pronounced quilting, which makes it feel cushy but not billowy. “It’s a little luxurious without being too suffocating,” a tester said of the Luxury Firm.
The Saatva company is less transparent about the materials it uses in its signature innerspring mattress than it is for its foam Loom & Leaf, a pick in our foam mattress guide. But judging from what we do know, the Saatva Classic’s construction seems solid and has good edge support. The quilted layer is composed of fibers and polyfoam, with a density similar to what’s offered in other mattresses in our test group. The company told us the density of the memory-foam layer was at least 3 pounds per cubic foot, so it should be durable for those who weigh under 200 pounds (and perhaps more, given that the memory foam lies well beneath the surface). In the upper portion, 884 individually pocketed 14.5-gauge coils provide body-conforming pressure relief.
The Saatva Classic in Luxury Firm’s coils make you feel buoyed up, yet the surface offers just the right amount of cuddle. The bed has some bounce, but not so much that you’re likely to be bothered by a sleep partner moving in bed.
We included the Plush Soft version in a small group test of soft mattresses, but it didn’t garner as many fans in its price category as the Luxury Firm had in our previous test—it just wasn’t as cuddly and aaah-inducing as the cushier Winkbed in Softer. The Saatva Classic Plush Soft also felt somehow bouncier than the Luxury Firm did—which was off-putting for many. “Perfect for those who like to sleep on trampolines,” one tester said, half-joking. It’s a good choice for those who insist on excellent edge support while also seeking a more-traditional-feeling innerspring and a looser pillowy cradle. Because of the somewhat assertive springiness, the Plush Soft would probably work best for people who have the whole bed to themselves. It may also be a good choice for those with mobility issues: Better resilience means the sleeper will have an easier time rolling from one position to another. And since there is the option of an 11½-inch thickness (instead 14½ inches), the bed is easier to crawl into, especially when paired with a low frame.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: One of the biggest complaints about mattresses involves body impressions. And mattresses with thicker pillow tops or Euro tops, like the Saatva Classic, are at greater risk of developing them. Not surprisingly, during our research we spotted a few owner reviews that complained about this. But it’s a necessary compromise if you want that plush feeling on an innerspring. Body indentations may be a bigger issue if you weigh more than 200 pounds, so rotating the mattress at least every six months is especially important in that case. (Saatva’s warranty covers body impressions of 1 inch or more.)
The Saatva Classic doesn’t have as many support coils as the WinkBed or the Charles P. Rogers Estate SE (nor as our cheaper picks do, for that matter). It also has less motion isolation, likely because even though smaller coils near the surface are pocketed, the 416 support coils near the bottom are not. I didn’t mind that too much. But if you have a sleep partner and are sensitive to movement, the Saatva Classic may not be the best option for you.
The foam encasement around the mattress’ edge may not, in the long run, be as sturdy as a perimeter made of extra-firm coils, as in the WinkBed and other more expensive mattresses. But we haven’t yet found owner reviews that complain of sagging or softening around the perimeter.
Trial, shipping, and returns: Unlike the WinkBed, the Saatva Classic is delivered unboxed by movers, and this “white glove” delivery is free. Owner reviews report that Saatva’s customer service is responsive. The company offers a lifetime warranty on the Classic. You can try the mattress for 365 nights, but to return or exchange the mattress, you need to pay a transportation fee of nearly $100.
Key specs Materials: polyfoam, memory foam, natural and synthetic fibers, coils; cotton cover Thickness: 11½ or 14½ inches Firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm Return or exchange within: 365 nights Warranty: lifetime
This flippable two-piece mattress is made with high-quality, durable materials—such as latex and extra-sturdy coils—that are rare at this price. But it’s heavy, and if you want help setting it up you’ll likely have to pay extra.
Who it’s for: The firmer side of the two-piece, flippable Charles P. Rogers Estate SE works well for back- and stomach-sleepers; the medium-firm side accommodates side-sleepers. The top layer’s latex foam (an inherently more-resilient foam made from the sap of a rubber tree plant) makes this mattress great for people who change positions a lot when they sleep, those who sleep hot, and those of all weights (including people who weigh more than 200 pounds).
How it feels: This two-sided mattress feels medium-firm on one side and slightly firmer on the other. The quilted latex-and-fiber topper (a separate piece) provides a cushiony surface without being too billowy. There’s “some sink but I feel nicely cradled,” said a tester weighing between 150 and 200 pounds. A lighter tester (under 125 pounds) described it as “nice and taut ... with just a bit of bounce.”
Why it’s great: The Charles P. Rogers Estate SE stands out because it combines comfort and ultra-high-quality materials (the company not only makes the mattresses it sells but also builds its own coils, a rarity in the mattress world) with the convenience of a boxed online-only mattress at a moderate price. We believe this mattress will prove durable for the long haul.
Among the mid-priced mattresses in our test (including those from WinkBeds, Saatva, Parachute, and Avocado), even though not many people picked the Charles P. Rogers Estate SE as their top choice, nearly half chose it as their second-favorite model (a result that suggests it has broad appeal).
The mattress comes in two parts, shipped in two separate boxes. One contains the flippable base, which is composed of the coil unit and three soft layers (two made of Dunlop latex and one made of a blend of Talalay latex and coconut fiber). And the second contains the topper, which consists of two layers of fiber padding and a 2-inch layer of Talalay latex zipped together into a quilted cotton cover. You can flip the base to choose between the two firmness levels (medium-firm and slightly firmer); the topper provides cushioning for either side. Testers who loved this mattress described it as having nice give without feeling too “pillowy.”
The Charles P. Rogers Estate SE is the only mid-priced mattress in this guide that contains Talalay latex. Talalay latex tends to be more supple, breathable, and consistent than other types of foam. And it avoids the overly springy or elasticky feel sometimes associated with mattresses made from the latex produced by the more common Dunlop process. Latex is also inherently more durable than other foams, so the Charles P. Rogers Estate SE is less likely to develop body imprints. The latex and breathable fibers in the padding should help you sleep cool on this mattress.
The 1,221 pocketed coils in the base (similar to the count found in more expensive picks) make for robust support and good motion isolation. Thicker coils around the perimeter allow for solid edge support. Altogether, as one tester observed, “this mattress did not feel cheap.”
During our sleep test, the firmer side of the support base didn’t feel drastically firm, but it is likely more suitable for back- or stomach-sleeping. Side-sleepers will likely prefer the softer side, which gives the sensation of melting into the bed. Either way, the top layer feels more supple than outright plush.
For those who prefer a softer feel, Charles P. Rogers recently introduced the Estate-SE-GL; it includes a gel foam layer that provides additional pressure relief.
We appreciated the little details on the Estate SE, such as the handles (which aid with flipping or moving the mattress) thoughtfully stitched on all four sides of the bed. The Estate SE is a heavy, substantial bed. And as with other heavier innerspring mattresses, with this one you’ll need a sturdy platform bed or a box spring with a metal frame for support.
The innerspring unit has a lifetime warranty, and the rest of the mattress has a 20-year warranty (twice as long as the typical 10 years of coverage). Unlike many online mattress sellers, Charles P. Rogers is an independently owned business that has been making its own mattresses since 1855, including its own coils. Along with the generous warranty, the company’s long history gives extra reassurance that it will be able to stand behind its product. If you’re not fussy about the differences between the two firmness levels, you can regularly flip the base, which will further lengthen the life of your mattress.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Unfortunately, there are only three stores (in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) where you can try the Charles P. Rogers Estate SE before you buy.
If you opt for the Estate-SE-GL, which has a synthetic (as opposed to latex) foam on top, it will probably avert body impressions as well as the original model. But you need to weigh how important that extra feeling of softness is to you. As we do for all mattresses with synthetic-foam top layers, we strongly recommend rotating the mattress every six months (or more frequently).
Trial, shipping, and returns: The mattress ships for free via FedEx, but you may need someone to help you with the two boxes, which weigh roughly 45 to 150 pounds each, depending on the mattress size. If you live within a 100-mile radius of Charles P. Rogers’s East Rutherford, New Jersey, factory, the company will deliver your mattress unboxed via its own trucks, usually for no extra charge. Otherwise, you can request white-glove delivery for $200. The company offers a 100-night trial, within which time you can return the mattress for a refund (but you’ll pay a $200 “recycling fee” and in-home delivery fee, if you chose that in lieu of free FedEx shipping).
Key specs Materials: Talalay latex, DuPont Sorona fiber, pocketed coils; cotton cover (polyfoam in the Estate-SE-GL) Thickness: 13 inches Firmness options: Luxury Firm (flippable) Return or exchange within: 100 days Warranty: 20 years for the mattress; lifetime on the innerspring unit
Far from flimsy, this inexpensive mattress has features—such as curve-conforming microcoils and a plush Euro top—that are normally found in more expensive mattresses. But if you don’t like it, you have to drive it back to IKEA for an exchange.
Who it’s for: The IKEA Hesstun in Medium Firm (the line’s most popular model) works for stomach- and back-sleepers, as well as for side-sleepers who prefer firmer mattresses. (It also comes in Plush and Firm versions, which we haven’t tried.)
How it feels: The Medium Firm is exactly that, with a cushioned top that feels less foamy and more puffy. A tester who liked it said it felt “squishy and soft, yet supportive.”
Why it’s great: Whereas most innerspring mattresses in this price range are no-frills and institutional, the IKEA Hesstun (Medium Firm) has features found in mattresses twice the price, such as a plush Euro top, body-conforming mini pocket springs near the surface, and a supportive layer of more pocket springs near the bottom. The Hesstun contains fewer coils (594 in each of the coil layers) compared with most more-expensive mattresses, but it still has enough to provide adequate support and pressure relief. The polyfoam layers (1.8 and 1.7 pounds per cubic foot of polyfoam) are likely to hold up over the long term for people weighing up to 200 pounds (though, as we note below, some owner reviews complain of sagging). And the simple polyester-cotton cover feels thick and durable.
Unsurprisingly, during our brand-concealed test (in which we kept the brand names and prices of the mattresses hidden), none of the under-$1,000 mattresses garnered as many top-favorite votes as the pricier mattresses did. But once we revealed the prices to testers and asked them which mattress of 12 tested they would actually consider buying, more people mentioned the IKEA Hesstun—15 out of 39—than any other mattress. “It’s good enough, and the price is so low,” said one tester. (The Saatva Classic was a close second, with 10 people mentioning that they’d buy it.)
During our sleep test, the Hesstun felt like a firm medium-firm, with a poufy sensation that settles as you lie on it. Due to the Hesstun’s relative firmness, it’ll likely be more comfortable for back- or stomach-sleepers.
You can try the mattress in IKEA stores nationwide, so it’s easy to test out in person if you live near an IKEA location (beforehand, however, click the product availability link to make sure the Hesstun is in stock at the store near you).
Flaws but not dealbreakers: In our tests, not everyone liked the poufy sensation of the Hesstun’s Euro top, which feels as if it were stuffed with feathers (it is not). “This feels like a mattress from the 1800s,” said one tester.
Sagging and body imprints are recurring issues raised in negative mattress owner reviews in general, especially for cheaper mattresses. During our research, more owner reviews reported finding the Hesstun too firm than too soft. This makes sense to us, since the Medium Firm version is definitely on the firmer side of the medium-firm spectrum.
Trial, shipping, and returns: IKEA mattresses can be exchanged within 90 days of purchase. And from what we could tell online (at least from the most recent complaints), customer service seems to respond helpfully.
There’s no free-delivery option. When you buy online, pricing is based on your distance from the nearest IKEA warehouse, and it includes placement in-room at no additional charge. If you purchase it in a store, delivery is nearly $50 (though an additional cost might apply, depending on how far away you live). An exchange can be a pain—you have to bring your mattress to a store. But some IKEA stores may offer pick-up services.
Key specs Materials: pocketed coils, memory foam, polyfoam; polyester, cotton, and rayon cover Thickness: 12⅝ inches Firmness options: Plush, Medium Firm, Firm Return or exchange within: 90 days for exchange only Warranty: 25 years (PDF)
This lofty, upscale-looking bed updates the strong support you might expect from a classic innerspring with a memory-foam cushioning. Its prominent quilting style isn’t for everyone, though.
Who it’s for: The Stearns & Foster Estate comes in a variety of versions for a variety of sleep positions, with and without incorporated toppers. We found that the Pillow Top Firm would work best for stomach- and back-sleepers. The much softer Pillow Top Soft is a good match for the pressure-relieving needs of side-sleepers.
What it feels like: The Pillow Top Firm feels firm, but the cushioning on top makes it veer toward medium-firm territory. Support is the overall sensation you get when you lie on this mattress, thanks to the coil structure and the tight stitching of the quilt pattern. The pillow top feels cushy but not outright plush. “Love that it’s firm without feeling hard” and “I’m sinking in and still feeling supported” were comments representative of most of the feedback from testers (in a range of weights) who liked this mattress. The Pillow Top Soft isn’t exactly plush, either. But, as a tester noted, “It’s soft without feeling engulfing.”
Why it’s great: The Stearns & Foster Estate offers luxurious looks bolstered by good (and, in the case of the memory foam, unique) materials—at a frequently on-sale price that’s similar to the price of many bed-in-a-box mattresses of lesser quality.
Stearns & Foster is Sealy’s high-end line, and the Estate in Pillow Top Firm is its most popular mattress. Although it’s not the line’s least expensive offering, it’s still half the price of the average mattress in the line. And yet it offers the added touch of memory foam (created by designers of the Tempur-Adapt, one of our recommended foam mattresses). One positive online review we spotted described the feeling as like a “solid cloud,” and we couldn’t agree more. It’s a mattress for firm-mattress lovers who know they should probably have more cushioning for their own good.
The innerspring support layer consists of 1,160 coils (more than twice as many as in the budget Sealy we tested), which suggests good body conformity and support. The coils are also pocketed, which helps with motion isolation. The edge is reinforced with an additional 344 firmer coils—a plus for those who detest a perimeter prone to sloping. This mattress gave us a heavy-duty feel similar to that of the Charles P. Rogers Estate SE, but with a firmer, more traditional cushioning sensation.
In our group test, 21 out of 39 testers liked the Stearns & Foster Estate in Luxury Firm Euro Top best or second best among the selection in the high-end category, which included four other mattresses.
If you’re looking for more pressure relief, consider the Pillow Top Soft, which offers all the support of the Pillow Top Firm but with more pressure relief for side-sleepers, thanks to a different quilting pattern and softer foams. “There’s more body underneath,” said one tester, comparing it to other soft mattresses in our test (including the popular yet sinkier WinkBed Softer). Still, those who prefer a truly soft mattress probably wouldn’t call this one soft at all. In our 2022 soft-mattress group test consisting of side-sleepers and those who prefer side-combination, the Pillow Top Soft wasn’t nearly as popular as the more obviously plush WinkBed Softer. But it was a hit among those who preferred a pressure-relieving mattress without that extra cuddle.
Chances are good that you’ll find a store near you that carries some version of the Estate. We highly recommend trying before buying—you just may find that a different firmness level than you expected suits you better.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The quilting on the Estate creates mounds that not everyone appreciated. As one in-office tester half-joked, “I prefer not to sleep on molehills.”
The foam isn’t as dense as that in the Sealy company’s Tempur-Pedic 4-pound-per-cubic-foot foam offerings, including our foam mattress pick, the Tempur-Adapt (Medium Hybrid). But as we mentioned earlier, innerspring construction is less straightforward. The coils support the bulk of the mattress and the person sleeping on it, so the foam layers aren’t doing as much of the heavy lifting, as with an all-foam mattress.
The three-star-or-below user reviews we spotted for both versions of the mattress tended to either complain of the feel being too firm or the surface being prone to body impressions. With that in mind, as with other pillow or Euro tops or soft mattresses in general, it’s especially important to rotate this mattress religiously at least twice a year (if not more often) and to sleep on as much of the surface as possible, to avoid body imprints. The warranty covers only indentations deeper than 1½ inches.
Trial, shipping, and returns: Because you must buy this mattress from a third-party retailer, shipping, exchange, and return policies vary greatly. For instance, Mattress Firm offers a 120-night sleep trial, but if you choose to exchange the mattress, you’ll owe a 10% “restocking” fee on the price of your original mattress (with a maximum of $250). And if you return it, you’ll owe 20% (with a maximum of $500). You’ll need to pay a $100 delivery fee in both cases. P.C. Richard & Son, by contrast, has a 90-day policy that allows for exchanges only at or above the purchase price, along with a $75 fee.
Key specs Materials: pocketed coils, memory foam, polyfoam; Tencel cover Thickness: 15 inches (Pillow Top Firm); 14½ inches (Pillow Top Soft) Firmness options: Firm, Plush, Ultra Firm, Pillow Top Firm, Pillow Top Plush Return or exchange within: varies Warranty: 10 years
Mattresses can collect a lot of unwanted nastiness. From dust mites and dead skin to liquids (everything from water droplets to sweat and pee), your mattress is susceptible to stains and odors that may drive you to trash it before its expected shelf life is up. According to our guide on how to clean your mattress, simply using a mattress encasement will keep the worst of the unpleasantness out, and make routine cleaning as simple as throwing the encasement in the wash once or twice a year. We recommend the Protect-A-Bed AllerZip Smooth Mattress Encasement, which has super-strong seams and a zipper that won’t easily open. A mattress encasement can also make it easier to inspect your mattress for bed bugs; if that’s a problem you’re dealing with, or worried about, check out our advice on how to get rid of bed bugs.)
If you don’t have a mattress encasement, vacuum your mattress once a month using a full-size vacuum cleaner with powerful suction to draw out trapped dust and grime from every crevice. For bigger accidents and spills on a bare mattress, spray equal parts warm water and white vinegar onto the stain and dab it until the stain disappears. Then, sprinkle baking soda onto the affected area to absorb the wetness, wait a few hours until it’s dry, and vacuum it up. Dry your mattress completely before dressing and sleeping on it again—dampness invites mildew, and no amount of vacuuming can fix that problem.
Overall, innerspring mattresses are more difficult to comparison-shop for than foam mattresses. Innersprings come in different firmness levels, mattress makers often offer exclusive designs to different stores, and various third-party retailers charge different prices.
To decide on what to include, we listened to readers, dug into online mattress forums, and talked with mattress experts and retailers to learn about the mattresses people are curious about and the companies insiders respect. Once we narrowed the field down to 12 brands, we asked each company to recommend a model and feel that had wide appeal.
To make our picks, we considered the following:
If you want a super-supportive, buoyant mattress: The Beautyrest Black Original L-Class in Medium may make you happy. This 13-inch-thick high-end mattress from Serta-Simmons has terrific edge support with very little sink-in sensation and a floating-on-top-of-the-mattress feel. Its coil counts and foam features are similar to those of the Stearns & Foster, but the Beautyrest feels less plush and usually costs a bit more. It’s a good mattress for stomach- and back-sleepers who are put off by plush and fluff, though. Although about as many testers liked it in the high-end category as the Stearns & Foster, not as many considered it their favorite mattress overall. There’s a pillow-top version (which we didn’t test), but it costs $800 more. This mattress is available directly from Beautyrest, and comes with a 100-night trial; if you don’t like it, you can return it for a full refund.
IKEA Haugesund: This very bouncy innerspring, which we tested in October 2020 for our guide to the best cheap mattresses, is about half the price of our innerspring pick, the IKEA Hesstun. Though it has decent edge support and is far more sturdy-feeling than the other cheap innerspring we tested (the Linenspa Memory Hybrid Plush), we think you’re better off spending more for the Hesstun if you can. The barely 10-inch Haugesund is almost 3 inches thinner than the Hesstun. And the top polyfoam layer is a bit less dense and therefore presumably even more vulnerable to body impressions.
Linenspa Memory Hybrid Plush: We first tested the 10-inch version of this Amazon best-seller in 2020, as part of our guide to the best cheap mattresses. A tester who was 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds reported that it bottomed out and hammocked—feeling “too firm and unsupportive at the same time.” We tried the 12-inch version a year later in a new group test of under-$400 mattresses. Although the 12-inch Linenspa garnered a lot of praise from group testers, it didn’t do as well during our at-home sleep test. Staff writer Caira Blackwell found that the Linenspa that was delivered to her apartment never inflated properly, and she could prominently feel the springs, rendering the bed unbearably uncomfortable. (A replacement mattress did inflate properly, and Caira found it springy, with a good amount of give, decent edge support, and solid motion isolation.)
Apparently this experience isn’t unusual. In a collaboration with Find Our View, we evaluated 860 user reviews between March 30, 2021, and November 3, 2021, and found that 10% of them complained of noticeable springs. We think this suggests a quality-control issue. And though the Linenspa is one of the most affordable, decent-feeling innersprings out there, you should be prepared to deal with possibly exchanging the mattress, if you end up being among the substantial minority of customers who receive a dud.
Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress: Parachute prides itself on its eco-friendly materials, using organic cotton and wool. In our tests, eight out of 39 testers liked the Parachute best or second best compared with the four other mattresses in the mid-priced category. The Parachute’s upper layers, with 4,267 microcoils, seemed to feel more wiggly than springy. And the transition from top to bottom (with 1,160 pocketed coils) felt a little less smooth. We concluded that the price tag was a bit steep for what this mattress was. But mattress feels are subjective, and you may want to try it for yourself in one of Parachute’s stores in select major cities.
This article was edited by Courtney Schley and Kalee Thompson.
The perfect mattress is highly individual. We’ve researched and tested dozens of mattresses, in a range of prices, to help you find your best night’s sleep.
If you prefer to sleep on your back, you’ll probably want a medium-firm mattress to align your spine and keep your shoulders, hips, and lower back comfortable.
If you regularly sleep on your side, you’ll likely want a cushy mattress that aligns your spine and offers good support. These are our favorites.
Part coil, part foam, hybrid mattresses have a range of feels. Here are our favorites, plus what you need to know to find one that’s right for you.
Matthew Connolly, president of Eclipse International and executive vice president of Bedding Industries of America, North Brunswick, New Jersey, interview, October 25, 2018
Buddy Delaney, co-owner, Best Mattress, Columbia, South Carolina, phone interview, October 3, 2019
Roger E. Magowitz, executive vice president of Customatic Technologies, phone interview, October 17, 2018
Terri Long, owner of Long’s Bedding & Interiors, New York, email interview, November 11, 2019
Laura Moyer, PhD, manager of metallography, light optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, phone interview, November 1, 2018
Mark Owen, executive vice president of sales and business development at Classic Brands, email interview, October 18, 2018
Joanne Chen is a former senior staff writer reporting on sleep and other lifestyle topics. Previously, she covered health and wellness as a magazine editor. After an assignment forced her to sleep eight hours a day for a month, she realized that she is, in fact, a smarter, nicer person when she isn’t sleep-deprived.
We’ve collected all our big-picture mattress-buying advice to help you find a bed you’ll happily sleep on for years.
If you regularly sleep on your side, you’ll likely want a cushy mattress that aligns your spine and offers good support. These are our favorites.
It takes some effort, but you can find a decent, comfortable mattress that won’t break the bank. Here are five we recommend.
Casper now offers eight beds, which range in price, comfort, and construction. Here’s what you should know if you’re considering a Casper mattress.
Mattress Spring Manufacturers Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).