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Choosing a mattress is like choosing an avocado. You don’t just head to the store and grab the first one you see. You take your sweet, sweet time analyzing every single detail—giving them each a nice squeeze and thorough examination—until you find the perfect option for your avocado toast. And, in this case, stellar sleep. Deciding on a mattress by firmness is the first step toward getting the best rest of your life.
Experts in This Article
sleep expert and clinical psychologist
Michael Breus, PhD, a sleep expert and clinical psychologist, says choosing the right mattress is one of the most important things you can do for your health. “I believe that sleep is a performance activity. I’m a runner, and when I run with my proper shoes, music, and dry-fit wear, I actually perform better. The same holds true with sleep,” he says. “When you have the right equipment, you do it better. I would always consider the entire sleep system, including your mattress, sheets, and pillows.”
A good night’s rest is so important, says Dr. Breus, that a great mattress is something you should consider splurging for. “Spending money on a mattress is worth it. It’s the one piece of furniture that you spend more time on than any other,” he says. And there are some important factors to keep in mind before making a purchase. “There’s a difference between comfort and support. Support is when your spine is aligned, which allows for your spine to re-hydrate and get all its nutrition for recovery. Comfort is your ability to stay in that position for an extended period of time.”
You can get your own perfectly-layered sleep sandwich and the best sleep of your life by choosing one of the mattresses below.
The 8 best mattresses by firmness to help you sleep just right
1. Leesa Legend Mattress, $1,869
Firmness: medium-firm
Why it’s great: This luxury mattress has two layers of springs for full-body support—especially for your hips and shoulders. There’s also a top layer of foam for bounce, and a sustainable and hypoallergenic mattress cover, which is partly made from recycled water bottles.
Shop now:Leesa Legend Mattress, $1,869
2. Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Mattress, $1,399
Firmness: medium
Why it’s great: The most affordable of Tempur-Pedic’s mattresses, the Tempur-Cloud adapts to your weight, shape, and temperature, reduces motion transfer, and relieves pressure on your body that keeps you awake and uncomfortable at night. Basically, the name doesn’t lie—you’ll feel like you’re sleeping peacefully on a cloud.
Shop now: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Mattress, $1,399
3. Eight Sleep The Pod Pro, $2,945
Firmness: medium
Why it’s great: If you love sleep tech, this is the mattress for you. It’s pricey, but it has ambient sensors that measure room temp, humidity, and the weather, has a gentle vibration that wakes you up without any sound, cools or warms your bed for you, tracks your sleep… the list goes on. It’s an editor favorite for good reason.
Shop now: Eight Sleep The Pod Pro, $2,945
What it’s like to sleep on an Eight Sleep mattress:
4. Layla Hybrid Mattress, $1,449
Firmness: soft or firm, depending on how you flip it
Why it’s great: This mattress has copper-infused memory foam, both a soft or firm option depending on which side you flip it, and pocketed coils for motion control. Even if you wake up in the middle of the night, it’ll keep your partner undisturbed.
Shop now: Layla Hybrid Mattress, $1,449
5. Avocado Green Mattress, $1,400
Firmness: medium-firm
Why it’s great: This mattress feels luxurious, all while being completely eco-friendly. It’s made with natural and organic materials, including organic latex rubber foam, organic wool, and organic cotton. It also has 1,414 pocketed coils that provide support, help with back alignment, and reduce motion transfer. Head’s up: There’s also a PETA-approved vegan version without wool.
Shop now: Avocado Green Mattress, $1,400
6. Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress, $1,200
Firmness: medium-firm
Why it’s great: Instead of using memory foam, Awara’s eco-friendly mattress has four inches of cooling foam made from natural latex from rubber trees. It also features a top cover made from New Zealand wool and organic cotton, a contouring support core with individually-wrapped coils for pressure relief and spinal support, and a soft base.
Shop now:Awara Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress, $1,200
7. WinkBeds The WinkBed Mattress, $1,600
Firmness: soft
Why it’s great: If you like your mattresses soft but also need some support, this one gives you the best of both worlds. It has both cushiony gel foam and supportive innerspring layers that can help with back pain. Plus, it’s known for feeling super cozy and fluffy, and you can’t beat that comfort at bedtime.
Shop now:WinkBeds The WinkBed Mattress, $1,600
8. Birch Natural Mattress, $1,300
Firmness: medium-firm
Why it’s great: This mattress only uses natural and organic materials from nature, including a sustainably-sourced wool from New Zealand farmers that helps keep you cool while you’re sleeping. It’s also chemical-free, provides ergonomic pressure relief, and—extra bonus—donates a percentage of all sales to the National Forest Foundation.
Shop now:Birch Natural Mattress, $1,500
Use these tips to fall back asleep if you wake up in the middle of the night:
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