Nectar mattress review 2024: a complete guide

What is the Nectar Mattress?

The Nectar Original is a memory foam mattress in the mattress-in-a-box category that we feel strikes a good balance between quality and affordability. The mattress is made with 100% foam, starting with a two-inch layer of gel memory foam designed to sleep cooler than traditional memory foam. People who tend to sleep hot will be happy to know that our testers found the Nectar did sleep cool due to its gel-infused layer, and we scored it a 4.5 out of 5 in terms of cooling. However, you can browse through our list of the best cooling mattresses for more comparisons if this is a must-have feature.

The top layer of gel-infused memory foam is also what offers the high level of contouring most people expect with memory foam, and the Nectar certainly delivers in that category. When our tester rested on the mattress she sank into it immediately and felt contouring around her lower back, and even in her ankles. They also felt their spine maintained a neutral position, which can be helpful in reducing pressure and potential pain. (1)

We think the Nectar is a particularly good option for light and average-weight side and back sleepers because of the pressure relief it offers. (2) Since it provides so much contouring, the shoulders, hips, and knees are well-cushioned when you sleep on your side, which minimizes pressure buildup in these areas and may potentially reduce pain. (3)

The deeper layers of the mattress are there to provide enough support to keep sleepers from sinking all the way through the mattress, as well as to offer a solid foundation that provides stability and durability. 

The Nectar ranks as a medium in terms of firmness, so sleepers who enjoy a good mix of firmness and pressure relief should feel happy on this mattress.

Another highlight of the Nectar is that it scored high in terms of motion transfer, which means sleepers are unlikely to notice when a partner or companion moves on the other side of the bed. We test this category by dropping weighted balls on the bed, and by having testers move around the bed while others are resting. It scored 5 out of 5 across the board in this category, which makes it a great mattress for couples or people who co-sleep. (4)

It’s important to note that because it’s a memory foam mattress you won’t feel a lot of “bounce” on the Nectar, which may make it challenging to change positions. Because they offer a lot of sinkage, sleepers may feel “stuck” in memory foam mattresses and find it hard to move out of their sleeping position. This means it may not be the best mattress for sleepers who change positions frequently. 

Stomach sleepers and higher-weight sleepers may also find that the Nectar Original is too soft to provide adequate support. (5) For combination sleepers, stomach sleepers, and higher-weight sleepers we’d recommend the Nectar Hybrid, which offers a mix of memory foam and springs for added bounce and responsiveness. The Nectar Hybrid costs $300 more than the all-foam version and also offers additional cooling technology. 

We also noticed the Nectar didn’t fare as well in the edge support category, as our tester felt a good deal of sinkage when she sat on the edge of the mattress. This means that people who like to take advantage of the full surface area of their mattress, as well as the elderly or those with joint issues who need support getting in and out of bed, may want to look at other options. 

Overall, we think the Nectar Original is a great choice for memory foam lovers looking for a high-performing mattress on a budget. It provides great pressure relief, support, motion isolation and cooling, which we believe are all key areas to consider when shopping for a mattress as sleep quality is an important part of overall health and longevity. (6, 7)

Nectar mattress firmness data

We rank mattresses on a scale of 1 through 10, with one being the softest and 10 being the firmest. The Nectar ranks 6.5 out of 10, making it a medium mattress. 

That means sleepers will get a good mix of pressure relief and support. It has a soft, cushiony feel with a lot of sinkage, which is typical of most memory foam mattresses. 

Nectar mattress performance data

We evaluated the Nectar by its performance for different sleeping styles and weight categories. It’s important to mention that each person may experience a mattress differently depending on varous factors, like  weight and preferred sleeping position. (8) For example, if you’re lighter-weight you might not need as much support as an average- or higher-weight sleeper, so a soft mattress may work well for you. On the other hand, higher-weight individuals need a considerable amount of support, so they may find they sink more into softer mattresses.

Sleeping positions

People who sleep on their stomach, side, and back also have different needs for support and pressure relief, so they must choose a mattress appropriate for their sleeping style. (9)

Is the Nectar a good mattress for certain sleeping positions?

Back sleepers

Light- and average-weight back sleepers are likely to feel comfortable on the Nectar because it provides the right amount of contouring and support to maintain the spine in a neutral position. Light-weight sleepers may experience the mattress as firmer in this position, and average-weight sleepers will probably appreciate the contouring in the lower back region. 

Side sleepers

Light- and average-weight sleepers will also enjoy side sleeping on the Nectar because of its high contouring and pressure relief in the hip area. The best mattress for side sleepers should feel supportive. The hips and shoulders sink just the right amount into the top of the mattress, and the torso area is also well-supported in this position. 

Stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers are likely to feel uncomfortable on the Nectar. Because it’s a medium memory foam mattress, there will be a considerable amount of sinkage, which means the hip area will dip and be out of alignment with the shoulder area. Stomach sleepers will be more comfortable on the Nectar Hybrid, which is firmer and provides more support.

Weight of sleepers

Is Nectar a good mattress for certain weight ranges?

Light sleepers (up to 130 pounds)

Light back sleepers will likely feel comfortable on the Nectar since it’ll feel firm enough to support their hips and help keep their spine neutral. Light side sleepers, on the other hand, may feel the Nectar is too firm and experience pressure buildup around the hip and shoulder area. While firm mattresses are best for stomach sleepers, the memory foam top on the Nectar may still provide too much sinkage for lightweight stomach sleepers to be comfortable here. Instead, we’d recommend a firmer mattress or an innerspring mattress to provide the right level of support. 

Average-weight sleepers  (130 to 250 pounds)

Average-weight back sleepers will feel comfortable on the Nectar because it contours the shoulder and hip area and offers perfect pressure relief. Average-weight sleepers who suffer from joint or hip pain may want to consider this mattress to help with pain relief. The Nectar will feel too soft for average-weight stomach sleepers, so as with lightweight stomach sleepers, we recommend a firmer pick or an innerspring mattress. 

Higher-weight sleepers (250+ pounds)

Higher-weight sleepers will feel too much sinkage in all positions on the Nectar. We recommend firmer options with more support. See our full guide on the best mattresses for heavy people to learn more about options that will fit your sleep needs.

Nectar Mattress pain relief and pressure points

When evaluating mattresses for pressure relief we use a pressure mapping system that shows us where pressure builds up in the body as we rest on a mattress. This lets us know how well the mattress performs regarding pressure relief. The areas in blue and green indicate low to moderate pressure buildup, and the areas in yellow, orange, and red indicate higher pressure. 

It’s also important to consider your normal sleeping position when evaluating pressure points since pressure can build up differently for side, back, and stomach sleepers. (10) Side sleepers should pay close attention to the hip area since that’s where pressure tends to accumulate, and stomach and back sleepers should consider the lower back and hip areas. 

People with back pain should ensure their back isn’t dipping below the shoulders and feet, which can sometimes be problematic with soft mattresses. However, when our tester laid on their back, they noticed little to no pressure buildup in this area, which indicates the Nectar could be suitable for people with back pain. When our tester rested on their side, they also noticed very little buildup in the shoulder and hips, which means it could also be a good option for those with joint pain. For these reasons, Nectar is one of the best orthopedic mattresses.

Bottom line: Nectar Mattress

Overall, we think the Nectar is a great option for people looking for a high-quality, high-performing mattress on a budget. It’s a medium-firmness memory foam mattress, so it will offer a considerable amount of sinkage and contouring, making it a good option for people looking for pressure relief. 

It scored high in motion transfer, meaning it’s great for couples. It also scored high in the cooling category since it’s made with gel memory foam, which tends to sleep cooler than traditional memory foam. 

The Nectar was made with average side sleepers in mind, as evidenced by the contouring and pressure relief it provides in the hip and shoulder area. In general, we’d recommend it to lighter-weight and average-weight back and side sleepers, as it will provide them with the right balance of pressure relief and support. 

We’d steer stomach sleepers and heavier-weight sleepers away from the Nectar and toward firmer or innerspring mattresses for a higher level of support. Also, if you’re looking for a higher level of edge support or motion isolation, we’d recommend looking at a hybrid or innerspring option like the Nectar Hybrid since the all-foam model underperforms in these areas. 

We’ve featured Nectar Mattress in:

• Best mattresses
• Best Black Friday mattress deals
• Best mattresses for neck pain
• Best mattresses for side sleepers
• Best mattresses under $1000
• Best affordable mattresses
• Best mattresses in a box
• Best orthopedic mattresses
• Best mattresses for scoliosis

Specs

	Nectar Mattress	Helix Midnight	The Dreamcloud	Nolah Signature
Rating	4.8/5	4.1/5	4.7/5	4.8/5
Price	$1,099	$1,332	$665	$1,799
Material	Foam	Hybrid (coils and foam)	Hybrid (coils and foam)	Foam
Firmness	Medium-firm	Medium	Firm	Soft
Trial period	365 nights	100 nights	365 nights	120 nights
Warranty	Forever	10 years	Lifetime	Lifetime
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
		Read Review	Read Review