When it comes to amorous activities—an important part of a healthy relationship that can improve your sleep—a good mattress can make or break the experience. (1) And while you shouldn’t choose a mattress based on how well it works for sex alone, neither should you discount the role it plays.
The best mattresses for sex share a few commonalities, like good edge support, a little bit of bounce, no telltale squeaks, and, most importantly, high responsiveness. Pairing those characteristics with appropriate firmness and support is the ticket to finding a mattress that will serve you and your partner well, no matter what you’re up to in bed. That bodes well for more than just your relationship, too—research shows that sleeping with your partner is associated with improved sleep quality and mental health. (2)
To help you narrow down the options, we leaned into the collective wisdom of our team of certified sleep science coaches, industry experts, and product reviewers. We researched the market and vetted potential contenders based on the parameters we identified. Ahead, find our picks, along with detailed reviews, of the eight best mattresses for sex.
Best mattress for sex overall
The Helix Midnight Luxe earned our best overall spot thanks to its medium firmness, responsive feel, and standout lumbar support. Designed with side sleepers in mind, this premium hybrid is reinforced in the middle and along the sides and offers enough bounce for sexual partners to move around comfortably. Read our detailed review below to see why our team chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as the best mattress for sex.
Our picks for the best mattresses for sex
- Best overall: Helix Midnight Luxe
- Best innerspring: Saatva Classic
- Best memory foam: DreamCloud Memory Foam
- Best affordable: Nectar Hybrid
- Best hybrid: Nolah Evolution
- Best luxury: WinkBeds The WinkBed
- Best cooling: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Hybrid
- Best air mattress: King Koil Luxury Air Mattress
Compare mattresses for sex
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| Helix Midnight Luxe | Saatva Classic | DreamCloud Memory Foam | Nectar Hybrid | Nolah Evolution | WinkBeds The WinkBed | Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | King Koil Luxury Air Mattress | |
| Rating | ||||||||
| Best for (superlative) | Best overall | Best innerspring | Best memory foam | Best affordable | Best hybrid | Best luxury | Best cooling | Best air mattress |
| Price* (Queen) | $2,373.80 | $2,095 | $1,387 | $1,199 | $2,499 | $1,799 | $1,865 | $149.95 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) | Hybrid (foam and coils) | Foam | Hybrid (foam and coils) | Hybrid (foam and coils) | Hybrid (foam and coils) | Hybrid (foam and coils) | PVC |
| Trial period | 100 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | None offered |
*Price before discounts or promotions
Best overall mattress for sex: Helix Midnight Luxe
Key product features
What you should know
- Our testers found that the Helix Midnight Luxe responds well, making it easy to move around comfortably and change position.
- Given its upgraded materials and construction, it’s a good value at around $2,374. Plus, it’s routinely on sale, which knocks the price down significantly.
- The Midnight Luxe is designed with side sleepers in mind, balancing cushioning comfort with enhanced lumbar support, but our team found it a great fit for other sleep styles as well.
- The Midnight Luxe’s reinforced sides prevent the edges from collapsing, so sexual partners are free to spread out.
Why we like Helix Midnight Luxe as best overall
The Helix Midnight Luxe earned the top spot in our recommendations of the best mattresses for sex because it balances multiple needs nicely. It has a medium firmness that accommodates different comfort preferences. It has a responsive innerspring layer composed of individually wrapped coils that cradle the body’s curves and respond quickly to movement (a feature sexual partners will appreciate). Our testers report a very balanced feel with comfortable elevation on the mattress—while there’s slight sinking, it’s still easy to move around and change positions.
The Helix Midnight Luxe works particularly well for side sleepers, thanks to plenty of cushioning around the hips and shoulders, but we found the zoned lumbar support benefits all sleep styles. In fact, the mattress is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. (3) An optional upgrade to the ErgoAlign Layer adds ultra-dense zoned foam for even more support—a good fit for those with lower back pain. Just remember that it adds a few hundred dollars to the price tag.
The edges of the Midnight Luxe are also reinforced, which gives sexual partners plenty of room to move around without feeling like they’re going to slide off the side. Copper gel infusions in the comfort layers help minimize heat retention, while the coil layer promotes breathability. As a bonus, copper also offers antimicrobial properties. (4) Hot sleepers can also upgrade to the GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover, which features special fibers to wick away heat. On the downside, it’s another expense that pushes up the price by $250 before discounts.
While our team didn’t detect any squeaks or creaks when we tested the mattress, the coils could possibly begin making noise at some point. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it may be worth considering.
Helix regularly has sales that bring the price of a queen Midnight Luxe to $1,780. Given its upgraded construction and premium materials, it offers good value for the money. The company has a 100-night sleep trial, which is plenty of time to decide if it’s a good fit. A 10-year warranty also backs it for peace of mind.
To learn more about this brand, visit our full Helix mattress review.
Specs
| Price | $2,373.80 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Medium |
| Warranty | 15 years |
| Trial | 100 nights |
| Cooling features | Breathable cover, gel-infused foam, coil layer |
Best innerspring mattress for sex: Saatva Classic
Key product features
What you should know
The Saatva Classic combines plush comfort with zoned support and patented lumbar technology to relieve pressure and ease back pain. Its bouncy feel and antibacterial cover make it an ideal foundation for sex.
- We found the Saatva Classic delivers a plush but incredibly sturdy feel for excellent alignment and gentle contouring.
- Given the attention to detail in the mattress construction, including a luxurious Euro top and patented lumbar technology, the Classic offers exceptional value at $2,095 for a queen, though it’s frequently discounted to $1,795.
- The Satva Classic features zoned support with a lumbar active spinal wire, which maintains healthy spinal alignment to relieve back pain and accommodates different sleep styles.
- Safety and sustainability are evident in the Saatva Classic’s hypoallergenic and recycled materials. In addition to a plant-based flame retardant, the mattress has both CertiPur-US® and GREENGUARD GOLD certifications.
Why we like Saatva Classic as best innerspring
The Saatva Classic is a popular luxury innerspring (and on our list of the best innerspring mattresses), and it ticked a lot of boxes for our testing team as they evaluated its materials and construction specifically for sex. It earned a perfect score for bounce and responsiveness, with our testers noting that its springy surface makes it very easy to move and switch positions. On the flip side of that kind of responsiveness is motion isolation, and the Saatva Classic doesn’t do that particularly well. As a mattress for couples with a particularly restless sleeper, the high-motion transfer could pose an issue. However, our testers note that it still offers a reasonable amount of stability for sex.
On the plus side, edge support received another perfect score. We found the Saatva Classic had little to no sinkage around the perimeter, with a high reaction time that makes it easy to get in and out of bed and maximizes the bed’s surface for sleep or sexual activities. It also tested well for cooling ability. The coils in the mattress naturally promote airflow and the knit cover is breathable, giving the mattress as a whole a soft, airy feeling. There are no active cooling features, but it doesn’t retain heat for the average sleeper.
The Saatva Classic really stands out for its truly excellent support. It contours lightly around the hips and shoulders, but the patented lumbar technology makes the center third of the mattress noticeably firmer for proper alignment and easing back pain. Our testers also found it relieves pressure well, particularly for back sleepers. In fact, with its three firmness choices and two options for height, the Saatva Classic accommodates a wide range of sleepers. Our team tested the Luxury Firm model and, with the exception of lightweight sleepers, described it as a great pick for different sleep styles.
We also appreciate its certifications, including both CertiPur-US® and GREENGUARD GOLD, which indicate the mattress is free from harmful chemicals and releases minimal amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOC). According to the Environmental Working Group, low VOC emissions are recommended to improve indoor air quality and safeguard against health issues. (5) These certifications also include standards for performance and durability, another positive for the Saatva Classic. (6)
At $2,095 for a queen, the Saatva Classic is priced at the higher end of the spectrum. But given its premium materials and certifications, it’s a worthwhile investment. It also comes with a generous 365-night home trial and a lifetime warranty.
Check out our Saatva mattress review or the best innerspring mattresses to see more options for you.
Specs
| Price | $2,095 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Plush soft, luxury firm, firm |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Cooling features | Breathable cover, coil layer |
Best memory foam mattress for sex: DreamCloud Memory Foam
Key product features
What you should know
The DreamCloud is a budget-friendly memory foam mattress (also available as a hybrid model, which appears on our list of the best hybrid mattresses) with luxurious upgrades, including a cashmere cover and gel-infused memory foam. Its firm feel and impressive edge support are ideal for sexual partners.
- The DreamCloud has pressure-relieving memory foam but a firm feel that means gentle contouring, making it a good mattress for sex.
- It has a budget price tag, with a queen priced under $800 when on sale, so it’s accessible to many people.
- While all-foam mattresses aren’t generally known for their edge support, the DreamCloud earned perfect scores, according to our testers.
- Thanks to its gel-infused foam, it also fared reasonably high in its cooling ability.
Why we like DreamCloud Memory Foam as best memory foam
When it comes to highly-rated memory foam mattresses, the DreamCloud is a popular pick. It’s one of the best mattresses under $1,000, but it doesn’t skimp on luxurious upgrades, starting with its breathable cashmere cover. The soft knit material is breathable and pairs nicely with the gel-infused foam to minimize heat retention. While all-foam mattresses tend to trap body heat, our testing team gives the DreamCloud reasonably high marks for its cooling ability.
Hybrid mattresses are generally considered a better surface for sex because they tend to be more responsive than all-foam beds, but the DreamCloud has a few tricks up its sleeve. While the brand rates its firmness a 6.5 or medium-firm, our testers found it quite a bit firmer and rated it a 7.5 out of 10. Unlike some memory mattresses, our testers report that they felt very much on top of the mattress instead of sinking down into it. There’s an initial feeling of plushness, but the overall sensation is that the mattress is quite firm. For sexual partners (and stomach and back sleepers), that’s a bonus. On the downside, there are no options for firmness, so if you’re a side sleeper, this may not be the best option. Side sleepers generally do better with a softer mattress that contours around the hips and shoulders to keep pressure point pain at bay.
The DreamCloud also offers surprisingly impressive edge support. This isn’t common in all-foam mattresses, but the DreamCloud earned full marks thanks to minimal sinkage when our testers were seated on the edge and almost none when lying. For sexual partners, that means the mattress offers plenty of space to try different positions without worrying about how close they are to the edge.
As a memory foam mattress, the DreamCloud has no coil layer, so it’s completely silent and will stay that way in the future. It also means excellent motion isolation.
The mattress is made with foams certified by CertiPur-US® and comes with one of the industry’s most generous trials and warranties. You have a full 365 days to test it at home, backed by a Forever Warranty™.
See more of the best memory foam mattresses for additional options. Or, check out our complete DreamCloud mattress review for more insights.
Specs
| Price | $1,387 |
| Material | Memory foam |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Cooling features | Breathable cover, gel-infused foam |
Best affordable mattress for sex: Nectar Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
Gel-infused memory foam and individually wrapped steel coils give the Nectar Hybrid contouring support and breathability. The antimicrobial cover also creates a hygienic surface for sex.
- Around the perimeter, thicker coils give the mattress enhanced edge support.
- While hybrid mattresses can be expensive, this one is a value buy at under $800 for a queen.
- The medium-firm feel and 12-inch height are designed to support all types of sleepers.
- It’s made with foams certified by CertiPur-US® for safety.
Why we like Nectar Hybrid as best affordable
The Nectar Hybrid is a competitively-priced mattress that combines gel-infused memory foam and springs for a best-of-both-worlds bed. It has a true medium-firm feel that balances cushioning and support and accommodates a range of sleep needs, though our testers found it best suited for back and stomach sleepers.
While the Nectar Hybrid does have a traditional memory foam feel, the hybrid construction gives it enough firmness for ease of movement. Sexual partners won’t feel like they’re sinking into the mattress, but it’s not as bouncy as some of the other picks on our list. It does have excellent edge support, thanks to reinforced coils around the perimeter, and the coil layer and gel infusion help combat heat retention (another plus during sex). (7) The breathing cover is woven with special fibers to wick away heat (it’s also treated with an antimicrobial finish, which may provide a cleaner, more hygienic surface for sex). Despite these cooling features, our testers noted that it’s not the best choice for very hot sleepers.
If budget is a primary consideration, the Nectar Hybrid really can’t be beat. Hybrid mattresses tend to be priced higher than their all-foam counterparts, but a queen-size Nectar Hybrid is less than $800. The mattress has a generous 365-night home trial and a lifetime warranty, so there’s little risk in putting it to the test.
Visit our guide on the best affordable mattresses or our full Nectar Hybrid mattress review to learn more.
Specs
| Price | $1,199 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Cooling features | Cooling cover, gel-infused foam, coil layer |
Best hybrid mattress for sex: Nolah Evolution
Key product features
What you should know
Nolah’s top-of-the-line offering, the Evolution is a luxury hybrid with exceptional comfort and support. For sexual partners, it checks all the boxes: quick response time, great edge support, and excellent ease of movement.
- The Nolah Evolution earned top marks for its supportive feel, which ensures great alignment for all sleep positions.
- At $2,499 for a queen, it’s on the higher end of the price spectrum, but frequent sales and promotions bring it down to $1,624. That puts it within reach for a lot of people.
- While it’s marketed to side sleepers, our testing found that its zoned support, quilted Euro topper, and choice of firmness make it a great option for back and stomach sleepers as well.
- The Evolution is made with layers of AirFoam, a proprietary foam that offers impressive pressure relief without retaining heat.
Why we like Nolah Evolution as best hybrid
The Nolah Evolution is the brand’s most luxurious model. It’s crafted with upgraded materials and designed for superior comfort and support. Our testers compared it to a luxurious hotel bed and gave it full marks for spine and edge support, cooling ability, and responsiveness.
This luxury hybrid has layers of zoned AirFoam, Nolah’s proprietary polyfoam. It’s a breathable, pressure-relieving, and resilient material that contours to the body’s curves and evenly distributes body weight to ease tension. That’s paired with individually wrapped and zoned coils to boost responsiveness. Our testing team was also impressed by the mattress’s ability to dampen motion transfer, which can be rare in hybrids. For sexual partners, the combination is ideal—our team reported excellent ease of movement, with no sensation of being stuck in the mattress. Plus, it comes in three firmnesses to suit different sleep styles.
Many hybrid mattresses do well on edge support, but the Evolution really impressed our team. Our testers found no visible sinkage when laying at the edge, which isn’t typical. That means the mattress offers plenty of space for sexual partners to get creative.
As far as cooling, the Nolah Evolution is packed with upgrades. Coils, airy and open-cell foam, and a gusset border keeps heat from building up and promotes airflow, (8) a great feature for sleep and sex.
One drawback to the Evolution is the shorter trial window. Unlike brands that offer 365 nights, this mattress has a 120-night trial window. Still, it should be a reasonable time to decide if it works for you. While it’s priced on the higher end, with a queen at $2,499, the brand runs regular sales and promotions that significantly reduce costs.
Read our full Nolah Evolution mattress review or browse our roundup of the best hybrid mattresses for more great options.
Specs
| Price | $2,499 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Plush, luxury firm, firm |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Cooling features | Breathable cover, proprietary foam, coil layer |
Best luxury mattress for sex: WinkBeds The WinkBed
Key product features
What you should know
Billed as a “billowy crowd-pleaser,” the WinkBed is a supremely comfortable hybrid that nicely balances temperature regulation, pressure relief, and ease of movement. The mattress is crowned with a plush Euro-pillow top, and our team reported great pressure relief but minimal contouring. That makes moving around a breeze.
- The WinkBed has a stable, durable feel. Our testers enjoyed the sensation of being comfortably lifted and supported with minimal sinkage.
- Regularly priced at $1,799 for a queen, Winkbed runs frequent sales that knock several hundred dollars off the price. That puts it in the middle of the price spectrum compared to competitors.
- With four firmness options, including a model designed to support plus-size sleepers, WinkBed casts a wide net for sleepers of all kinds.
- Although the mattress lacks active cooling technology, our team found that the breathable, moisture-wicking top and hybrid construction promote airflow well.
Why we like The Winkbed as best luxury
The WinkBed is designed with luxurious upgrades, from the fluffy Euro-pillow top to the multiple support zones. Many of the features that make it feel like a hotel-quality mattress also lend themselves nicely to sex. The silky-soft TENCEL™ cover is eco-friendly and moisture-wicking, while the gel-infused foam quilted into the Euro-pillow top eases pressure well. Despite its indulgent softness, our team found it didn’t contour too closely, giving our testers the sensation of resting on the mattress instead of sinking into it. That’s an ideal scenario for sex.
The WinkBed also scored high marks for its cooling ability. While there is no active technology, the TENCEL™ cover, gel-infused foam, and hybrid construction greatly promote breathability and airflow. However, our team notes that exceptionally hot sleepers may prefer a mattress for extra cooling power. Keep in mind that mattress material, along with sleepwear, are key players in thermal comfort. (9)
Regarding edge support, our testers found The WinkBed very stable and supportive when seated at the edge but noticed more sinkage when lying down there. That may or may not be an issue for sexual partners, but it’s worth knowing upfront.
The WinkBed is designed with multiple support zones that are stronger in deep compression areas and softer in lighter compression areas. That was evident to our testers, who reported a noticeable uplifted sensation. It also contributes to the ease of movement our testers noticed. We also like that The WinkBed has four firmness options to cater to different body types and sleep styles.
While it’s regularly priced at $1,799 for a queen, WinkBed has regular sales and promotions that bring the price down by several hundred dollars. That puts the mattress in the middle of the price spectrum compared to competitors.
For more mattresses that will give you that premium feel, see our list of the best luxury mattresses.
Specs
| Price | $1,799 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Cooling features | Breathable cover, gel-infused foam, coil layer |
Best cooling mattress for sex: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
If overheating disrupts your sleep or your sex life, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is worth a closer look. The hybrid mattress has cooling features and a plush feel with excellent support.
- The cooling upgrades include the GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover, copper-infused foam, and airflow-promoting coils.
- The Aurora Luxe is priced higher than many competitors, with a queen at $1,865 before discounts. Promotions bring that down to about $1,400, comparable to competitors. Our team reports that it feels durable and high quality, so the value is certainly there.
- With three firmness options, the mattress is designed to cater to different sleep styles.
Why we like Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Hybrid as best cooling
This hybrid bed-in-a-box stands out for its cooling prowess, which starts with the GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover and continues through its foam and coil layers. A layer of adaptive polyfoam in the top layer is infused with copper to draw away heat. It has the gentle contouring of memory foam, but the mattress remains surprisingly bouncy, according to our testers. That makes switching positions easy and gives the mattress excellent responsiveness. In fact, our team reports that it feels like an innerspring mattress, so it’s well-suited for sexual activity.
While it earned full marks for bounce, the Aurora Luxe still minimizes motion transfer. Our testers found that while they could feel one another moving around on the mattress, the disruption was surprisingly minimal.
Managing temperature is key to a good night’s sleep, (10) but there’s a drawback to the cooling cover. The GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover is slippery, noted our testers, which gave them the distinct sensation that they were going to slide right off when seated or lying along the edge. Still, they noted the combination of the slippery cover and the reinforced edge makes it easy to get in and out of bed. Plus, with sheets, that slippery sensation may not be an issue.
An optional two-inch pillow top adds an additional layer of cooling and contouring comfort, but it does add to the price tag—another $400 for a queen size before discounts. During sales, the Aurora Luxe is comparably priced to competitors for a hybrid mattress of its caliber without the upgraded pillow top. It also has a 120-night trial, but remember that it’s not as lengthy as some brands.
See our full guide of the best cooling mattresses for more options that will keep you cool at night.
Specs
| Price | $1,865 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Soft, medium, firm |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Cooling features | Cooling cover, copper-infused foam, coil layer |
Best air mattress for sex: King Koil Luxury Air Mattress
Key product features
What you should know
Air mattresses have come a long way, and this luxury pick from King Koil includes both air-filled coils and an internal layering system that helps support the body in any sleep position. It’s quick to inflate with adjustable firmness and the high bounce expected of classic air mattresses.
- The King Koil air mattress includes a built-in, high-speed pump for lightning-fast inflating and deflating.
- A queen is priced at $150, which is reasonable for a quality air mattress, but look for sales that drop the price.
- The mattress comes in multiple sizes and heights, each with an oversized carry bag.
Why we like King Koil Luxury Air Mattress as best air mattress
The Luxury Air Mattress from King Koil Mattress Company is designed with comfortable sleep in mind. The same features that ensure all-night support also work just as well for sex. It’s designed with coils that fill with air and an internal layering system that helps ensure proper spinal alignment. This system also lends the mattress stability, which can be an important consideration for sex. Firmness is adjustable, depending on how much you inflate the mattress, so you can find a level that keeps you fully supported for adult activities.
Simple “inflate” and “deflate” dials make quick work of blowing up the King Koil. According to the brand, a queen-size fully inflates in two minutes—twice as fast as the average airbed. The puncture-resistant PVC is flocked on the sides and top for added durability, while a skid-resistant bottom helps the mattress stay in one spot during sex.
The mattress also comes in multiple heights, with taller options (16 and 20 inches) that make it much easier to get on and off. Another bonus? It has an integrated pillow for added comfort. We also like that it comes with a carry bag so you can take it with you when you travel and that it’s backed by a one-year warranty.
Since it’s an air mattress, the King Koil has no cooling features. Understandably, the edges aren’t reinforced, either. But all in all, it should serve as a supportive, reasonably stable surface for both sleep and sex.
Specs
| Price | $149.95 |
| Material | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Firmness | Adjustable |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Trial | None offered |
| Cooling features | None |
How we test mattresses
The Fortune Recommends team has extensive experience testing mattresses for a range of sleep needs. To evaluate how a mattress would perform for sex, we considered specific criteria: responsiveness, bounce, edge support and cooling ability. We also assessed price and value, as well as customer service policies like sleep trials and warranties. This level of careful consideration and thorough testing is the best way to ensure our recommendations are reliable and trustworthy.
To learn more, read our full mattress methodology.
Performance (sleep experience)—30%
A high-quality mattress should deliver great sleep. We test mattresses on these factors to ensure each mattress’s performance is up to snuff.
- Temperature regulation
- Motion isolation
- Edge support
- Technology
Comfort and support—30%
Waking up rested, energized, and free from aches and pains is the goal any mattress aims to deliver. We evaluate mattresses on these factors below to ensure we’re only recommending the very best.
- Firmness
- Pressure relief
- Spinal alignment support
- Customization
Value—20%
Value is an all-encompassing look at a mattress’s performance from price tag to quality materials to innovation and more. We find the balance between cost and true value.
Customer experience—10%
Especially for large purchases like a mattress, customers should feel secure knowing that they’re protected by a solid warranty and helpful customer service. That’s why we evaluate each mattress brand by testing and investigating these experiences ourselves.
- Shipping
- Warranty
- Customer service
- Sleep trial
Health and safety—10%
We aim to provide peace of mind by ensuring each mattress we feature has the safety of its users at top of mind.
- Hypoallergenic materials
- Off-gassing and chemical exposure
- Safety certifications
How to choose a mattress for sex
While it’s not ideal to choose a mattress solely for sex, certain characteristics mean it can pull double duty as a surface for both sleep and adult activities. Here’s what to keep in mind while you shop.
- Firmness and feel. Look for a medium to medium-firm surface with a good response time and a touch of bounce. That means it will accommodate partners nicely as they change positions.
- Construction. A hybrid construction is usually a better option than all-foam, which can make sexual partners feel stuck in the bed. If you prefer memory foam, look for those with a firmer density to keep you from sinking too far into the mattress.
- Edge support. Nothing ruins the mood like feeling like you’re about to fall off the side of the bed. Reinforced edges allow partners to maximize the entire surface area without worry.
- Cooling ability. Sex turns up the temperature in more ways than one, so a mattress with breathable materials or upgraded cooling features can be a smart buy. Plus, many mattresses combine multiple cooling features to beat the heat.
- Trial period. Most online mattresses have a trial period of between 100 and 365 nights, which gives you plenty of time to decide if a mattress meets your needs. Choose a mattress with a reasonable trial window to test it thoroughly.
- Budget. While mattresses vary significantly, there are many great mattresses available at all price points. Be clear about what you want in a mattress, set a budget, and go from there.
- Noise. A quiet mattress is key if you aren’t interested in advertising your nighttime activities. Innersprings and hybrids both contain coils that could eventually squeak, though that may be dampened by the comfort levels above. The quietest mattress will be entirely foam, but that can have its drawbacks, including a greater capacity for heat retention, less-than-stellar edge support, and a softer surface.
What makes a mattress good for sex?
Certain traits indicate that a particular mattress should be a stable foundation for sexual partners. Above all, a good mattress for sex shouldn’t serve as a distraction by making it hard to move around, feeling unstable, becoming unbearably hot, or squeaking loudly. Hybrid mattresses with medium to medium-firm comfort levels, high-density foams that respond quickly when couples change position, breathable materials or active cooling technology that minimize heat retention, stable support throughout the mattress and especially around the perimeter, and individually-wrapped coils that minimize the potential for creaks are often the best bet. Couples may also want to consider antimicrobial finishes on the mattress cover to help maintain a hygienic surface for sex.
FAQs
What type of mattress is best for sex?
Hybrid mattresses are generally best for sex since they balance the bounce and responsiveness of coils with comfortable foam cushioning. Hybrid mattresses also offer better edge support than their all-foam counterparts, which gives sexual partners more room to move around without feeling like they might slip off the side.
What mattress firmness is best for sex?
Memory foam mattresses may not be the best choice for sex, but it depends on the firmness level. This material responds to heat and pressure to contour closely around the body’s curves, which isn’t ideal during sex. But memory foam with a firmer feel and less sinkage may work, though it’s unlikely to offer the bounce that benefits sexual partners. The goal is to feel supported on top of the mattress instead of “in” it.
Are memory foam mattresses good for sex?
Memory foam mattresses may not be the best choice for sex, but it depends on the firmness level. This material responds to heat and pressure to contour closely around the body’s curves, which isn’t ideal during sex. But memory foam with a firmer feel and less sinkage may work, though it’s unlikely to offer the bounce that benefits sexual partners. The goal is to feel supported on top of the mattress instead of “in” it.
Our experts
Dr. Kristen Casey
Dr. Casey is a licensed clinical psychologist, and an EMT prior to that. She obtained a doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) from Midwestern University, and completed an APA-Accredited internship and optional post-doctoral fellowship at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is licensed in several states via PSYPACT.
Krista Manning
Krista Manning is an accomplished medical copy editor and fact-checker who stands out in the pharmaceutical, health, and wellness domains. With a meticulous eye for detail and a command of medical language, Krista ensures the accuracy and clarity of content. Beyond her professional expertise, Krista is an advocate for mental health awareness. Recognizing the crucial intersection of psychological and physical well-being, she actively contributes to projects that promote mental health awareness within the healthcare narrative. Krista’s commitment extends beyond the pages she edits, emphasizing the holistic nature of health communication.
Jessica Timmons
Fortune Recommends Sleep Writer