If your sleep apnea leaves you feeling fatigued, drowsy, and irritable throughout the day, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, you’re one of at least 33.9% of adults in the U.S. affected by the condition, which results in frequent breathing disruptions during sleep. (1) This typically happens when the throat muscles relax, and the tongue slips back, narrowing the airway or blocking it completely. These pauses in breathing can disrupt your sleep cycles, making it difficult to get deep, restful sleep. (2) As you work with your medical provider to determine the best treatment plan, you may also consider enhancing your sleep environment to help improve overall sleep quality.
While a new mattress won’t cure sleep apnea, it can help promote restful sleep by keeping you comfortable and well-supported throughout the night. To help guide you in your search for the best mattress, we’ve spent considerable time testing various brands and models to find which ones perform the best in critical criteria, such as pressure relief, spinal alignment, and cooling. Explore our detailed reviews to see why the six mattresses below made an impression on us.
Best mattress for sleep apnea overall
The Helix Midnight ranks first on our list for its exceptional balance of pressure relief and support. The memory foam layers gently cushion the joints while the innerspring coils support proper spinal alignment. The advanced cooling technology can help you stay comfortable and sweat-free through the night. Keep reading to learn more about our top pick.
Our picks for the best mattresses for sleep apnea
- Best overall: Helix Midnight
- Best for side sleepers: Saatva Classic
- Best hybrid: Bear Star Hybrid
- Best for heavy sleepers: Titan Plus
- Best affordable: Nectar Classic
- Best for couples: DreamCloud Original
Compare mattresses for sleep apnea
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| Helix Midnight | Saatva Classic | Bear Star Hybrid | Titan Plus | Nectar Classic | DreamCloud Original | |
| Rating | ||||||
| Best for | Everyone | Side sleepers | Hybrid | Heavy sleepers | Sleepers on a budget | Couples |
| Price | $1,332 | $2,095 | $1,998 | $1,249 | $1,387 | $1,483 |
| Material | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Foam | Hybrid (coils and foam) |
| Firmness | Medium-firm | Plush soft, luxury firm, firm | Medium-firm | 120 nights | Medium-firm | Medium-firm |
| Trial period | 100 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | Firm | 365 nights | 365 nights |
Best overall mattress for sleep apnea: Helix Midnight
Key product features
What you should know
The Helix Midnight combines the cushioning comfort of memory foam with the solid support offered by a thick innerspring layer. You can pair it with an adjustable base for optimal sleep apnea relief.
- It offers exceptional pressure relief in the shoulders and hips, making it an excellent choice for side sleeping, which can help reduce snoring.
- At $1,332 for a queen, this mattress is accessible to many sleepers, including those on a budget.
- It’s easy to get in and out of bed, significantly benefiting individuals with mobility issues.
- The optional GlacioTex™ covers offer a cool-to-the-touch feel that can help regulate body temperature and reduce sleep disturbances.
Why we like Helix Midnight as best overall
The Helix Midnight tops our list because its dynamic design perfectly blends comfort and support. The contouring memory foam layers and supportive steel coils provide a medium-firm feel that appeals to many sleep styles, including side sleeping, one of the best sleeping positions for keeping your airway open and improving sleep apnea. (3)
At the surface, you’re met with a breathable knit cover that allows for excellent airflow and, our testers noted, offers decent cooling. However, if you are an extra-hot sleeper, we recommend upgrading to the GlacioTex™ pillow top for enhanced cooling. It’ll cost you around $299 more for a queen-sized mattress.
Below that, multiple layers of memory foam offer a cradling feel that helps ease pressure in the shoulders, hips, and lower back. This mattress’s softer feel makes it an excellent choice for side and back sleepers. Unfortunately, stomach sleepers and those with heavier body types likely won’t find the support they need here. These individuals should consider a firmer option, like the Helix Dawn or Helix Plus models.
A robust innerspring coil layer helps balance out the memory foam so sleepers don’t sink excessively into the mattress. Our team felt that their joints and spine were well-supported, and the mattress felt durable. Additionally, these coils help reduce motion transfer across the bed and reinforce support around the perimeter. Getting in and out of the bed felt very easy, which is critical for those managing mobility issues.
Another critical point is that the Midnight model is compatible with adjustable bases. For people diagnosed with sleep apnea, the ability to raise the head of the bed can be vital for helping reduce apnea events and improving overall sleep quality. (4)
Helix also offers the option of in-home setup and mattress removal for an added $149 to $285. This service is based on availability in your area, and we recommend using the quick ZIP code check on the website if this is a must-have for you. We found that it’s widely available in most towns and cities, but you may be excluded if you live in a more rural area like me.
To learn more about this brand, see our full Helix mattress review.
Specs
| Price (queen) | $1,332 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Trial | 100 nights |
| Weight (queen) | 100 lbs |
| Height | 11.5” |
Best mattress for side sleepers with sleep apnea: Saatva Classic
Key product features
What you should know
The Saatva Classic offers a unique dual-innerspring design with additional support from a layer of lumbar-zoned memory foam. Its plush Euro pillow top features natural and organic materials for a soft, healthy sleep surface.
- The Plush Soft and Luxury Firm comfort levels offer exceptional pressure relief for side sleepers.
- While $2,095 for a queen tops the price range for this list, the Saatva Classic proves its worth with its luxury sleep experience.
- The coil-on-coil design provides reinforced lumbar support for healthy spinal alignment.
- It’s the only brand we tested that offers complementary in-home delivery, setup, and old mattress removal.
Why we like Saatva Classic as best for side sleepers
Saatva Classic’s plush Euro pillow top and zoned support help contour the body and ease pressure in the hips and shoulders for side sleepers. Since experts typically recommend sleeping on your side to help reduce the chances of the airway collapsing, it’s vital to have a bed that makes sleeping in that position easier and more comfortable. (5) Saatva delivers on this front with eco-friendly, durable materials that offer a cloud-like sleep experience.
This is the only mattress we tested that incorporates two layers of innerspring coils. This coil-on-coil design provides remarkable support with its zoned lumbar technology. Our testers noted that the spine stayed perfectly aligned when lying on the bed, thanks to extra support through the middle section of the bed.
Because the coils are individually wrapped, we could also feel them gently contouring the body, which helped reduce pressure buildup in the shoulders and hips, which can often be problem areas for side sleepers.
The plush feel of the Euro pillow top further enhances the comfort. The quilted material is made with hypoallergenic organic cotton and treated with antimicrobial agents to help keep the mattress surface cool, dry, and clean.
We love how customizable this bed is. With three firmness levels and two height options, it can work for many different body types and sleep preferences. We recommend the Plush Soft and Luxury Firm options for lighter and average-weight side sleepers. Since heavier-weight individuals typically feel a mattress as being softer, the Firm option may be the best choice. (6) You can also choose between a mattress height of 11.5 inches or 14.5 inches. However, it’s critical to note that the taller mattress isn’t compatible with adjustable bases.
Another standout feature is the customer experience you get when you shop with Saatva. Buying a luxury mattress can feel like a huge commitment, but with this mattress, you get an entire year to trial it before deciding if it’s the right fit. Moreover, it comes with a lifetime warranty, which shows the company’s confidence that it’s a durable mattress.
If that wasn’t enough, you also get free in-room delivery and setup, which is critical considering the queen-sized Saatva Classic weighs between 110 and 120 pounds. The delivery team will even remove your old mattress and foundation if needed.
To learn more, see our full Saatva mattress review or our list of the best mattresses for side sleepers for more options.
Specs
| Price (queen) | $2,095 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Weight (queen) | 110 lbs and 120 lbs |
| Height | 11.5” and 14.5” |
Best hybrid mattress for sleep apnea: Bear Star Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
The Bear Star Hybrid, formerly known as the Bear Hybrid, delivers a cool, comfortable, and supportive sleep experience. Its four layers include a hand-quilted cover, cooling gel foam, responsive comfort foam, and a robust innerspring base.
- The cooling gel foam, breathable coils, and CELLIANT® fibers help keep even the hottest sleepers cool at night.
- While its standard price is $1,998 for a queen, we found this mattress discounted to an affordable $1,299 during one of Bear’s many sales events.
- Its medium-to-medium-firm feel makes it an excellent choice for side, back, and combination sleepers.
- Made from clean, hypoallergenic materials, it may appeal to sleepers concerned about choosing a healthy sleep surface for themselves and the environment.
Why we like Bear Star Hybrid as best hybrid
With two layers of foam resting atop a solid innerspring base, the Bear Star Hybrid combines the best features of two common mattress materials, finding the sweet spot between comfort and support. It provides excellent cushioning while maintaining proper sleep posture to help ensure restful and restorative sleep.
The foam layers under the soft pillow top cover help evenly distribute body weight and reduce pressure buildup, which may result in fewer aches and pains during sleep. The thick innerspring core amplifies the mattress’s performance, providing solid support up to the edge of the bed and giving it a responsive feel for easy position changes.
One of the standout features of this mattress is its ability to keep sleepers cool at night. Our testers noted that it felt cool to the touch and that they stayed comfortable even after lying on it for an extended period. Research indicates that dysregulated body temperature can lead to increased sleep apnea symptoms, so having a mattress that helps keep your body cool can be vital for your condition. (7)
Bear achieves this difficult feat by incorporating multiple cooling features throughout the mattress, including the first layer of gel foam complemented by a thick layer of airy coils at the base. Moreover, the CELLIANT® fibers in the optional cover have proven effective at regulating body temperature and aiding in muscle recovery. (8) This add-on will cost you an additional $200 for a queen-sized mattress, but we feel it’s more than worth it.
Regarding overall feel, our team gave the Bear Star Hybrid a medium-to-medium-firm rating. We felt it provided enough cradling around the joints to keep side sleepers cozy while keeping the back and hips well-supported for back sleepers. Additionally, couples shopping for a new mattress will appreciate that the solid edge support and low motion transfer allows them to use the entire bed width and remain undisturbed by their partner’s movements.
If this isn’t the right mattress for you, see our full guide on the best hybrid mattresses for more options.
Specs
| Price (queen) | $1,998 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Weight (queen) | 110 lbs |
| Height | 13” |
Best mattress for heavy sleepers with sleep apnea: Titan Plus
Key product features
What you should know
Brooklyn Bedding formulated the Titan Plus specifically with heavy-weight sleepers in mind. It relies on high-density foams and heavy-duty steel coils to create a durable sleep surface that provides firm support and resists sagging.
- We experienced zero sinkage while laying on this mattress, which provided a firm, on-top-of-the-bed feel.
- Budget-conscious shoppers can appreciate the lower cost of this mattress, with the standard price of $1,249 or a queen and the sale price falling below $1,000.
- Couples should beware that this mattress scores poorly in motion isolation, which could lead to more frequent sleep disturbances for those who frequently toss and turn.
- The responsive gel foam and coils allow the mattress to adapt to body movements and quickly bounce back.
Why we like Titan Plus as best for heavy sleepers
The Titan Plus merges firm, high-density foams and strong, thick coils to support tall, curvy, and strong sleepers while providing comfort and pressure relief. Heavy-weight individuals typically experience enlarged soft tissues in the neck and throat, which can restrict or block the airway during sleep and increase the risk of sleep apnea. (9) Getting a good night’s rest is essential for these individuals’ overall health.
However, because larger bodies exert additional pressure on mattress layers, these individuals often face excessive sinking, poor spinal alignment, early mattress deterioration, and sagging in the center or along the edges. (10) The Titan Plus’s exceptional durability and enhanced support help prevent these issues and promote healthy sleep.
In fact, our testers said they experienced zero sinkage when lying on this mattress. They felt incredibly supported, with an on-top-of-the-mattress feel, even when sitting or sleeping near the outer edge of the bed. They noted how durable the materials felt and were confident that this mattress would resist sagging for many years.
The quilted surface is infused with gel foam that responds well to movement and bounces back better than traditional memory foam. Below that, a layer of proprietary TitanFlex™ comfort foam increases the responsiveness while providing pressure relief and subtle softness.
Heavy-duty eight-inch coils maintain firm support at the mattress’s core, and a base foam layer below helps reinforce the structure and add durability. Unfortunately, this firmer support will likely be too much for lighter- and average-weight sleepers, who may experience more pressure buildup around their joints. If you or your partner fall into this category, we recommend the Titan Plus Luxe or Elite instead.
Another notable shortcoming of this mattress is its lack of motion isolation. Our team felt significant movement across the mattress when getting in and out of bed. It wasn’t as noticeable during position changes, but sleeping with a restless partner, pet, or child may still be troublesome.
To wrap it up on a positive note, we enjoyed how cool this mattress slept. The gel foam and coils help keep it cool and airy. Plus, you can add a GlacioTex™ cover for an additional $150 to help ease your worries about overheating at night.
Check out our complete Titan mattress review or our list of the best mattresses for heavy people to learn more.
What customers are saying
Amazon customers have a lot of positive things to say about how supportive and durable this mattress is. Overall, it earns 4.5 stars with over 100 reviews.
Verified Amazon reviewer Eric says, “I’m a big girl, and I buy a new mattress every year for $600+ because every mattress I’ve owned eventually gives out in the spot where I lay after a few months. I would always end up with back and hip pain after a few months, never getting a good night’s sleep because of tossing and turning to stay comfortable. I did a ton of research and decided to invest in a mattress built to stand my weight. This mattress does not disappoint. The first night I slept on it, I got a full night of sleep. I woke up 2 hours earlier than usual, feeling refreshed and with no back pain.”
“’I’ve had it over a month now, and I like it. The edge support is fantastic. At 340 pounds, I don’t sink, and it’s still soft. It’s great on my adjustable frame. I’m very happy with it so far.”
Joseph W., verified Amazon customer
Some of the negative reviews on Amazon cite temperature regulation as a pain point. A few customers complained about the mattress retaining heat and sleeping hot, while others who opted into the cooling cover say it works well but feels too slippery.
Specs
| Price (queen) | $1,249 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Firm |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Weight (queen) | 100 lbs |
| Height | 11.25” |
Best affordable mattress for sleep apnea: Nectar Classic
Key product features
What you should know
The Nectar Classic is a memory foam mattress that exquisitely combines value and comfort. Multiple layers of high-quality foam help alleviate discomfort and reduce motion transfer so sleepers can sleep soundly with fewer disturbances.
- The mattress offers exceptional pressure relief through the hips, shoulders, and back, accommodating various sleep styles.
- While $1,387 for a queen is affordable for a high-quality mattress, you can snag it even cheaper when on sale for $649.
- The slow-sinking foams will benefit light-to-average-weight sleepers most, while heavier-weight sleepers should seek a firmer mattress.
- It received a decent score during our cooling test, but all-foam mattresses are known for trapping heat, so it may not be ideal for overly hot sleepers.
Why we like Nectar Classic as best affordable
We often associate a quality mattress with a high price tag, but the Nectar Classic shows that isn’t always true. Its thick, premium memory foam layers provide a slow-sinking feel that provides optimal pressure relief, which may help relieve joint pain and promote healthier sleep. If you have sleep apnea, you may already be paying considerable money for routine care and medical devices to help alleviate your symptoms. We appreciate that Nectar helps ease the financial burden by providing comfort at an affordable price, so you don’t have to dig deep in your pockets to get a good night’s rest.
When lying on the bed, our testers immediately felt the plush, deep sinking feeling we expect from an all-foam mattress. Three different varieties of memory foam contribute to its 12-inch height. We could feel the therapeutic layer conforming to the body’s natural shape, offering maximum pressure relief around the joints. Meanwhile, the responsive and supportive foams below offer structure and stability that help maintain proper spinal alignment and prevent excessive sinking.
While the medium-firm feel makes it an excellent choice for various sleep positions, we spent extra time testing how comfortable it felt during side sleeping, which is the most recommended position for those with sleep apnea. (5, 15) Fortunately, our team found the mattress was exceptionally cozy in this position.
The mattress also scored highly during our motion isolation tests, which is expected for a memory foam bed. Unfortunately, it didn’t fare as well in the edge support category, which means you may need to gravitate toward the center of the bed to stay well-supported. You may also notice it takes more effort to change positions when sleeping because of how much the mattress is hugging your body.
One pleasant surprise we came across is how cool this mattress slept. Memory foam is typically known for retaining body heat, but the Nectar’s cooling cover and heat-dispersing foams help keep the night sweats at bay. However, overly hot sleepers may prefer the Nectar Hybrid option for the increased airflow from the innerspring coils.
Overall, this mattress offers excellent value with a standard price of $1,387. Plus, Nectar runs frequent sales year- round that knock hundreds of dollars off the final cost.
Visit our full Nectar mattress review for more information or our roundup of the best affordable mattresses for more options your wallet will love.
What customers are saying
The Nectar Classic is a popular choice among Amazon shoppers, earning an average rating of 4.3 stars with over 7,600 reviews. Many customers describe how the mattress offers an ideal balance of comfort and support that helps relieve pain and improve sleep.
“I would highly recommend this mattress! The medium firmness is just right, not too hard and not too soft, just the perfect balance. I absolutely love the cooling technology—no more hot and sweaty nights. Having the 365-night trial period is a nice bonus. Overall, I’m impressed with the Nectar brand for delivering such a quality product.”
”T,” verified Amazon customer
“We upgraded to a king-size bed and chose this one after reading reviews,” writes Lee B. in their Amazon review. “It’s the right combination of soft and firm. It hugs your body, and we love how comfortable it is. I fall asleep faster and wake up without any stiffness or aches. I have five bulging discs in my back, and on our old mattress, I had a hard time getting comfortable and woke up every morning stiff and hurting. I highly recommend this mattress.”
While some negative reviews describe the mattress as too firm, others mention it feels too soft. Amazon customer “Flmima” is an example of the latter, but they acknowledge that mattresses often feel different to each individual: “It didn’t meet my expectations. The main issue I encountered was that it was excessively soft, making it uncomfortable. Despite the initial promise of a balanced feel, it felt like I was sinking too deeply into the mattress, and I couldn’t get the support I needed for a good night’s sleep. Additionally, the mattress didn’t seem to regulate heat very well, causing discomfort on warmer nights.
While the mattress appeared well-made, the softness factor made it unsuitable for my preferences. It’s important to note that comfort is subjective, and what may not work for me might be perfect for someone else. I recommend trying it out in-store or exploring other options if you prefer a firmer mattress.”
Specs
| Price (queen) | $1,387 |
| Material | Foam |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Weight (queen) | 83 lbs |
| Height | 12” |
Best mattress for couples with sleep apnea: DreamCloud Original
Key product features
What you should know
The DreamCloud Original is a hybrid mattress with a plush cashmere cover, contouring foam layers, and heavy-duty innerspring coils. It provides a responsive and supportive sleep surface that keeps sleepers cool.
- The medium-firm feel appeals to many sleep styles, including couples with differing preferences and body types.
- This mattress provides luxurious comfort at an affordable price of $1,483 for a queen.
- Advanced cooling technology ensures the bed stays cool even while multiple sleepers contribute body heat.
- If you’re a light sleeper, you may wake up to your partner getting in and out of bed as larger movements transfer across the bed.
Why we like DreamCloud Original as best for couples
Sleeping with a partner presents unique challenges, and the DreamCloud Original effectively solves many of them. Often, sleep apnea causes couples to sleep separately due to disturbances from snoring and restlessness. (11) Fortunately, this hybrid mattress delivers a comfortable, supportive, and cool sleep environment that can help promote higher-quality sleep.
If you’ve ever slept on a hotel mattress and wished you could replicate that experience at home, this mattress can do that. The cashmere cover creates a soft and breathable surface that feels luxurious and cozy. Below the surface, various layers of gel-infused foam provide cushion and pressure relief in critical joints. A transition foam layer helps ease the body onto the innerspring base, maintaining proper spinal alignment and ensuring you don’t feel the individual coils.
Digging deeper into the bed, we discovered the edges are reinforced with two rows of stronger coils. Sleepers who share their bed will appreciate that they can spread across the entire width of the mattress while experiencing consistent support. This allows you to put a little space between you and your partner so they aren’t snoring loudly directly into your ear as a result of their sleep apnea.
The coils also help provide bounce throughout the mattress. We’ve mentioned how helpful a responsive mattress is for position changes, but it’s also a desirable feature for intimate couples who want to move around effortlessly during sex.
A springy mattress does present one slight shortcoming: It’s simply average in motion isolation. Our testers couldn’t feel their partner changing positions on the other side of the bed, which is excellent news if your partner’s sleep apnea leaves them tossing and turning at night. However, you’ll likely feel bigger movements, like someone getting in bed after you or waking up before you.
Another impressive feature is how amazingly cool we felt sleeping on this mattress. Since two bodies in a bed create extra heat, this is a vital component to pay attention to. Sleep apnea makes it challenging enough to get difficult sleep; you don’t need overheating to add to that. Thankfully, the gel infusions in the foam help reduce heat buildup while the coils allow for good airflow.
Finally, the medium-firm feel helps it appeal to couples with different sleep preferences and needs as it balances softness and firmness. We feel side, back, and combination sleepers should all find plenty of comfort in this mattress.
For more information, visit our full DreamCloud mattress review or see more of the best mattresses for couples.
What customers are saying
Customers who have bought this mattress from Amazon left many positive comments about how well it relieves back pain and delivers overall comfort. It earns 4.2 stars overall with over 1,800 reviews.
“It’s a very well-made mattress. It’s comfortable and promotes great sleep. It’s firm enough so that I don’t get back problems and soft enough that it doesn’t feel like a piece of wood. It was delivered very fast and came well packaged. I recommend it to fussy sleepers like myself.”
Christian D., verified Amazon customer
Julie C. left a similarly positive review about their experience: “It’s an absolutely incredible mattress. Setup is extremely easy (it’s a mattress in a box, so it’s pretty self-explanatory) and it’s by far the most comfortable, supportive, and spine-relieving mattress I’ve ever felt. It’s a mattress—it doesn’t smell bad, it just smells like memory foam on the first day, which is not an issue. I would 100% recommend this to anybody who would understand me.”
Unfortunately, the edge support didn’t hold up as well for some customers as it did during our hands-on testing. Amazon customer “me” noted, “The mattress overall is comfortable, but it is softer than I thought it would be. Also, when sitting at the edge or side of the bed, it definitely has you sink too far down. It should have a sturdier perimeter to it.”
Specs
| Price (queen) | $1,483 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Weight (queen) | 78 lbs |
| Height | 12” |
How we test mattresses
Our comprehensive reviews rely on hands-on testing and clinically-backed research to ensure we provide reliable information. We team up with sleep science coaches, real-world consumers, and medical professionals to gain well-rounded insight. We put each mattress in this review through the same meticulous testing process to ensure objectivity while assessing them for comfort, support, and overall user experience. Read our full mattress testing methodology for more information.
Performance (sleep experience)—30%
A high-quality mattress should feel like it’s designed to provide you with the best sleep of your life. They should also deliver on the promise of a great sleep experience. Our sleep science coaches assess various factors to reflect the functional aspects of the mattress as well as the user’s sleep experience. Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Temperature regulation
- Motion isolation
- Edge support
- Technology
Comfort and support—30%
Alongside the sleep experience, comfort and support are just as important for a healthy and restful sleep. A high-quality mattress should assist in providing relief with certain aches and pains a user may experience when sleeping. It should also help users wake up feeling energized and rested. Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Firmness
- Pressure relief
- Spinal alignment support
- Customization
Value—20%
Assessing value involves a meticulous examination of several key factors that contribute to a mattress’s worth. A mattress that is priced just within reach of its target audience, yet surpasses competitors in terms of materials, performance, and support, presents a compelling value proposition. However, value is not solely determined by the lowest price point. We also determine it by finding the balance between cost and the tangible benefits a mattress provides.
Customer experience—10%
Sometimes, the mattress can be great, but if the overall shopping experience wasn’t, that could easily put a sour taste in a user’s mouth about the mattress they just purchased. We put in the hours to determine how well the entire process of buying a mattress matches users’ expectations and what options are available when something goes wrong.
- Shipping
- Warranty
- Customer service
- Sleep trial
Health and safety—10%
It’s important to understand that a mattress is more than just a sleeping surface—it’s an environment where you spend a significant portion of your life. We meticulously assess critical aspects of mattresses that may directly impact your well-being and peace of mind.
Our factors in this rating include:
- Hypoallergenic materials
- Off-gassing and chemical exposure
- Safety certifications
How to choose a mattress for sleep apnea
Choosing a mattress is a big decision, especially considering how it can impact other significant health factors, like sleep apnea. We evaluated each mattress carefully, paying close attention to several vital components that affect sleep quality. We recommend you do the same throughout your shopping experience.
Firmness
When you lie on a mattress, one of the first things you notice is how soft or firm it feels. While the manufacturer assigns each one a firmness level, and our team gives a rating based on our experience, it’s often subjective. Your body type and sleeping position are significant in how a mattress feels and which is right for you.
Because side sleeping is the most recommended position for reducing sleep apnea events, we typically recommend a softer mattress that falls in the medium to medium-firm range to help hug the hips and shoulders. However, stomach sleeping can be another effective position for keeping your airway open at night, so a firm mattress may be more appropriate if this is your preferred position.
Pressure relief
Preventing pressure buildup in your joints is always important, and it becomes even more essential if you spend most of the night on your side. A mattress that contours and cushions the shoulders and hips can help you sleep comfortably without waking up with aches and pains.
Support
An overly soft mattress can be just as troublesome as one that’s too firm. If you sink excessively into your bed, you risk throwing your spine out of alignment. Many mattresses offer zoned support where the materials flex more around your shoulders and hips while staying firm through the lower back area to help keep your body in a neutral position.
Cooling
Staying cool and dry at night is vital to getting quality sleep, and night sweats are a common symptom of sleep apnea. (12) If you sleep hot, you should look for mattresses incorporating one or more advanced cooling technologies, such as cooling covers, gel- or copper-infused foam, and innerspring coils.
Sleep trial
We always recommend choosing a brand that offers a sleep trial period. A mattress may seem perfect in theory, but you won’t truly know until you’ve been able to sleep on it night after night for at least a month or two. All the brands we’ve selected for our list go beyond that, offering a minimum of 100 days to try out the mattress with the option to return it if it doesn’t pan out.
The best type of mattress for sleep apnea
Mattresses come in various materials, some of which may offer more benefits than others for helping you sleep well. However, it ultimately depends on personal preference, so let’s look deeper at a few options you may consider.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses are engineered with a combination of memory foam or latex and innerspring coils. The comfort foam layers offer excellent pressure, while the innerspring core provides support and stability to help keep your body aligned and your airway open for fewer sleep apnea events. The coils also allow airflow throughout the mattress, which helps keep sleepers cooler than on all-foam beds. You may find the price point slightly higher for hybrid mattresses than some other types, but we think it’s worth it for all the sleep benefits and durability they offer.
Memory foam
Memory foam mattresses can be another excellent choice for individuals with sleep apnea. The foams closely contour the body as the mattress adapts to your unique body shape. This helps keep your spine aligned and relieves pressure points by distributing weight evenly, which can be especially helpful for side sleepers who need extra cushion around achy joints. The foam also helps absorb motion to minimize transfer across the bed, so you can sleep soundly, no matter how often your partner tosses and turns.
Unfortunately, traditional memory foam is known for retaining heat and breaking down quicker than conventional coil mattresses. However, many manufacturers now infuse the foam with gel, copper, or latex to help disperse heat and increase durability.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses provide solid support through networks of steel coils, with some manufacturers adding a thin layer of foam on top for added cushioning. The springs create responsiveness in the bed, making it easier to change positions, and they promote airflow and ventilation, helping it sleep exceptionally cool. These beds often offer a firmer feel that can be ideal for stomach sleepers. However, the lack of contouring may create painful pressure points for side sleepers.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by frequent breathing interruptions during sleep, which can disrupt sleep and prevent your body from getting enough oxygen.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway becomes blocked, restricting airflow completely or resulting in shallow breathing. (13)
- Central sleep apnea (CSA) happens when your brain fails to send the signal to initiate breathing. (14)
Regardless of which type of sleep apnea you have, this condition can profoundly affect your daily life and overall health. Besides feeling constantly tired, you also have a greater risk of experiencing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. (15, 16)
Common symptoms of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea symptoms can present both at night and during the day. While some signs may feel obvious to you, others may go unnoticed until pointed out by your partner. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Excessive fatigue and tiredness during the day
- Frequent, loud snoring
- Paused breathing, gasping, or choking sounds during sleep
- Waking up with a dry mouth or headache
- Night sweats
- Waking up often to urinate at night
- Poor concentration
- Increased irritability
We always recommend consulting a medical professional if you experience any of the above symptoms or have other concerns regarding your health.
Risk factors of sleep apnea
Several factors can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea.
- Age: You may experience sleep apnea at any time, but your risk increases with age, typically leveling out by the time you reach 60. (17)
- Weight: A higher body mass index (BMI), especially one that falls within the overweight and obesity ranges for your age and gender, is one of the most common risk factors for OSA. (18)
- Sex: Up until age 50, men are more likely to experience sleep apnea. After that, the rate at which it affects men and women is similar. (17)
- Neck size: A larger neck circumference is often associated with having a narrower airway, which can restrict breathing and increase the risk of sleep apnea. (2)
- Smoking: Due to swelling and fluid buildup in the airway, individuals who smoke are three times more likely to experience sleep apnea than those who don’t. (2)
Other tips for sleeping well with sleep apnea
A supportive, comfortable mattress can go a long way. Still, you may consider additional sleep habits and lifestyle changes to help further improve your sleep quality and manage your sleep apnea condition.
- Sleep on your side: Many medical providers recommend sleeping on your side to help keep your airway open and reduce snoring. (15) If sleeping on your side isn’t your natural position, you can try placing pillows behind you to help prevent you from rolling onto your back. A pillow between your knees can also help you feel more comfortable by keeping your hips aligned.
- Get an adjustable bed frame: Research shows that elevating your head slightly during sleep can help reduce snoring and improve sleep apnea. (4) Adjustable bed frames allow you to customize the degree at which you raise your head. You can also achieve this without buying a new frame by using an additional pillow or two under your head, adding a wedge pillow under your mattress, or placing bed risers or blocks under the legs at the head of the bed.
- Practice good sleep hygiene: Set yourself up for success each night by maintaining a sleep-friendly nighttime routine and healthy sleep environment. Keeping your bedroom cool and quiet can help reduce sleep disturbances. Practicing relaxation techniques can also help promote restful sleep. Because alcohol causes the muscles in the airway to relax and increases the likelihood of airway obstruction, you should avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime. (15)
- Make lifestyle changes: Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight can have a profound effect on helping reduce the occurrence of sleep apnea. (18) Other helpful lifestyle changes include regular exercise, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, and quitting smoking. (19)
- Use a CPAP machine: If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor may have recommended using a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep. This device typically consists of a mask worn over your nose and mouth, which is attached to a machine that gently blows air into your airway to help keep it open. Studies have shown when used regularly, these machines can be effective at reducing breathing interruptions during sleep. (20)
FAQs
Is memory foam good for sleep apnea?
A memory foam mattress can be a good choice for improving sleep quality in those with sleep apnea. It offers exceptional pressure relief that can help relieve pressure buildup in critical joints, especially in the hips and shoulders, during side sleeping. As the mattress contours the body’s natural curves, it helps maintain proper spinal alignment.
Can sleeping with an adjustable base improve sleep apnea?
An adjustable base allows you to elevate your head during sleep, which has proven effective for reducing sleep apnea events and snoring. (4) Head-of-bed elevation can be beneficial for back sleepers to help reduce the impact of gravity, which typically causes the tongue and soft tissue to slip back and block the airway. (5)
What are the best sleeping positions to improve sleep apnea?
Many experts recommend sleeping on the side to help improve sleep apnea. This position helps keep the airway open and reduces snoring. (5) Sleeping on your stomach can also help maintain an open airway, but this position may lead to neck and back pain and often feels challenging for those using a CPAP machine. (5) You should try to avoid sleeping on your back for long periods as it’s easy for the tongue to slide back, worsening sleep apnea and snoring. (15)
Our experts
Dr. Heidi Moawad
Dr. Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She serves on the editorial board of Neurology Clinical Practice and is a reviewer for Neurology. She is on the board of Medical Examiners.
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.
Corey Jungwirth, NBC-HWC
Fortune Recommends Staff Writer
About Author
Corey Jungwirth is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach with over 11 years of experience working in health and wellness. Additionally, she has earned certifications as a Behavioral Health Coach and Lifestyle Medicine Coach. For over five years, Corey has enjoyed combining her wellness knowledge with her passion for writing. When she’s not writing about it, Corey enjoys engaging in her own health by running, taking Peloton classes, and playing soccer and volleyball. She also enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and being outdoors as often as possible. Corey lives in a cozy home in the woods in Wisconsin with her two kids, husband, and dog, Kona.