Choosing your preferred level of firmness is one of the first things you’ll consider when shopping for the best mattress. How a mattress feels to each person may vary based on a few factors. For example, heavy-weight individuals may experience a firmer mattress as softer, and lighter individuals may perceive a soft mattress as firmer. You’ll also probably want to consider whether you’re a side sleeper, a stomach sleeper, or a back sleeper when choosing your firmness level since it can affect each sleeping style differently.
Most soft mattresses are known for offering a high level of contouring and can also feel plush and cozy, which may appeal to people seeking comfort. (1) If you’re interested in a soft mattress and are curious about which one may be right for you, we’ve rounded up the eight best soft mattresses of 2024 for you to choose from.
Best soft mattress overall
We selected the Helix Sunset as the best overall because of its ability to relieve pressure, its cooling capabilities, and its affordability. The mattress offers high-quality touches like a premium pillow top and copper gel memory foam, which may help keep things cool. We think this mattress offers the perfect blend of quality, performance, and affordability.
Our picks for the best soft mattresses
- Best overall: Helix Sunset
- Best for side sleepers: DreamCloud Hybrid
- Best memory foam: Nectar Luxe Memory Foam
- Best hybrid: Saatva Classic Plush Soft
- Best affordable: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
- Best medium: Bear Star Hybrid
- Best king size: Nolah Original Hybrid
Compare soft mattresses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Helix Sunset | DreamCloud Hybrid | Nectar Luxe Memory Foam | Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) | Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid | Bear Star Hybrid | Nolah Original Hybrid | |
| Rating | |||||||
| Best for | Overall | Side Sleepers | Memory Foam | Hybrid | Affordable | Medium | King Size |
| Price (queen) | $1,372 | $1,483 | $3,214 (discounted to $1,249) | $2,095 | $1,332 | $1,998 | $1,749 |
| Material | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Foam | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) | Hybrid (coils and foam) |
| Trial period | 100 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | Forever Warranty™ | Forever Warranty™ | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Best soft mattress overall: Helix Sunset
Key product features
What you should know
The Helix Sunset offers a great mix of quality and performance at an accessible price point. Because the top two layers are made with memory foam, this mattress offers a lot of contouring and sinkage.
- The mattress offers pressure relief in the shoulders, lower back, and hips, making it a good option for back and side sleepers.
- It’s priced at $1,332 for a queen, making it one of the more affordable mattresses on our list.
- Back and side sleepers should feel pressure relief and support.
- Copper-infused memory foam is designed to keep sleepers cool.
Why we like Helix Sunset as best overall
We chose the Helix Sunset as the best soft mattress overall for its excellent pressure relief and cool sleeping temperature. While most memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat, the Helix Sunset is a memory foam hybrid made with coils that help promote air circulation and keeps you cool. The memory foam layers are also made from cooling copper gel, which sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam. Copper has high thermal conductivity which can help absorb your body heat and keep you cool. (2)
The hybrid mattress is constructed with memory foam and individually wrapped coils. It has four layers, not including the Breathe Knit cover, which is made from 100% polyester and designed to promote airflow.
The first comfort layer is made with copper gel memory foam, which is what the brand calls high-grade Helix responsive foam. This layer provides a soft, contouring feel and is designed to help alleviate joint pressure. The transition layer is also made with high-grade Helix responsive foam, but it is softer and provides additional ergonomic support. The third, or support layer, contains nearly 1,000 individually wrapped coils that provide cradling and additional support. The last layer is made with DuraDense Foam, which lends stability and durability to the mattress.
Because the mattress is made with materials designed to be cool, the Helix Sunset may be a great option if you tend to overheat at night. For those concerned about pressure relief, our tester noticed the Sunset did a good job alleviating pressure in the shoulders, the lower back, and the hips. However, when our tester evaluated motion transfer, they noticed disturbances across the top of the mattress when movement was triggered. The Helix Sunset Luxe model offers better motion isolation, so couples or people who co-sleep may consider that upgrade as an alternative.
To learn more about this brand, visit our full Helix mattress review.
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $1,332 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Soft |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Trial | 100 nights |
Best soft mattress for side sleepers: DreamCloud Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
The DreamCloud Hybrid combines therapeutic memory foam and supportive spring coils to accommodate side and back sleepers. Some sleepers may want a softer mattress if they’re looking for a plusher, sinking feel.
- When switching between side and back sleeping positions, our testers felt excellent pressure relief from the gel memory foam.
- At $1,483 for a queen, the luxury mattress is available at a non-luxury price compared to many competitors.
- We recommend the mattress for sleepers who alternate between sleeping on their side and back.
- Designed to stay cool throughout the night with breathable cashmere woven into the cover and a layer of gel memory foam.
Why we like DreamCloud Hybrid as best for side sleepers
The DreamCloud is available as a hybrid or foam mattress—we’ll focus on the hybrid here. Like most high-quality hybrid mattresses, the DreamCloud balances luxurious, cushioning foam with supportive spring coils. We rated the mattress a medium-firm, but the contouring foam layers should offer side sleepers pressure relief in the shoulders and hips.
The quilted mattress cover is a cashmere blend. Cashmere is a soft, breathable fabric that keeps the mattress cool and comfortable. (3) The cover works in tandem with the gel-infused memory foam layer beneath it. The gel memory foam layer contours nicely to the body, which is important for side and back sleepers.
Lightweight and average-weight sleepers should feel comfortable switching between their back and side positions, while heavy-weight sleepers may sink too deeply into the mattress when on their side. Beneath the mattress’s foam layers are high-quality, supportive spring coils. The coils offer reinforced support and durability, which prevents the mattress from sagging and softening over time.
The spring coil layer gives the mattress a responsive, bouncy surface. While the supportive bounce makes it easy to switch positions throughout the night, couples may feel their partner’s bigger, more significant movements. Based on our test results, sleepers may feel their partner getting in and out of bed but not switching positions.
The DreamCloud has impressive edge support, which is another sign of mattress durability. Our testers felt stable when sitting and lying near the mattress edge. Strong edge support makes getting in and out of bed easier and allows you to spread out on your entire mattress when sleeping.
Overall, the DreamCloud offers comfortable, supportive sleep for most back and side sleepers. We love the mattress’s high-quality materials, thoughtful construction, and durability.
For additional options that will support your sleeping habits, see our best mattresses for side sleepers. Or, see our complete DreamCloud mattress review for more insights on this brand.
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $1,483 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Trial | 365 nights |
Best soft memory foam mattress: Nectar Luxe Memory Foam
Key product features
What you should know
The Nectar Luxe is an all-foam mattress with more reinforced support than typical memory foam mattresses. The mattress contours nicely to the lower back for soft, cushioning pressure relief.
- The mattress is cool to the touch, offering a comfortable surface for hot sleepers.
- The all-foam mattress’s premium construction, cooling features, and high-quality foam price it at $3,214 for a queen, though you can usually expect to find it discounted to $1,249.
- Since it’s firmer than some all-foam mattresses, heavy-weight sleepers may enjoy the soft yet reinforced support when sleeping on their back and side.
- Nectar offers generous customer policies, such as a 365-night trial and Forever Warranty™.
Why we like Nectar Luxe Memory Foam as best memory foam
We selected Nectar Luxe Memory Foam as the best memory foam for its high-quality foam design and cooling features. The mattress contains three layers of foam for a soft, plush sleep experience: gel memory foam, soft foam, and high-density foam. While all-foam mattresses generally absorb heat, the Premier is thoughtfully designed to expel heat and keep body temperatures down.
The mattress cover is made of a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric to keep sleepers cool. The next layer of memory foam is infused with phase-change material and is also designed to feel refreshing. (4)
We think the cooling mattress can accommodate most sleepers since it offers a cradling yet supportive surface without too much sinkage. Heavy-weight back sleepers should find the right balance of soft cradling and support, but the mattress isn’t firm enough for heavy-weight sleepers who sleep primarily on their side or stomach.
The Luxe has good edge support for an all-foam mattress. And since it offers two more inches of memory foam than the Nectar Classic, it’s an even better option for sleepers seeking pressure relief. The mattress’s combination of good motion isolation and responsiveness is great for couples or co-sleepers who frequently change sleeping positions.
Don’t be afraid of the Nectar Luxe’s $3,214 price tag—you can almost always find it discounted to a reasonable $1,249 on Nectar’s site.
Check out our comprehensive Nectar mattress review or see the best memory foam mattresses to see more options for you.
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $3,214, but frequently discounted to $1,249 |
| Material | Foam |
| Firmness | Medium |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Trial | 365 nights |
Best soft hybrid mattress: Saatva Classic Plush Soft
Key product features
What you should know
The Saatva Classic Plush Soft is a luxury hybrid mattress with targeted lower back support and zoned coils to support side and back sleepers. The Plush Soft option offers sleepers the benefits of a hybrid mattress with a slightly softer cushioning feel than a standard hybrid.
- The mattress offers targeted lower back support from foam and spring coil layers.
- The luxury mattress arrives ready to sleep on, unlike most online mattresses that are rolled and compressed in a box, taking 24 to 48 hours to fully expand.
- We recommend this mattress for side and back sleepers.
- Includes free delivery and setup, a 365-night trial period, and a lifetime warranty.
- Three firmness options and two mattress heights are available, catering to various sleep preferences.
Why we like Saatva Classic Plush Soft as best hybrid
The Saatva Classic has a three-inch plush Euro pillow top, a foam layer positioned in the center, and two layers of spring coils for the ultimate hybrid design. The best hybrid mattresses combine plush, contouring foam with the reinforced support of spring coils. The Saatva Classic has three firmness options, with Plush Soft being the softest. The Plush Soft offers sleepers all the benefits of a hybrid mattress with a slightly softer feel than a standard hybrid.
The mattress cover is made of organic cotton, which promotes airflow and cooling. (5) Our testers felt the cover was soft and airy, adding to the hybrid mattress’s luxury feel. The Euro pillow top’s plushness depends on your mattress height: 11.5” or 14.5”.
Beneath the plush mattress cover are the foam and spring coil layers. While most mattresses’ foam layer covers the entire surface, the Saatva Classic’s foam is positioned in the middle of the mattress for targeted lower back support. Our testers felt the foam contour nicely to their lower back and hips.
The spring coil layer also offers zoned support, with firmer coils in the center third of the mattress and more flexible, buoyant coils in areas like the neck and shoulders. The targeted lumbar foam and zoned spring coils may make this a great mattress for back pain for sleepers who want a softer mattress surface. Heavy-weight sleepers or sleepers who prefer a medium-firm feel may find the Plush Soft too soft.
According to our testers, the Saatva Classic has one of the strongest edges compared to other mattresses they’ve tested. The entire mattress is surrounded by thick foam for a strong, stable edge that allows you to sleep near the edge without feeling unstable. The strong edge also made it easy for our testers to get in and out of the bed.
We love that all Saatva mattresses arrive ready to sleep on. They aren’t compressed in a box like most online mattresses. Saatva sets up your mattress for free and will even remove your old mattress.
If you’re looking for a firmer mattress but still want Saatva’s targeted lower back support, luxurious feel, and excellent customer policies, we recommend the Luxury Firm or Firm option. All three firmness options are available for the same price.
To learn more, visit our complete guide on the best hybrid mattresses or our full Saatva mattress review.
What customers are saying
We found a Reddit forum where customers discussed their experience with the Saatva Classic Plush Soft. One reviewer preferred the Plush Soft and found it comfortable for side and back sleeping, but most thought the mattress wasn’t nearly as soft as advertised and didn’t have the plush, sinking feel they were looking for.
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $2,095 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Soft |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 365 nights |
Best affordable soft mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid combines cradling foam and supportive coils for a high-quality yet affordable mattress that supports most sleeping positions. Back sleepers should especially enjoy the mattress’s contouring pressure relief.
- The mattress offers a gentle, cradling feel with reinforced support for most sleeping positions.
- There are three firmness options available: Soft, Medium, and Firm.
- At $1,332 for a queen, the Signature Hybrid is one of the most affordable hybrid mattresses in our review.
- Since the mattress has three firmness options, it should support most back, side, and stomach sleepers.
- Its breathable quilted mattress cover is designed for cooling.
Why we like Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid as best affordable
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a great affordable mattress for shoppers on a budget, with prices starting at $665 for a twin mattress. Like many other mattress brands, Brooklyn Bedding offers sales throughout the year, which in some cases may take prices for a queen down to less than $1,000.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is made with foam and individually wrapped coils and comes in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm. In this review, we’re focusing on the Soft option. The mattress has a 1.5-inch soft, quilted mattress topper to help wick away moisture.
The topper is followed up by a layer of supreme response comfort foam that lends to the mattress’s bounce and makes it easy to switch positions. The transition layer provides additional comfort and deep compression support and is followed up by a layer of spring coils that offer contouring and motion isolation. All of these layers sit on a Flex Base that supports the previous layers and adds durability to the mattress.
Despite being a softer mattress, our tester felt the Signature Hybrid would still be a good fit for average-weight stomach sleepers, which speaks to the support it provides. Higher-weight sleepers will also enjoy this mattress for back and side sleeping but may perceive it as too soft for stomach sleeping. Because the mattress is so responsive, our tester felt it’d be a great mattress for combination sleepers since it’s easy to switch positions and move around on.
Like other mattresses on this list, the Signature Hybrid offers a gentle cradle and a nice level of sinkage, making it a comfortable, cozy pick. However, if you sleep hot, you may want to look for a mattress with additional cooling features, such as the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe.
Check out our complete Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid review to learn more about this model. To see more great mattresses that won’t break the bank, see our complete guide on the best affordable mattresses.
What customers are saying
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has a 4.3- out of 5-star rating on Amazon based on more than 140 reviews. Overall, customers are pleased with the mattress’s support and comfort, and many reviewers recommend it for back and side sleeping.
“Wow, this is a nice mattress. I got the medium firmness twin and it’s perfect for me at 5’8″ 150lbs. Nice and soft but still supportive. I’ve only slept a couple nights on it but it’s a huge improvement over the old boxspring I had. No more pain in my back, neck, and shoulders when waking up.”
Dan, verified Amazon reviewer
Christine L., another verified reviewer, is impressed with how thick and durable the Signature Hybrid is for being a bed-in-a-box mattress. “I got a soft one–you can select your firmness level. It cradles the body. Best mattress ever. The edges are very firm, so you can sit on the edge of the bed and not slide or roll off,” she said.
Some reviewers complained that the mattress softened quickly and didn’t offer enough support. Others thought the mattress was too firm and didn’t have the cushioning feel they were expecting.
Kevin D., a verified reviewer, said, “It was considerably softer in the middle, pushing you away from the edge. Not too good with two people. And to top it off, it is an extremely hot mattress to sleep on.”
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $1,332 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Soft, Medium, Firm |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Trial | 120 nights |
Best medium soft mattress: Bear Star Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
The Bear Star Hybrid is a comfortable medium mattress that does a great job cradling the hips and providing the perfect amount of support to keep the spine in a neutral position. Special cooling features should keep sleepers comfortable and cool throughout the night.
- The mattress offers pressure relief and support for back sleepers.
- Its higher price tag ($1,998 for a queen) may not work with some shoppers’ budgets.
- The mattress has a strong, stable edge that allows sleepers to use the entire mattress surface.
- The copper-infused memory foam and coils help keep the mattress cool.
Why we like Bear Star Hybrid as best medium-soft
The Bear Star Hybrid is a medium-soft mattress made with foam and coils and is designed to offer support, comfort, and breathability. The mattress contains a material called CELLIANT® for an optional $200 upgrade, which is said to help relieve pain and aid in healing, making it one of the best mattresses for athletes. (6) CELLIANT® fibers contain minerals and elements that use your body’s heat to increase blood flow and oxygen (7). The foam layers are made with cooling copper-infused memory foam, adding to its cool feel.
The Bear Star Hybrid has three primary layers that are wrapped in a hand-quilted cover infused with CELLIANT® fibers and HydroCool technology to help wick away moisture and regulate temperature. The first layer is made with copper-infused memory foam, providing contouring and pressure relief. The second foam layer is more responsive and adapts to different body weights and sleeping positions for personalized pressure relief. Next is the layer of individually wrapped coils that help with proper spinal alignment and support. Lastly, you’ll find the base layer made with high-density foam that offers durability and support to the mattress.
The Bear Star Hybrid is definitely on the plush and cozy side, and we love that it offers a gentle cradling feeling while still providing enough support for back sleepers. It’s also a good fit for combination sleepers because of its high responsiveness, meaning you can move around easily without getting stuck. It naturally sleeps cooler since it’s a hybrid, and the copper-infused memory foam and CELLIANT®fibers also add to its cooling capabilities.
The mattress also has good motion isolation and edge support, making it an appealing choice for couples and those who like to spread out on the bed.
For more insights on this brand, check out our complete Bear mattress review.
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $1,998 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium-soft |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 120 nights |
Best soft king-size mattress: Nolah Original Hybrid
Key product features
What you should know
The Nolah Original Hybrid features proprietary foam that’s more responsive and breathable than traditional memory foam. The supportive mattress has cooling features, a sturdy edge, and good motion isolation, making it an excellent king mattress to share or spread out on.
- Our testers were impressed with the stable, strong mattress edge, which allows you to use the entire mattress surface.
- This king-size mattress costs $2,049, but frequent discounts can reduce the price to less than $1,500.
- This hybrid mattress may offer the right balance of softness and support for heavy-weight sleepers looking for a soft, plush mattress.
Why we like Nolah Original Hybrid as best king-size
The hybrid mattress has a TENCEL™ cover, a breathable material designed to keep sleepers cool. (8) If you share your king-sized mattress with a partner or pet, cooling materials are great for regulating surface temperature.
One of our favorite features of the Nolah Original Hybrid mattress is the proprietary AirFoam™. Unlike standard memory foam, AirFoam™ is more responsive and breathable. You won’t feel stuck when moving around on the mattress, but you’ll still experience that plush, cradling upper layer. Our testers felt more “on” the mattress but reported a soft and plush sinkage from the mattress cover and upper foam layers. The combination of plush sinkage and support is excellent for back sleepers.
While the medium mattress isn’t one of the softest in our review, the zoned spring coils beneath the foam make it feel softer for heavy-weight back sleepers while remaining supportive. Lightweight and average-weight sleepers wanting a softer mattress may find the Nolah Original Hybrid too firm.
The mattress has good motion isolation, a significant perk for couples or those co-sleeping in a king-sized bed. It’s more responsive than an all-foam mattress, but for a hybrid, there isn’t much bounce to support movements when moving around on the mattress or changing positions.
Our testers were also impressed with the mattress’s stable, strong edge. You should be able to spread out on this king-sized mattress without feeling like you’ll roll off.
A king-sized Nolah Original Hybrid costs $2,049, but frequent sales and promotions can reduce the price to less than $1,500. The king-size base price is reasonable even without discounts, especially compared with competitors. The Nolah Original Hybrid’s reasonable price range, cooling features, good motion isolation, and strong edge support make it an excellent king-size mattress to share.
If this isn’t the right mattress for you, see more of the best king-size mattresses.
Specs
| Price (Queen) | $2,049 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Trial | 120 nights |
How we test mattresses
We all know a good (or bad) night’s sleep affects us long after we’re off our mattress. That’s why our team of testers, reviewers, medical experts, and fact-checkers conduct rigorous testing and research to help you find the best mattress for a restorative night’s sleep. Our goal is to share our findings with you through accessible and comprehensive first-hand reviews.
View our full mattress testing methodology here.
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 the best soft mattress
When you’re shopping for the best soft mattress to sink into at the end of the day, keep the following in mind to help narrow down your choices.
Mattress type
Becoming familiar with the perks and drawbacks of popular mattresses will help you choose the best mattress type.
- Foam: This is probably the material most sleepers associate with soft mattresses. All-foam mattresses are known for their soft, hugging feel that may make you not want to leave your bed. Some mattresses have one type of foam, but the best memory foam mattresses usually contain a combination of different types of foam. (9) Foam mattresses are great for pressure relief and motion isolation but may trap heat.
- Innerspring: These traditional mattresses have spring coil layers topped with a small plush or comfort layer. An innerspring mattress is excellent for back, stomach, and heavy-weight sleepers looking for a firmer surface with more airflow, but we don’t recommend this mattress type if you’re looking for a soft mattress.
- Hybrid: A hybrid mattress combines foam and spring coil layers to balance a cushioning and plush feel with reinforced support. Depending on their construction, these mattresses accommodate a variety of sleeping positions and body types. The supportive coils support sleepers’ movements when changing positions, while the upper foam layers absorb motion. Hybrid mattresses with thicker, plusher pillow tops offer a softer mattress feel.
Support and firmness
Finding the right support and firmness is at the core of shopping for the best mattress for you. If you prefer sleeping on a soft mattress, you must find the right combination of plush cushioning and support.
When choosing a mattress, remember that firmness is subjective and perceived differently by every sleeper. (10) Lightweight sleepers perceive mattresses as firmer, while heavy-weight sleepers perceive mattresses as softer since they sink deeper into the surface.
We recommend purchasing a mattress with a generous trial period—ideally, at least 100 nights. This allows you to try the mattress for more than three months to determine if it’s the right feel, support, and firmness for you. The best soft mattresses have at least a 100-night minimum trial period.
Price
Determine your budget before diving too deeply into your research for the best soft mattress. Most queen-sized mattresses available online range from $1,500–$2,000. Besides the price tag for the mattress itself, consider other customer-friendly policies that add value to your purchase, such as:
- Mattress setup or removal services
- Trial period and warranty length
- Return policy
- Cost of extra features or sleep accessories
Many online mattresses offer promotions and sales during major holidays and even throughout the year, so look out for special deals when shopping for your mattress. When comparing multiple mattresses, you can set up your Google Chrome browser to track price changes. You’ll receive notifications when the price has gone up or down. (11)
Who is a soft mattress best for?
Soft mattresses are great for side sleepers because they cushion the shoulder and hip areas and prevent the spine from sagging. Depending on how soft a mattress is, it may also be good for back sleepers because it provides the right amount of contouring around the lower back and hip area.
Lightweight sleepers may also like the feel of a soft mattress since they don’t sink too deeply into them. Generally, soft mattresses aren’t supportive enough for heavy-weight sleepers.
We don’t recommend a soft mattress for sleepers with back pain who primarily sleep on their backs. A too-soft surface may cause your hips and lower backs to sink deeply into the mattress, which causes pain and discomfort over time. The best mattresses for back sleepers offer reinforced support to keep the spine properly aligned.
FAQs
Which type of mattress is softest?
Our team chose the Helix Sunset as the best soft mattress overall for its high-quality construction, high performance scores, and affordability. Depending on what you’re looking for in a soft mattress, you’ll want to evaluate cooling, pressure relief, support, and motion isolation, among other factors. Carefully evaluate a mattress’s strengths and weaknesses in the areas most important to you to decide which is best.
Is it good to sleep on a very soft mattress?
Soft mattresses provide a high level of contouring, which can help relieve pressure in areas like the shoulders, lower back, and hips. They also offer a soft, cushiony feeling, which may appeal to sleepers looking for comfort. If a mattress is too soft, your spine won’t be properly supported, which can cause pain and discomfort over time.
Will a soft mattress help with back pain?
A soft mattress may not be the best choice for back pain since the mattress may not offer enough support for the spine and lower back. Research shows that sleepers with back pain may benefit from a medium-firm mattress. (12)
How durable is a soft mattress?
Most mattresses last about seven to 10 years, but the durability depends on the material and construction. (13) All mattresses soften over time, so a soft mattress may lose support quicker than a medium or firm mattress. Generally, hybrid mattresses (spring coils and foam) will last longer than foam mattresses.
Which mattress material is the softest?
Memory foam mattresses may be perceived as the softest mattresses since they offer a lot of sinkage and contouring. If you want to feel cradled by your mattress and need pressure relief around the shoulder and hip areas, you may want to consider a memory foam mattress.
Our experts
Amanda Marten, MSN, FNP-C
Amanda Marten is a Family Nurse Practitioner and freelance writer. She currently works as a Nurse Practitioner in urgent care. She enjoys developing relationships with her patients and educating them about their health while promoting evidence-based research.
As a nurse, she has worked in a variety of specialties, including post-surgical, the intensive care unit, and travel nursing. Amanda has a background in writing well-researched articles and blogs, as well as medical and NCLEX-style questions.
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.
Emily Breaux
Fortune Recommends Sr. Staff Writer
About Author
Emily is a health and wellness writer with a background in marketing and secondary education. She enjoys covering wellness topics that help readers navigate aging, caregiving, sleep, and nutritional health. Emily specializes in medical alert systems and has hand-tested more than 20 devices. Her work has been featured in National Council on Aging, HelpGuide, AgingInPlace.org, and MarketWatch.
Emily is based in New Orleans and enjoys neighborhood walks, practicing yoga, performing in local theatre productions, and finding her next read at the library.