There are various types of beds out there, but some are just better than others. Countless reviews and ratings proved that the best memory foam mattresses garnered the highest customer satisfaction rating of 81%. However, once you are decided on the type of the mattress, it’s definitely not that easy to choose the right memory foam bed among the hundreds of models and brands on the market.

In the days before a ‘mattress-in-a-box’, one had to drive around several retail mattress stores, try out lots of mattresses, and then have their best pick shipped home. But that has changed over time- we are in the 21st century, remember?

The fact that you can now purchase your bed online and have it shipped to your doorstep tends to add a touch of luxury to your sleep. But that also means that you need to know how to choose the best mattress for a good night’s sleep or even better, know the best mattresses in the market.

Worth mentioning, though, choosing the best mattress boils down to a few things including your specific needs. You need to understand how different mattresses (memory foam, latex, innerspring, air, or water) perform in regard to comfort and support . For instance, are you looking for the right mattress to relieve your back or shoulder pains, or are you hunting for the best mattress for side sleepers, and finally … will this fit my budget?

The fundamental factors to consider in making an informed buying decision include layer height, the overall thickness, and density of the mattress, Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) rating, mattress pressure, motion transfer, and temperature sensitivity. Our memory foam mattress buying guide and reviews serve as your ultimate navigation with a summary of every important detail you need to know to choose the right memory foam mattress in today’s market.

There’s also another corollary which we will discuss deeper in the buying guide below, but for now, it’s your budget. Innerspring mattresses are the most affordable followed by air and water mattresses. The best memory foam mattresses and latex beds, on the other hand, will cost you a pretty penny. But they also tend to have the upper hand in terms of comfort, support, and durability.

If you don’t have a particular model in mind, let’s take you through our picks for the 10 best mattresses that have made the cut for 2020.

Top 10 Memory Foam Mattresses of 2020

Best Memory Foam Mattress Reviews

Zinus Green Tea Mattress Review

Best Affordable Memory Foam Mattress: Our next recommendation in these best mattresses reviews goes to anyone who is looking for an affordable memory foam mattress. It might interest Airbnb owners, college students, and homeowners who want a cheap bed for kids or a guestroom.

While what we are reviewing here is the Queen 12-inch model, you can also get this mattress in virtually any size from Twin to California King, and in 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches.

The Zinus 12’’ mattress is made up of 4 layers of Certipur-US certified foam that has been infused with Green Tea extracts. The essence of this infusion is to help curb the chemical odors that memory foam mattresses ship with and to give your mattress a fresh smell.

Compared to the Nectar above, the Zinus is a little bit soft and falls at 4 in our 1-10 firmness level scale. That being said, we would only recommend it to side and combo sleepers. Back and stomach sleepers who weigh below 140 pounds might also consider it. However, anybody heavier than this might feel like they are stuck in the mattress and might want to consider the Lucid reviewed below.

Considering its softness level, this might be a good mattress for pressure relief. It also makes a great bed for couples thanks to its above-average motion absorption and edge support.

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LUCID 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Review

Best Mattress for Side and Back Sleepers: The Lucid 10-inch is yet another one of the best affordable memory foam mattresses 2020. Unlike the Zinus above, this one is slightly on the firm side. It is actually slightly firmer than the Nectar that we saw earlier on and scores 7 on our firmness scale.

That being said, we would recommend it to side and back sleepers. Stomach sleepers who like sleeping on a firm mattress might also go with it although we feel it might cause them a lot of discomforts thereby affecting the quality of their sleep.

The Lucid 10-inch is a dual-layer mattress featuring a 2.5-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam on top of a 7.5-inch high-density foam base.

Unlike the 2 mattresses before it, this model performs much better in terms of temperature regulation. This could be attributed to the 2-layer construction design plus the Tencel blend fabric cover used for this mattress.

In case you are wondering, Tencel (a.k.a Lyocell) is an eco-friendly fabric made from wood pulp. It has an incredibly smooth surface up close and it’s usually softer than cotton. Besides boosting temperature regulation and controlling moisture, this Tencel cover is anti-bacterial and it’s also great for sensitive skin credit to its non-irritating nature.

Worth mentioning is that the Lucid 10-inch is the only memory foam mattress in this list that does not ship with a chemical odor. So, if you don’t want a mattress that will require a few weeks before you can use it, this one could be a good choice.

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Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam Review

Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers: There must be a very good reason why the ZinusUltima Comfort has managed to maintain a 4.4/5-star rating even at over 12k reviews- that must be its construction design!

This is a premier mattress that comes at a budget price. This makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to experience high-end comfort without shelling out so much for the bed.

The ZinusUltima is available in all the major sizes and in 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches. What we are looking at here is the Queen 10’’ style that is made of 3 layers. There is a 3’’ memory foam at the top, a 2’’ pressure relieving comfort foam at the center, and a 5’’ high-density base support foam. All these layers are then topped off with an amazingly soft knitted jacquard cover.

What we haven’t told you so far, and actually what makes the ZinusUltima one of the best mattresses in 2020 is that it uses BioFoam.

Without digging so much into the details, this foam features an infusion of natural plant oils. Precisely, this mattress uses Evergreen tea extract that is responsible for neutralizing chemical odors and Activated Carbon Charcoal that wicks away moisture.

The ZinusUltima is medium-firm although it’s more on the firmer side and has a great combination of comfort and support. Considering its firmness level, though, this will be a great pick for back sleepers, and heavy stomach and side sleepers.

This mattress is Certipur-US certified and comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

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Best Price Mattress Review

Best Mattress for Back Pain: Next up is another very popular mattress that has created a really good buzz among sleepers with bad backs. This is a memory foam mattress that comes in Twin, Full, Queen, and King sizes and in 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches.

But what makes it so popular?

All the 4 sizes of the Best Price mattress feature a 4-layer construction with the major difference being the thickness of the individual layers.

The 10-inch model has a 2.5-inch Green Tea infused memory foam top layer, a 2-inch pressure relief comfort foam mid layer, and a 5.5’’ high-density base foam.

What most people like about this mattress is that it tends to accommodate all sleeping styles thanks to the perfect combination of low and high-density foams.

Whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, this mattress’ low-density top layer allows your body to sink and will actually conform to your body shape. The firmness of the high-density foams below, however, comes into effect by preventing you from sinking through. But then again, it won’t make you feel like you are sleeping on a rock.

The performance of these layers makes the Best Price for people dealing with back, shoulder, and neck pains as well more so when complemented with the right pillow.

Temperature regulation is yet another front that the Best Price tends to work so well. All credit here goes to the poly-jacquard fabric cover, the Green Tea infused top layer and the base foam with Air Flow construction design.

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Sweetnight Gel Memory Foam Mattress Review

Best Mattress for Sciatica and Upper Back Pains: If sciatica pain, shoulder pain, or neck pain won’t let you have a sweet night, Sweetnight (a Chinese top-grade mattress company) got your back.

This 12-inch gel memory foam mattress is over $200 pricier than most of the beds that we’ve seen so far. But it pays for itself very quickly with the healthy sleeping experience that it adds to your bedroom.

Let’s talk about its material composition.

This mattress is made of 3 distinct layers. The first is the most-coveted gel-infused memory foam layer that is responsible for giving your bed a soft cloud feel while dissipating heat away from you.

The transition layer is a 3.5’’ comfort foam– and this is where the magic happens. This comfort foam has a thoughtful 3-zone design with a firmer middle part that offers your pained or inflamed joints a gentle balance as opposed to letting you sink through uncomfortably.

There is yet another feature that gives this mattress another competitive edge: it is flippable. That means that this is a 2-in-1 mattress with a plush and firm side. You’ll find this really practical especially if you are not sure which side will be your sunny side up.

The Sweetnight mattress also performs impeccably in minimizing motion transfer. It also offers an easy transition in that it can be used with pretty much any sturdy base.

You might experience a light chemical smell once you unwrap it. Most previous users, however, report that it airs out quickly and the smell does not linger for long compared to most of its competitors.

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Tuft and Needle Review

Best Mattress for Couples: This is one of the best medium-firm mattresses that we came across. And we believe it will make a great pick for most combination sleepers who are always switching from side to back sleeping positions. That’s to say that it might also be a perfect choice for a couple with different sleeping positions.

The Tuft and Needle features a basic 2-layer construction design. At the top, you’ll find a 3’’ comfort layer made of this manufacturer’s proprietary foam that they call Adaptive foam. It is then followed by a higher density 7’’ polyfoam base.

These 2 layers give this mattress a balanced foam feel. The comfort layer has a good amount of softness to it. It is also super responsive so moving across the bed or switching positions won’t be a struggle.

We expect this mattress to offer great support to back sleepers. Side sleepers, on the other hand, should also benefit from the nice pressure relief that this mattress offers around the shoulders and hips.

The Tuft and Needle isn’t the best performer in terms of edge support. But it makes up for that with its incredible motion isolation, excellent temperature regulation, and durability.

Worth mentioning, though, while this is one of the best mattresses in 2020, you might want to throw a softer mattress pad on top if you weigh over 250 pounds. This is because the T and N does not have a transition layer so you’ll be hitting the firm base layer easily and this could cause some pressure points especially around your shoulders and upper back. In that case, consider the Live and Sleep Ultra below.

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 Nectar Mattress Review

Best Mattress for Side, Stomach, and Back Sleepers: The Nectar might be just what you need if you are always switching from side sleeping to stomach or back snoozing in your sleep. This is currently one of the highest-rated mattresses in the market and has actually been nicknamed the best mattress for combination sleepers.

The Nectar is a 4-layer mattress comprising of a Tencel cooling cover, quilted gel memory foam, gel memory foam, and an adaptive high core memory foam. There’s also a breathable base layer at the bottom to hold the layers at the top.

Together, these materials give the Nectar a thickness of 11 inches and medium-firm feel. To be more precise, it scored 6.5 on our 1-10 firmness level scale. This firmness level offers excellent spinal alignment for side and stomach sleepers and also has a decent amount of support for back sleepers.

True to other memory foam mattresses, the Nectar also scores a lot of marks in terms of minimizing motion transfer between partners. This is quite practical especially if you (or your partner) tend to be disturbed by the slightest movements.

Does it sleep cool?

Well, we wouldn’t say that this is the best mattress for hot sleepers. However, the tencel cover, gel memory foam layers, and breathable base do a great work of reducing heat build-up as you sleep.

Although the Nectar mattress is Certipur-US certified, it may have a heavy chemical smell out of the box. This is common with memory foam mattresses, though, and should dissipate in a matter of days.

This mattress also has the among the best warranty deals on the market today. It has a 180-night home trial with free return and a Forever warranty.

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Live & Sleep Resort Ultra Mattress Review

Best Mattress for Heavy People: The Live & Sleep might be a good bet if you are in need of a memory foam mattress that doesn’t make you feel like you are stuck mud. It’s also a go-to bed for people who want a mattress that is neither too soft nor too firm.

The Live and Sleep is an excellent performer in terms of motion isolation and also gets a lot of praises for sleeping cool. These 2 features make it a really impressive pick for most couples too.

There is no doubting that this mattress’ cover gives it a really eye-catching design. This cover is made from a soothing fabric and has a soft and welcoming touch. The best part, though, is that it is removable and machine-washable.

The Live and Sleep Ultra is a 3-layer mattress with a 2.5-inch responsive memory foam layer that hugs your body to provide pressure relief. Next is a 1’’ gel-infused memory foam transition layer that offers a smooth transition from the top layer to the base layer besides pulling heat away from you.

The support layer is an 8.5-inch high-density performance base foam that offers deep compression support and also prevents you from bottoming out and hitting the base.

Edge support is much better compared to most mattresses here and while it does off-gas, the odor dissipates completely in 24-48 hours.

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Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-ProAdapt 12-Inch Review

Best Firm Mattress: The Tempur-PedicProAdapt is in the high range in terms of pricing, but also on the higher end of the performance spectrum. This mattress is still relatively new having been introduced in 2018 and it’s the second of Tempur-Pedic’s 5 mattresses.

What we have here is the firm style of the ProAdapt series but you can also get it in soft and medium-firm versions.

This firm mattress has a thickness of 12 inches and might be worth considering if you are looking for the best mattress for old people. Chiropractors and other sleep experts also tout a firm mattress as ideal for dealing with neck, back, and joint problems.

What we appreciate about this American manufacturer is that it designs and engineers all its mattress components as opposed to buying from suppliers. The essence of this is to ensure that the materials used for its products are of premium quality.

The Tempur-PedicProAdapthas 4 layers that work together to give you a night full of sleep. The first is a high-stretch performance panel that is responsible for the initial welcoming soft touch and heat regulation. The second layer is a 1-inch Tempur-APR comfort layer that relieves pressure for a deep and rejuvenating sleep. Next up is a 2.5’’ support layer that offers advanced adaptability to ensure personalized comfort and support.

Another really impressive feature of the Tempur-PedicProAdapt is its cool-to-touch cover that is alsoremovable and washable for convenience and comfort.

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Sealy Response Premium 14-Inch Review

Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers: Our last recommendation in these best mattresses reviews has the most sophisticated construction design. Although not sold as one, this is a hybrid mattress that incorporates layers of foam and a system of encased coils to offer you a superb combination of comfort, support, and unbeatable temperature management.

As you may have guessed, the Sealy Response is available in a couple of sizes; twin, twin xl, full, queen, king, and California king. In addition, while what we are looking at here is the 14-inch firm mattress, there’s also an option to get it in a 14-inch and even 16-inch Plush version.

You could ask, ‘’what makes this one of the best mattresses this year?’’ It’s all in the construction design and components.

At the very top, this mattress is blessed with MoistureProtect– this is a hypoallergenic cover that works by pulling heat away from you. This is followed by AllergenProtect. Just as it seems like, this component keeps allergens such as dander and dust at bay.

The first layer of this mattress is a 1-inch ultra-firm foam layer with gel infusion technology for optimum temperature regulation. This is followed by a zoned support layer that offers reinforced support to the heaviest section of your body, that is, around the lumbar region.

The last layer of the Sealy Response Premium is a coil system with individually encased coils. By placing the coils in individual wraps, you will experience less motion transfer without any compromise on support. This construction design also helps in minimizing squeaks.

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 Summing It Up

A good mattress is a large and important investment that will set you back a few hundred dollars (or even a couple grand). That being said, it’s important that you make the right choice from the word go. The most expensive mattresses don’t always make the best beds. But then again, you don’t want to go frugal on a bed that you’ll be spending over 6 hours on for some years to come. Sure, choosing a good mattress from all the options available isn’t an easy task. But it shouldn’t be so hard either. It all boils down to getting a mattress that meets your comfort, support, and temperature management needs. If you are dtill not exactly sure what to go for in our reviews of the best mattresses but want something affordable, the Zinus Green Tea might be a good bet considering that it’s designed to accommodate all sleeping positions. If you have a history of back pains, shoulder pains, and sciatica, the Best Price and Sweetnight 12-inch might interest you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a firm mattress with a good amount of bounce and don’t mind spending just a little more, the Sealy Response Premium is all yours.

How to choose the Best Memory Foam Mattress

NASA originally designed memory foam as a way to deal with the G-force felt by astronauts during the lift-off. The foam softens when it comes into contact with heat, and this allows it to conform to the shape of the body and gives even support. Memory foam is extensively used in medical applications, and this is the main reason why the mattresses were quite expensive initially. Today, technology has advanced lowering manufacturing costs making memory foam mattresses affordable to most of the consumers.

To end up with right mattresses, you need to keep the following key points in mind when you are out shopping for a memory foam mattress.

Memory Foam Layers

Memory foam is made up of 3 different layers that play distinct roles in the overall quality, design, and performance of the mattress. The first and topmost level is called “Comfort Layer” which is created from select materials that provide a cushion to the body through following the body’s contour, giving you a soft and plush surface. The second level is the “Support Layer” which is a more rigid platform that retains the overall shape of the memory foam mattress, offering a base support for the thinner and plusher comfort layer. The last layer is the “Base Layer” which is located at the bottom and serves as the foundation of the two upper levels, making it the most formidable and thickest of the three layers.

Foam Types

Traditional best memory foam mattresses come in different shapes and sizes, and the type of foam you choose influences its overall quality and performance, starting with the viscoelastic foam mattress. The mattress type utilized polyurethane petroleum-based foam and was created for NASA, however, it was eventually released as commercial bedding. Viscoelastic foams are also known as Traditional Polyurethane, Standard, or Petroleum-Based. One of the main issues with viscoelastic foams is the toxic off-gassing as well as heat retention or trapping, making you sleep hot and sweat.

Gel-infused memory foam mattresses are the most recent addition to the type of foam mattress in this category although it is essentially a traditional viscoelastic foam version. The only difference is that the foam is blended with millions of gel beads, as the infusion technology is designed to release the heat from the mattress. Gel-infused memory foams have better technology that avoids heat-trapping through the gel that quickly dissipates heat at a much faster rate, leading to quicker response times to movement and minimal motion transfer for uninterrupted sleep. Memory foams with gel-infused design also have VOCs and off-gassing issues, however, this will not last for several days. Edge support for gel-infused foams is not that reliable, especially for heavy, large, or overweight individuals.

Natural or eco memory foam mattresses are the third type of foam with plant-based contents and are considered the most preferred and best-rated mattress options among consumers. Unlike the other two foam types in the memory foam niche, the plant-based solution is the replacement of the petroleum or gel contents, making the natural element the main filling of the mattress. Some plant-based extracts that are potentially used include tea or Bamboo, Aloe Vera, and Soya. Plant-based or natural memory foam mattresses are far more superior concerning motion transfer and isolation compared to its viscoelastic and gel-infused counterparts. Natural memory foams are better equipped with the open-cell technology that allows it to dissipate heat 10 times faster than petroleum-based and gel-infused mattresses, making you sleep cooler and more comfortably, giving credit to the foam’s zero heat retention design. Plant-based mattresses are made from natural and safe materials; thus they are ideal for persons with sensitive skin and allergies, with an eco-friendly innovation that totally eliminates off-gassing or toxic VOC emissions. The organic memory foam bed offers more durable and stronger edge support especially with thicker and multi-layered mattress beds, however, one of the major letdowns of this model is its quite expensive price tag and the rarity of finding it in local showrooms.

Mattress Firmness and Foams Density

Mattress firmness is the initial feel the moment you lie on the bed surface and firmness is not equivalent to mattress support. The best way to test the firmness of the mattress is basically through lying down on the surface and feeling how the foam reacts as some mattresses immediately push back giving you that hard stiff-like feel while others are fluffy and soft and gives you that quicksand and hugging effect. The last type of mattress firmness strikes a balanced level of contour, hug, and push-back.

It’s hard to determine with absolute sureness the firmness level of memory foam since it is a biased metric. People have different definitions and takes on how firm or soft the mattress feels. Some sleepers have their own unique comfort needs based on their age, body type, gender, weight, and sleeping positions.

Another significant firmness level for most memory foam mattresses is called universal comfort which is designed to fit the comfort needs of most sleepers, preferably the medium-feel level or between the firmness range of 5 and 7 out of 10. There are memory foam mattresses with a universal comfort level that offers a comfortable feel from all angles, and these mattress types usually come in multiple foam layers to better handle varied body types and weights.

On top of the mattress firmness, you must also know and understand other salient factors that affect the overall quality of the best memory foam mattresses including mattress pressure, ILD, and foam density.

Foam Density

Before choosing the best memory foam mattress, it is important to know the memory foam density, which unfortunately to some, would equate it to how the foam feels. Foam density has a closer link to the durability of the mattress rather than how the mattress feels to the touch since memory foam density is basically measured in pounds per cubic foot. To simply explain it, foam density determines the firmness level, support, resilience, and price of the mattress. The most common density is 2 to 5lbs, with those that have a density of more than 5lbs are mainly referred to as high-quality options.

Low-density memory foams are softer with that sinking feel while medium-density foams have a balanced combination of durability, support, and comfort. High-density memory foams offer outstanding durability and firmer support which makes it the ideal option for back pain and pressure point relief.  Some higher-density memory foams are designed to react to body temperature, making it acclimate and mold to the body temperature in a matter of minutes.

Mattress Pressure

The best memory foam mattresses on the market also have multiple layers with different corresponding mmHg or the unit of measurement that gauges the reaction of the foam against mattress pressure. Memory foams with 32mmHg or lower offer pressure relief and better blood circulation that minimizes pressure points, therefore, lesser tossing and turning.

Foam ILD

The Indentation Load Deflection or ILD rating of a memory foam mattress usually ranges between 10 and 16 ILD. In simple terms, the ILD is a test method that determines how soft or hard the memory foam and a measurement of the load bearing capacity of the mattress through calculating how many pounds of pressure the foam can take. The ideal ILD for the memory foam depends on how soft or firm you want your mattress to be as the higher the number or ILD rating, the stiffer the foam is. The best combination could be a 13 to 15 ILD rating for 4-6lb density memory foam.

For academic data, you might want to read the article by Polyurethane Foam Association – The difference between Density and ILD and how it relates to comfort.

Heat-Trapping Motion Transfer, Edge Support, Off-Gassing

The different foam types have their distinct designs that highlight particular features and qualities for sleeping cool, motion transfer, and edge support. Most traditional memory foams also have minimal to no edge support thus you just might experience downward sag when you sit on the corners or edges of the bed. Another problem with memory foam mattress is the above average off-gassing which comes from PU foam.

To test the motion transfer, try lying on the mattress and place a Styrofoam cup or anything that quickly tumbles when you move and roll over the middle area or towards the opposite side and see if the object budges when you move, then the motion transfer is not that satisfactory.

To gauge the edge support, put some weight on one of the edges of the bed and see how the layers of the mattress respond to it since the memory foam layers work together as one unit to support and respond to the weight that the bed is subjected to. You can also test the heat-trapping of the memory foam by pressing the surface with your hand, hold for a couple of minutes, and feel your palm specifically on how cool or hot it got while pushing the mattress.

Comfort Test

One of the things to remember when testing the comfort level of the mattress is the importance of being able to lie down on the mattress and personally feel how firm or soft the surface is. This is quite a challenge for people who are buying online because it would be impossible to do the comfort test on a virtual scale. The remedy to this dilemma is to pay attention to the trial period and return policy so that you’ll know how long you have to test the memory foam mattress and decide whether it is the best match for you or not.

Memory foams have varying comfort levels that are ideal for different types of sleeping positions, where softer and plusher beds provide the ultimate convenience for side sleepers and lightweight individuals. Those who sleep on the back and stomach require a much firmer sleep surface to protect pressure points and avoid any discomforts and body pains when waking up the following morning.

The Budget

Memory foam mattresses are not created equal, and so are their prices. However, these mattress types range from affordable to hi-range in the price scale. Natural or plant-based memory foams are significantly expensive than viscoelastic and gel-infused models due to the quality of its contents and because this type is quite difficult to find in brick-and-mortar stores and showrooms. You will have to order them online if you are willing to pay extra cash for the mattress. Nonetheless, the price is definitely worth it because the mattress offers the best features from the other two memory foam types.

Different memory foam brands have their corresponding price rates but the reasonably priced and affordable ones include LUCID, Zinus, Eve Mattress, Leesa Mattress, Dynasty Mattress, DreamFoam Bedding Ultimate Dreams, Best Price, Sleep Innovations, and Brentwood Home.

The chart below shows mattress diversity in given price range.

Median Prices for Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal. King

Warranty and Trial Days

The best memory foam mattresses have different warranty and trial days ranging from 10 to 30 Years Limited Warranty with different coverage and protection from the manufacturer. Memory foam mattresses are designed to cater to various needs of the user and the 30 to 120 days trial period gives you the chance to test the mattress and decide whether you stick to it or return the mattress and look for other models and brands.

Quality sleep comes from numerous factors and the type of bed you sleep on each and every night is one of the key elements of a good night’s rest. The best memory foam mattresses are popular choices for those that want to experience comfort, support, and durability, nevertheless, choosing the right memory foam bed is not a piece of cake. Consider some of the most important factors such as the mattress firmness, mattress type, ILD, foam density, motion transfer, edge support, and heat trapping properties of the memory foam to make an informed buying decision. There’s always a model or brand of memory foam mattress that suits your sleep position, weight, and budget.