Your Guide to the 8 Most Popular Types of Mattress

Countless mattress type options abound! How do you separate the wheat from the chuff? Do you have to repurchase a similar type of mattress that you have been using for fear of making a mistake? Unsure of other options available?

We have done the hard work for you on this guide. Our extensive research has led us to the most popular mattress types in the market today to give you a head start when shopping for a mattress. By the time you are through passing through our guide, you will have an easy time making the right decision. Regardless of the shopping stage you are in, consult this primer to find our best recommendations in each category. Read on.

The following are the different types of mattresses:

1. Memory foam
2. Innerspring
3. Latex
4. Hybrid
5. Pillow top
6. Airbeds
7. Waterbeds
8. Futons

Mattress Types

Memory Foam

According to Statista, the memory foam mattress industry is worth a whopping $5.2 Billion. Memory foam was initially tailored for NASA airplane seats. In the recent past, these mattresses have tremendously grown in popularity.

So what has informed their rise in demand? Deep compression support, excellent body contouring, and great pressure relief are some of the contributing factors. They can effortlessly mold into various body shapes. The mattress is great at making the appropriate changes that are handy at preventing back problems and enhancing excellent posture.

Do you have injuries? This is the ideal mattress to sleep on. It does not put any pressure on your injuries hence making you heal faster. Are you allergic? You will be glad to know that a memory foam mattress is made using allergy-resistant materials.

In addition to that, compressing and rolling them is a walk in the park.

The different types of memory foam you can choose from include:

• Plant-based memory foam – They feature plant materials such as soy and coconut foam. Their main advantage over the others is the fact that their springing is quicker. Additionally, they boast a cleaner footprint.
• Traditional memory foam – In addition to being petroleum-based, these are also fitting.
• Gel foam – This type of memory foam is a mixture of gel and traditional. Gel is cooler than all the rest. Their issue is related to breathability and durability.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 5/10
• Ease of movement – 2/10
• Noise – 9/10
• Responsiveness – 4/10
• Back support – 6/10
• Motion transfer – 10/10
• Durability – 8/10
• Pressure relief – 7/10
• Temperature neutrality – 1/10

Pros

• Hypo-allergenic
• Great spinal alignment
• Low maintenance
• Therapeutic

Cons

• Poor heat absorption

Best Memory Foam Mattress – Nectar Mattress (it’s also featured in Best Queen Size Mattresses in 2023)

Innerspring

Brand On Gaille opines that up to 90% of mattresses that households in the U.S are conventional innerspring. Steel coils, which were handy at the manufacture of innerspring mattresses were invented in 1857. Today’s innerspring beds have three main layers – the comfort, core, and foundation.

• Foundation – This layer not only provides the mattresses’ structure but also sustains the coils. In most cases, it features wool. Acting as the major structure of the mattress, it offers support to the core’s coils.
• Core – This is the part that hosts the springs/coils. Although the number of coils/springs differs, the more they are, the superior and denser the support.
• Comfort – Because sleeping on the coils or springs would be uncomfortable, each innerspring mattress brings with it a comfort or upholstery layer. Foam or fiber is used to make this layer.

One of the major highlights of an innerspring mattress is its versatility. It comes in different sizes including king, queen, full and twin. On top of that, numerous brands sell them. They are made with an array of materials and springs.

Talking of springs, the most common one goes by the name the Marshall coil or individually encased coil. It is usually wrapped in steel or titanium to provide pressure relief and body contouring.

Here’s a more detailed look at the different types of innerspring mattresses:

• Offset – A great attribute about these is the fact that they are the most conforming. Their shape is almost the same as Bonnell coils due to their hourglass shape. Their construction features a squared top with a bottom that is attached to the adjacent coil. What this type of construction does is that it yields a hinging effect that flexes under pressure.
• Continuous coils – These coils feature a long wire. Instead of the metal being coiled, it is S-shaped. They make a great choice for those struck for cash.
• Pocket coil or marshall coil – The main focus of innerspring with pocket coil or marshall coil is to reduce motion transfer. It is normal for innerspring to have a bounciness feature. This is usually very disturbing to a sleeper. Nonetheless, with these types of coils, their design is different. Instead of being wired as one, their wrapping is separate in cloth encasements.
• Bonnell – These are the most common. They are used frequently on most innerspring mattresses. If you are concerned more about cost, you ought to consider an innerspring mattress with these coils. Their main advantage is that on top producing less noise, they boast high quality.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 7/10
• Ease of movement – 9/10
• Noise – 2/10
• Responsiveness – 8/10
• Back support – 3/10
• Motion transfer – 2/10
• Durability – 2/10
• Pressure relief – 2/10
• Temperature neutrality – 8/10

Pros

• Cooling sleeping surface
• Reasonable pricing
• Readily available
• Bounciness ideal for sex

Cons

• Premature sagging

Best Innerspring Mattress – Saatva Classic Mattress

Latex

Latex is handy at creating mattress toppers, pillows, and mattresses. Many high-end mattresses utilize one or several latex layers. Others feature latex as the main material.

Support and comfort are the main highlights of latex.

Latex boasts an incredible air circulation. It features an open-cell structure that is natural to aid in the excellent flow of air. To further improve airflow, several pinholes are included when processing these mattresses. Due to the remarkable flow of air, you are guaranteed of nothing short of cooler sleep at night. This is a huge benefit to those residing in areas with humid climates. The other benefit of having excellent air circulation is the fact that it aids in hygiene. Because of perspiration, your latex bed will not feel damp.

Latex mattresses are great at handling movement due to their natural resiliency. What does this mean? If you go to bed with your partner, you are assured of comfort and no disturbances from each other’s end at all.

The various types of latex mattresses include:

• Blended latex
• Hybrid latex
• Natural latex
• Talalay latex
• Dunlop latex

Natural and organic latex mattresses feature natural, organic and pure ingredients that are environmentally friendly. They lack chemicals, glues, blends, synthetics, additives, and chemicals.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 5/10
• Ease of movement – 5/10
• Noise – 10/10
• Responsiveness – 6/10
• Back support – 7/10
• Motion transfer – 8/10
• Durability – 4/10
• Pressure relief – 8/10
• Temperature neutrality – 6/10

Pros

• Highly comfortable
• Great pain reliever
• All-natural
• Resistant to dust mites and mold

Cons

• Costly

Best Latex Mattress – Plushbeds Botanical Bliss

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are made using modern and conventional mattress materials to offer incredible attributes of every material. So why should one buy a hybrid mattress? Well, for starters, they bring with them pocket-coil innerspring core that facilitates more bounce. These mattresses have highly comfortable foam layers at the top to offer adequate contouring support while at the same time hugging your body as you rest. The two features combine to create a soothing and weightless feeling that makes you relax and unwind.

Another great highlight of these mattresses is the fact that they are breathable and breezy. Unlike the memory foams that can be steamy at times, these guarantee a cooler sleeping experience that is courtesy of their innerspring core’s breathability. It transfers heat better than normal mattresses.

Are you a hot sleeper? If yes, then you should consider a hybrid mattress such as the Bear Hybrid. It utilizes a hypersoft gel foam whose cooling nature is magical when it comes to controlling body temperature.

Looking for a mattress type that provides the best edge support? You should consider buying a hybrid mattress. Due to their impressive structural spring system, these mattresses boast incredible edge support. This increases your sleeping surface area.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 10/10
• Ease of movement – 7/10
• Noise – 7/10
• Responsiveness – 8/10
• Back support – 9/10
• Motion transfer – 7/10
• Durability – 8/10
• Pressure relief – 7/10
• Temperature neutrality – 8/10

Pros

• Excellent breathability
• No sinking issues
• Great body contouring
• An array of firmness choices to select from

Cons

• Very heavy

Best Hybrid Mattress – DreamCloud Mattress

Pillow-Top

Pillow top mattress has an extra padding layer on top of their comfort layer. Often, the padding features a responsive/plush material like latex, down and cotton. It can also have memory foam. The main objective of these mattresses is to soften the layers below that might be too firm if they were to be by themselves.

Because of this, they are present in most innerspring mattresses to guarantee a plush surface. The creators of innerspring beds grapple with the issue of springs causing pressure on particular body parts after prolonged use. On top of that, depressions or ruts form that necessitates mattress flipping or rotating. A pillow top mattress offers a comfortable layer on an innerspring’s core.

The fact that these mattresses feature two sides enhances their longevity. If one of the sides of your mattress is uncomfortable and compressed, you can always rotate or flip it. All you need to do is ensure that the mattress you settle for features high-quality foam.

The fact that a pillow top mattress has an additional cushiony layer at its top means it is supportive and firm. It boasts an unbeatable level of softness.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 7/10
• Ease of movement – 6/10
• Noise – 7/10
• Responsiveness – 6/10
• Back support – 9/10
• Motion transfer – 7/10
• Durability – 3/10
• Pressure relief – 9/10
• Temperature neutrality – 8/10
• Responsiveness – 9/10
• Back support – 9/10
• Motion transfer – 7/10
• Durability – 8/10
• Pressure relief – 8/10
• Temperature neutrality – 9/10

Pros

• High-quality foam to guarantee the utmost comfort
• Minimal off-gassing
• Two-sided design
• Easy to move

Cons

• Dipping and sagging issues with time

Best Pillow-Top Mattress – Avocado Mattress

Airbeds

Airbeds also go by the name inflatable mattresses or air mattresses. A major highlight of these mattresses is their ability to be customized in terms of firmness. It is possible to set them as soft or firm as you please. To get a soft or plush surface, all you need to do is reduce air and do vice versa for a firm finish. Such a feature is excellent, particularly when having visitors as each one desires a different sleeping surface.

While inflatable mattresses are not the ideal choices for back issues, their firmness adjustment feature is an added advantage for those with pains related to the back, joints, knees or any other parts of the body.

You will be glad to know that these mattresses are odor-free. The PVC material that is utilized in their manufacture does not produce any gas like other mattresses such as memory foams do. Sagging is another problem that most of the other mattresses have. Well, with this one, it is the last thing you will have to worry about. If you notice that yours has some sagging problems, all you need to do is add more air.

More: 5 Best Adjustable Air Mattress in 2023

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 10/10
• Ease of movement – 8/10
• Noise – 3/10
• Responsiveness – 8/10
• Back support – 7/10
• Motion transfer – 4/10
• Durability – 4/10
• Pressure relief – 7/10
• Temperature neutrality – 7/10

Pros

• Heat stability
• Portable
• Ability to set your preferred level of firmness
• Odorless and does not off-gas

Cons

• Prone to leaks and punctures

Best Airbed Mattress – SoundAsleep Air Mattress

Waterbeds

These beds boast a rich history. They date back to 3600 BCE. Waterbeds are truly a unique form of mattress. They are a practicable alternative for traditional ones.

A major highlight of the best waterbed mattress is its heater. It heats water to not only make the warm water therapeutic but also reliever of pain in the legs and back. Excellent temperature regulation makes the mattress ideal for both winter and summer months.

Since the cover is plastic, the mattress is a great choice for allergic and asthmatic sleepers. It is great at repelling dust mites and dust.

Waterbeds are of two models/types:

• Hardside
• Softside

Hardside features wooden frames that hold the water compartment. They are expansive and weighty. Moreover, this model is reasonably priced.

Softside waterbeds, on the other hand, feature a fiber and foam padding frame to hold the water compartment. Their feel and look is that of a normal mattress. Because of this, they tend to be costlier compared to their hard side counterparts.

Other designs include:

• Free-flow – These produce dramatic ripples on their top part. The process creates a wave-like sensation.
• Semi-waveless – Unlike the free-flow beds, these have more refined waves that result in a subtle sensation.
• Waveless – They do not feature any undulations.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 2/10
• Ease of movement – 3/10
• Noise – 7/10
• Responsiveness – 8/10
• Back support – 8/10
• Motion transfer – 2/10
• Durability – 8/10
• Pressure relief – 8/10
• Temperature neutrality – 9/10

Pros

• Great mattress for asthmatic sleepers
• Easy to clean
• Relaxing
• Utmost comfort

Cons

• High maintenance

Best Waterbed Mattress – Boyd’s California King Mattress

Futons

Futons feature padding that is beneficial for sitting on and sleeping. The padding results in a bouncy, flexible and supportive mattress. One of the best attributes of these types of mattresses is that they are great space savers.

They consist of two parts – the mattress and the frame. Their frames are made of wood or metal. Due to their foldable nature, transforming them into a couch from a mattress is effortless.

Here are the most common kinds of futon frames:

• Metal frames – Some futon mattress frames are made of metal. They come in black and silver options. Depending on the metal quality, the frames can be too costly or cheaper. Compared to their wooden counterparts, metal frames provide a more modern look. In addition to that, they feature a sturdier foundation, meaning they are more long-lasting. Just like with the wooden frames, the slats must have an equal distance apart. Their width needs to be 2.5 inches.
• Wooden frames – These sturdy frames are made from hardwood such as maple or birch. Their high quality makes them the best choice to buy. In addition to boasting high quality, they also offer better support and are durable. For the slats to provide the necessary support, you have to ensure they are equally distant apart. They should measure 2.5 – 3 inches wide. By putting the slats close to each other, you will prevent your futon mattress from sagging.

Unique Features Rating

• Weight – 10/10
• Ease of movement – 5/10
• Noise – 6/10
• Responsiveness – 7/10
• Back support – 5/10
• Motion transfer – 6/10
• Durability – 7/10
• Pressure relief – 6/10
• Temperature neutrality – 6/10

Pros

• Effortless to roll up and store
• Easy to maintain
• Affordable
• Highly versatile

Cons

• Uneven weight distribution

Best Futon Mattress – DHP Futon Mattress

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