Best Mattresses of 2021

The best mattresses include the Casper Wave Hybrid, the Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress, the Casper Element, and the Avocado Green Mattress. Before you buy, use our reviews to find the right mattress for you. We have ratings on the best foam, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses, to name a few. Our guides offer advice on what to look for based on factors such as your favorite sleeping position, budget, or if you suffer from back pain. Plus, we have expanded our ratings to now include lists of the top-rated organic mattresses, convenient bed-in-a-box choices, and top cooling mattresses to eliminate your night sweats.

Our Best Mattresses of 2021 Rating

We did the research for you, applying our unbiased methodology to find the top mattresses from our comparison of more than 280 different products. The result is the 26 Best Mattresses of 2021, a list that includes a selection of top-rated mattresses with retail prices starting as low as $499. Our 2021 Best Hybrid Mattress ratings and mattress reviews are based on data and research we conducted in 2020.

Compare the Best Mattresses of 2021

Best Mattresses in Detail

Casper – Wave Hybrid: After launching in 2014, Casper has become one of the leading online mattress brands. It places first in our Best Mattress ratings with its top-of-the-line Wave Hybrid. This is Casper's most expensive mattress, though it also boasts more layers, has more cooling features, and is thicker than the company's other mattresses. The Wave Hybrid has different levels of support, with softer foam under your shoulders and firmer gel pods in the middle of the bed that provides extra support for your lower back. This targeted support is partly why the Wave Hybrid also places No. 1 in our rating of the Best Mattresses for Back Pain. Read more in our Casper mattress review.

Tuft & Needle – Mint Mattress: The Mint Mattress from Tuft & Needle, a new entry in our ratings, ties for first place. This all-foam mattress is comfortable for any sleeping position, according to professional reviews, and is a good match for a wide range of body sizes. It features graphite-infused foam, cooling gel beads, and an adaptive foam that purportedly draws away heat better than memory foam. These effectively keep body heat from building up overnight, so you'll sleep cooler. They also help the Mint Mattress earn the top spot in our ratings of the Best Foam Mattresses and the Best Cooling Mattresses. Read more in our Tuft & Needle mattress review.

Casper – Element: The Casper Element proves that you don't have to spend a lot to get a great mattress. The No. 3 mattress in our ratings is Casper's least expensive mattress, with prices starting around $600 for a queen-size mattress. It has the lowest price of the top 10 best beds in our Best Mattresses of 2021 rating, and it earns first place in our Best Budget Mattress of 2021 rating. The Element's structure is simple, consisting of a layer of breathable foam for pressure relief on top of a layer of denser foam for support. Read more in our Casper mattress review.

Avocado – Green Mattress: The Avocado Green Mattress ties for No. 3 in our Best Mattresses of 2021 rating and is our highest-rated Organic Mattress. It has layers of latex, wool, and cotton, all of which have organic certifications. There are five different zones of pocketed coils, each with a different firmness to provide the right level of support for your shoulders, back, and hips. It comes standard as a medium-firm mattress or you can upgrade it with a pillow-top for a softer bed. With a weight that's below average among hybrid mattresses in our comparison and a set of four sturdy handles, the Avocado Green Mattress earns the No. 1 place in our rating of the Best Mattresses in a Box. Read more in our Avocado mattress review.

Casper – Original: Earning the No. 5 spot in our rating is the Casper Original. Previously called The Casper, the Original comes standard as an all-foam mattress, though you can order it as a hybrid. Side-by-side next to Casper's other all-foam mattress, the Element, the Original is an inch thicker and has an additional layer of memory foam with zoned support. It places No. 1 in both our ratings of the Best Memory Foam Mattresses and the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers. Read more in our Casper mattress review.

Saatva – Loom & Leaf Mattress: The Loom & Leaf Mattress is an all-foam mattress from Saatva that ties for fifth place in our rating. The 12-inch thick mattress has a layer of gel-infused foam, a section of memory foam, and a foam base. This is one of the few mattress brands to offer free white glove delivery, so you don't have to break a sweat to remove your old mattress and set up your new one. The Loom & Leaf Mattress is the No. 1 Best Firm Mattress, though it's also available in a medium-firm feel. Read more in our Saatva mattress review.

Brooklyn Bedding – Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid: Brooklyn Bedding focuses on cooling with its Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid. Tying for No. 5 in our Best Mattress rating, the Aurora hybrid consists of three layers of proprietary foam on top of a layer of coil springs. These foams contain titanium, copper, and cooling gel beads to keep body heat at bay. Even the fabric cover contains materials to help you sleep cooler at night. These features help the Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid earn the No. 2 spot in our rating of the Best Cooling Mattresses. Read more in our Brooklyn Bedding mattress review.

GhostBed – The GhostBed: The GhostBed places No. 8 in our rating. Technically classified as a foam mattress, this 11-inch bed starts with a 1.5-inch layer of latex, which is unusual for this type of mattress. In addition to its inherent capacity to draw heat away from the body better than foam, GhostBed's latex is perforated with small holes, increasing its cooling abilities. Its middle layer consists of 2 inches of gel-infused memory foam. This combination of materials appeals to those that like the motion control and body-conforming support of memory foam but don't want the buildup of body heat, one of foam's key drawbacks. Read more in our GhostBed mattress review.

Birch – Natural Mattress: Also placing at No. 8 is the Birch Natural Mattress. This hybrid includes organic and sustainable materials and is No. 2 in our Best Organic Mattress ratings. The Natural Mattress has a pressure relief layer made with Talalay latex, a sustainable material known for being bouncier and cooler than foam. Organic cotton and natural wool make up the top cover and comfort layers, and underneath the latex is a section of individually wrapped steel coils. Read more in our Birch mattress review.

Awara – Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress: Rounding out the top 10 Best Mattresses and also tying for eighth place is Awara's Organic Luxury Hybrid Mattress. This is one of the few online mattress brands that offers a 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty. Standing at 13 inches, Awara's mattress is one of the thickest in our comparison. Its two main layers include 4 inches of natural Dunlop latex on top of a 9-inch set of pocket coils. However, even though Awara calls this an organic mattress, it's important to note that the company doesn't have any third-party organic certifications for its mattresses. Read more in our Awara mattress review or check out the top Awara discount codes here.

How to Find the Right Mattress for You

You can search for the best mattress for you in several different ways. Where you start is up to you, but there are a few topics every shopper should consider before making a final decision.

Mattress Firmness Levels

Comfort is the most important factor in picking out a new mattress, according to the J.D. Power 2020 Mattress Satisfaction Report. While advanced materials such as copper-infused gels or coil-on-coil construction may attract your attention, nothing is more important to getting a comfortable mattress than selecting the right firmness level for you.

The firmness level, also known as the comfort level or "feel" of the mattress, refers to how much give it has under your body weight. A firm mattress doesn't yield much when you lie on top, creating a "sleep on top" sensation. You'll sink further into a softer mattress with its plush layers enveloping your body to a greater extent.

Firmness levels range from soft to firm and can include in-between levels such as medium-firm. A scale between 1 and 10 can also be used to indicate firmness, with higher numbers signifying a firmer mattress. Some manufacturers provide their own descriptions for comfort level, using "plush" instead of "soft," for example. When possible, we've tried to lessen the confusion by translating these terms into standard firmness levels.

When looking at firmness levels, keep in mind that comfort is subjective. While one person may say a bed is too stiff, another may find the same bed to have the right level of support for their body type. This is an important caveat to keep in mind when looking at mattress reviews from other consumers, and a reminder of why it's best to try a mattress out for yourself when possible.

Not every mattress is available in the full range of comfort feels, and many come in only one choice. Occasionally, you can add a pillow-top layer or other support layers to adjust the firmness level. If your bedmate prefers a different firmness level, look for a split bed, which has different feels on either side.

In general, firmer mattresses are more popular, in part because they can often help alleviate back pain. We list the top choices in our rating below and talk more about what makes a good firm mattress in our guide to the Best Firm Mattresses of 2021.

Mattress Types

Mattresses are separated into different types based on the structure underneath the cover or the specific materials. The four main types are foam, hybrid, latex, and innerspring. Some additional categories, such as organic mattresses, can include more than one different type of mattress in the same category.

Each mattress type has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. The advantage of shopping by type is that you can first learn which ones may work best for you, and then use this information to narrow down your list of possible mattress choices significantly. For example, if you have a restless bedmate that wakes you when they're tossing and turning, you'll want to look for a foam or memory foam mattress and avoid an innerspring mattress.

We explain each mattress type below and, when available, include information on the top mattresses from our ratings for that category.

Mattresses in a Box

Mattresses no longer need to be strapped to the roof of your car to get them home. Foam, latex, and even some hybrid mattresses now can be compressed and squeezed into surprisingly small cardboard boxes. The boxes typically are about 4 feet high, 1.5 feet wide, and 1.5 deep. That's compact enough to fit through a doorway without back-and-forth maneuvering, or to travel home in the backseat of a car or the cargo area of an SUV. You'll want an extra person or two to help move a bed-in-a-box, which can weigh between 65 and 145 pounds for a queen.

Setting up a mattress in a box is quick and easy. Start in the room where the mattress will stay, remove the mattress from the box, and follow the instructions to remove the plastic packaging. The mattress immediately begins to expand_, and most are ready for use within an hour or less. A slight odor is normal and should be gone in a few days.

We analyzed our Best Mattresses of 2021 rating to find ones that are compressed in a box and are easiest to move. Mattresses that contain foam are certified to not include chemicals that can irritate those with sensitive noses. See our rating below, and get more information on the Best Mattresses in a Box of 2021.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Many mattresses have one or more layers of foam, but that foam isn't necessarily memory foam. True memory foam is made of polyurethane and may also be called viscoelastic foam. One of the hallmark qualities of memory foam is that when it comes into contact with your body heat, the material warms and molds itself to your body.

"Memory foam mattresses offer spinal support by forming the shape of the person’s body and distributing the weight evenly," reported Medical News Today. "This can reduce stress on the body and relieve back pain."

One of the biggest disadvantages of memory foam is that this dense material traps body heat, which can leave you feeling overheated and sweaty and may even negatively affect your sleep.

Below is a list of mattresses from our Best Mattresses of 2021 rating that have memory foam. For more information, see our guide to the Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2021.

Foam Mattresses

Foam mattresses are very similar to memory foam mattresses. In fact, there is some overlap between our Best Foam Mattress and Best Memory Foam Mattress ratings. That's because many foam mattresses use memory foam as the top comfort layer. Other mattresses substitute this for a foam that conforms to your body while also encouraging better airflow so you'll sleep cooler at night. If you tend to sleep hot, look for memory foam infused with cooling gel, or try other supportive materials, such as latex.

For more information, see our rating of the Best Foam Mattresses of 2021.