Best Foam Mattresses of 2021

The fast-growing foam mattress market has evolved significantly in the last few years, with an abundance of bed-in-a-box retailers selling foam mattresses direct-to-consumer at affordable prices. Innovative foam formulas are enhanced with cooling gels, plant-based materials, copper, graphite, and other human-made and natural ingredients to make the foam cooler, breathable, supportive, and pressure-relieving. This is not the egg-crate memory foam of yesterday.

Foam mattresses are different from spring and latex mattresses for a few reasons. First, foam mattresses can be compressed, rolled, boxed, and shipped to your door. Also, foam conforms to the body to alleviate pressure points better than many other materials. In addition, foam is one of the best materials for reducing motion transfer so a restless partner doesn’t disturb your sleep.

A great foam mattress includes a supportive, open-cell base layer that promotes airflow and a comfort layer that hugs your curves. To keep cooler at night, look for foams with cooling properties and features that wick away moisture and heat.

Our Best Foam Mattresses of 2021 Rating

#1 Tuft & Needle – Mint Mattress
#2 Casper – Element
#3 Casper – Original
#3 Saatva – Loom & Leaf Mattress
#5 GhostBed – The GhostBed
#5 Tuft & Needle – Original Mattress
#5 Purple – The Purple Mattress
#8 Nectar – The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
#8 Bear – Bear Mattress
#8 Leesa – Leesa Original Mattress
#11 Layla – Memory Foam Mattress
#12 Tempur-Pedic – Tempur-Adapt
#12 Tempur-Pedic – Tempur-ProAdapt
#14 Sealy – Cocoon by Sealy Chill
#15 Tempur-Pedic – Tempur-Luxebreeze

Compare the Best Foam Mattresses of 2021

If you’re considering a foam mattress, you have lots of options and the convenience of shopping online from a growing list of foam bed-in-a-box mattress companies. Foam has evolved substantially since the 1960s when NASA researchers developed memory foam seating to protect test pilots during flights. Today, foam mattresses are constructed from multiple layers of foam with different densities and thicknesses. The foam is sometimes enhanced with plant-based materials and cooling gels designed to help you sleep comfortably without getting too hot.

Best Foam Mattresses in Detail

An excellent foam mattress includes a high-density layer that provides breathable support and a cushioning layer with some resilience so you don’t get “stuck” in the mattress. Premium foam mattresses include additional layers for more support or pressure relief. Generally, the more layers of foam, the more you’ll pay for the mattress. Ultimately, what a great foam mattress has that others don’t is a good balance between support and comfort.

Below are some reasons the Best Foam Mattresses of 2021 stand out from the rest.

Tuft & Needle – Mint Mattress: Taking the No. 1 spot in our rating of the Best Foam Mattresses of 2021 is Tuft & Needle’s Mint mattress. The Mint is a step up from Tuft & Needle’s Original mattress, which also makes our rating for 2021. The Mint has three layers of foam, including extra-firm foam around the base for edge support. It also features graphite and ceramic gel beads for cooling, and an adaptive foam that's designed to provide pressure relief and breathability. Read more in our full review of Tuft & Needle mattresses, or check out the top Tuft & Needle promo codes.

Casper – Element: The Casper Element – originally called the Essential – places second on our list. It’s made of two layers of foam: a dense base for support and a perforated top layer to allow for cooling airflow while conforming to your body. At just $595 for a queen, it’s a great choice for those on a budget who like the pressure relief foam provides. Read more in our full review of Casper mattresses, or check out the top Casper coupon codes.

Casper – Original: Another Casper model, the Original, places third in our rating of the Best Foam Mattresses of 2021. The Original is made with three layers of foam. Like the Element, it has a sturdy bottom layer and a cooling top layer, but the Original also contains a middle layer that has three ergonomic zones designed to provide different support along your body to better align your spine. You also have the option of making the Original a hybrid mattress. Read more in our full review of Casper mattresses, or check out the top Casper coupon codes.

Saatva – Loom & Leaf Mattress: Tying for third place is the Loom & Leaf mattress from Saatva. This mattress is 12 inches thick and comprises a 6-inch support base, a 2-inch transition layer, a 3-inch combination layer of the brand’s memory foam mixed with cooling gel, and a quilted cotton cover. With the Loom & Leaf, you can choose your firmness level: medium or firm. Read more in our full review of Saatva mattresses, or check out the top Saatva promo codes.

GhostBed – The GhostBed

Rounding out the top five in our ratings is The GhostBed mattress. It’s a medium-firm mattress made of three layers of foam and measuring 11 inches in height. It has a high-density base, a gel memory foam layer that GhostBed says helps to transfer heat away from the body, a layer of latex foam that’s perforated to further promote airflow, and a top cover made of viscose and polyester. Read more in our full review of GhostBed mattresses, or check out the top GhostBed coupons.

Our Best Budget Foam Mattresses of 2021 Rating

#1 Tuft & Needle – Mint Mattress
#2 Casper – Element
#3 Tuft & Needle – Original Mattress
#4 Bear – Bear Mattress
#4 Leesa – Leesa Original Mattress

The Best Budget Foam Mattresses of 2021

Mattress prices can vary widely, and this is especially true for foam mattresses. In fact, in our rating of the Best Mattresses of 2021, the most expensive mattress and the second least expensive mattress are both foam mattresses. Below we’ve rounded up the best all-foam mattresses with prices starting under $1,000. For information on budget-friendly mattresses of all types, see our rating of the Best Cheap Mattresses.

Tuft & Needle – Mint Mattress: The Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress is not only at the top of our list of the best Budget Foam Mattresses, but it also ties for No. 1 on our list of the Best Mattresses of 2021 overall, proving that a higher price point doesn't necessarily mean a better mattress. With the Mint mattress, you get an upgraded version of Tuft & Needle’s Original Mattress, which also places in our ratings. Prices start at $995 for a queen. Read more in our full review of Tuft & Needle mattresses, or check out the top Tuft & Needle promo codes.

Casper – Element: The Casper Element rates very highly in our lists of the Best Foam Mattresses and the overall Best Mattresses of 2021, and it’s also one of the cheapest mattresses in our ratings. At just $595 for a queen, it’s almost $1,000 less than the average price of the foam mattresses that we compared. Read more in our full review of Casper mattresses, or check out the top Casper coupon codes.

Tuft & Needle – Original Mattress: The Mint Mattress from Tuft & Needle might take more No. 1 slots than its predecessor, but the Original isn't far behind. This simple but comfortable foam mattress is great for people looking for medium-firm support and some cooling features at a below-average price. The Tuft & Needle Original Mattress costs $595 for a queen. Read more in our full review of Tuft & Needle mattresses, or check out the top Tuft & Needle promo codes.

Bear – Bear Mattress: The Bear Mattress is, like many all-foam mattresses, composed of a high-density base layer, a transition layer, and a cooling and responsive foam top layer. With Bear, you also get features geared towards athletes and other people with active lifestyles. Bear utilizes Celliant technology in its mattress covers, which the company says aids in physical recovery and improves energy. At $800 for a queen, the Bear Mattress is also good for anyone on a budget, regardless of your activity level. Read more in our Bear review, or check out the top Bear mattresses discount codes.

Leesa – Leesa Original Mattress: The Leesa Original Mattress retails for $999 for a queen. It’s composed of three foam layers: a supportive base, a memory foam middle layer for pressure relief, and a breathable top layer. It’s an all-around solid foam mattress with a lower-than-average price. Read more in our Leesa review, or check out the top Leesa discount codes.

Materials in Foam Mattresses

Foam mattresses are constructed with layers of foam. They don't contain springs or pocketed coils like innerspring mattresses or the newer hybrid mattresses. Foam mattress companies use different types of foam, including:

Open-Cell, Flexible Polyurethane Foam

This foam has an open-cell structure that compresses while still providing some resilience, rebounding when you remove weight. It alleviates pressure points, supports the spine, and promotes better airflow than other foams to keep you cool while you sleep.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is made from viscoelastic (or visco) foam, which is a high-density polyurethane foam that serves as a support system. Memory foam responds to temperature and pressure. When you lay on top of memory foam, your body heat and weight trigger it to conform to your curves.

Memory foam mattresses aren't made purely of viscoelastic foam because they’d be so soft you’d get stuck. That's why memory foam mattresses incorporate other foam layers, including open-cell polyurethane foam and transition foams that might contain gels or plant-based materials. For more information, see our Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2021 guide.

Specialty Foam

This is a general term referring to foams that contain other materials like cooling gels or plant-based ingredients. Many foam bed manufacturers produce their own specialty foams designed to enhance comfort, wick away moisture, absorb heat, and improve support.

Foam Mattress Firmness Levels

While all-foam mattresses are known for the way they conform to your body’s shape and provide pressure relief, firmness levels range from soft to firm. Most foam mattresses are medium or medium-firm to provide a combination of lumbar support and conforming comfort. Foam mattresses have little, if any, bounce.

Density, firmness, and resiliency determine how a foam bed feels. The Polyurethane Foam Association (PFA) says that firmness is measured using the force in pounds required to indent a foam sample by 25% of its original height.

Firmness and density aren't the same. However, higher-density foams are often firmer. Resilience is a springy feel and is gauged by dropping a steel ball onto the foam and measuring the rebound height. Foam resilience ranges from 20% to 80% rebound, according to the PFA.

Sleeping Positions on a Foam Mattress

Foam mattresses can be great for any type of sleeper when you match the firmness level to your sleeping position. Back sleepers on a firm or medium-firm foam mattress get a stable surface plus the conforming nature of foam to support the lower back. Stomach sleepers benefit from the support of a firm mattress. Side sleepers do best with a softer foam mattress to alleviate pressure on the hips and shoulders.

Foam Mattresses and Box Springs

You don't need a box spring with a memory foam mattress, and some foam bed-in-a-box companies warn against using one because box springs don't provide enough support for this type of mattress. Instead, most companies suggest using a bed frame with a foundation, an adjustable base, or a platform bed with slats that are no more than 5 inches apart. While today’s foam mattresses are designed to better regulate temperature, some people like to use bedding (such as sheets or mattress protectors) that wick away moisture or have other cooling properties to further dissipate heat.

What's Better: Foam vs. Spring Mattresses

Foam mattresses are typically made from several layers of foam, including a base support layer, a transition layer of breathable foam, and a top comfort layer that conforms to your curves and relieves pressure on the hips and shoulders. There's little, if any, bounce to a foam mattress. In fact, foam’s ability to stop motion transfer is a selling point for some sleepers. With foam, you tend to sink more into the mattress.

Innerspring mattresses are known for a “sleep-on-top” resilient feeling. Individually pocketed coils can reduce motion transfer, but not as much as a foam mattress. Spring mattresses are naturally breathable because of their coil construction, so sleeping hot is not generally an issue. In comparison, foam has the least airflow capability of all mattress types. That's why foam mattress companies infuse foams with cooling gels or materials like graphite that naturally absorb and move heat away from the body. Open-cell foam also promotes breathability.

If you want a mattress that molds to your shape and doesn't move when you or a bed partner switch sleeping positions, a foam mattress is a good pick because of its combination of support, pressure relief, and reduced motion transfer. If you want a mattress that has some bounce, is breathable, and offers support for all types of sleepers, then try an innerspring bed, as it’s been a longtime popular choice for these reasons.

To find the best foam mattress, look for one that includes different foam layers and has features like cooling gel memory foam or materials designed to wick away moisture and heat. To find the best spring mattress, look for one with individually pocketed coils that reduce motion transfer, and consider a pillow top if you’re a side sleeper who needs more conforming comfort. See more information and links to full reviews in our guide of the Best Spring Mattresses of 2021.

Note that the above price range is calculated by evaluating all the products in our profiles, not just the products included in our Best Overall Mattress of 2021 list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Foam Mattress Cost?

Foam mattresses prices vary widely, from as little as $140 to more than $4000 for a queen size. A higher price doesn't necessarily mean a better mattress, though. For example, the Casper Element retails for $595 for a queen, one of the lowest-priced mattresses in our Best Mattresses of 2021 rating. It also places third overall, way ahead of the most expensive mattress on our list, the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Luxebreeze at No. 26, which costs $4,699 for a queen. As with all mattresses, foam mattress prices also vary based on size. For example, a twin-size Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress costs $595 while a California King costs $1,145.

If you want to keep your budget to a minimum while still getting a quality mattress, try comparing models within brands. For example, the Casper Original is an all-foam mattress that costs $1,095 for a queen. The Casper Element is also an all-foam mattress, but it costs $595.

Are Foam Mattresses Hot?

Foam mattresses provide less airflow than innerspring and hybrid mattresses, so they tend to trap heat and can be warmer to sleep on. However, if you're worried about sleeping hot, a foam mattress might still work for you, in part because modern foam mattresses are better than yesterday's models at promoting airflow.

Moreover, the top foam mattresses incorporate a number of different cooling technologies, including materials such as plant-based products, gel pods, and ceramic cooling beads. It’s also common for the foam layers to be infused with graphite, copper, or cooling gels. These materials lower sleeping temperatures by absorbing and dissipating body heat. In addition, foam mattress covers are often constructed from heat-wicking materials or naturally breathable fibers like cotton and wool. Sleepers who want an additional chill factor can use a cooling mattress topper or purchase sheets made from percale or sateen.

How to Buy a Foam Mattress

While it’s ideal to try a mattress before you buy it, this isn’t always possible, as many companies only sell online. The good news is that most foam bed-in-a-box companies make it fairly easy to test a new mattress risk-free in your own home after ordering. The best companies offer sleep trials of 100 nights or more, which lets you try out your new foam bed to make sure it’s comfortable. If you decide that the mattress isn’t just right, companies usually allow a free return. So, if you’re buying a mattress-in-a-box, be sure the manufacturer offers an adequate sleep trial.

If you're shopping for a foam mattress in-store, the Better Sleep Council suggests spending at least 15 minutes on a mattress performing its S.L.E.E.P. test:

S – Select a mattress.

L – Lie down in your typical sleep position.

E – Evaluate the level of comfort and support.

E – Educate yourself about each selection.

P – Partners should test beds together.

Here are some additional considerations to keep in mind when you buy a foam mattress:

How to Dispose Of a Foam Mattress

Here's some advice for responsibly disposing of a foam mattress.

How to Return a Foam Mattress

What Size Is a Foam Mattress?

Foam mattress sizes vary, but a queen-size mattress is typically 60 inches wide and 80 inches long. The height of the mattress ranges from around 10 to 14 inches, and it may be higher if you add a pillow top. For more information, see our guide to Mattress Sizes and Mattress Dimensions.

How Heavy Is a Foam Mattress?

A queen-size foam mattress can weigh from about 60 to 120 pounds, depending on the brand you purchase. The Bear all-foam mattress is on the lighter side, weighing 50 pounds for a twin, 60 pounds for a full, 70 pounds for a queen, and 90 pounds for a king or California king. Weight is especially important if you’re planning on receiving and setting up your mattress by yourself. Many companies offer white-glove delivery, but some don’t and others charge an additional fee. For more information, see our guide to the Best Mattresses in a Box.

Other Mattress Types to Consider

If you’re shopping for a foam mattress, you might also consider a hybrid that includes foam and pocketed springs to add more bounce and a lighter “sleep on top” feel that you won’t get with an all-foam mattress. Also, hybrid innerspring-foam mattresses tend to encourage more airflow. As you research different mattress types to find the best one for you, check out these Best Mattress ratings in a range of categories:

Reviewed Mattresses

Our 360 Methodology for Evaluating Mattresses

The following describes our 360 approach to researching and analyzing mattresses to provide guidance to prospective buyers.

1. We researched the brands and products people care most about.

U.S. News analyzed and compared publicly available internet search data to determine which brands of mattresses consumers are most interested in. We found 62 mattress companies that stand out in terms of volume of searches and research among consumers. Once we identified these brands, we reviewed manufacturer data to determine every make and model of mattresses made by the brand at the time of publication.

For mattresses, we evaluated each company’s product lines, which is a step deeper than brands but a step above individual products. The mattress market is fragmented, with several products considered a part of each product line. Often, the difference between products varies slightly, whether it’s in size or with ancillary features. We felt that products within the same product line had enough in common that aggregating the collection was the most useful way to evaluate mattresses. Further, featuring product lines allowed us to aggregate more data points with a focus on consumer reviews than if we were to investigate individual products.

Because product lines tend to launch or discontinue often, U.S. News made the best effort to review active and available product lines as of the date of publication.

2. We created objective 360 Overall Ratings based on our analysis of third-party reviews.

Our scoring methodology is based on a composite analysis of the ratings and reviews published by credible third-party professional and consumer review sources. The ratings are not based on the personal opinions, tests, or experiences of U.S. News. To calculate the ratings:

(a) We compiled two types of third-party reviews and ratings:

· Professional Ratings and Reviews. Many independent mattress industry sources have published their assessments of mattresses on the web. We consider several of these third-party reviews to be reputable and well-researched. However, professional reviewers often make recommendations that contradict one another. Rather than relying on a single source, U.S. News believes consumers benefit most when these opinions and recommendations are all considered and analyzed with an objective, consensus-based methodology.

· Consumer Ratings and Reviews. U.S. News also reviewed published consumer ratings and reviews of mattresses. Sources with a sufficient number of quality consumer reviews ratings were included in our scoring model.

***Please note that not all professional and consumer rating sources met our criteria for objectivity. Therefore, some sources were excluded from our model.

(b) We standardized the inputs to create a common scale.

The third-party review source data was collected in a variety of forms, including ratings, recommendations, and accolades. Before including each third-party data point into our scoring equation, we had to standardize it so that it could be compared on an apples-to-apples basis with data points from other review sources. We used the scoring methodology described below to convert these systems to a comparable scale.

The 360 scoring process first converted each third-party rating into a common 0 to 5 scale. To balance the distribution of scores within each source’s scale, we used a standard deviation (or Z-Score) calculation to determine how each mattress that a source rated was scored in comparison to the source’s mean score. We then used the Z-Score to create a standardized U.S. News score using the method outlined below:

(c) We calculated the 360 Overall Score based on a weighted-average model.

We assigned “source weights” to each source used in the consensus scoring model based on our assessment of how much the source is trusted and recognized by consumers and how much its published review process indicates that it is both comprehensive and editorially independent. The source weights are assigned on a 1-5 scale. Any source with an assigned weight less than 2 was excluded from the consensus scoring model.

Finally, we combined the converted third-party data points using a weighted average formula based on source weight. This formula calculated the consensus score for each mattress product line, which we call the 360 Overall Rating.

Firmness is an important factor for many consumers, but unfortunately, there is no objective standard for what is considered “firm,” “soft,” or anything in between. Where possible, we used manufacturers' assessments for firmness ratings and standardized it to a five-point scale. Where such information was unavailable, we omitted any mention of firmness relative to a mattress and excluded that product from certain sub-categories that depend upon firmness.

Mattress type is another important factor for many consumers. We considered four options for mattress type: innerspring, foam, latex, and hybrid. “Hybrid” mattresses are growing in popularity, but there is no objective standard for what they consist of. In some cases, manufacturers will label a mattress as a hybrid when it is actually a standard innerspring mattress with a thin layer of extra material added to the top. Our standard for what counts as a hybrid is a mattress with more than 33% of its height composed of a non-primary material. For instance, if a mattress is 12 inches deep and consists of 7 inches of innerspring and 5 inches of foam, we would consider the foam to be a non-primary material. We then would calculate that 41.7% of the mattress depth consists of a non-primary material, which would meet our standard of a hybrid mattress.

Another important factor for some consumers is whether a mattress is cooling or not. A cooling mattress has one or more layers manufactured from a material designed to lower body temperature or wick away moisture and/or heat. The best cooling mattresses will contain a cooling top layer along with secondary layers that contain a gel or are infused with an element such as copper or graphite which have high thermal conductivity.

An organic mattress is made of natural and organic raw materials. To be considered organic the material must be grown or farmed in accordance with specific guidelines and must not contain petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, nor synthetic products. The raw materials may not be explicitly certified to be organic certified however, the processed raw materials may have a certification

A mattress is to be considered as a memory foam mattress when use of conforming viscoelastic foam is made. Memory foam softens and conforms to the body in response to temperature and weight.

A mattress-in-a-box is a mattress that is delivered compressed in a box and then expands to its full size.

A mattress for people with back pain should provide medium-firm support or firmness score between 6.5 - 7.5. Additionally, the mattress should have zoned support or other targeted features that support the back

A mattress for side sleepers is one with a firmness rating of soft or medium, or between 0 - 6, and uses material that conforms to the body shape, such as memory foam.

All of the data used in our mattress ratings were accurate as of August 15, 2020.