There is no one best memory foam mattress, but rather a best one for you. If you’re looking to upgrade your existing mattress to a memory foam model, here are the most important things to consider:
Sleep Style
How you sleep is arguably the most important factor when shopping for any mattress, including a memory foam option. In our experience, side sleepers, in particular, benefit most by sleeping on memory foam. Lighter sleepers (under 240 pounds) who tend to sleep on their back or stomach may find them comfortable and supportive as well. Heavier sleepers may find they sink too much into a memory foam mattress, especially softer models.
Firmness
The right firmness level is critical to getting a good night’s sleep. It’s entirely up to you, so there is no best firmness level. In general, side sleepers and lighter (weight) sleepers will want to look for softer or plusher mattresses.
Contouring
Contouring refers to how much a mattress foam mattress “hugs” your body. Like firmness, this is a difficult feature to quantify, and there’s no “best” amount. It depends largely on your own weight and preferred sleep position. The only real way to know if a given mattress has the right amount of contouring for you is to sleep on it yourself—another reason why an in-home trial is essential.
Motion Isolation
One of the best features of memory foam mattresses is that they offer significantly better motion isolation than traditional alternatives. This is essential for couples and partners who tend to toss and turn or light sleepers who are especially sensitive to mattress movement. This often goes hand-in-hand with contouring, so beds with better contouring typically isolate motion better, too.
Cooling / Temperature Regulation
Memory foam is notorious for “running hot,” and the problem is worse on more contouring models. This both restricts airflow and traps body heat. Look for a model with built-in cooling features, like a ventilated construction or active cooling fabrics and materials that help whisk away heat and moisture.
Noise
Memory foam is naturally the quietest mattress material. If you’re sensitive to the squeaks and creaks of innerspring mattresses, you’ll the silence of a memory foam option.
Construction
Like all mattresses, memory foam mattresses sag and wear out over time. Cheap, lower-quality models will be significantly less durable, of course, while premium models can last a decade or more. That’s why we recommend buying the best memory foam mattress that you can afford.
Price
There’s no getting around the fact that most midrange to premium memory foam mattresses are pricier than their traditional, innerspring counterparts. That’s why price may be the most important factor for more budget-conscious buyers. But prices vary widely. Decent, middle-of-the-road models can be found for under $1,000, while the best memory foam mattresses can easily top $2,000 or more.
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