The Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2025

The best memory foam mattresses deliver outstanding pressure relief and body contouring, ensuring proper spinal alignment and quality sleep. Memory foam’s supportive properties and responsive feel make it a top contender for those seeking the best mattress.

After meticulous research into foam mattresses — including expert consultations, hands-on testing of over 20 all-foam models, and a facility tour — our testing identified the Tempur-Pedic Cloud as the best. This impressive mattress effectively minimizes motion transfer, offers responsive contouring for sleepers in any position, and dissipates heat well.

For value-conscious folks, the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress is a compelling choice under $700 with a lengthy year-long sleep trial and forever warranty. This versatile mattress conforms to the contours of your body to relieve pressure, making it a great option for people with back pain, too, but it’s could be better at heat dissipation.

Find out more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

Our top picks for the best memory foam mattresses

Best overall: Tempur-Pedic Cloud Mattress – See at Tempur-Pedic

Best budget: Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress – See at Amazon

Best for back pain: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress – See at Nectar

Best for back sleepers: Bear Original Mattress – See at Bear

Best for stomach sleepers: Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Firm – See at Tempur-Pedic

Best cooling: Casper The One – See at Casper

Best for couples: GhostBed Luxe – See at GhostBed

Best firm: Plank Mattress – See at Brooklyn Bedding

Best overall

The Tempur-Pedic Cloud Mattress one of the most comfortable beds I’ve tested. Each night, I was asleep within minutes and awoke refreshed.

As a side sleeper, I appreciated the way the Tempur material contoured to my body, supplying pressure relief and allowing me to fall asleep within minutes. This made it my choice as the best foam mattress for side sleepers. However, its medium firmness also accommodated my wife’s back-sleeping, proving versatile enough for couples with different sleep preferences.

The $2,000 Tempur-Cloud features three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam topped with a breathable, moisture-wicking cover. The top two layers are made of Tempur-Pedic’s proprietary foam, popular for its ability to contour to your body for support. The base layer of foam is designed for durability and support.

The Cloud does an outstanding job of dissipating heat, earning it a spot as top memory foam pick in our guide to the best cooling mattress. I stayed cool while testing it. I also appreciated the motion-dampening properties. I barely noticed my kid jumping on the bed while lying on it, and it passed our bowling ball test, where I dropped a bowling ball near a soda can to see if it caused it to fall over. The only negative is the mattress’s poor edge support. I felt like I would fall off when lying on the edge, which sank significantly when I sat on the side.

Read our full Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Mattress review and Tempur-Pedic mattress hub.

Best budget

If you have flexible comfort preferences, the Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress is a budget-friendly solution. The sub-$400 bed doesn’t have the comfort of mattresses that cost three times as much, but it still features excellent cooling properties, thanks to the inclusion of gel memory foam. The Zinus was one of the top performers in our cooling tests.

The foam did an OK job adjusting to my body’s contours, but it didn’t feel as supportive or dynamic as pricier beds. I’d recommend skipping the Zinus mattress if you are prone to joint pain or muscle soreness. While lying on it, I had difficulty keeping my spine aligned. I had to shift positions between my back, stomach, and side throughout the night to ward off stiffness. 

I tested the 12-inch-thick mattress, but it comes in 6-, 8-, and 10-inch thicknesses. I’ve found that beds thinner than 10 inches don’t provide enough support, so I’d caution against buying the thinner models. If you share a bed with someone, you will appreciate the good motion isolation and edge support.

If the Zinus Green Tea isn’t available, or you’re looking for more budget-friendly alternatives, check out our best cheap mattress guide. 

Best for back pain

Due to its medium firmness, the Nectar mattress will benefit most side sleepers. Some back and stomach sleepers may also find it firm enough. My back remained pain-free during testing, and I primarily slept on my side.

The Nectar’s cooling cover is made of a poly blend with cooling fibers. The bed’s three layers are made of CertiPUR-US-certified foams: gel memory foam on top, a pressure-relieving, adaptive-response transition layer, and a supportive foam base layer. While I often overheat at night, I stayed mostly cool on the Nectar, but there were some nights that I felt warmer. It also dissipated heat slower than some other beds.

The motion isolation is impressive, a plus for couples. However, the subpar edge support is a downside. Whether I was lying down or sitting on the edge, it sank significantly. However, at under $700, it’s one of the best mattresses under $1,000 and a supportive, contouring solution if you struggle with back pain.

Read our full Nectar Mattress review and guide to the best mattresses for back pain.

Best for back sleepers

I usually recommend one of the best hybrid mattresses to people who sleep on their back (Helix Dusk Luxe) because the coils add the firm support needed to keep your spine aligned. Memory foam tends to sink in too much. However, the firmness of the Bear Original Mattress is ideal for back sleeping. While sleeping on it, my Garmin smartwatch sleep numbers (REM, deep, overall sleep) were terrific. I awoke feeling great.

The $700 Bear Original is GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified. Its three foam layers are covered by a breathable material called Celliant, known for dissipating heat. The top foam layer uses graphite-gel memory foam designed to help you stay cool. Next is a responsive foam layer balancing support and pressure point relief. And the base is high-density foam for durability.

The cooling materials performed well during my testing. While the mattress got hotter than most others I tested, it also dissipated the heat quickly, showing one of the largest temperature drops in my tests.

The edge support was also pretty good. I didn’t sink much when sitting on the side, but it did exhibit significant give when I lay on the edge. The motion isolation was among the worst I’ve tested, and the bed failed the bowling ball test and had high vibration meter readings.

Check out our guide to the best mattresses for back sleepers.

Best for stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers face unique challenges when searching for foam mattresses that offer adequate support. Despite common misconceptions about excessive sinkage in foam models, high-density alternatives like the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt provide super support while keeping the contouring benefits that foam is known for.

The ProAdapt has four firmness configurations — Soft, Medium, Medium Hybrid, and Firm. The Firm delivers optimal support for dedicated stomach sleepers, utilizing the high-density foam to align your spine. The surface offers strategic contouring that elevates the lower back and hips — crucial areas for stomach sleepers.

Incorporating NASA-derived technology, Tempur-Pedic’s proprietary Tempur-Material supplies 20% enhanced pressure relief compared to standard memory foam. This specialized formulation creates a more motion-absorbing, durable, and conforming sleep surface — especially beneficial for stomach sleepers who often experience increased pressure on muscles and joints due to their sleep positions.

As expected from premium foam mattresses, the ProAdapt excels in motion isolation, allowing partners to move freely without disturbing each other. While the Medium-Hybrid version offers superior edge support due to its hybrid construction, even the Firm model demonstrated minimal edge compression during our testing.

Addressing a common foam concern — overheating — the ProAdapt features perforated foam layers that enhance breathability and airflow. Consumer feedback shows mixed results regarding temperature regulation, though our assessment indicates the bed dissipates heat well compared to traditional memory foam models.

At its luxury price point, the ProAdapt is a significant investment. The relatively short 90-night trial period and potential return shipping fees are notable limitations. However, the included white-glove delivery and in-home setup add meaningful value.

Read our Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt mattress review and guide to the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Best cooling

Casper’s The One is made with airy, breathable memory foam, making it one of the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers. It has excellent heat dissipation, along with phenomenal motion isolation.

Reviews contributor Alex Temblador tested the Casper One, and she was impressed how comfortably she slept during a hot Texas summer. She observed that the mattress temperature started at 77 degrees, then rose to 83 degrees immediately after she had laid down. Within two minutes, the temperature had dropped back down to 78 degrees. Not only does the mattress stay relatively cool while lying on it, but it also wicks heat away, too.

The Casper One is advertised as medium-firm, but our tester found the feel was firmer than she expected, rating it as a 7.5 out of 10. The firm feel is best suited for stomach sleepers and back sleepers, since side sleepers will prefer a plusher mattress.

In addition to the heat dissipation, the Casper One has fantastic motion isolation, making it a good option for couples searching for a cooling memory foam mattress. Temblador did note that the edge support was lacking, with the edge of the mattress sinking considerably when she sat on it.

Read our Casper The One mattress review for more details.

Best for couples

When assessing whether a mattress is right for couples, I look at the edge support (how supportive a bed is at its peripheries) and motion isolation (how well it keeps you undisturbed as your partner moves in the night). The GhostBed Luxe memory foam mattress has excellent edge support and motion isolation.

From top to bottom, it features a quilted cover, gel memory foam, and a cooling fabric, all designed to reduce overheating. Next is another fabric layer meant to pull heat away from the body. Another gel memory foam layer follows that, then a foam comfort layer that lends bounce, and finally, a thick base foam layer for durability and support. While GhostBed markets the Luxe as a great cooling bed, it was just in the middle of the pack in our tests.

The mattress failed our bowling ball motion isolation test. However, I also put it through a more realistic test using a vibrometer to measure the vibrations on one side of the mattress while I dropped the bowling ball on the other. The GhostBed Luxe was among the best of the 70 mattresses I’ve put through this test. While lying on the bed, I wasn’t jostled as my partner moved around. I felt comfortable on my stomach, side, and back, suggesting it would appeal to a broad range of sleepers.

Check out our best mattress for couples guide.

Best firm

The Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress is an innovative option for those seeking incredible firmness from a foam mattress, especially benefiting stomach sleepers and back pain sufferers.

With a design inspired by Japanese tatami mats, The Plank intrigued Business Insider Reviews’ Owen Burke. He decided to test it after years of finding traditional “firm” beds inadequate, often opting to lie on the floor for back relief instead. He found it surpassed other bed-in-a-box options for motion isolation and support.

The flippable Plank features two alternatives: firm (8/10) and ultra-firm (10/10), making it one of the most unyielding mattresses available. Its construction features 2 inches of responsive support foam and a 6-inch high-density base foam for stability. An optional GlacioTex cooling cover supplies extra temperature regulation. Brooklyn Bedding offers a 120-night trial with a $99 return fee and an impressive lifetime warranty.

The Plank isn’t for everyone. Side sleepers, who comprise the majority of sleepers, may find it uncomfortably firm, particularly around the shoulders, hips, and other pressure points.

Still, the Plank is worth considering if you struggle to find sufficient support in a traditional mattress or suffer from back pain. However, it’s best suited for dedicated firm-mattress enthusiasts rather than rentals or guest rooms.

Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress review.

What to look for in a memory foam mattress

A mattress may be ideal for 99% of sleepers but awful for you. One of your top considerations should be a long home trial. This allows you to try the mattress at home for several nights without committing to it.

Mark Goetting, MD, a board-certified sleep medicine specialist at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, suggests lying on the mattress as long as possible in a showroom before buying it. 

If you don’t know where to start shopping for a bed or feel uncomfortable in a showroom, here are a few tips for choosing a mattress based on how you sleep.

Side sleepers: Most people sleep on their side, and fortunately, “side sleepers find memory foam to be great because of the way it contours to the spine and creates neutral alignment,” said Derek Hales, founder of the mattress review site NapLab. A softer-than-average mattress will let side sleepers sink in, helping them achieve spinal alignment. Zoned support is also helpful for side sleepers who need increased pressure-point relief to keep their spine aligned.

Back sleepers: Back sleepers don’t want to sink in as much as side sleepers, so a medium-firm mattress is better. When you’re lying flat, it will keep your back closer to neutral.

Stomach sleepers: Goetting said a firm mattress is important because stomach sleepers must rotate their head to breathe, leaving the spine out of alignment. Coupling this with a pillow that causes your head to flex backward makes you more prone to restless sleep and neck pain. A firm mattress reduces the degree to which your head flexes backward. The experts I’ve talked to recommend avoiding sleeping on your stomach if you can.

For more buying advice, check out our guide on how to choose a mattress. 

How we test memory foam mattresses

In addition to Goetting and Hales, I talked to Marilyn Li, MD, an allergist at the University of Southern California, and Tamara Huff, MD, a Georgia-based board-certified orthopedic surgeon and health disparities advocate.

The most important factors to consider when shopping for a memory foam mattress are comfort, breathability (heat dissipation), motion transfer, and return policy.

Here are some of the test results for the main attributes we tested:

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Comfort: Each morning, I note how comfortable I was on the mattress the night before, what sleep position I gravitated toward, and if and where I felt any pain. I also use my smart watch to track my REM, deep, and overall sleep. 

Motion transfer: Also called motion isolation, motion transfer is measured using the bowling ball test. I drop a 15-pound bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress so that it lands 12 inches from a soda can. If the can falls over, the motion isolation is poor. If it stays upright, the bed does a good job of dampening motion. I also take a vibration meter reading from the opposite side of the bed from the bowling ball drop. Lastly, I note my subjective experience as others move around on the mattress while I’m lying on it.

Trial and warranty: The mattresses in this guide have a trial period of at least 90 nights. That should be long enough to tell if a bed is right for you. I read the fine print of the return policy to see if any fees are associated with returning the bed. I also note the warranty length. Our picks have warranties of at least 10 years, about how long you should expect your mattress to last.

Heat dissipation: I use a laser thermometer to measure the mattress’s surface temperature before bed. Then, first thing each morning, I measure the temperature again. Two minutes later, I take another reading. Comparing the first measurement to the second one tells me how cool the mattress stays. When I compare the second and third measurements, I see how well the heat dissipates. 

Edge support: Good edge support is helpful whether you are lying or sitting on the side of your bed. You want to feel supported. To test edge support, I lie on the edge of the bed and slowly roll off. I note the approximate angle of my body at the moment I fall. The closer I get to perpendicular, the better the edge support. I also sit on the side and measure how much the edge sinks. On average, mattresses sink about 3.5 inches. 

Setup: I set up the mattresses myself (unless there’s free in-home setup). I note how long it takes me, any unusual steps, whether there’s an initial odor and whether it dissipates by bedtime, and whether the mattress comes with directions or tools. Most mattresses take 5 to 10 minutes to set up but require several hours to expand fully. I strongly recommend getting help setting up your mattress. 

Learn more about how we test mattresses. 

Memory foam mattress FAQs

Do memory foam mattresses get hot?

“Early memory foam would absorb heat and get warmer over time,” said Hales. “But as memory foam has developed over the years, heat has become less of an issue.” Hales noted that even the best all-foam mattresses will run hotter than hybrid mattresses designed for airflow and breathability. I’ve found that hybrid mattresses are generally cooler than all-foam mattresses, but some outliers, including our top pick, the Tempur-Cloud, tend to stay cool.

How much does a memory foam mattress cost?

Our picks range in price from $295 to $4,000. You should expect to spend at least $1,000 for a high-quality, all-foam mattress but can get away with paying less if you don’t mind a bed that sleeps hot or has poor pressure relief or support. Foam beds tend to cost less than other mattress styles, but they lack the durability and support provided by the coils found in hybrid mattresses.

Are memory foam mattresses more likely to cause allergic reactions?

According to Li, dust mites are the main source of allergic reactions to bedding. She pointed to a study that found 5% to 30% of the general population is reactive to dust mites. Li suggested covering your mattress with a mattress protector to ward off dust mites. Formaldehyde is another source of allergic reactions to bedding that Li sees. Formaldehyde is used as a preservative in some mattresses. Look for beds with CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certifications if you are sensitive to formaldehyde.

Do I need a box spring or foundation with a memory foam mattress?

No. Memory foam mattresses require a solid or slatted foundation. If you choose a slatted foundation, ensure the slats are no more than 2.5 inches apart. If they are, add a bunkie board or extra slats. Placing your mattress directly on the floor is also an option.