The 5 Best Mattresses to Buy Online in 2020

You have great options to find the best mattresses to buy online.

Whether you’re looking for a smart mattress, a mattress that will alleviate joint pain, or the most comfortable mattress you’ve ever slept on, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a buying guide to compare the best mattresses and help you know what to look for in your mattress purchases.

Best Overall Mattress: Nectar

Nectar

In our opinion, Nectar offers the best foam mattress you can buy online.  Founded in 2014, the company describes its mattresses as “designed for better sleep.”  Nectar’s mattresses have four layers of foam, each designed to suit a different need. In addition, nectar provides plush yet firm support and keeps you cool throughout the night.  This makes Nectar a top choice as best mattresses to buy online.

Read our full Nectar review to learn more.

Nectar Pros

• 365-day sleep trial: Nectar allows you one full year to make up your mind about whether to keep or return your mattress.  This is the best mattresses Sleep trial.
• Everlong Warranty: Nectar has an Everlong Warranty that guarantees the quality, materials, construction, and durability of your mattress.
• Free shipping and returns: When you buy a mattress from Nectar, it ships free (as long as it is not going to Hawaii or Alaska). If you decide to return your Nectar mattress, you can do so free of charge.
• Perfect for hot sleepers: Nectar mattresses have a medical-grade cooling system to help you avoid getting too hot at night.
• Support: Nectar provides plush yet firm support.
• White-Glove service: Nectar provides an optional white-glove service for removing your old existing mattress.

Nectar Cons

• Cooling system: Nectar has an excellent cooling system. However, foam mattresses are not as cool as hybrid mattresses. If you sleep hot, you may want to check out a hybrid or coil-on-coil mattress.
• Limited free shipping: Nectar provides free shipping to 48 states.  Unfortunately, Hawaii and Alaska are not included.
• One Level of Firmness: Nectar does not allow you to customize the firmness. Thus, if you are very particular about wanting either a super-soft or super-firm mattress, Nectar may not be the best mattresses to buy online for you.

Best Mattress for Back Pain: Leesa

Leesa

Leesa offers two mattress options, a foam mattress (The Leesa Mattress) and a hybrid mattress (The Sapira Mattress).

If you have back pain, the Leesa mattress will be your best mattresses to buy online. It’s a foam mattress that contours to your body shape.

Don’t like foam mattresses? Try the Sapira, a hybrid mattress that combines the support of original Leesa foam with spring coils to provide even more support.

Leesa differentiates itself from competitors thanks to two key reasons. The first is its social impact program. Leesa will donate one mattress for every ten sold and to date has donated more than 30,000 mattresses to 1,000+ non-profit organizations.

The second key differentiator is the ease of which you can try a Leesa mattress before purchase. Leesa has two brick-and-mortar showrooms (one in New York and one in Virginia Beach) where interested parties can test the mattresses.

It also partners with furniture stores West Elm and Pottery Barn. The stores use Leesa mattresses to showcase their bed frame. If you’re not near NYC or Virginia beach, you can go to a nearby West Elm or Pottery Barn to check out the Leesa mattress.

Our full Leesa review has more details.

Leesa Pros

• 10-year warranty: Leesa has a 10-year warranty on its mattresses. The company will repair or replace your mattress free of charge during that timeframe.
• Brick and mortar partnership: Leesa partners with Pottery Barn and West Elm. The stores have Leesa mattresses so that you can try out a mattress before you purchase. Call your local store to see if they offer this service.
• Charity component: The company donates one mattress for every ten sold.
• Cooling foam: Both Leesa mattresses feature a 1.5″ layer of Avena foam, which helps keep you from overheating during the night.
• Free shipping and returns: If you purchase a Leesa mattress, you won’t have to worry about paying for shipping or returns as long as you live in the U.S. or Canada.
• Lightweight materials: These mattresses don’t weigh a ton, making them easy to move if necessary.
• Motion isolation: Leesa mattresses have strong motion isolation, which means you won’t feel it if your partner tosses and turns.
• Sleep trial: Leesa offers a 120-night sleep trial. This means you can test the mattress for almost four months. During that time, you can send it back for a full refund.
• Two mattress options: Leesa has two mattresses: a hybrid and a foam mattress.
• White glove service: Leesa provides the option for white-glove delivery for a small fee.

Leesa Cons

• One firmness level: Leesa offers only one level of firmness in its mattresses. Most people like the firmness level offered by Leesa, but if you want a super firm or soft mattress, Leesa may not be the best mattresses to buy online for you.
• White-glove delivery: Some mattress companies provide free white-glove delivery. Leesa charges a small fee. It’s also not available in all areas.

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Puffy

Puffy Mattress

American-made Puffy mattress describes itself as “America’s most comfortable mattress.” Even Ellen DeGeneres agrees, saying “it keeps you cool with its special memory foam.”  In addition, Puffy mattress offers two types of memory foam mattresses: the Puffy and the Puffy Lux:

• The Puffy is a three-layer memory foam mattress that stands 10″ tall.
• The Puffy Lux is a four-layer memory foam mattress that stands 12″ tall.

The fabric is stain-resistant, and the mattress has a zip-and-wash cover. If you’re looking for a quality memory foam mattress that offers cooling properties, we highly recommend you check out a Puffy mattress.

Mattresses rate between 5-7 on a firmness scale and come directly to your door at no extra charge.

What’s more? There’s a 101-night sleep trial! This means you have more than three months to sleep on your mattress before you decide whether or not to keep it. If it’s not the right mattress for you, you can return it free of charge for a full refund.

It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty!

Puffy Mattress Pros

• 101-night sleep trial: It takes a while to get used to a new mattress. That’s why Puffy gives you over three months to try the mattress and make a decision whether or not to keep it.
• Charitable component: Puffy partners with #jumpforkids, a charity that donates mattresses to children in need.
• Cooling elements: Most memory foam mattresses sleep hot, but Puffy’s technology draws heat out of the mattress and away from your body to keep you cool.
• Firmness levels: Puffy rates somewhere between a 5-7 on the firmness scale. It’s not too hard or too soft. It’s perfect for side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers.
• Free shipping: Buy a mattress from a physical retailer? You’ll likely pay for delivery. Buy it from Puffy? It ships for free
• Lifetime warranty: Most mattresses companies offer a warranty for several years, but Puffy is guaranteed for life.
• Two mattress options: The Puffy is a more affordable option, and the Puffy Lux is slightly more expensive.
• Zip-off cover: Puffy mattresses have a zippered cover, which you can remove and put in a washing machine.

Puffy Mattress Cons

• Limited firmness: Puffy only offers once firmness level. Most people are happy with Puffy’s signature firmness, but if you like a mattress that’s particularly firm or soft, Puffy might not be the best mattresses to buy online for you.

Best Hybrid Mattress: DreamCloud

DreamCloud

The DreamCloud mattress is a hybrid mattress. While most mattresses have coil-on-coil construction or foam, DreamCloud is a mix.

It has eight layers: a mix of latex, memory foam, cooling gel, a hand-tufted cashmere-blend, proprietary coil technology, and a Euro top for additional comfort.

Read our full DreamCloud review for more information.

DreamCloud Pros

• 365-day sleep trial: This is the best sleep trial we’ve seen. DreamCloud will let you sleep on your mattress for a full year and let you return it if you’re unhappy with it.
• Comfort for all sleepers: DreamCloud is perfect for all. Whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper, stomach sleeper, or one that tosses and turns throughout the night, DreamCloud is ideal for you.
• Cooling materials: Gel-infused memory foam helps prevent you from overheating at night.
• Everlong Warranty: The Everlong Warranty guarantees the materials, quality, construction, and durability of your DreamCloud mattress. If anything happens to your bed, DreamCloud will cover it by either fixing or replacing the mattress.
• Free shipping and returns: When you buy a mattress, it ships for free. Returns are also free.
• White-Glove Service: DreamCloud offers optional white-glove service for removing your old mattress.

DreamCloud Cons

• Higher mattress: DreamCloud mattress is 15 inches tall. If you prefer something closer to the floor, this could be a con.
• Higher price: A DreamCloud mattress isn’t the cheapest mattress around and can be more expensive than other boxed mattress companies.
• No repackaging options: Like most boxed mattresses, you can’t fold this one up once you unpack it. If you need to move, you’ll need to wrap it like a traditional mattress.
• Shipping fees: International shipping is unavailable, and the company charges additional fees for shipping to Hawaii and Alaska.

How to Determine the Best Mattress for a Good Night’s Sleep

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Buying a new mattress can be daunting. Not only are there hundreds of options in brick-and-mortar stores and online), but they’re expensive. You’ll want to invest wisely.

When searching for a new mattress, there are a few key things to pay attention to. Use our buying guide to help you find the right option for your needs.

Durability

If you’re investing in a mattress, you want it to last.

How long a mattress lasts depends on a variety of factors such as the type of mattress and the person using it.

Here are some standards of how long a mattress will last:

• Latex mattresses: Up to 15 years
• Memory foam mattresses: About 10 years
• Innerspring mattresses: Around 8 years
• Hybrid mattresses: Around 6 years

Of course, these are all averages. The better care you take of your mattress, the longer it will last.

Read more: Mattress Truth: How Long Does a Mattress Last?.

Mattress Size

If you’re looking for a new mattress, you probably already know what size you want. Check our FAQ section below for the standard mattress sizes.

Once you pick the size, what’s left is to pick a company that offers what you prefer.

While most mattress companies carry everything from a twin to a California king, this isn’t the case for all. If you are searching for an obscure size, you can eliminate companies that do not carry what you want.

Motion Isolation

If you sleep with a partner, you’ll likely want a mattress that excels in motion isolation. When your partner tosses and turns, you won’t feel it.

Memory foam tends to be the best type of mattress for preventing motion isolation. Next up are hybrid mattresses, thanks to their memory foam toppers.

Thickness

Mattresses come in varying degrees of thickness and most range between 10 to 14 inches.

If you enjoy sleeping low to the ground, you can find mattresses as low as five inches. In addition, you can find mattresses as thick as 20 inches! Higher sleepers, you can also add a box spring.

If this is an important factor, you can rule out brands that are either too high are too low.

Support

The first thing you should think about when researching mattresses is support.

Do you prefer to sink into a soft, plush mattress? Or, does the idea of a soft mattress make your back hurt?

If you don’t know what type of firmness you prefer, we recommend going into a store and testing out a few mattresses.

Test the mattresses by lying on your back, stomach, and side to see which mattress firmness feels best. Once you have an idea of what you like, you can begin your search.

If you have joint pain or a bad back, we recommend a firmer mattress.

Types of Mattresses

Not all mattresses are created equal. There are a few types of mattresses you can choose from:

• Air mattress: We hope you don’t have an air mattress (also known as a blow-up mattress) as your fulltime mattress. Air mattresses are portable, air-filled options that are best for visitors or last-minute sleeping needs because they are not the most comfortable.
• Foam mattress: A foam mattress, otherwise known as a memory foam mattress, has dense foam that contours to your body. This material is ideal for people with joint pain or back pain. The downside is that they tend to be hot and are more expensive than other types of mattresses.
• Hybrid mattress: Hybrid mattresses combine the best of both mattress worlds. They feature coil-on-coil support like an innerspring mattress but are topped with memory foam for added comfort.
• Innerspring mattress: An innerspring mattress is what you think of when you think of traditional mattresses. They have been around since the 1930s and feature coil support within the mattress. Innerspring mattresses are ideal for stomach and side sleepers and are typically the most affordable type.

Warranty

Mattresses aren’t meant to last forever, but good mattresses should last at least ten years.

When researching mattress companies, check out the warranty. Some companies offer a lifetime satisfaction policy, while others offer a 5-10 year warranty.

How to Find the Best Mattress Deals

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Mattress prices aren’t firm. They fluctuate depending on the time of year you purchase a mattress, but hidden discounts exist.

If you’re looking to find the best mattresses to buy online, we recommend using the following tips.

Ask About Discounts

The best way to save money on a mattress is by simply asking the retailer if they offer any special discounts.

Some mattress companies offer discounts such as:

• Military discounts
• Senior discounts
• Student discounts

Discount information isn’t always readily available, so ask before you decide on a purchase.

Be Aware of Hidden Fees

When comparing prices, factor in extra fees.

Ask the retailer to tell you about all the possible fees before you decide on which mattress you want.

Check Delivery Fees

When looking for a new mattress, don’t forget to check out delivery fees.

Most companies offer free shipping or delivery. If you find a company that doesn’t provide this service, factor these costs into the final price of your mattress.

Get a Prescription

Not all states tax health-related products. If you have a bad back or joint pain that a new mattress could help, talk to your doctor. You may be able to have him write you a prescription for a new mattress.

Additionally, you might have a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). If so, you may be able to use it to pay for a new mattress if your doctor recommends it.

Look for a Trial and Return Policy

Most online mattresses companies offer trial periods. Some offer a full year. Many brick-and-mortar companies provide trial periods now too.

If you are nervous that you won’t like your new mattress, compare policies. While the 365-day trials are generous, three months is usually more than enough time to determine whether you like your new mattress.

In addition to the trial period, look at the return policies. Most offer free returns, but some charge a fee.

Read Customer Reviews

Without trying a product yourself, the best way to get an idea of whether or not you’ll like it is to read reviews from real customers.

If a customer doesn’t like a product, he or she is usually honest in a review. If they love the product, they’ll give details about why.

Keep in mind the best mattresses to buy online isn’t necessarily what someone else deems the best mattress. However, if a company has a fair number of negative reviews, you may want to find a different option or see if the negatives are going to be an issue for you.

Set a Budget

As with any new purchase, the price is important.

Set a budget at the beginning of your mattress hunt. Compare prices for various mattress companies. Consider any that come in under budget and add a few that are slightly over budget in case you decide to stretch it.

If you see any that are way outside your budget, eliminate those companies from your consideration list.

Mattress FAQs

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If you’re in the market for a new mattress, we’re sure you have a few questions.  Below are some frequently asked questions about mattresses and their answers.

What Are the Average Mattress Sizes?

There are six sizes of mattress: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King.

Standard mattress sizes are:

• Twin: 38″ x 75″
• Twin XL: 38″ x 80″
• Full: 53″ x 75″
• Queen: 60″ x 80″
• King: 76″ x 80″
• California King: 72″ x 84″

The size can vary slightly between brands.

Do You Need a Box Spring?

Not necessarily.

A box spring can support a mattress and help protect it. While some mattress types require a box spring, others do not.

Before purchasing a mattress, check to see if a box spring is required.

How Long Should a Mattress Last?

Mattresses longevity will vary. Here is how long most mattresses like:

• Hybrid mattresses: 6 years
• Innerspring mattresses such as coil-on-coil: 8 years
• Foam mattresses: 10 years
• Latex mattresses: 15 years

Keep the above in mind as a base, and then add or subtract years depending on use.

If a foam mattress is in a guest room and is only used a few times a year, it should last longer than 10 years. However, if a foam mattress is used nightly by someone who is overweight, the mattress may last less than 10 years.

Bodyweight determines the amount of pressure on the mattress, so heavier people exert more pressure than lighter-weight people. As such, heavier and taller people will need to replace their mattress more quickly than a lighter-weight person.

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?

If you can, wait for the retail holidays.

While mattress sales may occur at other dates, these are typically the best days of the year to find the best mattresses to buy online deals.

Key retail holidays include:

• Memorial Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Black Friday
• Cyber Monday

If you see that a big store is having a sale, chances are the mattress companies will have to have sales to keep up with the competition.

How Often Do You Need to Flip a Mattress?

How often you need to flip your mattress depends on what kind of mattress you have.

Decades ago, we were told to flip our mattresses every six months. But now, some mattresses don’t need flipping.

If you have a mattress with a one-sided design, you should never flip your mattress. You will know it has a one-design because the two sides will not be identical.

Most mattresses are one-sided as they feature a pillow top or Euro top or have different types of layers.

Let’s take a look at the different types of mattresses and whether or not you need to flip them:

• Coil-on-coil mattress: You don’t need to flip most of these mattresses. Rotate them once or twice a year.
• Foam mattress: You don’t need to flip most, but rotate them once a year.
• Hybrid mattress: Some hybrid mattresses are dual-sided, meaning they should be flipped once or twice a year. Others are one-sided that you should never flip. Rotate these once or twice a year.

How Do You Clean a Mattress?

In addition to bodily fluids, dust mites, mold, mildew, pollen, oils, dirt, and more can build up in a mattress. As such, it’s important to clean your mattress.

Some people clean them seasonally while others do it once or twice a year.

Cleaning a mattress is easy and requires a few simple steps:

1. Vacuum the mattress
2. Deodorize it
3. Remove any stains
4. Flip the mattress and repeat the steps.

For more information on cleaning your mattress, check out How to Clean a Mattress Like A Professional

If You Have Bed Bugs, Do You Have to Throw Away the Mattress?

No.

Bed bugs are blood-sucking creatures that tend to frequent major cities. They cause red, itchy welts on the skin and unfortunately are hard to get remove.

Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of them for good – even from your mattress.

Find out how to rid your mattress of bed bugs.

How Do You Dispose of a Mattress?

Most online mattress companies offer mattress removal service when you purchase a new mattress.

If you purchase a mattress from a company that will not offer to remove your old mattress, disposing of it can be tricky.

Different cities have different laws regarding mattress removal, so research your local ordinances. For instance, some cities consider mattresses to be regular garbage and allow you to place it with your regular waste. Others require you to take it to a recycling center.

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Finding the best mattress for your needs will depend on your individual preferences and budget.

To help you decide which mattress is best for you, read our reviews of some of the best mattresses available.