Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online

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Our take - If you're looking for a quality mattress that won't break the bank, consider the Leesa Original. Most sleepers will find this all-foam bed comfortable and accommodating with its medium firmness level and neutral foam feel. 

Our take - If you love the way memory foam feels, then the Nectar Classic mattress is for you. It has a true memory foam feel that sucks you into a you-shaped cocoon as you settle into the bed. The memory foam of the Nectar Classic mattress reminds me of a Tempur-Pedic bed. It will take a little more effort to move around on because of how slow-responding the memory foam is, but that’s a trade-off that many people are willing to make. 

Our take - The Nolah Natural mattress is the best online latex mattress, thanks to the primary comfort layer of natural Talalay latex foam. If you’ve never had a latex foam bed, the feeling is entirely different from memory foam. This bed has an extremely bouncy and responsive feel that you don’t sink very far into, something that’s expected from latex foam. 

Our take - There is no question that Purple is the most unusual online mattress you can buy. If you’ve never slept on a Purple mattress before, it’s hard to convey what it feels like. The Purple grid, which makes up the top 2-inch layer of the flagship mattress, is a stretchy, almost jelly-like material. It’s what gives Purple its signature squishy feel. It’s incredibly pressure-relieving when you lie down on it; you almost feel buoyant in the grid. 

Our take - You can’t get quality sleep if you frequently wake up from overheating. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is undoubtedly one of the coolest beds we’ve tested, thanks to the CopperFlex foam and Titan Cool cover. Not only that, but it’s a robust, high-quality mattress with a neutral foam feel that anyone can sleep on. 

Our take - Saatva is known for really durable, high-quality mattresses. That’s why the Saatva Classic is our pick for the best pillow-top online mattress. It’s an excellent choice for people who want to maximize support without sacrificing comfort. The plush pillow top keeps you comfortable, while the dual-layer coils make it extra-durable and supportive. 

Our take - When it comes to customization in the mattress industry, no one does it quite like Helix. The brand offers a mattress quiz that matches you with a mattress from the extensive catalog of core models and upgraded counterparts. 

Our take - Flippable mattresses aren’t all that common in the mattress industry, but Layla is the best you can get. Not only is it one of the most aesthetically pleasing mattresses with the signature honeycomb pattern, but the Layla mattress is also an extremely comfortable and affordable all-foam mattress. 

Our take - If you’re on a tight budget, you might be worried you won’t be able to find a good mattress in your price range. The Dreamfoam Doze mattress is a comfortable all-foam mattress that starts at $240. 

We’ve tested hundreds of mattresses over the years, many of which are great beds. That said, they couldn’t all make this best online mattress list. There are some still worth mentioning if you’re still unsure what is best for you. 

Leesa Original: If you’re looking for a safe bet, the Leesa Original mattress is one of the most accommodating foam beds you’ll find. It has a neutral, bouncy feel that almost feels more like an innerspring bed instead of a memory foam mattress. 

DreamCloud: The DreamCloud mattress is one of our favorite beds, thanks to the thick, plush pillow top that seriously feels like sleeping on a cloud. It has a mix of coils and memory foam, but you don’t have to worry about the syrupy feel that some memory foam beds have. 

Our CNET sleep team has researched and tested hundreds of mattresses over our years of testing. During that time, we’ve developed testing methods for each mattress to assess it for key performance features like motion isolation and edge support. We also compare each bed we test so we have a complete picture of the firmnesses out there and what category of feel each bed falls under. 

We use our extensive experience to choose the beds for this list with every person in mind. Each superlative is selected to represent a category of people best so you can quickly sort through the list and see what best describes your needs.

CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Learn more about how we test mattresses. 

Jonathan Gomez/CNET

There is no single best mattress that will work for everyone. We are all different shapes and sizes and have different needs that our beds need to offer so we can sleep well. When you decide to shop for your next mattress, keeping these critical factors in mind will help you narrow your search. 

Sleeping position

Your sleeping position is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing which online mattress to buy. How you sleep will determine how firm of a mattress you’ll need. 

• Side sleepers need a mattress that’s soft enough to cradle their curves and not create pressure points on the shoulders, hips and knees. 
• Stomach and back sleepers will need a firmer mattress so you get enough support to keep your spine in a neutral position. That’s not to say you need the firmest mattress out there, although I recommend at least a medium to medium-firm (six) and up.
• Combo sleepers have the most versatility in the firmness they select. If you don’t know what to choose, it’s best to make your firm decision based on what position you spend the most time in. 

Body type

Your body type also will help you choose your next mattress. Heavier body types (over 230 pounds) need more support and durability from their mattresses, so we always recommend a hybrid construction. It will be the best value for your money in the long run. 

Your weight also changes how firm a mattress will seem. We rate our firmness levels based on the average body type. Petite body types (under 150 pounds) will put the least pressure on the mattresses, making them feel firmer. If we say a bed in a medium, it may feel more like a medium to medium-firm to them. The inverse is true for heavier body types. Beds will feel softer because more pressure will be put on them. 

Medical needs

Another important thing to remember when shopping for an online mattress is any medical conditions or needs you have. For instance, if you're a hot sleeper or have hot flashes, you should look for a bed with some cooling technology, like a cooling cover or infused foam layers. 

If you have back pain, you’ll want to take care when choosing your next bed. For back pain, it’s generally best to have a firmer mattress that will keep your spine in a neutral position. You may also want to check out beds with a zoned support construction. Alternatively, joint pain will call for pressure relief that softer mattresses offer. 

Budget

There are a ton of online mattresses to sort through. Identifying how much you’re willing to spend will help narrow your options into more manageable chunks. The average online bed ranges from $800 to $1,200, though some beds are as low as $300 or luxury options well over $2,000. 

Jonathan Gomez/CNET

There’s a lot to be said for being able to lie down on a bed before you buy it. For some people, it’s a must before they buy a bed, which may keep them from buying a bed online. Online exclusive mattress sales can help you save hundreds on your next bed. For beds you can test in-store, like Casper and Tempurpedic, you can still buy them online to take advantage of online pricing. 

If you’re still on the fence about getting an online mattress without testing it first, you should know that almost every brand offers sleep trials that allow you to test the bed out. How long you have to decide if the bed is right for you under the trial depends on the brand; some are 100 nights, others are as long as a year. 

If you decide the mattress isn’t right, you can return it within the trial and get your money back. It might take a little coordination with the company to arrange for pick-up. Some brands, like Saatva, require a processing fee to pick up a returned bed.

Let’s talk about some of the most popular materials you’ll find online mattresses. Although I have listed them separately, many beds include several types of materials, as is the case for hybrid beds that feature coils and foam layers. 

Memory foam: Memory foam is among the most popular online mattress materials. It’s loved by people who want their beds to contour to their curves and create a cocoon around them as they sleep. The trade-off is that some memory foam is dense and hard to move around on. 

Polyurethane foam: Another type often used in mattresses is polyurethane foam. It's not quite as dense and slow-moving as memory foam; it has more of a neutral feel that’s not very polarizing. It’s the classic foam feel that the average person will like. 

Latex foam: This type of foam is often naturally made by harvesting the sap of a rubber tree, although synthetic latex is also popular. Latex foam is antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, making it a popular option. It’s a responsive and bouncy material, but it tends to be firmer than other types of foam. 

Individually wrapped coils or innerspring: To give mattresses durability and support, many brands add individually wrapped coils or an innerspring to their beds. Individually wrapped coils tend to isolate movement a little better than traditional innersprings, but both are great options for people who want a bed that’s going to last. 

Hyper-elastic polymer: You’ll only find hyper-elastic polymer in Purple mattresses. It’s a supportive, gel-like material that’s super stretchy. The Purple grid gives the bed a unique feel you won’t get anywhere else. It’s almost like you're buoyant when you lie on the bed. 

Organic cotton or wool: Many online organic mattresses include organic cotton or wool in their covers, giving the bed a soft feel. 

Jonathan Gomez/CNET

There is a lot of price variety in the mattress industry. While the average mattress costs around $800 to $1,200, many beds fall well outside this range. For instance, the Dreamfoam Doze, an excellent budget bed, costs under $300. In contrast, some luxury Purple mattresses cost upwards of $5,000.