Best Queen Mattress for 2024 -- Expert Tested and Approved

Best queen mattress for side sleepers

Layla Hybrid

Best memory foam queen mattress

Bear Original

Best queen mattress for hot sleepers

Purple Restore Hybrid

Our take - Brooklyn Bedding manufactures its beds in the US, cutting out the middleman and making them more affordable. The Signature Hybrid is Brooklyn Bedding's bestselling mattress, and we're not surprised -- it's accommodating, long-lasting and crafted with high-quality materials.

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Our take -  Bear stands out from the rest as an underrated, affordable bed made of premium materials. Its three-layered construction includes a durable support foam base, Bear Dynamic Foam and a cooling gel memory foam layer, creating a dense memory foam feel. Sitting around a medium-firm, its memory foam slowly molds around your curves and contours to your body's shape.

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Our take -  Big Fig stands for bigger figures and is designed specifically for those on the heavier side. This 13" tall hybrid mattress can support up to 1,100 pounds thanks to its durable construction of high-density foams, robust coil system and strong foundation of slats and center rails.

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Our take -  Avocado has the most green certifications of any other mattress brand we've reviewed. Its beds are natural, organic, non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals. The Avocado Green is a luxurious hybrid mattress crafted with high-quality, naturally sourced materials, such as GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton and FSC-certified Talalay latex. Avocado even offers an entirely vegan mattress without wool.

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Our take - From bed-in-a-box company Nectar Sleep comes the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress; a supportive, high-quality bed featuring a firm memory foam feel. Our sleep experts rate this bed between medium-firm and firm or around 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. Promoting proper spinal alignment, it's best suited for back and stomach sleepers and will likely be too firm for most side sleepers.

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Our take - Thanks to Walmart's bed-in-a-box mattress Allswell, you no longer have to sacrifice quality for a budget bed. This accommodating hybrid bed has a soft, neutral foam feel and lands around a medium-firm, so it's suitable for most sleeping positions and body types.

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Our take - Considering its budget pricing, durable hybrid design, cooling features and neutral foam feel, you can't go wrong with this bed-in-a-box mattress from Leesa. The Leesa Studio Chill is an accommodating hybrid bed that boasts cooling technology typically not found in other mattresses of a similar price point.

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Our take - The Saatva Rx is a luxury hybrid mattress specifically engineered for sleepers with chronic back pain and joint issues like arthritis, herniated discs, sciatica and more. Endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, this bed boasts a unique, zoned-support design and a comfortable, accommodating feel that most sleepers will enjoy.

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Our CNET sleep experts roll around and sleep on beds to find the coziest and most comfortable mattresses on the market. We know -- what a tiring and arduous task -- but hey, someone has to do it. After countless hours testing hundreds of beds, we've discovered everything from the best of the best to those that aren't worth writing home about (much less taking home).

The beds listed above are our top choices, but a few additional beds deserve an honorable mention. 

WinkBed: The WinkBed is a thick, luxurious hybrid mattress with a strong pocketed coil system, several layers of coils and a fluffy pillow top. It comes in three different firmness levels ranging from soft to firm, so all sleeping positions can find a comfortable fit.

GhostBed Classic: The GhostBed Classic combines memory foam, latex foam and polyfoam to create a pressure-relieving and responsive mixed foam feel. It also uses its own special latex foam, making it more affordable than organic or natural latex foam. It's great for all sleeping positions because it's rated right in the middle of the firmness scale.

Our sleep experts have years of experience rolling around on hundreds of mattresses. We've established a testing process that assesses each bed based on factors like firmness, motion isolation, durability and edge support. 

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. Read more about how we test mattresses.

Firmness and feel

Having tested hundreds of mattresses, our team has a deep understanding of where a mattress falls on the firmness scale. We compare it to other mattresses as we analyze how hard or soft it is. 

We are incredibly hands-on as we test a bed's feel. We press down on it and roll around, noting how the material responds. Is it bouncy and light like latex foam? Or is it syrupy and slow to respond like traditional memory foam?

Durability 

Durability is a top consideration when recommending mattresses. We hypothesize how long a mattress will last based on its construction and the quality of materials used. For example, a hybrid bed with steel coils will typically be more durable and long-lasting than an all-foam mattress. 

Motion isolation

Motion isolation is how well a bed dampens movement across the surface. This might not seem like a big deal, but it matters if you share a mattress with a partner or pets who move around throughout the night. To test motion isolation, we jump and bounce around on the mattress. We also place a glass of water on the edge of the bed to see if it tips over as we roll around. 

Edge support

Edge support refers to the strength of the perimeter of the mattress, which is important to consider if you sleep on or near the edge of the bed. We test edge support by sitting and lying on the edge of the mattress. Does the side droop or sag down when compressed with weight? Does it feel like we're going to fall off?

Shopping for a new bed is highly subjective based on your body type, unique needs, budget, sleeping position and more. Let's explore how your preferences might influence the mattress you choose.

Sleeping position

Your sleeping position will determine how hard or soft of a mattress you need for the best night's sleep possible. As a general rule:

• Side sleepers need soft to medium mattresses with plenty of pressure relief to cradle their curves. This prevents uncomfortable or painful pressure points from developing on your shoulders, hips and knees. 
• Back and stomach sleepers need a medium to firm mattress that helps keep your spine and neck neutrally aligned so you don't wake up with back pain.
• Combination sleepers have the most flexibility. The firmness level you choose should be based on the position you spend the most time in. 

Body type

Your body type determines how much pressure you put on the mattress, ultimately influencing how firm it feels. Heavier people typically experience mattresses as being softer, while petite body types will feel it to be firmer. Your weight also affects what kind of mattress you should get. 

• People over 230 pounds need a mattress with plenty of support and enhanced durability, like hybrid mattresses with steel coils.
• Lighter individuals can choose between hybrid and all-foam mattresses. 

Health conditions

It's important to consider medical conditions when shopping for your next mattress. If you're a hot sleeper, look for beds with cooling technology or that are made with breathable materials like latex foam. If you live with joint pain or arthritis, you should seek out a soft, pressure-relieving mattress that cradles your body. People with back pain require a firmer mattress to support the spine and neck.

Materials 

When looking for a queen mattress, consider the materials in your bed. Its construction will influence your experience and how long it lasts. The three main categories of mattress materials are foam, innerspring or coils and latex foam. A bed with a combination of several materials is called a hybrid mattress.

• Foam: There are several types of foam that you'll find in mattresses: traditional memory foam, open cell foam, gel-infused foam or polyfoam. The type of foam will dictate the feel and firmness of your mattress. 
• Innerspring/coils: An innerspring or coil system adds responsiveness and support to the bed. It also tends to make a mattress more durable over time.
• Latex foam: There are two types of latex foam: organic and synthetic. Organic latex is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and eco-friendly. It also gives mattresses a bouncy and responsive feel, although it's slightly firmer than other foams.

Budget

Buying a new mattress is a significant investment, so it's crucial to identify your budget before shopping for a queen mattress. The average online mattress costs between $850 and $1,200, but there are mattresses for every budget, from $300 to luxury mattresses that cost $2,000 and beyond.

The best queen-size mattress should fit your sleeping position, body type and budget. Back and stomach sleepers should look for a medium to firm mattress, while side sleepers should keep an eye out for medium to soft queen mattresses. Sleepers weighing over 250 pounds should consider a hybrid mattress made with steel coils for extra durability and support.