Yes, We Lie on Beds for a Living. Here’s How We Test Mattresses

2 days ago 6

It's true -- we sleep on beds for a living. Over the last seven-plus years, CNET's dedicated team of mattress experts has tested many mattresses (over 300 and counting) and spent hundreds of hours examining and reviewing the beds delivered to our mattress warehouse.

As sleep experts, we provide thorough, honest reviews of every mattress we test. Each bed is put through a series of strategic tests to understand and rate its features, from feel and firmness to construction and durability. That way, we can compare them and tell you which mattresses are worth the money and which are total snores.

Caroline Igo sits on one of the many mattress stacks in our warehouse

Where we test mattresses

Our CNET sleep experts are located all over the country, from New York City to North Carolina to Reno, Nevada, where our mattress facility is located. This expansive 6,000-square-foot warehouse functions as a testing lab with two studio bedrooms for filming and office space.

Beds come and go, but there are always well over 100 beds in the warehouse at any given time. The mattresses are strategically stored in tall stacks throughout the space and are frequently moved around, depending on our testing and reviewing needs. As you can imagine, we're pretty efficient at lugging mattresses around. Beds are transferred to and from the two studio bedrooms for filming and used as a unique backdrop for video reviews, which you may have seen on our YouTube channels, CNET Home and The Slumber Yard.

"We initially started testing beds back in 2017. The first testing area was in one of our houses. Once we fully engaged in reviewing mattresses, we soon realized that this wouldn't be feasible with the number of beds we were testing. So, in 2018, we packed our bags from Sacramento and moved our office to Reno. We settled on a warehouse that could store over 100 mattresses at a time with dedicated rooms where we could test all the mattresses." -Dillon Payne, CNET director of video production

How CNET gets the products we review

Filming a mattress review in one of our studio bedrooms

Mattress and bedding companies continuously introduce new products, whether a new mattress model or line, an updated cooling pillow or a complete rebrand. Companies keep us in the loop on new product launches and often send us editorial samples for testing prior to release. We keep most of the mattresses we receive and store them in our facility to be reviewed for videos, best lists and comparisons.

Our editorial team also requests samples of products from brands. If we can't get our hands on a product we want to test, we'll often purchase it.

Our team of certified sleep science coaches

Our editorial team members are also certified sleep science coaches (or are in training) and have dedicated countless hours to researching sleep and mattresses. A sleep science coach certification from the Spencer Institute signifies that our experts have undergone over 20 hours of learning and studying the intensive science behind sleep and have passed the final exam. This certification qualifies our experts to speak knowledgeably on all sleep-related topics, including the relationship between the brain, body and sleep, and to offer helpful advice to those needing quality rest.

JD Christison shrugs in front of several stacks of mattresses

Our resident mattress experts have tested and laid on more beds than you'd find at a brick-and-mortar mattress store. Over the years, we've had our hands (and bodies) on over 300 mattresses from dozens of brands. With this extensive knowledge and experience, we can offer expert insights on the pros and cons of each bed and select mattresses that are worth the purchase.

Industry knowledge

Staying current on industry knowledge is another component that sets us apart as leading authorities in the sleep world. Being informed about the latest technologies, materials and design trends allows us to help consumers make better purchasing decisions. We recognize the importance of understanding the entire mattress-making process and the steps that lead to one arriving at your doorstep.

One strategy for staying up-to-date is touring mattress factories and manufacturers. Recently, three of our sleep experts embarked on a behind-the-scenes tour of the 3Z Brands facility in Arizona. 3Z manufactures beds for leading mattress brands such as Brooklyn Bedding, Leesa, Bear, Nolah, Birch and Helix. Our experts had an in-depth look at every part of the manufacturing process, including the hardworking teams and innovative machinery constructing and assembling the various foams, coils, covers and other materials to create the high-quality mattresses you can buy online.

Sleep experts interviewing the founder of Bear

Another strategy for staying informed is interviewing brand founders and company representatives one-on-one. What better way to learn than directly from the professionals designing and manufacturing the beds?

Meet our mattress experts

Mattress Smasher 9000

The Mattress Smasher 9000 (MS9K) has been happily smashing beds at our testing facility for about two months. A custom and proprietary CNET device, MS9K provides an objective firmness level score for each mattress. It's already tested dozens of beds and enjoys providing our experts with a firmness score that's as accurate as possible. In its spare time, MS9K dominates at Super Smash Bros.

Sleeper type: Combination; falls asleep at the flick of a switch

Favorite sleep fact: REM sleep behavior disorder is a parasomnia that causes people to physically act out their dreams while in the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. MS9K spends most of its time in REM sleep, punching and smashing with its powerful arm.

Current mattress: Plank Firm Luxe (extra firm side). At 9.5/10, it's the firmest mattress MS9K has smashed to date.

Dillon Payne

Dillon Payne is a director of video production at CNET and a mattress tester in the Reno-based sleep team. He received his bachelor's degree in journalism with a concentration in broadcast journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Dillon is a certified sleep science coach from the Spencer Institute and has tested well over 250 beds since he began in 2017. Dillon's favorite mattress is DreamCloud's first 2018 mattress model, which he keeps in his guest room.

Sleeper type: Combo (primarily back and right side)

Favorite sleep fact: There are four sleep chronotypes: bear, lion, wolf and dolphin. Most people fall into the bear chronotype, which wakes up around 7 a.m. and goes to bed around 11 p.m.

Current mattress: Helix Moonlight Luxe with an active cooling cover

Owen Poole

Owen is a senior video producer for CNET and one of our Reno-based mattress experts. He is a certified sleep science coach from the Spencer Institute and has been reviewing beds for nearly seven years. Throughout his sleep career, Owen has tested roughly 300 mattresses from dozens of brands and can even identify them blindfolded.

Sleeper type: Combo (mostly left side, some back)

Favorite sleep fact: Sharks have to continuously move to breathe, so they don't sleep the same way humans do. They find ways to rest while moving.

Current mattress: Tempur-Pedic Pro Breeze (medium)

JD Christison

JD is a senior video producer at CNET who has tested hundreds of beds over the last six years. A certified sleep science coach from the Spencer Institute, JD has created countless mattress reviews and best lists in video and article formats. Having tested all types of mattresses from dozens of brands, he prefers sleeping on pillow-top beds.

Sleeper type: Combo

Favorite sleep fact: REM stands for rapid eye movement. It's the deepest state of sleep your body goes through, lasting only one to two hours per night.

Current mattress: Intellibed Grand Matrix (now branded the Purple Rejuvenate Premier)

Caroline Igo

Caroline is a sleep editor based in Charlotte, North Carolina, who holds sleep science coach and stress management certificates from the Spencer Institute. She received her bachelor's degree in creative writing from Miami University and won the Carl R. Greer/Andrew D. Hepburn Award for a creative nonfiction essay in 2020. Caroline has been a part of CNET since 2021, covering all things sleep, mattresses and bed accessories, and has tested over 70 mattresses.

Sleeper type: Combo (primarily side and stomach)

Favorite sleep fact: Koalas spend 90% of their lives sleeping -- that's 20 to 22 hours each day.

Current mattress: Casper Select (from Costco) with an Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress cover

Taylor Leamey

Taylor Leamey is a senior writer for CNET. Since joining the team in 2021, she's written about all things wellness and specializes in sleep. She has spent hundreds of hours studying and researching why we need rest, not to mention the years she spent studying mental health fundamentals while earning her bachelor's degrees in psychology and sociology. She holds a sleep science coach and stress management certification from the Spencer Institute.

Sleeper type: Combo (primarily stomach and side)

Favorite sleep fact: When sleep-deprived, the amygdala (the brain's emotional processing center) is overactive, and the prefrontal cortex (where rational thought comes from) is suppressed. Basically, not getting enough sleep sabotages your ability to regulate emotions and cope with stress logically.

Current mattress: Beautyrest Harmony Lux

Wes Ott

Wes has been testing beds and other sleep-related products for over five years. He is a senior video producer at CNET and a certified sleep science coach from the Spencer Institute. Wes prefers latex pillows and doesn't use a traditional alarm clock; instead, he wakes up with a sun lamp alarm. He can also enter his friends' dreams and interact with them.

Sleeper type: Combo

Favorite sleep fact: Just like getting too little sleep, chronic oversleeping can have unforeseen health effects.

Current mattress: Tuft & Needle Hybrid (now discontinued)

Dillon Lopez

Dillon is a senior video producer at CNET who has been testing and reviewing mattresses for over five years. He has filmed and edited video reviews for hundreds of mattresses and has slept on so many different beds that he could identify them... in his sleep.

Sleeper type: Combo (stomach and back)

Favorite sleep fact: On average, it takes seven minutes for a person to fall asleep. For Dillon, it takes seven hours.

Current mattress at home: Casper Snow

Jon Gomez

Jon Gomez is a CNET video producer and editor based in Reno. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has been testing and reviewing beds for over five years.

Sleeper type: Combo (side and back)

Favorite sleep fact: Elephants only sleep around two hours per night in the wild -- less than any other mammal.

Current mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora

Aly Lopez

Aly is a writer on the sleep team at CNET. In addition to mattresses, she researches, tests and reviews all types of sleep-related products, from sleep technology to supplements. She is also a certified sleep science coach with the Spencer Institute.

Sleeper type: Combo (primarily stomach and side)

Favorite sleep fact: Sleep deprivation can cause you to have more vivid and intense dreams because your brain will start to prioritize deep and REM sleep.

Current mattress: Casper Snow

How we test mattresses

The mattresses we recommend undergo extensive hands-on testing at our in-house mattress facility in Reno. When a brand sends us a bed-in-a-box mattress to test and review, we unbox it and set it up in one of our studio bedrooms, just like a customer would in theirs.

Our experts rigorously test each mattress for around 10 hours, often more. Dozens of mattresses have been brought home and tested for longer, ranging from a few weeks up to five years. If a mattress has unique capabilities or features, such as sleep tracking, a team member will test it in their home after the initial review processes at our testing facility are finished.

We test every aspect of a mattress, ranging from quantifiable objective metrics to subjective features that we rank based on comparing the extensive amount of beds we've tested over the years. We do our best to accurately describe the encompassing experience of what each mattress feels like to sleep on, not only from our own expert perspectives but also from the viewpoint of what the experience would be like for individuals and couples of all body types.

Testing out the WinkBed EcoCloud mattress

Our sleep team is made up of men and women with a diverse range of body types, weights, heights and sleep preferences, so we can offer expert opinions from a multitude of viewpoints. The sleeping experience varies with the different body shapes of men and women. For example, testing a mattress as a stomach sleeper is going to feel much different for a person with breasts than someone without. With numerous women on the sleep team at CNET, we are able to test and offer the perspective of what a mattress's firmness level feels like from that angle. However, the beds that appear on our lists are collectively chosen by our whole team. Rather than having one person pick all the mattresses, every sleep expert voices their unique perspective and opinion. Our lists should cater to every body type, sleep position and gender.

Our scoring methodology

Over our years of testing, we've established a methodology that helps us evaluate and score each bed. This methodology includes analyzing, testing and gathering data, then ranking each mattress on a standardized point system out of 10. The main elements we review and factor into the score for each mattress are performance, features, policies and durability.

We also consider the bed's feel and firmness, but they don't factor into the final score. We acknowledge that feel is a subjective quality that will differ from person to person. Firmness is another important characteristic we test and measure, but it is not included in the final score because the desired firmness level will differ from person to person based on their sleeping position, personal preferences and health considerations. Though they are not factored into the final score, we always provide in-depth descriptions of those elements in our mattress reviews to help you decide if it's the right bed for you.

A person touching and feeling the top of the firm Saatva Classic mattress

Full disclosure: Mattress brands sometimes exaggerate certain features or give incorrect ratings. For example, a brand may rank the firmness of a bed as a middle-of-the-road medium to appeal to a broader range of sleepers when, in reality, it might sit around a medium firm. A common example of exaggeration is a brand claiming that its bed has special cooling features when it actually doesn't. Our sleep experts pay attention to these important callouts when testing and reviewing each product to provide our readers with the most accurate and unbiased overviews possible. Because we test so many mattresses, we can make these distinctions for our readers.

Mattress qualities factored into the final score

Performance

Performance is an objective indicator that we determine by examining and testing multiple characteristics, primarily edge support and motion isolation. Regardless of body size or sleeping position, mattresses typically perform well, average or poorly in these categories.

Motion isolation

Part of a bed's performance is motion isolation, which refers to how well a mattress can absorb motion and prevent the transfer of movement throughout the bed. Motion isolation is crucial for couples and those who share a bed with pets, and we use a few methods to test it.

The first is by simulating real-life scenarios that can occur when co-sleeping. With a tester lying on one side of the bed, another will toss and turn and shift positions "aggressively" as if they're having trouble getting comfortable. Observing how much movement can be felt through the mattress indicates its ability to isolate motion. We do this with testers of various weights and body types to examine the motion transfer from the perspective of multiple sleepers.

The second method mimics a classic test you may remember from the original Tempur-Pedic commercial with a glass of red wine. We place a full glass of water near the end and edges of the bed and roll around, getting as close to the glass as possible to see if it will tip over from the motion transferring through the bed. Memory foam beds tend to perform best in this category, as the foam layers typically dampen movement better than beds with coils.

Owen tests the motion isolation of a mattress

Noise is another factor we test with motion isolation. Nobody likes a loud, squeaky mattress that wakes you or your partner up whenever you switch positions. We keep an ear out as we flip and flop around the beds we're testing.

Edge support

Testing a mattress's edge support allows us to assess how well it holds its structure and support around the perimeter -- another essential feature to consider if you share the bed with a partner or pets (or if you simply like sleeping on the edge). Good edge support ensures the mattress has a consistent feel across the entire surface, creating a more stable and secure sleep experience.

We sit and lie on the edge of the mattress to see how it responds. Does it cave in and give the sensation that you'll roll off, or is it sturdy and supportive? We also push down on the edges with our fists to observe how much the edge compresses under pressure.

Jon Gomez captures Dillon Payne testing the edge support.

Hybrid mattresses generally offer better edge support as they have steel innerspring systems, many with coils around the perimeter for reinforcement. That said, many foam beds have stepped up their edge support game with high-density foams and can now support better than they used to.

Features

We consider additional features to be any other qualities or attributes that a brand has added to the mattress to enhance it, whether that be durability, edge support, motion isolation, temperature or support. These features include added zoned support or unique layers, firmness options, flippability and washable or replaceable parts or materials. Another common example is when a mattress has a unique cover, such as organic cotton or one with cooling technology -- which leads us to temperature.

Temperature

Discussing mattress temperatures is tricky when considering the range of possible climates, home temperatures, bedding, pajamas and personal preferences of each sleeper. While we test and review mattresses to determine how hot they sleep, it's also influenced by where you live and how warm you keep your home. External factors are at play if you live in more extreme environments or conditions, such as Arizona in the summer with no AC or North Dakota during a cold winter.

In temperature-controlled rooms, we test the mattresses (without sheets or bedding) by seeing how warm or cool we physically feel while sleeping or lying on the bed. Occasionally, we'll break out the temperature gun, but we've found it's better to get the point across by detailing our experience while on the bed. We also use our knowledge and expertise to examine the materials of each mattress, which helps us determine how hot or cool the average person might sleep on it.

Be wary of mattress brands' claims that their beds are cooling. We've found that, more often than not, beds sleep more neutrally than cold. While adding cooling technology or gel-infused foams can help regulate temperature, it doesn't mean they're physically cool to the touch. We carefully assess each of the cooling features but differentiate between being temperature-neutral and actually cooling. For instance, Purple is a naturally breathable bed because of the grid construction, but we don't consider it an actively cooling bed. Only a few beds, such as the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, truly live up to the claim of being cooling.

Policies

Policies are a company's approach to its trial period, warranty, shipping and returns. Many online and bed-in-a-box mattress brands recognize that customers may be hesitant to order a mattress over the internet without trying it out, so they offer a range of company policies. Some policies are much more generous than others, and it's something to consider when purchasing a new mattress online.

The average policy offers a 90- to 100-night trial with a 10-year warranty.
A better deal provides a 120-night trial and a 20- to 25-year warranty.
The best company policies offer a 365-night trial with a lifetime warranty.

Shipping and returns also vary from brand to brand -- some charge a $99 return fee, while the best policies offer free shipping and returns.

Durability

We can't sleep on every mattress for years to test the durability (though we have for some beds). To test durability, we examine the mattress's construction and use it to inform how supportive and long-lasting a bed will be. High-quality mattresses are typically designed with durable materials, such as dense foams, robust innerspring systems and resilient latex, that can withstand years of use while maintaining their shape.

Occasionally, we will remove the cover and cut open the fire sock (a flame-retardant liner used in some mattresses) to see and physically feel the layers of material throughout the bed. Otherwise, we study the brand's descriptions of the construction to understand the different layers and materials used.

The construction of a mattress also helps determine how supportive it will be. All-foam beds offer less support and durability than hybrid beds with both coils and foam. This is where body type comes into play again -- typically, individuals and couples over 230 pounds should opt for hybrid mattresses with foam and coils because of the increased durability. We always take these factors into consideration when testing mattresses.

For more about mattress construction and materials, check out our guide to mattress types.

Other factors we measure

Firmness

Thanks to our recently launched Mattress Smasher 9000 (MS9K) device, we can now test firmness objectively in addition to subjectively. The MS9K is a custom, proprietary device created by CNET Labs' tech experts: Bryan Adams, lab engineer; Jared Hannah, technical product testing analyst; and Steve Conaway, director of CNET Labs.

Firmness is rated numerically on a scale of 1 to 10, and we use industry terms such as "medium-soft" or "true firm" to describe it. We test each mattress physically first before running it through the MS9K. We take turns lying on and dissecting the mattress's construction, collecting opinions on the firmness level from multiple CNET sleep experts with different body types and preferred sleeping positions because it's critical to test and review this characteristic from a wide range of perspectives. Our firmness ratings are determined from the perspective of an average person weighing between 150 and 230 pounds, but we also discuss what the firmness might feel like for someone weighing above or below that range.

When it's time to test a bed, we place it on the base frame with the MS9K in position beside it. Using our customized software program, we activate the MS9K, dropping its powerful linear actuator arm onto the mattress. The actuator slowly presses into the bed until it hits the desired amount of force, typically around 165 pounds, to simulate an average-size human body. We can adjust the amount of force it should hit to simulate the firmness for lighter or heavier bodies -- in fact, it's capable of producing up to 200 pounds of force with 9 inches of travel. The force measurement system includes an 8-inch diameter, 1/4-inch thick aluminum plate attached to the load cell to spread the force over 50 square inches.

Once it reaches that set force or weight, the banner laser distance sensor measures how far the force measurement system traveled into the mattress. The actuator arm then pops back up, and the Smasher provides an objective firmness score on a scale of 1 to 10. We perform the test five times for each mattress, taking its average as the final score.

If the mattress has zoned support or softer areas for pressure relief, we can move the Smasher to test those sections and verify if the company's claims about the bed's construction are true.

Body type

A person's weight plays a role in how firm a mattress feels. The heavier a person is, the more support they'll want from their mattress. The mattress also tends to feel softer because a heavier individual will sink into the materials more than a lighter individual. Conversely, a lighter individual might experience the mattress as firmer because they won't sink as far down into the bed's foam as a heavier individual.

Sleeping position

Your preferred sleeping position also factors in. If you primarily sleep on your back or stomach, you'll want a firmer mattress to help keep your spine neutrally aligned. If you're a side sleeper, you'll want a softer mattress that offers more pressure relief for your shoulders, knees and hips -- the heavier points of contact. If you switch positions throughout the night, you're what we call a combination sleeper, and we usually recommend a mattress that lands around the medium firmness level that can accommodate your various positions by offering a mix of support and pressure relief.

Our sleep experts test each mattress by sleeping in every position: side, back, stomach and combination. If it feels too firm for our side or too soft for our back or stomach, we note it in our review.

Support vs. pressure relief

Firmness also influences the degree of support or pressure relief a bed offers, and it's an important factor to consider when shopping for a new mattress. Firm beds are more supportive and better at keeping your spine neutrally aligned so your back doesn't droop or sag into the mattress. The firmer the bed, the more you'll sleep on top of it rather than sinking into the layers. On the other hand, softer beds offer more give and contour around your curves, which is what we mean by pressure relief. Medium beds provide the best of both worlds: enough pressure relief for side sleepers and ample support for back or stomach sleepers.

Feel

Another subjective element we review is the feel of the mattress. Does it feel like slow-moving, sinking memory foam that holds our shape as we nestle into the mattress? Is switching positions during the night difficult? Or is it like neutral foam, which responds quicker to pressure and offers a soft, plush feel? Does the bed feel like latex foam, which is very bouncy and supportive? What about innersprings or coils -- can we feel them poking through? We know you can't feel the mattress through a screen, so we do our best to tell you how each bed feels in a descriptive, honest way.

Learn more about why the foam in your mattress matters.

Smell

Many bed-in-a-box mattresses emit an... interesting smell once they're unboxed. The foams have been manufactured, compressed and packed in plastic, so it's common to notice an odor when the mattress is unrolled from the packaging. It's not something to be concerned about; it will fade away after a few hours to a few days. We mention any noticeable smells in our review, especially if they're overwhelming.

The only way to completely avoid the off-gassing smell is to purchase an organic and natural mattress made with latex foam and certified organic materials like cotton and wool.

Sustainability and certifications

We like to acknowledge when a mattress brand goes above and beyond in its commitment to environmental sustainability and ethical practices. Many mattress brands use natural and organic materials and recyclable packaging, but some brands go even further than this through certifications and charitable donations. We recognize that many of our readers prioritize purchasing from companies that value environmental sustainability and social impact, so we will always mention this in our mattress reviews.

For example, Avocado Green's extensive list of green certifications includes Global Organic Latex and Textile Standard, Oeko-Tex, Greenguard Gold, B Corp and Climate Neutral -- some of the strictest certifications a company can receive for nontoxicity and social and environmental responsibility.

Cole Kan/CNET

Why you can trust CNET reviews

CNET editors, writers and staff value integrity and unbiased coverage. We refuse compensation for placement or positive coverage and don't guarantee a best list spot to brands who send editorial samples. All recommendations are based on our experience as expert mattress testers with a range of different sleeping positions and body type perspectives.

All review articles and videos share the same commitments to excellence.

Independence: The products recommended in our reviews, roundups and other stories are independently chosen for review and recommendation.

Expertise: Our mattress experts are all certified sleep science coaches from the Spencer Institute. Collectively, we have 40-plus years of experience testing and reviewing mattresses and sleep products.

Hands-on testing: We personally unbox and hand-test the mattresses we review and recommend.

Research: If we can't test a product ourselves, we make recommendations based on extensive research, customer reviews, brand reputation and expert advice.

Value: We consider price when making product recommendations and aim to find the best products at affordable prices.

Industry knowledge: Our sleep experts stay current on industry knowledge through continuous research and education, facility tours and interviews with mattress brand founders and company representatives.

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