Best Mattress for College Students 2024

Our Expert’s Take

The Helix Midnight has a nice, medium-firm feel that works well for all back sleepers, regardless of body type. Plus, if you’re willing to spend a little extra money, you can upgrade to the more luxurious pillow-top Luxe version. In addition to back sleepers, the Midnight works great for side sleepers, hot sleepers, and edge-of-bed sleepers—edge support is especially a nice feature if you’re laying on a twin XL mattress. Under the weight of our 250 lbs tester, the edge only dipped 2.25″, earning the bed a 4/5 edge support score.

What We Love About the Helix Midnight

• The Helix Midnight’s cover has a soft, stretchy feel. It’s designed to be breathable, which will help keep the top layers of the mattress from trapping body heat. Our heat gun proved this theory out, with the bed’s surface temperature rising only to 75.4 degrees F from 72 degrees F after a quick nap test.
• Below the cover are three comfort layers, all made of foam. These layers work together to help the mattress contour to the shape of the sleeper’s body, which can help relieve pressure and alleviate joint pain. Plus, the individually wrapped coils that make the Helix Midnight a hybrid mattress provide support and responsiveness (rated 4/5 by testers) and increase the overall breathability of the mattress. 
• The Helix Midnight scored a 4/5 or higher on every one of our performance tests, a level of quality that makes it a great choice for college students who want a well-rounded mattress.

What to Keep in Mind About the Helix Midnight

• This mattress won’t be the best choice for some combination sleepers, as it’s not firm enough for stomach sleepers. Unless you’re a lightweight (under 130 lb) stomach sleeper, sleepers who flip front-to-back and back-to-front throughout the night should consider the Emma Hybrid Comfort instead.
• Although the Helix Midnight has a pretty balanced feel overall, the bounce of the coil layer may not be to the liking of plush and slow-moving mattress fans.

Other User Reviews

Verified buyer Johnny U., whose 5-star review was one among more than 4,500, said he recommends the Helix Midnight “as a college student who needs more sleep.” The bed averages 4.5 out of 5 among 6,700 reviews in total. People did complain of a strong off-gassing chemical odor upon unfurling their mattress-in-a-box. 

Read our full Helix Midnight review. Or for more options, check out our Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers.

Our Expert’s Take

The Nectar is an all-foam mattress. Although it’s technically medium-firm, it has a softer feel and is one of the most comfortable mattresses we’ve tested. It’s also in our best mattresses for the money roundup, so college students shouldn’t have to worry about breaking the bank.

What We Love About the Nectar

• The Nectar consists of a cover that’s literally cool to the touch, and beneath it a gel-infused memory foam comfort layer. This adds cooling to the mattress surface. A second layer of foam acts as a transition layer, guiding sleepers to the high-density support foam layer.
• The Nectar should sleep at a comfortable temperature, even though it excludes special cooling features. What most impressed us was the great edge support; this is an indicator of durability. Because the Nectar has impressive edge support for an all-foam mattress, you should be able to use the bed’s full surface area.
• Back sleepers who enjoy a softer feel should love the Nectar because it balances comfort and support. Lightweight sleepers should find comfort in all three sleeping positions. Average-weight side sleepers should get the pressure relief they’re looking for.
• If you’re worried about testing this mattress, rest assured with Nectar’s forever warranty, 365-night sleep trial, and free shipping — a generous policy for the price.

What to Keep in Mind About the Nectar

• For the most part, heavyweight sleepers won’t get the support they need from the Nectar. However, heavy back sleepers should find it to be a good match. Average and heavyweight stomach sleepers will need a firmer mattress as well.
• Some sleepers find that they feel stuck in the Nectar’s slow-moving memory foam layers, and prefer to have a bed with more give-and-take. Typically, a type of mattress made with a bouncier material, like a latex or innerspring mattress, will be more suitable.

Other User Reviews

Verified buyer and college student Liana C. wrote she was over the moon to have a bed that was “comfortable, soft (but not too soft), kept cool and (most importantly) helped me fall asleep fast.” Another verified buyer, George V., said he purchased the Nectar for his grandson’s college dorm: “He commented that it is the most comfortable mattress he ever slept on,” he reported on Nectar’s website. The bed averages 5.7 out of 5 among a staggering 50,000-plus reviews, and bad feedback tended to report the Nectar feeling too soft.

Read our full Nectar review for more information. If you’re looking for other options check out our list of the Best Soft Mattresses.

Our Expert’s Take

Because of the increased pressure on the shoulders and hips when sleeping on your side, side sleepers may wake up with aches and pains more often than not if they’re not using the right bed. The Nolah Signature is an all-foam bed that had our testers declaring it “one of the best mattresses for side sleepers”. The mattress is a five-layered foam powerhouse of pressure relief while, according to our testers, still able to keep you cool at night. 

The layers of different foam types help to create pressure relief while preventing sinkage for side sleepers, which is why it’s such an awesome choice for people who sleep on their side. Nolah has a thick 7″ layer of firm yet breathable foam at its base to create a solid foundation of support. Above the base is 1″ of firm pressure-relieving AirFoam under a 2″ supportive foam layer designed for responsiveness. The final AirFoam layer is zoned with side sleepers in mind, where it is softer around your shoulders to prevent inflammation but firmer around your back to ensure spinal support. And finally, on top is an organic cotton cover top that is super plush while helping to maintain a neutral temperature on the sleeping surface. Notably, Nolah claims its AirFoam is “100% temperature neutral,” which is unusual for foam, but our testers did experience adequate cooling on the Signature, giving it a 4/5 for temperature regulation.

While good for back sleepers, the Signature is an excellent choice for side sleepers. It provides the support and relief they need without making them fall asleep hot, thanks to Nolah’s exclusive AirFoam technology, which is intended to help dissipate heat.

What We Love About the Nolah Signature

• The Nolah Signature is quite breathable and hot-sleeper friendly, according to testers, despite being an all-foam bed.
• The organic cotton cover is super soft and cozy, with our testers referring to it as “A luxurious cooling exterior that you’ll love to lounge on.”
• The zoned AirFoam layer helps to provide side-sleeper-specific pressure relief by cradling your hips and shoulders without sinkage while simultaneously delivering firm and quality lumbar support. 

What to Keep in Mind About the Nolah Signature

• While showing decent edge support for an all-foam bed, people who appreciate quality edge support may want to consider a hybrid or innerspring rather than the Signature.
• While Nolah does offer a lifetime warranty, plus free shipping and returns, it only allows for a 120-day trial. 

Other User Reviews

The Nolah Signature flaunts a 4.8/5 average score by verified customer reviews on its website. One verified buyer attests to the bed’s pressure relief, writing: “I bought this mattress hoping for some relief from hip, knee and back pain. I read reviews about this mattress, but I had my doubts that it would actually help. But with a money-back guarantee, I thought I had nothing to lose. The very first night I slept in it I had no back or knee pain and my hip is even better than what is was previously!” Nolah doesn’t, however, allow you to filter reviews to see the less glowing ones.

Read our full Nolah Signature review for more information. Or if you’re looking for other great options, check out our best mattresses for side sleepers.

Our Expert’s Take

A luxury mattress may come at a cost, but something that distinguishes a luxury bed from the rest is that it should help replicate a five-star hotel-bed sleeping experience every night in your home or dorm room. The WinkBeds Original is a luxury hybrid mattress that may be able to deliver just that. First off, the WinkBeds Original stands out for its versatility. Our testers found it suitable for all types of sleepers (back, stomach, and side), people struggling with back and hip pain, and hot sleepers. Such versatility is likely due to the bed’s strategic construction and quality of materials, plus its multiple firmness options that should help you not have to compromise when choosing the exact one for you. Beyond its versatility, making it easy for couples to both find their sweet spot on it, this mattress has been found to offer not only a luxurious sleeping experience but a restorative one. Our testers found its zoned-support design, in particular, made the WinkBeds Original “one of the best orthopedic mattresses and best mattresses for lower back pain” they’ve tested.

The WinkBeds Original has an individually wrapped zoned coil layer that helps to deliver support for your back and maintain what testers found to be “excellent edge support” (5/5). On top of this is a gel-infused quilted Euro-Pillow top for pressure relief and responsive cushioning underneath a naturally sourced Tencel cover that our testers found to help “keep the surface of the mattress cool”.Durable, pressure-relieving, multi-faceted, and therapeutic are all traits that define a luxurious bed; they are also traits that our testers discovered when putting the WinkBeds Original to the test, making it, according to them, “one of the best mattresses under $2,000.”

What We Love About the WinkBeds Original 

• The multiple firmness options and hybrid design make it great for combination sleepers. Regardless of your sleeping patterns, you’ll likely find support and comfort on this bed.
• The zoned support and orthopedic design make the bed great for people struggling with back pain or those who want a bed that will not cause back pain as they age.
• Hot sleepers can enjoy the superior cooling abilities of the WinkBeds Original, as its coil system, Tencel cover, and gel-infused memory foam all work together to help regulate temperature and dissipate body heat. 

What to Keep in Mind About the WinkBeds Original 

• One drawback our testers found was that the WinkBeds Original didn’t isolate motion very well, which could become an issue for couples who toss and turn when they sleep.
• The luxurious bed comes at a price that may be out of some people’s budget.

Other User Reviews

The WinkBeds Original has well over 8,000 customer reviews on its website, averaging a score of 4.8/5. One verified buyer wrote the following: “This mattress is one of the best I’ve ever slept on. I immediately felt a difference from my aging memory foam mattress, that had me waking up feeling injured every morning. The [WinkBed] mattress FEELS high quality and healthy for my body. The only downside is, sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed!”

Read our full WinkBeds Original mattress review for more information. Or if you’re looking for other great options, check out our full list of the Best Luxury Mattresses.

Our Expert’s Take

Whether you run for fun, play an intramural sport, or represent your school’s team, you know the most important thing you can do for recovery is sleep. Check out the Bear mattress, specifically designed for athletes everywhere. It’s an all-foam mattress with a balanced, medium-firm construction many sleepers are sure to love. The high-quality materials have unique properties and all foams are CertiPUR-US certified, so they’re eco-friendly and natural.

What We Love About the Bear

• The Bear’s cover is woven with Celliant, a material that purportedly assists with brain circulation and muscle recovery. It’s also a cooling material. A graphite gel-infused foam layer provides pressure relief and additional cooling while a transition foam allows for ease of movement. The support layer is made of high-density polyfoam and assists with support and spinal alignment.
• Hot sleepers should love the many cooling features. Those with late-night practices and workouts should especially enjoy this; the materials in the cover and foams help cool down your body temperature in bed. We found that this mattress has good edge support, indicating durability. It should be one of the longer-lasting mattresses on this list due to its high-quality materials.
• This is one of the best mattresses for back sleepers of all body types. The balanced construction is ideal for these folks, along with those experiencing back pain. Lightweight sleepers and most average-weight side sleepers should also appreciate the comfort and support offered.

What to Keep in Mind About the Bear

• Heavyweight side sleepers will find this bed too firm. Heavy stomach sleepers will need something more supportive because the Bear isn’t firm enough to keep the hips elevated. Average-weight stomach sleepers will find this mattress too soft as well.
• Although Bear makes bold muscle recovery claims about its Celliant cover, our sleep lab lacks the capacity to test the assertion for ourselves. 

Other User Reviews

The Bear averages a 4.7 out of 5 rating based on 10614 reviews. Verified buyer Sarah S. wrote that she wanted beds to last through her childrens’ teens: “My oldest kid, who has ADHD and tends to stay awake a long time, reading and drawing, said he fell asleep immediately the first night. He loves his bed so much now!” Commenters leaving negative reviews found the bed didn’t meet their firmness expectation.

Read our full Bear review for more information. Or if you’re looking for more options, check out our Best Mattresses for Athletes.

Our Expert’s Take

The Brooklyn Essential differs from many of the models above (and shares a likeless with the Emma Hybrid Comfort) in that it’s a hybrid mattress, utilizing both foam and coils in its construction. It’s a 6/10 on our firmness scale, so it’s softer than average. The Brooklyn Bedding mattress manufactures beds in their own factory, so they can sell a more budget-friendly mattress. College students should like its affordability and comfortable, streamlined design. Plus, Brooklyn Bedding furnishes a student discount, a perk you won’t often see from mattress retailers. 

What We Love About the Brooklyn Essential

• The Brooklyn Essential is 10” tall. At the top of the mattress, there’s a thin, stretchy cover allowing for breathability. Beneath lies the primary comfort layer: gel-infused memory foam. This assists with cooling and provides pressure relief. Because this layer is quilted — and since the layer beneath is a responsive transition layer — you shouldn’t feel stuck. Below that, a layer of signature Ascension X coils provides structural support.
• Considering the Bowery’s low cost, we were impressed with its cooling abilities. Its breathable cover, gel-infused foam, and coils provide airflow. While it’s not the most long-lasting bed, it’s made with quality foams and has good edge support. This mattress is durable for its price. If you’re still on the fence, know that Brooklyn Bedding offers a 10-year warranty, 120-night sleep trial, and free shipping and returns.
• Because the mattress is on the softer side, we recommend it to lightweight sleepers under 130 lb and average-weight side sleepers. Combination sleepers of these weights should find it easy to move around on top of the mattress.

What to Keep in Mind About the Brooklyn Essential

• Average-weight back and stomach sleepers — along with heavyweight sleepers — won’t find adequate support on the Bowery.
• This may not be the right mattress for sleepers who derive the vast majority of their comfort from a hybrid’s memory foam layer but don’t get so much out of the support and bounce of the coil layer. 

Other User Reviews

One verified buyer said that after sleeping on the Brooklyn Essential for three weeks the bed had “helped with my overheating at night when I sleep” and that “for the amount I paid (student discount included), it was worth it.” Many lower ratings (although the bed only had one 1- or 2-star review) said the bed felt too soft. All in all, the Bowery received 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 553 reviews.

Read our full Brooklyn Essential review. Looking for additional recommendations, check out our Best Hybrid Mattresses for more great options.

Our Expert’s Take

The Plank Firm is an all-foam, flippable mattress that provides one of the firmest sleep surfaces we’ve ever tested. Does a very-firm mattress sound unappealing to you? Well, it actually might be the ideal way to sleep for you, depending on your body type and preferred sleeping position. 

What We Love About the Plank Firm

• Because of its flippable design, the Plank Firm’s construction is unique in comparison to every other mattress on this list. Each side features a layer of quilted polyfoam for a touch of softness, however, the softer side of the mattress also includes a 2” layer of comfort foam, which takes it from a 9/10 on our firmness scale to an 8/10. In between the two usable sides of the Plank Firm is a 7” layer of support foam that helps give the mattress structure.
• Flippability is one of the best value-adds you can find in a mattress. You can turn the bed over for an entirely new mattress and firmness level experience, greatly increasing the chance one side of the mattress will be compatible with your body type and sleep style.
• The extra-firm side works very well for stomach sleepers. It provides plenty of support and, while we were testing it, kept our hips fully elevated — a quality that stomach sleepers should look for in a mattress. As for the firm side, we found it worked best while we were on our backs, as it had just enough give for our hips to receive pressure relief. 

What to Keep in Mind About the Plank Firm

• Firm mattresses tend to be poor choices for lightweight people. If you fall into that category, you may want a softer mattress that allows you to sink somewhat into the surface. The Nectar will be a good option for you here.
• Even for tried and true firm mattress lovers, each side of the Plank might be too intense. That’s especially true if you’re a side sleeper who needs lots of pressure relief on the hips and shoulders.
• For college students who prefer a chilly sleeping environment, the Plank Firm may prove too warm. We measure the surface of the mattress using a thermal camera, and after resting on it for several minutes it had rose 4.5 degrees, leading us to give it a 3.5/5 on our temperature regulation test. If you’re interested in something that will keep you a bit cooler, we suggest the Helix Midnight.

Other User Reviews

Adam W. left feedback as a verified buyer and firm mattress fan, writing that the Plank finally offered a solution for sleep woes: “I tried out a lot of mattresses before finding the Plank so I know for sure that this is the right mattress for me. So many mattresses cater towards people who want the softest mattress that sinks or even contours as soon as you lay on it and it frustrated me to no end dealing with those in store.” Verified buyer Ching-fang H. said the Plank was “so good that I bought the second one for my daughter to take it to her dorm.” Unsurprisingly, negative reviews tended to bemoan that the mattress was too firm.

Read our full Plank Firm review. Need more options? Check out our Best Firm Mattresses for more great options.