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Our team of sleep experts has reviewed more than 600 mattresses and bedroom accessories using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing. We assess each bed for support, cooling, firmness, pressure relief, and more.
In This Roundup:
If you’ve been burned by a sagging mattress in the past, you likely know all about the back pain and discomfort sleeping on one can cause. I’ll dive into the best mattresses that will stay supportive even after years of use.
When you invest in a new mattress, you should prioritize durability and long-term support. Beds are expensive, so it’s disappointing when they don’t stand the test of time. No one wants to buy a mattress that feels great at the beginning, but slowly (or quickly) degrades to an unsupportive, uncomfortable bed. I want to help you avoid that situation altogether by highlighting 10 mattresses that won’t sag.
Collectively, the Mattress Clarity team has tested more than 500 different mattresses. We’ve helped over 35,000 people find their next mattress through our rigorous evaluation of performance factors like pressure relief, cooling, motion isolation, edge support, and more.
Our team of certified sleep science coaches puts every bed through the same series of quantitative and qualitative tests, and consults with medical professionals to land on recommendations that make sense for our readers. We also heavily consider factors like sleeping position, body type, and age when making these decisions.
A hybrid king-size mattress that’s sagging after 3.5 years of use. Note the indent between the tape measure and the bed’s surface.
This article has also been reviewed from a medical perspective by Amanda Marten, MSN, FNP-C, so you can rest easy knowing our findings are unbiased and medically approved.
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Mattress That Won’t Sag?
We chose the Nectar mattress as our top sag-free mattress pick due to its firm support system, lifetime warranty, and high-quality materials that won’t deteriorate quickly.
The Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag
Nectar – Best Mattress For Side Sleepers That Won’t Sag
Birch– Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers That Won’t Sag
What Matters Most in a Mattress That Won’t Sag
We assess mattresses by putting them through rigorous testing to collect objective and subjective data on their performance. In addition to creating an overall mattress score, we score individual categories, so you can get a better idea of where these beds shine and where they fall short. When determining the best mattresses that won’t sag, there are a few factors that we gave special consideration:
Support – We tested each bed using three testers in different weight categories, which helped us better understand which sleeping positions and body types the bed is compatible with. If the mattress has a strong support system, it’s less likely to sag over time. We look for materials like innerspring coils and high-density foams that keep the sleeper lifted and prevent premature sagging.
Warranty – The length of a mattress’s warranty helps indicate its durability, as it gives us an idea of how long the brand expects the product to last. Premature sagging is often covered in the mattress warranty, so we only included beds with strong terms and conditions that earned 4 stars or higher in this category.
Edge Support – When the perimeter of the mattress is reinforced, the edges are less likely to sag over time and you can better enjoy the full span of the bed. We test edge support using three tests—two that address how secure our tester feels when lying or sitting near the edge, and another in which we sit on the edge of the bed and calculate the sinkage with measuring tape. The beds on this roundup all earned at least 3 stars in this category, with most scoring even higher.
The Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag: Our Testing Experience
Nectar – Best Mattress For Side Sleepers That Won’t Sag
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.2
Nectar
Nectar Classic
Medium-Firm Feel
Motion Isolation
Pressure Relief
Foam mattress
365-night sleep trial
Free shipping
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The Nectar mattress is an all-foam mattress. It has a plush comfort layer followed by a thin layer of transition foam. At the bottom, there’s a layer of high-density base foam.
Firmness
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated the Nectar mattress a 6.5/10, which is the industry standard for medium-firm.
Price
$699-$1,798 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
Couples
This mattress isolates motion well, which means couples shouldn’t feel movement come over to their side of the bed.
Side Sleepers
It offers great pressure relief for side sleepers under 230 lbs.
Back Sleepers
The Nectar mattress offers plenty of support for most back sleepers under 230 lbs.
Pros of the Nectar Mattress
This mattress has a slow-moving feel. If you like mattresses that contour to your body, this could be a great option.
The Nectar mattress isolates motion well, which is helpful for people who share a bed with a partner or a pet.
It offers plenty of pressure relief for side sleepers who weigh less than 230 lb.
Cons of the Nectar Mattress
Even though it has cooling gel-infused foam, it’s not the best mattress for hot sleepers.
It’s not supportive enough for most stomach sleepers. In this position, you may feel your hips sink out of alignment, which can lead to lower back pain.
Because it’s an all-foam bed-in-a-box mattress, it has a 48-hour off-gassing period. You’ll need to let the mattress air out for two days before sleeping on it.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Forever warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period.
The Nectar is an affordable all-foam mattress that offers lots of pressure relief and body contouring. It works well for most side sleepers, because it helps cushion shoulders and hips. It is also a good option for couples, because it isolates motion well. However, the Nectar mattress isn’t supportive enough for most stomach sleepers and heavyweight people. If you tend to sleep hot at night, you may want to look for a mattress with more cooling features. Learn more in our Nectar mattress video review.
When it comes to side sleeping, Dr. Raj Dasgupta recommends contouring materials like memory foam that help relieve pressure, as well as a sturdy core to prevent excessive sinking. We think the Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress fits the bill because its high-density foam core helps keep the bed supportive, while the softer layers of memory foam add a touch of plush comfort. We rated this bed 5 stars for its lifetime warranty and 3.4 stars for edge support, so you should be able to use this mattress for many years without experiencing premature sagging. It’s also made with high-quality CertiPUR-US certified foams that are unlikely to deteriorate over time.
This bed is firmer than average, falling at a 7/10 on our mattress firmness scale. Although we typically recommend softer mattresses to side sleepers, our average-weight tester Sosha Lewis felt great in the side-sleeping position. “It’s pretty firm for a foam bed, but it’s still contouring my body and my hips,” she said. “It’s elevating my hips and providing just a little sinkage that feels really balanced.” Both Sosha and our heavy tester gave the Nectar 4 stars for side sleeping, so we’d recommend this bed to side sleepers who prefer a firmer feel.
Side sleeping near weak edges can cause some instability for sleepers, but we don’t believe this will be an issue on the Nectar mattress. The main support system is an 8-inch layer of foundational foam that prevents the edges from completely collapsing when weight is applied. While our tester Livvi DiCicco experienced some sinkage when sitting directly on the edges, she felt very stable when lying on her side near the edge, saying, “I didn’t ever feel like I was going to slip off.”
While this bed is a solid choice for average-weight and heavyweight side sleepers, we don’t recommend it to lightweight sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds. Since the bed is firm, these sleepers are unlikely to experience enough sinkage and pressure relief at the shoulders and hips. In contrast, most average-weight stomach sleepers will probably find the Nectar too soft to properly lift their hips in line with their shoulders.
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.0
Helix
Helix Midnight Luxe
Medium-Firm Feel
Motion Isolation
Breathability
Hybrid mattress
100-night sleep trial
Free shipping
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The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress. This means it has both cushioning foam and supportive coil layers.
Firmness
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated this mattress 6.5/10. This is the industry standard for medium-firm.
Price
$1,373-$2,073 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, short queen, king, California king, RV king
Side Sleepers
Great pressure relief for side sleepers under 230 lbs.
Back Sleepers
Great support for back sleepers under 230 lbs.
Hot Sleepers
This bed’s cooling features can help keep you from overheating at night.
Pros
This bed has a hotel-like feel. The pillow top provides a plush comfort layer to sink into.
The Helix Midnight Luxe sleeps cool. Thanks to its cooling cover and copper-infused memory foam, even hot sleepers shouldn’t worry about overheating on this bed.
Even though it’s a hybrid mattress, this bed has great motion isolation. That means if you co-sleep, you’re less likely to feel your partner’s movements.
Cons
Stomach sleepers probably won’t find this bed supportive enough to keep their spine in proper alignment.
This is a luxury mattress model, so it wouldn’t be considered a budget-buy.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
15-year warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a premium medium-firm mattress that offers a hotel-like feel for a relatively affordable price. Its zoned support and supportive coil layers make it a great option for back sleepers. It likely isn’t firm enough for most stomach sleepers, though. If you’re looking for a more supportive bed, check out the Titan Plus. Learn more in our video review.
If you’re someone who craves plush, contouring memory foam but prioritizes strong support, a hybrid mattress might be the right fit for you. Hybrid beds combine soft layers of foam with traditional innerspring coils to strike a balance between pressure relief and support. According to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, hybrid beds are the “superhero of sleep comfort, providing the best of both worlds.”
We think the Helix Midnight Luxe is the best hybrid mattress that won’t sag because it has a balanced medium-firm feel, contains coils zoned for support, and has four reinforced sides that earned it 4.2 stars for edge support. Helix also scored 4.5 stars for its limited lifetime warranty, so the company backs its durability. Overall, this bed earned 4 stars during testing.
When our testers tried the Helix Midnight Luxe, they found it compatible with both the side and back sleeping positions regardless of their body type. This bed includes a soft pillow top, which adds enough cushioning at the hips and shoulders to prevent pressure buildup in side sleepers.
Our tester Kate Gorman experiences consistent shoulder pain due to a past broken collarbone, yet she experienced no discomfort when side sleeping. This bed also contains coils zoned for support, meaning their firmness fluctuates depending on where the body needs the most lift. This sturdy bottom layer combined with the softer top layers makes the Midnight Luxe a great fit for back sleepers looking for pressure relief, too. In this position, tester Cait Giddings said, “The soft pillow top conformed to my lower back, and the firmer layers kept my spine from sinking and falling out of alignment.”
While the standard Helix Midnight only contains two reinforced edges, the Midnight Luxe is reinforced on all four sides, so you can sleep right up to any edge without worrying about sagging. I’ve personally tested the edge support, and I can confirm that the edge reinforcement really does make a difference. When Cait tested the edge support in both the sitting and lying positions, she found them to be secure. “When lying on the edge of the bed, I felt fully supported and in no threat of falling or sliding off,” she said.
One downside of the Midnight Luxe is its high motion transfer. If you sleep with a partner, you’re likely to feel them tossing and turning on the other side of the bed. We also don’t think this bed is compatible with stomach sleeping. While lightweight sleepers may find enough support on their stomach, average and heavyweight sleepers will likely experience too much sinkage at the hips, which can cause lower back pain.
Plank Firm – Best Extra-Firm Mattress That Won’t Sag
Best Extra-Firm Mattress
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.2
Brooklyn Bedding
Plank Firm
Firm Feel
Flippable
Supportive
Foam mattress
120-night sleep trial
Free shipping
Spring Sale
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The Plank Firm is a flippable mattress with two firmness levels on each side. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated the softer side a 8/10. The firmer side comes in at a 9/10.
Price
$749-$1,532 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, short full, full, short queen, queen, olympic queen, short king, split king, split california king, California king, RV king
Stomach Sleepers
It offers ample hip support for most stomach sleepers, especially on the firmer side.
Heavyweight Sleepers
This mattress has a thick comfort layer and sturdy coils that can handle heavier weights.
Pros of the Plank Firm
It has a flippable design, so you can easily change its firmness level by turning the mattress over.
It’s the firmest mattress we have tested, so if you need a lot of spinal support, this is a good option.
It works well for stomach sleepers because it helps keep hips elevated and in the correct alignment.
Cons of the Plank Firm
This mattress is too firm for most side sleepers.
Because it’s made entirely out of foam, it tends to trap body heat.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period.
The Plank Firm mattress is one of the most supportive mattresses on the market. It has a flippable design, with two firmness levels in one. On our firmness scale, the the softer side feels like a 8/10 and the firmer side feels like a 9/10. Both sides tend to work well for stomach sleepers, but most side sleepers won’t get enough pressure relief on this bed. Watch our video review to learn more.
While many enjoy a plush feel from their bed, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re looking for the firmest possible mattress, allow me to introduce the Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding.
This flippable mattress has a firm side and an extra-firm side, so you can choose the feel you prefer. We think the extra-firm side is the firmest we have ever tested in our studio, coming in at a 9/10 on our firmness scale. Like its name suggests, it feels like lying on a plank, so it’s not the most pressure-relieving mattress in the world. However, we found its level of support perfect for stomach sleeping. Our testing also assigned it a fantastic 4.8-star rating for edge support due to its high-density foams. In addition to all that, the Plank comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so the brand is standing by its claims that the mattress will last.
When the Plank Firm is flipped to the extra-firm side, the support layer of high-density foam actually becomes the top comfort layer. This provides a ton of lift, so there’s not much sinkage at all. It’s not super contouring, earning 3 out of 5 stars for pressure relief, which makes it a great match for stomach sleeping. We like to see minimal sinkage in this position, as it prevents the hips from dipping below the shoulders and exacerbating lower back pain.
While the aptly named Plank may be a touch too firm for lightweight stomach sleepers, it should be just right for average-weight and heavy stomach sleepers. We also think back sleepers who prefer a firm feel will enjoy the spinal support. Even our lightweight back sleeper, Kate Gorman, said, “I don’t feel pressure in my lower back or hips.”
When it comes to edge support, the Plank Firm’s extra-firm side is terrific. Tester Cait Giddings found it extremely easy to get in and out of the bed, and we think people with mobility issues will be able to rely on these edges when doing so. “They don’t dip and sag at all,” she said. “When I lay on the edge of the bed in all three positions, it felt as firm as it did when I was in the center of it.” Even when we placed a 200-pound stack of weights directly on the edges, they only sank by 4 inches, which is impressive compared to other mattresses of the same quality. These edges sank even less when we placed 100 and 150 pounds of weight on them, sinking 2.5 and 3 inches respectively.
Since this bed is extremely firm, we don’t recommend it to side sleepers of any weight class. There’s not enough sinkage and contouring to provide relief at the body’s most sensitive pressure points in this position. We also don’t think this bed is cooling enough for hot sleepers, as it only earned 3 stars in this category. Hot sleepers should seek a bed with more cooling features, rather than an all-foam bed like the Plank.
Saatva Classic – Best Innerspring Mattress That Won’t Sag
Best Innerspring Mattress
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.4
Saatva
Saatva Classic
Multiplem Firmnesses
Durable
Responsive
Hybrid mattress
365-night sleep trial
Free white glove delivery
Limited Time Offer
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The Saatva is a hybrid mattress. This means it has both cushioning foam and supportive coil layers.
Firmness
Multiple firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated the Luxury Firm model a 7/10, which is a bit firmer than average.
Price
$1,295-$2,790 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king, split California king
Stomach Sleepers
Supportive enough for stomach sleepers under 230 lbs.
Back Sleepers
Great support for back sleepers under 300 lbs.
Hot Sleepers
This bed’s cooling features can help keep you from overheating at night.
Pros
The Saatva mattress is a great option for combination sleepers. It is available in multiple firmness options, but the Luxury Firm model works well for multiple sleeping positions.
The Luxury Firm model of the Saatva will work well for most back sleepers. Its balance of comfort and support and zoned construction ensure you’ll sleep in good neutral alignment.
Shoppers looking for a long-lasting mattress will love the Saatva. It feature high-density foam and durable coils that should ensure it lasts for over 10 years.
Cons
If you like the feel of a memory foam mattress, you’re not going to love the feel of the Saatva.
Lightweight side sleepers might not get the best pressure relief, even on the softest Saatva model.
Shipping
Free white glove delivery
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period. A removal fee of $99 will be deducted from your refund.
The Saatva is a luxurious hybrid innerspring mattress that should be a great long-term investment. It is available in multiple firmness options, so it should work for the majority of sleeping positions, and its Luxury Firm model is one of the best mattresses for back sleepers. However, lightweight side sleepers and fans of memory foam should look elsewhere. Learn more in our video review.
The Saatva Classic is a luxury innerspring mattress with an impressively supportive construction. Innerspring beds are characterized by their strong layer of support coils, and the Saatva contains two layers of this material. This coil-on-coil construction makes the Saatva an incredibly supportive mattress with strong edge support that sets the standard for mattresses we’ve tested, earning it a 5-star rating for all three edge support tests.
Saatva offers a lifetime warranty on this mattress, which further supports our assessment that you won’t experience any premature sagging on it. Additionally, this bed is offered in three firmness levels — Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm — so you can choose the feel you prefer. Our team tested the Luxury Firm model. Regardless of the firmness you pick, you’ll experience the same long-term support from the dual-coil system.
While it’s an innerspring mattress, the Saatva still provides some plush comfort from its Euro top. This layer adds some pleasant initial softness around the hips and shoulders without compromising the support of dual coil layers below. Dr. Raj says innerspring beds offer superior support for spinal alignment, and we couldn’t agree more.
When our heavy tester Matt Schickling tested this bed on his back, he said, “I immediately feel the alignment. It feels like a stretch when you haven’t stretched in a while. Nothing is sinking more than I expect, and I overall feel supported.” Back sleepers of all weights should experience proper spinal alignment on this bed, and we think it’s a good match for side sleeping, too. When side sleeping, average-weight tester Kayla Godfrey said, “It contours my body nicely with my spine very aligned.”
In terms of edge support, it doesn’t get much better than the Saatva. When our tester Livvi DiCicco sat directly on these edges, she could feel the reinforcement lifting her body up and preventing the layers from sagging. She describes them as “almost akin to sitting on a table, with no sinkage or slipping.” Livvi also found 5-star support when lying directly on the edges in all sleeping positions. She was even able to lie down with one leg slung over the side without feeling unstable.
Since the Saatva contains two layers of coils, it’s extremely bouncy and responsive, which makes it poor in isolating motion. If you sleep with a partner, you’re very likely to feel their every move, so we only gave it 2.7 stars in the motion isolation category. Additionally, this innerspring bed doesn’t offer the slow-moving foams and hug-sensation that some sleepers desire. These folks should seek a memory foam or hybrid bed.
WinkBed Plus – Best Luxury Mattress That Won’t Sag
Best Luxury Mattress
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
The WinkBed Plus is a hybrid mattress. This means it has both cushioning foam and supportive coil layers.
Firmness
Multiple firmness options: Softer, Luxury Firm, and Firmer. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated the Luxury Firm model a 7/10, which is slightly firmer than the industry standard for medium-firm.
Price
$1,349-$2,199 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Stomach Sleepers
Great support for stomach sleepers over 230 lbs.
Back Sleepers
Great support for back sleepers over 230 lbs.
Hot Sleepers
This bed’s cooling features can help keep you from overheating at night.
Pros of the WinkBed Plus
This bed is made with durable materials that should last at least a decade.
Back and stomach sleepers who weigh more than 230 lbs should find they get plenty of support from this bed.
It sleeps cool. The cooling cover and breathable coil contruction can help hot sleepers keep from overheating.
Cons of the WinkBed Plus
The WinkBed Plus isn’t a soft or cushioning enough mattress for most side sleepers.
Although this bed is made with layers of memory foam, it doesn’t have the traditional “sink-in” foam feel.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period.
The WinkBed Plus is the brand’s model designed specifically for sleepers who weigh more than 230 lbs. Its sturdy, supportive coils help prevent sagging and provide plenty of support for heavyweight back and stomach sleepers. All of this said, it’s likely too firm of a mattress for most side sleepers. Instead, check out the WinkBed. Learn more in our video review.
The WinkBed Plus contains luxury features that you won’t typically find on a standard mattress, such as a silky Tencel cover, a gel-infused pillow top, and extra reinforcements around the edges. This bed was made with supreme support in mind and even includes a layer of latex that’s zoned to provide additional bolstering for the lumbar region. When we tested this bed, we thought its firm feel provided lots of lift that helps with spinal alignment, as well as a 4.2-star rating for edge support. The bed comes with a lifetime warranty, and WinkBeds even performed a 20-year durability test using a 300-pound sleeper and found no sagging concerns.
The WinkBed Plus was designed specifically for heavy sleepers, so lightweight and average-weight sleepers may not find quite as much sinkage. Of course you don’t have to be a heavy sleeper to enjoy this mattress, and we tested it across all three weight categories to be sure.
We rated the mattress at an 8/10 on our firmness scale, so we found it most compatible with stomach and back sleeping. Average-weight tester Livvi DiCicco tried this bed on her stomach and said, “I’m not considered a heavy sleeper, but I really enjoyed its firmness. The foams in the pillow top provide some cushioning and pressure relief for my chest and belly, and my hips were lifted enough to feel in line with the rest of my body.” When our heavy tester Matt Schickling tested the WinkBed Plus on his back and side, he found excellent support and spinal alignment. He noted contouring from the pillow top that added some nice pressure relief despite its firmer feel.
According to WinkBeds, this mattress contains a patented 5-Zone EliteEdge support system that prevents sagging along the perimeter. Since it’s a hybrid bed, the WinkBed Plus contains individually pocketed coils that keep the edges strong through the entire structure. While Livvi experienced some compression from the top two layers, the coils prevented her from sinking all the way. “I’d say the edge kept its shape as I rolled around and switched positions,” she said. “If you’re a combination sleeper who gravitates toward the perimeter, you’re all set.”
Since this bed is very firm, it’s likely not a good fit for lightweight sleepers, who should seek a bed they’ll sink further into. This makes sense considering it wasn’t designed with them in mind. This bed also isn’t the best choice for anyone wanting to feel “in” the bed rather than “on” it. While it does offer some plush contouring, you’re unlikely to experience a soft, doughy sensation on this bed.
Nolah Natural – Best Organic Mattress That Won’t Sag
Best Organic Mattress
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.1
Nolah
Nolah Natural
Soft Feel
Eco-Friendly
Pressure Relief
Latex Mattress
120-night sleep trial
Free shipping
Sale
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The Nolah Natural is a latex hybrid mattress. This means it has coils at the bottom and latex foam on top.
Firmness
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated this mattress a 6/10. For reference, 6.5/10 is the industry standard for medium-firm.
Price
$1,499-$3,398 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king, split California king
Hot Sleepers
This comfort layer is naturally breathable, and the coils help promote airflow.
Side Sleepers
The Talalay Latex comfort layer offers nice pressure relief for side sleepers who weigh less than 230 lbs.
Pros
This mattress contains organic cotton and wool. Plus, the Talalay Latex is eco-friendly.
Because it’s softer than average, it cushions joints and offers nice pressure relief for many side sleepers.
This mattress doesn’t trap body heat, so it works well for people who tend to feel hot at night.
Cons
It doesn’t isolate motion well, which could be a deterrent for couples.
It lacks a slow-moving feel.
This mattress may not be supportive enough for many stomach sleepers.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period.
The Nolah Natural is an eco-friendly mattress that contains organic cotton, organic wool, and eco-friendly latex foam. It feels softer than average, which makes it a nice choice for many side sleepers. It’s not supportive enough for most stomach sleepers, though. It also doesn’t isolate motion well, so it may not be a good option for couples. Watch our Nolah Natural mattress review video to learn more.
If organic and eco-friendly materials are important to you, a mattress like the Nolah Natural could fit the bill. This bed is made with natural latex, which is not only durable enough to prevent sagging, but it’s also naturally cooling. The latex inside the Nolah Natural meets the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) criteria for ethical production. The mattress is also GREENGUARD Gold certified, so it meets strict standards for low chemical emissions. With a medium-firm feel, this bed strikes a solid balance between support and pressure relief. Its main support system is a layer of individually wrapped coils that scored 4.6 stars in our edge support testing. Nolah backs this bed with a limited lifetime warranty, although we don’t think you’ll need to use it.
The combination of steel coils and two layers of latex foam makes this bed a dream for back sleepers. All three of our testers experienced pressure relief at their lumbar region, so it’s also a great pick for sleepers with back pain. Our tester Matt Schickling said, “I feel like I’m on top of the bed—there’s no sinkage, really, but it’s keeping me perfectly aligned and supported.” Additionally, our tester Asha Birjah experiences frequent neck pain but was able to find relief on the Nolah Natural. The average PSI, or pounds per square inch, for back sleeping is 15.1, and all of our testers had lower PSI averages on this bed when testing with our pressure map. This indicates even weight distribution across the mattress.
Certified sleep science coach Melanie Kassel tested the Nolah Natural’s edge support and said, “I felt no dipping and was assured the bed would hold me securely.” While she felt less stable on her side, she felt completely secure on her back and stomach when sleeping near the edge.
In testing, it was apparent that these edges were reinforced, so we think older adults and people with mobility issues will be able to rely on them when getting in and out of bed. Based on these tests, we don’t think the edges will get weaker over time, and sagging shouldn’t be an issue.
Since latex is a very bouncy material, this bed struggles to absorb motion on impact and prevent it from transferring across the mattress. We only gave the Nolah Natural 2.3 stars for motion isolation because you’ll likely wake up from a partner tossing and turning next to you. We also didn’t find this bed particularly cooling, despite its latex and breathable coils. It doesn’t sleep hot, but it’s not exactly cool-to-the-touch like other latex mattresses can be.
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.1
Brooklyn Bedding
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Multiple Firmnesses
Affordable
Responsive
Hybrid mattress
120-night trial period
Free shipping
Spring Sale
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The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is a hybrid mattress. This means it has both cushioning foam and supportive coil layers.
Firmness
Multiple firmness options: Soft, Medium, and Firm. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated the Medium model a 6.5/10, which is the industry standard for medium-firm.
Price
$665-$1,599 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, short full, queen, short queen, king, short king, Olympic queen, California king, split California king, RV king
Back Sleepers
Great support for back sleepers under 230 lbs.
Couples
Good balance of motion isolation and responsiveness.
Pros of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is a budget-friendly mattress. It’s a good fit for shoppers looking for an affordable, versatile bed.
Combination sleepers will find it easy to change positions on this bed. Thanks to its bouncy coil construction, the Signature offers a very responsive surface.
Back and side sleepers under 230 lbs can expect great pressure relief and support on this bed.
Cons of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature
This bed doesn’t provide much motion isolation.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature isn’t a luxury mattress.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period. A removal fee of $99 will be deducted from your refund.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is an affordable, no-frills bed with a medium-firm feel that should work for a wide variety of sleepers. While it’s made with durable materials and should last up to 10 years, it isn’t the most luxurious option. If you’re looking for a premium bed, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. Learn more in our video review.
High-quality mattresses can get pretty expensive, and not everyone has the budget to spend thousands of dollars on their next bed. If you want a quality bed that won’t break the bank, consider the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. This mattress currently retails for $1,322 for a queen, but you’ll most likely find it for less than $1,000 due to Brooklyn Bedding’s frequent sales and discounts. You can save even more by heading to our mattress coupons page, and seeing what’s available at this time.
Although it’s one of the cheaper beds on this roundup, Brooklyn Bedding’s Signature Hybrid is still very durable, and its layer of support coils help it stand strong and prevent sagging. These coils also help provide solid support around the sides of the mattress, which earned it 4.2 stars for edge support. With a 5-star limited lifetime warranty, you should be able to use this bed for many years without it deteriorating.
This bed falls at a 7/10 on our firmness scale, meaning it’s a medium-firm mattress that leans just a touch firmer than average. This firmness level combined with its hybrid construction makes it very supportive and ideal for back and stomach sleeping. While there are some top layers of comfort foam, the coil layer provides enough lift to prevent your lower back from bending unnaturally when stomach sleeping. Additionally, the combination of foam and coils provides a comfortable surface for back sleeping. Our tester Livvi DiCicco noticed the space at her lumbar region being filled in, which is what we like to see. Another one of our testers, Kayla Godfrey, said, “It feels really really good on my back with minimal to no pressure. The bottom half of my body is larger, and I’m finding enough sinkage to compensate while also keeping my spine aligned.”
When Livvi tested the strength of the bed’s edges, she was impressed. During the seated edge support test, she didn’t need to use her hands to help stand up. While there was a bit of sinkage, she didn’t feel like she was slipping and sliding. She felt even more supported when lying near the edge and didn’t notice any sinking regardless of her sleeping position. Cheaper mattresses can sometimes lack proper edge support, so we were very pleased to see such strong support from the Signature Hybrid.
Due to its firmer feel, I wouldn’t recommend this bed to strict side sleepers. All of our testers experienced pressure building at the hips or shoulders in this position, which could lead to pain in side sleepers with sensitive joints. I’d also steer memory foam lovers away from this bed, as its primary feel comes from the coils rather than the foam.
Titan Plus – Best Mattress For Heavy People That Won’t Sag
Best Mattress for Heavy People
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.0
Brooklyn Bedding
Titan Plus
Firm Feel
Supportive
Breathable
Hybrid mattress
120-night sleep trial
Free shipping
Spring Sale
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The Titan Plus is a hybrid mattress. This means it has coils at the bottom and foam on top.
Firmness
The Titan Plus mattress is very firm. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated it a 9/10.
Price
$699-$1,499 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split California king
Heavyweight sleepers
This mattress has a thick comfort layer and sturdy coils that can handle heavier weights.
Stomach Sleepers
It offers lots of hip support, which can help stomach sleepers maintain the correct spinal alignment.
Couples
This mattress has good edge support and motion isolation.
Pros of the Titan Plus
It works well for people who weigh 230 – 500 lb, thanks to its supportive feel.
This mattress has great edge support.
The Titan Plus mattress is breathable and cool, so it works well for hot sleepers.
Cons of the Titan Plus
Lightweight people likely won’t get enough pressure relief on this mattress.
It’s too firm for many side sleepers, who will likely need more cushioning along their shoulders and hips.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period. A removal fee of $99 will be deducted from your refund.
The Titan Plus mattress works well for many heavyweight back and stomach sleepers. It’s quite firm, coming in at 9/10 on our firmness scale. This means that many side sleepers won’t get the pressure relief they need along their shoulders and hips. Watch our Titan Plus mattress review video to learn more.
Sleepers weighing over 230 pounds will typically sink further into a mattress than lightweight and average-weight sleepers, so it’s important that they find a bed with plenty of lift and strong support. We recommend the Titan Plus, a bed designed specifically for these folks. With a sturdy coil system, high-density foams, and a 13-inch profile, this bed provides support at every turn. We were also impressed by its edge support, which we rated 5 stars after performing three tests.
This mattress has one of the strongest support systems we’ve ever tested in our studio. The primary support system is an 8-inch layer of 900 individually wrapped steel coils. Further support comes from the top layers of firm foam, which give the bed a firmer-than-average feel that we rated a 7/10 on our firmness scale. Our heavy tester Matt Schickling stepped in to test this bed and felt most comfortable back sleeping. “My spine feels aligned, and it feels more pressure relieving on my back than it did on my side,” he said. “It feels like it’s contouring my back well.” He felt less comfortable when side sleeping, noting some pressure building in his shoulders and hips.
Our tester Cait Giddings, who falls in the lightweight category, tested the Titan Plus’s edge support and found outstanding results. No matter how close she got to the edge, she felt supported with no noticeable sagging. She said, “The firmness of the bed at its edge was virtually identical to the firmness in the center of the mattress, no matter which sleeping position I tried.” She also felt solid when sitting directly on the edge and found it easy to rely on them when getting in and out of bed.
We also tested the edge support by placing a 200lb stack of weighted plates directly on the edge, which simulates a heavy sleeper, and found only 2.5 inches of sinkage. This is outstanding, as we’ve seen mattresses with edges collapsing more than 5 inches. Based on its construction and performance, we see this bed standing strong even after many years of use.
Since this bed was designed for heavy sleepers, it’s not the best choice for lightweight sleepers. This firm mattress will likely feel even firmer to these sleepers, and they’re unlikely to experience better-than-average contouring or pressure relief. We also don’t recommend this bed to especially hot sleepers, as it only earned 3 stars during our cooling tests.
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.1
Bear
Bear Elite Hybrid
Medium-Firm Feel
Lifetime Warranty
Sturdy Edges
Hybrid mattress
120-night sleep trial
Free shipping
March Deals
Use code DEALS and save 30% off sitewide + 2 free pillows See Details
The Bear Elite Hybrid is a hybrid mattress. This means it has both cushioning foam and supportive coil layers.
Firmness
Multiple firmness options: Soft, Medium, and Firm. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated the Medium model a 6.5/10, which is the industry standard for medium-firm.
Price
$1,893-$3,920 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
Side Sleepers
Back Sleepers
Hot Sleepers
Pros of the Bear Elite Hybrid
This mattress offers great value. It’s made with high-quality materials and backed by a lifetime warranty, but available at a relatively affordable price point.
It comes with excellent edge support. The Bear Elite Hybrid’s sturdy perimeter is helpful if you need a stable surface to get in and out of bed.
The bed’s cover and foam layers contain cooling materials to help regulate your body temperature. Its coil layer also promotes plenty of airflow to keep you cool.
Cons of the Bear Elite Hybrid
Doesn’t do the best job of isolating motion.
Likely not supportive enough for sleepers who weigh over 230 lbs.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is Bear’s most high-end mattress. It offers luxury features, like zoned support and extra height, while still offering the temperature regulation Bear mattresses are known for. Based on our testing results, we’d recommend this mattress to average-weight side and back sleepers, as well as hot sleepers. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, check out the Bear Star Hybrid. Learn more in our video review.
Just because a mattress is supportive doesn’t mean it can’t also be soft and plush. If you want a sturdy bed that still provides a cushioning feel, try the Bear Elite Hybrid. This bed lands at a 6/10 on the firmness scale, making it a medium-soft bed that’s ideal for side and back sleepers.
The Elite Hybrid also scored well on edge support, earning 4.6 out of 5 stars thanks to the sturdy layer of coils. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty and high-quality materials that are GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified, which point toward high-quality, eco-friendly materials.
Since this bed leans soft, it’s a great choice for side sleepers, who can find plenty of cushioning around their pressure points from the plush pillow top. When tester Cait Giddings tried the Bear Elite Hybrid in this position, she said, “The soft top contoured to my body and I felt no pressure in this position. I could feel some firmer support coming from the coils below, so my spine felt supported enough to maintain its natural curve.” We also loved this bed when back sleeping, and even found it supportive enough for heavy sleepers. Heavy tester Matt Schickling said, “There’s no pressure building at my hips and I feel like my shoulders and hips are aligned.”
Cait loved the Elite Hybrid’s strong edges, and felt like they assisted her when she stood up and down. “The bed has a nice reinforced-feeling edge that supports me, and I think seniors would appreciate how easy it is to get in and out of bed,” she said. Cait thought the edges were just as supportive as the very center of the bed and found no sinkage or sagging when lying in various sleeping positions along them.
Since this bed is so soft, we wouldn’t recommend it to stomach sleepers, who typically need firmer support at the hips to prevent them from sinking below the shoulders. This bed also may be too expensive for budget shoppers, as a queen currently goes for $2,305 at full retail.
Birch– Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers That Won’t Sag
Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
Mattress Clarity Score
We rate each mattress on a scale from 1 to 5 to reflect its overall quality. This number is comprised of individual scores from hands-on testing of materials, firmness, pressure relief, motion transfer, cooling, responsiveness, and more.
4.5
Birch
Birch Natural
Firm Feel
Sustainably Made
Responsive
Latex mattress
100-night sleep trial
Free shipping
March Madness Sale
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The Birch Natural is a latex hybrid mattress. It has both cushioning latex and supportive coil layers.
Firmness
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, we rated this mattress 7/10. This is just slightly firmer than average.
Price
$1,498-$2,498 (before any discounts)
Size
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Stomach Sleepers
Supportive enough for stomach sleepers under 230 lbs.
Back Sleepers
Great support for back sleepers under 230 lbs.
Hot Sleepers
This bed’s cooling features can help keep you from overheating at night.
Pros of the Birch Natural
The Birch Natural is made with sustainable materials that have earned certifications from multiple third-party organizations, including GOTS and GREENGUARD.
Thanks to the latex layer, this bed is a bouncy, responsive mattress. Combination sleepers will appreciate how easy it is to change positions on it.
Ventilated latex and individually wrapped coils make for a breathable, cool night’s rest on this bed. Hot sleepers shouldn’t have to worry about this mattress trapping heat.
Cons of the Birch Natural
This bed is likely too firm to provide the cushioning most side sleepers need.
With such a responsive surface, this mattress won’t offer much motion isolation.
Shipping
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
25-year warranty
Returns
You’ll receive a refund if you return your mattress within the trial period, but after a 30-day “break-in” period. A removal fee of $99 will be deducted from your refund.
The Birch Natural is a great option if you’re looking for a sustainable, responsive bed. It features natural latex and individually wrapped coils for comfort and support. Its firmness is best suited to back and stomach sleepers under 230 lbs, though, so side sleeepers should opt for a softer bed, like the Helix Midnight. Learn more in our video review.
When it comes to stomach sleeping, keeping the hips in line with the shoulders is key. If the hips sink too far into the mattress, the lower back forms a U shape, which can lead to pain.
According to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, “a firm, or even ultra-firm, mattress is the most comfortable” for side sleepers. We found the Birch Natural to be great for stomach sleeping, as its layers of supportive latex and coils worked together to lift our hips and stabilize alignment in this position. It also scored well on edge support, earning 4 stars through three different tests. The bed also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, which speaks to the high-quality organic materials used in the mattress.
Our tester Nicole Davis tried the Birch on her stomach, which is a position she usually avoids due to frequent pain in her lower spine and pelvis. Although this isn’t her favorite position, she felt comfortable on the Birch and didn’t notice too much sinkage at her hips. I also tried this mattress on my stomach, and found that the latex foam doesn’t compress quite as much as typical memory foam, so it was able to add some contouring around my hips without letting them sink. I also felt a lot of support coming through from the coils. The bed is super responsive, so I think sleepers who switch between their stomach and another position will be able to do so easily without feeling trapped in the mattress’s layers.
When Nicole tested the Birch Natural’s edge support, she found it easy to get up from a seated position and didn’t have to use her hands for additional support, which is something sleepers with mobility issues should appreciate. She felt even more supported when lying directly on the edge of the mattress. “It’s easy to switch between sleeping positions, even when I’m near the very edge,” she said. This above-average edge support is a good omen for the long-term durability of this mattress.
While this bed is great for stomach sleeping, side sleepers might be left wanting. The bed doesn’t provide a ton of sinkage and body contouring, which is something most side sleepers need to avoid pressure buildup in the hips and shoulders. It’s also not the best choice for shoppers adhering to a strict budget, as a queen size goes for $1,874 at full retail.
There are plenty of supportive, durable mattresses on the market, but I couldn’t fit all of them into this roundup. If the beds on this list aren’t quite working for your budget and sleep style, here are three bonus beds you might consider checking out.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe – With incredible support and durability, the Aurora Luxe is a great choice for back sleepers, especially if they sleep hot. However, it’s much more expensive than some of Brooklyn Bedding’s other mattresses, such as the Signature Hybrid on this roundup.
DreamCloud Premier Rest – This hybrid mattress is DreamCloud’s most luxurious model and is particularly good for side sleepers. With great motion isolation, it’s also a nice choice for couples. However, this bed is not supportive enough for larger body types.
Leesa Sapira Chill – If you’re a hot sleeper seeking a soft bed, this is an excellent choice. However, it’s not very responsive, which makes it difficult to move around on, which can pose an issue for combination sleepers.
How We Tested the Best Mattresses that Won’t Sag
In our testing studio, we perform rigorous evaluations to determine which kind of sleepers each bed is ideal for. We do everything from cut the bed open to evaluate the materials inside, to using gadgets like pressure maps and thermal guns to take empirical measurements. To choose our top picks for mattresses that won’t sag, we paid special attention to a few specific test categories.
Support
We evaluate how supportive a mattress is by taking a look at its materials and construction. We consider a mattress supportive if it provides enough lift to promote proper spinal alignment and prevent the sleeper from sinking too far into its layers. We’re big fans of mattresses that use individually wrapped steel coils, as these help keep the entire mattress strong and prevent the layers from collapsing in on themselves. High-density foam is also a great option that provides a sturdy foundation for maintaining healthy spinal alignment.
We also make sure to test each mattress with three types of sleepers—a lightweight sleeper, an average-weight sleeper, and a heavyweight sleeper—and have them lie on the bed in all three sleeping positions. This helps us determine which body types will experience the best support in each position and allows us to make very specific recommendations to sleepers.
Testing mattress support
Edge Support
To supplement our findings for support, we evaluate the strength of the mattress’s perimeter. When a mattress has weak edge support, it’s prone to sagging. Strong edges also allow the sleeper to fully spread out and use the entire surface area of the bed without feeling like they’re about to fall off. This can appeal to couples, as strong edges can make the bed feel larger. Older adults and people with mobility issues can also rely on strong edges when getting in and out of bed.
We start our test by having a tester sit directly on the edge of the bed and stand up several times. The tester observes how stable they feel and how much the layers compress underneath their weight. They also note whether it’s easy to stand up, or if they have to use their hands for extra support. Next, they lie close to the edge on their side, back, and stomach and observe which position they feel most secure in. It’s especially impressive if the tester feels supported when side sleeping, as weak edges make it easy to topple over in this position.
We also perform a quantitative tape measure test, also called a weighted edge support test. We start by stacking weighted plates together to create piles of 100 pounds, 150 pounds, and 200 pounds. These represent sleepers of different weights. We measure the initial height of the mattress and then measure the height again after the weights have been placed on the edge. We see how many inches the layers collapsed and whether the edges were able to support every weight class. Based on how much the edges sink, the mattress is given a score that reflects its performance against the average.
Testing Edge Support
Firmness and Feel
While support and durability are important, we also want to provide sleepers with mattresses that fit their individual preferences. Since firmness can be subjective, we always have multiple expert testers try each mattress in three firmness positions, and then give it a score from 1 to 10. 1 represents the softest possible mattress, while 10 represents the firmest. We consider a score of 6.5/10 to mark a true medium-firm feel. After each tester scores the bed, we average them together to create our final firmness score.
What Else Is Important When Buying a Mattress That Won’t Sag?
While you’re prioritizing finding a mattress that won’t sag, there are many other factors that you should consider before clicking “add to cart.”
Pressure Relief
The last thing you want is to wake up in pain or stiffness. That’s why we evaluate each mattress for pressure relief, which helps determine how evenly the mattress is distributing the sleeper’s weight. According to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, feeling pressure at any part of your body is a sign that it’s not the right firmness level for your body type and sleeping position.
We test pressure relief in our studio using a specialized mat that senses where pressure is building along the body. We first roll the mat onto the surface of the mattress and then bring in three testers of different weights. These testers lie on the mat on their back and side and note where they’re feeling the most pressure building. The mat confirms their objective observation by creating a graph using thermal imaging, called a pressure map. Areas displaying blue and green indicate little to no pressure building, while yellows and reds indicate high pressure buildup.
We also take a look at each tester’s PSI and see how it compares to the average PSI for that position. PSI stands for pound per square inch and shows us whether the sleeper’s weight is evenly distributed. A higher PSI typically means one area of the body is supporting too much weight, causing pressure to build. The average PSI for back sleeping is 15.1, and side sleeping is 12.6. When our tester has a lower PSI than average, it indicates that the bed is good at relieving pressure across the whole body.
A pressure map example of a side sleeper, where warmer color indicate areas of higher pressure.
Cooling
Many sleepers find themselves overheating at night, and a mattress with cooling materials and a breathable construction can help prevent this. We first evaluate cooling by cutting into the mattress to see what’s going on inside. We look for materials that promote cooling, such as breathable covers made from cotton, Tencel, and Celliant. When there’s memory foam, we check if it contains a cooling infusion that dissipates body heat, such as gel, copper, or graphite. We also look for naturally cooling materials such as latex. Finally, we search for coils that provide airflow and allow hot air to escape rather than get trapped.
We collect data on cooling by using a thermal gun to record the initial temperature of the mattress. Then, a tester lies on the bed for seven minutes and observes whether it feels cool to the touch and if they can notice it warming up beneath them. When the seven minutes are up, we use the thermal gun to record the bed’s temperature again and calculate how many degrees it increased. An increase of fewer than 4 degrees earns 5 stars, between 4 and 6 degrees earns 4.5 stars, 6 to 8 degrees earns 4 stars, and 8 to 10 degrees earns 3.5 stars. We don’t typically recommend mattresses to hot sleepers if they earn fewer than 3.5 stars on this test.
Thermal Imaging Tests
Motion Isolation
If you sleep with a partner, you may experience sleep disturbances from their motion on the other side of the mattress. A mattress with good motion isolation, or low motion transfer, is able to absorb motion upon impact and prevent it from traveling to the other side of the bed. Typically, memory foam beds perform best in this category, while bouncy innerspring and latex mattresses struggle to isolate motion.
We perform two subjective motion isolation tests in our studio. The first involves placing a glass of water on one side of the mattress and then moving around on the other side. We observe the liquid in the glass and whether our motion causes it to move, or even worse, spill over. We then swap the water for a real human and perform the test again. The tester raises their hand every time they can feel someone moving on the other side.
Last, we use a seismometer to get a final idea of the bed’s motion-isolating abilities. We drop a 10-pound steel ball onto the mattress from three gradually increasing heights, and the seismometer on the other side measures the disturbance. The results are then displayed in a line graph. The larger the lines, the higher the disturbance and therefore the worse the motion isolation.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness refers to how quickly the mattress returns to its original shape after weight has been applied. This is an important factor for combination sleepers and sexually active couples to pay attention to, as it allows them to easily switch positions without feeling trapped in the bed’s layers.
We start with a switch test where we lie on the mattress and move from our back to our side to our stomach and note how much effort we had to exert. We then place a 40 lb kettlebell on the center of the mattress for seven seconds and then pull it straight up. We measure how long it takes for the bed to return to its original shape using a stopwatch. Bounce can also correlate to responsiveness, so we climb up a six-foot ladder and drop a medicine ball onto the bed. A yardstick on the wall allows us to measure how high the ball bounced. The average bounce height is 15.8 inches.
Sleeping Position
Your preferred sleeping position can determine how a bed will feel for you. A bed that promotes proper spinal alignment in one position can be completely incompatible with a different sleeping position. Below, I’ll break down each sleeping position and what those sleepers should prioritize in a mattress.
Back sleepers: These sleepers are best suited to medium-firm mattresses that provide a balance between spinal support and pressure relief. Keeping the hips in line with the shoulders is crucial, and they can find some relief and lumbar support from soft foams that fill in the space at the lower back.
Side sleepers: Softer mattresses add sinkage and contouring that help relieve pressure at the hips and shoulders for side sleepers. A solid support system will prevent these sleepers from sinking too deeply into the mattress to maintain spinal alignment.
Stomach sleepers: To keep their hips from falling beneath their shoulders, these sleepers should opt for a firm bed with minimal sinkage. If the hips sink too far, pain can occur at the lower back.
Combination sleepers: The right mattress for combination sleepers is compatible with their two primary positions. A mattress with a good responsiveness score is also important to prevent you from feeling stuck in the bed.
Body Type
Your body weight is another important factor to consider when purchasing a mattress, as it can determine how soft or firm a bed feels to you. For example, heavy sleepers often sink further into a mattress’s layers and therefore experience them as softer. Lightweight sleepers won’t sink in quite as much and often think beds are firmer than average.
We test each mattress using a lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight sleeper. These testers try the mattresses in all three sleeping positions, which helps create a clearer scope of how the bed may feel for your body type and sleep style. If you’re unsure which category you fall in, check out the chart below.
Lightweight
Average-Weight
Heavyweight
Less than 130lbs
130-230lbs
More than 230lbs
Mattress Type
The mattress market has gotten pretty creative, and there are now more different types of constructions out there than ever before. Below, I’ll break down the most popular types of mattresses and how they stand up to sagging.
Innerspring: These mattresses have a traditional construction made from a layer of coils and a thin layer of top foam. These beds are typically very supportive, and the coils help prevent them from sagging in the center or near the edges.
All-foam: While typically not as supportive as beds with springs, an all-foam bed that uses high-density memory foam can avoid becoming a sagging mess over time. These beds are often softer and offer more contouring.
Hybrid: These beds combine innerspring coils and layers of memory foam to create a balance between pressure relief and support. These typically aren’t sagging mattresses, especially if they have reinforced edges that prevent the foam from compressing too much.
Latex: Latex foam is similar to memory foam, but it’s more durable and is naturally cooling. Since it has a quicker response to pressure, it’s great for combination sleeping.
Company Policies
Before any major purchase, it’s important to read the fine print. We recommend shoppers pay attention to the warranty, sleep trial period, and shipping policies. Below, I’ll provide a brief explanation of each and what you should look for.
Warranty: A mattress’s warranty can indicate its lifespan and durability, as it gives us an idea of how long the company expects the product to last. Most brands offer a 10- to 20-year warranty that protects the sleepers from manufacturing errors. Sometimes, this can extend to premature sagging if the indents are a certain depth. We prefer mattresses that offer lifetime warranties, so you’re covered for several decades.
Sleep Trial Period: Buying a bed online can be intimidating, but luckily most online retailers offer lengthy sleep trials, which allow you to return the mattress within a certain number of days. Many brands won’t accept returns until 30 days after delivery to ensure you’ve given yourself time to get used to it. We recommend opting for mattresses that offer at least 120 nights, with 365-night trials being our preference.
Shipping and Delivery: If you’re worried about buying a mattress online due to shipping fees, you’re in luck. Every mattress on this roundup comes with free shipping. Most of these are bed-in-a-box brands, meaning the mattress will arrive compressed in a box at your door. All you need to do is unwrap it and let it fully inflate, and then you’re ready to sleep. Some brands, such as Saatva, offer white-glove delivery, so a team of workers will show up at your home and set up the bed in the room of your choice. This type of delivery can even include the disposal of your old mattress.
Best Mattress that Won’t Sag FAQs
What type of mattress doesn’t sag?
Mattresses with strong, supportive foundations are less likely to sag over time, as they keep the sleeper lifted and prevent them from bottoming out. Quality mattresses with durable materials will also last longer and are less likely to deteriorate.
Can a sagging mattress cause back pain?
Because the bed is no longer evenly supportive, a sagging mattress can cause pain and stiffness, and throw your spine out of its neutral alignment. You may want your mattress surface to be flat and even, as this can help support spine alignment.
Can you fix a sagging mattress?
While it’s more or less impossible to permanently fix a sagging mattress, there are temporary solutions such as replacing your sleep foundation, rotating your bed, adding more pillows to specific areas of your body, and adding a mattress topper. You can also check your mattress warranty, as indentations of a certain depth often qualify for replacement.
Can a bed frame cause a mattress to sag?
Yes. If your bed frame isn’t supportive enough, your mattress could sag. The same goes for box springs. If your current box spring can’t support your mattress’s weight, the bed might dip and sag.
Riley is a staff writer specializing in performance editing. She works with the content team to ensure accurate and up-to-date information. Riley graduated from Elon University in 2024 with a degree in journalism and creative writing. As a lover of sleep herself, Riley enjoys learning about the best sleep products and helping readers find their perfect match.