The Dreamfoam Essential is an all-foam mattress that comes in five height options and boasts several cooling features. It’s made in the USA by popular online mattress brand Brooklyn Bedding, and it’s part of the brand’s more affordable line of mattresses.
I personally tested the Dreamfoam Essential and assessed its firmness, feel, construction and performance in order to help you figure out if this bed will work for you. In this unbiased review, I’ll also compare the Dreamfoam Essential to Brooklyn Bedding’s flagship mattress model, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. Keep reading to learn more.
Editor’s Note: The Dreamfoam Essential comes in five height options: 6”, 8”, 10”, 12” and 14”. We reviewed the 12” model.
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
The Dreamfoam Essential is a cooling, affordable memory foam mattress that comes in multiple thicknesses.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
The Dreamfoam Essential is a cooling, affordable memory foam mattress that comes in multiple thicknesses.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Video Review
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Overview
The all-foam Dreamfoam Essential comes from Brooklyn Bedding, a producer of some great value mattresses. The company offers a few models including the Dreamfoam Hybrid, Dreamfoam Copper, Dreamfoam Latex and of course, the Dreamfoam Essential.
The Dreamfoam Essential will appeal to some sleepers more than others. Here’s a quick overview of who’s most likely to want the Dreamfoam Essential and who might need to continue their mattress search.
Pros of the Dreamfoam Essential
- This mattress is great for lightweight people, including children and teenagers. People who weigh less than 130 lb will get the comfort and support they need on this mattress, and shouldn’t “bottom out.”
- Back sleepers should get the lumbar support they need on this mattress. The Dreamfoam Essential mattress feels firmer than average, which is great for people who rest on their back.
- It’s one of the best mattresses under $500. A queen-size mattress costs $474.00. If you are on a tight budget, this could be a good option.
Cons of the Dreamfoam Essential
- Heavier people won’t get enough support on this mattress and could “bottom out.” If you weigh more than 230 lb, you may want to consider getting one of the best mattresses for heavy people.
- It’s not the most durable mattress on the market. It’s made with cheaper materials, so I don’t expect it to last much longer than five years. For reference, most mattresses last between seven and 10 years.
- Stomach sleepers won’t get enough hip support on the Dreamfoam Essential. In this sleeping position, you run the risk of developing lower back pain.
Overall Rating
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress in categories such as materials, comfort, cooling, and support. Hover over the icons to learn more about these different topics, or scroll down for a more detailed analysis on each one.
Note: Looking for a mattress with stronger support and durability? Check out our Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag.
Note: Motion transfer is beneficial for those who share the bed and don’t want to be woken up by another’s movements. Looking for a mattress that better absorbs motion? Check out our Best Mattresses for Couples.
Note: Looking for a mattress with stronger support and durability? Check out our Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag.
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Firmness And Feel
When you’re vetting a potential new mattress, it’s always a good idea to start by assessing said mattress’s firmness and feel. These factors will tell you a lot about whether the mattress in question is a good fit for your preferred sleep position(s) and other sleep needs. So let’s dive into the in-depth portion of this review with a look at the Dreamfoam Essential’s firmness and feel.
How Firm Is The Dreamfoam Essential?
I ranked the Dreamfoam Essential at around 7/10 on the firmness scale. The industry standard for medium-firm beds is 6.5/10, so the Dreamfoam Essential feels a bit firmer than average.
That said, it’s important to note that firmness is subjective. Depending on your body weight and personal preferences, you might rank this mattress a hair firmer or softer.
| Choose The 6″ If: | Choose The 8″ If: | Choose The 10″ If: | Choose the 12″ If: | Choose The 14″ If: |
| You’re a lightweight stomach sleeper | You’re an average weight stomach sleeper | You’re an average weight back sleeper | You’re a heavyweight back sleeper | You’re an average weight side sleeper |
Sleeping On The Dreamfoam Essential
I found the Dreamfoam Essential to be a good match for back sleeping. I enjoyed a pleasant balance of comfort and spinal support in this position.
In my experience, the Dreamfoam Essential is a bit too firm for side sleeping. I felt some pressure around my shoulder and hip, and I didn’t feel comfortable whenever I slept on my side. The Dreamfoam Essential is not supportive enough for most stomach sleepers. My hips bowed into the mattress a bit and tugged my spine out of alignment. If I slept in this position for several weeks, I would probably develop lower back pain.
What Does The Dreamfoam Essential Feel Like?
Thanks to the memory foam in the top layer, the Dreamfoam Essential has a bit of that classic slow-moving feel. There’s not much bounce right on top of the mattress, but there are some bouncier layers underneath the memory foam. This means you shouldn’t feel stuck in this bed.
If you want a bouncier cheap mattress, take a look at our SweetNight mattress review.
| Sleeper Weight | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lightweight (Under 130 lb) | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Average (130 – 230 lb) | Good | Bad | Fair |
| Heavyweight (Over 230 lb) | Bad | Bad | Bad |
Is the Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Good For Lightweight People (Under 130 lb)?
- It’s a great match for lightweight back sleepers. People who weigh less than 130 lb won’t compress the mattress too much, so they should feel plenty of lumbar support.
- It also works well for lightweight side sleepers. People in this category will compress the foam layers enough to feel some cushioning, but won’t “bottom out.”
- Lightweight stomach sleepers should feel plenty of hip support on this mattress.
Is the Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Good For Average Weight People (130 – 230 lb)?
- Most average weight back sleepers should feel a good balance of comfort and support, but those who weigh closer to 230 lb may need a more supportive mattress.
- It doesn’t work well for average weight side sleepers. People who weigh between 130 and 230 lb will compress the comfort layers significantly, so they won’t get the pressure relief they need.
- It’s also not a great option for average weight stomach sleepers. People in this category may sink into the top layer and crane their backs out of alignment.
Is the Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Good For Heavyweight People (Over 230 lb)?
- It doesn’t work well for heavyweight back sleepers. People in this category will “bottom out” and crane their backs out of alignment.
- I also don’t recommend this mattress for heavyweight side sleepers. If you fall in this category, you should look for a more supportive bed, like one of the best mattresses for heavy people.
- Heavyweight stomach sleepers won’t get the hip support they need on this mattress, and they could develop lower back pain.
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Construction
Now that you have a sense of what it’s like to sleep on top of the Dreamfoam Essential, let’s take a look at what’s inside of this mattress. I’ll assess each layer of this mattress’s construction and share how different materials influence performance.
Cover
The Dreamfoam Essential features a soft and breathable cover that’s made with an environmentally-friendly Nano Stain Terminator finish. This material helps protect the mattress from splashes, spills and permanent stains.
Comfort Layers
The primary comfort layer consists of gel swirl memory foam. This material has a slow-moving feel, and it’s infused with gel to help with cooling.
On the 12” and 14” models, there’s a transition layer beneath the memory foam. This transition layer is made of higher-density foam that helps prevent sleepers from sinking too far into the mattress.
Support Layer
The Dreamfoam Essential’s support layer is made with high-density base foam. This layer comes in several thickness options.
Mattress Height
The Dreamfoam Essential comes in five height options: 6”, 8”, 10”, 12” and 14”. We reviewed the 12” model.
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Size Options And Price
To see the most-up-to-date size and pricing information for the Dreamfoam Essential mattress, check out the chart below. Note: These sizes and prices are for the 6″ model.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 38" x 75" | $249.00 |
| Full | 53" x 75" | $399.00 |
| Short Full | 48″ x 74″ | $424.00 |
| Full XL | 53" x 80" | $424.00 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | $474.00 |
| Short Queen | 60" x 75" | $474.00 |
| Olympic Queen | 66″ x 80″ | $574.00 |
| King | 76" x 80" | $574.00 |
| Short King | 72″ x 75″ | $574.00 |
| California King | 72" x 84" | $574.00 |
| Split California King | Two 36" x 84" pieces | $324.00 |
If you’re looking for another great option, take a look at our Dreamfoam Copper mattress review. Also, make sure to take a look at our Brooklyn Bedding coupons for some other great deals.
The Dreamfoam Essential is a cooling, affordable memory foam mattress that comes in multiple thicknesses.
Use code REFRESH30 for 30% off sitewide
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress Performance
You can learn a lot about a mattress from its firmness, feel and construction, but there are still a few more factors to consider before you decide whether the Dreamfoam Essential is the best mattress for you. We put this mattress through a range of tests with regard to temperature regulation, edge support, motion transfer and more. Let’s see how it performed.
Sleeping Hot Or Cold
The Dreamfoam Essential boasts several cooling features. Those include a breathable cover, open-celled foams and a gel infusion in the memory foam comfort layer. That said, it’s still an all-foam mattress, so it does trap some body heat. If you’re a particularly hot sleeper, you may want to consider getting one of the best cooling mattresses.
Motion Transfer
Memory foam usually absorbs motion well. But even with its memory foam comfort layer, the Dreamfoam Essential doesn’t do a great job of minimizing motion transfer. Some of the foam layers feel bouncy and responsive, so they allow movement to travel across the mattress. For this reason, it’s not one of the best mattresses for couples.
Edge Support
In my experience, the edge support on the Dreamfoam Essential is nothing to write home about. The edges collapsed under me when I sat and rested near the sides.
Durability
This is a value mattress, so it’s not the most durable bed. With good care, expect the Dreamfoam Essential to last between five and seven years.
Off-Gassing
I did observe some initial off-gassing from the Dreamfoam Essential. The chemical smell should dissipate within a few days.
Noise
I did not observe any notable noise while moving around on the Dreamfoam Essential, probably because it’s an all-foam mattress.
Sex
The best mattress for sex makes it easy for partners to change positions on top of the bed. Even though the Dreamfoam Essential has a bit of a slow-moving feel, it has enough bounce that it should be okay. Partners shouldn’t feel stuck in this bed.
Company Policies
Now, let’s take a gander at the Dreamfoam fine print. This is always a good idea when you are shopping for a new mattress!
Warranty Info
The Dreamfoam Essential comes with a 10-year mattress warranty that covers defects or deterioration in the foam as well as comfort impressions of more than 1″. It does not cover normal wear and tear and is void if you use the incorrect support system.
Sleep Trial
You have 120 nights to try out the Dreamfoam Essential and decide if it is the right mattress for you.
Return Policy
If you try out your Dreamfoam Essential mattress for 30 days and it isn’t working well for you, Dreamfoam can help in a few ways. First, they may provide you with a topper to change the firmness of your mattress. They may also recommend switching the Dreamfoam mattress with another of their Brooklyn Bedding mattresses. Finally, if they can’t find the right mattress for you, you can return for a full refund.
How Does The Dreamfoam Essential Compare To Other Mattresses?
If you’re considering the Dreamfoam Essential, then you might also be looking at other offerings from Brooklyn Bedding. We’ve pitted the Dreamfoam Essential against the original Brooklyn Bedding mattress, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, so you can do some comparison shopping right here in this review. Let’s see how these two mattresses stack up.
Also, make sure to take a look at our other Brooklyn Bedding mattress comparisons.
Dreamfoam Essential vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam MattressFirmness
Medium-firm: 7/10Score
Product
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid MattressFirmness
Multiple firmness optionsScore
While the Dreamfoam Essential is an all-foam mattress that layers memory foam over higher-density foams, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature is a hybrid mattress that layers foams over supportive coils.
Because of their different constructions, these beds also feel very different. The Dreamfoam Essential has a fairly slow-moving feel on top, while the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a bit bouncier thanks to its coils.
These beds differ a bit when it comes to firmness. The Dreamfoam Essential 12″ model comes in at 7/10 on our firmness scale. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comes in three firmness options: Soft, Medium and Firm. The Medium model is a bit softer than the Dreamfoam Essential 12″ model.
One of the most dramatic differences between these beds is the price. A Queen-size, 12” Dreamfoam Essential costs $474.00 at full price, while a Queen-size Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid costs quite a bit more at at $1332.00 full price.
| Who Should Get The Dreamfoam Essential? | Who Should Get The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid? |
| People who are looking to save money | People who want a more durable and luxurious mattress |
| Lightweight sleepers | Heavier people |
Learn more about the Signature Hybrid in our Brooklyn Bedding mattress review.
Dreamfoam Essential vs Dreamfoam Hybrid
The Dreamfoam Hybrid mattress is a budget-friendly choice, but it’s not quite as affordable as the Dreamfoam Essential. That’s because, instead of foam in the support layer, the Dreamfoam Hybrid contains coils. The coils give the mattress a more responsive feel, and it promotes airflow. If you tend to sleep hot at night, the Dreamfoam Hybrid could be a better choice.
The Dreamfoam Hybrid feels a bit softer than the Essential, coming in at 6.5/10 on our firmness scale. This makes the Dreamfoam Hybrid a good match for most back and side sleepers.
| Who Should Get The Dreamfoam Essential? | Who Should Get The Dreamfoam Hybrid? |
| Lightweight sleepers | Hot sleepers |
| People who want to save money | People who want a more durable mattress |
| Fans of a slow-moving feel | People who want a mattress that’s more responsive |
Read our full Dreamfoam Hybrid mattress review to learn more.
The Takeaway
The Dreamfoam Essential is a great budget-friendly mattress that’s available in many different height options. It works particularly well for lightweight sleepers who like the slow-moving feel of memory foam. The Dreamfoam Essential mattress isn’t a great choice for heavier people, because the foam layers aren’t very supportive. It’s also important to note that, because it’s an affordable option, it won’t last as long as many other mattresses on the market.
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress FAQs
Where is the Dreamfoam mattress made?
The Dreamfoam Essential mattress is made in the USA.
Can you flip a Dreamfoam mattress?
No, you cannot flip a Dreamfoam Essential mattress. Doing so would result in sleeping on the firm support layer instead of the softer comfort layer.
How long will a Dreamfoam mattress last?
The Dreamfoam Essential is not a particularly durable mattress. Expect it to last for approximately five to seven years.
