Leesa Vs Nectar Mattress- Which Should You Choose?

Nectar and Leesa are two very popular mattresses that are available for sale online.  At first it may seem like the mattresses have a lot of similarities, but upon close review they are actually quite different. This Nectar vs Leesa mattress comparison will go through the construction of both mattresses in detail and highlight the main takeaways should consider before making a purchasing decision.

Leesa vs. Nectar

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Leesa Original Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Score

3.9 / 5

Check Price

Read Leesa Original Mattress Review

Product

Nectar Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

Score

4.3 / 5

Check Price

Read Nectar Mattress Review

Key Similarities

• These are both very popular mattresses.
• They are both all-foam mattresses.
• They both incorporate memory foam somewhere in their construction.
• They have similar base layers.

Key Differences

• The Nectar is softer than the Leesa.
• Nectar has memory foam on top, and the Leesa has a latex-like foam on top.
• The Nectar has a classic memory foam feel, and the Leesa has a balanced foam feel.

How is Leesa Constructed?

• The Leesa is 10” tall and features three separate foam layers.
• The cover is thin and soft and doesn’t affect the feel of the mattress too much.
• Next is a layer of LSA200 foam, which gives the mattress bounce, resilience, and breathability.
• Then there is a layer of contouring memory foam, which gives the mattress additional softness and pressure relief.
• The support layer is base support foam which is pretty standard on the market.

How is Nectar Constructed?

• The mattress is 11” tall and features four separate foam layers.
• The cover is soft and woven together with Tencel fabric, and there is 1” of gel memory foam quilted into it for added softness and comfort.
• Next, there is a 3” layer of a soft, slow-responding, gel memory foam, which gives the mattress extra softness, pressure relief, and body contouring.
• Then, there is around 1” of a foam transition layer, which acts as a buffer between the memory foam and support layer underneath it.
• Finally, the base layer is around 6” thick and is pretty standard in the industry.

Construction Differences

• They both have soft covers, but the Nectar’s cover has gel memory foam quilted into it, which adds another layer of soft pressure relief.
• The top layer of the Nectar is memory foam and the top layer of the Leesa is LSA200 foam. The LSA200 foam is going to be more responsive so that it is easier to move around on the mattress.
• Also, the LSA200 foam has holes in it which allow for airflow, which means it should be a more breathable top layer than the memory foam layer found on top of the Nectar.
• The placement of the memory foam gives the Leesa a balanced foam feel and the Nectar a classic memory foam feel. 

RELATED: Best Mattresses

Firmness and Feel Differences

The Leesa felt like a 6.5/10 in terms of firmness, and the Nectar felt like a 6/10. The Nectar is definitely the softer of the two mattresses without question. On the Nectar, there was good support when I was on my back, as the hips sunk in just the right amount, and I was in good alignment. However, I think it felt better support when I was on the firmer Leesa. On the side, there was a little pressure on the Nectar at first, but I felt the pressure slowly go away. There was a bit more pressure when I was on the Leesa, probably because it is a little bit firmer. On the stomach, there was supported somewhat on the Nectar, but out of the two mattresses, I think the Leesa supported me better on my stomach. In terms of feel, the Leesa has a balanced foam feel, while the Nectar has a classic memory foam feel. With the Leesa I slept “on” the mattress and, with the Nectar, I slept more “in” the mattress. It is definitely easier to move around on the Leesa and switch positions. People can see the firmness and feel differences in the videos below.

Motion Isolation Differences

When it comes to motion isolation, memory foam is usually very good because of its chemical nature. Since it has memory foam in its top layer, I believe the Nectar does a better job of preventing motion transfer. People should feel less of their partner’s movements on their side of the bed if they go with the Nectar. It should be the better mattress for couples who don’t want to be disturbed by their partner’s movements. People can see the motion isolation differences in the videos below.

Edge Support Differences

While neither of these mattresses is very firm, the Leesa is definitely the firmer of the two mattresses, and because of this, I think it has better edge support. There was less compression sitting near the edge, and I felt more secure lying near the edge. People can see the edge support differences in the photos below.

Marten’s Take

Marten is a staff writer for us and has a much different body type than me: He is 6’7″ and weighs about 230 lb; I am 5’9″ and 160 lb. Here is what he thought about these two mattresses and how appropriate they are for heavier sleepers. I said the Nectar was 6/10 in terms of firmness, and the Leesa was approximately a 7.5/10. Joe and I had different experiences, but we did agree the Nectar was the softer of the two mattresses. On the Nectar, there was good support when I was on my back, and I could feel the foam pressing up into the lumbar area. On the side, there was a little pressure on the shoulders and hips, but it did soften up after a short while. On the stomach, I definitely needed more support, because I was bowing in at the hips and getting out of alignment. On the Leesa, I also felt supported when I was on the back. On my side, there was more pressure on the hips and shoulders than I did on the Nectar. On my stomach, I needed more support and was bowing into this mattress as well. If someone is a heavier side sleeper, they could be okay on both. However, there was a bit better pressure relief on the Nectar. If someone is a back sleeper, either should work for them because they are both supportive. Finally, if someone is a stomach sleeper, I’m not sure if either are going to work for them, and they will probably want something firmer and more supportive overall. Marten had a bit different experience on these mattresses, but he did agree that the Nectar is the softer mattress. However, because he is a heavier person, he felt a bit more pressure on the Leesa and neither mattress gave him the support he needed when he was on his stomach.

Who Should Pick Leesa:

• Back or stomach sleepers – The Leesa definitely is the firmer of these two mattresses and it features better overall support. If someone sleeps on their back or stomach, this could definitely be the way to go.
• Those who prefer a mattress with some bounce – The Leesa is firmer and does have some bounce and resilience. Between the two mattresses, it should be easier to move around on the Leesa and switch positions at night.
• People who prefer a balanced foam feel – If someone prefers to sleep “on” their mattress rather than “in” it, this is undoubtedly the clear choice. If someone doesn’t like to sink into their mattress, they should probably go with the Leesa.

RELATED: Best Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers

Who Should Pick Nectar:

• Those who prefer a softer mattress- This is definitely the softer of the two mattresses, so if someone likes something a bit softer overall the Nectar is the better choice.
• Side sleepers- From personal experience, the Nectar is softer and features slightly better pressure relief because of the extra memory foam in the construction. Also, looking at the pressure map, it is clear that the pressure relief was better on the Nectar, so if someone sleeps on their side, this is the mattress to choose.
• People who like a classic memory foam feel- If someone likes to slowly sink into their mattress, this is definitely the mattress to choose. It has that slow compression and people will sleep more “in” the mattress rather than “on” the mattress.

RELATED: Best Soft Mattresses

Overall

These are both very nice mattresses with a lot to offer, but the differences are big enough where the decision as to which to get should be pretty clear. The Leesa is a better pick for people who sleep on their back or stomach, and if someone likes a balanced foam feel, this mattress is the way to go. If someone is a side sleeper and likes a classic memory foam feel, they should go with the Nectar. Consumers should read through this article multiple times, assess their own needs and preferences, and then make a more informed decision.