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When it comes time to choose the best memory foam mattress, you have many decisions to make, and this is likely because memory foam products have quickly risen to the top of the mattress industry in terms of being the most coveted product.
You might be surprised to discover there are so many brands, styles, and features that the entire shopping process is likely to overwhelm. Some of the factors you face are considering gel formation versus plant-based models, IFD ratings, layer height, and mattress thickness.
What’s more, since you will be holding the thought of getting a good price in the back of your mind, you have to find a model that does not compromise quality for the price. Thankfully, we provide you with comprehensive reviews to help you find the best memory foam mattress of 2020.
The start of this guide will show you what memory foam mattresses actually are and what the different types of memory foam you can buy. And at the end of the guide, we will be giving you reviews of the best brands to choose from.
If you are short on time – here is our top memory foam mattress below:
What Is a Memory Foam Mattress?
When a memory foam mattress has a 4-tier design, this means it is made of up four layers, each consisting of a different material and lending important features to the overall structure of the mattress.
The base layer in the mattress is what helps to support everything as it serves as a foundation for the upper layers: This layer is a lot more rigid and firm than the layer above it because of this fact.
It is also the thickest. Sometimes each layer is more complex with various sub-layers, depending upon the manufacturer of the product in question.
The foam mattress will also consist of a support layer: This layer is also a bit rigid to lend to the support of the mattress in question. It helps to keep the mattress the right shape too. Then you get the comfort layer:
This helps ensure your body’s pressure points remain relieved from pressure, and the mattress itself conforms to the body.
The comfort layer also provides ventilation so the bed breathes and you remain dry and comfortable the entire night through.
The foam material is temperature sensitive so when the mattress cools down it reforms to its original shape.
Finding just the right mattress to give you support and to keep you comfortable all through the night, well…it is a task. We hope to take the hard work out of mattress shopping. Use our guide and find a mattress that promises you a wonderful sleep climate.
Introduction to Viscoelastic Memory Foam Mattress
Viscoelastic materials promise incredible comfort.
Mattress types vary considerably and one of the main differences between brands is the materials used to create each mattress. Since the early 1990s, a special kind of memory foam has been available on the market: Viscoelastic or Visco Elastic. The viscoelastic material is commonly called:
- Petroleum Based Memory Foam
- Traditional Polyurethane Memory Foam
- Standard Memory Foam.
The material is coveted by consumers and found in many popular brand mattresses. The creator of the memory foam products on the market today, at least those that are polyurethane based is none other than the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for use in space for bedding.
Occasionally you might see the terms Tempur-Pedic and Traditional freely interchanged when discussing memory foam, however, Tempur-Pedic is a brand name for mattresses and Traditional is a sweeping term referring to a type of mattress.
First on the scene, since 1992 the viscous elastic memory foam mattress has probably become the most established and the most popular. You may see this type referred to as Standard, Traditional Polyurethane, or Petroleum Based.
As the name suggests this type uses polyurethane foam mattress also containing a petroleum base, and were discovered by NASA, and was originally commercially released for bedding purposes.
Sometimes you may see the Traditional also referred to as Tempur-pedic but it’s important to remember that this is the brand, not the technology.
Advantages: If you are looking for a highly available mattress, one that is durable, supplies full relief from back pain and achy joints, and one that promises a silent sleep environment, viscoelastic is your best option.
The mattress with polyurethane materials inside also blocks motion disruption so it is a perfect mattress for couples as both can sleep undisturbed and protected via the temperature reactive motion isolation such mattresses offer.
Essentially, your significant other can be sleeping mere inches from you and when you move, your partner remains entirely undisturbed!
Since the traditional memory foam selections are so popular among consumers, they are often updated with amazing innovations that make them even better with every incarnation.
Manufacturers are at the ready to ensure the high availability of the units as well, so you can expect to find the polyurethane memory foam selections at every dealer’s location and on the showroom floor for sampling.
What’s nice about the traditional memory foam selections is that no matter what your budget is, you can find an affordable product.
These units come with entry-level and high-end price options. The majority of the mattresses on the market can last well over seven years, so you can count on the longevity of the product as well as its durability.
Disadvantages: With the traditional viscoelastic mattresses, there is a lot of competition, and not just with other types of mattress, but there is a lot of competition between brands within the same memory foam categories.
Consumers have found the mattresses made of memory foam materials far exceed the pocket coil or innerspring mattresses, particularly when considering firmness assessments.
It is important to note, however, that the memory foam mattresses crafted out of polyurethane are sometimes taking a back seat to those made of all natural bamboo products or the selections with gel-infused technologies.
Some of the primary concerns consumers mention when reviewing traditional memory foam include the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when designing the mattress.
Sometimes VOCs become odorous via a process called toxic off-gassing and some people have a bad reaction to the chemicals used in making the mattress in question.
Fifteen percent of consumers who buy a new mattress complain about the odor produced through the off-gassing process, which can last days to weeks after the initial purchase and delivery.
Introduction to the Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress
A mattress featuring a gel comfort ensures lasting comfort.
One of the newest of the memory foam types to enter the modern mattress market are those made with gel-infused features. This mattress is actually an enhanced Visco memory foam selection with gel beads.
With gel infused beads inside the mattress, you can rest assured in knowing the bed will remain cool throughout the night.
What’s more, the bed retains its shape better; the mattress is responsive to heat and since the gel beads allow the heat to escape quickly, it doesn’t take long for the bed to conform to your body and regain its shape during the day.
Advantages: The gel mattresses remain nice and cool all night long because the heat inside the mattress isn’t trapped inside of it.
This feature allows the bed to have a superb response to when you move around in the bed, allowing it to provide support no matter what position you decide to sleep in or how many times you change positions.
The motion transfer is minimal because of the motion isolation feature: This lets you or your partner move around freely without disturbing the other as he or she sleeps.
You will find that the gel-infused mattress is growing rapidly in terms of its overall popularity, so manufacturers are working vigorously to meet consumer demand and ensure the availability of the gel-infused memory foam mattress offerings.
Disadvantages: Even though the gel-infused option is enjoyed because it breathes and offers up considerable temperature controls when dealing with the body temperatures of two people instead of one, it can take a bit longer to cool down and to re-conform to the body, spine, and its original shape. The gel-infused models also have issues with off-gassing, but it generally passes quickly.
Introduction to Natural Plant-Based Memory Foam Mattresses
An all-natural foam product can create and ultra-posh sleep environment.
Rising fast in popularity are the plant-based options when you are shopping for memory foam mattresses, also called natural or eco mattresses.
Consumers are calling some of the plant-based options the very best choice when looking for a comfortable sleep-promoting mattress.
In this kind of mattress, there is some petroleum or gel material, but the mattress is also filled with extracts from plants.
Extracts like bamboo tea or aloe vera are some of the leading options and the manufacturer makes clear what extracts are used on the product labeling.
Advantages: For the full relief of back and joint pain, and for full support, comfort, and pressure point relief, a plant-based memory foam selection might just do the trick.
These mattresses are best known for their amazing motion isolation and are therefore the choice mattress of couples.
This mattress is also the choice of the eco-friendly, environmentally conscious consumer. They are great for those who might otherwise be concerned with off-gassing and the odors a mattress gives off when it is new.
The plant-based memory foam mattress is manufactured with open cell features so they can cool down ten times faster than the traditional memory foam mattresses.
If you have an issue with allergens, the plant-based solutions are, again, the best choice as they have no VOCs and zero emissions.
Disadvantages: Plant-based memory foam mattresses are the newest products on the market and their novelty tends to be reflected in a higher price tag.
This means that right now consumers are paying upper-level prices if they are dealing with allergens and have no other alternative.
The popularity of the plant-based mattresses make them scarce on the showroom floors but they can be found easily online.
Level of Firmness and Mattress Density
When buying a memory foam mattress you need to find out the molding power of the mattress. In other words, how does it contour to your body and is the mattress soft or firm?
If you opt for a high-density bed, you are getting a bed that is on the firm side of the scale, and the denser the mattress is, it most it costs when making your initial purchase.
If you go for thinner mattresses that that are less dense, this is less expensive, and you get a softer mattress top that you can sink into when you go to sleep. Essentially, it will boil down to customer desire which mattress proves the ideal option.
The density of the memory foam mattresses is measured in pound units. If the mattress has a foam density of two to five pounds, it is one of the most popular choices. If it is over five pounds, then it is made of superior materials.
The highest quality mattresses have a density measurement of over five pounds because they are firmer.
If you have back pain or if you tend to sleep on your side, you want a high-density memory foam mattress for full support.
In addition, the Indentation Force Deflection Rating helps to determine the firmness of the mattress.
The ranges for mattresses are between IFD 10 to IFD 120, which are super soft to semi-rigid mattresses respectively. IFD 16 and IFD 22 rated mattresses are the most common mattresses.
Size Availability and Foam Mattress Thickness
The thickness of one mattress to another varies, depending upon the maker of the mattress. You can get a mattress as little as 6” thick or you can get one that is 16” thick or even greater.
The thickness you will need is dependent on several factors. You have to consider your bedding style: Does the bed rest low to the ground – then a thick mattress will be better as it will have a comfortable lift level already built into the mattress due to its thickness.
As an alternative, you might want to go for the thinner memory foam mattress if you have an adjustable bed frame.
Bear in mind that the thickness of any mattress definitely parallels the price of the bed in question, so the thicker the mattress, the more you can expect to pay for the unit’s density. You usually get the benefit of additional ventilation through a breathable layer or comfort top.
Typically, the mattress is made up of three layers and there are sometimes sub-layers of materials. Of course, the thickness factor alone does not define the overall quality of the mattress.
While great density is a contributing factor to a good buy, you still need to give consideration to mattress materials and the kind of memory foam the mattress is made of to give the unit a thorough once-over before buying.
In terms of mattress size, the units have different references depending upon if you are in the United Kingdom or the United States. For UK references, you can choose from the Super King, King Size, Single, and Double Sized. In the US, sizes include California, King, Queen, Full XL, Full, Twin XL, and Twin.
Best Memory Foam Mattress 2020 Reviews
Every match is reviewed has advantages and disadvantages so not every consumer will be pleased with every mattress on the market.
Likewise, there are some brand names that have better performance or lasting products; just there are brand names that deliver an average level of satisfaction or a mediocre level of satisfaction.
Since consumers have different preferences, desires, and wants, consumer views alone are not quite enough to give you a clear understanding of whether or not a mattress is going to be suitable for your needs.
We will now provide additional information in the following sections that give you product descriptions of the different mattress selections available and also find major brand comparisons any section.
Each mattress is rated based on reviews from consumers, information supplied by third-party websites, and comparisons. In the end, our complete guide provides you with a list of the best memory foam mattress of 2020.
LUCID Plush 14
One of leading memory foam selections in the industry, the LUCID Plush 14 mattress is available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, King, and California King Sizes.
The LUCID mattress hosts a 3-inch thick gel-infused memory foam and plush materials, which lend to temperature regulation and promise for full comfort and ventilation as you sleep.
The foam mattress lends plenty of desired support while simultaneously offering you pressure point relief, and you remain comfortable throughout the night without issues of overheating.
This is thanks to the superior design of the mattress as the manufacturer has integrated adequate ventilation to ensure unhindered airflow and a temperature that remains steady through the night.
The plush feel of the mattress is extraordinary; thanks to the inclusion of dual foam, layers providing you with support and a soft, comforting feel.
The bamboo charcoal memory foam, a material assisting in thermal regulation and comfort for those with skin sensitivity issues, is one inch in depth and it features a cover made of 10 % Tinsel and 90% polyester materials.
The Tencel is a soft fabric chemically similar to cotton and that is made of wood cellulose dissolved in a special solvent: This fabric is durable and lasting.
Underneath the comfort layers, the mattress is equipped with a density layer 8-inches in thickness promising the best possible support.
Finally, the Lucid 14 mattress is one that is CertiPUR_US certified to ensure product safety, and you get a 25-year warranty.
Eve Mattress
The makers of medium-firm Eve Memory Foam Mattress are proud to claim that their product is “The World’s Most Comfortable Mattress,” and after thorough research and review, we concur with the manufacturer’s claims.
The manufacturer of the Eve mattress is a UK-based company that puts all of its focus on making one product only – The Eve Mattress.
Each foam mattress is made with high resilience, luxury memory foam measuring 25 centimeters deep in order to supply sufficient bounce back, comfort, and appropriate temperatures for an excellent sleeping climate.
The Eve Mattress has been improved and perfected over a four-year period and through the creation of 75,000 mattresses, all the while with the manufacturer taking customer feedback into consideration with each new innovation and incarnation of the Eve Mattress.
The final design consists of three memory foam layers wrapped in a high-quality plush fabric. Inside the mattress is a cooling layer measuring 1.5 inches in thickness:
This layer is 30 percent more breathable than average memory foam materials ensuring adequate cooling and comfort throughout the night. The mattress naturally absorbs disturbances so it is a perfect mattress for couples.
The fabric cover is a plush, hypoallergenic polyester, breathable material; the cover materials are also Oeko-Tex certified. The 6.5-inch base foam is high density and extremely resilient.
Whether you have an adjustable base bed, box spring set up, a Divan base, a floor or platform bed or just a traditional frame, the Eve Mattress can guarantee your lasting comfort throughout the night.
The mattress is available in Twin, Twin-XL, Full, Queen, and King sizes, and you have nothing to lose when you take full advantage of the 30-day free home trial offer.
You also get free delivery of the mattress, a no-hassle refund when requested, and a 10-year warranty on the product. The bed features two inches of memory foam for pain-free movement and pressure point relief.
Leesa Mattress
The Leesa memory and Avena foam mattress is heralded as one of the leading mattresses in the industry by a publication that puts out consumer ratings.
The hybrid mattress, which brings two of the best foams together in one product, is excellent in terms of its adaptability and how it conforms to your body, sleeping style, and weight as well as your body shape.
This memory foam bed is the high plant-based variety ensuring great support and relief for those troublesome pressure points.
This mattress is great for couples as it absorbs motion disturbances will and it has a motion isolation factor that is well above average.
The Leesa mattress is often referred to as “The Better New Mattress,” and one look at its superior designs reveals why. The mattress is manufactured in the USA, and it is a number one mattress in the industry.
You get a medium level of firmness with the mattress, and the Avena materials in the mattress lend to the bounce and durability of the Leesa mattress selection.
The mattress will work flat on the floor, as part of a Murphy bed, with an adjustable base, as a slatted or platform bed, or with a foundation and traditional metal bed frame.
If you do use the mattress with a box spring, make sure the box spring is in good condition with no cracked, weak, deteriorated, or broken parts.
The Leesa memory foam mattress has three full layers, with the top layer being responsible for giving the mattress its cooling features. The uppermost layer is Avena foam that runs two inches thick.
The middle layer is another two inches thick of memory foam material. The bottommost layer serves as the foundation of the mattress and is 6 inches deep – the high-density level gives the mattress plenty of support.
All of the layers are in a cover made of a single piece of fabric enclosing the mattress inside. The bed’s cover is a woven material called poly-lycra fabric so it is breathable, stretchy, and long-lasting. The unit comes with a 10-year product warranty.
The Leesa mattress is available in twin, twin XL, full, Queen, King, and California King sizes. Even better, for every ten mattresses the company sells, they donate one mattress to a homeless shelter in need.
DreamFoam Bedding Ultimate Dreams 13
The DreamFoam mattress features a 13” foam mattress coupled with a gel memory foam section measuring all of three inches.
The mattress, like other memory foam offerings, is layered, with the first layer consisting of four-pounds of 3” gel memory foam.
There is also a five-pound bag of memory phone and a base premium rate for the pill with a base being 8 inches thick.
The DreamFoam mattress is a product that some liken to the makes like Cloud Luxe but with a far more affordable price tag.
You get factory director pricing on the unit so you can save considerably. The DreamFoam mattress is manufactured in the USA so you are supporting American workers, and you get a 20-year warranty with the product.
The foams in the mattress are CertiPur-US certified, meaning the fabric is free of mercury, heavy metals, flame retardants, ozone depleters, and chlorofluorocarbons.
The cover is breathable and made of a fabric delivering a luxury feel. The DreamFoam mattress is available in twin, twin XL, full, Queen, King, and California King sizes.
Dynasty Mattress Luxury Grand
The DynastyMattress Luxury Grand is a fairly new offering in the world of foam mattress, but don’t let the novelty fool you – the mattress is already quite popular among consumers.
For starters, the DynastyMattress serves up a foam mattress inside that is a full 15” thick. You get a three-layer mattress with 3” of four-pound gel memory foam followed by five-pound foam 2” thick, followed by a base that is 8” thick.
A rich, thick, brown suede fabric on the sides and a breathable, stretch cover that is made of knit materials encompasses the polyurethane Visco elastic foam mattress for extra comfort. The cover features a four-way zipper so you can easily wash it as well.
This bed is medium soft due to the five-pound density rating it has, and you can feel comfortable buying the mattress with a 20-year warranty backing up product quality.
There is also a layer of 2” art cool airflow foam to keep the bed at the perfect temperature for an ideal sleeping climate. The foam materials are contouring and reactive to body temperature.
The product is CertiPUR-US certified and compares to a leading brand like Tempur-Pedic. You can get the DynastyMattress in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California King.
Sleep Innovations Shiloh
The Sleep Innovations Shiloh mattress gently cradles your body as you sleep. You get a medium firm feel and the bed is bigger enough that it can lend a great deal of personal space in the king-sized version.
This mattress is ideal for anyone who has a larger than average size body as it proves impressively roomy.
The mattress is extraordinary as it contours to the body, personalizes your alignment as you sleep, and alleviates the pressure points you might otherwise experience.
The top layer is made of the average Comfort Top that is 2.5” thick of a SureTemp memory foam material; this latter material rests n top of a Support Plus Foam that is 9.5 inches thick.
The Sleep Innovations Shiloh is a medium firm mattress hosting the DuoComfort design and it comes with a 20-year product warranty. It is manufactured in the USA so you can feel good about supporting American workers.
The mattress comes with a cover made out of poly-cotton material, thereby serving up a soft, welcoming, and ultra-comfortable feel. A 20-year warranty ensures your confidence in the purchase of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh foam mattress.
The unit is dual-layered and it’s a Visco mattress featuring a 2.5” thick polyurethane comfort portion and a 9.5” base providing support.
The mattress features a density rating of 3 pounds so it is therapeutic, soft, and cozy. You get an option between a smooth cover and quilted cover.
In terms of size, the Shiloh mattress is available in twin, full, Queen, King, and California King sizes.
Best Price Mattress Grand
The top layer of breathable 1″ Cool Foam and a microfiber layer for the deliberate minimization of bacteria growth in a natural way.
When you invest in the Mattress Grand, you are going with an environmentally friendly bedding solution.
Real Mattress in a Box embraces the idea of “Sleep Green” so that the comfort of your sleep environment is balanced with ingredients that are safer for you and the environment we all share.
Natural Green Tea Extract is a natural odor preventative measure. Real bamboo fibers used for the construction of the cover.
The interior of the Mattress Grand consists of a 12” mattress delivering medium support so you can easily eradicate issues with back pain.
The four-tier mattress is made with a Bio Foam innovative material so it is a plant-based product that is not only hypoallergenic but an environmentally friendly purchase.
You are assured comfort head to toe with this mattress, and its Duo Comfort designs promise total comfort as you sleep. The mattress comes complete with a 20-year warranty.
Brentwood Home Bamboo Gel
The Brentwood Home Bamboo Mattress is one that is available in twin, twin XL, full, and Queen, King, and California King size.
This innovative unit has a design consisting of several layers, all of which are produced in the USA.
The mattress is a medium density unit that is 13” in thickness, and it is a cool gel offering to ensure the perfect sleep climate every time you sleep. The mattress actually has four tiers inside, each made up of top-notch materials.
All of the layers combined provide body contouring support, pressure point relief, full spine support, and a comfortable night’s sleep every night.
The cover of the made is made of bamboo materials and it is removable for care. The mattress offers up a medium firm feel.
It is also CertiPUR_US certified, meaning it is absent of toxic flame retardants, phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, or other hazardous materials.
The interior contains a gel memory foam mattress that measures 3.5 inches deep: this ensures less movement when sleeping, movement isolation for a couple’s maximum comfort and minimal motion transfer overall.
The bamboo cover features a New Zealand Wool wicks moisture liner to help keep the temperature of the bedding cool, and it features antimicrobial properties. The bed comes with a 25-year warranty.
Sleep Innovations Shea
The Sleep Innovations Shea Mattress cradles, contours, and conforms perfectly to the body and consumers who buy the bed will appreciate the two free memory foam pillows the mattress comes with when purchased.
The mattress is a medium firm offering that is not only featuring a design adaptable for both large and small individuals. Even if you are a back sleeper or a side sleeper, you’ll find comfort in the Shea mattress.
The memory foam mattress alleviates pressure point stress and it supports your spine as it caters to your personal body alignment. The mattress hosts a cover that is a poly-cotton blend of soft materials.
The mattress inside hosts a SureTemp Memory Foam top layer measuring three inches and the bottom layer serve as deep support and aptly so as it’s seven inches of Support-Plus foam.
The Shea product is also American-made and it comes fully equipped with a 20-year warranty.
Dynasty Mattress Cool Breeze
The DynastyMattress Cool Breeze is a mattress selection that will work perfectly with an electric bed with adjustable features.
The mattress measures 12” thick and hosts a 3” top of premium high-density materials along with four of the main layers in the mattress, which is made of a combination of gel memory foam and Visco.
A 5” foam base is just beneath the mattress layers thereby lending additional comfort and sleep support.
This mattress incredible in terms of design, it has a high performance in the department of motion isolation and a generous 30-year warranty backs the product.
Conclusion
When it comes time to buy a memory foam mattress, there is plenty of product diversity and no two mattresses are identical – this makes finding a suitable mattress all the easier as you can buy the one that most suits your personal tastes, comfort needs, and your budget.
You will want to give full consideration as to the features of the mattress you buy, as it is, indeed, a long-term investment on your part. A mattress can last a decade before having to be replaced.
That being the case, it is of tremendous import that you get the right mattress for your needs the first time you shop.
Otherwise, you may be doling out additional cash on a new mattress if you find you are unhappy with your initial investment. We recommend the plant-based memory foam products highly; while more costly than gel or classic mattresses, the extra cost comes with a high-quality, far more durable mattress design.
The cream of the crop is definitely the Lucid Plush 14 mattress: Consumers will come to appreciate the thickness of the bed. Even better is the mattress’s overall construction where it features an 8” density base, 2” support layer in the middle, and a comfort layer 3” thick.
The medium firm support is a feature keeping bed-buying consumers more than content with their purchase. The mattress is not made with toxic materials as is indicated by the CertiPUR-US certified and the high-quality of the mattress’s design is coupled with a generous 25-year product warranty.