Compare the current top-rated memory foam mattresses and get tips for picking the right bed.
Over a year ago, we conducted an in-depth analysis of several memory foam brands to uncover which beds earned the best reviews from consumers. Since that time, many brands have revamped collections and rolled out new lines, so we thought we’d revisit this popular topic for 2015.
Keep reading to see which mattresses currently outperform the competition in owner satisfaction, why they are leading the way, and how to compare beds to find your perfect match.
2015’s Best-Rated Memory Foam Mattresses
Previously, we compared brands as a whole to see who had the best overall ratings for their lines. This time around, we looked at individual mattress models for a more specific comparison of the best-rated memory foam mattresses.
This year’s group of top-rated mattresses includes both smaller, niche brands and big name brands. Overall, brand name did not appear to be a major predictor of satisfaction – we found major, well-known brands that perform average or worse, and lesser-known brands that offered good values.
The factors that appeared to most influence people’s reviews include initial comfort, service experience, how the mattress met expectations, and perceptions of value. Other factors like durability, heat and odor played significant roles as well.
We looked at about 20 different brands of memory foam including the big brands, medium brands, up and coming brands, online brands, and discount brands to find the five memory foam mattresses most-loved by consumers, highlighted below.
Reviews were drawn from retailer and brand websites, third-party review websites like Reseller Ratings, consumer review sites like Sleep Like The Dead and Consumer Reports, and other sources like blogs and forums. Specification data and pricing was current as of article publication date.
| Mattress | Signature Sleep Memoir 12” | Comfort Dreams Select A Firmness 14” | Amerisleep Revere Bed | BedInABox Serenity Gel | Tempurpedic TEMPUR-Cloud Luxe |
| Average Owner Satisfaction | 92% | 90% | 94% | 94% | 94% |
| Price, Queen | $319 | $539 | $1299 | $1899 | $3699 |
| Foam Density | 4” 3.0 lb MF8” 1.5 lb Base | 3” 3.5 lb MF3” 3.0 lb MF4” 1.4 lb Base4” 1.5 lb Base | 3” 4.5 lb MF9” 2.0 lb Base | 3” 3.0 lb MF8” 2.4 lb Base | 2” 4.1 lb MF3” 7.0 lb MF8” ? lb Base |
| Heat Issues | 7% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 10% |
| Odor Issues | 10% | 9% | 3% | 13% | 10% |
| Durability Issues | 15% | 8% | 2% | 5% | 6% |
| Warranty | 1 year | None | 20 years (10) | 20 years (10) | 10 years (10) |
| Trial Period | 90 days | None | 90 days | 120 days | 90 days |
Here’s a more detailed description of each bed. They are listed in order of lowest price to highest (not ranked).
$319 – Signature Sleep Memoir 12” Mattress
The Signature Sleep Memoir 12” mattress features a thick four inch layer of memory foam in the low-density range. The base uses “high-density” poly foam. The mattress is in the firmer range according to descriptions and reviews.
Overall, this mattress rates very well for the low-price, under-$500 category receiving a 4.6 out of 5 star average on Walmart’s website. People often praise the good value and initial comfort of this mattress.
The amount of people reporting heat and odor issues proves about average for memory foam in general, though reports of sagging or impressions is somewhat higher. This mattress is also expected to have a shorter lifespan than average, but could be a good value for a guest bed or short-term use.
Warranty coverage extends only one year for this bed (further highlighting the temporary nature of the bed), though Wal-mart does offer a 90-day return policy for their mattresses which is better than average for this pricepoint.
$539 – Comfort Dreams Select A Firmness 14” Mattress
The Comfort Dreams Select A Firmness 14” mattress features two three-inch layers of memory foam, primarily in the low-density range. The firm model does have one layer of medium-density, 4.0 lb foam. The base layers of this mattress include regular poly foam (1.4 lb) and high-density poly foam (1.5 lb). This mattress comes in three firmnesses, though reviews seem to find all of the options in the medium to firm range.
Overall, this rates well for the mid-low price range ($500-$1000) with average reviews of 4.5 stars on Overstock’s website. Value and initial comfort are primary areas of praise for this bed.
This mattress receives lower than average complaints for heat retention, and close to average odor complaints. Issues of sagging and durability are also about average, and this mattress is expected to have an average lifespan.
The Select A Firmness mattress comes with no manufacturer warranty, but Overstock sells a service plan for an additional fee. Overstock does not accept returns or exchanges for beds, making it one of the few retailers to offer little guarantee of satisfaction.
$1299 – Amerisleep Revere Bed Mattress
The Amerisleep Revere mattress has a three-inch layer of 4.5 lb, medium density memory foam. The core is high-density 2.0 lb foam, and both types a plant-based “bio” foams. This mattress is in the medium-firm range according to descriptions and reviews.
Overall, this mattress rates well with a 4.7 out of 5 star average on the Amerisleep website’s verified reviews. Popular points of praise in reviews include support, comfort, durability and value.
Reports of both heat and odor issues are below average for memory foam in general and among the lowest of the mattresses we reviewed here. There are also very few reports of sagging or durability issues, and lifespan is expected to be average to above average for memory foam.
Warranty coverage extends for 20 years, with 10 years of full-replacement coverage. Amerisleep offers a 90-day return policy for their mattresses.
$1899 – BedInABox Serenity Gel Mattress
The BedInABox Serenity Gel mattress has a three-inch layer of 3 lb memory foam with gel (lower density range) paired with a 2.4 lb high density core. It’s firmness is in the softer range according to descriptions and reviews.
Overall, this mattress rates well with a 9.6 out of 10 rating on Viewpoints (no direct reviews on website). Reviewers praise the comfort and support of this mattress.
Reports of both heat and durability issues are both below average for memory foam in general. However, reports of odor are slightly higher than average. Lifespan is expected to be average to above average for memory foam.
Warranty coverage extends for 20 years, with 10 years of full-replacement coverage. BedInABox offers a longer than average 120-day return policy for their mattresses, but owners must keep the beds for 60 days (opposed to 30 for most others).
$3699 – Tempur-pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Luxe Mattress
The Tempur-Cloud Luxe bed from Tempurpedic includes two layers of memory foam. Though the brand does not disclose density information, it is estimated that the bed includes two-inches of 4.1 lb, medium density memory foam and three-inches of 7.0 lb, high-density memory foam. The core foam density is also undisclosed, with estimates ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 lbs.
Overall, this mattress rates well with 4.7 out of 5 star averages on the Tempurpedic website reviews, which is good for the high price range. Areas most commonly praised by reviews include comfort, support and durability. One key point though, is that this mattress was recently updated and redesigned, meaning older reviews may not necessarily be representative for this new model.
Reports of heat and odor complaints are right about average for memory foam in general. Issues with durability or sagging are lower than average, and this bed is expected to have slightly longer than average lifespan.
Warranty coverage extends for 10 years, with all 10 years being full-replacement coverage. Tempurpedic beds come with a 90-day return policy.
What’s Changed?
Compared to our previous survey, the only repeat appearances were Amerisleep and Bed In The Box who’s reviews remained fairly consistent. New entrants included Tempurpedic, Signature Sleep and Comfort Dreams, which replaced Dreamfoam, Sealy Optimum and Simmons Comforpedic.
Who Didn’t Make the Cut & Why
Three big brands of memory foam are not on the list, which may suprise some readers. These include Serta iComfort, Sealy Optimum and Simmons Comforpedic which all focus on gel memory foam. All three of these brands are averaging in satisfaction scores in the mid-to-upper 70% range. While better compared to traditional spring mattresses, this is below average for memory foam in general. Potential things that appear to be lowering owner satisfaction include durability, lack of transparency, and value perception of buyers.
In general, other reasons some brands and beds didn’t make the cut included a lack of available review data online, questionable review sources, and other issues preventing accurate analysis and comparison.
How to Compare Memory Foam Mattresses
We’ve done a few guides to memory foam mattress shopping previously, but if you’re just diving in or want a quick refresher, here are the most important details to keep in mind when buying a memory foam bed. These are the factors that will help you compare beds to each other to determine value and determine which is best for your needs.
Density
Polyurethane foams are classified by their density, which is a measure comprised of weight divided by volume. It is usually expressed as pounds per cubic foot. For example, a 4 lbs/ft3 density means that a piece of foam measuring 12” x 12” 12” weighs four pounds.
With memory foam, densities can be sorted into three groups, all receive similar overall owner satisfaction scores, but there are a few important differences that can help you decided which is ideal for your needs.
| Characteristic | Low Density | Med Density | High Density |
| Range | under 3.5 lbs | 3.5 lb to 5.0 lb | over 5.0 lb |
| Overall Satisfaction | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Durability | Least durable | Good Durability | Most Durable |
| Odor | Less likely | Moderate | Most likely |
| Sleeping Hot | Less likely | Moderate | Most likely |
| Contouring/Pressure Relief | Fair | Good | Great |
| Easy of Moving | Easy for most | Easy for most | Possibly difficult |
| Firmness Range | Limited | Good | Good |
| Price | $-$$ | $$-$$$ | $$$-$$$$ |
Low density foams are the least expensive and are less likely to have strong off-gassing odors or trap heat, however they also provide less pressure relief, support and longevity. High density foams excel at pressure relief, contouring and durability, but are more likely to have strong odors and trap heat, and the viscous feel of the foam can be difficult for some people to move on.
Regular polyurethane foam (used in core/support layers in padding layers in some mattresses) has different classifications. Higher density is generally considered better, as the core will be more resistant to impressions and softening over time. Most mattresses use High Density foam in the cores, ranging between 1.5 lb on the low end and 2.5 lb on the high end.
Some cheaper mattresses may use “regular” poly foams under 1.4 lb which is seen as non-durable for long term use and may lack support for most adults. High Resilience foams have densities over 2.5 lb and are the most durable, but not commonly used in mattresses due to higher costs (be aware that some manufacturers may mislabel their HD foams as HR).
Type of Memory Foam
Traditional memory foam is the regular, temperature-sensitive memory foam that molds to sleepers’ shapes via their body heat. This type provides good contouring and pressure relief in medium and high densities, but not everyone likes the slow recovery rate of the foam as it can make changing positions and moving on the bed difficult. Sleeping hot is also more common with this type, particularly in higher densities.
Gel memory foam is becoming very common recently, involving gel particles or liquid gel mixed into the foam with the idea of a cooler sensation. The idea is that the room-temperature gel will absorb body heat (similar to ice-packs). There is not a ton of scientific proof for the claims of gel foam mattresses (many of them use little gel or put it beneath other materials as well). Consumer Reports has said in their mattress tests that they find little difference in breathability between gel and non-gel beds. Sleep Like The Dead says there is a small difference (2%), but primarily only for beds with 2”+ of gel foam at the surface of the bed.
Plant-based memory foams that use botanical ingredients to replace a portion of petro products are used by some brands. These types of foams have slightly different properties, primarily stemming from their temperature-neutral nature. Plant-based foams use pressure to contour rather than heat, and the material feels consistent in a normal room temperature. It also recovers shape very quickly. One manufacturer,Cargill, conducted a laboratory study demonstrating plant-based foams to sleep cooler than gel foams.
Mattress Construction
When shopping for a memory foam mattress, pay careful attention to how the bed is layered. Memory foam should ideally be in the uppermost layers (as opposed to poly foam or fiber batting) to provide good pressure relief. The retailer should be able to provide information on each layer and their respective densities so you can accurately judge comfort and compare value.
The thickness of memory foam is important as well. Petite people and back/stomach sleepers may feel comfortable with 2”-3” of memory foam (too much can feel overwhelming), while larger individuals and side sleepers may need 3”-6” of memory foam to adequately cushion pressure points.
The thickness of the core layer is more related to support and durability. A mattress hsould have at least a 6” core. Larger individuals and side sleepers may want something more in the 8” to 9” range.
Cover materials are also important since they can affect how the memory foam contours and how breathable the mattress is. Stretchy fabrics are better than rigid ones since they will allow the mattress to fully contour to you. Breathable fabrics like cotton, wool and rayon are also ideal since they will allow air to flow in and out.
Guarantees
Guarantees can tell you a little bit about how the manufacturer perceives their product. Mattresses with little or no warranty are probably not intended by the manufacturer for everyday or long-term use (better for temporary situations). But, long warranties don’t mean a bed is meant to last forever either.
Average and higher-end memory foam beds usually have about 10 years of full replacement coverage, and some may have additional years of pro-rated coverage as well. The different periods will differentiated in the warranty policy, usually as “full coverage” or “full replacement” terms (the period during which the manufacturer will replace or repair a defective bed at their cost), and “pro-rated” terms (the period during which the manufacturer will contribute a portion of the repair/replacement costs with the owner paying the rest).
Since impressions are what is most likely to go wrong with a memory foam mattress, the depth of coverage is important to check for. The warranty should state how deep impressions must be for the bed to be considered defective and eligible for warranty. Higher-end beds will typically cover sagging of 0.75” or more, while others may only cover impressions over 1” or 1.5”.
The ability to return a memory foam mattress can also be valuable. Even the top-rated mattress might not be ideal for everyone, which is why most retailers will allow customers to return or exchange within a certain time frame.
The average for memory foam beds is around 90 days. It may take up to a few weeks to fully adjust to a new bed, so having at least 30 days can be helpful. Check to see the store’s return policy and any restrictions or fees before buying.
Reviews
The other helpful tool you can use to compare are memory foam mattress reviews. For most brands and beds, you can find reviews online to see what other owners have to say. Retailer and brand websites are the most likely sources, though third party websites (like Reseller Ratings and Viewpoints) and blogs or forums are also sources. You could start by searching for reviews in general, or search the mattress make and model plus reviews (such as “tempurpedic cloud reviews”) to see more in-depth information about a particular bed.
The first thing to keep in mind about reviews is the source. Brands that use third-party verified reviewer/verified buyer systems typically provide a better source than brands that use cherry-picked “testimonial” type reviews. For third party websites and blogs, consider their reputation and policies.
When reading reviews, see what people say about expectations versus reality, durability, value, and other factors important to you. Individual comfort can vary quite a bit though — one person’s soft can be another’s firm — so it’s better to look at trends than one-off comments. For example, do a lot of people say the bed is firmer than expected, or do a large number report a particular issue? Not every bed will please every buyer, but comparing complaints to averages can help give you perspective.
Overall, what we learned searching for the best-rated memory foam mattresses is that medium density foams seem to be most appealing to majority of shoppers, and that getting a good value is also important for satisfaction.
Most of the top-rated memory foam beds were sold online only as well, meaning that dreaded trip to the mattress store may not be so essential after all. More important? Doing your research into the brand, being honest with your partner about what you want in a bed, checking reviews, and comparing around to ensure the price is fair.
If you have an additional questions about comparing beds or finding the best memory foam mattress, leave us a comment.
