Shopping for a mattress online can quickly turn into a sea of tabs, firmness scores, proprietary foams, cooling technologies, and discounts. If you're feeling overwhelmed, the easiest way to simplify the process is to compare every mattress using the same criteria.
When comparing mattresses, we recommend focusing on 10 things:
- Your sleep position, body type, and personal preferences
- Mattress firmness level
- Support and pressure relief
- Mattress materials and construction
- Temperature regulation
- Motion isolation
- Edge support
- Durability
- Sleep trial and warranty policies
-
Overall value
Use the 10 questions below as your mattress comparison checklist. By the end, you should be able to narrow a long list of possibilities to two or three mattresses that actually fit the way you sleep.
1. Is This Mattress a Good Fit for My Sleeping Position and Body Type?
Before comparing mattresses, start with the sleeper.
Your sleeping position and body weight can affect how a mattress feels and where you need cushioning or support. A mattress that feels firm to one person may feel considerably softer to someone heavier, for example.
Your primary sleeping position is another useful starting point:
- Side sleepers often prioritize pressure relief around the shoulders and hips.
- Back sleepers may look for a balance of contouring and support without excessive sinking through the midsection.
- Stomach sleepers often prefer enough support to prevent the hips and abdomen from sinking too deeply.
- Combination sleepers may prioritize responsiveness so changing positions doesn't feel difficult.
Before you shop, write down your primary and secondary sleeping positions, approximate body-weight range, whether you tend to sleep hot, whether you share your bed, and the biggest thing you dislike about your current mattress.
That gives you a much better question than “Is this a good mattress?”
Ask instead: “Is this a good mattress for me?”
2. What Firmness Level Do I Actually Need?
Mattress firmness describes how soft or hard the sleeping surface feels. Companies describe firmness on a 1-to-10 scale, with lower numbers representing softer mattresses and higher numbers representing firmer ones.
There's an important catch: mattress firmness isn't perfectly standardized across brands.
One company's 6 may not feel exactly like another company's 6. Materials, comfort-layer thickness, body weight, sleeping position, and personal preference all influence perceived firmness.
As a general starting point:
| Firmness | General Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Soft to Medium-Soft | More cushioning and contouring | Some side sleepers, lighter sleepers |
| Medium to Medium-Firm | Balance of contouring and firmness | Average side sleepers and back sleepers, many combination sleepers and couples |
| Firm | Less compression and a firmer surface | Heavier back and stomach sleepers |
Online Shopping Tip: Don't compare mattresses using firmness numbers alone. Look at the materials, thickness and construction of their comfort and support layers, too. It's also helpful to read customer and expert reviews from others with the same body type and sleep position as you.
3. Does the Mattress Provide Both Support and Pressure Relief?
“Support” and “pressure relief” appear on countless mattress product pages, but they describe different aspects of mattress performance.
Support refers to how the mattress bears your weight, resists excessive sinking, and keeps your spine in proper neutral alignment. Pressure relief describes how well the surface distributes weight and cushions pressure-sensitive areas, such as the shoulders and hips.
The two aren't opposites. A well-matched mattress can provide both.
When comparing mattresses online, investigate how each model is designed to accomplish this. Features to look for may include:
- Contouring foam comfort layers
- High-density support layers
- Individually encased coils (hybrid mattresses)
- Zoned support systems
Pay attention to the entire mattress construction rather than focusing exclusively on the top comfort layer. A plush surface can feel comfortable initially, but what's underneath it plays a major role in how the mattress supports you.
4. What Is the Mattress Actually Made Of?
Marketing names can make mattress materials sound complicated. Strip away the terminology and look at the actual construction.
Most mattresses fall into several broad categories:
| Mattress Type | Typical Characteristics | What to Investigate |
| Foam | Maximum contouring and motion absorption | Types, thicknesses, density, and arrangement of foam |
| Hybrid | Foam comfort layers combined with coils for a balanced, responsive feel | Types, thicknesses, density and arrangement of foam + coil core construction |
| Latex | Responsive, buoyant feel | Natural, synthetic, or blended latex |
| Innerspring | Coil-focused construction with thin comfort layer | Coil design and comfort layers |
Even mattresses in the same category can feel very different. One hybrid, for example, might use thick memory foam over individually encased coils, while another may use thinner, more responsive comfort layers.
When comparing models, look for information about:
- Number and thickness of layers
- Total mattress height
- Cover materials
-
Comfort layer materials
-
Support core construction and coil design, if applicable
- Material or safety certifications
A product page that provides clear construction details makes it easier to understand what you're actually paying for.
5. Will This Mattress Sleep Hot?
If you regularly wake up feeling too warm, temperature regulation may deserve a spot near the top of your comparison list.
No mattress can guarantee that every sleeper will stay cool—your bedding, bedroom temperature, pajamas, body temperature and mattress can all affect your sleep environment. Mattress construction can, however, influence airflow and heat retention.
Features worth comparing include:
- Breathable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating cover materials
- Phase-change materials
-
Open-cell foams
- Heat-dissipating foam infusions, like gel or copper
- Coil systems that allow airflow through the mattress
- The amount of contouring around the body
Also distinguish between a surface that feels cool when you first touch it and a mattress designed to help manage heat throughout the night. They're not necessarily the same thing.
Online Shopping Tip: Don't stop when you see the word “cooling.” Find out which materials or design features are intended to provide the benefit.
6. How Well Does the Mattress Handle Motion?
If you sleep with a partner—or a pet that thinks your mattress belongs to them—motion isolation can make a noticeable difference.
Motion isolation describes how well a mattress limits movement from traveling across the sleep surface.
It matters when your partner:
- Changes positions frequently
- Gets into or out of bed during the night
- Keeps a different sleep schedule
- Is considerably heavier or lighter than you
Foams tend to absorb movement well, while coil-based mattresses can vary depending on their construction. Hybrids using individually encased coils, for example, can behave differently from traditional interconnected spring systems.
When reading customer reviews, don't rely solely on the overall rating. Search for terms like “motion transfer,” “partner movement,” “light sleeper” or “getting out of bed.” Reviews that describe your particular situation are usually more useful than generic statements about comfort.
7. Does the Mattress Have Enough Edge Support?
Edge support describes how stable the perimeter of a mattress feels when you sit or sleep near it.
Strong edge support may be especially useful if you:
- Share a smaller bed with a partner
- Frequently sleep near the edge
- Like to sit on the edge while getting dressed
- Want to make use of more of the mattress's surface
Mattresses may address edge support with reinforced edge coils, firmer foam around the perimeter or other construction techniques.
Edge support can be difficult to evaluate from product photography, so look at construction details and, where available, independent mattress testing.
For couples in particular, usable sleeping space can matter almost as much as the mattress's listed dimensions.
8. How Long Should I Expect the Mattress to Last?
Mattresses don't come with an exact expiration date. Durability depends on construction, materials, sleeper weight, frequency of use, foundation, care and other factors.
When assessing durability, investigate:
- Mattress type (in general, hybrids and latex mattresses last longer than innerspring and memory foam mattresses)
- Cover material
- Foam specifications when disclosed, such as density
-
Coil count and thickness
- Overall mattress and layer thickness
- Weight limits
-
Foundation requirements
9. What Happens If I Don't Like the Mattress or There's a Manufacturing Issue?
For an online mattress, the sleep trial and warranty are effectively part of the product.
A mattress can feel different after several full nights than it does during a five-minute showroom test. Your body may also need time to adjust to a different sleeping surface.
Before clicking “buy,” answer these questions:
- How long is the sleep trial?
- Is there a required break-in period before a return?
- When does the trial period begin?
- Are returns free?
- Are there pickup, transportation or disposal fees?
- Who arranges mattress removal?
- Are exchanges handled differently from returns?
-
Is original shipping refundable?
- What condition must the mattress be in?
Then read the warranty separately. Check the length of coverage, whether any portion is prorated, what constitutes a covered defect, foundation requirements, transportation costs and whether coverage applies only to the original purchaser.
10. Am I Comparing Price—or Total Value?
The cheapest mattress isn't automatically the best deal, and the most expensive mattress isn't automatically the best mattress.
Instead, compare total value.
For each finalist, consider:
- Actual purchase price
- Materials and construction
- Features relevant to your needs
- Expected durability
- Sleep-trial terms
- Return costs
- Warranty coverage
- Shipping charges
- Included accessories
- Foundation requirements
A simple way to put price into perspective is to consider approximate cost per year:
Purchase price ÷ expected years of useful service = approximate annual cost
Mattress lifespan can't be predicted precisely, so this isn't an exact calculation. It's simply a way to compare a lower-priced mattress you may replace sooner with a more expensive option you expect to use longer.
Your 10-Question Mattress Comparison Checklist
Once you've narrowed down your choices, open the product page for each finalist and work through this checklist:
Is this mattress appropriate for my sleeping position and body type?
Is the firmness level likely to suit me?
Does it offer the balance of support and pressure relief I want?
What materials and construction does it use?
How does its design address temperature regulation?
How well does it isolate motion?
Does it provide enough edge support for my needs?
What does its construction suggest about durability?
What are the exact sleep-trial, return and warranty terms?
Does it offer good overall value at the price I'll actually pay?
Find Your Bear Mattress Match
Ready to put the checklist to work? Explore Bear mattresses and compare firmness, construction, materials, features and sleep preferences to find the option that best fits your needs. Across our mattresses, you'll find these features and policies in common:
- FREE shipping
- 120-night trial
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Designed and assembled in the USA
- GREENGUARD Gold certified
- Made with CertiPUR-US® certified foam
- Fiberglass-free design
Disclaimer: Bear does not provide medical advice. All resources on the Bear blog, including this article, are informational only and do not replace professional medical counsel. Talk to your doctor about any health, mental health, or sleep-related issues.
