Best pillow top mattress for combination sleepers
Nolah Evolution 15″
Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers for 2024 – CNET
When it comes to mattresses that are ideal for combination sleepers, my fellow CNET mattress experts and I know which beds are the top in the market. We have tested over 200 mattresses, and here are the best mattresses for combination sleepers.
What is the best mattress for combination sleepers?
Combination sleepers require a mattress that’s neither too firm nor too soft — one that’s down the line in terms of firmness and neutral in feeling is ideal. The Casper Original mattress is both of those things. Made of all foam, petite to typical sleepers will feel comfort and support from the Casper mattress. It also allows you to switch between positions without that “stuck in the mud” feeling. The mattress also contains zoned-layer support, meaning that the middle is firmer to support the spine, hips and lower back, while the outer two-thirds are softer to comfort your shoulders.
Video: Best mattress for combination sleepers
Watch our fellow CNET mattress expert, Owen Poole review the best mattresses for combination sleepers.
Best mattresses for combination sleepers of 2024
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
Why we chose the Casper Original: The flagship model from Casper — the Casper Original mattress — is a popular bed-in-a-box option for combination sleepers who might be on a budget. Not only do I love this mattress for its fairly affordable price, but the value, support and comfort that comes with this bed is priceless. The Casper Original is made up of three layers of foam, in addition to a knit cover that makes the mattress feel cozy. But this shouldn’t warm you up. The first layer of memory foam is perforated to allow for airflow and help keep you temperature-neutral.
I’m familiar with the neutral foam feel of the Casper mattress. In addition to testing the Casper Original, I sleep on a Casper Select mattress from Costco (the Select model used to be the old Casper Original). While the two models are different, there are a lot of similarities in feel. They both have excellent motion isolation, especially when you sleep with a partner or a pet. I also don’t feel like I’m sinking into the mattress too much.
Pros:
- Zoned memory foam makes it softer where you need it
- Ideal for most sleeping positions
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Not for those who want to sink a little into their mattress
- Not supportive enough for sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds
Read our Casper Original review.
Type Hyper-Elastic Polymer mattressFirmness Medium or 5Trial 100 nightsWarranty 10-year warranty Price $$
Type Latex foam hybridFirmness 7 or medium-firmTrial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 3 firmness levels | Soft: 3 or Medium-soft | Medium: 5 or Medium | Firm: Medium-firm or 7Trial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price $$$
Type Neutral HybridFirmness Medium to Medium-FirmTrial 120 nightsWarranty 10-Year WarrantyPrice $ Price
Why we chose the Nolah Evolution 15″: Pillow top mattresses provide ample support regardless of your sleeping position; however, the pillow top on the Nolah Evolution 15″ is great for combination sleepers. Sometimes, pillow tops can be too plush and hinder combination sleepers from moving around. The Nolah Evolution is made with what Nolah calls AirFoam. It gives you the cradling sensation of memory foam, but it’s also responsive and feels more like memory foam than the Brooklyn Bedding models.
The Nolah Evolution 15″ comes in three firmness options: plush, luxury firm and firm. Despite the name, we found the luxury firm option to be around a medium — making it ideal for combination sleepers. If you spend more time on your stomach and back and are looking for a firmer bed, however, the firm option would be better for you.
Pros:
- AirFoam provides a unique feel
- Comes in multiple firmness options
- Firmness option available for all sleep positions
Cons:
- Nolah requires a return fee
- Most expensive mattress on this list
Read more in our Nolah brand review.
Nolah Evolution Hybrid 15″
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 8-9 or medium-firm to firmWarranty Lifetime warrantyTrial 120 nights Price $$
How we tested the best mattresses for combination sleepers
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
When we test mattresses, we have an established process that assesses key factors including firmness, feel and performance. We test how strong the edge of the bed is by sitting and lying on the edge. We test motion transfer by rolling across the mattress with a glass of water by the edge. These are things we do for all beds we test. The best mattresses for combination sleepers have a unique testing process. We dive further into the bed’s construction, paying attention to each layer contributing to the cooling process.
1. Firmness: We lay on each mattress and use our experience from testing over 200 different beds to determine firmness. Compared to other mattresses, we analyze how soft or hard a bed feels. It’s important to wait until the mattress is fully expanded after opening to get the real firmness perspective.
2. Feel: This is where we get handsy with the beds. We touch and feel the mattresses and watch what the material does. Is it light and bouncy like latex foam, or slow and dense like memory foam?
3. Durability: We don’t lie on the mattress we’re testing every day for years, so it’s hard to tell exactly how long each bed will last. But we can get an idea of how well a bed will hold up by looking at its construction. Beds with steel coils are typically more durable and stronger than all-foam mattresses.
4. Best body type: We use construction and feel to determine how accommodating a bed will be for a heavy individual. Hybrid mattresses with steel coils are typically more supportive and longer-lasting; a plus for heavier individuals looking for a quality bed.
5. Best sleeping position: We get real physical and flip around the mattresses, testing each sleeping position: side, back, stomach and combination.
6. Motion isolation: With one or preferably two people on the mattress, we jump and bounce around to see how much movement can be detected throughout the bed. We also use the method where you place a cup of water at the edge of the bed, and bounce around to see how much it moves.
7. Edge support: We analyze a mattress’s materials and physically lay on each edge of the mattress to get a feel for how well it’ll keep us feeling sturdy.
8. Temperature: We use hot sleepers to test and determine how cool a bed sleeps. We also take a look at its materials and construction — did a brand add anything to make it sleep more cool?
9. Smell: Some mattresses can off-gas an interesting smell. We use our trusty snouts to test this characteristic.
Read more on how we test mattresses.
What to look for in a mattress as a combination sleeper
Whether you are a primary back, stomach or side sleeper, your sleeping position requires specific aspects in a mattress. Combination sleepers have to take into account all of their sleeping positions in order to find the best mattress. Here are features to keep in mind.
Firmness
Combination sleepers should look for a mattress that’s around a medium or right down the middle in terms of firmness. The right mattress shouldn’t be too firm or too soft. If you’re mostly a back or stomach sleeper that switches between the two, a firmer mattress is recommended to further support the spine.
Body type
The firmness of a mattress depends on your body type. For example, a petite sleeper will find a mattress firmer than an average or heavier body type. If you’re a heavier person, a mattress will feel softer to you; that means you’ll need a firmer mattress.
Budget
When shopping for a mattress, it’s important to stick to your budget. Premium, luxury mattresses cost more than $4,000, but there are plenty of quality mattresses out there for less. Combination sleepers need a neutral, basic and down-the-line mattress, and that doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.
Best mattresses for combination sleepers FAQs
A combination sleeper switches between two or three sleeping positions during the night. This includes the side, back and stomach.
Yes, memory foam can be good for combination sleepers. If the memory foam is too dense, however, it can restrict a sleeper from switching positions during the night. If that’s the case, that memory foam mattress is not ideal. Combination sleepers should look for memory foam mattresses that have a neutral-foam feeling (meaning that it’s not too dense and doesn’t make you feel like you’re stuck in the mud).
There are many mattresses out there that are good for all sleeping positions. The best mattresses are often a medium on a firmness scale, neutral-feeling and are memory foam or hybrid. We at CNET have tested over 200 mattresses, and our pick for the best mattress for combination sleepers is the Casper Original mattress for its price, value, construction and feel.
