This mattress was delivered in my mailbox. Well, not quite, but it arrived in a surprisingly compact container.
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Thanks to Tuft and Needle’s foam construction, it’s great at isolating motion.
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I think the Tuft and Needle mattress will be best for people who weigh under 230 pounds.
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Neutral-foam feel that’s not divisive like memory foam
Medium firmness level to fit most sleeping positions
Don’t like
Not ideal for sleepers over 230 pounds
Edge support isn’t great
Product details
Type Poly foam hybrid
Firmness Medium or 5
Trial 100 nights
Warranty 10-year limited warranty
One of the first names many people think of when they think of mattresses is Tuft and Needle. They are a big bed-in-a-box brand up there with Casper and Purple. For a basic mattress that’s affordable and comfortable, Tuft and Needle is it.
This mattress was delivered in my mailbox. Well, not quite, but it arrived in a surprisingly compact container.
Tuft and Needle
Clean, basic and comfy were a few of my first thoughts upon starting my Tuft and Needle mattress review process. It looks kind of like a big, rectangular marshmallow on top of the bed frame. The cover is textured in bright white, giving it a fresh, aesthetically pleasing look. I noticed a zipper which means you can remove the cover from your Tuft and Needle Original, but I honestly wouldn’t recommend it as it’s not the most fun to put back on. Also, beware of throwing it in the washing machine. It might be tempting, but if it shrinks, the struggle will be real when you try to put it back on.
Video: Tuft and Needle Original Mattress Review
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the Tuft and Needle Original mattress.
Tuft and Needle feel and firmness
What does Tuft and Needle feel like?
If you’re somebody who’s turned off by the feel of memory foam mattresses, I think you’d be a fan of the Tuft and Needle Original bed. Instead of molding around your body and almost giving you a sinking feeling, it gently hugs you and responds quickly to pressure, allowing you to move around easily.
How firm is the Tuft and Needle mattress?
It’s also plush, yet supportive at the same time, a great middle ground to accommodate a wide range of sleepers. That’s why I rated the Tuft and Needle Original mattress around a medium on the firmness scale, or a 5 out of 10, with 10 being the firmest.
The Tuft and Needle Original bed is 10 inches thick, which is pretty standard compared to your average bed-in-a-box mattress. However, it only has two layers, whereas the average bed has three. I’m not knocking its construction, though. Like I said earlier, it’s simple and gets the job done nicely for people who don’t need additional support.
At 7 inches tall the bottom layer is the thickest, made with firm polyurethane foam, and it’s the main foundation for the mattress.
The top layer is responsible for providing comfort. It’s made with graphite-infused foam called T&N Adaptive foam, and cooling gel is added to help maintain a neutral temperature.
The cover is made with a knitted material that feels really soft. Still, it’s breathable, not warm and cozy like your favorite knitted sweater.
I think the Tuft and Needle mattress will be best for people who weigh under 230 pounds.
My Slumber Yard
Who is the Tuft and Needle mattress best for?
Not every bed is one size fits all. While it’s a good mattress, it might not be the most comfortable or accommodating bed for everyone. Here’s who I found sleeps best on it during my Tuft and Needle mattress review.
Position
Considering its medium firmness level, I’d recommend it to most sleeping positions. It’s soft enough to give pressure relief to side sleepers, but firm enough to support most back and stomach sleepers. It’s quick to respond to pressure when switching positions, which is a plus for combination sleepers.
Zooey Liao/CNET
The only exceptions would be plus-size back and stomach sleepers, or small side sleepers.
Body type
This bed is two layers thick and only made of foam materials. For that reason, I think people over 230 pounds should consider the Tuft and Needle Hybrid mattress. It has a lot of the same qualities, is still affordable, and is more supportive for heavier body types. Or, you can check out our other top favorite hybrid mattresses on our best mattress for heavy people list.
If you weigh under 230 pounds, the Tuft and Needle Original mattress is a perfectly suitable option.
Tuft and Needle mattress pricing
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Size
Measurements (inches)
Price
Twin
38×75 inches
$745
Twin XL
38×80 inches
$795
Full
54×74 inches
$895
Queen
60×80 inches
$995
King
76×80 inches
$1,395
Cal king
72×84 inches
$1,395
We’ve been hyping this bed’s low price for long enough, so now let’s get into its value. Prices start at $745 for a twin and go up to $1,395 for a California King. Since prices are already low, the company doesn’t always run discounts. However, we might be able to provide you with one, or you can watch out for major holiday sales. You can also consider the more premium Mint mattress if you’re looking to spend a little more money on a new bed.
Trial and warranty
As far as company policies go, the Tuft and Needle Original will be shipped to your home for free, rolled up inside a cardboard box. All you have to do is unbox and unroll. Tuft and Needle will give you the chance to test it for up to 100 nights, and if you decide you don’t want to keep it, you can get a full refund for your purchase.
For those who buy and decide to keep it, the bed will be backed by a 10-year limited warranty.
We also want to give you a heads-up about a little thing called off-gassing. It’s the odor that’ll come from your mattress once you unbox it. It’s smelly, but don’t worry. It won’t last for long. Give it about 24 to 48 hours, and the scent will dissipate. This is standard for most bed-in-a-box mattresses unless they’re made with natural and organic materials like the Avocado mattress.
The final verdict
To encapsulate our impressions of this mattress to round out our Tuft and Needle review, these are the pros and cons of our experience.
You might like this mattress if:
You’re on a budget.
You dislike the feel of memory foam.
You weigh under 230 pounds.
You want a medium firmness level to offer simultaneous pressure relief and support.
The Tuft and Needle Nod bed is an ultra wallet-friendly mattress, even more so than the Tuft and Needle Original. It’s available on Amazon and is perfect for college kids, young children and budget shoppers who just need a simple, affordable mattress. It has a neutral, responsive feel like the Original model so it’s easy to switch positions on. It’s also rated a five on the firmness scale, making it suitable for all sleeping positions.
Tuft and Needle Mint
Side sleepers will love the soft profile of the Tuft and Needle Mint mattress. It has a similar neutral-foam feel to the other Tuft and Needle beds, but it’s rated around a four on the firmness scale. It offers ample pressure relief for the hips and shoulders, making it best for people who want a lighter, plusher firmness level. Although, it is a little more expensive than the flagship model.
Tuft and Needle Hybrid
Tuft and Needle designed its mattresses to have a similar accommodating and neutral feel, and the Tuft and Needle Hybrid mattress is no different. The main differences between the hybrid model and the original is that Tuft and Needle Hybrid has a bottom support layer made of pocketed steel coils. This makes it more supportive, durable and long-lasting. I recommend this bed to people around over 230 pounds or more who want the Tuft and Needle feel with extra reinforcements.
How does Tuft and Needle compare to other beds?
Here’s how Tuft and Needle stacks up versus other big-wigs in the industry.
Tuft and Needle vs. Nectar
The Nectar is one of the most popular memory foam bed-in-a-box mattresses and it’s made several of our best lists, including Best Firm Mattress and Best Memory Foam Mattress. It has a dense, firm memory foam feel similar to Tempur-Pedic, but it’s a fraction of the cost. Compared to Tuft and Needle, it’s much slower to respond to pressure, rated a six out of 10 rather than five and it’s a little more expensive. I think Nectar is best for back, stomach and combination sleepers who love memory foam.
Tuft and Needle vs. Casper
The Casper mattress is arguably the brand that brought bed-in-a-box beds to the mainstream, while Tuft and Needle is another veteran in the industry who helped shift the market towards online shopping. They both have similar neutral-foam feels and both are rated around a medium of the firmness scale.
Casper is just a little more elevated with a zoned-support design to help provide support and pressure relief where you need it most. It’s also thicker and a little more expensive.
Tuft and Needle vs. Purple
The Original Purple mattress is unlike many beds out there, including Tuft and Needle. T&N is a more safe pick, while Purple is meant for people who are sick of memory foam and traditional beds. Purple’s secret sauce is its Purple Grid, a gel-like layer in the top of the mattress that’s soft and supportive at the same time. It contours around your curves but immediately springs back to its original shape once pressure is removed. It also sleeps cooler than foam mattresses because the grid design allows for maximum airflow.
Tuft and Needle, on the other hand, feels like your regular foam mattress and runs for a more affordable price.
Tuft & Needle mattress FAQs
Most foam mattresses will start to sag over time, but you’ll have a solid six years or so until you start to notice significant wear and tear (like sags) on your Tuft and Needle bed.
Are Tuft and Needle mattresses made in China?
It’s rated around a medium firmness level or a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning it’s right in the middle between firm and soft. It offers enough pressure relief for most sleepers, unless you’re a strict side sleeper under 150 pounds. In that case, you might want a more plush mattress.
Are Tuft and Needle mattresses healthy?
That depends on budget and design. Both are made from all foam and have medium firmness levels, but Tuft and Needle is a more wallet-friendly mattress. Casper, on the other hand, is made with more foam layers and contains a Zoned Support layer which is ergonomically made to provide targeted support and pressure relief where it’s most needed.
