Memory foam mattresses, also referred to as visco-elastic foam, are very popular nowadays and most people that own this type of mattress are very satisfied with their purchase. The main feature and main selling point of this mattress is that it contours to your body’s shape for ultimate comfort. Our memory foam mattress reviews will help you find the best memory foam mattress that is perfect for you.

A basic memory foam mattress is made up of a memory foam layer, a base layer and then covered in some type of fabric. However, most manufacturers today don’t limit themselves to this basic design and they try to add as many layers as needed so that their mattress can be considered the best memory foam mattress. However, don’t think that just because there are many layers, you are automatically getting a superior product. There are a lot of factors that come into play that determine the overall quality of the mattress and customer satisfaction.

Pros

• Because of its ability to contour to your body’s shape, it can lessen the pressure points and you can have a more comfortable sleep.
• It is also good for people that experience any sort of pain while sleeping.
• Motion transfer is minimized.
• Very durable and will last a long time with proper care.
• You can sleep quietly as foams produce no noise, unless your bed platform or foundation is the cause.
• Availability in stores and online is not a problem.

Cons

• Generally more expensive than innerspring mattresses.
• Tendency to become very hot as you sleep.
• You can’t use the mattress instantly after you purchase because it requires time to fully expand and most of the time, there is off gassing so you need to let it air out to get rid of the smell or lessen it to acceptable levels.
• Off gassing is very common and this can hinder your ability to sleep well for the first couple of weeks.

Top Rated Memory Foam Mattresses

These are the mattresses that we recommend for everyday use. These have thick memory foam layers that can give you the needed comfort and support. The specifications and prices mentioned are for the queen sized model. These are the very best when it comes to overall quality and providing comfort and support. You can consider these mattresses as “high-end” when it comes to performance but they are only slightly more expensive than mid range mattresses.

Click on the image to view the product page

Loom and Leaf Mattress

Loom and Leaf, or simply L&L, is a mattress that we really love and we consider it the best memory foam mattress right now. It is a fairly new mattress but it is already establishing itself as one of the best and most affordable among luxury memory foam mattresses. It is a mattress made by the same people behind the Saatva luxury mattress and this means that you can expect a high quality mattress that will let you sleep comfortably at night.

The mattress is made in the USA with premium materials and it comes with a 120 day no penalty trial. This mattress is comparable to the Tempur Cloud Luxe Breeze but at a fraction of the cost. The L&L mattress is priced at $1099 while the Cloud Luxe is around $3699, this is for the Queen sized mattress.

• Comfort Layer: 2″ 4lb Plant-based Cooling Memory Foam (convoluted), 2.5″ 5lb Plant-based Memory Foam
• Support Layer:  2″ Transition loft pad, 5.5″ High density foam
• Fabric Cover: Quilted organic cotton
• Firmness: Relaxed firm or firm
• Thickness: 12″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 15 years
• Product Page: Official Website

The mattress is constructed using premium materials. The 2″ 4lb convoluted memory foam layer is placed upside down because they laminated a medical-grade cooling gel on the flat side. This is to ensure that the mattress temperature stays regulated while you sleep. The 2.5″ high density 5lb memory foam layer helps in providing both comfort and support. The 2″ transition loft pad and the 5.5″ high density foam make up the foundation of the mattress and it provides ample support. The mattress is covered using a quilted organic cotton. Read full review

Bear Mattress

The Bear Mattress is growing in popularity very fast and we have to say that it is well deserved. It is a unique mattress that uses graphite gel infused memory foam to improve cooling and it is effective. The technology used in the Bear mattress, Celliant and graphite gel infused memory foam, may be uncommon but they perform very well for their intended purposes.

The mattress uses CertiPUR-US certified foams, it is made in the USA and it has a 10 year warranty. They also have a 100 night sleep trial where you can return the mattress before the 100 days are up if you are not satisfied. The Bear mattress is priced at $850 for the queen size.

• Comfort Layer: 1″ 4lb Graphite infused memory foam, 1.5″ Quick response foam
• Support Layer: 1″ Quick response foam, 6.5″ High density foam
• Fabric Cover: Celliant cover
  
• Firmness: Medium
• Thickness: 10″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 10 years
• Product Page: Official Website

The construction of the mattress is very unique in that it uses materials that are very uncommon. The graphite gel infused memory foam performs better than standard and regular gel infused memory foam when it comes to cooling. Even though it is only 1″ thick, it provides very good comfort and you won’t sink in too deep resulting in difficulty getting out of bed. The quick response foam provides additional support and bounce for easier movement. The support base is 6.5 inches of high density foam and the mattress is covered using a Celliant fabric cover. Celliant is a new technology that also improves cooling. Read full review

Layla Sleep

Layla Sleep is another mattress that comes in a box that we can recommend. It uses a copper infused memory foam in the comfort layer and its main function is to improve blood circulation and reduce aches and pain as you sleep. It also improves cooling. The mattress can be flipped and each side has a different feel, one is soft while the other is more firm.

Layla sleep mattresses are made in the USA, Certipur certified and it comes with a lifetime warranty. You can try the mattress for 120 nights and if you think that it is not right for you, you can return it for a full refund. The queen sized model is priced at $899.

• Comfort Layer: 3″ Copper infused memory foam or 1″ Copper infused memory foam
  
• Support Layer:  6.5″ Convoluted high density foam
  
• Fabric Cover: Thermo Gel infused cover
  
• Firmness: Soft or Medium – Firm
  
• Thickness: 10″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
  
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Product Page: Official Website

The Layla sleep mattress is a 10″ thick mattress with 3 layers. Since the mattress can be flipped, the comfort layer can either be a 3 inch or 1 inch Copper infused memory foam. The 3 inch layer provides a soft feel while the 1 inch layer is firm. The mattress has a 6.5 inch high density foam as the support. It is covered with a Thermo gel infused cover and this helps the mattress stay cool for a more comfortable sleep.

DreamFoam Bedding Ultimate Dreams Gel Memory Foam Mattress

The Ultimate Dreams 13″ Gel Memory Foam Mattress from Dreamfoam Bedding is one of our most recommended mattresses because it is an affordable and high quality mattress that is comparable to the “top” brands such as Tempur-Pedic. It is also one of the best selling memory foam mattresses on Amazon. Dreamfoam Bedding is a brand that provides excellent customer service.

They sell on Amazon and on their official website. Their direct factory pricing lets consumers afford their mattress because there are no unnecessary expenses to shoulder. Their foams are CertiPUR-US certified.

• Comfort Layer: 3″ 4lb Gel-Infused Memory Foam, 2″ 5lb Memory Foam
• Support Layer:  8″ High Density Foam
• Fabric Cover: Luxurious Knitted Cover
• Firmness: Soft – Medium Firm
• Thickness: 13″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 10 years
• Product Page: Click Here
  

As you can see from the details above, the Ultimate Dreams 13″ Gel Mattress has a simple 3 layer design with a luxurious knitted cover. The top layer has 3 inches of 4lb gel infused memory foam and supported by 2 inches of 5lb standard visco-elastic foam. The base is made up of 8 inches of high density foam. This is a balanced design that gives you comfort and proper support. Read full review

Leesa Mattress

Leesa is a direct to consumer mattress retailer established around 2014 and just like the others, they are able to offer a quality mattress at a more consumer friendly price. They only have one mattress, the Leesa Mattress. It uses a unique type of foam called Avena foam and so far, a lot of people are very satisfied with this mattress. It is made in the USA and it has a 10 year warranty.

• Comfort Layer: 2″ Cooling Avena Foam, 2″ Memory Foam
• Support Layer:  6″ High Density Foam
• Fabric Cover: Poly Blend four stripe cover
• Firmness: Medium Firm – Firm
• Thickness: 10″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 10 years
• Product Page: Click Here

The Leesa mattress has a unique design wherein the top layer is a 2″ convoluted cooling Avena foam. Avena foam is comparable to latex but it is bouncier. With its convoluted design, it also acts as an airflow layer that helps cool the mattress as you sleep. It also has a 2″ memory foam layer and the density of the memory foam is 3 lbs. The support layer of the mattress is 6 inches of high density polyfoam and it has a poly blend fabric cover. Read full review

Best Mid-Range Memory Foam Mattresses

Not everyone can afford or are willing to spend a huge sum of money for a high end/luxury mattress and it is very understandable. If your budget is limited but you need a mattress that is perfect for everyday use, a mattress that is in the mid range when it comes to pricing may be the best option. They are less expensive than the high end mattresses but make no mistake, they are all quality mattresses and they can give the proper comfort and support, provided that you choose one that is right for you.

They cost less due to a lot of factors like thinner memory foam layers, simpler design, type of fabric used for the cover and a few more. None of these compromise the quality, support and the durability of the mattress. Here are our recommendations.

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Dynasty Mattress Cool Breeze 12″ Gel Memory Foam

The Dynasty Mattress 12″ Cool Breeze mattress is a mid range mattress that we can highly recommend. The foam used in this mattress is CertiPUR-US certified, meaning, it has passed regulations and strict quality standards. It is a medium firm – firm mattress so if you like your mattress on the firm side, this is a very good choice. Dynasty Mattress is a very good brand that retails a lot of quality mattresses.

• Comfort Layer:  3″ Gel Memory Foam
• Support Layer: 2 x 2″ Convoluted Airflow Foam, 5″ High Density Support Base
  
• Fabric Cover: Zipper white cover with brown suede
  
• Firmness: Medium Firm – Firm
  
• Thickness: 12″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Queen RV, King, Split King, RV Short King, Cal-King, Split Cal-King
  
• Warranty: 30 years
• Product Page: Click Here
  

The Dynasty Mattress 12″ Cool Breeze is designed to have good airflow by having 2 layers of convoluted airflow foam. The support is a high density 5″ poly foam and the comfort layer is 3 inches of gel memory foam. If you are looking for a specific type of mattress size, you might want to look at this mattress because it comes in many sizes such as RV sizes and split sizes. Read full review

Exceptional Sheets 10″ Gel Memory Foam Mattress

The Exceptional Sheets 10″ Gel Mattress is distributed by eLuxury Supply, a US veteran owned and operated company. The mattress is made in the USA and the foam used is CertiPUR-US certified so you can be sure that this is a high quality mattress. The company offers 10 years warranty for this mattress. It comes packed in a box for easier transport and lower expenses.

• Comfort Layer: 3″ 3lb Gel Memory Foam
• Support Layer: 7″ High Density Support Foam
• Fabric Cover: Zipper Poly Blend Cover
• Firmness: Medium Firm – Firm
  
• Thickness: 10″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 10 years
• Product Page: Click Here

The construction of this mattress is very simple, it has 2 layers and it is covered using a poly blend fabric. The comfort layer is a 3″ 3lb open cell gel memory foam and this helps in keeping it cool while you sleep. As you may already know, memory foams are known to get hot as you sleep. The open cell design paired with cooling gel beads help alleviate this issue. The support layer is a 7″ high density, standard polyfoam and this will support you very well. The mattress is on the medium firm – firm side on the firmness scale.

Brentwood Home 13″  Cypress Memory Foam Mattress

The Brentwood 13″ Cypress Memory Foam Mattress is the most affordable out of all our recommended memory foam mattresses. It is CertiPUR-US certified so you know that you will get a mattress that has passed regulations and is safe for you. The mattress is made in the USA and offers 25 years warranty.

• Comfort Layer: 3.5″ Gel-infused Memory Foam
• Support Layer: 2″ Airflow Layer, 7.5″ Therapeutic Base
• Fabric Cover: All Natural Bamboo Fiber Zipper Cover
• Firmness: Medium Firm
• Thickness: 13″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 25 years
• Product Page: Click Here

The 13″ thickness is comprised of 3 layers. The base is 7.5 inches of therapeutic high density foam. There’s a 2 inch airflow layer above that to improve temperature regulation. The top is 3.5 inches of gel infused memory foam. The mattress ships with a removable and washable zipper cover made from natural bamboo fibers. We also like that it comes in many sizes. This is a mattress that offers value for your money. Read full review

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Suretemp Mattress

The Sleep Innovations 12″ Shiloh Suretemp memory foam is one of the most popular mattresses on Amazon with over 3000 customer reviews. Its popularity is due to its simplicity and the fact that it does what it is supposed to do, which is to provide comfort and proper support. Their foams are made in the USA. Although it is advertised as a soft – medium firm mattress, many buyers say that it is actually a firm mattress and we can agree with them because the comfort layer is only 2.5 inches thick.

• Comfort Layer: 2.5″ 3lb Suretemp Memory Foam
• Support Layer: 9.5″ Premium Support Foam
• Fabric Cover: Luxurious poly cotton blend cover
• Firmness: Medium Firm – Firm
• Thickness:  12″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 20 years
• Product Page: Click Here

One of the reasons why the Shiloh suretemp mattress is priced low is because it only uses 2.5 inches of memory foam and the bulk of the mattress is made up of high density support foam. The Suretemp memory foam is made with an open cell technology and this prevents the mattress from getting too hot. Since the comfort layer is only 2.5 inches, the mattress leans toward firm on the firmness scale.

LUCID 12″ Gel Memory Foam Mattress – Triple-Layer

The Lucid 12″ Triple Layer Gel Memory Foam Mattress is another mattress that is specifically designed to stay cool as you sleep so as not to cause discomfort to the sleeper. The Lucid brand is one of the more popular mattress brands on Amazon simply because their products offer great value. The 12″ mattress is considered a medium firm mattress so if you prefer your mattress not so soft yet not so firm, this is a good choice.

• Comfort Layer:  3″ 4lb Gel Memory Foam
• Support Layer: 1″ Bamboo charcoal memory foam support, 8″ High Density Foam
  
• Fabric Cover: TENCEL Lyocell blend cover
  
• Firmness: Medium Firm
  
• Thickness: 12″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, King, Cal-King
  
• Warranty: 25 years
• Product Page: Click Here

The construction of the mattress is geared towards temperature regulation. It has a ventilated 3″ 4lb gel memory foam with an open cell design and this allows the mattress to stay cool as you sleep. An additional 1″ Bamboo charcoal memory foam is used as support along with an 8″ high density foam. It has a warranty of 25 years.

Best Budget Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foams are expensive, at least compared to innersprings and air mattresses. However, that doesn’t mean that if you are on a very tight budget, you can not enjoy its benefits. Here are our memory foam mattress reviews – budget edition. These are best used for guest rooms or if you need a temporary mattress. Also, these are ideal for kids as they are smaller and lighter.

Just because these are considered budget mattresses, it doesn’t automatically mean that they are vastly inferior.

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Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress

Zinus is known for good quality, budget home furniture and their Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress can be considered one of the best when it comes to mattresses that are perfect for people on a budget. The foam that they use comes from China but if you have issues with foreign made products, don’t fret as all the foams that they use are CertiPUR-US certified. A CertiPUR-US certification means that the foam is durable, it performs as intended and it does not contain any materials/chemicals that can harm you.

They also have an 8 inch and 10 inch variant so if you think that 12 inches is too thick, you can get the thinner models. Read more about mattress thickness here.

• Comfort Layer: 3″ 3lb Memory Foam infused with Green Tea extract
  
• Support Layer: 2″ Comfort Foam, 3.5″ Convoluted Airflow Foam and 3.5″ Convoluted High Density Support Foam
  
• Fabric Cover: Knitted Jacquard Cover
• Firmness: Medium Firm – Firm
  
• Thickness: 12″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal-King
• Warranty: 10 years
• Product Page: Click Here

The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam is 12 inches thick and it has a 4 layer design. The support section of the mattress has 2 3.5″ convoluted high density standard foam. Directly above the support layer is a 2″ comfort foam that adds additional support as well as comfort. The main feature of this mattress is the 3″ memory foam layer that is infused with green tea. The green tea extract is a natural anti oxidant and it can maintain the freshness of the mattress for a long time. The mattress is a medium firm – firm.

Dreamfoam Bedding Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress

Dreamfoam Bedding is one of our favorite mattress brands because they continually deliver quality mattresses at different price points. For people on a budget, the Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress is a very good buy. This is technically not a memory foam mattress because they use a specialty foam instead of a standard or gel-infused foam, more details below. This mattress is made in the USA, the foams are CertiPUR-US certified and it has a 10 year warranty.

• Comfort Layer: 3″ Energex Gel Foam
  
• Support Layer: 6.25″ Convoluted Poly Foam
  
• Fabric Cover: Quilted Soft Layer
  
• Firmness: Soft – Medium
  
• Thickness: 10″
  
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Short Queen, King, Cal-King
  
• Warranty: 10 years
• Product Page: Click Here
  

The Arctic Dreams mattress uses a specialty foam called “Energex” gel foam. It is just like memory foam but it is bouncier. With a standard memory foam, once you stay in one area of the mattress for an extended period of time and you get up, it takes a while for the foam to return to its original form. With Energex, the foam returns to its original state faster, thus, it eliminates the feeling of being “trapped”. Along with the Energex foam, the mattress has a 6.25″ convoluted high density foam as its base and on top is .25″ quilted cover for a total thickness of 10 inches.

Signature Sleep Memoir

The Memoir 12″ Mattress from Signature Sleep rounds out our most recommended budget – mid range memory foam mattresses. It’s a good mattress for the price but do take note that it only offers 1 year of warranty. If you are fine with that, this is a good buy but if that is an issue with you, then it’s best that you look at other mattresses.

• Comfort Layer: 4″ 4lb Memory Foam
• Support Layer: 8″ High Density Foam
• Fabric Cover: Soft, knit fabric cover
• Firmness: Medium Firm – Firm
• Thickness: 12″
• Available Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
• Warranty: 1 year
• Product Page: Click Here

The Memoir 12″ memory foam mattress has a pretty basic mattress construction. It has 4 inches of 4lb visco-elastic foam and that makes the mattress medium firm – firm. The Memoir mattress is also available in 6″, 8″ and 10″ thickness.

Memory Foam Mattress Guide

Here are some pointers that can help you in choosing the best memory foam mattress.

Density

Density is the weight of the foam per cubic feet and it is measured in lbs. It can affect how memory foams perform in different areas. Different density levels have their set of advantages and disadvantages and what level of density to choose is entirely up to your personal preference or medical requirement. Most memory foam mattresses today are comprised of several layers and the combination of different density levels affect the overall feel of the mattress.

• Low Density – Memory foams that weigh 3.0lbs and below are considered low density. Low density foams require less raw materials during production, thus, they are cheaper to manufacture, resulting in mattresses being less expensive than mattresses that use higher density memory foams. A lower density memory foam is much like a traditional mattress wherein you will feel more on top of the mattress rather than being “in the mattress”. The foam will still contour to your body but you won’t sink in too deep.

• High Density – Memory foams that are beyond 5.0lbs are considered high density. High density foams are more expensive because the manufacturing process requires more materials. Higher density foams have superior contouring characteristics because it is more temperature sensitive and this can be either good or bad, depending on your preference. The foams that you are laying on will provide superior support and body contouring but this can make moving and getting out of bed harder because you will be sinking in more as opposed to a lower density foam. This is great if you require a mattress that can give great support and comfort to relieve you of body aches. Higher density foams are also more durable than lower density foams but they are also more prone to sleeping hotter.

• Medium Density – Medium density foams are those that weigh between 4.0 – 5.0lbs. This is the most balanced of the three levels. If you don’t require a high density foam for medical reasons and you don’t particularly like the more “conventional or traditional” feel of a low density foam, a medium density just might be for you. The price of a mattress with a medium density foam is budget friendly as it is not as expensive as a high density one and is closer to the prices of a low density foam.

Off-Gassing

When you purchase a memory foam mattress and you open it for the first time, it will most likely emit a chemical smell. This is known as off gassing. This is very common and the odor can stay for a couple of days to a couple of weeks. This can be annoying and bothersome to some but others usually don’t mind this. If you are sensitive to this smell and it affects the quality of your sleep, there are ways to deal with it so that it can go away faster. You can put the mattress in a properly ventilated room so the air flow is more regulated. You can also wash the sheets more often than normal so that it can counter the smell or you can just put the mattress in a spare room until the smell goes away.

Standard vs Gel-Infused

When you are shopping for a memory foam mattress, you will encounter the term “gel-infused memory foam” alot. Some of the issues with a memory foam are the following: susceptible to getting hot as you sleep and off gassing. Off gassing, at best, is just an annoying smell and only prevents you from sleeping soundly for the first couple of weeks. In rare cases, however, the chemical smell can cause minor health issues such as nausea, headaches and more.

A gel-infused memory foam is just like a standard memory foam. The only difference between the two is that the former is infused with millions of gel beads that can help cool down the temperature as you sleep, however, off gassing is still an issue. This type of memory foam has become very popular and as a result, more mattresses are being manufactured with a top layer made up of gel infused memory foam.

How Thick Should Your Mattress Be?

If you are a person of average height and weight, the thickness of your mattress is down to your personal preference. Anything that is above 9″ is good. If you weigh over 250 lbs., mattresses that are 10 inches and above are recommended because a thinner mattress may not be able to provide adequate support and you might find it uncomfortable.

Support Base

A memory foam mattress can be used on a foundation, platform bed with slats or a solid MDF or plywood, a metal frame or even directly on the floor, although this is not recommended. It is designed to be used on a flat, solid surface without any “give”.

If you have an existing foundation, it is best to check if that particular foundation meets the guidelines set by the mattress manufacturer to make sure that warranty is not voided and the mattress will perform as intended.

Using a memory foam mattress on an adjustable base is fine but to have even better results, we recommend latex. Latex is more flexible than any other types of foam, making them ideal for adjustable bases.

Protecting your Mattress

A mattress is a big purchase so it is wise that you take steps to protect it. A mattress protector can be purchased to prevent your mattress from getting soiled, from bedbugs, sweat, spills, dust and more.

The only problem with a mattress protector on a memory foam is that it can change the feel of your mattress. To minimize the effect of a mattress protector on your mattress, you should get those that don’t change the feel of your mattress, usually, these are the thin ones.

Summary

There are a lot of factors that you need to know about when you are shopping for a memory foam mattress but when it comes down to it, there are only two things that you really need to worry about: support and comfort. Our memory foam mattress reviews focused on the mattresses that can give you both comfort and support while factoring in your budget. These are the best mattresses we can recommend that will not empty your bank account.