How To Choose a Mattress: Comprehensive Buyer's Guide [2024]

Key Takeaways

• The best way to choose a mattress is by starting with your sleep position, body type, and any sleep concerns you have.
• Determine your budget, whether you’re shopping online or in-store, and when you’re shopping to ensure you get the best deal on the mattress that’s right for you.
• Preferences for mattress type, firmness, and size can narrow down your choices, and comparing company policies and delivery options can inform your decision.

Getting a good night's sleep is necessary for your mental and physical health. It’s important to invest in a good mattress to improve your sleep quality and ensure you wake up feeling ready to face the day.

Figuring out how to choose a mattress can feel overwhelming, but making an informed decision can help you get the best sleep possible night after night. In this mattress buying guide, we’ve identified 11 key considerations to help you find the right mattress and get more restful sleep.

Purple mattresses appeal to a wide range of sleepers, offering a temperature-neutral sleep environment with unparalleled pressure relief and full-body support.

Take the quiz below to find the best Purple mattress for you.

Find Your Perfect Fit

Take our mattress quiz for personalized recommendations based on your sleeping habits and preferences.

Take the Quiz

1. Consider Your Sleep Position

Depending on the sleep position you prefer, different types of mattresses and firmness levels may feel more comfortable and supportive. Consider your unique preferences as well as the features of each mattress to ensure you know how to pick a mattress that will best support your spine and relieve pressure where you need the most comfort.

[two column sleep positions content]

2. Choose a Mattress Type

As you shop for a new mattress, you’ll find a variety of mattress types to consider, from traditional memory foam to the innovative GelFlex® Grid. When weighing your options, remember that the best fit for your needs depends on several factors, such as price range, comfort needs, sleeping position, and breathability.

If you're overwhelmed by the wide range of mattress types on the market, here's a quick guide to the most common types of mattresses available.

*Disclaimer: Thermal test and heat flux study conducted by Purple on Purple hybrid mattresses in 2023.

GelFlex® Grid 

Purple mattresses feature the innovative GelFlex® Grid, our proprietary sleep technology that instantly adapts to your body as you move, providing tailored pressure relief and support without trapping heat.

Purple is the only company in the world that uses the GelFlex® Grid, enhancing your sleep quality with unparalleled responsiveness, temperature balancing, durability, and comfort.

Foam

Memory foam mattresses feature a soft, dense layer that conforms to your body shape for a cradling sensation. Memory foam is made out of polyurethane and comes primarily in three different types: traditional, gel-infused, and open cell.

• Traditional memory foam: While it helps preserve your spine's natural curvature, hot sleepers dislike it because of its heat retention.
• Gel memory foam: Gel-infused memory foam blends memory foam with gel microbeads, providing a cooler mattress that helps regulate body temperature better than traditional memory foam.
• Open cell memory foam: Open cell foam is a more breathable version of memory foam, with pockets for more airflow to keep you cool. 
• Other foams: Purple mattresses feature different types of high-quality polyurethane foam with the GelFlex® Grid for added pressure relief and comfort.

Innerspring

A traditional innerspring mattress has a coil construction for its base layer topped with a layer of memory foam or latex for extra comfort. 

The coil systems make this mattress type more responsive at a lower price, but innerspring mattresses may not provide as much pressure relief or motion isolation as other mattress types.

Hybrid

A hybrid mattress is a multi-layer mattress made with a combination of innerspring steel coils and comfort layers featuring memory foam, latex, or the GelFlex® Grid for a supportive, responsive sleeping surface that provides deep pressure relief.

Hybrid mattresses like Purple’s RestorePlus™ Hybrid offer support for high-pressure areas like the neck and lower back, easing body pain and promoting restful sleep. Combined with extra comfort layers, hybrid mattresses are popular for a variety of sleepers.

Latex

A latex mattress can be made with natural or synthetic latex, and this type is known for having better airflow than traditional memory foam. This soft, denser foam hugs the body's natural curves and provides gentle pressure relief.

Natural latex can be more expensive than synthetic latex or memory foam, but it is a good choice for shoppers looking for a cooling, supportive mattress.

While Purple mattresses primarily feature the hyper-elastic polymer GelFlex® Grid, we integrated airy Talalay latex into the Purple RejuvenatePremier™ Mattress for unparalleled comfort and a truly luxurious sleep experience.

Air

You can inflate or deflate an air mattress to your preferred firmness to customize your sleep experience. Air mattresses are not typically used as primary beds, as they are relatively inexpensive, may deflate easily, and are less durable than standard mattresses.

Airbeds like those from Sleep Number offer further customization with more structure and comfort layers than a typical air mattress, which often appeals to couples with different sleep preferences. These options require manual adjustment and tend to come with a higher price tag.

Experience Your Best Sleep Ever

The GelFlex® Grid inside every Purple mattress cradles your pressure points, supports your back, and keeps you cool night after night.

Shop Mattresses

3. Pick Your Firmness

[two column content]

The most popular firmness levels are medium and medium-firm, offering a balance of comfort and support that accommodates most sleep positions.

[two column content]

On the extreme ends of the firmness scale, soft and firm mattresses may not be suitable for all sleepers.

[two column content]

If possible, it’s best to try mattresses with different firmness levels to determine what is most comfortable and supportive for your needs. You can visit a mattress store in your area to test what feels best.

4. Select a Mattress Size and Thickness

The mattress size you choose largely depends on the amount of space you have available as well as how much room you need when you sleep. 

Not sure what size bed you should get? Consider the dimensions of each standard bed size to inform your choice.

You should also consider the number of sleepers, your height, and room dimensions when choosing a mattress size. The best bed size for couples, for example, is typically a queen or larger, but your needs and preferences may vary.

[two column content]

Rather than make a judgment based solely on the depth of a mattress, consider the quality and features of the mattress’s layers, assessing how the mattress comes together to keep you comfortable while you rest.

5. Assess Your Body Type

Your height and weight should also play a part in your mattress selection.

Individuals over 6 feet should opt for a queen size bed or larger to ensure they have enough legroom. If you have a wider frame, make sure you choose a mattress that is wide enough for you to sleep comfortably without feeling cramped.

Lightweight individuals may benefit from a softer mattress since they won’t sink in as much, but you may prefer a firmer mattress if you need better support for spinal alignment or you sleep on your stomach.

Heavier individuals often choose firmer, thicker mattresses to provide the spinal alignment and comfort they need, as they may sink too much on a softer mattress, increasing pressure on sensitive areas like the hips and shoulders. 

Make sure you consider the mattress weight limit so you can rest without worrying about premature sagging and insufficient support.

Regardless of your height and weight, look for a mattress that supports proper spinal alignment and provides sufficient pressure relief for your needs. 

6. Address Your Sleep Concerns

Your level of comfort directly affects how well you sleep, and localized pain and your sleeping temperature can affect your sleep quality. If you can’t get comfortable in bed, you may have trouble falling or staying asleep, which can negatively impact your mental and physical health.¹

Consider any existing sleep concerns you have when choosing a new mattress to give yourself the best possible sleep quality.

Temperature

If you’ve ever woken up sweating or shivering, you understand how important finding the best temperature for sleep is. Maintaining a comfortable temperature while you’re asleep can help you stay asleep longer and get higher-quality rest each night.

Some people are prone to sweating at night while others may feel chilly even on a warm evening. 

Hot sleepers often need a mattress with good airflow to draw heat away from their skin and avoid overheating.

If you tend to sleep hot, you can also use cooling bed sheets, like the Purple SoftStretch® Sheets, for better temperature regulation with moisture-wicking material to keep you cool and comfortable.

Cold sleepers struggle to stay warm while asleep, resulting in disruptions and poor sleep quality. People who have this sleep concern are most comfortable on mattresses that absorb and retain body heat, such as traditional memory foam.

If you sleep cold, you can also try wearing socks to bed, using warmer sheets, or adding a cozy top layer, like the Purple TempBalance™ Duvet to stay warm, especially if you don’t like the feel of memory foam.

Body Pain

[two column content]

Mattresses that contour around the body's natural shape can help with non-specific back pain issues and cradle your pressure points.

One study suggests that medium-firm mattresses may offer more relief for individuals with non-specific lower back pain, promoting higher-quality sleep and fewer sleep disruptions.²

[two column content]

You may also experience back pain from a new mattress as you break it in, though this discomfort should go away after a few weeks. If pain continues disrupting your sleep or you have any questions about potential causes and alternative solutions, talk to your doctor.

7. Set Your Budget

Before choosing a mattress, set a maximum budget that will accommodate your desired mattress type, size, and features.

Some mattresses are more expensive because they use premium materials, have high-quality construction, or are simply a larger size.

Higher prices don’t always mean higher quality, so it’s important to evaluate the mattress based on additional factors like unique features and customer reviews.

How much can you expect to spend on a mattress? For the most part, mattresses can cost anywhere between $600 and $9,000, but what you spend on a mattress depends on the features, size, type, brand, and quality you choose.

Remember that your mattress is an investment, so you should look for one that will be comfortable and supportive for as long as possible.

8. Decide If You’re Shopping Online vs. In-Store

When deciding what mattress you want, it’s important to consider where you plan to do your shopping: online or in-store.

[two column content]

Purple also offers a miniature GelFlex® Grid sample at a low cost so you can actually feel the proprietary sleep technology in your hands before trying one of our mattresses.

9. Choose Delivery or Pickup

Depending on where you shop for a mattress, you may have limited options for how to get it home.

[two column content]

Some online mattress companies will even get rid of your old mattress, freeing up your space to make it easier to set up your new bedroom.

Brick-and-mortar stores may not have the same options, so you may have to arrange transportation to pick up and move your new mattress or pay an additional fee for delivery.

Consider costs and convenience when deciding where to buy your mattress and how to get it where you need it.

10. Compare Policies: Returns, Warranties, and Trials

While you should primarily choose a mattress based on how well it will meet your sleep needs, it’s often a good idea to compare return, sleep trial, and warranty policies before making a purchase. When comparing policies, look for:

[two column content]

These policies are especially important if you’re buying online. Since you likely won’t know how a new mattress will feel if you aren’t able to test it beforehand, a generous sleep trial and return policy can give you peace of mind.

11. Shop at the Best Time To Buy

Online mattress companies often offer sales and discounts, so you’ll rarely pay full market price for a mattress online. If you aren’t in a rush to buy a new mattress, you can wait for the mattress you want to go on sale.

The best time to buy a mattress is during key shopping holidays when mattress companies are more likely to run competitive sales. You’ll usually find the best deals around:

[two column content]

Enhance Your Sleep With a Purple Mattress

Knowing how to choose the right mattress means considering your unique needs and preferences to ensure you can sleep comfortably and soundly night after night.

Every Purple mattress features our proprietary GelFlex® Grid, offering support for a wide range of sleep needs with soothing pressure relief and unparalleled breathability.

The instantly adaptive GelFlex® Grid responds to your body as you lie down or shift positions without trapping body heat, giving you the support you need while cradling your pressure points for maximum relaxation.

Sink Into Superior Comfort With Purple

Purple mattresses feature specially designed sleep technology for dynamic pressure point relief, temperature balancing, and alignment.

Shop Mattresses