Finding the perfect bed for your home can feel overwhelming; there are many factors to consider and thousands of beds to choose from. Before committing to a new queen mattress, you want to think about who the primary users of the bed will be and figure out from there what sort of material, firmness, and support features will be best. This Old House Reviews Team and the testing experts at Mattress Advisor compiled a list of the best queen mattresses for various needs. Whether you’re looking for a new bed for your guest bedroom or a growing child, this list has all the features you’ll want to consider when buying a new bed.
Best Queen Mattress of 2023 - Our Top Picks
Best Overall - Saatva Classic Best Value - Nectar Premier Best for Back Pain - DreamCloud Best Innerspring - WinkBed Best Firm - Plank Best Cooling - Helix Midnight Luxe Best Organic - Birch Best Flippable - Layla Hybrid Best for Side Sleepers - Puffy Lux
Best Overall - Saatva Classic
Whether you’re looking to update your guest bedroom with something a little more luxurious or you’re making the most out of a small space, the Saatva Classic mattress offers all the plush sumptuousness you could hope for in a queen bed. Different firmness options allow you to customize your bed to meet your needs, making the Saatva Classic an excellent choice for sleepers of all types, including those with back pain. Scoring an impressive 10 out of 10 in spine alignment, you can say goodbye to achy backs and stiff joints. Mattress Advisor also awarded this bed a perfect 10 out of 10 in edge support, meaning you’ll be able to fully take advantage of all the space on your new queen mattress. This American-made mattress is durable and won’t sag, so it’ll last you for years to come.
Firmness: Plush, Luxury-Firm, Firm Customer Rating: 4.8/5 Delivery: 10-15 business days Trial Period: 180 nights 15-year Warranty
Best Value - Nectar Premier
Foam mattresses can be a superb, long-lasting option for growing kids, extra bedrooms, or those who like the cushioning feel that memory foam offers. The Nectar Premier is slightly different from the traditional Nectar mattress. It’s a bit softer and sleeps cooler, making it a great choice for anyone who wants the cradling sensation of foam without overheating too much at night. For couples looking to downsize without compromising their quality of sleep, the Nectar Premier mattress provides excellent motion isolation, so one partner’s movements won’t disturb the other. The all-foam construction also makes this bed exceptionally quiet, so tossing and turning won’t create a cacophony of squeaks or other sounds that some beds make.
Firmness: Medium Customer Rating: 4.4/5 Delivery: 2-5 business days Trial Period: 365 nights Lifetime Warranty
Best for Back Pain - DreamCloud
Those who suffer from back pain know how important lumbar support is when they sleep. The DreamCloud mattress scored exceptionally high in Mattress Advisor testing for spine alignment and pressure relief, keeping your spine in its healthy posture and helping reduce aches while offering the necessary gentle contouring in your hips and shoulders. The end result is a delightfully comfortable sleep that aims to leave you waking up refreshed and with less pain. No matter if you prefer snoozing on your back, stomach, or side, the DreamCloud springs back quickly to support you and your lower back as you move. Plus, a near-perfect score in edge support (9.75 out of 10) means you’ll be able to spread out and fully utilize your side of the bed, an important factor for couples sharing a queen bed.
Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 4.6/5 Delivery: 18-21 business days Trial Period: 365 nights Lifetime Warranty
Best Innerspring - WinkBed
Many of us may think of innerspring mattresses as firm, unyielding beds with a tendency to squeak––but those days are in the past. Today’s innerspring mattresses offer far more options for sleepers of all types, such as the WinkBed, which offers four firmness levels for optimal customization. This coil mattress scored a 10 out of 10 for durability, so whether you’re replacing the bed in the spare room or redoing your personal sleep space, this mattress will last you for quite some time. The luxury firm model is excellent for back and stomach sleepers, helping to maintain a healthy posture throughout the night for less pain in the mornings. The innerspring construction keeps you exceptionally cool, so if you sleep hot or share a bed, the WinkBed’s breathability ensures you won’t overheat.
Firmness: Softer, Luxury firm, Firmer, Extra firm Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: 7-14 business days Trial Period: 120 nights Lifetime Warranty
Best Firm - Plank
Firm mattresses aren’t for everyone, but those who do enjoy the feel of a firmer mattress will love the Plank by Brooklyn Bedding. This flippable bed has a firm and an extra-firm side, so you can change up your sleep surface as you like. Durable foam construction provides outstanding pressure relief and support in areas such as your lower back and hips, promoting increased blood flow for stomach and back sleepers. Maybe you’re ready for a firmer mattress in your new home, or you find that you could use a bit of extra support at night after a long day of DIY-ing. Whatever the case, the Plank is an excellent choice for anyone who could benefit from better spinal alignment while they sleep.
Firmness: Firm, Extra firm Customer Rating: 4.8/10 Delivery: 3-4 business days Trial Period: 120 nights 10-year Warranty
Best Cooling - Helix Midnight Luxe
Perhaps your bedroom doesn’t get great air circulation, or you have a teenager who prefers to sleep in the chilly basement because they claim their bed is “too hot.” The bottom line, hot sleepers can struggle to sleep, especially if their mattress is holding onto body heat. The Helix Midnight Luxe scored a 9.5 out of 10 from Mattress Advisor, making it one of the best mattresses to date they’ve tested for a cool night’s sleep. Some of the highlights include an ultra-cool mattress topper, a cooling gel memory foam layer, and a breathable pocket coil core, delivering refreshingly algid temperatures for a good night’s sleep. The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress that combines the sturdy support of innerspring coils with the gentle cushioning of foam. The result is sleep that provides pressure relief with head-to-toe support for more even weight distribution.
Firmness: Medium Customer Rating: 4.5/5 Delivery: 6-10 business days Trial Period: 100 nights 15-year Warranty
Best Organic - Birch
For all the eco-conscious shoppers, or those who prefer to bring only natural items into their homes, the Birch by Helix is one of the best organic mattresses you can find. This bed is made with high-quality materials, including an organic cotton cover, natural latex, and organic wool batting. The foams used are GREENGUARD Gold certified and non-toxic so that you can feel good about this purchase. The wool comfort layer helps to regulate temperature while you sleep, preventing those dreaded overly hot nights. The latex foam makes it easy to change positions, making this a good option for combination sleepers. The Birch bed also scored a 9 out of 10 in motion isolation from Mattress Advisor, which means you won’t wake your partner up if you get up in the middle of the night to grab a glass of water. Excellent spine alignment makes it great for side, back, and stomach sleepers, too.
Firmness: Medium Customer Rating: 4.7/5 Delivery: 4-6 business days Trial Period: 100 nights 25-year Warranty
Best Flippable - Layla Hybrid
Owning a flippable mattress is an excellent idea if you often have lots of guests sleeping in your guest room or if you have a growing child. With one softer side and one firmer side, the Layla Hybrid mattress is one of the few flippable hybrid mattresses available, and it’s perfect for those with changing preferences. Each side of the mattress has a foam layer that cushions pressure points and provides good pain relief, with thicker foam on the softer side and thinner foam on the firmer side for customizable relief. The softer side is a better choice for side sleepers, while those who sleep on their backs and stomachs would prefer the firm feel of the other side. This bed is made in the USA and contains CertiPUR-US certified foam. Its memory foam is developed to be breathable, keeping you cool throughout the night.
Firmness: Medium-soft, Medium-firm Customer Rating: 5/5 Delivery: 7-10 business days Trial Period: 120 nights 10-year Warranty
Best for Side Sleepers - Puffy Lux
Side sleepers will love the contouring pressure relief this gel memory foam mattress offers. The Puffy Lux foam hybrid mattress uses different layers of foam to create a plush sleeping surface that feels like you’ve gone to bed in the clouds. The medium firmness level is just right for those for side sleepers, allowing you to sink into the bed while still receiving support. The layer of support foam makes this mattress a solid option for back sleepers, too. The support layer provides the necessary firmness for good posture while you sleep. Cooling technology means the Puffy Lux sleeps much cooler than traditional memory foam mattresses. Additionally, sleepers of all body types are able to enjoy this bed, as it can support up to 350 lbs per side.
Firmness: Medium-firm Customer Rating: 5/5 Delivery: 6-10 business days Trial Period: 101 nights Lifetime Warranty
MA Score: The Mattress Advisor Score is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to the mattress’ performance, function, convenience and the brand’s social responsibility.
Why Should I Buy a Queen-Size Mattress?
Purchasing a new bed can be a big commitment, so there are many things to consider before taking the plunge. A queen-size mattress is ideal for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of space but still wants a little more room to spread out while they sleep. They’re big enough for couples and co-sleepers to share, but compact enough to fit into a kid’s or teenager’s bedroom without commandeering the entire space. If you have a growing child who wants to break away from the confines of a twin bed, a queen mattress gives them plenty of room. Couples who are thinking about downsizing or partners with smaller bedrooms can benefit from the ample sleeping space a queen provides without having to take up their entire room with a larger bed. Another notable advantage of a queen-sized bed is the smaller price tag. Queen mattresses are more affordable than a king or California king mattresses, saving you money on everything from the mattress to the frame, bedding, and pillows. Budget-conscious shoppers will note significant savings in purchasing a queen-size mattress over a larger model.
More About Queen Mattresses
Type of Mattress
Memory foam: Memory foam mattresses are made with durable foam that cradles the body and works to relieve pressure points. The contouring abilities of memory foam provide good spinal alignment, though these mattresses do tend to sleep hotter than other types of beds. Innerspring: Typically, innerspring beds are made with steel coils that give a mattress that bouncy, responsive feeling. These mattresses are cool and breathable, though they don’t always offer great pressure relief. Latex: Latex is naturally hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant, making it a great choice for those with allergies. It offers similar cushioning effects as memory foam, though it has more buoyancy. Hybrid: Hybrid beds combine different aspects of other mattresses to create a mixture. These mattresses usually have an innerspring base topped with a thick layer of foam.
Performance Factors
Sleep position: How you sleep is a crucial factor to consider when browsing for a new mattress. Back and stomach sleepers would do better with firmer mattresses that offer more support in the hips and back, while side sleepers are more likely to prefer a softer mattress that provides pressure relief in the hips and shoulders, keeping the spine aligned while they sleep. Firmness: Depending on your preferred sleeping position, different firmness levels will feel better or worse. Those who prefer to sleep on their back or stomach would do better with a bed that offers firm support in the hips and lower back, while side sleepers need more cushioning pressure relief in the hips and shoulders that comes with a softer mattress. Spine alignment: All sleepers require good spine alignment while they sleep, it helps prevent back pain and other issues. This is especially important to those who suffer from backaches and pain regularly. Durability: Mattresses made with quality materials and solid construction should last for a decade or more. These beds usually have a base layer that is supportive to prevent sagging and other noticeable aging. Motion transfer: How well the bed can absorb motion is a crucial factor for couples and co-sleepers. Mattresses with good motion transfer help to isolate motion at the source, so you won’t wake up when your partner gets up or shifts positions. Temperature regulation: Hot sleepers know how vital temperature regulation is. Couples and co-sleepers can also benefit from mattresses with cooling properties that resist trapping body heat. Responsiveness: The ease with which you can move around or change positions on a mattress is its responsiveness. They prevent you from feeling trapped in the mattress and help you adjust quickly. Different mattress types have assorted responsiveness levels, with innerspring and latex mattresses being more responsive than memory foam mattresses. Edge support: When sharing a bed, good edge support is important. Firm edges on a bed allow you to spread out more without feeling as though you may fall off, they also allow you to get out of bed easier. Price: Bed-in-a-box brands are known for being “direct to consumer,” where it is shipped straight to you from the manufacturer. This not only maintains quality control but gets rid of extra vendor fees and costs to keep the price affordable. These brands also will run sales and promotions to bring the price down even more. Shipping and Delivery: Your mattress will usually be shipped in 14 business days or less, depending on the build and brand chosen. When making your purchase, take note of the shipping times and any included perks that come with your new mattress. For example, Saatva includes “white glove delivery” that includes complimentary delivery and setup. Do queen mattresses work for kids and teens? A twin mattress may work for your child for a while, but they may need a little more space to sprawl out once they reach their teenage years. Queen mattresses offer plenty of room to sleep comfortably without the bed frame taking up too much valuable bedroom space, making them a great choice for kids and teens. Would a queen mattress fit in my RV? If you have an RV you spend a lot of time in, you’ll want to ensure you have a quality mattress for comfortable nights spent on the road. A queen-size mattress fits well in most RV primary bedrooms, providing enough space for two people to sleep comfortably and still giving enough room on the edges for accessing your things. How much does a queen mattress usually cost? As with all mattresses, queen mattresses can cost anywhere from under $1,000 to around $2,000. The actual cost depends on the brand, type of mattress, and any additional add-ons you may want to add, like pillow tops, cooling covers, and other accessories. Almost all mattress brands offer a sleep trial and have a generous return policy, so you’ll be able to test out your bed before committing. Do queen mattresses weigh a lot? The weight of a mattress depends on the materials it’s made of. While queen beds tend to weigh more than their twin or full counterparts, they are usually much lighter than king or California king mattresses. Many bed-in-a-box mattresses weigh around or less than 100 lbs, making it easy to set up your new bed by yourself or with the help of another person.
Summary of Our Top Picks for the Best Queen Mattress
Best Overall - Saatva Classic Best Value - Nectar Premier Best for Back Pain - DreamCloud Best Innerspring - WinkBed Best Firm - Plank Best Cooling - Helix Midnight Luxe Best Organic - Birch Best Flippable - Layla Hybrid Best for Side Sleepers - Puffy Lux