Our top pick for couples is the Purple mattress, which is suitable for back pain sufferers and isolates motion well. Our second favorite pick is the Zenhaven mattress because it has a flippable design with two firmness levels in one.
While mattress shopping, couples have a few special considerations to keep in mind. The most obvious concern is comfort, but several other factors contribute to how comfortable each of you will feel in your bed. You’ll want a bed that doesn’t retain too much heat, since sharing a bed can make it feel warmer.
A bed that isolates motion well, so you don’t disturb each other when you move, is also a good idea. We will fill you on our top 5 favorite mattresses for couples, then go over what to look for in a bed if you plan to share.
The 5 Best Mattresses for Couples
To make your life easier, we’ve gathered the top mattresses for couples available on the market today. We’ve selected a specific model for various sleep needs or preferences and will cover all you need to know about each.
#1 Best Eco-Friendly Pick for Couples- The Avocado Green Mattress
Why We Liked It:
- Hypoallergenic materials
- Vegan option available
- 20-year warranty
- Zoned support
- Durable materials
Why We Didn’t Like It:
- Heavy (hard to move)
- Expensive
The Avocado Green mattress is a hybrid bed made with natural materials like Dunlop latex and organic cotton and wool (or a vegan option that doesn’t use wool). Under the cotton and wool cover is a 2-inch layer of Dunlop latex that provides bounce and a natural cooling effect.
Next is an 8-inch layer of support coils, which gives the bed a nice bounce, making it good for amorous nighttime activities. This section is zoned to provide custom support for your back.
While hybrid beds aren’t usually the best at isolating motion, the Avocado Green does so better than the average hybrid. That being said, if you’re very concerned about motion isolation, you’ll likely do better with an all-foam bed, like the Loom & Leaf mattress (third on our list).
The Avocado Green mattress has a longer than average lifespan than other hybrids due to its durable design and quality materials. It comes with a 20-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial period.
#2 Best Flippable Mattress for Couples- The Zenhaven Mattress
Why We Liked It:
- Isolates motion well
- Naturally hypoallergenic
- Sturdy base layer
- Sleeps cool
Why We Didn’t Like It:
- Heavy (hard to move)
- Edges aren’t very sturdy
The Zenhaven mattress is a flippable bed with a Medium Soft (4 out of 10) firmness level on one side and a Firm feel (7 out of 10) on the other. The bed has an organic cotton cover with a breathable design. Starting from the Medium Soft side, the Zenhaven mattress has a 1.5-inch Talalay latex layer that provides some contouring.
Next is a 3-inch layer of latex that provides a nice bounce and makes it easy to change sleep positions. Next is another 3-inch layer of latex, which acts as a transition between the layer above it and the base. If the mattress is flipped over, this is the support layer under the top firm surface of the Firm side of the bed.
The foundation is a 1.5-inch layer of gentle firm latex that offers a sturdy base for the Medium Soft side of the Zenhaven mattress and a firm top layer for the Firm side. It suits sleepers in all weight groups and could be a good choice for people who know they want latex but aren’t sure how firm they’d like their bed to be.
The Zenhaven mattress isolates motion well and comes with a 20-year warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.
#3 Best Mattress for Couples that are Light Sleepers- The Loom & Leaf Mattress
Why We Liked It:
- Two firmness options
- Provides pressure relief
- Durable foam base
- Isolates motion well
- Supportive for heavy sleepers
Why We Didn’t Like It:
- Might sleep warmer than average
- Off-gassing smell
The Loom & Leaf mattress is a good pick for light sleepers because it’s an all-foam bed and memory foam absorbs motion the best out of any mattress material. It comes in two different firmness options: Medium (5.5 out of 10 firmness) and Firm (8 out of 10).
The Loom & Leaf bed has a breathable organic cotton cover with a thin layer of foam stitched into it for additional pressure relief. Next is a 2-inch layer of gel foam with a slow-responding design and an enhanced lumbar region for lower back support.
Under this is a high-density foam layer that also responds slowly, contouring to the natural curves of your body for pressure relief. Next is a foam transition layer, followed by a 5.5-inch layer of dense polyfoam for stability and even weight distribution. Note that memory foam may come with an off-gassing odor (chemical smell) but that this should fade within a few days.
The Loom & Leaf mattress is also a good pick for couples who often go to bed with back pain or need pressure relief. If you or your partner weigh above average, you should choose the Firm model to ensure you’re getting enough support.
This bed comes with free White Glove delivery, as long as you live in the contiguous United States. It also comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty.
#4 Best Mattress for Couples With Back Pain- The Purple Mattress
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Why We Liked It:
- Easy to move around on
- Pressure-relieving materials
- Isolates motion well
- Sleeps cool
Why We Didn’t Like It:
- Heavy (hard to move)
- Edges aren’t very sturdy
The Purple mattress is a quick-responding bed with a 6.5 out of 10 firmness rating. It’s easy to move around on and feels comfortable in all sleep positions. The bed is known to suit back pain sufferers well since it relieves pressure and contours quickly to your body. Another helpful feature of the Purple mattress for people with body pain is how cool it sleeps.
Sleeping too hot can make your pain even worse because you’ll continuously wake up sweating in the night and be unable to get the rest necessary for your body to heal and recover. The cover of this bed is a polyester blend with a breathable design that promotes airflow and wicks away moisture. Under the cover is a comfort layer made of a hyper-elastic polymer that has a bouncy feel.
This layer has a unique grid structure that may help relieve back pain and prevents heat from building up in the bed. The design of this layer makes for a flexible surface that responds immediately to your body and cradles pressure points. And since it isn’t solid foam, air moves more easily through the bed, helping sleepers stay cool.
Next is the transition layer of the Purple mattress, made of polyfoam. Last is the 4-inch base layer, which has a firm feel and gives the bed its stability and structure. The Purple mattress comes with a 10-year warranty and 100-night sleep trial.
#5 Best Mattress for Overweight Couples- The Saatva Mattress
Why We Liked It:
- Easy to switch positions on
- Supportive for heavy sleepers
- Promotes airflow
- Organic cotton cover
Why We Didn’t Like It:
- May not suit light sleepers
The Saatva mattress is a good pick for couples who want an innerspring bed. Coil support layers make for a sturdier bed that won’t sag in the middle as fast as other mattress types, which is important to consider for heavier people. While the innerspring design provides a traditional mattress feel, it won’t isolate motion as well as other bed types, so keep that in mind.
The bed has a cotton cover and comes in both an 11.5-inch and a 14.5-inch profile. Below, we’ll cover the layers in the 14.5-inch model.
The organic cotton cover on the Saatva mattress is breathable and soft. It has a layer of foam quilted into it to create a plush Euro-style pillow top and provide pressure relief. The lumbar region is stitched tightly for pressure relief and also has an extra strip of memory foam to enhance this effect.
Under the cover is a layer of convoluted (egg crate-shaped) foam that prevents heat buildup and offers some extra pressure relief.
Next is a layer of coils that help you switch positions easily on the bed. Under that is another coil layer that promotes airflow and gives the bed its responsive feel. The coil-on-coil design is supported by a dense polyfoam base.
Although the mattress performs better than average for an innerspring mattress, it won’t isolate motion as well as a memory foam mattress would. The Saatva bed comes with a 120-night sleep trial period.
What to Consider in a Mattress for Couples
If you have a partner you share the bed with, you’ll need to carefully consider some key factors before purchasing your next mattress. Finding a mattress that suits both of your sleep preferences and needs can take some time. Below, we’ll cover some key factors to look for in a mattress for couples:
Motion Isolation
One of the most important factors to think about when buying a mattress as a couple is how well the bed isolates motion. If you’ve ever been kept awake by your partner having a fitful night of sleep, you already know how essential this feature is. The absolute best type of mattress material for isolating motion is memory foam, as its soft design absorbs motion before it can travel through the bed.
Latex beds are also decent at isolating motion, though they tend to have a more responsive feel that doesn’t absorb vibrations as well as memory foam. Hybrid mattresses can vary when it comes to how well they isolate motion, and this depends on the material in their comfort layers, but they usually do so better than an innerspring bed.
Innerspring beds use a layer or two of coils in their design, which can cause vibrations to travel through the bed. An innerspring mattress should only be chosen by couples if both parties are deep sleepers who don’t wake up too easily.
Sleep Temperature
Sleeping too hot is a common complaint that can seriously disrupt your sleep patterns and quality of rest. Sharing a bed with someone means that your mattress is trapping twice the amount of body heat. In order to find the best mattress for couples, you’ll want to seek out a bed that prevents heat from building up too much. While innerspring beds are the least effective at isolating motion, they’re at the top when it comes to sleeping cool.
This is because coils promote airflow, while more solid materials (like foam) can prevent it. However, sleep temperature is going to depend heavily on the specific mattress manufacturer and model you choose. If you or your partner is a particularly hot sleeper, you’ll want to select a bed that has specific cooling technology, like convoluted foam, a breathable cover, or other features.
Feel and Firmness
Mattress firmness preferences vary a lot from person to person. For example, what a lightweight side sleeper considers comfortable will probably be totally different from what heavier back sleeper prefers. Generally speaking, lightweight sleepers will do well on a softer mattress, as they’ll experience it as firmer than a heavier sleeper would.
Side sleepers should also select softer beds since they’ll provide adequate cushioning for the hips and shoulders in this position. Medium-firm beds are suitable for the widest range of sleepers and should suit all sleep positions since they’re designed for this type of versatility. Firmer beds are best for stomach or back sleepers, as well as overweight people.
Everyone, no matter their sleep position, needs to ensure they get adequate pelvis support, which only a firmer mattress can offer. Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines and that the final deciding factor in the right mattress firmness is your own comfort preference and weight.
Durability and Support
Support refers to a bed’s ability to evenly distribute your body weight across the mattress. A bed with poor support may sag prematurely and cause misalignment in the body. When you’re sharing your bed with a partner, the bed needs to be able to take on roughly twice as much weight. For this reason, durability and support are crucial features to look for in a new bed.
How can you ensure that both you and your partner are getting adequate support from your mattress? Even if you and your partner can comfortably fit on a smaller size, you should select a Queen, King, or California King size mattress to ensure your mattress lasts as long as possible. While the larger sizes cost more, it may save you some time and money when it comes to having to replace your bed in a few years.
Sleep Trial Period
Most online mattress suppliers offer sleep trial periods with their beds to make up for their customers not being able to try the mattress before they buy. Usually, these trial periods last between 90 and 120 nights. In most cases, if you’re unsatisfied with your bed, the company will come pick it up and give you a refund. In most cases, the manufacturer requires you to try out your mattress for at least 30 days. This minimum period ensures that you’ve given your body time to adapt to the new mattress.
Warranty
As with any other expensive purchase, a good warranty is essential when choosing a new mattress. Most mattress warranties will have specific guidelines as far as how to care for the bed, the type of foundation to use it with, and more. Always make sure you’re following these guidelines so you don’t void the warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mattresses For Couples
Your partner and you should consider all of the criteria above when selecting your new mattress, so you can find a good model for your preferences. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you find the information you need:
Q: Is edge support important when looking for a good bed for couples?
A: When you’re researching mattresses, it won’t be long before you encounter the term “edge support,” but what does it mean? Edge support refers to how sturdy the perimeter of a bed is. Generally speaking, innerspring mattresses tend to have sturdier sides than memory foam beds. Edge support is important for people with mobility issues since it can make it easier to get out of bed in the morning.
Couples may want to prioritize sturdy edges in their mattress if both parties tend to move around a lot in their sleep since strong sides give the bed more usable surface area. A strong perimeter in the mattress also means that more of the bed is usable for sex, which many couples will prefer.
Q: What features make a mattress good for sex?
A: If you’re sharing your bed with your romantic partner, you’ll want to consider how suitable the mattress you select is for sex. Beds with a slower-responding feel may not be as good for this activity since you can often feel “stuck” in this type of mattress. Generally speaking, you’ll want to find a bed that doesn’t make a lot of noise, like a latex or foam bed.
Temperature neutrality is another in-demand feature for amorous nighttime activities since getting too hot can be uncomfortable. You’ll also want to find a mattress that’s easy to switch positions on, so you don’t find yourself struggling to move around in the heat of the moment.
Q: Do I need to use a box spring or foundation with my mattress?
A: Box springs and foundation are designed to protect your bed from wear and provide proper support. Whether or not you need to use one depends on the type of mattress you select, but many mattresses can be used directly on the floor. One benefit of using a foundation or box spring include an easier time getting into and out of bed due to the added height.
Also, using elevated support for your bed gives you some additional storage space under your bed (helpful for small living spaces). Always check the warranty information with the mattress you’re looking into since some will require you use the bed with a foundation or box spring.
Q: How will I know when it’s time to get a new mattress?
A: While different mattress models will make different claims when it comes to how long their bed lasts, that’s not always a reliable indicator. The best way to tell when it’s time to get a new mattress is if you’re waking up feeling achy or stiff. If the bed is sagging in the middle or getting lumpy, you may want to look into replacing it. If you or your partner are constantly rolling to the center of the bed when you sleep, that’s another sign that it’s time to buy a new bed.
Final Verdict
If you share your bed, mattress shopping will be slightly more complicated for you. Key features to look for in a good mattress for couples include motion isolation, temperature neutrality, and a comfortable support level for both of you.
Our top pick for couples is the Purple mattress, which has a responsive feel, doesn’t retain heat, and won’t break the bank. However, the Purple mattress doesn’t have the strongest edge support, which is worth keeping in mind. Hopefully, this article made your mattress hunt a little easier.
