Best Memory Foam Mattresses for 2024 – CNET

There are hundreds of mattresses to choose from, but luckily our CNET Sleep editors have been around the bedding block. They have collectively tested over 100 beds, from the most popular to lesser-known models, and have the knowledge to help you pick the best fit for you. The mattresses above are great options, but there are a few more beds we’ve tested that could have easily made this list. 

Lucid 10-inch Memory Foam mattress: Budget shoppers can look into the Lucid Gel Memory foam mattress, a bed sold through Amazon with thousands of positive ratings from users. It’s one of the most affordable bed-in-a-box beds I’ve ever tested, and it’s still comfy enough to give you a good night’s sleep. You have three firmness options to choose from and six heights. 

TempurPedic mattress: You’ve likely heard about this brand before, as TempurPedic made its name in the mattress industry long before beds ever came to the internet. They offer several mattresses from entry-level to luxury. They also have many cooling memory foam options. They’re expensive beds, but you’re paying for the trusted brand name and traditional memory foam feel that the brand is known for. 

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During testing, we sleep on the beds and try out all three different sleeping positions: side, back, stomach and combination. We also test for motion isolation, edge support, temperature, comfort and more. We have even cut open a few mattresses to see what the construction is like on the inside. 

The best memory foam mattresses are comfortable to switch positions in, offer a pressure-relieving feel, isolate motion and are very accommodating for different sleeping positions. We also take durability into account, considering whether or not it will be long-lasting enough for every body type. 

Find out more on how we test mattresses.

• Firmness: This should be a main consideration, regardless of the kind of mattress you’re buying. Different firmness levels accommodate different sleeping positions. If you’re a side sleeper, the best memory foam mattress will feel soft and plush. For stomach and back sleepers, the best memory foam bed is a more firm memory foam mattress. 
• Feel: As I mentioned earlier in this roundup, not every memory foam mattress is built alike. Some memory foam beds feel light and airy, while others feel dense and slow to respond. If you’re a combination sleeper, I recommend you go with a light memory foam so it’s easy to switch positions. If you like to get really nestled and cozy while you sleep, you may like a dense memory foam mattress better. 
• Temperature regulation: One complaint against memory foam is that it retains heat, making sleepers feel hot and uncomfortable while they sleep. Part of it is because of memory foam’s dense cell structure and warm air getting trapped inside, as well as the fact that you sleep within the memory foam rather than on top. Look for memory foam with different temperature regulating techniques, such as infused gel, gel beads, infused copper, infused graphite, phase change materials and proprietary technology. 
• Price: Memory foam ranges in price, from very cheap (there are cheap memory foam mattress options out there that cost as little as $200) to premium and top-tier (Tempur-Pedic mattresses can cost more than $2,000). That means almost anyone can find a memory foam mattress within their budget. 

Not all memory foam materials are alike. Some are more airy while others are very dense. Some are infused with gel or copper for temperature regulation while others are more traditional.

Traditional: Traditional memory foam is found in older beds like the OG TempurPedic mattresses from the 90s or very cheap memory foam. While it’s great and provides pressure relief, it also gets hot because the dense foam traps your body heat inside. If you’re a hot sleeper, this is something to consider. 

Gel-infused: Don’t worry, it’s not literal gel you’re sleeping on. Gel-infused memory foam often has little blue or green dots infiltrated throughout the foam to help regulate temperature. The gel works to draw heat away from you and more evenly disperse it throughout the bed for a cooling memory foam feel. 

Copper-infused: Beds like the Layla mattress are infused with copper gel to work the same way regular gel-infused mattresses do. Copper is a conductor that can absorb heat from your body and distribute it away from your body. 

Plant-based: There aren’t many plant-based memory foam mattresses on the market. People like Amerisleep use plant-based materials as a substitute for petroleum and manufacture it using a zero-emissions process. This way, the memory foam is more environmentally friendly than most other memory or poly foams. 

Proprietary: You will find a ton of different brands using a specific name for their memory foam, such as Puffy’s Cloud-Air foam for example. This means the brand put a specific twist on the memory foam to make it more comfortable or more accommodating. The most common types of proprietary memory foams are open-celled for more airflow or gel-infused for cooling abilities.

The best qualities of memory foam are that it’s pressure-relieving, stops movement across a mattress and offers a comforting hugging feel. People who will like memory foam beds the most include those who suffer from joint pain, back, side and combination sleepers, couples who share a bed and people who generally like a nestling mattress feel. Side sleepers may also love soft memory foam because of how well it cradles the shoulder and hip joints. 

Memory foam mattresses can sometimes turn people off for several reasons. You shouldn’t get a memory foam mattress if you change positions often as the foam can provide some resistance as it’s slow to bounce back to shape. It’s also not ideal for hot sleepers. Memory foam is a dense material that traps heat more than other foam beds. Gel memory foam and other tech help it sleep cooler, but people who sleep warm may want to consider a latex foam mattress because they’re so breathable.