Curious about which mattresses have the best ratings this year and which are duds? See which models have the top ratings in 2014 and what to avoid to get the best mattress.
Every year brings new beds, technologies and trends claiming to be the best. Though it can be a lot to keep up with, reviews remain one helpful gauge of potential satisfaction and a useful tool for comparing different beds.
The two most popular mattress types in 2014 are innersprings and memory foam. Memory foam mattresses still hold the crown in overall owner ratings, with over 80% of owners satisfied. But, innerspring mattresses remain the most popular in terms of sales, accounting for the majority of beds bought. As a whole though, innerspring beds receive only 63% average satisfaction ratings.
Within each category, significant differences exist between brands so type alone is no guarantee of performance. A handful of brands stand out in comfort and value, topping ratings and providing a helpful starting point for shoppers researching new beds.
Based on owner reviews, consumer review publications and online review websites, we curated five of the best-rated memory foam mattresses and five top innerspring mattresses available this year. Read on to compare specifications along with detailed notes on each bed.
Compare Best-Rated Memory Foam Mattresses of 2014
Mattress
Memory Foam
Support Layers
Price/Queen Mattress
Warranty/Returns
Spa Sensations 12” MyGel
3” gel MF, 3.0 lb, 9 ILD
3” foam, ? lb
6” foam, ? lb
$449
10 Years
90 Days
Novaform Serafina 14” Gel
3” gel MF, 3.0 lb
3” foam, 5.0 lb
8” foam, 2.0 lb
$799
20 Years
90+ Days
Amerisleep Revere Bed
3” plant-based MF, 4.5 lb, 12 ILD
9” foam, 2.0 lb, 35 ILD
$1299
20 Years
90 Days
BedInABox Tranquility Gel
3” gel MF, 3.0 lb, 10 ILD
8” foam, 2.4 lb, 32 ILD
$1299
20 Years
120 Days
Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme Breeze
2” MF, 2.1 lb
2” MF, 5.3 lb
7” foam, ? lb
$3199
10 Years
90 Days
Note: “?” means data was unavailable, “apx” means pricing is variable and approximate.
Spa Sensations 12” MyGel
The Spa Sensations collection is a budget memory foam line sold at Walmart and a handful of online retailers. The gel collection tends to earn the best ratings from this collection, and the thicker 12” model is better-suited to most sleepers and positions than the thinner models.
Compared to other low-priced memory foam beds, the Spa Sensations MyGel 12” earns good marks over several years of reviews. However, most people rate this mattress good for shorter term use, but durability may be an issue after a few years.
Novaform Serafina 14” Gel
The Novaform Serafina 14” Gel mattress is a popular mattress sold at Costco, earning above average reviews on the website. It is in the middle of the Novaform line, with a firmer profile.
The Serafina uses a lower density gel memory foam, but features a higher density middle foam layer for added support. The base layer is also high density, which is good in terms of support and durability. The Serafina has below average heat complaints, and durability does not appear to be a significant issue in reviews.
Amerisleep Revere Bed
The Amerisleep Revere Bed does very well in reviews on the brand’s website and on third party review sites. The Revere is one of the more popular models by the plant-based memory brand, in the mid-range of it’s collection.
Compared to other mid-priced beds, the Revere uses higher density memory foam and base foams than average, and also receives fewer than average heat complaints. Durability does not appear to be a significant issue.
BedInABox Tranquility Gel
Also in the mid-range category, the BedInABox Tranquility Gel earns good reviews on their website and on third party review sites. This models has a Tencel cover to distinguish it from the brand’s other models.
The Tranquility Gel uses a lower density memory foam than some others in the price category, but does feature a high-resilience core which is above average. The mattress has average heat complaints and durability does not appear to be a significant issue.
Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme Breeze
The Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme Breeze is in the middle range of the brand’s lineup, but on the luxury end of the mattress spectrum in terms of price. The Cloud Supreme Breeze receives good reviews on the brand’s website and other review sites, with the key differentiating factors being a softer feel and cooler materials than other Tempur mattresses.
The Cloud Supreme uses both low and high density memory foams. Core foam densities are not specified by the manufacturer but are estimated between 1.8-2.2 lb. This model has fewer complaints of heat compared to other Tempur beds (average compared to others), and the brand. Though the line is newer, the brand has a reputation for durability.
Compare Best-Rated Innerspring Mattresses of 2014
Mattress
Comfort Layers
Support System
Price/Queen Set
Warranty/Returns
Denver Mattress Doctor’s Choice Euro Top
1.5” foam, 1.8 lb
1” soy foam, ? lb
4” foam, 1.8 lb
750 foam encased coils, 14.5 gauge steel
$549
15 Years
365 Days
Simmons Beautyrest Recharge 11.5 Luxury Firm
1/2“ gel foam, ? lb
1/2“ foam, ? lb
2“ foam, ? lb
800 pocketed coils, 15.5 gauge titanium alloy
$750 (apx)
20 Years
Retailer policy
Serta iSeries Vantage (Applause)
1”-1.5” foam, ? lb
?“ gel MF, ? lb
?“ foam, ? lb
1008 wrapped coils (coil-in-coil), 15-16 gauge
$1299
25 Years
60 Days
Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Trust Cushion Firm
1” gel MF, ? lb
2” foam, ? lb
825 wrapped coils, 14 gauge titanium alloy
$1299 (apx)
10 Years
Retailer policy
Aireloom Solitude Luxury Firm
?” MF, ? lb
?” latex, ? lb
?” foam, ? lb
830 wrapped coils, 13.75 gauge
$3200 (apx)
25 Years
Note: “?” means data was unavailable, “apx” means pricing is variable and approximate.
Denver Mattress Doctor’s Choice Euro Top
The Doctor’s Choice Euro Top model is a mid-range offering by Denver Mattress Company. It is fairly popular on the company’s website, receiving above-average ratings compared to spring beds in general.
The Doctor’s Choice line features better than average coil counts for this price range, along with encased coils that better limit motion transfer. Foams used in the mattress are also of decent density compared to other brands, and the company is transparent about bed contents. Initial comfort is well-rated, though long-term durability could be an issue especially for heavier individuals.
Simmons Beautyrest Recharge 11.5” Luxury Firm
The Beautyrest Recharge Luxury Firm mattress earns good ratings on retailer websites. This model falls in the entry level range of the Recharge collection, and may be sold under a variety of names depending on the store.
The Recharge Classic series features good support with 800 wrapped titanium coils, which is above average for the price category. The mattress is paired with gel and regular foams, but the densities are unspecified by Simmons. The Recharge line offers better than average motion isolation and comfort, and average durability.
Serta iSeries Vantage (Applause)
The Serta iSeries Applause mattress was a top-rated model, which Serta recently replaced with the Vantage Firm and Vantage Plush. Both Vantage models also appear to be doing well in reviews and consumer review websites. The Vantage is mid-to-low range offering in Serta’s line up.
The Vantage series features good support with 1008 wrapped coils, paired with a thin layer of memory foam and regular foams. Serta is not entirely transparent about densities, but estimations are of decent quality. The Serta iSeries line appears to perform better than average on motion isolation and slightly better on durability.
Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Trust Cushion Firm
The Hybrid Trust Cushion Firm by Sealy Posturepedic tends to earn ratings better than other models in the collection online, despite being on the lower end of the price for the Hybrid group. It is called the Trust at most retailers, could be sold under different names as well.
The Hybrid series features good support with 825 wrapped titanium coils, paired with a thin layer of memory foam and regular foams. Sealy is not entirely transparent about densities, with little information on the memory foam or regular foam layers. The Sealy Hybrid line does appear to perform better than average on motion isolation and comfort, with average durability.
Aireloom Solitude Luxury Firm
The Solitude Luxury Firm is a mid-range offering from Aireloom, a luxury mattress manufacturer. The model is on the affordable end of the spectrum with limited but good online reviews and ratings. A distinguishing feature of the line are the hand-tufted finishes.
This mattress features 830 pocketed coils for support plus layers of memory foam, blended Talalay latex, and regular foam. Aireloom provides little to no details on layer thickness and quality. The line earns higher than average overall satisfaction rates, excelling at comfort, motion isolation and durability.
Ten Worst-Rated Mattress Types to Avoid
Looking over the worst-rated mattress models and brands on Sleep Like The Dead’s website and other consumer review websites, we also noticed a few trends. Without naming names, the following traits are most commonly linked with dissatisfied customers and lower overall satisfaction.
1. Promotional Mattresses
Promotional mattresses are those sold for a limited time only, often as doorbuster deals during major holiday sales. These mattresses are typically priced lower than average, and often have slightly lower quality than average and may also have reduced warranties. Since the models tend to be limited to a specific store and time, it can be difficult to research reviews or accurately compare them to other offers.
2. Very Cheap Beds
With the exception of temporary use/guest mattresses and children’s beds, very cheap mattresses (under $500 or so for a queen) generally tend to have worse overall ratings compared to mid-priced beds (in the $800-$2000 range). There are a few exceptions that offer relatively good values, but it is important to carefully weigh quality, reviews, and expected lifespan against the price.
Cheaper mattresses can provide good comfort initially, but where satisfaction tends to suffer is in the longer term, as the lower-quality materials tend to break down faster and lose comfort sooner. These types of beds also tend to have less warranty coverage, meaning they will likely need to be replaced sooner.
3. Too-Thin Mattresses
Thinner mattresses tend to have lower comfort ratings in most lines, especially among side sleepers and larger individuals. This is because the comfort layers in the bed need to be able to adequately cushion the sleeper against the coils or support foam to prevent pressure points.
People over 250 lbs prefer beds of at least 10”, while those over 300 pounds tend to prefer mattresses at least 14” thick. If you are side sleeper, your ideal mattress will likely have at least 3” of cushioning material.
4. Hot or Constrictive Memory Foam
Memory foam can very considerably by density and formula. Though as a whole memory foam mattresses tend to earn the highest ratings, the people that dislike their beds tend to either have an issue with the heat or difficulty moving on the mattress.
Both issues are most closely linked with beds that use thick layers of high density (over 5 lb) memory foam and foams that are highly temperature sensitive.
5. Mattresses with Low-Density Foam
Low density foams, whether regular polyurethane or memory foam, tend to be associated with lower satisfaction over time when it comes to pain relief and durability. For memory foams, low density would be considered under 3.5 lbs. For poly foams, low density is under 1.5 lbs.
Because low density foams have a “less dense” structure, they are more prone to compression and provide a less buoyant feel than higher densities. However, these foams are typically cheaper so can be budget-friendly for infrequently used or temporary mattresses (beds you expect to use less than 3-5 years).
6. Innerspring Beds with Poor Motion Isolation
In innerspring mattresses, one issue that can receive considerable complaints is a lack of motion isolation. This is an issue for couples particularly, as one person’s movements can disturb the other’s sleep.
Mattress types most associated with poor motion isolation are those with bonnell and continuous coils. Pocketed coils and beds with memory foam or latex layers tend to have fewer issues with motion disturbances.
7. Too Soft or Firm for Your Needs
Mattress shopping is confusing for many, many people. It can be difficult to know which type of bed to choose or to decode different manufacturers’ terminology. Many mattress complaints stem from beds feeling either too firm or too soft. It’s also important to note that most beds with foams will soften slightly over time, so showroom models may not always feel like the bed you receive.
There is no 100% accurate formula, but generally back sleepers should opt for medium-firm to firm beds, side sleepers medium to plush, and stomach sleepers medium to firm.
Sleep studies find that people with back pain generally feel best on medium to medium firm beds. Since manufacturer descriptions of firmness may be arbitrary, it can be helpful to look for IFD/ILD ratings or read reviews to see if there are any trends in comments regarding firmness.
8. Overpriced Mattresses
Another complaint often seen in reviews stems from owners feeling they overpaid for their mattress. Even when they find the bed comfortable, this can be enough to affect satisfaction and ratings.
Several mattress brands price beds high, but use only average materials. Retailers can also use sales tactics to exaggerate prices, such as making comparisons difficult or using high-pressure tactics.
The best way to avoid buyer’s remorse is to carefully compare beds and read reviews. Be sure to get information on all layers and be leery when retailers and manufacturers won’t tell you what is in the mattress they are selling – chances are it’s because the bed is not competitively priced compared to peers.
9. Beds with No Return/Exchange Policy
A lack of a return or exchange policy can dramatically affect your satisfaction if the mattress you buy is not quite right. Many dissatisfied reviewers complain about being stuck with a bed they don’t like or having to pay high charges for returns.
Especially when buying online, make sure you can return or at least exchange the bed if you don’t like it with reasonable fees. It can take a few weeks to get used to a bed, so you should have at least 30 days to make up your mind.
10. Beds with Little or No Warranty
The other complaint seen often in the worst-rated mattresses is related to warranty issues. It is hard to judge how a bed will perform over time even if you are diligent in your research, which is where the warranty comes in.
For a mid-range and higher bed, a good mattress should have at least 10 years of full coverage during which the retailer will repair or replace defective beds at their expense. Many will also have extended pro-rated periods during which a portion of costs are covered.
The important thing to look for in a warranty is how deep sagging must be before the warranty kicks in – sagging over 1” can dramatically affect comfort and support. Sagging not covered by warranties is a frequent complaint in many of the worst-rated beds.
Ultimately, taking the time to research a little and compare different beds makes it easier to find the best mattress for your situation and avoid surprises.
Always ask about what the mattress is made of, see how prices compare to similar offers, and don’t forget to check in to retailer policies. Looking online for reviews can also help provide with more information on factors such as comfort, durability, and performance that can be difficult to judge as well.
Want more information on finding the best mattresses? Take a look at our previous guides for more information on buying a mattress online and comparing different bed types.
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