Best Adjustable Mattress for 2023 – CNET
Best Adjustable Mattress for 2023 - CNET
In this article:
- Our picks
- Other mattresses we’ve tested
- How we test adjustable mattresses
- What to look for in an adjustable mattress
- Frequently asked questions
An adjustable mattress can mean two things: a bed with customizable settings that allows you to change firmness and temperature, or a bed that’s suitable for an adjustable bed frame.
Adjustable bed frames offer customizable sleep positions and provide a ton of different benefits, including better circulation, reduced snoring and improved spine alignment to help you get a better night’s rest. They can also help provide relief from acid reflux, as well as help with sleep apnea.
Our best adjustable mattress review includes both, and even a top-rated adjustable bed frame pick.
The most important features to look for in the best adjustable mattress that fits a moving bed frame are those that encourage flexibility — even the best adjustable bed frame can’t accommodate a mattress that isn’t meant to adjust. An adjustable mattress should bend where the adjustable bed base bends without too much resistance. That said, most bed-in-a-box mattresses these days are compatible with an adjustable bed frame because the materials inside are able to bend and flex.
I have personally tested over 100 beds and multiple bed frames. My hope is to pair you with one of our top six picks for the best adjustable mattress and bases below. The prices listed are for queen sizes, and you can often get a good discount when you bundle your adjustable base with your new mattress.
If you’re looking to upgrade your entire sleeping situation and get a better night’s rest, we can offer recommendations for the best sheets, pillows and more.
Read more: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers for 2023
Saatva
Type
Luxury air mattress
Firmness
Customizable firmness level
Trial
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
The Saatva Solaire adjustable mattress features certified eco-friendly foam, 100% natural Talalay latex, a top cover of organic cotton and a flame-retardant barrier of natural thistle pulp.
With the Solaire, you can choose a standard mattress in seven sizes, or an Upper-Flex split-top variety in sizes, including queen, king and California king, to let you and your sleep partner choose different head elevations.
One especially great feature of the Solaire is that you can use the included remote adjustable bed controls to customize your own personal firmness level out of a possible 50 combinations. This makes it perfect for all sleeping positions from side, back, stomach and combination.
Pair it with the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus that allows you to raise and lower your heat and feet for a more customized, elevated sleeping experience. It also comes with added features like a massager and underbed lights.
The Solaire comes with a convenient “white-glove setup” in the room of your choice, two remote controllers and free removal of your old mattress. The Saatva Solaire mattress weight capacity can hold 800 pounds on each side. The 25-year warranty covers the cost of parts and repairs for the first five years.
TL;DR: Why we picked the Saatva Solaire
Not your regular ol’ camping air mattress, the Saatva Solaire is a luxury air mattress that combines latex foam, memory foam and internal air chambers to provide a comfortable and customizable feel. With 50 firmness settings, it’s virtually suitable for any sleeping position and it can hold up to 800 pounds on each side. Pair it with a Saatva adjustable base for the ultimate bedroom setup.
Purple
Type
Hyper-Elastic Polymer mattress
Firmness
Medium or 5
Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
The Purple mattress has become known for its unique TV commercials and one-of-a-kind Purple Grid feature, a gridded layer that promises to keep the sleeper’s hips and shoulders in a gentle contour while the spine is held in proper alignment.
The Purple is also designed to hold less heat, last longer and provide a unique flexibility that’s comfortable alone or with an adjustable bed frame. This makes it a great adjustable mattress suitable for our list.
Purple Grid is also made with an enduring temperature-neutral, hyper-elastic polymer, much more stable than most forms of memory foam, which often allows the Purple mattress to outlast the lifespan of average mattresses. The material makes you feel like you’re floating and offers a nice balance between supportive and pressure relieving, which does wonders for people who suffer from back pain. Read more in our full Purple mattress review.
There are Purple mattress bed frames to choose from, such as the Purple Adjustable Base. It lets you adjust the head and foot of your bed and offers different preset modes like anti-snore and zero gravity. It used to be purple, but Purple has since changed it to a neutral gray to blend in more with any bedroom set-up.
TL;DR: Why we picked the Purple mattress
The Purple is a unique mattress with what its maker calls Hyper-Elastic Polymer in the comfort layer. It’s squishy and gel-like and gives you a weightless feel that takes pressure off your joints and back. When you pair it with Purple’s adjustable base, you can lift the head and foot of your mattress along with other fun features.
Nectar
Type
Memory foam mattress
Firmness
Medium to medium-firm or 6
Trial
365 nights
Warranty
Forever warranty
The Nectar mattress and adjustable base set is one of the most affordable mattress bundles you can get your hands on, but affordability does not equal low quality here. I like to compare to Tempur-Pedic (but cheaper), and the adjustable base comes with extra features that other brands make you pay extra for.
The Nectar mattress is rated around a medium to medium-firm and it has a dense memory foam feel that will feel more firm upon first impression. After giving the bed a few seconds to warm from your body heat, it slowly molds around the curves of your body. It has a prominent memory foam feel that a lot of people enjoy – the Nectar is ultra popular for a reason.
The foam memory foam model will accommodate sleepers under 230 pounds most. Heavier sleepers should opt for the hybrid model with innersprings instead for additional support.
You can add an adjustable mattress base to your Nectar bed purchase for a great deal. During a big promotion like Black Friday, you can get a queen size base and mattress for under $1,500. It comes with everything most people want in an adjustable mattress with extra sprinklings like a three-zone massager and USB plugs. I own this adjustable mattress and I can say it was a great upgrade to my mattress set up.
TL;DR: Why we chose the Nectar mattress
Nectar is generous when it comes to bundle promos. You can get a Nectar mattress and a nice adjustable base for less than most of the bed bundles on this list. The Nectar is a popular memory foam mattress with a medium-firm feel, and its base features everything you could want in an adjustable bed frame – even a massager.
Lucid
Type
Memory foam mattress
Firmness
Medium-soft or 3
Trial
30 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
The Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress is a wallet-friendly bed and a popular pick on Amazon. Similarly, the adjustable bed frames offered by the brand give you the ability to customize your sleeping experience for less.
The Lucid 10-Inch Plush Gel Memory Foam mattress combines the minimalist with the plush to create a budget-friendly mattress fit for adjustable bed frames. Its gel-infused cooling memory foam is 3.5 inches thick, creating a top layer that helps sleepers experience a regulated temperature all night. The 4.5 inches of bamboo charcoal-infused foam provide firm support, and the components are hypoallergenic.
Available in a medium or firm density and in six different sizes, the Lucid mattress comes with free shipping, free returns and a free 10-year warranty. Not positive which Lucid mattress you want to purchase? There’s a helpful quiz on the company site to help you choose. Read more in our full Lucid mattress review.
If you’re looking for the best adjustable bed frame on a budget, Lucid offers four different adjustable mattress bed frames with two entry-level models. The L100 is the most basic model with a look similar to a metal bed frame, while the L150 has more functions and looks like your traditional adjustable mattress. The L600 adjustable base is the most premium and loaded with additional features.
TL;DR: Why we chose the Lucid 10-inch Gel memory foam mattress
Upgrade your bedroom setup on a budget with the Lucid 10-inch gel memory foam mattress and its budget-friendly adjustable base options. The mattress has a soft, contouring memory foam feel and would be most suitable for side sleepers who want a plush profile.
Avocado Green
Type
Latex Hybrid
Firmness
7 or medium-firm with the pillow top (9 or firm without)
Trial
365 nights
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
The Avocado Green mattress is an environmentally friendly favorite made with sustainably sourced natural and organic products. It’s a latex hybrid mattress that utilizes certified organic latex foam, New Zealand wool, organic cotton and recycled steel. It’s as green of a mattress as you can get, hence the well-suited name.
It has a firmer profile and it feels very supportive. It’s rated around a nine out of 10 without the added pillow top, and a seven with the plushness of the pillow top. The bed is bouncy and responsive, so it’s easy for a combination sleeper to move around and switch positions. The Avocado Green is also very breathable as the perforated latex foam and pocketed coils promote increased airflow.
Perfectly suitable for an adjustable bed frame, the Avocado Green mattress pairs nicely with any of the three adjustable bases offered by Avocado: Eco Adjustable Base, Eco Plus and Eco Pro. At three different prices, they are essentially the brand’s “good,” “better” and “best” setups. All three are made with sustainable materials, can be controlled via your phone and offer a three-zone massager. The Plus and Pro come with a few extra bells and whistles, but I think the Eco offers the best bang-for-your-buck. Read more about the bed in our Avocado Green mattress review.
The purchase of an Avocado Green mattress comes with free standard shipping and returns, a full-year sleep trial and a 25-year limited warranty.
TL;DR: Why we chose the Avocado Green mattress
The Avocado Green mattress is an environmentally friendly bed with an impressive list of organic certifications. It’s made with organic cotton, organic latex foam and recycled steel coils, and you can pair this green mattress with one of three adjustable bases for a sustainable and comfortable mattress bundle.
My Slumber Yard
The GhostBed Classic mattress and adjustable base bundle is middle-tier as far as price goes, but you’re getting top-quality products I’d assume to be more expensive. The flagship GhostBed mattress has a mixed foam feel as it uses a combination of memory foam and the brand’s own latex foam that’s more durable and breathable than other popular foams.
The feel of GhostBed is more responsive than typical memory foam, but the bed feels softer and more plush than the average latex foam bed. The latex foam is also aerated and perforated, so it’s better at regulating your body’s temperature.
I’d rate it around a medium on the firmness scale, making it accommodating for all different sleeping positions. The GhostBed Classic best suits individuals under 230 pounds.
You can bundle your mattress with an adjustable mattress base, and it’s pretty affordable for the quality you’re getting. The base is only a few hundred dollars more than competing adjustable bases that don’t have a massage feature, and it comes with some added bonuses like adjustable legs to make your base taller or shorter and an underbed light. I think this base offers a great value, and it looks good in just about any bedroom.
TL;DR: Why we chose the GhostBed Classic
The GhostBed Classic mattress uses synthetic latex foam for the cooling, comfort and durability benefits of organic latex foam without its typical steep price tag. With the addition of memory foam, it gives this bed a comfortable blended feel that offers the best of each foam. If you choose to bundle it with an adjustable base, you get great bang for your buck.
Other mattresses we’ve tested
CNET editors have tested a number of mattresses, over 100 to be exact. Their experience enables them to curate best mattress lists like this one, and pick the beds that stand out from the rest. While the beds above are great options, there are a few more beds tested by editors that could be up for consideration.
Casper mattress: The Casper mattress gets partial credit for bringing bed-in-a-box mattresses to the mainstream, and it’s arguably one of the biggest brands in the online market. So much so, you can now find this mattress in popular retail stores like Target or Costco. It’s an affordable all-foam mattress with a neutral, responsive feel unlike memory foam. It also has a zoned-support design that provides targeted support to the back and pressure relief to the hips and shoulders. It’s rated around a 5 or medium on the firmness scale, making it ideal for just about any sleeping position.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature: This is a pretty basic hybrid mattress, but it has a quality design with a surprisingly low price tag for a bed with coils. It’s one of my top favorite brands because they manufacture their own beds, a feat most other mattress brands don’t do. This allows them to sell their beds for the low. This bed is offered in three different firmness levels from soft to firm, so it’s suitable for all sleeping positions from side, back, stomach and combo. Its hybrid design also makes it suitable for any body type.
Amerisleep mattress: This is a memory foam bed similar to the Nectar mattress because its made with foam materials and has a dense, slow-responding feel. Though, with Amerisleep, it comes in five different firmness levels. The softer the mattress, though, the more you’re going to have to pay. A huge plus about this line of beds is they all come with removable, machine washable covers. A lot of mattress covers require spot cleaning, so this makes removing stains a lot easier.
How we test adjustable mattresses
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
- Firmness: Using our experience of testing over 100 different beds, we analyze how firm or soft a bed feels in comparison to other beds. We use a one through 10 scale with 10 being the firmest.
- Feel: We get physical with the mattress and see what the material feels like. This is different from firmness. Depending on the foam and materials of a mattress, we see if the bed is bouncy, slow-responding, pressure-relieving or plush and fluffy.
- Durability: It’s difficult to tell exactly how long each bed will last because we don’t test it for years on end. However, we are able to hypothesize a bed’s firmness by looking at its construction. Hybrid or innerspring beds are more durable and last longer than foam mattresses.
- Best body type: Based on a person’s body weight, we determine how accommodating a mattress is. We use different sized sleepers to test the beds, and focus heavily on a bed’s construction.
- Best sleeping position: Using different sleepers, we test the mattress in each sleeping position: side, back and stomach.
- Motion isolation: We use two people to test how well motion transfer across the bed is deadened, or place a glass of water at the edge of the bed to see how much it moves if we bounce around.
- Edge support: We analyze construction and physically lay on the sides of the mattress to get a gauge on how supportive it feels.
- Temperature: Instead of getting fancy, we rely on our own experience sleeping on the bed and a temperature gun. We are able to tell if a bed is cooling, breathable or hot by sleeping on it for a few nights.
- Smell: Mattresses in a box omit a smell once they’re unpackaged like a new car does. Don’t worry, it won’t stick around. The smell will go away after 24 to 48 hours. However, some beds omit less of an odor than others.
Read more on how we test mattresses.
What to look for in an adjustable mattress
The truth of the matter is that many modern mattresses these days are compatible with an adjustable bed frame. Especially online or bed-in-a-box mattresses. Although, you can make the argument that some work better than others, so there are some key things you want to remember before buying a new bed for your adjustable base.
Flexibility — You want a flexible mattress that can bend without being damaged. Most bed-in-a-box and online mattresses fit the bill because they have supple foam and springs that move independently from one another. Older innerspring mattresses, however, have innersprings that move as one unit, which may not be as ideal for an adjustable bed frame.
No box spring — This also has to do with how flexible your mattress materials are. Box springs are not bendy or ductile, so I advise you don’t use a box frame with your adjustable base. The good news is that most modern mattresses, especially bed-in-a-box and online beds, don’t require a box spring.
Frequently asked questions
Are adjustable mattresses worth it?
Yes, sleeping in a more upright position can be beneficial for your health. Adjustable beds can help alleviate joint pain, back pain, help prevent snoring, increase blood circulation and more.
Does an adjustable base ruin your mattress?
Most mattresses are compatible with adjustable bed frames and they will not be ruined. Foam mattresses are great options and most hybrid beds are flexible enough to bend with your adjustable bed frame. If you’re curious, check the FAQ page of the bed’s manufacturer and they’ll usually address compatible bed frames.
What mattress is best for an adjustable bed?
Most modern mattresses will be compatible with your adjustable bed frames, especially foam beds. However, the best include the Purple, Cocoon, Tuft and Needle, Casper, Saatva and Avocado. They are flexible mattresses that easily bend when you move your bed frame up or down.
Are adjustable mattresses good for side sleepers?
Yes. Side sleepers can adjust the upper body part of the frame and alleviate pressure around their hips and knees. It also helps keep your spine in a more neutral alignment. Just make sure you don’t dramatically elevate the head or foot so you can prevent a crooked spine.
Do adjustable beds help with snoring?
Yes. Adjustable beds allow you to elevate your head, removing pressure on the back of your throat and opening up your airways and nasal passages which eases snoring. They also improve circulation and relieve joint pain.
What type of mattress is best for an adjustable bed?
Most bed-in-a-box mattresses are compatible with adjustable bases, but the best kind are ones that are flexible and allow for increased movement. Hybrid mattresses or beds with coils fit with adjustable bases, as well as latex foam, poly foam and memory foam beds.
What are the pros and cons of an adjustable bed?
Adjustable mattresses have a host of health benefits and can:
- Alleviate joint pain
- Ease snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea
- Reduce swelling
- Increases blood circulation
- Improves digestion
However, they’re difficult to sleep on fully through the night if you’re a side or stomach sleeper. Raising the head and foot of the bed in those positions can misalign your spine with your head and neck, leading to back pain.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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