Sleep is an essential regenerating process for the human body. A good night’s sleep boosts the immune system, reduces the risk of heart attacks and diabetes, fights stress, improves concentration, etc. The list is enormous.

An average person spends about 26 years sleeping in their lifetime. What most people don’t know though, is that, on average, we also spend about 7 years trying to fall asleep. While the act of falling asleep is influenced by numerous factors like the sleeping environment, lighting, and even food, one of the most crucial factors is the bed you’re lying in. In the vast majority of cases, it’s the mattress.

A poor mattress not only interferes with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, but it can lead to disturbed sleep, which is when you wake up tense, with aches and pains all over your body. It’s important to understand your sleeping needs and get a mattress that will offer the right amount of comfort and support that you require. Fortunately, it’s more than achievable nowadays. To make it easier for you, we have put together a list of the top-performing mattresses of 2024 by multiple criteria.

Recommended Mattress Brands

These are some of the most recommended mattress brands that we’ve reviewed:

• Nectar Mattress
• Saatva Mattress
• DreamCloud

Understanding Your Mattress Needs

Every human body is unique, and requires a unique approach, especially when it comes to choosing a mattress. There are a number of factors that you need to take into account before getting a new mattress. Here are the most important aspects to consider:

• Your sleeping position – Are you a back, stomach, or side sleeper? Or maybe you’re a combination of these?
• Sinkage – Do you feel comfortable sinking into your bed, or do you like to stay firmly on top of it?
• Firmness – Do you enjoy a firm sleeping surface or a soft one? Or maybe something in the middle?
• Organic and/or hypoallergenic materials – Do you have any allergies? Is organic cotton or wool essential for you?
• All-natural raw materials – Is it important for you to know that all the materials and processes used in the manufacturing process are natural and organic?
• Temperature regulation – If you simply can’t fall asleep when you feel hot, you’ll definitely want to look into mattresses that offer the best cooling features, such as the Saatva mattresses.

Obviously, there are a lot more points that should be covered based on individual needs, but these are the core questions you need to ask yourself when shopping for a new mattress. Keep in mind that your sleeping needs and preferences may shift as you age or get a sleeping partner. Make sure to set your priorities right, and do the research for the rest of the features. Last but not least, you’ll always be able to find something within your budget on our list of top mattresses of 2024.

Mattress Types

Once the primary needs and preferences are taken care of, it’s time to move to mattress types. The types include memory foam, spring, gel, latex, and hybrid mattresses, airbeds, you name it! The mattress type should mostly be considered based on your preferences, although in general, spring and hybrid mattresses offer more support while memory foam and latex offer more comfort. Naturally, the thicker the memory foam and latex layers, the plushier the mattress is. Finally, the standard mattress sizes include Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King.

Why Buy a Mattress Online

Regardless of what mattress you’re looking to buy, doing it online has a plethora of benefits. Yes, there is the fact that you can’t physically experience the mattress like you’d be able in a retail store, but that’s not a problem with any of the brands listed on our website. In fact, all of them offer a free trial for all mattresses (at least 100-nights long), without any extra fees, transportation or hidden costs. Moreover, some vendors even offer white glove delivery (installing the mattress in the room of your choice) and old mattress removal, completely free of charge. Here are a few more benefits:

• Buying a mattress online is cheaper because the vendor offers a lower price due to the absence of retail store-related costs.
• It’s easier to compare different mattresses and brands from the comfort of your home, sitting on the couch with a computer in your lap.
• Online stores showcase the whole product line because they don’t have space limitations. You’ll never have to visit “the other store 45 minutes’ drive away” just to see if they have the model you want.
• Online mattress stores have customer reviews that will help you make your final decision easier.
• Most of the brands offer 24/7 customer support. You can ask as many questions as needed, any time of the day.

If you’re old-fashioned and prefer a retail store over an online vendor, doing research over the internet will still be helpful. If you spend a bit of time looking through various mattress reviews and sleep articles, you’ll learn a lot of important information that most sales reps won’t be able to give you in so little time. Maybe after you’re fully comfortable with it, you’ll give online mattress shopping a shot! After all, the free trial doesn’t cost you anything, and the mattress is delivered right to your doorstep.

How to Compare Mattresses and Mattress Brands

Choosing the right mattress isn’t going to be straightforward. You’ll have to consider many factors like mattress types, your sleeping requirements, comfort, support, firmness, etc. To compare different brands effectively, we suggest considering the following aspects:

• Budget – Different mattress vendors have different products designed for a certain price range. For instance, Saatva is known for its luxury hybrid mattresses that cost around $1,000 on average while Nectar offers mattresses in the $500-700 range.
• Warranty and Money-back Guarantee – Always try to look for money-back guarantee policies. If a brand is willing to offer a 100%, no questions asked money-back guarantee, it means that A: they are sure that they offer a good product and B: you’ll have no problems returning the mattress. Also, make sure to check out the warranty length, terms, and conditions. These tend to vary a lot, depending on the vendor.
• Features – Last but not least, take a look at the features of the mattress. Generally, the more features a mattress has, the higher its price is. However, do you really need all of the features? Think about that and don’t overpay, especially if you have a limited budget. Remember that you’re buying a bed, not a smartphone.

Conclusion

Every one of us requires a good night’s sleep after a long day full of stress and exhaustion. Having the perfect mattress that’s fine-tuned to your sleeping needs and preferences will become one of your most precious purchases. Choosing a mattress is, and should be, a one-in-a-decade thing, so do take the time to research and analyze everything carefully. Make good use of the free trials offered by the brands before making your final decision. And remember that a good mattress doesn’t necessarily cost a fortune, especially when considering various financing options. Think of it as a long-term investment that will greatly improve your everyday life. To learn more about specific mattresses and brands, take a look at our detailed mattress reviews.