Best memory foam mattress: every memory foam mattress we sell, compared

Hi, we’re John and Mimi. Most of the mattresses we sell are all foam: no coils, just layers of memory foam and support foam that shape around you. That’s the slow, cradling “hug” people mean when they say memory foam. But our foam mattresses range from a 6" firm guest bed to a 14" plush, with gel, copper-gel, soy-based, pearl and gel, zoned and two-sided flippable designs in between. Here they all are side by side, layer by layer, at today’s prices, with our honest picks.

The short answer

• Best memory foam mattress for most people: the 10" Rose (medium, 2" gel air memory foam on top, machine-washable zip-off cover, non-skid bottom). Queen $399 today.
• The classic, deeper memory foam feel: the 12" Copper Gel (2" copper memory foam over 1" memory foam, edge support, 7" Air Grid base). Queen $519 today.
• Plush and soft: the 12" Essentials Plush (3.5" gel-infused air foam on top), or the extra-thick 14" Ananda Pearl & Gel Plush. Queen $679 and $729 today.
• Firm: the 12" Lavender Firm (thin 1.5" air foam top over an 8.5" Air Grid base). Queen $709 today.
• Can’t decide on a feel: the 12" iSwitch Flippable: medium firm on one side, medium soft on the other. Queen $769 today.
• Lowest price: the 6" Essentials Firm, 8" Gel Comfort Reactive and 8" Daisy Firm. Queen $309, $319 and $349 today.
• Not sure all-foam is for you? Our memory foam vs hybrid guide explains the difference, and our best hybrid mattress guide compares every hybrid we sell.

What makes a memory foam mattress

An all-foam mattress is built from stacked foam layers instead of coils. The comfort layers on top (memory foam, gel memory foam, air foam or a springier reactive foam) are what you feel when you lie down. Under them, a transition or support foam keeps you from sinking through, and a thick base foam carries the load. On most of our foam mattresses that base is cut with channels or a grid (Air Grid, Air Channel or Flex-Air), which the listings describe as letting air and body heat move through the mattress and helping it flex on an adjustable base.

That gives memory foam its typical personality: you sink in a little and the mattress shapes around your shoulders and hips, and a partner turning over is less likely to jostle you. The trade-off is that you feel more “in” the bed than “on” it, and changing position takes a touch more effort than on coils. If you want more bounce, look at our reactive-foam models below, or a hybrid.

Every memory foam mattress we sell, side by side

Sorted by today’s in-stock queen price, lowest first, read live from our catalog. Comfort layers, base and cover are copied from each mattress’s own listing; the feel label comes from our mattress comparison chart.

Queen sold out today (other sizes may be in stock, see below): 8" Essentials Medium, 10" Essentials Medium, 12" Gel Plush.

Prices are today’s prices with free FedEx shipping included. The 10" ActiveAlign, 12" Gel Plush, 12" Copper Gel, 12" ActiveAlign Zoned, 12" Ananda, both iSwitch models and the 12" Lavender also list an edge support layer along the sides.

Our memory foam families, explained

The names can blur together, so here is what actually sets each group apart, straight from the listings.

Gel and air foam: the everyday picks

The Essentials, Gel Comfort Reactive, Rose and Daisy mattresses keep things simple: a gel-infused or gel air memory foam top, a transition foam, and a base with air channels or an Air Grid. The 10" Rose (medium) is the one we point most people to; the 8" Daisy (firm) is its firmer, thinner sibling, and both list a non-skid bottom fabric. The Gel Comfort Reactive models come in a quilted cover rather than a zip-off one, and the 6" Essentials Firm is the one its listing describes for sofa beds, trundles and other low-profile spaces (see our guest room guide).

Copper-gel and reactive foam

The 12" Copper Gel is our classic slow-sinking memory foam: 2" of copper memory foam over 1" of memory foam and 2" of support foam. The two ActiveAlign mattresses swap the top for 2" of reactive foam, which their listings describe as having a latex-like bounce back, so you get the contouring of memory foam with a quicker, springier response. The 10" is medium firm; the 12" adds a zoned layer, firmer under the head and feet, plush cooling gel under the upper torso and plush memory foam under the hips. Our 12 inch copper mattress and zoned copper gel guides go deeper on these.

Soy-based foam: EcoCore Origin

The 10" EcoCore Origin (medium firm) uses 2" of bio-based air foam made with soy, which the listing describes as open-celled and made from a renewable resource, over 2" of plush Air Ridge foam and a 6" Air Channel base.

Pearl and gel: Ananda

Both Ananda mattresses blend cooling gel and natural crushed pearls into the memory foam, and both list cooling fibers woven into the cover. The 12" is medium firm with a 7" Air Grid base; the 14" is the plush, extra-thick version. One thing to know: the 14" listing doesn’t describe its cover as machine-washable, so a protector is a good idea from day one.

Two-sided: iSwitch flippables

The 12" iSwitch and 12" BioPosture iSwitch have a comfort side on each face: 2" gel memory foam plus 1" gel swirl memory foam on one side, 3" gel memory foam on the other, around a 6" Air Grid core. One side is medium firm, the other medium soft, and you flip the mattress to change the feel. Good if you’re unsure, or your preference changes. Our combination sleepers guide covers them too.

Plush and firm ends

For a soft bed, the 12" Essentials Plush (3.5" gel-infused air foam) and the 12" Gel Plush (two 2" gel memory foam layers with memory foam between) are our plushest 12" foams. For a firm bed, the 12" Lavender has a thin 1.5" air foam top over 2" of support foam and an 8.5" Air Grid base, so you stay on top of it.

Our picks by how you sleep

Firmness matters as much as the foam, so match the feel to how you sleep. Every detail below comes from the mattress’s own listing.

As a rough guide, side sleepers usually like medium soft to medium, back sleepers medium to medium firm, and stomach sleepers firm. Our mattress firmness guide explains the scale, and the side sleepers and back & stomach sleepers guides go deeper. The 60-second mattress quiz narrows it down for you.

Every memory foam mattress in every size, today

Same mattresses, every size we carry. A dash means that size is sold out today or isn’t made in that model.

Prices are today’s prices, read live from our catalog, with free FedEx shipping included.

Shopping by budget first? Our best affordable mattress guide groups every mattress we sell, foam and hybrid, by today’s price. Still choosing a size? See queen vs king and the mattress size chart.

6" to 14": which height?

• 6" and 8": guest rooms, kids’ rooms, bunks, trundles and daybeds, and anyone on a tight budget. See our kids and bunk bed & trundle guides.
• 10": the everyday middle, and an easy fit for standard sheets and protectors.
• 12": where most of our foam mattresses sit, with room for thicker comfort layers or a zoned or two-sided build.
• 14": the extra-thick, plush Ananda. Your bed sits noticeably higher.

Our how thick should a mattress be guide walks through bed height, sheets and frames.

Does memory foam sleep hot?

Some people find traditional memory foam warm, because you sink in a little and there’s less air around you than on coils. Our foam mattresses tackle that with what’s in them: gel-infused or gel air memory foam on top, copper-gel memory foam on the copper models, open-celled soy foam on the EcoCore Origin, and Air Grid or Air Channel bases cut to let air move. If you run warm, look at the gel and copper-gel models above, or compare them with our cooling hybrids in the gel memory foam vs hybrid for hot sleepers guide.

Memory foam on an adjustable base

Memory foam is a natural fit for an adjustable base, because there are no coils to bend. The setup instructions on our foam listings name an adjustable base as a proper surface, many of the listings say outright that the mattress is compatible with an adjustable base (sold separately), and the Air Grid and Air Channel bases are described as adding flexibility on one. Our best mattress for an adjustable bed guide covers the details.

Here is what a queen memory foam mattress plus our e3 adjustable base (head and foot lift, zero gravity, wireless remote) comes to today:

Queen prices read live from our catalog. Other bases are in our how to choose an adjustable base guide, and our packages pair a mattress and base for you.

Getting it home and set up

• It comes in a box. Every foam mattress we sell ships compressed and rolled, with free FedEx shipping.
• Put it on a proper surface first. The setup instructions call for a continuously solid surface, an adjustable base, or slats no more than 2" apart, before you open it. No box spring needed; see what to put under a memory foam mattress.
• Scissors, not a razor blade. Cut the plastic carefully and unroll it.
• Give it time. The listings say it may take up to 72 hours to fully recover its shape, and you can sleep on it right away. More in our mattress in a box expansion guide.

Protectors and care

Height decides which protector fits. Our Terry Cloth and Quilted Cotton protectors list a fit up to an 11" mattress, so they suit our 6", 8" and 10" foams. For a 12" or 14" foam mattress, the Premium Bamboo protector lists a fit up to 16". The listings say liquid spills don’t qualify for warranty claims, which is why we suggest a protector on day one; our mattress protector guide compares them.

Care is short and the same across our foam mattresses: rotate it for even wear, don’t stand or jump on it, don’t fold or bend it for long periods, and don’t let moisture soak in. Where the cover is machine-washable, wash it cold on a gentle cycle with like colors and air dry without heat. More in our how to clean a mattress guide.

10" Rose - Medium Firmness - 10BNV

Our pick for most people who want memory foam: a medium feel, a washable cover and a budget-friendly price.

• Medium feel
• 2" gel air memory foam top layer, listed to promote airflow
• Support foam middle layer
• Machine-washable zip-off cover
• Non-skid bottom fabric
• CertiPUR-US certified foam; 10-year limited warranty

From $279 (Twin) · Queen $399 · See sizes & details

12" Copper Gel Infused Cooling Memory Foam Mattress - Medium Firm, Back & Side Sleepers

Our pick for the classic memory foam feel: a deeper, slower sink with a steady edge.

• 2" copper memory foam over 1" memory foam
• Edge support along the sides
• 2" support foam over a 7" Air Grid base
• Zip-off machine-washable cover
• CertiPUR-US certified foam

From $369 (Twin XL) · Queen $519 · See sizes & details

Questions we hear a lot

Tell us how you sleep

Tell John how you sleep, whether you run warm, who shares the bed and your budget, and he’ll tell you honestly which memory foam mattress he’d pick, or whether a hybrid makes more sense. Text or call 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, take the 60-second mattress quiz, or use Help me choose. See our Purchase Policy & Warranty for the details.

Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. Layers, covers, setup and care wording from each product’s listing; feel labels from our comparison chart; prices update automatically. General shopping guidance.