Why You Can Trust CNET Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers for 2024
Need a mattress that can accommodate your different sleeping positions? Our sleep experts have tested and reviewed the best mattresses for combination sleepers.
- Carl R. Greer/Andrew D. Hepburn Award for Best Nonfiction Essay (Miami University, 2020)
Some people have a fixed sleeping position, while others switch sleeping positions throughout the night. Such folks are called combination sleepers. During the night, I'm constantly rotating between sleeping on my stomach and sleeping on my side. Sleeping like that isn't comfortable with just any mattress. I need a mattress that's comfortable for both positions and lets me switch without much resistance.
Our sleep experts at CNET know which beds and mattresses are the best ones in the market. After testing over 200 mattresses, we've picked the best mattresses for combination sleepers to help you switch positions throughout the night without discomfort.
What is the best mattress for combination sleepers?
Combination sleepers require a mattress that's neither too firm nor too soft -- one that's down the line in terms of firmness and neutral in feeling is ideal. The Leesa Original mattress is both of those things. Made of memory foam, petite to typical sleepers will feel comfort and support from the Leesa mattress. It also allows you to switch between positions without that “stuck in the mud” feeling. The mattress also contains a breathable knit cover that is soft to the touch.
Video: Best mattress for combination sleepers
Watch our fellow CNET mattress expert, Owen Poole review the best mattresses for combination sleepers.
Best mattresses for combination sleepers of 2024
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
Why we chose the Leesa Original: The flagship model from Leesa -- the Leesa Original mattress -- is a popular bed-in-a-box option for combination sleepers. While it retails for around $1,300, you can often find this bed for just over $1,000. During sales events, it is often lower. Not only do I love this mattress for its fairly affordable price, but the value, support and comfort that comes with this bed are priceless. The Leesa Original is made up of three layers of foam, in addition to a knit cover that makes the mattress feel cozy. This shouldn’t warm you up. The first layer of memory foam is known as its comfort layer, meaning that it will provide you with extra pressure relief.
This bed also has excellent motion isolation, especially when you sleep with a partner or a pet. I also don’t feel like I’m sinking into the mattress too much.
Read more about this bed in our Leesa Original mattress review.
Pros:
- Accommodating firmness level for all sleeping positions
- Leesa is great with donating to charity
- Ideal for sleepers under 230 pounds
- Comfortable, neutral feel that's super accommodating
Cons:
- Not supportive enough for people over 230 pounds
- Not for those looking for a hybrid bed
Leesa Original Mattress, Queen
Why we chose the Purple mattress: If you're looking for a mattress outside the realm of typical memory foam beds, the Purple mattress is for you. Made with what Purple calls GelFlex, this hyperelastic polymer grid material is flexible, bouncy, breathable and lightweight.
The bed is about 10 inches thick with three layers: the top polymer grid and two foam layers underneath. The mattress is technically a hybrid since it contains two types of materials -- foam and hyperelastic polymer. While it doesn’t use coils, the base layer is sturdy enough to support both your body and the top layers of the mattress.
The Purple mattress works for combination sleepers, because the firmness falls around a medium, or 5 out of 10. It's pressure-relieving when you're on your side and supportive when you lie on your back or stomach. It also has excellent motion isolation, so you won’t wake your partner when you change sleeping positions at night.
Pros:
- The GelFlex material is breathable for hot sleepers
- Suitable for all sleeping positions
- Supportive enough for the spine and soft enough for hips
Cons:
- Not for those looking for a traditional hybrid or foam mattress
- Not supportive enough for heavier sleepers over 230 pounds
Read more in our Purple mattress review.
Purple Original Mattress
Why we chose the Amerisleep AS3: This memory foam mattress comes from a brand that's known for offering beds for all sleep positions and body types. The AS3 is the most popular model from Amerisleep, and its feel and firmness are ideal for combination sleepers. It's made of three layers of dense memory foam, totaling about 12 inches. While memory foam can often absorb body heat, the memory foam of the AS3 has an open-cell design that allows for airflow.
While the AS3 is a memory foam mattress, the feel is drastically different from a Tempur-Pedic bed. If you've felt a mattress from Tempur-Pedic, you know how the material can make you feel “stuck in the mud” when you try to change to a different sleeping position. While the memory foam in the AS3 is dense, I've never felt much resistance when moving around.
Pros:
- Ideal for all sleeping positions
- Comfy, dense memory foam feel and medium firmness
- Removable, machine-washable cover
Cons:
- Not for those who dislike memory foam mattresses
- Heavier sleepers over 230 pounds will need the hybrid option
Read more in our Amerisleep brand review.
Amerisleep AS3
Why we chose the Plank Firm Natural: If you rotate between your back and stomach, you need a mattress that's supportive enough in both positions, and the Plank Firm Natural does just that. While extra-firm mattresses aren’t for everyone, they're ideal for keeping back and stomach sleepers’ spines straight and supported. The Plank Firm Natural mattress is flippable and both sides are firm. We found the firm side to be medium-firm and the extra-firm side to be closer to a true firm (about a 10 on our scale).
The Plank Firm Natural is made of organic and eco-friendly materials. The quilted cover is made of organic cotton and wool, and the first layer is Talalay latex foam. It then contains 6-inch individually-encased coils that help to fully support you while on your back or stomach. The latex foam is bouncier than a memory foam bed, and it doesn’t allow your body to sink into the mattress.
Pros:
- Made of eco-friendly and natural materials
- Flippable mattress with two firmness options in one
- Ideal for sleepers who rotate between back and stomach sleeping
Cons:
- Too firm for primary side sleepers
- One of the more expensive options
Watch our Plank Firm Natural mattress video for more.
Plank Firm Natural Mattress
Why we chose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: Not only is the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe our top pick for the best cooling mattress, but it also made our best overall mattress list -- a worthy accomplishment. We love Brooklyn Bedding, because it produces high-quality, premium mattresses and combination sleepers who sleep hot will love the Aurora Luxe. The mattress is available in soft, medium and firm firmness and with or without a pillow top. In addition to the cooling cover, the bed has five layers: four foam layers and one coil core.
I have tested many cooling mattresses, and the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is the coolest mattress to the touch. When lying down on it, I can feel the cooling sensation through my clothes. Regardless, I would also recommend cooling sheets to further capitalize on the cooling factor of the mattress.
Pros:
- Multiple firmness options for all sleeping positions
- Suitable for all body types
- Soft neutral-foam feel that's responsive
Cons:
- Not for budget shoppers
- Not for cool sleepers
Read more in our Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe review.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Why we chose the Brooklyn Bedding Essential: As I’ve said before, we love Brooklyn Bedding, and we found a reason to love it even more thanks to its new affordable, hybrid mattress. The Brooklyn Bedding Essential is 10 inches thick with 1.5-inch quilted comfort foam, a smaller layer of density foam, an 8-inch layer of pocket coils and a flex base. While hybrid mattresses are often thicker than the Essential, the price and quality of this mattress mean you're getting a great deal.
The feel of this mattress is similar to the Aurora Luxe model, above, minus the cooling features. It is quite neutral -- not too dense like memory foam and not too bouncy like latex foam -- which is great for combination sleepers who need support for all sleep positions. You shouldn’t feel too much resistance when changing positions, too.
Pros:
- Ideal for most sleeping positions
- Accommodating neutral feel
- The most affordable, premium hybrid mattress
Cons:
- Only one firmness option
- A thinner mattress than other hybrids
Read more in our Brooklyn Bedding Essential review.
Brooklyn Bedding Essential
Why we chose the Nolah Evolution 15": Pillow top mattresses provide ample support regardless of your sleeping position; however, the pillow top on the Nolah Evolution 15" is great for combination sleepers. Sometimes, pillow tops can be too plush and hinder combination sleepers from moving around. The Nolah Evolution is made with what Nolah calls AirFoam. It gives you the cradling sensation of memory foam, but it's also responsive and feels more like memory foam than the Brooklyn Bedding models.
The Nolah Evolution 15" comes in three firmness options: plush, luxury firm and firm. Despite the name, we found the luxury firm option to be around a medium, making it ideal for combination sleepers. If you spend more time on your stomach and back and are looking for a firmer bed, the firm option would be better for you.
Pros:
- AirFoam provides a unique feel
- Comes in multiple firmness options
- Firmness option available for all sleep positions
Cons:
- Nolah requires a return fee
- Most expensive mattress on this list
Read more in our Nolah brand review.
Nolah Evolution Hybrid 15"
Why we chose the WinkBed Plus: If you're a heavy combination sleeper, you need a mattress that's firm, supportive and comfortable. The WinkBed Plus has heavy sleepers in mind. It combines supportive coils, gel foam and impressive edge support (WinkBed calls this Extra-Edge Support System). It's firm enough for sleepers who weigh more, coming in at about a little less firm than the Plank mattress. It’s about an 8 out of 10 on a firmness scale. Sleepers over 300 pounds will find the mattress softer than that; probably around a medium-firm or 6.5 out of 10, instead.
This bed also made our Best Mattresses for Heavy People list, earning a spot as the best mattress for those with back pain. Do note that when shopping for the WinkBed Plus, you have to choose the Plus option when selecting a firmness.
Pros:
- Supportive and durable mattress
- Bouncy and responsive feel
- Best reliable warranty
Cons:
- A little expensive for budget shoppers
- Not for petite or primary side sleepers
Read more in our WinkBed mattress review.
WinkBed Plus
Other mattresses for combination sleepers we've tested
At CNET, we've spent hundreds of hours testing mattresses -- we know the beds that shine and the beds that are underwhelming. With so many to test and so few spots on our list, we aren't able to showcase every quality mattress for combination sleepers. We do want to give a few more beds the honorable mention they deserve.
Leesa Studio Chill: The Studio Chill Hybrid mattress from Leesa is quite a step up from the Original Leesa mattress. Its cover is cool to the touch and it uses pocketed coils as the base. The bed has a neutral-form feeling and is a flat medium. While I do enjoy the cooling sensation of this mattress, I find the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora to be a better option for hot sleepers.
Allswell Luxe: The Allswell brand is known for its affordable mattresses, and the Allswell Luxe is no exception. This hybrid mattress is below $400 in a queen size, and a twin is a little less than $290. Despite the low price, the Luxe feels like other mattresses on this list. It is around medium-firm, and it has a bouncy feel to it. The bed uses memory foam and coils to support and help alleviate pressure points.
Best mattress for combination sleepers of 2024 compared
| Mattress | Mattress type | Price (queen) | Sleep trial period | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper Original | Memory foam | $1,295 | 100 nights | 10-year limited |
| Purple Mattress | GelFlex and foam | $1,499 | 100 nights | 10-year limited |
| Amerisleep AS3 | Memory foam | $1,749 | 100 nights | 20-year |
| Plank Firm Natural | Hybrid | $2,132 | 120 nights | 10-year limited |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | Hybrid | $1,865 | 120 nights | 10-year limited |
| Brooklyn Bedding Essential | Hybrid | $932 | 120 nights | 10-year limited |
| Nolah Evolution | Hybrid | $2,499 | 120 nights | Lifetime |
| WinkBed Plus | Hybrid | $1,999 | 120 nights | Lifetime |
How we tested the best mattresses for combination sleepers
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.
When we test mattresses, we have an established process that assesses key factors including firmness, feel and performance. We test how strong the edge of the bed is by sitting and lying on the edge. We test motion transfer by rolling across the mattress with a glass of water by the edge. These are things we do for all the beds we test. The best mattresses for combination sleepers have a unique testing process. We dive further into the bed's construction, paying attention to each layer contributing to the cooling process.
1. Firmness: We lay on each mattress and use our experience from testing over 200 different beds to determine firmness. Compared to other mattresses, we analyze how soft or hard a bed feels. It's important to wait until the mattress is fully expanded after opening to get the real firmness perspective.
2. Feel: This is where we get handsy with the beds. We touch and feel the mattresses and watch what the material does. Is it light and bouncy like latex foam, or slow and dense like memory foam?
3. Durability: We don't lie on the mattress we're testing every day for years, so it's hard to tell exactly how long each bed will last. We can get an idea of how well a bed will hold up by looking at its construction. Beds with steel coils are typically more durable and stronger than all-foam mattresses.
4. Best body type: We use construction and feel to determine how accommodating a bed will be for a heavy individual. Hybrid mattresses with steel coils are typically more supportive and longer-lasting; a plus for heavier individuals looking for a quality bed.
5. Best sleeping position: We get physical and flip around the mattresses, testing each sleeping position: side, back, stomach and combination.
6. Motion isolation: With one or preferably two people on the mattress, we jump and bounce around to see how much movement can be detected throughout the bed. We also use the method where you place a cup of water at the edge of the bed and bounce around to see how much it moves.
7. Edge support: We analyze a mattress's materials and physically lay on each edge of the mattress to get a feel for how well it'll keep us feeling sturdy.
8. Temperature: We use hot sleepers to test and determine how cool a bed sleeps. We also take a look at its materials and construction to see if a brand added anything to make it sleep more cool.
9. Smell: Some mattresses can off-gas an interesting smell. We use our trusty noses to test this characteristic.
Read more on how we test mattresses.
What to look for in a mattress as a combination sleeper
Whether you are a primary back, stomach or side sleeper, your sleeping position requires specific aspects in a mattress. Combination sleepers have to take into account all of their sleeping positions to find the best mattress. Here are features to keep in mind.
Firmness
Combination sleepers should look for a mattress that's around a medium or right down the middle in terms of firmness. The right mattress shouldn’t be too firm or too soft. If you're mostly a back or stomach sleeper who switches between the two, a firmer mattress is recommended to further support the spine.
Body type
The firmness of a mattress depends on your body type. For example, a petite sleeper will find a mattress firmer than an average or heavier body type. If you're a heavier person, a mattress will feel softer to you; that means you'll need a firmer mattress.
Budget
When shopping for a mattress, it's important to stick to your budget. Premium, luxury mattresses cost more than $4,000, but there are plenty of quality mattresses out there for less. Combination sleepers need a neutral, basic and down-the-line mattress, and that doesn't have to come with a high price tag.
Best mattresses for combination sleepers FAQs
What is a combination sleeper?
A combination sleeper switches between two or three sleeping positions during the night. This includes the side, back and stomach.
Is memory foam good for combination sleepers?
Yes, memory foam can be good for combination sleepers. If the memory foam is too dense, it can restrict a sleeper from switching positions during the night. If that's the case, that memory foam mattress is not ideal. Combination sleepers should look for memory foam mattresses that have a neutral foam feeling (meaning that it's not too dense and doesn’t make you feel like you're stuck in the mud).
What mattress is good for all sleeping positions?
There are many mattresses out there that are good for all sleeping positions. The best mattresses are often medium on a firmness scale, neutral-feeling and are memory foam or hybrid. We at CNET have tested over 200 mattresses, and our pick for the best mattress for combination sleepers is the Casper Original mattress for its price, value, construction and feel.