Why You Can Trust CNET Best Queen Mattress for 2024
Looking for a new queen-size mattress? Our sleep experts have tested and ranked the best queen mattresses that are worth the investment.
With so many mattress options on the market, finding the perfect one for you can feel daunting. Before you pull out your wallet, there are several aspects you’ll want to consider, including budget, firmness and sizing. One of the most overlooked aspects of mattress buying is the size of your bed. Sizing is a crucial part of picking the right mattress. While most people can get by with a full-size option, a queen-size mattress is the ideal choice for many. It fits in most rooms and comfortably sleeps two people. There are a ton of online beds you can sleep on, but only a few make our list of the best queen mattresses.
To help you pick the best queen-size mattresses while shopping online, we've rounded up our top picks. Whether you prefer a firm mattress, a hybrid mattress or maybe want a soft mattress because you're a stomach sleeper, you'll find the best mattress for a quality night's sleep below.
What is the best overall queen mattress?
Our team of sleep experts has tested over 200 of the top beds on the market. We've determined that the best queen mattress is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature. It's the type of mattress anyone will like; it accommodates all sleeping positions with its comfortable memory foam comfort layer. Thanks to the pocketed coil construction, this bed is durable enough to support any body type. A queen size retails for $1,332, though it's almost always on sale for less.
Video: Best queen mattress
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best queen mattresses.
Best queen mattresses 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.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress is one of the best-value bed-in-a-box mattresses on the market. Brooklyn Bedding manufactures its own mattresses in the US, allowing them to cut out the middleman and sell for a more affordable price. The brand also doesn't cut corners on quality, so you're getting a great mattress at a fair price.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature bed is an 11.5-inch hybrid mattress with over 1,000 pocketed coils in the support layer, making it supportive and durable for all body types. You also have three firmness levels to choose from when picking a bed. It also has a comfortable, neutral-foam feel that responds quickly to pressure. Even though the primary comfort layer is memory foam, it never makes you feel like you're stuck in a pit within the foam, thanks to the transition layer underneath it.
Pros:
- 3 firmness levels
- Great for all body types
- Excellent value
Cons:
- Not an ultra-budget choice
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Thanks to its flippability, the Layla Hybrid is really like two mattresses in one. It has a soft side and a firm side, so you can customize your sleeping experience based on your needs. The Layla Hybrid bed has a layered combination of gel memory foam, airflow support foam and an individually wrapped pocketed coil system. You get plenty of support with enough give to make the mattress feel plush and comfortable right away.
This hybrid mattress also has a middle memory foam layer that's made from copper-infused memory foam designed to disperse heat and keep you cool while you sleep. You know that feeling you get when you slide into a cool bed with freshly washed sheets? You get that with this mattress type almost every time. Read more in our full Layla Hybrid mattress review.
Pros:
- Flippable design with two firmness options
- Airy foam feel
- Hybrid construction
- Excellent motion isolation
Cons:
- Not a bouncy mattress
- Expensive for budget shoppers
Layla Hybrid
The Nectar Premier mattress is designed with four layers, including a gel-infused memory foam comfort layer and a quilted cooling cover. The cover might not be ice-cold, but it should help most sleepers sleep more temperature-neutral and comfortably throughout the night. It offers a nice pressure-relieving feel around your hips and shoulders that almost makes you feel weightless.
I loved how this Nectar mattress had limited motion transfer and didn't bounce around when my boyfriend tossed and turned in the middle of the night. The edge support isn't the greatest, considering it's designed with a foam base layer instead of a sturdy layer. Read more in our full Nectar Premier mattress review.
Pros:
- Great pressure relief
- Excellent motion isolation
- Temperature regulation
Cons:
- Poor edge support
- Slow response time
- Not supportive enough for plus-size sleepers
Nectar Premier
The Helix Plus is marketed toward heavier sleepers, but it's one of the best queen-size mattresses for sleepers of any body shape and size. The mattress material is a combination of memory foam and Helix dynamic foam -- an adaptive memory foam that quickly reacts to your body when you move. It also has an additional layer of four-pound memory foam that supports people with higher BMIs.
The Helix Plus also had more bounce than some of the other hybrid mattresses I tried but was still surprisingly good with isolating motion -- a combo I really enjoyed. We found the Helix Plus to be around a medium-firm. I would have preferred it on the softer end of the spectrum for my needs, but if you're looking for a firm mattress that's comfortable, supportive and will stand the test of time, this is it.
Read more in our full Helix mattress review.
Pros:
- Great for plus-size bodies
- Extra-large pocketed coils
- Medium firmness
- 13-inches tall
Cons:
- Too firm if you weigh less than 150 pounds
Helix Plus
I'm here to tell you that all the good things you've heard about the Purple mattress are true. It's comfortable and supportive, and I felt like I was sinking in without getting stuck, something that's harder to accomplish with memory foam. While the Purple Grid -- a Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid formation with open channels -- does take some getting used to (especially if you're coming from a different mattress type like a 100% memory foam mattress), it's beyond worth it in the end.
No matter what sleeping position I was lying in, the Purple mattress hugged and cradled my body like it was designed just for me. It's also extremely breathable thanks to the Purple Grid; it's one of the best cooling mattresses on the market. While it doesn't have a cooling cover or special cooling technology, the construction makes it naturally breathable. I also think it's a suitable bed for all body types from small, to plus-size and everything in between.
Pros:
- Unique feel
- Antimicrobial cover
- Soft and firm options
Cons:
- Expensive
- You either like or hate the Purple Grid
Purple Restore Mattress
The main selling point of Avocado Green is that it's organic and completely free of harmful chemicals, flame retardants and toxic foams. It's made from a combination of cotton, wool and natural latex (they also have a wool-free vegan mattress) that will have you sleeping soundly and consciously.
At first, this best queen mattress felt firmer than I typically like, but after a few days, I started to settle into it and really appreciate the balance of support and plushness. I felt equally comfortable sleeping on my side and my back and appreciated how responsive the mattress was -- it adjusted quickly as I switched my sleeping position and didn't have any lag or sink that can go hand in hand with some types of memory foam.
I added the optional pillow top, which adds an extra layer of softness that I thought made a world of difference. If you like a firmer mattress, you may not need it, but I think it's well worth the extra $500. Read more in our full Avocado mattress review.
Pros:
- Organic materials
- Great edge support
Cons:
- Too firm for some people
- Expensive with a pillow top
Avocado Green
The Saatva Classic mattress is the ultimate firm, supportive bed with everything a back, stomach or heavy sleeper could want. It's available in multiple firmness levels and height profiles and is made with memory foam and a plush, 3-inch Euro-top for additional pressure relief. Although the Saatva is made with some memory foam, it has more of a neutral foam feel which is also responsive thanks to the multiple layers of coils.
The flagship Saatva mattress was chosen as the best queen mattress for firm-bed lovers for good reason. The Luxury Firm and Firm models range from medium-firm or 7 out of 10 to nine out of 10 on the firmness scale, giving you the option between more or less pressure relief. Paired with the bed's dual-coil construction with lumbar zone reinforcements and Lumbar Zone spinal wire, it's one heck of a supportive bed that keeps your spine in neutral alignment.
Pros:
- Super supportive
- Great for plus-size body types
- Multiple firmness options
- White glove delivery
Cons:
- Too firm for petite sleepers
- Not a soft mattress
Saatva Classic
When friends and family ask me for the best cheap queen mattress recommendation, the Allswell mattress is always my go-to. The queen-size Allswell mattress runs around $300, and it's constructed with pocketed coils. Hybrid mattresses -- beds made with foam and steel coils -- typically run for $1,000 or more.
Made by Walmart, the Allswell mattress is 10 inches thick with a simple two-layer construction. It's a typical budget mattress that has charcoal and copper-gel-infused memory foam to help fight heat retention. It feels like a responsive neutral foam mattress that quickly responds to pressure. It's a little on the firm end of the spectrum, coming in around a six to seven on the firmness scale (for people who weigh under 230 pounds). That said, it's going to be ideal for back, stomach or combination sleepers.
See more in our full Allswell mattress review.
Pros:
- Budget choice
- Anyone will like it
- Responsive and bouncy feel
Cons:
- Might be too firm for petite side sleepers
- Not actively cooling
Allswell
The Bear Original mattress is an underrated bed-in-a-box that earned its spot on our best queen mattress list because of its unique features, value and comfort. It's a dense memory foam mattress that slowly molds around the curves of your body. This bed is a hair firmer than a medium, falling around a six out of 10 on the firmness scale.
It's a three-layer mattress made with Bear Dynamic Foam, memory foam and the option to add a Celliant-infused cover as the cherry on top. Celliant is recognized by the FDA as a medical device. It's woven into the fabric to absorb body heat and transmit it back to the body as infrared energy. It's meant to help boost circulation, restore energy and help with muscle tissue repair. Bear does a lot of marketing towards athletes for this reason, as it can be beneficial for people who live highly active lifestyles.
Pros:
- Option to add Bear's Celliant-infused cover
- Great value for what you get
- Responsive memory foam
Cons:
- Not ideal for people over 230 pounds
Bear Original
Other mattresses we've tested
Our CNET Sleep editors have the tumultuous task of laying on beds to find the ones that are most cozy and comfortable. Just kidding, it's a pretty great gig. Over the course of hundreds of bed testing hours, they've discovered the best of the best mattresses and the average Joe's. The beds listed above were the editors' top choices, but here are a few additional beds that deserve an honorable mention.
WinkBed mattress: WinkBed is a thick, luxurious hybrid mattress with a strong pocketed coil system, several layers of coils and a fluffy pillow top for additional comfort. It comes in three different firmness levels ranging from soft to firm, so all sleeping positions can find a comfortable fit for them.
GhostBed mattress: The GhostBed queen mattress combines memory foam, latex foam and poly foam to create a mixed foam feel that's pressure-relieving and responsive at the same time. It also uses its own special latex foam, making it more affordable than organic or natural latex foam. It's great for all sleeping positions because it's rated right in the middle of the firmness scale. It's not as supportive, so it's going to be best for people who weigh under 230 pounds.
How we tested the best queen mattresses
Our team of sleep experts has years of experience rolling around on mattresses. We've established a testing process that assesses each bed on key factors like firmness, motion isolation, durability and edge support.
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. Read more on how we test mattresses.
Firmness and feel
We've tested hundreds of mattresses, which means we have a deep understanding of where a mattress falls on the firmness scale. We compare it to other mattresses as we analyze how hard or soft it is.
When testing the feel of a bed, we get hands-on. We press down on it and roll around, noting how the material responds. Is it bouncy and light like latex foam? Or slow responding like some memory foam?
Durability
Durability is a top concern when recommending mattresses. We hypothesize how long a mattress will last based on the construction. A bed with steel coils inside will be more durable than an all-foam mattress.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation is how well a bed dampens movement across the surface. While this might not seem like a big deal, it matters if you share a mattress with someone who moves around a lot. To test motion isolation, we jump and bounce around on the mattress. We even place a glass of water on the edge of the bed and see if it tips over as we move across it.
Edge support
You can think of edge support as how strong the perimeter of the mattress is. This is important if you need access to the entire surface or sleep along the edge. We test edge support by sitting and lying on the edge of the mattress. If we feel like we'll fall off, the bed doesn't have good edge support.
Things to consider when shopping for a queen mattress
What you need from a bed differs from what someone else wants. That means your shopping experience will be unique and depend on key factors like your body weight, sleeping position and budget. Let's dig into how your preferences influence your chosen mattress.
Sleeping position
Your sleeping position will determine how hard or soft your mattress needs to be for you to get the best sleep.
- Side sleepers need soft to medium mattresses with plenty of pressure relief that cradles the curves of your body. This ensures that pressure points don't develop on your shoulders, hips and knees.
- Back and stomach sleepers need a medium to firm mattresses that align your spine at night. That way you don't wake up with back pain.
- Combination sleepers have the most flexibility. It's best to choose your firmness based on the position you spent the most time in.
Body type
Your body type determines how much pressure you put on the mattress, influencing how firm it feels. Heavier people will experience mattresses to be softer, while petite body types will feel firmer. Your weight also affects what type of mattress you should get.
- People over 230 pounds need a mattress with plenty of support from coils, like hybrid mattresses.
- People under 230 pounds can choose between hybrid and all-foam mattresses.
Health conditions
You should also consider any medical conditions when shopping for your next mattress. For instance, if you sleep hot, you should look for beds with cooling technology or are made with breathable materials like latex foam.
If you live with joint pain or arthritis, you should seek out a soft, pressure-relieving mattress that cradles your body. People with back pain require a firmer mattress to support the spine.
Materials
When looking for a queen mattress, you should also consider the materials in your bed. The construction of your mattress will influence how you experience it and how long it lasts. Generally, there are three main categories of mattress materials: foam, innerspring or coils, and latex foam. A bed with a combination of several materials is called a hybrid mattress.
- Foam: There are several types of foam that you’ll find in mattresses, including traditional memory foam, open cell foam, gel-infused foam and poly foam. The type of foam will dictate the feel and firmness of your mattress.
- Innerspring/coils: Having an innerspring or coil system adds responsiveness and support to the bed. It also tends to make a mattress more durable over time. We generally always recommend a hybrid (a bed with coils and foams) or innerspring mattress for heavier folks.
- Latex foam: There are two types of latex foam: Organic and synthetic. Organic latex is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and eco-friendly. It also gives mattresses a really bouncy and responsive feel. Though it does tend to be firmer than other foams.
Budget
Mattresses are significant investments, so you must identify your budget before shopping for a queen mattress. The average online mattress costs between $850 to $1,200. There are mattresses for every budget, from under $300 to hotel luxury mattresses that cost over $2,000.
Popular mattress dimensions
| Dimensions (in inches) | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Twin | 38 x 75 |
| Twin XL | 38 x 80 |
| Full | 54 x 74 |
| Queen | 60 x 80 |
| King | 76 x 80 |
| California King | 72 x 84 |
Best queen mattress FAQs
What are the dimensions of a queen size mattress?
Your standard queen-size mattress is 80 inches long and 60 inches wide. Or 6 feet, 8 inches long by 5 feet wide.
What is the best queen size mattress to buy?
The best queen-size mattress should fit your sleeping position, body type and budget. Back and stomach sleepers should look for a medium to firm mattress, while side sleepers should keep an eye out for medium to soft queen mattresses. Sleepers weighing over 250 pounds should consider a hybrid mattress made with steel coils for extra durability and support.
What is the best RV queen mattress?
Brooklyn Bedding is a reputable brand that makes an affordable, comfortable RV queen mattress called Brooklyn Bedding Signature. It's a quality bed-in-a-box mattress that's versatile enough to accommodate many different sleeping and body types, great for a family with different needs and preferences.
How thick should a queen mattress be?
How thick a mattress is will vary by brand and bed. Some are as thin as eight inches, while others can be as thick as 14 inches. Generally, we recommend around 12 inches as the optimal thickness that will fit standard sheets and provide all the comfort and durability you need.