Why You Can Trust CNET Purple Mattress Review: A Unique Feel That Benefits All Sleeping Positions
There’s no other bed that does it quite like Purple. Our experts have vetted this mattress and the gel-like Purple Grid so you can decide if it's right for you.
Purple Mattress
Score Breakdown
Like
- Extremely breathable because of Purple grid technology
- Soft enough to relieve pain around hips and shoulders, but firm enough to support your spine
- It's suitable for every sleeper type
Don't like
- Might feel too strange for those who want a regular foam mattress
- Not quite supportive enough in the long term for people over 230 pounds
- Not ideal for people on a tight budget
Product details
- Type Hyper-Elastic Polymer mattress
- Firmness Medium or 5
- Trial 100 nights
- Warranty 10-year warranty
The Purple mattress is the brainchild of two brothers who wanted to rethink what a mattress could be and feel like. They conceptualized a special, stretchy and extra-durable material, similar to what you find in Jansport backpack straps. The Purple mattress sent shockwaves through the online mattress industry, and the brand has since become a major player thanks to the unique Purple Grid.
Shopping for a new mattress online can be tricky, so to make it easier for you, I put the Purple mattress to the test. If you're not sure whether the mattress is right for you, our Purple mattress review can help you make an informed decision. Here, I break down the main reasons why you should or shouldn't buy it, based on the perspective of your average sleeper (who just so happens to have tested hundreds of beds in her lifetime).
Looking for a new mattress? Besides our Purple mattress review, we've got recommendations for the best memory foam mattress, the best firm mattresses and the best mattresses for back pain.
Video: Purple Mattress review
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the Purple mattress.
First impressions of Purple
It was hard to believe I was sitting on a bed during my Purple mattress review because the material and feel were something I'd never felt before. Unless you've already slept on a friend's or family member's Purple bed, you've likely never experienced something like it, either. I felt like I was floating on top of the comfort layers -- similar to floating on your back in water. My hairdresser even said the same thing about her Purple mattress when we were chit-chatting about my work as a mattress tester. Unique is a word I often see associated with the Purple bed, and they weren't joking around.
Amazon customer sentiment
People who bought the Purple Mattress on Amazon rate this mattress positively at 4.5 out of 5. Customers mention that it sleeps cool and has a soft feel while providing good support. It contours the body well, which makes this bed suitable for most sleeping positions. Others noted that it's more expensive than similar mattresses, and some complained that the trial period could be longer and the return process could be easier. It's important to note that if you buy this mattress through Amazon, you only have 100 days to return it. If you buy through Purple, you'll have a 100-night trial period.
What looks like just another foam mattress is actually something more unusual, thanks to a special gel grid just under the cover.
What does the Purple mattress feel like?
The secret to its sauce is Purple's "hyperelastic polymer," which is what gives the bed its signature feel. What is hyperelastic polymer, you ask? It's a squishy, stretchy, jelly-like material that's laid out in a comfort grid design in the top layer of the bed. It takes a few nights to get used to, but once you do, it's a lovely sleeping experience.
It's pressure-relieving and soft when I'm on my side, almost making you feel buoyant. At the same time, my back never felt like it sagged into the mattress. It's a nice balance of both pressure-relieving and supportive. Not to mention it's bouncy, which should be music to the ears of combination sleepers because it won't cause any resistance like memory foam does.
How firm is the Purple mattress?
I'd rate the original Purple mattress around a medium on the firmness scale, or a 5 out of 10, with 10 being the firmest.
You can ask for a sample of the material before you test the bed, which I suggest doing if you're on the fence about trying it. That way, you can decide with absolute certainty if you're up for the bed or not. You'll probably find that it's durable (Purple says it can stretch up to 15 times its original state), soft and a creative idea for a bed's comfort layer.
A peek at the hyperelastic polymer grid that gives the Purple its squishy feel.
Purple mattress construction
The Purple mattress is about 10 inches thick and stacked three layers high. It's technically a hybrid mattress because it contains two different types of material (foam and hyperelastic polymer) but the original Purple bed has no coils in the base layer. If you're looking for a coil hybrid mattress, we suggest checking out the mattresses in the new Purple Premium and Luxe collections.
- The first layer is 4 inches of dense support foam to support you and the remaining layers of the bed.
- The center is made with 3.5 inches of "comfort poly foam," which is more responsive than memory foam and more breathable. It acts as a transition to separate the comfy top layer and the very dense bottom layer.
- Purple's bread and butter is its 2-inch top layer of hyperelastic polymer.
To complement the stretchy polymer material, the original Purple mattress cover is also super-stretchy. Purple calls it its "SoftFlex" cover, and I think it's more breathable and moisture-wicking than your typical cotton or Tencel cover. It isn't machine washable though, so you'll have to clean any stains with warm water and a bleach-free detergent.
Here you can see the three layers of foam. There's a layer of foam around the perimeter that holds in the gel grid.
Purple mattress performance
Some of the most important characteristics of a mattress are motion isolation, edge support and temperature. Especially if you share a bed with another person. Here's how the Purple mattress performed.
Motion isolation
Unless your partner is a serious tosser-turner, you really won't be able to notice much movement on the Purple mattress. The hyperelastic polymer material is bouncy, but it's also great at absorbing motion. If good motion isolation is an important feature for you, it checks out on the Purple mattress.
Edge support
If this Purple mattress review had been written two years ago, this would have been a different answer. Purple addressed complaints about edge support by adding dense foam around the bed's sides. Now, the edges on the original Purple mattress are much more supportive if you or your partner sleep on the extreme left or right side.
Temperature
This is where the Purple mattress stands out. Its grid design allows for a ton of airflow through the little air pockets, way more so than your typical memory foam, poly foam or even latex foam mattress. It doesn't have any advanced cooling technology within the layers, but the Purple Grid itself is a breathable material by design. I'd even go as far as saying it's one of the best mattresses for temperature regulation.
Durability
The Purple mattress is more durable than other foam mattresses on the market because of its major secret ingredient, the hyperelastic polymer. It's able to stretch up to 10 times its size and it's flexible. This makes it stronger than foam and more long-lasting.
Off-gassing
New bed-in-a-box mattresses emit an odor once they're opened from their package. Once you cut through the plastic that encases the bed, it releases all of its smells that have been trapped during the post-manufacture process. On the plus side, the Purple bed doesn't have quite as prominent of a smell as other bed-in-a-box mattresses.
Who is the Purple mattress best for?
Your body weight and the position you sleep in should help you decide on your best mattress option. It's like the kind of gas you put in your car. They'll all technically get the job done, but the type that accommodates you most will be more beneficial in the long run.
Sleeping position
It primarily comes down to the back, side, stomach sleeper and combination sleeper, unless you're doing some Cirque du Soleil in your sleep. Considering the original Purple mattress falls around a medium, or 5 on the scale, I think it's suitable for all sleeping positions. It's firm enough for a back or stomach sleeper, but also perfectly pressure-relieving for most side sleepers.
My only caveat would be lightweight side sleepers under 145 pounds. In that case, I suggest a softer mattress like a Layla mattress, because it offers more pressure relief around your hips and shoulders.
Body type
Someone who's 95 pounds will perceive a mattress differently than a 200-pound individual. In general, the more you weigh, the softer a mattress is going to feel. For lightweight sleepers, the effect is the opposite. I also think beds without coils are best for people under 230 pounds because they aren't quite as supportive or durable.
With that being said, I recommend the original Purple mattress to lightweight to moderately sized individuals. If you're a plus-sized sleeper who weighs over 230 pounds and want to buy a Purple, Purple has hybrid mattresses in its Premium and Luxe collections that'll give you your money's worth.
Purple mattress pricing
| Size | Measurements | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38x75 inches | $999 |
| Twin XL | 38x80 inches | $1,099 |
| Full | 54x74 inches | $1,399 |
| Queen | 60x80 inches | $1,499 |
| King | 76x80 inches | $1,999 |
| Cal king | 72x84 inches | $1,999 |
| Split king | 38x80 inches | $2,198 |
The original Purple mattress isn't unreasonably priced, but it's also not priced like your typical Amazon mattress. Retail prices start at $999 for a twin mattress and go up to $2,198 for a split king mattress before sales. It honestly depends on your budget and how much you're willing to spend on a new bed. Keep an eye out for promotions, so you can get the Purple at an even lower price. It doesn't happen too often, except around big holidays or flash sales.
Purple shipping, trial and warranty
The Purple Mattress comes rolled up in a shipping bag.
Even if you're an avid online shopper, it's daunting to buy a mattress over the internet when you're not confident about a brand's policies. Especially when it comes to returns.
The Purple mattress ships for free in a cardboard box directly to your front door. All you have to do is open it up, remove the plastic wrap, unroll and voila -- you have yourself a new bed. There will be an off-gassing smell right when you take it out of the box, but I wouldn't say it's a deal-breaker since it disappears after a few days.
They offer a 100-night trial, giving you more than three months to figure out if you like the bed. You should give yourself at least 30 days to give your body a chance to get used to the feel.
Purple offers a 10-year warranty for its original Purple mattress, which is pretty much the standard for online beds.
Final verdict on the Purple mattress
To conclude our review, I'm going to lay everything out and help you decide if the Purple bed is the perfect mattress for you.
You might like the Purple mattress if:
- You get hot while you sleep. The Purple bed's design offers a massive amount of breathability and should help you sleep cooler and more comfortably.
- You want a very bouncy, responsive bed.
- You sleep on your side, back or stomach. It works for all sleeping positions unless you weigh under 145 pounds and strictly sleep on your side.
- You love Purple's commercials and are open to being adventurous with your new bed.
You might not like the Purple mattress if:
- You're in the market for a standard, run-of-the-mill foam mattress.
- You can't spend over $1,000 on a queen or king bed.
- You have a larger body type. Purple offers hybrid mattresses that will offer more durability, comfort and support in the long run.
- You're looking for an extra plush or an extra firm bed. Purple lands right in between firm and soft.
How we tested the Purple Mattress
All of the mattresses we test are done in-house. Our sleep experts assess each mattress based on established performance factors. To start our process, Purple was evaluated on a numerical firmness scale to determine how supportive it is and how much pressure relief you get. Then we detailed other factors like how it feels, construction, edge support and motion isolation. All factors we considered are noted in this Purple mattress review.
Other mattresses from Purple
The people at Purple recently expanded their mattress catalog, discontinuing several of the mattresses we've come to know and replacing them with fresh models. The Purple Hybrid and Premier models are no longer being produced. There are other new hybrid options available. In fact, our video producer JD tested all of the Purple mattresses (old and new) and gave his thoughts on the new Purple mattresses.
Purple Restore: This is Purple's mid-level mattress collection, offering a little more support than Purple's flagship bed, but with the same bouncy and weightless feel. Three mattresses fall within the "good, better and best" model, and all of them have supportive hybrid constructions. There are multiple firmness options available for each mattress.
Purple Rejuvenate: There are three beds in the Rejuvenate collection, fit with supportive hybrid constructions and fluffy pillow tops. The Rejuvenate is going to be good for stomach and back sleepers, while the Plus model is an optimal pick for people who favor their side.
How does the Purple bed compare to other mattresses?
- Casper vs. Purple: Casper is another popular bed-in-a-box model that offers a neutral-foam feel with a middle-of-the-road firmness level similar to Purple's. Casper features a zoned-support design that provides targeted pressure relief and support. Comparing temperatures of Casper vs. Purple, the Purple mattress is a cooler-sleeping bed because its air pockets promote maximum airflow.
- Nectar vs. Purple: Nectar is an affordable memory foam mattress that offers a dense memory foam feel like TempurPedic for a cheaper price. It's a little firmer than Purple and great for back or stomach sleepers. The Purple mattress is cooler sleeping, and it tops our best mattress for hot sleepers list.
Purple mattress FAQs
How much is a Purple mattress?
A queen-size Purple mattress will run you $1,499 without a discount. Prices start at $699 for a twin and max out at $1,798 for a split king.
Is Purple mattress worth the money?
Purple mattresses are a little more expensive than your average bed-in-a-box, but they're also more unique than any of Purple's competitors. If you're open to a new and one-of-a-kind mattress feel that's almost like you're floating, and it's in your budget, it may be worth your while.
What is Purple mattress made of?
Purple's main bread and butter is its special hyperelastic polymer material. It's stretchy, gel-like and is both supportive and pressure-relieving. The bottom layers contain regular foam that you'd find in many bed-in-a-box mattresses.
Where is the Purple mattress company based?
Purple is based in Utah and all of its products are made within the USA at its facilities.
Where can I try the Purple mattress?
You can use the Purple mattress store locator to find a location that's most convenient for you to visit. There are Purple mattress showrooms, as well as some traditional brick-and-mortar retailers like Macy's and Mattress Firm that carry Purple products.
Do you need a box spring with a Purple mattress?
No, you won't need a box spring for your Purple mattress. Instead, just use a normal bed frame such as a slatted wood, metal, adjustable or flat foundation.
How long do Purple mattresses last?
Around five to seven years, depending on how well you take care of it. Purple mattresses are more durable than standard foam beds because of their strong hyperelastic polymer material. With that said, make sure to rotate the bed every six months and try to prevent significant spills.