Here Are the Best Mattresses in 2026
If you’re finally ready to replace your aging mattress, get ready for a major quality-of-life boost! Today’s high-quality mattresses use better materials and smarter designs. Plus, there’s the perfect product out there for any sleeper—whether you prefer a squishy soft bed, a stiff-as-a-board sleep surface, or anything in between.
Let’s explore six of the best mattresses on the market, covering a range of sleep needs. Below, we’ll offer key tips for finding the right mattress. Then, we’ll provide quick reviews of the best mattresses of 2026.
Our Picks for the Best Mattresses in 2026
Best Overall: Helix Midnight Luxe
Best Soft Mattress: Helix Sunset Luxe
Best Firm Mattress: Helix Twilight Luxe
Best Mattress for Back Pain: Helix Dawn Elite
Best Organic Mattress: Birch Natural
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers: Helix Midnight Luxe
Best Cooling Mattress: Helix Midnight Elite
Best Value Mattress: Helix Midnight
Best Luxury Mattress: Helix Midnight Elite
Best Mattress for Couples: Helix Dusk Elite
Best Mattress for Plus Size Sleepers: Helix Plus Luxe
Best Kids Mattress: Helix Kids
How to Choose a Mattress That Meets Your Needs
Factors like body type and preferred sleeping position influence which type of mattress you’ll find most comfortable. Here’s a quick rundown of the essential factors to consider while mattress shopping.
Mattress Types
Most mattresses can be categorized as one of these four types:
Innerspring: steel springs under a top layer of thin padding
Foam: memory foam comfort layers with a high-density foam base
Hybrid: the same design as an innerspring mattress, but with thicker layers of foam
Latex: a hybrid or foam design with a comfort layer of latex foam
Innerspring mattresses are still commonly sold in stores, but they don’t ship well. Most online bedding retailers mostly sell all-foam or hybrid models, both of which can be tightly sealed and safely shipped.
Memory foam mattresses are usually soft, although some are made with denser, stiffer foams. Hybrids tend to be more bouncy and firm, but the feel depends on the amount and type of foam that’s used in the comfort layers. Hybrids also allow more airflow, helping to reduce the buildup of body heat on the bed’s surface.
Meanwhile, latex is a premium material. Latex beds are less common and they tend to demand higher prices. Latex offers a more rubbery feel, with an excellent balance of support and cushioning.
Firmness Level
When you think of your ideal mattress, do you imagine the surface compressing deeply under your weight? Or, is the bed stiff and resilient? How you answer that question should give you an idea of where your preference lies on the 10-point mattress firmness scale. Here’s how this unofficial scale works:
1/10 firmness would be extremely soft, providing deep contouring
10/10 is maximum firmness, indicating a bed that barely compresses under body weight
6.5/10 is considered the midpoint of the “medium-firm” range
Sleeping Positions and Body Type
The position you usually sleep in affects the type of mattress you’re likely to prefer.
For back sleepers and stomach sleepers, firmer beds tend to feel more comfortable. In these positions, soft mattresses may allow too much sinking under the lumbar region and hips. This puts the spine in an unnatural alignment, often resulting in lower back stiffness.
In a side sleeping position, it’s easier to maintain a natural, healthy spinal alignment. However, this position creates pressure points under the pelvis and shoulders. To cushion these sensitive areas, side sleepers tend to prefer softer mattresses.
Meanwhile, sleepers with larger body weights require mattresses that provide sufficient support. Often, but not always, larger sleepers prefer a firm mattress. Light-bodied sleepers are often happier on softer mattresses. A soft bed requires less pressure to change shape around the body’s contours.
Mattress Prices
In 2026, most high-quality queen size mattresses cost over $1,000. There are also many budget-focused brands offering lower-priced options. However, mattress quality varies widely. Cheap models use weaker support layers and thinner, less comfy foams. They tend to more quickly lose their shape (caving in or becoming uneven).
Sleep Trials and Warranties
Online mattress buyers enjoy two protections on their investments: warranties and sleep trials. A 10-year warranty is most common, with some brands offering 15-year or lifetime terms. Warranties cover major defects or structural flaws, such as broken coils.
Sleep trials offer additional protection for a buyer who doesn’t like their mattress, even though it isn’t defective. During a sleep trial (usually a 100-day period), you can send a mattress back for a full refund. Just be sure to read the fine print, since sleep trial details vary across brands.
The Best Mattresses in 2026
Best Overall: Helix Midnight Luxe
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: medium (5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
The Helix Midnight Luxe was named the “most comfortable mattress” by TIME and “best mattress overall” by Wired.
What makes the Midnight Luxe so darn cozy? A six-layer, 13.5” construction that offers head-to-toe comfort and support.
From the bottom up, the construction starts with a DuraDense base foam, then a core of up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils with zoned support under the hips and lower spine. Then comes three dense foam layers: one layer of copper gel memory foam between two layers of Helix Responsive Foam. This generous supply of thick, buoyant foam creates a perfect blend of cushioning and support. The mattress is topped with either a breathable TENCEL™ cover or an optional GlacioTex cooling cover™.
At 5/10 firmness, the Midnight Luxe is ideal for side sleepers. However, thanks to its dense foams and thick construction, this bed is ultra-comfy in all sleeping positions and is a great choice for couples.
Best Soft Mattress: Helix Sunset Luxe
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: 2.5/10
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
While side sleepers tend to prefer plenty of cushioning, many soft mattresses don’t feel supportive enough. If a soft mattress sinks down too deeply around the hips, that uncomfortable “stuck” feeling occurs. Then comes the lower back pain.
With the Helix Sunset Luxe, support is never in doubt. Standing 13.5” tall, this upgraded hybrid contains a core of hundreds of individually wrapped steel coils. Targeted support under the lumbar region keeps the hips comfortably elevated, while full perimeter edge support makes the entire surface usable.
To provide the gentle touch that side sleepers require, the Sunset Luxe is topped with three thick layers of pressure-relieving foam and a quilted pillow top. This soft, welcoming mattress is heaven for side sleepers and individuals who deal with nighttime joint pain.
Best Firm Mattress: Helix Twilight Luxe
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: 7/10
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
If you love a mattress that feels uplifting and firm, the Helix Twilight Luxe is your match. It’s perfect for people who want to feel like they’re sleeping on top of their mattress rather than sinking into it, with responsive pushback and balanced resistance that provides structure for your lower back.
Designed by scientists for an ideal firm feel and lively support, it includes zoned lumbar support so your lower back never sags down into the mattress, plus our SupremeSupport 4.0 ultra-dense memory foam, which offers 4x the density of the average mattress for pressure-relieving support. Reinforced edges make the bed feel even bigger than it is, so you can enjoy every inch of your mattress without rolling towards the middle.
Best Mattress for Back Pain: Helix Dawn Elite
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: 8.5
Trial Period: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
The Helix Dawn Elite is a firm hybrid mattress that’s ideal for back or stomach sleepers. This bed is especially helpful for individuals who experience back pain and need a very supportive surface that also gently cradles the joints.
At 16” in height, this is one of the tallest mattresses on the market. The impressive construction includes an 8” coil core, five high-density foam layers, and two layers of microcoils that bolster support and relieve pressure.
The Dawn Elite gently lifts up the body in all the right places, including full perimeter support and zoned lumbar support. The extra firm surface prevents sinking or sloping under the hips and lower back, maintaining the perfect weight distribution for cozy, pain-free sleep.
Best Organic Mattress: Birch Natural
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: 6.5/10
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
All Helix mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means they meet the highest industry standard for indoor air quality. Helix also uses CertiPUR-US certified foam, which guarantees avoidance of harmful chemicals such as mercury, lead, or heavy metals.
For the next level in clean, organic materials, there’s the Birch Natural. This is a luxury mattress made from natural materials, including a breathable organic cotton cover and organic wool comfort layers. The hybrid design also includes up to 1,000 steel coils and a thick layer of natural latex.
Latex is a premium material that gently contours like memory foam but forms a more rubbery, supportive surface. Latex also reduces motion transfer from one side of the bed to the other. Offering comfort and support in any position, it’s the perfect material for couples or sleepers who move around during the night.
If you require a balance of firmness and pressure relief, the Birch Natural hits the spot. Plus, you won’t find another mattress with a more impressive mix of organic, nature-made materials that meet the highest standards for safety and sustainability.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Helix Midnight Luxe
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: medium (5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
The Helix Midnight Luxe was designed with input from sleep scientists to support people who sleep on their sides with ergonomic alignment. Side sleepers rest their weight on their shoulders and hips, often experiencing pressure points that can feel sore, stiff, or sensitive in the morning.
The Midnight Luxe provides extra support and cushioning across the shoulders and hips, plus zoned lumbar support to help keep the body in alignment so you can rest without any straining or sagging. It’s built with a generous supply of SupremeSupport 4.0 Memory Foam, an ultra-dense memory foam hand-crafted by our scientists in our Arizona facility that’s 4 times denser than typical mattresses for head-to-toe cushioning that you can’t help but relax into. It’s also stable and secure, with up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils and full perimeter reinforcement so you can use every inch of your mattress.
Ranking 5/10 on the firmness scale, it’s a true medium that feels ideal for side sleepers.
Best Cooling Mattress: Helix Midnight Elite
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: medium (5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
If you sleep hot, the Helix Midnight Elite has everything you need for a cool, comfortable night of sleep. It comes complete with our two most powerful cooling technologies: the GlacioTex Cooling Cover and the CoolForce Layer. Our cutting-edge GlacioTex Cooling Cover is engineered with heat conductive fibers that feel instantly cool for that crisp-sheets feeling every time you get into bed.
Applied directly to the top layer of your mattress’s foam, the innovative CoolForce Layer is proven to pull heat away from the body and has been shown to keep you 4 degrees cooler for over 12 hours. Designed for tension-relieving comfort with a balanced medium feel, the Midnight Elite is built with two microcoil layers that inherently allow more air to flow through your mattress for a cool, sweat-free slumber.
Best Value Mattress: Helix Midnight
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: medium (5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
If you’re looking for the comfort of our Luxe mattresses at a more accessible price, the Helix Midnight is an excellent option. Made with a universally comfortable medium feel, the Midnight was designed by scientists with extra support in the shoulders and hips to relieve pressure points that come from sleeping on your side or tossing and turning in the night.
It comes complete with our ultra-supportive memory foam, SupremeSupport 2.5, which offers 2.5 times the cradling comfort of typical mattresses, as well as responsive and gel memory foams and up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils for body-cradling support. This mattress is assembled in our Arizona facility, where we pour our own foams, make our own coils, and hand-assemble every mattress.
Best Luxury Mattress: Helix Midnight Elite
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: medium (5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
The Helix Midnight Elite mattress is the ultimate investment in better sleep, including all of our most advanced and scientifically-backed features for unmatched comfort. A balanced medium feel offers the perfect blend of cushioning support and plush comfort that feels like a dream to climb into each night.
Crafted with our in-house-designed SupremeSupport 7.0 memory foam, it includes almost twice the tension-relieving comfort as our Luxe mattress options, as well as our ErgoAlign Contour Layer for advanced lumbar support that alleviates lower back discomfort. For those who sleep hot, our most powerful cooling options are built in: the GlacioTex Cooling Cover that instantly feels cool when you get into bed, and the CoolForce layer that moves heat away from the body to keep you 4 degrees cooler all night.
Finished with an extra microcoil layer that erases any movement from your partner, the Midnight Elite is a mattress that feels truly luxurious.
Best Mattress for Couples: Helix Dusk Elite
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: medium (5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
Between negotiating different comfort preferences, sleep styles, and movement during the night, sharing a bed with a partner can be tricky. The best solution is the Helix Dusk Elite, which is designed for ultimate comfort for both sleepers. Two microcoil layers provide a deeply comforting foundation and also eliminate any shifts or stirrings in the night, so you won’t feel your partner toss and turn.
Most mattress brands use a memory foam density of less than 2 pounds, but the Dusk Elite includes our SupremeSupport 7.0 Memory Foam, which offers seven times that support for a luxuriously weightless feeling that cushions and supports both partners. A balanced medium feel offers the perfect blend of buoyant support and plush comfort that contours to the body without allowing the shoulders or hips to sink in too far. It’s the perfect middle ground so no one ever needs to compromise.
Best Mattress for Plus Size: Helix Plus Luxe
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: 7.5/10
Trial Period: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
If you’re a plus-size sleeper, you may have experienced beds that don’t provide proper support around your hips, leading to back pain. Mattresses for plus-size people tend to sink in around the center or develop uneven surfaces. That’s why it’s important to invest in a mattress made with plus-size bodies in mind, like the Helix Plus Luxe. This medium-firm bed includes a steel coil core with reinforced zoned lumbar support to prevent any dipping down under the hips.
Ultra-supportive SupremeSupport 4.0 Memory Foam layers, developed in-house for 4x the cushioning comfort other mattresses offer, provide additional support and a generous dose of pressure relief. The foam is responsive and springy so you’ll always feel like you’re “on” the bed rather than “in” it.
It’s also made to last, with an enhanced support system and durable, extra-dense foam layers that stay responsive and supportive.
Best Kids Mattress: Helix Kids
Mattress Type: hybrid
Firmness: flippable design with firmer side (6.5/10) and softer side (4.5/10)
Trial length: 120 nights
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Why We Recommend This Mattress
Kids like the feel of a soft, cozy bed. However, growing bodies require a fairly firm surface to support the neck and head. A bed that’s too soft leads to tossing and turning. A child’s bed should also be hypoallergenic and free of fiberglass and other harmful chemicals. Bonus points if the mattress is also water-repellant and odor-fighting.
The Helix Kids mattress checks all these boxes. The construction uses the same formula as Helix’s adult beds, adjusted to meet the needs of youngsters. The coil core is 6” thick, with gel memory foam layers on both sides. The breathable TENCEL™ cover is hypoallergenic, water-repellant, and built with an antimicrobial shield for extra protection.
Best of all, the Helix Kids mattress is flippable, providing extra years of use for growing bodies. The firm side is designed for ages 3–7. Then, switch to the softer side for ages 8–12.
Find Your Perfect Mattress
No matter your sleep style, body type, and comfort preferences, Helix has your perfect new mattress in stock. View the entire Helix collection here or take the Sleep Quiz to find your ideal fit.