7 Best Soft Mattresses of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best affordable soft mattress

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a supportive, cooling mattress often on sale for less than $1,000 for a queen.

Key product features

Best for


Any sleep position

Firmness


Soft, Medium, Firm

White glove delivery


No

Cooling features


No

Trial period


365 nights

What you should know

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid combines cradling foam and supportive coils for a high-quality yet affordable mattress that supports most sleeping positions. Back sleepers should especially enjoy the mattress’s contouring pressure relief.

• 
  The mattress offers a gentle, cradling feel with reinforced support for most sleeping positions.
  
• 
  There are three firmness options available: Soft, Medium, and Firm.
  
• 
  At $1,332 for a queen, the Signature Hybrid is one of the most affordable hybrid mattresses in our review.
  
• 
  Since the mattress has three firmness options, it should support most back, side, and stomach sleepers.
  
• 
  Its breathable quilted mattress cover is designed for cooling.
  

Pros

Suitable for all sleeping styles

Great pressure relief for back sleepers

Reasonable price ($1,332 for a queen before discounts)

Cons

Pressure buildup in shoulder areas for side sleepers

Why we like Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid as best affordable

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a great

affordable mattress

for shoppers on a budget, with prices starting at $665 for a twin mattress. Like many other mattress brands, Brooklyn Bedding offers sales throughout the year, which in some cases may take prices for a queen down to less than $1,000.

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is made with foam and individually wrapped coils and comes in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm. In this review, we’re focusing on the Soft option. The mattress has a 1.5-inch soft, quilted mattress topper to help wick away moisture.

The topper is followed up by a layer of supreme response comfort foam that lends to the mattress’s bounce and makes it easy to switch positions. The transition layer provides additional comfort and deep compression support and is followed up by a layer of spring coils that offer contouring and motion isolation. All of these layers sit on a Flex Base that supports the previous layers and adds durability to the mattress.

Despite being a softer mattress, our tester felt the Signature Hybrid would still be a good fit for average-weight stomach sleepers, which speaks to the support it provides. Higher-weight sleepers will also enjoy this mattress for back and side sleeping but may perceive it as too soft for stomach sleeping. Because the mattress is so responsive, our tester felt it’d be a great

mattress for combination sleepers

since it’s easy to switch positions and move around on.

Like other mattresses on this list, the Signature Hybrid offers a gentle cradle and a nice level of sinkage, making it a comfortable, cozy pick. However, if you sleep hot, you may want to look for a mattress with additional cooling features, such as the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe.

What customers are saying

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has a 4.3- out of 5-star rating on Amazon based on more than 140 reviews. Overall, customers are pleased with the mattress’s support and comfort, and many reviewers recommend it for back and side sleeping.

“Wow, this is a nice mattress. I got the medium firmness twin and it’s perfect for me at 5’8″ 150lbs. Nice and soft but still supportive. I’ve only slept a couple nights on it but it’s a huge improvement over the old boxspring I had. No more pain in my back, neck, and shoulders when waking up.”

Dan, verified Amazon reviewer

Christine L., another verified reviewer, is impressed with how thick and durable the Signature Hybrid is for being a bed-in-a-box mattress. “I got a soft one–you can select your firmness level. It cradles the body. Best mattress ever. The edges are very firm, so you can sit on the edge of the bed and not slide or roll off,” she said.

Some reviewers complained that the mattress softened quickly and didn’t offer enough support. Others thought the mattress was too firm and didn’t have the cushioning feel they were expecting.

Kevin D., a verified reviewer, said, “It was considerably softer in the middle, pushing you away from the edge. Not too good with two people. And to top it off, it is an extremely hot mattress to sleep on.”

Specs

Best medium soft mattress

The Bear Star Hybrid balances cozy plushness with reinforced support for most back and side sleepers.

Key product features

Best for


Back sleepers

Firmness


Medium-soft

White glove delivery


Optional upgrade

Cooling features


Copper and CELLIANT®

Trial period


120 nights

What you should know

The Bear Star Hybrid is a comfortable medium mattress that does a great job cradling the hips and providing the perfect amount of support to keep the spine in a neutral position. Special cooling features should keep sleepers comfortable and cool throughout the night.

• 
  The mattress offers pressure relief and support for back sleepers.
  
• 
  Its higher price tag ($1,998 for a queen) may not work with some shoppers’ budgets.
  
• 
  The mattress has a strong, stable edge that allows sleepers to use the entire mattress surface.
  
• 
  The copper-infused memory foam and coils help keep the mattress cool.
  

Pros

Copper-infused memory foam and coils promote breathability

Highly responsive, making it good for combination sleepers

Provides great pressure relief for back sleepers

Cons

May be too soft for heavy-weight sleepers

May be too soft for stomach sleepers

High price point (nearly $2,000 for a queen)

Why we like Bear Star Hybrid as best medium-soft

The Bear Star Hybrid is a medium-soft mattress made with foam and coils and is designed to offer support, comfort, and breathability. The mattress contains a material called CELLIANT

®

for an optional $200 upgrade, which is said to help relieve pain and aid in healing, making it a good choice for athletes. (

6

) CELLIANT

®

fibers contain minerals and elements that use your body’s heat to increase blood flow and oxygen (

7

). The foam layers are made with cooling copper-infused memory foam, adding to its cool feel.

The Bear Star Hybrid has three primary layers that are wrapped in a hand-quilted cover infused with CELLIANT

®

fibers and HydroCool technology to help wick away moisture and regulate temperature. The first layer is made with copper-infused memory foam, providing contouring and pressure relief. The second foam layer is more responsive and adapts to different body weights and sleeping positions for personalized pressure relief. Next is the layer of individually wrapped coils that help with proper spinal alignment and support. Lastly, you’ll find the base layer made with high-density foam that offers durability and support to the mattress.

The Bear Star Hybrid is definitely on the plush and cozy side, and we love that it offers a gentle cradling feeling while still providing enough support for back sleepers. It’s also a good fit for combination sleepers because of its high responsiveness, meaning you can move around easily without getting stuck. It naturally sleeps cooler since it’s a hybrid, and the copper-infused memory foam and CELLIANT

®

fibers also add to its cooling capabilities.

The mattress also has good motion isolation and edge support, making it an appealing choice for couples and those who like to spread out on the bed.

Specs

Best soft king-size mattress

Nolah Original Hybrid combines cooling, responsive foam with coils that may offer heavy-weight sleepers a soft yet supportive sleep.

Key product features

Best for


Back sleepers

Firmness


Medium

White glove delivery


No

Cooling features


TENCEL™

Trial period


120 nights

What you should know

The Nolah Original Hybrid features proprietary foam that’s more responsive and breathable than traditional memory foam. The supportive mattress has cooling features, a sturdy edge, and good motion isolation, making it an excellent king mattress to share or spread out on.

• 
  Our testers were impressed with the stable, strong mattress edge, which allows you to use the entire mattress surface.
  
• 
  This king-size mattress costs $2,049, but frequent discounts can reduce the price to less than $1,500.
  
• 
  This hybrid mattress may offer the right balance of softness and support for heavy-weight sleepers looking for a soft, plush mattress.
  

Pros

Includes cooling materials

Excellent pressure relief for back sleepers

Cons

May not support side sleepers

Not as responsive as other hybrids

May be too firm for some sleepers

Why we like Nolah Original Hybrid as best king-size

The hybrid mattress has a TENCEL

™

cover, a breathable material designed to keep sleepers cool. (

8

) If you share your king-sized mattress with a partner or pet, cooling materials are great for regulating surface temperature.

One of our favorite features of the Nolah Original Hybrid mattress is the proprietary AirFoam

™

. Unlike standard memory foam, AirFoam

™

is more responsive and breathable. You won’t feel stuck when moving around on the mattress, but you’ll still experience that plush, cradling upper layer. Our testers felt more “on” the mattress but reported a soft and plush sinkage from the mattress cover and upper foam layers. The combination of plush sinkage and support is excellent for back sleepers.

While the medium mattress isn’t one of the softest in our review, the zoned spring coils beneath the foam make it feel softer for heavy-weight back sleepers while remaining supportive. Lightweight and average-weight sleepers wanting a softer mattress may find the Nolah Original Hybrid too firm.

The mattress has good motion isolation, a significant perk for couples or those co-sleeping in a king-sized bed. It’s more responsive than an all-foam mattress, but for a hybrid, there isn’t much bounce to support movements when moving around on the mattress or changing positions.

Our testers were also impressed with the mattress’s stable, strong edge. You should be able to spread out on this king-sized mattress without feeling like you’ll roll off.

A king-sized Nolah Original Hybrid costs $2,049, but frequent sales and promotions can reduce the price to less than $1,500. The king-size base price is reasonable even without discounts, especially compared with competitors. The Nolah Original Hybrid’s reasonable price range, cooling features, good motion isolation, and strong edge support make it an excellent king-size mattress to share.

Specs

How we test mattresses

We all know a good (or bad) night’s sleep affects us long after we’re off our mattress. That’s why our team of testers, reviewers, medical experts, and fact-checkers conduct rigorous testing and research to help you find the best mattress for a restorative night’s sleep. Our goal is to share our findings with you through accessible and comprehensive first-hand reviews.

View our full mattress testing methodology here.

Performance (sleep experience)—30%

A high-quality mattress should feel like it’s designed to provide you with the best sleep of your life. They should also deliver on the promise of a great sleep experience. Our sleep science coaches assess various factors to reflect the functional aspects of the mattress as well as the user’s sleep experience. Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Temperature regulation

• Motion isolation

• Edge support

• Technology

Comfort and support—30%

Alongside the sleep experience, comfort and support are just as important for a healthy and restful sleep. A high-quality mattress should assist in providing relief with certain aches and pains a user may experience when sleeping. It should also help users wake up feeling energized and rested. Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Firmness

• Pressure relief

• Spinal alignment support

• Customization

Value—20%

Assessing value involves a meticulous examination of several key factors that contribute to a mattress’s worth. A mattress that is priced just within reach of its target audience yet surpasses competitors in terms of materials, performance, and support, presents a compelling value proposition. However, value is not solely determined by the lowest price point. We also determine it by finding the balance between cost and the tangible benefits a mattress provides.

Customer experience—10%

Sometimes, the mattress can be great, but if the overall shopping experience wasn’t, that could easily put a sour taste in a user’s mouth about the mattress they just purchased. We put in the hours to determine how well the entire process of buying a mattress matches users’ expectations and what options are available when something goes wrong.

• Shipping

• Warranty

• Customer service

• Sleep trial

Health and safety—10%

It’s important to understand that a mattress is more than just a sleeping surface—it’s an environment where you spend a significant portion of your life. We meticulously assess critical aspects of mattresses that may directly impact your well-being and peace of mind.

Our factors in this rating include:

• Hypoallergenic materials

• Off-gassing and chemical exposure

• Safety certifications

How to choose the best soft mattress

When you’re shopping for the best soft mattress to sink into at the end of the day, keep the following in mind to help narrow down your choices.

Mattress type

Becoming familiar with the perks and drawbacks of popular mattresses will help you choose the best

mattress type

.

• 
  Foam
  
  : This is probably the material most sleepers associate with soft mattresses. All-foam mattresses are known for their soft, hugging feel that may make you not want to leave your bed. Some mattresses have one type of foam, but the

  best memory foam mattresses

  usually contain a combination of different types of foam. (

  9

  ) Foam mattresses are great for pressure relief and motion isolation but may trap heat.

• 
  Innerspring
  
  : These traditional mattresses have spring coil layers topped with a small plush or comfort layer. An innerspring mattress is excellent for back, stomach, and heavy-weight sleepers looking for a firmer surface with more airflow, but we don’t recommend this mattress type if you’re looking for a soft mattress.

• 
  Hybrid
  
  : A hybrid mattress combines foam and spring coil layers to balance a cushioning and plush feel with reinforced support. Depending on their construction, these mattresses accommodate a variety of sleeping positions and body types. The supportive coils support sleepers’ movements when changing positions, while the upper foam layers absorb motion. Hybrid mattresses with thicker, plusher pillow tops offer a softer mattress feel.

Support and firmness

Finding the right support and firmness is at the core of shopping for the best mattress for you. If you prefer sleeping on a soft mattress, you must find the right combination of plush cushioning and support.

When choosing a mattress, remember that firmness is subjective and perceived differently by every sleeper. (

10

) Lightweight sleepers perceive mattresses as firmer, while heavy-weight sleepers perceive mattresses as softer since they sink deeper into the surface.

We recommend purchasing a mattress with a generous trial period—ideally, at least 100 nights. This allows you to try the mattress for more than three months to determine if it’s the right feel, support, and firmness for you. The best soft mattresses have at least a 100-night minimum trial period.

Price

Determine your budget before diving too deeply into your research for the best soft mattress. Most queen-sized mattresses available online range from $1,500–$2,000. Besides the price tag for the mattress itself, consider other customer-friendly policies that add value to your purchase, such as:

• Mattress setup or removal services
• Trial period and warranty length
• Return policy
• Cost of extra features or sleep accessories

Many online mattresses offer promotions and sales during major holidays and even throughout the year, so look out for special deals when shopping for your mattress. When comparing multiple mattresses, you can set up your Google Chrome browser to track price changes. You’ll receive notifications when the price has gone up or down. (

11

)

Who is a soft mattress best for?

Soft mattresses are great for side sleepers because they cushion the shoulder and hip areas and prevent the spine from sagging. Depending on how soft a mattress is, it may also be good for back sleepers because it provides the right amount of contouring around the lower back and hip area.

Lightweight sleepers may also like the feel of a soft mattress since they don’t sink too deeply into them. Generally, soft mattresses aren’t supportive enough for heavy-weight sleepers.

We don’t recommend a soft mattress for sleepers with back pain who primarily sleep on their backs. A too-soft surface may cause your hips and lower backs to sink deeply into the mattress, which causes pain and discomfort over time. The

best mattresses for back sleepers

offer reinforced support to keep the spine properly aligned.

FAQs

Which type of mattress is softest?

Our team chose the Helix Sunset as the best soft mattress overall for its high-quality construction, high performance scores, and affordability. Depending on what you’re looking for in a soft mattress, you’ll want to evaluate cooling, pressure relief, support, and motion isolation, among other factors. Carefully evaluate a mattress’s strengths and weaknesses in the areas most important to you to decide which is best.

Is it good to sleep on a very soft mattress?

Soft mattresses provide a high level of contouring, which can help relieve pressure in areas like the shoulders, lower back, and hips. They also offer a soft, cushiony feeling, which may appeal to sleepers looking for comfort. If a mattress is too soft, your spine won’t be properly supported, which can cause pain and discomfort over time.

Will a soft mattress help with back pain?

A soft mattress may not be the best choice for back pain since the mattress may not offer enough support for the spine and lower back. Research shows that sleepers with back pain may benefit from a medium-firm mattress. (

12

)

How durable is a soft mattress?

Most mattresses last about seven to 10 years, but the durability depends on the material and construction. (

13

) All mattresses soften over time, so a soft mattress may lose support quicker than a medium or firm mattress. Generally, hybrid mattresses (spring coils and foam) will last longer than foam mattresses.

Which mattress material is the softest?

Memory foam mattresses may be perceived as the softest mattresses since they offer a lot of sinkage and contouring. If you want to feel cradled by your mattress and need pressure relief around the shoulder and hip areas, you may want to consider a memory foam mattress.

Our experts

Amanda Marten, MSN, FNP-C

Amanda Marten is a Family Nurse Practitioner and freelance writer. She currently works as a Nurse Practitioner in urgent care. She enjoys developing relationships with her patients and educating them about their health while promoting evidence-based research.

As a nurse, she has worked in a variety of specialties, including post-surgical, the intensive care unit, and travel nursing. Amanda has a background in writing well-researched articles and blogs, as well as medical and NCLEX-style questions.

Krista Manning

Krista Manning is an accomplished medical copy editor and fact-checker who stands out in the pharmaceutical, health, and wellness domains. With a meticulous eye for detail and a command of medical language, Krista ensures the accuracy and clarity of content. Beyond her professional expertise, Krista is an advocate for mental health awareness. Recognizing the crucial intersection of psychological and physical well-being, she actively contributes to projects that promote mental health awareness within the healthcare narrative. Krista’s commitment extends beyond the pages she edits, emphasizing the holistic nature of health communication.

Originally Appeared Here