Best Mattresses of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed

The best mattresses for side sleepers should keep the spine aligned while offering pressure relief for the shoulders and hips, a combination for waking up pain-free. The three mattresses below, viewable to logged-in members, fit the bill, offering optimal support for all shapes and sizes.

A mattress’s firmness level can be one of its most important qualities in helping you fall asleep. But like so many other mattress features, firmness is a bit subjective. Because we use a consistent scale, you can compare the firmness levels of all the mattresses in our ratings. Our three favorite firm mattresses, viewable below for members, all have a firmness level of 7 and above.

Foam mattresses consist entirely of foam layers. Latex foam mattresses have a somewhat springy feel; synthetic foam mattresses (memory foam in particular) tend to lack resilience. The three top options below should make you feel as if you’re sleeping “in” the mattress as opposed to on top of it.

The best soft mattresses combine deep pressure relief with sturdy support and long-lasting durability. Our three top performers (which members can view below) are innerspring mattresses that score 3 or lower on our firmness scale, while still offering strong support for optimal spine alignment.

A mattress’s material and construction are key in determining how cool it will keep you. Because foam tends to retain more heat, innerspring or hybrid models are most often recommended for hot sleepers. The three innerspring mattresses below are standouts, earning high marks for support and durability, and—based on our lab testing—trapping less heat than nearly 80 percent of the other mattresses we rate.

Sleeping with a partner often means balancing different comfort preferences while minimizing disruptions from each other’s movements. The best mattresses for couples excel at motion isolation, while still providing the support and comfort both sleepers need. The three models that follow earn top marks in CR’s stability tests and include options across a range of mattress types and firmness levels—making it easier for members to find a perfect match.

Innerspring mattresses are composed of steel coils topped with layers of cushioning made with fiber-filled padding, foam, or both. Our three top-scoring models, viewable below for members, are usually better than foam mattresses if you prefer a bit of bounce.

Adjustable air mattresses can be inflated to your desired firmness level using a remote control or a smartphone app. In some cases, you can opt for separate chambers on each side—so if you’re sleeping with a partner, each of you can select a preferred firmness. The three standouts below all come at a high price, but the least expensive is a full $1,000 less than our priciest pick.

The support underneath your mattress matters almost as much as the mattress itself. That’s because a quality mattress needs a sturdy base to offer optimal support. For the beds and mattresses of yesteryear, that almost always meant a box spring was required. These fabric-covered wooden boxes, containing coils and springs, helped absorb motion and provide stability. But modern mattresses are more commonly used with a platform foundation, a slat base, or an adjustable bed frame. All of these are considered types of bed frames. CR only tests the adjustable bases.

While a box spring may still be used with an innerspring mattress on a metal or steel bed frame, our advice is to place your mattress directly on your platform or slatted frame, if that meets the conditions of your mattress’s warranty. Brands typically specify whether the mattress can be used on a platform bed, a slatted base, an adjustable base, or a box spring foundation. Many also provide the minimum support requirements, such as maximum slat spacing. Following those requirements can be important for maintaining warranty coverage.

There are hundreds of mattresses in our ratings, each with an Overall Score that’s determined, in large part, by the model’s performance on a range of tests: sleeper support, firmness level, stabilization level, and durability. 

To test stability (aka motion isolation), we drop a 38.5-pound weight onto the mattress and measure the vibrations at the point of impact and across the mattress. This tells us how easily sleepers should be able to shift their weight without disturbing a partner. We also test how well the mattress keeps its shape over time by using a machine that moves a 300-plus-pound wood roller across the surface 30,000 times. 

The ratings for mattress comfort and owner satisfaction included in the Overall Score are based on data from survey results on almost 67,000 mattresses. To learn more about how we test and rate mattresses, and how to choose the right one for you, check our mattress buying guide.