During testing, we rate each mattress on a scale from one to five for the following factors:
- Firmness
- Pressure relief
- Motion transfer
- Responsiveness
- Edge support
- Cooling capabilities
- Delivery, setup, and customer service/policies
Additionally, our testers all have different body types, sleep styles, and sleep preferences. By having different people try the mattresses, we’re able to get multiple perspectives to assess whether it will be comfortable for certain weights or positions.
For our list of luxury mattresses, we also heavily considered overall comfort, materials, and thickness, since these are features that give the mattress a more elevated look and feel.
For a full rundown of our mattress testing process (and to discover how much we nerd out on sleep technology), check out our full sleep product testing methodology.
What You Should Look for in a Luxury Mattress
Luxury mattresses are typically more expensive than standard ones, so when shopping for one, there are certain things you want to look out for. We recommend digging into durability, materials, comfort, trial period, and the warranty. Here’s what you should consider for each.
Durability
First and foremost, a luxury mattress should be durable. Since you’re investing more into it, you want it to hold up as long as possible. Durability ties into materials (which we’ll get into below), but you’ll also want to look for things like a thicker height, a base coil system, and denser foams, which can all stand up to weight better. Handmade mattresses also tend to be more durable since there’s more care taken with stitching and other aspects of the manufacturing process that contribute to durability.
Materials
When choosing a luxury mattress, you have to look beyond the price tag. Just because a mattress is more expensive, it doesn’t mean it’s luxurious. Look for high-quality materials, like organic cotton, wool, latex, gel-infused foams, and individually wrapped coils. These not only make the mattress feel more comfortable, they contribute to its durability. For example, latex is more durable than memory foam and can extend a mattress’ lifespan by a couple years.
Comfort
Comfort is subjective, but there are some things to think about when choosing a mattress to ensure that it will be comfortable for you. If you’re a side sleeper, you want a mattress that’s medium-firm to medium-soft. If you’re a back sleeper, medium-firm to firm will work better for you. Stomach sleepers should opt for a medium-firm to firm mattress. Additionally, pay attention to the types of materials used in your luxury mattress. Pressure-relieving foams, zoned coil systems, and plush pillow tops add to the comfort level of your mattress.
Trial Period
Luxury mattresses are an investment, and it can be hard to tell which one will work for you when you’re buying them online. Because of this, make sure your purchase comes with a generous trial period. Typically, trial periods range from 90 days to a full year. In addition to the trial period, look into fine print. Are returns free or do they deduct a fee? Do you have to arrange pickup or will the manufacturer do it for you? These are all things to consider when evaluating how good (or not) a trial period is.
Warranty
In addition to the trial period, also consider the length and coverage terms of the warranty. Most warranties last 10 to 15 years, but you can also find limited lifetime warranties that cover manufacturing defects. For reference, a mattress typically lasts about 10 to 12 years before it needs to be replaced, so a 10-year warranty should be enough for most people. That said, read through the fine print of the warranty before purchasing your mattress and make sure you’re comfortable with the terms.
What Makes a Mattress Luxurious?
Luxury can be partly subjective—what feels luxurious to you may not feel luxurious to someone else. That said, there are some things that make a mattress feel more high-end so that it stands out from the others. For starters, the materials play a huge role. Luxury mattresses are made with high-end materials like natural latex, organic wool, organic cotton, and proprietary foams. These materials make a mattress feel plush yet supportive. Luxury mattresses are often described as “cloud-like” and it’s largely thanks to these higher-end materials. They also make the mattress more durable, so your investment will last longer.
