The Best Luxury Mattress (2024) – Expert Tested

What Is a Luxury Mattress? 

A luxury mattress is a bed made with notably high-end materials and singular or state-of-the-art features. They’re often constructed with the help of expert craftsmen and specialized manufacturing processes.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Luxury Mattress

Trial 

As mentioned earlier, having a good risk-free trial makes it easy to test out a mattress before committing to buying it. Typically among high-end brands, you can have anywhere from 90 to 365 nights, depending on the company. For example, top brands such as Saatva and Nectar give you a full-year trial period. Sometimes, you may have to keep the bed for at least 30 nights before returning it, though. 

Warranty

In most cases, luxury beds have longer warranties that last 10 to 15 years, though some come with lifetime warranties. That said, a lifetime warranty isn’t necessarily better than a 10 or 15-year deal since many mattresses last around 10 years. 

A lengthy warranty can be a good indication of a mattress’s expected lifespan and overall durability. If a company is confident in their product, they will usually include a longer warranty.

Type of Mattress 

Innerspring Mattresses 

An innerspring mattress’s support comes from the coils inside, which are usually made from steel. The section housing the coils is covered with a comfort layer, so you don’t feel the coils through the fabric.

When coils are individually wrapped — rather than interconnected — it’s less likely you’ll feel someone else move on the bed. Typically, the more coils (or the right amount at a proper gauge), the more support you’ll enjoy.

For More Info: Best Innerspring Mattress

Hybrid Mattresses 

Hybrid mattresses combine a coil base with upper layers made of a variety of foams. They are called hybrids because these mattresses take elements from innerspring and memory foam or latex mattresses and blend them into one. 

Many luxury mattresses are offered in hybrid models and can appeal to lots of sleepers because they offer the support of innerspring mattresses with the gentle cradling of foam. 

Memory Foam Mattresses 

Memory foam mattresses typically feature an all-foam structure, with memory foam on top and denser poly foam layers further down for support. Memory foam is fantastic for pressure relief and motion isolation, but basic memory foam beds can often run hot. Luxury memory foam models often feature advanced cooling capabilities so that sleepers can enjoy memory foam without worrying about getting too hot.

Latex Mattresses 

Latex can be natural or synthetic (made from petroleum). This is a popular mattress type because of the material’s great support, responsiveness, and durability. Latex, particularly organic latex found in eco-friendly mattresses, would be considered a more luxurious product. These beds are often more expensive, but their durability makes them longer-lasting.

View Our Full Guide: Best Latex Mattresses

What We Test When Looking at a Luxury Mattress

Sleeping Position 

Weight/Body Type of Sleepers 

Helpful Finds: Learn more about our testers Loren Bullock & Spencer Bland, and for more mattresses, check out our Best Mattresses for Heavy People

Firmness

Brands and experts usually rate firmness on a 1-10 scale, and we do this here at Sleep Advisor as well. A rating of 10 would mean the bed is as hard as sleeping on the floor. 

Typically, mattresses are ranked as either soft, medium, or firm. The right firmness level for you will depend on the position you sleep in and your body weight. Firmness reflects the overall feel of the mattress, and although it can influence support, it’s important to note that they are not the same. 

Want to learn more? Check out our full mattress firmness guide.

Cooling / Temperature Regulation

Luxury beds often have temperature-regulating capabilities in their design. Innerspring, hybrid, and latex models often sleep cooler since coils foster airflow, and latex is naturally temperature-neutral. Standard memory foam often traps heat, but many manufacturers now infuse the foam with gel and other cooling materials to help prevent heat accumulation. 

When we test for cooling, we first take the initial surface temperature of the mattress. Next, we lie on the mattress for at least five minutes, after which we take the surface temperature again. We then lie for another five minutes and check the temperature a third time to see if it goes up and by how much. We think good cooling is when the temperature doesn’t increase significantly (at most, 5 or 10 degrees).

Motion Isolation 

If you sleep with a partner or pet, a luxury mattress with good motion isolation will be useful. Beds that prevent motion transfer help keep co-sleepers from being disturbed by the movements of their bedmate. 

The density of memory foam does an excellent job of absorbing motion and can be a great choice for couples. If you prefer a bed with coils, look for a hybrid with memory foam and individually wrapped coils since these will help isolate motion better.

Our motion isolation test involves using a seismograph app to monitor movement when someone moves around on the bed.

Bigger waves on our seismograph reading mean more motion is picked up, while smaller waves mean the bed absorbs most of the movement. We also have team members lie side by side to see how much movement they feel when the other person moves.

Sex

Sexually active couples often enjoy responsive and bouncy mattresses that allow them to reposition more easily. Latex has great responsiveness and snaps back to its original shape after weight is applied to it, which can prevent people from feeling stuck in the bed during sex. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses can provide good bounce, which may enhance sexual movements.  

Pressure Relief 

For many people, a luxury mattress should help eliminate aches and pains. This is where pressure-relieving materials can help. 

Luxury mattresses often have better pressure-relieving capabilities due to higher-quality materials and construction, such as premium memory foam and latex, two materials that often do well at pressure relief. 

When we test for pressure relief, we use a pressure map with all three testers representing each body weight/type. They switch between side and back sleeping on the map, which then shows pressure buildup via red, yellow, blue, and green. Red and yellow show pressure buildup, while blue and green indicate good pressure relief from the mattress.

Edge Support

Edge support is how well your mattress supports you when sitting or lying on the far perimeter of the bed. If your mattress lacks edge support, it can affect how easy it is to get in and out of bed, as well as how much of the surface area can be utilized for sleeping. Edge support is important for many people, including couples, because it allows them to use the entire surface of the mattress. In many cases, luxury mattresses have good edge support thanks to some type of reinforcement, whether it be high-density foam or high-gauge coils along the perimeter. 

When testing for edge support, we sit on the side of the bed for a minute, tying our shoes. Then, we lie at the edge for another minute, after which we assess the amount of slipping and sagging for each test. Great edge support means little to no slippage and sagging when lying or sitting on the edge of the bed.

What Can Affect the Price of a Mattress?

When shopping for a luxury mattress, you will want to keep in mind the factors that can affect the overall cost. Some of these include:

Pros and Cons of Owning a Deluxe Bed

Luxury Mattress Pros

• Your bed can offer support longer than cheaper products.
• High-class beds usually have interesting features such as temperature control. These features are ideal, especially when two people with different preferences share a mattress.
• Healthier sleeping when organic materials are used. This can have a positive effect on allergies.
• Many luxury mattresses do their best to eliminate toxic substances.
• Longer warranty periods.
• Enhanced comfort and support to help with issues like insomnia, back pain, or joint pain

Luxury Mattress Cons

• Higher price point
• Additional features may take a little while to get used to. It could take time to find the perfect fit and settings that suit you or your sleeping partner.

Is a Luxury Mattress Worth the Cost?

Yes, a premium mattress is worth it if it boosts your sleep quality and matches your habits. A good luxury mattress should be more than some pretty padding — it should incorporate top-notch materials and features that directly impact how well you sleep.

How will you know if you’ve found the right luxury mattress for you? Consider whether you’re experiencing the following benefits:

• Less joint pain: Your joints hurt when they endure too much pressure or they’re positioned in a way that causes strain. A proper mattress supports your joints and guards against these scenarios.
• Less irritation due to allergies: A deluxe mattress should guard against dust mites and allergens. Many are made with hypoallergenic and antimicrobial materials.
• More customization: Many luxury mattresses offer multiple options in terms of their firmness, height, cooling features, and more. If you’re paying a bit more for your bed, you should be able to ensure it meets your specific needs.
• More and better sleep: When your mattress provides both the support and cushioning that allows your body to fully relax, you’ll experience deep, rejuvenating rest.

Looking for even more luxury? Explore beds with a hotel mattress feel.

Other Ways to Make Your Sleep Luxurious

• Add luxury sheets – Luxury sheets, such as cashmere, bamboo, or organic cotton, are an excellent way to elevate your sleep and make it more luxurious. 
• Customize the feel with a topper – Mattress toppers are another way to make your sleep space more luxurious, especially if they’re made from high-quality latex or memory foam. 
• Get luxury pillows – Look for high-quality pillows made with cozy materials like down and memory for enhanced comfort.
• Layer your bedding – Apart from having luxurious bedding, you want to make sure you’re layering it well, starting with a fitted sheet, a top sheet, and a cozy duvet or comforter.
• Diffuse essential oils – Some people find diffusing essential oils, such as lavender, helps them fall asleep.

Curious what your favorite celebrities sleep on? Check out our list of mattresses celebrities use.