By: Consumer Reports Updated 02 Feb 2022, 17: 02 pm EST
Finding the right mattress comes down to your height and the way you sleep (ie back or side). But with so many options on the market today, it can be difficult to find a mattress that meets the needs of you and your partner if you don’t sleep alone.
“Many mattresses claim to have high-quality materials and design and manufacturers may spend a lot on advertising, but is this the right mattress for you?” asks Christopher Regan, who oversees mattress testing for Consumer Reports.
In our support tests for back sleepers, we used people of small and large stature. Test technicians plot 36 points along the spine using displacement sensors to measure the physical distance between the back and the mattress , to analyze whether a mattress maintains the natural curve of the spine.
To score mattresses for side sleepers, we look at several points along the backbone of each person and measure how far they are from a straight line. For a test pattern to score well, the dots must remain fairly parallel to the mattress surface.
We average test results on people of height small and large to get a score for people of average height. A mattress that has great support for a small back sleeper might not work for a taller back sleeper.
And while our scientific ratings of support are a good indicator of how well you can sleep on a mattress, we also provide comfort and satisfaction ratings that come from people who have actually used these mattresses, in some cases up to 02 years. Our new comfort and owner satisfaction ratings are based on recent survey data on CR member experiences with more than 74,000 mattresses purchased in the last decade. We asked members to rate the comfort of their mattress, and we used the data to generate ratings by mattress brand and type. Owner satisfaction is based on members’ overall judgment of factors such as firmness/softness, value, sleep quality, etc.
Innerspring mattresses, The foam and adjustable air mats shown below that have successfully passed our tests are from brands such as Avocado, Casper, Essentia, Saatva and Sleep Number. To see a wider range of the over 200 mattresses we’ve tested, check out our full mattress ratings and check out our mattress buying guide while you shop. .
The best foam mattresses for all heights
The best spring mattresses for all heights
The best adjustable air mattresses for all heights
Tips for buying a mattress
Do you turn in bed all night? Maybe it’s time to buy a new mattress. On the TV show “Consumer 101“, CR expert Chris Regan shares tips on what to consider when shopping for a mattress.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world . CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.