11 Best Mattresses for Seniors in 2023

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A quick look at 11 of the best mattresses for seniors

• Best for joint pain: Saatva Classic
• Best for a cooler sleep: Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid
• Best for back pain: Nectar Memory Foam
• Best for relieving pressure points: DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid
• Best for all sleeping positions: The WinkBed
• Best flippable mattress: Layla Memory Foam
• Best for all body types: Leesa Original
• Best for spinal alignment: Nolah Evolution 15″
• Best for back and stomach sleepers: Sealy Cocoon Chill Memory Foam
• Best for durability: TEMPUR-ProAdapt
• Best for combination sleepers: Casper Original

Many older adults experience sleep disturbances. This is likely due to conditions that cause pain and the medications people take to treat them.

Finding a comfortable, supportive mattress that helps reduce pain might allow older adults to sleep with fewer disturbances.

This article discusses what factors are important in a mattress for older adults and provides a few suggestions for people to try.

How we chose products

Ranking

The following table indicates how MNT chooses to rank/list the products within this article:

List of best overall mattresses for seniors

Many suitable mattresses are available on the market. Below is a list of eight products that older adults may wish to try.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Best for joint pain: Saatva Classic

• Price: $995–2,710
• Type: hybrid innerspring
• Firmness: plush soft, luxury firm, or firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California (CA) king, or split CA king

This mattress combines pocketed mini-coils, memory foam, and poly-foam with a Euro-top padding layer. It is also available in three different firmnesses.

The manufacturer describes the mattress as particularly suitable for people with a higher body weight.

The company also states that the wire support in the center of the mattress may help keep the spine aligned and reduce joint pain.

Saatva offers a 365-night sleep trial, free delivery and setup, and a lifetime warranty.

Best for a cooler sleep: Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid

• Price: $999–2,249
• Type: hybrid
• Firmness: soft, medium, or firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, CA king, split CA king, short queen, RV king, RV bunk

This hybrid mattress combines individually wrapped coils with foam layers and is available in three different firmness levels.

The top layer comprises cooling fabric, followed by a copper-infused layer, which the manufacturer claims promotes cool sleep and repels microbes. The next layers consist of foam, 8 inches (in) of individually encased coils, and a foam base layer.

Brooklyn Bedding writes that its GlacioTex layer, comprising gel beads that liquefy at warmer temperatures and solidify as they cool to regulate temperature, keeps a person’s skin at 88ºF (31.1ºC), which the company claims is ideal for sleep.

This mattress may suit people who sleep with a partner, live in warmer climates, or tend to sleep hot.

Brooklyn Bedding offers a 120-night sleep trial, a 10-year warranty, and free shipping.

Best for back pain: Nectar Memory Foam

• Price: $599–1,698
• Type: memory foam
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, CA king, or split king

According to the manufacturer, many people with back pain who use this product report it helps them sleep better.

This mattress provides medium-firm support, and the company claims the design minimizes motion transfer.

The mattress consists of a Tencel cover followed by a gel memory foam layer to distribute weight evenly and base layers to provide support.

This mattress also comes with two free pillows, plus a set of sheets and a mattress protector.

Nectar offers a 365-night sleep trial, free shipping, and what it calls a “forever warranty.”

Best for relieving pressure points: DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

• Price: $599–2,946
• Type: hybrid
• Firmness: luxury firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, or CA king

This mattress consists of a base layer, followed by an innerspring layer, which the manufacturer claims can provide targeted support.

There are three layers of foam, which aim to adapt to a person’s body shape and position and provide a gentle sinking feeling, enhancing the comfort of the mattress.

The mattress cover uses quilted foam topped with cashmere.

According to the manufacturer, the design of this mattress may help relieve pressure points. As a result, it may be best for people who prefer to sleep on their sides.

This mattress also comes with free pillows, a sheet set, and a cooling mattress protector.

Due to its cashmere cover, this product is unsuitable for people following a vegan lifestyle.

DreamCloud offers a 365-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping and returns.

Best for all sleeping positions: The WinkBed

• Price: $1,149–2,049
• Type: hybrid
• Firmness: softer, luxury firm, firmer, or plus
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, or CA king

This luxury hybrid mattress consists of four layers: a Tencel top layer that the company claims keeps people cool, a Euro-pillow top with gel-infused foam, zone support made up of individually wrapped coils, and extra support along the edges.

It is reportedly comfortable for people who sleep on their sides, backs, stomachs, or combination sleepers.

This may make this mattress suitable for couples that prefer different sleep positions or people who change positions frequently while they sleep.

WinkBeds offers a 120-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping and returns.

Best flippable mattress: Layla Memory Foam

• Price: $749–1,249
• Type: memory foam
• Firmness: soft or firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, or CA king.

This mattress is flippable so purchasers can choose between a soft and firm side. Both sides consist of cooling covers with antimicrobial copper-gel memory foam layers and a support foam layer at the core.

This layer aims to limit motion transfer and bounce and enhance the overall durability of the mattress.

This mattress may suit couples, owing to its motion transfer reducing foams, and people who feel their firmness preferences may change over time.

Layla offers a 120-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping to 48 states.

Best for all body types: Leesa Original

• Price: $849–1,599
• Type: foam
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, or CA king

This 10-in, all-foam mattress provides medium-firm support.

The top layer is made from breathable foam to promote cool sleeping. The following layer uses memory foam, which the company writes relieves pressure from the back, hips, and shoulders.

The bottom layer is a 6-in high-density foam that provides stability and durability.

The manufacturer claims that the foam in this mattress provides cooling, contouring, and pressure-relieving support for all body types.

This product is Greenguard Gold certified, meaning that it has met strict emissions standards and will not expose people to harmful indoor pollution. Additionally, its foams are CertiPUR-US certified. This ensures the foams do not contain harmful chemicals.

This mattress comes with two down alternative pillows.

Leesa offers a 100-night free trial, 10-year warranty, and free shipping.

Best for spinal alignment: Nolah Evolution 15″

• Price: $1,599–3,598
• Type: hybrid
• Firmness: plush, luxury firm, or firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, CA king, or split king

This 15-in hybrid mattress is available in plush, luxury firm, and firm. The mattress has seven layers, including a comfort top layer, a high-density foam grid, and a recycled plant fiber foundation layer.

The manufacturer states that the coils in this mattress are individually wrapped and respond to movement and changes in weight distribution. This means the mattress can enhance spinal alignment for side, back, and stomach sleepers.

There are three coil sections, one specifically aiming to support the lumbar region.

As a result, this mattress may be best suited to those who need extra support for their lower back.

Nolah offers a 120-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping.

Best for back and stomach sleepers: Sealy Cocoon Chill Memory Foam

• Price: $769–1,539
• Type: memory foam
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, CA king

This 10-in memory foam mattress comes with a cooling cover to dissipate heat. The company says it adapts to a person’s body and has a soft, supportive feel overall. Sealy also states that it provides good motion control and meets CertiPUR-US safety standards.

The medium-firm option may be suitable for a wide range of people. Online reviewers state that this mattress is good value, particularly for cooling memory foam. Additionally, they note that the company has frequent sales.

Sealy ships the Cocoon Chill Memory Foam mattress in a box. After opening, customers will unwrap the mattress, unroll it, and place it on a frame. They may have to wait a few hours for the mattress to settle into its proper shape.

This product comes with a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and a 10-year warranty.

Best for durability: TEMPUR-ProAdapt

• Price: $2,899–5,798
• Type: memory foam
• Firmness: soft, medium, medium hybrid, or firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, CA king, or split CA king

Tempur-Pedic writes that it was one of the first brands to enter the memory foam mattress industry. The company’s website states that it has refined its proprietary memory foam to effectively:

• relieve pressure points
• adapt to a person’s shape, weight, and temperature
• provide motion control

This mattress is reportedly designed with multiple levels of foam and is very durable. It is 12 in high and compatible with a platform bed, flat foundation, or power base. However, it does not work on the floor or on a box spring base.

The company provides free, white glove delivery. Representatives will bring the mattress to a person’s home, remove the old mattress if necessary, and set up the new mattress.

This product has a 90-night sleep trial period, during which the company accepts returns, and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Best for combination sleepers: Casper Original

• Price: $895–1,695
• Type: memory foam
• Firmness: medium-firm
• Sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, CA king

This 11-in high memory foam mattress features three ergonomic zones. Softer foam around the shoulders reduces pressure on the upper body, while the firmer foam areas around the hips, lower back, and waist promote spinal alignment.

The mattress also has a durable base foam layer, a body-molding premium foam layer, and perforations in the top layer to promote a cool sleep. Casper says its foam is CertiPUR-US certified, meets low emission standards, and does not contain ozone-depleting materials.

The company offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Shipping and returns are free in the United States and Canada.

Mattress comparison

The following table compares the features of the different mattresses in this article.

How does age affect sleep? 

Sleep changes as a person ages. According to a 2018 review, older adults generally do not sleep as well as younger people.

The review states that as people get older, they often:

• do not fall asleep as easily
• have a harder time staying asleep
• spend more time in lighter sleep stages
• are more easily disturbed when sleeping
• spend more time awake during the night

The National Institute on Aging suggests that the sleep habits of older adults often shift toward getting up and going to bed earlier. It states that they also tend to report more daytime sleepiness and take more naps than younger people. According to the 2018 review, not all older adults experience the same degree of sleep disruption, with older males appearing to be more prone to sleep disturbances than older females.

Sleep problems can contribute to a range of other health concerns, such as memory issues. Purchasing a new mattress alone is not likely to improve sleep. However, if a new mattress makes it easier for older adults to fall and stay asleep, it may help enhance their general well-being.

What should seniors look for in a mattress?

Although manufacturers may claim their mattresses have health benefits, research supporting these claims is limited.

For example, while many may describe a product as an orthopedic mattress, older research states that this term has no medical meaning or defined standard and may not provide any benefits.

People may wish to consider the following when choosing a new mattress:

• Size: Individuals need to determine what mattress size will meet their needs, such as larger mattresses for people with larger bodies, or those who sleep with a partner.
• Firmness: People can get better sleep and have less morning stiffness when they sleep on a mattress that supports the shoulders, hips, and lower back while keeping the spine aligned. The right firmness will vary depending on the individual, and people may wish to try a mattress in-store or use a sleep trial to find the right option.
• Cushioning: Individuals need to determine how much softness they seek in a mattress and what their temperature control needs are — that is, whether they tend to get hot or cold when they sleep.
• Durability: This is how long a mattress will provide its basic level of comfort and support. A person should replace a mattress that is no longer supportive or shows signs of wear or damage.
• Warranty: A person should choose a mattress with a lengthy warranty period to protect them if the mattress comes with or develops a fault.

The importance of a suitable mattress

Research suggests that 1 in 3 adults do not get enough sleep. Older adults should aim to get 7–9 hours of sleep every night. However, the majority of older adults report having significant sleep disturbances.

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being, especially in older adults. Getting enough quality sleep can help protect a person’s mental and physical health, quality of life, and safety.

A common cause of sleep disturbance in older adults is pain. A 2021 literature review of 39 studies suggests that a medium-firm mattress can improve comfort and sleep quality and reduce back pain. However, current research is limited in this area.

Finding an appropriate mattress can allow older adults to achieve optimal sleep comfort and quality, which is important for overall health.

Typically, a mattress has a life span of approximately 8 years. However, depending on the quality and type of mattress, a person may get more or less time from it.

A person should replace their mattress when it begins to deteriorate, as an uncomfortable mattress can interfere with an individual’s ability to get restful sleep, which can adversely affect their health.

What is the best mattress type for seniors?

There is no best mattress for a particular population. The mattress a person chooses depends on several factors, such as the type of support and comfort they require.

There are many different mattress types. The most common include:

• Innerspring: These mattresses use steel coils that compress under a person’s weight. While innerspring mattresses tend to be more affordable than other options, they are less durable and may offer less targeted support.
• Memory foam: Memory foam contours to the body and provides a “sinking in” feeling. This type of mattress may be suitable for individuals experiencing aches and pains and requiring pressure relief. Learn more about how memory foam mattresses compare with hybrid mattresses.
• Latex: Latex mattresses are similar in feel to memory foam but offer less bounce. Additionally, latex does not retain as much heat as memory foam, providing a cooler sleep. These mattresses are unsuitable for those with a latex allergy. Learn more about how latex mattresses compare with memory foam mattresses.
• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses have one or more layers of memory foam or latex and a layer of pocketed coils. This type of mattress combines the bounce of innerspring mattresses and the contour and pressure relief of memory foam and latex.

Alternatives

Although it is common for older adults to have trouble sleeping, they can, in addition to purchasing a suitable mattress, adopt the following healthy sleep practices the National Institute on Aging recommends:

• establishing and following a routine of going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends
• limiting napping
• avoiding large meals and caffeine late in the day
• exercising regularly
• keeping the bedroom at a cool, comfortable temperature
• creating soothing bedtime rituals, such as taking a warm bath
• avoiding using tablets, phones, or computers with disturbing bright lights before bed
• avoiding alcohol before bedtime because even small amounts are likely to interfere with sleep

Frequently asked questions about the best mattresses for seniors

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about mattresses for older adults.

Do people need a firmer mattress as they get older?

Mattress firmness is subjective. What one person may think is medium, another may consider soft. The best way to decide whether a mattress is of correct firmness is to try out the mattress before committing to a purchase.

However, a medium-firm mattress is suitable for most people. This firmness may relieve aches and pains while still offering comfort.

How high should a mattress be?

People who find it difficult to get in or out of bed should consider purchasing a high enough mattress to sit on comfortably.

The mattress height an individual requires also depends on their bed frame. For example, a taller bed frame may require purchasing a lower loft mattress.

What type of bed frame is best?

Generally, mattresses are suitable for most bed frames.

However, a person should carefully consider their needs when purchasing a bed frame. People who find it more difficult to get in or out of bed may prefer an adjustable bed frame or one with collapsable bars that they can hold on to while lying down or sitting up.

Is a memory foam mattress suitable for elderly people?

Memory foam adapts to a person’s body shape and often provides medium-level support. This may benefit older people with aches and pains.

Some find memory foam too hot, although many mattresses include cooling technology to mitigate this.

The best memory foam mattress for older individuals will keep the spine aligned and relieve pressure from points such as the hips and shoulders.

Is the Purple mattress suitable for seniors?

The Purple Mattress includes a highly responsive GelFlex Grid layer that conforms to a person’s shape and cushions the joints. The foam layers add additional comfort to the mattress. As a result, the Purple Mattress may be suitable for older adults who need good support that is soft on the joints.

Are softer mattresses better for elderly people?

Very little research suggests which mattress firmness is best for older adults. Softer mattresses can relieve pressure on the joints, but they may not keep the spine in a neutral position overnight, especially if someone has a larger body weight.

A person may also need to consider any health conditions, such as back pain and arthritis, before purchasing.

Help to buy beds on a fixed budget

Some mattress companies can help with the cost of a bed by allowing individuals to pay in installments rather than one lump sum. However, not all of them offer interest-free payments, so people should always read the terms and conditions before using this service.

Some local charities or churches may offer furniture assistance programs. While people are unlikely to receive a higher-end mattress when using these programs, they may be able to receive a free or less expensive bed.

Summary

Sleep is essential for people of any age. However, older adults may experience disturbed sleep, particularly those experiencing pain.

Finding a mattress that will meet an older adult’s particular needs may help them achieve more restful sleep. They can also try adopting beneficial sleeping habits to help them fall and stay asleep.