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Hybrid mattresses are one of the newest innovations in sleep. They were designed to combine the best features of innerspring and memory foam mattresses, while eliminating the most common issues, like too much motion transfer and heat trapping. The best hybrid mattresses are built with quality materials, like durable support coils and various layers of pressure-relieving foams. The end result is a bed that has just the right amount of give with a little bit of bounce, so you don’t feel like you’re sinking into it too much.
In this guide, we’ll go over our top picks for every type of sleeper. Because hybrids are so versatile, there are specialized options for side sleepers, people with back pain, heavier sleepers and couples. There are also luxury beds that use upgraded materials like latex and eco-friendly organic wool and cotton. To help you decide, we’ll also compare hybrid beds with other types of mattresses like innerspring, memory foam and latex, so you can easily identify the differences and identify the best mattress for you.
Price: $1,770 Trial Period: 365 nights (one year) Warranty: Lifetime Best Foundation: Platform or box spring with sturdy center support
The Saatva Classic earned the title of Best Overall hybrid mattress because it’s an excellent all-around mattress that can appeal to all types of sleepers. It has a coil base that’s constructed of tempered steel and built to withstand sagging. A second layer of microcoils adds pressure relief and quickly responds to movement, which helps reduce motion transfer. This upper coil layer also has zoned support, meaning it’s firmer in the center third of the mattress, where most of your body weight lands. This helps relieve stress on pressure points, while also preventing the mattress from dipping in the middle.
Below the microcoils is a wire frame, and above them, a panel of high-density memory foam. These two elements add extra lumbar support to the middle third of the mattress. The top layer is a three-inch Euro pillow top that cushions your body and prevents you from feeling the coil layers below. Everything is wrapped in a breathable quilted cotton cover and framed by high-density foam rails that enhance edge support.
The Saatva Classic is available in three firmness levels—Plush Soft (3/10 on the 1–10 mattress firmness scale), Luxury Firm (5–7/10) and Firm (8/10). While the specific feel depends on which firmness you choose, overall this mattress combines a slight body-hugging feel with a little more bounce than you’d get from an all-foam mattress.
Purchase Saatva Classic Mattress
Price: $1,199 Trial Period: 365 nights (one year) Warranty: Lifetime Best Foundation: Any foundation, base or adjustable base that can support a tall mattress (14 inches)
The DreamCloud is a four-layer hybrid mattress that stays cool thanks to a breathable construction and added cooling materials. The mattress is built on a support system of pocketed coils that promote airflow throughout the entire mattress. The coils also support your body weight and the weight of the mattress. Above the coils, two layers of high-density memory foam conform to your body, alleviate pressure and prevent excessive dipping or sagging of the mattress.
Much of the cooling capabilities come from the last layer of foam—gel memory foam that provides a body-hugging feel, but also helps absorb and disperse excess body heat. All of the layers are wrapped up in a breathable quilted foam and cashmere cover that adds plushness and an element of luxury to the feel of the mattress.
The DreamCloud has a 6.5/10 firmness level, which makes it a medium to medium-firm, depending on your body type. It’s best for side and back sleepers, as well as couples that can’t agree on a firmness level.
Price: $1,199 Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Best Foundation: A platform bed, bunkie board with a box spring or slatted bed frame with firm, flat and thick slats that are no wider than five inches apart
The highly rated Helix Midnight is one of the brand’s most popular models, thanks to its versatility and affordable price. Instead of coils, this mattress starts with a base of high-density foam that provides the foundational support for the rest of the mattress. A layer of pocketed coils, which cradles your body and helps minimize motion transfer, sits on top of the base layer. The coils also have a reinforced perimeter that enhances edge support and ensures the bed doesn’t sink if you gravitate too close to the edge.
The main comfort layers are made of high-grade polyfoam and proprietary, pressure-relieving memory foam. The polyfoam layer has a medium feel that can support different body weights while also providing the proper ergonomic support to different areas of the body. The memory foam layer, called Memory Plus Foam, provides most of the cushion and pressure relief from the mattress.
The Helix Midnight has a firmness level that falls between 4–7/10, which means the feel really depends on your body type. For lighter-weight sleepers, this bed will feel medium to medium-firm. Heavier-weight sleepers will find it a bit softer, leaning more toward medium or medium-soft. This mattress is ideal for side sleepers, combo sleepers and couples. It’s also great for lighter-weight sleepers and anyone who needs some extra pressure relief and lumbar support.
Price: $1,698 Trial Period: 365 nights (one year) Warranty: Lifetime Best Foundation: Platform bed, slatted bed frame, box spring or adjustable frame
Nectar is new to the hybrid mattress world, and the Classic Hybrid is the first model in its collection. The foams are similar to what’s featured in the brand’s memory foam mattresses, but the hybrid version has pocketed coils that add support, promote more airflow and enhance edge support. They also give the mattress a little more bounce than their all-foam models.
This 12-inch tall mattress combines a one-inch high-density foam base layer and eight-inch layer of individually wrapped coils with a one-inch springy polyfoam layer and a two-inch gel-infused memory foam layer.
It has a medium-firm feel that accommodates many different types of sleepers, but its pressure-relieving memory foam is best for side sleepers, especially those prone to overheating.
Price: $1,999 Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: Lifetime Best Foundation: Box spring, slatted frame or platform bed
Most mattresses are designed to hold sleepers who weigh up to 250 pounds. Larger mattresses, like Queen- and King-sizes, typically support 250 pounds on each side. If you weigh more than that, finding the right mattress becomes even more important. The WinkBed comes in four firmness levels, but the Plus model has higher density foams, zoned support layers and stronger coils to solve most of the problems heavier sleepers face: sagging, discomfort from spinal misalignment, poor edge support, heat retention and premature breakdown.
The base layer of the mattress consists of individually wrapped coils that are split into five zones based on where the most pressure is applied when you’re lying in bed. They’re also banded together so they can properly support your weight without dipping or sagging. The coils also have reinforced edges so you can sleep on the edge of the bed without feeling like you’re going to fall off. The mattress is topped with a 2.5-inch layer of 100% latex that’s bouncier and more responsive than memory foam. Latex also bounces back faster and is better at dissipating body heat, so you sleep cooler. The foams in The WinkBed mattress are also denser overall than what’s used in the brand’s other models.
The feel of this mattress depends on your weight. If you weigh 300 pounds or more, it will fall somewhere around 6.5/10 or medium-firm. If you weigh less than 200 pounds, it will feel like a firm mattress (8/10). And if you weigh between 200 and 300 pounds, it will likely fall somewhere in the middle.
Price: $1,899 Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Best Foundation: Platform base, adjustable base or metal frame with foundation
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid is a medium to medium-firm (5–7/10) mattress that’s designed to alleviate pressure and reduce back pain in most sleeping positions. It starts with a high-density foam layer that provides the structural support for the mattress. A springy coil support layer sits on top of this layer and provides extra support while also ensuring the mattress can adjust and adapt to your body for better spinal alignment. It also has a reinforced perimeter to enhance edge support and minimize motion transfer, which is a good combo for couples.
Most of the active pressure relief comes from the next three foam layers: a transitional layer of responsive foam that supports your body weight, a contouring memory foam layer that conforms to your body and an aerated (i.e. hole-punched) top foam layer that alleviates stress on pressure points and gives the mattress some breathability. All the layers are wrapped in a breathable cover that adds softness while promoting airflow.
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid is a good fit for side sleepers, combination sleepers, hot sleepers, couples and anyone looking for advanced pressure relief.
Price: $2,895 Trial Period: 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Best Foundation: Adjustable base, platform base, bunkie board or any frame with thick slats that are less than four inches apart
Casper didn’t invent the bed-in-a-box mattress genre, but the brand definitely put the concept on the map. The brand started with a memory foam mattress in 2014, and has since introduced a full line of hybrid mattresses that are specifically designed for different sleep types and preferences. The Casper Wave Hybrid is the brand’s most advanced model. It’s ergonomically designed for superior pressure relief and has added features, like gel pods to provide extra support under your inverted curves (like your lower back).
The Casper Wave Hybrid has five main layers—the first layer consists of breathable innerspring coils that provide lift and support to the entire mattress. This coil layer is surrounded by dense foam that holds the mattress up and enhances edge support. The next layer, polyfoam molded with 78 gel pods (for a Queen size), is what sets the Wave Hybrid apart from the other hybrid models. The gel pods are placed where your waist and lower back naturally rest on the mattress. This creates an ergonomic, zoned support system that can reduce aches and pains caused by spinal misalignment.
If you're interested in purchasing a Casper mattress, check out our in-depth Casper mattress review.
On top of the gel pods is another zoned memory foam layer that’s softer under the shoulders and firmer under the hips, waist and lower back. This allows your body to sink in where it needs to, but ensures you’re supported everywhere else. The next two layers are perforated foams: one made of natural latex and the other of polyfoam. These layers promote airflow and breathability, eliminating one of the most common complaints about memory foam: heat retention.
While Casper doesn’t give an official firmness rating for the Wave Hybrid, customers say it has a medium feel around 5/10, making it a good choice for side and back sleepers and anyone with back pain.
Purchase Casper Wave Hybrid
Price: $1,249 Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: 10 years Best Foundation: Platform bed, slatted bed or box spring
Combination sleepers (also called combo sleepers) have unique needs. Because they switch positions throughout the night, they need a mattress that can quickly adapt to movement and accommodate multiple sleeping positions. The best beds for combo sleepers provide support and alleviate pressure points in different postures. And if you sleep with someone else, you want to make sure your mattress minimizes motion transfer, otherwise you might wake your partner up in the middle of the night when you move around.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, a five-layer hybrid mattress, fits the bill. This mattress comes in three different firmness levels—soft (4–5/10), medium (5–7/10) and firm (7–9/10). The construction is mostly the same, with the biggest difference being the thickness of the comfort layers.
The foundation of the Signature Hybrid is a layer of high-density foam and individually encased pocketed coils. The springiness of the coils allows you to change positions without feeling stuck. The two main foam layers are made with proprietary foams. The first layer is responsive foam that gives the mattress the right amount of push back. The soft and medium versions have a one-inch layer for deeper compression support, while the firm model has a two-inch layer for more support and less give. The top layer is a specialized foam that provides the body-contouring of memory foam with the responsiveness of latex. This prevents you from sinking into the mattress too much, so you can easily change positions without feeling like you’re stuck in the bed.
Overall, the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid is a great pick for combo sleepers because it's responsive, provides good-enough motion isolation for co-sleepers and comes in three firmness levels that can be matched to your primary sleeping positions.
Purchase Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Price: $1,732 Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: Lifetime Best Foundation: Platform bed frame or an adjustable base
The Bear Hybrid is all about support and pressure relief—a much-needed combo for alleviating back pain. It has four main layers—high-density base foam, individually wrapped support coils, responsive polyfoam and copper-infused memory foam. The coils and polyfoam layers lightly contour to your shape to ensure you’re properly supported and your spine stays in alignment. This helps minimize back pain and reduces aches and pains that can come from sleeping on the wrong mattress.
The copper-infused memory foam layer serves double duty. It wicks away heat and moisture to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night, but also acts as a natural antimicrobial to keep your bed fresh. The cover is moisture-wicking, too, and has specialized cooling fibers woven into it to help with temperature regulation and airflow.
This mattress has a medium-firmness (6.5/10) and offers a good balance of give and support. You’ll sink into it a little bit, but not so much that your spine gets thrown out of alignment. Research shows that medium-firm mattresses are ideal for those dealing with back pain.
Price: $1,899 Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: Lifetime Best Foundation: Platform bed or adjustable base
Latex is considered a premium mattress material because of its breathability, durability and responsiveness. It’s also all-natural, so if you’re concerned about the polyfoams found in beds with memory foam, the Nolah Natural is a good alternative. This mattress is made with a combination of coils, Talalay latex foam, organic cotton and organic wool. It has a 5–6/10 firmness rating, which means it feels medium to medium-firm, depending on your body type.
An eight-inch layer of pocketed coils sits on top of an organic wool and cotton base, and gives the mattress the majority of its structure and support. There are two main Talalay latex layers: a one-inch support layer and a two-inch comfort layer that provides some pressure relief. In general, Talalay latex is softer, more breathable and more responsive than Dunlop latex (the other method of processing natural latex). This makes the mattress feel bouncier or more springy, so you get exceptional pressure relief without the close hugging sensation that can come with other foams.
It’s also a good option for combo sleepers since the mattress will bounce back quickly as you switch positions.
Price: $1,699 Trial Period: 120 nights Warranty: 10 years Best Foundation: Platform-style base, adjustable base or base with slats that are placed close together
If you share your bed with someone who has different comfort preferences, it can be difficult to find a mattress that meets both of your needs. Enter: the Layla Hybrid flippable mattress with two different firmness levels. The soft side (4/10) is plush and ideal for side sleepers, lighter sleepers and anyone who really likes to sink into their mattress. The firm side (7/10) is best for back sleepers and anyone that needs a little more support. While it’s unlikely that you’re going to be flipping your mattress over every other night, this dual construction gives you options and lets you try different firmness options in the comfort of your own home.
As for construction, there’s a pocketed coil layer that sits in the middle of the mattress. This provides a breathable core that reduces heat build-up and helps minimize motion transfer across the mattress surface. The soft side of the Layla Hybrid has two layers: a convoluted (egg crate-shaped) foam layer that improves airflow and adds extra depth and a copper-infused memory foam layer, which provides additional cooling and pressure relief. The firm side has only the copper-infused memory foam layer.
We recommend the Layla Hybrid to couples since it has two firmness options, the breathability of coils and the motion-isolating properties of memory foam; still, it can work for solo sleepers who favor side or back sleeping. Stomach sleepers are the only ones who may need a firmer mattress to keep their spines aligned.
A hybrid mattress is a mix of traditional innerspring and all-foam mattresses. It combines coils or innersprings with foam layers. In most cases, the coils make up the base layer, providing support to the rest of the bed, while also contouring your body to ensure your spine stays aligned. The foam layers are usually stacked on top of that. Each layer provides a different benefit, depending on what type of foam it is.
Hybrid mattresses were developed as the answer to the most common problems people experienced with innerspring and memory foam mattresses. That being said, they’re not a blanket solution for everyone.
You should buy a hybrid mattress if:
You shouldn’t buy a hybrid mattress if:
At the most basic level, hybrid mattresses are made with steel coils and various cushioning materials. The most commonly used comfort materials are memory foam, polyurethane foam and latex. These foams come in different thicknesses and densities, and may be infused with cooling materials, like gel or charcoal. Everything is typically wrapped in a cover that’s made from breathable materials like cotton or rayon. Depending on the mattress, you may also find other specialty materials, like wool, worked into the construction.
Both hybrid and innerspring mattresses have a main coil layer. The biggest difference is in the number of foam layers. Hybrid mattresses typically combine multiple layers of thick foams, while innersprings have one or two thin layers. With fewer cushioning layers, innerspring mattresses tend to feel firmer. Also, interconnected coils don’t isolate motion as well as individual coils, which are most often found in hybrid mattresses.
While hybrid mattresses have coils and foams, foam mattresses are made entirely of—you guessed it—foam. They often have multiple foam layers that serve different purposes, but there are no coils or springs. While this makes them less bouncy, it’s the main reason they have such excellent motion isolation.
A latex mattress is made exclusively with natural latex foams. While they don’t have any spring or coil layers, latex is naturally more responsive than foam, so you get a little more bounce than a traditional foam or memory foam mattress. A hybrid mattress may have some latex layers, but by definition, also has springs or coils.
When searching for a mattress, there are many factors to consider. Here are some of the most important.
Your body type plays a big role in how a mattress feels. If you weigh less than 130 pounds, mattresses will have a firmer feel overall. Because of this, it’s a good idea to buy a mattress that’s a little softer. For example, if you like a medium feel, you may want a mattress that’s considered medium-soft. You’ll probably benefit from extra comfort layers, too.
If you weigh more than 250 pounds, mattresses will feel softer than they do for the average person. As such, it’s a good idea to get a mattress that’s rated a bit higher on the firmness scale. You also want to make sure the hybrid mattress you choose has a durable support system and high-density foam layers that properly support your body weight.
If you weigh between 130 and 250 pounds, you’ll likely find the feel of the mattress true to the manufacturer’s firmness rating.
Hybrid mattresses are more responsive than foam beds. When you switch positions throughout the night, the bed quickly adapts to your movement, providing the proper support. Some types of hybrid mattresses, like those made with latex foams, are especially responsive.
If you’re a combo sleeper, a latex hybrid mattress is likely your best bet. If you’re a strict side or back sleeper, any hybrid mattress with a pocketed coil support system and foam transition layers should be responsive enough for your needs.
Some hybrid mattresses are designed for better pressure relief in certain sleep positions—an important consideration since pressure points and deep compression areas vary depending on how you sleep. Side sleepers experience pressure points in the shoulders and hips, while back back sleepers feel the most pressure in the hips and lower back. The upper body, especially the shoulders, takes the bulk of the pressure when sleeping on your stomach.
Take this into consideration when choosing a hybrid mattress for your specific needs. If you’re a side sleeper, you want to look for zoned support systems that are softer near the shoulders and hips. If you’re a back sleeper, you’ll benefit from additional lumbar support near the center of the mattress.
Hybrid mattresses made with quality materials generally last between seven and 10 years, and most are backed by extensive warranties. When checking on a hybrid mattress’ durability, you want to make sure it’s made with high-quality foams and heavy-gauge steel coils that can stand up to regular use and movement. Also look for a mattress with a warranty that’s at least 10 years long.
By incorporating coils into their construction, hybrid mattresses are naturally more cooling than foam-only options. However, many take it a step further by incorporating additional cooling technologies into the foam layers and covers. If you’re a hot sleeper, any hybrid is usually a better choice than a memory foam mattress, but you might want to take it one step further and look for an extra-breathable cooling mattress with advanced temperature regulation.
Hybrid mattresses can be hit or miss with motion isolation. While they do have foam layers, which excel at minimizing motion transfer, the coil layers can add some bounce that might be even more apparent if you sleep with a partner. When choosing a mattress, decide how important motion isolation is to you and then choose your bed accordingly.
Back pain can have several underlying causes. Because of this, a mattress might not get rid of it completely, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Those with back pain tend to prefer medium-firm mattresses since they prevent sagging and spinal misalignment. If you sleep solely on your side or have pain in your shoulders or hips, you may prefer a softer mattress. The push back from a firmer mattress can potentially worsen pain and cause pins and needles in these deep compression areas.
The majority of online mattresses come with free shipping, but some may charge a delivery fee. Before committing to a mattress, check the shipping rates and what’s included. Regular free shipping typically means that a carrier, like FedEx or UPS, will leave the mattress at your door, compressed and rolled in a box. You’ll have to set it up on your bed frame and dispose of your old mattress.
Other companies, like Saatva, include complimentary white glove delivery with a mattress purchase. Rather than using a shipping service, they send a third-party delivery company to set up your new mattress and dispose of your old mattress, if needed. White glove delivery may also be available as an upgrade option with other brands for an additional fee.
Most mattress companies offer generous trial periods, usually between 90 and 365 days, that let you test your new bed at home before fully committing to it. If you decide you don’t love your mattress at any time during the brand’s at-home trial period, you can return it. However, some brands deduct return fees or processing fees from the refund. Rather than taking the trial period at face value, read the fine print so you’re not caught off guard with any surprises.
Mattresses are often backed by some type of warranty (usually 10 to 15 years), but the coverage may differ from brand to brand. When choosing a hybrid mattress, the warranty length is important, but you’ll also want to dive into which types of defects are covered and whether or not there are any out-of-pocket costs if you do have to make a warranty claim.
Hybrid mattresses can cost a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on which one you choose. Our best hybrid mattress picks range from $1,199 to $2,895, with $1,750 being the average price for a Queen size.
A hybrid mattress should last between seven and 10 years, if properly cared for. That means putting it on the right type of foundation, rotating the mattress as needed and using a mattress protector. Most hybrid mattresses are covered by warranties that range from 10 to 20 years, on average. If your mattress breaks down during this timeframe, you may be eligible for a replacement or repairs.
Hybrid mattresses are all about providing an ideal balance of comfort and support. They’re bouncier than memory foam, but have less motion transfer than innerspring mattresses. Depending on the firmness of your hybrid mattress, it may have some sink but it doesn’t have the same body-hugging feel of memory foam. The exact feel depends on which mattress you choose and what kind of layers it has.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
Lindsay Boyers is a functional nutritionist, writer, and editor with over a decade of experience in online media and product testing, mostly in the nutrition, fitness, sleep, and lifestyle spaces.