Innerspring mattresses are composed of steel coils topped with layers of cushioning made with fiber-filled padding, foam, or both. They’re typically better than foam mattresses if you prefer a bit of bounce.

Foam mattresses consist entirely of foam layers. Latex foam mattresses have a somewhat springy feel to them; synthetic foam mattresses (memory foam in particular) tend to lack resilience. You’ll feel as if you’re sleeping “in” the mattress as opposed to on top of it.

Adjustable air mattresses can be inflated to your desired firmness level using a remote control or a smartphone app. In some cases, you can opt for separate chambers on each side. So if you’re sleeping with a partner, each of you can select a preferred firmness. Just note that these nice-to-haves often come with an inflated price.

There are more than 250 mattresses in our ratings, each with an Overall Score that’s determined, in large part, by the model’s performance on a range of tests: sleeper support, firmness level, stabilization level, and durability. 

To test stability (also known as motion isolation), we drop a 38.5-pound weight onto the mattress and measure the vibrations at the point of impact and across the mattress. This tells us how easily sleepers should be able to shift their weight without disturbing a partner. We also test how well the mattress keeps its shape over time by using a machine that moves a 300-plus-pound wood roller across the surface of the model 30,000 times. 

The ratings for mattress comfort and owner satisfaction included in the Overall Score are based on data from survey results on almost 67,000 mattresses. To learn more about how we test and rate mattresses, and how to choose the right one for you, check our mattress buying guide.

We also recently started examining a mattress’ impact on the environment and health, taking into account a range of factors, including materials and construction, durability, owner satisfaction, and shipping footprint. Our Green Choice recommendations are designated with a green leaf icon in our comprehensive mattress ratings.

It can be difficult to find the best mattress for a particular person because comfort and feel are so subjective. For the best outcome, we recommend that you lie on a mattress before committing. That said, CR’s engineers and survey teams assess every mattress that comes into CR’s labs for several objective criteria that can define a high-quality mattress.

Support: A great mattress should help keep your spine aligned throughout the night. For this roundup, we chose mattresses that performed well all-around for both side sleepers and back sleepers. (But keep in mind that a mattress with a low score for, say, back-sleeper support may be a good choice for side sleepers. That’s why it’s important to explore our comprehensive mattress ratings and filter specifically for your needs.)

Durability: Mattresses shouldn’t sag, soften, or provide less support after just a few years, so we highlight those that score well in our durability test, which simulates eight to 10 years of use.

Stability: We look for mattresses with high stability scores, meaning they isolate motion well, so your partner’s movement on one side of the mattress won’t jostle you awake on the opposite side.

Positive feedback on CR’s member surveys: Our member survey ratings cover thousands of mattresses purchased in the past decade, allowing us to collect the data needed to determine comfort and owner satisfaction scores according to brand.