Best Memory Foam Mattresses Of 2022

Memory foam mattresses have come a long way since hitting the mainstream U.S. market in the 1990s—recall the TV commercials featuring a slab of memory foam with a wine glass perched on its surface while someone jumped in the background? Not a drop lost.  

The original style of dense, slow-to-rebound memory foam mattress has, over time, blossomed into a variety of consumer options. Foam blends, variations in density and competitive online pricing mean that memory foam enthusiasts now have many mattresses to choose from, all within the memory foam variety.

To make finding your perfect mattress a little easier, we’ve broken down our top picks for the best memory foam mattresses of 2022. Product rankings were determined solely by the DreamAdvisor editorial team, and were based on a price, mattress thickness, firmness, available shipping and warranty options and more. Prices are accurate as of publication and reflect queen sized options, and are subject to change.

Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2022

Dreamfoam Chill Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $524.00 to $949.00 | Thickness: 6 to 14 inches | Firmness: Soft, medium, medium-firm, firm

Lucid 14-Inch Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $529.99 | Thickness: 14 inches | Firmness: Soft

Casper Element Mattress

Price: $695.00 | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium-firm

Bear Original

Price: $998.00 | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium to medium-firm

Tuft & Needle Original Mattress

Price: $895.00 | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium-firm

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $1,398 | Thickness: 12 inches | Firmness: Medium-firm

Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $1,239.00 | Thickness: 10” | Firmness: Medium-firm

Wayfair Sleep 8-Inch Firm Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $275.99 | Thickness: 8” | Firmness: Medium-firm

Wayfair Arviso 10″ Medium Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $397.15 | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Medium

Wayfair Sleep 10″ Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Price: $349.99 | Thickness: 10 inches | Firmness: Soft

Methodology

To determine our ranking of the Best Memory Foam Mattresses of 2022, the DreamAdvisor editorial team analyzed hundreds of mattresses across the market. Star ratings were determined solely by the editorial team and were considered based on metrics, such as price, size, firmness, warranty options, shipping and return options, special features, Better Business Bureau accreditation and more. 

What Is a Memory Foam Mattress?

Also known as viscoelastic foam, memory foam was originally created by NASA as a protective material designed to absorb impact. 

Memory foam has an open-cell architecture, meaning it’s not solid and contains many small air pockets. When it comes in contact with heat, the foam compresses away from the heat and those air pockets disappear—enabling the foam to conform to the shape of your body. However, this also makes memory foam a hotter material to sleep on. 

Benefits of a Memory Foam Mattress 

The benefits of sleeping on memory foam are support and comfort, according to Michael J. Breus, a fellow of The American Academy of Sleep and widely known as The Sleep Doctor.

“Memory foam provides tremendous support because it literally molds to your body,” says Breus, who is also the chief sleep advisor for the mattress brand Purple. This makes it ideal for relieving pressure points, which can be beneficial for side sleepers in particular. But, this unique property can also present problems for some sleepers. While memory foam may contour and cushion a side sleeper’s pressure points and body parts, such as shoulders and hips, it can also lack the necessary support to keep a side sleeper comfortable throughout the night, making it important to find the right firmness for the user. 

Disadvantages of Memory Foam Mattresses

Hot sleepers may find memory foam mattresses less than ideal, because as memory foam compresses, it loses airflow and keeps heat trapped around the body, which can disrupt natural heat cycles. “There’s no place for that heat to go,” says Breus.

Mattress companies have taken steps to combat these heat-trapping properties like blending foam with cooling gels or adding perforations to the foam, and some offer additional cooling layers for users who still find heat to be an issue. 

Memory foam—particularly of the firm variety that’s dense and slower to rebound—can make it difficult for some people to roll over or get out of bed, should the user’s body make a deep impression in the mattress, says Breus. 

This can also disrupt a healthy sleep cycle that’s meant to include turning over multiple times a night, Breus adds. For this reason he recommends customers weighing over 250 pounds opt for a different type of mattress that does not contain memory foam in its top layer.  

How to Choose a Memory Foam Mattress

There are great memory foam options out there for all sleepers across a range of budgets. 

If you’re on the hunt for a memory foam mattress of your own, consider your firmness preference. Firm mattresses generally provide more support, while softer mattresses contour your body more. There are a range of memory foam mattress options available in varying firmnesses.

If you’re a hot sleeper, look for a product that has cooling properties and pay attention to reviews that mention heat. And, if you’re looking for a mattress that provides support with a specific issue—like lower back pain, for instance—look for mattresses that offer support or cushioning in specific areas to relieve that type of pain. 

How to Purchase a Memory Foam Mattress

If you’re looking to purchase a memory foam mattress, Breus recommends waiting for a sale. “I’ve never seen the mattress industry not have a sale at least once every 60 days,” he says, specifically noting holiday weekends. Customers should choose a mattress from a company that’s been in business for a while, Breus adds, and pay attention to warranties, as they’ll be useful in the long term.

Emphasizing the importance of a good mattress for quality sleep, Breus also highly recommends taking advantage of products that offer longer trial lengths to ensure your investment in a memory foam mattress is going to work for your body.