Sleep Number Mattress Review

Sleep is essential to maintaining your overall health and well-being, and there are many factors that influence both your quality and quantity of sleep. The mattress you choose and use ranks at the top of that list. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about mattresses sold by Sleep Number, the manufacturer behind some of the most popular adjustable air beds out there.

Sleep Number at a Glance

Sleep Number is a publicly traded company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that was founded in 1987 by Robert Walker and his wife JoAnn.

Pros
  • Users can adjust the firmness of the mattress easily, and if they share their bed with another sleeper, each person can choose their preferred firmness.
  • All Sleep Number mattresses feature smart SleepIQ technology, which tracks users’ movement, breathing and heart rate to generate sleep reports that provide insight into sleeping habits.
  • The company offers an online “bed quiz” to help customers find their ideal mattress before making a purchase.
Cons
  • Every adjustment to the mattress produces a buzzing noise that might bother some users.
  • Delivery and setup fees ($199) are required when buying certain mattresses unless you purchase additional items.
  • The split design that allows for personalized adjustments on either side of the mattress can make it feel like two separate beds.
  • Sleep Number mattresses are expensive.

About Sleep Number

Sleep Number is a publicly traded company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that was founded in 1987 by Robert Walker and his wife JoAnn. Formerly known as Select Comfort, the company currently operates more than 650 stores across the U.S. It also sells its products online and via direct marketing operations. 

Sleep Number Mattress Options and Prices

Sleep Number offers mattresses in four series: Classic, Performance, Innovation and Memory Foam.

Classic Series

All models within this series offer dual-adjustable functionality, responsive air technology, SleepIQ technology and a contouring sleep surface that conforms to the sleeper’s body. Users who purchase both a bed base and a Classic Series mattress receive free delivery. 

  • Sleep Number 360 c2 Smart Bed: $999 for a queen. The comfort layer is about 2 inches thick and the mattress is 8 inches high.
  • Sleep Number 360 c4 Smart Bed: $1,399 for a queen. The comfort layer is 3 inches thick and the mattress is 9 inches high.

Performance Series

These models feature all the characteristics of those in the Classic Series, plus pressure-relieving comfort layers. Users who purchase both a bed base and a Performance Series mattress receive free delivery. 

  • Sleep Number 360 p5 Smart Bed: $2,099 for a queen. The comfort layers are 4 inches thick, and the mattress is 10 inches high. 
  • Sleep Number 360 pSE Special Edition Smart Bed: $2,999 for a queen. The comfort layers are 4 inches thick, and the mattress is 10 inches high. Unlike the p5, this mattress also boasts a cooling technology.
  • Sleep Number 360 p6 Special Smart Bed: $2,599 for a queen. The comfort layers are 5 inches thick, and the mattress is 11 inches high. This model also includes cooling technology. 

Innovation Series

Features of these mattresses mirror what’s included in the Performance Series, plus a temperature-balancing sleep surface that absorbs and releases excess heat to keep you cool as you sleep. They also use a “smart” 3D fabric that the company claims is more breathable than the fabric used on its other mattresses. Users who purchase both a bed base and an Innovation Series mattress receive free delivery. 

  • Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed: $2,999 for a queen. The comfort layers are 6 inches thick, and the mattress is 12 inches high.
  • Sleep Number 360 iLE Limited Edition Smart Bed: $2,649.50 for a queen. The comfort layers are 6 inches thick, and the mattress is 12 inches high.
  • Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Bed: $4,499 for a queen. The comfort layers are 7 inches thick, and the mattress is 13 inches high.

Memory Foam

Sleep number offers one memory foam mattress model.

  • Sleep Number 360 m7 Smart Bed: $2.999 for a queen. The comfort layers are 5 inches thick, and the mattress is 11 inches high. In addition to providing the comforts of the Classic Series, this mattress also offers “dynamic pressure relief” and temperature-balancing technology.

Apps and Accessories

In addition to its mattresses, Sleep Number also sells:

  • Integrated bases. If you want to add a firm support layer beneath your mattress, consider this option since it’s designed with the company’s mattresses in mind.
  • Smart Bed headboard brackets. If you want to attach a headboard to your setup, this accessory could prove helpful. 
  • Smart Bed decorative legs. Sold as a set of four, these legs support your bed setup and provide a minimal aesthetic for your room decor.
  • Bedding. Sheets and pillowcases come in a variety of textures and colors. The “bedding” category also includes a silk pillowcase and sleep mask set, mattress pads, toppers and protectors, blankets and coverlets, and a variety of comforters and duvets. You can even create your own comforter that—just like the mattresses—cater to both sides of the bed for couples with different blanket preferences.
  • Furniture. Sleep Number also sells headboards. Customers can choose between standard versions and premium models.
  • Sleeping solutions. The company also markets “relaxation” and “prepare for sleep” product sections on its website, which include weighted blankets, sound systems, therapy lamps, a sleep robot and blue light-blocking glasses.

Warranties and Discounts

Sleep Number offers a 100-night free sleep trial that begins the day a customer’s mattress arrives at their home. The company advises all buyers to wait 30 days before deciding whether to keep their mattress, arguing that gives the mattress enough time to “learn” about the shape of a person’s body. 

People interested in returning or exchanging their Sleep Number mattresses should call the company directly—Sleep Number customer service won’t reach out as the end of the 100-day period approaches. 

Sleep Number mattresses come with a 15-year limited warranty, and no product registration is required to activate said warranty. Certain mattresses and non-adjustable integrated bases are under warranty against defects in material or workmanship under normal use and service for 15 years from the date of purchase. Customers benefit from a full warranty for one year after the original purchase date. 

What Sleep Experts Say

The most important quality to consider when shopping for a mattress is personal preference, says Chelsie Rohrschieb, Ph.D., lead sleep specialist at Wesper, an at-home tool used to help diagnose and treat sleep disorders. “A mattress needs to be comfortable for you,” she says. “It doesn’t matter whether a mattress is advertised as good quality if you don’t find it comfortable enough to sleep on.” Based on Rohrschieb’s guidance, Sleep Number mattresses’ 100-day free sleep trial is a great feature.

Rohrschieb notes other characteristics that, generally speaking, make for above-average mattresses. “Good mattresses should be able to keep you cool at night,” she says. A lot of Sleep Number’s products feature cooling technology, which is great, but she also advises against products that are sensitive to movement and motion transfer. “Mattresses that move a lot when a person shifts position or gets into bed are not ideal, especially if you sleep with a partner,” she says. Some of Sleep Number’s mattress options fall into that category. 

Rohrschieb also says expensive mattresses aren’t always better. “An expensive brand mattress isn’t necessarily going to be more comfortable for you than a medium range mattress,” she says. “There are many mattresses within the $500 to $1,500 range that are excellent quality and provide comfortable, healthy sleep. Paying more money for a mattress won’t always equate to offering you a better sleeping experience.”

What Users Say

Customers have plenty to say about Sleep Number’s products on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. One user writes, “Setup was a little hard since no directions came with it. I was told to watch a YouTube video but could not find one. But I eventually found directions on the app and it was easy to set up. Would love to have had a video to watch. though.” 

Another voiced concerns about a vexing problem of motion transfer. “I purchased a bed from Sleep Number in 2017,” they wrote. “I was having some unknown back pain and finally figured out what the problem was. When my husband gets in and out of bed or when he moves, the motion transfers to my side of the bed. The pressure keeps changing and I’m extremely uncomfortable. After multiple calls to them, they have no idea how to fix this problem. It’s a defect in their product that they are unwilling to take ownership of.” 

Meanwhile, a happy customer shared, “We’ve had our 360 p6 Smart Bed for a year and a half and, unlike other mattresses we’ve owned, the comfort of a new bed is still with us. Not only does it still have that new bed comfort, but it is the best sleep we’ve ever had. As I am sure it is with other couples, we are two different types of sleepers, so being able to adjust the firmness of our individual sides is indispensable. Also, raising the head and feet to meet our needs for the evening only adds to our comfort. This bed has been a blessing for me because I was involved in a parachute mishap (mid-air entanglement) during a military training exercise. I suffered damage to my spine and I guess I relegated myself to never getting a good night’s sleep again. But thanks to my wife researching Sleep Number and advocating spending the money, I sleep better than ever since my injury.” 

Who Should Purchase a Sleep Number Mattress?

While Sleep Number’s mattresses receive plenty of rave reviews online, the company’s prices might give some shoppers pause.

Also, take sleeping habits into account before making a purchase. For people who usually sleep alone, Sleep Number mattresses might be a better fit. They are also good options for couples who don’t like to sleep right next to each other. Duos who tend to sleep closer together will likely fare better with a different mattress style, although the latter might not give them as much flexibility when it comes to adjusting the firmness of their side of the bed.