Best Mattresses for Motion Isolation of 2023

- Best Mattress for Motion Isolation Overall: Amerisleep AS3
- Best Performance Mattress for Motion Isolation: Zoma Hybrid
- Best Luxury Mattress for Motion Isolation: Zoma Boost
- Best Affordable Mattress for Motion Isolation: Vaya Hybrid
- Best Latex Mattress for Motion Isolation: Spindle Mattress
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Motion Isolation: Saatva Classic
- Best Dual-Sided Mattress for Motion Isolation: Layla Mattress
If you sleep with a partner, it is obvious why you need a mattress for motion isolation. A mattress that is not good at controlling motion transfer can allow your movements to disturb your partner while you both sleep.
However, even if you sleep alone, you still need to think about motion isolation because a mattress that doesn’t give it to you can leave you disturbing yourself with your own movements. The good news is that it’s now easier than ever to find mattresses that isolate motion without sacrificing an iota of comfort. Let’s talk about a few of them.
Amerisleep AS3 Overview
If you want a fantastic mattress for couples that offers enough versatility for two people as well as superior motion transfer control, check out the Amerisleep AS3. This mattress offers a plant-based memory foam alternative that fixes a lot of traditional memory foam’s problems.
All Amerisleep mattresses come with free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.
Cooling Plant-Based Memory Foam
The eco-friendly design of Amerisleep’s memory foam improves its comfort.
- Cutouts for Targeted Support
The transition foam has targeted support for five areas of the body.
- Cover with Thermoreactive Materials
The AS3 relies on sleep technology to transform body heat into infrared energy.
When you lie down on the AS3, the first thing you’ll notice is its extreme contouring power. This mattress might offer plant-based memory foam, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices an ounce of traditional memory foam’s flexibility.
It can still follow the curves of your body to ensure maximum pressure relief and support. At the same time, it’s much more cooling and responsive than traditional memory foam.
Comfort Layers
The AS3 starts out with a comfort layer made of Amerisleep’s proprietary Bio-Pur® foam. This special type of memory foam swaps out some of the petroleum products found in traditional memory foam in favor of plant oils. This creates a highly contouring foam that is more responsive and breathable than purely synthetic foam.
Transition Layers
Underneath this comfort layer, you’ll find a layer of zoned transition foam called the HIVE® layer. This layer features five zones of pressure relief targeted to five specific areas of your body. This configuration offers superior spinal alignment and pressure relief.
Support Layers
Finally, we get to the Bio-Core® support layer. This layer of high-density foam offers support for the mattress. This is the layer that keeps you lifted on top of the sleep surface. It’s also the layer that ensures this mattress will be able to resist sagging and soft spot development for a full 20 years, making the AS3 one of the most durable memory foam mattresses on the market.
Athletes and physically active people looking for a mattress that can perform to the level that they do should check out the Zoma Hybrid. This mattress was designed by and for athletes to offer recuperative and performance-enhancing sleep.
Cooling Gel-Infused Memory Foam
Heat is swift to escape the mattress to minimize disturbances.
- Aptly Named Reactiv™ Foam
The transition foam is made to mimic the bounce of latex.
- Wrapped Coils Isolate Motion
Individually wrapping the coils ensure that motion doesn’t jar the mattress.
Lying down on the Zoma Hybrid, you’ll notice a few things. First, you’ll notice that this is a highly responsive mattress, even by hybrid standards. This is because the Zoma Hybrid offers multiple technologies to enhance the spring of the bed.
Second, you’ll notice the supportiveness of the mattress. The Zoma Hybrid is on the firmer side of medium, meaning that it’s supportive enough to accommodate back sleepers and contouring enough for combo sleepers at the same time.
Comfort Layers
The Zoma Hybrid starts off with a comfort layer made of cooling and breathable gel memory foam. This memory foam can keep drawing body heat away from you for uninterrupted sleep.
Transition Layers
Next, the Reactiv™ transition layer provides an extra layer of responsiveness over what the coils would offer alone. This bouncy foam springs back underneath you as soon as you move, and it also helps increase the buoyancy of the comfort layer.
Support Layers
Finally, a layer of individually wrapped coils provides support for the mattress. These supportive and adaptable coils can offer you just the right amount of comfort you need to fall asleep fast and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another day of physical activity. These coils also operate independently of one another, which means they are fantastic at motion isolation.
Zoma Boost Overview
If you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury and motion isolation, the Zoma Boost mattress is the way to go. With its high-profile 15-inch hybrid design, combining graphite-infused memory foam and a pocketed support coil base, this mattress delivers exceptional cooling, extremely fast response time, and excellent pressure relief. It’s no wonder the Zoma Boost is a top choice for even the most discerning sleepers.
- Heat Dissipates Quickly
Stay cool design minimizes sleep disturbances.
- Reactiv™ Foam Mimics Latex’s Bounce
Aptly named Reactiv™ foam provides responsive comfort
- Wrapped Coils & Thick Foams Isolate Motion
Ideal for couples or those who share a bed with a restless sleeper.
This mattress provides incredible comfort and support that will help you get the best possible rest every night. One of the things you’ll notice about the Zoma Boost is how comfortable it feels.
The memory foam conforms to your body, providing a supportive and comfortable sleeping surface that’s perfect for all types of sleepers. And with its Reactiv™ foam layer, you’ll experience a responsive and bouncy feel that’s reminiscent of latex.
Comfort Layers
The Zoma Boost mattress is made with a unique combination of layers that work together to provide the ultimate sleeping experience. The comfort layer features graphite-infused memory foam that conforms to your body, offering both pressure relief and support. A quilted top foam layer provides additional cushioning and cooling properties, keeping you comfortable and relaxed all night long.
Transition Layers
The middle layer is made with Reactiv™ Foam, which mimics the bounce and responsiveness of latex.
The foams are all certified by CertiPUR-US®, which means they are free from harmful chemicals like ozone depleters and flame retardants. Additionally, these foams are low in VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) to eliminate odors, so you can breathe easy and enjoy a healthy, restful sleep.
Support Layers
The pocketed coils support the body, quick to buoy the body and adapt to movements. Finally, the base foam layer provides a durable foundation for the mattress, so you can enjoy years of comfortable, restful sleep.
Vaya Hybrid Overview
If you’re afraid of what getting a hybrid mattress with fantastic motion isolation will do to your budget, say hello to the Vaya Hybrid. While most hybrid mattresses in this price range sacrifice quality in favor of affordability, the Vaya offers both.
Cotton for Pillow Top Feel
Cotton underneath the airy cover is quick to cushion the body.
- Breathable Comfort Foam
The foam is airy and conforming, able to hug the body in any position.
- Pocketed Coils and Thick Base
The pocketed coils are sturdy and rest on a thicker-than-average foam for extra durability.
The Vaya Hybrid features highly adaptable memory foam and coils, making it an ultra-contouring mattress. This means it offers some of the most intense pressure relief you’ll find. Even though it is technically a medium mattress, it offers so much contouring that even side sleepers can enjoy it.
Comfort Layers
The Vaya Hybrid keeps things affordable by keeping them simple. It starts out with a comfort layer of ultra-porous memory foam. This memory foam features millions and millions of air pockets that keep cool air flowing to ensure the comfort layer does not overheat.
Support Layers
The highly contouring memory foam sits atop a supportive and adaptable layer of pocketed coils. These individually wrapped coils are perfect for motion isolation because they can move independently of each other, and they, therefore, do not transfer motion across the bed.
Underneath these coils, a layer of high-density base foam adds durability and stability to the whole mattress, ensuring that it will last just as long as its more expensive competitors. And all this comfort is wrapped in a plush and breathable fabric cover.
Nolah Evolution 15 Overview
If you find yourself waking up in a sweat no matter what you do, check out the Nolah Evolution 15. This mattress offers multiple cooling technologies to help even the hottest sleepers stay cool, and it also boasts motion isolation that makes it one of the best mattresses for couples.
Nolah mattresses come with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial you can remove at checkout. If you take off the trial period, you can save further on this mattress.
Multiple Cooling Materials
The luxury of the Evolution 15 comes from its many comfort layers.
- Zoned Coils Target the Body
Three areas of support are established by the pocketed coils
- Reinforced Edge Support
The strengthened sides make it easier to get out of the bed.
Lying down on the Evolution, the first thing you’re going to notice is, of course, its pleasantly chilly sleep surface. This mattress features a battery of technologies that increase its breathability and thermal conductivity all at once. This ensures that the sleep surface starts out cool to the touch and stays that way all night.
Comfort Layers
The Evolution brings the cooling right out of the gate with an organic cotton cover designed to breathe in cool air and dissipate heat. This cover sits atop a premium HTC (high thermal conductivity) Euro top that draws heat away from your body and towards the heat escape gusset directly below.
Any heat that does not dissipate out of the heat escape gusset will meet the graphite-infused memory foam layer designed to draw any residual heat even further away from your body.
Transition Layers
The buoyancy and support of the memory foam layer are enhanced by two layers of high-resilience and high-density transition foam.
Support Layers
Underneath these layers of supportive foam, you’ll find a layer of pocketed coils. These zoned coils offer enhanced support around the perimeter and through the center of the mattress. This provides superior lumbar and edge support.
Spindle Mattress Overview
If you want a pure organic latex mattress that offers all the buoyancy and durability you would expect from Dunlop latex, consider the Spindle Mattress. Not only does this mattress offer all-natural ingredients, but it also features adjustable firmness.
Customize the Bed’s Feel
With the bed’s three layers, you can play with the Spindle’s firmness.
- Durable, Organic Materials
Not every latex mattress is an organic mattress, but the Spindle is.
- Cooling Latex and Textiles
The latex foam, wool, and cotton stay cool at night quite well.
Since the Spindle Mattress is made of Dunlop latex, the first thing you’ll notice about it is how buoyant and bouncy it is. Dunlop latex is very dense, so it is much better than just about any other foam at fighting sinkage, no matter its firmness. This means if you want a bed with a little more lift and bounce, this may be the one for you.
Comfort Layers
The Spindle starts off with a cooling and breathable organic cotton cover. This organic cotton cover features wool batting for added pressure relief and natural fire protection without the need for fiberglass or harsh chemicals.
Support Layers
Next, come the three layers of latex. There is a soft, a medium, and a firm layer. These layers don’t come arranged in any particular order. Rather, you arrange them based on the firmness level that you want.
For example, stomach sleepers who want a firm feel would stack the firm layer on top and the soft layer on the bottom. Side sleepers who want a soft feel would do the opposite. Those who want something in the middle may have to experiment a little bit to find their perfect firmness.
The good news is experimenting is easy when all you have to do is unzip the cover and rearrange the layers.
Saatva Classic Overview
Couples who just can’t give up the feel of an innerspring mattress but are sick and tired of its problems with motion transfer and poor contouring should check out the Saatva Classic. With a few tweaks on the traditional innerspring design, the Classic fixes a lot of its issues.
Treated Organic Cotton Cover
The sturdy organic cotton is treated with an antimicrobial compound.
- Targeted Back Support
The mattress offers extra lumbar support for added comfort.
- Two Coil Layers
Pocketed coils provide comfortable responsiveness, while the coil base serves as support.
Lying down on the Classic, the first thing you’ll notice is that it still bounces and breathes like an innerspring mattress, but it’s a lot better at contouring and adapting to your shape, as well as isolating motion. This is all thanks to its dual support core system, which makes the Classic one of the best mattresses for couples who want innerspring construction.
Comfort Layers
The Classic starts with a cooling and breathable three-inch Euro top with an organic cotton cover. This cotton is treated with botanical antimicrobials to help prevent the growth of common allergens like dust mites, mold, and mildew. Directly underneath this Euro top, you’ll find a layer of high-density memory foam for added lumbar support.
Support Layers
Next comes the first support layer. This upper support layer is made of pocketed coils, which are much better than open coils at isolating motion and adapting to your body shape. This means they enhance the pressure relief and contoured support of the sleep surface.
The lower support layer consists of open coils. These highly durable unencased coils give this mattress its innerspring bounce. They are made of tempered steel and surrounded by a high-density foam perimeter rail system to ensure maximum durability and longevity.
Bear Elite Hybrid Overview
One of the best mattresses for couples with allergies, the Bear Elite Hybrid features a layer of copper memory foam that creates a hostile environment for all kinds of microbes that can trigger allergy symptoms.
Copper Repels Microbes
The copper infusion not only moves heat away but keeps microbes from settling.
- Memory Foam and Dynamic Transition
The bed’s comfortable feel is established by two foam layers.
- Three Different Firmnesses
The pillowy surface is consistent across all available firmnesses.
Since copper infusions also fight overheating as well as allergens, one of the first things you’ll notice about this mattress is just how cool it is. Copper is highly thermally conductive, which means it won’t heat up while you sleep on it but will continue to draw heat away from your body as you slumber.
Comfort Layers
The Elite starts off with a hypersoft and cooling cover that combines PCM fabric with Celliant fibers to create an incredibly breathable cover that can wick away heat and sweat.
This cover works with the copper memory foam comfort layer to keep your sleep surface cool all night. These two layers also help ensure your mattress stays free of moisture and microbes that can cause allergy symptoms.
Transition Layers
Next, a layer of ergonomic transition foam provides dynamic support and seamless progression to the pocketed coils below.
Support Layers
The pocketed coils are reinforced around the perimeter and through the middle to offer enhanced lumbar and edge support.
Birch Luxe Overview
If you want a mattress for couples that offers the all-natural comfort of wool and latex and the support of a hybrid, check out the Birch Natural Luxe Mattress.
Organic Cashmere and Wool
While many eco-friendly models rely on wool, the Luxe also offers the comfort of cashmere.
- Natural Latex Comfort
The latex foam serves as the primary pressure relief.
- Pocketed Coil Support
The coils are reinforced along the sides for added edge support.
The Luxe offers the ideal combination of pressure relief from wool, buoyancy from latex, and support from pocketed coils. This makes it perfect for those who want a different feel from the traditional memory foam hybrid mattress.
Comfort Layers
The Luxe begins with a cooling quilted cover made of matelassé-woven organic cotton for a smooth and beautiful finish. Directly under this cotton cover is an organic wool fire barrier that provides natural fire protection.
The comfort layer of this mattress offers a unique plush and pressure-relieving feel because it is made of organic cashmere and organic wool, with additional layers of organic wool underneath for added comfort.
Transition Layers
Underneath these comfort layers sits a transition layer of all-natural latex. This latex provides more responsiveness and buoyancy than the wool could offer alone. It also protects your body from the high-tension coils below.
Support Layers
The pocketed coil support layer offers reinforced coils through the center and around the perimeter. This ensures your spine stays aligned and provides edge-to-edge support.
Brooklyn Bedding Spartan Overview
Couples who want a hybrid mattress that has it all should check out the Spartan Hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding. This mattress offers copper infusions, gel memory foam, high-density foam, Ascension™ coils, and more.
Different Firmness Levels for Various Styles
The three firmness levels can provide for different sleep positions.
- Compressive Memory Foam
The memory foam of every firmness relieves pressure points.
- Wrapped Coil Support
The pocketed coils isolate motion better than unwrapped coils.
The Spartan offers three different firmness levels, and they may have slightly differing constructions, depending on the level you select. Whether you get the soft, medium, or firm, you will get a contouring and cooling hybrid with lots of support and responsiveness.
The Spartan’s construction depends on which firmness level you select. The medium and soft varieties are both the same, but the firm option will have a couple of deviations.
Comfort Layers
Regardless of what firmness level you get, the Spartan starts with a layer of cooling CopperFlex™ foam that draws excess heat away from the body.
Next, each firmness level comes with a layer of premium memory foam that determines its firmness (soft, medium, and firm, respectively).
Transition Layers
Then, the soft and medium versions feature a layer of gel swirl memory foam to increase contouring and cooling, while the firm version features VariFlex™ material.
Support Layers
Finally, all the firmness levels feature a layer of up to 1,032 premium pocketed coils that deliver dynamic and adaptable support to every inch of your body.
Layla Mattress Overview
If you’re not sure what firmness you need to best feel comfortable with your partner, consider a flippable mattress like the Layla Mattress. This mattress offers two different firmness levels, making it the perfect mattress for couples who don’t know which firmness is best for them.
Switch Between Firmnesses
The soft and firm feels serve different sleep styles.
- Pressure-Relieving Memory Foam
Both sides have different amounts of memory foam.
- Supportive, Cooling Copper
The copper infusion maintains a cool feel and responds to the body.
How lying down on the Layla feels depends on which side you are using. If you use the softer side, you will get a medium-soft feel, or four out of 10 on the firmness scale. On the flip side (pun intended), you’ll find a much firmer sleep surface, about a seven of 10. This means the Layla Mattress can accommodate side sleepers and stomach sleepers alike.
Comfort Layers
The Layla Mattress features slightly altered construction depending on which side you lay it on. Both sides of the Layla feature a comfort layer made of copper gel memory foam that creates a hostile environment for allergens and prevents overheating at the same time.
Both sides of the Layla Mattress are also wrapped in a cooling and plush cover with hexagonal air channels that keep cool air flowing over the sleep surface and throughout the mattress.
Transition Layers
On the soft side, you’ll find a layer of Max Airflow foam that ensures the side of the mattress that is more likely to overheat can stay cool and free of moisture throughout the night.
Support Layers
The support core of the Layla is made of highly durable and ultra-firm support foam. This ensures that the soft side of the mattress does not allow sinkage while the firm side offers a true-firm feel.
How to Choose the Best Motion Isolating Mattress for Couples
Choosing a mattress for motion isolation does not have to be an ordeal. In fact, there are several different mattress types that are great at controlling motion transfer to prevent you from disturbing your partner or bouncing around in the bed yourself.
Why Motion Isolation is Important
Motion transfer control is important for a few reasons. The most obvious of these reasons is for couples sharing a bed. If you sleep with a partner and your mattress is not good at motion isolation, every little movement you make can keep your partner from getting a good night’s sleep.
However, even if you sleep alone, motion isolation is still something you should pay attention to. If your mattress is not able to isolate motion, it could bounce you around every time you move, and this could leave you disturbing your own sleep. If you eat or drink in bed, it could also leave you with a lot more spills and accidents than you would otherwise have to deal with.
Ideal Mattress Materials for Motion Isolation
While it is true that some types of mattresses are better at motion isolation than others, the good news is that the majority of the most popular mattress types on the market today are capable of controlling motion transfer quite well. You just need to know which ones to choose.
If you want to ensure maximum motion isolation, you may wish to choose a mattress without springs that’s purely foam. However, a well-made coil mattress can still keep movement from rippling across the surface.
Memory Foam
When it comes to motion isolation, nothing beats memory foam mattresses. A memory foam mattress isolates virtually 100 percent of motion. This is all thanks to the nature of flexible polyurethane foam. This synthetic foam tends to absorb your motion without responding to it.
Not only is memory foam ideal for motion isolation. It’s also fantastic for pressure relief and contouring. Memory foam can mold its shape to fit yours in a way that no other material can, establishing top-notch mattresses for pressure points.
It can compress under the heavier parts of your body while simultaneously rising to meet the parts that need support. This makes memory foam mattresses ideal for those who need extra flexibility and pressure relief, such as side sleepers.
The bad news is that memory foam’s motion isolating and contouring capabilities come at a cost, and that cost is a lack of responsiveness. Memory foam is often slow to bounce back when you move.
If you do not toss and turn while asleep, this will likely not bother you. However, active sleepers who change positions several times a night will notice that it takes their mattress time to follow suit. This can be a problem for those who like to toss and turn.
Memory foam’s synthetic nature also means that it is not as good at shedding heat as other mattress types. While this may not bother cooler sleepers, those who sleep hot will definitely notice and may need to consider alternatives to a memory foam mattress, such as gel memory foam or natural latex foam.
Latex Foam
If you want a good mix of motion isolation and responsiveness in an all-foam mattress, natural latex foam may be the way to go. Natural latex comes from the sap of the rubber tree. This makes a latex mattress much bouncier and more responsive than its synthetic cousin: memory foam.
Despite its springiness, latex is very good at bouncing back underneath you without transferring your motion to other parts of the bed. The benefits of natural latex also include how highly breathable and much more cooling than memory foam it is.
For these reasons, active sleepers and hot sleepers who would like a pure foam cooling mattress should consider latex over memory foam. Those who want lots of buoyancy and support would do well on Dunlop latex, which is the denser and more durable of the two latex types.
Those who want the springiness of latex and the contouring of memory foam should consider Talalay latex, which is less dense and more flexible. See our guide to Talalay vs Dunlop latex foam.
The trade-off of latex’s natural springiness is that it is not quite as flexible as memory foam. This is especially true of Dunlop latex. Both latex varieties want to hold their shape more than memory foam does, meaning they will bounce back right away, but you will not get as much contouring out of them.
Most people will not notice this or will think the trade-off is worth it. Many active or hot sleepers may be more than willing to sacrifice a bit of contouring in favor of responsiveness and cooling. But side sleepers who do not move around in bed might find latex’s lowered contouring power annoying.
Hybrid
Those who want a mix of responsiveness, cooling, flexibility, and motion isolation should check out hybrid mattresses. A hybrid mattress combines a pocketed coil support core with at least two inches of comfort foam. This foam can be either memory foam or natural latex – or even a combination of both!
The pocketed coil support layer of a hybrid mattress is what gives it its unique feel. Pocketed coils can move independently of one another because they are individually wrapped in foam or cloth cases. This means each coil can compress or rise exactly how it needs to in order to give you contoured, customized support.
Pocketed coils don’t just contour like memory foam. They breathe and spring like latex to offer you coolness and responsiveness. Pocketed coils also do not transfer motion because they are not connected to one another. So they will bounce back underneath you without transferring your motion over the sleep surface.
The main problem with hybrid mattresses doesn’t come from issues with comfort. The coils inside hybrid mattresses will lose tension and break down faster than most base foams. This means hybrids are, on average, less durable than foam mattresses.
Hybrids are also much more expensive than memory foam mattresses, on average, and only a little less expensive than latex ones. If you combine this expense with the decreased durability, you get the most expensive mattress on the market over the course of its lifetime. This can put hybrids out of many people’s price range.
Innerspring
The one mattress you really don’t want if you’re in the market for a mattress that is good at motion isolation is an innerspring mattress. This type of mattress features a comfort layer that may be made of any plush material and a support layer made of open coils.
The problems with innerspring mattresses stem almost exclusively from their open coil support layers. Open coils do not have a casing and are wired together in a network that spans the entirety of the mattress. This means that when you move, an open coil support core will amplify your motion and transfer it all over the bed. It may also bounce you like a trampoline.
A lack of motion isolation is not the only problem with open coils, however. The metal-on-metal contact in an open coil support court means that your innerspring mattress will start squeaking and creaking with your motion at some point. Open coils also start to sag and break down much faster than base foam and pocketed coils alike.
Potentially the main issue with open coils is their inability to contour. Because they’re wired together, open coils tend to sag under your heavier parts rather than taking the shape of your body.
This can allow your spine to fall out of alignment and also exert pressure on your pressure points. For all these reasons, we suggest a hybrid mattress for those who want coils and a memory foam mattress for those who want affordability.
Ideal Mattress Firmness for Motion Isolation
Generally speaking, a mattress firmness has little to do with its ability to isolate motion. Motion isolation comes from a mattress’s construction and not its firmness. However, you cannot discount firmness when selecting a mattress for couples.
Firmness is one of the most important factors in your mattress selection, and it’s basically impossible to get the right mattress if you get the firmness wrong.
Sleep Position
Your preferred sleep position is the main factor that decides what firmness you need. This is because the way you sleep decides how your body contacts the bed and therefore how much support and pressure relief you need to keep your spine aligned and your pressure points free from pain.
While it’s true that your body type does impact your firmness needs as well, your sleep style determines your firmness baseline, while your body type dictates whether you should go up or down from there.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers can have problems with both a lack of contouring and a lack of support, depending on whether their mattress is too soft or too firm. Back sleepers need a Goldilocks mattress that’s not too hard and not too soft but offers just the right firmness.
This is because an overly firm mattress can allow your lower back to collapse onto the sleep surface and leave you sleeping without lumbar support. Meanwhile, an overly soft mattress can allow your body to sink into the bed and leave you sleeping in a hunched position. Either way, if you have a too-soft or too-firm mattress, you’ll be waking up with back pain.
To counter both of these problems, back sleepers should select a medium-firm mattress (6 of 10). Medium-firm mattresses offer lots of lift to keep you on top of the sleep surface and just enough contouring to follow the curve of the spine for optimal lumbar support.
Combo Sleepers
Combination sleepers don’t have a strong preference for any sleep position. They may sleep on their stomachs, sides, or backs on any given night. Some combo sleepers even roll from one position to another several times throughout the night.
This means combination sleepers need a versatile mattress that can comfortably accommodate all sleep positions without being designed to accommodate a single one.
Medium mattresses (5 of 10) typically are the best for combo sleepers because they offer an even balance of support and pressure relief. Such mattresses for combination sleepers give them the versatility combo sleepers need to be comfortable in any position.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers typically have the most problems with pressure, or rather, a lack of pressure relief. When you sleep on your side, the weight of your body presses one shoulder and one hip joint into the sleep surface. A mattress that’s overly firm will push back against your joints, exerting pressure on them and causing pain.
To counter this, side sleepers normally need a medium-soft (4 of 10) or even a soft mattress (3 of 10). Softer mattresses for side sleeping absorb pressure by compressing underneath the pressure points. This helps prevent you from waking up with pain in your hips and shoulders.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers often have the opposite problem as side sleepers. Rather than insufficient pressure relief, stomach sleepers usually wind up with insufficient support. Sleeping on your stomach causes your pelvis to sink into the mattress.
When this happens, it pulls your spine out of alignment, overarching your lumbar region and causing pain in your lower back. For this reason, stomach sleepers need firm mattresses (7 of 10). Firmer mattresses for stomach sleeping offer enough support to prevent sinkage in the pelvis and keep the spine aligned when you sleep on your stomach.
Body Type
Though it is true that your preferred sleep position is the main factor that determines your firmness needs, some sleepers cannot discount their body types.
The mattress industry considers 130 to 230 pounds to be the average human weight range. If you fall into this range, then you do not have to worry about accounting for your body weight when choosing a mattress firmness. You can just choose the firmness that goes with your sleep position. However, if you fall outside this range, you may have to make some adjustments.
Petite Sleepers
Those who weigh less than 130 pounds are considered petite sleepers. Petite sleepers often do not get enough compression from the mattresses that correspond to their preferred sleep positions. This means they may not get sufficient pressure relief.
To counter this, petite sleepers should choose a mattress for lightweight sleepers that is a firmness level softer than the one that would normally match their sleep position. For example, petite stomach sleepers should consider a medium-firm mattress rather than a firm one.
Plus-Size Sleepers
Plus-size sleepers are above 230 pounds. At this weight, your body may compress the bed too much, leading to insufficient support and spinal misalignment. Therefore, you may need to increase your mattress firmness above what would typically be the best for your sleep position.
For example, heavier combo sleepers may need to upgrade from a medium to a medium-firm mattress. You might also want to look for mattresses for heavy people that stress support for plus-sized bodies.
FAQs
What is the best mattress type for motion isolation?
If you want the absolute highest level of motion isolation you can get, a memory foam mattress is likely best for you. Memory foam mattresses absorb just about all motion, which means they will almost never transfer any amount of motion to any part of the bed. However, the trade-off of this is that memory foam mattresses are typically not very responsive.
If you want a responsive mattress that will bounce back underneath you without transferring much motion to the rest of the sleep surface, latex foam or hybrid mattresses may be the way to go. Both of these mattresses are very good at isolating motion, but they are much better than memory foam at bouncing back underneath your body when you move.
Is an innerspring mattress a good mattress for motion isolation?
Innerspring mattresses are the worst mattresses for motion isolation. Not only are they all-around terrible at controlling motion transfer. They actually amplify your motion. This means that not only do they transfer motion all over the bed, but they will also bounce around underneath you in a way that may disturb your slumber.
Hybrid mattresses offer a better solution for those who want a spring mattress. Hybrid mattresses have coils that are not wired together and can move independently. This means you will get some bounce underneath you but not so much that it disturbs your sleep. You will also get superior motion isolation at the same time.
Do I really need to worry all that much about motion isolation?
Motion transfer can be anything from a minor annoyance to a major barrier between you and a good night’s sleep. Those who sleep alone don’t have to worry about motion transfer as much, but they still need mattresses that are not going to bounce their bodies as they move.
Couples sleeping in the same bed are the ones who will have the most issues with motion transfer. If you get a mattress that is not good at motion isolation, you will likely disturb your partner with your movements, and they will disturb you with theirs. This is why it’s vital for couples to select mattresses that offer good motion isolation.
Should single sleepers care about motion isolation?
It is true that single sleepers don’t have to worry about motion isolation as much as couples. But that doesn’t mean you should discount motion isolation altogether if you happen to be sleeping alone.
One of the main problems single sleepers can face with mattresses that offer poor motion isolation is that these mattresses can create a situation where single sleepers disturb their own rest. For example, an innerspring mattress may bounce like a trampoline to the point that you wake yourself up if you move in your sleep.
Mattresses that are bad at motion isolation may also make it harder to eat or drink in bed. So those who like to unwind at the end of the day with a good book and a cup of tea may have a harder time doing so. This is why you shouldn’t discount motion isolation even if you’re sleeping alone.
Are hybrid mattresses good mattresses for motion isolation?
Hybrid mattresses offer some of the best motion isolation around. The pocketed coil support core design of a hybrid mattress is the reason it is so good at controlling motion transfer. Each coil can move independently of all the others.
This means that each coil can bounce back underneath your body without amplifying your motion or transferring it to any of the other coils. This creates a fantastic mattress that will not have any issues with body impressions or slow response time while simultaneously offering excellent motion isolation.
Bottom Line
Whether you sleep alone or with a partner, motion transfer control is not something you can ignore. But if you snag one of the best mattresses on our list, it’s also not something you’ll ever have to worry about again.