The 10 Best Mattresses for Adjustable Beds in 2022, According to Sleep Experts

Sleeping on an incline has never felt so natural.

By Jillian Mueller
Updated on January 3, 2022
Best-Mattresses-for-Adjustable-Beds-AdobeStock_226734722
AdobeStock

Adults spend roughly a third of their lives in bed, so it's important to find a mattress that satisfies. And what better way to maximum comfort than with an adjustable bed? Adjustable bases allow you to rest on an incline, which can help reduce back pain and, in some cases, improve sleep apnea. The best mattress for an adjustable bed may not cure your health problems, but it can certainly provide some much-needed relief.

That's why the sleep experts at Mattress Advisor tested hundreds of beds to identify which options pair seamlessly with adjustable frames and provide enough support for elevated sleepers throughout the night. Below, explore our guide to the best mattresses for an adjustable bed.

Our adjustable mattress recommendations:

Note: Mattresses that are eight to 12 inches thick typically fit adjustable bases. Any thicker than that and they may not bend to the frame.

What is an adjustable bed and how does it work?

An adjustable bed consists of a base that uses a motor to raise or lower your bed frame. It allows sleepers to control the position they sleep in, which can help relieve body aches. Adjustable beds tend to appeal to people who are recovering from an injury or experience frequent back pain.

This type of bed is remote controlled and easy to operate, meaning you can change the incline at any time with the push of a button. Adjustable beds are also available in split designs, giving couples the option to independently control just one side of the bed. Though this may sound obvious, the best mattress for an adjustable bed is one that's the same size as the frame—so a queen-size mattress should be paired with a queen-size frame.

Benefits of an adjustable bed

There's a reason these motorized bases are making a comeback outside the hospital ward. Here are a few of the pros.

Better sleep

According to multiple studies, keeping your head elevated while you sleep can relieve symptoms of acid reflux and reduce sleep apnea. By tilting your body, adjustable beds also help maintain optimal spine alignment and keep pressure off your back.

If you want to cut down on your snoring, look for an adjustable frame with an "anti-snore" preset option, which will tilt your head into a position that's designed to limit snoring.

Customizable

With an adjustable base, you can customize your level of comfort. No more tossing and turning until you find the exact right position—adjustable bed frames let you add presets for your preferred heights so that you can quickly settle in whether you're watching TV, reading a book, or getting ready to fall asleep.

Some adjustable beds even come with a zero-gravity setting, which makes you feel totally weightless. This sensation is meant to give you a deeper sleep by relieving pressure from your lower back.

Convenient

Many adjustable bed frames come with added perks like built-in massagers, USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. You can even find ones with under-the-bed lighting that makes going to the bathroom in the middle of the night a whole lot easier.

Drawbacks of an adjustable bed

While adjustable beds often have a lot of cool features, there are a couple of cons to owning one. These bed frames are big, sometimes bulky pieces of equipment, meaning they're not the most aesthetically pleasing options. Adjustable frames can also be noisy and incredibly hard to move: A queen-size typically weighs around 120 pounds.

Best mattress types for adjustable beds

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are made with coils covered in a thin layer of foam, and their bouncy nature works well with adjustable bases. For shoppers looking to purchase both a new mattress and an adjustable bed frame, innersprings tend to be a more budget-friendly pick.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses contour to your body, delivering expert pressure relief. The foam layers are also flexible enough to adapt to an adjustable frame.

Latex

Latex mattresses are naturally durable, breathable, and pressure-relieving. The material holds up when paired with an adjustable base because its springy nature easily conforms and adapts to changes in position.

Hybrid

As the name implies, a hybrid mattress combines two or more materials—typically coils and foam—giving you the contour of memory foam and the support of an innerspring. The coils help mold the mattress to an adjustable base by quickly responding to movement.

The 10 best mattresses for adjustable beds

01 of 10

Best Overall Adjustable Mattress: Saatva Solaire

Mattress Lifestyle Photos
Saatva
BUY IT, $2,247 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $3,245)

The Saatva Solaire is an adjustable air bed with six comfort layers, and sleepers can choose from 50 different firmness options––all accessible via a remote control. You can even customize the elevation settings based on how high you like to sit up in bed. With an innovative design that integrates high-quality latex and a supportive base, the Solaire excels at adapting to movement, scoring an 8 out of 10 for responsiveness in the Mattress Advisor testing lab. The brand goes above and beyond the competition with its free white-glove delivery service that makes mattress setup truly painless. Of course, this unmatched level of customization comes with a hefty price tag, but a good night's sleep is priceless.

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  • Mattress Type: Adjustable air bed
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 9.3/10
  • Firmness: 50 levels
  • Trial Period for Returns: 180 nights

02 of 10

Best Luxury Adjustable Mattress: DreamCloud

Mattress Lifestyle Photos
DreamCloud
BUY IT, $999 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,598)

The DreamCloud is a luxury hybrid mattress that promotes proper spine alignment and gives you a plush surface to sleep on. When paired with an adjustable base, the DreamCloud's soft foam layers contribute to the mattress's pressure-relieving capabilities, allowing for maximum comfort. This is a great pick for back and stomach sleepers who need a bed that won't exacerbate back pain and provides a little extra support.

The mattress also features a cashmere blend cover, gel-infused memory foam, and individually wrapped coils—a hybrid combination you don't typically see in a bed that costs less than $2,000. According to Mattress Advisor, these materials kept testers' spines in near-perfect alignment, earning the DreamCloud a 9 out of 10 in the spine alignment category. While this bed works for all sleep positions, side sleepers might prefer a plusher surface, like the pillow top found on the brand's newest model, the DreamCloud Premier.

  • Mattress Type: Hybrid (memory foam and coils)
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 9.1/10
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 365 nights
03 of 10

Best Adjustable Mattress for Combination Sleepers: The WinkBed

best hybrid mattresses
WinkBeds
BUY IT, $1,499 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,799)

The WinkBed lets you choose between four firmness levels at checkout: soft, luxury-firm, firm, and plus. If you're a combination sleeper—meaning you often switch positions during the night—testers recommend the luxury-firm model, which scored a 9 out of 10 for responsiveness in the Mattress Advisor lab. Side sleepers may prefer the soft option for its expert cushioning at the hips and shoulders, while back and stomach sleepers will appreciate the extra support found in the firm model.

The WinkBed also earned excellent scores for spine alignment, durability, and edge support, so whatever the firmness level, you can count on solid lumbar support. However, the mattress didn't perform well in motion transfer, earning just a 6.4 out of 10. One solution for couples: sleep on separate twin XL mattresses atop an adjustable split king base.

  • Mattress Type: Hybrid (coils and foam)
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 8.6/10
  • Firmness: Soft (4.5/10), luxury-firm (6.5/10), firm (7.5/10), and plus (8/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 120 nights
04 of 10

Best Adjustable Mattress for Sex: GhostBed Classic

GhostBed Classic mattress
GhostBed
BUY IT, $977 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,395)

The right mattress can improve your sleep and heighten sexual performance and satisfaction. The GhostBed Classic's layer of aerated latex provides a bouncy surface and keeps you cool—as does the gel-infused memory foam. This cooling technology and superior responsiveness is an ideal blend for both sex and combination sleepers, who change positions frequently throughout the night.

Unlike similarly priced mattresses, the GhostBed comes with a 101-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty. The brand offers its own adjustable base, but its mattresses are also compatible with other adjustable frames on the market.

  • Mattress Type: Latex foam
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 8.6/10
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (7.5/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
05 of 10

Best Cooling Adjustable Mattress: Helix Midnight Luxe

Helix Midnight Luxe
Helix
BUY IT, $1,749 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,949)

The Helix Midnight Luxe is our top pick for cooling thanks to its hybrid build that moves heat away from the body. A base layer of pocketed innerspring coils promotes airflow, and the Luxe's gel-infused memory foam layers and breathable Tencel cover work to wick away moisture.

The Helix Midnight Luxe performed best in the lab when it came to cooling (9.5/10), but the mattress also scored well in spinal alignment (9/10), responsiveness (8.75/10), and pressure relief (8.5/10). Pair an adjustable base with the mattress in order to personalize your sleep experience. Lift or lower your head and feet based on what feels most cool and comfortable to you.

  • Mattress Type: Hybrid (coils and foam)
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 8.9/10
  • Firmness: Medium (5.5/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights
06 of 10

Best Value Adjustable Mattress: Nectar

Nectar
Nectar. Nectar
BUY IT, $899 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,298)

The Nectar combines all the best traits of foam mattresses into one bed: comfort, contouring, and pressure-point relief. Its plush feel lets you sink into the mattress while the stable base offers plenty of support for your spine. The bed's three dense memory foam layers cradle your pressure points, and they're flexible enough to conform to an adjustable frame.

Typically, you can find the queen size on sale for less than $1,000, which is a steal considering the Nectar's premium materials. But what truly sets this bed apart from the rest is its year-long sleep trial and lifetime warranty, which is unheard of for a memory foam mattress.

  • Mattress Type: Gel memory foam
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 365 nights
07 of 10

Best Adjustable Mattress for Back Pain: Puffy Lux

Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress
Puffy
BUY IT, $1,699 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $2,449)

If you frequently experience back pain, an adjustable base allows you to sleep on an incline, limiting pressure on your lower back and promoting a healthy sleep posture. When paired with a medium-firm bed like the Puffy Lux, the base will work with the mattress to keep the spine in alignment throughout the night (the Lux model scored a 9 out of 10 in the spine alignment category).

The experts at Mattress Advisor told Health that the bed's top layers provide a great deal of pressure relief (9.5/10) while the sturdy foam core prevents the hips from sagging into the surface and throwing off your posture.

  • Mattress Type: Memory foam
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 9.3/10
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
08 of 10

Best Adjustable Mattress for Pressure Relief: Awara Premier Hybrid

Awara mattress
Awara
BUY IT, $1,599 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $2,298)

The Awara Premier Hybrid is a standout mattress because of its GreenGuard Gold certification and CertiPUR-US certified foams, which signify that the materials used are minimally processed and ethically sourced. But pressure relief is where the Premier really steps up when compared to the original hybrid Awara. Latex has proven to reduce pressure on certain regions of the body, namely the torso and buttocks, and the Premier features a 2-inch layer of latex foam near the top of the bed that provides additional comfort.

Like the original Awara, the Premier's Euro top is made with plush New Zealand wool that doesn't trap in heat. The use of natural latex and innerspring coils create bounce and a high level of responsiveness, which is ideal for combination sleepers. Plus, for every Awara mattress sold, the company plants 10 trees by way of its partnership with Trees for the Future. The trees are planted in Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, or Tanzania as part of the nonprofit's agricultural enrichment and sustainability efforts.

  • Mattress Type: Hybrid (coils and latex)
  • Mattress Advisor Score: Coming soon
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 365 nights
09 of 10

Best Hybrid Adjustable Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora

BROOKLYN AURORA HYBRID
Brooklyn Bedding
BUY IT, $1,312 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,749)

The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora pairs excellently with different elevation settings because its bouncy coils will flex with an adjustable frame. This freedom of movement allows you to maintain a healthy posture and keep your back supported (Mattress Advisor awarded the Aurora an 8.5 out of 10 for spine alignment).

Due to its pocketed coil structure, the bed also isolates movement well (it scored an 8.5 out of 10 for motion transfer), which is great for couples. You'll just have to decide what firmness level to get: The mattress comes in soft, medium, and firm.

  • Mattress Type: Hybrid (coils and foam)
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 8.9/10
  • Firmness: Soft (3/10), medium (5/10), and firm (7/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 120 nights
10 of 10

Best Memory Foam Adjustable Mattress: Casper

Mattress Lifestyle Photos
Casper
BUY IT, $895 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,295)

Casper's memory foam mattress uses softer foam under the shoulders and firmer foam beneath the hips and back (known as a "zoned" support system) to relieve pressure and promote proper spine alignment. The bed also received a perfect 10 out of 10 in responsiveness from testers. But best of all, the Casper's sturdy yet malleable 12-inch-thick foam can accommodate any sleep position and bed frame, including an adjustable base.

One slight drawback? Hot sleepers may find the Casper a bit too warm since all-foam beds tend to trap in heat. Mattress Advisor testers said those sleepers should try one of the brand's newer hybrid models, like the Casper Wave Hybrid, which has innersprings to create better airflow.

  • Mattress Type: Memory foam
  • Mattress Advisor Score: 9.1/10
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10)
  • Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights

Mattress Advisor's Review Process

Each mattress on this list was put to the test (literally) in Mattress Advisor's lab, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bedding experts spent over 1,200 hours evaluating and comparing mattresses using a 14-point testing methodology to find the best options for adjustable beds.

While some of the factors tested are tied directly to performance, like responsiveness, edge support, and pressure relief, others are based around brand operations, such as customer service, shipping policies, and trial period. The Mattress Advisor team combines this proprietary methodology with in-depth interviews and customer experience to arrive at a weighted score out of 10.

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