To win the top superlative for combination sleepers, a mattress has to have the versatility of a Swiss army knife. I selected the all-foam Nectar as the best overall mattress for combination sleepers because it uses quality materials and puts up solid scores across all of our performance categories. With individual scores of 4 in back and side pressure relief, 4.5 in cooling, and 5 in motion isolation, the Nectar earned an overall score of 4.1 in our testing. 

Although the mattress’s responsiveness score was half a point below our typical standard of 4, I didn’t let this knock it out of contention as the best of the best for two reasons: 1) Our scoring guidelines provide fairly tight response times, and although the Nectar took about 2 seconds to return to its original shape, this is still fast for an all-foam bed; 2) My fellow mattress expert, Kenny Timper, noted how easy it was to move on this mattress.

“For an all-foam bed, it is surprisingly easy to switch between different positions,” Kenny said. “I think it’s easier to switch positions on it because it’s not a very tall bed and it is quite firm for a 100-percent memory foam mattress. When you use your hands to press down into the mattress, they don’t sink too far into the layers, which makes it easy to flip over from your back to your side to your stomach.”

I was also impressed with how this bed was a good fit for sleepers in all three of our weight categories, including “light” sleepers under 130 pounds, “average” sleepers between 130 to 230 pounds, and “heavy” sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds. Asha Birjah, who weighs the least of our testers, said, “I feel comfortable on my back because everything feels aligned and my lower back is supported.”  Our larger-bodied tester, Caine Wilkes, was also a fan. “I was a little surprised by how supportive the Nectar feels — it was more than I expected,” he said. 

However, even the best-in-class have areas where they can improve, and for the Nectar, I would like to see stronger edge support along the sides of the bed. This isn’t an uncommon issue with all-foam mattresses. “I felt the most sinkage while sitting on the edge of the bed,” tester Kenny said. “I could definitely feel myself sliding off a bit. While I don’t think it’s an issue for most sleepers, I wouldn’t recommend this to people who need to bear down onto the mattress to stand up. People with mobility issues may find that they have to put in even more effort to get out of the bed.” 

Although the Nectar would likely be good for lightweight back and stomach sleepers, those who weigh less than 130 pounds may not get enough pressure relief. Petite people should check out the Helix Sunset, and for more options, peruse our picks for best mattresses for lightweight sleepers. 

Learn more about this mattress in our full Nectar mattress review. 

One of the best aspects of a crowded mattress space is that you can find quality beds that fit almost every budget, and it’s important to us that we recommend beds in various price ranges. However, if you’re a combination sleeper who’s planning to treat yourself with your next mattress purchase, the luxurious Saatva Classic should help you sleep like an A-lister. This mattress will likely remind you of a high-end hotel bed, and it helps combination sleepers by allowing them to switch from one position to another with little effort. This ease of movement is mainly because the Saatva is a highly responsive mattress, snagging a 4.5 out of 5 in this category. It also earned a pressure relief score of 4 for back sleepers and a perfect 5 in edge support. When these scores were averaged with those of our other performance categories, the Saatva earned a 4.2 overall. 

The luxurious Classic is available in three firmness levels (Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm), and two different heights (11.5 inches and 14.5 inches), which allows shoppers to choose the exact model that works best for the positions they sleep in. For the purpose of our review, we tested the Luxury Firm model, which we rated at a 7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. 

With superior edge support and patented lumbar zone support technology, the Saatva is a support superstar, providing sleepers a balanced and secure feel. After testing for support and pressure relief, Erin Chiles, our average-weight tester, said, “The Saatva aligned my hips and shoulders, relieving pressure. I usually like a little more firmness, but this plush pillow top feels really nice.” My fellow mattress expert, Kenny Timper, is a big fan of the Saatva for combination sleepers. He tested it for responsiveness by evaluating how easy it was for him to move around. “I had no trouble at all switching from back sleeping to side sleeping to stomach sleeping,” he said. “I think this mattress is pretty much the gold standard for combo sleepers.” 

However, as much as this bed has to offer, it falls short in one area — motion isolation. If you sleep with a partner, you’ll likely be disturbed by even slight movements. Kenny said, “I could feel every little thing my testing partner did, and I could tell exactly what she was doing despite being blindfolded.”

If you don’t want to be disturbed by your restless partner, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. If you’re thinking about making the Saatva your new mattress, get more information by reading our full review. 

Back pain can interrupt your sleep schedule, and switching positions on the wrong mattress can exacerbate your discomfort if you are a combination sleeper. Dr. Dasgupta advises, “It’s important for those with back pain to find the right mattress for their preferred sleeping position or positions. The wrong one can worsen it by disrupting spinal alignment and creating pressure points.”

When I tested  the Helix Midnight Luxe, I noted that it had a universally appealing medium-firm feel that works for many sleepers. Its responsiveness — a particularly important feature for combination sleepers — was also immediately evident in how easily I could switch positions. This led me to give the Midnight Luxe a 4.5 out of 5 in responsiveness. It also scored a 4 or higher in motion isolation, edge support, and pressure relief, and a perfect 5 in cooling, helping it earn a 4.4 overall.

After testing this bed, I became a fan. As a side sleeper, I would certainly consider this mattress for my home use, as I think its contouring, support, and spinal alignment would be an excellent investment for back pain relief. My fellow tester Caine Wilkes, who weighs over 230 pounds, sang this mattress’s praises as well. “I felt that all parts of my body were equally balanced and supported on this bed,” Caine said. “My hips and shoulders were at the same height, providing excellent spinal alignment.”

I didn’t find this bed challenging to get out of from the seated position, but when I was testing for edge support, I sank through the comfort layers quite a bit. This could make it difficult for those with back pain or mobility issues to push off and stand up when sitting on the side of the Midnight Luxe. I fall in our average-weight sleeper category, and both I and my colleague, Caine Wilkes, a heavy sleeper, felt minimal pressure on our backs on this mattress. However, this wasn’t the case for Asha Birjah, our lightweight tester. She said, “I felt gapping around my lower back, and it feels like it’s making me arch.” 

Lightweight sleepers who experience back pain should check out the Nolah Evolution. You can also read all about this bed in our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review.

If I asked you to describe a traditional bed, it would likely be one that uses innerspring coils. However, gone are the days when a layer of thin fabric was the only thing that stood between your pajamas and metal springs. Innerspring mattresses still have sturdy coil bases, but they are now typically found underneath layers of comforting foam. This type of hybrid bed is often a good choice for combination sleepers because the coils provide bounce and responsiveness — and the WinkBed is one of the best in this category, scoring a 5 out of 5 in responsiveness. It also scored a 4 or higher in motion isolation, edge support, and pressure relief for back sleepers, all of which helped it achieve a 3.9 overall. 

After performing a “ripple test” and a “partner test,” fellow mattress expert Riley Otis was impressed with the WinkBed’s motion isolation. The ripple test consists of filling a large rectangular container with water, positioning it on one side of the bed, and noting how much the water rippled and sloshed as she got in and out of bed and then repositioned as a combination sleeper might. 

During the next portion of the motion isolation testing, Riley slid on a sleep mask and got on one side of the bed. I served as her partner and got in and out of bed and then cycled between sleeping positions. When we were finished, Riley said, “I was impressed by the motion isolation on the WinkBed. I could tell Sosha was in the bed, but it didn’t affect my side too much. The pillow top did a nice job absorbing motion at the source and preventing it from traveling too much. Although I could detect a bit of motion, I think light sleepers could sleep through it, as it didn’t jostle my body at all.”

A hybrid mattress offering top-tier responsiveness and motion isolation is a bit of an anomaly, but we are here for it. Couples with restless partners and those who are sexually active will both appreciate this bed. However, lightweight sleepers who spend part of their time on their side will likely find this bed to be too firm. These sleepers should check out the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. 

I would also caution hot sleepers about the WinkBed, as it heated up about 9 degrees. Although Riley said she was not noticeably warmer at the end of her 5-minute cooling test, those who get overheated at night will likely want to avoid this bed. These sleepers can check out the best cooling mattresses.  

Read the full WinkBed review for more information. 

When a mattress has “snow” in its name, you may automatically assume it has top-notch cooling capabilities. However, we don’t let a mattress get by on name alone — we subject it to our thermal gun test. When we tested the Canadian-based Silk & Snow Hybrid, it was clear that it was the front runner for our best cooling mattress for combination sleepers. And, in addition to its 4.5 out of 5 in cooling, it also scored a 4 for pressure relief for back sleepers and a 4.7 in motion isolation. These high scores helped it land on an overall score of 4. 

My colleague, Dan Caffrey, conducted the Silk & Snow cooling test. He used the thermal gun to take an initial surface temperature of the mattress and found that it had a resting temperature of 66 degrees. He then rested on the mattress for 5 minutes, and when his alarm went off, he retook the temperature. The Silk & Snow’s temperature only increased by 4 degrees. “I didn’t feel this mattress heating up at all,” Dan said. “It kept a cool temperature throughout and should be comfortable for hot sleepers.”

Although hot sleepers should find comfort in this bed because of the cooling technology and the typical abundance of airflow created by a hybrid mattress’s construction, it might not work for everyone. Those who have mobility issues or who like to sit on the edge of the bed to get dressed should keep in mind that the Silk & Snow doesn’t have the best edge support. Dan and I noticed a lot of sinkage when we sat along the perimeter. Although it wasn’t difficult to get out of bed, those with arthritis or other mobility issues may want to check out the Saatva.

The Silk & Snow is also an excellent choice for combination sleepers who share a bed with a partner because it absorbs the motion made when a person changes positions. Dan and I conducted the “ripple test” to measure how much motion is felt on the opposite side of the bed when movement originates on the other. This test consists of filling a large, clear container with water, planting it on the mattress, and then observing how much the water ripples and waves when one of us repositions and gets in and out of bed. Although hybrid beds are often less than stellar at isolating motion due to their bouncy springs, Dan and I both agreed that the water in the container only rippled slightly during tests on this mattress. 

Just note that the Silk & Snow may not provide enough pressure relief if your partner or you are larger-bodied side sleepers. When Caine Wilkes, a mattress tester weighing over 230 pounds, tested this bed using a specialized mat that creates a thermal image of where pressure builds up on the body when you’re lying on a mattress, we saw that there was significant pressure around his shoulders. If you think this may also be an issue for you, check out our best mattresses for heavy people. 

For more information, read our full Silk & Snow Hybrid review. 

I have the organic Nolah Natural in my guest room. Although I love making eco-friendly decisions when I can and I want my guests to be comfortable, I’ll admit that my reasons for getting this mattress weren’t wholly altruistic. I am a notoriously light sleeper, and my husband’s snoring can make me feel like I’m sleeping in a chainsaw factory. Therefore, I often trudge off to the spare room for some quiet. After testing the Nolah Natural, I picked it as our best latex bed for combination sleepers and got one for my home. The bouncy nature of latex helped the Natural land a perfect 5 out of 5 in responsiveness while also earning a 4 or higher in pressure relief and edge support. These performance scores helped this bed land an overall score of 4. 

My colleague, Riley Otis, helped me test this bed, and she found it super-easy to move around on it. After her hands-on testing, she said, “The Nolah Natural is exceptionally bouncy, which really aided my mobility. I felt like I could simply bounce from one position to the next.” We also conducted another responsiveness test by placing a 53-pound kettlebell on the mattress for 7 seconds. When the time ended, we pulled the kettlebell off and recorded how long it took for the mattress to return to its original shape. It only took the Natural 0.2 seconds. 

With that much responsiveness, it wasn’t surprising that this mattress didn’t have excellent motion isolation, but we were still a bit disappointed here. “This bed is extremely bouncy; my colleague and I felt we were on a trampoline,” Riley said after we tested it. “I could feel every small movement she made on the other side of the bed. I felt the most disturbance when she switched sleeping positions. My body was jostled a lot, and it felt like I was on a waterbed. I wouldn’t recommend this bed to couples with restless or light sleepers.” 

If you’re wondering why I didn’t choose the Natural for my bedroom, that motion isolation performance is the reason. I am easily awakened, and my husband flips and twirls like a preschooler in a tumbling class. If you want an organic mattress that’s better for couples seeking motion isolation, check out the Awara Natural Luxury Hybrid.  

Although I think the Natural is a good match for most side and back sleepers, I don’t recommend it to those who spend part of the night on their stomachs. These sleepers will likely find their hips slipping too far into the layers, wrenching their spine out of alignment. For stomach sleepers needing a more supportive mattress, check out our best mattresses for some alternatives. 

For more information on the Nolah Natural, read our full review. 

Special considerations must be made if you share a bed with a partner regularly. Most couples will favor different sleeping positions, meaning the best mattresses are usually well-rounded and versatile. These are also characteristics that I look for in the best mattresses for combination sleepers, which is why I picked the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid for the best bed for combo-sleeping couples on the strength of its performance in cooling, edge support, and responsiveness. This medium-firm mattress scored a 4 or higher in all those categories and scored 3.9 overall. 

Couples who like to spread out and use the entire sleeping surface of the bed will revel in the Signature’s top-notch edge support. When my colleague Kenny Timper tested this feature, he noted that he felt secure when lying on his back and stomach near the edge. When a bed is as firm around the perimeter as it is in the middle, couples don’t have to worry about rolling off of the side or toward each other in the middle. 

Kenny also noted that he didn’t think couples would be affected when their partners changed positions while sleeping. He tested this bed’s motion isolation with our fellow mattress tester Livvi DiCicco. “Although I could feel Livvi get in and out of bed sometimes, I couldn’t really tell when she was changing positions,” Kenny said. “I don’t think those who sleep with restless partners will be disturbed by tossing and turning.” 

However, when couples do a little tumbling together, they should also like how the Signature’s responsiveness makes it easy for them to change positions, while their body heat is kept in check by the bed’s excellent cooling features. That said, the Signature Hybrid is likely not going to be “couple’s goals” if one or both partners are lightweight side sleepers. Asha Birjah, our lightweight tester, said, “I don’t love it on my side. My hips feel lifted compared to the rest of my upper body, my spine feels a little curved, and I feel pressure in my shoulder.” The Bear is an alternative option for lightweight side sleepers. 

Learn more about the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid by reading our full review. 

Combination sleepers with larger bodies need a mattress that supports them in various sleeping positions and responds quickly when they change from one to another. The Titan Plus Luxe is made for those who weigh more than 230 pounds. The bed’s materials, construction, and performance indicate that the manufacturer had its target audience’s best interest at heart when it designed this bed. It provides incredible support and earned a 4 or higher in responsiveness, cooling, and pressure relief for back sleepers. When I averaged the Titan Plus Luxe’s scores, it ended up with a 3.9 overall.

Since this mattress is designed to support more weight, I paid special attention to the features that matter most to these sleepers. However, during the testing, I was also taken with how much our lightweight tester, Asha Birjah, and average-weight tester, Erin Chiles, liked this bed, given its firm feel. 

Asha was fond of it on her back, and her pressure map — thermal images of where pressure points are created when lying on a mattress — showed almost all blue, which indicates little to no pressure. Erin, however, preferred the Titan Plus Luxe on her side. She said, “This bed isn’t putting any pressure on my hips or shoulders, and my spine feels aligned.”

Veteran mattress expert Marten Carlson, who stands 6’5″ and weighs 270 pounds, thought this bed was a titan of (mattress) industry. During pressure relief testing, Marten’s pressure map test showed great results on his side and even better ones on his back. “I definitely recommend this bed for heavier side and back sleepers,” he said. “I felt aligned and balanced in both positions, didn’t feel much pressure, and thought the Titan just offered a comfortable sleeping surface for a bigger guy like me.”

With all that said, the Titan’s edge support gave me pause. Considering that this bed is very supportive across the center, I was surprised that the edges were slightly flimsy. I am an average-weight sleeper and didn’t feel completely secure when lying close to the edge on my side. Since sleepers who weigh more than me are more likely to compress the layers, I would not recommend this bed to them. For those wanting a supportive and secure bed, check out the Saatva Rx. 

Also, although our petite tester, Asha, liked this bed when she was on her back, the feeling wasn’t mutual when she switched to her side. “I don’t like this for side sleeping,” she said. “There is no contouring around my hips or shoulders, and it is straining my neck,.” If you also weigh less than 130 pounds, you can check out our best mattresses for lightweight sleepers.

Please get more detailed information by reading our full Titan Plus Luxe review. 

Hybrid mattresses are popular because they combine elements of innerspring mattresses and all-foam mattresses, allowing sleepers to experience support and contouring in one. The upper comfort layers wrap folks in a warm embrace, while the sturdy base of coils provides support and temperature regulation. 

We picked the Bear Elite as our top hybrid mattress for combination sleepers because of its stellar testing performance. This top mattress choice scored a 4 or higher in pressure relief for back sleepers, cooling, edge support, and motion isolation. By being so well-rounded, it earned a 4.2 overall. 

When we asked Dr. Dasgupta why he thought so many people gravitated towards hybrids, he said, “A hybrid is like a superhero of sleep comfort, providing the best of both worlds for a better night’s rest.” When it comes to the Bear Elite Hybrid, our testers agree with the doctor’s assessment that, like Superman or Wonder Woman, this bed goes above and beyond. Although this bed was slightly firmer than I typically prefer, I enjoyed it in all three sleeping positions. However, I was particularly fond of it when I was on my back. The plush upper foam layers contoured around my lower back, filling in the gap and zapping all the aches and pains I held in that area away. 

As someone who sleeps with a partner who acts as if they have loaded up a colony of ants into their pajama pants, I’m always curious about how a bed does with isolating motion. The Bear Elite didn’t disappoint. 

To test this, I filled a large, clear bin with water, positioned it on one side of the mattress, and then monitored how much it rippled and splashed when I got in and out of bed and then changed positions, I noted that the ripple was equivalent to a gentle breeze across a pond. When I had my colleague, Cait Giddings, further test the Bear Elite’s motion isolation by mimicking a partner getting in and out of bed, while I lay blindfolded next to her, I could sense when she sat down or changed positions.  That said, I’m a light sleeper and don’t think the amount of movement I felt would wake me up. 

The Bear Elite’s hybrid construction also prevents sleepers from overheating. Its top layers have cooling features such as copper-infused memory foam that helps eliminate unwanted body heat, and the open structure of the coils promotes airflow. When I used a thermal temperature gun to record its initial surface temperature and then another after I had been on the bed for 5 minutes, it only rose in temperature by 5 degrees, which I consider great cooling. 

This bed will likely be too firm for lightweight sleepers like our tester, Asha Birjah. She felt excess pressure buildup when she was on her side and back. Check out our roundup of best soft mattresses if you want a plusher bed. 

You can read our full review for more information on the Bear Elite Hybrid. 

Stomach sleepers typically need a firm bed that keeps their hips elevated, while back sleepers usually prefer a medium-firm bed that provides balanced support. So, what do you do when you sleep on both your side and back? You click “add to cart” on the Birch Natural, our selection of the best mattresses for back and stomach sleepers. This mattress brought home a 4.2 overall score by getting a 4 out of 5 or higher in pressure relief for back sleepers, cooling, edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness.

My fellow mattress expert Dan Caffrey helped me test this mattress. When he evaluated how he felt on his stomach, he said, “Stomach sleeping was very comfortable on the Birch. My hips felt lifted and aligned with my shoulders, with no bowing. I think stomach sleepers will get the firmness and support they need from this mattress.” He was equally impressed when he flipped to his backside, noting how the foam layers contoured around his lower back while the latex filled in his lumbar zone. Dan reported that his spine felt well-supported and neutrally aligned in this position.

That said, if you are a side sleeper, you will likely want to avoid the Natural. Our heavyweight tester, Marten Carlson, and his lightweight counterpart, Riley Otis, gave this bed a 2 out of 5 for pressure relief when they were on the back. Marten explained that while he felt supported by this bed when he was on his back, he didn’t experience any pressure relief. Riley said, “I felt pressure on my entire body and found this bed too firm for side sleeping.”

These sleepers may prefer the DreamCloud. Also, considering that the Birch is made with organic materials, it may be off the table for some due to its cost. If you want less expensive alternatives, check out our best cheap mattresses. 

For more information on this bed, read our comprehensive breakdown of the Birch Natural.