Gone are the days of trying to decide between an innerspring mattress or memory foam mattress. Made of several layers, hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds. They combine both coils and memory foam, providing exceptional contouring, advanced cooling, motion isolation, and improved response time for changing sleep position when compared to a traditional innerspring mattress or straightforward polyurethane foam or gel foam mattress.
Like any other category of mattresses, the firmness level of a hybrid mattress can run the gamut from super-soft and plush to firm enough for a stomach sleeper. The mattress materials can also vary — some are infused with copper, gel or latex foam, others have perforated layers that improve airflow and help you sleep more comfortably and some even have a comfort layer. They can also come in many different configurations, from mattresses with a latex hybrid, gel memory foam or foam layer to ones with individually wrapped coils. The best hybrid mattress for you depends on several factors, like your sleeping position, need for motion isolation, your weight and whether or not it provides pressure relief when you’re dealing with pain.
These models are our top picks because they’re comfortable, supportive and feel truly high quality. I’ve personally slept on — and loved — them all. Want to find out which one is right for you? Read on for all the details you need to build a great hybrid bed. And, if you’re still unsure about which mattress is best for you, almost all the mattress companies on this list have a pretty stellar return policy — just in case.
Prices listed are for a queen mattress at full retail price. And, if you’re looking to update your entire sleeping situation, we have lists of the best sheets and best pillows to peruse.
Read more: Best mattress in a box for 2021
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From comfort to motion isolation to cooling capabilities, the Layla Hybrid mattress earned high marks across the board. It contoured to my body without too much sinking, and had just enough bounce to keep me comfortable, but not so much that I was jolted awake when my partner tossed and turned during the night.
A true hybrid, this mattress is constructed of innerspring coils that are sandwiched between four layers of memory foam. Two of those memory foam layers are infused with copper, which not only keeps you cool, but is also naturally antimicrobial and helps fight off the buildup of bacteria and other undesirable things that break down your mattress more quickly.
Aside from the fact that it’s just really comfortable, something else that makes the Layla Hybrid mattress stand out is that it’s flippable. There’s a soft side and a firmer mattress side, so if you’re not really sure which mattress type you like — or you like to switch it up based on how your body feels at any given time — you don’t have to decide; you can have both. I preferred the softer side, which is rated a 4 out of 10, but if you need a little more support, the firm side clocks in at 7 out of 10.
The Layla Hybrid mattress comes in twin to California king sizes.
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Just based on looks alone, you can tell the Saatva Classic is a step above the rest. It has a 3-inch Euro pillow top that sits on top of high-density memory foam and two coil mattress layers — one that helps contour your body and another that prevents sagging. This hybrid innerspring mattress felt the most like a traditional spring mattress, but with considerably less motion transfer and no squeaking.
When sleeping on my side, the pillow top had enough give to alleviate pressure on my shoulders and hips, while the springs and foam below provided adequate support, preventing my body from sagging and knocking my spine out of alignment in my preferred sleeping position.
The Saatva Classic is also handmade to order, so it’s customizable. You can choose your firmness level — plush soft, luxury firm or firm. The luxury firm Saatva mattress, which is really a medium-firm feel that’s rated a 5 to 7 out of 10, is Saatva’s most popular option and a good choice for a side sleeper or combination sleeper. If you prefer a little more contouring, or you weigh less than 150 pounds and find most mattresses too firm, the plush soft Saatva mattress, which is rated a 3 out of 10, is a good choice for you.
The Saatva Classic comes in sizes from twin XL to split California king.
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With its plush organic cotton cover and five-layer construction, the Leesa Legend feels and looks really luxurious. It’s made from two layers of springs and two layers of memory foam that immediately felt soft and inviting, with less adjustment time than some of the others on this list. One of the layers, called a relief and stability layer, combines micro-pocket coils with an exclusive stabilizing foam, something that’s pretty unique to this mattress brand. That layer makes a big difference when it comes to targeted pressure relief and eliminating motion transfer.
This mattress was comfortable no matter the sleep position, but it had the best body contouring when I was lying on my back. And thanks to motion isolation I couldn’t feel my boyfriend move around at all — even when he got up in the middle of the night. It was like he wasn’t even there. Rated from 5 to 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, Leesa calls this mattress medium-firm, but I’d say it feels more on the medium side, especially compared to others like the Casper.
The Leesa Legend comes in sizes from twin XL to California king.
Amerisleep
If you’re dealing with back pain, either from your mattress or otherwise, the Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid is the hybrid mattress for you. Designed for back or stomach sleepers, this medium-firm mattress helps maintain proper spinal alignment. Amerisleep uses a proprietary plant-based memory foam called Bio-Pur that aims to solve all of the problems of traditional memory foam. It contours your body without any of that slow-sinking feeling and helps dissipate warmth, rather than trapping it and making you sweat.
As someone who’s not a fan of memory-foam-only mattresses, the improved response time was one of my favorite things about the AS2 Hybrid. When I changed positions during the night the mattress adjusted quickly, thanks to the pocketed coils, and I never felt like I was stuck in a hole. I felt like my body was cradled, but never like I was sinking into the mattress, something that’s a common complaint with softer memory foam and that can contribute to back pain.
The Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid comes in sizes from twin to split king.
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Mattress preferences can differ significantly, so if you sleep with a partner, landing on one that suits both of you can be a serious exercise in compromise. But thanks to a construction that can please most people, the Helix Midnight Luxe makes it a little easier. Landing smack in the middle of the firmness scale — Helix rates it a 4 to 7 out of 10 — it can satisfy sleepers on both ends of the spectrum. If you prefer softer beds (like me) but your partner likes things on the firmer side (like my boyfriend), you’ll both be happy on this Helix mattress. The same is true for different sleeping positions.
After sleeping on this Helix mattress for a few weeks, my boyfriend and I were both happy campers. I slept through the night and didn’t wake up with shoulder pain from sleeping on my side, and my boyfriend, who snoozes mostly on his back, felt equally comfortable in that sleep position. Aside from layers of memory foam and springs, Helix’s Luxe hybrid models have a premium feature that’s worth the extra cost: zoned lumbar support that’s designed to support your back and keep your body properly aligned.
The Helix Midnight Luxe comes in sizes from twin to California king.
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All hybrid mattresses offer more support than memory foam-only models, but if you’re looking for a bed that’s on the firmer side, the Casper Original Hybrid has your back (literally). Like the other mattresses on this list, it has a layered construction — two top layers of foam and a support layer of individually-wrapped springs that add extra lift. I’d rate it around a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, since it’s slightly firmer than the average “medium-firm” feel of most hybrid models.
Because it’s a little firmer than others, the Casper Original Hybrid has less of that slow sink feeling and motion isolation that you get with softer memory foams. It also offers more edge support, thanks to some extra firmness around the border. This is an excellent pick for a stomach sleeper, back sleeper, hot sleeper and anyone who likes to feel like they’re sleeping on top of their mattress, rather than sinking into it.
And even though it’s a hybrid, which are typically more expensive than other models, it’s still a budget-friendly pick, even when compared to memory foam-only options. The Casper Original Hybrid comes in sizes from twin to California king.
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The Purple Hybrid Premier 4 is probably my personal favorite mattress on this list, but since it’s really unique and on the softer side (and also the most expensive option), it might not work for everyone. If you prefer plush mattresses to firm ones and you’re not quite sold on memory foam, this is an excellent option for you.
Like all Purple models, this Purple mattress is made of a proprietary hyper-elastic polymer grid that sits on top of a layer of responsive, noise-reducing coils. The major difference is that the Premier 4 has an additional inch of the Purple grid compared to the other hybrid model (and 2 extra inches beyond the standard model). And it makes all the difference in the world.
The Purple mattress had the most bounce out of all the mattresses, and it definitely felt the softest, but in a nontraditional way. The grid bends and moves in a way that perfectly contours your body, providing exceptional support for your back and spine. It was also really comfortable in every sleep position — back, side and stomach. I also found myself doing work from my bed more often, since it was so comfortable when lying on my stomach. If you want even more customizable support, an adjustable base is sold separately.
The Purple Hybrid Premier 4 comes in sizes from twin XL to split king.
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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