Best full-size mattress for hot sleepers
Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam Mattress
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Best full-size hybrid mattress
Helix Midnight Luxe
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Best full-size mattress for back pain
Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid
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Best full-size mattress for stomach sleepers
Purple Restore Hybrid
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A full-size mattress can be quite versatile. Whether you’re on the market for your first mattress or need one to make a smaller space more comfortable, or are just on a budget, a full mattress can be a good option. You get everything from a full-sized mattress that you would expect from any of the standard sizes, including back pain relief and edge support. You get them with all kinds of materials as well. That means you can get a firm bed, or a softer mattress in full-size, including softer and firmer mattress picks, classic memory foam mattress picks, and hybrid or innerspring mattress options.
There are a lot of questions you need to answer when trying to buy a mattress. Do you sleep on your back, or are you primarily a stomach sleeper? Do you prefer a soft mattress, a firm mattress or a medium-firm one? Do you prefer latex foam and want a high-density foam mattress, or an innerspring mattress or a hybrid mattress (innerspring with a foam layer)?
CNET’s team of nine sleep experts has spent years testing beds, and we’re here to help you make the decision. With around 300 beds under our belts, we know which mattresses will help you get quality sleep each night. The mattress industry is huge, so there are a ton of options, but we’ve picked the best full-size mattresses you should consider buying.
What is the best overall full-size mattress?
The Layla Hybrid mattress is our top pick due to its impressive features. Including its soft cover, the mattress is made of several layers of copper-infused gel memory foam, support foam and individually wrapped coils. The copper-gel memory foam helps to keep sleepers cool at night and the coils keep the motion transfer to a minimum. What makes this mattress stand out is that the Layla Hybrid is flippable; one side is soft and the other is firm.
Video: Best full-size mattresses for 2024
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best full size mattresses for 2024.
Best full-size mattresses of 2024
Type
flippable hybrid mattress
Firmness
Medium to medium firm: (6)
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flippable with a soft and a firm side
- Great for all body and sleeper types
- Made of gel memory foam and pocketed coils
Cons
- A little expensive for budget shoppers
- Combination sleepers might find the bed to have a little resistance
The middle layer of the Layla Hybrid is made from copper-infused memory foam, which is designed to absorb and disperse heat so you stay cool while you sleep. The copper is also antimicrobial, so it fights off bacteria and other icky things that can build up in the mattress over time. One of the biggest things that sets the Layla Hybrid apart is the fact that it’s a flippable full-size mattress. Not only that, one side of the mattress is soft and the other side is firm, so you can test out both sides of mattress firmness to find out which one is right for you.
Our take – The Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam mattress is the perfect marriage of softness and the right amount of mattress firmness support. While having some firmness level is important, you also want it to have enough give to contour your body and alleviate pressure, which is exactly what The Cocoon offers. If your mattress firmness level is too soft, it can lead to back pain and many restless nights.
Firmness
Firmness information not available
Sleeper Type
back, stomach, combo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cooling mattress for hot sleepers
- An affordable budget option
- Made with three layers of memory foam and a cooling cover
Cons
- Not supportive enough for heavier people
- May be too cold for some sleepers
This mattress type is made with a specialized memory foam called Perfect Fit memory foam, which is designed to adapt to your body almost immediately. Underneath the Perfect Fit layer lies another layer of responsive comfort foam that prevents your body from sagging into the mattress and adds some extra cushioning. Not only did the Chill Memory Foam mattress immediately feel comfortable while we tested it, but it also provided excellent pressure relief so I felt like it took the weight of the day off my body. It also has a stretch-knit cover designed to pull heat away from your body so you don’t sleep too hot. Even with a down comforter, I stayed cozy and comfortable.
Our take – The Helix Midnight Luxe is an excellent mattress for when you’re not really sure what you want, or which type of mattress is best for you. When it comes to firmness, this mattress is rated a 4 to 7 out of 10, which means that its firmness level is roughly equal parts soft and firm and may work well for most sleepers.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comfortable for all sleeping positions
- Great for those looking for a luxury mattress
- Made with a premium pillow top
Cons
- May be too soft for heavier back and stomach sleepers
- Expensive
A true hybrid mattress, the Helix Midnight Luxe is made from a combination of high-density memory foam, gel visco and pocketed coils. This combination provided excellent lumbar support and relief from the aches and pains that I had been dealing with from other mattresses. It was equally comfortable whether I was sleeping on my side or back — something that can be difficult to find. I also found The Helix Midnight Luxe to be plushier than other bed-in-a-box type mattresses. It has a breathable premium quilted top that provides an additional comfort layer of cushioning that feels more reminiscent of a traditional mattress but without any motion transfer. Read more in our full Helix mattress review.
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Firmness
Firmness information not available
Warranty
20-year prorated warranty
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great for all body types due to the hybrid design
- Impressive pressure relief and support
- Back and stomach sleepers will find it comfortable
Cons
- May give combination sleepers a little resistance
- Too firm for strict side sleepers
One of my favorite things about this foam mattress was the better response time (compared to traditional memory foam mattresses). When you move around at night or change positions, it takes all foam mattresses some time to adjust. This lagging can lead to interrupted sleep, as it takes some time to get comfortable again. The Bio-Pur foam responded to movement almost immediately, so I was able to readjust and fall back asleep ASAP. The Bio-Pur memory foam is also designed to be more airy and breathable than denser memory foam, so the mattress doesn’t trap heat at all. I never woke up too hot and sweaty, even in the warmer months. Read more in our full Amerisleep mattress review.
Our take – The Purple Restore Hybrid mattress is a dream. With its proprietary Purple Grid, it’s different from any other mattress I’ve tried — in all the best ways. Unlike memory foam, which is the foundation of many of these direct-to-your-door mattresses, the Purple Restore Hybrid bed is made from a hyper-elastic polymer grid formation that feels strong and supportive, but somehow still soft and plush.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Made of a grid-like latex that is bouncy and breathable
- Great for pressure relief
- Most sleeping positions will find this mattress comfortable
Cons
- Budget shoppers should look elsewhere
- Not for those looking for a traditional mattress
The grid gives way to your body, expertly contouring and alleviating pressure where you need it most like it was made just for you. I immediately felt weightless, almost like I was floating on this full-size mattress. This Purple mattress also felt bouncier than the others, but it was still able to provide motion isolation and prevent motion transfer. While it’s comfortable in all positions, this Purple mattress is especially great for stomach sleepers since it has enough give to make sure your neck and spine stay aligned.
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Firmness
Firmness information not available
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has a quick response time
- Great for environmentally conscious shoppers
- Best for back and stomach sleepers
Cons
- On the expensive side
- May be a little firm for strict side sleepers
My first impression was that this full-size mattress was too firm, but after a few days, my body adjusted and I was able to settle in. The natural latex mattress started to conform to my body and I felt comfortable and supported. The Avocado Green had just the right amount of give to provide pressure relief, but not so much that I felt like I was sinking into it. It also had a quick response time, so when I changed positions, it re-adapted right away. Read more in our full Avocado mattress review.
When looking for the best full mattress, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Firmness
The firmness of a mattress is dependent on your body type. If you are petite or an average person, your body will exert less pressure on a mattress, making it feel firmer. If you are a heavier sleeper, a mattress will feel softer. An average sleeper will find a medium firmness to be comfortable.
Support
Especially if you deal with back pain, you want a supportive mattress. A memory foam mattress is generally less supportive than a hybrid mattress that has both foam and coils. Petite and most average-size sleepers will still find memory foam mattresses supportive. If you are a heavier sleeper, opt for a hybrid or an innerspring mattress.
Edge support
The edges around your mattress should also be supportive. That way, you won’t roll off your bed in the middle of the night. You can test edge support by sitting on the edge. If you feel like you’re going to slip off, you might want a bed with better edge support.
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All of the beds above have been tested by our CNET Sleep editors, but we’ve also reviewed over 200 other beds. With that being the case, it can be difficult to narrow down the top favorites. The beds below are other mattresses we’ve tested that are also worth considering in your search for a new mattress.
Puffy Lux mattress: Side sleepers would also really enjoy the thick and luxurious Puffy Lux mattress. It’s just as comfortable as it looks and its cloud logo is a good indication of what you’re getting yourself into. It’s soft and pressure-relieving as it gently wraps around the curves of your body. The main comfort foam is memory foam, but it’s more light and airy than it is dense. I’d rate this mattress around a 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale or a medium-soft, so it’s mostly for people who favor their side.
Tuft & Needle mattress: The Tuft and Needle bed is a simple, two-layer foam mattress without any special bells and whistles. I think it’s a great mattress for kids, teenagers, your kid going off to college or a money-saving individual. It’s pretty wallet-friendly, and it’s arguably just as popular as the Casper mattress. It has a similar neutral-foam feel that most people find comfortable.
Allswell mattress: Looking for the best value? The Allswell mattress is the bed-in-a-box model from Walmart, and in true Walmart fashion, it’s extremely wallet-friendly. It’ll cost less than most regular foam mattresses, which is rare since hybrid beds are known to be more expensive. It’s a little on the firmer side, around a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale or a medium-firm.
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Our CNET Sleep editors have spent countless hours testing each mattress on our many best lists. When we test mattresses, we have an established process that assesses key factors like firmness, feel, construction, performance, price, cooling properties and warranty information. We test how strong the edge of the bed is by sitting and lying on the edge. We test motion transfer by rolling across the mattress with a glass of water by the edge. We do this for all beds we test.
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Find out more on how we test mattresses.
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A full-size mattress measures out to 54 inches wide and 74 inches long, which is 4.5 feet wide and 6.25 feet long.
A premium full-size mattress will range around $700 to $1,400, but there are plenty of options under $1,000 like Casper or Tuft and Needle. Full-size beds are more affordable than queen or king-size mattresses, but are still suitable for couples who want to share a bed.
Yes, a full-size mattress is big enough for two average sleepers. The bed might be a little small if one person is taller or a little heavier. Also, if you need space for pets or extra stretching room, a queen-size mattress might be better.
A full mattress is worth considering if you have a smaller space or you’re a single person who likes to spread out (since a twin mattress doesn’t provide much room). If you’re a co-sleeper, you should be able to fit snugly, but a queen mattress would be more suitable.
Source: CNET
