Mind Your Sleep: 8 Common Types of Mattresses (and How to Pick the Best for You)

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The US mattress industry will be worth a staggering 43 billion dollars in 2024. That massive number is the bi-product of rapid growth and a booming domestic population.

With all of the money flowing into mattresses, more innovators are starting to jump into the fray by creating mattress types of their own. Memory foam, innerspring, latex… and now even divan beds… With all of the types of mattresses that are out there, it could be difficult to figure out which one is going to give you the best night’s rest.

If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed by all of your mattress-buying options, keep reading. Also, you should check the bed sizes in order so you can decide which size is best for you. Below, our team introduces you to all of the most popular mattresses in the market and wraps things up by sharing our purchase recommendations.

1. Innerspring Mattresses

When you think back on how it all began in the mattress industry, the innerspring mattress is what comes to mind. This type of mattress pre-dates just about every bed that you can find in the general market given its origins being in the 1800s.

Innerspring mattresses work by lining up large metal coils in a metal frame. These coils give the mattress its shape. Since laying on coils would make for a bad night’s sleep, the coils are topped with comfortable padding and that padding gets stitched over with fabric cover.

2. Futon Mattresses

You probably haven’t seen a futon mattress since you were in college. Believe it or not, they’re still being purchased and not just by college students. Futon mattresses are a popular fixture in everyday households, particularly in guest rooms.

Futons are generally quilted and feature foam or stuffing that’s similar to what you’d find on a sofa. The big advantage of this mattress is the fact that it folds up into a couch and is extremely affordable.

3. Air Mattresses

If portability is your number one mattress concern, you can stop your search right now. Among all of the types of mattresses that you can buy, air mattresses make for the ultimate travel companion.

Not only are air mattresses affordable but they fold up into sizes that can sometimes rival the size of a bulky laptop. Once they’re unfolded, you’ll either use a manual or electric pump to blow the mattress up into sizes that range from twin, all the way to the king.

4. Memory Foam

Whether you’re watching an infomercial or reading The Mattress Nerd guide on the subject, it seems like memory foam mattresses have taken over popular culture. While expensive marketing campaigns have driven up the cost for some name-brand mattresses like Tempur-Pedic, off-brand memory foam beds (which can be found online) can be extremely affordable.

People love memory foam mattress in a box because they shapes their bodies which makes for a soft, snug style of sleeping.

5. Gel-Infused

Gel-infused mattresses are foam mattresses that sport a layer of gel about two to four inches below its surface. Why is infusing gel under foam a revolutionary idea? Because gel stays cool, which is a must for hot sleepers.

If you’re not a fan of memory foam mattresses then you’re not going to be a fan of gel-infused mattresses. If you like memory foam but find them to be a tad too hot, this bed could be the perfect middle ground.

6. Latex

Latex mattresses are quickly emerging as a favorite place for memory foam enthusiasts to defect to. That’s because latex conforms to your body but does so more generally than foam which means that you won’t feel like you’re sinking into your mattress.

There are some notable names in the latex mattress space including the Avocado Mattress and EcoCloud. For the most part, though, latex is still a growing mattress technology on the market that we expect to pick up steam in the future.

7. Water Beds

Water beds aren’t anywhere near as much of a fixture today as they were in the ’60s or ’70s. That being said, they still get sold and are more comfortable than ever.

Traditional waterbeds were made out of vinyl. Since vinyl doesn’t do much to keep water’s elasticity in check, the resulting wavy sleeping experience relegated this bed-type to novelty. Today though, water beds are encased in more traditional mattress cushioning which allows you to enjoy some of the benefits of sleeping on the water without feeling like you’re surfing.

8. Pillow-Top Mattresses

Despite misleading marketing rhetoric, pillow-top mattresses, at their core, are just innerspring mattresses. The difference is that these beds sport a larger swath of padding on top of them which makes for a cushier sleep.

These mattresses tend to be a big hit for people that like medium-firm back support.

Which Types of Mattresses Are a Best Fit for Your Sensibilities?

Now that you know the types of mattresses that are available to you at Isaak, which one should you choose? Frankly, the best way to know for sure is to go to your local mattress store and give the beds a try.

Generally speaking, if you like a firm mattress, go with innerspring. If you like a soft mattress, memory foam is a great bet. For a hybrid mattress experience, consider latex or pillow tops.

Do you get hot while you’re sleeping? You might be wondering do cooling mattresses workGel-infused mattresses and waterbeds have the bed’s odds of cooling you off. If that’s not enough, consider muslin bed sheets or muslin blankets for adults on top of that, to help further regulate the body’s temperature Once this is done, please share the live URL and the PayPal payment URL in USD.

Finally, for special needs, explore futons and inflatables. When it comes to taking care of yourself, getting a good night’s rest is just one piece of the puzzle. To read more information on how you can look and feel your best, browse additional content on our blog.