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What Type of Mattress is Best for an Adjustable Bed? Everything You Need to Know

By jwilder

What Type of Mattress is Best for an Adjustable Bed

Getting an adjustable bed is a great way to sleep deeper and more restfully. They can be a great benefit to people with acid reflux, sleep apnea, and back pain. But even the nicest adjustable bed is rendered useless if you don’t have the right mattress!

What type of mattress is best for an adjustable bed? Read this quick guide to learn about different types of compatible mattresses, how much they cost, and see some of the most popular models!

Do I need a Special Mattress for My Adjustable Bed?

While you cannot use a traditional coil mattress on your adjustable bed, you need not order a custom or specialized mattress. You simply need to find a mattress that doesn’t have the same kind of rigid coil springs and wire frame as a traditional mattress. As long as the mattress has some give and sway, it will be able to bend with your adjustable bed base without worry!

What Happens When You Use a Traditional Mattress with an Adjustable Bed?

The reason you don’t want to just toss your old spring-filled mattress on a new adjustable bed is that the wire springs and frame and springs aren’t made for flexibility. They are designed to give you cushion and support, much like the shocks in your car. They aren’t made for the entire bed to bend in different places.


When you use a traditional mattress on an adjustable bed base, one of two things will happen. The first, and most likely, is that the mattress will never stay on the base. It will slip and slide off the edges like the lid to an old plastic food container never quite stays on! The second isn’t common but is possible: the wire that makes up the frame inside the mattress can become permanently bent and render your mattress unusable.

What are the Different Types of Mattress for an Adjustable Bed?

There are three different types of mattresses that work perfectly with adjustable bed bases. These mattresses don’t have an inner core made of a wire frame with springs, so they won’t resist the bending that the bed base does. Rather, they’ll “go with the flow” of the bed base and create a comfortable, soft surface for you to relax, lounge, and sleep on!

Here are the three most common types of mattress that work with adjustable beds:

Memory Foam

Memory foam is far and away the most popular mattress for adjustable beds and one of the most popular mattress categories overall. Just as the name implies, these mattresses are made of soft foam that gently absorbs your frame without creating a “sinking” feeling. Rather, the feeling of using a memory foam mattress is more like floating because it more evenly displaces your weight and doesn’t concentrate pressure in one area.


Memory foam mattresses, at their most basic, are just one solid rectangle of foam, between 8 and 14 inches thick. Most memory foam mattresses these days, however, are made up of several different layers of foam that provide extra support and regulate temperature.


No matter how many layers are used, though, memory foam mattresses are 100% flexible foam all the way through. This makes them a perfect match for adjustable beds; they conform to whatever shape the bed base takes, without putting up a fight. Memory foam mattresses are the accepted standard for adjustable beds, and are becoming the standard across beds of any type!

Latex

Latex mattresses are a more expensive form of foam mattresses. They’re hypoallergenic, a bit more supportive and bouncy, and do a better job of regulating temperature. Outside of that, though, they don’t differ too much from memory foam mattresses. Some latex mattresses are listed as “Latex memory foam” rather than as a separate category of mattresses.


Some people find the standard memory foam mattress to be too soft and too hot. If you’re one of those people, a latex foam mattress should be what you look for. They’ll give you that extra support and help you sleep cooler! If that isn’t too much of a concern for you, and allergies don’t bother you at night, it’s wise to save a bit of money and opt for a memory foam mattress instead.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are relatively new to the market, and the definition of a hybrid mattress isn’t quite nailed down yet. Most often though, the term “hybrid mattress” refers to a mattress that uses both memory foam and inner springs to create a highly supportive yet flexible mattress.


The big difference between the springs in a traditional mattress and the springs in a hybrid mattress is how they respond to the adjustable bed base. Traditional mattresses are made with the design philosophy that bending is bad; hybrid mattresses aren’t. This means hybrid mattresses don’t have the same wire frame that holds the springs; the springs are less restricted and the mattress can therefore bend with the bed.


Hybrid mattresses, such as this one from Classic Brands are intended specifically to be used with adjustable beds, though they work well with any bed type. If foam mattresses are too soft for you, and your body prefers the springiness of a traditional mattress, the hybrid mattress is a must for you!

What Type of Mattress is Best for an Adjustable Bed?

Memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses all work exceptionally well on adjustable beds. Because memory foam mattresses are generally less expensive, they get the edge over the other two types. Memory foam mattresses strike a great balance between price, comfort, and flexibility and are the best type of mattress for adjustable beds.

That’s not to say memory foam mattresses are the end-all, be-all, though. Memory foam mattresses tend to sleep pretty hot and can be too soft for some people’s preferences. If that describes you, it’s better to go with a still-affordable hybrid mattress. Additionally, if you have allergies that require the aid of a hypoallergenic mattress, opt for a latex foam mattress that will let you sleep peacefully through the night!

Best Mattresses for Adjustable Bed

1. Best Mattress for Adjustable Bed (Overall): Casper Original Hybrid Mattress

Casper Sleep Original Hybrid Mattress, Queen

If you’ve already begun shopping for mattresses, chances are you’ve already seen Casper popping up just about everywhere. There’s a good reason for that- Casper mattresses are simple, comfortable, and fairly priced. On top of that, most people love their Caper mattress!

The Original Hybrid is a winning combination of softness and support. The top half of the mattress is made with Casper’s excellent memory foam that excels at keeping you comfortable and cool. The bottom half of the mattress contains a multitude of individually wrapped metal coils that provide the support your back and hips need.

It fits on any adjustable base and is flexible enough to raise and lower despite the presence of the coils. If you’re looking for a wonderful night of sleep, every night, the Casper Original Hybrid might be perfect for you!

2. Best Innerspring Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Sealy Posturepedic Medium Mattress

Sealy Posturepedic Spring Summer Rose Euro Pillowtop Medium Feel Mattress, Full

Innerspring mattresses are, generally speaking, a terrible choice for adjustable beds. They’re too rigid and bouncy, and they don’t bend the way they need to. That being said, the Sealy Posturepedic has all the qualities you love about innerspring mattresses with the flexibility required to work on an adjustable base.

This mattress has a medium firmness rating, which is ideal for people who sleep on their side or back. It also means you’ll get a lot more support when reclining or sitting up in bed than you would from a soft memory foam mattress. If you like the bounciness, temperature regulation, and edge support of innerspring mattresses but want to enjoy the benefits of an adjustable bed, the Sealy Posturepedic is perfect for you!

3. Best Memory Foam Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress (Queen)

Zinus 12 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress / CertiPUR-US Certified / Bed-in-a-Box / Pressure Relieving, Queen

The one thing you should be on the lookout for when shopping for a memory foam mattress is making sure that it isn’t too soft. When mattresses are too soft, they can cause back and hip problems because they aren’t providing enough support.

This mattress from Zinus is a rare combination of exceptional support, comfort, and affordability. The 12-inch queen costs less than $400, yet performs like a $1200 mattress! It will work with any adjustable bed, helping you stay well within your overall budget for a new bed/mattress.

Another common issue with memory foam mattresses is that they sleep hot. This mattress solves that issue by using a green tea infusion that both helps reduce odors and draws body heat away from the surface of the mattress.

4. Best Latex Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Avocado Green Latex Mattress

Avocado Green Latex Foam Mattress

Latex foam isn’t just hypoallergenic and natural, it’s also perfect for use with an adjustable base! Latex foam, because of the way it’s produced, is much more firm at the bottom than it is at the top. This means that a latex mattress provides excellent support and softness while remaining completely flexible!

The Avocado Green latex mattress is 100% organic and sustainably produced, something that few - if any - other mattresses can boast. This mattress is perfect for anyone who wants to use an adjustable bed, has allergies, or is environmentally conscious, and it might just be perfect for you!

5. Best Twin Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Casper Element Twin Mattress

Casper Sleep Element Mattress, Twin

This mattress delivers exceptional comfort and temperature regulation all in a twin-sized package. It isn’t always easy to find a thick, high-quality mattress in a Twin, because many premium models are only sold in Full or larger.

The Casper Element isn’t just high-quality, it’s also very affordable. Buying a premium mattress usually makes a pretty big dent in your bank account, but the Element is very wallet-friendly. If you’re looking for a Twin mattress that outperforms the Twin that you grew up sleeping on, the Casper Element is ideal for you!

The only downside to this mattress is that, because it’s made with latex foam, it finds itself squarely on the firm side. While that is a bonus for an adjustable bed (it makes sitting up more comfortable), you may want to get a small memory foam mattress topper to add a bit of softness.

6. Best Twin XL Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Linenspa 12-Inch Hybrid Mattress

Linenspa 12 Inch Memory Hybrid Plush-Individually Encased Coils-Edge Support-Quilted Foam Cover Mattress, Queen, White

The Twin XL is ideal for use in small rooms or as part of a Split King bed, where two Twin XLs combine to form one King. The Linenspa 12-Inch hybrid is exceptionally affordable, and it’ll last for years with your new adjustable bed. The bed uses metal coils and multiple layers of foam to create a soft, supportive sleep surface that your body will love!

This mattress is simple and is rated as medium-firm, making it perfect for people who suffer from hip and back pain while sleeping. The extra support compared to a memory foam mattress will do wonders for your back pain, as well as making it more comfortable to recline in the Zero-Gravity Position.

If you’re a side or back sleeper, this affordable and functional mattress is perfect for you. It’s a bit too firm for stomach sleepers, but it’s an ideal fit for those who aren’t!

7. Best Queen Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12’ Medium Mattress

Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12" Medium Firm Memory Foam Mattress - CertiPUR-US Certified, Queen

This memory foam mattress does an excellent job of temperature regulation and is ideal for stomach and side sleepers. If you’re in the market for a memory foam mattress that won’t have you waking up in a pool of sweat, this is the mattress for you!

The top 4 inches of this mattress are very soft - exactly what you’ve come to expect from a memory foam mattress. The bottom 8 inches, on the other hand, is made of a much more supportive foam that will relieve pressure on your neck and back by evenly distributing your body weight. This combination of foam layers gives you all the support you need alongside the softness you crave.

Alongside its impressive performance and comfort, this mattress is surprisingly affordable. Even though it comes from Ashley Furniture (where prices are typically on the high end of the average range), the Queen size costs less than $400! It’s a solid, reasonable price for a solid, dependable mattress.

8. Best Split Queen Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Natural Bliss Latex Mattress

It’s not easy to find a split queen mattress- nearly every split mattress on the market is designed for a king bed frame, not a queen. This mattress is not only one of the few available, it’s an excellent mattress in its own right. It’s a latex mattress, which means it’s going to be more firm than most people are used to feeling from a foam mattress. However, that might be a good thing- foam mattresses are excellent for back pain and weight distribution!

There is one caveat to getting a split queen mattress: it’s going to cost you. Because they’re so rare, it’s impossible to find a cheap one. This mattress costs more than nearly any other on our list, partly because of the high-quality material and partly because of the uncommon split queen configuration.

If you can stomach the price, this is an excellent mattress. It’s luxurious, supportive, and hypoallergenic. Anyone who has allergies, back problems, or is searching for a truly vegan mattress, this is the way to go!

9. Best Replacement Mattress for Adjustable Bed: Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress with 2 BONUS Pillows | CertiPUR-US Certified | Bed-in-a-Box, Queen

This mattress makes an excellent replacement for any type of sleeper. It will fit on any adjustable base and it has the best temperature regulation of any foam mattress on our list. It’s made with cooling gel - this gel creates channels for body heat to spread out and away from the surface of the mattress. That means you’ll be sleeping cool and comfortable every night, no matter what!

Even if temperature regulation isn’t your chief concern, this is still a mattress that you should be considering. It has a bottom layer of extra-high-density foam that delivers great support to the back and hips, even for heavier users. That means this mattress solves the two biggest problems of memory foam mattresses: lack of support and temperature regulation.

If you’re looking for a cheap mattress to replace an old innerspring or need a quality mattress to sit atop your new adjustable bed base, give this one a shot. You’ll save lots of money, get better sleep, and you won’t regret spending too much money on a mattress that doesn’t give you enough support!

10. Best Mattress Pad for Adjustable Bed: Sleep Innovations 4-Inch Dual Layer Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Sleep Innovations 4-inch Dual Layer Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper Enhanced Support, Full

This mattress topper is more than just a layer of memory foam (as is the case with most others). This product combines a 2-inch faux-down fill layer and a two-inch layer of gel memory foam to create a luxury pillowtop-style surface for your bed. The pad fits over the mattress like a fitted sheet rather than just laying on the surface, which means it stays in place with adjustable bases very well.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to upgrade your mattress and adjustable bed, this is it. It adds cooling memory foam for increased comfort at all times during the day as well as a luxurious-feeling pillowtop surface. It’s simple, affordable, and makes a huge difference in your ability to sleep through the night!

11. Best Twin XL Heated Mattress Pad for Adjustable Bed: Degrees of Comfort Twin XL Heated Mattress Pad

Degrees Of Comfort Twin XL Heated Mattress Pad | Zone Heating Electric Bed Warmer W/Auto Shut Off | Fit Up to 15 Inch | 12.5ft Long Cord - 39x80 Inch, White

This mattress pad does exactly what it promises to: gives you soothing heat all over your body as you sleep. It has a very simple remote that gives you five different heat levels to choose from so that you’re always able to select what works for you. Whether you’re trying to prepare for a cold winter, boost your circulation, or simply feel cold all the time, this mattress pad is for you.

Some heating pads are too thick and stiff to lay on - they are too noticeable and make you feel like you’re laying on metal instead of a soft mattress. This mattress pad is thin and soft, adding a bit of fluff to your sleeping surface, not just heat! It’s perfect for any senior who wants to stay warm at night.

12. Best Adjustable Bed Mattress Retainer: COMASACH Bed Frame Brackets

Anti-Slip Metal Gasket for Bed, Prevent Mattress from Sliding Off Bed Frame, 6 Pieces, 0.98 inch Wide, Black

This pack of 6 brackets is easy to install on your bed frame and creates a strong grip on your mattress, no matter what position you have the bed in. It won’t slip or slide off the frame as you’re adjusting it, which makes it much easier and safer to have an adjustable bed frame.

If you want to keep your mattress but hate how much it slides off the base, install these brackets. They’re small, unobtrusive, and hardly visible once you’ve made the bed. They work very well, they cost less than $30, and they can prevent you from having to buy a different mattress to avoid slipping. What’s not to love about that?

Frequently Asked Questions: Adjustable Bed Mattresses

What are the Price ranges for the Major types of Mattresses?

  • Memory Foam Mattresses

While you can find a memory foam mattress for as little as $100, the models that are that cheap are rarely worth the money. The price range for a quality, long-lasting memory foam mattress is between 250 and 700 dollars.


On the low end, you can get a Classic Brands mattress that is pretty bare-bones in design but still has a lot of comfort to offer seniors and other users. The high end of the spectrum will get you something like the Dynasty Mattress Atlantis Breeze, with many different layers of premium cooling foam!

  • Latex Mattresses

For a latex mattress, expect to pay between $325 for a model like the AmazonBasics Latex Mattress or $800+ for top-of-the-line organic choices like the Pure Green Natural. Latex mattresses, in general, are more expensive than standard memory foam, but that price difference depends on the thickness of the mattress.


Latex mattresses don’t need to be as thick as standard memory foam because latex is more supportive. This means that, though latex mattresses are more expensive “per-inch”, you may not have to pay as much for a latex mattress since it will be thinner!

  • Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid models are going to cost between $250 and $1,300 for a queen size. People with higher budgets can get something like the Sealy Posturepedic Plus, while those with less cash on hand will still get a quality option like the Linenspa 10-Inch Hybrid.


Hybrids are roughly in the same price range as memory foam, so the choice between those two mattress types ultimately comes down to comfort. One caveat, though, is that hybrid designs tend to last longer because the coils help them age without much deterioration.

What are the Most Popular Mattress Models for an Adjustable Bed?

Memory Foam

Classic Brands Cool Gel Ice Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress with 2 BONUS Pillows | CertiPUR-US Certified | Bed-in-a-Box, Queen
Casper Sleep Element Mattress, Queen, 2020 Model
  • Classic Brands Cool Gel Ice: Excellent for hot sleepers, this mattress uses cooling gel to combat stuffiness, the biggest weakness of memory foam mattresses.
  • Casper Sleep Element Mattress: Two simple but luxurious foam layers form a mattress that gives you peaceful, dreamy sleep for years on end!

Latex

Latex for Less 9 inch Queen Natural Latex Mattress | 2 Sided Mattress w/Organic Cotton & Pure Natural Wool
Amazon Basics Cooling Gel-Infused, Medium-Firm, Memory Foam Mattress, CertiPUR-US Certified - 12 Inch, Queen
  • Latex For Less 9-Inch Queen: Simple and elegant mattress that has two sides, one firm and one medium, for people who have different support needs!
  • Casper Sleep Element Mattress: Two simple but luxurious foam layers form a mattress that gives you peaceful, dreamy sleep for years on end!

Hybrid

Olee Sleep 13 inch Galaxy Hybrid Gel Infused Memory Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress (Queen)
Classic Brands Gramercy Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid 14-Inch Euro Pillow Top Mattress | Bed-in-a-Box Queen
  • Olee Sleep Galaxy: Adapts well to the body shape of any person and regulates temperature very well.
  • Classic Brands Gramercy: One of the best mattresses for temperature regulation from a widely trusted and affordable brand.

Tips for Buying the Best Mattress for My Adjustable Bed

Thickness of Mattress

With memory foam mattresses, it helps to go as thick as you can. An 8-inch mattress might be affordable, but it won’t feel great when your tailbone sinks to the bottom after a few months of sleeping!


Hybrid mattresses, because they include spring coils, are usually at least 10 inches thick. Because they function more like traditional mattresses, you don’t have to worry about getting the thickness right; they’re thick by nature.


Latex mattresses need only be about 8 or 9 inches thick. However, many latex models are hybrid designs, so they’ll be thicker naturally.

Firmness

Memory foam mattresses, even the nicer ones, are very plush. For many people, softness is exactly what they need. Others, though, prefer a more firm mattress. These people should opt for a hybrid or latex mattress so that they can sleep in the most comfortable way possible.

Temperature

Buying a cheap memory foam mattress means that it’s going to hold onto your body heat like it’s afraid to let go. High-quality memory foam mattresses have better temperature regulation, but hot sleepers or people who live in hot climates might never feel comfortable enough.


If temperature is something you worry about, go with a hybrid mattress! They are composed of different layers that breathe a lot better and draw your body heat away from you, letting you drift off to sleep without waking up sweaty.

Bed Weight Limit

Every adjustable bed base has a specific weight limit, that you must include the weight of the mattress into. If your bed supports 750 pounds and you and your spouse weigh 450 pounds combined, buying a 300-pound luxury mattress is a great way to break the bed base and void the warranty!

Conclusion

You don’t need a specialized mattress for your adjustable bed, but you shouldn’t think that your old innerspring mattress will do the job. Fortunately, there are adjustable bed-compatible mattresses for any type of sleeper, from hot to cold and plush to firm. Take a look at the different memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses available, and choose the one that meets your needs the best!


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