What Type of Mattress Is Right for You? (2026)

Fun Fact: You don’t need a box spring with a hybrid mattress. This is a recurring question I see, and pocketed coils in hybrids eliminate the need for it. Box springs were designed to give more support and improve performance to traditional coil beds, which would align certain sections of the coils to achieve greater support. Nowadays, you can actually be void Your warranty if you use a box spring with a hybrid mattress – be sure to check that fine print.

innerspring

This is more of a history lesson than a decision on the type of mattress you want to shop for (unless you really like this type of mattress; to each their own). “Traditional” innerspring mattresses are the firm-feeling beds that you probably have earliest memories of, given that the makeup is simply innerspring coils wrapped in a cover. It’s just as gnarly as you probably remember, because the coil type used involves linking each coil to work as a unit.

These are Bonnell coils, and they connect both laterally and vertically. That is to say, when you lie down and your weight presses into the mattress, all those coils act like “all for one and all for one” and press down as well. It won’t work wonders for pressure relief like modern hybrids, but it is highly responsive, meaning it will return to its original shape as you move around. So if you’re a sleeper who moves back and forth between sleep positions, the coils are a nice feature, so you’re getting almost instant support.

Why are traditional coils not used with mattresses these days? According to Merwin, advanced pocketed coils perform far better than traditional coils. “Unlike traditional coils that are wired together and move as a unit, pocketed coils are individually encased, which allows each coil to respond to movement and pressure independently,” he said. “This design minimizes motion transfer, so when a person moves or gets out of bed, their partner feels much less disruption. It also provides more targeted support, shaping the body in a way that improves spinal alignment and overall comfort.” Although you can still find traditional coiled innerspring mattresses out there, they are generally being phased out in favor of hybrids. Truth be told, I’ve only tested a few of them over the years. If you’re all set on this type of mattress, all the power is yours, and have fun discovering your personal mattress treasure.

memory foam

Actually we should thank NASA for this. If you Google images of those early space missions, it’s no surprise that something was needed to keep the astronauts from wandering around inside the rocket; Hence, memory foam was born. It has evolved significantly from those early iterations, especially when Tempur-Pedic came on the scene in the 80s to become the foundation of sleep products. Today, memory foam stands in a league of its own when it comes to a unique, compressive experience.

Memory foam is an umbrella term for all the iterations that mattress brands have come up with today, but let’s look to a mattress manufacturing expert for it.

“Memory foam is produced by mixing liquid polyurethane with various chemicals such as polyols and isocyanates to increase its viscosity and density,” says Merwin. Without going off the periodic table of elements and giving you a science lesson in the chemical components of this material, here’s what you need to know: These compounds create a flexible foam that holds tiny bubbles within itself. How it works is, as you lie down on it, your body provides heat to the surface, which flows into these air pockets, which in turn allows it to soften around your body.

But for the science enthusiasts reading this, Merwin has you covered: “The key ingredient is a polymer that forms an open-cell structure, which allows the material to react to heat and pressure. This is what gives memory foam its signature contour or ‘hugging’ feel. During the manufacturing process, the liquid foam mixture is poured onto a moving line, where it expands and solidifies into large foam blocks, which we call ‘buns.’ But, it is a mixture of chemistry and precision that transforms raw materials into a high quality product.

To say that it is a natural fit for those who need pressure relief from their mattress might be a bit on the nose, but it is arguably the most extraordinary feature of this material. It also reduces the feeling of agitation for the most restless sleepers, making it an attractive option for couples. Arguably, the biggest issue troubling memory foam is heat retention, because once heat enters these air chambers, it turns into something akin to a micro sauna that can turn the overall mattress into a nightmare for hot sleepers. This is where the various iterations of foam come into play, as some brands incorporate elements like phase-change materials like graphite, copper, gel, or more advanced cooling technology into the foam they use.

Latex

The same thing that goes into tires, balloons, and sports equipment can also be used for mattresses—and that’s Good Goods too. Latex performs similarly to memory foam when it comes to pressure relief, but is much more responsive to your movements. Think of a rubber band that springs back to its shape when released; This is very close to that. As we know, many brands rely on organic rubber sap to make latex, and there are two categories of latex foam that you’ll commonly find with mattresses: Dunlop and Talalay. These names refer to the production process and the resulting product, as liquid rubber is poured into molds, burned at high temperatures (called “vulcanization” and yes, I have to resist Spock’s “live long and prosper” hand signal every time), and flash-frozen to preserve the experience. Dunlop is a stronger latex foam, and therefore, feels stronger. Talalay gives a more luxurious feel. Latex is generally quite balanced when it comes to temperature, plus it prevents heat from accumulating within your mattress to maintain a nice room-temperature feel.

WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson praised the organic latex construction of the Birch Lux Natural, citing great support for the lower back area and good temperature regulation.

smart bed

Smart mattresses offer the ability to adjust their firmness levels at the press of a button. They do this through internal air chambers or sensors that adjust the coil firmness. To make your bed softer or firmer, you use the remote control or the app that comes with the brand.

That’s not the only thing that sets this mattress type apart. Some are also equipped with tech features like sleep trackers and auto-adjusting pressure relief layers, as is the case with the Sleep Number P6 Smart Bed. As sleep technology evolves, smart beds are becoming more sophisticated.