Mattress Nerd consulted Dr. Ravi Pandey, MD to ensure that this article met our editorial standards
Combination sleepers are individuals who tend to change their sleeping position throughout the night. Not committed to a single sleeping position, these sleepers may doze off in any of the three primary sleep positions—stomach, back, or side—and wake up in a different position. Just like sleepers who have a single preferred position at night, combination sleepers must consider their unique needs when selecting a new mattress. But if you decide you want to widen your scope, our best mattresses guide will surely help you out.
The best mattresses for combination sleepers should excel in a few essential qualities; responsiveness for easy shifting, the provision of comfort in any sleeping position, and adequate spinal support in any sleeping position.
In this article, we’re sharing our picks of the best mattresses for combination sleepers in 2021. We also share a buyer’s guide to mattress shopping for combo sleepers, which covers important considerations such as firmness level, mattress type, pros and cons of combination sleeping, and more.
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Hybrid
6
100 nights
15 years
The Helix Midnight Luxe is made to keep your spine aligned in any sleeping position with the specialized zoned support. Because combination sleepers change positions throughout the night, the award winning Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress made for those who sleep on their back, stomach or side.
For combination sleepers that struggle to stay cool throughout the night, the Helix’s breathable construction will promote airflow through pocketed coils and while memory foam contours around the sleeper’s body. The zoned lumbar support coils can prevent back pain and keep the hips from sinking when sleeping on the stomach or back. While the Helix Midnight Luxe comes with a hefty price tag, we think it is well worth the investment.
Read our full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review to learn more.
This balanced, medium-firm mattress provides both pressure relief and conforming for nearly all sleeping types and weight categories, and it comes with some of the best product policies in the mattress industry.
Memory Foam
6
Lifetime
365
The Nectar is a medium-firm, all-foam mattress that provides a nice balance of close conforming and pressure relief. Our Editor’s Pick, the Nectar embodies qualities that are ideal for combination sleepers, and it comes with generous policies. A 6/10 on the firmness scale, the Nectar features comfort layers of cooling gel memory foam and a high-density polyfoam support core. It’s known for providing enough conforming and spinal alignment for average and heavyweight sleepers in any sleeping position. As icing on the cake, the Nectar comes with free shipping, White Glove delivery, a 365-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty.
Read our full Nectar mattress review to learn more!
Hybrid
Varies
180 nights
15 year
As one of the most well known online mattress brands, the Saatva Classic provides motion isolation for couples and a wide array of other benefits. Considered to be affordable luxury, the Saatva provides enough support and contour for all sleeping positions without feeling stuck in the mattress.
With the ability to choose between Firm and Luxury Firm, the Saatva Classic can accomodate heavier combination sleepers or couples looking to satisfy both sleepers. Both versions will provide lumbar support and keep the sleeper on top of the mattress, instead of feeling stuck in the layers. The hybrid construction makes it a very responsive mattress, changing shape as you change positions, and cooler than an all foam model.
Read our full Saatva Classic mattress review to learn more.
Hybrid
Varies
120 nights
Limited lifetime warranty
WinkBeds is known for mattresses of organic and sustainable materials and the characteristic European pillow top addition cradles around the sleepers shoulders and hips. With multiple firmness options, the WinkBed can be tailored to suit your primary sleeping position or provide the right support for multiple positions.
The WinkBed is a heavy and durable mattress with seven dense layers of foam and coils, each designed to enhance your sleeping experience. The Tencel cover and gel foam layer work to keep the sleeper cooler, with additional memory foam designed to relieve pressure and remain responsive enough to easily move around. Two layers of coil make the mattress supportive enough for couples and larger combinations sleepers, especially with the lumbar support pad in between the two coil layers.
Check out our WinkBeds mattress review to learn more.
Heavyweight combination sleepers have unique needs, requiring firmer surfaces for adequate support and just enough conforming for pressure relief in any sleeping position, and the Bear Mattress checks those boxes.
Memory Foam
7
$$
10 year warranty
The firm and durable Bear Mattress is our pick for heavyweight sleepers, providing them with above-average support and gentle conforming thanks to a pressure-relieving memory foam layer and a highly supportive, high-density foam core.
The mattress is made with comfort layers of gel-infused graphite memory foam and polyfoam for added breathability, which is a major plus for heavyweight sleepers, who tend to sleep hot. Beneath the comfort layers is a polyfoam transitional layer and a high-density foam base. The mattress measures 10” thick and has a medium feel. While only a 5.5/10 on the firmness scale, the Bear Mattress works well for heavyweight sleepers who switch positions because it provides pressure relief in all sleeping positions. Keep in mind that heavyweight sleepers whose primary sleeping position is on their back or stomach may experience slight sagging. The Bear Mattress comes with a 100-night trial, free shipping to all 50 U.S. states, and a 10-year, non-prorated warranty. See Also: Best Mattresses for Heavy Sleepers
Check out our full Bear mattress review to learn more!
Memory Foam
6.5
101 nights
20 year limited
The GhostBed mattress, attempts to mitigate hot sleeping issues by including a latex foam and gel foam in the bed. This material adapts to your body, pulling away extra heat. Latex foam keeps your body temperature naturally cooler and is also naturally responsive, which is good for combination sleepers.
Read our full GhostBed mattress review for more info!
Memory Foam
6
10 year warranty
100 nights
The Casper Original might just be the quintessential bed-in-a-box mattress. It’s well-known for convenience and quality, and its balance of firmness and softness makes it great for pretty much any sleeping position, so side sleepers, back sleepers, side sleepers and combination sleepers should feel right at home on this medium-firm bed. The Casper also accommodates a wide variety of body types and was named one of our best mattresses of 2021.
The memory foam construction of the Casper includes zoned support, which delivers extra cushioning for heavier parts of your body such as your shoulders and hips. Four layers of open-cell foam in the Casper mattress allow breathability and airflow to help keep you cool throughout the night. Despite its affordable price, this is still a product that we fully endorse for combination sleepers.
Check out our full Casper mattress review to learn more!
Memory Foam
Dual-Sided
Lifetime Limited Warranty
120 days
The Layla comes in right over $1000 for a queen mattress, and we think it is the best $1000 you may ever spend! This mattress is flippable so it appeals to a wide variety of sleepers, so if you are looking to upgrade to a queen size mattress, or it is just time for a new one this is a great option that is not too geared towards a specific type of sleeper.
This mattress is soft on one side and firm on the other and you flip to find the best firmness for you. The soft side relieves pressure extremely well, making it great also for those with pain concerns. Queen mattresses are a popular option for couples, and this mattress provides motion isolation so you will not feel every movement from your partner throughout the night.
See our full Layla Mattress Review to learn more!
Memory Foam
Varies
100 days
10 years
The Leesa is a no frills, quality mattress that is likely to provide the comfortable and durability most sleepers on a budget need. As a medium-firm mattress made of mixed foams it appeals to the average sleeper and can suit all sleeping positions.
For a foam mattress, the Leesa works to keep sleepers cooler and the upper foam layers provide pressure relief without overheating around the sleeper. The Avena foam layer of the mattress provides some bounce and responsiveness, helping combination sleepers move around without getting stuck. The combination of foams help stomach, back and side sleepers adjust to the mattress while still getting the benefits of memory foam pressure relief around the shoulders and hips.
See our Leesa mattress review to learn more.
Memory Foam
Varies
120 days
10-year limited warranty
When we think of a firm mattress, our first response is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature. The firm version of this mattress is designed for sleepers looking to stay on top of their mattress and with minimal cradling. Especially for those combination sleepers that may struggle from back pain, this firm mattress will evenly distribute your weight and reduce their stress on your muscles and spine.
The combination sleepers who are primarily stomach or back sleepers will especially appreciate the lower back support and hips that don’t sink into the mattress. Combination sleepers looking for a corrective mattress or one that has a little extra support, the Signature is sure to support your entire body- especially with three firmness options available.
See our Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress review to learn more.
The majority of sleepers are technically combination sleepers, even if they prefer one sleeping position. Combination sleeping isn’t better or worse than singular sleeping positions, but finding a mattress that provides adequate support and comfort can be tricky. This is because combination sleeping allows for more variety by its very nature, making it more difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all mattress recommendation for this sleeping type. This guide will share the most important considerations for combination sleepers and tips for finding the right mattress for this sleeping position.
No matter your primary sleeping position, or even if you split your night evenly between the three main sleeping positions, spinal alignment is key. Of the three main sleeping positions, some positions are more healthy for the body and improve your chances of maintaining spinal alignment throughout the night. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each primary sleeping position for combination sleepers.
Related: What is the Best Sleeping Position?
Spinal alignment is essential for all sleeping positions, but it’s especially key for combination sleepers. The spine should be aligned from the shoulders all the way down to the pelvis whether they’re sleeping on their side, back, or stomach. A misaligned spine can lead to pressure points throughout the body. A mattress’ support, which is its ability to provide a flat sleeping surface that conforms to certain areas to properly align the spine, is largely dictated by the mattress’ firmness level.
Firmness levels fall on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. The right firmness for any sleeper is also determined by their weight and body type. Here’s an overview of the different firmness levels and which ones are ideal for combination sleepers by body type.
| Body Type/Weight | Ideal Firmness | Reasoning |
| Lightweight Sleepers | Soft to Medium Soft | Petite and lightweight combo sleepers have less body weight to impress upon any mattress surface, so even a medium mattress will feel very firm to them. Softer mattresses conform more closely to their bodies and allow for greater hugging and increased comfort. |
| Average Weight Sleepers | Medium to Medium Firm | Combination sleepers in this weight group almost always prefer mattress firmness levels that fall in the middle range, providing a balance of contouring and support. |
| Heavyweight Sleepers | Firm to Very Firm | Heavyweight combination sleepers need firmer mattresses, as their body type will sink excessively in a soft or medium firm mattress, which can cause the spine to be thrown out of alignment. |
The responsiveness of a mattress can be measured visually by pressing one’s hand into the bed and seeing now how long it takes the mattress to “refill” the indentation. A responsive mattress is oftentimes preferred by combination sleepers, as this quality makes changing positions throughout the night much easier. Memory foam mattresses, for example, tend to have low responsiveness, causing combination sleepers to feel “stuck” in the mattress as they attempt to change sleeping positions. Hybrid, innerspring, and latex mattresses, alternatively, tend to have higher responsiveness levels, making it easy to switch from back sleeping to side sleeping to stomach sleeping seamlessly throughout the night.
There are four primary mattress types in the mattress industry, and each type is known for excelling in certain performance categories. For example, some mattress types conform closely and alleviate pain exceptionally well, and others are more breathable and have better airflow for hot sleepers.
Below we will outline a few key characteristics of each mattress type and provides notes on how they can benefit or detract from combination sleepers’ sleeping experience.
Our Recommendation: Look for memory foam mattresses with a more responsive comfort layer for changing positions easily. Those with thinner comfort layers that still provide pressure relief may be ideal. Take a look at our best memory foam mattresses roundup.
Our Recommendation: Look for latex mattresses with a mid-range price point. Some synthetic latex mattresses are priced lower than their natural alternatives. Our best latex mattresses article has some great options that fit the bill.
Our Recommendation: Look for innerspring mattresses with a thicker-than-average foam layer for better conforming. Our list of best innerspring mattresses is sure to have something that appeals to you.
Our Recommendation: Look for hybrid mattresses that combine conforming and pressure relief while maintaining higher responsiveness than a memory foam bed for ease of changing positions. Head over to our list of best hybrid mattresses for more info.
Now that you understand why certain aspects of mattress construction and performance are more essential for combination sleepers, here’s a list of considerations to take into account as you decide on the best new mattress for you.
Your body type and weight will directly influence the firmness that’s appropriate for you. As mentioned above, lightweight sleepers do best on softer mattresses, average weight sleepers do well on medium and medium-firm mattresses, and heavyweight sleepers sleep best on firmer mattresses that can support their weight. We recommend basing the firmness level you choose on both your body type and your dominant sleeping position.
Prior to shopping, we recommend taking note of what your preferred sleeping position is at night. It’s fairly rare for a sleeper to divide their time equally between each of the three primary sleeping positions. Even if you find that you split your time roughly 50/50 between two of the primary sleeping positions, this can help inform the mattress type and qualities that will be more likely to provide a healthy night’s sleep for your body.
If you sleep with a partner or a pet, motion transfer, noise reduction, and edge support should be mattress qualities on the top of your list. A mattress that minimizes motion transfer to a great extent will ensure that, as you or your partner (or pet) change positions throughout the night, you won’t wake one another, a very important factor for combination sleepers. A mattress that’s virtually silent when pressure is applied will also increase the chances that both partners achieve a good night’s sleep. For couples and individuals who are elderly, lightweight, or have disabilities, choosing a mattress that provides excellent edge support will help to make getting in and out of bed, or sitting on the edge of the bed, significantly easier. We compiled a list of the best mattresses for couples as a helpful resource.
Like we’ve mentioned, there’s no one-size-fits-all mattress for combination sleepers. This is due to the greater variety allowed by this sleeping style, which incorporates several sleeping positions in addition to the other primary factors, such as body weight, budget, and personal preferences. Most online mattress companies have a 100-night sleep trial or longer. Further, a mattress that’s backed by a warranty will ensure that your investment is protected from defects and damages. A mattress is no small purchase, so a warranty (most mattress companies offer 10-year warranty policies or longer), will ensure you’re covered if the bed is delivered damaged or reveals a defect within the warranty period.
Once you’ve selected the mattress type that best suits your needs as a combination sleeper, we recommend comparing prices and taking note of any personal preferences you have with regard to style, characteristics, or brand. Also, double checking products’ sleep trial periods and warranties to make sure you’re comfortable with the coverage. Once you’ve narrowed down these factors, re-read our list of the top picks for combination sleepers above to see if there’s a mattress that suits your needs. We hope this article helps you make your new mattress purchase with confidence., and once it has, we hope you’ll check our our article on the best pillows for combination sleepers.
| Mattress | Award |
| Helix Midnight Luxe | Editor’s Pick |
| Nectar | Best Soft Mattress |
| Saatva | Best for Couples |
| WinkBeds | Best Bed in a Box |
| Bear Mattress | Best for Heavyweight Combo Sleepers |
| GhostBed | Best Cooling Mattress |
| Casper | Best Value Mattress |
| Layla | Best Luxury Mattress |
| Leesa | Best Memory Foam Mattress |
| Brooklyn Bedding Signature | Best Hybrid Mattress |
Dr. Ravi Pandey is part of our panel of medical expert contributors on the subject of sleep health. They provide important perspectives on the topics we discuss to help make our content as accurate and dependable as possible. They do not personally endorse any products, nor are they associated with any brands featured in our review content.
