GhostBed vs. Leesa Mattress Comparison

Comparing GhostBed & Leesa Mattress

The GhostBed is a three-layer, mixed-foam mattress with a medium-firm feel. . The Leesa Original is one of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattresses available, and it’s got a slightly softer feel (5/10). When you pit the GhostBed and the Leesa against each other, there aren’t that many differences on paper. They share similar firmness settings, the companies that make them have great reputations, and they both work for most sleeper types who are lightweight and average weight.

At the end of the day, their main differences come down to how they feel, company policies, and how much they cost. If you want to play it safe and bank on a mattress that’s going to feel good to almost anyone, the Leesa is the better pick. If you prefer the feel of latex and like a little more bounce, you may want to consider the GhostBed. Leesa offers more discounts year-round, so the Leesa has the GhostBed beat for shoppers motivated to pinch every penny.

Keep reading this mattress review to learn how each mattress is built, how they feel, pros and cons, pricing, and more details about who will like each mattress best.

Differences

• The Leesa has a neutral foam feel and the GhostBed has a mixed-foam feel, making the GhostBed noticeably firmer than the Leesa.
• The GhostBed’s latex layer gives it a little more bounce and responsiveness, which may enhance its durability and make it easier to move around on the mattress.
• As a firmer mattress, the GhostBed is better suited for back and stomach sleepers while the Leesa is softer and may provide better pressure relief for side sleepers. 
• The GhostBed can better suit heavier sleepers of all sleeping positions but we recommend the Leesa for heavier side sleepers.

Similarities

• Both mattresses are constructed with three layers of foam, with the top layer of the GhostBed being actual latex and the Leesa is made of a latex-like foam for responsiveness. 
• Neither mattress will have a sinking memory feeling and cause sleepers to feel stuck. They will also sleep cooler than some memory foam mattresses with breathable foam layers that won’t trap heat.

Who the GhostBed Mattress is Best For 

Best For:

• Those looking for a very responsive mattress that is bouncy to sleep on
• Most sleeper sizes, including heavier stomach and back sleepers looking for spinal support 
• Hot sleepers that still enjoy the feel of a foam mattress

Not Best For:

• Lightweight or heavyweight side sleepers who may not receive the right pressure relief around their shoulders and hips 
• Couples looking for a quiet mattress with minimal motion transfer

Read our full GhostBed mattress review to learn more! 

Who the Leesa Mattress is Best For 

Best For:

• Shoppers looking for a universally comfortable foam mattress
• Lightweight and average-weight sleepers looking for a foam mattress 
• Side sleepers will find pressure relief in the memory foam layers  
• Shoppers on a strict budget looking for a discount

Not Best For:

• Heavyweight stomach or back sleepers who may sink into the support layers of the mattress 
• People who sleep hot and may need the increased airflow of an innerspring or hybrid mattress

Read our full Leesa mattress review to learn more! 

Deciding Between GhostBed & Leesa

Firmness / Feel

These beds don’t depart too much from one another with regard to firmness (the GhostBed is a 6/10 and the Leesa is a 5/10 on the firmness scale), but the Leesa is a little bit softer. With regard to feel, the GhostBed has a mixed foam feel that’s due to the combination of latex foam, memory foam, and polyfoam in its construction. Latex, especially, feels different than traditional foam materials, so it gives the GhostBed a responsive, spongy feel. Check out our Latex vs. Memory Foam article to learn more about the materials. 

On the other hand, the Leesa has a neutral, fluffy foam feel. It has a little bit of memory foam in the top layers, but you can’t really tell that it has memory foam when you lie down because it doesn’t have that viscous, deep hug that most memory foam beds do.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation is an essential quality for couples who wake to one another’s movements throughout the night and for individuals who co-sleep with their pets or kids. The dense, multi-layered foam construction in the Leesa will cut down on motion transfer significantly. This is something we usually expect with all-foam beds.

Not surprisingly, the GhostBed isolates motion fairly well but not as well as the Leesa. This is because the latex in the top layer of the GhostBed gives the bed a little move responsiveness and movement when pressure is applied.

Edge Support

The GhostBed has decent edge support when compared to other all-foam beds thanks to the incorporation of latex and a relatively dense core. However, it’s still susceptible to sinkage in places around the perimeter where you may sit or spread out if you need more space.

The Leesa is on par with the competition in this area, and you’ll notice pretty significant sinkage around the edges when pressure is applied. This is because the Leesa has a simple, all-foam construction and none of the layers are built to withstand significant pressure. If you’re looking for a bed with better edge support, consider the GhostBed or, even better, a hybrid or innerspring model.

Pressure Relief 

All-foam beds with thick comfort layers are known for their pressure relieving qualities because they can successfully wrap around and cradle sleepers’ joints and curves in any position. If you’re a lightweight or average weight sleeper, you should feel the alleviation of aches and pains on either of these mattresses. However, the Leesa is the clear winner in this category. It’s medium firmness setting (5/10) combined with the even distribution of weight and contouring from the memory foam and polyfoam comfort layers make it an excellent choice for people who experience chronic pain or want a true cradle when they lie down.

Spine Alignment

Both beds work well to align the spine for sleepers in any position who are lightweight or average weight. Spinal alignment is achieved through a bed’s ability to balance support and conforming. For example, back sleepers and stomach sleepers require flat, even surfaces to ensure the hips and shoulders don’t sink. 

Back sleepers also need a little more contouring in the low back to ensure the lumbar spine is cradled. The GhostBed’s bouncy upper layers and contouring memory foam work well for stomach sleepers and back sleepers of all sizes. We recommend the Leesa for side sleepers, as its slightly softer setting may help this body type sink a little deeper into the comfort layers.

Durability 

Both the GhostBed and the Leesa are relatively to the mattress market, so it’s difficult to say how long they will last. Most all-foam mattresses hold up for roughly 7 to 10 years, and we think these beds will be on par with that average. It’s possible that the GhostBed’s incorporation of latex may help it last a little longer, as it makes the bed more resistant to sagging and permanent body impressions. Rotating either mattress every 3 to 6 months can encourage durability.

Temperature 

Foam mattresses tend to trap heat when compared to beds that have spring base layers, and the Leesa and GhostBed are no exception. The GhostBed may sleep slightly cooler, thanks to the gel-infusion of the memory foam and the aeration of the latex, but neither bed will provide enough active cooling for individuals or couples who really struggle with sleeping hot.

GhostBed Mattress Construction

The GhostBed is a mixed-foam bed with layers of latex foam and memory foam. It has a three-layer construction and measures 11” tall. The cover of the GhostBed is a stretchy blend of viscose and polyester that pairs nicely with the responsive latex foam beneath it. It can be spot-cleaned with cold water and mild detergent.

The top comfort layer of the GhostBed is 1.5” of synthetic Dunlop latex. The latex is aerated, which helps keep the comfort portion breathable, and it’s also not very dense. The holes help draw heat away from the sleeper and the density helps the latex conform to the body for comfort.

The middle layer is 2” of gel memory foam that’s also low-density. It has a slightly faster response than traditional memory foam, which helps this second foam layer compliment the latex foam layer above it. The gel infusion and larger-than-average cells in this foam help it sleep cooler than other memory foams.

The support foam of the GhostBed Original is 7.5” of high-density foam. It’s denser than many competing mattresses, which helps the GhostBed provide above-average edge support for an all-foam bed.

Leesa Mattress Construction

The Leesa is an all-foam mattress with a medium firmness setting that measures 10” tall. It features a polyester and Lycra spandex blend cover that’s highly elastic, yet feels soft and breathable.

The comfort portion of the mattress consists of two layers. The first is 2” of high-density polyfoam. The second comfort layer is 2” of low-density polyfoam. Together, these layers create the Leesa’s signature body-hugging feel and allow it to alleviate pressure points better than many other all-foam beds on the market.

The support core of the Leesa is 6” of high-density polyfoam. This layer creates a solid base for the comfort portion of the bed and helps the Leesa offer support and spinal alignment for lightweight and average-weight body types.

Sizing & Price Comparisons 

Shipping and Returns for GhostBed & Leesa

Shipping, returns and sleep trial policies are sometimes overlooked by mattress shoppers, but they’re some of the most important things to consider, especially if you won’t be able to try the mattress out in person. Both mattresses ship free to the contiguous United States. If you’re in Alaska or Hawaii, GhostBed can ship to you, but it will cost a hefty $600. White Glove delivery is available for an additional fee with GhostBed, but Leesa doesn’t offer it at this time.

Both the GhostBed and the Leesa ship as a bed-in-a-box, which means they’ll arrive rolled and compressed inside a box on your doorstep. The setup and unboxing process takes about 10 minutes, and each mattress will need a day or two to fully expand.

You have 101 nights with GhostBed and 100 nights with Leesa to decide if that’s the bed for you. If you end up liking them, you’ll get a 20-year warranty with GhostBed and a 10-year warranty with Leesa. GhostBed’s warranty is prorated, so the best coverage will occur in the first ten years and then you’ll have a little bit of coverage for smaller issues after that. Both have relatively good warranties, as you want to see at least 10 years of coverage when you’re mattress shopping. In the event you don’t like them inside the trial period, you’ll get a full refund.

Other Models Available

See GhostBed 3D Matrix Mattress Review to learn more.

Read the GhostBed Flex Mattress Review to learn more. 

More Leesa Mattresses

See Leesa Legend Mattress Review to learn more.

Read the full Leesa Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.

Our Final Take

GhostBed and Leesa are two really popular mattress brands in the mid-tier price range, so which one do we think is better? It depends. If you like a fluffy, neutral foam feel you can trust will be accommodating to pretty much anyone, go with the Leesa. If you like foam but also enjoy a little bit of bounce in your mattress, go with the GhostBed. 

Depending on your weight and sleep style, the slightly softer Leesa mattress will cradle pressure points of side sleepers and the GhostBed can contour around back sleepers to keep their spines aligned. Lighter stomach sleepers may find support on either mattress, but heavier stomach sleepers will need a truly firm mattress.