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Leesa Mattress Review

Warranty: 10 Years

Sleep Trial: 100-Nights

Price Range: $799-$1,299

Nerd Score: 4.9/5

Our Verdict: Simply put, Leesa is a great mattress. It is straightforward in its approach to be a comfortable bed for a lot of sleepers. It doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, but it has enough to accommodate you if you have some specific concerns like temperature regulation, edge support or pressure relief. If you’re an average weight sleeper, with average needs, looking for a comfortable, durable mattress, the Leesa is a great choice. For more top choices, see the best online mattresses.

Who Is the Leesa Best For?

Best For…

May Not be Best For…
✅Average weight sleepers

✅Sleepers who like a true medium-firm feel

✅All sleeping positions

✅Couples

 ❌Sleepers who want a traditional memory foam feel

❌Strict stomach sleepers

❌Sleepers who love innerspring mattresses

What We’ll Cover in This Leesa Review

Launched in 2014, Leesa was among the first in a pack of direct-to-consumer, boxed mattress companies to hang an online shingle. Though dozens have followed in their steps, ramping up the stakes, Leesa still does a top-notch job delivering the goods—namely a mattress to fulfill the desires of that wide variety of sleepers in the middle, known as the average sleeper.

The Leesa can accommodate many people and I think they do it at a reasonable price. The Leesa company can accommodate a lot of customers and do it efficiently. That’s what you get from a company that led the charge into the online mattress-selling space. The company founders were bad sleepers looking for a fix to their own problems. They reached out to a mattress-making friend and the rest, according to the cliché, is history. Leesa asked first, “What’s wrong with mattresses today? How can we build a better one so people can get some sleep?” The answer they got was to get rid of the stuff that made mattresses expensive but didn’t really serve the goal of helping people sleep better.

They attacked some of the problems sleepers face—pain at pressure points like the hips and shoulders, poor spinal alignment, mattresses that held on heat—by developing and combining different types of foam that could deliver relief for all of those things in some measure. Core strength, pressure relief, cooling, bounce—it’s all there in Leesa’s three-layer foam construction. For similar choices, see the best memory foam mattresses.

In this review, we will dive into what to expect from the Leesa, who the mattress is best for, and some of its best features. If you’re up in the air and not sure what you want, Leesa is very likely a great choice for you.

Leesa Mattress Highlights

  • Engineered for the average sleeper with medium firmness.
  • Versatile in that it adapts to all sleep positions and most body types.
  • Egg carton-shaped top layer of foam is great for airflow & keeping you cool.
  • Went through 200 prototypes to develop the responsive, cool Avena top layer.
  • Foam contours to your body, but still bounces so you don’t get stuck.
  • Foams in the Leesa mattresses are CertiPUR-US® certified.
  • Free shipping, 100-night trial period, free returns (except Alaska, Hawaii).
  • One of the highest-rated mattresses, by professionals & customers on the market.
  • You can look at the Leesa at a Pottery Barn store.
  • Made in the USA.
  • Discounted rates for military, first-responders, students & teachers year-round.
  • Donates one mattress for every 10 sold to charities like homeless shelters.
  • Leesa is a certified B Corp, which signals it meets “rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
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What Type of Mattress is The Leesa?

The Leesa is a combination foam mattress and is medium-firm. See our list of the Best Firm Mattresses. 

Does Leesa Sleep Hot?

Memory foam mattresses earned a bad rap for retaining too much body heat. Better technology—including the egg carton-shaped top foam layer in the Leesa—create a cooler night of shut-eye for you.

Leesa Firmness & Feel

The Leesa is considered a medium-firm mattress. Because Leesa was striving to appeal to the most sleepers, regardless of how they slept, the firmness level also hits the middle of the pack.

In other words, if you want a fluffy cloud of a mattress, the Leesa won’t suit you. And if you want to sleep on something super firm, this won’t do it for you either.

Old-school foam mattresses also earned a bad rap for swallowing sleepers. You’d sink in and get stuck and they’d have to send in a search party after you. The Avena foam in the top layer has a lot of bounce to it. It responds quickly to your movements so you’re able to move and get out of it without any sinkage.

Will Couples Like the Leesa? 

A couple’s harmony in the bedroom is important, and sleep is an important part of that harmony. The foam used in the Leesa will sink down when you sit on the edge of the mattress, but you won’t slip off. The third layer of foam does a great job keeping its structure. That means sleeping on the edges won’t be a problem either. There’s enough give to cradle the body so you avoid feeling like you’re pressing down on your back, thighs, hips, and shoulders. Less pressure, less pain, better sleep. 

The way the layers of foam all provide either structure or contouring means the Leesa does a pretty good job isolating movement. In other words, if your partner gets out of bed to use the potty in the middle of the night, you might feel a slight jiggle, but you’re probably not waking up. Speaking of couples and motion isolation, Leesa also made our list of the best mattresses for sex! 

Leesa Mattress by Sleeping Positions

Back Stomach Side Combination
✅Fills in the lower back for support

✅Enough sinkage without feeling stuck

 ✅Does a good job supporting hips and keeping the spine aligned ❌May experience some pressure in shoulders ✅Easy to move around on

Back Sleepers: If you’re a back sleeper, you need proper support for your spine and neck. The Leesa mattress more than delivers on this quality; with a medium firmness level, this bed does a great job of supporting your back and maintaining spine alignment. Because this is a firmer memory foam bed, you get that firmness sweet spot of just enough cushioning combined with durable support. For other protective mattresses that distribute the weight of the body evenly, see the best mattress for back sleepers.

Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleepers require a mattress that supports and elevates their hips in order to prevent any sinkage that could cause the spine to curve. They also need a bed that keeps pressure off of their chest and shoulders. Luckily, this memory foam bed provides just support to keep the spine aligned, while also contouring to your curves so you feel well-supported and comfortable throughout the night. Check out the best mattress for stomach sleepers for the most supportive mattresses.

Side Sleepers: Pressure relief and contouring are key features side sleepers should look for in a mattress. Because they sleep on their side, their hips and shoulders tend to take the majority of their weight. The Leesa mattress does feature a comfort layer of contouring memory foam that works to cradle the body, but some side sleepers may want a softer mattress for added pressure relief. For better options, check out the best mattress for side sleepers.

Combination Sleepers: Most average weight combination sleepers will enjoy the Leesa mattress. The memory foam layers work to isolate motion and the top layer does an excellent job of responding to your movements, so much so that the mattress made our list of best mattresses for combo sleepers. If you change positions throughout the night, the Leesa will ensure you’re supported no matter where you shift to.

Leesa Mattress Design

The Leesa is an all-foam mattress that excels in support, cooling features, and pressure relief to the body. 

Top Layer: 2-inch layer made of cooling foam that keeps sleepers cool and responds to their movement. It’s called “LSA200 foam” and mimics the feel of latex. Most foam beds don’t do a great job of keeping you cool so this is a big pro for the Leesa. Also, the way the foam responds to movement means the mattress is a good fit for all sleep positions—back, side or stomach. It is one of our top picks for the best mattresses for back pain. 

Second Layer: A 2-inch second comfort layer is made up of contouring memory foam, which cradles the body and provides significant pressure relief.

Base Layer: The 6-inch bottom layer is the densest layer of the three. The polyfoam layer makes up the core support of the mattress, sturdy enough to enhance the structure of the Leesa. The support foam is 3-pound density, which will withstand everyday use. Anything flimsier than 3 pounds will not withstand the long haul.

How Much Does A Leesa Mattress Cost?

Twin Twin XL Full Queen King Cal King
$799 $849 $999 $1,099 $1,299 $1,299

That range is reasonable compared to other quality mattresses. When the online store saves money by avoiding a brick-and-mortar setup, the customer benefits. Even though Leesa doesn’t have its own retail space, you don’t have to buy before you try. You can go to any West Elm or Pottery Barn store to check out the mattress.

Leesa also sells its own foundations, one designed for this mattress. In quality, it compares to something you’d buy out of an actual mattress store.

This is an upgrade for Leesa, which did not sell a matching foundation when it first came out. You can also buy another brand so long as it has a rigid base. That is important to keep the structure of the foam mattress strong and healthy for a long time.

For the best price, see our Leesa mattress coupons or check out the best mattress under $1,000.

Dimensions & Specs

  • Twin: 39″ x 75″
  • Twin XL: 36” x 80”
  • Full: 53” x 75”
  • Queen: 60” x 80”
  • King: 76” x 80”
  • Cal King: 72” x 84”

Weight

71 pounds for the queen

Thickness

10 inches

One interesting note about the 10-inch thickness, there was an experiment done on the mattress that simulated 10 years of use and wear. After the experiment, the Leesa had lost none of its thickness.  It was still doing its job.

Leesa Sleep Trial, Warranty, Shipping & Unboxing

You have roughly three months to road test the Leesa foam mattress. You need to sleep on the mattress for at least 30 of that 100-night trial period before you can return it. It takes time for people to get used to a new mattress and for the mattress to break in. Thirty days go fast. The best online mattress companies each have similar polices.

If you do return it, you will get a full refund. One note, Leesa ships to all 50 states, but people living in Alaska and Hawaii will have to pay $100 to return it. Leesa is a certified B Company, which gives out its certification to the most socially responsible companies only. If you return the mattress, Leesa will donate it to a local charity that needs it. Coming and going, you accept very little risk to try the Leesa mattress. See: Leesa vs. Purple Mattress

Leesa also offers a 10-year full replacement warranty. For 10 years, if the mattress shows a defect, unrelated to wear and tear, Leesa will repair or replace it. There’s no fee for that. Also, the mattresses work best on a solid base or a foundation strong enough to support both the Leesa and the sleeper.

One of the original boxed mattresses comes compressed and rolled into, you guessed it, a box! (15” x 15” x 45” for a queen).  Open the box. Take it out of the box. Free it from its plastic wrapping. Watch it expand. Have a drink while you’re at it. Enjoy. Done. If you are looking to have your mattress shipped directly to your front door, check out the best bed in a box. 

Leesa promises to deliver within 3-6 business days after receiving your order. Shipping is free to all 50 states.

In some locations, you can also pay for white glove delivery. Someone else will bring the mattress and set it up for you and take away the packaging. If you want them to also remove your old mattress, you can pay another $50 for that service.

Leesa delivers to your door

More Leesa Mattresses

Leesa Hybrid

This luxury hybrid mattress by Leesa combines supportive coils with premium foam for cradling and comfort. The foam is perforated to reduce heat trapping, and the coils provide excellent edge support.

Leesa Legend

The Leesa Legend is an upgraded take on the hybrid mattress. Considered a luxury hybrid mattress, it features two sets of coils for added support, topped with cradling foam and an organic cotton cover.

See our full Leesa Legend Mattress Review to learn more.

Leesa Studio

Leesa's most affordable mattress yet, the Studio is a no-frills option made for the average sleeper. Its three layers of memory foam provide pressure relief, support and cradling, so it's great for side, stomach and back sleepers alike. If you're looking for a high-quality, yet simple, mattress, the Studio by Leesa is a great pick.

See our full Studio by Leesa Mattress Review to learn more.

Our Leesa Mattress Review

Nerd Score: 4.9/5

There are few things we can bank on in the world, but the Leesa comes very close to being a sure-fire hit for average sleepers who need a new mattress.

I’ve tested the Leesa more than any other mattress out there(I test it nightly!). I’ve had dozens of opportunities to change my recommendation with all of these new mattress start-ups, but between the Leesa being very comfortable and them being one of the biggest and oldest companies in the space, I see no reason to change my mind.

Even looking at other reviews on other platforms, across the board, Leesa rates very highly due to strong edge support, the memory foam’s ability to relieve pressure and how quickly it responds and resettles you into the mattress when you move about.

Leesa also offers other versions to compliment this well rounded, every man/woman mattress, but we’re confident most people will embrace the Leesa as a purchase they won’t regret. Check out our other luxury mattress picks. 

LEESA VS.

Check out our comparison tool to see how it stacks up.

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FAQs

What is the weight limit for Leesa?

The Leesa is constructed to hold up to 300 pounds

Do I need to use a certain foundation?

You have several options on where to place your Leesa mattress. A solid platform, a box foundation, a bunkie board on top of a traditional box spring or a slatted base.

Comments (204)

  1. SLEEPS VERY VERY HOT! Anyone around 200lb up BEWARE! The Leesa mattress sleeps incredibly hot if you are not light enough. You sink below the cooling layer and wake up with your back on fire. I have never had an issue with a mattress previously. I am buying a new mattress after a year because I didn’t get my act into gear and return it within 100 days due to travelling. I tried everything, rotating it, a cooling mattress pad, cool pillows and sheets. Nothing works. Do not buy this mattress unless you are light.

    Reply

  2. After weeks of researching and limited funds I found a guy selling new beds that were used for staging homes for real estate. He had a new Leesa for a fraction of the price, I was so excited yet skeptical. I called Leesa to see if they knew of any knock offs. She said there’s no knock offs and to enjoy the bed. I did call again a second time as I was so nervous giving all the cash I had but desperately needing a good bed and from the reviews I really wanted a Leesa. I went ahead and got the bed. It’s the first night and here I am at 4:00am still haven’t slept because the bed is so hard it’s hurting my back. I’m so sad because I can’t afford to buy another bed and I’m really thinking there’s no way after so many good reviews this could be a real Leesa bed. Later today after no sleep at all, I’m going to West Elm store to try a Leesa bed out too compare but I’m not sure I even want to know that I probably got ripped off because there’s nothing I can do about it and Im stuck irregardless with this bed and may end up sleeping on the couch permanently until I can afford another mattress.

    Reply

  3. We’ve had the Leesa for 11 nights, I was hoping I was going to sleep well on it however I’m tossing and turning all night. Do you think I’m still adjusting and there’s hope? My husband slept like a baby from day 1. I’m a bit gutted because we got it for me, to improve my sleep. Think I might buy a memory foam pillow see if that helps. Or shall I send it back and try a different company.

    Reply

    • If it feels a little too firm, I’d expect it to get a little softer over the course of the next couple weeks. That’s typical of foam mattresses, and why most companies recommend keeping a mattress for a few weeks before deciding on an exchange.

  4. Do you have any recommendations for mattress protectors. I’m looking for one specifically for the Leesa (which I love), that is also waterproof (specifically to pets), and reasonably priced, and holds up to regular washings, and also stays cool as this is one of the great things about the Leesa which we don’t want to lose.

    Reply

    • The one I use is called the bedgear Dri-Tec. It’s a great protector, but I’m not a fan of the company behind it.

      Story time: I approached them at Las Vegas furniture market because at the time two of my affiliates sold their products, and I wanted to chat with them about their products. They stopped me at the door of their empty booth, and when I explained who I was and what I wanted to discuss, they sneered “We don’t do e-commerce, thanks anyway” in the most sarcastic voice they could muster and sent me away.

      They were just standing there, guarding the entryway, with nobody inside, and didn’t seem to care that I had an audience of a million people a year I could tell about their product.

      Unfortunately (for me, I guess), their product is just so damn good that I recommend it anyway, if you can find it.

      It looks like Bed Bath and Beyond has it on their website, but not in the queen size. You can also buy it directly from bedgear.

  5. We bought a “Tuft and Needle” and we’ve had it not quite a year I think. But the foam breaks down after wear. I loved it at first and now I’d never buy one again. The edges are very spongey and we both have bad backs and at first it was great, now not so. I am glad I found your web page. How long have you had your lease mattress? Thank you for listening

    Reply

    • I’ve had my Leesa for almost 3 years now. I actually intend to write an updated article soon.

      It’s still in good shape. It’s not in exactly the same shape as when I got it, but it’s still very comfortable. It’s comfortable enough that I keep it as my primary mattress despite mattress companies offering me their mattresses for free for review. I could request a king from any of them and make it my primary mattress, but I’m still happy with the Leesa after all this time.

    • I don’t ship mattresses at all. If you’re asking if Leesa ships to Japan, I don’t think they do, but you can ask them.

  7. Hi, I bought a Leesa queen-size two years ago and have liked it until recently — I apparently fall asleep on my side, the mattress accommodates, and then i wake up in the morning on my back in a giant trough, in pain.
    Do you have any ideas on what to add to the bed to make it — I don’t even know what it needs — less soft on top and less remembery (the memory foam)? I’m in so much pain but can’t imagine paying another $1000 so soon.
    Thank you!

    Reply

    • There’s not much you can do to make a mattress feel firmer. Maybe a thinner, high density latex topper on top. You might also want to contact the company to make sure there’s no warranty issue. It just being a little too soft isn’t a warranty issue, but if it’s actually sagging, that could be a warranty claim.

  8. In your opinion, will sleeping on the leesa before it’s firmed up 100% ruin it? I’m tempted to wait a week before using it.

    Reply

    • A week?

      Just give it a few hours. I don’t recommend sleeping on it within minutes of unboxing it. I don’t know about “ruining” it, but it’s better to let it fully expand. But again, that’s a matter of a few hours.

  9. Was glad to have found your site and your excellent review of Leesa. I am approaching the end of my trial period with Leesa and am still on the fence. It is much better than the previous bed-in-a-box I tried (Endy) in that it doesn’t sleep hot and I don’t feel “stuck” in the mattress. While Endy was too soft I’m concerned Leesa might be a little too firm (Apparently I have Goldilocks syndrome). I am considering getting a topper or mattress pad to soften things up, but my question is does putting something on top of one of these mattresses kind of defeat the purpose of buying one? Do I lose the support and body-contouring capabilities of the memory foam by adding a topper or pad on top? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Putting something on top of the mattress does not defeat the purpose. If a mattress is too firm, it’s a sensible thing to do, especially if it’s just a little too firm. Also, if the mattress continues to soften a little more, let’s say a few years from now, you can just take away the topper.

      I’ve had my Leesa for over 2 years now, and during the first 6 months or so I thought it was just a little too firm, but it has since settled into being just about perfect.

  10. how would you compare the Leesa firmness to the medium firm of the love and sleep. We like the idea of more than one firmless to select from. But we like the sounds of the Leesa. We do not like over firm. We have slept on the same full motion water bed for 31 years. Looking for something easier to get out of

    Reply

    • Overall, they’re a pretty similar firmness.

      They will feel a bit different because of the types of foam used. The Leesa has a little more “bounce” to it in the surface layer and feels just a tiny bit firmer to me.

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