Materials: Memory Foam
Firmness: 6/10
Trial Period: 365-nights
Price Range: $873–$2,086
Nerd Score: 3.7/5
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Nectar Mattress Review: A Bed-In-A-Box Alternative to Tempur-Pedic
Is the Nectar Mattress for You?
Who’s Going to Love It
- Hot sleepers who still want a memory foam mattress
- Average-weight back and side sleepers
- Couples who crave top-notch motion isolation
Who Should Steer Clear
- People who want a traditional, bouncy mattress—instead, consider the Saatva Classic mattress.
- Those who sleep along the edge of their bed—instead, look for a mattress with a high score for edge support, like the Helix Midnight mattress.
- Average-weight and heavyweight stomach sleepers—instead the Plank mattress is a firmer option.
The Nectar is a value memory foam mattress that excels at providing pressure relief and minimizing motion transfer. The medium-firm feel is ideal for cradling pressure points. Plus, it comes with a yearlong trial period and Lifetime warranty.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Nectar is a value memory foam mattress that excels at providing pressure relief and minimizing motion transfer. The medium-firm feel is ideal for cradling pressure points. Plus, it comes with a yearlong trial period and Lifetime warranty.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Nectar is a value memory foam mattress that excels at providing pressure relief and minimizing motion transfer. The medium-firm feel is ideal for cradling pressure points. Plus, it comes with a yearlong trial period and Lifetime warranty.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nectar Mattress
Read Nectar Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Read Nectar Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Read Nectar Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress Firmness & Feel
Nectar Mattress Firmness
Mattresses are rated on a firmness scale ranging from one to 10. One is the softest mattress—it will have a cloud-like sinking feeling—and a 10 is reserved for the firmest mattresses. Nectar’s firmness rates around a 6/10 on the firmness scale. The average mattress falls around a 6 or 6.5 firmness, so Nectar is similar to many other bed-in-a-box mattresses.
What Does the Nectar Mattress Feel Like?
Nectar has added stabilizing measures in its construction in order to balance the hugging feel of memory foam without feeling stuck in the mattress. Still, some of the softer upper layers may cause heavier side sleepers and stomach sleepers to sink into the mattress. If you are a plus-size sleeper, see the best mattress for heavy sleepers.
What Sleeping Position Is the Nectar Best For?
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs) | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Heavyweight (230 lbs) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
1 = Very poor 2 = Not good 3 = Fair 4 = Good 5 = Excellent
Back Sleepers
Despite being an all-foam mattress, the Nectar is on the firmer side of the firmness scale and can support some back sleepers. With a memory foam layer dedicated to keeping sleepers from sinking into the mattress, lightweight and average-weight back sleepers should find their spines stay aligned on top of the bed. For other mattresses that support the entire body, see the best mattress for back sleepers.
For back sleepers, the Nectar distributes pressure evenly along the body and supports the lower back, helping to prevent lower back pain. Heavyweight folks may feel the mattress sink more than they’d like, and we’ve seen reviews that it becomes softer over time. If you are waking up in pain, see our list of the best mattress for back pain.
Stomach Sleepers
If you are a strict stomach sleeper, it is important to consider your weight when purchasing the Nectar Mattress. The Nectar is a medium-firm mattress, but once you lie on your stomach for a while, you may start to feel your hips sinking and becoming unaligned with your spine.
If you’re an average-weight or heavyweight stomach sleeper who wants to avoid pressure build-up in your hips, we recommend considering other mattresses. The Nectar just doesn’t offer a dense enough support core for most stomach sleepers. Still, it should be plenty supportive for some lightweight stomach sleepers. For mattress options that suit even more stomach sleepers, see our list of the best mattress for stomach sleepers.
Side Sleepers
The Nectar is a great mattress for side sleepers because of the pressure-relieving foam under the shoulders and hips. Average-weight and some heavyweight side sleepers should sink into the contouring layers designed to keep the spine aligned. Lightweight sleepers may not sink beyond the top layer and, thus, might not feel as much of the Nectar‘s pressure-relieving benefits. Still, very few side sleepers should feel an excess buildup of pressure on the Nectar.
Combination Sleepers
Overall, the Nectar is compatible with all sleeping positions, depending on your weight category. Especially for stomach sleepers, it is important to consider what position in which you spend a majority of the night.
Sleepers also need to consider how heavy or light you are. Average-weight and lightweight combination sleepers should be able to find comfort in the layers of memory foam, but heavyweight side and stomach sleepers might not find the support they need in the Nectar. For mattresses that make movement easier, see the best mattress for combination sleepers.
Nectar Mattress Performance
Is The Nectar Mattress Cooling?
Memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat next to the body because the foam isn’t very breathable. Nectar aims to counter this effect by adding cooling gel to the memory foam top layer. The gel neutralizes body heat that may build up in the foam. We still noticed significant warmth building up under our bodies, so we don’t consider the Nectar to be a good cooling mattress for hot sleepers.
Edge Support
We noticed a little sinkage when sitting along the edges of the Nectar, probably because it’s made entirely of foam, but generally felt well supported. If you often sit along the perimeter of the bed, you may sink a little, but shouldn’t slide off the bed. Those who lie along the edges of the bed should also feel stable.
Responsiveness
Memory foam responds to changes in position more slowly than latex or springy materials like innerspring coils. That makes it the least responsive type of mattress, which can affect the comfort of combination sleepers or those who toss and turn.
The Nectar earned average marks for responsiveness—it takes a second or two for the foam to return to its original shape after pressure is removed, but that shouldn’t be an issue for those who stay fairly still while sleeping.
Motion Isolation: Is it good for those who share a bed?
If you sleep with a partner or even a pet who tosses and turns throughout the night, you know how important motion isolation is in a bed. During testing, the Nectar did an excellent job of cutting down on motion transfer.
Our testers noticed only a slight movement transferring across the mattress when another person got on or off the bed. The movement isn’t significant enough to wake most people up, so we think the Nectar is a great mattress for couples concerned about motion transfer.
Noise
We didn’t notice any noise coming from our Nectar mattress, and feel confident calling it a quiet bed.
Pain Relief
If you experience a lot of pain in your shoulders or hips, the Nectar is a good option—it offers enough pressure relief to cushion average-weight side sleepers. Lightweight sleepers with shoulder pain may not sink deep enough into the foam to get deep body contouring, while heavier side sleepers will likely press all the way down to the firm support layer.
Those who experience back pain, especially lower back pain, need a mattress that’s firm enough to keep their hips and lower back lifted on top of the mattress. That rules out the Nectar. For better options, see the best mattresses for back pain.
Sex
We don’t include the Nectar in our roundup of the best mattresses for sex because it’s not very responsive and retains some body heat. To its credit, it’s a very quiet mattress.
Off-Gassing
Almost all bed-in-a-box mattresses require a few days to air out after being unboxed. Similar to how new cars and shoes have a fresh, leathery smell after they’re purchased, some memory foam mattresses have a chemical smell that’s released when they’re first opened. The Nectar mattress does have a slight off-gassing smell, but if you leave the mattress in a well-ventilated space for 24–72 hours after it’s unpackaged, the smell should dissipate.
Durability
The Nectar should stay supportive enough for sleepers under 230 lbs for six or seven years. You may eventually notice permanent body impressions forming in the top layers of foam. If those indentations get deeper than 1.5” and you’re using a firm, supportive foundation, you may be eligible for a warranty claim.
Construction: What’s the Nectar Made Of?
The Nectar is an all-foam mattress designed for cooling comfort. The Nectar‘s poly-blend cover and gel memory foam layer will provide cooling: perfect for those who tend to sleep hot but still love the feel of memory foam. We think sleepers will be able to find comfort on their sides and back without feeling stuck in the comfort layers of this mattress.
Layer #1—Quilted Memory Foam Cover: The bed’s plush top cover is soft to the touch; sleepers should find the cover to be breathable for a better sleep.
Layer #2—Nectar Comfort Layer (3″): The top memory foam layer is infused with cooling gel that neutralizes excess body heat.
Layer #3—Dynamic Support Layer (2″): The Nectar’s adaptive memory foam layer responds to your changes in position more quickly than traditional memory foam.
Layer #4—Foam Base Layer (7″): For support and durability, the base layer helps stabilize the layers above while enhancing edge support.
Layer #5—Bottom Mattress Cover: The bottom of the mattress cover is textured to help prevent the mattress from sliding off your bed frame.
How Much Does A Nectar Mattress Cost?
| Mattress Size | Price | Dimensions | Height | Weight |
| Twin | $873 | 38″ x 75″ | 12” | 40 lbs |
| Twin XL | $1,043 | 38” x 80” | 12” | 42 lbs |
| Full | $1,298 | 54” x 75” | 12” | 55 lbs |
| Queen | $1,398 | 60” x 80” | 12” | 66 lbs |
| King | $1,698 | 76” x 80” | 12” | 84 lbs |
| Split King | $2,086 | 76″ x 80″ | 12″ | 84 lbs |
| California King | $1,698 | 72” x 84” | 12” | 83 lbs |
To learn more about the cost of the Nectar mattress, check out our Nectar mattress coupons. Check out the Best Mattress for the Money for more of our favorite mattresses.
How Do the Policies Measure Up?
Shipping & Unboxing
The Nectar should arrive compressed after five to 10 business days of ordering. Shipping is free in the contiguous U.S. While unboxing the Nectar mattress, expect it to be heavier than some of the other bed-in-a-box mattresses because of its 11” height. Fortunately, Nectar also offers white glove delivery service for an additional cost. This includes the set up of the new mattress and removal of the old mattress.
The Nectar mattress is a little heavier than some other bed-in-a-box brands, but with the extra weight comes extra layers of comfort. Depending on the size of the mattress you buy, the box it arrives in will vary in weight from 45 pounds to around 100 pounds, so we recommend finding an extra set of hands to help you carry the box to the room it’s going in.
Warranty
The Nectar comes with a Lifetime warranty, which runs as long as the original owner has the mattresses. Still, be sure to use a bed frame that’s appropriate for the mattress. For more information, see our Nectar mattress warranty breakdown.
Trial Period & Returns
Nectar offers a year-long trial period for the mattress, one of the longer trial periods available in the industry. Nectar suggests a 30-day break-in period to allow your mattress to adjust to your body.
If you decide to return the Nectar mattress for a full refund within the year-long trial period, reach out to Nectar through its website. The company will then begin the process to initiate a free refund. To learn more, see our Nectar mattress return policy breakdown.
Addressing Nectar Complaints
Shipping Delays
Some Nectar customers have expressed concern over shipping delays and shipping dates that seem to change often. Nectar sources its materials overseas and also outsources its construction internationally. While all final Nectar products are shipped from Washington state, supply chain delays occur from time to time, slowing down the delivery process as a whole. It’s difficult to say how often this occurs, but several customer reviews mention it.
If shipping is a concern for you, consider purchasing your Nectar mattress from a third-party retailer, such as The Home Depot, Mattress Firm, or Macy’s. If those companies have Nectar mattresses already available in their respective warehouses, your order may arrive faster.
Customer Service
Some customers expressed disappointment in Nectar’s customer service, including long chat wait times, unanswered emails and phone calls, and vague responses to questions and complaints. Based on what we’ve read, it’s possible that Nectar needs to improve their customer service practices. If this is a big issue for you, Layla, Casper, and Saatva are all known for their excellent customer service interactions.
Not Supportive Enough for Heavyweight Sleepers
Most sleepers sink into the Nectar mattress and experience a comfortable blend of support and pressure relief. However, heavyweight sleepers might find that the original Nectar is a little too plush for their needs. Instead, we recommend looking for a mattress that has a coil support layer and height over 12″. The Saatva HD, WinkBed Plus, Helix Plus, and Awara are all great options specifically designed for those with heavyweight body types.
Nectar vs. Nectar Premier
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Nectar Premier Mattress
Firmness
Medium-soft: 5.5/10
Score
| Nectar Mattress is Best For: | Nectar Premier Mattress is Best For: |
| Back & Side Sleepers | Side & Back Sleepers |
| Couples | Those Who Want A Cloud-Like Feel |
| Budget-Conscious Shoppers | Those Shopping For A Tempur-Pedic Alternative |
The Nectar Premier is an upgraded version of the original Nectar mattress. It’s also made entirely of foam, but it has a slightly softer feel due to an extra inch of foam. The Premier is marginally better for side sleepers and those who prioritize pressure relief, particularly those over 130 lbs. Both beds work well for back sleepers under 230 lbs.
Couples shouldn’t experience much, if any, motion transfer on either mattress, and should also feel stable along the sides of the bed. Neither mattress excels at temperature control or ease of movement, probably because of the memory foam top layers used in both. You’ll pay more for the Premier, but get Nectar’s 365-day trial period and Lifetime warranty with both.
See our full Nectar Premier Mattress Review for more details.
Nectar vs. Nectar Premier Copper
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Nectar Premier Copper Mattress
Firmness
Medium-soft: 5/10
Score
| Nectar Mattress is Best For: | Nectar Premier Copper Mattress is Best For: |
| Couples | Back & Side Sleepers |
| Side & Back Sleepers | Those Under 230 lbs |
| Budget-Conscious Shoppers | Those Who Want A Softer Mattress |
The Nectar Premier Copper is the softest Nectar mattress at 5/10 on the firmness scale. It also has the most cooling features—including gel, copper, and Phase Change Materials—that all regulate temperature. We think it stays only a fraction cooler than the other Nectar mattresses, so it’s still not a great choice for hot sleepers.
Like the original Nectar, the Premier Copper is best for back and side sleepers under 230 lbs. You’ll sink deeper into this mattress, so it’s great for those who like the “hug” and deep contouring of traditional memory foam. The Premier Copper is Nectar’s luxury mattress, so it’s the priciest of the collection.
See our full Nectar Premier Copper Mattress Review for more details.
Comparing Nectar to the Competition
Nectar vs. Purple
Product
Firmness
Score
| Nectar Mattress is Best For: | Purple Mattress is Best For: |
| Back Sleepers | Combination Sleepers |
| Average-Weight Side Sleepers | Side & Back Sleepers |
| Couples Concerned About Motion Transfer | Hot Sleepers |
The Nectar and Purple are both foam mattresses, but they differ greatly on their feel and construction. The Nectar‘s softer foam layers provide pressure relief and cradle pressure points like the hips and shoulders. The Purple has a gel-like, grid-shaped top layer that’s cushioning and evenly distributes your weight.
The Purple’s construction increases airflow beneath sleepers and is responsive enough to keep up with combination sleeper’s movements. The Nectar’s dense memory foam isolates motion, but can trap body heat. The Nectar costs a little more than the Purple, but Nectar runs generous discounts that price their original mattress below the price of the original Purple.
See our full Nectar vs. Purple Mattress Comparison for more details.
Nectar vs. Casper
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Casper Original Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Score
| Nectar Mattress is Best For: | Casper Mattress is Best For: |
| Back Sleepers Under 230 lbs | Side & Back Sleepers Under 230 lbs |
| Average-Weight Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers Under 130 lbs |
| Memory Foam Lovers | Those Who Need Great Pressure Relief |
As two of the most popular bed-in-the-box brands, the Casper and the Nectar are memory foam mattress staples. The Casper‘s zoned support may provide better pressure relief than the Nectar, appealing to a wide range of sleeping positions.
The Casper‘s slightly firmer feel gives the mattress some bounce, and it’s able to support stomach sleepers and combination sleepers on top of the mattress. Both mattresses should support pressure relief in side sleepers and ensure spinal alignment in back sleepers. Couples will appreciate the great motion isolation offered by the Nectar.
Read our full Casper vs. Nectar Mattress Review to learn more.
Nectar vs. Tuft & Needle
Product
Firmness
Score
| Nectar Mattress is Best For: | Tuft & Needle Mattress is Best For: |
| Memory Foam Lovers | Combination Sleepers |
| Average-Weight Side Sleepers | Budget-Conscious Shoppers |
| Back Sleepers Under 230 lbs | Hot Sleepers |
The Tuft & Needle is a simple, two-layer foam mattress. It works for similar types of sleepers as the Nectar—back sleepers under 230 lbs and average-weight side sleepers—although the T&N is supportive enough to accommodate lightweight stomach sleepers, too.
The Nectar and T&N earned similar scores for pressure relief. They both scored high for motion isolation, but the Nectar scored higher. Neither mattress is particularly cooling, but you should stay cooler on the T&N. Budget shoppers will save on the T&N, unless Nectar is running one of their generous discounts.
See our full Tuft & Needle vs. Nectar Mattress Comparison for more details.
Nectar FAQs
How long does the Nectar mattress last?
While it’s impossible to say exactly how long your particular mattress will last, we’d estimate that the mattress will last around a decade. To help avoid indentations in the mattress, customers can rotate the mattress 180 degrees (from head to toe) every few months.
Does the Forever Warranty really mean … forever?
Yes! As long as you are the original owner, Nectar will replace your mattress if something goes wrong. Nectar claims that, if you own a Nectar Sleep Mattress, that is the only mattress you should ever own.
Will the Nectar have a strong off-gassing smell?
As with almost all memory foam mattresses from online mattress companies, customers will experience some off-gassing when they first unbox a new Nectar Mattress. The smell is normal and expected: it comes from the materials used to create the foams. It should start to go away within two to three days of airing out.
See More FAQs at nectarsleep.com.
The Nerd’s Take: What’s the Bottom Line?
Made of three memory foam layers, the Nectar successfully achieves a balance of contouring and support. It may not be the best for stomach sleepers, but average-weight side sleepers and back sleepers under 230 lbs will find the balance of comfort and support needed for enough pressure relief.
Those who like the traditional feel of memory foam but tend to sleep hot will appreciate the gel-infused memory foam. These folks will get the “hug” of memory foam with cooling gel to help regulate their temperature. Sleepers on a budget will also appreciate this quality mattress at an affordable price.
The Nerd’s Score
| Performance Factor | Out of 5 |
| Motion Isolation | 5 |
| Pressure Relief | 4 |
| Ease of Movement | 3 |
| Edge Support | 4 |
| Temperature Control | 2 |
| Durability | 4 |
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