Not sure if the Nolah or GhostBed is the best mattress for you? Find out how their materials, firmness, pros and cons, pricing and policies compare so you can make the right call.
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Not sure if the Nolah or GhostBed is the best mattress for you? Find out how their materials, firmness, pros and cons, pricing and policies compare so you can make the right call.
The Nolah Original 10” mattress is made from three foam layers and has a medium firmness level. The flagship GhostBed is a medium-firm mattress made from a combination of foam and latex.
The GhostBed is cooler and springier than the Nolah thanks to a top layer of aerated latex foam. These attributes make the GhostBed better for hot sleepers and people who toss and turn often. The Nolah’s surface is softer and provides superior pressure relief, which is great for side sleepers and lightweight people. Both mattresses have reliable edge support and minimize motion transfer, so they’re excellent for couples who share the bed.
Nolah and GhostBed are two leaders in the bed-in-a-box mattress industry, producing some of the best foam mattresses. Find out how the original GhostBed and Nolah mattresses compare when it comes to their pros and cons, materials, feel and firmness, price point and return policies.
Who Should Buy this Mattress?
6
120 nights
15-year limited warranty
$$$
Best For…
May Not be Best For…
Read our full Nolah mattress review to learn more!
Who Should Buy this Mattress?
6.5
101 nights
20 year limited
$$$
Best For…
May Not be Best For…
Read our full GhostBed mattress review to learn more!
At Mattress Nerd, we use a 1-10 firmness scale. The higher the number, the firmer the mattress. The Nolah’s firmness level falls at a 5.5/10, and the GhostBed at a 6/10. Despite similar firmnesses, these beds feel very different.
The GhostBed’s comfort layer is made from latex and Nolah’s from a soft polyfoam called AirFoam. Nolah’s AirFoam provides close contouring and a feel that’s like sleeping “in” the mattress. The GhostBed’s latex delivers a more gentle contour and a sensation that’s closer to floating on the mattress surface. The GhostBed is also a bit easier to move around on. The GhostBed is the better mattress for combination sleepers who need to change positions frequently while still receiving pressure relief.
While both mattresses offer above-average motion isolation, the Nolah is even better at minimizing motion transfer than the GhostBed. This difference is thanks to the motion-absorbing properties of the Nolah’s all-foam construction. That said, most couples won’t be bothered by the GhostBed’s small amount of motion transfer. If motion isolation is important to you, be sure to check out our picks for the best mattress for couples.
Both mattresses have sturdy and comfortable edges, so you’ll feel supported when sleeping along the mattress perimeter. The GhostBed’s borders are more supportive when you’re sitting on the edge of the bed. They also provide a sturdier surface to balance when getting into or out of bed, which is important for many elderly folks. For older sleepers who are looking for a better mattress, see our recommendations for the best mattress for seniors.
The Nolah mattress boasts superior pressure-relieving properties, especially for lightweight sleepers. This is because the Nolah’s top foam layer is softer than the GhostBed’s latex layer. This softer feel and generous cushion are great for side sleepers.
Both mattresses do an excellent job at supporting the spine’s natural curvature. That said, the Nolah offers better spine alignment for side sleepers, and the GhostBed offers superior alignment for stomach sleepers. Our heavier testers experienced some mild discomfort when resting on their backs on the Nolah. For other mattresses that protect the spine, check out the best mattress for stomach sleepers.
Based on our evaluation of each bed’s construction, our team thinks the GhostBed is more durable than the Nolah mattress. GhostBed utilizes latex along the mattress surface. Latex tends to be more resistant to indentation than the polyfoam found along the Nolah’s surface.
While both beds are cooler than most all-foam mattresses, the GhostBed is the better choice for most people who struggle with temperature regulation at night. If you wake up hot and sweaty, the GhostBed’s latex surface is breathable and doesn’t hold on to excess body heat. The Nolah’s surface is cool, just not as cool as the GhostBed’s. For mattresses that incorporate different cooling features, check out the best mattresses for hot sleepers.
Nolah is an all-foam mattress made from three layers of foam. The first layer is Nolah’s proprietary AirFoam. This soft foam contains millions of microscopic air pockets that cushion pressure points and dissipate excess body heat. The breathable Tencel cover allows any heat stored in the foam to pass through, keeping sleepers cool and dry.
The second layer contains Nolah’s High-Resilience foam. This foam works with the AirFoam layer to create a surface that’s easy to move around on. The Nolah is one of few mattresses with a soft, enveloping surface that doesn’t leave you feeling stuck. The High-Resilience foam is sturdy yet contouring, supporting healthy spine alignment. If you are looking to sink into the layers of your mattress, check out the best soft mattresses.
The Nolah Original’s final layer is a durable high-density support foam. This dense foam absorbs motion and adds structural support.
The GhostBed is an 11” mattress comprised of layers of polyfoam and latex. The top layer is 1.5” of aerated synthetic latex. Latex foam brings contouring without sinking, and it’s incredibly easy to move around on. Latex is naturally cool, and with the addition of breathable holes throughout, the GhostBed is one of the coolest mattresses without innerspring coils. For more responsive mattresses, check out the best latex mattresses.
The second foam layer is gel-infused memory foam. The memory foam cushions pressure points, especially heavier areas like the hips and lower back that can sink through the top layer. The gel infusion moves heat away from the mattress surface for a cool-to-the-touch feel.
High-density polyurethane foam makes up the GhostBed’s final layer. This foam stabilizes the other layers and brings added support to the mattress’s edges.
Mattress Size | Nolah Price | GhostBed Price |
Twin | $649 | $645 |
Twin XL | $799 | $845 |
Full | $899 | $1,045 |
Queen | $1,149 | $1,140 |
King | $1,249 | $1,385 |
Cal King | $1,249 | $1,410 |
Split King | N/A | $1,690 |
For the best price on a new mattress, see Nolah Mattress Coupons and GhostBed Mattress Coupons. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, see the Best Mattress Under $500.
Nolah ships their mattresses free to the contiguous U.S. but does not offer shipping to Hawaii or Alaska. You can expect your new mattress in five to 10 business days from the day you place your order.
From the day your mattress arrives, you have 120 nights to try it out and decide if you want to keep it. Nolah won’t accept returns until after the 30-day waiting period. During the 120-night sleep trial period, you can return your mattress for a full refund. If you decide to keep the Nolah mattress, it’s backed by a Lifetime warranty—one of the most generous warranties in the mattress industry.
GhostBed offers fast and free shipping to the continental United States, with most mattresses arriving within five business days. They ship to Hawaii and Alaska for a $600 fee. GhostBed offers white glove delivery to some states. What does that mean? For $199, a team both sets up your new mattress and removes your old one, so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting.
GhostBed mattresses have a 101-day trial period with a 30-day waiting period. After 30 days, you may return the mattress for a full refund during the 101-day window.
The original GhostBed mattress comes with a generous 20-year warranty, twice as long as the 10-year industry standard. For more details on what’s covered in this warranty, check out our breakdown of the GhostBed mattress warranty.
The Nolah Evolution is a luxury hybrid mattress. It has a similar medium firmness as the Nolah Original, but the feel and sleeping experience is different. The Evolution’s bouncy coils create a mattress that’s more supportive, and therefore, better for heavier sleepers. It’s also cooler and a bit better than the Original for people who toss and turn.
See our Nolah Evolution Mattress Review to learn more.
The Nolah Signature is another all-foam mattress, but with a flippable design. The soft side is softer than the Nolah Original, while the firm side is firmer. This versatility makes the Signature bed excellent for people who aren’t sure what firmness they prefer. We also love flippable mattresses for growing kids who may find their firmness preference change with age.
Check out our Nolah Signature Mattress Review for more information.
The GhostBed Flex is GhostBed’s most affordable hybrid mattress, designed to support all sleeping positions. This mattress is a touch softer and more supportive than the GhostBed Original, making it a good option for side sleepers of every body size. It’s also a bit cooler and bouncier than the classic GhostBed.
See our GhostBed Flex Mattress Review to learn more.
The GhostBed Luxe is a luxury foam mattress. It’s both thicker and softer than the flagship GhostBed, which is excellent for side sleepers of every body weight. It boasts additional cooling technology that makes it one of the best mattresses for hot sleepers who love the all-foam mattress feel.
Check out our full GhostBed Luxe Mattress Review for more information.
The GhostBed 3D Matrix is a luxury hybrid mattress with a medium firmness. It’s softer than the classic GhostBed and much better for bigger bodies and side sleeping. Thanks to cooling innovations and a breathable coil layer, this is one of the coolest mattresses that we’ve seen.
Read our GhostBed 3D Matrix Mattress Review for more.
The Nolah Original and GhostBed are popular online mattresses that each come with a generous return policy. The Nolah has a softer feel and superior pressure relief, good for side sleepers and lightweight people. The GhostBed pairs latex and memory foam for a mattress that’s cooler, firmer and more responsive than the Nolah. These properties make the GhostBed an excellent bed for stomach sleepers, hot sleepers and people who toss and turn.
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