Deciding between the Purple and Nolah mattress? Find out how these beds differ in their feel, construction, price, and policies so you can choose the best new mattress for your needs.
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Nolah vs. Purple Mattress Comparison
The Nolah Original 10” mattress is an all-foam bed made from three layers of special proprietary foams. The original Purple mattress is made from foam paired with a gel-like grid that creates a floating feel.
The Nolah mattress is a good option for back sleepers and people who enjoy the contouring feel of foam mattresses. Thanks to the motion isolation properties of foam, the Nolah is terrific for couples. The Purple mattress is excellent for hot sleepers, lightweight sleepers, and side and back sleepers who weigh less than 230 lbs. See which bed suits you best in this mattress comparison.
Comparing the Purple & Nolah Mattresses
Purple and Nolah are two leading bed-in-a-box mattress companies. In this article, we’re going to compare the flagship Purple mattress with the Nolah Original mattress, covering their similarities and differences, construction, price point, company policies, and who’s a good fit for each bed.
Key Differences
- Feel: The Purple’s proprietary comfort grid creates a floating sensation, while Nolah’s all-foam construction feels more cushioning.
- Temperature: The Purple’s gel grid top layer supports greater airflow than Nolah’s foam comfort layer. As such, Purple is better than Nolah for hot sleepers.
- Performance: The Purple Grid offers sturdier edge support, while the proprietary foams in the Nolah provide superior motion transfer.
Key Similarities
- Responsiveness: Both Nolah and Purple balance pressure relief with responsive support that’s excellent for combination sleepers.
- Body weight compatibility: Both mattresses properly support lightweight and average-weight people. Neither offers the level of cushion or support required by heavyweight people.
- Spinal alignment: Both Nolah and Purple do an excellent job supporting healthy spinal alignment, especially for people who weigh less than 230 lbs.
Who the Purple Mattress is Best For
Best for: hot sleepers, back and side sleepers, and people with back pain. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Best for: hot sleepers, back and side sleepers, and people with back pain. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Best for: hot sleepers, back and side sleepers, and people with back pain. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Purple Mattress
Read Purple Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Purple Mattress
Read Purple Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Purple Mattress
Read Purple Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Who is the Purple Mattress Best For?
- Hot sleepers: People who find all-foam and memory foam mattresses too hot will appreciate the Purple’s grid-like top layer. It creates a temperature-neutral sleeping experience.
- Back and side sleepers: Lightweight and average-weight people who sleep on their back, side, or combination of the two will benefit from how the Purple Grid gently collapses under areas of high pressure.
- People with back pain: The weightless feel and spinal alignment of the Purple may ease aches, especially for people with back pain.
Not Best For…
- Heavyweight stomach sleepers: The Purple Comfort Grid may dip too low at the hips for stomach sleepers who weigh more than 130 lbs. This can knock the spine out of alignment.
- Heavy sleepers: The top layer is not thick enough for heavier people who weigh 230 lbs or more. The Purple may lead to pain at pressure points and poor spine alignment for these folks.
- People who love the all-foam bed feel: While the Purple Comfort Grid provides similar pressure relief, the floating sensation is far different from the marshmallow-y feel of soft foam comfort layers.
Read our full Purple Mattress Review to learn more!
Who the Nolah Mattress is Best For
Best for: all sleeping positions, couples, and people with back pain. Best for: all sleeping positions, couples, and people with back pain. Best for: all sleeping positions, couples, and people with back pain.
Nolah Original 10" Mattress
Read Nolah Original 10" Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10" Mattress
Read Nolah Original 10" Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10" Mattress
Read Nolah Original 10" Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Who is the Nolah Mattress Best For?
- All sleeping positions: Side, back, and stomach sleepers are all a good fit for the Nolah thanks to supportive and pressure-relieving foams—depending on your body type. Combination sleepers also enjoy the Nolah because it has a responsive surface and works for every sleep position.
- Couples: The three foam layers minimize motion transfer, which is excellent for couples who don’t want to be disrupted by each other’s movements.
- People with back pain: People with back pain may find relief on the Nolah. Nolah’s proprietary foams perform well in tests that examine spine alignment.
Not Best For…
- Heavyweight sleepers: People over 230 lbs might not receive sufficient support or cushion on the Nolah.
- Hot sleepers: There is no ultra-breathable innerspring layer in the Nolah.
- Memory foam mattress lovers: Nolah’s foams don’t hug the body as deeply as traditional memory foam.
Read our full Nolah Mattress Review to learn more!
Purple and Nolah Performance Differences
Firmness / Feel
The Purple mattress feels unlike any other bed on the market because of its proprietary gel grid top layer. Expect this layer to buckle at heavy body parts and gently support lighter areas, creating a floating sensation and medium-firm feel. While this firmness works for every sleeping position, we believe this bed is best for side and back sleepers who weigh less than 230 lbs.
The Nolah Original’s medium-firmness is a touch softer than the Purple. Because it’s made entirely from polyfoam, it has a balanced foam feel that hugs the body while supporting ease-of-movement. It best supports average-weight and lightweight sleepers of every sleeping position.
Nolah Performance By Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Purple Performance By Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 1 | 4 |
1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
Motion Isolation
People who share their mattress with a partner, child, or furry family member tend to sleep best on a bed that dampens motion. Foam is the best material for motion isolation. Because Nolah is an all-foam mattress, it minimizes motion transfer better than the Purple mattress.
Edge Support
Sturdy edges are something that most of us don’t miss until they’re gone. Solid edges mean you can sleep on the entire mattress surface, something that’s important for most couples who share a Queen-size mattress or smaller. Furthermore, many people sit along the mattress perimeter while others use the edges for support when getting into bed.
For people who share the bed and those who like to use the edges for support, the Purple mattress is the better option. Its edges are impressively sturdy, while the Nolah’s have more sinkage.
Pressure Relief
Side sleepers need a mattress that cradles the hips and shoulders to avoid aches and pains. Both the Nolah and Purple provide above-average cushioning for the pressure points for lightweight and average-weight sleepers, though the Purple outperforms the Nolah in this category. Neither has a thick enough top layer for heavyweight side sleepers.
Spine Alignment
Both the Nolah and Purple mattresses do a good job keeping the spine aligned when people sleep on their back or sides. The Nolah provides better alignment for lightweight stomach sleepers thanks to the foam providing better support for the hips than the Purple Grid; otherwise, stomach sleepers should look into one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
Durability
The Purple mattress is more durable than the Nolah. While both beds have high-density polyfoam base layers that boost longevity, the Purple Grid top layer is resistant to body indentations. The softer Nolah top layer is more prone to developing surface indentations over the mattress’s lifespan.
Cooling / Temperature
Both mattresses are cooler than the average foam bed. However, Purple’s ultra-breathable gel grid creates a better sleeping environment for hot sleepers.
| Cover | Viscose, Polyester, & Lycra Blend |
| Comfort Layer | Purple Smart Grid (2”) |
| Transitional Layer | Polyfoam (3.5”) |
| Support Layer | High-Density Polyfoam (4”) |
| Mattress Thickness | 9.5” |
The original Purple is a three-layer mattress. The first layer is made from Purple’s revolutionary Hyper-Elastic Polymer Grid. This gel-like material provides the pressure relief of memory foam with the airflow of an innerspring mattress.
The grid buckles at heavier areas and gently supports lighter body parts. The balance between give and support means excellent body alignment. To lie on this surface feels more like floating than being hugged by a traditional foam layer.
Underneath the Purple Grid is a layer of high-density polyfoam. This foam is sturdy but does have a touch of softness to cushion heavy body parts. The final layer is a sturdy base foam that minimizes motion transfer.
Nolah Mattress Construction
| Cover | TENCEL Fabric |
| Comfort Layer | Nolah AirFoam (2”) |
| Transitional Layer | High-Resilience Foam (1”) |
| Support Layer | High-Density Base Foam (7”) |
| Mattress Thickness | 10” |
The Nolah Original 10” mattress is made from three layers of polyfoam. The first layer is AirFoam, a soft, proprietary foam that contributes a light hugging feel. This foam has more responsiveness than memory foam, so you won’t feel stuck when trying to change positions. The AirFoam contains microscopic air pockets that support airflow to keep sleepers cool and dry.
Nolah’s second layer is made from their High-Resilience foam. This foam adapts instantaneously to movement, creating an almost bouncy feel. The final layer is a thick base foam that adds stability and longevity.
Sizing & Price Comparisons
| Mattress Size | Purple Price | Nolah Price |
| Twin | $799.00 | $699.00 |
| Twin XL | $999.00 | $899.00 |
| Full | $1199.00 | $999.00 |
| Queen | $1399.00 | $1149.00 |
| King | $1799.00 | $1349.00 |
| Cal King | $1799.00 | $1349.00 |
| Split King | $1998.00 | $1798.00 |
For the best pricing while mattress shopping, be sure to check out our Nolah mattress coupons and Purple mattress coupons. If you’re shopping on a budget, see the Best Mattresses for the Money.
Shipping and Returns
Purple
Every Purple mattress comes with free shipping within the continental U.S. Purple ships to Hawaii and Alaska for a fee. You can expect your bed in six to 10 business days. Once you receive your new mattress, you have 100 nights to see if it’s the right fit. After 21 nights, per Purple’s return policy, you may return the mattress for a full refund during the sleep trial period.
Your new Purple mattress has a 10-year warranty. Purple will replace or repair a mattress with defects in materials or workmanship during the first ten years. To learn more, see our full breakdown of the Purple mattress warranty.
Nolah Sleep
Nolah ships its beds for free to the lower 48 states, with no options to ship to Alaska or Hawaii. Manufacturing and shipping time takes approximately five to 10 business days. Nolah’s return policy is a generous 120-night sleep trial begins the day your mattress arrives on your doorstep. You must wait 30 nights before initiating a return. If you decide to return your new bed during the trial period, Nolah offers full refunds.
A prorated Lifetime warranty backs every Nolah bed. This Nolah warranty covers defects, such as indentations of greater than 1”.
Other Models Available
Purple Hybrid
The Purple Hybrid is a step-up from the original Purple mattress in support, cooling, and responsiveness. A layer of pocketed coils brings a medium-firm feel that’s slightly firmer than the classic Purple bed. We love this bed for back sleepers of every body size and combination sleepers.
See our full Purple Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Purple Hybrid Premier
The Purple Hybrid Premier is the softest and most luxurious Purple mattress. With an additional 1–2” of the pressure-relieving Purple Grid, this is the best Purple mattress for side sleepers who prefer a softer-than-normal feel. It’s also an excellent mattress for heavyweight side sleepers.
Read our full Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress Review for more information.
Nolah Signature 12”
The Nolah Signature 12” used to be flippable with softer and firmer sides, but now it’s a one-sided, medium-firm mattress. The Signature has a doughier feel than the original, but ironically, the original is better for side sleepers. We recommend the Signature to back sleepers, lightweight stomach sleepers, and combination sleepers.
Check out our full Nolah Signature Mattress Review to learn more.
Nolah Evolution 15”
The Nolah Evolution is Nolah’s only hybrid mattress. With four layers of proprietary polyfoam and a thick innerspring coil support system, the Evolution is a luxury mattress with generous cushion and support. It’s slightly softer than the Nolah Original, with a 5.5/10 medium firmness, and it’s much better for those who sleep hot.
See our full Nolah Evolution Mattress Review for more information.
Haven’t made a decision yet? Check out these other comparisons:
Our Final Take
The Nolah Original and Purple mattresses are best for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. The Nolah’s all-foam build has a softer feel that suits foam mattress lovers and side sleepers. Also, it better minimizes motion transfer, so we recommend it over Purple for couples.
The Purple Grid creates a cooler surface and a unique floating sensation that make it the better choice for hot sleepers and those with joint pain. Both beds are suitable for back and combination sleepers. They also each come with generous trial periods, so you can give them a proper test run at home.
