Tuft & Needle vs. Layla Mattress Comparison
The Tuft & Needle has a simple, neutral foam feel that can work well for guest bedrooms, first-time homeowners, and dorm rooms. The Layla has a distinctly pressure-relieving, fluffy feel that memory foam lovers should enjoy.
If you’re having trouble picking between the two, don’t worry. By the end of the mattress comparison, you’ll have all the information you need—from price points to pros and cons, construction, and performance levels—to make a confident decision.
We test all our mattresses firsthand in our sleep lab. If you’re curious to know more about how we do it, you can read our testing methodology.
Tuft & Needle vs. Layla Overview
In this section, we’ll give you a brief overview of each mattress’s strength and who we recommend each for the most.
| Tuft & Needle is best for… | Layla is best for… |
| Budget shoppers | Memory foam lovers |
| Back and stomach sleepers | Shoppers who want a flippable mattress |
| Couples | Side sleepers |
Who Should Choose the Tuft & Needle Mattress?
- Budget shoppers: Although both beds are affordable, the T&N has a very low price point compared to the Layla and similar memory foam mattresses.
- Back and stomach sleepers: The bed’s top polyfoam comfort layer is offers a cradling, elevated feel—perfect for back and stomach sleepers.
- Couples: Couples and those who co-sleep will appreciate Tuft & Needle’s ability to isolate motion.
Who Should Choose the Layla Mattress?
- Memory foam lovers: The Layla has a fluffy, airy feel that’s less viscous than memory foam and less neutral than polyfoam. If you like soft beds that don’t let you sink too deeply, we think you’ll like the Layla.
- Shoppers who want a flippable mattress: If you like the idea of getting two beds in one, the Layla can be flipped to achieve a different firmness level at any point in time.
- Side sleepers: The soft side of the Layla allows you to sink in this position, eliminating almost all pressure at the hip and shoulder joints.
Here’s everything you need to know about the top similarities and differences between the two popular foam mattress brands.
Tuft & Needle vs. Layla: Top Similarities
- Can work for all sleeping positions: Both beds can technically suit all sleeping positions for lightweight or average-weight sleepers.
- Reputable brands: These mattress companies are two of the most popular in the market, and they generally have positive customer ratings and responsive customer service teams.
- Materials and construction: Both are all-foam beds with a thickness of 10”.
Tuft & Needle vs. Layla: Top Differences
- Design: The Tuft & Needle has a simple, two-layer design, and the Layla has a flippable design with soft and firm sides and handles for easy maneuvering.
- Feel: The Layla has a fluffy, airy memory foam feel, and the Tuft & Needle has a dense, neutral foam feel.
- Price: Though both beds are affordable relative to other all-foam models, the Tuft & Needle typically goes for $200 to $400 cheaper.
Tuft & Needle vs. Layla: Firmness & Feel Differences
Want to get a good idea of what it feels like to sleep on the two mattresses but don’t want to hit that “buy” button yet? In this part, we talk about how the Tuft & Needle stacks up against the Layla when it comes to firmness and feel.
What’s the Firmness Of the Tuft & Needle & Layla Mattresses?
When choosing a new mattress, one of the most important factors to consider is its firmness level. Having the right firmness level for your sleeping position and body type for a good night’s sleep. For this part, we’ll be using a firmness scale that goes from 1–10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest.
Layla’s soft side is roughly a 4/10, while its firm side scores a 6.5/10. The firm side of the Layla and the Tuft & Needle have the same 6.5/10, medium-firm firmness level.
What Do the Tuft & Needle & Layla Mattresses Feel Like?
The Tuft & Needle has a neutral foam feel that doesn’t feel distinctly like memory foam or latex. Lying down on it feels balanced and sturdy with lots of cushioning and conforming. It has a slightly sinking feeling that cradles your body, but not in a way where it feels like the mattress is “hugging” you.
On the other hand, Layla feels like a fluffy, airy foam mattress that’s not quite as viscous as a traditional memory foam bed. Its soft side “hugs” you more than the firm side. The firm side feels more responsive and bouncy thanks to the thicker foam layers underneath.
What’s It Like to Sleep On the Tuft & Needle & Layla Mattresses?
Tuft & Needle feels a little firmer than other foam mattresses, which makes it ideal for almost all sleeping positions. Because of its thick foam layers, the Tuft & Needle is a good match for back and stomach sleepers looking for good back support. Some side sleepers may also find it comfortable, while some may feel like it’s a bit too firm. Its responsive foam layers are also a good choice for combination sleepers.
The soft side of Layla feels, well, soft to the touch and offers great pressure relief, making it a great choice for the majority of lightweight and average-weight sleepers. Layla shines when it comes to accommodating side sleepers of all body types, so we consider it one of the best options for side sleepers. Its firm side, on the other hand, also does a great job at providing support for back, stomach, and combination sleepers.
The Tuft & Needle vs. Layla Mattresses By Body Type
Tuft & Needle Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Layla Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 2 | 2 | 3 |
1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 lbs)
Since the Tuft & Needle shares the same firmness level as Layla’s firm side, they provide the same amount of back support and cushion, which means that either mattress is a good pick for average-weight back sleepers.
Average-weight side sleepers will probably find better pressure relief and comfort on Layla’s soft side than on the Tuft & Needle mattress.
For average-weight stomach sleepers, both Layla’s firm side and the Tuft & Needle will provide just enough support to keep your hips elevated and aligned with your spine.
Average weight combination sleepers probably won’t have trouble picking between Layla and Tuft & Needle since both are responsive mattresses. If you’re going for Layla, make sure to choose the firm side.
Heavyweight Sleepers (> 230 lbs)
Heavyweight back sleepers may have a better time sleeping on the Tuft & Needle and its thicker comfort and support system than Layla.
For heavyweight side sleepers, Tuft & Needle outperforms Layla when it comes to comfort and support for the hips, shoulders, and neck.
Most heavyweight stomach sleepers may find their hips sinking too much in both mattresses, so we recommend they look for firmer and more supportive mattresses.
Heavyweight combination sleepers will probably need to choose based on their dominant sleeping position. If they sleep mostly on their back, go for the Tuft & Needle, but if they sleep more on their sides, Layla’s firm side should be better. If on the stomach, however, it’s best to find firmer and more responsive options.
Lightweight Sleepers (< 130 lbs)
Both mattresses can provide ample back support and cushion for all lightweight back sleepers.
Layla excels at accommodating lightweight side sleepers, so it’s the better pick. Some sleepers may find the Tuft & Needle a bit too firm for comfort.
On the other hand, lightweight stomach sleepers will find better support on the slightly firmer Tuft & Needle than Layla, as the latter may feel a bit too soft and hugging for them.
Both mattresses are great choices for lightweight combination sleepers, but they’ll experience better comfort if they choose one that accommodates their dominant sleeping position more. For side sleeping, go for Layla, but for stomach sleeping, definitely choose Tuft & Needle.
Differences In Mattress Construction
Both Tuft & Needle and Layla are popular mattresses that have a foam construction and a 10″ profile. However, they differ when it comes to how they’re constructed. Let’s take a closer look.
| Tuft & Needle Mattress Materials | Layla Mattress Materials |
| Polyester Blend Cover | Polyester-Viscose Blend Cover |
| 3” Adaptive Foam | 3” Copper-Gel Memory Foam (soft side) |
| – | 2” Max Airflow Support Foam |
| 7” High-Density Support Foam | 4” Support Core Foam |
| – | 1” Copper-Gel Memory Foam (firm side) |
Cover
Tuft & Needle has a polyester blend cover that’s breathable and offers temperature-regulating abilities. Layla uses a polyester-viscose blend infused with Thermo-Gel, which helps the sleeper keep cool through the night.
Comfort Layers
Tuft & Needle’s comfort layer is made from their patented Adaptive Foam that contains air pockets and ceramic gel beds to aid in keeping the sleeper cool. Layla’s comfort systems for the soft and firm side are made of copper gel-infused memory foam, each measuring 3″ and 1″ respectively.
Support Layers
Tuft & Needle has a thicker 7″ high-density foam support layer, while Layla has a 4″ foam base.
Tuft & Needle vs. Layla Pricing
| Size | Tuft & Needle Prices | Layla Prices |
| Twin | $ | $ |
| Twin XL | $ | $ |
| Full | $ | $ |
| Queen | $ | $ |
| King | $ | $ |
| California King | $ | $ |
For exclusive discounts on both beds see our Tuft & Needle mattress coupons and Layla mattress coupons.
Tuft & Needle vs. Layla Mattress Performance Ratings & Differences
Temperature
Neither bed is especially cooling, but we’d say that both have just enough cooling materials to help them sleep temperature neutral. They don’t sleep nearly as warm as traditional memory foam mattresses, as the covers and top layers are breathable, but if you’re looking for a truly cooling bed with great airflow and breathability, we recommend a hybrid or innerspring mattress.
Motion Transfer
The beds have similar motion transfer performance in that they’re on par with other all-foam beds. You shouldn’t feel too much movement from a partner, especially on the soft side of the Layla. Check out other great mattresses for couples.
Edge Support
Edge support for the mattresses is also similar. Neither has anything in its construction to prevent sagging around the edges, like a high-density foam perimeter or pocketed coils. If you need to use the full surface area of the mattress, like if you’re sharing a Full size mattress with a partner, you may want a hybrid mattress with better edge support instead.
Pressure Relief
The soft side of the Layla is the clear winner when it comes to pressure point and pain relief. It’s a great mattress for side sleepers and people who want to sink in and feel cradled. You’ll get some of that sensation on the firm side of the Layla, but it’s definitely more dense and supportive.
The Tuft & Needle polyfoam comfort layer is surprisingly pressure-relieving, and it has a light responsiveness that makes a good mattress for combination sleepers and should feel generally comfortable for all three sleeping positions.
Pain Relief
A mattress’s pain-relieving capability is directly tied to how well it relieves pressure. If a mattress is great at relieving pressure, then it naturally has good pain-relieving properties.
Generally, both mattresses scored very well when it came to pain relief. But for those who suffer from joint or shoulder pain, Layla’s soft side is the clear winner. Its soft foam layers are great at cradling pressure points and distributing pressure, preventing any pressure build-up that may cause pain.
When it comes to back pain, either mattress is a good choice. Both have firm foam layers that promote a neutral spine alignment, which in turn helps relieve unnecessary pressure on the spine.
Durability
Like most foam mattresses, the Tuft & Needle and the Layla have a lifespan of roughly seven years. That being said, Layla’s dual-sided design may encourage you to rotate it and flip it more often, which could contribute to a slightly longer lifespan without indentations, damage, or sagging.
Shipping, Returns, & Warranties
Tuft & Needle
Tuft & Needle provides free shipping, with extra fees on orders going to Alaska and Hawaii. Each mattress also comes with a 100-day sleep trial period with free returns and a full refund, and a 10-year warranty.
Layla
Layla provides free shipping in the contiguous 48 U.S. and a 120-day sleep trial where you can apply for a free return and full refund after two weeks or before four months. They also provide you with Layla Lifetime warranty for each mattress, which covers indentations, sagging, and factory and material defects.
More Mattresses to Consider
Our Final Take
Still having trouble deciding between these foam beds? Here’s a simple way to think about the choice. If you prioritize having two options in one mattress or are a strict side sleeper, go with Layla. If you like a fluffy, memory foam feel that’s a little more responsive than traditional memory foam, go with Tuft & Needle.
The Tuft & Needle is a better pick for people who have a thin budget because it should save you $200 at a minimum. As a two-layer bed, it has less heft than the Layla, but its neutral foam feel makes it accommodating for all sleeper types, so it could be a good choice for a dorm room, guest bedroom, or someone who’s looking for a bed they can trust to be pretty comfortable in any sleeping position. If neither option appeals to you, check out our list of the best online mattresses.
Tuft & Needle & Layla FAQs
Is Tuft & Needle soft or firm?
The Tuft & Needle feels slightly firmer than most all-foam mattresses. According to our firmness scale that goes from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest), the Tuft & Needle scores a 6.5/10, which puts it in the medium-firm category.
Is Layla Mattress firm?
Layla has two sides: a soft and a firm side. On a firmness scale that goes 1 to 10 (with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest), Layla’s firm side scores a 6.5/10, which means that it has a medium to medium-firm feel.
Is the Layla mattress hot?
No, Layla mattresses actually sleep cool, despite having an all-foam construction. Each Layla mattress has a Thermo-Gel-infused cover and breathable memory foam layers that do a great job of wicking away excess body heat to keep the sleeper cool throughout the night.
Do you have to flip a Tuft & Needle mattress?
No, Tuft & Needle mattresses are specifically constructed to provide a level of support and comfort in a certain way. Its bottom side is much firmer than the top, so flipping the mattress will impact the comfort you’ll experience. However, you can rotate the mattress if you feel like doing so.
