Best innerspring mattress in 2024
Our CNET Sleep editors have tested more beds than the average sleeper — about 300 different ones, in fact — and spent hundreds of hours on the craft. We are proud of our mattress testing method.
Firmness and feel
When we start testing mattresses, we first determine the firmness and feel of the mattress. Firmness is simply how hard or soft a mattress is. We have each bed tested and rated by different team members to get the best possible idea of how a bed performs in these categories.
The feel of the mattress describes how the mattress responds. Does it respond slowly like traditional memory foam? Does it bounce back like latex foam? This will translate into what it feels like to roll around on the bed at night.
The Mattress Smasher 9000 objectively tests the firmness of every bed.
We also test firmness objectively using our own CNET device, the Mattress Smasher 9000. This machine presses into the center of a bed and our accompanying software measures firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 is the strongest. . While we also personally test each bed for perceived firmness and feel, we can back up our opinion with the Mattress Crusher data.
Sustainability
Durability, or how long a mattress lasts, is based on what it is made of. Mattresses with pocket coils as a base are more durable than all-foam options. They are also often more expensive.
Mattress performance
The key performance criteria we assess for mattresses include motion isolation, edge support, and temperature.
We test how the mattresses isolate motion by placing a glass of water on the edge of the bed and rolling it around to see how much it moves. Motion isolation is a big problem if you have a partner who spins around and wakes you up.
Edge support indicates how strong the perimeter of the bed is. The test for this is simple: we sit and lie on the edge to see if it collapses under pressure.
When assessing the temperature, we look at the materials and construction of the mattress. Materials such as latex and gel memory foam can prevent a mattress from retaining body heat.
Read more about how we test mattresses.
