How We Test Mattresses
Every mattress is slept on for at least 30 nights by testers with different body types, then put through six measured tests. Each test is scored out of 5 and combined into a weighted overall score.
| Test | How we measure it | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure Relief | Pressure-mapping mat in side and back positions | 25% |
| Support | Spinal alignment photos with testers of three body weights | 20% |
| Cooling | Thermal camera readings before and after a 10-minute lie-down | 15% |
| Motion Isolation | Glass-of-water drop test at three distances | 15% |
| Edge Support | Seated and lying sink measurements at the perimeter | 15% |
| Responsiveness | Timed rebound after a weighted compression | 10% |
Firmness
We rate firmness on a 1–10 scale, averaging the impressions of several testers of different weights.
Independence
Some products are sent to us by brands; others we buy. Either way, brands never see reviews before publication and cannot pay for better scores.
Research Score: how we rate mattresses before testing
Hands-on testing takes weeks per mattress. Until we finish testing a mattress, its review shows a Research Score out of 5 instead of test scores. It is built only from facts the brand publishes, and it is always labelled as specs-based. We never present it as a test result, and we don’t submit it to search engines as a review rating.
| Category | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Trial & warranty | 20% | Length of the home trial (365 nights scores highest) and warranty (lifetime scores highest), plus whether in-home setup is offered |
| Firmness & size choice | 15% | How many firmness options are offered (a flippable bed counts as two) and whether there’s more than one height |
| Materials & safety | 15% | Recognised third-party certifications (e.g. CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold, GOLS, GOTS, OEKO-TEX) and whether the brand states the bed is fiberglass-free |
| Support design | 20% | Coil vs all-foam support, zoned lumbar support, reinforced edges, and a dedicated version for heavier sleepers |
| Cooling design | 15% | Coil airflow, breathable natural materials (latex, wool) and dedicated cooling features such as cooling covers, infused foams or phase-change layers |
| Value for money | 15% | The queen list price relative to everything above (skipped if a brand doesn’t publish a queen price) |
Each category is scored from 1 to 5 in half-point steps, and the weighted average gives the Research Score. Only features the brand publicly confirms earn credit; optional paid upgrades don’t count. Every review shows its full breakdown and the facts behind each category. When a brand doesn’t publish a queen price, the value category can’t be scored, so in our rankings that mattress is listed after mattresses with a full score.
What it can’t tell you: how a mattress actually feels, how well it relieves pressure, or how cool it really sleeps. Those come from our hands-on tests, and once a mattress is tested its measured scores replace the Research Score.
Our Testers & Experts
Last updated November 13, 2026