We Surveyed Over 200 People About Their Purple Mattresses (2024)

There's no mattress quite like the Purple Mattress. While the mattress industry has radically evolved over the past decade, this particular model has stood the test of time: It's one of the most innovative mattresses you'll find to this day. Made of a hyper-elastic polymer grid over carefully curated layers of foam, it's in a class of its own, providing pressure relief, support and cooling at the same time.

The Purple Mattress is our pick for the best cooling mattress. Most cooling mattresses on the market seek to alleviate overheating from other components like foam, whereas Purple's polymer grid has inherent breathability where you need it most.

Purple's story is different than other direct-to-consumer (DTC) mattress brands that soared in popularity during the 2010s. In 1989, Purple Innovation began by developing cushioning for use in wheelchairs, shoes and medical devices before its founders invented the famous hyper-elastic polymer in 1996. Nearly 20 years and 15 patents later, they introduced the material to the Purple Mattress. Now, the brand has nine mattresses plus numerous pillows and seat cushions, all using the GelFlex Grid.

Though the brand has expanded beyond the Purple Mattress, its original remains its best-selling model and our top-tested pick for the best cooling mattress, so we're breaking it down, from how it's performed in our evaluations to material, construction and more. For this review, we surveyed over 200 Purple mattress owners, leveraged our scientific expertise (including firsthand experiences), conducted at-home consumer tests and interviewed brand representatives to learn more about its unique design. I'll also share my personal experiences of setting up and sleeping on the mattress.

Purple Mattress overview

As GH's resident mattress expert (and a former materials scientist), I know a lot about mattresses: I've tested 150 popular models in the past year alone and worked with hundreds of at-home consumer testers (all with very different preferences and sleep styles). While there's no shortage of new innovations in the mattress industry, nothing is as notable or interesting to me as the near-decade-old Purple Mattress. What stands out the most is how it manages to combine the best parts of foam, latex and innerspring beds with a one-of-a-kind feel.

When I first lied down on the Purple Mattress, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to describe the feeling. Like foam, it cradles your body, with excellent pressure relief and motion isolation. But it also feels supportive and responsive, so you feel like you're sleeping on top of the bed, like latex. And it breathes even better than a classic coil mattress. Most mattresses need several different components to create this level of comfort, support or breathability, but Purple does it in just one: The GelFlex Grid.

The good

After sifting through feedback from over 200 panelists and consumer testers, three things stood out: pressure relief, support and temperature regulation. Many highlighted how the mattress eliminated pressure points without skimping on necessary support, and several were impressed by how much cooler they felt at night, especially compared to popular foam and hybrid beds. I'd have to agree. As a hot sleeper, I felt much cooler on this bed than others, which I attribute to the breathable nature, and was impressed by how the mattress cradled my body without sinking in under my weight.

Several users even dubbed it "the most comfortable mattress I've owned," and others said there was no comparison between the Purple Mattress and their last mattress. Beyond that, a notable number praised the bed for helping alleviate their chronic lower back pain. One told us, "We went through three different types of mattresses before we bought this [one]. We hated all [of them]. We had sore backs, hips, etc. This is the first one [that] we both woke [up] with no pain."

The bad

While users praised the overall comfort and support of the mattress, they admitted it was cumbersome when it came to setting up, moving house or putting on sheets. As extraordinary as the GelFlex Grid is, it's also very heavy and lacks structure. Several panelists specifically wished the bed had handles.

The other complaint? Its height. At a low 9.25 inches, a few panelists wished the mattress was a bit taller. Purple carries taller mattresses, but they tend to be even heavier and much pricier.

And while no one in our surveys complained about the squishy texture, I won't deny that it can be a little jarring to sleep on at first.

Overall comfort & support

Our testers and panelists gave the Purple Mattress equally high scores for its comfort and support. One panelist told us, "It is very supportive without being too hard" and found it great for her back and joint pain. Others liked how the bed instantly adapts to your body; one highlighted how the bed reduced his pressure points so well that he felt like he was floating, regardless of his sleeping position. Another enjoyed how it contoured to her body, like her previous foam mattress, and bounced back immediately if switching positions or getting out of bed.

Still, while most users liked the medium firm feel (one tester even described it as "the perfect balance of soft and firm"), some users were divided on the firmness. A few found it too firm while others thought it felt too soft compared to their previous beds, though some said it ultimately felt comfortable after a few weeks or months.

Edge support

The Purple Mattress is mostly made of foam with two inches of the squishy polymer grid on top. Typically, foam mattresses struggle to provide the same sturdy edges as traditional innerspring mattresses. For a mattress without coils, the Purple Mattress has fairly solid edge support. It's not extremely noteworthy (very few users commented on the edge support in our surveys), but it's better than you'd expect from an all-foam model.

Motion transfer

When it comes to motion isolation, memory foam outperforms all others, especially those made with latex or coils, so you won't feel another person (or a pet) move around or get up in bed. The Purple Mattress fares pretty well, with most panelists noting that they don't feel their partners moving or rolling over much, but it's not as great as an all-foam mattress. Still, it's proved much better than a hybrid or innerspring in my experience.

Temperature

If you're a hot sleeper, very few mattresses on the market will actively cool you down. The majority of beds have some amount of memory foam, which is known for overheating, so cooling technology is often designed to combat that. Though the Purple Mattress is no exception in having many layers of memory foam, its GelFlex Grid layer allows for inherent breathability (similar to coils) and will pull heat away from your body more effectively than infused-foam.

What stands out, beyond the unique material, is how the grid is positioned as the top layer of the mattress, which makes it more effective than the coils in a hybrid mattress at providing ventilation. And real users agree: "I don't ever get hot at night anymore," one panelist told us. "Every other mattress [that] I have used has never made me feel cool while I sleep, [but] this one does." Another shared, "It keeps me much cooler at night than any other mattress I've slept on." One recent tester even found it too cool during colder months and opted to use a mattress pad in the winter.

If you want a cooler sleep, remember to avoid using flannel sheets, a mattress pad or a mattress topper, as that defeats the purpose of the grid.

I'd say the Purple Mattress is a true medium to medium firm, depending on your frame. It's especially great for back sleepers or combination sleepers, though many side and stomach sleepers in our survey find it works just as well. One user even described the feel as, "the perfect mix of soft and firm." It's soft enough that it hugs your body, but firm enough that you don't feel like you're sinking into the bed.

If you have a strong preference for a soft or firm bed though, this may not be the best choice for you; I'd instead opt for the Purple Plus (softer) or the PurpleFlex (firmer).

It doesn't feel quite like your typical memory foam or latex. While it contours to your body with a cradling feel, it doesn't sink in under your weight and quickly responds if you try to change positions. Depending on the base you use, you may feel the grid a bit more or less. I felt the grid pattern much less on a wooden platform bed with slats than I did when the mattress was on the ground. For more targeted support, I'd recommend using the bed on an adjustable base: It feels especially amazing on a zero-gravity setting with both head and feet elevated.

Purple's GelFlex Grid is comprised of a hyperelastic polymer. Think of it like rubber: It easily bounces back, even when compressed. That's the beauty of the material. Beyond that, the grid design allows for targeted support and pressure relief: In areas like the shoulders, the grid will give and evenly distribute the pressure, while around the lower back, the grid will slightly flex for gentle, buoyant support. Plus, the grid allows for more ventilation, and the material itself outperforms foam in dissipating heat.

As a result, the mattress feels more responsive than your typical foam mattress, though it uses several foam layers below the grid.

Here's a breakdown from top to bottom:

1. Soft Flex Cover: This stretchy cover is designed specifically to work with the flexible nature of the GelFlex Grid.
2. GelFlex Grid: The polymer grid is designed to provide pressure relief and support with a breathable nature
3. Edge Support Foam: Support foam lines the perimeter of the grid to provide stable edges for getting in and out of bed.
4. Comfort Foam: This acts as a transition layer between the squishy polymer grid and foam base. It helps fine-tune the feel of the bed to a versatile medium firm.
5. Base Support Foam: Dense and firm, this layer acts as the foundation of the mattress and provides necessary structure.

Who is the Purple Mattress best for?

Purple has performed well in our tests specifically for both hot sleepers (including those with night sweats) and those suffering from back pain. The original Purple Mattress is their most popular model, having stood the test of time without any updates since its launch in 2015, and is our pick for the best cooling mattress. But it's not quite a one-size-fits-all product, so here's who I'd recommend it to:

Hot sleepers

As a hot sleeper myself, I know how important it is to find a mattress that won't cause me to overheat, and the Purple Mattress excels at that. Its airy design allows for more breathability, which helps regulate your body temperature. Take it from our testers and panelists: Most found it notably cooler than their previous mattresses. One told us, "I do not get hot throughout the night on this mattress." Another shared, "It keeps me cool when I sleep." Others agreed, though some found it hotter than a traditional innerspring mattress, which is primarily made of coils with minimal foam.

For those who like the cradling nature of memory foam but run hot, I'd say the Purple Mattress is a great choice. Our testers and most of our panelists found it slept cool, but if you're undergoing menopause-related heat flashes and night sweats, I'd recommend also investing in some cooling pajamas and opting for lightweight sheets if possible. If you instead want maximum cooling, I'd opt for one of the hybrid models in the Restore line instead.

Back & hip pain sufferers

Beyond its breathable design, the polymer grid excelled at relieving pressure points without compromising on support in our evaluations. Many users with chronic back pain and other medical conditions appreciated the cradling yet responsive feel. "I have fibromyalgia and used to wake up in severe pain and toss and turn all night trying to get comfortable," one panelist told us. "I actually wake up feeling rested [on this mattress] and don't have the pain that I used to. My husband also no longer has back pain and neck pain."

Another user noted that after swapping to the Purple mattress they no longer wake up with pain and instead feel energized. Others applauded the support, and one highlighted how it "supports your body where you need it most, and keeps your spine aligned."

While I don't have any relevant medical conditions, I've had recurring back and shoulder pain in recent years, so I know how important a comfortable sleep surface can be. I appreciate how the GelFlex grid provides necessary support while cushioning my pain points. I've also never felt like my spine wasn't aligned on the Purple Mattress, though this model may not be soft or malleable enough for those with more extreme conditions. I'd recommend the Purple Plus or Restore line if you want a more plush bed.

Purchasing & setup

The Purple Mattress is available directly on the Purple site, as well as other ecommerce platforms like Amazon, but the brand is available in thousands of stores across the U.S., if you'd prefer to try it out it in person first. It typically ships to your door within a few days, and like many popular mattresses you'll find online, it comes rolled up and compressed in a box (or in this case, a large bag).

It's helpful to have two people to set up the Purple Mattress. While it isn't the heaviest mattress out there by weight (88 pounds for a Queen), it's heavier than you'd expect for a low profile bed. It isn't super structured and it doesn't have any handles for moving once expanded. If you haven't unboxed a bed-in-a-box before, make sure to refer to Purple's mattress set-up video.

Purple recommends waiting at least four to six hours for the mattress to expand, but cautions that it may take up to 24 hours for complete expansion after being compressed.

Trial period

The Purple Mattress comes with an 100-night sleep trial, but make sure to read the terms and conditions. This means you can return or exchange it if it's not a good fit, though you'll need to sleep on it for a minimum of 21 days first. It also comes with a limited 10-year warranty, but I recommend focusing on the trial period, as warranties only cover manufacturer defects, which are often difficult to prove.

How long does a Purple mattress last? According to Purple, "the high-quality polyurethane foam supporting the Purple has a 10-year lifespan." Since the mattress launched in 2015, we can't verify this claim, but panel members who've had it for six and seven years shared that it's held up well over time without losing its shape.

Still, some users told us they noticed sagging after the three-year point. Whether a mattress sags depends on a number of factors, including the shape and size of your body. If you've had issues with foam beds before, I recommend opting for one of Purple's hybrid models instead, as steel coils are more durable than foam by nature.

Yes, the Purple Mattress is worth trying, especially if you're overheating at night or looking for something that's pressure-relieving yet supportive. The concept of a polymer grid may seem odd, but it's proved effective in our evaluations, earning top scores across the board from at-home consumer testers and our survey panel. Compared to user feedback for other brands, our panelists who owned Purple mattresses were notably passionate. Several called it the best mattress they've ever owned, and some insisted that the unique feel and cooling aspect was worth every penny. Plus, there's always the 100-night sleep trial in case you change your mind.

Beyond the original mattress, Purple has a wide variety of models for a total of nine mattresses. Here's how they differ from the Purple Mattress:

• Essential Collection: The Purple Mattress falls in this collection along with two others. All have both a foam base with the polymer grid, so the biggest difference lies in the transition layer, which alters the overall firmness of the bed. Compared to the original, the PurpleFlex runs firm while the PurplePlus leans soft. The models range from $1,299 to $1,899 for a Queen.
• Restore Collection: Launched in 2023, these three hybrid models use pocketed coils, in addition to the polymer grid and transition foam, resulting in more breathability and bounce. The overall support is better (especially around the edges) and the cooling is more pronounced. The beds are taller and more expensive, ranging from $2,399 to $3,699 for a Queen-size model. You can pick from medium soft to medium firm options.
• Rejuvenate Collection: Similar to the Restore line, this line is made of three more hybrid models, but the polymer grid instead sits below a quilted top and layer of comfort foam. As a result, they're less cooling but have a more traditional feel with the same benefits of pressure relief and support. These are the most expensive and tallest mattresses Purple sells, starting at $5,495 for a Queen with models ranging from soft to firm.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been testing bedding and home products for over a century. Each year, our experts research and review hundreds of mattresses in addition to surveying our readers, organizing consumer testing and analyzing countless data points.

Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and currently oversees all mattress testing (which includes reading through feedback from tens of thousands of real users). She's researched hundreds of mattresses, interviewed medical experts, conducted many literature reviews to find the best mattresses for every sleeper. Prior to joining GH, Wu earned a Master of Engineering in materials science and engineering (with a focus on polymers) and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.

For this review, Wu interviewed Purple representatives, combed through user feedback and tried out several Purple mattresses (including the original Purple Mattress). She's owned the RestorePlus Hybrid (Firm) for a little over a year.