Sleep Number vs TEMPUR-Pedic — Which Is The Best For You?

Sleep Number and TEMPUR-Pedic are two of the most popular mattress manufacturers, but they are vastly different.

If you’re trying to find the best one for your sleep needs, you’re in luck! Our thorough Sleep Number vs TEMPUR-Pedic mattress comparison will detail everything you need to know, from their firmness levels, feel, customization options, pricing and more. Let’s get into it!

Interested in a more affordable options, check out our TEMPUR-Pedic alternatives and sleep number alternatives to find comparable mattresses that fit your budget.

Sleep Number vs TEMPUR-Pedic Overview 

Though they both create high-quality mattresses, Sleep Number and TEMPUR-Pedic are better suited for different people. The main difference between the two is that Sleep Number beds are adjustable, while TEMPUR-pedic mattresses are not. Sleep Number mattresses have air chambers at the bottom, which allow sleepers to change the firmness level on each side of the mattress

You can pair a TEMPUR-pedic mattress with the TEMPUR-Pedic adjustable base, which will allow you to raise and lower the foot of the bed. However, you cannot adjust the firmness level of a TEMPUR-Pedic mattress.

Who Should Get A Sleep Number MattressWho Should Get A TEMPUR-Pedic Mattress
People who want to customize the firmness of their bedThose who want a traditional mattress without customization options
Couples with different mattress preferences Fans of a slow-moving memory foam feel

The Sleep Number vs TEMPUR-Pedic: Similarities and Differences

Though there are some significant differences between these two mattress brands, they do share some similarities. Let’s take a look at what they have in common and how they differ:

SimilaritiesDifferences
Both brands sell several different models, ranging from budget-friendly to luxury.They have different support layers. Sleep Number beds have air chambers, while TEMPUR-Pedic beds contain either base foam or coils.
Sleep Number and TEMPUR-Pedic sell adjustable bases that allow sleepers to raise and lower their mattress.You can adjust the firmness of a Sleep Number mattress, but TEMPUR-Pedic beds are not customizable.
The high-end Sleep Number mattresses cost about $5,000 more than the most luxurious TEMPUR-Pedic models.

Firmness and Feel Differences

Here at Mattress Clarity, we use a firmness scale that ranges from 1-10, with 6.5/10 representing the industry standard of medium-firm. Because both companies sell a variety of mattresses, the firmness levels have a wide range. 

For this section, we’ll focus specifically on the Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed and the TEMPUR-Cloud mattress. Both beds fall within the same price range (about $2,000 for a queen), and they are both popular choices among consumers. 

The Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed ranges in firmness, thanks to its adjustable air chambers. Whether you prefer a soft mattress that cushions joints or a firm mattress that supports your spine, you’ll get that with the Sleep Number. 

a sleep number p5 smart bed sits on a base

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress has a classic medium-firm feel, coming in at 6.5/10. That said, firmness is subjective. Lightweight people won’t compress the foam too much, which could make the mattress feel firmer. 

A close shot of the Tempur-Pedic logo

Sleeping On the Sleep Number and TEMPUR-Pedic Mattresses

Because the Sleep Number mattress is adjustable, it works for all sleeping positions. Side sleepers will likely prefer a softer surface, as this will cushion joints and help alleviate pain. Back and stomach sleepers may need to put their mattress on a firmer setting in order to get the proper support. 

For reference, Sleep Numbers range from one to 100. The higher the number, the more air that sits inside the chambers and the firmer the mattress feels. Most people’s Sleep Numbers fall within the 35-40 range. You can easily change the firmness of the bed through the Sleep Number app on your smartphone. 

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress works well for most back and side sleepers. The medium-firm feel offers a balance of comfort and support, which is great for many combination sleepers. 

A man sleeps on his side on the Tempur-Cloud

What Do The Sleep Number And TEMPUR-PEDIC Mattresses Feel Like?

The Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed has a balanced feel. When you rest on top of it, you’ll feel the tufted pillow top and soft comfort layers around you. It’s not a particularly bouncy mattress, but you won’t feel like you’re “sinking inside” it whenever you lie down.

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress has a classic, slow-moving feel. The top layers contain proprietary TEMPUR material, which is what most people visualize when they think of memory foam. When you press your hand into it, you’ll see your handprint linger on the foam for a few seconds. This slow-moving feel will give some people issues moving around on top of this mattress.

Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lb – 230 lb

Thanks to its adjustability, the Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed works well for average weight back, side and stomach sleepers. Most back and side sleepers in this category will want to find a Sleep Number that sits within the medium-firm range (around 40). Average weight stomach sleepers will need a firmer Sleep Number in order to get the hip support they need.

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress works well for most average weight back and side sleepers, but those who weigh closer to 130 lb may find the mattress is too firm for side sleeping. Stomach sleepers who weigh between 130 and 160 lb may get the hip support they need on the TEMPUR-Cloud, but heavier people may develop lower back pain in this sleeping position. 

Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230 lb

People who weigh between 230 and 300 lb should find the firm settings work well on the Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed. Those who weigh more than 300 lb may need a bit more lumbar support, however, and may want to consider getting one of the best mattresses for heavy people.

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress works well for back and side sleepers who weigh between 230 and 300 lb, but heavier people may need a more supportive mattress. We also don’t recommend the TEMPUR-Cloud for stomach sleepers who weigh more than 230 lb. Because of its medium-firm feel, the TEMPUR-Cloud is not supportive enough to keep the hips in line with the spine. Over time, heavyweight stomach sleepers could develop lower back pain. 

Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130 lb 

The Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed works well for lightweight sleepers—no matter the sleeping position. Smaller people will likely prefer a Sleep Number that falls within the soft and medium-firm range.

Because lightweight people won’t compress the TEMPUR-Cloud’s comfort layer too much, they should get the support they need while back and stomach sleeping. Some lightweight side sleepers may feel some pressure along their shoulders and hips, though, and could benefit from a memory foam mattress topper.

Mattress Construction Differences 

Now, let’s take a closer look at what these mattresses are made of. For this portion, we’ll focus on the Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed and TEMPUR-Cloud mattresses.

Cover

The Sleep Number p5 mattress has a soft and breathable cover that’s tufted into a Euro-style pillow top. This gives the mattress an extra boost of pressure relief, which is particularly helpful for side sleepers.

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress has a 360° stretch cover, which helps wick away moisture and keep sleepers cool at night.

Comfort Layers

The Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed’s first comfort layer consists of the two-inch pillow top, which helps cushion joints and alleviate pressure. Beneath that sits two inches of PlushFit foam. This material has five zones, and each one feels slightly different in terms of firmness and feel. Altogether, the zones help promote the proper spinal alignment. It’s a great choice if you deal with back pain. 

In the TEMPUR-Cloud’s comfort layer, you’ll find a thick piece of the company’s proprietary TEMPUR material. This slow-moving foam cushions joints is particularly durable. 

Support Layer

In the support layer, the Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed has two adjustable air chambers. This allows couples to find the perfect firmness level for their side of the bed. 

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress has two support layers. The first one consists of a firm piece of TEMPUR material, which offers a bit more pressure relief. The final layer is made with premium base foam, which feels sturdy and supportive.

Mattress Height

Both mattresses are 10” tall.

Sleep Number And TEMPUR-Pedic Performance Differences 

We can’t just look at construction, firmness and feel. It’s also important to investigate each mattress’s performance features. Let’s take a closer look at how they fare when it comes to cooling, motion transfer, edge support and more. 

Sleeping Hot or Cold

If you’re a hot sleeper, you may not like the Sleep Number p5 or TEMPUR-Cloud mattresses. Many customers complained about overheating on the Sleep Number p5 because the thick foam trapped body heat. When we tested the TEMPUR-Cloud mattress, we also found that it traps body heat and could make some people feel stuffy and uncomfortable.

The TEMPUR-Breeze may be a better choice, because it has a cooling cover and several proprietary cooling infusions. 

Motion Transfer

If you share a bed with a partner, you’ll need a bed that can absorb motion. If it doesn’t, you may wake up whenever your partner shifts sleeping positions during the night. 

Fortunately, both mattresses are great for motion isolation. Sleep Number customers said they couldn’t feel their partner’s movements. When we tested the TEMPUR-Cloud mattress, we found that it cuts down on motion transfer quite well.

Edge Support

Edge support is another important thing to consider if you share a bed with a partner. If you feel the bed sinking near the sides, you’ll be forced to sleep closer toward the center of the mattress.

A man sits near the edge of the Tempur-Cloud

Customers report that Sleep Number beds have great edge support, thanks to the supportive air chambers. The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress has decent edge support; I felt the sides collapse when I rested near the side, but I didn’t feel like I would roll off the bed.

Durability

Both mattresses contain high-quality and durable materials, but because the TEMPUR-Cloud is made entirely out of foam, it may not last as long as the Sleep Number mattress. We expect Sleep Number beds to last at least 10 years, while TEMPUR-pedic mattresses may last between seven and 10 years.

Off-Gassing

Off-gassing refers to the chemical smell that’s often emitted when people open bed-in-box mattresses. Sleep Number mattresses with memory foam comfort layers will likely have a short off-gassing period, but it won’t be as much of a problem with other Sleep Number models. 

The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress took about 48 hours to completely off-gas and expand. 

Noise

Because they don’t contain innersprings, we don’t expect the Sleep Number mattresses to make noise whenever someone switches sleeping positions. The TEMPUR-Cloud mattress was also silent when we tested it, and we don’t anticipate it creating sound as the years go on.

Sex

Typically, couples looking for one of the best mattresses for sex want beds that are easy to move around on. If this is a top priority, we recommend the Sleep Number bed. The air chambers feel a bit more responsive than TEMPUR-Pedic’s slow-moving comfort layers.

Sleep Number vs TEMPUR-Pedic Mattress Size Options and Price

Both companies sell a wide variety of mattresses that range in price. Here, we’ll compare prices for the Sleep Number p5 and TEMPUR-Cloud mattresses. 

SizeDimensionsPrice
Twin38" x 75"$
Full54” x 75”$2574.00
Queen60" x 80"$2699.00
King76" x 80" $3199.00
California King72" x 84" $3199.00

If you want something more luxurious, you may want to opt for the Sleep Number 360® i8 smart bed. Check out our full Sleep Number mattress guide to learn more about all of the different models.

SizeDimensionsPrice
Twin38" x 74"$1699.00
Twin Long38" x 80"$1699.00
Full53" x 74"$1899.00
Queen60" x 80"$1999.00
King76" x 80"$2399.00
California King72" x 84" $2399.00

Need some accessories to go with your bed? Check out our TEMPUR-Pedic pillow reviews.

Company Policies

We won’t stop there! It’s also important to understand the fine print before buying a new mattress. Here’s a quick rundown of Sleep Number and TEMPUR-Pedic’s company policies:

Warranty Info 

Sleep Number mattresses are covered by limited 15-year warranties. This means that if you have an issue with your mattress during the first year, Sleep Number will repair, replace or issue a refund for your bed. After this period, you will be responsible for paying a portion of the repair fees. Visit Sleep Number’s website for more detailed information. 

TEMPUR-Pedic mattresses are backed by limited 10-year warranties, which means TEMPUR-Pedic will fully cover the cost of certain defects during this timeframe. Important note: You must place your TEMPUR-Pedic mattress on a sturdy base that has adequate center support. Otherwise, you could void your warranty.

Sleep Trial 

Sleep Number does not offer a sleep trial period.

TEMPUR-Pedic mattresses come with a 90-day sleep trial period, which gives you about three months to test it from the comfort of your home. If you decide the bed isn’t right, you can return the mattress during that time.

Return Policy 

If you wish to return your Sleep Number bed, you’ll need to call their customer service. If Sleep Number authorizes your return request, you will receive a full refund of the original purchase price, minus any return/pickup fees. 

TEMPUR-Pedic asks that customers try out their mattress for at least 30 days before returning it, because it often takes people a few weeks to get used to a new mattress. If you decide you do not want to keep your mattress, call the TEMPUR-Pedic customer service team and issue a return. Make sure you do so before the end of the 90-day trial period. Once the return is finalized, you will receive a refund minus any shipping charges.

FAQs

Is TEMPUR-Pedic the same as Sleep Number?

No. While these are both popular mattress brands, TEMPUR-Pedic and Sleep Number are not the same. TEMPUR-Pedic mattresses contain slow-moving TEMPUR material, which feels a lot like memory foam. Sleep Number mattresses have air chambers that allow sleepers to adjust the firmness level of their bed.

Which mattress is better, Sleep Number or TEMPUR-Pedic?

This ultimately depends on what you want from a bed. Sleep Number mattresses are great for people who want to customize the firmness of their mattress. They also work well for couples who have different firmness preferences, because you can split the firmness level on each side of the bed.

TEMPUR-Pedic mattresses are great for people who love a slow-moving memory foam feel. These mattresses are durable and high-quality, and they work particularly well for most side sleepers.

Elisa Regulski

Elisa is the Editor of Mattress Clarity, where she analyzes sleep products and appears in review videos. A certified sleep science coach, Elisa's sleep tips have appeared in Readers Digest, Homes and Gardens, and 21 Oak. She earned a M.A in Mass Communication from Texas State University and a B.F.A in acting from Oklahoma City University.