Best Mattresses for a Murphy Bed (2025)

The Nectar Classic checks every box for a Murphy bed. It’s made of supportive yet contouring memory foam, only stands 12 inches tall, and comes in at a reasonable price point: just about $650 for a queen. I took this bed for a spin myself and found it had a balanced, medium-firm feel that can work for many sleeper types. For a foam bed, it’s also pretty cool; it surprisingly earned its best score in the cooling department (5/5), and an overall score of 4.4/5.

Physical therapist Dr. Hannah Habeeb tested this bed and decided, “I think this bed would be good for a back sleeper.” She added, “It’s conforming to my lower back and prevents too much dipping at the hips.” I’d agree with her statement, though I rated the mattress at a slightly firmer 7/10 on our firmness scale, and noticed more support than sinkage. The bed won’t be the best at relieving pressure for side sleepers, unless you’re a heavier sleeper and press more into its comfort layers. 

I’d still say that the Nectar Classic has more of that doughy memory foam feel. You can see it firsthand in how it performed during our motion isolation tests. In this test, two testers get into bed, one blindfolded while the other moves around. This is to judge whether the bed will work for light sleepers who share it with a partner. As a super light sleeper, I was incredibly impressed with how well the Nectar Classic absorbed motion. I could only feel when my fellow tester got in and out of bed, and it barely jostled the dense foam surface. I rated the Nectar’s motion isolation at a 4.7/5.

Though the bed has a contouring feel, I still found it rather responsive. I prefer hybrids to memory foam beds because I like ease of movement, so I was expecting to loathe the Nectar mattress. It still has that squishy feel on top, but it only caused issues when rolling from my back to stomach, so I rated response at a respectable 4/5. I think that if you want an all-foam mattress that’s easy to move around on, you’ll like this bed. 

As mentioned, this bed also impressed in the cooling department. Memory foam is notorious for trapping heat, but the Nectar is outfitted with a surprisingly crisp cover. When I was resting on the surface of the bed, I didn’t feel particularly cool, but neither did I feel warm. However, our thermal gun recorded a mere 4-degree increase after I lay on the bed for seven minutes. Since we usually see increases of 5 or 6 degrees, I gave it a 5/5. Don’t expect cool-to-the-touch, but I don’t think hot sleepers will wake up sweating. 

One caveat to the Nectar Classic is its edge support. I don’t have a Murphy bed, but I do have a small bedroom, and I love having a robust perimeter on my mattress for daily tasks. When I sat down on the edges, the bed sank quite a lot beneath my weight. At some points, I felt like it would be easy to slip off. Lying down was a bit better, but it wasn’t as secure as I would’ve liked—especially since I sleep with one leg off my bed. This isn’t uncommon for foam beds, but I still gave the mattress its lowest score here at 3.4/5.

Want better edge support? Check out the Nolah Original. You can also find out more in our Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress review.

Looking for a space-saving bed that’ll keep you from overheating? Let me introduce you to the Leesa Original. This 10-inch all-foam mattress doesn’t have much cooling technology built into it, but it does have breathable foams for easy airflow throughout the entire mattress. Our in-house tester claimed this bed felt “cool-to-the-touch,” and gave it a 5/5 for cooling. It scored well across the board, earning an impressive overall rating of 4.7/5.

Our cooling test involves the use of a thermal gun. First, our tester takes the initial surface temperature of the bed before anyone has touched it. After lying on the bed for about seven minutes, they then record the temperature again, and the increase gives us a good idea of how much heat the bed holds onto. The Leesa Original’s surface temperature went from 66.4 degrees to 70.9, a mere 4.5-degree increase that’s well below what we usually see. “As I laid there, I noticed it did get more comfortable in temperature, but never too warm,” our tester added. Based on this, we think overheating shouldn’t be a problem on this bed.

Aside from hot sleepers, folks who share the bed with a partner should also like the Leesa. It excels in a number of areas that’ll appeal to couples. One of these is response, which refers to how easy it is to move around on the bed’s surface. Sexually active couples should appreciate the easy repositioning that’s possible on this mattress. “When changing positions, it was very easy, and I did not notice any effort needed to lift my body out of the mattress,” our tester said. Combination sleepers should also benefit from the bed’s springy surface.

If you’re a light sleeper, you’ll also appreciate how well the Leesa Original absorbs motion. When someone joined our tester on the mattress, she had little to complain about. “I could barely feel any movement when my partner was sitting on the edge of the bed,” she said. “However, when they were changing positions beside me, it was more noticeable.” She rated motion isolation at a 4/5, which should satisfy most easily woken co-sleepers.

Finally, the Leesa Original also boasted some strong edges for a foam bed, earning another 4/5 score in this category. Because of foam’s squishy and dense nature, we usually expect the edges of a foam bed to collapse under our weight. Our tester did notice some sinkage when she sat on the very edge of the mattress, but nothing so drastic. “I felt like the edge support was excellent lying down,” she added. “I did not feel like I would tip over or slide off whatsoever.”

The only downside to the Leesa Original is that it’s quite firm. “The longer I lay there, I didn’t sink in any more,” our tester said. Even despite this firmness, the bed earned a high pressure relief score, with many of our testers noting they liked it on their side and back. Still, if you want something that’ll swaddle you like a baby, you’re not getting that here.

You can read more about this bed in our Leesa Original mattress review. Looking for more contouring? Try the Nectar Classic.

If you’re dealing with back pain and looking to buy a Murphy bed mattress, look no further than the Bear Original mattress. This 10-inch all-foam mattress should fit comfortably in any Murphy bed construction. More than that, it’s got a firm, supportive feel that will work to keep your spine properly aligned and stave off aches and pains. It scored well across the board, including a 4.3/5 in motion isolation and 4.2/5 for edge support.

One of our testers, Kate Meier, actually owns this mattress, and she originally bought it because of its advertised fit for athletes dealing with pain. Kate said she used to suffer from lower back pain. “I can’t completely credit this to my mattress, but after sleeping on this one, I noticed I felt better waking up,” she said. “I absolutely felt relief in my back.”

Physical therapist Dr. Hannah Habeeb corroborated Kate’s experience with her own findings, highlighting how the Bear mattress kept her spine aligned while back sleeping especially. “I think people with back pain can appreciate the firmer support that doesn’t allow for much sinkage,” she said. “My lower back actually feels really supported, and the foam is contouring this area.”

If you’re also dealing with night sweats alongside your back pain, the Bear Original might be able to help you there, too. This bed includes a breathable cover, cooling gel-infused foam, and a breathable construction to combat overheating. Our tester Melanie Kassel put these features to the test, recording the surface temperature of the bed before and after she rested on it for seven minutes. The thermal gun measured a 7.3-degree increase, which is a sign of decently good cooling. “For a foam mattress, its temperature didn’t seem to fluctuate too much during the cooling test,” Melanie said, rating its temperature regulation at 4/5.

Also impressive for a foam bed was the Bear Original’s responsiveness, which earned it another 4/5 score. Melanie didn’t find this bed to be bouncy, per se, but she was able to switch positions and move around on its surface with ease. “Because the foam is firmer, I was always right at the surface rather than sucked into the layers,” she said. 

With this in mind, it’s surprising that the bed also performed well in our motion isolation tests, as usually slow-moving foams are what keeps movement from traveling across the surface. “Multiple times, the other tester got up from the bed and I couldn’t tell that she had gone,” Melanie said. “If I had been sleeping, I don’t think I would have woken up.” She rated motion isolation at 4.3/5, meaning this bed should be a fine choice for couples.

The Bear Original’s aforementioned firmer feel provides plenty of support, but it may not be the best for all sleeper types. Both our pressure relief testers didn’t enjoy this mattress on their side. “I feel decently supported but I do feel some pressure, specifically in my shoulder,” said our heavyweight tester, Matt Shickling. With a pressure relief rating of 3.5/5, I wouldn’t recommend this bed to side sleepers of any weight category. 

Want a bed with more pressure relief? Check out the DreamCloud. For more information on this mattress, read our full Bear Original mattress review.

We recommend foam over hybrid for Murphy beds, since the upright position can cause structural issues for a mattress. But if you’re wanting a bed with springy support that should hold its shape, the DreamCloud Original Hybrid should fit the bill.

This 12-inch hybrid scored 4’s and above in every testing category for an overall score of 4.6/5. It balances support and pressure relief with its use of foam and coils, and its slightly firmer feel should work great for folks wanting to feel lifted on their bed’s surface. 

Hybrid beds contain coils, which usually translates to big bounce. This is the case for the DreamCloud, as it earned its highest score in response, a perfect 5/5. Our in-house tester had only good things to say as she wriggled on the surface. “This mattress was very easy to switch positions,” she said. “I didn’t feel stuck in the mattress or that I was fighting the cover to move around.”

Despite this on-top feel, physical therapist Dr. Hannah Habeeb thought this mattress had the softness to balance it out. “It’s plush, it contours the body, and it provides a combination of cushioning and support,” she said. While our testers didn’t enjoy this bed on their side, they echoed Dr. Habeeb’s sentiments on their back. “I’m feeling a lot of cushioning from the quilted cover, and it’s filling in the space of my lower back,” said our lightweight tester, Riley Otis.

These cushioning foams came in handy during our motion isolation test. As our in-house tester climbed into bed with a partner, she was surprised that this bouncy hybrid was able to stifle their movements. “The motion wasn’t enough that I would say it would cause a normal sleeper to awaken in a natural sleep state,” she said. “When my partner got in and out of the bed I could hardly feel any motion.” This bed earned a respectable 4/5 score in this area, which should appease couples that include a restless sleeper and a light one.

Couples might also appreciate this bed’s solid edge support, which should give them ample surface area to spread out. When our tester took a seat at the perimeter of this bed, she was quickly blown away. “This mattress has amazing edge support and helps lift you out of the bed,” she said. “The edge barely collapses when sitting down.” Lying down was a similar story, with our tester able to switch positions at the perimeter without any fear of slipping or sliding off. She rated edge support at 4.4/5.

Another sleeper who should like the DreamCloud is the overheating type, like yours truly. When our tester recorded the surface temperature of the mattress after lying on it, she noticed an increase of just 6 degrees, which earned the bed its cooling score of 4/5. “I did feel the mattress heating up while lying there but it more so went from cool to temperature neutral,” our tester added. “I don’t believe this mattress would be a cause for concern with heat retention.”

As for who might not like the DreamCloud, Dr. Habeeb recommended that some sleeper types find a firmer and more supportive bed. “I think heavy sleepers may find too much sinkage at the hips when back and stomach sleeping, which could cause the spine to bend out of alignment,” she said.

Want a bed that really brings the support? Check out the Plank Firm. You can also read more in our full DreamCloud Hybrid review.

A flippable mattress is a great pick for a Murphy bed as it’s designed to be roughoused and manhandled. The DLX Classic is one such bed, able to be turned over and still offer the same level of comfort and support. This hybrid is available in multiple firmness options for your customization, and a 12-inch height that should fit snugly in a Murphy bed setup. It earned its highest score in response (5/5), meaning its bouncy feel should work best for combination sleepers and sexually active folks.

We tested out the Medium model of the DLX Classic, which actually came with a removable foam insert for even more customization. Even with this insert, unboxing and setup was extremely smooth—one of our testers commented that there were zero odors associated with off-gassing, and that it was easy to get the bed out of its packaging by herself.

We tried it with the insert inside, and our testers still found it to be slightly firmer than medium-firm. Our tester Sosha Lewis rated it at a 7/10 on our firmness scale. “There is a little bit of cushioning at the top but it only offers some softness, not deep contouring,” she said, recommending it to back sleepers as that’s the position she enjoyed most. “My butt feels great and I don’t know if I have ever said that about a mattress.”

The slight cushioning on top really allowed the bed’s coil unit to shine through and give it that aforementioned perfect response score. Sosha thought that moving around on the surface of this bed was seamless. “There is a foam top but it doesn’t trap you down in the mattress,” she said. “The springs kick in pretty quickly and provide you with an overall ease of movement.”

The coils also gave this bed structure along its perimeter. When Sosha sat down on the edge of the mattress, she felt secure and lifted. She did note that at the foot of the bed, there didn’t seem to be the same reinforcement and it dipped significantly lower, so she wouldn’t recommend sitting there for tying your shoes. Lying along the side of the bed, it was smooth sailing. “I didn’t notice much sinkage at all and wasn’t worried about rolling out,” she said. Based on her findings, she rated the edge support at 4.6/5. 

Where the DLX Classic didn’t shine was the motion absorption department. Sosha got mixed results when she performed our two motion isolation tests. Our first test involves putting a glass of water on one side of the bed and moving around on the other. How the water and the glass behave is a good indicator of how much movement is traveling to the surface. In an instance of this test, the glass tumbled over, but Sosha was quick to blame the bed’s contoured quilted top. 

This was only further confirmed when she performed the second test, which involved getting into bed with another tester. “I could barely feel my partner getting in and out of bed nor did I feel her moving around,” she said. “I thought it had excellent motion isolation, so I don’t think the low score in the ripple test is warranted.” The combined results led to a 3.3/5 motion isolation score, but light sleepers may want to take this with a grain of salt.

Looking for motion isolation without the wishy-washy results? See the Bear Original. Or read more in our DLX Classic review.

The firmest mattress out there is the Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding. This flippable all-foam mattress lives up to its name, with both of its sides (a traditional firm and extra-firm side) coming in around at 8/10 on our firmness scale. If you’re a stomach sleeper, weigh over 230 pounds, or are someone who’s constantly let down by so-called firm mattresses, it’s the bed for you. Its 10-inch all-foam construction should also work well for any Murphy bed.

Our testers found the slightly softer “traditional” firm side more appealing to the average sleeper. Our heavyweight tester Matt Schickling had the most success on this bed, but even then, he noted its niche audience. “This would be fine if you’re a heavy back sleeper and you like firm mattresses, but it’s still a little firm for my taste,” he said. 

Physical therapist Dr. Hannah Habeeb did note that this mattress had some perks for pain relief. “I don’t see neck pain being an issue on this mattress,” she said. “Since the spine is in a straight line, the neck isn’t straining or extending, so I think people with neck pain could find relief.”

This bed’s super-firm feel does have other benefits aside from unparalleled support. This support extends to the very perimeter of the mattress, ensuring it doesn’t sag or buckle when bearing any weight. Sitting or lying down at the edge of the bed wasn’t a problem for our tester Cait Giddings. “I didn’t feel any sagging or sliding—the entire bed felt like lying on a slab of concrete with defined edges,” she said. Ironically, the extra-firm side had a bit more sinkage, so we gave edge support at a respectable 4/5 score.

You also won’t sink into this bed and feel “stuck” like traditional memory foam mattresses, which can benefit combination sleepers. “This mattress has a thin spongy layer but still feels ultra-springy beneath, so it’s easy to build momentum when moving around or switching positions,” Cait said, rating response at a 4.5/5. This means it should also benefit sexually active sleepers wanting nothing to detract from the main event.

The obvious drawback with this mattress is also what makes it special: its at-times unyielding firmness. If you want a medium-firm bed, this isn’t for you. You’ll have to be a true firm fan, and the truest of them all, at that. Dr. Habeeb noted some body types should especially steer clear. “Lightweight sleepers may find this bed way too firm to be comfortable,” she said. “They won’t find any cushioning, and pressure is more likely to build up—especially if they lay in one position for too long.”

Want something softer? Take a look at the DLX Classic. Read more in our Plank Firm review.

Do you share the bed with a partner whose tossing and turning keeps you awake? Well, it shouldn’t be a problem on the Nolah Original mattress. This bed earned a perfect score for motion isolation; its all-foam construction absorbs any movement before it can travel across the surface and disturb you. Couples wanting to put this mattress in a Murphy bed setup should also appreciate its sturdy edge support and not-too-lofty 12-inch profile. 

Motion isolation may be the most important metric for couples since it refers to whether or not your partner’s movements will travel across the surface of the bed and reach your side. As a light sleeper who can feel when my partner breathes wrong, I think this won’t be a problem on the Nolah Original. Two of our testers got into the Nolah Original, with one of them resting with a blindfold on while the other moved around, mimicking the typical night with a restless sleeper. “I could barely feel the movement awake for this test, so there is no way I would feel this movement while I was asleep,” our blindfolded tester said. She gave the bed a perfect score in this category.

Also important for couples is edge support. A bed with a solid perimeter means you can both spread out to your hearts’ content without worrying about sliding off. Foam mattresses usually don’t excel in this area, but the Nolah Original ruined the curve with another 5/5 score. Our tester called the edge support “really great,” noting there was barely any sinkage when she sat or lay down at the very edge. “I felt very supported and stable on the edge in all positions,” she said.

If you and your partner are sexually active, you might also want a bed that has some response to it so you can move around easily during the act. Our tester gauged this bed’s responsiveness by rolling around and switching between the three sleeping positions. “When changing positions it’s like rolling around on a yoga mat,” she said, praising the bed’s “flat and firm” profile. She gave another 5/5 score for response, meaning sexually active couples (and combination sleepers) will have no trouble repositioning on this bed. 

Finally, if you share the bed with someone, there’s a chance that your combined body heat can make things a bit toasty. The Nolah Original’s first comfort layer is actually a copper-infused, aerated foam designed to keep the surface from overheating. After our tester lay on the mattress for the cooling test, she awarded the bed yet another 5/5 score. “The bed felt cool to touch and remained feeling cool most of the time I was laying there,” she said. 

With all these 5/5 scores, you may be wondering if there’s anything truly wrong with this bed. Well, our testers all noticed that this bed was super firm, an 8/10 on our firmness scale to be exact. Physical therapist Dr. Hannah Habeeb noticed that in certain positions, such as side or back sleeping, there isn’t much sinkage or even weight distribution. This could cause problems for some sleepers. “I definitely think lighter-weight sleepers won’t find enough sinkage, which could cause pressure to form at their shoulders or maybe even hip,” she said.

Are you a lightweight sleeper needing a bed that relieves pressure? You might have better luck with the DreamCloud Hybrid. Find out more about this bed in our Nolah Original review.