Best Mattresses for Sex

The Helix Midnight is a high-quality hybrid mattress with a medium-firm feel designed to bring both support and pressure relief for side sleepers. We also found it to be a particularly bouncy and comfortable mattress that should work great for a wide variety of sleepers, including those who are sexually active. In our tests, we found that the bed scored high in responsiveness and edge support, both paramount for sex, contributing to the bed’s overall score of 4.1/5. 

My fellow tester Matt Dustin was impressed with the edge support on this bed. Sitting down, he noticed that there was some sinkage under his weight, but nothing that made him feel at risk of sliding off. When he lay down in each position at the edge, he said, “I wouldn’t be able to tell I was lying on the edge of the bed, and I didn’t feel like I was going to roll off in the middle of the night.” He did note, however, that the head and foot of the mattress do not have reinforced edges, something to keep in mind for adventurous nights.

When it came to testing responsiveness, Matt only encountered some resistance from the pillow top when moving around: “I didn’t have too much difficulty switching positions, but I did have to exert some effort turning all the way from my back to my stomach.” The coils underneath pull their weight, making for a bouncy-enough surface that should appeal to sexually active sleepers.

With this high response score, we’d usually expect to see some sub-par motion isolation, meaning you could feel your partner’s every movement from the other side. However, Matt didn’t find anything to be too concerned about and gave the bed a 4/5 in this category. In our partner test (in which we have a second tester move around on the other side of the bed), he reported that he could vaguely feel the other person’s movements. Ultimately, he said, “A light sleeper might wake up from the other person rolling over, but most people shouldn’t notice their partner moving around in bed.”

As for the actual sleeping part, multiple testers commented on the Midnight’s pressure relief, which scored an overall 4.5/5 in our tests. Our lightweight tester Riley Otis enjoyed the bed on both her side and back, saying, “It has a lot of really nice plushness on top and supportive coils underneath that prevent me from sinking too far.” Matt, considered an average-weight sleeper, also found the bed to be comfortable in each of these positions. Our heavyweight testers also found the bed to be relatively supportive, though they preferred lying on their back on it to side sleeping.

The one place the Midnight faltered was in our cooling tests, though it’s by no means a mattress that sleeps hot. Despite Matt finding the bed relatively temperature-neutral, when we measured the surface temperature of the mattress before and after he lay on it for seven minutes, it rose by about 9 degrees, which we consider so-so cooling. Matt noted, “It didn’t feel particularly cooling, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.” The bed earned an overall score of 3.5/5 in this category. 

Looking for a bed with better cooling? Check out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. Otherwise, read our full Helix Midnight mattress review to find out more.

Memory foam mattresses aren’t always the best options for sex, as their slow-moving feel can cause you to sink too far into the bed, making it difficult to switch positions. That said, I tested out the Nectar Classic Memory Foam myself, and found it was easier to move around on than most beds. For reference, I gave it a 4/5 for responsiveness, which contributed to the bed’s overall score of 4.2/5.

When I moved around on the surface of the Nectar mattress, I did feel a smidge of resistance from the memory foam on top. However, as someone who usually dislikes foam mattresses because of their lack of response (I’m a notoriously aggressive combination sleeper), I have to say that the Nectar does better than most. You won’t be able to launch yourself across the surface, but if you’re a sexually active sleeper unwilling to part with foam’s cushy sinkage, this could be a happy medium.

Foam beds are also known for overheating, but this wasn’t the case with the Nectar Classic. This bed is outfitted with a cooling cover, helping to address the heat-trapping nature of memory foam. In my own test, I didn’t feel the bed heating up, though I also didn’t feel particularly cooled down. Still, our temperature gun recorded a barely 4-degree increase after seven minutes, a sign of stellar cooling on our scale—and why the bed earned a perfect score for temperature regulation. This means the Nectar should not only work great for hot sleepers, but it should also keep the temperature down during steamy times.

Yet another area where most foam beds lack is edge support, which I’ve mentioned is important in a mattress for sex. Unfortunately, the Nectar Classic falls victim to this trend. When I sat down on the edges, I definitely noticed some sinkage underneath my weight and some slippage when I tried to get in and out of bed. Lying down at the perimeter felt much more secure, so the bed earned a 3.4/5 for edge support. All in all, it wasn’t particularly terrible edge support, so it may suffice for most bedroom activity, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

As for who will most enjoy sleeping on the Nectar Classic, it’s worth noting that this bed’s balanced foam feel is surprisingly firmer than you might expect. I rated it at a 7/10 on our firmness scale. I was surprised that I enjoyed it on my stomach, with some cushioning around my chest and belly. However, back sleeping was definitely the winner here. In this position, our heavyweight tester Matt Shickling said, “This is really supportive, and I do feel pressure relief in my lower back, which has been bothering me lately.” 

I found the bed didn’t have as much pressure relief on my side, a sentiment that our lightweight tester also agreed with, saying her hips were out of alignment. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend it for strict side sleepers or people who weigh less than 130 pounds. 

Looking for a foam bed with more pressure relief? Check out the Leesa Original all-foam bed. Or you can read more in our Nectar mattress review.

Latex mattresses are a great option if you’re looking for a mattress that’s good for sex. This is because latex foam has a springy, buoyant feel that generally gives a bed plenty of bounce. The WinkBeds EcoCloud mattress benefits from this, as well as the coil unit in its innerspring construction, which only doubles its responsiveness. This bed earned a perfect 5-out-of-5 score in our response test, an impressive result that should make moving around on this bed a breeze.

Editor and mattress tester Melanie Kassel explained that the EcoCloud’s latex was better suited to repositioning than the other latex beds she has tested. She said, “This latex sinks a bit to enable you to begin moving, then springs back to help you finish it—a perfect one-two punch for combination sleepers.” This “one-two punch” should also work great for sex because it helps with momentum.

The edge support on this mattress also shined, earning another 5-out-of-5 score. Some latex foams can make the perimeter of the mattress feel wobbly, but Melanie found that the EcoCloud did not fall into this category. When she performed the seated edge support test, she noted, “I was at no risk of sliding off while sitting on the perimeter, and the springiness of the bed helped to propel me upward when I stood.” This security extended to the lying-down tests, providing support in all three positions. This means you should be able to make full use of the mattress surface.

Unfortunately for sexually active sleepers, though, the EcoCloud didn’t perform up to par in our temperature regulation test. After lying down on the bed’s surface for seven minutes, Melanie recorded a whopping 10.2-degree increase in temperature, resulting in a cooling score of 3/5. Still, she wasn’t quick to write off this bed as a sweat sentence for hot sleepers, saying, “At no point did I feel uncomfortably warm.”

One area it may be difficult to compromise, though, is the EcoCloud’s motion isolation capability. Latex isn’t exactly known for absorbing motion, as its buoyant nature makes movement more likely to ripple across the surface. Though the bed has some sinkage to it, Melanie could still feel her fellow tester’s movements from the other side of the bed. “If I was a sensitive sleeper sharing the bed with a restless partner, this would not be my first choice,” she said, ultimately giving the bed a low score of 2.7 in this category.

Read more in our full WinkBeds EcoCloud mattress review. Are you looking for a WinkBed with better motion isolation? Consider checking out the WinkBed Plus, which I found performed better in this category.

Things can get pretty steamy during sex, so some folks may want a mattress that maintains good air flow and won’t overheat. Despite not having any fancy cooling features, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid scored high in our cooling test (4.5/5). Not only that, it earned 4s and above across the board. To sum it up, it’s a bouncy, comfortable hybrid that won’t break the bank. 

Getting into the specifics of our cooling test, which I performed, I took the surface temperature of the bed twice: first, before any testing, and then again after I laid down on the surface of the mattress for seven minutes. Our thermal gun recorded a 4.1-degree increase, which is a sign of excellent cooling. Even though I didn’t think the bed felt cool to the touch, I didn’t feel like I was heating up at any point during the test. I’d chalk this up to the individually wrapped coil unit.

This same coil unit is responsible for the bed’s high scores in edge support and response. Sitting down at the perimeter of the bed, I felt a little bit of sinkage, but nothing too concerning. This was my only complaint, so I gave the bed a 4.2/5 for edge support. Testing for response was a similar story. As a combination sleeper who moves around quite a bit, I noticed there was a somewhat doughy feeling to the surface of this bed, but nothing that made switching positions difficult. Both of these results should be appealing for sexually active sleepers.

I always expect beds with high response scores to go belly-up in the motion isolation tests, but the Signature Hybrid surprised me here too. I could feel when my testing partner got in and out of bed and when he shifted around especially close to me, but these movements were more muffled than I expected. I think that the top layers are made of a dense enough foam to absorb motion without making the sleeper feel “trapped” as they move, making this bed a great option for sexually active couples who share the bed for sleeping, too.

With sales and coupons, you can get this bed in a queen size for just $999. It comes in multiple firmness options, but other than that, there aren’t any added features beyond what you’d expect of a basic hybrid. That’s why I’d consider this bed a simple but well-rounded option for affordable hybrid lovers rather than shoppers seeking luxury. 

Want a mattress with more high-end features? Check out the Saatva Classic mattress. Or you can read more about this bed in our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review.

The Saatva Classic mattress is a luxury hybrid with a traditional innerspring feel, thanks to two separate innerspring coil units instead of the usual one. Not only is it an oft-recommended bed here at Mattress Clarity, it just so happens to be the bed I sleep on every night. My favorite features of the Saatva mattress also coincidentally work great for sex: solid edge support and mega bounce. The bed earned perfect scores in each of these categories, as well as an overall score of 4.4/5.

Strong edge support is a common highlight of innerspring mattresses, but the Saatva is on another level in this category. I often sleep with one leg over the side of my mattress, and I’ve never felt like I’m in danger of slipping off. I’ve also stretched completely over the edge to check my phone while it’s charging on my bedside table without incident. The perimeter of this bed should hold up not just for sleeping, but also for any sexual activity. 

Similarly, the Saatva Classic’s response is the best I’ve ever seen in a mattress. It’s like launching yourself across the surface of the moon, which should definitely make moving around and switching positions a breeze. As a rowdy combination sleeper myself, I find it easy to roll around from my back to my stomach, which isn’t the case with most other beds.

Unfortunately, this responsiveness doesn’t translate well when it comes to motion isolation. Though there is a cushy pillow top on the surface, the springs underneath only amplify movement across the surface of the bed. I can even feel when my partner breathes too deeply, and as a light sleeper, it’s difficult to reconcile. This is why I gave the bed a low 2.7/5 in this category. If you sleep with a partner, you’re likely going to want something with lower motion transfer.

The Saatva’s on-top feeling also might not work for everyone. I personally switch between back, stomach, and side sleeping on my Luxury Firm Saatva Classic without issue. Most of our testers agreed, contributing to the bed’s overall pressure relief score of 4.5/5. However, our lightweight tester Kayla Godfrey found the bed to be too firm for her liking, noting that in both positions, “My hips feel slightly elevated and not aligned.” Thankfully, the Saatva Classic comes in multiple firmness levels, including a Softer model that may be better suited to lightweight sleepers.

If you’re looking for motion isolation, I’d recommend the Nolah Evolution. Otherwise, read more in our full Saatva mattress review.

If you’re looking for a luxurious mattress that will also work for sex, consider checking out the Nolah Evolution. This lofty, seven-layered hybrid balances plush comfort in its pressure-relieving AirFoam with sturdy, springy support from a pocketed coil unit. This construction helped the Evolution earn performance scores of 4 and above in cooling, edge support, and responsiveness, as well as an overall score of 4.4/5. 

Specialized cooling features like open-celled foam and an air-escape gusset help to keep air moving and excess heat out of the Nolah Evolution. This should help keep temperatures down during sleep and any other nighttime activities. During our cooling test, though, the bed’s surface temperature increased by seven degrees, about average performance. My fellow tester Cait Giddings, who performed the test by lying down on the bed for seven minutes, noted, “I didn’t feel the mattress getting warmer beneath me—it stayed at an even-feeling temperature.” Still, the bed scored a solid 4/5 in this category, and we’d say it should satisfy most hot sleepers.

Edge support and response, other areas important to sexually active sleepers, were also high-performing areas for the Evolution. As Cait moved on the surface to perform the test, she noted that there was some resistance from the pillow top, but not enough to totally impede movement—this 4/5 score is a thumbs up for switching positions during sex. The edge support test yielded similar results. She said, “This is a tall mattress, so my only difficulties sitting on the edge had to do with how far off the ground I felt.” Otherwise, she felt secure when seated and lying down at the perimeter, and gave the bed’s edge support an overall score of 4.6/5.

Where the Nolah scored highest is its motion isolation (a perfect 5/5), an area that should benefit sexually active couples. As Cait’s testing partner moved around on one side of the bed, Cait noted, “My side of the mattress remained static, regardless of what was happening on the other side.” The versatile medium feel of this bed, as well as its above-average pressure relief, should also appeal to a wide variety of sleepers, providing a good compromise. Of course, the Evolution is also available in three firmness levels for a more personally tailored sleep experience.

Since the Nolah Evolution scored so highly in our performance tests, it may be difficult to find fault with it. However, where we encountered difficulty with this bed was the actual process of unboxing it. Even with a team of two, the tall, heavy box was cumbersome to move, and it was also pretty beat up from shipping. Though the bed wasn’t damaged itself, this is a common occurrence for most Nolah products. When you’re paying more than $2,000 for a queen-size Evolution, you’re probably expecting the product to arrive in tip-top shape. That’s another thing to note—even with sales and coupons, the Nolah Evolution can still cost a pretty penny, so it may not be the best for shoppers on a budget.

If you’re looking for a cheaper Nolah bed, you might like the Nolah Signature. Otherwise, read more in our full Nolah Evolution mattress review.

Hybrid mattresses are one of the most popular mattress types and are known for their balanced feel and versatility. They can also work great for sex, as their coils can provide responsiveness and edge support, while layers of foam or latex can enhance the bed’s comfort level. The Bear Elite Hybrid, as the name suggests, is a higher-end hybrid mattress that checks off these boxes. It earned a perfect score in our response test, as well as a high 4.6/5 for edge support. With an overall score of 4.2/5, it’s a well-rounded, high-performing bed that should work for a variety of sleepers.

My fellow tester Cait Giddings found comfort and support in all sleeping positions on this medium-firm bed. The soft comfort foams provide cradling as the springs promote proper spinal alignment. Our pressure relief testers thought the same, with our heavyweight tester Matt Schickling especially liking the bed on his back. He said, “I’m not feeling any pressure, and it feels like my hips and shoulders are well-aligned.” This led the Elite Hybrid to have an overall pressure relief score of 4/5.

As mentioned, we were especially impressed by the Bear Elite Hybrid’s bounce. Cait found that the springs gave the bed plenty of response even as the pillow top cushioned her. This pillow top also contributed to the bed’s impressive motion-isolating capability. During the tests for this category, she explained, “I could feel my fellow tester getting in and out of the bed, but when she simply lay down next to me, I could barely feel it.” With a score of 4/5 in this category, most light sleepers should be satisfied with the lack of motion transfer on this bed.

Couples and sexually active sleepers should also enjoy the Elite Hybrid’s rock-solid edges. As Cait put it, “I felt like I could lie on the absolute farthest reaches of the bed without sliding or rolling out.” She also noted that getting out of bed felt like she was “bouncing” out. So not only should you be able to spread out on this bed without fear of sliding off, anyone with mobility concerns might appreciate the extra support at the perimeter.

The only category that the Elite Hybrid lags behind in is temperature regulation. In our cooling test, we recorded a temperature increase of 12.6 degrees, one of the highest I’ve seen in our testing. Based on these results and the 2.5/5 cooling score it yielded, you’d assume this bed is like sleeping in a furnace. However, Cait disagreed: “The temperature of the mattress wasn’t noticeably warm or cool, so I was surprised it warmed up by as much as it did.” If you’re a particularly hot sleeper, consider upgrading to Bear’s Celliant cover, which purportedly absorbs excess body heat to rejuvenate tired muscles.

For a Bear mattress with better cooling abilities, check out the Bear Star Hybrid. You can also read more in our full Bear Elite Hybrid review.

Back sleepers require a balance of both support and pressure relief to best suit this sleeping position. The Leesa Sapira Chill is a hybrid mattress that excels in both, including a promising 4.5/5 score for pressure relief. It also performed rather well in edge support, cooling, and response, making it a fine choice for sexually active sleepers. 

In our pressure relief tests, the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid earned 4s and 5s from our diverse team of testers, who all found the mattress to be relatively comfortable for back and side sleeping. Our heavyweight tester Matt Schickling called the mattress “highly supportive and super cozy,” adding, “I feel relief in my shoulder, which is usually a pain point for me—I usually don’t feel a lot of pressure relief there.” His resounding praise signals this bed might be a great option for heavy people seeking a supportive mattress.

As for edge support and response, we believe both should tick the boxes for sex. We noticed a lot of sinkage in our weighted edge support test, which brought down the score to 4.2/5, but Melanie Kassel, my fellow tester who performed most of the subjective tests, gave the bed 5s in this category. While lying down at the perimeter, she said, “If my eyes were closed, it might even be hard to tell whether or not I was on the edge of the bed.” 

However, moving around on the bed was made difficult by the pillow top, which Melanie found was “holding onto” her as she switched between sleeping positions. Though there’s still some bounce from the bed’s coil unit, this mediocre performance could pose an issue for some sexually active folks who want seamless movement on their bed’s surface.

Despite its cool-sounding name, the Leesa Sapira Chill didn’t exactly stun in our temperature regulation test. It earned a respectable 4/5 score, thanks to a surface temperature increase around 10 degrees. However, Melanie noticed, “This bed feels cool to the touch, and it did not noticeably heat up while I was lying on top of it.” This discrepancy could be for a number of reasons, but to play it safe, I’d say especially hot sleepers should look for an even cooler bed. I think most sexually active folks won’t be at risk of overheating, though.

Looking for an even bouncier hybrid? Consider the WinkBeds EcoCloud. Or you can read more about this bed in our full Leesa Sapira Chill mattress review.

Firm mattresses often appeal to folks looking for support and lift, like stomach sleepers or those with bigger bodies. They can also work well for sexually active sleepers, as a firmer surface often translates into high response. This is true for the Plank Firm, a flippable ultra-firm mattress that earned a perfect 5-out-of-5 response score. If you’ve been consistently let down by so-called firm beds, this could be the new mattress for you.

On both sides of the Plank mattress, our testers found this bed to be capital-F Firm. Both sides fell within the 8 or 9/10 on our firmness scale, well above the industry-standard medium-firm (6.5/10, for reference). It’s no surprise that a bed named after a plank of wood scored low in our pressure relief tests, but on the plus side, the mattress definitely prioritized support. Our testers found the stomach-sleeping position to be most comfortable, with the exception of one of our heavyweight testers, who enjoyed the bed on his back. This makes sense, as these are the two sleeper categories I’d most recommend try out the Plank Firm.

Those looking for the best mattress for sex are going to be most interested in the Plank Firm’s responsiveness. My fellow tester Cait Giddings was blown away by how easy it was to move on top of this bed, saying, “It’s so firm that I barely left a dent or a mark in it.” It should provide a sturdy, stable surface for any and all late-night activity. And if you need options, you’ll also have your choice of a traditional firm side or an extra-firm side, both of which should provide steady support.

The edges should also contribute to this, which Cait called “rock-solid.” She added, “They don’t dip and sag at all and instead maintain a fairly solid boundary around the edge of the mattress.” Not only is this a boon for sexually active folks, but it’s also great news for those who like to sleep on the very edge of the bed, couples wanting space to spread out, and sleepers who need assistance getting in and out of bed.

Unfortunately, some couples may be wanting things to stay cool on the Plank Firm, and we weren’t all that impressed. Even though this bed won’t hug or cradle you, it’s still a large block of heat-trapping foam. Melanie recorded a whopping 11.3-degree increase in surface temperature on the extra-firm side, saying, “I didn’t feel the mattress get way hotter, but it makes sense to me that it would trap heat over time, especially when sheets and blankets are at play.”

Aside from this, the main downside to the Plank Firm is right there in its name: It’s possibly too firm for some sleepers. Be warned: if you’re looking for something that’s a bit on the firmer side, you may be better off with a hybrid closer to the 7/10 to 7.5/10 range. However, if you’re constantly searching for the true floor mattress experience, the Plank may be the perfect mattress for you.

Read more in our full Plank Firm mattress review. If you want a softer foam mattress, take a look at the Nectar Classic Memory Foam.

Environmentally conscious and sexually active shoppers should be glad to know that latex, the principal material in most organic mattresses, is both sustainable and buoyant to tick both boxes. The Birch Natural is a latex mattress that performed exceptionally well in our response test, earning a perfect 5-out-of-5 score, as well as 4s in both edge support and cooling. All of these, plus the bed’s above-average overall score of 4/5, point to an eco-friendly mattress well-suited to sex.

How did the Birch Natural earn its perfect response score? To test this, we switched sleeping positions on the surface to judge how easy or difficult it is to move. Nicole Davis, who performed this test, said, “It was actually pretty to switch around between all three sleeping positions—switching from stomach to back was especially easy.” This surprisingly didn’t affect the bed’s ability to absorb motion during our motion isolation test, either. Per Nicole, “When my partner rolled around, the bed didn’t move, but I felt it. Overall, it’s good for motion isolation.” The bed earned a 4/5 in this category, nothing to scoff at.

As for the perimeter strength of the Birch Natural, Nicole found that the lengthwise sides held up well when lying down or sitting on them. The same couldn’t be said for the head or foot of the bed, which she commented on, “This would be particularly more challenging if you had mobility issues.” Shoppers focused on choosing a good bed for sex should be alright on this bed, so long as they stick to the sides of their bed for support.

Though the bed earned a high score in cooling, Nicole noted that it felt “cozy,” which she preferred. It did warm up by about 7 degrees after lying down on the surface, which is fairly average. It may not be the coolest mattress, but it should keep things from getting too sweaty during sex or sleep.

Where the bed really faltered, though, was pressure relief. Latex can be hit or miss when it comes to this category, as it sometimes can have a firmer, bouncier feel, or it can be more yielding for more contour. Our heavyweight tester Matt Schickling especially noticed this when he lay on his back, citing pressure buildup in his lumbar region. He also felt out of alignment, adding, “I feel slightly declined—my back is lower than my feet.” Some side sleepers and back sleepers may want a somewhat softer bed (perhaps something with foam comfort layers, rather than latex).

Read more about this bed in our full Birch Natural mattress review. Want a latex bed with better pressure relief? Check out the Nolah Natural.