Helix Vs Tuft And Needle Mattresses

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Helix and Tuft and Needle are two very popular mattress companies that have utilized the online-business model with great success.  They both take a different approach with their product, but they provide a unique and quality offering at an affordable price.

As the two rise in popularity, I have received a number of questions about how they compare to one another.  They are very different, so I’ll try to highlight the main differences in this article to help people if they are deciding Helix vs Tuft and Needle.

Helix vs Tuft & Needle
Key SimilaritiesKey Differences
Similar business modelHelix offers a customized mattress, while T&N has one mattress that is the same across the board
Both offer great valueHelix is more expensive than the Tuft & Needle
Both are known for great customer serviceHelix uses a combination of Helix Dynamic foam (a latex-like foam), polyfoam, and micro coils; T&N uses 2 layers of polyfoam
Both are low-risk purchases with friendly trial periods and return policies

Construction Differences

There are some major differences here. Tuft and Needle uses two layers of polyfoam in its construction.  Helix uses a combination of a proprietary foam (latex-like), microcoils, and polyfoam.  How those layers are combined depends on the answer to the personalization quiz.  The mattress will be softer or firmer, bouncier or slower-moving, etc. depending on how someone fills out the quiz.  It’s hard to say how the feel will be different between the two mattresses because the feel of the Helix simply depends on how someone takes the personalization quiz.

You Might Want To Pick Helix If:

Helix Midnight Mattress

the Helix Midnight mattress sits on a bed frame

The Helix Midnight is the brand’s most popular model. It has a balance of comfort and support and should be an excellent match for back sleepers.

Clarity Score 4.1/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Hybrid

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

100 nights

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

10-year warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$936 – $1748

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
MC sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.5/5
Watch Our Video Review

Helix Midnight Mattress

the Helix Midnight mattress sits on a bed frame

The Helix Midnight is the brand’s most popular model. It has a balance of comfort and support and should be an excellent match for back sleepers.

Clarity Score 4.1/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Hybrid

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

10-year warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

100 nights

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$936 – $1748

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
MC sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.5/5
Watch Our Video Review
the Helix Midnight mattress sits on a bed frame

Helix Midnight Mattress

The Helix Midnight is the brand’s most popular model. It has a balance of comfort and support and should be an excellent match for back sleepers.

Clarity Score 4.1/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Hybrid

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

100 nights

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

10-year warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$936 – $1748

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
MC sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.5/5
Watch Our Video Review
picture of the helix mattress next to its box

You Sleep With A Partner With Different Preferences

Helix allows people to split the mattress in half.  One side will be based on their preferences while the other will be customized to match their partner’s preferences.  Helix is an intriguing option if someone has a different sleeping style or preferences from their partner.

You’re Unsure About Your Preferences

Helix can be a great choice if someone doesn’t know exactly what type of mattress they want because it does all the work for them.  It prompts people with the right questions to ask and then gives them an optimal mattress for them based on their answers to those questions.

You Have Unique Sleeping Preferences

The Tuft & Needle tries to cater to as many sleepers as possible with just one mattress.  If someone is out of the norm, then they might want to consider the Helix.  This means if someone only sleeps on their side, they are very lightweight, etc.  Helix will be able to customize the mattress to their unique preferences.

You Might Want To Pick Tuft & Needle If:

Tuft & Needle Mattress

tuft and needle orig e1624483781206

The Tuft & Needle is a great value mattress that is also extremely comfortable.

Clarity Score 3.6/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

100 nights

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping minus HI and AK

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$645 – $1295

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.6/5

Tuft & Needle Mattress

tuft and needle orig e1624483781206

The Tuft & Needle is a great value mattress that is also extremely comfortable.

Clarity Score 3.6/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping minus HI and AK

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

100 nights

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$645 – $1295

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.6/5
tuft and needle orig e1624483781206

Tuft & Needle Mattress

The Tuft & Needle is a great value mattress that is also extremely comfortable.

Clarity Score 3.6/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

100 nights

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping minus HI and AK

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$645 – $1295

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.6/5
Tuft & Needle Review

You’re On A Budget

There is a pretty decent sized price difference between the two mattresses.  For a Queen, the price difference is $300, so that could potentially be a deciding factor for people depending on what their budget is.

You Have Middle of the Road Sleeping Preferences

Tuft and Needle built their mattress to cater to as many sleepers as possible.  That means the mattress will be generally best for people who aren’t outliers as far as sleeping preferences.  If someone isn’t extra heavy, for example, then they may not need the customization that Helix provides.

What It Comes Down To

Both are really great options.  Tuft and Needle is known for being a tremendous mattress for the money.  Helix has had great success because not everyone believes there is one best mattress for everyone.  It really comes down to whether people believe in the value of customization and then balancing that versus the extra $300 they would have to pay for the Helix.  Both have great return policies and trial periods, so I don’t think there’s any harm in picking either of them.

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Joe Auer

Joe Auer

Founder/Managing Editor

About Author

Joe is the founder of Mattress Clarity and has been reviewing mattresses and other sleep products for more than five years. Joe knows a lot about mattresses, having tested more than 100 personally. Through his experience, he has developed a straightforward and practical approach to making mattress recommendations.

Joe does not believe there is one best mattress for everyone and that a more tailored approach is often the most helpful to mattress shoppers. He tries to make clear what types of sleepers a particular mattress would be good for. He also notes what considerations people should make when looking at a particular type of bed.

His extensive knowledge of mattresses, and the mattress industry, has garnered him some media attention. He’s been interviewed and featured in several online publications, including Inc.om, Business Insider, New York Magazine, Huffington Post, and Forbes.

Thanks to his expertise, Joe has tested countless approaches to improving his own sleep quality. He has two top sleep tips that he’s benefitted from personally. He limits his caffeine consumption to 100 mg a day and meditates for 15 minutes daily.

Joe has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Columbia University, where he studied entrepreneurship.

When he isn’t reviewing mattresses, Joe loves to play classical piano, read fiction and non-fiction, and travel.