It’s time for a new mattress, but with all the options on the market, the decision feels overwhelming. Which bed is best for you? We’re here to help out with this Nectar vs. Amerisleep mattress comparison!
Today, we’ll see how the five all-foam mattresses of Amerisleep fare against the Nectar, an all-foam, bed-in-a-box mattress promised by its company to be one of the most comfortable sleeping options around.
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Nectar vs Amerisleep Overview
The Nectar is a softer mattress built from a combination of foams. Overall, the bed is slow-responding and should offer sleepers that classic memory-foam experience.
Amerisleep offers sleepers a variety of firmness options across their five all-foam beds. The beds are conveniently numbered and range in firmness level from extremely firm (AS1) to luxuriously soft (AS5).
Who Should Get The Nectar
- Back sleepers of light or average weight
- Side sleepers of light or average weight
- Those who love a softer bed
- Anyone on a budget, as the bed is more affordable than Amerisleep
Who Should Get Amerisleep
- Anyone who wants a variety of firmness options to choose from
- Couples who want a bed with good motion-transfer results
- Fans of memory foam mattresses. Even with the different firmness levels, Amerisleep offers a distinct sleeping experience that’s different from a hybrid bed.
For more info, read our Nectar mattress review and Amerisleep mattress review.
Similarities Between The Nectar And Amerisleep?
Given Amerisleep’s five models, there are a lot of differences between the brands. But let’s go over a few key similarities as well.
- Every one of these beds is an all-foam mattresses
- All of the beds have memory foam in the comfort layer
- Even with the different firmness options, the beds are going to have a slow responsiveness because of the memory foam
- Each of the beds tends to sleep cool
See how the Nectar fares against its competitors in our Nectar mattress comparisons.
Key Differences Between The Nectar And Amerisleep?
Overall, there are more differences between these brands than similarities. Let’s go over some of them.
- Amerisleep offers five different sleeping options, where Nectar only offers one
- While the Nectar will mostly appeal to back and side sleepers, Amerisleep’s five different beds should offer something for people of all sleeping positions
- Amerisleep is more expensive than the Nectar
- Amerisleep has been in business longer than Nectar
- In general, Amerisleep’s beds have a more complex construction with extra bells and whistles
Compare Amerisleep with other beds with our Amerisleep mattress comparisons.
Firmness and Feel Differences
Let’s see how these two beds compare in firmness and feel—arguably the two most important factors when purchasing a new mattress.
How Firm Are The Nectar & Amerisleep Mattresses?
Because it’s just one bed, the Nectar’s firmness is fixed at a 6.5/10. That places it in the Medium Firm category, with the top layer starting off soft and each layer beneath getting progressively firmer.
The respective firmness of Amerisleep’s beds are as follows: the AS1 is a firmer-than-average 8/10. The AS2 stays in the same category at a 7.5/10, and then we get into the Medium Firm range with the AS3, which scores a 6.5/10. The two softest models are the AS4 (6/10) and the AS5 (5.5/10).
Sleeping On The Nectar And Amerisleep Mattresses
The Nectar feels great on the back, with the memory foam layers conforming to the curves of the body. There’s also good overall support and lumbar support coming from the base layer. For side-sleeping, there’s just a little bit of pressure on the shoulders and hips, although that might vary depending on the sleeper’s weight.
The mattress also might be too soft for stomach sleepers, who usually need more support across their entire body. Finally, we should note that the Nectar’s plushness and contouring make it one of the best mattresses for arthritis.
Because Amerisleep has five models to choose from, sleeping positions can get a bit complicated. We’ll lay it out for you in the simplest terms:
Stomach sleepers will be most comfortable on the firmness of the AS1, with the AS2 being the second-best option. Back sleepers should also be comfortable on the AS2, but are probably best suited for the AS3. Side sleepers will want to check out the softer beds such as the AS3 and AS5. But the absolute best option for side-sleeping is probably the AS4, its 4” layer of Bio-Pur foam allowing a lot of sinkage with almost no pressure on the shoulders or hips.
What Do The Nectar And Amerisleep Mattresses Feel Like?
Because both mattresses are made entirely out of foam, they create a traditional slow-moving feel. They’re not super responsive, allowing sleepers to gently sink into them.
However, because Amerisleep’s models feature different amounts of Bio-Pur foam, there’s a bit more variety in terms of texture and feel.
Average-Weight Sleepers – 130lbs – 230lbs
On the Nectar, average-weight side and back sleepers should have the proper amount of support and comfort. The soft memory foam should especially appeal to those with hip pain. Average-weight stomach sleepers will likely need a more supportive bed overall, although the Nectar is one of the best mattresses for teenagers who sleep on their backs and stomachs.
For Amerisleep, average-weight back sleepers will probably feel the best balance of comfort and support on the AS3. Those who want a bit more support should feel right at home on the AS2. Average-weight side sleepers might enjoy the AS4 or the AS5 if they’re closer to 230lbs. Average-weight stomach sleepers will need a lot of firmness, so the AS1 is the best pick for them.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230lbs
Because of its softness, the Nectar might not be the best option for heavier sleepers. The one exception might be heavier back sleepers, although those who are closer to and over 300 lbs might need something more supportive with coils in its construction.
Conversely, some of Amerisleep’s firmer models could get the job done. The AS1 and AS2 models are the best fits for heavier back sleepers, and heavier side sleepers should find the right amount of cushioning on the AS4 or AS5. Heavier stomach sleepers will definitely want to opt for the AS1, but depending on their exact weight, they still might need something more supportive.
Need more ideas? Check out our list of the best mattresses for heavy people.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lbs
As with most memory foam mattresses, lightweight back and side sleepers should be comfortable and supported on the Nectar. Depending on their weight, lightweight stomach sleepers might need a firmer mattress.
When choosing an Amerisleep bed, lightweight back sleepers will want a mattress that’s not too firm. Otherwise, their hips won’t sink in the right amount. Their best options are probably the AS3 or AS4. Lightweight side sleepers will likely find the pressure relief they need on the AS3, AS4, or AS5. Finally stomach sleepers will probably feel most at home on the AS1 or AS2.
Mattress Construction Differences
The devil is in the details, so let’s get nitty gritty and break down the construction of each of these beds.
Cover
The Nectar’s cover is made of polyethylene—a breathable material that helps the top of the mattress stay cool.
All of the Amerisleep mattresses have the same cover of a lightweight, breathable material called celliant.
Comfort Layers
On the Nectar, you’ll first encounter a layer of gel foam that isn’t very responsive and takes a few moments to reform under pressure. The gel infusion is designed to fight against the heat-trapping nature of memory foam and give some extra cooling to the top of the mattress.
Next, there’s a layer of Soft Conventional Foam that has a higher density and is firmer than what’s above. That means it also serves as a transition layer to the support layer underneath.
Going over each individual comfort layer of all five Amerisleep beds would be too much for one mattress comparison to contain, but know that each mattress relies on Bio-Pur Foam, a plant-based material designed to be more breathable and responsive than regular memory foam. With the exception of the AS4 to the AS5, the Bio-Pur Foam gets thicker as the beds progress and get softer.
The Bio-Pur Foam also works in tandem with other materials. For instance, the AS3 has a HIVE transition layer and the AS5 has a soft and bouncy material called Active Flex. We’ll once again point you to our full Amerisleep mattress review for the exact details of each layer.
Support Layer
The Nectar has a thick layer of high-density base support foam. Amerisleep’s support layers all use a dense proprietary material called Bio-Core foam. With the exception of the AS1, whose support layer is 8,” all of the Amerisleep beds have a 7” support layer.
Mattress Height
The Nectar is 12” tall, and the Amerisleep varies from model to model. The AS1 is 10” tall; the AS2, AS3, and AS4 are all 12” tall, and the AS5 is a whopping 14” tall.
Nectar And Amerisleep Size Options and Price
See the charts below for the most up-to-date size and pricing information for the Nectar and Amerisleep mattresses. Please note: We included pricing information for Amerisleep’s most popular model, the AS3.
Nectar
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 39″ x 75″ x 12″ | $499 |
| Twin XL | 39″ x 80″ x 12″ | $569 |
| Full | 54″ x 75″ x 12″ | $699 |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ x 12″ | $799 |
| King | 76″ x 80″ x 12″ | $1099 |
| California King | 72″ x 84″ x 12″ | $1099 |
Looking for something more luxurious? Check out our Nectar Lush mattress review.
Amerisleep AS3
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 38″ x 74″ x 12″ | $1149 |
| Twin XL | 38″ x 80″ x 12″ | $1199 |
| Full | 54″ x 75″ x 12″ | $1349 |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ x 12″ | $1499 |
| King | 76″ x 80″ x 12″ | $1899 |
| California King | 72″ x 84″ x 12″ | $1899 |
| Split King | 38″ x 80″ x 12″ (x2) | $2398 |
If you don’t want to purchase a brand new mattress right now, take a look at our Amerisleep mattress topper review.
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Nectar And Amerisleep Performance Differences
Usually, we frame this category as a kind of contest where we evaluate which bed does best in a variety of performance tests. But because Amerisleep has so many beds to choose from, we’ll instead describe how the Nectar does in each area, then talk about which Amerisleep mattress (or mattresses) might perform best in that same area.
Sleeping Hot or Cold
Memory foam naturally traps heat, so especially hot sleepers might experience this on the Nectar. That being said, we didn’t experience this ourselves and found that the cooling cover and gel-infused memory foam did a nice job at regulating the bed’s temperature. Likewise, all of the Amerisleep mattresses tended to sleep cool.
Motion Transfer
The Nectar uses a slow-moving foam that we found to be especially good at isolating motion. Amerisleep’s Bio-Pur has a similarly slow responsiveness, so the beds that have more of it tended to fare best with motion transfer. The AS4 and AS5 would probably be the best Amerisleep beds for couples.
Edge Support
Memory foam isn’t usually known for its strong edge support, so we were pleasantly surprised to find that the Nectar scored well here. We were able to sit on the edge of the bed and tie our shoes with no collapse on the mattress.
Amerisleep varies in this category. The firmer beds expectedly provided better edge support, with the AS1 and AS2 being the best options. When lying down on the softer models, we didn’t feel very supported when close to the edge of the bed.
Durability
Both the Nectar and Amerisleep beds are all-foam mattresses with denser materials at the base. They should last seven to 10 years with little issue.
Off-Gassing
Off-gassing is just another word for the faint smell that emerges when opening and unrolling any bed-in-a-box mattress. With both Nectar and Amerisleep, it went away after 48 hours. Placing the mattress in a well-ventilated room can further expedite the process.
Noise
Because all of these beds are made entirely of foam, there shouldn’t be any noticeable noise when moving around.
Sex
If you’re looking for one of the best mattresses for sex, memory foam usually isn’t the best material, as its sinkage can make it difficult to move around. While the Nectar and softer Amerisleep models likely won’t fit the bill, the firmer and more responsive AS1 and AS2 mattresses could do quite well here.
Company Policies
Before you make your final purchasing decision, make sure to take a look at the company policies!
Warranty Info
The Nectar has a forever warranty and the Amerisleep beds all have a 20-year warranty.
Sleep Trial
The Nectar’s sleep trial period is a full year, while Amerisleep’s is 100 nights.
Return Policy
If sleepers are unsatisfied with their Nectar purchase, they can return it for a full refund, not including shipping fees, White Glove Service, state-based recycling fees, and/or promotional value. See Nectar’s website for details.
Amerisleep requires customers to sleep on their mattress for at least 30 nights, after which they can request a full refund if they’re not satisfied with their product. If anyone would like a refund before the 30-day wait period, they’ll be charged a $99 early processing fee. Rather than return the mattress to Amerisleep, the company asks that customers donate their bed to a local organization or charity. See Amerisleep’s website for more details.
FAQs
Still wondering which mattress is best for you? Here are some frequently asked questions that could help.
Which is better, Nectar or Amerisleep?
It’s going to vary from person to person. Those who want a no-fuss memory foam experience might want to opt for the Nectar. But if you’re a choosier mattress buyer who wants more options, then maybe Amerisleep is the bed for you.
How long will the Nectar and Amerisleep mattresses last?
Because of the sturdy materials and lengthy warranties, you can rest assured that each of these beds are designed to last years and years.
Can you flip the Nectar and Amerisleep mattresses?
No, neither of these beds are flippable.
Joe Auer
Joe Auer is the editor of Mattress Clarity. He mainly focuses on mattress reviews and oversees the content across the site.
He likes things simple and take a straightforward, objective approach to his reviews. Joe has personally tested nearly 250 mattresses and always recommends people do their research before buying a new bed. He has been testing mattresses for over 5 years now, so he knows a thing or two when it comes to mattress selection. He has been cited as an authority in the industry by a number of large publications.
Joe has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Columbia University.