Innerspring mattresses feel responsive. Memory foam beds contour the body. The Purple mattress, however, is completely unique. Made with the companyโs proprietary gel grid, the Purple mattress feels squishy and firm at the same time.
This versatile mattress adapts to each individualโs body type and sleeping position, but will it meet all of your sleep needs? Keep reading my unbiased Purple mattress review to find out! I personally tested this mattress and assessed its firmness, feel, durability, cooling features, price point and more.
Purple Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Purple Mattress Video Review
Purple Mattress Review: General Overview
Thereโs nothing quite like the Purple mattress. The purple grid offers support and pressure relief and for some types of sleepers, itโs comfortable in all three sleeping positions. Itโs also quite durable, so if youโre looking for a long-lasting mattress, this bed fits the bill.
Purple sells a variety of mattresses and sleep accessories, but for this review, weโll focus specifically on the original Purple mattress. Hereโs a quick overview of the bedโs pros and cons.
Pros of the Purple Mattress
- It works well for back sleepers, because the mattress offers a good amount of lumbar support.
- Heavyweight side sleepers will get the pressure relief they need on the Purple mattress.
- Itโs a great match for hot sleepers, because the gel grid promotes airflow.
- Itโs durable, which makes it one of the best mattresses for the money.
Cons of the Purple Mattress
- Lightweight and average weight side sleepers wonโt compress the gel grid very much, so they may think the Purple mattress feels too firm.
- It has a unique feel, so if youโre looking for a traditional innerspring mattress or all-foam bed, you may want consider something else.
- Itโs a heavy mattress thatโs very difficult to move.
Overall Rating
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress in categories such as materials, comfort, cooling, and support. Hover over the icons to learn more about these different topics, or scroll down for a more detailed analysis on each one.
Note: Motion transfer is beneficial for those who share the bed and donโt want to be woken up by anotherโs movements. Looking for a mattress that better absorbs motion? Check out our Best Mattresses for Couples.
Purple Mattress Firmness and Feel
When shopping for a new mattress, itโs critical to consider a bedโs firmness and feel. These factors have a big impact on whether a mattress will feel comfortable for different types of sleepers.
How Firm Is the Purple Mattress?
I ranked the Purple a 6.5/10 on our firmness scale, which is also the industry standard for medium-firm mattresses.
Because the Purple grid adapts to each personโs body weight, the mattress feels different to different types of people. Heavier people (like myself) tend to compress the grid quite a bit, while lightweight people do not. Thatโs why many heavy people think the mattress feels medium-firm, while some lightweight people think the bed feels firm.
Sleeping on the Purple Mattress
Iโm a heavier person, so the Purple mattress felt great when I rested on my back. The Purple Grid collapsed under my pressure points and stayed upright everywhere else, creating a great balance of comfort and support.
When I switched to my side, I experienced some great pressure relief around my hip and shoulder. Lighter folks might not experience as much pressure relief in this sleeping position because they may not compress the gel grid as much.
The Purple mattress felt like a great match when I rested on my stomach. It offered plenty of support and kept my hips elevated and in the proper alignment. Thatโs why it made the lists of our Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers and Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers.
What Does the Purple Feel Like?
The original Purple mattress has a unique feel thatโs simultaneously squishy and firm. This is thanks to the mattressโs proprietary hyper-elastic gel polymer grid, which collapses when pressure is applied and stays upright everywhere else. This helps sleepers get the proper amount of pressure relief and lumbar support they need. Thereโs no other mattress that feels quite like this one.
| Sleeper Weight | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lightweight (under 130 lb) | Fair | Bad | Excellent |
| Average (130 โ 230 lb) | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Heavyweight (over 230 lb) | Excellent | Excellent | Fair |
Is the Purple Mattress Good For Lightweight People (Under 130 lb)?
- Lightweight back sleepers wonโt compress the gel grid very much, which could make the mattress feel particularly firm. For that reason, itโs not a great option for lightweight back sleepers.
- Lightweight side sleepers will feel some pressure along their shoulders and hips, so itโs not a good match for people in this category.
- Because the Purple mattress feels firmer to lightweight people, itโs a great match for stomach sleepers who weigh less than 130 lb. The Purple mattress should offer the necessary hip support for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Is the Purple Mattress Good For Average Weight People (130 โ 230 lb)?
- Average weight back sleepers will feel a nice balance of comfort and support on the Purple mattress.
- Average weight side sleepers will compress the gel grid enough to feel some pressure relief along their shoulders and hips, so itโs a good match for people in this category.
- This mattress works well for average weight stomach sleepers who weigh less than 200 lb, but heavier people may feel their hips sinking into the gel grid. This can put pressure along the lower back and lead to lumbar pain.
Is the Purple Mattress Good For Heavyweight People (Over 230 lb)?
- Heavyweight back sleepers should feel plenty of support from the high-density foam layer, which will help keep the spine in a neutral alignment.
- Itโs also a great choice for heavyweight side sleepers, who will compress the gel grid enough to feel some nice cushioning along shoulders and hips.
- Itโs not a great choice for heavyweight stomach sleepers. People in this category will compress the gel grid and could feel their backs craning out of alignment.
Purple Mattress Construction
Now that weโve assessed what it feels like to lie on top of the Purple, letโs take a look under the hood (or, er, fabric cover). Weโll assess the original Purpleโs construction and review how these construction elements affect performance.
Cover
The Purple SoftFlex cover is thin, breathable and stretchy enough to move with the Purpleโs gel grid. This means it shouldnโt interfere with the gridโs performance.
Comfort Layers
The first comfort layer is composed of 2โณ of the proprietary Purple Grid. The grid is made from a hyper-elastic gel polymer that remains firm and supportive until enough pressure is applied, at which point the grid collapses and offers pressure relief.
Next, thereโs a layer of soft, responsive foam. This layer offers some additional pressure relief.Thereโs a foam encasement wrapped around the edges of the gel grid, strengthening the mattressโs edge support.
Support Layer
The original Purpleโs base layer is made from a firm, supportive foam that provides structure and support for the mattress overall.
Mattress Height
The original Purple mattress is 9.25โณ tall.
Purple Mattress Size Options and Price
To see the most up-to-date size and pricing information for the original Purple mattress, check out the chart below.
Size | Dimensions | Price |
Twin | 38โณ x 75โณ | $999.00 |
Twin XL | 38โณ x 80โณ | $1099.00 |
Full | 54โ x 75โ | $1399.00 |
Queen | 60โณ x 80โณ | $1499.00 |
King | 76โณ x 80โณ | $1999.00 |
California King | 72โณ x 84โณ | $1999.00 |
Split King | 76โณ 80โณ | $2198.00 |
Purple Mattress Performance
Hereโs where the rubber really meets the road! I put the original Purple mattress through a range of tests to assess its temperature regulation, motion transfer, edge support and more. Letโs see how well it performed.
RELATED: Purple Pillow Review
Sleeping Hot or Cold
The Purple regulates temperature well. In fact, it should provide a temperature neutral sleeping surface. The gel grid and breathable cover allow tons of room for airflow, so this mattress shouldnโt overheat. This makes it ideal for folks who are prone to sleeping hot. See our list of the best cooling mattresses for more options.
Motion Transfer
Because the gel grid is responsive and fairly bouncy, the mattress doesnโt absorb motion well. Couples might feel their partnerโs movements transfer to their side of the bed.
Edge Support
The Purple mattress has a foam encasement around the perimeter, which adds extra edge support. I could sit and lie down near the edge while still feeling secure. This is a great mattress for couples because it allows each person to fully take up space on their side of the bed.
Durability
Thanks to the durable hyper-elastic polymer grid, the Purple mattress should last a long time. We expect it to last at least 10 years. For reference, most mattresses only last seven to 10 years.
Off-Gassing
With some newly unboxed memory foam mattresses, itโs common to notice a chemical smell. Fortunately, we didnโt observe any significant off-gassing when we unboxed the Purple mattress.
Noise
This isnโt a noisy mattress at all. I didnโt hear any sound when I moved around or changed positions at night.
Sex
When people seek out one of the best mattresses for sex, theyโre typically looking for a bed thatโs easy to move around on top of. The Purple mattress is a great fit because its bouncy and responsive feel allows partners to easily switch positions.
Purple Mattress Company Policies
Now Iโll walk you through the policies that come with the Purple mattress. You never know, the fine print may have a bigger impact on your purchase decision than expected.
Warranty
The Purple mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, which covers factory defects. The warranty may be voided if the mattress was not placed on a firm and supportive surface.
Sleep Trial
A 100-night sleep trial will give you enough time to decide whether or not the Purple mattress is the right fit for you.
Return Policy
If youโve slept on the Purple mattress for at least 21 days and still donโt love it, you may return the mattress within the 100-night sleep trial. If the Purple mattress is clean and undamaged, you will be refunded the full product price of the mattress minus the value of any discount, interest accrued and/or shipping charges.
Purple Mattress Complaints
Many people love the Purple mattress because it contours their body and offers excellent support in all three sleeping positions. However, some lightweight people have complained that the mattress doesnโt offer enough pressure relief. Lightweight people donโt compress the gel grid very much, which can make the mattress feel particularly firm.
Related: Purple Mattress Alternatives
Some people were not fans of the Purple mattressโs feel. This bed doesnโt have a tufted pillow top or slow-moving memory foam comfort layer like many other mattresses do. For some people, the Purpleโs squishy gel grid felt too unusual. We suggest reviewing our mattress guides before deciding whatโs best for your body type and sleep habits.
How Does the Purple Compare to Other Mattresses?
Anyone whoโs considering the Purple mattress probably took a peek at other major brands in the bed-in-a-box space, such as Casper or Nectar. Letโs review how the Purple stacks up against these other popular options.
Compare Purple to other mattresses on our mattress comparison page.
Casper vs Purple
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Firmness
Score
The Casper and Purple mattresses vary significantly. The original Casper mattress features an all-foam construction and a zoned support system thatโs firmer near the middle of the mattress and softer near the head and foot. As noted above, the Purple is primarily constructed from the brandโs proprietary hyper-elastic gel polymer.
These construction differences make the mattresses feel significantly different. The original Casper has a balanced foam feel, while the Purple has a squishy-yet-firm feel. These mattresses also differ in firmness levels. We ranked the Purple at 6.5/10, while we ranked the Casper at 7/10.
The mattresses are most similar when it comes to price. Depending on discounts and coupons, both mattresses should cost around $1499.00 for a queen.
| Who Should Choose the Casper Mattress? | Who Should Choose the Purple Mattress? |
| People who like a balanced foam feel | Hot sleepers |
| Back sleepers | Those who want a more durable mattress |
| Lightweight and average weight combination sleepers | Heavyweight side sleepers |
Curious about the Casper? Learn more in our in-depth Casper mattress review.
Nectar vs Purple
Product
Firmness
Score
The Nectar and Purple mattresses have very different constructions and materials, which is most evident in their comfort layers. The Nectar features multiple layers of memory foam, while the Purple has a hyper-elastic gel polymer grid.
These materials create different feels. Thanks to its memory foam, the Nectar has a slow-moving feel that offers plenty of pressure relief and body contouring. The Purple is bouncy, responsive and simultaneously squishy and firm.
The firmness ranking for these mattresses depends a bit on the weight of the sleeper in question, but we ranked both of these beds around 6.5/10.
| Who Should Choose the Nectar Mattress? | Who Should Choose the Purple Mattress? |
| People who prefer a slow-moving memory foam feel | Heavyweight sleepers |
| Lightweight sleepers | People who want a more durable mattress |
| Side sleepers who need plenty of body contouring | Combination sleepers |
Want to know more about the Nectar? Check out our comprehensive Nectar mattress review.
The Takeaway
The Purple mattress is a unique bed made with a gel grid. It feels both squishy and firm at the same time, and it works well for a variety of people. However, lightweight people wonโt compress the gel grid very much, which can make the bed feel very firm. For that reason, itโs not the best choice for lightweight side sleepers.
Purple Mattress FAQs
What is the Purple mattress made of?
The Purple mattress is made with hyper-elastic gel polymer. This forms the proprietary Purple Grid that is breathable, supportive and comfortable at the same time. This rests on two layers of foam.
How much does the Purple mattress weigh?
It does depend on which size mattress you purchase, but a queen-size Purple mattress weighs 110 lb.
How long do Purple mattresses last?
Purple mattresses are very durable thanks to the gel grid. They should last at least 10 years.
Do you need a box spring with a Purple mattress?
Nope! You do not need to use a box spring with a Purple mattress. Itโs okay to put it directly on a base.
Can you flip a Purple mattress?
No, the Purple mattress is not flippable. Flipping the mattress would result in sleeping on the firmer base layer instead of the gel grid, which wouldnโt feel comfortable.
