Tuft & Needle vs Mint: Which Mattress Is Right for You?

The Tuft & Needle is one of the best-selling mattresses on the bed-in-a-box market. It has been a major part of the online mattress revolution. For a few years, the company only offered the original Tuft & Needle mattress. Last year they released their second mattress, the Mint. The Mint is a luxury mattress that features a more complex construction than the original Tuft & Needle mattress. If you have your eyes on either the Mint mattress or the Tuft & Needle mattress, we’ve put together all the information you need to choose which one is the right one for you. Which will it be? Read on for my full Tuft & Needle vs Mint comparison and to see which is best for your unique sleep needs!

Tuft & Needle vs. Mint

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Tuft & Needle Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Score

3.6 / 5

Check Price

Read Tuft & Needle Mattress Review

Product

Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Score

3.9 / 5

Check Price

Read Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress Review

Tuft & Needle vs. Mint: Top Similarities

• These are both all-foam mattresses that have a similar aim with their construction.
• They contain a similar base layer. and they both have Adaptive Foam in their top layers.
• They have a very similar feel are both in the general same firmness range.

RELATED: Best Mattress 2024

Tuft & Needle vs. Mint: Key Differences

• The Mint contains a more luxurious cover.
• The Mint is thicker than the Tuft & Needle and has more layers than the Tuft & Needle.
• The Mint should sleep cooler than the Tuft & Needle, and the Tuft & Needle is more affordable than the Mint.

Tuft & Needle Construction

• The mattress is 10” tall and consists of two foam layers
• The cover is soft and thin and doesn’t really affect the overall feel of the mattress too much
• The first layer contains 3” of Adaptive Foam, which is a foam that combines latex and memory foam qualities into one.
• Below that, there are 7” of standard base polyfoam that is seen in many other bed-in-a-box mattress on the market.

Mint Construction

• The mattress is 12” tall and is comprised of three layers.
• The cover is soft and knitted and contains antimicrobial protection.
• On top, there are 3” of an Adaptive Foam, which is pretty similar to the original mattress but perhaps a little bit softer.
• Below that, there are 2” of an extra adaptive transition layer to prevent heavier side sleepers from bottoming out and feeling the firmness of the support layer.
• The base contains 7” of a standard base polyfoam, which is pretty similar to the support layer in the original mattress.

Construction Differences and Notes

• Both mattresses contain Adaptive Foam, which is a foam that is both soft and responsive. It allows people to sink into the mattress, but they shouldn’t get the feeling of getting stuck in their mattress.
• The Mint contains a transition layer, while the Tuft & Needle does not, which should make the Mint a better match for side sleepers overall, especially heavier ones. People won’t just drop through the comfort layer and hit the support layer beneath, something called “bottoming out.”
• The Mint features a more luxurious cover that is a super-luxe knit that is both cozy and breathable.
• The Mint’s Adaptive Foam layer contains 30% more graphite than the Adaptive Foam found in the Tuft & Needle, which should keep the top of the mattress cooler than the Tuft & Needle.
• The Mint’s transition layer contains gel beads, which should also work to keep the mattress from trapping too much heat. As a result, the Mint should sleep noticeably cooler than the Tuft & Needle does.
• The support layer in the Mint is actually firmer toward the edge of the mattress, which is meant to give the mattress enhanced edge support. It should be easier to sleep toward the edges of the Mint or to sit towards the edge.

Firmness and Feel Differences

In terms of firmness, the Tuft & Needle felt close to a 6.5/10 and the Mint was a 6/10. I am 160lbs, so if someone weighs more or less than I do, they could have a different experience. They might feel like these mattresses are a bit firmer or softer than I did, but in general people should agree that their firmnesses are very similar.

Let’s first take a look at how it generally feels to sleep on the original Tuft & Needle mattress:

• When I lie down on my back, the Tuft & Needle is properly supportive. My hips sink in just a bit, and the Adaptive Foam is taking the shape of the body.
• When I move to my side, the Tuft & Needle is a pretty good match, but I am feeling just a bit of pressure on the shoulders and hip. The Adaptive Foam layer is not very thick, so I am pressing through that layer and feeling more of the layer underneath.
• Lying on my stomach, the Tuft & Needle is a good match where I feel properly supported. The Tuft & Needle feels firmer and more supportive overall, so this is not too surprising.

Now, let’s see how it feels to sleep on the Mint mattress:

• Back sleeping on the Mint, the mattress is also a good match, and I feel like I am getting enough support. The hips don’t sink in too far, and the Adaptive Foam is also conforming to the curves. The Tuft & Needle and Mint are both an equally good match for back sleeping.
• When I am side sleeping, the Mint is a better fit than the Tuft & Needle. It is a thicker mattress, and the transition layer keeps me from dropping into the support layer, so I am feeling better pressure relief on the Mint.
• When it comes to stomach sleeping, the Mint is too soft for me, and I am not getting enough support on the hips.

Even though I felt a bit different sleeping on these mattresses, their feel is quite similar. They both have Adaptive Foam on top which gives them a soft yet responsive foam feel, so I sink in a bit but have no trouble moving around. See more about the Tuft & Needle’s firmness and feel in the video below: Now, see what I thought of the firmness and feel of the Mint mattress from the video below:

Motion Transfer Differences

If someone sleeps with a partner, they will want to think about motion transfer. They will want a mattress that will isolate the motions made by them and their partner so that they won’t be disturbed by the other’s movements. Both mattresses perform quite well at isolating motion. I put a glass of water on both mattresses and pushed my hand into the surrounding areas., and the water was barely disturbed on either mattress. Also, I lay down on both mattresses and had Marten lay on the other side and moved around. I did not feel too many of his movements on either mattress, so from that perspective both mattresses performed well. See how the Tuft & Needle handles motion transfer in the video below: Now, see how the Mint mattress handles motion transfer from the video below:

Edge Support Differences

Edge support is worth considering if someone sleeps with a partner or likes to sleep toward the edge of their mattress. Will the mattress hold them up or will they feel like they are going to fall off? Sitting down near the edge of the Tuft & Needle, the mattress collapses under my weight, and I feel like I might pitch forward. Lying down near the edge, I do feel like I might roll off the mattress a little bit. However, I do not have this experience on the Mint, because the mattress features a reinforced edge. This gives me more support when I am sitting and lying down near the edge of the Mint. You can see the edge support differences in the photos below and see how the Mint performs better in this regard.

Marten’s Take

No matter what someone’s sleeping situation is, they should always keep their weight in mind when choosing a mattress. Since I am 5’9″ 160 lbs, I asked Marten to come in and offer his opinion on these two mattresses. He is 6’7″ 230 lbs. Let’s see what a larger person had to say about the Tuft & Needle and Mint and how appropriate they are for heavier sleepers. In terms of firmness, I said the Tuft & Needle was a 6.5/10, and the Mint was close to a 7/10. I’m a larger person, so I am pressing further into these two mattresses and feeling some more firmness than Joe did.

Here is how I feel sleeping on the Tuft & Needle:

• Back sleeping, I am not getting enough support on the Tuft & Needle. The mattress is too soft for me, and I feel like I am dropping through the mattress.
• Moving to my side, I feel some decent pressure relief on my shoulders and hips.
• Stomach sleeping, the mattress is not firm enough for me. I am bowing in at the hips and getting out of neutral alignment.

Here is how I feel sleeping on the Mint:

• On the Mint, I feel better sleeping on my back. My hips don’t sink in too far. I’m also feeling some nice lumbar support.
• Moving to my side, I am feeling more pressure on my shoulders and hips than I felt on the Tuft & Needle.
• When I am on my stomach, the mattress is not supportive enough.

If you are a heavier back sleeper, I would lean toward the Mint. As a heavier side sleeper, I personally preferred the Tuft & Needle. Stomach sleepers who need the best mattress for heavy people should look elsewhere. Marten’s experience is somewhat surprising. He felt like the Tuft & Needle was better for side sleeping. I would think that the thicker comfort layer on the Mint would have given him more pressure relief. However, sleeping experiences really are subjective.

Pick Tuft & Needle If…

• You want the best cheap mattress – The Tuft & Needle does cost less than the Mint, so if someone is having a very hard time choosing between these two mattresses, they could save a good amount of money by going with the Tuft & Needle.
• You are a stomach sleeper- The Tuft & Needle is the firmer of these two mattresses. It should offer people more support when they are sleeping on their stomach. People should feel more support on their hips which should keep them in proper, neutral alignment.
• You don’t like to sink into your mattress- Because the comfort layer is thinner on the Tuft & Needle, you won’t sink so far into the mattress. If you prefer sleeping closer to the top of your mattress, the Tuft & Needle should work for you.

Pick Mint If…

• You are a light- or medium-weight side sleeper- In my experience, the Mint was the softer of these two mattresses. It features some better pressure relief and, if people aren’t too heavy, they should feel more comfortable when they are sleeping on their side.
• You are looking for a long-term investment- The Mint is more durable than the Tuft & Needle and won’t sag too quickly. While it does cost more than the Tuft & Needle, it should last for a longer amount of time, so people should save money in the long run.
• You are a hot sleeper- Between these two mattresses, the Mint should sleep cooler, because it contains more graphite in its Adaptive Foam layer and also features cooling gel beads in its transition layer. The cover is also knit and very breathable., so people should be sleeping cooler on the Mint.
• You like to sleep toward the edge of the bed- The Mint’s support layer is firmer toward the edge, which makes the mattress feel more secure when you are lying down near the edge. If people like sleeping toward the edge of their mattress or they sleep with a partner, the Mint should be a better choice.

Overall

At this point, people should be able to choose between the Tuft & Needle and Mint mattresses. If someone is an average-size stomach sleeper and wants a more durable mattress, the Mint should work well for them. However, if someone is a light- or medium-weight side sleeper and wants to save some money, the Mint should be a good choice. Consumers should read through this article a few times, assess their own characteristics and preferences, and then they can make a more informed decision.