Memory Foam vs. Hybrid Mattresses: Which Is Better for You?

After you dial in your sleep setup with the best pillows, cooling sheets, and maybe even a white noise machine or natural light alarm clock, it could be time to take the leap and upgrade your mattress. Now, the big question: plush memory foam or bouncy hybrid?

The memory foam vs. hybrid debate is a worthy one: Although there are a few other types of mattresses, memory foam and hybrid tend to be the top contenders, since each offers a unique feel and a whole lot of comfort. But a few key factors—like your sleeping position, temperature preference, and budget—can make the choice a no-brainer. “Taking your time to find the right mattress can make a big difference in your sleep quality and overall well-being,” says Cara Dobbertin, DPT, physical therapist at Practitioner. So, before you drop a paycheck, here’s everything you need to know to choose between memory foam and hybrid mattresses.

Image: Catherine Clark

Memory foam mattresses are known for that signature sink-in feeling—you press down, and they mold around your hand (or body) to create an impression. Made from synthetic materials, memory foam is ultra-contouring and ridiculously soft, providing a sensation of being cradled in your sleep. That cushiony feeling is extra noticeable because memory foam mattresses lack the structural support of a coil base, instead relying on multiple layers of dense foam to bolster your sleeping body.

Memory foam has a few key benefits. First, it’s particularly good at motion isolation—meaning if someone moves on one side of the bed, you won’t feel it on the other side. If you sleep with a restless partner, this could help you avoid waking up in the middle of the night, says Michael Breus, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and sleep medicine expert at Sleep Doctor. Memory foam also excels at pressure relief, so if you constantly wake up with achy hips or shoulders, this mattress type can help ease the pain.

Not all is dreamy in the land of memory foam. The big thing to keep in mind? Memory foam retains heat, which is essential to create the body-hugging feel everyone’s after. As your body temperature softens the foam, it stays trapped in the dense material. So if you already find yourself shedding sheets on a regular mattress, memory foam is not for you.

The soft foam can also be hard to move around on (in mattress lingo, it lacks responsiveness), so these memory foam mattresses “are ideal for people who sleep in one main position, particularly side or back sleepers,” Dobbertin says. On the other hand, many stomach sleepers may find that memory foam lacks support and their hips sink too far in, causing discomfort.

We've tested nearly 500 mattresses in our quest for sound, restorative sleep—and these memory foam mattresses regularly top our best-of lists around the office:

• The WinkBed GravityLux Memory Foam Mattress has a firmer-than-most feel for memory foam, and we found its claims of a "sag-proof base" to hold true in our testing.
• If comfort is king, turn to the Nolah Signature Mattress, which cradles and contours your body for a dreamy night's sleep.
• Night sweats, no more. The Nectar Luxe Memory Foam Mattress features a soft fabric cover with cooling fibers to beat the heat.

Image: Catherine Clark

Hybrid mattresses combine the supportive bounce of a coil base with a plush layer of memory foam or latex. They’re essentially the “best of both worlds” option, offering a buoyant, lifted feeling. “You get plenty of pressure relief from the softer, more malleable materials but maintain spinal alignment and support from the more resilient coils,” Dr. Breus says.

“Hybrid mattresses tend to work for pretty much everyone. They're available in a variety of firmness levels, they hold up relatively well, and are easier to move than some heavier materials like latex,” Dr. Breus adds.

The coil support layer also offers better airflow, helping to keep the mattress (and you) cooler. Plus, hybrids are generally easier to move around on—no quicksand feeling here—making them a versatile option for combination sleepers who like to roll around during the night.

There’s a price to pay for versatility—literally. Hybrids tend to be more expensive than all-foam options. Depending on the materials, they’re also much bouncier (which some people love), but it also means you might feel every little movement on the other side of the bed.

If a hybrid mattress sounds like a dream come true, these are the ones we find ourselves recommending the most:

• The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid comes in at under $1,000 for a queen—but you'd never know that by its luxury feel.
• The Helix Midnight Luxe is GQ-editor approved (you can read our full Helix review here).
• Latex hybrid mattresses, like the Saatva Latex Hybrid, are known for durability and support.

Your sleeping position plays a huge role in deciding between a memory foam versus a hybrid mattress, as it determines the areas of your body that bear the most pressure. “Side sleepers may benefit from the contouring of memory foam to relieve pressure on the shoulders and hips. Back sleepers typically need a balance of support and cushioning, which both hybrids and memory foam can offer,” Dobbertin says. “Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, often need a firmer surface to prevent the hips from sinking too much, making hybrids a potentially better choice.”

Your weight also factors in, Dr. Breus adds. Sleepers under 130 pounds might prefer a softer surface, while those over 200 pounds will likely need a firmer surface to support their weight and keep spinal alignment.

However, you also have to consider other factors, like whether you sleep hot and how much moving around you’ll do on the bed. With plenty of innovative mattresses on the market, you should be able to find one to check every box on your list. For example, if you’re set on a memory foam mattress but don’t want to overheat in your sleep, look for one with cooling materials, like the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Breeze ProBreeze Mattress.

There’s no one right answer to the hybrid vs. memory foam debate. At the end of the day, hybrid mattresses will suit a wider range of sleepers, but couples and side-sleepers who need pressure-relief should also consider a memory foam mattress. Either way, your mattress should make you excited to crawl into bed each night, so take your time—and don’t be afraid to make use of the trial period.