Best 12 Inch Mattresses

12-inch mattresses have a lot to offer. They’re supportive enough for even the big and tall. They are still light and thin enough to move without too much trouble. And they look amazing to boot! They’re not too thick and not too thin – they’re just right.

The best news is there are tons of quality and comfortable 12-inch mattresses on today’s market. Here is a roundup of a few of the best ones.

Best 12 Inch Mattresses of 2023

If it’s versatility and comfort you’re after, look no further than the AS3 by Amerisleep. This mattress offers excellent plant-based comfort that can keep you cool, provide pressure relief, and offer unbeatable spinal support. And the medium firmness makes this mattress the perfect choice for combo sleepers and couples alike.

How Lying Down Feels

The first thing you’ll notice when lying down on the AS3 is its fantastic contouring ability. The AS3’s plant-based Bio-PurⓇ foam contours better than even the most high-quality petroleum foams. That means the AS3 offers so much pressure relief that even some side sleepers can enjoy it despite its medium feel.

The AS3 is also a lot more responsive than most other memory foam mattresses. The Bio-PurⓇ foam has a much quicker response time than petroleum-based memory foam. That means you won’t have to deal with body impressions or slow response time. That’s perfect for active sleepers who want memory foam beds.

Inside the Mattress

The AS3 starts off with the Refresh Cover – a mattress cover that keeps you cool by converting your body heat to far infrared energy.

Next up, you’ll find the plant-based Bio-PurⓇ foam comfort layer. This layer offers incredible pressure relief and cradling for your pressure points. This breathable foam also keeps air flowing underneath your body to enhance temperature regulation.

Next up, the HIVEⓇ transition layer offers five zones of pressure relief and support so that each area of your body gets the right balance of lift and cushioning. This is the layer that allows side sleepers who want extra support to enjoy this medium mattress.

Finally, the Bio-CoreⓇ support layer ensures that your body stays lifted onto the sleep surface. It also prevents the mattress from developing issues with sagging and soft spots for at least two decades.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Couples

Those who spend their days working out or doing physical labor should check out the Zoma Mattress. This mattress was designed by athletes for athletes to aid in recovery and enhance performance. That makes it perfect for anyone who does any physical activity.

How Lying Down Feels

This memory foam mattress is actually quite responsive for an all-foam bed. It’s got a bouncy transition layer called the Reactiv™ layer that helps ensure the comfort layer springs back into place as soon as you move.

The Zoma also hovers between a medium and medium-firm feel. That means back sleepers and others who need a little extra support can get the lift they need to keep their spines aligned.

Inside the Mattress

The Zoma starts off with a layer of gel-infused foam that can absorb your body heat and pull it down into the mattress and away from you. The Triangulex™ foam also boasts three layers of pressure relief so that each zone of your body gets what it needs.

The next layer is the Reactiv™ layer. This layer helps bounce the comfort layer back into place as soon as you change positions. So active sleepers can rest assured this memory foam mattress won’t keep them waiting for body impressions to spring back.

Finally, the Support+ layer provides lots of lift to support your spine and keep you on top of the sleep surface. It also ensures the Zoma will live up to its 10-year warranty.

All this comfort is wrapped in the airy, ventilated AirCloth cover. This cover keeps cool air flowing to help the gel memory foam keep your skin temperature down during sleep.

SEE ALSO: Best Adjustable Bed and Mattress Combo

If you want a quality mattress for a price that won’t break the bank, look no further than the Vaya Mattress. The Vaya keeps things affordable by keeping them simple. But don’t let that fool you. You won’t be sacrificing an ounce of quality by purchasing this bed.

How Lying Down Feels

The Vaya features highly contoured foam and a medium to medium-soft feel. That makes it a wonderful option for side sleepers because it can relieve so much pressure.

At the same time, the Vaya won’t retain heat while it hugs your body. This is because its open-cell construction allows for maximum airflow through the memory foam. The flowing air pushes body heat out and pulls in cool air from the room.

Inside the Mattress

The Vaya starts off with an ultra-plush cover that’s as breathable as it is soft. This keeps air flowing through the open-cell foam inside.

Next up, the highly contouring and highly breathable Vaya Comfort Foam relieves pressure and works with the breathable cover to keep cool air flowing underneath your body.

Finally, the Vaya Base Foam keeps you lifted onto the surface of the bed and ensures your spine stays aligned. It also ensures this durable mattress lasts just as long as its more expensive competitors: a full 10 years.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress That Won’t Sag

If you want a 12-inch memory foam mattress that boasts the ultimate cooling power, say hello to the Nolah Signature 12. This mattress boasts several cooling technologies to keep even the hottest sleepers cool.

How Lying Down Feels

The first thing you’ll notice about this mattress is just how cool it is. It boasts multiple cooling technologies like AirFoam™ and a cooling cotton cover to both draw heat away from you and keep the cool air flowing all at once.

Inside the Mattress

The first layer of the Signature is the plush and breathable AirFoam™ that relieves pressure and keeps the cool air flowing.

Supporting the plush comfort layer are two layers of high-resilience and high-firmness transition foam. These layers keep the top layer buoyant and also protect you from pressure from the ultra-firm support core.

Finally, a layer of high-density core foam ensures that your mattress will stay sag and soft spot-free for many years. That’s why it sports a lifetime warranty!

SEE ALSO: Nolah Mattress Review

Those who need a mattress that offers fantastic contouring and extra lumbar support should look no further than the Saatva Loom and Leaf. This mattress can help ease back pain without sacrificing comfort.

How Lying Down Feels

You’ll notice the enhanced lumbar support of this mattress right away. The extra back support is thanks to several technologies, such as the Lumbar Zone™ quilting and the memory foam lumbar crown. This is a mattress that can start alleviating back pain from night one.

Inside the Mattress

The Loom and Leaf starts off with a breathable cotton cover that features extra-supportive Lumbar ZoneTM quilting for enhanced lift. This lift is further enhanced by the gel memory foam lumbar crown that helps keep the spine aligned and your back pain-free.

Underneath, the perforated gel memory foam comfort layer keeps the cool air flowing and draws heat away from you at the same time for a pleasantly chilly feel. Two layers of high-density memory foam and buoyant transition foam ensure you won’t sink into the comfort layer – ever.

Finally, the durable base foam ensures you won’t have to worry about sagging and age-related issues year after year. That’s why the Saatva Loom and Leaf boasts a generous lifetime warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Tempur-Pedic Mattress Alternatives

Those who want a mattress that avoids synthetic ingredients and petroleum-based foams should consider the GhostBed Natural. This latex hybrid mattress is perfect for eco-conscious sleepers and sleepers with chemical sensitivities.

How Lying Down Feels

This is a Dunlop and Talalay hybrid mattress, so the things you’ll notice when lying down are its springiness and buoyancy. Latex foam bounces back underneath your body when you move. And it also has tons of lift and support so that you never have to worry about sinking into the mattress.

Inside the Mattress

The Natural starts off with an organic cotton cover and a layer of natural wool to keep air flowing, relieve pressure, and provide natural fire protection.

Next up, a comfort layer of natural Talalay latex provides breathable and responsive pressure relief, while the support layer of pocketed coils underneath ensures maximum lift and support. The adaptable coils can also contour all the way through the mattress to provide ultimate pressure relief.

Finally, a base layer of Dunlop latex provides stability and durability to ensure this latex hybrid lasts for 25 years.

SEE ALSO: Best Casper Mattress Alternatives

Those looking for a soft mattress that doesn’t overheat or take forever to bounce back into shape should consider the Purple Hybrid Premier 3. This mattress features the famous bouncy and temperature-neutral Purple Grid.

How Lying Down Feels

The Purple Grid fixes a lot of the issues inherent to soft mattresses, like overheating and poor responsiveness. Lying down, you’ll notice the way the hyperelastic polymer GelFlex™ Grid contours to shape itself to your body.

However, when you move, you’ll notice that it bounces back right away. The air channels in the Grid also make it ultra-cooling for a soft mattress.

Inside the Mattress

The Premier 3 starts off with the GelFlex™ Grid that sports air channels for cooling airflow and a hyperelastic polymer construction that contours to your shape and bounces back immediately the second you move.

Underneath the Grid, a layer of transition foam provides stability and protection from the pressure exerted by the pocketed coils below.

These individually wrapped coils can adapt to your shape to provide customized support and pressure relief. That makes this soft-feel hybrid perfect for side sleepers, who need tons of adaptability and contouring.

SEE ALSO: Best Purple Mattress Alternatives

How to Choose the Right 12-Inch Mattress

A lot of people think picking the best mattress is a matter of sitting on them at the store and trying to blindly choose the one that feels the best at that moment. However, choosing the right mattress is both more and less complicated than that.

As long as you know a few things about yourself and how they impact your sleep needs, you can choose the right mattress – maybe without ever even sitting on it first!

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Tall People

Material and Construction

The material your mattress is made of decides a lot. The type of mattress you have impacts feel, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and even durability.

And of course, you can’t forget about the price. The material and construction of your mattress have the most impact on how much it will cost as well. Naturally, mattress thickness affects how much material is packed into a bed.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a highly versatile material that can offer tons of comfort to those looking for durability and quality on a budget. Memory foam is a type of flexible polyurethane foam that was originally developed by NASA to support astronauts and pilots at high speeds.

When the recipe for this foam came on the market as mattresses in a box, it didn’t take long for it to go from space-age technology to one of the hottest bedding materials around.

Memory foam mattresses are so popular because it offers a mix of pressure relief, contoured support, and durability. Memory foam can follow the curve of your body to relieve pressure points. This ability to take your shape also offers spine-aligning support.

Best of all, you can expect a pure memory foam mattress to last up to 20 years. And you’ll get all this comfort and durability for an average price of $1,100 for a queen memory foam mattress. Of course, you can get memory foam mattresses for a lot more than that. On the flip side, you can easily find quality memory foam beds for less than $1,000 as well.

Despite all these pros, memory foam does have a couple of issues. For one thing, it tends to retain more heat than other materials. Even when it sports cooling technologies like gel or mineral infusions, memory foam is just not as cooling as coils or latex.

Memory foam is also not as responsive as other materials, so if you like to toss and turn at night, you might want to consider another material.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress Under 1000 Dollars

Natural Latex

Natural latex foam comes from the processed sap of the rubber tree. This sap can be whipped into two different types of foam: dense, durable Dunlop latex and light, springy Talalay latex. Both Talalay and Dunlop latex mattresses are more responsive and breathable than any memory foam. So those who sleep hot or like to toss around at night might do better on latex than memory foam.

If you want a mattress that you won’t have to replace for decades – maybe ever – you should go for latex as well. Natural latex (especially Dunlop latex) is highly durable. Well-maintained organic latex mattresses can outlast any other material by many years. The most durable ones have made it well into their 30s.

Latex mattresses do have a couple of issues, though. First off, it’s the most expensive mattress type upfront. Its durability brings the overall lifetime price of latex way down. But your budget will be taking a big hit on the initial purchase. You can expect to pay an average price of $2,100 for a queen latex mattress.

Latex is also not quite as contouring as memory foam. It wants to retain its own shape, so it springs back into place without leaving body impressions or sagging.

But it may offer less pressure relief than memory foam because of its reduced contouring ability. This may not bother back and stomach sleepers. But side sleepers who want latex should look at softer Talalay options.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for Athletes

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses boast a pocketed coil support core and a top layer (or layers) made of foam. These upper foam layers must be at least two inches thick, and the coils must be encased in their own individual wrappers for the mattress to be a hybrid.

There are lots of advantages to pocketed coils vs open coils. They’re wrapped in foil to foam, so the risk of them becoming noisy over time is next to none. These coils also can move independently of one another. That means they can adapt to your shape and your sleep position just like foam does.

Hybrid mattresses allow you to enjoy the springiness and breathability of coils while maintaining the adaptability and pressure relief of a foam mattress. Hybrids are durable, adaptable, cooling, and supportive. When it comes to comfort, there aren’t many disadvantages.

The only major con with hybrids is their price. At an average of almost $1800 for a queen, hybrids are almost as expensive as latex but a lot less durable. Hybrid mattresses are durable in comparison to innerspring mattresses and even a lot of memory foam ones. But they cannot stand up to the durability of latex.

This, combined with their high initial price, makes them the most expensive mattress type over time. Considering all the comfort they offer, the price might just be worth it.

SEE ALSO: Hybrid Mattress Buying Guide

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are the oldest mattress technology still in widespread use today. They’re made of a thinner comfort layer on top of a coil network wired together with steel cable. These coils are called open coils.

Innerspring comfort layers can be made of anything from cotton to foam to wool to fiberfill. Innerspring mattresses may also have an extra layer of padding called a pillow top. Any mattress type can be a pillow top mattress, but they’re most common on innerspring mattresses.

Innerspring mattresses offer a couple of advantages. For one, at an average of $950, they’re the cheapest mattress type upfront. They’re also very cooling mattresses because open coils are so breathable. And they’re highly responsive for those who like to toss and turn.

However, innerspring mattresses have a lot of disadvantages. Open coils cannot contour very well, so the pressure relief and spinal support of innerspring mattresses are typically substandard. Open coils may also become quite noisy over time. And they’re not very durable either.

Open coils tend to wear out and sag faster than other support cores. That means you might pay less on the front end, but you’ll be paying more for innerspring mattresses over time because they have to be replaced more often. Due to these issues, we recommend hybrids over innerspring mattresses.

SEE ALSO: Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers

Firmness Level

Your mattress’s firmness level is another thing that can make or break your night’s sleep. If it’s too soft for your sleeping position and body type, you may not get enough support to keep your spine aligned. If you have a too firm mattress, you might not get enough pressure relief.

Either way, problems resulting from the wrong firmness level can impact the quality and quantity of your sleep. While a mattress topper can improve a bed’s feel, it’s best to pick the right mattress from the start.

The good news is all you need to know to pick the right firmness level are your sleep style and your body weight. Your preferred sleep position decides your baseline firmness needs, while your body weight impacts whether you need to go up or down from there.

Mattress firmness is measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest. However, the firmest mattresses on the market are usually around an 8, while the softest come in at about a 3.

This is because there’s no market for mattresses with absolutely no support or absolutely no pressure relief. No matter what, you still need some combination of the two.

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers typically need medium-firm mattresses (6). A medium-firm feel offers a balance of support and pressure relief that slightly favors support. This allows a mattress for back sleeping to flow with the curve of your back while still keeping you lifted onto the sleep surface.

A medium-firm mattress can compress underneath your buttocks and rise to fill in the gap in your lower back. This helps ensure your lumbar region stays supported without allowing you to sink so far into the bed that it bends your body forward.

SEE ALSO: Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers usually need medium-soft to soft mattresses (4 to 3) because of the pressure their body weight exerts on their shoulder and hip joints. When you sleep on your side, your body presses down on these pressure points, which can cause you to wake up with pain.

Medium-soft mattresses offer deep compression to relieve the pressure on your joints. But they don’t lose all their support, so they can still keep your spine aligned and your body lifted. That makes them perfect mattresses for side sleeping for most average-weight individuals

SEE ALSO: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers need the firmest mattresses of all sleep positions. This is because the pelvis sinks down into the mattress when you sleep on your stomach. This overarches the spine and causes you to wake up with lower back pain. Mattresses for stomach sleeping minimize this issue.

Firm mattresses (7) can help keep your pelvis lifted onto the sleep surface without sacrificing all contouring. This can prevent pain from an overextended vertebral column and from pressure on the hip joints. Mattresses for stomach sleeping, especially extra firm mattresses, minimize this issue.

Combination Sleepers

Combo sleepers like to change things up night after night or even multiple times during the same night. They might assume any of the three other sleep positions and have no strong preference for any of them. A mattress for combination sleeping needs to support most positions.

This means that combo sleepers do best with a medium mattress (5). A medium mattress is versatile enough to offer support and pressure relief no matter which position you adopt. These mattresses can accommodate any position for a time.

Body Type

Your sleep style dictates your baseline firmness level, but your body weight does have an impact on your firmness needs under certain circumstances. Generally speaking, you don’t have to worry about increasing or decreasing your firmness level if you weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. However, if you fall outside of this range, you’ll need to consider that.

Petite sleepers fall under 130 pounds and typically need to decrease their firmness level. Because their lighter weight means they don’t get as much compression, mattresses for lightweight people need to quickly conform.

Petite sleepers’ weight will not compress their mattress like average and plus-size sleepers’ weight will. So they need to go down a firmness level to get the same amount of pressure relief. Soft mattresses in a box are helpful for lighter sleepers.

Conversely, plus-size sleepers (those over 230 pounds) usually need to go up a firmness level. When you’re on the larger side, your mattress may not offer you the same support that it does to average and petite sleepers. This means you’ll need a level firmer than the one that matches your sleep style to get the same amount of support from a mattress for a heavy sleeper.

Mattress Size

Choosing the ideal mattress size for your 12-inch mattress will depend on your individual needs and preferences. A 12-inch mattress is considered a thicker mattress, providing added support and comfort. Here are some general guidelines to help you determine the best mattress size for you.

If you are a single sleeper or have limited space, a twin or twin XL mattress may be a good option for a 12-inch mattress. However, if you are a taller individual or need more space to spread out while sleeping, a full size mattress may be a better choice.

For couples, a queen size mattress is the most popular choice for a 12-inch mattress. This size offers ample space for two people to sleep comfortably while also fitting well in most bedrooms. If you and your partner require more space or simply prefer a larger bed, a king size mattress may be a better option. See our guide to queen vs king mattresses.

It’s important to consider the size of your bedroom and the space available for your mattress. A larger mattress size may require more floor space, so make sure to measure your room and consider any other furniture you may have in it. If needed, you can look into creative ways to save space like a Murphy bed mattress.

Saving while Mattress Shopping

Shoppers who want to save without sacrificing quality should check out the recurring mattress sales:

• Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• Fourth of July Mattress Sales
• Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

FAQs

How do I know if 12 inches is the right depth for me?

Twelve inches is considered one of the most versatile mattress depths because it can support just about everyone without creating an overly high profile. Generally speaking, 9 inches is considered the bare minimum thickness for an adult mattress. However, larger adults may need more support.

For heavier sleepers, 12 inches may be a better minimum thickness. It offers plenty of support to just about every body type, so anyone of any weight can sleep on a 12-inch mattress. 12-inch mattresses are also not typically more expensive than 10 or 11-inch ones because 12 inches is still considered a standard thickness.

All in all, there’s not much reason to avoid a 12-inch mattress. The only reason you might want to go thicker is if you’re going for a high-end luxe look for your bed. Conversely, you might want to go thinner if you move a lot, as thinner mattresses are typically easier to relocate. Otherwise, a 12-inch mattress can work for just about anyone.

Are 12-inch mattresses more expensive?

If a mattress exceeds the average depth, it’s often considered a luxury mattress because of its extra thickness. This additional depth can add a lot of money to the mattress’s price tag.

However, 12 inches falls squarely in the middle of the mattress thickness range of 8 to 14 inches. That means that, while a 12-inch mattress might be a little more expensive than a 9-inch one, you should not expect to pay a luxury premium based on the mattress depth alone.

If you’re paying a premium for a 12-inch mattress, it’s likely because it’s made of expensive materials or sports a luxury design with lots of premium sleep technologies.

Do I need special sheets for my 12-inch mattress?

No. You should not need sheets with deep pockets for a 12-inch mattress. Most standard fitted sheets should fit a 12-inch mattress just fine. In fact, many types of sheets are made to go over mattresses as thick as 14 inches.

Always check the mattress depth the sheet pockets can extend to before buying. But as a general rule, if you only have a 12-inch mattress, you should be covered. You won’t need specialty sheets with ultra-deep pockets.

What is the best bed base for a 12-inch mattress?

That really depends more on the mattress type than the thickness. For instance, you can put innerspring mattresses of any thickness on any bed base except an adjustable base. That includes box springs, platform beds, and mattress foundations.

Conversely, you cannot put hybrid or all-foam mattresses on box springs. They are too heavy and will crush the box springs under their weight. Many warranties for these mattress types also specify that you cannot maintain coverage if you lay them on box springs. But you can lay them on any other bed base, including adjustable bases.

A good rule of thumb to follow for all mattress depths is to stay away from box springs if you’re worried about your mattress’s weight.

How long can I expect my 12-inch mattress to last?

That depends more on the material than the thickness of the mattress. Different materials have different durabilities. Typically, innerspring mattresses have the shortest average lifespan. Expect to replace your innerspring bed before the ten-year mark.

Conversely, natural latex mattresses have the longest average life expectancy. Some well-maintained Dunlop latex mattresses have been known to make it into their late 30s before needing to be replaced.

Hybrid and memory foam mattresses fall somewhere in the middle. Memory foam mattresses with an all-foam support core will last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Hybrid mattresses have an average life expectancy of around 15 years.

One way mattress thickness does impact longevity is the thickness of the base layer. Regardless of the overall thickness, your mattress should have a support core that takes up no less than half of its total depth. This will ensure you get the most life out of it.

Bottom Line

12-inch mattresses offer tons of versatility. You get similar support to what you would get with a thicker 14-inch mattress and a luxury feel to boot. Yet 12-inch mattresses won’t increase your bed’s profile too much and are easier to move than their thicker counterparts. They offer the best of both thick and thin mattresses!