Best Mattress for Daybeds: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Daybeds are couch-bed combos and especially popular when furnishing smaller homes or apartments because you can use them to sleep, lounge, or sit. They typically fit a twin or full mattress and have a backrest and armrests, giving the appearance of a deep couch—couches are roughly 12 to 22 inches deep, while daybeds are between 39 to 54 inches deep.

Daybed mattresses are generally lightweight, thinner than standard mattresses, and between medium to firm. We dive into the best mattresses for daybeds, along with simple guidelines to consider when shopping for your daybed mattress.

Best Mattress for Daybeds

Our top recommendation for a daybed is the AS3 from Amerisleep, a medium mattress designed to support back and stomach sleepers, as well as relieve back pain. At 12 inches thick it’s one of the thickest mattresses we recommend for daybeds.

All Amerisleep mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, free returns, and a 20-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The balanced feel of the AS3 is perfect for a versatile daybed that sees a lot of daytime and nighttime use. The surface will yield to people sitting down, yet buoy them so they don’t slip too far into the mattress.

However, the true comfort of the AS3 is best appreciated when lying down, as the top gently enfolds the body and gives each area the specific support it needs.

Inside the Mattress

The top of Bio-Pur® foam is hypoallergenic and wrapped in an ultra-soft and airy cover to absorb moisture and keep you cool. Bio-Pur® is a breathable, plant-based foam. It provides cushioning and pressure relief without being overly soft, so you won’t sink too far and misalign your spine.

The middle layer is Affinity foam with HIVE® technology. HIVE® is a hexagonal-shaped foam constructed with zones so your back, legs, and head are properly supported while your hips and shoulders are cradled.

Beneath the Affinity foam layer is the Bio-Core® base. This poly-foam layer supports your body, promotes healthy spinal alignment, and reduces the risk of premature sagging.

The Zoma Mattress is built to help you sleep deeper and enhance your muscle performance. The memory foam mattress is 12 inches tall and a great choice for back, side, and combination sleepers. It’s encased in a breathable AirCloth fabric so you and your mattress stay cool and dry.

The Zoma Mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The cooling gel foam that forms the Zoma Mattress’s top ensures the surface won’t grow too warm, even after hours of sitting or sleeping on the bed. The head and foot of the are quick to conform to bodies, creating a mildly squishy cushion that’s pleasant when sitting upright or lying down.

Inside the Mattress

The Trinagulex™ comfort layer is made using a gel memory foam and has a zoned design, meaning your back and hips have a sturdy, supportive surface, while there’s extra softness around your upper body and legs. Zoned support technology is especially helpful for even weight distribution and preventing pain and soreness.

The transition layer is made from Reactiv™ memory foam. It reduces pressure by contouring to your body without causing you to sink or feel “trapped” in bed. The Support+ base promotes a neutral spine and is durable, so your mattress lasts as long as possible.

Often, people who are interested in a daybed because they’re trying to make the most of a limited budget. Why invest in both a bed and couch when you enjoy both in one daybed, after all? If these shoppers are looking for a budget-friendly mattress with high value, it’s difficult to beat what the Vaya Mattress offers.

The Vaya Mattress has a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial.

How Lying Down Feels

Vaya is committed to their promise of “pure comfort” and it shows in customers’ opinions, with many praising it for its comfort and support. Plenty love its mildly soft feel, while others have noted its more supportive than they expected to find in a budget-priced mattress.

One consumer reviewer called the bed “insanely good for the price.”

Inside the Mattress

The Vaya Mattress keeps it simple with two foam layers inside the bed’s soft, breathable cover. The comfort foam is engineered to respond swiftly to movements, while its lightweight nature ensures air circulates and removes accumulated heat before it causes discomfort.

The base foam is produced to maximize resilience and stability, supporting the body in any position and keeping the back in neutral alignment. Both foams are CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning they are free of potentially harmful materials and contain only trace amounts of VOCS for minimal off-gassing.

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

Natural materials are a popular alternative to the standard synthetic products in mattresses. Some shoppers want a more sustainable bed, while others may prefer the feel of cotton and latex. The Nolah Natural 11 is one of our favorite eco-friendly mattresses, as its highly responsive and affordable.

The Natural 11 comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty. The sleep trial can be removed before checking out, beneficial for budget shoppers looking to save on a quality mattress where they can.

How Lying Down Feels

While it’s a medium mattress like many of our previous recommendations, the Nolah Natural 11 can feel more buoyant than an all-foam mattress due to its combination of latex foam and pocketed coils. When comparing latex and memory foam, many tend to conclude that latex promotes a more “on top of the bed” feel, helpful when the mattress is used for both sitting and sleeping.

Inside the Mattress

The Nolah Natural 11 has an organic cotton fabric cover, certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Organic cotton is quite durable and breathable, moving heat and moisture away from people as they sit or sleep on their daybed.

The organic wool underneath the cotton fabric, also GOTS certified, further elevates the bed’s coolness and cushion. Wool is also a natural flame barrier, establishing a mattress without fiberglass or chemical retardants.

The bed’s main comfort layers are two separate layers of Talalay latex, a more conforming material than Dunlop material. The latex is also highly supportive, creating a weightless cushion suitable for daytime and nighttime use.

The pocketed coils are arranged to create three zones of support, creating comfort tailored to different areas of the body. The coils rest on a foundation of organic cotton and wool, a stable and durable surface. A separate cotton fabric forms the bottom of the mattress.

Organic latex mattresses can be a significant investment, but sleepers often enjoy how well they last and how comfortable it is to sleep on a mattress free of synthetic materials. The Spindle is more than just all organic, though, as its interior layers can be switched around to create new firmnesses.

The Spindle’s changeable firmness is particularly useful as a daybed mattress. Many shoppers can enjoy the freedom of setting up one firmness for comfortable sitting, then switching up the feel when it’s time to go to bed.

How Lying Down Feels

Describing how the Spindle feels is an impossible task due to how easy it is to alter its firmness. However, the surface is typically cool thanks to the combination of breathable cotton, wool, and latex foam. The surface is also usually buoyant, thanks to the springy feel of its latex layers.

Inside the Mattress

The Spindle has a simple construction. Its outside is a certified organic cotton cover that owners can freely unzip, making adjustments a simple task. Cotton is naturally breathable, ensuring any absorbed heat and moisture is quickly dispersed.

Organic wool is just underneath the cotton fabric, and this material serves primarily as added cushion and fire protection. Like the cotton fabric covering, the organic wool pulls heat and sweat away from the body.

The latex foam layers are individually encased for protection inside the cotton cover, preventing owners from damaging or dirtying them while switching up the layers. Spindle has also aerated the latex foam to increase its inherent coolness.

Back pain is a common complaint among sleepers, and it can be worsened by an ill-suited mattress. Conversely, beds with added back support can be a boon to sleepers who need to relieve pain and pressure on the spine. One such mattress is the Saatva Loom & Leaf, an all-foam model that can serve as sofa and bed.

The Saatva Loom & Leaf comes with a year-long sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The Saatva Loom & Leaf comes in two feels, offering a relaxed firm or a true firm surface. Either option provides minimal give to the surface, though the relaxed firm tends to better suit people who want a daybed for equal amounts of sitting and sleeping.

Inside the Mattress

The surface of the Saatva Loom & Leaf is organic cotton, treated with a botanical compound to keep bacteria and mold from penetrating the mattress. Underneath is a nontoxic thistle barrier for flame protection.

The bed’s targeted back support comes from the spinal cooling gel layer underneath the fabric, placed for support in any sleep position. This gel layer can also ease pressure points for improved relaxation.

Next is the first comfort foam layer, 2 inches of gel memory foam. The gel foam stays cool and is malleable enough to mold to the body as you sit down or stretch out.

The second comfort layer is high-density memory foam, providing balanced comfort and support. This memory foam layer provides the compressive feel that helps the mattress embrace a sleeper’s body, and the density helps it withstand extensive use.

A transitional loft pad serves to provide the mattress’s firmness, while keeping unwanted pressure from developing in the mattress.

The base foam supports the upper layers of the Saatva Loom & Leaf, strengthening the bed’s overall durability for greater stability.

Mildly firm mattresses are often excellent choices for daybeds. The surface isn’t rock hard, yet it’s not so yielding that people who sit down will feel as if the surface is a sinkhole. The GhostBed Classic is an excellent medium-firm mattress and can double as a couch and a bed for back sleepers.

How Lying Down Feels

The GhostBed Classic has a medium-firm feel, well-matched for a daybed that’s expected to see a lot of use as a couch. People who sit down won’t sink too far and will find it easy to stand back up, while back sleepers and heavier individuals can stretch out and find the surface is comfortably supportive.

Inside the Mattress

The GhostBed Classic has three foam layers wrapped up in a plush cover fabric of viscose/polyester fabric, woven for breathability.

The first foam layer is non-allergenic latex foam. GhostBed has perforated the latex foam to help it better move heat away from a sleeper. The springiness of the latex foam can make sitting more comfortable, as individuals won’t sink far into the surface.

The second layer is gel memory foam, serving as a second cooling layer and compressing under sleepers’ bodies for more comfortable sleep. The long-lasting base foam provides needed support without creating too much firmness. This foam core establishes a resilient surface for daytime sitting and nighttime comfort.

SEE ALSO: Best Casper Mattress Alternatives

The Bear Original mattress is a 10-inch, medium-firm bed aimed at boosting muscle recovery and performance. Whether you’re an athlete or not, the Bear Original is appealing for its support and cooling technologies.

The Bear Original Mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial as well as a lifetime warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The mildly firm feel of the Bear Original, paired with its cooling features, can make it quite the pleasant sitting surface. Lying down is also quite comfortable, particularly for sleepers who lead athletic lives or perform hard labor and want a supportive sleeping area.

Inside the Mattress

One of the key features of every Bear mattress is the Celliant® cover. Celliant® is a non-invasive, FDA-determined textile that works by transforming your body heat into infrared light. It then emits the infrared light back into your body’s tissues and muscles to promote better sleep with fewer disruptions, thermoregulation, and muscle recovery.

The Bear Original has three layers: a graphite gel-infused memory foam top layer, a bouncy transition layer, and a high-density support layer. The layers are cooling, provide balanced spinal alignment, and are resistant to sagging and wear.

SEE ALSO: Zoma vs. Bear: Side-by-Side Mattress Comparison

Mattress Types for Daybeds

Most high-quality mattresses have two or more layers, at least one for comfort and another for support. Different brands use various materials and technologies to construct their mattresses, however, the most common mattress types are memory foam, latex foam, innerspring, and hybrid.

Memory Foam

Lots of mattresses today contain memory foam, or some unique variation of it, such as gel, charcoal, or graphite-infused. Memory foam mattresses are popular because they limit motion transfer, relieve pressure, and have a luxurious “hug-like” feel.

Because it’s so dense, memory foam traps heat. Plus, the petroleum used to make memory foam soft and responsive can cause off-gassing, a chemical smell that usually goes away a day or two after opening the bed. To solve these problems, brands have started using cooling technologies (such as gel infusions) to prevent the foam from overheating and plant-based foams to minimize off-gassing.

Most newer memory foams are CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning they have low VOCs, plus no ozone depleters, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or phthalates. Look for foams with this certification and, if it’s a priority for you, eco-friendly foam made with plant-based oils.

Latex Foam

Latex comes from rubber tree sap and is whipped into a springy, durable foam. Latex is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, and the eco-friendly harvesting process appeals to environmentally-conscious shoppers who needs a mattress for allergies.

Latex mattresses are great for shoppers who want a foam bed but don’t like the cradling feel of memory foam, these beds have a natural resiliency to keep you lifted and supported no matter your sleep position.

Innerspring

Innersprings are popular because they’re inexpensive, responsive, and provide enough cushioning at first, but after a short while, they start to sag, causing discomfort. Most innerspring owners report deep sags within the first 5 years of ownership.

Innerspring beds have a coil support system in the base with a pillow top comfort layer, typically made of cotton, polyester, foam, or wool (or a combination). Although innerspring mattresses are responsive and have good airflow thanks to the coils, they wear down sooner than other mattress types and aren’t as plush or pressure-relieving.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses contain a combination of innerspring and foam mattress technologies. They have a pocketed coil support system, meaning each metal coil is in a fabric pocket. Pocket coils respond individually to movement, limiting any motion transfer and preventing sags from developing. All hybrids must have a comfort layer at least 2-3 inches thick, usually of latex or memory foam. Both provide great pressure relief and motion isolation.

While hybrid mattresses are incredibly comfortable and supportive, they’re pricier due to their complex materials. Also, if you’re living alone or suffer from mobility issues, hybrids are also some of the heaviest mattresses to move.

What to Look for In a Daybed Mattress

We’ve come up with a list of features to help you determine the right mattress for you, including your budget and the mattress’s characteristics. If your daybed is a temporary solution or for the occasional guest, you might prefer a thinner, inexpensive twin mattress, though if you want for regular use, a thicker, higher-quality full mattress is ideal.

Mattress Size

Daybeds are often compatible with twin mattresses (38 by 75 inches), though some of them fit full mattresses (54 by 75 inches). Both full and twin beds are compatible with individual sleepers, though two sleepers could share a full-sized bed in a pinch. Stick with a twin bed if you don’t need much space or upgrade to a full bed if you prefer stretching out.

Thickness

Most daybeds are between 6 to 12 inches thick. However, consider the total height of your bed frame with the mattress, especially when using it as a couch-bed combo, before settling on a thickness.

An extra thick mattress (14 inches or thicker) can make your daybed too tall and heavy. Ideally, your feet should be flat on the floor when you’re sitting at the edge of your bed, so getting in and out of it isn’t a chore.

If you have a daybed with a trundle (a mattress on wheels), the trundle bed mattress should be 4 to 6 inches at most so it can slide in and out without difficulty.

Firmness

Daybed mattresses are often medium-firm to firm and best suit back sleeping, stomach sleeping, and larger sleepers. However, choose a mattress firmness based on your sleeping position and size for the best overall comfort and support:

• Medium to soft feels are best in mattresses for side sleeping.
• Medium-firm to true firm feels establish excellent mattresses for back sleepers.
• Medium to medium-firm mattresses are the best mattresses for combination sleepers.
• Firm mattresses are good mattresses for stomach sleepers.
• Softer feels are need for pressure relief in mattresses for lightweight sleepers.
• Firmer feels can establish supportive mattresses for heavy sleepers.

The correct mattress firmness for your sleeping position promotes a healthy spine, prevents pressure build-up, and improves your sleep quality.

Price

You can expect to pay between $150 to $1500 for the average daybed, depending on the material, thickness, and any special technologies added to it. Blankets, sheets, pillows, and other accessories are another cost to keep in mind.

If you regularly sleep on your daybed, choose a higher-quality mattress for proper support and durability. However, if your daybed is mainly for sitting, use a cheaper mattress since you won’t need the support and sleeping technologies of expensive mattresses.

You can also save by taking advantage of the year’s big mattress sales:

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Benefits of Using a Daybed

While daybeds might not appeal to every sleeper, they’re nice if you’re looking to optimize a small space or are on a budget.

Multifunctional

One of the great benefits of a daybed is their versatility. They work well as mattresses for guests, as your primary bed, and as a deep-set couch for extra comfortable lounging. Multipurpose furniture is particularly valuable when you’re working with less space or have a tight budget because you get different uses out of it.

Space-Saving

Daybeds are great for studios, apartments, and small homes. Whether you plan on using a daybed for yourself or guests, a soda-bed duo in a living room or office takes up less space than an entire bedroom. Lots of daybeds also come with trundle beds, so you get two sleeping surfaces for the space of one.

Good for Children and Teens

Children and teens might be interested in daybeds since they can have a private sleeping and sitting area, especially if their bedroom is smaller. A daybed is also practical when having friends over, reading, watching a movie, and more. If your children share a room or have sleepovers often, choose a daybed with a trundle.

Decorative

Lots of daybeds are aesthetically pleasing and come in a variety of designs to suit your home. And, adding several decorative pillows or bed shams onto your daybed when you’re not sleeping on it makes it look lovely in a living room, office, or bedroom.

Depending on the daybed’s frame, you may also be able to pair it with a bed skirt for a more classical look.

Affordable

Compared to buying a couch and a bed separately, a daybed costs less. Twin and full mattresses and their accessories are also cheaper than other mattress sizes. Daybeds don’t need an additional mattress base because they typically already have steel suspension decks to hold up the mattress.

FAQs

Are daybeds suitable for adults?

Yes, daybeds work well for solo adult sleepers. Most daybeds are twin beds, so they can be a bit short and narrow, but you can choose a full daybed for extra space. Daybeds—even full sized ones—are a bit too narrow for couples to comfortably sleep on every night, though it works as a temporary sleep solution when needed.

Can you sleep on a daybed all the time?

You can sleep on a daybed every night, though how comfortable and supportive it depends on your mattress quality. Invest in a thicker, higher-quality mattress to ensure it’s durable and properly supportive for nightly use.

How much weight can a daybed hold?

The exact weight capacity of a daybed depends on the frame, though most daybeds can carry between 200 to 600 pounds. Since this is a large range, always check the weight capacity before purchasing.

Is a futon or daybed more comfortable?

Futons are sofas you unfold into a mattress and work well for small apartments or studios because they’re used for both lounging and sleeping, just like a daybed. Still, daybeds are comfortable to sleep on because you can use a regular mattress for it as opposed to a thin futon mattress. Futons are better for lounging and sitting on since they’re not as deep as daybeds.

What is the difference between a daybed and a trundle bed?

A trundle bed is a 2-in-1 sleeping solution: it’s the size of a twin (sometimes full) bed frame, with a sliding or pop-up mattress drawer underneath it. With a trundle bed, you can fit two beds in the storage space of one.

Alternatively, daybeds are sofa-bed duos, though they do occasionally have trundles and sleep two people as well. However, not all trundle beds are daybeds and not all daybeds are trundle beds. Both are space-conscious and work for small rooms, children, or guests.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, consider your wants and needs when shopping for a daybed mattress. If you plan on using your daybed to sleep on, allot a larger budget for a higher-quality mattress. On the other hand, if your daybed is primarily for sitting and the occasional guest, you don’t need to be as spendy.

We hope our guide makes mattress shopping a little easier and helps you narrow down your options. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, most mattresses come with sleep trials so you can test them at home and decide whether or not they fit your needs.